Tiny
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 21:22:34 GMT -5
Posts: 13,488
|
Post by Tiny on Feb 9, 2016 18:23:49 GMT -5
That's like why saying why do people bother getting renters' insurance. It isn't their property. I assume Shasta has possessions. If a fire or tornado wiped her out, she would have to start completely over. I guess her liability is limited because she has no money. I'm not saying that she has to have insurance or pay her taxes. What I am saying is that the rest of us do so she isn't exactly the poster child for avoiding lifestyle creep. Sadly - I don't know... yeah some of us have stupidly high always going up Property Taxes and do carry insurance because of the replacement value of the house/belongings... but that's not really what drives Lifestyle Creep - typical FIXED expenses that keep going up don't really drive "lifestyle creep" - heck over the last 10 years my basic fixed expenses have pretty much doubled and I haven't added any 'expenses'. Property Taxes/Insurance have continuously kept me from having $$ to spend on 'fun stuff' since every year I have to 'save' more each month to cover those bills. My house isn't any nicer than it was 20 years ago.
Lifestyle Creep to me - is when MORE expenses are added OR when you take on nicer, bigger fixed expenses because you can. I'm still living in the house I bought 20 years ago. I started out needing $200 a month to cover taxes/insurance - and now it's $800 a month... if anything I have LESS money to spend on 'fun stuff' because of this.
I think Shasta has a valid point about Lifestyle Creep... even if her expenses are low (because of LCOL area or because it's not worth it to insure her belongings/house).
I think it's a bit of the "Latte Factor - on steroids" having MANY small recurring expenses/purchases each week - so the $5 daily coffee, the $10 daily lunch, the $50 for drinks after work once or twice a week, the $25 in take out dinner foods a couple of times a week... yeah, one of these habits by itself probably isn't a budget breaker - but when you start adding them all up... Same goes for if you opt for a nicer house, a nicer car, a nicer phone, a nicer whatever - one or two of them probably aren't budget breakers - but when you keep adding in a new "nicer" thing - money starts to feel tight.
That's life style creep - to me at least.
|
|
Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT -5
Posts: 14,659
|
Post by Lizard Queen on Feb 9, 2016 18:42:10 GMT -5
Congrats, Shasta! Sounds like you'd fit right in over on the MMM forum. I do worry about your being behind on the taxes, though, and don't be too trusting of rock guy yet. Let him earn your trust.
|
|
giramomma
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 11:25:27 GMT -5
Posts: 22,140
|
Post by giramomma on Feb 9, 2016 19:02:34 GMT -5
And, yes, Carl does have some lifestyle creep, but he also lives in a VHCOLA, so it isn't really an apples to apples comparison. It's not just the COLA. The career trajectory is not a comparison either. He can't look the part of store manager wearing tennis shoes from Payless or shoes from goodwill. Shoot, my department head is as humble as they come, grew up incredibly poor and is not very cosmopolitan. Even my department head does not wear $20 shoes or jeans and t-shirts to work. And despite Carl's debt to income ratio, I think he's got some decent long term security. Again, that's something I'd prefer, given the choice. And FWIW, yes, if we paid off our mortgage and did not pay taxes, we could raise our family of 5 on less than 1500/month, including food (about 450/month). Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
|
|
vonna
Well-Known Member
Joined: Aug 11, 2012 15:58:51 GMT -5
Posts: 1,249
|
Post by vonna on Feb 9, 2016 19:07:32 GMT -5
150 pound weightloss is simply amazing.
Congratulations!
