What price for paradise...:cool:

You think LA's paradise? I guess it depends on where you live. Paradise no, mild winters and not too bad summers, yes. Plenty of traffic and congestion in some areas. Me, I own 18 acres in an area where the average lot size is a lot less than 1/8 acre. In my own ways, its paradise for me, I guess now that I think about it.

One day I hope to bluff my way into a 911. I'll have to go with "faking it".

REAL money? It's number is variable, depending on what you want in life. Money only gives you more choices. It has zilch to do with what you can or can't buy. Be that a gold Rolex, a GT, whatever...REAL money to me is living life the way you wish to live it, and having the ability to look any other man in the eye and say "screw you" , because there is absolutely nothing that other man can do to hurt you financially. Guys, no brag, just fact...I have "screw you" money. It took a long time to get there. The real key to financial happiness is paying zero interest while others pay interest to you. It is that simple. Can I "afford" a multi 911 "collection"? Probably...but to do so might jeopardize my "screw you" money. I'm content to have only one toy car. Could I buy a gold Rolex? Definitely! And it wouldn't dent the "screw you" money. But why should I? The Seiko I bought a couple of decades ago keeps right on ticking...Could I write a check for the alligator car? You betcherass. Do I want one? Hell no! Maybe I should delete this...but I won't. It just seems to me that a whole lot of folks here need to think about what is really important to them as individuals...then go for it. To my way of thinking, piling up toys in order to impress others isn't it...but to somebody else's way of thinking, that is it. To each their own....

Wow, I feel enlightened by the above post.

Now I know why my parents like no debt and owning the house and cars outright...

yellowline? You got it...financial independence and security is far more important to me than the "bling" of looking like you're living high while scrambling to make the monthly payment on whatever...I'm not saying it's the right path for everyone...I'm just saying it's the one I've chosen.

Dad tells me (has been self - employed, since the early 70's and then retired, long, long, long before he was SS eligiible)

"Correct, money isn't everything, but it takes care of 99% of your problems.... Also, if you do it right, the only thing you should have to do when you're my age is to be Brown and die."

He's frugal. No bling whatsoever. He's never been into it.

Wealthy means doing what you want, when you want, and how you want - with no one else telling you anything. That's when you know you're wealthy. Nevermind the obvious consumption and the debt that goes with "living the American dream.."

Interesting spread on the poll. Also interesting is that I never specifically defined was "it" was intended to be. You all defined for me and the poll still came out on the negative side.

Hmmm

pwd: What is an alligator car?

Aint it amazing how women can justify spending that on a pair of shoes that spends 355 days of the year sitting in a box in the closet?? My wife has a shoe colection that would make Imelda Marcos jealous. But hell , if i want to buy a new power tool or something, it like "why do you need that, you already have a garage full of tools"!! :confused:

Randy P...I'd say your father is a financially savvy man. Listen to him, and you'll be ahead of the game. Va Steve, "alligator car" is slang for Cayman...;)

Biz partner has about 20MM and lives like a piker. Earned every penny, and is the cheapest one I know.... and absolutely miserable.

I have a couple dollars to rub together, and enjoy living life. ... Trips, cars, gadgets..ect.....
I mow my own lawn, paint my house, wash my cars, clean my pool, and wouldn't think of giving it up.
Read the millionaire next door.... I love the jeep reference. Bought mine after reading the book.

Can you paraphrase the jeep reference as I already have the book, but lent it out....

Jeep grand cherokee is the most popular vehicle among people with a net worth 1MM+. Its practical & reliable. Look twice in traffic at the Jeep driver next to you.

NO kidding! I guy that I work with makes tons of cash, spends hardly anything...and is certainly a multi-millionaire.

He drives a 6 year old Grand Cherokee that he bought when it was a couple years old. You just blew my mind.

Before you spend too much money making that guy rich read this
http://www.johntreed.com/Kiyosaki.html

Haha, deja vu, eh VaSteve! We just exchanged PMs about Kiyosaki. Kiyosaki is a crackhead sometimes, but I think you can take some good from his speil. I only bought the Rich Dad book from half.com (used book, not retail price), so at least I am not putting the guy into Ferraris and fast women. :D

I think Millionaire Next Door promotes 'tons vehicle weight'/$. Rear Drive American vehicles seem to top this ratio. The early, lightweight hot rod 911 I lust for now is probably stupid low on that list, but I'd rather be a $975k-aire with early 911 hot rod than loser $1M-aire in a Chevy Caprice Classic. :cool:

Mow my own lawn....

THAT'S JUST CRAZY TALK!!!

I have a friend who owns a Jeep Cherokee.

He's an unemployed alcoholic. :(

I actually don't care if Kiyosaki is a crackhead or not. The stuff in his book is correct IMO and the advice has made me money. The author is irrelevant to me. The advice in the book is top notch.

I liked the Millionaire Next Door as well and I live by it. Not quite a millionaire yet, but you'd never guess my net worth by looking at me (well, assuming you averted your gaze from the two p-cars in the driveway :)) Funny, I think the purpose of having money is to not think about it. When I was dirt poor I thought about money constantly because it defined the very narrow boundaries in my life. Now I rarely give it a thought and I hope to think about it less and less as time goes by.

Bingo! You will become wealthy if you spend less than you make and only accumulate debt to acquire something that appreciates or increases your income. Blow whatever is left when you need a jolt.