"Stay out the deep water if you can't swim" takes me back to summer camp. Those were the instructions or orders from the Boy Scout Camp lifeguard. People could have used this advice during the internet bubble and certainly during this sub-prime bubble.
Most people tend to get caught up in the moment. They see everyone running with the bulls and figure that they must be going somewhere. They fail to realize as with real events, some people like the thrill of running with the bulls. Those who get trampled return the next year for the same.
I, like most of the frugal few, will never run with the bulls and so will suffer sleepy peaceful nights never worrying about interest only loans, ARM's, and balloon payments. The frugal few remembered the lifeguard's warnings or other sayings like, "Sooner or later you have to pay the piper". The Frugal Black Masses will suffer the scorn of living in homes that we can afford, driving used cars, and "oh my God!", wearing gently used clothes. We will retire debt free in good health and only have to work because we want to. Please have pity on us.
I don't like to get preachy here. Those who are in the sub-prime messes have already beat themselves up enough and those who didn't, don't need the preaching, and so I will move on.
I finally purchased my first I-pod nano last week. My very best buddy and my tech guru finally convinced me. I normally jog 2 to 3 times a week and that free Time magazine small radio was not cutting it anymore. My favorite shows like NPR's Cartalk and Fresh Air kept fading in and out and I also needed some upbeat music to jog to.
My buddy had been trying to convince me for the last few years to get one. My reservations about the first I-pod were that it was too expensive and I would crack the hard drive. I couldn't keep from dropping my cell phone so I knew the I-pod would not cut it. Then along came the first Nano with flash drive, it was nice, but the cover smudged and scratched. Then low and behold finally the 2nd generation Nano came along, scratch proof cover, but $150-200 was still too much for a frugal brother like me. I was just about ready to break down and get a Sansa when my buddy bet me that he could find mea Nano for under $100 with 2 gig of memory.
Well, he found it and I purchased it on tax free weekend for our state. The total was $99.00 including free shipping. I loaded it up with my music (SamCooke, Smokey, Luther, Grandmaster, and MJ) and can't wait for my jog on Tuesday.
Frugal Frank from the Blackside