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on Feb 9, 2016 19:08:45 GMT -5
Heck - many of us here could afford to up and quit our jobs this afternoon if only our mortgages were paid off and we could somehow assure ourselves that skipping our property taxes wouldn't negatively affect us!
|
|
buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
|
Post by buystoys on Feb 9, 2016 19:19:13 GMT -5
Medical insurance (after tax credits), co-pays for doctor visits, dental care, prescriptions and testing cost us $16,000 last year. That is more than double my mortgage. We're probably going to go over $20,000 in 2016 as we just purchased hearing aids for DH. Yes, we could skip paying for all the medical care, but DH would probably be dead within a few years. So, I think we'll just suck it up.
|
|
steph08
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 3, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
Posts: 5,504
Member is Online
|
Post by steph08 on Feb 9, 2016 19:55:03 GMT -5
Heck - many of us here could afford to up and quit our jobs this afternoon if only our mortgages were paid off and we could somehow assure ourselves that skipping our property taxes wouldn't negatively affect us! True. Heck without a mortgage or daycare or student loans to worry about, we could live on a lot less per year as well! Oh and if only our house wouldn't be put up for sheriff sale for not paying our taxes!
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on Feb 9, 2016 19:56:39 GMT -5
Heck - many of us here could afford to up and quit our jobs this afternoon if only our mortgages were paid off and we could somehow assure ourselves that skipping our property taxes wouldn't negatively affect us! True. Heck without a mortgage or daycare or student loans to worry about, we could live on a lot less per year as well! Oh and if only our house wouldn't be put up for sheriff sale for not paying our taxes!
|
|
Bonny
Junior Associate
Joined: Nov 17, 2013 10:54:37 GMT -5
Posts: 7,459
Location: No Place Like Home!
|
Post by Bonny on Feb 9, 2016 20:28:05 GMT -5
I think when you are young, *some* lifestyle creep can actually make your life easier. I remember dancing with joy around the house when I got my first washer and dryer installed (we bought the house without them). I saved a TON of time not having to shlep off to the laundromat every week . . . I could give you dozens of more examples, but you get the idea.
At some point - as tallguy points out - lifestyle creep loses its allure. When you have what you need and much of what you want, you no longer feel the need to chase whatever trends in which your part of the world indulges. You get happier and more satisfied just living in your own skin. Your neighbor's Beemer, or your sister's Wolf Range, or your friend's Kardashian look-alike wardrobe become unnecessary and even burdensome. You're happy to have money because it gives you freedom. And choices. Freedom and Choice are what people living under debt loads are missing.
My ultimate goal is to have no mortgage and sufficient money in the bank when I retire. (We've had no consumer debt since we burned the last of it in 2008). If I play my cards right, I'll have MORE disposable monthly income in retirement than I even had working full time. That is far more alluring to me than any "lifestyle" I could try and live.
But as always - YMMV. They don't call it the "trappings of wealth" for nothing.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 10:25:55 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2016 22:32:24 GMT -5
My house is an unusual situation due to the water contamination and recent move-in of the cartel... If I sell, both will be known defects. Since I have a mobile on land it has to be sold for cash or I have to carry the mortgage and risk getting sued over the water.
I know I am selling, and I know it will be within the next year and a half. I know what it's worth, what the market is for just land for the grows, and the tax issues. I can't pay what I don't have... Both kids working and my recently finding a second income source are already helping.
My point about creep is that I think many things we just get used to and don't think twice about buying. When you are forced to go without and really have to spend wisely, then you realize the thing you thought you couldn't live without really wasn't a big deal. At that point, I start wondering if I need to buy whatever at all anymore. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Quitting satellite after DH died was brutal, for about a month, and now no one in my house cares.
I wasn't trying to advocate anyone skip their taxes or eat beans and rice, but to think about what you buy out of habit, and to consider what happens if your income suddenly ends. I realized many here are higher income and insured for such income losses, but many, many Americans aren't. Covering low monthly expenses is much easier that covering high ones.
|
|
Knee Deep in Water Chloe
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 21:04:44 GMT -5
Posts: 14,244
Mini-Profile Name Color: 1980e6
|
Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Feb 9, 2016 23:48:13 GMT -5
Hi shasta, It's good to see you. I'm so glad both of your sons are working. Have you been to the lake lately? I saw some pictures recently, and I don't remember ever seeing it that full. I've camped there several times and driven through there hundreds of times--even in the 90s during the last major drought.
