I have always liked restoration hardware and shows that restore things. Recently my wife has restored and redone a lot of parts of our home and we are all reaping the benefits of joy.
<img src=”https://rileyonfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-e1462387691799.jpeg” alt=”bed set” width=”660″ />
<em>Our story of our journey to success is a long one. I write in my column just a little about it here along with why we enjoyed fixing up our current home.</em>
I think it was about age 20 that I started to see the financial journey most people take in a lifetime. It’s pretty simple for most. As my dad used to tell me: when you are young you will be paid a little for hard work and when you are older you will be paid a lot for doing a little work. I have certainly found this to be true.
Another thing I remember is feeling that an AA (2 year) or even a BA (4 year) degree really isn’t worth much and it’s only those who have connections or family or a trust fund who ever really “make it.” Since then, I learned differently. Those degrees are stepping stones that catapult you into your chance at life. They are also gatekeepers keeping the riff raff out.
<blockquote class=”pull alignright”>Randy Pausch before he died of cancer said publicly that the brick walls in life are not there to tell us no but to show ourselves and others how much we want something.</blockquote>
People told me all kinds of weird things when I was young and starting out. “Bill Clinton will make college free soon so wait and have a hit off this bong buddy!” Other people told me it would be impossible to graduate based on budget cuts. Really? Looks like I dodged those. These and many other statements like them are excuses used by real people I’ve encountered all throughout my life, especially in my late teens and twenties.
I’ve gained so much from college and for hanging in there with a good work ethic. When my wife and I first got together in 2002, we were poooooor by many people’s estimation, certainly by ours now. I’m not proud of it but sometimes to pay that last bill, I had to go down and get what is called a “Pay Day Loan.” These are horrendous for a young family. We had one 4 year old at the time and I wish I never had to sink that low as to get these pay day loans but I did. Like I said, I’m not proud of it.
<blockquote class=”pull alignleft”>For a poor young couple in charge of a family, loans were a means to an end, a dangerous one at that.</blockquote>
Now, in the 14th year since then, we have been homeowners for 7 years and we have 3 kids ages: 8, 11, and 17. We would never need to get a payday loan, we have savings, 2 retirement plans with the state, I work as a teacher with 17 years experience and my wife is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist making close to what I make after all the years. We aren’t hurtin’. Next month we are taking our first trip to Hawaii as a family and we’re tickled to death.
In the past month, my wife decided to get us a new bedroom set, bathroom sets, various things at the container store, and basically, what feels to me to be a brand new home. We have talked a lot about getting a new home but after these minor adjustments and additions of new furnishings, we’ve done it all for much cheaper. Now, we can let the equity accrue and enjoy our house.
<blockquote>I usually don’t give advice on home stuff but I would say getting things fixed, replaced, renovated, and restored has as much of a payoff as getting a brand new home.</blockquote>
Think about places like the place where you sleep, the place where you eat, the place where you are entertained, and the place where you take a shower and get refreshed. If you’re not happy where you are, fixing up these places will definitely give you a boost. Move on and up in the right time but remember just a little effort can give you a boost like you’ve been waiting for all your life.
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