I had a conversation with a family member tonight and I haven't been able to put it to rest in my mind. The conversation began with me mentioning that I told DH we would not be getting an air conditioner unit installed, until I could save up the cash for it.
When she (the family member) asked me why, I laid our debts out in front of her and explained that I felt overwhelmed and wanted to pay them off as quickly as possible. I simply did not want to add any more debts to our pile at this stage. She smiled at me and said 'yes, but this debt isn't a want anymore, it's a need'.
Usually, I don't think twice when told by most people what they qualify a need or want as.. but I did this time for one reason - This particular person that I was having a conversation with is super frugal and has been for decades. I've never known her to spend carelessly in any department and I believe she has a strong sense of need versus want. She is probably the most frugal person I will ever know. And it made me think. And I wondered.. "could I really just have become such a tightass that I can't even see what's necessary in life anymore?"
So I'm asking for opinions.. Tell me what you honestly think (I won't be offended).
Here are the details:
-The air conditioning unit will cost us 4,500.
-We live in an area that hits 100-113 farenheit on some summer days with very high humidity. Our house has poor (read: no) insulation and I have four little ones (including an infant) at home.
-Summer officially ends in 4 weeks, but as we don't have typical seasons, it may not mean very much in the end.
-I suffer from heat induced migraines but have just been 'putting up' and making do with keeping cold rags on my head, splashing water on my face regularly and literally sitting in front of the fan all day.
What are your thoughts? Would you have continued to wait it out if you were living in those conditions for 3 long months (and in that financial situation)? Did I really do my family a disservice here? I thought keeping my family free of debt was 'serving them well', but now I'm not so sure I made the right choice... All input is appreciated.
Edited by LoveOurBabies - 1/29/13 at 10:00pm
Yes, the portable/window air con is around $500AUD here for a cheap unit.
because migraines suck. And no one deserves to have to deal with them. I'd try to avoid them any way I could. But if it meant putting myself into debt, that wouldn't be smething I would even consider. I actually don't even own a credit card but I wouldn't consider getting one to be able to spend outside my means. I think we work within our budget, save for larger purchases, and buy when we have the money in hand. I don't really understand credit. It makes no sense to me to buy something on credit to have the instant gratification when you can wait a little bit and NOT have to pay interest. I DO understand when it's an absolute necessity that you cannot afford and it would otherwise negatively impact your life such as a car repair or a medical bill that you have no way to push off any further or such. You seem to know what sets off your migraines so I'll assume you visited your doctor and got diagnosed and have discussed the pro's and con's of meds, alternative treatments/therapies, and other options available to you. You've decided that you aren't capable of spending the hottest days at the library or at the local pool/lake/whatever and that you truly NEED this for your home. <-----that would be my process of thought if I were afflicted. And in that case, i think I would continue to save up my money as long as humanly possible to afford this air conditioner/installation even if it meant another summer of suffering. If my condition became absolutely debilitating, I would then speak with my partner seriously about the need for change. But if I was able to function I would really try to avoid credit cards.
I was ready to evict this last babe at 2 days overdue.
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