Looking after my family by not looking after my family
There are plenty of people warning us of a bubble, but there's a different type of crypto bubble to watch out for.
Since I really wrapped my head around blockchain tech, an economist would say that my time preference has shifted.
Before 2013 I really didn't care about money. I made enough to pay the bills, and I let the future take care of itself.
I'd learnt the 'spend spend spend' lesson that education and inflation had instilled, and it wasn't until I bought my first bitcoins that I really started thinking that perhaps present Matt should start looking after future Matt and the rest of the family.
I've never been a stacker, but I'm placing an order for ten of these beauties. They're limited edition, they're actual silver, and they're going to make great collectors items in the years to come.
Since I decided to pull the trigger on this, I've realised that having a lot of wealth tied up in blockchains is reassuring, but having some actual bullion in my hand is what makes it real, and exciting.
I've learned some lessons about spending an appreciating currency, and I have to look back on more than one facebook post bragging about how clever I was for buying tax free cigarettes for my father in law at the low price of 0.8 btc, or $5 at the time.
Since then, and particularly since I started on steemit, I've gone probably too far the other way.
All of my recent focus has been on the future.
I live in a crypto bubble, with its own rules, a bubble governed by Gresham and Moore.
I haven't been too concerned with much outside my bubble, I've been too busy saving up for my kids' weddings, and their kids weddings, dropping every loose dollar into crypto.
My lovely wife, Amanda, is brilliant. She enjoys seeing me light up when I talk about this stuff, and despite the fact I entered the marriage with $4000 in debt, and she with $50,000 in savings; she trusts my judgement when it comes to money, which is perhaps part of the reason I've been so obsessive about investing it wisely.
I didn't get much time to save up for those coins, and I really don't want to power down, so I moved a few hundred dollars from our savings into bitcoin overnight, ready to order the coins later today.
I reflected on this for the rest of the night (my day job is a night job) and came to a conclusion.
As much as I'll enjoy holding a tangible benefit from my crypto hoarding, in the form of those coins; she deserves the same.
She's worked hard and made sacrifices too; and it's not enough that I look after future Amanda.
She's looked after our regular finances, keeping on top of the bills and budgeting, and done an excellent job of it.
She's saving up for a new pair of glasses, and a service on the car, and I've just swiped hundreds of dollars in the middle of the night, with a vague promise that it'll help us a decade from now.
I'm absolutely sure that doing so is in our best interest; but I need to remember that she's not in the crypto bubble with me.
I'd live in a cardboard box with stray cats to keep me warm if it meant more steem power so we can live well in the future, but that's not the life I want for her here and now; so I've decided I'll be going 50/50 on my posts for at least the rest of the year, getting her those glasses, paying some bills with steem, taking her out for a nice meal occasionally, and looking for ways to make it all real and present.
After all, she's the only reason I have a future worth planning for.
You make many good points here @mattclarke investment is very important and the commitment to your family is undoubtably strong. Mixing digital and physical stocks is smart and gives you the diversity that others don't have by sticking with just one of these options. Can't wait for the delivery of our coins! Upvoted and Resteemed. #steemsilvergold
Thanks mate. I'll keep you up to date.
@mattclarke, this is an excellent, honest and heart baring post. I am so happy for you that you have a partner in life that is not only willing to but happy I support your focuses and passions. I can completely understand wanting to have a tangible reward to give back to Amanda after all she has done with/for you.
I think this is great for everyone to read who is in a committed relationship. It isn't all just about what you are doing for them for later, it is important what you are doing for them now.
Thank you for sharing mate.
I get what you mean about having actual bullion in you hand makes it real and even more exciting than it already is lol I feel the same way. I've ordered 4 myself, as an investment for our future.
I'm a bit like you, but I've stopped doing my work these last few months to dedicate myself to Steemit - working towards a dream, not just for myself and my family but for everyone really. Having someone there who fully supports and believes in you is amazing and also such a driving force to make it all work.
