What have you learned from another poster?

[stillmovingforward]

Put things here that you have learned by reading another poster's comments.

Thanks to CG2 - I bought and really use my RV a few years ago instead of waiting for 'later'.

Thanks to GG - I remember to take deep breaths with gramma and offer take her out with me frequently. I ask (and listen!) for her opinion.

[Bonny]

Financially, Phil. Looking at things over the long haul.


Emotionally, so much support here. Everything from life's journey to all the support on the Aging Parent Support thread.



I am so very, very blessed to have found you guys.

[Gardening Grandma]

So many things: One that has had the most impact on my financial well being was learning about YNAB (thanks MPL)

[Deleted]

That it's okay to be financially conservative when friends or family think you're a fuddy-duddy about for living within your means.

[NastyWoman]

My main one: I never, ever, ever want to become a landlord. It was something I seriously considered prior to these boards, but no thanks...

[Blonde Granny]

I 2nd Gardening Grandma about YNAB. So many of you were talking about it 6 or 7 years ago I bought it when Steam had it on sale for $15 one New Years Day. With help from MPL and encouragement from others, I still use it today....not like I'm supposed to, but it works for me.

[Bonny]

Jun 29, 2020 13:08:51 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

My main one: I never, ever, ever want to become a landlord. It was something I seriously considered prior to these boards, but no thanks...

Lol, I think it's really tough now and I probably wouldn't do it in the SF Bay Area.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

oh - are we only listing good things?

[NastyWoman]

Jun 29, 2020 15:14:15 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

oh - are we only listing good things?

Hey, if we put you up to no good let us know. I for one would love to know what evil influence we've had

[stillmovingforward]

I think anything goes! Not sure my rv counts as a ymam approved purchase 🤣

[kadee79]

I have learned to voice my opinion...no matter what others say about it.  It's mine & I can have it & voice whether they like it or not! 

[Deleted]

I've learned that we all share situations, problems and solutions regardless of where we live.

[laterbloomer]

cronewitch has been my model. Steady investing and constant professional upgrading. Make sure I am on top of every technological advancement.

[finnime]

Let's see...
about Firecalc
about YNAB
about raising chicks and roosters and horses
about building your own home
about weighing debt vs. investment
about support for caretakers and depression and homeowners
about gardening
about Ulta
about managing rental properties
about supporting near-adult and adult children
about alfajores
about the real value vs. cost of pets
about other parts of the U.S.
about exotic travel
about money and people and the invaluable connections with others
about Haitian loan sharks
about RV travel

[seriousthistime]

Although I learned nothing directly from "she who must not be mentioned," I did learn a lot from those who posted suggestions and challenges in response to her posts.  I learned I was doing okay but could do a whole lot better. 

I have one of my old posts "bookmarked." I wrote that post after internalizing a lot of the responses to those threads.  I consider that moment a turning point in my financial life.  I won't retire independently wealthy, but I will retire in decent financial shape.

For the trainwreck she was, there was a lot of good advice in those threads.  People really tried to respond constructively, until it got to a point where it wasn't. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I learned how to alter a wedding dress with duct tape and not to piss off Walmart cashiers named Latisha

[countrygirl2]

Oh being a landlord is ok. I just don't want to add more like a 4 plex at our age and in that town. I told hubs if it was in the county seat would not have minded. Well, yes, I think I still would have, 10 years ago would have gone for it even 5, but not now.  We were going to sell the newest one, but I've kind of changed my mind. Think we will keep it in case I would end up alone and would have the folks move out, go there and expand on it a bit.  Or by that time maybe just live in it like it is. I doubt I get that chance, just have to let life play out I guess.


I have listened to a lot of folks on here. Know that our method of living debt free is not for everyone. And I already understood the compounding of interest, etc. 


I have heard ways of doing things better and doing things worse. I just like reading the posts. there's a lot of good folks here. And I just enjoy reading about peoples everyday lives. For those of us "stranded" in the middle of nowhere, it keeps us connected to real people.  Very important as you age and have little or no interactions with others.

[crazycat]

I have learned and appreciate how everyone (almost) on here is willing to listen and give advice . Also , sometimes just really tell it like it is and be honest even if it isn’t what I (we) want to hear . 

We are all in this together 😀

[thyme4change]

I learned that maybe, just maybe, I could like someone who lived in a smaller town. swamp 😘

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Jun 29, 2020 16:22:04 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Jun 29, 2020 15:14:15 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

oh - are we only listing good things?

Hey, if we put you up to no good let us know. I for one would love to know what evil influence we've had

lol - no not even good-bad, I'm afraid.

I was internet-naive and joining ym was my first online social-type interchange. I think I joined up to ask an insurance question.

Board back then I suppose was pretty tame to a lot of things 'out there', even back then. Hearing paul and others spew righteous hatred for single moms and many others, and having so much of it never even challenged by most and sometimes not by any posters but myself - back in those earlier days when people still thought paul was really quickly getting rich and saw him as a success story and mentor and so tolerated or maybe? agreed with his rhetoric, really did me in. It was a view into humanity I'd never had, this was back in 2001ish. So now of course, all that seems unreal, to believe in basic goodness and charity of soul for the vast majority of people is to out the window in 2020.

[swamp]

Jun 30, 2020 8:00:58 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I learned that maybe, just maybe, I could like someone who lived in a smaller town. swamp 😘

I love being the Cold Miser to your Heat Miser. 

[swamp]

I've learned I used to spend too much on cars.  I've now had the same car for 6 years and it has 145,000 miles on it. 

You've all made me neurotic about saving for retirement 

[Regis]

It's okay to waste money on hookers and blow from time to time.

[gracendignity]

I learned that I should base the size of my freezer on how many hookers' bodies I will need to hide in it.  

[laterbloomer]

Jun 30, 2020 9:53:31 GMT -5 Regis said:

It's okay to waste money on hookers and blow from time to time.

Where is Archie???

[resolution]

Jun 29, 2020 13:08:51 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

My main one: I never, ever, ever want to become a landlord. It was something I seriously considered prior to these boards, but no thanks...

Oddly enough, this board made me consider turning my old home into a rental when I moved across the country. I grew up hearing horror stories about renting property, and there were people here that actually turned a profit with it. It has worked out really well for me so far (10 years).

[gambler]

There is no good in a evil hearted woman, you don't go passing bad checks down in Mississippi any other anti no good chain gain. Wait that was a song but true

[irishpad]

I've always had charity as a primary motivator (give about a 1/3 of my cash income) but this board has taught me to be diligent about retirement planning.  I can't retire until  I'm 70, maybe will wait until I'm 75 but now have a good income plan for either.

[Deleted]

What strikes me immediately is not an earth-shattering thing but important to me- Zanfel for poison ivy!  I'm dealing with a case right now and it's the only thing I've found that stops it form spreading.  Before that I always ended up having to go to an Urgent Care for treatment with steroids in some form.

Someone here also suggested the Early Retirement board  after I retired at age 61.  I still post there.

I'm part of the group permanently scared off of owning rental properties.

I read here first about why the IRS was taking so long for refunds on paper returns. (I filed 3/7 n paper, gave up and e-filed May 19 even though they say not to, still don't have a refund.)

More generally- I just like the community.  I'm a bit of an introvert and going out less due to COVID-19 hasn't helped.  The discussions here keep me in touch with people who live in other places, are in a different age group, different ethnicities, different political views.  I like to know what others are thinking and why they think that way.

[busymom]

I've always loved the range of experience here.      There is almost nothing in life that someone here hasn't gone through, and lived to tell the tale.  


I also like that everyone here (mostly) plays well with one another.      Being a part of this community is a blessing!