Remember the friend of mine that used to live in a car because he can never seem to get his financial act together? The one that drives me crazy, and yet somehow, we're still friends? (I've minimized my contact with him, by the way, and that has helped immensely.)
Well, he finally lost his job as a fitness trainer about a month ago. From his perspective, it's because the economy has been doing poorly, and believes his boss was just looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
Honestly though? He's just one of those guys who thinks he is always right and everybody else is somehow wrong. I mean, he may be my friend and maybe that's rude of me to say, but that's just the way he's always been. That alone has always rubbed people the wrong way, including me... but that's a whole other can of worms there.
Anyway, even though he has been unemployed, broke, and lived in a car before, that's never bothered him in the past. And yet, for some reason, it seems to bother him greatly this time.
I asked him about this, and his basic response was that, this time, he isn't going to try to find a job, and instead, have opted to live on student loans while he's going through school. Ah....
Although I don't think that's a good idea, I didn't come out and say that. However, I did suggest that he should at least find a part-time job somewhere and have some kind of income.
Anyway, it's strange to see him nervous about money. This is coming from a guy who has boasted in the past that he can always go back and live inside his car, and has accused me of "lusting money". But now, he's asking me about budgeting and frugality! Can you believe that? Him of all people!
Or, perhaps, I shouldn't be so surprised, since fear is exactly how I finally got serious about getting my own financial act together.
Still, I wonder if this will be a lasting trend, or is this just a temporary effect until he finds a job again?
Either way, I really hope that he can get through this. I don't like seeing my friends suffer for any reason... but at the same time, maybe this will be good for him. Maybe this experience will finally help him realize the importance of money.
My financially-challenged friend....
April 2nd, 2009 at 04:15 pm
April 2nd, 2009 at 04:54 pm 1238691251
He seems to be at least entertaining the possibility of your way of life. Asking about budgeting and frugality is a first step. My best friend doesn't even inquire about the small steps that might help her walk out of burning ring of fire.
April 2nd, 2009 at 06:29 pm 1238696944
April 2nd, 2009 at 08:08 pm 1238702881
April 2nd, 2009 at 08:31 pm 1238704299
April 3rd, 2009 at 04:26 am 1238732818