August 28, 2002
-
There seem to be quite a few things that my wife doesn't understand about me.
She doesn't understand my wish to shave my head, for example. She doesn't understand my penchant for certain combustibles. She doesn't understand my ability to say, "Fuck it, I'll do it tomorrow" and then say exactly the same thing again when tomorrow arrives.
But I think that the part of me that leaves her the most bewildered and frustrated is my attitude towards money.
Simply put, I'm just not interested in the stuff.
That's not to say that I don't appreciate money and what it can do; it's essentially that I seem to have a whole host of other things I consider more important.
Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy many of the things that money buys me and I know that without it life would be miserable. I just can't work up any enthusiasm for the pursuit of it.
I have no interest in matters financial; it bores me to distraction to have to think about savings plans and pensions and balancing checkbooks. My wife on the other hand, loves it all. The thought of it; how much we have, how much we're going to have and the facilitating thereof.
And all that is OK; she can do her thing and I can let her, comfortable in the knowledge that she's doing a much better job of things than I ever would. The problem arises when it comes to my business.
As I think you're probably aware, I am a teacher. I have my own school where I teach English to a total of about 120 students; adults and kids. I employ 2 part time teachers to help me and business is pretty good. Best of all, I really enjoy what I do, something I know that not everyone can say.
But I like things as they are. If I expand the business as my wife believes I should, more and more I will have to take off my teacher's cap and replace it with a businessman's hat. I will have to give up the part of my job that I love and devote myself to business plans and bank managers, which I would hate. And all this because my wife feels we need more money.
It's not that she's greedy; far from it, she's the most frugal person I know. She simply wants to safeguard our family's future. But I'm a terrible businessman. If you want to succeed in business, you have to want to build on your success, to want to grow and most importantly, to be good with money....
But success can be measured in other ways, at least in my mind. I'd rather be known as the best than the biggest and I truly get a kick out of knowing that I'm helping people to overcome the challenge of learning a language, while at the same time being reasonably priced. It makes me happy when people tell me how cheap my prices are! Too much of English teaching here is about money; schools charge huge amounts for classes with native speakers and often native speakers without any formal teaching qualifications. To give you an idea, one of the biggest schools in Japan charges students $3000 a year for a once a week 50 minute long group class and they have to pay the full amount in advance... I charge my students because we need to live; to have a roof over our heads, be fed and clothed and have enough left over to save, have a yearly holiday and go out for a meal from time to time....and they provide that. I'd honestly do it for free if I was able...OK, maybe we could do with a little more, (who couldn't?) but I just can't summon up any enthusiasm for the task of making that happen...
And like I said, my wife finds that hard to understand.
Comments (20)
Interesting, yet funny.
I hear you... my wife is the financial manager in my family too. I periodically get calls from her and she will be in tears because "we are so broke", like there is something I can do about it beyond what I'm already doing. Yet everytime I remind her of the kind of cash caucasian infants bring in the baby market, and how she has all the right plumbing for that kind of pursuit, she suddenly decides that we can somehow "make do". Go figure...
Hey! I'm going to use that line...
I have always been the one wo worry about money in the house too. Women just do that Bob.. we are good at it. And we always want more. Not because we're greedy.. because we want a cushion in the bank in case of trouble. ( Layoffs or furnace blow-ups).
Solution to your problem? Maybe you could charge the students a bit more money and that way you can stay in the teaching end of things and your wife will have more to count at weeks end. (?) Just a thought.....
Hmm... I'm kinda in between the two of you... I want security... sure... but I have a very altruistic side as well... will give my friends needed money over getting myself a pizza or whatever any day.
And I liked the joke.
Oh my crap. That joke busted me up.
As for the differences in the marriage, you sound like me and your wife sounds like my husband. I really have no desire to pursue more and more money. Although, for other reasons, I am just now taking my real estate exam and signing on with a broker next week. But it's more of a back-up plan, or a side job. It's not changing my REAL JOB, which is to write/edit technical documentation on a contract basis.
I tried being a documentation manager for a high-tech firm. I lasted a whole six months, then it was back to writing/editing for me. Managing just completely took the joy out of it for me.
I'd shave my head too, if my hubby would let me.
Actually, I totally like bald men. I did a blog about it once.
Whoops. That last comment (Donnelly66) was from me. I forgot I was logged in over there, to get the blog ID for ya.
And... I forgot to leave eProps!
Now if only I could find my head. Oh wait! There it is! Up my arse!
Too funny. I would worry about money, except I don't have any. Oh well. One day...
loved the joke...and your point about money. it's good to know that there are people like you in this world.
Aaaahahahaha, wank is a great word for it.
Seriously, as long as you have enough to be comfortable, money isn't the be all and end all of things. Sucks that it kinda' seems like it sometimes though.
Money is just money...the way I look at it, people who save for a rainy day-- eventually get rained on. I've never had to worry about it and amazingly it's always there.
P.S. You can be in my movie... but first you'll have to audition, first with the writer, and then with... oh hell, we'll work it out.
you have the *passion* to teach...it is a gift... like an artist...and ...most artists... r so in to the creative process..that ..the... mundane life things...elude them...
))
is nice u have someone to do the details
hopes u find a balance u can live with
u have a good gig
...i would love to ... swap... and ..teach in Japan 
interesting how life paths go
loves the joke
)... gave me a good giggle 
thank u
Interesting...any advice for a soon-to-be-graduated English Ed major who's interested in teaching ESL?
Hehe, thanks for the joke, I really needed it this morning.
You know, I really hope I find someone like your wife (but uh, you know, male) I'm terrible at managing my money. As far as I'm concerned, I make it to spend it. Of course, I don't have any kids to worry about either...
In our house, HE worries about the money. I don't worry. I live in the Flow, the universe supports me. It sent me a guy who worries about money.
I loved teaching english when I lived in Japan! I swear, my students taught me so much more than I ever taught them and it was almost a shame to take their money for it.
But we all have to live, right?
Props. success seems like it should be from inside rather than in a greasy paper form
I think I like your wife. lol
Money is nice, but I certainly don't have a head for it. I spend it if I can, don't if I can't. Maybe I should think about it more, but no, I don't think so.
I liked the joke, especially since I know quite a few Japanese and Brits. In the States the garbage men would just pass by the house if there were no trash cans out.
THat was hilarious. Me being second generation Japanese in Canada, plus loving British Humour....loved it
Comments are closed.