I honestly don't care what they do, how much they make, etc; if they are doing better (financially), great for them.
Myself? I'm what I call "Dave Ramsey Debt-Free" - I have no unsecured debt, I have no car payments, I use my credit cards wisely and pay off the amount owed monthly if not weekly. The only debt I have is my mortgage, and honestly I could pay it off in full tomorrow if I wanted to.
Many of so-called peers who might be making more, aren't anywhere near as lucky. Some of them I know struggle and live paycheck-to-paycheck. I used to be there myself. I can empathize with the situation.
Buying a house changed all of that. My wife and I changed our financial situation completely. It took a few years of ramen and beans, but we did it. Anyone can do it - but the first step is to stop competing with your peers, and stop trying to "keep up with the Jones".
In the end, when you're dead, you're dead. Nobody is going to say "well, s/he had more than their neighbor/peer over there, at least" - and the fact is, even if they do, you'll be dead; you won't care.
Not parent commenter, but you are competing. You might not compete for the nicest car, but you are competing for housing, healthcare and education. Houses aren't expensive because they are built with gold, but because everyone needs one.
I am?
I honestly don't care what they do, how much they make, etc; if they are doing better (financially), great for them.
Myself? I'm what I call "Dave Ramsey Debt-Free" - I have no unsecured debt, I have no car payments, I use my credit cards wisely and pay off the amount owed monthly if not weekly. The only debt I have is my mortgage, and honestly I could pay it off in full tomorrow if I wanted to.
Many of so-called peers who might be making more, aren't anywhere near as lucky. Some of them I know struggle and live paycheck-to-paycheck. I used to be there myself. I can empathize with the situation.
Buying a house changed all of that. My wife and I changed our financial situation completely. It took a few years of ramen and beans, but we did it. Anyone can do it - but the first step is to stop competing with your peers, and stop trying to "keep up with the Jones".
In the end, when you're dead, you're dead. Nobody is going to say "well, s/he had more than their neighbor/peer over there, at least" - and the fact is, even if they do, you'll be dead; you won't care.