I desired to contribute to the family income and to have some spending money that I earned myself. Every family budgets differently, and as long as they budget realistically and harmoniously, I feel that whatever works for each family is fine. If it's not working for you, perhaps you need a few sit downs with a financial advisor. I don't believe young people are getting a good enough education on budgeting these days. I do recall, early on, representatives from the Bank of Nova Scotia coming to our classrooms once a month to help us learn how to budget. Was it a win win situation for the bank? Did our little contributions to our savings accounts make a difference in their annual bottom line? Perhaps not, for they do not do it any more. I believe it might, but it is a situation that would take years to know. It would be an interesting project to start and track for twenty-five years. If children were taught early to budget, would that become habit forming and set them on the right financial life track? I grew up in a home where I saw my father and mother budget. There was not a whole lot to budget, but they did it and I did not suffer for want of food, clothing and a roof over my head. Yes, I was embaressed to drive my first hand-me-down, ugly bicycle that Dad fixed up for me, but it got me from point A to point B quite well. I believe that my parents provided a good example for me to follow when I grew up.
I aimed to have some money to help pay the monthly expenses, to buy things for my children, to have Christmas gifts under the tree, to save for my daughters' educations, and to set aside a nest egg for retirement. Everyone will have different aims, but everyone should have some purpose for their earnings other than living from paycheque to paycheque. Without aims, I believe, one can quickly become overwhelmed with debt. Debt can be like quicksand. Some debt can be necessary: a mortgage, a vehicle. Credit card debt will drag you down. I've seen it happen. I've heard people blame the banks, and yes, I understand your arguments. I also know that credit cards are a responsibilty that individuals take on when they sign on the dotted line. I remember my first credit card purchase: a coat: a pretty coat. I was so proud of it. I also remember my first statement. I didn't like it, and as soon as I could, I whittled it away to nothing. I seldom pay interest, but when I do, I know that it is my responsibility - I earned it when I bought what I wanted. And, from the perspective of the insides of the bank, I know that there are many individuals who would rather work with you to get you out of the mire, rather than foreclosing or taking your vehicle. But, it is my responsibility to admit I have a problem of my own making and I need to take whatever action is necessary to get the advice I need to solve the problem. The best place to start is to learn how to budget before taking on the first credit debt. Keep a handle on it from the very start - don't let it take control. Having goals and keeping them is all important. The next best place to start is to admit the problem and take action before it takes over your financial life. Financial problems are cancerous; they soon invade every other area of life. Both my parental upbringing and my careers at the bank helped me to have aims and purposes for what I earned.
Working in the bank was rewarding to me, for the most part. When I left the bank in 2008, it was an entirely different corporation than it was when I started in 1976. Was it better? For the most part - by the time I left, I knew what my goals for the year were and how to attain them. I do believe, however, that big businesses in general have set their targets so high that they are responsible for the stress leaves their employees must take. I weathered the storms, but not without a few discussions (talkings to), unmet targets, and tears. However, that is another discussion. What were my rewards, other than the paycheques I received bi-weekly? I was challenged - daily, weekly, monthly, annually. Do better. I was challenged, not only by the bank hierarchy, but by clients and their issues. I took their issues very seriously, and felt that, without happy clients, a business could not survive or make its projected targets. It's an attitude I took upon myself and it was generally favourably commented upon in my annual reviews, even though, in solving those issues, it was not always a win situation for the bank. (I believe it was, in the long run, but this is something we sometimes disagreed upon.) I came to care very much for many of my clients. I saw some of them grow up, from infants to adulthood; some from middle age to old age. Knowing my clients, holistically rather than just financially, breeds loyalty, I believe. I felt rewarded by their trust in me. I still feel rewarded when I meet them in the street and they tell me they miss me. I feel that, if my paycheque is my only reward, I am missing out on the greater reward. Therefore, when they opened their wallets and pulled out the photograph of their newest grandchild, I ooed and aahed just as genuinely as if they pulled out an inheritance cheque. After all, isn't a grandchild a wonderful inheritance? I do appreciate all that I learned from my peers, supervisors, leaders and clients, and the rewards that came from working with them.
Is this, you many wonder, anything to do with my historical journey? You betcha. I am who I am; what I do in this life has implications that will follow long after I am gone. Am I so important, do I think? I already said I don't have grandchildren. In every aspect of a person's life, whether they are quiet residents of their corner or world leaders, we make a difference to our family, our neighbors, the people we work with, and sometimes to strangers. That difference can be good, and sometimes, not so good. Do I reach every goal, every target? Nope, but I try to stretch and do my best. Do I fuss over it when I fail? Nope, not usually. I try to reassess. Or, I let it go. Yes, I watched my parents budget and learned from them - with their money and their tangible treasures. I saw the same in my husband's family: a good work ethic, and the same generous spirit. I watched and learned from my four grandparents and what I saw in their lives.
My place of work, a Canadian bank, has, like most institutions, privacy rules in place. I could give examples, but you will have to trust me - I won't, or if I do, they will be very general. Even as a retiree, I am bound to those rules, and I believe they are good rules. I have seen financial failures and financial successes. I have seen people lay the blame for their failures on everyone but themselves. I have seen people step up to the plate and take responsibility. I know that circumstances can have great negative and positive effects on peoples' lives. But I do believe, ultimately, that we need to take responsibility for what we do, financially. I also believe, when we are able, we should give generously to those who, through no fault of their own, have a true need, or those charities that we believe in. There is great reward in giving, to those whose desires and aims are not selfish. I am thankful for my place of work, for what I learned from my labour there, and, most of all, for my retirement from that institution and the continued benefits I receive.
These books are my other family history journals.
No comments:
Post a Comment