Singletary: Your financial soundtrack for 2016

Olga Bernstein from Thousand Oaks, Calif., wrote: “During my husband’s illness and then death, I had to take over all aspects of our lives including the finances. The song that got me through was Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’!” Its famous refrain:

“Oh as long as I know how to love

I know I’ll stay alive

I’ve got my life to live

I’ve got all my love to give

And I’ll survive

I will survive”

“The song that helps me let go is ‘Fixing a Hole’ from The Beatles,” wrote David Farrell from Severn, Maryland.

“I’m fixing a hole where the rain gets in

And stops my mind from wandering

Where it will go”

Martha McNeill wrote: “I grew up in Appalachia and had difficult issues of poverty ingrained in my heart and soul. I realize I also have a difficult time accepting prosperity into my life, and have believed that I do not deserve abundance. I have chosen a life of absolute simplicity. I tell myself it is for my spiritual gain. But is it really, or are there deeper, truer issues underlying my actions? I, like you, have decided that this will be ‘my year.’ But what will that look like? Will it mean finally embracing all the abundance I always denied myself, telling myself it was for a ‘higher purpose’? Yes! It will!”

McNeill’s song is “Alive Again” by Matt Maher:

“ ‘Cause I can see the light before I see the sunrise

You called and you shouted

Broke through my deafness

Now I’m breathing in and breathing out

I’m alive again”

Mike M. from Ashburn, Va., wrote: “Your column struck a nerve with me and my wife. Because of it, we had a frank discussion about our past and how it impacts our financial habits. We have been married for 32 years and we live a pretty comfortable life. However, she reminded me that although we are doing well, I am still nervous about money.”

Mike said what he saw growing up as a child impacted his view of money. “My parents constantly argued about money,” he said. “Although my father worked two jobs and my mother had a full-time job, there were five kids and there was never enough money. Don’t get me wrong, we never went hungry, we went on vacations and we had nice things to wear, but money was always tight and it caused tension in the house. My parents died in debt.”

Mike admitted the struggles of his parents haunt him.

“I was driven to save as much as I could and stay out of debt,” he said. “I thought that I was being sensible and frugal. My wife informed me that I was being cheap and unnecessarily worrisome. The financial tension that I was trying to avoid was alive in my house. During our conversation that was sparked by your article, I realized that my continued worrisome attitude towards money was a bit overbearing for my wife. It bothers me to say this, but we are in good financial shape.”

So for their song, Mike and his wife picked “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin.

“In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry, you make it double

Don’t worry, be happy”

Michelle Singletary welcomes comments and column ideas. Reach her in care of The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20071; or singletarym@washpost.com