May 3, 2008

What is a lifestyle anyway?

I'm still trying to adjust to the "retired" lifestyle. 

Alarm clockMy favorite part is that I don't have to set that #$%^&* alarm clock anymore!  Some days are boring, I will not deny that but then again, I was bored when I was working too!  My evenings and weekends are still the same.  I guess living alone alters your way of life. 

 Sitting at the BarI keep telling myself that I need to get out more but I really got so tired of the nightclub scenes, it just lost all of its glitter from years ago! 

Well, what is a lifestyle anyway?  A lifestyle is the way a person lives. This includes patterns of social relations, consumption, entertainment, and how you dress. A lifestyle typically also reflects an individual's attitude and values.

We all have a bundle of behaviors that makes sense to both others and to ourself in different times and places.   My lifestyle has changed from let's say 20 years ago....what was important to me then is not so important to me now.  I used to be a "Material" girl..............don't get me wrong, I still like nice things but it's not top priority now for some reason.

Wish the schools had classes in investment when we were younger.  Yeah, they taught us how to open up a bank account and a checking account but it stopped there.  Remember the booklet of "green" stamps?

You need money for retirement and people take the subject lightly.  Save as much as you can and pass up that "Material" thing that you were thinking about purchasing and a week from now no longer interests you.

We all buy things we don't need.  All I have to do is look in my closet and see price tags dangling down from a blouse or some article of clothing hanging there for many, many months after the date of purchase...........dah!  I obviously didn't need it just because it was on sale doesn't warrant the reason to purchase and that money could have gone into my piggy bank or put towards a Certificate of Deposit.  I envy the people in my age group that realized this long before I did.

We all need to enjoy our life with some guilty pleasures and purchases but now I think twice before taking the plastic out of my wallet because of my new limited budget.............retirement does come with some adjustments.....that Social Security check does not go very far!
 
I suppose I could look into a part time job for extra spending money but right now, like I previously said........I love not having to set that alarm clock!  With my severe insomnia, I'm not panicking anymore when I only got about one hour of sleep because I don't have to hear the alarm go off and rush to work.
 
I think if you live a decent lifestyle and you are a good person, your life will be richer beyond your bank account. 
 

2 comments:

  1. Well said....I'm the same way these days. I'm calmer though and learning to enjoy life and appreciate it. One thing I tell myself with expensive expenditures is you can't take it with you, so why not do something for yourself now that impacts more than just your bank account, make it something that impacts your heart and touches you soul deep. (Hugs) Indigo

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  2. Thank you for the good advice..I do that all the time to. I feel like I had to have something sometimes so I buy it..And it does sit in my closet for a long time before i wear it. Enjoy your retirement...i hate that alarm clock too. lol ...Christine

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