Comments on: Yardwork and Financial Setbacks: A Metaphor http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/ personal finance that makes cents Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:57:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Blog Review: Get Rich Slowly at Financial planning tips and Roth IRA conversion planning for those in their 30s and 40s http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-104542 Blog Review: Get Rich Slowly at Financial planning tips and Roth IRA conversion planning for those in their 30s and 40s Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:56:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-104542 [...] Yard work and Financial Setbacks: A Metaphor - I’m always a sucker for a good analogy or metaphor. I think relating financial issues to everyday situations is a great way to convey your point to readers. In this case, the yard work problems are a metaphor for financial setbacks. The advice is sound: believe in yourself and persevere. [...] [...] Yard work and Financial Setbacks: A Metaphor - I’m always a sucker for a good analogy or metaphor. I think relating financial issues to everyday situations is a great way to convey your point to readers. In this case, the yard work problems are a metaphor for financial setbacks. The advice is sound: believe in yourself and persevere. [...]

]]> By: A J MARTIN http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103768 A J MARTIN Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:47:39 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103768 Watching your trees grow as your family grows will be a BIG payoff in time. I just have one question...what the H was your cellphone and camera equipment doing sitting in your car? How old are you? Watching your trees grow as your family grows will be a BIG payoff in time.

I just have one question…what the H was your cellphone and camera equipment doing sitting in your car? How old are you?

]]> By: Rob in Madrid http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103722 Rob in Madrid Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:07:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103722 I don't have a yard and I don't miss it. Give me an apartment anyday. One thing I learned is that it's always two steps forward one step back. For my wife and I it was an unexpected death in the family just weeks before we were due to go home (and had paid for the flights). To make matters worse it happened August 1st, peak travel season for overseas travel. So we ended up paying top dollar for flights home (and economy class to boot). To say the least it took a huge bit out of our budget. Since we had only stared this frugal living thing we didn't have much money saved up. What I did different this time was I looked back at previous financial disasters to see what lessons I could learn. I realized we often compounded the damage by making stupid financial moves. Something I was determined not to do this time. While it was still a huge hit to the budget we were able to minimize the day and with next months pay we should be pretty much caught up. Quite an accomplishment considering our history. I don’t have a yard and I don’t miss it. Give me an apartment anyday.

One thing I learned is that it’s always two steps forward one step back. For my wife and I it was an unexpected death in the family just weeks before we were due to go home (and had paid for the flights). To make matters worse it happened August 1st, peak travel season for overseas travel. So we ended up paying top dollar for flights home (and economy class to boot). To say the least it took a huge bit out of our budget. Since we had only stared this frugal living thing we didn’t have much money saved up.

What I did different this time was I looked back at previous financial disasters to see what lessons I could learn. I realized we often compounded the damage by making stupid financial moves. Something I was determined not to do this time. While it was still a huge hit to the budget we were able to minimize the day and with next months pay we should be pretty much caught up. Quite an accomplishment considering our history.

]]> By: Russell Heimlich http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103717 Russell Heimlich Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:46:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103717 Likewise I know several friends who smash things that they have been working on when it just doesn't work out. This not only gets you nowhere near closer to solving your problem, but it actually prevents you from fixing it. These sort of outbursts are beyond me. Likewise I know several friends who smash things that they have been working on when it just doesn’t work out. This not only gets you nowhere near closer to solving your problem, but it actually prevents you from fixing it. These sort of outbursts are beyond me.

]]> By: Justin http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103688 Justin Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:37:37 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103688 Leaves? Falling? I guess only having two seasons is a good thing, sometimes. Here in Florida, we have summer, deadly-heat summer, summer again, then something like falling (or maybe sprall?). But I get the point of the post anyway :) And I have to agree, especially with "Relax". Sometimes I have to force relaxation onto myself to keep from going crazy. Like Gina, I have a tendency to berate myself a little too harshly. Of course, this also combines with a tendency to forgive other people of all wrong-doings, making my life very stressful sometimes as I take on more than I want to handle. Leaves? Falling? I guess only having two seasons is a good thing, sometimes. Here in Florida, we have summer, deadly-heat summer, summer again, then something like falling (or maybe sprall?).

But I get the point of the post anyway :) And I have to agree, especially with “Relax”. Sometimes I have to force relaxation onto myself to keep from going crazy. Like Gina, I have a tendency to berate myself a little too harshly. Of course, this also combines with a tendency to forgive other people of all wrong-doings, making my life very stressful sometimes as I take on more than I want to handle.

