Comments on: Regret

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:22:04 +0000

Returning my books and videos on time was my new years resolution this year. Only once have I had to pay a fine, compared to everytime last year

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:25:05 +0000

I regret not returning my library books on time. Why do I keep doing that?

By: H

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:47:33 +0000

I regret not winning the lottery before we started basement renos. Heh…

Nothing worse than having a case of the “shouldas”.

By: Ajana

Ajana — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:43:43 +0000

I’m reminded of the words from the Edith Piaf song “Je ne regret rien”:

No! No regrets
No! I will have no regrets
All the things that went wrong
For at last I have learned to be strong

Now I try to live by Satchel Paige’s words: “Work like you don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching.”

By: Goal "0" Debt

Goal "0" Debt — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:44:21 +0000

Ah Regrets I’ve had a Few….But there in the past and it’s time to move forward. (1) A dream retirment home purchased @ 30 and then realizing it was to far to remote and way to early, that one cost us big. (2) Then a sports car I felt I had earned only to realize I hate driving, I hate paying for gas and the insurance increase was just crazy. I still have that regret because I’m currently refusing to trade or sell a car for less then I owe on it, I still need to get my head around that. I don’t live with regrets just keep them up front in my memory banks to reflect on whenever I get a dumb idea or un-nessessary want.

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:23:07 +0000

Tracy J – what is “work like you’re showing off?” sounds cool!

By: Tracy J

Tracy J — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:17:56 +0000

Even the crappiest decisions I have made and the worst situations that I have lived through have all shaped and educated me. I choose not to be a victim of circumstance and I choose to shape my own future. Perspective is everything. If you are not happy with how things are working out, then make a change to your perspective! Like Gail said, if you are an impulse shopper, then don’t carry your credit card with you. A small change can make a huge difference, just know yourself, and don’t let your unique challenges trap you.

I just read something in “work like you’re showing off”. If you pick up a cat by the tail, you’ll learn a lot about cats. You’ll get scratched up, but you’ll learn a heck of a lot about cats.

It’s true! It may have been foolish to pick up the cat by it’s tail (or buy the 42″ plasma TV on credit) , but there is always room to learn from the folly! Let the scratches heal, make sure your tetnus and rabies shots are up to date and get on with life, handling all cats with respect and dignity.

By: Julie from Québec

Julie from Québec — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:50:56 +0000

To err is HUMAN! to forgive and correct is within our hands. If I knew in my twenties what I know now about finances…..well, many things would be totally different, but at the same time, I am blessed, great husband, fantastic kids, who, like their parents are learning.

No regrets!!!! Can’t afford to be boggled down by them. There is a reason that the rearview mirror on our car is smaller than our front windshield one is….to make us look forward, pretty hard to drive backwards for any length of time. (not quite safe either, lol)

In my twenties I knew what I wanted (or so I thought) but I definately know in my forties what I don’t want anymore. I want peace of mind!

Not quite acquired, but getting there.

God Bless you Gail, you are a huge portion of this.

merci, Julie

By: Betty

Betty — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:12:25 +0000

Dawn, your comment could have been written by me.
My husband and I celebrated our 28th last Saturday and we’ve made our share of mistakes over the years. We sometimes think back and say “if only, what if” and regret the missed opportunities.
I agree, you can’t change the past and you have to let go of the mistakes you made and move forward.
Excellent post Gail.

By: dawn

dawn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Craig & I will be celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary this Saturday – Lord have mercy if we hadn’t let go of all the mistakes (financial & otherwise) we certainly wouldn’t be at #28.
Every once in awhile I’ll catch myself thinking about the wrong turns and missed opportunities … but it’s pointless.
We can’t go back and change the past – it’s long gone!
It’s like you said Gail – the goal is to try and learn from those mistakes!
Sometimes Craig & I had to repeat a few over and over, until we figured them out. But eventually we learned what we needed to learn.
Living with regret keeps us in the past … and why be there?
Letting go gives us freedom to step up and make today & tomorrow worth living!

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:49:15 +0000

2sammies: what great advice. I love that idea.
People are often encouraged to hide our mistakes as though they are sins. But mistakes can be wonderful things. They can lead us to our best adventures, teach us our greatest lessons, force us to grow in wonderful ways and even be art in themselves. I am an artist and some of my favourite paintings – my masterpeices – have been born out of mistakes. If you always stay on course, you may never truly find what you are capable of.
Funnily enough, my latest blog post is “7 ways I wasted money this week.”

By: MadeMistakes

MadeMistakes — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:43:46 +0000

Gail, sometimes I swear you are talking directly to me!

Thanks for all the encouragement and words of wisdom.

By: s.r.

s.r. — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:42:20 +0000

wonderful post thank you for the nice advice

By: Christy

Christy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:01:01 +0000

Good advice – -there’s facing your mistakes so you can make changes (like you do every week with your fancy plasma screen!) and there’s unproductive beating yourself up after the fact. Thanks for making that distinction.

I want to say a HUGE thank you for the way you’ve gone “basic” this year on your show. I have been searching for months online trying to find to find out how Credit is rated in Canada — try to find info that isn’t American FICO scores! I have always ordered my credit report and it just had lists of credit history.

Last night the show (with Favel and his wife) talked about the credit rating and how to find out ours – - I was sitting in front of the tv with our credit reports gasping “Honey, we’re R1!!!”

So THANK YOU for all the concise info you’ve given to the viewers this year – -in the past you’ve seemed to focus on the families you’re helping, but this year’s show is informational for your viewers too.

You ROCK!

By: 2Sammies

2Sammies — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:21:56 +0000

My husband and I celebrate each New Year with a special home-cooked meal and by writing two lists. We take that time to reflect, review, revise, and rejoice. There is no room for regret.

The first list is a list of accomplishments for the preceding year, outlining what each of us achieved as individuals and a general achievements such as the work done on our older, but much loved (and very affordable) home. The accomplishments may be large or small, but each one represents a goal achieved.

If there are any goals not achieved, then it is a time for discussion and/or personal reflection to determine if the goal is still important enough to pursue or if it needs to be revised and included on the second list.

The second list we write is the goal setting list for the new year.

This process is very positive for us. It is amazing to look back at the year and realize how much we have accomplished and to really take the time to acknowledge and appreciate the fulfillment of our goals, big and small.

The second, goal setting list for New Year gives us a sense of renewal, hope, excitement and encouragement for the coming year.