https://finance.yahoo.com/vide...habit-152805152.html

The example she uses is $100 a month spent at Starbucks, or wherever. (Seems more reasonable to assume around $60 a month, but since I don't drink coffee, I don't really know what people spend on coffee.)

To me it does illustrate how people live beyond their means, or don't allocate their money wisely.

I quit drinking coffee several years ago,but my sister is a Starbucks addict.It does make it easy on her birthday or Christmas to send her a gift card to Starbucks.Their prices are obscene. I could do a spin off on cigarettes+ there's a lot to be said;just later.

Wow. $100,000 spent on coffee over a lifetime.

Just think, you could buy a 28 day full bag safari for that!

I'm sure Suzie Q would be much more approving of spending that $100K on a hunting trip!!

Mac Donald's coffee is cheaper and better and no BS to go with it.

Grizz

If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

Yep. Kind of the point of my earlier comment. I know these Suzi Ormand types are popular "Talking Heads" these days, and certainly no one is advocating being stupid with money matters.

That said, if you followed all these "talking heads" types advice, you'd never get married, have kids, have pets, buy a house, buy a car, eat out at a nice restaurant, etc. And for damn sure, none of them would advise forking over the type of cash necessary to go on a safari!!

When I was flying for the airlines, I found myself commuting to work for a couple of years. Had a crash pad with 4 other pilots. One of them, name of Bob, was over the top with money conservation. One day he said he wanted to drive up to Cabelas, which was about 10 miles away, but decided against it because it would waste too much money in gas. I talked to him one day about his retirement plans. He said all he cared about was being able to keep the lights on, food on the table, and a roof over his head, and had no ambition for anything more than that. Said once he felt he had enough cash in the bank to guarantee that, he was going to retire from flying, or any work.

Free country and all but I enjoy working and making a good living. It gives me the means to do things I find enjoyable without feeling guilty about it. I actually like Starbucks coffee. I just can't stand their politics.

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

They may provide you with support and risk sharing as you grow older and being productive members of society your capital investment has positive externalities on society and country.

Mike

Well said Mike.
Although, my daughter said she's just going to put me in an old folks home and drive away.
But she's just joking ...... I think?

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
Well said Mike.
Although, my daughter said she's just going to put me in an old folks home and drive away.
But she's just joking ...... I think?

I bet she was.

Mike

quote:

Although, my daughter said she's just going to put me in an old folks home and drive away. But she's just joking ...... I think?

I write her out of the will.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

Yep. Kind of the point of my earlier comment. I know these Suzi Ormand types are popular "Talking Heads" these days, and certainly no one is advocating being stupid with money matters.

That said, if you followed all these "talking heads" types advice, you'd never get married, have kids, have pets, buy a house, buy a car, eat out at a nice restaurant, etc. And for damn sure, none of them would advise forking over the type of cash necessary to go on a safari!!

When I was flying for the airlines, I found myself commuting to work for a couple of years. Had a crash pad with 4 other pilots. One of them, name of Bob, was over the top with money conservation. One day he said he wanted to drive up to Cabelas, which was about 10 miles away, but decided against it because it would waste too much money in gas. I talked to him one day about his retirement plans. He said all he cared about was being able to keep the lights on, food on the table, and a roof over his head, and had no ambition for anything more than that. Said once he felt he had enough cash in the bank to guarantee that, he was going to retire from flying, or any work.

Free country and all but I enjoy working and making a good living. It gives me the means to do things I find enjoyable without feeling guilty about it. I actually like Starbucks coffee. I just can't stand their politics.

Safaris are discretionary vacations and a total waste the marketing pitch is total bs too

I have never found those money magazine type saving scheme any use. It’s for highly risk averse government worker types. Besides there is just way too much randomness in life.

One should be conservative with money just cause Uncle Sam provides little beyond Medicare. Most of everyone’s social security in time will go towards buying additional Medicare insurance.

My goal over next few years it to get rid of stuff. I want to become a minimalist but then I see a new rifle. I do plan to buy some fly fishing stuff. Otherwise it is getting rid of stuff time.

