The best financial decision you ever made

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buying a house in a neighborhood most everyone considered to be too dangerous.

3 blocks from Eastern Market.

+1. Similar and we’ve done it twice, the first time in NYC - sold for a 2000% gain in 10 yrs. Yes, 2000%. Area was heroin alley during the 70s.

Bought in DC in 2009 - in NW in an area that was a former open air drugmarket during the crack epidemic in the 80s. Now worth 3x what we paid as is but we are going to gut renovate soon which will raise it’s value to 7x what we paid. We are going to renovate for 2x what we paid for the property.

We bought all cash, no mortgage for both properties.

[Anonymous]

Becoming a Realtor

[Anonymous]

Live way below your means. Spend on needs not wants.

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking we live way below our means. Smaller townhouse in great neighborhood/pyramid in VA, one car (walking distance to metro), and we are just thrifty people in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the best financial decision you ever made?

Close down NYT subscription after the election

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? Being born an upper-middle-class white person.

Must be nice.

[Anonymous]

The best financial decision was realizing that saving money wasn't nearly as effective at building wealth as making more money. It's always important to be careful about spending, of course, and never live beyond one's means. But most people don't get beyond focusing on saving money, with their budget spreadsheet and what not.

[Anonymous]

1. Not procreating
2. Not getting married
3. Not wasting money on women

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Not procreating
2. Not getting married
3. Not wasting money on women

I can't help but wonder if this was your decision or theirs.

[Anonymous]

1. Not procreating
2. Not getting married
3. Not wasting money on women

Are you a troll? If not, why are you on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

My best financial decision was to read this article in 2004:

https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/april-2004/there-goes-the-neighborhood/

And then save my money and not buy a house. I told everyone I knew about the housing bubble, and was able to convince my DH to sell his apartment. He was able to sell it just as the bubble was deflating but still came out ahead.

Second best decision was to buy a two-family house at the bottom of the housing bust in 2011. It's now worth 4X the purchase price, and we rent one apartment, which pays for most of the mortgage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I can't help but wonder if this was your decision or theirs.

There's more to life than voluntary indentured servitude. Plus, I like different women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marrying my husband.

Honestly.

Not the poster you are responding to, but true for me too.

DH has encouraged my career aspirations, and shared the home load to make it possible for me to succeed. He is also hard working and pulls his weight in the family finances. I am hoping to teach my daughter that the most important decision she will ever make for all kinds of reasons (to include financial) is her choice of partner.

I have friends whose husbands (that I like a lot) have a subltly different view of home responsibilities. They are happy and their families seem to work well but it has absolutely affected how my friends think about their careers. Like I said, I like these men and could see how I could have ended up with someone like them. I don’t think my career and earning potential would be anywhere near what it is now.

[Anonymous]

To keep working after I had my two kids.

[Anonymous]

To enjoy life but be an aggressive saver. We had a meeting with our bankers today and we are worry free but we will always worry which is why we are worry free.