When I was in school living off scholarships, grants, and a bit of student loans, coupled with my part time job I thought i'd have so much cash flowing when I graduated and got a real job life was going to be all rainbows and sunshine!

Not the case. Sure I have enough money to do pretty much what I want but it sure doesn't stretch as far as it seemed on paper once you start paying for everything yourself. Food, utilities, mortages, insurance, car notes, loans, retirement... the list goes on and on. Oh yea dont forget the big kicker that is taxes! I pay more in taxes yearly than I paid in the 6 years or so I worked part time leading up to my first real job out of college.

Just food for thought, granpa always said it's better to plan ahead and live below your means. My dad never had a job paying nearly what I'm making now, but he has never bought anything on credit, if he couldn't pay cash for it, then he figured he didnt need it. So we always did without the 'finer' things in life growing up. But the man was never in debt and although he and my mom will probably never make combined what I'm making now, they live in a bran new 3 bedroom house, 2 cars that are less than 4 years old, 50" plasma tv, etc etc. And are not in debt one penny.

I pay almost as much as he grosses yearly in TAXES and I cant say i'm nearly as debt free as he is. I did the whole play around today and buy what I can afford the note on in my first year out of school and wish I hadnt. If i had chosen to not buy this 38k truck for a year or two, I couldve paid for it in cash and not be in debt for it right now.

Sure, i'll have it paid off 2 years early because I'm doubling up payments in the past year but still. Thats thousands in wasted money that I have paid in interest because I had to have a new car the moment I got out of school. Yea its seemed lke a good idea at the time but wish I would've taken my dads advice and sported that 1995 Honda accord for another year or two so I couldve paid cash for a new car.

Live and learn right guys!

 

You have posted several times in this thread judging others, but we have not heard your story. Disposable income looks a lot better when you still live at home.
BTW, I am a Commercial Property Appraiser. I get 55% fee split of what I invoice. I invoiced $75k so far this year.

 

I always give in to that type logic. Putting myself in their shoes I wish someone who's been around the block would've thrown me a bone.

Ok, first off I'm not going to tell you how much I make.
The figure makes grown men weep, women pass out or immediately start to hump my leg.

All you need notice is I bought the truck new and it's ten years old. Copy that.

 

Yeah... I'm doing those rocks you got for me.

 

I will be right at or just below it this year. I doubt I'll be over since I don't do overtime.

 

You have your opinions, I have mine. Don't start flaming me, I haven't gotten personal - yet. I've probably got about 40 more years of life experience than you and I've adequately learned many hard lessons. I didn't listen to my elders either. Funny thing - the older you get, the smarter your elders get.

 

Care to elaborate? Whats your position? I really want to get into law enforcement but the pay has stopped me. Goin rate starting out around here is 30-35K

 

I listen to my elders, and im not questioning your knowlege, just your place and position in his thread.

He just had a simple question, and instead of answering it, or even ignoring it, people decided to knock on him for customizing his vehicle.

We aren't the first generation to spend money on our vehicles and making it a priority. The mods might have been a little different back then... Roll and pleated seats, upgrading from mono to stereo speakers, maybe a CB radio, or an 8-Track?

 

Baby moons, suicide ****, FM convertor.

 

I work for Dell in teh remote services department. Make about 55k a year. Pretty sweet gig. Currently working on my Business plan to open a Bar/Pub. THis way I will be making money (I Hope) to Drink Beer, Smoke Meat, and play Washers!!

No pics of the truck yet, but will be coming. 01 f150 screw 4x4.

 

Sorry, but now I want to know about the 4 drumsticks !!!

 

FM Converter? Well wooopie! Weren't you the hot shot! I couldn't afford a converter. I was excited when I was able to install a rear speaker for my AM radio!

 

I'm not knocking on anyone for modding their vehicle - I'm trying to point out the hazards of living beyond your means. With all the "easy" credit these days, it's tragically easy to do, and failure affects more than just YOU.

 

I make $16.1971 per hr. I'm getting 2 raises in a few weeks. I will be making $19.4343 after both raises. I had wait for my 6 month probationary period to be over and the first two raise were dependent on me getting computer based training done. So i busted my butt and got it done in 5 months.
For retirement the Company takes a mandatory 5% of our pay for our pension plan. We get 2% times the years of work times high three years of pay. We can retire after 20 years at any age. (i.e. 2% x 20 years = 40% of high 3 year average (80k) = $32k a year) I will probably work longer than 20 years since I'm only 28 with no kids now and will also make more than 80k when I retire. I also invest 3% into a 457 plan which is like a 401K but you withdraw from it as soon as you retire from the company at any age without any penalties. I also have a Roth IRA that I deposit $25 a pay period in to it.
I had a job prior to this that I made ALOT more at that had a company paid pension and they also matched 401k at 75% up to 6%. But do to medical reasons I lost this job and had to find a similar career path. I love the location of my new job better, the people I work with better. So it is not alway about how much $ you make it should be about do you like doing the job that make the $ for you. I rather make $25k to $30k less a year and be happier with the way my work does things and the location that i live in. Last area I live in the Median age was 62 (retirement area) and now is 26 years old (college area). Even that the two jobs a pretty similar the current one has a lot less stress due to less government oversite and a lot less micro management. So I will take my $40k+ year job that I love anyday over a $100k+ year job that I don't like.

 

Not enough.

But in a couple weeks I'll still be making not enough.

I really don't spend too much. Just basics. Saving every penny I can.

I've found that if you live below your means, stay out of debt, and save every penny you can get you hands on, you'll have a lot of money in your account at the end of the day, at the end of the year, and when it's time to retire. I'll be done working by 50.

Best advice = Stay out of debt / Don't buy anything you can't afford to pay for today. Including cars, trucks, boats , houses, and other toys.

And don't ever use credit cards.....ever. Not even to "boast you credit rating" as some financial planners advise.

If I were in the "nest egg commercial" I would be the guy covered in filth head to toe, looking broke except for the large nest egg under my arm.