$4 for coffee that one can make for $.10 is a joke. I think majority of sit down places where breakfast costs $12-15 is criminal.

Mike

I started planning for retirement at age 25. My goal was to retire at 55.

I retired at 55 years and 11 months with zero debt and no pensions.

At 65, I will collect social security and receive 3 small pensions.

I still consult about 10 hours a month because I enjoy it.

Mike,you were smart. Most folks don't think about that that early in life.When # 2 son went in the army + went to the sandbox I impressed upon him that reason that theres so many pawn shops around the posts is because these kids have no concept of managing their money.I had him set up his regular + combat pay to direct deposit in our local bank here in Texas.#1 you can't spend it in the desert,#2 Being local,I can go in + talk to a human being if the need arose,#3 when the smoke clears you will have a big chunk of money to start off with.He listened + did O.K.Now he has a video game development company with 49 employees + spends most of his time doing speaking engagements at conferences nationwide.I'm proud of him of course. Too many young people never get any good financial advice + would most likely dismiss it. As Mark Twain once said."When I was 18,I thought my father was the stupidest man in the world;but by the time I turned 21,I was AMAZED at how much HE had learned in only 3 years."

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

They may provide you with support and risk sharing as you grow older and being productive members of society your capital investment has positive externalities on society and country.

Mike

The key word there is "may", there are no guarantees in life.

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

They may provide you with support and risk sharing as you grow older and being productive members of society your capital investment has positive externalities on society and country.

Mike

The key word there is "may", there are no guarantees in life.

That is why I have a German Shepherd. He will wag his tail and he will shed all over my house

Mike

Mike, I have a rescue shepherd that loves everybody, so his tail is always wagging. If yours is anything like mine, nothing on a coffee table is safe from being sent flying by that tail!
My daughter is the best contribution to the future I could ever make, she is 10 times the person I am.

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
Mike, I have a rescue shepherd that loves everybody, so his tail is always wagging. If yours is anything like mine, nothing on a coffee table is safe from being sent flying by that tail!
My daughter is the best contribution to the future I could ever make, she is 10 times the person I am.

Mine is kind of a rescue. I imported him from Czech (never import Czech puppies - import German or Netherlands or Western Europe - stay away from astern Europe for puppies). He has health issues so I assume in Czech he would have been put down - so he is my indirect rescue. He has cost be a safari or two but he is worth it.

He is super friendly but he barks and he goes straight towards anyone wanting to play. His ears are not pinned back but he is coming full bore. That terrifies 99.99 percent of people initially including dog owners and the local police officers.

He stays off furniture etc but his tail has knocked down stuff regularly.

Very glad your daughter is an excellent member of society. I greatly enjoy seeing the success and pride ar members have in their kids.

Mike

O.K. I said I would get back to cigarettes.I quit smoking them several years ago + won't say anything about that. It always pissed me off when some one quit something they then became more Catholic than the Pope,if you get my meaning. About 20 years ago there was an announcement on the radio concerning the national smoke out day.You know,when no one smokes that day.Well they gave the stats. + I started doing the math.At that time cigs. were $2.00 a pack + there 52 million smokers in the U.S.Let us assume that every smoker smoked 1 pack a day.I know some smoke more + some less but or simplicity let us call it 1 pack a day.Now remember that smokers don't stop for holidays so take that 52 Mil. x $2.00 x 365.You will admit that R.J. Reynolds was making a killing (literally). But what got me thinking was that at that time 18 cents on the dollar was going for federal taxes. Do the math on that as well.We are only talking about cigarette tax here,not alhcohol,gas,income,ad nauseum;so why are we broke?Oh + BTW,the last I heard on the news that cigarettes were going for $11.00 a pack in NYC.

Isn't amazing how many people are trying their best to tell you what is best for you??

I have so much fun with these idiots when I meet one in person.

The number of times I get told not to eat salt, sugar, meat etc is incredible.

We were on an island in the Maldives, and met a friend of a friend, an English lady.

We were sitting in an outdoor bar late in the morning, after a dive.

