Personal Finance
I have many patients who HATE to come see me in the office-the metaphors are all over the place. ” I would rather have my nails pulled from my fingers, than come see you….” (poor dentists-I do have many who say they would rather see me, than their dentist….)
Decided Against Gyn Pic (national guard photo)
They always add, “nothing personal, I like you as a person…”
Prevention: Health and Money!
Does anyone want cervical cancer? No, of course not. Is it preventable? Yes! If you haven’t had a Pap Smear in the last 5 years, then only you are to blame! It is not health insurance or lack there of’s fault.
The Public Health department in most places have a sliding scale-there is no excuse!
If you want to be healthy, you have to invest in “wellness and prevention”. That is no guarantee, of course. Cancer or an auto accident can kill a healthy person, almost overnight. And the same can be true for financial catastrophes.
That is not what I am ranting about!
Managing Money
The idea of “managing” money seems to be in the same category as preventive health care for many. You want to have the “things” money can provide: nice house, clothes, new car, and big screen TV.
But when you hear any info about finances, money management, planning your spending, retirement, insurance, or investing-your eyes glaze over, they get all pasty, and you look like you’re going to vomit!
Common Complaint About Personal Finance:
“I don’t understand that stuff!”
Get Over It!
I used to try to be coddling, comforting, hand holding nice guy about this stuff, and think it’s my fault, I am not explaining this very well! But I got over it,
NOOOWWW-
YOU, Get Over It!
YOU have to be responsible for your money decisions. If you choose to buy a big screen instead of funding your retirement account, then only you are to blame.
Get Over It!
If you choose a new car over a nice used one, and you can only put 1% into your 403b, instead of the matching 3%, then, only you are to blame.
Get Over It!
If you can’t resist the sales at your favorite department store, and buy clothes that you really don’t need, then only you are to blame.
Get Over It!
If you buy every toy your kids ask for, so they won’t feel as they are being discriminated against, then only you are to blame (or your spouse, if he/she is the culprit.)
You are responsible for your financial decisions, AND your in-decisions. Not knowing what to do, is bad enough. Stay a reader for a while, and that won’t be a problem.
Knowing And Doing!
Not doing something YOU KNOW you need to do is just stupid! Or even worse-cause it doesn’t just affect you, it affects your family. If you are single, then even then it can affect your co-workers and your friends.
Does that mean I don’t want feedback? Of course not, if you don’t understand a concept-that is what the comments are for. If you don’t want to publish your name-fine.
Personal Finance Questions:
If there is an area of personal finance that concerns you, or I haven’t addressed lately, ask. If you want a female nurses perspective, rather than this haughty, know it all Doc, then ask Julie, my new staff writer!!!! She is smarter than me anyway!
If you can’t ask it in a public forum, my email address is here on the blog. And I do read them. If they are personal attacks, I hit the delete button. If there are questions I can answer by email I do so. If there are is a question that would benefit others, I write a blog post about it. There really is no stupid question.
But just to say, I don’t understand, and walk away from your responsibility, is, well, irresponsible. You will reap what you sow!
Boy, I feel better, How bout you? If you are a little uncomfortable, or a little pissed right now, great! Even if I lose you as a reader, but you make a few changes regarding your relationship with money, that’s cool too.
Len Penzo
And by the way, congrats to Len Penzo, at Len Penzo .com for being named one of the top personal finance bloggers at Kiplinger’s Magazine. Way to Go Len!
