I have to confess. I really enjoy reading about other people’s finances and day to day dealings with money. I wish that Oprah would have a weekly Debt Diet episode so that I can see more families who are either struggling with their finances, or are doing exceptionally well with them. Honestly, I think I’d rather see a reality show about families that are doing well. I’d watch with intense interest to see what kind of decisions they are making, and how they manage their money.
I do a little of this voyeurism in my own neighborhood. It isn’t hard to see which families in our neighborhood are smart with their money, and which ones aren’t. There are some neighbors that have MANY different toys. Boats, motorcycles, new cars all the time, and many other fancy things. Every now and then I pick up on a few words they mention that helps me paint a mental picture on where I think they are at.
In other cases, I just flat out talk about finances with my neighbors. There is one neighbor that I’ve had many conversations with. They are very much like I am, if not a bit smarter with their money. They don’t drive brand new cars (strike one for me) and we’ve talked about how smart that is. Needless to say, when I got my new truck earlier this year, I got lots of teasing from them. In fact, they mentioned that they had considered buying a new version of the car they bought, but decided not to, because for one thing, they knew I’d tease them. Well, they got the last laugh on that one. I’ve also had some pretty good conversations with these neighbors on how they save their money. They were smart to put money in college funds for their kids and also have made sure that they save enough for their retirement. I get the sense that they are at the point where they’ve amassed enough assets that, no matter what happens, they’ll be in good shape. Sometimes I wish I could just take a peak at their finances to see more specifically where they have made the best choices. I think it’s unfortunate that such a critical part of our lives has to be so secret.
If only we could wear our net worth number on our sleeves instead of trying to drive our net worth, or live in our net worth, or wear our net worth. So many people are so concerned with showing the material things they have, that it just helps reinforce our extremely materialistic society. Maybe some day materialism will get the negative attention it deserves. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go fill up the gas tank in my HUMMER.
a reality show is in the making. CBS is to carry a reality show with Dave Ramsey. I am still waiting to hear dates and times. I am looking forward to hearing more about that show, ands when the special that will test the waters (start it off) will be.
***sorry somehow my post posted before I was ready to submit it.***
I will watch for that show. I hope it catches on!
The show sounds interesting. We have a tendency to be curious about our neighbors finances too!
Wouldn’t that be interesting? A net worth tag…then it’d be much harder to live lives we shouldn’t be…but then again, is there such a thing? This is America…negative net worth doesn’t mean squat….especially when I have $1mil in credit! wooohooo!
Hazzard,
I’m right there with you. I get juiced when people start talking about their finances — good or bad. Usually it’s bad. Around here, at least, the people who have it “good” don’t much talk about it. The people who have it “bad” won’t STOP talking about it — usually about their “victimhood.”
I, too, am really looking forward to Dave Ramsey’s show.
Our net worth on our sleeves?
Ouch.
Some of us would go from being invisible to being a target.
Not fun.