35

May 18th, 2009 at 06:45 am

I debated whether to make this entry or not, because I am normally very guarded and private. Still, I sense no harm in doing so....

Last weekend was my birthday. I think my mom is the only real life person that knows this. She even tried to call and left a voice message singing happy birthday. Kind of dorky I thought, but I appreciated it nonetheless. I will be sure to thank her when I get the chance.

To be frank, I find my birthdays to be depressing (though I enjoy other people's birthdays just fine). I just can't help but feel that another year has gone by, and I wonder what progress I have made with my life? I'm officially 35 now. Aren't people suppose to have gotten somewhere and done something with their lives by now?

For my own birthday, I decided not to worry about the budget for one day. So, what did I do? I still followed my budget. Big Grin Well, I suppose that's an accomplishment eh? It appears that I can't help but be a tightwad. Honestly though? I just couldn't think of anything that I wanted. I suppose that in itself is a good thing too.

My net worth has also noticeably increased over the past few years. I am happy about that, although what I am doing is still catching up on basic living requirements. Plus, I can't expect my current living arrangement to last, and my car will break down eventually....

Even if (ok, when) I do finally meet my financial savings to meet basic living requirements, will I find happiness in that? Seriously, what am I suppose to be doing with my life? What's wrong with me? I should be happy with all that I have, but it seems I'm still in the dumps for some reason.

Blasted birthdays. Big Grin

Wellll, if there's one thing I have learned, it is that no matter how blah I feel, if I don't work on it, it's still not going to get any better. And of course, misery in financial security is still better than misery in financial insecurity.

So, my goals to hit before the big Four-O still hasn't changed: Full savings to pay for a car with cash up front. Enough savings for a condo deposit without ever having to deal with PMI and such. Ideally, it'd be great if I can save enough to buy an entire condo, cash up front.... I'm not saying that's what I plan on doing, but it sure would be nice if I have at least have the means to pull that off. It's something to shoot for.

You know, I seem to be making a lot of melancholic posts lately, so in an effort to balance out this one as well, here's yet another funny cat pic.

Edit: Found another funny one that I just had to share.

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments »

26 Responses to “35”

boomeyers Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 07:12 am

Happy Late Birthday BA!! You are a "young un". I try not to have "expectations" of where I think I should have been at what age. Although, I do think that is a boy vs girl type of thing. As long as I have a roof over my head and my kids are safe and healthy, I am being successful!
Analise Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 07:36 am

Happy Belated Birthday! Wow! 35 is very young... oh, to be there again! In fact, 35 is the new 25 ;-)

I have no doubt you will succeed reaching your "Before 40" goals... you are on track.
Valerie Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 07:48 am

i'm 37, a birthday is always better than the alternative.

and i'm still nowhere. well debt free, but that's it. i'll take it though.

you'll get there and love the pic!
go.Xtina Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 08:14 am

Happy birthday! =D
Waterfall Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 08:22 am

Are you sure you haven't achieved a lot as a person so far? You have beautiful children, a good nature, above average intelligence, and other things that are not obvious to a stranger in a blog.

If you need to change what you are doing in order to achieve your goals at 40, this can be very difficult. Being disciplined to make change means you are forcing yourself to do something. Unless you fully internalize the values and beliefs that mean the most to you, you will be fighting yourself every step of the way. Welcome to my world : )
Petunia Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 08:27 am

Happy birthday! I hear ya on the birthday-depression thing. I think we all have certain things we're drawn to in this life, our calling if you will, and it's difficult when we can't seem to fulfill them despite hard work. Hence the birthday depression. Or, that's my assessment of my birthday depression anyway.

LOL at the cat picture!
Ima saver Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 08:40 am

Happy birthday! I would love to be 35 again. Looking back on my life, I feel like I didn't really start to grow up and have good sense til I hit my mid 30's. Things will get better from now on, I promise!!
creditcardfree Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 09:34 am

Happy late birthday! I'm 36...heading to 37 and I understand your sentiments, especially being a stay at home mom. Sure there is satisfaction in raising two bright, capable human beings...but I'd like a little more.

