Friday, July 13, 2018

Childhood money problems



I woke up this morning around 9:30, after being up until 3:30 AM writing the previous post. I was having so much fun writing that I didn't notice the time. 

I must go check my mail today. 

I have two nephews, age 8 and 12 and despite my choice of childfree living, I am a very dedicated aunt. I love being called auntie. 

Both boys stayed with me these last six days, so this morning was the first time in a week I didn't have to get up to oversee breakfast and plan out the day's activities. 

I see them a lot, they live 45 minutes away. I enjoy our times together. 




         I took them on a weekend road trip to West Edmonton Mall
                                
I appreciate living beings who are self-sufficient. I figure, I'm self-sufficient, you should be too. 

Not always realistic, I know. 

That's why I only live with plants. I water them once a week or every two weeks.

 I can go away and they won't read my journals. 



After I finished the previous post and crawled into bed, I recalled my first impressions about money as a child. 

I remember having this heart-shaped box. A gift for my mother, Valentine's Day chocolates and afterward she gave it to me. 

Whatever money I had, coins at that point, I put into this old chocolate box. I think the flat piece that divides the layers was still in it. I'd hide all my money underneath that. 


The second memory, I was around 7 or 8, and getting birthday money. I'd hoard that money into this small neon colored wrist fanny pack. 

That's the only way I can describe it. 

Neon wrist fanny pack. That makes me laugh.  

I have no idea how much money I stuffed into it but I remember folding the bills in such a way to make it look like I had a lot more bills than I really did. In between the folds, I'd stuff in coins. 

And then I'd wear this wrist fanny pack so proudly. 



     
                      I wonder if there was money in that purse
   
                                           
The third significant memory I have was around age 9. My parents put our house up for sale and we were moving to a new city. 

I had never moved before and up until the moment my dad broke the news, I assumed moving was what other kids did and not something I would ever do. 

Anyway, as per usual, I had gotten mad at my mother and slammed my bedroom door and kicked it. The doors in that house were not made of solid wood and so, a nine-year-old foot sized hole appeared. 

So now what?

I scanned my room for a solution, settling on a sticker that was big enough to cover the hole and coloring it the same shade as the door. 

Brilliant!

I then showed the patch job to my 6-year-old brother. 

Not so brilliant. 

Guess what?

He told my mother. 

Thanks, bro. I let your kids stay with me for a week and this is how you repay me?? 😂

All I remember is sitting on my bed, worried and frustrated and then having to give my parents the $10 bill that I had stashed. 

I still miss that $10.

Back in 1992, $10 could buy you a lot if you were 9.

I'm trying to think about what I can buy for $10 that isn't a Starbucks latte or a meal at Tim Hortons. 

                                           

                  The street of my first childhood home

Back in May, I took a road trip to my old home town, which is 8 hours north from where I currently live. 

I hadn't been there in over 20 years. 

It's a tiny town of 2700 people. Surrounded by farm fields and blue sky. 

I was raised without a T.V in the house and there was no internet back then. My parents were religious and my mother did not wear makeup or jewelry. We were middle class, but I wore homemade dresses and never once had anything in fashion. 

My dad worked in the insurance industry and my mother stayed at home to raise me and my brother. I never heard of money troubles in my household so I assume my parents had it under control. 

I recall very clearly, being that little girl, in her bedroom reading the Babysitter's Club books and Archie comics.  I learned more about money through reading than I was taught by my parents, which I think is pretty standard. 

The babysitter's club showed me I could be resourceful and creative in making my own business. Archie Comics gave me my first introduction to wealth in the form of Veronica Lodge. 

That was the small seed planted all those years ago. 

The desire to create something that could make me wealthy. I've always had that drive. 

But, I have had to learn what wealth actually means to me. I've had to see what goes on behind the scenes. What people tell you and what people actually do are usually very different. 

And that is the interesting thing about this journey.

What did you think about money as a child? Comments are always welcome below! 



Sincerely, 

LeNora Faye
Bitchy Bookkeeper
Almost an Author
Former Fantastic Violinist 



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