Money, what money?

Reason #3 Your life is better than mine.

Money, what money?

Let me start this post with a disclaimer. I am in no way, shape or form, saying that I disagree with paying child support, or that I am angry with my ex-wife because of the child support I pay. I have the utmost respect for her and all single mothers. They are my kids and I will pay whatever is necessary to ensure that they are cared for. This post is not a political statement or bitch session. It is nothing more than an attempt to laugh at my own horrible financial situation. Feel free to laugh along with me.

Here goes.

Last night I was celebrating my son's 16th birthday with the family when it donned on me just how broke I am at this stage of my life. As my son left the restaurant and walked to the car, birthday cash in hand, he officially had more money in his pocket than I had in my bank account. For a brief moment, visions of jumping him in the parking lot and taking his money popped into my head. Alas, I had no ski mask and I think he would have figured out it was me.

Since that moment, I have been reflecting on my financial situation. I am a smart, educated 44 year old man with a good paying job yet if someone were to glance at my bank statements and financial history they would confuse me with a young college kid with a crappy part-time job, and no real prospect for the immediate future. In some ways, I am reliving the college experience. I live in a two bedroom apartment, that is barely big enough to house me and the kids on the weekends. My car is older than my oldest son. If my paycheck actually makes it all the way through the pay period it is somewhat of a small miracle and my diet consists of pasta, potatoes and frozen dinners.

Things are so bleak, that I once told the boys that my plan was to save up a little bit of money so I could buy a new car for me and give them mine. GIVE, not sell. The response I received was a less than enthusiastic "Uh, That's okay Dad." The sad part is that I wasn't mad at them. Hard to be made, when you get it.

I can't get a part-time job because I travel for work. So, I am in a holding pattern for the next year until child support starts to drop off the books.  I have made it this long, so I guess another year of leftovers and free DVD rentals from the library wont kill me.

In conclusion, if you have two nickles to rub together and don't have to count your change before you decide whether or not to get the large fries with that, then your life is definitely better than mine. And, Oh by the way. Can I borrow some money.