I really don't think it was fair to call Carl out or to use him as your example. Carl doesn't need me to stick up for him; I just feel a bit defensive because our household budget is much tighter than the Carls'. A lot of it is because we choose to live comfortably rather than "rice and beans, beans and rice" to pay off our debt. Another challenge is that we didn't fare well with the real estate market bubble and subsequent popping and still haven't recovered. There are often extenuating circumstances in addition to lifestyle choices.
|
|
swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on Feb 10, 2016 9:01:35 GMT -5
I understand what shasta is saying. And I do not think she was using Carl as an "example" on what not to do. But rather taking his name because his was the most recent budget being discussed here. Hence fresh in mind.
She definitely has a point. It just seems to have ruffled some feathers here and people started defending their own lifestyle choices. But thats what EXACTLY she is saying. She never denied she is in a different situation than most, her point is most of it IS lifestyle choices for other people. If you make a choice to live comfortably over paying your debt it IS a lifestyle choice, something very easy to get used to.
I am not defending Carl or Shasta. But most people seem to be defending Carl and going after shasta. She is not a poster child for frugal living while paying mortgage and taxes, but neither is Carl for getting so over in debt while earning a good salary (yes, yes I know he lives in HCOL...another CHOICE he made)
|
|
haapai
Junior Associate
Character
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:40:06 GMT -5
Posts: 5,983
|
Post by haapai on Feb 10, 2016 9:02:36 GMT -5
Hi Shasta,
An awful lot of what you are saying regarding living on less/downsizing/prioritizing/not spending is resonating with me. Being broke is an excellent way of learning what your priorities are and you do find yourself making some decisions that scare the heck out of more comfortable folks.
I don't think that I will ever carry collision insurance ever again. Every time that I price that coverage and consider how much protection I would actually get from it, stuff flies out of my nose. I've given up on explaining the math and logic behind this to more comfortable folks. Even when they understand the logic and agree with my decision, they still get uncomfortable pinched looks on their faces.
I'd like to ask some questions regarding just how behind you are on the property taxes and whether you have the ability to stay only X number of years behind by paying the oldest tax obligation. I don't want to see you losing the land to taxes while some buyer strings you along with a sale that is continually delayed. On the other hand, that situation may be painful for you to talk about and you certainly have every right not to discuss it.
It's definitely strange how playing the cards that you have as skillfully as possible scares other people.
|
|
seriousthistime
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 20:27:07 GMT -5
Posts: 4,991
Member is Online
|
Post by seriousthistime on Feb 10, 2016 9:05:04 GMT -5
But congratulations on the weight loss. (ETA: I was referring to Underwater Chloe's post.] Another extenuating "lifestyle choice" is that TheHaitian actually has to commute to work, and so does his DW. The "doesn't work well with others" routine doesn't fly with them. Commuting requires gasoline and reliable cars. How do tax auctions work in CA? In my state, the tax auction happens fairly quickly after one year's property taxes go unpaid. The auction buyer then pays the taxes, interest accrues at 18% per year, and the owner of the property has three years to redeem by repaying the auction buyer the back taxes plus the accrued interest and costs. After the three years are up, you lose the property and the auction buyer owns it. I guess the auction buyer must have to keep paying the property taxes each year in that three-year period until the owner redeems, but I never looked into it that closely. I hope for your sake that everything works according to your plan. Losing a $150K property over unpaid taxes would be a major bummer.
|
|
Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT -5
Posts: 14,659
|
Post by Lizard Queen on Feb 10, 2016 9:25:11 GMT -5
I understand what shasta is saying. And I do not think she was using Carl as an "example" on what not to do. But rather taking his name because his was the most recent budget being discussed here. Hence fresh in mind. She definitely has a point. It just seems to have ruffled some feathers here and people started defending their own lifestyle choices. But thats what EXACTLY she is saying. She never denied she is in a different situation than most, her point is most of it IS lifestyle choices for other people. If you make a choice to live comfortably over paying your debt it IS a lifestyle choice, something very easy to get used to. I am not defending Carl or Shasta. But most people seem to be defending Carl and going after shasta. She is not a poster child for frugal living while paying mortgage and taxes, but neither is Carl for getting so over in debt while earning a good salary (yes, yes I know he lives in HCOL...another CHOICE he made) Yeah that. There seems to be a logical fallacy on both sides claiming, if I'm doing this, it must be okay. Except, living on the edge (of your income) isn't really something to aspire to. Murphy likes to come along at the most inconvenient times.
