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My two friends...
Doc
Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
I have two friends about the same age. Friend A and wife made twice as much (or more) than friend B and his wife. Total household income was like $140,000 vs. $65,000.
Friend A and wife bought new cars every 3 years, so always in finance debt. They ran up $70,000 in credit card debt by always paying the minimum. Whenever they built any equity in their home they refinanced and used the cash for a luxury vacation. Every meal was in a restaurant as they both hated to cook. He retired at 61 because he didn't like the new boss at work. Staying one more year would have made a big difference in retirement money, but he just hated the new boss so much he just couldn't take another year. Wife retired soon after because I think she was jealous of him staying home.
Friend B and wife always drove their cars at least 10-12 years. Saved up and paid cash avoiding interest on car loans. Credit card bill was paid in full each month. If they couldn't afford to pay the whole bill they didn't buy it on the card. They never paid that sky high credit card interest. He worked hard to pay off the mortgage in 7 years saving $100,000 in interest over 30 years. They took modest weekend trips a couple times a year rather than big expensive vacations. They shopped at discount stores, clipped coupons, bought items on sale and very rarely ate out. He is at retirement age but wants to work a few more years to ensure financial stability.
Within a year of retiring Friend A and wife have lost their house and had to move into a small apartment. They are in default on the credit card loans. They will have to file for bankruptcy. They have no savings and barely live from check to check on their combined pensions. Any unexpected expenses like car repairs and they have no money.
Friend B and wife still live in the house they paid off long ago. They are debt free. They have started taking longer vacations and going out to restaurants once in a while. They should feel good about living it up just a little bit as my friend confided to me (and he was almost embarrassed to admit it) that he and his wife have over $1,000,000 in cash and property assets. He is starting to think about retiring, but he still sees it as being a ways off.
I guess my friends are the classic ant and the grasshopper story. I am amazed that my friend could have amassed that much personal wealth on the relatively small income he and his wife live on. But I guess it's true about how much you make not being as important as how much you spend. I feel so badly for my other friend who is in such awful financial shape. But he always was foolish with money.
Friend A and wife bought new cars every 3 years, so always in finance debt. They ran up $70,000 in credit card debt by always paying the minimum. Whenever they built any equity in their home they refinanced and used the cash for a luxury vacation. Every meal was in a restaurant as they both hated to cook. He retired at 61 because he didn't like the new boss at work. Staying one more year would have made a big difference in retirement money, but he just hated the new boss so much he just couldn't take another year. Wife retired soon after because I think she was jealous of him staying home.
Friend B and wife always drove their cars at least 10-12 years. Saved up and paid cash avoiding interest on car loans. Credit card bill was paid in full each month. If they couldn't afford to pay the whole bill they didn't buy it on the card. They never paid that sky high credit card interest. He worked hard to pay off the mortgage in 7 years saving $100,000 in interest over 30 years. They took modest weekend trips a couple times a year rather than big expensive vacations. They shopped at discount stores, clipped coupons, bought items on sale and very rarely ate out. He is at retirement age but wants to work a few more years to ensure financial stability.
Within a year of retiring Friend A and wife have lost their house and had to move into a small apartment. They are in default on the credit card loans. They will have to file for bankruptcy. They have no savings and barely live from check to check on their combined pensions. Any unexpected expenses like car repairs and they have no money.
Friend B and wife still live in the house they paid off long ago. They are debt free. They have started taking longer vacations and going out to restaurants once in a while. They should feel good about living it up just a little bit as my friend confided to me (and he was almost embarrassed to admit it) that he and his wife have over $1,000,000 in cash and property assets. He is starting to think about retiring, but he still sees it as being a ways off.
I guess my friends are the classic ant and the grasshopper story. I am amazed that my friend could have amassed that much personal wealth on the relatively small income he and his wife live on. But I guess it's true about how much you make not being as important as how much you spend. I feel so badly for my other friend who is in such awful financial shape. But he always was foolish with money.
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Too old to live...too young to die...
Too old to live...too young to die...
Comments
Lady I see first time she came to my house said boy you live simple--said your damn right I do nothing merit in keeping up the Jones's
Your friends B are in the same boat anyone free and clear of mortgage are---You don't really own free and clear simply don't pay the real taxes and watch how fast the County/State jump on your hard work
Home Paid Off 25 Years Ago
No outstanding CC bills
never Saw those Rediculous Income Amounts
Guess We Are Poor But Happy[^]
You have to find a balance between the two. There's no guarantee that you'll make it to spend your retirement.
+1
You have to find a balance between the two. There's no guarantee that you'll make it to spend your retirement.
