Dear Real Simple Magazine...

I have been an avid reader some time now...I love the articles on organization, decorating, product comparisons, and aha! uses just to name a few; imagine my excitement when I discovered you had added a "money matters" article in your June edition!


Interruption for back story: It's a money advice case study if you will...they present Mrs. X, young mother of 1 who decided to become a stay-at home Mom...okay, I can relate somewhat. She reports that she and her husband's combined income of 200K has been cut by 1 salary...you're starting to lose me here...She's stressed by her monthly expenditures which is about $4500/mo (Ms. thing already has an established budget she follows) is not going to be sustained by a one salary AND her biggest concern is feeling guilty about doing something for herself now and then (REALLY?!)...Oh wait there is more...she and her husband recently moved to a new area for a better paying job; their new mortgage is $1000 less a month than their previous mortgage, they netted $285,000 profit on the sale of their previous house (which is still in savings), $500 of their monthly budget goes into a college fund for their baby (Read: this kid's college will be paid for by kindergarten!), and they are DEBT-FREE. Wow, this lady has HUGE financial problems!!

Get real, Real Simple!! Why don't you choose a person that actually represents the majority of Americans...you know, those of us that can't seem to figure out where their money hemorrhages out to each month, can't whittle down the $600/month grocery bill, and thinks being debt-free is about as realistic as winning the lottery!


This woman needs some real advice which if I were the financial consultant, I would say, "Look lady, you're doing just fine...no worries...I'm sure you're not going to pull a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and all of a sudden start blowing money left and right. In fact, I think you should start consulting the rest of us about how you are doing this! Better yet, let me follow you around 'cause it seems to me that you're one of those people that is always in the right place at the right time and I want to be there too! Stop stressing about nothing and live your life!!!"


So thank you, Real Simple for making me feel like a bigger financial idiot than I already am and needing an increase in my anti-depressant dosage. I look forward to next month's article when we try to help Bill Gates figure out how he is going to live on his retirement income.


Sincerely,

Kelly