Loading…
27
My dad's 'you don't need a budget' advice just cost me $340 in overdraft fees
I'm asking because I still feel weird every time I open that spreadsheet, like I'm admitting I can't handle things. My brother still laughs at me for it, but he's the one who's always broke by the 20th. Has anyone else had to unlearn a parent's money attitude later in life?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
sage_dixon2mo ago
That line about feeling like admitting you can't handle things hit me hard, because I used to be the person who thought spreadsheets were for boring people with no spontaneity. My parents never tracked a single receipt and always said money just works itself out if you're smart enough. Then I hit 31 and realized I had blown through my savings on takeout and bar tabs while my buddy with a simple envelope system had a down payment saved up. Watching him calmly pay cash for a used car while I was juggling three credit cards was the wake up call I needed. Now I'm the one with the color coded budget doc and honestly, it feels less like a punishment and more like finally having a map after years of driving blind. Your brother can laugh, but being broke by the 20th isn't a personality trait, it's a choice he's making.
6