This is my 150th post here! Wow, time truly flies! May is the 5th month since I started blogging regularly.
What did I expect from this blog? I'm not sure. For the longest time I felt kind of lonely in the web of hard financial decisions. I have plenty of friends and acquaintances, I know about their jobs, careers, their kids. We go to Church together, we shop at the same stores, we live on the same streets. Or not.
What I don't know about them is their financial struggles. According to the American Debt Advisor the total number of people who are in debt (excluding minors) in this country is "somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% if we include secured debts like homes and cars. Excluding those particular purchases puts us closer to 50% of the adult population, and half of that 50% has thousands of dollars owed". Which means that at least half of my friends are in some sort of financial trouble. But nobody talks about it. I myself am a fairly private person. I don't like to talk much about our bank accounts or our day-to-day expenses. Nobody is interested to know how much I spent on socks for my kid a couple of days ago (the most I talk about regularly is grocery shopping) . But we try to stay very frugal with all our spending. Sometimes it's hard to say to a friend that you can't go out because you just don't have money for it. And that's where it gets lonely.
One thing that I didn't expect from this blog is to find so many people who think alike. Who try REALLY hard to put every dollar towards a goal whether it is to pay off debt, or save for a vacation, retirement, college, a house. I never expected to build amazing friendships with people who are in the same boat with me but are not afraid to say it out loud. I never expected to get to know so many talented, generous, beautiful (inside and out), inspiring folks. I never imagined I would have such a strong feeling of belonging and support.
I want to dedicate my 150th post to you, my friends! Because I can never have enough words to thank you for your inspiration...Now I'm getting all mushy here...But seriously, thank you!! You are the best!
I remember my 100th post, took me about 6 months.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching such a landmark. I know exactly how you feel about the blogging world as I feel exactly the same way. It really is an amazing place to belong. It's actually more akin to a family than a group of friends and since you entered, it's been touched by an angel. You brought so much into this and I really enjoy your opinion on anything. You've came and joined a long list of amazing people as an equal. I'm glad you are a part of it :)
Looking forward to the next 150 and beyond.
Oh, thank you so much! That is so sweet of you to say :) People like you make blogging all worth it:)
DeleteWhat a lovely post,ive been blogging for about the same time and i totally agree with you.no mater where we are from in the world,if you are trying to pay off debt you have a similar mindset .
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Congrats on you 150th post!!! Following along on your journey to keep you family on track with spending and make room for lots of good times is a pleasure. You are so right about friends and $$, it never works out. People look at me like I have 3 heads sometimes!!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? I feel the same way when I talk coupons or savings!
DeleteIt is inspiring to blog when we know there is others supporting behind the scenes of our lives ... Congratulations Lena. I am looking forward to you next 150 blog posts ! xxx
ReplyDeleteMany congrats! Wow, 150 great posts. Here's to another 50 and for a great 200 celebration! I think it's great that you're willing to be open about your finances. That's probably what makes the community so great. We're all in a similar situation, so we keep pushing each other up.
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DeleteThat's how I feel too!
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