Life Lessons

My parents really did an excellent job raising me. I’m not saying this to brag about being a wonderful person, I’m just grateful for many of the things they taught me. In particular, I realize more all the time what a great job they did with teaching me the value of hard work, and financial responsibility. I think that so many people in my generation don’t learn this anymore, and it really can mess up their adult life.

When I was in 7th grade, my parents started realizing just how high maintenance I was going to be. I always wanted to have the best clothes and shoes; that doesn’t come cheaply. So rather than fighting it, my dad simply told me that I would get a fixed amount of money each month, and would have to learn how to use it to buy any extra things I needed (as in, anything other than food and shelter). It started as I think, $100 a month, which to a 12 year old, sounds like a fortune. However, once you start actually having to spend your own money, you realize quickly that it doesn’t go that far. It forced me to learn to budget, to choose carefully what I bought, and to be thrifty. I am now an excellent bargain hunter, and know the value of the dollar.

I got a job when I was 15 to supplement my allowance, and pay for gas, since at 16, I got a car. I always picked certain life events to save money for (usually trips), and usually managed to meet my goals, even if it meant doing extra chores to get there. At one point, my dad even made my brother and I listen to Dave Ramsey ( a financial expert for all you lucky people who don’t know). We were taught that saving was important, how to budget and prioritize, and hard work results in reward. I think that this was one of the most important things I learned growing up. Don’t get me wrong, my needs were provided for, but I was also aware of finances.

I’m incredibly thankful for this now, because my ability to budget and manage my finances has given me many opportunities. I worked up until college, then in the summers my first two years, and then constantly for the last two years. When I decided to study abroad, I knew I would be the one paying for most of it, so that’s when I started working and taking classes at the same time. I was incredibly fortunate to find a job that not only paid well, but I enjoyed doing, and as a bonus, I loved my co-workers. It’s rare to find that kind of job in college, but I can honestly say that those are some of the people that I miss the most. Anyways, because I was able to maintain a full scholarship, my parents generously paid for my basic expenses, so I was able to save most of my earnings. I never blew money on stupid things, paid my credit card bills every month; I thought that was normal. I didn’t realize that so many people spend far more than what they have; I never saw it as an option. Because of this I was able to spend a semester in Nice, and paid for two subsequent trips to Europe. I’m not working now, and it feels really strange, but I wouldn’t have the luxury to do this now if I hadn’t saved money along the way. So basically, thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me the value of hard work and how to be financially smart. This is one thing I think is really important and really overlooked today. 

Here in Italy, most people my age have never had a job; their parents are expected to pay their expenses until they finish their education, which can be at whichever level they prefer. I don’t really feel like this can prepare people for real life; what are they going to do when Mommy and Daddy aren’t paying for everything?

I hope to pass the same lessons on to my son, to prepare him for the real world, and help him learn independence. Speaking of him, I got to see him yesterday via 4D ultrasound, which was really cool. The doctor told me he has my cheeks and nose, which when I look at the pictures, makes me feel like I must have a baby face, because I’m not seeing it.  We’ll see! Sorry the picture is blurry, I had to take a picture of a picture because I don't have a scanner here. His tentative name is Alessandro James, what do you guys think?


Ciao for now,

Kathleen