Amanda is truly an Angel and sounds like a perfect match for you. Judging by the gorgeous happy family picture Im right 😉.
Thank you for your generosity but Im sending it back, please consider it my contribution to Amanda's glasses fund ❤❤ Say hi to her for me!
The more I think about it the stranger it seems that I'm nearing 40 and I've never touched real money.
Think I'll keep one unwrapped, to feel in my pocket and hand. Use it as a conversation starter.
The others can stay mint, but I'm going to treat myself and really enjoy one.
How many did you get? I managed to get 5 - Hubby wanted more, on hindsight I should have gotten more, being first edition and all :D I think I might do the same - if hubby will let me LOL
I panicked and sold off some bitcoin cash to buy 100 for me and another 20 on behalf of others.
I've been a bit of a steem junkie myself lately as it's dropped to 0.00025 /BTC. I just can't help myself. I'm not putting in anything I can't afford but it's nice seeing my upvote value increase when I power up. One day when STEEM goes back up it's gonna be epic seeing my vote exceed a dollar!
It sounds like a small milestone but it's exciting for me to think about.
Regarding PM's, I love silver. I own a sizeable lot of it and I love picking up the box that I keep it in and feeling how heavy it is! Some day I'm gonna buy a 100 oz bar. My biggest purchase so far was a kilogram bar that I paid about $550 for a couple of years ago. I love taking that thing out and admiring it.
THose are some beautiful coins that you're buying! I've gotten my step son silver coins with animals on them as gifts from time to time and it makes me so happy to see his interest in investing (he's 8 years old).
Best of luck to you in your investments!
I briefly enjoyed a $5 100% upvote after hf19.
That felt pretty gangster. You'll get there.
I actually increased my silver order substantially, but sold off some BCC to fund it; so Amanda can get her glasses too :)
You're being smart man! Diversification is key, and taking care of present essentials (like glasses for your wife) will bring even more security. You sound like a really great Husband and Father. And brother, the cryptos are going to always be there. Get as much as you can now, obviously, but give yourself some room to breathe in a few fancy dinners too :)
Good one. I can totally relate. I am all about delayed gratification and saving for the future....the wife not so much. I need to remember that quality of life is important now, not just the future.
But damn I love my cryptos and bullions. I keep telling her that when the Aussie real estate bubble pops we'll be well placed to buy up that dream house.....
.....but for now the cardboard box will have to do :p
Say hi to those stray cats for me :)
I just bought my first bullion yesterday with some cash from selling some bitcoin. It is a real tangible form of money, and a good diversification option, even though I am still mainly staying in crypto.
Also, all hoarding and no spending is no way to live or to keep the crypto economy going. You grow crypto by using it in an economy, not just hodling. My first purchase was a pair of alpaca wool socks, which I paid about 2.5 BTC for at the time. My wife likes to bring up how much 2.5 BTC would be worth now compared to the value of the socks, but for me they were a real tangible proof that bitcoin worked and I could use it for an international purchase without any banks or credit card companies involved. I don't regret spending any more than the guy who paid 10,000 BTC for pizza would.
Exactly. That anecdote may be the only reason bitcoin has grown to its present size.
that is a very good decision you made there. We all looking for a bright future but lets not forget to live in the here and now ;)
Ha I love it @mattclarke "I've just swiped hundreds of dollars in the middle of the night, with a vague promise that it'll help us a decade from now" gotta remember we as men take risks, calculated if sensible so id say youve done the right thing. ha
I'm the calculated risk she took back in 08.
Great article mate.. where can i buy some of those steem silver coins
The blue hyperlink under the photo will get you there.
Only about 100 left, then he'll go back for more silver and run off the other 500, probably a bit pricier though.
Sweet i got a few, cheers for the heads up!
All gone for now, although there's another 500 on the way before they retire the die.
I'm far more excited about this than I should be.
This is really good man. I have been going through the same thing, my wife understand that it is important, but she sees it consuming my time and sometimes money. That is a great perspective, and great idea.