The Homeless: The Truly Needy

While it is easy to get caught up in investing, reducing debt, and building wealth for the long-term, it is incredibly important to remember that no matter how awful things may appear before us, we are still incredibly blessed. And it's easy to forget that as we try to fight through the truly difficult moments of our personal and financial lives. It's good to take a step back and remember the plight of the homeless, disabled, and elderly as they have to cope with their respective ailments. I've been fortunate my whole life in that I have always had a home and the financial backbone of a middle-class life, but there are many among us who are not so fortune. It's mind-numbing to think about the pain of sleeping in the same raggedy clothes on a park bench in a freezing night, and speaking for myself, I have no idea how long I would be able to last on the streets. While it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of mutual funds, expense ratios, financial advice, and other key elements of personal finance, we should strive to keep a broad perspective when considering the issue. Steve Keen over at Debt Deflation wrote a great article on homelessness in America, and I highly recommend that you give it a read by clicking here: http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2011/06/30/the-homeless-ye-shall-always-have-with-you/ .