My Fagin Complex

In Dicken’s story “Oliver Twist” there is the villain Fagin, who goes berserk one night when he discovers Oliver observing him counting his hoarded treasures. Fagin reveals in this attack on Oliver that he is frightened – frightened of growing old and having nothing and no one to tend him “They’re for my old age!” he rages at Oliver.

“The Fagin Complex” is coined to convey an anxiety about not having enough money for the future.

In my daily doings I don’t deal much with the “Oedipus Complex” but I sure hear a lot of the “Fagin Complex”. People are very worried about their money, their retirement, their job/pension etc. Lately there are a lot of people worried about not being able to sell their house (meaning at a profit I suppose). I see many people at work who have had the misfortune to be ill, in pain, accidents etc. only to have the livelihoods and incomes wiped out. I routinely ask new patients “and how are the finances?” I usually get a tale of angst.

I too have a Fagin Complex. When anxious about ‘not putting away enough” I get cheap. We two are not lavish spenders or into expensive status symbols. We don’t buy trendy or new things very often. I try to live a more “Zen” life every year (out with the clutter!). Both Someone and I have good incomes but with house, insurance, and daily living expenses there seems to be little leftover to hoard away for ‘Fagin’s old age”. While I have a very nice investor at Merrill Lynch, I am pessimistic that stocks and social security will be there for me when I ask for it.

I need to be mindful of the Complex; not to let it take over me or prevent charity.

Anyone else have a bit of a Fagin Complex?