Rebekah Staggs

I’ve heard it said of some people that “They are one broken leg away from bankruptcy.”  and until recently I had no idea just how true that is of a lot of people.

I was watching TV the other afternoon. I saw this young couple and it was talking about their debts. Pretty typical types: College graduates still paying off their loans. With 2.5 kids properly spaced 2 years apart. Big house with 2 brand new cars.

Thousands of dollars in the red every month! I mean they were spending TWICE as much as they brought in per month! Just a hair’s breath away from a divorce and losing it all.

Seems crazy. How does something like that happen? Pretty easily and every day actually.

College Education: $20,000-100,000 x two people = $40,000-200,000.
Car(s): $12,000-30,000 each x two = $24,000-$60,000. 
Housing: $60,000-500,000. (We are approved for X must mean we can afford it.)
First child: $5,000-10,000 in the first year alone.
Add in various living expenses/needs like: Bills, food, clothing and “frills” $500-1,000 a month x a year = $6,000-12,000.

Total $135,000-$782,000 – and that doesn’t include interest on loans – or the things like vacations, big screen tvs, ATVs, boats, brand name clothing, and what-have-you items that people need to keep up with the Joneses.

All this on a starting income of what? $30,000-50,000 a year. Plan on one income because even if both parents are working most of one income will go towards daycare and taxes or one parent might stay home with the children.  It is no wonder that young couples are finding themselves owing more in a month than they earn.

What is the moral of all this? Don’t buy what you can’t afford. If you don’t have the cash for it… Guess what: You can’t afford it.

A College Education: can be had owing little to nothing. Get a job and work. Spend student loans only on college expenses. Think about it this is a loan you’re going to be paying off for the next 10-20 years of your life. Do you really want to pay interest for 20 years on those little things to make life easier at that moment?

Cars: Buy used/drive it till upkeep becomes more than it is worth to buy another used car. The minute you drive your new car off the lot the value drops. (See Buying a New Car vs Keeping an Old Car)

House: If you can’t afford to save some sort of down payment you can’t afford it. Sure you’re okay month to month, but what about when something big and expensive breaks? If you can’t put aside enough money for a down payment while renting you won’t have the money for the “home owner” projects that WILL come up and need fixing. (See How Much House Can You Afford)

 Crown Financial has a pretty good Spending Plan Calculator Online.
Already in debt? Dave Ramsey’s “Baby Steps” to get out of it.

Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, she alone
Hath eight days and a score
Til leap year gives her one day more.

This year is a Leap Year which makes February 29th 2008 a very special day.

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html WHY we have Leap Years.
http://www.leapzine.com/FactsandTrivia.htm all about Leap Babies and Birthdays.
http://marriage.about.com/cs/holidays/a/leapyear.htm Traditionally Leap Year was the one day when women were allowed to propose and men had to pay a fine (a kiss, a dress, or a pair of gloves.) if they refused.

Enjoy your “extra” day.

Okay, I am sure there are a few responsible parents and kids out there with those wheeled shoes that use them in a safe manner, I even know a couple of them, but honestly what is up with the rest of the parents and kids?

I saw enough on the health and safety issues concerning them to want to by pass them all together. If I want my kid to skate around I’ll get him a skateboard, scooter, or skates and make sure he does it while wearing a helmet and safety pads. If you want to gamble on your child’s ability to stay safe while wearing these things that is your business, but not when their usage is a safety issue for others.

Why do you think it is okay for your kids to “skate” around the stores and malls with these things? Granted they are banned a lot of places, but that doesn’t seem to stop anyone. You wouldn’t let your kids ride their bike, scooter, skateboard, Rollerblades/rollarskates in the store what makes you think Heelys are okay? You see your kid barely missing people and yet you do NOTHING!

I’m constantly dodging these little punks and brats everywhere I go. I saw at least 4 going up and down the isles in maybe 40 minutes of shopping. And those are just the ones that I dodged. Parents right behind them oblivious of the accident waiting to happen that is their child on wheels.

Every time I see a kid go skating past me I want to stick out my leg and trip them. I really do. Then I want to go over and slap their parent on the head. If you’re going to be in a crowded place make them pop the wheels out and give it to you at the least. If you can’t take responsibility for your own child’s behavior and usage of them then DON’T buy them for them!

Be the parent: Take responsibility, teach them courtesy, or make a stand.

Found an interesting article on DrLaura.com today while looking for something else:
Nine Things to Consider Before you Decide to be a Parent

“Do you realize that most people become parents without thoroughly discussing how each was raised and how you intend/fantasize/desire to raise your child? |
They just assume, “It’ll work once the kid is here.”

I find this to be so true.

 Most don’t consider or talk about what roles they want to fill, or assume the other will fill, in parenting. How they will parent. If they SHOULD or even CAN parent. I find myself amazed when all of a sudden something about religion or discipline comes up and parents are left there thinking… “Wow. I had no idea we were on opposite sides of the spectrum. What now?”

Most seem to just have some vague idea, based off popular consensus, of what they might do and figure it will iron itself out later. If your standards and morals are at all important to you, and therefore passing that on to your child, I would think you’d consider and talk about that BEFORE bringing that child into the world…

Better yet, when choosing your future mate.

I see babies raising babies, while friends are waiting in adoption lines, and it bothers me. Do these kids even think about the long term? What is best for the baby?

Having and raising a baby isn’t something to be taken lightly. It is physically, emotionally, and financially draining. It ain’t easy. It is not all cute cuddly fun. And, it doesn’t come cheap.

Financially: How Much Does it Cost to Have a Baby? On average around $9000-$11,000. For the first YEAR.  Life in the Fast Lane Breaks it down a little more on an item by item basis. That is just the first year. You’ve got at least another 17 after that.

No more trips. No more designer clothing. No more a lot of things. You brought a life into the world you need to take care of that life before what makes YOU happy. Oh, I’ll just work to offset the cost? Quality Day Care will cost you almost as much as you make. If you’re very young, probably more. So all of that on Dad’s income flipping burgers?

Emotionally: Are you really prepared for getting up all night, changing diapers all the time, not having time to hang out with friends or at parties because you need to take care of your baby? For crying jags that last for hours? For putting aside your wants and even some needs for the sake of what the baby needs?

Physically: That body is going for a ride. You will never be the same as you once were. Those first few months are draining. Sleep deprivation is quite normal. Yet, you have responsibilities as a parent and that comes before just sleeping like you want to.

Are you really prepared for that? Are you willing to give up what you want for what is best for the baby? Are you expecting/assuming the grandparents are going to shoulder the burden? They already did their responsibility and raised their kids. Now you want them to take on YOUR responsibilities? Think about it…

Having a baby can be a wonderful, rewarding, joyful, blessing. When brought into a mature, loving, committed, stable, 2 parent Marriage. One that is willing and able to make the sacrifices needed to raise a healthy contributing member of society. Is that what you’re giving your child?