Saving for a rainy day? What's the point?
16/08/2010
In your Comment column in August you used a phrase 'to save for a rainy day'. It reminds me of a story: A Life-insurance company had been advertising with the slogan 'Save For a Rainy Day' and was not getting the results they expected. Then they changed their slogan to 'Save For A Happy Day'' and the money came pouring in!
My policy in life has been to make sure my daughter does not want/need to
inherit anything from me. Fortunately she is happily working and does not see the need to have such expectations. Now I use up my saving on pleasure (mainly travel) while I am healthy and interested in life. Although 70 years old, I still happily stay in Backpackers' Hostels or small Hotels where the local
people are very approachable. I travel on local transport in the remotest of
countries and make sure to eat where there are local patrons. This gives travel a great dimension and I am certainly enjoying the savings I thought were earmarked for a 'rainy day'.
For many people this can be a frightening prospect and we want to know that we are 'secure', but sometimes savings are only there for those who inherit. Why deny yourself the pleasure of spending some of it?!
Hilda Matthews
Hilda's blog in Africa can be accessed by the link below
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