So what's your round-to-zero number?

[Norm K]

Playing off the "So how much are you worth" thread, losing up to what amount of money would not really affect your daily life?

It seems like not all that long ago losing twenty bucks would have really stung (my, oh my, where have the years gone?), then at some point it became fifty, then a hundred, etc.

I'm actually not entirely sure of my number today. I've lost just shy of quarter-mil in the stock market this year, and while it bothers the living sh!t out of me, it hasn't really affected my lifestyle. Much more of this nonsense though, and I'm sure the pain will begin to set in.

Still, there's no way that's my number. Or maybe it used to be and I didn't realize it?

It seems I can't answer my own question. Maybe you'll do better.

_

[KFC911]

At some point it's all just 1s and 0s Norm!

Hope you are enjoying life on the lake .

[cstreit]

...bout tree-fiddy?

No idea - probably situation dependant. I expected to lose some gains in the market at some point. That probably bothers me less than, lets say, losing $1000 in a wallet.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by cstreit

No idea - probably situation dependant. I expected to lose some gains in the market at some point. That probably bothers me less than, lets say, losing $1000 in a wallet.

Ahhh, now that's a good way to look at it!

_

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by KC911

At some point it's all just 1s and 0s Norm!

Hope you are enjoying life on the lake .

So far so good, although I'm definitely looking forward to getting the Waverunners back on the water (and don't tell the War Department, but maybe also adding a pleasure boat to compliment them and the pontoon).

_

[pwd72s]

$3.97

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by KC911

At some point it's all just 1s and 0s Norm!

Hope you are enjoying life on the lake .

Don't be so binary

[aschen]

200$ is the amount of money i will spend on something without deeper consideration and comprehensive cross shopping. Much more than that needs investigation.

Losing a bunch of money in the stock market could push out retirement but not effect day to day.

[juanbenae]

covet quarters for the local coin op carwashes. nickels, dimes and the copper ones are scourge. the coin ashtray in the jeep and the tin container in the duramax center console eventually get filled with dimes and nickels and i hate it. pennies get tossed in the parking lot of the establishment I'm exiting....

[flatbutt]

IMHO unless you are currently living off of your portfolio it's value shouldn't impact your daily life.

However, my projection into the next ten years "indicates" that I could absorb an unrecoverable hit of 200K and not become destitute. At least that is my hope.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

IMHO unless you are currently living off of your portfolio it's value shouldn't impact your daily life..

Mostly true - but I'm not teeing off on life. Not on the green either but well down the fairway. ...so the value of my portfolio dictates when I retire. ...and thats pretty important to me. I was on track to retire in 7 years at 60 with what I wanted.

...now without a good recovery in 5-7 years (which is not guaranteed) that could add 3 years to that timeline and/or require compromises I'm not willing to make just yet.

[LWJ]

I am very diversified. Not as wealthy as many on this forum, but barring a stunning economic change I am not excited.

The stock market could crater and it won’t be a big deal.

Now if Yellowstone blows or China invades the US? I might have problems.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I am very diversified. Not as wealthy as many on this forum, but barring a stunning economic change I am not excited.

IN what? Real estate? Silver buried in your basement?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Don't be so binary

Binary is a lot better than 'nary .... all 0s !

[mjohnson]

We have a threshold in our family. Under some amount, it's "free money". Over that and it at least brings a discussion. Let's call that threshold, for us, maybe $1k.

Excepting the mortgage, we'd need enough in the bank to cover our lifestyle on interest and only a reasonable burn down of principal. Not there yet, so we're off to work this morning...

Gramma mjohnson did it right - born into money, never really worked, lived large and, notwithstanding a very nice lakefront house in north MI, died nearly broke at 97yo. That's what I call planning!

[GH85Carrera]

I remember the days of having no "spare change" and eating a lot of rice, beans, and potatoes.

I am now at a point I truly never pay any attention whatsoever at the price of the food at the grocery store, or if I go to the hardware store. I get what I want. We go out to eat every Friday night, and can drop 70 or 80 bucks for two people to eat. It is that point where the 75 bucks is better used as a nice meal for my wife and I. She does not drink, I usually have just one beer. Alcohol can make the bill go way up.

In reality at one of our favorite Cajun restaurants they serve so much food I have a second meal of leftovers, and my wife can get a two more with leftovers. So 5 meals for 75 bucks is pretty cheap.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It is that point where the 75 bucks is better used as a nice meal for my wife and I.

Where do you live? Around here one step above fast food will cost you $75 for 2 people.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Where do you live? Around here one step above fast food will cost you $75 for 2 people.

Oklahoma City. We can do some top notch perfect prime rib dinner for $75 bucks. Gourmet fancy restaurant Italian food might get to 80. Again, no mixed drinks at all, just one beer and ice tea. There is one steak joint that caters to the high end crowd and has $90 steaks. I can cook a better steak at home, so we don't eat there.

We have dozens of favorite places that a very nice dinner for two is just 60 bucks.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Oklahoma City. We can do some top notch perfect prime rib dinner for $75 bucks. Gourmet fancy restaurant Italian food might get to 80. Again, no mixed drinks at all, just one beer and ice tea. There is one steak joint that caters to the high end crowd and has $90 steaks. I can cook a better steak at home, so we don't eat there.

We have dozens of favorite places that a very nice dinner for two is just 60 bucks.

My old boss from several years ago came down from NY and took me and a coworker out to dinner at one of the better/best steak joints in town. I didn't see the bill, but I suspect the bill for 3 of us with appetizers, drinks, steaks, etc... and tip was $700. I haven't been there or paid that myself, but the food and service was REALLY amazing. I have paid between $200 and 300 for a meal for the wife and I before, and that also was absolutely worth it for amazing food and fantastic service. That's a rare event. Normally, we pay $40-100 for a meal out depending upon where it is and what we're eating.

[GH85Carrera]

We go to a local breakfast place every Sunday that has really great food, and friendly waitresses. I am a good tipper for good service and it is usually 40 bucks with a $12 tip. It is enough food that we are stuffed, and just skip any lunch. With real farm fresh eggs and sausage, and good fruit as a side it is wonderful breakfast. Of course I can remember eating an entire breakfast and a tip for under 5 bucks.

For a nice dinner I still have a nice tip, but for most service I don't follow any percentage rule. Bringing out expensive seafood or just BBQ is the same effort, and just because the food was more expensive, does not rate an automatic increase in tip.

There is on seafood place here in town locally that will be a Benjamin at least for us to eat there.

We eat with other couples, and one of them both have a glass of wine or a cocktail and those can be expensive as 20 bucks or more each. Just one beer for me at most, and tea or water for my wife.