Financial Responsibility

The more people I meet throughout this dating process, the more I'm starting to realize that finding someone who has an ounce of responsibility in them is slim to none. Perhaps, that's because their parents did not teach them responsibility, or how to be independent.  This is what I mean by responsibility:

• Having a driver's license. Hell I used to be excited if a guy had a car. Now, I get excited if a guy has a driver's license. 
• Purchasing car insurance. You can't buy car insurance if you don't have a license. So, now you're driving without a license and without being insured. Super. 
• It truly amazes me how many people let others drive their car for a long period of time. I don't think people are educated well enough on this topic. If you let someone else drive your car and they hit someone and kill them, you're equally liable because your name is on that car. 
• On that note, STOP signing/co-signing shit for other people.
• Do people pay their bills anymore? I realize most live paycheck-to-paycheck, so live within your means. Know too that if you get married in the state of Indiana, your husband/wife's debt becomes yours.  

I wish I could express the frustration I feel when writing this. Financial responsibility is major, people. I remember when I first opened a checking account at the age of 16, my parents sat me down and taught me how to balance my checkbook with a check register. To this day, I still use a paper check register. 

If you have a lot of credit card debt, find cards that you can transfer balances to at no cost and that also have a 0% interest. Most cards will have 0% interest for 12 months. That way, you can pay your principal balance down without paying interest. (It's like free money or a free loan)

If you get a medical bill, call the medical provider and see if they'll give you a discount for paying in full that day. I've yet to come across a provider that won't give a discount. Especially, if you don't have insurance. Also, if you're paying an office visit, pay in full that day. A lot of times, you can get up to a 25% discount. Oh, and call a head and find out what the cost of these things are. BE PREPARED! 

Have I paid a bill late before? Yes, absolutely. But, I have never been sent to Court for collections. I have a very high credit score. I've never rented an apartment and up and left in the middle of my lease. I've never had a car repo'd. Are you asking if I'm tooting my own horn? I sure am. 

I realize there are circumstances that may occur where these things are out of your hands. I'm not talking to those people. I'm talking to the ones that just flat out have taken no responsibility for their finances. For people like me, that is a major turnoff.  

Grow up. Put your big girl/boy pants on and be an adult. Oh, and in the meantime, teach your children to be financially responsibility.