|
|
emma1420
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2011 15:35:45 GMT -5
Posts: 2,430
|
Post by emma1420 on Feb 10, 2016 9:52:43 GMT -5
My house is an unusual situation due to the water contamination and recent move-in of the cartel... If I sell, both will be known defects. Since I have a mobile on land it has to be sold for cash or I have to carry the mortgage and risk getting sued over the water. I know I am selling, and I know it will be within the next year and a half. I know what it's worth, what the market is for just land for the grows, and the tax issues. I can't pay what I don't have... Both kids working and my recently finding a second income source are already helping. My point about creep is that I think many things we just get used to and don't think twice about buying. When you are forced to go without and really have to spend wisely, then you realize the thing you thought you couldn't live without really wasn't a big deal. At that point, I start wondering if I need to buy whatever at all anymore. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Quitting satellite after DH died was brutal, for about a month, and now no one in my house cares. I wasn't trying to advocate anyone skip their taxes or eat beans and rice, but to think about what you buy out of habit, and to consider what happens if your income suddenly ends. I realized many here are higher income and insured for such income losses, but many, many Americans aren't. Covering low monthly expenses is much easier that covering high ones. Won't you be required to pay the back property taxes when you sell?
|
|
buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
|
Post by buystoys on Feb 10, 2016 9:55:33 GMT -5
I understand what shasta is saying. And I do not think she was using Carl as an "example" on what not to do. But rather taking his name because his was the most recent budget being discussed here. Hence fresh in mind. She definitely has a point. It just seems to have ruffled some feathers here and people started defending their own lifestyle choices. But thats what EXACTLY she is saying. She never denied she is in a different situation than most, her point is most of it IS lifestyle choices for other people. If you make a choice to live comfortably over paying your debt it IS a lifestyle choice, something very easy to get used to. I am not defending Carl or Shasta. But most people seem to be defending Carl and going after shasta. She is not a poster child for frugal living while paying mortgage and taxes, but neither is Carl for getting so over in debt while earning a good salary (yes, yes I know he lives in HCOL...another CHOICE he made) I also understand what Shasta is saying. However, I disagree that feathers have been ruffled. If Shasta were a new poster showing the budget she posted, people would be piling on to comment about the things that are missing. I get that her point was that having lower fixed expenses means it is easier to pay your bills if something were to happen. While I applaud her positive attitude about making it work with very little, there is also quite a bit of risk involved in her lifestyle choices. I saw other posters pointing out the potential risk of her decisions, not piling on or going after her. YMMV
|
|
swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on Feb 10, 2016 10:03:18 GMT -5
I understand what shasta is saying. And I do not think she was using Carl as an "example" on what not to do. But rather taking his name because his was the most recent budget being discussed here. Hence fresh in mind. She definitely has a point. It just seems to have ruffled some feathers here and people started defending their own lifestyle choices. But thats what EXACTLY she is saying. She never denied she is in a different situation than most, her point is most of it IS lifestyle choices for other people. If you make a choice to live comfortably over paying your debt it IS a lifestyle choice, something very easy to get used to. I am not defending Carl or Shasta. But most people seem to be defending Carl and going after shasta. She is not a poster child for frugal living while paying mortgage and taxes, but neither is Carl for getting so over in debt while earning a good salary (yes, yes I know he lives in HCOL...another CHOICE he made) I also understand what Shasta is saying. However, I disagree that feathers have been ruffled. If Shasta were a new poster showing the budget she posted, people would be piling on to comment about the things that are missing. I get that her point was that having lower fixed expenses means it is easier to pay your bills if something were to happen. While I applaud her positive attitude about making it work with very little, there is also quite a bit of risk involved in her lifestyle choices. I saw other posters pointing out the potential risk of her decisions, not piling on or going after her. YMMV Yes, my MMV. Telling her she is not a poster child for frugal living, is being unfair to Carl by naming him, telling her she is not going to work or not paying taxes is by no means not piling on her. All she did was give her side of the story. She has an unusual situation and everyone knows it. All she is saying is a LOT of it comes down to personal lifestyle choices, which obviously everyone has the right to make based on their own circumstances. Anyways, I am done saying what I had to say.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 10:25:55 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2016 10:09:36 GMT -5
Lifestyle creep got both DW and I in trouble in our 20's and turned us into penny pinchers the first 3 years of our marriage to pay off all debt. Even after the debt was paid off the penny pinching continued a couple of years, we are at the point where we have agreed to let lifestyle creep happen so that it stays within one of our salaries (after 401k max) which has resulted in a larger vacation/car/electronics/gift giving budget.