]]> By: Gregory http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103673 Gregory Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:32:51 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103673 As a money saving tip I would like to remind everyone to run all their gas powered tools to empty before putting them away for the winter. When gas sits for extended periods a chemical reaction takes place causing "goobers" to form. Its like clots in the blood of the machine that cause strokes, usually a few minutes after starting them after an extended period of no use. As a money saving tip I would like to remind everyone to run all their gas powered tools to empty before putting them away for the winter. When gas sits for extended periods a chemical reaction takes place causing “goobers” to form. Its like clots in the blood of the machine that cause strokes, usually a few minutes after starting them after an extended period of no use.

]]> By: icup http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103666 icup Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:02:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103666 Oh man, for a second there I thought you were going to say you got your hand stuck in the chipper. But then how would you type the entry in? Yesterday I did the first of 2 or 3 leaf collections in my yard. Last year I raked it all by hand and used an electric leaf blower. This year, I got smart about it: I bought a brand new lawnmower with a bag attachment and boy did that pay off! It took me about 2.5-3.5 hours to do the entire lawn. Its not immaculate, but its good enough, especially considering that there is still a good yard's worth or 2 of leaves still in the trees. Last year 2-3 hours of work would have been enough for 2 people to get maybe a third of the lawn raked up, and I would have been sore for a week on top of that. This year I'm quite pleased that I did t all myself in such a short amount of time. Like I said, its not perfect, and I had to go over some spots with a few passes to get all the cut up leaf bits, but it was way way way better than raking. Oh man, for a second there I thought you were going to say you got your hand stuck in the chipper. But then how would you type the entry in?

Yesterday I did the first of 2 or 3 leaf collections in my yard. Last year I raked it all by hand and used an electric leaf blower. This year, I got smart about it: I bought a brand new lawnmower with a bag attachment and boy did that pay off! It took me about 2.5-3.5 hours to do the entire lawn. Its not immaculate, but its good enough, especially considering that there is still a good yard’s worth or 2 of leaves still in the trees.

Last year 2-3 hours of work would have been enough for 2 people to get maybe a third of the lawn raked up, and I would have been sore for a week on top of that. This year I’m quite pleased that I did t all myself in such a short amount of time. Like I said, its not perfect, and I had to go over some spots with a few passes to get all the cut up leaf bits, but it was way way way better than raking.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103605 Dawn Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:48:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103605 Nice post. I enjoyed it, and also believe the value of persevering is something to strive for in all aspects of our lives. It's important in our marriages and our health, as well as our finances. I think the sweetest rewards come from accomplishing something that wasn't easy, don't you? Nice post. I enjoyed it, and also believe the value of persevering is something to strive for in all aspects of our lives. It’s important in our marriages and our health, as well as our finances. I think the sweetest rewards come from accomplishing something that wasn’t easy, don’t you?

