Sometimes it feels like worlds colliding with me and my FI. We really do come from two completely different back grounds. I was the daughter of two seventeen year old parents who struggled to make ends meet most of my childhood. My mom put herself through nursing school while raising two children and taking care of a family. My dad was between jobs a lot because of lay offs. So a lot of times it was a struggle. I remember standing in the welfare line to get food stamps. My parents have worked hard to teach me to be self reliant and independent and spend money wisely. I have worked since I was 15 and payed a lot of my own way (and I was happy to and wanted to do it). I've also lived on my own from pay check to pay check trying to put myself through college.
My FI, his parents were both college educated, his mom a high school teacher and his dad a counselor. He didn't have to work until he graduated high school. His college was paid for. Which don't get me wrong, I think that is great and I want to be able to provide for our children the way his parents provided for him.
This is what I struggle with. He really doesn't know what it's like to struggle. He is stressed out right now about things that have happend he has to pay for. His air isn't working in his car, he just got new tires. He just payed over 600 dollars for an eye exam and glasses (when he could have went with a service provider that took his insurance) He's stressed about saving for a house. But I know he makes very very good money. He has quite a bit of savings. I keep telling him when there is something to get stressed about then stress. I try to tell him being stressed is when your car is broke and you have no money to fix it, or you need to pay rent and you barely have gas money to get to work, etc. Yes it sucks big time to have to pay for things that are inconveniences. He would rather pay for the convinces than try to save money.
So it's frustrating trying to find a middle ground. Does anyone have any experiences like this and advice? I'm not trying to sound self righteous and I'm so glad he has a good job and money saved. But it's frustrating to try to explain myself to him when he's never been in my shoes and I know I've not been in his.
Sorry this was so long.