In honor of Groundhog Day, Elizabeth is posing the question: If you could have one "do-over" for any scene in your life, what would it be and why?
Hmmm...this is a toughie. Mostly because I don't know that there is much in my life I regret enough to want to re-do. I wasn't all that rebellious in high school, was very social and busy in college but not a crazy party girl, and I like my job way too much to do anything that would jeopardize it. I got married right out of college and I definitely wouldn't want to change anything about that (or my hubby, or my marriage). :-)
So what would I re-do? That time I skipped math class in 9th grade and totally got caught but my math teacher had mercy on me and let me off the hook with a warning? Nah...it wasn't that big of a deal and I just plain didn't feel great that day.
Or how about that speeding ticket I got driving home from my freshmen year at Miami? 80 in a 65. $150 ticket. Ouch! My only one ever though. But no...it was a hard lesson to learn but I've slowed down (and gotten better at watching for those State Highway Patrolmen...just kidding).
No, I think if I could re-do one moment, I would re-do that moment when I was 18 and I signed up for my own credit card. It had "Starry Night" by Van Gogh on it people. And I so just wanted that spending power. That card didn't get me into a whole lot of trouble, but it led to a couple of store cards and another credit card that did.
No, I didn't spend tens of thousands of dollars or anything like that. But I used those cards enough to buy things I really didn't need and that I definitely couldn't afford. It took awhile to pay those debts off post-college. But I'm a whole lot smarter now (yes, my parents tried to warn me but I didn't listen to them...some lessons you have to learn for yourself I guess). We haven't used credit cards for 3 years (unless you count Eric's work credit card, which I don't, because he gets reimbursed for the things he puts on that). And in fact, our only debt in a few short months will be our mortgage, one small car payment, and a small student loan I still have from undergrad.
It's such a freeing feeling to pay cash for EVERYTHING. Vacations, clothing, food, cell phones, gifts, etc. And if we don't have the cash, we don't buy it. We're huge Dave Ramsey fans and took his Financial Peace class when Cate was an infant. Our goal is simple: to be totally debt-free (including our mortgage) before Cate starts high school.
And I know we'd be a little bit closer if I hadn't signed up for that first darn card.
~Melody :-)
Hmmm...this is a toughie. Mostly because I don't know that there is much in my life I regret enough to want to re-do. I wasn't all that rebellious in high school, was very social and busy in college but not a crazy party girl, and I like my job way too much to do anything that would jeopardize it. I got married right out of college and I definitely wouldn't want to change anything about that (or my hubby, or my marriage). :-)
So what would I re-do? That time I skipped math class in 9th grade and totally got caught but my math teacher had mercy on me and let me off the hook with a warning? Nah...it wasn't that big of a deal and I just plain didn't feel great that day.
Or how about that speeding ticket I got driving home from my freshmen year at Miami? 80 in a 65. $150 ticket. Ouch! My only one ever though. But no...it was a hard lesson to learn but I've slowed down (and gotten better at watching for those State Highway Patrolmen...just kidding).
No, I think if I could re-do one moment, I would re-do that moment when I was 18 and I signed up for my own credit card. It had "Starry Night" by Van Gogh on it people. And I so just wanted that spending power. That card didn't get me into a whole lot of trouble, but it led to a couple of store cards and another credit card that did.
No, I didn't spend tens of thousands of dollars or anything like that. But I used those cards enough to buy things I really didn't need and that I definitely couldn't afford. It took awhile to pay those debts off post-college. But I'm a whole lot smarter now (yes, my parents tried to warn me but I didn't listen to them...some lessons you have to learn for yourself I guess). We haven't used credit cards for 3 years (unless you count Eric's work credit card, which I don't, because he gets reimbursed for the things he puts on that). And in fact, our only debt in a few short months will be our mortgage, one small car payment, and a small student loan I still have from undergrad.
It's such a freeing feeling to pay cash for EVERYTHING. Vacations, clothing, food, cell phones, gifts, etc. And if we don't have the cash, we don't buy it. We're huge Dave Ramsey fans and took his Financial Peace class when Cate was an infant. Our goal is simple: to be totally debt-free (including our mortgage) before Cate starts high school.
And I know we'd be a little bit closer if I hadn't signed up for that first darn card.
~Melody :-)