This accomplishes 3 things:
1. Keeps lifestyle creep under control 2. If either of us loses our jobs spending doesn't need adjusted at all 3. Maintains path to full retirement at 55
|
|
Opti
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 10:45:38 GMT -5
Posts: 42,242
Location: New Jersey
Mini-Profile Name Color: c28523
Mini-Profile Text Color: 990033
|
Post by Opti on Feb 10, 2016 10:50:23 GMT -5
Yes, I do not have rent or a mortgage. House is currently valued at about $150K, thanks to the local drug cartel moving in, the land is more valuable now than anything else. I understand your point, but not putting in rent/mortgage/property taxes also makes your lifestyle costs artificially low. For many people, that cost is the bulk of their spending, not groceries.
I hope you are able to sell in time.
|
|
TheHaitian
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 27, 2014 19:39:10 GMT -5
Posts: 10,144
|
Post by TheHaitian on Feb 10, 2016 11:00:13 GMT -5
Look I did not mean to start a pissing war by posting in this thread. The OP is going to do her and I am going to do me. Live and let live!
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 48,076
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Feb 10, 2016 11:03:41 GMT -5
I guess I don't really consider property taxes and insurance "life style creep" Both are facts of life. State Farm can jack up my renter's insurance rates without me making any changes in my lifestyle whatsoever. Same with my property taxes. I can control them to an extent but at the end of the day it's the city that decides how much I have to pay. Ours went up after the house next door was finally purchased and fixed up after spending 5 years in foreclosure. How exactly is that my lifestyle creeping up?
|
|
MJ2.0
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 24, 2014 10:27:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,049
|
Post by MJ2.0 on Feb 10, 2016 11:49:06 GMT -5
I wasn't piling on. I just don't think you can pat yourself on the back for living on so little when you have no HO insurance and aren't current with your property taxes. You're in just as precarious (if not more precarious) a position as the person living above their means and paying for everything they need to have.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,910
|
Post by zibazinski on Feb 10, 2016 12:24:20 GMT -5
Isn't health insurance free for her as well as her children?
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on Feb 10, 2016 13:17:47 GMT -5
I wasn't piling on. I just don't think you can pat yourself on the back for living on so little when you have no HO insurance and aren't current with your property taxes. You're in just as precarious (if not more precarious) a position as the person living above their means and paying for everything they need to have. I don't believe I was piling on either. I agree with MJ2.0 that living on the edge of the potential to lose your home because you don't pay your taxes isn't frugal - it's dangerous. Both lifestyles have their dangers and frankly neither one is sustainable.
