Update - a couple of days after we became debt-free (March 2019 to June 2, 2022 - six figures to no figures!), I received a notice of debt from the Canada Revenue Agency in connection with CERB repayment (Canada Economic Recovery Benefit). The notice related to an employment insurance claim (my EI claim due to a layoff was “converted” to a CERB claim to “streamline efficiency.”)
Evidently, streamlining efficiency means “making grave errors”, but given that the government holds the monopoly on fees, fines, penalties and violence, I will be repaying “the tax man.”
If you consider this debt (you should, and it is), and are in the same situation, pay them back.
Identity, Culture and Values. People like us do things like this.
When I was working in home and auto insurance sales (small commercial too - think contractors, window washing), certain values were part of the office culture.
We said “thank you” - not “no problem”, “cheers”, no worries.”
We hand wrote thank you cards to clients.
We used Arial font, size 11, on letterhead, justified, for letters to prospective clients. A person in the office would edit my work to make sure it was consistent with our image.
That idea of uniformity has stuck with me - even in our family. Standards aren't about what you expect - it’s about what you'll tolerate. Stand for something or fall for anything.
Christina and I have applied this (macro, not micro) to our family. People like us talk about conflict and create resolutions. People like us combine finances and give every dollar a name in a budget we've both agreed on. People like us don’t put down our spouse, or hang out with people who do. People like us don’t borrow money. People like us take responsibility for everything - we own every ripple in the pond. Even if it's not by our hand, it's in our laps - so we're going to deal with it. People like us don't "keep up with the Joneses" - we know that the Jones' are broke.
Have identity conversations with your spouse. Talk about values and culture.
What do people like you do?
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