In my last post I asked a question about money. I always get frustrated because talking about finances makes me feel like such an idiot. I never know what the right thing to do with our money is. When it comes to saving for our kids educations (529's etc), stocks, bonds, investing, 401k's. It is one area in life that I feel so uneducated on. I just make sure I pay my bills on time and keep saving. Other than that I feel clueless.
I need to take a class or read a book or something. Any recommendations on how to smarten up about money issues??
I feel pretty stupid about clothes - I really have know idea what's "cool", I pretty much just wear what fits and is comfy. Half the time when people on here are talking about certain types of boots, etc., I'm like "huh?" and go off to google.... L-)
I totally feel you on the whole money/finances thing! I'm so fortunate that DH is a rock star about it all (his parents are BOTH certified accountants... really fun family, heh heh) because I'm clueless. It's probably the #1 thing that makes me feel useless and incompetant.
When DD and my husband start talking science together.. I'm all WTF are you guys talking about? Then I get "mom, come on. You're like 34 and I'm 8. You should understand..." and that makes me feel even more stupid. Then I just walk out and put my headphones on.
Politics. History. Science. Geography. DH is a whiz with this stuff. I just space out feeling guilty that I have no idea what the dates of certain wars are. I used to be really good at Biology but I forgot virtually everything after college.
I'm so terrible about remembering people's names. Or I'll get 2 people mixed up and call one by the wrong name. Mostly this happens at school. First it was the office staff. And it happens sometimes with Lydia's classmates' parents. I know everyone now but it took a few months to get everyone straight. Anyway, when I call someone by the wrong name or simply can't remember their name, I think about the awkward conversation over and over for days and cringe every time. Sucks!
Politics. I have a passing knowledge of the issues but this is one area that I am definitely lacking in both interest and knowledge. I live just outside of DC so politics come up all the time. I probably should read up on this but I have absolutely no desire to.
History. The facts just don't stick in my head, at all. I retained very, very, very little of even the basic stuff we learned in elementary school. On the same note, I guess - other countries...both their current affairs and history.
DS (7 years old) from FET in 2010 DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012 TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
@dmartin726 I really liked Smart Couples Finish Rich. I can't remember the author's name, it's David something I think.
David Bach. Love his books.
**Nestie Besties with Deutschefairy**
Diagnosed PCOS '03, TTC #1 Since March '09
BFP - 10/20/10, M/C - 10/29/10
June 2011 - 50mg Clomid = No O
Dieted and exercised my butt off for PCOS = BFP 5/7/2012
Due 12/29/2012
I'm not good at understanding financial stuff, reading contracts, understanding even basic health care stuff. I have no idea how anything mechanical or structural works.
DH is good at all that stuff. But he doesn't know anything about design or art, music, general culture and asks for help pronouncing words sometimes. So we help each other out.
Statistics. Funny story, I did two shots before I took the final for that class and went in with a "fuck it" attitude. I memorized a bunch of equations and as soon as the test started I wrote them all down. I spent the entire test just putting numbers into equations until I had few enough variables to solve one.
No idea what any of it meant. Got a B. Either I brilliantly BS'd my way through that test or no one else understood it and there was a significant curve.
Reading my posts with grammatical and spelling errors lol! I try to type to fast on my phone.
Also, DH is crazy smart. He is a rated chess player, works in research, could name every classical music piece ever. I feel ignorant when we are the symphony with friends and they are all excited about some piece of music. I'm all, can't we see the one with lord of the rings music lol?
Also math and science. I did well in them in school, but once I got to college and finished my requirements it all fell out of my brain. That makes me feel lazy more than stupid though.
Politics, advanced math, mechanical stuff, some financial/insurance stuff (though I've learned a lot, esp. after talking to MIL a lot....she's an insurance wizard, I swear). I feel like I'd understand easily enough if these topics were explained to me, but I have a general lack of interest in learning them, so it's not knowledge that I seek out.
everything? lol. I grew up thinking I was smart. smarter than average even, turns out I was just a good reader, who completed my work quickly, which got me through elementary school. It did not, however help me in Algebra.
