I made a bunch of videos in April. You know, for all the means. More accurately, our crack video production team in New York made a bunch of videos in April and I somewhat impeded the process by standing around unsure of what to do with my hands (“Grace, you have hands ALL the time, remember?”) and grimacing scarily when they told me to smile.
Everyone on the team knows about my financial education company and my blog and my … tendency to dispense LBYM advice, solicited or not. And they still showed up to work that day! Because they are kind and because we were all trapped together in a soundproof box for eight hours, they listened politely to whatever I was ranting about and showed off the lunch they brought from home.
One of them—our talented cinematographer and occasional wardrobe stylist—had just gotten accepted to graduate school for film and we got around to talking about funding because I am predictable like that.
She had been accepted to a few places and was leaning toward a particular one, even though that one was offering her significantly less money. I peppered her with questions about post-graduation career and salary prospects and the nature of the limited funding she was getting. Was it guaranteed for the entire time she was in school? What kind of money was it—mostly loans? Grants? Would it cover living expenses? Was she planning to work while in school? Am I, like, the best co-worker ever?
In the end, the school felt like a better fit for her. And, she said, it’s my dream program. Stephanie—did I get a look on my face when you said that?
Don’t get me wrong. We are big fans of dreams here at Live Beneath Your Means. Articulating your dreams, or their more prosaic cousin goals, is the first step of any good financial plan, and a step you should return to with some regularity. Because the reality is that your dreams and goals will change, and in some cases, change radically.
You might change radically.
I have no doubt this film program is Stephanie’s dream and that she will have a wonderful, enriching experience there. I just don’t want it to curtail the dreams of Stephanie, circa 2030. And nothing is more of a millstone to dreams, now and in the future, than debt. OK—end of student loan lecture … oh, the places you’ll go 😀!
Do you know who I think about a lot? Me. In 2045. Is this because my Bible study group is all octogenarians? Maybe. Me in 2045 looks a lot like … The Golden Girls. I am definitely in Florida. There is cheesecake.
Think about who you were 5, 10, or even 25 years ago. Do you think your dreams then were what they are now? Back then, did you think nothing could possibly be better than two hours on a Wednesday afternoon rummaging through the clothing bins at your favorite thrift store? Of course not. You were too busy bopping to Ace of Base and watching the water polo team practice on campus, duh!
I need to get a little creative for 70-year-old me. I want to make sure I … I mean she … umm, I mean I have the life I think she’ll want then. Clear? THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I LIVE BENEATH MY MEANS. So she can order the senior special and play mahjongg.
Humans are pretty short-sighted (Exhibit A: destruction of only planet we have). Let me make a case to occasionally picture Future You and think about what she might want or need. Hey there, renter. Future You might want to buy a house. Hey there, MBA. Future You might want to quit her job and travel around the world. Hey there, optimist. Bad stuff might happen to even Future You.
Will she be able to handle it?