I immediately got myself a can of Coke - everyone was drinking fresh fruit juices.

We ordered food.

Everyone ordered some sort of salad or fish.

I ordered tortilla chips, with ground beef, extra cheese and extra jalapenos.

When the food came, the English lady, who my friend said earlier is a sort of health freak, said to me "you have to be careful what you eat. All that sugar and meat is not very good for you"

I said "I like sugar, and I like meat. You eat what you like, and I will eat what I like"

She said "I just wanted to tell you that you can improve your health by eating health foods instead of all this unhealthy stuff you are eating"

I said "Are you a doctor?"

She said "No. I am a health expert. I have my own blog. I can give you the address if you like"

I said "Do I look unhealthy to you? Do I look stupid?"

She said "I did not say you are unhealthy, or stupid"

I said "If you would like to see a very stupid, self obsessed idiot, look in the mirror!"

Her jaw dropped to the floor, and my friend said "Saeed enjoy your UNHEALTHY lunch"

I said "I will. If I was left to enjoy it instead of being lectured what to eat"

I actually got on well with the health freak.

She kept asking my friend about me, she named me "the very rude man!"

We are actually flying to that same island this evening for a week's break.

I am sure I will meet someone to annoy!

I have a problem with that as well.2 examples come to mind immediately.The motorcycle helmet law + the seatbelt law;both laws made to protect us from ourselves.That is NOT the governments job. I think under 18 I can understand but not over.Now we have this big flak about the "opioid issue".Once again the press + the government in lock step is trashing the abilities for deserving patients that NEED pain meds because the stats are including deaths w/ heroin,cocaine,morphium,etc.as part of the stats.Our people are suffering that need pain care. I like the way that Belize (British Honduras) handled it back in early 70's.They just opened it up. Anything you want,the pharmacy is open.If you are stupid enough to O.D. they will gladly bury you at sea.End of problem.

The people I get irritated with are those that do things that are obviously detrimental to their physical, financial, or any other kind of health until they are a wreck, then hold their hand out begging for someone to help them.

My brother-in-law smoked like a steel mill; for years. I helped he and his wife moved furniture once. When you moved anything on the wall, the imprint of the original paint color was still behind that item. We told him he was damaging his health. The government told him he was damaging his health, but his attitude was that it wasn't anyone's damn business.

It wasn't, right up until he was on oxygen the last three years of his life. Then he wanted our sympathy. He also wanted government aid (disability, medical costs, etc.). He also wanted financial aid from his friends and relatives. (Many people when they die then want a Go Fund Me page to help pay for their funeral.)

I've got no problem if you want to screw yourself, but when the time comes to pay for that stupidity, don't stand on the corner with a cardboard sign begging for help. (For those people I suggest saving one bullet for them self.)

I agree. I also heard recently that folks riding a motorcycle w/o a helmet have to show proof of health insurance or get ticketed.Seems the powers that be were tired of paying the indigents health bills after they had an accident.

One last word on the cigarette issue I would like to share.Several years ago I heard an interview with the CEO of RJ Reynolds who made the statement,"I love this business,we make a product that costs a penny to make,sells for a dollar,is addictive + legal".

quote:

Originally posted by CowboyCS:
If you really want to save money don't have children. I figure my two boys(cheaper than girls to raise) cost me about $500,000.00 over the span of 20 years.

ExACTLY< has been my plan from the get go, do far 33 years in I am on track!!

I never kept a tally on what it cost to raise my 3 boys.(+ALL their high school buddies always over for a meal) Does'nt matter. It was money well spent.They have all turned out fine + I could not imagine my life with out them in it.As I have mentioned before,every now + then I will run into my son's friends (Of course they are grown men now)+ they still call me Dad + ask when the next time I'm going be making a big pot of venison chili.Kinda makes you feel like you did a good job.

quote:

The motorcycle helmet law + the seatbelt law;both laws made to protect us from ourselves.That is NOT the governments job