I am also really fascinated and dumbfounded by science. Space in general really just amazes me, but am not smart enough to understand shows like The Cosmos. I am smart enough to know I am stupid when it comes to that.
This show definitely makes me feel stupid. We are watching it as a family and I am lost at least 50% of the time (yeah, I'm being really generous with this number). My husband likes to discuss it afterwards with the kids and he remembers everything the show talked about and elaborates on what he thinks is most important. I just sit in my recliner, smiling and nodding with my knitting needles clicking away.
@magentawarped I seriously looked up how to hard boil eggs every single time for the longest time. Finally found a method that works great and memorized it lol. Eggs in pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, let it boil for one minute....remove from heat, cover, set timer for 12 minutes and then they're done! Cool them off in cold water and that's it.
DS (7 years old) from FET in 2010 DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012 TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
@magentawarped I seriously looked up how to hard boil eggs every single time for the longest time. Finally found a method that works great and memorized it lol. Eggs in pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, let it boil for one minute....remove from heat, cover, set timer for 12 minutes and then they're done! Cool them off in cold water and that's it.
Shoot. I have just been boiling them for 10 minutes.
@magentawarped I seriously looked up how to hard boil eggs every single time for the longest time. Finally found a method that works great and memorized it lol. Eggs in pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, let it boil for one minute....remove from heat, cover, set timer for 12 minutes and then they're done! Cool them off in cold water and that's it.
Shoot. I have just been boiling them for 10 minutes.
If it works and you remember it, keep doing it!
DS (7 years old) from FET in 2010 DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012 TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
Money issues - I get the basics, save, save for retirement, don't spend more than you make, etc. past that, I'm doomed. I had to call about one of my accounts and ask a question today and dh gave me the question to and and I told him I was going to have no idea what the person said. Thankfully the broker was very nice and explained it to me really well, but I was still trying to transcribe evey word. I repeated it to dh and he was all yep, that's exactly what I needed to know. Great, I'm glad it made sense to you. Politics. As in, I intentionally got a D in that class because I couldn't stand it and knew that was the lowest I could get and still "pass".
Hallelujah, it's a miracle, I have children AND a signature!
Anything that involves creativity or an artistic eye. I can say that I don't like something, or do like something, but I have no idea why. It causes tons of arguments between DH and myself when I can't explain why I don't like his newest decoration or design. All I have is "It just doesn't look right" We had an interior decorator come over and she went through the house and could explain in great detail why things were/were not working.
As for creativity, Pinterest is my friend. I cannot think of creative activities, art projects, or crafts on my own. My mom and DH can both walk into a store, see a vase, and see 20 fun and interesting uses for it. I see a vase.
Ug. So much. World news, now that I don't consistently keep up. Everyttime I try to I find I'm just so lost. Money management of any kind. I try to be involved but it's just over my head. Anything with numbers, actually. I've never been officially diagnosed but I'm pretty sure I have dysgraphia- similar to dyslexia but with numbers.
Re: What makes you feel stupid??
DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012
TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
**Nestie Besties with Deutschefairy**
Diagnosed PCOS '03, TTC #1 Since March '09
BFP - 10/20/10, M/C - 10/29/10
June 2011 - 50mg Clomid = No O
Dieted and exercised my butt off for PCOS = BFP 5/7/2012
Due 12/29/2012
DH is good at all that stuff. But he doesn't know anything about design or art, music, general culture and asks for help pronouncing words sometimes. So we help each other out.
No idea what any of it meant. Got a B. Either I brilliantly BS'd my way through that test or no one else understood it and there was a significant curve.
Also math and science. I did well in them in school, but once I got to college and finished my requirements it all fell out of my brain. That makes me feel lazy more than stupid though.
Also, eating healthy and cooking. I have no skills. I have to look up how to hard boil eggs almost every time.
DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012
TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
DD (5 years old) from IUI in 2012
TTC 3rd and final!: IUI #1 in progress!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
Politics. As in, I intentionally got a D in that class because I couldn't stand it and knew that was the lowest I could get and still "pass".