Perspective…its an interesting thing

Just had a conversation with a friend…a young man who will go places in this world….he is a go getter. Has his own business, and I have done some work for him. He used to be in sales, then in political organizing and now is growing his business quite nicely.

We got to talking about life and plans and insurance and things like that…he talked about having to save for retirement and the plan he is looking at to give him a retirement salary of what he makes today. He has 30 years or so to retirement, and I laughed and told him he was lucky to be able to retire. He moaned and groaned about how broke he was and how hard it was going to be to make that kind of payment to retire at that level. I laughed again. His annual net is about 150k, my gross was about 25k at its highest. He suggested he knew what it was like to live paycheck to paycheck, again I laughed. I reminded him that he spent just on his yard, in a week more than I took home in a month. His jaw fell (i know what he spends). He started to argue, and I reminded him all he had purchased this summer for the yard, and his response was that he had forgotten about all of that. He was looking at how his income had dropped since he was selling. He also does not consider what he spends to be part of his income…..those are expenses.

I do not mind being where I am financially…no that is a lie. I have always said I would like to be at a place where I could purchase what I need, when I need it…..and my needs are not that extravagant.

But imagine at 30, never been hungry a day in his life, with only himself to take care of, making 150k per year, comparing himself to me, 52 years old, having spent way too many years living below the poverty level, raising 3 kids on my own.

Perspective is a unique thing.

~ by Cris on February 4, 2007.