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LIFESTYLES – Frank Poland: Lyrics & Music – A comparison of family lifestyle finances: (Past vs Present).
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LIFESTYLES
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Once upon a paycheck, in a simpler time,
Families lived not on credit, but on an honest dime.
Moms did the magic, without public applause,
Creating feasts from the cupboard, homemaking was her cause.
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They didn’t sip lattes, at nine dollars a cup,
Just a pot on the stove, where coffee was enough.
A coffee maker hum, rich aroma it sang,
It woke up our mornings, as the alarm clock rang.
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Now restaurants call, and wallets grow light,
Buying outstrips their budget with spending out of sight.
Brunch wasn’t a ritual, no get togethers there,
Just leftovers repurposed, at home to share.
We didn’t summon Uber to fetch meals in a rush,
Just a walk to the kitchen, a simpler meal with no fuss.
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One flickering screen, three channels to see,
Black and white stories, of life so simple to me.
Car ride on Sunday, wherever Dad chose,
No remotes, no fuss, just the family being close.
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Friday came slowly, with a paycheck in his hand,
They lived on what’s brought home, stretching it as they can.
No gym memberships, just yard work in the sun,
Content with their lives, enjoying each moment, having fun.
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No costly lease, no monthly payment to dread,
Just living on what Friday’s paycheck said.
Not chasing the Jones’s, their mission was clear,
Keeping control of their budget, and their family near.
Each dollar a testament, to hard work and grace,
In a world congested, they created their own space.
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But now look around, as the times shift and sway,
Both parents are working, chasing financial needs each day.
Living like millionaires on salaries so meek,
While dreams of abundance are distant and bleak.
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While they cry, “I’m broke”, with a mansion full of tech,
With gadgets galore, what the heck did they expect?
Two S U V ‘s parked, with payments that sting,
Fuel, insurance, and costs, the bills they bring.
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Streaming services cost like the Taj mahal,
Five screens in the house, with no time to watch them all.
Phones worth a fortune, with monthly bills that came,
Children want the latest, to impress friends, it’s so lame.
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They swipe through their lives, credit cards loaded,
Broke lives in a mansion, with finances exploding.
Tacos with Door Dash, for the third time this week,
While meals cooked at home is what they should seek.
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Subscriptions all beckon, a siren’s sweet song,
Need it or not, they are swept right along.
So where did they falter, where did they stray?
It’s not the economy; it’s their lifestyle each day.
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Wake up, dear families, take stock of the days,
Turn off all those subscriptions, find simpler ways.
Make coffee at home, let the aroma ignite,
And smell the truth deeply, it’s your guiding light.
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Strip back the layers, discover what’s real,
Live within your means and capture the feel.
For in kitchens with laughter, and lives painted bright,
We find our true wealth by keeping the budget tight.
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So here’s to the future, both brave and clear,
For living with purpose, without financial fear.
Cherish what matters, don’t chase after gold,
Weave a new lifestyle, where success will take hold.
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