Spending too much

[gja1000]

Diane, I think we all can learn from your post - we dont' know what tomorrow brings, so a bit of "live now" is good to remember. I think we are all wise enough to know that we might live to be 120 so a little restraint is good, yet, we must enjoy today or live for today because, as you say, tomorrow may never come.

This was really brought home to me when my husband's best friend died. Many of you know this, but my husband has several MAJOR chronic illnesses and he has lived for 6 years with them. Someone with his illnesses has an average life span of 5 years - from diagnosis to death - so he has already outlived the averages. But he has a friend who was a bit older than him, who had ZERO chronic illnesses - was healthy as a horse - and died within a week of MRSA. Very devastating. Now, my husband's uncle, who is also very healthy and only a few years older than my husband, has spots on his spine, liver and kidney per MRI. We wouldn't be too concerned except that he had a malignant melanoma (skin cancer) removed 3 years ago and another 3 months ago. The spots could be metatasis (spreading) of the cancer - we will know next week. If he does indeed have cancer that has spread - it will again, be one of those head-shakers for my husband who is so ill but has outlived the odds as compared to his friend who did not even make the odds and possibly his uncle too.

So, when you talk about "live for today" "enjoy yourself" it really rings true to me.

[Lindsey]

Gayle, your post made me think of my uncle and godfather... about 20 years ago he was diagnosed with MS and given 3 years to live. He has definitely gone downhill... from just being shaky, to using a walker, to now not being able to walk at all... just uses walls to push himself along the floor between the kitchen and living room at my grandma's house where he lives. But he's still in good spirits and ready to laugh and tell jokes all the time. He may be in bad shape, but he's alive! I have lost so many family members so quickly and for him to have beaten the odds for this long is amazing. There's always hope!

And back to the spending topic, I am starting to spoil myself a little since I haven't bought anything for myself since before I bought my condo! Scott is quite strict with money, to the point of being pretty stingy. He makes me feel guilty about a lot of spending. We'll be out shopping and I'm thirsty, but if I want to buy something to drink he says "You can drink something for free at home"... but usually I just go ahead and buy it anyway! A few dollars isn't going to take a meal off the table Anyways, I recently discovered Overstock.com so I'm going to buy a new professional flat iron for my hair (a guy in a kiosk in the mall tried to sell me one before Christmas, he did my whole head and it looked amazing ) and some cheap bikinis for Mexico I am so excited at just the thought of buying myself stuff again lol!