Winter solstice is here again.

(Written on the winter solstice. December 21st)

I just realized its the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. Typically I think about this day and look forward to it. Its beginning of days becoming longer seasons changing. For the northern hemisphere we are experiencing the darkest night tonight. A couple of years ago after purchasing our first home, struggling to feed my baby, having no money, Dr bills, low pay, and I could go on and on. Anyways I looked forward to the winter solstice and even celebrated it. It's the new beginning. Brighter days are ahead. Last year I decided to celebrate the winter solstice differently. It would be the day to leave behind my negativity in my life and celebrate brighter days ahead. So this year I leave my sleepless nights from newborn babies. Some of my laziness. Car loans! Yes I paid that off this year! House payments (I wish) the people who sold our house to us who took things we wanted and just gave it away, and my first new car I bought. It brought a lot of contention into our marriage and I am finally letting it go. Happy winter solstice, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Guess what? Millennials still don't have money

Browsing yahoo news today and saw This article

Hmm. this is interesting.... 

I just found out millennials are in my age group but This is what I see around me in my age group. New cars big houses college educated neighbors with kids. They have to have money right? I mean they show it off like there's no tomorrow. 

According to the article not likely . 

Nearly  3/4 have less than a thousand? 

Older millennials are not much better.

Who are the 33% who have nothing?

Why?

Still shocking to me that I made the top 15%

Why are these numbers so bad? In my not so humble oppinion, because we are always in a competition with our neighbors. Who of us went black Friday shopping? How many of us went further in debt doing that? How many of us were talked into buying that brand new car or truck? How many of us just had to have that vacation, furniture, House, Electronics, or ATV.

We have this "pay for it later" attitude. We feel rich from our possessions yet as with the example above most of us don't even have a thousand dollars!?

Total national numbers with all age groups is still horrible.

It is not an income problem!

It is not a job problem!

It is a money management problem!

Did you know that an average American spends over 280,000 dollars in interest in his or her lifetime?

Did you know the average car payment is 479 dolllars add monthly car insuranse and your looking at paying 550 a month.

That's 6600 dollars a year.

Did you know that the Averge credit card debt per household is around 15 grand? Average monthly payment is 627 dollars a month! that's over 7500 a year!!

It's not a money problem.

It's a money management problem!

Get rid of the car loans, credit card debt. Stop taking vacations you can't afford!

Because guess what?

Slowly more and more if us are fuguring it out and we are not going to be there to help when you fall. Nope we will be there to buy up your mistakes at a fraction of what they are worth. 

Live within your means or your wants and needs will control you.

November's "I can't afford it award winner"

Totally dropped the ball again.

K. There is a few updates from the last time I wrote an " I can't afford it award". Basically Facebook has blocked my way of finding more information on one's personal life that sometimes contradicts the advertisement. Fortunately I was able to find a few things about this month's winner before that happened.

November's winner of the "I can't afford it award" goes to...
This add.

I've write several times that you need to be careful that your needs don't reach to far into your wants. A reliable car is a need. Unfortunately SO many people fall into this trap that a new car with an affordable 400 dollar car payment is their reliable need of transportation. Then you realize your insurance goes up and your state screws you over in registration every year.  Oh and on top of all of this your income goes down have an unexpected medical emergency or lose your job and your affordable payment becomes unaffordable. You fall behind on your payments and the repo guy takes it the day before your job interview! So your reliable car still works...... BUT your finances are not Reliable.
Leasing a vehicle is WORSE! How people fall for this piece of shiz program I'll never understand! You pay the same car payment to RENT a car? You give up so many rights. You have to insure a vehicle you do not own!!! I have very little sympathy for anyone who falls for this! 
This particular person is a young mom who needs a car. Now she needs to get out of the responsibility of a lease! They trap you into thinking it's a great deal. Most financial advisor will let you know they're not.

K alot more to get to during this Christmas season including December's "I can't afford it award". 2016's "I can't afford it award" a few more penny pincher segments on what not to buy and of course if I have time I need to rant on charities.