Election Day, campaign ads, and the economy

Today is the day to vote. (Legal US Citizens only) This also means all those stupid campaign ads will finally end! 90% seem to really say nothing, take items out of context, and are worthless. I made some of my own below...

"Mark Nobody hates babies! He voted against babies 3 times! He also hates seniors! He'll take all your money!"

"Jane Person is accusing Mark Nobody of hating seniors and babies - but lets look at the facts. Both of Marks parents are seniors, and Mark was once a baby - would he hate his own family? Jane is unclear on the facts."

I hear on the news frequently how bad the economy is now, and I guess maybe that is a personal thing, because I am making more money than I ever have, and have more disposable income than I've ever had. I know some are without jobs, and things can be tough, but I think there are jobs out there if you are willing to relocate, and work. Yes gas and food prices have increased some, but in my opinion not that much. I think the real problem with the economy is that people are living beyond their means, often by incurring debt. They buy the biggest house they think they can afford, and get two cars, and finance them, they go out to eat, and buy fancy bottled water, and are living paycheck to paycheck on decent salary. Then if inflation happens or prices change, or they lose a job they are in serious trouble.

I haven't always followed my parents advice, but I was taught that if you want a car, you save up your money then you buy a car, and it might be a used car if that is what you can afford. (and to add to that a stake president, Pratt, taught us if you can afford a $40,000.00 car then buy a $20,000.00 car and give the rest to fast offerings). My parents taught me the principles to live within your means. Just because you can get a 300,000.00 loan doesn't mean you should buy that much house. Looking back we didn't have lots of money growing up, especially considering there were 8 kids, but I never felt like we were poor. We were happy and well taken care of because we lived within our means.

As a younger generation I think we look at all the things our parents and grandparents have; houses, cars, jewelry, lawnmowers, tools, furnishings, etc. and we decide hey I want that too. That is fine, but what we often forget is that our parents have worked for 30-40 years or more to obtain all that they have now. We can't go out and try to get it all for ourselves in 1 year. If we do - then we are probably living beyond our means, and it will catch up to us.

So learn to live on a little less, and be happy with what you have. And if gas prices go back up, or bread costs more, you won't suffer because of it.