Having said that, Shasta I admire you and your take-charge efforts to have a better life. More people should be like you. Please accept my apologies if you thought I was "piling on."
|
|
emma1420
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2011 15:35:45 GMT -5
Posts: 2,430
|
Post by emma1420 on Feb 10, 2016 13:21:20 GMT -5
Won't you be required to pay the back property taxes when you sell? 1 of 2 things can happen: 1. She sells and the title company pays arrears / liens and she gets balance 2. County auctions off after 5 years and she gets $0 But that's from someone who doesn't know why her situation is unusual That is what I was wondering. Where I live, unpaid property taxes results in the property being auctioned off at some point. And, if you sell before it gets auctioned off then it results in paying the back property taxes as well as any financial penalties/interested associated with the back property taxes, which can eat up almost all the proceeds of a sale. I think it's great that Shasta can live off of so little. But, I do wonder about what happens if she were to lose the land she lives on? And as others have pointed out, her expenses are artificially low because she's not paying property taxes, homeowners insurance, and presumably health insurance (I'm not sure if she gets medicaid or goes without). Most people can't really control those costs. And at least I pay at least $400 a month just on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and my portion of my health insurance, and I live in a very small and cheap house for the area, and my employer pays 75% of my health insurance premium.
|
|
Green Eyed Lady
Senior Associate
Look inna eye! Always look inna eye!
Joined: Jan 23, 2012 11:23:55 GMT -5
Posts: 19,629
|
Post by Green Eyed Lady on Feb 10, 2016 13:25:18 GMT -5
I would only add that there is a vast difference between living frugally and living irresponsibly. I don't need or want a lot of extras. I consider my cell phone a necessity as I don't have a home phone but yes, I could probably cut expenses by not having one. I have cable, but I don't ever go anywhere so what I spend on cable is probably a lot less than what others spend on entertainment. I have a newer vehicle as I drive quite a bit for work and the weather here is unpredictable. I'm not taking a chance on being on the side of the road at night with a breakdown in -20 temps. I know that can happen with a newer vehicle also, but the chance is less.
I could live on a lot less if I didn't pay my bills, but that wouldn't be responsible. I could lose my home for not paying taxes. I could lose everything in it by not having insurance. My home isn't filled with gold plated bath fixtures, but it would still be financially devastating if I had to replace everything.
I think "frugal" includes being responsible. That's not "piling on" because Shasta has posted that she doesn't think her way is everyone's way. I'm just pointing out that there is a difference.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on Feb 10, 2016 13:55:04 GMT -5
I guess I don't really consider property taxes and insurance "life style creep" Both are facts of life. State Farm can jack up my renter's insurance rates without me making any changes in my lifestyle whatsoever. Same with my property taxes. I can control them to an extent but at the end of the day it's the city that decides how much I have to pay. Ours went up after the house next door was finally purchased and fixed up after spending 5 years in foreclosure. How exactly is that my lifestyle creeping up? You should just know these things are going to happen and pick a better place to live and insurance company. It's the YM way!
|
|
TheHaitian
Senior Associate
Joined: Jul 27, 2014 19:39:10 GMT -5
Posts: 10,144
|
Post by TheHaitian on Feb 10, 2016 14:00:04 GMT -5
I understand what shasta is saying. And I do not think she was using Carl as an "example" on what not to do. But rather taking his name because his was the most recent budget being discussed here. Hence fresh in mind. She definitely has a point. It just seems to have ruffled some feathers here and people started defending their own lifestyle choices. But thats what EXACTLY she is saying. She never denied she is in a different situation than most, her point is most of it IS lifestyle choices for other people. If you make a choice to live comfortably over paying your debt it IS a lifestyle choice, something very easy to get used to. I am not defending Carl or Shasta. But most people seem to be defending Carl and going after shasta. She is not a poster child for frugal living while paying mortgage and taxes, but neither is Carl for getting so over in debt while earning a good salary (yes, yes I know he lives in HCOL...another CHOICE he made) Yeah that. There seems to be a logical fallacy on both sides claiming, if I'm doing this, it must be okay. Except, living on the edge (of your income) isn't really something to aspire to. Murphy likes to come along at the most inconvenient times. What fallacy? Did I say it was ok? I