Budgeting… This is a necessary element in the ever-inflating world of prices and costs of today. As a child of the 60s and 70s, I grew up getting an allowance, working on family businesses from 12 up, and if I wanted money for something, I worked for it. At 16, my dad signed me up for a bank account to teach me the skill of budgeting and money management. I am grateful for that… it has helped me as I have traversed single motherhood, divorce, husbands that did not work, and the transition of becoming disabled and learning to survive on my own.

The lesson of my father and grandfathers… “You cannot borrow yourself out of debt,” “Do not spend more than you can afford,” “Keep a cash allowance, when it is spent, you are done,” and my favorite, “Pay your bills first, then yourself.” All words of wisdom that have helped me and still do. But I admit this stage of life, my older years… is not all stacking up like I expected.

There are days when I feel overwhelmed by the harsh realities of the economic landscape, and the pressure to remain financially responsible weighs heavily. Sometimes, it’s difficult to balance the urge to maintain stability with the desire to enjoy the life I’ve worked for. However, I remind myself of those early lessons and the importance of perseverance, even in the face of adversity.

In the last few years, I have gone from working a job to be social and enjoy being among people, to needing it to eat. The rising cost of maintenance on things, life in general, and the inflation brought by the idiotic moves of the government are exhausting. The constant fear-mongering that social security will become extinct hovers overhead. The lines at the food banks grow longer. The bills that used to be consistent are coming in with totals that seem surreal. Grocery store prices and Dollar store prices are rising. Life now is divided into bills, what I need, what I can afford, and what is left to try and save to take care of things that I need to do. The “want to do” pile is hiding from me most of the time. Just never expected life to get so out of control financially.

BUT… I can work, so I am working more. I am setting boundaries with those who seem to believe I am a distant relative of the Rockefellers, a bit dicey, but I am determined to hold steady. I am paying things down and off and trying to hope for an exit from the work plan in the near future. We shall see. But being responsible with money, paying bills first, is always my budgeting plan. The rest usually falls into place if I am vigilant.

To be honest, this day and time, it is a balancing act to make ends meet. There are so many who are one or two paychecks from homelessness, and the homeless are struggling to climb up and find their place. I am blessed, I have a home, a mortgage that is low, and a widow’s pension. Thank you, Michael Bodie, for looking after me still ❤️ So I am riding the wave, trying to keep myself afloat amidst the turmoil and chaos of the dysfunctional world. Find your steady pace and go easy on yourself… remember the most important thing… You can’t borrow yourself out of debt!