I have good insurance so my Dr. visit is a 20 dollar copay every 6 months. My wife is another story. After 9 back surgeries and her no longer being able to work, things can start to pile up.
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I have good insurance so my Dr. visit is a 20 dollar copay every 6 months. My wife is another story. After 9 back surgeries and her no longer being able to work, things can start to pile up.
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Dave Ramsey is a great resource and his strategies can be life changing. Another one that I have a great deal of respect for and would highly recommend is Clark Howard. His emphasis is more on how to save money while Dave Ramsey's focus is money management. If a person were to combine the philosophies of both individuals you could live a very comfortable life regardless of income.Originally Posted by miked
Give back more to this world than we take.
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Just wanted to highlight a couple of differences between Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard. I am not trying to say one is better than the other and believe the right answer will depend on your personality and circumstances. The strategy of paying off your smallest debt first is based on the concept of success breeds success. It is motivational and highlights progress quicker. Clark Howard recommends paying off debt with the highest interest rate first to save more money in the long run. Dave Ramsey's position on credit cards is the same as his belief about debt in general, do not purchase anything (exception is a home mortgage) on credit. If you cannot pay cash, you cannot afford it and do not need it. Clark Howards position is to freeze your credit card in a freezer. When you think you need it, you will need to thaw it before you use it giving you more time to decide if the purchase is a need or a luxury. Personally I use credit cards to track expenses and for the cash back options, but I pay off the balance every month. The security of having a credit card for emergencies is very appealing to me as well.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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The ratio varies from day to day but we're running about 60 / 40 between cash and plastic. Some days it's 60% cash and other days it's 60 % plastic.
The plastic transactions are running somewhere around 70 % debit cards and 30% credit cards. Credit cards seem to be more in the realm of the upper middle class and the wealthy.
If i boiled it all down : It seems that most folks are working with cash they have on hand or in their checking account.
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I was talking with one of the local lobstermen last night. He's well into his 50's and owns just about everything outright. They had a bad year with lobstering in 2017.He had to replace his truck in 2017 because the frame broke but he didn't have the cash on hand to pay for it so he took out a loan.
He explained that it took a bit of doing to get that loan. He had no credit history or credit score. Here he is ... the most responsible guy in the world. Always paid his bills on time, raised a family, and lived within his means for all of his adult life.
Not saying that it's good or bad. Just an observation that a good credit score might have more to do with the potential money that a bank could make off someone in the form of interest with the least amount of risk. It probably has less to do with the wise money management decisions that people make.
Last edited by hills; 08-12-2018 at 08:43 AM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Thanks. It's a good read, will definitely will make time for this.
Keeper of the Cooler!
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Having been quit the...ah...enjoyer back in the day, I will have to say...never had that happen, an lord knows I had a ton of stress back then an caused a bunch. Nor have I ever met anyone who has had such.
Pot for some folks COULD cause mental issues. My experience it's folks who are at risk already for such things. I have a friend who is schizophrenic, I could blame it on the pot but I'm sure it was the fault of both pot an the stress he was under when he got diagnosed. I have no statistics to back it up, but I would bet money the majority of people who smoke, use edibles have no issues with it.
I have another buddy who can't even smell it. When he was younger someone gave him laced pot. Ever since he will pretty much throw up. I tested the theory once, it's true. LOL he thought it was funny to after he was done cussing up a storm. lol.
To each their own though I say. I'd rather risk being paranoid, then become a addict to opiates, or any other pill for that matter.
Sirscrapalot - Puff puff give.
Last edited by Sirscrapalot; 08-13-2018 at 11:14 PM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Dave Ramsey is the best for all around great advice. My personal advice is to also be active at the polls. James Carville was infamously quoted as saying "the economy, stupid" when discussing the messages that Clinton wanted to get out. After 8 years of an underperforming Obama administration, it became and is one of the most important things happening now. A strong economy fixes many ills. Ya ya, we can discuss all the negativity about Trump, but his numbers are way up due to the booming economy. Now if we can just keep him off of Twitter.....