never said it was ok which is why I am working on my budget. That is why I am cutting it down from $7,200/month? And who is on the edge of their income? I do not spend every penny I make... I spend a good chunk of it but I am also saving, I am still on track to retire at 55 God Willing. My major expenses? -> My mortgage : not going to change till I move out of MA -> My debt : 28k at 0% and yes while not ideal but it was for the cost of fertility treatment. And yes if I had borrowed the YM 8 ball I should have known 10 years ago I was infertile and saved every penny I could toward it, not gone on vacation, not spend a penny on wants. Guess what? I did not but I thank God I have the income earning power and the help of modern medicine to make our dream to have a child come true. -> My wife car loan: will be gone in 2 years and 9 months -> Our student loans : Sorry I cannot go back and change the past, can only deal with it now. Most will be gone in 3-5 years and the big chunk of it of 82k will be forgiven in 8 years. Despite that, I am still on track to max my 401k and my wife is contributing 20% of her salary to a 403b. I never claimed as the OP said that I could not live on 7k. I am doing it, I have a pretty damn good life and I will be the first to admit it. My post was not how I could not pay my bills, my post was reaching out to a community that I felt safe opening to about how I could cut corners in my current expenses. My bills are paid, none are past due... I know while I am saving I can possibly save more by cutting expenses or paying down my debt faster. I started a thread to genuinely ask for help not to be ridiculed, but who the hell I am kidding; this is YM after all. Expecting different was my first mistake. Nothing against Shasta, she has her life I have mine. I choose instead of reducing my life to how I can live on the bare minimum, I am focusing on how to increase my income potential, save more and yes maybe spend a bit more. My choices / her choices... why the need to compare them? And you can say she was not trying to do that but when you start a thread with the words quoted below, your goal was exactly that : Ridicule me and trying to make yourself look good. And denying it is pure BS. Now I am done with this thread.
|
|
Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT -5
Posts: 14,659
|
Post by Lizard Queen on Feb 10, 2016 14:18:11 GMT -5
Yeah that. There seems to be a logical fallacy on both sides claiming, if I'm doing this, it must be okay. Except, living on the edge (of your income) isn't really something to aspire to. Murphy likes to come along at the most inconvenient times. What fallacy? Did I say it was ok? I never said it was ok which is why I am working on my budget. That is why I am cutting it down from $7,200/month? And who is on the edge of their income? I do not spend every penny I make... I spend a good chunk of it but I am also saving, I am still on track to retire at 55 God Willing. My major expenses? -> My mortgage : not going to change till I move out of MA -> My debt : 28k at 0% and yes while not ideal but it was for the cost of fertility treatment. And yes if I had borrowed the YM 8 ball I should have known 10 years ago I was infertile and saved every penny I could toward it, not gone on vacation, not spend a penny on wants. Guess what? I did not but I thank God I have the income earning power and the help of modern medicine to make our dream to have a child come true. -> My wife car loan: will be gone in 2 years and 9 months -> Our student loans : Sorry I cannot go back and change the past, can only deal with it now. Most will be gone in 3-5 years and the big chunk of it of 82k will be forgiven in 8 years. Despite that, I am still on track to max my 401k and my wife is contributing 20% of her salary to a 403b. I never claimed as the OP said that I could not live on 7k. I am doing it, I have a pretty damn good life and I will be the first to admit it. My post was not how I could not pay my bills, my post was reaching out to a community that I felt safe opening to about how I could cut corners in my current expenses. My bills are paid, none are past due... I know while I am saving I can possibly save more by cutting expenses or paying down my debt faster. I started a thread to genuinely ask for help not to be ridiculed, but who the hell I am kidding; this is YM after all. Expecting different was my first mistake. Nothing against Shasta, she has her life I have mine. I choose instead of reducing my life to how I can live on the bare minimum, I am focusing on how to increase my income potential, save more and yes maybe spend a bit more. My choices / her choices... why the need to compare them? And you can say she was not trying to do that but when you start a thread with the words quoted below, your goal was exactly that : Ridicule me and trying to make yourself look good. And denying it is pure BS. Now I am done with this thread. By both sides, I was actually referring to Chloe's post more than to your thread. Sorry if that was unclear.
|
|