I have been neglecting my blog recently mostly because I have been preoccupied with today's event.
My 50th birthday!
I have been feeling sorry for myself as I realised two thirds of my life has passed me by and I STILL have a mortgage and have accumulated far too much consumer debt. It makes me feel bad and am more determined than ever to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.
I must admit when I was in my late twenties and early thirties I spent all my money on travelling the world (not a bad way to spend money I must admit) and didn't need things or stuff - only what was required to travel comfortably like a sturdy backpack, money belt, a decent camera etc.
I look back on that time of my life and remember how simple it was. I had sold most of the possessions I had accumulated since starting my working life including car, furniture and ended up with only 2 tea chests of personal items I wanted to keep plus my vinyl record collection! Luckily a friend stored them in their garage for me. I knew I didn't need or want all of that stuff anymore as my goal of travelling the world was all I was interested in.
It was liberating to only own what you could carry on your back! Granted, I did put down temporary roots from time to time and collect keepsakes but always posted these items home (to be added to my tea chests) before setting off to travel again. Everything else was given away to other travellers. There were no bills, mortgages, insurances. You earned money and you spent it on LIVING and enjoying life.
I know I cannot return to living that way - life changes as you get older and have family responsibilities but we have accumulated so much STUFF over recent years and I KNOW we don't need most of it. We just WANT it don't we. Or do we? We are bombarded with images and advertisements telling us we MUST have this or item X 'is to die for' - eventually we give in and buy items we don't have a need for because we are brainwashed into thinking our lives aren't worth living without them. So the end result is we along with most of the western world have huge credit card and consumer debts. I am determined to change that.
So today as I celebrate my birthday I realise we have another year or so to get out of credit card debt. We can then concentrate on getting the mortgage paid off so we can start using our disposable income to return to what my DH and I loved to do when we met. TRAVEL!
I just wish I had realised this years ago and taken the appropriate action - I could have been retiring now instead of needing to continue to work. I will look forward to my 55th and 60th birthdays with the knowledge that we will be in much better financial shape.
Bring it on!
I'd love to hear your comments on this post
2 comments:
hey happy birthday! I feel the same way, I just don't know why we have all this 'Stuff".
I mean we either needed it or we thought we did, but now the kids are grown up and almost out of the nest I look around and feel swamped by crap that I don't need or want anymore.
I just want to be able to chuck some clothes in a bad a go travelling whenever we want, not think about mortgages and credit cards.
I sometimes feel dissapointed that even though I am happy, I never imagined I would be in this position at this age. We'll have to just keep plodding along I guess:)
When we were traveling around Australia about 6 years ago, we came across many "grey nomads" that are living in their caravans. They don't have a mortgage, or any on-going bills. It really looks like an elderly version of backpacking. However, with the luxury vans that the "grey nomads" travel in, is hardly consider as backpacking. Perhaps, this is something to look forward to in the coming years. Happy Birthday!
Post a Comment