Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you invested that money instead, you could have $200,000 after 10 years, assuming a 10% rate of return.
Imagine how much you'd have if you didn't have kids, but got dogs instead.
Yep. Kid is costing me 30K/yr or so. Dog is only about 1500. And dog is always happy to see me.
Let me tell you - as someone with no kids, and four pets, I don't know how folks with kids do it. G_d bless you for taking on that responsibility.
Yes, of course kids are expensive. But this thread is about dogs specifically and how they are affecting the OP's finances. OP is shelling out $200,000 over a ten year period, which could be going towards retirement. If OP invested that 200,000 accrued over 10 years and added nothing for the next 20 years, it would equal well over a million dollars. I like dogs, but that's quite a trade-off.
OP could just put himself into a long coma and really save money that way, too.
The point I am making is that some of us really love dogs. They make our lives richer and better. I'm sure you have some expensive habits, too. Perhaps you bought more house than as strictly necessary because you liked it. I bet you don't eat the very cheapest food available, either. Did you have children? What a $$ suck!
The point is that OP could probably cut down his pet-related expenses if he wanted to, without having to take the extreme position of never having any pets. Though he didn't actually sound that concerned about doing so.