And I was going to say what Analise said...'35 is the new 25!' Try to stay positive and optimistic, too!
dmontngrey Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 09:38 am

Happy birthday! I can relate to your feelings, that's for sure. 32 really bothered me this year. 10 years out of college and I feel I have nothing to show for it. What in the world have I been doing for the past 10 years??? I feel like the clock is just ticking away and I can't seem to get my act together. That's been a blow to my sanity lately. I hope Ima is right and mid 30s start a good point in my life.
LOVE the cat coopon pic!!
MICLASON Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 10:40 am

Happy Belated B-day, BA!
Maybe you're focusing on what you haven't done, instead of on what you HAVE achieved? We all fall for that trap sometimes...

I LOOOOVE the funny cat pictures!
ceejay74 Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 01:14 pm

Hey, welcome to 35! I've been here for almost three months, and I can't say it feels any different from 34.
whitestripe Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 03:29 pm

happy belated birthday. it's never too late to do something you've always wanted to, whether it be study, travel, career change, fitness, friendship etc. if you are feeling down in the dumps about another birthday, maybe you could pick ONE thing that you know you could accomplish by your next birthday, and DO IT. it could be anything.
Blue Eyes Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 04:31 pm

Happy belated birthday!!
Apprentice Bliss Hunter Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 05:01 pm

I think it's natural to examine your life at certain milestone b-days... I know my recent 30th has caused me to examine and aim to improve mine... it's funny - I remember at 13 feeling too old to learn horse-riding.. I felt unfulfilled at 30, you may feel unfulfilled at 35, another guy may unfulfilled at 50 and we're all saying to ourselves - "I wish I had done more with my life so far". Well, the only way to prevent ourselves from saying the same thing in 10 yrs time is to GET OUR ASS IN GEAR !! hehe

2 things I've found helpful:

I'm seeing a Life Coach to help unearth my passion and bring balance to my life.

This article which I found somewhere on this blog:

http://zenhabits.net/2009/01/the-single-secret-to-making-2009-your-best-year-ever/

Best of Luck & Happy Belated Birthday !! :-)
shiela Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 05:41 pm

Happy belated birthday! Funnily, I felt the same when I turned 25 (several years ago now), and that was when I got serious about personal finance. Life is great now!
frugaltexan75 Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 06:00 pm

Happy birthday BA!
Thrifty Ray Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 09:07 pm

Happy Belated BA. I wish you much peace and happiness as you accomplish your lifes goals!!
my english castle Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 09:11 pm

Just one day older, BA. Not a year older; just one day.
Wish we could send you some cake!
princessperky Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 05:25 am

Happy belated birthday!

Birthdays are for celebrating! Not milestones...

And just what is so wrong with having nothing to show for your life but some great kids? They didn't get that way ALL on their own. (as a SAHM this hits close to my heart, between now and when my youngest moves out, I will have nothing to show for my years other than some (hopefully) great kids)
Broken Arrow Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 05:27 am

Hehe. Thanks gang.
merch Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 06:15 am

I'm not a big birthday person either. I think if you look at your 5 year goals and have some milestones to get there, that might help.

I think the big word is content. What would it take for you to be conent? Once you have that answered, I would just work backwards to set up some goals.

Happy birthday!!! And great news that your net worth is up with the markets so far down.
monkeymama Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 07:54 am

Happy Birthday!

I always got the impression you were much older (if nothing else, you frantically wanting to catch up financially). I mean, I thought you were like 39 (I thought you said you were in your late 30s).

So, I think you are doing GREAT and will make your goals.
baselle Says:
May 19th, 2009 at 08:25 pm

Happy birthday! If it makes you feel any better, my 30s sucked. My 40s are very much better.

And remember that the meaning of life is the journey, not the final destination.
asmom Says:
May 24th, 2009 at 07:01 am

Happy birthday BA. I understand your feelings; sometimes I get downright mad when I look at where I am compared to where I should be but practical person that I am I let it go because what can I do about it? I'm just looking forward to the years getting better and better. Cheers to you!
crazyliblady Says:
May 24th, 2009 at 07:22 pm

You don't need to measure what you have achieved, or not, by what other people say is normal or expected. You are you, not anyone else, and you shouldn't try to compete with the Joneses. Be happy with the many blessings you do have. And success in your job and your money is not everything. You should be happy too. That's more important and not anything you can buy. And you are a young'un. I can say that because I am 38!
SicilyYoder Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 09:52 pm

Happy late birthday!!

BA

Could be worse....

35

26 Responses to “35”

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