I pride
myself on having taken my own advice early on and set up savings bank accounts
for the girls with regular direct deposits into them. Last year my eighteen
year old travelled overseas instead of presenting herself at the annual
schoolies event and her savings account was her saving grace for her overseas
spending monies. Actually she took far too much of the princely sum of money I
had managed to save for her but as I told her, once it is gone, it is gone and
therefore future savings would be her responsibility.
My
youngest is 'in the same boat' with a nice little bundle but has decided to do
the schoolies thing instead of overseas travel (she accompanied us overseas not
so long ago and I think she is a little 'over' it for the time being.)
I was
recently at lunch with some girlfriends and we we were discussing our children
and the road ahead for them. I mentioned the savings accounts to them and they
both commented on what a great mum I was to initate the savings. I honestly
didn't think much of it back when I signed them up so I patted myself on the
back for my efforts.
I often
joke around with my own girls about probably not being able to leave them too
much financially when I am gone. My jewellery collection will probably have to suffice which
interestingly my youngest informs both myself and her sister that she would
prefer my collection of hand-compiled cookbooks instead of the jewellery (yes
I am a very keen cook and I am thrilled my girls have caught my 'bug'). At this
point my eldest 'chimes in' and states that she too would like the recipe books. I advise them that they will just have to work that out for themselves
when I am 'gone.'
The
experience of being a single mum for a number of years back then, and needing to have a
meeting with our then bank manager and explain to her that it will be 'me' that
she will need to communicate with in future due to my ex jumping on a plane and
heading back to his motherland, apparently because I just wasn't giving him
enough attention (his words to the marriage counsellor, not mine) and so ending
our marriage. The bank manager's response was that she always liked me more
anyway, to which we both giggled like school girls, shared a cup of coffee
whilst she attempted to console me and help me hold back my tears and she and I became great
mates. The tears are well and truly gone I can assure you. So whilst my marriage had ended, this time was also the most
character-building time of my life and I am not just saying that. It is
absolutely true. I grew so much as a person and as a female some days I do feel I can take on the world.
So I
managed to be able to put aside these savings for the girls which would be no
more than enough to be able to assist on the purchasing of maybe a decent
second-hand car, maybe but that is okay. Knowing how financially tough things
are out there I also yearn to also be able to leave them well 'cashed-up' when
I am gone, and wouldn't we all want the same for our children? However I know
that, from my own personal experiences, having to strive for your money and
ensure there is enough to pay those bills and to also have some set aside for
those rainy days, makes us all the more appreciative of our purchases.
I
reassure myself at these reflective times and having been able to give them a
good education for which I do expect them to work hard toward a good
occupation. I explain that this will allow them to fall back on their
education/degrees no matter what they are dealt in life, and this is possibly
the most valuable asset I can leave them and yes I am very satisfied with that.
No I think that I can remove the word 'possibly' from that last sentence.
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