Thursday, January 22, 1998
A Before-and-After
Fribble
by Donna Bennett
([email protected])
Last night I sat in my car in the middle of the commute, stuck in traffic at the toll plaza. The lines of cars were gaining ground at a slower rate than a short-term bank CD. Carried away by the funkadelic blaring from the stereo, I got to thinking about how much my life has changed since I got Foolish. "I'm out of debt," I exclaimed to myself, "I'm on my way! I'm in control of my finances and I've got Plans with a capital P!" I considered declaring myself Momentary Queen of the Toll Plaza. Even George Clinton was urging me to, uh, tear the roof off the suckah.
But when the song ended, the theme from "Rocky" did not cue up to take its place. Nor was a red carpet rolled out to prepare for my coronation. I inched toward the toll gate. My thoughts turned to the 2000 times (give or take a few) that I'd driven through that toll plaza, and I wondered if much had really changed at all. I groped for specific examples.
B.F. (Before Foolishness): Shopped in crowded, noisy malls for high-ticket items that I could conceivably sell at a yard sale in ten years for a few bucks.
A.F. (After Foolishness): Shop online in my bedroom, with a cup of coffee in my hand and the cat on my lap, for undervalued small-cap stocks that I could conceivably sell in ten years for several times their original price.
B.F.: Had gourmet meals delivered to my door regularly because I deserved a reward for surviving the day.
A.F.: Purchase groceries carefully and create fabulous meals for myself because I deserve a reward (and to keep what I earned) for surviving the day.
B.F.: Considered buying a new computer with that unexpected windfall, because it would be great fun to play with, I'd learn a lot, and I'd never miss that money that I wasn't expecting anyway.
A.F.: Buy stock in a new sector with that unexpected windfall, because it will be great fun to research and value, I'll learn a lot, and I'll never miss that money that I wasn't expecting anyway... and it just might be a ten-bagger.
So, in a sense, things aren't much different than Before Foolishness. I still go shopping, have fun, and eat wonderful meals. But there are a few new twists: freedom from debt, and increasing financial security and savvy.
Finally I made it to the gate. I paid my toll for the 2001st time and Fooled on down the road.
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