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G’day folks and folkettes,
Gonna try and keep this one short today – cos it’s about to get real real.
So MrsFrugalSamurai and I have a nasty habit of picking up our kids quite late from daycare.
Our poor kids are usually the last ones (if not the last one) left.
When I arrive, their facial expressions are not dissimilar to RSPCA rescue animals when a potential owner shows up.
Regardless, bad parenting aside – this also means that we form bonds with other parents of similar neglected animals children, as they (the children) typically play outside the daycare past closing time, whilst we (the parents) chat amongst ourselves.
As this is a new year, both our kids have moved up a class and there’s a whole bunch of new kids (and parents) in the new classes.
And to be honest, these new parents are FULL ON.
Most, if not all the convos are a derivative of “which school is your son/daughter going to?”
Followed by “where do you guys live?”
Basically, I have determined – that here on the North Shore, 70% of your worth as a parent, nay as an individual, as assessed by other parents – is calculated via your answers from those 2 questions.
The correct answers are:
“insert name of private school”
“insert name of suburb where median house price exceeds $4m”
Woe is the heathen individual who deviates from those two answers.
The other 30% is a visual assessment of the family car.
I’ve never felt a greater urge to upgrade our Toyota Camry than it parked amongst the BMWs, Mercs, Porsches, Maseratis and GODDAMN BENTLEYS.
Who knew that because I want the best education for my children, I now have to look for a Euro V8 diesel-powered SUV?
Seriously speaking, I dislike these pissing contests greatly, and having come from a very humble background – am perfectly happy to just “make do” (my name is the FRUGAL Samurai after all).
So I personally am very reluctant to let go of the Camry.
Unfortunately I know how the real world works, how big a part perception plays on a social and professional level.
I also know what lifestyle creep is, and what it means and how yes, it does creep up on you – like some perverted shadow whispering in your ear.
Sometimes I look back when I was hustling and grinding all those years ago, when it was just MrsFrugalSamurai and I in a cramped lil 2 bdr apartment – rising at 4am for a flight to check out some no name regional town because it has “good prospects” or waking up at 5am in a 1 star Perth motel cos of the time difference, excited to check out the 15 properties on that day’s list – that was when I was truly living, working towards a goal.
Not having to deal with daycare and kids and the kids’ judgy parents.
Just when it was me and the relentless pursuit of FIRE.
Sigh.
But back to reality – things are different now, we’ve upgrade the suburb, we’ve upgraded the house, I guess it’s time to upgrade the car.
Maybe it will get us there on time to pick up the kids.
Or maybe not.
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P.S. Every post is the personal opinion of yours truly, please seek your own personal financial advice regarding your own personal circumstances.
