Comments on Revelations For Life: Affluenza Strikes Again

I've just been used to being poor. Started with l...

2007-05-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

I've just been used to being poor. Started with living under the poverty line and kind of continues now to some point. When you go into education and make the conscious choices to pursue your dreams (in my case, as an Engish major), you don't do it because you expect to earn lots of money. You do it because it IS YOUR PASSION. But there is a price to pay for that. You kind of stay poor unless you get a Doctorate and tenure. And even then, you will never be "rich."

Ouch! Splitting debts sounds painful. Thanks for s...

2007-05-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Ouch! Splitting debts sounds painful. Thanks for sharing that Holly. I wonder if you could call your current condition 'buyer premorse'. :-) I could probably use some of that. I wish it was as contagious as affluenza.

Thank you, too, rp. Personally, I'm surprised to even discover these 'accumulated layers' after taking them for granted for so long. ("What's this doing in my life. Why did I want this?")

I caught affluenza from my husband. In fact, at th...

2007-05-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

I caught affluenza from my husband. In fact, at the time, since I wanted to share the lifestyle my husband desired so badly, I didn't realize the path we were headed towards. (And to be perfectly honest, I was too young to be making decisions about marriage and finances responsibly.)
Many years and many thousands of dollars later, with a relationship in pieces for a variety of reasons, we had to divide debts in the divorce rather than assests. I've been paying down my portion over the last few years, and I've made some real progress. I do still occasionally struggle with "wanting" vs. "needing" but now I'm far more realistic about what I can afford.
I think buyer's remorse is my saving grace. Most people have buyer's remorse AFTER they've purchased something they shouldn't. I have my buyers remorse BEFORE purchasing an item. Most of the time this prevents me from making unnecessary purchases.

Not sure that I look at the acquisition of things ...

2007-05-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

Not sure that I look at the acquisition of things simply for the sake of their acquisition as a means of securing happiness. That said, I can admit to looking around at my peers and finding my situation "wanting", even though in terms of actual necessity I want for nothing. (except to replace things that are breaking down).

As for simplifying one's life, I think that is something we strive for as we get older. We accumulate layers, or have then heaped upon us, only to shake them off beginning at around 40, in my opinion.

r.