Sorry, Norman, that is just typical old time BS. It is NOT to protect me from myself. It is to protect me from some jackass who runs into me and is not wearing a helmet, but wants me (or the government) to pay for his medical bills. If you don't like it then just advocate for a law that say" no one can sue for damages or costs if they were not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt. I would be OK with that!
"have to show proof of health insurance". too simplistic! There is health insurance and health insurance. These catastrophic plans that Trump advocates are useless if one doesn't have to money to pay for non catastrophic care!
I agree with Kensco. Additionally, Medicaid should be for those who WANT to get well. Give 'em 6 months to show progress, if not, go to your local charity, not your local government. I am all for helping those in need, but we also have an obligation to spend wisely the money we take from people.
"paying the indigents health bills after they had an accident."
You don't have to be an indigent to have massive health care bills! The number 1 cause of bankruptcy filings in the USA is health care bills!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:

quote:

The motorcycle helmet law + the seatbelt law;both laws made to protect us from ourselves.That is NOT the governments job

Sorry, Norman, that is just typical old time BS. It is NOT to protect me from myself. It is to protect me from some jackass who runs into me and is not wearing a helmet, but wants me (or the government) to pay for his medical bills. If you don't like it then just advocate for a law that say" no one can sue for damages or costs if they were not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt. I would be OK with that!
"have to show proof of health insurance". too simplistic! There is health insurance and health insurance. These catastrophic plans that Trump advocates are useless if one doesn't have to money to pay for non catastrophic care!
I agree with Kensco. Additionally, Medicaid should be for those who WANT to get well. Give 'em 6 months to show progress, if not, go to your local charity, not your local government. I am all for helping those in need, but we also have an obligation to spend wisely the money we take from people.
"paying the indigents health bills after they had an accident."
You don't have to be an indigent to have massive health care bills! The number 1 cause of bankruptcy filings in the USA is health care bills!
Peter.

Peter, I do believe Norman is in Texas, like me. I have been into motorcycles off an on for decades. When Texas got rid of the helmet law back 15 or so years ago, the law stated that you must wear a helmet unless you can show proof of a minimum of $10,000 liquidity or that you possess medical insurance. You got a little sticker to put on your license plate as notice. That was changed in 2009. See the excerpt below. Now you just have to show proof of insurance and I think it has to have a motorcycle endorsement attached.

Not arguing whether or not wearing a helmet while riding a bike is smart or not, but Norman's statement of "have to show proof of health insurance" is accurate, at least for Texas law.

Oh and Please fella, let's remember it isn't Trump's catastrophic plans that are useless. It was Obama that gutted the health insurance industry.

Just making sure the facts are straight here.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On June 19, 2009, Governor Rick Perry signed into law
Senate Bill 1967 of the 81st Regular Legislative Session.
This law became effective September 1, 2009 and
repealed the helmet exemption sticker program.


Please read the following important information pertaining
to the helmet exemption:

Former law required a person be covered with a minimum of $10,000 in health insurance for injuries incurred in a motorcycle accident to be eligible for an exception for the offense of operating or riding a motorcycle without a helmet. The law removes that minimum amount. The law requires the Texas Department of Insurance to prescribe a standard proof of health insurance for issuance to persons who are at least 21 years of age and covered by an applicable health insurance plan. "Health insurance plan" means an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy, insurance agreement, evidence of coverage, group hospital services contract, health maintenance organization membership, or employee benefit plan that provides benefits for health care services or for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of an accident. Read Texas Administrative Code §21.5201 (c)(1)(2) for details on requirements for health insurance plan providers; basically they must either add the words "MOTORCYCLE HEALTH" to the insurance card or supply a letter with the same basic information as the card to include the words "MOTORCYCLE HEALTH: Standard Proof of Health Insurance".
The law prohibits a peace officer from stopping or detaining a person who is the operator of or a passenger on a motorcycle for the sole purpose of determining whether the person has successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a motorcycle health insurance plan and repeals provisions relating to a DPS-issued sticker required to be displayed on a motorcycle by a motorcycle owner.
For more information on this law, please visit Texas Legislature Online or contact the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439.

Thank you. It is always important to get the FACTS out on any issue.