I think about this alot too ,


I Couldn't NOT live now and Put it all off for later.

Cause in My Realistic mind Later may never come.

We had alot more in our 20's than our friends had.... Actually Alot of our friends were more frugal than us.
BUT we have always worked hard and saved money too.
We are kind of laying low a Bit here in our 30's , cause we haven't deprived ourselves , and We are in good shape. We Hope to pursue Even bigger dreams in our 40's .

I think there is a Happy medium .
Anything can happen , I wouldn't want to delay gratification 100% until later.

I Can see Being smart about your Choices ,
But saving it all now to live it all later , is Not For me.

I agree that there has to be a happy medium. My parents did a fantastic job with retirement savings, and now that they're there, health is not so good, and they really don't get to enjoy their financial freedom imo. They've worked, worked, then worked some more. My grandfather saved every cent to "pass on" to his kids/grandkids, just to have it taken away from him in a nursing home.

I plan to die near broke (with the exception of equity in property), probably having donated cash funds to our grandchildren's educations (hopefully), donated to worthy causes, and having lived it up a bit before health goes bad. I'd rather have the money go to good use while I'm here to see it, than risk it being taken away by poor health in old age or inheritance taxes. I'm probably more a risk taker than my ancestors were! .....and I'm in my 40's. I would never had thought this way when I was younger.

Do I understand that you don't intend to pay for your own care as you decline?
Maybe your grandfather wanted to leave money to the family but isn't paying his own way more responsible than forcing taxpayers to foot the bill?

Cathleen

Its the punch line to a Comercial but I think about it
"Im in Debt us to my Eyeballs"

So what I have and still what I think about the Jones is they are in different situatuions. People who have things that I envy them for got them in ways I couldn't have. Friend with the big house and great veiw rents from her DHs Parents. Another gal with a big and beautiful home married a guy 20 years her senior. Another is older then me and bought 10 years ago or more. HecK I would have either paid less or bought more house if I was buying in that market. I am surprised at how many people with nice homes rent. You don't know the details of the Jone's lives why compare them.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

I've never envied people who have more or do more than I do. My frugal lifestyle is that, my own lifestyle. I joke that if I won a million dollars, I would still clip coupons, because I would rather have a dollar in my pocket than in some stores. And yes, there are plenty of people who take advantage of programs, even though they never saved. But I ask myself, would I rather be them...or live where they live? No way. I don't think people who scam are truly happy deep down, they can't be, they have to live with themselves and the type of people they are. So I would rather be me, happy as who I am. I hate when all financial advisors talk about saving for retirement, when we know that many people may not get there (accidents, death, disease), and even if you get there, heck, do you want to travel to Europe with a hip replacement and a diaper? Then again, I don't want to die broke either, I want to give a little to my kids to help them as they age. So lets say a happy medium is in order....you're only here once so enjoy it, live a little, just don't go overboard.

The Jones are right for themselves. Comparing yourself to another, on issues of wealth, debt, education, pant size, whatever, it is a complete waste of time. Maybe their house is bigger than yours and your paycheck is larger. Maybe it isn't. Does it really matter? Not to me. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my life and my family -- do I really need to be concerned with what others are doing? Right or wrong? As long as it doesn't effect me than really it isn't my business.

You have to find the middle ground that works for you. We refuse to have nothing and do nothing right now just to have a secure furture. But we also refuse to live the good life now and have nothing when we need it in in the future. My grandparents have always lived a "poorer" lifestyle but have a HUGE savings for retirement (which they are in now) and their kids when they pass on. It makes my mom so mad. She wants them to enjoy their life now and not worry about her or my uncle. I think you just have to find that middle.

__________________
Jenifer
Proud wife to one amazing man
Proud mom to four awesome kids

April showers bring May flowers
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

No, I wouldn't do that. I'll pay for my expenses, and have that covered through insurance policies etc. But I'm not planning to have a huge nestegg of extra cash sitting in my bank account when I die either.

My grandfather lived to be 99 and never went on any vacations or splurged on anything, probably because he was a child of the depression era. He did pay cash for all his expenses, but never had any extended care insurance (which I have no idea why, perhaps not offered as much in those days). My point was more about having a happy medium and not going to one extreme or the other.

I've heard and read many negatives about the Jones and their lifestyle with their debts, but really you don't know the DETAILS of their lives to really know that they have all that they have with debt galore. My thing has always been that just because a person is living in a nice house, driving nice cars, wearing the best clothes, and has kids in the best private schools, does not mean they have too much debt or maxed out credit cards. It can be done. Do I compare myself with those you have more than me? Of course I do, but I don't sit there and say, oh it must be all on credit. I always try and look for something positive in a situation rather a negative.

This sounds SOOOooo like my inlaws. They have lots of money in the bank, but won't touch it. They live like paupers. Their children are always trying to get them to spend a little on themselves. To move to a better place, or fix up the old shack they live in. Now their health is failing, and all their money will probably go to a nursing home, since they don't have any insurance (they don't believe in it).

You're right about finding the middle. Everyone has to strike the right balance for themselves.