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"I'd rather risk being paranoid, then become a addict to opiates, or any other pill for that matter."
Just to be clear, you're admitting to being paranoid about opiates?
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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The problem is that the economy doesn't turn on a dime. We might not see the full effect of economic policy put into effect today .... for another ten years yet. Thus ... Clinton enjoyed the effects of Reganomics during his administration. Perhaps Trump will get the credit for the good that came from Obama administration economic policies. ( A stronger and more sound U.S. dollar. )
Bush jr ??? He was a two termer. We saw firsthand the result of economic policy he put into place during his first term. ( Massive inflation and the big bank meltdown. )
It's really more a matter of being in the right place at the right time with a first term president.
Last edited by hills; 08-14-2018 at 04:28 PM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
This was a great idea for a posting!
You can get pretty creative when you REALLY want to save money. For instance, I purposely drove out of my way into a big rainstorm knowing I'd get a free car wash out of it. I wait for the $5 off coupons in the mail from Supercuts before I get a haircut. Lots of places offer senior discounts for people who are only 55-60 years old. I love going to movies, and go to many for free since I do my internet searches with Microsoft Bing instead of Google- the Microsoft Rewards program offers you points that can be used for all kinds of stuff.
Also, think about all the vices that can be cut out (lotto tickets, playing a lot of golf, cigs, smokes, etc.). I have a friend who doesn't make that much money yet he confessed that he paid over $200/month for cable. I get everything I need with Youtube and the radio. On the rare occasion that I really want to see something, I can go to someone else's house or a sports bar and watch it there.
Consider renegotiating with those you pay bills to. I got a "loyalty discount" of about $19 a month just by calling the phone company and asking what was available. Be careful how you do this- if you tell someone you are nearly bankrupt and they agree to a concession, it could affect your credit rating. On the other hand, if you pay cash for everything, what does it really matter?
Another thing I remember hearing a while back- think about the items you are buying. Where will they be 10 years from now? With the exception of items like food and gasoline, many things will likely be gone to recycle heaven or in a landfill. Is that something I really must have?
For those who are single and looking, consider one thing that will be a big deal and that is the person you choose to be your life partner. If you are super frugal and marry someone who wants to own 200 pairs of shoes, then you have a serious financial issue that will need to be hammered out. I remember when my college age daughter was younger and she gave away a pair of shoes she had because she realized they were knockoffs of the real brand. Now that same daughter goes by herself to Goodwill to shop and save money. Also, she didn't scoff at all when I found furniture for her to use at Curb Co. She even spray painted some of the stuff herself so that her room could be that all white decor that she will get sick of in a few years.
Also, in some cases you might consider bartering to save money. I remember when I needed a new roof that a contractor quoted me a price and then quoted me an alternate price in ounces of silver if I agreed to pay him that way. Unfortunately, he wasn't even in the ballpark with either of his quotes, but that's not the point.
This last one may sound a bit extreme, but here goes. Back when I was a stock broker (was in the biz for almost 20 years) I had a client who had about $5 million or so with my firm. He told me he absolutely LOVED Costco. So much so that he said he'd gone virtually every day for the past five years and eaten free samples for his lunches. Even at their food court you can get a hotdog and 20 ounce drink for something like $1.65 or so, a price that hasn't changed since the mid-1980's. I remember thinking that it was odd that a person many would consider to be rich was so super frugal when it came to eating lunch.
Even with all the creative responses here, I'm sure we have just touched the tip of a very big iceberg! I look forward to the new stuff that will be added. Maybe I can save even more money...
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I dunno if this is the right thread to post this in, but it's a potential side earner with little overhead costs.
First it starts when I was 12, that's a while ago... I broke a small window at home when a stepping stool I was getting off slid & it's leg slid into the glass panel on a door.
Dad said "You broke it. You fix it". Wise words.
So I had to ask him how, to pick the putty out with a shield, the little metal stars were in the putty (why?) "To hold the glass in place before puttying"
Then find a panel of glass, then figure out how to cut it.
Fit, space, nail, putty, smooth & paint it..