]]> By: Sandy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103600 Sandy Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:22:02 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103600 I can certainly understand the need for a yard for the kids, but don't envy one that requires a lot of maintenance. I would much rather spend my free time reading, although when I moved into my house 2 years ago, I planted 27 different things in my yard! I'm glad I struck when the iron was hot because you couldn't pay me to pick up a shovel now. I got it all out of my system. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get though until after you've signed the contract and moved in. At my last house, my attached garage stuck out on the side of the house, so that the wind blew all the leaves from the entire block down to my house where they stopped right there in front of my garage and front door! I must have raked 10 bags of leaves, every week, for weeks. If that wasn't bad enough, I had to get on a ladder & clean them out of the rain gutters too. And I didn't even have one tree on my front yard! I have to say I felt a little guilty when I sold the place, knowing what the new owners were going to be in store for. At my new house, although I have a good sized backyard, with a lot of trees, mostly fruit, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I get a minimal amount of leaves - not enough for even 1/2 of a bag for the entire Fall season, and I don't get one leaf in my rain gutters here. And I have 3 guys who come twice a month to mow and edge for only $30 a month, so I get to read to my heart's content. I've earned it--paid my dues. Lastly, I can't stand when something mechanical breaks either. The last thing I want to do is to get up and close and personal so to speak with it to see what needs to be done to get it working, but with patience comes the satisfaction of usually being able to fix it. Impressing the neighbors? What's that? I can certainly understand the need for a yard for the kids, but don’t envy one that requires a lot of maintenance. I would much rather spend my free time reading, although when I moved into my house 2 years ago, I planted 27 different things in my yard! I’m glad I struck when the iron was hot because you couldn’t pay me to pick up a shovel now. I got it all out of my system. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get though until after you’ve signed the contract and moved in. At my last house, my attached garage stuck out on the side of the house, so that the wind blew all the leaves from the entire block down to my house where they stopped right there in front of my garage and front door! I must have raked 10 bags of leaves, every week, for weeks. If that wasn’t bad enough, I had to get on a ladder & clean them out of the rain gutters too. And I didn’t even have one tree on my front yard! I have to say I felt a little guilty when I sold the place, knowing what the new owners were going to be in store for. At my new house, although I have a good sized backyard, with a lot of trees, mostly fruit, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I get a minimal amount of leaves - not enough for even 1/2 of a bag for the entire Fall season, and I don’t get one leaf in my rain gutters here. And I have 3 guys who come twice a month to mow and edge for only $30 a month, so I get to read to my heart’s content. I’ve earned it–paid my dues. Lastly, I can’t stand when something mechanical breaks either. The last thing I want to do is to get up and close and personal so to speak with it to see what needs to be done to get it working, but with patience comes the satisfaction of usually being able to fix it. Impressing the neighbors? What’s that?

]]> By: Dave http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103591 Dave Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:07:39 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103591 Another point to keep in mind is "know thyself." My wife and I love to look at nature and trees and whatever, but what we mostly like to do is read, read, read, and watch movies, and, in the case of my wife, play all sorts of video games, including very involving fantasy role-playing type stuff. So, w/ those sorts of things in mind, we own a house w/ not only a small backyard, but a backyard filled w/ only fake grass and rocks! Impressing the neighbors ain't on our to-do list, you know? Another point to keep in mind is “know thyself.” My wife and I love to look at nature and trees and whatever, but what we mostly like to do is read, read, read, and watch movies, and, in the case of my wife, play all sorts of video games, including very involving fantasy role-playing type stuff. So, w/ those sorts of things in mind, we own a house w/ not only a small backyard, but a backyard filled w/ only fake grass and rocks! Impressing the neighbors ain’t on our to-do list, you know?

]]> By: Gina http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103590 Gina Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:02:46 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/11/04/yardwork-and-financial-setbacks-a-metaphor/#comment-103590 Great post J.D. I'm a person who struggles to fight off negativity when I encounter even the smallest set back when trying to accomplish something- anything big or small. A recent example: After hearing some mention of flylady.net here I decided to go try out her strategies. Her first "baby-step" is to clean and shine your kitchen sink, keep it that way and build your cleanliness from there. Well, I had a clean kitchen sink for 3 weeks (amazing feat for us!) but one night I got overwhelmed, 2 dirty dishes ended up in there and I instantly began berating myself about how even something so simple was beyond my ability. I was ready to quit the flylady program. Luckily, my husband overheard my negativity and a few minutes later the sink was shining again. It was a such a minor setback- dirty dishes on a busy night- and I was almost ready to give up decluttering my life. Well, it's been over 30 days and I haven't completed the FLYlady 30 day baby-steps, and I still don't have a Roth IRA but that's okay, FLYlady and J.D. both seem to be giving me permission to go at my own pace :) Great post J.D.

I’m a person who struggles to fight off negativity when I encounter even the smallest set back when trying to accomplish something- anything big or small.

A recent example:
After hearing some mention of flylady.net here I decided to go try out her strategies. Her first “baby-step” is to clean and shine your kitchen sink, keep it that way and build your cleanliness from there. Well, I had a clean kitchen sink for 3 weeks (amazing feat for us!) but one night I got overwhelmed, 2 dirty dishes ended up in there and I instantly began berating myself about how even something so simple was beyond my ability. I was ready to quit the flylady program.

Luckily, my husband overheard my negativity and a few minutes later the sink was shining again. It was a such a minor setback- dirty dishes on a busy night- and I was almost ready to give up decluttering my life.

Well, it’s been over 30 days and I haven’t completed the FLYlady 30 day baby-steps, and I still don’t have a Roth IRA but that’s okay, FLYlady and J.D. both seem to be giving me permission to go at my own pace :)

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