Comments on: Thinking Out Loud

By: kristin

kristin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:21:34 +0000

marie: my inlaws bought cashflow, we play it, but am looking for a used set. i keep peeking on ebay and kijiji and hope to acquire one at a reasonable price. while the lessons are sound, the cost is a bit rich for my taste.
wow, if libraries rented games….. way cool.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:29:28 +0000

Jenny, a week ago, I decided to support World Vision on a monthly basis because of the rapid increase in food prices. It isn’t much and I am not even certain how much of the money World Vision receives go out in direct aid but I did feel that doing something is better than not doing anything. Charity groups are cutting back on the number of people they are feeding because the food prices have increased so dramatically. Domestically, food banks must be facing this as well. Have you noticed how much bread costs now? Giving up things we don’t need, and giving to others when we can, is an honourable thing to do and we do not need to feel the least bit guilty. Our role modelling for our family can have an immediate big impact on living conditions for those in our own neighbourhoods.

Okay, so I am off my soapbox now….

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:27:00 +0000

I’d like to do a shout out to World Vision here while we’re on the subject of charity — a fantastic and extremely professional organization who do wonderful work. Sponsoring a child only costs 37 bucks a month and changes the child’s whole life and that of his/ her family and community. A great way to give back in a REAL way and turn your guilt and sadness over the situation of these kids into something positive! You can’t save every kid but you CAN save one! Truly!

“Just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean you can’t do something”, as they say. . .

By: NKM

NKM — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:44:04 +0000

Annie: Thanks, you set the ball rolling! Shhh don’ll anyone – I’m in my husband’s cupboard now – he is a hoarder- he has T-shirts since he was a kid – let’s see how many bags I can fill by the time the charity truck gets here. hahaha Thanks a million!

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:37:06 +0000

Cashflow game:
Sounds like a good idea (there is version 101, 202, and for kids) but I can see how this guy made his money! This is more expensive than the Carcassonne big box! Need to find a way to get the public libraries to buy and lend…

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:33:17 +0000

NKM: Congrats! That’s amazing – really, truly amazing… The space the “valuable” crap was taking up is now free and clear for guests to spend TIME with you. And I think your reply is perfect; succinct yet no one can really get annoyed for making donations to charity – who wants to look like a heel?

Well done!!!!

By: NKM

NKM — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:03:59 +0000

Gosh you ladies are super! Since yesterday I’ve cleaned out every piece of crap in the house, it’s sitting in boxes in the hall way and guess what – I feel great, I feel lighter, and I have a spare room I can put my guests in!

The charity has been called and its all going bye-bye. And if anyone asks if I still have their gift – here is my reply – sorry nope, the ‘ladies’ helped me, help a needy family. haha No explanation beyond that will be given.

Chloe: that’s a great idea – will work on giving back X % – will have to work out how much, so we can still be able to live and still give back. Super idea, thanks a million.

Kristin: will be looking for that game, sounds really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

By: chloe

chloe — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:38:01 +0000

NKM, I have the same thing with my MIL, who goes shopping Every Single Day. She just buys and buys and buys, and then gives it us, whether we need/want/like it. So now I just take everything to the Goodwill. And she has finally learned. This Christmas she wanted to buy us a big screen TV. I pointed out that we really have no space in our small home. I said it would be fine as then we would of course get rid of the current TV, to make space. Well, she said, you’re not going to get rid of a perfectly good TV, are you? I’m not going to buy you a new one if you will just throw out what you have!
Exactly my point! We have a TV, we don’t need another one! So being very very diligent with regular decluttering is finally starting to pay off, but it took about 4 years for people to understand that I don’t like “stuff”.
Also, I finally got everyone to draw names last year for Christmas, which was getting more and more out of control. Now we buy for just one person (kids excluded).
With respect to guilt, give 10% of your income or time to charity. It is actually pretty hard to do. I’m not there yet, but it goes a LONG way to making you feel like you’re respecting your good fortune.

By: kristin

kristin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:09:09 +0000

we do well enough, we are safe and comfy. we are generous when and where we can be. we are happy.
i used to feel guilty. when i saw the show though, i started looking around me through the ‘gailooking-glass’ of practicality and saw excuses, laziness and misplaced blame, and not as often, misfortune (in north america that is, the rest of the world is not so fortunate as we are, always consider donations abroad where they are truly needed). i have not hardened but realize i am exactly where i want to be because I dragged my as% there everyday to make it happen. no one else did that for me. i made the conscious decision to spend with awareness, enabling me to own my first home at 21, building equity, once my career was in full swing. i now have a family and many other riches in life. i’ve made my mistakes as all of us have but by taking responsibility for them i’ve learned from them and made lemonade.
tell your family at gift time you can’t afford it ! ha! then what would they say (probably nothing)! don’t be embarrassed, be proud for making the decision you know is right for you!!!
while i don’t preach all the teaching of robert kiosaki (money guy) he has a board game called ‘cashflow’. if you can get your hands on it and play it with your family (kind of like LIFE) you will never buy another doodad again and neither will they! (doodads are the crap we all complain about collecting dust, or wants you can’t pay for that sink you in the end)

By: NKM

NKM — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:56:14 +0000

Pamela: It’s been almost 15 years and I was fortunate enough to go back a couple of years ago – that was extremly hard – cause the situation there seems to be more desperate than when I was there and that really hit me hard. Keep up the fantastic work you do Pamela!!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:14:56 +0000

To NKM

The best part of being a teacher is to make a difference….I love it when students GET IT!! It felt and still feels great that the students got the biggest lesson and that they want to get involved in a good cause!!

How long has it been since you moved from Africa???

By: NKM

NKM — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:42:44 +0000

Pamela: I know exactly what you mean and thank you, thank you, thank you – I love teachers, they are one of the hardest working members of our society and I don’t think they get paid enough for all the effort they put in!

It’s just the guilt part – for each meal that I put on the table, my mind goes to that child who will go hungry or parent who can’t afford to put food on the table. I wish I could just get over the guilt. I don’t want to forget the less fortunate, I just want to be able to enjoy what I have guilt free. I know I will continue to give back for as long as I can, and be forever thankful for all the blessings. Thanks a million.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:59:00 +0000

To NKM:

I agree that donations help…bringing awareness to others…I am a High School teacher and last week I taught The Biggest Lesson to many of my students. Telling them that many around the world(esp in Africa) many girls and boys do not have the choice to obtain an education. Many were touched and determined to help. They would like to raise money to send to those areas where supplies are lacking. That made me feel better….like we are doing something to help those who have so very little…know what I mean!!

By: NKM

NKM — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:09:31 +0000

Pamela: Yes, I understand how you feel – I come from Africa, but immigrated to North America almost 15 years ago – I am blessed with food on the table and a roof over my head and the knowledge that as long as I have money in the bank, I can walk out to any grocery store and pick out any food I want and no one is going to stop me and also the knowledge that I live in a safe place and community.

I feel so guilty to know that there are so many people out there who are suffering and I was choosen to live in comfort – this question always haunts me – why me? I too would like to know, is this normal? why do I feel this way? One thing that helps me, is to give back – donate to charities, food banks, etc. I hope someone can help us understand what is going on. Thanks.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:38:35 +0000

I TOTALLY AGREE…why spend lots of money when QUALITY TIME is most apprecniated…and is truly PRICELESS when it comes to family and friends. Question for you all…my husband and I both work full time and live comfortably…so how can I deal with the guilty feeling of having a beautiful home…and nice things(bills are paid each month and investments also paid monthly)….??I do feel blessed with what I have in my life…but I usually have this feeling of guilt…Should I feel this way???? Do I make sense???