So I did all that, not bad for a first timer (untill I saw it again years later.. ouch)
But since then I have cut & fixed a few windows with that knowledge.
Lately, because I fixed a person's window after I mentioned "I can fix that"
I have been asked to fix a bunch of people's windows, about 7. Normally front door windows ( lol )
I have just used glass I cut from pieces I got from old window frames, free windows, the woods good for firewood.
I have never got cut, I think that's due to ingrained safety sense. Others seem to do something stupid in 7 seconds given the chance... But I never force anything & work 'with it, not against it'.
Now the last 2 panes, they were quoted NZ$140+ to fix.
(Ok, I have not been paid for it , but I got $20 for one pane elsewhere. Rippled glass, it looked even better than the broken original glass, my ripples were vertical & went with the wood panelling around the door)
But, I just realised, for near no expenses (putty & petrol) I can fix smallish broken windows, even for a small fee of say $20+ a pane, it's some side money. It' sorta just happened since this one person started saying "I know somebody who can fix that". ( Yeh, Me!)
Then he put a $ figure on it..
Uh huh, there's $$ involved now.
I tried using the Chinese glass cutter, with a sharpened diamond point in it. Don't.. They are useless.
You have to use the sort with the tiny wheel on it & the clear plastic handle with oil inside it.
I'm guessing YouTube would show you anything else you need to know.
I use safety glasses all of the time, and no force either. Put down a old sheet to catch paint/wood chips/glass fragments & putty.. Putty sticks to everything, it's easy to miss, stand on a bit & you leave some with every footprint.
But it washes off tools & hands easy with warm soapy water.
I also found that ( I love angle grinders ) a 4 1/2 inch grinder with a cut off disc in it is the best tool for removing old putty. It does not damage the wooden frame & makes a nice smooth sharp edge. Less force, but more dust & noise. And a lot quicker.
So, if interested. YouTube it. Practise on your own house or such first. Learn exactly how to 'Cut' glass. (It's easy once to get the idea of it) I spray some CRC ( WD40 ) on the line before I cut, so it gets into the crack & holds it open. There's a knack to it.
I use some fine sandpaper to take the sharp edges off.
I got some smaller panes of microwave oven doors, and last week some thicker plate glass from a entertainment system cabinet door. Even easier to cut & solid too. I first wondered if it was safety glass because the edges were smooth, rounded. But it was normal glass. Safety glass near explodes if you cut or break it.
If I was getting money for it I would get some spray paint to finish the job off too.
But, hopefully this is helpful. If not your sort of thing, maybe a good read instead. Maybe insightfull.
On the other hand, a home fixit can develop into a few $$, help others out, maybe even the start of a job.
One thing I have noticed, teach a kid a skill & 5 years later it's often their occupation.
Last edited by eesakiwi; 08-19-2018 at 03:34 AM.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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It's a different situation here in the states. Most of our glass windows are double or triple pane units filled with an inert gas like argon to block heat transfer. You just order a new sash unit from the manufacturer if there's a mishap and one gets broken. Door glass is required by law to be safety glass. Vinyl windows are huge right now because wood units are so expensive.
I still get a call to replace single glass from time to time with the old houses. In fact ... i've got a couple of sashes in the shop right now. What i like to do is remove all of the glass then prime and paint the wood part of the window. Next, i run down to the hardware store and have them cut the glass to the exact size i need on their machine. The cost for new single pane 1/16" glass here is negligible.
Once the wood panel is prepped and painted i like to use a high quality clear silicone caulk as a bed to set the glass into. It acts as an adhesive and rubber shock absorber so the new glass is less apt to break. Makes the entire panel much stronger too ! I trim off the excess " squeeze out" with a utility knife once the caulk has set. They have a special " Glazing caulk " that comes in a caulking tube for finishing the back side. It gives you a nice 45 deg angle from the glass to the wood stile on the side. No glazing points or cans of putty need to be used anymore.
Cutting old glass and getting a clean break can be difficult. It gets more brittle with age. It's better to work with new glass if you can.
There's a small market here for the old wavy glass. They like to use it in kitchen cabinet doors for the design effect.