Don't see balancing. 1.2 million in total assets means you are depending on pension / SS to live. Goal, not that is realistic for everyone should be to not have to depend upon that which is out of your control.
Brad Steele
I am amassing credit cards with high limits. I pay them off each month. However, one day I will max them out and die a wealthy man! Don
Being Afro-affluent does not count.
Don
Brad Steele
quote:Originally posted by dcon12
I am amassing credit cards with high limits. I pay them off each month. However, one day I will max them out and die a wealthy man! Don
Being Afro-affluent does not count.
Don
I give you a dollar if you tell me what that means! Don
Credit card debt gets paid off monthly.
Mortgage payment under $800, oh well, cheaper than rent.
Tithe 10 % of net.
I live a comfortable life.[:)]
If you don't have the self discipline to keep the balance within what you can pay before accruing interest you shouldn't use credit cards.
I don't consider a credit card balance to be a debt as long as it's paid monthly. It's the same day to day expenses you have to pay anyway. It's just using an interest free thirty day loan to pay for the Big Mac.
I get a 1% to 3% kick back on one credit card, so that's the one I use. That way I actually pay slightly less by using the CC.
Speaking of credit cards, we are all paying the vigorish on credit cards even if we don't have one. That's why I use the hell out of my credit card.
If you don't have the self discipline to keep the balance within what you can pay before accruing interest you shouldn't use credit cards.
I don't consider a credit card balance to be a debt as long as it's paid monthly. It's the same day to day expenses you have to pay anyway. It's just using an interest free thirty day loan to pay for the Big Mac.
I get a 1% to 3% kick back on one credit card, so that's the one I use. That way I actually pay slightly less by using the CC.
I charge everything I can on Amex (unless a cash discount is offered or the vendor will negotiate) It has to be paid off every month so no interest. Every $ spent earns at least one "point" Everything on Amazon can be paid for with points. Hence 30 day free loan and stuff from Amazon...
,,,,,,,,,and don't forget the cast iron frying pan ,,,,,,,,,,[:D][:o)]
[:D] [:D] [:D]
Since the bottom 90% of Americans make less than 31K a year while working. Granted it is not impossible but it is surely a lofty goal.
If they did, which 99% won't have a million, without earning an additional dime in interest 1 million would provide that income for 32 years not counting any SS.
While we can all blame their education level and effort, we still have to have someone to clean, cook, take out the trash, Etc.
I know folks who work in Housekeeping that will never earn more than 20K a year.
They will never go to Disney World and they are not driving Lexus vehicles.
That said that no matter how well they try and manage their money they will very likely not die rich not matter how frugal they live.
One in particular has worked for the Hospital 38 years, his single wide mobile home is paid for along with heirs property that he only has to pay taxes on.
He drives and old pickup truck and cleans and waxes floors on the side.
He has about 45K in his retirement account and will draw about 940 a month in SS. In his world he is as rich as they come.
Just saying.
Look at the cars passing in front of your home or as you drive down the road. Something like 75% of them are either mortgaged or leased. Go to a car dealer, purchase a vehicle, and tell him you'll pay in cash. You'll mostly get that deer in the headlights look.
Look at all those huge expensive homes around you. Know that very few aren't mortgaged. Sometimes mortgaged multiple times over. Be happy that you aren't paying their taxes. Be happy that they're the slaves and not you.
Go to any retail outlet and watch the folks in front of you pay by plastic. Know that a large percentage are making a purchase with cash they don't have and may never have.
Then look at statistics. With some degree of accuracy it's postulated that only about 25% of Americans have any savings at all. Think about it. Think what just one missed paycheck might mean.
I believe for most here the very thought of this behavior is beyond our grasp. For most others this is a way of life.
Speaking of credit cards, we are all paying the vigorish on credit cards even if we don't have one. That's why I use the hell out of my credit card.
If you don't have the self discipline to keep the balance within what you can pay before accruing interest you shouldn't use credit cards.
I don't consider a credit card balance to be a debt as long as it's paid monthly. It's the same day to day expenses you have to pay anyway. It's just using an interest free thirty day loan to pay for the Big Mac.
I get a 1% to 3% kick back on one credit card, so that's the one I use. That way I actually pay slightly less by using the CC.
Agreed, James.
The 3% merchant cost is built into the price of every item. The card I normally use is 1% across the board, 2% on some categories and 5% on a couple of categories.
Never thought I would buy groceries using a credit card, but pocketing $ 2.00 for every $ 100.00 I would have spent anyway does make sense.
Brad Steele