Managing Money
Jul. 17th, 2009 01:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ailbheSome people are good at it, some people are ok as long as there's plenty of money, and some people are dreadful at it. I have never really worked out what makes people so. I know people from poor backgrounds and wealthy backgrounds in all categories, as well as people from varying degrees of comfortable backgrounds.
Some people seem to learn to manage money by living in fear of poverty (raises hand) and some people seem to learn by good example (raises hand) and some people seem to learn by being involved in the financial planning and management of their families as they grow up (like good example but more hands-on) (raises hand again) and most people probably have some combination of all three going on.
But the part I can't work out is what makes people who know what bad management does, up to a point (a point between stress and hunger, say) nonetheless continue to manage badly. What do Groups A, B and C learn which group D can't seem to? Let's not assume that group D are delusional, or want to rely on other people in their lives to pick up the pieces - let's assume that their desire and intention is to be able to spend only 252 pence in the guinea and not forever hanker after the half-a-crown that isn't there.
Some people seem to learn to manage money by living in fear of poverty (raises hand) and some people seem to learn by good example (raises hand) and some people seem to learn by being involved in the financial planning and management of their families as they grow up (like good example but more hands-on) (raises hand again) and most people probably have some combination of all three going on.
But the part I can't work out is what makes people who know what bad management does, up to a point (a point between stress and hunger, say) nonetheless continue to manage badly. What do Groups A, B and C learn which group D can't seem to? Let's not assume that group D are delusional, or want to rely on other people in their lives to pick up the pieces - let's assume that their desire and intention is to be able to spend only 252 pence in the guinea and not forever hanker after the half-a-crown that isn't there.
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Date: 2009-07-17 05:33 pm (UTC)I was starved, in this situation, by my previous partner, who was seriously bonkers. He was getting more food than me, most of the time, as he was able to leave the bedsit we were living (I wasn't allowed to do so) but he still ended up with no food for substantial periods of time, with me, when his craziness meant it was all gone.
Interestingly, we never came to losing the bedsit, as the rent was always paid. But then, if we'd lost that, he'd have lost control of me.
Of course, running out of money for food wouldn't exist, as there is always more ways to find food. Most people in dire financial straits, can get fed by friends, especially if they are complaining they are in dire financial problems...
But yes. As soon as you posted, I identified in my head, the ones who play fast and loose, and get into trouble a lot... when they do actually have enough to live on... as people who have never known what it is to be hungry. They 'play' at being in trouble, really, as they are always managing to find a way out, usually their well off family.
Real hunger, is a very sharp reality check. Quite a few people I know would benefit from a slight acquaintance with it. Focuses the mind somewhat. Hunger and cold, as they usually go hand in hand.