Life Decisions Influenced By Money

For the past few years I have pursued my creative passions instead of money, opting to essentially work for free instead of taking a job that earned me a paycheck. I am able to live this way and still enjoy a comfortable lifestyle because my partner (husband) is able to provide for our family of 4 and truly believes it is the best use of my time and energy.

I was brought up with the understanding that I made my own money and I needed no one to “support” me. Very different philosophy with parents who graduated high school in 1959. I had to do it all for myself.

Before I agreed to marry my second husband, I made sure that he was not in debt and was financially able to contribute to the future of my family.

Hmmm, have been thinking about this for a few days.  Nothing really major comes to mind.  I think I have tried to make all my major life decisions based on my heart not my wallet. I recognize that makes me a very fortunate person and different from the majority of women in this world.

Divorce removed a considerable portion of my income. Not wanting support, or what was called “alimony” then, I took on a second job to help with expenses.  30 years later I think I did the right thing. Not feeling indebted is a good thing.

Accept and honor the fact that childcare is more than half my salary.

In an effort to save money for my family from the high cost of medical care,  my disc herniation was misdiagnosed- prolonging an ongoing and agonizing back problem exacerbating the condition and eventually causing me to become immobile for over a month and a half!

Even though my sister & I were born 1051 & 1953 and raised Southern Baptist Texas Republicans, my father expected both of as to go to college & have carers just like our brothers – and he paid for college though it meant we lived pretty simply. Even though it flies in the face of boomer financial advice, I did the same for my son when I was in my late 50’s & early 60’s. No early retirement for me but I love it! I got a new job 5 months ago and I’m psyched for the next phase of my career and making a real difference in the world. Sorry this is so long – feel free to edit.

I did not buy an apartment in Soho because my husband and I were just married and thinking about starting a family. The decision was short sighted because the property has a value at least 20 times .

When picking my life partner and husband 37 years ago, I was very thoughtful about our joint ambitions to be sure they would contribute to a productive, successful, harmonious. and financially sound life together.

As a person who grew up in working poverty, making the decision to pursue a degree committed me to years of finding scholarships, grants, and work that allowed me to afford college. I was in debt for many years, struggled with a variety of jobs to pay the bills. Bit hard work alone does not get one out of poverty: EDUCATION is the key. Now as a Vice-president at a university, it is my duty and honor to help other “first gen” students find their way.

I chose to be a working mother and continue my career as a professional educator including seeking my Master’s Degree during that time period. Both my decision to work outside the home and to pursue a graduate degree were directly related to me being a role model for my children (especially my daughter) and being self-sufficient and independent financially.

I learned to be a waitress so I could have an income when I moved to the Virgin Islands.

In an effort to stay on the high road in my daughter’s eyes, I compromised my financial well being in my divorce.NYC/Bi

My important life decision influenced by money was to buy-in to being a co-owner (part of a co-op) of a studio building after getting kicked out of one too many art studios. That’s the positive one. The negative one was not to get my art book printed after spending many years working on it, getting a grant for the pre-press work, having several writers contribute essays and a graphic designer doing a gorgeous design. It was just too expensive to print. So it is still in its cocoon.

Just like so many people to whom I had sold cars in the 1970s, I was a payment buyer on my first post-law-school house: it had to be $500 down and no more than $500 a month. I got it! I loved it.

I chose to get an education  and train for a career, so that I would be capable of supporting  my family financially if hardships such as divorce or death of a spouse happened.

An important life decision for me was to pursue my Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing. I was willing to accrue two more years of debt to have the experience of working on MFA. I was personally looking at how to advance my work through another concentrated painting experience and study. In retrospect, since I have taught for thirty-five years, ultimately my masters has earned me more salary and retirement throughout my life.

When in my late 30’s divorcing my lawyer husband, I had a small child and was starting life over. I was an artist and went to my studio daily and held down multiple  jobs, took care of my daughter and the house. Once I filed for divorce, I knew that multiple jobs would not work because I wanted stability for my daughter. I went back to school to get a k-12 art teaching license so I could have financial stability and do my work. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!

I worked very hard to get a complete education, to please my family’s expectations, in the hopes of gaining a full time college teaching position.  In the end I seemed to always get positions teaching art history.  Finally in my 50s I decided to quit teaching college & pursue my art & work with private students.  I make far less money but am much happier as a person and I have been much more productive as an exhibiting artist.  Looking at my retirement years I am somewhat concerned about my lack of retirement savings, but I believe somehow it will all work out.  Being an artist means being willing to take risks.

Not being able to afford birth control because insurance wouldn’t cover it.