Comments on: Personal Finance In A Family Crisis http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: kevin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-52167 kevin Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:03:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-52167 Not to be a grammar freak or anything, but I just learned that penultimate means “second to last.”
so my previous post is totally wrong and makes scense in light of that.
Thus, penultimate really should not be used as “second place.”

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=penultimate

]]> By: Brip Blap http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51935 Brip Blap Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:35:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51935 Having just gone through a similar crisis in my family involving the loss of someone very dear and central to our whole extended family, this is very true. Concerns about money go out the door, but we were reminded of another great point. Our relative had gone to great lengths to prepare his finances, arrange for the funeral to be paid for, his wife provided for, his wishes regarding even the smallest details of his estate to be communicated, etc. Preparing all of this was a great comfort to us, since it eliminated any worries about trivial matters and allowed us to concentrate on remembering his life and honoring his memory.

Worrying about paying for plane tickets, etc. would be petty concerns about money. Worrying about how to provide for your widow, find out where you hid all of the account numbers, etc. would not be petty, it would be unfortunate. I really was touched by how much effort he had put into making sure WE wouldn’t have to worry. Made me remember I needed to get my affairs in order, too, no matter how healthy I feel.

]]> By: pfodyssey http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51287 pfodyssey Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:22:27 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51287 I believe it is true that the “difference between knowledge and wisdom is experience”. Unfortunately, it just seems to take a really long time get that experience. It is no mistake that sayings like “if I only knew then what I know now” don’t quite resonate until you reach a certain age. I think the same applies here as it relates to family and its importance in life. In the end, it’s all the really matters. I think we all intuitively know it to be true…it’s unfortunate that is sometimes takes not so great circumstances to remind us.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51016 Cathy Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:27:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-51016 I just wanted to say that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

]]> By: FrugalTrader http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50998 FrugalTrader Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:22:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50998 Times like that makes us realize that money isn’t as important as what we make it all out to be.

My condolences Trent.

FT
htt://www.milliondollarjourney.com

]]> By: DJ http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50942 DJ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:59:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50942 My condolences to your family, Trent.

Now regarding finance and crisis, it irks me a bit when people talk about the sacrifices they make during these times, classifying things like spending extra money on food, traveling, canceling plans with friends, etc. as sacrifice. That is not sacrifice. That is the least you can do. It’s nothing to be patted on the back for. This is what family and friends do for each other if they have the relationship that they should.

And penultimate means next to last. So Eric is right.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50916 Trent Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:59:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50916 Yes, penultimate, because ultimate is your own life and health. It’s next to the ultimate.

]]> By: Ian http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50884 Ian Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:53:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50884 @kevin: Yeah, it might be true, but it’s still not what he meant. Look at the last line of the post. He means “ultimate”, not “penultimate”.

]]> By: Erica http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50882 Erica Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:41:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50882 Great post, thanks for the reminder.

]]> By: kevin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50868 kevin Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:05:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50868 “For many people, their family and close friends are of penultimate importance.”

I really like this line, and I would think it’s true since you can’t quantify the term “many.”

I would say that either God or a spouse would be above family and friends for “many people.”

]]> By: Todd http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50863 Todd Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:40:33 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50863 Man that is so true. It is life. You just kind of have to accept that people are the way they are. You can only control your thoughts and reactions. Be happy that you rose to the occasion in this situation without thinking twice.

It sucks to sink to that level and become petty but we all do it from to time.

My prayers are with you Trent.

BTW I love your blog. I just started reading it in June. I’m a business major striving to graduate Cum Laude in May and get my MBA in 4-5 years. I really have been learning the value of time, money etc… these past few years in college.

Thank you for your blog.

]]> By: Avlor http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50857 Avlor Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:23:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50857 Sorry to hear your family is going through a tough situation. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

]]> By: Vincent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50854 Vincent Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:11:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50854 You’re exactly right about crises exposing what’s really important to you.

My dad had a small heart attack a couple of weeks ago. He’s fine, but at his age (66), anything like that is scary. I get really annoyed really easily with my dad, and was angry at first at him for not taking care of his diet like he knows he should. But it didn’t matter when he was laying there in the hospital bed. I made the drive to the city (traffic and all) several times to see him with my brothers and sisters-in-law, despite obvious expense and inconvenience. We bought gifts and spent time with him and so on. Expenses stop mattering at times like that.

Sorry you guys are going through a rough time, Trent.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50849 Jeremy Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:03:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50849 Trent,

There are many things much more important than money in this world – thanks for the reminder.

]]> By: limeade http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50845 limeade Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:55:54 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50845 It’s a shame that it takes a crisis for us to realize this sometimes. Whatever it is, I hope all is well.

]]> By: David http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50844 David Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:49:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50844 My thoughts are with you on whatever is going on Trent.

]]> By: Eric http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50843 Eric Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:45:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50843 “For many people, their family and close friends are of penultimate importance.”

I would think that most people don’t place their friends and family as their next to last important part of their lives.

]]> By: Jay http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50841 Jay Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:41:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/07/27/personal-finance-in-a-family-crisis/#comment-50841 Great post! Its nice to put a perspective on getting/making/spending money. It is very true that money assumes secondary importance during a crisis. My dad was diagnosed with early stages of throat cancer last year and started on chemotherapy. I decided it was best to take unpaid leave for a month and spend time with my folks taking care of them. That trumped any monetary gains I would’ve had by working during that time. This is why we save for emergency funds, right? :)

]]>