Quote:
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Originally Posted by BCHGRL
I don't understand the point of being frugal when so much of your financial situation is luck.
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I think I have the completely opposite perspective. I would consider luck a fairly minor part of anyone's financial situation. I think at least 90% of our situation is due to our choices.
Did you apply yourself in school or did you just slide by? Did you get a job as a teen and save the money or did you focus on hanging out? Did you use any means necessary to go to college/vocational training or did you take "no" for an answer? Did you pick a field where you could make a living or did you pursue a degree in basket-weaving? Did you plan your family responsibly or did you have kids before you were secure? Did you marry a partner who considers financial security important or did you ignore that when choosing a spouse? Did you pick a home and lifestyle within your means or did you get caught up in "wants"?
And on and on...
I'm not directing those questions specifically at the poster I quoted. They're rhetorical questions that illustrate my perspective, which is that life is a series of decision points and our choices are primarily responsible for our situation.
I agree, BCHGRL, that housing is a necessity, but I doubt that choosing the particular house you have was a necessity. I'm not saying it was the wrong choice at all, but it was a choice, not luck.