While I can understand the “live for today” idea, I think that living our lives to the fullest also means laying a solid foundation for our future and our family’s future.

Did you end up selling the Nintendo? I have a Sony PSP I should probably sell. I bought it b/c I was flying across the US so much that I needed a time waster. These days it’s just a pretty paperweight.

I am glad you have such wonderful memories – remember her as she would want to be remembered!

these types of expereinces can be very hard on the body, guard your health and you heal your heart. Time will make it easier – I promise!

I understand wondering what the point of saving and getting out of debt are when death creeps into our lives. One thing that comes to mind is that, with financial stability (no debt and emergency savings set aside) you are then able to fully give attention to the moment.

For instance, say (heaven forbid!) there is a medical crisis within your family. Being able to focus on your loved one and his/her needs rather feeling the additional stress of a financial crisis can be priceless.

No one can guarantee us tomorrow. We can, however, work towards gifting ourselves more peace of mind by getting our financial lives in order.

Take care. Thank you for sharing your loss and giving us, your reading public, a chance to let you know you are not alone in your time of grief.

Kathryn

All we can do is live one day at a time and do the best we can.

A dear friend of mine died in a car crash last summer and I still can’t reconcile myself, though I believe it. She and I were supposed to get married this summer to some great guys, her fiance was very much like mine (depressive). He barely made it. I kept asking why it happened. Sometimes it makes no sense. But we pick ourselves up, eventually, and we live. And we love them in our memories.

Everything seems petty next to death, and pointless. But our life is made up of little days, and if your days are made happier by the knowledge that you’re lowering your debt, then by all means go for it.

-MM

I have to admit that the thought of “why am I saving for retirement, I might/will die before I can use it” creeps up quite a bit. But I still plug away, maybe I should split what I am putting in retirement and spend freely

But then again, I would like to retire early, travel, etc. Maybe I will keep saving :-/

XOXOXO
AKB

On the financial side, I agree with your take-a-way from this that it’s worth the sacrifice to let go of possessions and to therefore be out of debt faster. I will never quite understand the other option you listed (”live in the moment” and forget debt) that I’m sure many people choose. When people talk about living that lifestyle, they act like it’s all fun times and less stress. However, that isn’t reality. The people I know who are in debt (even those who are not trying to pay it off or who are still in denial) are not living life to its fullest and are not truly happy. Instead, they are always living with the subtle (or overt) stress of lurking debt, potential debt collectors, and the self-esteem damage that comes from knowing they are living out of control and irresponsibly. Real “living in the moment” happens out of financial freedom/wealth, not debt. Also, the “living in the moment” cliche is so ridiculous in the financial context — first, we have our children to think about and their financial future even if we sometimes want to be immature in the moment; second, statistically most of us are going to live until retirement, so it’s not logical or happiness inducing to spend money as if we might die tomorrow.

It is a good reminder that you can’t take it with you. Family and relationships are the important things in life.

My prayers are with you