You don't buy new cars as a CM. $400 would get you transportation back then
I can’t feel bad about that. My first new car was last year at age 50. I’ve had better used cars and I’ve had beaters. That’s life.
Just like doing Disney: in the beginning, our biggest expense was the (2-4 day) ticket, and that was a splurge. We stayed in $30 hotels and ate fast food offsite, and brought from home.
I don’t think that was terrible, we had a great time. Eventually we’d have some meals on property. After many years, we stayed at our first moderate resort for a whole 2 nights.
Since then, we’ve stayed at the Grand Flo, dined at V&A, done special events and tours - and we appreciate it all the more because of the times we couldn’t.
I still wouldn’t trade those times.
Just like in life. I started in retail, and even once I got into management, didn’t make much money - but I had friends and we’d go out and drink, dance, karaoke, whatever. I worked 60-80 hours a week and sometimes had to cut cable TV and watch a few channels on my 13” black & white set (and this was in the 90’s.)
Now I own my own store with 2 locations, own our home, married 15 years. Not wealthy, but doing OK and satisfied with my life and the steady progress I’ve made in all areas. It’s a different kind of happy, but both times were happy, and again - I wouldn’t trade those times. I appreciate today all the more.
I understand the 25 year olds. If you had asked me back then, I wouldn’t have had the wisdom nor the perspective to appreciate it at the time. Trust and faith go a long way.