ReTRo HouSeWiFe

MONEY & INVESTING FOR HOUSEWIVES

In the old days, financial matters were usually left up to the husband. However, the modern retro housewife is certainly not adverse to lending a helping hand in this area and depending on hubby's occupation and education, may even be the better half when it comes to money!

This doesn't mean put your husband on a leash or nag at him about all matters money, it means become a good study and learn a thing or two so that you and your husband can be partners in a prosperous future.

I do not intend to teach you how to become a millionaire overnight; If I knew that I would be writing about how to properly furnish a 60 ft yacht. But, I do know a thing or two about finances and have adopted some principals that have served my family well.

First some observations I have made:

• People generally fall into two categories; those who have money and those who don't. I don't mean some people are rich and some are poor, rather that some people always have savings and know how to live within their means, whereas others are always overextended on their credit cards and have one foot in bankruptcy court.
• No matter how much money you make, you can and should save some of it for a rainy day and to invest. I hear people complaining all the time about how hard it is to save money because they only make $X amount, blah blah blah. Talk to some of the older folks around who have been through really hard times (like a war or the great depression) and then you will get an idea of what it is not to have money.
• Having savings or access to a reserve can keep you out of financial ruin, and ensure that you and your husband are sipping margaritas in Florida in your golden years, instead of slaving away at a Piggly Wiggly^*1 until you drop dead.
• Greedy people often do stupid things, are not to be trusted and are generally unhappy. They remind me of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings.
• If it sounds too good to be true, 99% of the time it is. 1% of the time it isn't and there is a lot of money to be made if you don't get greedy and do stupid things.
• The best way to make money long term is to find something you really like to do and become very good at it. If you are a housewife, you probably don't receive a "paycheck", but as the major spending arm of the family you have just as much influence on the family finances as your husband. Get good at being a housewife!

^* I don't know if there is such a thing as a "Piggly Wiggly" or if their employees actually slave away. I just heard the name on "That 70s Show" and think it is fun to say.

April 10, 2007 Update! This just in!

Hi, my name is Danielle. I was just writing to say that there is a store called "Piggly Wiggly". We actually have one in our small town in Louisiana. LOL. But know people don't slave there! It is actually a grocery store!!!

And, as it turns out, Piggly Wiggly has a website! I think I love Piggly Wiggly.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us at the retro housewife hotline!