Three Cruisers

Situation:  Years ago, Phil, a middle-aged single man, a co-worker of mine at the time, inherited approximately $20,000 from his father's estate.  He already had a house and a car, so with this extra money, he decided to quit his job and travel in Europe (at that time, nurses were in such short supply, he knew he could get a job when he returned).  Phil had no timetable and stayed in a place as long as he wanted, then caught a train and moved on to the next place.  He went on this trip by himself.  Loving every minute, Phil stayed the longest time in Italy.  It took him six months to use up the money.

Johnetta, a lady I met briefly, also inherited money, more than Phil.  Johnetta was a single mother of four teenagers.  She owned a car but rented their home; Johnetta worked as a clerk.  Without consulting any of her family and friends, Johnetta used the money to take the children on a long cruise.  They had never been on a cruise and had a great time.

A young single man I know well, Floyd, was unemployed yet went on multiple cruises for years.  We wondered how he afford them but figured his parents financed them.  Floyd told us of his every move during these trips.

Lessons learned:  Surely vacations and trips are a luxury that can only be indulged in, if all the necessities are covered!  To my mind, Phil seemed responsible to use his inheritance in this way.  He said, "I think my dad would want me to enjoy this."

What about Johnetta?  With children 'still in the nest,' perhaps she could have better spent the money for a house down payment, or college for the children, or for 'a rainy day.'

And Floyd!  I don't fault him for using his parents' money, freely given, yet doesn't it seem his priority might have been working harder at getting a job?

Outcome: I lost track of Phil and Johnetta.  Floyd is still unemployed; his parents are in serious financial difficulty and may lose their house soon.

Our Take-away:  Wisdom, prudence, 'street smarts' are all a part of responsible living.  There is no substitute!  Ponder carefully about the person you're dating.  Do they overspend?  Do they indulge in frivolous things, luxuries they cannot afford but would like you to get for them?  Marriages must be built on love and trust but responsibility and wisdom play a big part in a happy life!