Easiest way i've found to cut safety glass to size is with a diamond tipped wheel for your 4" grinder. Just run a number of successive passes along a straight edge till you cut completely through the glass. No scoring and breaking involved. You might be able to do this with old glass as well ?
Anyway ... just my experience for whatever it's worth.
Much like you eesa ... it all started out ages ago as a kid and a broken window pane. We just went down different roads and had different experiences along the way.
Sometimes it's fun to compare notes.
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I liked Reagan and actually subscribe to the trickle-down methodology. However, Clinton was good with the economy and I'll give him the credit for that, except he was also instrumental in creating the Bill that actually started the housing crisis in 1999. Bush should have stopped that bill, but he cant take the blame for causing it. I dont give Obama much credit, as I think the economy improved despite his efforts to sabotage it including trillions added to the debt, stupid Gov programs like cash for clunkers, billions lost to fraudulent enterprises like Solyndra, massive health care program that would bankrupt the country and lopsided foreign agreements due to "global warming", or whatever they call it now. I'll try to find the quote, but back in 2008 Obama said he would turn the economy around and if he didnt he should not be elected to a second term....well, neither of those things happened. Trump is a buffoon, but at least he is focusing on things that are improving the economy and American jobs (in between silly tweets).
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I see it a little differently on some things.
You might think of the president as being the front man for the band. He has the cabinet beneath him and they all sit around the table and hash things over on a regular basis. Each of the cabinet members has their own specialty. For example : One is the head of Health and Human services and another is the head of the Department of Defense.
Where the economy is concerned there are two major players to look for. One is the head of the Department of the Treasury, but most importantly you want to look at the Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
There was a very talented gent by the name of Alan Greenspan who served with distinction across many presidential terms in office ... both Dem and Rep. You might check out his bio on Wiki.
If not mistaken ... Mr Greenspan left the job in George junior's first term because of very deep seeded differences between the two that couldn't be worked out. It's after he left that things started going very wrong with the economy. I would put GWB and his new chair of The Fed as being most responsible for:
Massive currency inflation in Geroge's first term that overheated the housing market.
The economic recession that hit in the winter of 2007-2008.
The big bank meltdown that happened late in George's second term.
The necessity of adding trillions in debt at the beginning of Obama's first term to stabilize the banking system aka "The Big Bank Bailout."
Let's not overlook the fact that GWB, Cheney, and Rumsfeld sent American troops into Afghanistan to fight on a battleground that no invading force in history was ever able to conquer. It was a grave tactical error that swelled our budget deficits and debt to all time highs. The Islamic Nation fought back with one of the best weapons they had ... the price of oil ! That's probably what triggered the recession of 2007-2008. Wars are fought on many fronts. Destroying your adversaries economy is one of the objectives in winning a war.
Cash for clunkers was an effort to stabilize the big three American auto makers and keep them from going under.
Solyndra was Obama's screw up.
I would put ObamaCare squarely on congress and most especially Nancy Pelosi. The Dems had been pushed off to the side by a republican dominated congress for many years. They were itching to push their agenda once they gained a majority. Another one that i would put ObamaCare squarely on would be Olympia Snow. She was a Republican Senator from here in Maine that crossed party lines and gave the Dems the majority vote they needed to push ObamaCare through.
To be fair ... Obama's name was on that mess but he wasn't the person most responsible.
Anyway ... it's not cut and dried. I think you have to look at the bigger picture when you're assigning praise for good work and the blame for terrible economic policy.
Personally ... if i were George junior ... i would stay on my ranch and never show my face in public again.
I don't really have an opinion on Trump. He comes across as being a narcissist. That's a pretty serious character flaw in a leader. Additionally,he doesn't have any experience is public service. He's getting up there in years and probably won't have the stamina to serve a second term so maybe he won't do too much damage.If he's a smart cookie he will stay on twitter as the front man and appoint really talented people to key positions within government. It could play either way over the next ten years or so.
I say hope for the best.
Last edited by hills; 09-01-2018 at 06:12 AM.
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Introducing our financial instruments for funding/finance
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