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Anonymous wrote:And these FIRE People also pull stunt of putting kids in "guardianship" so they go to college for free, get ACA and subsidized housing due to no income and hide assets in LLC. They also use food stamps and welfare

My Mom always told me folks not working under 60 are just unemployed they aint retired.

I fully funded my kids college with 529s before retirement. I do not use food stamps or welfare. I have a paid for house on a golf course.

Where does your health insurance come from?

Explained earlier that healthcare is cheap if you have a low income. Having wealth and having an income are not the same thing

So, government subsidies?

I pay every penny that I am asked to pay

So you chose to be low income so you do not have to pay for healthcare....thanks to subsidies...

This is my sister. She said these exact words to me the other day after getting an MRI "Thank you welfare". She works the bare minimum on the books to ensure she get the subsidies. She then works under the table for her living expenses. She lives in NoVA inside the beltway and all in all makes about 50k/yr maybe 1/4 of that claimed.

Anonymous wrote:18 holes of golf then an afternoon at the beach. Come back and throw some steaks on the grill. Life really is good

Must be so awesome that you are obsessed posting on this site and bickering like a little bitch.

- Can I ask a couple of questions, for those who are living at that amount by choice? (I'm not socking anything away right now other than equity from 2 homes. I have lived on ca $36k or less in NWDC for 20 years. Didn't grow up materialistic in another country, so $36k is a lot of money even if DC is expensive).

- Do you live near your family? If not how do you afford going to see them? Yes. Sister lives on FFC, so on expensive to drive out there.

- Do you have hobbies? What are they? Not really. Used to ride horses back at home but got bored after 15 years.

- Do you ever travel for fun? If so, what's your approach? Europe every 3-4 years. Don't travel much in US.

- Do you ever find yourself really wanting something that is outside your MMM budget (like a trip to Australia, or some expensive shoes)? Do you ever given in to those urges or do you just figure you'll get over it? I would since I have a lot of credit extended to me- ca $50k I think, but rarely want anything. Figured it long ago that things don't make me as happy as advertisers say. I look so much better with less clothes, jewelry and what have you.

- What do you eat most days? Do you ever buy the expensive mustard or the fancy tomatoes? I would but didn't know there was fancy tomatoes. I eat lots of salads, fruits and root veggies, even rutabaga.

- What do you do for yourself, that you see other people spending money on for others to do for them? Do you make your own clothes, or grow your own vegetables, or...? I simply don't do those things. I can afford to get my pedicure more often than twice a year, same goes for hair, but I only care about it ca twice a year. My hair grows so slowly.

- Are most of your friends in the same boat? If not how do you do it when your friends want to get together at a restaurant, or to go see a concert, or whatever? You just say no and have them over for a potluck instead, or...?
My friends make a little bit more. We have the money, we are short on time when we are all free.

- What sort of house or apartment do you live in? Did you pick that place in order to be able to spend very little? Do you like your home?
I love my little condo in zip 20007. Moved in with family in 2008 because of the economy and ca do so again when things get hard. Easy to rent it out. I barely qualified for mortgage but so glad I did.

- What do you think are the big misconceptions about how you live? What do you wish others understood about your approach to money - what do we outsiders usually get wrong? Nobody knows I'm poor. Co-workers think I'm rich. I paying mortgage on 2 homes, drive a new car, travel and work part time.
Your questions didn't really help to get to the point how I can afford it.
There are so many things people do and own that take money. The biggest misconception is that many think, even you, that I want those things but can't afford them ( I have no desire to fly to Australia). I don't want them at all- like pets, boat, convertible, bicycle, makeup, gym, jewelry, expensive clothes, shoes, bags, hobbies.
I have had 2 partners over the 20 years, so that's when living is easier or harder. But I have also lived alone on the salary. Paid cash for clinic for years, but usually ca $600 a year the most. I have medicaid now but rarely go to doctors. Teeth I pay cash abroad-cheaper and they have newer equipment.
When I see other people's budget, it simply had lots of stuff I don't. Pets and some kind of health issue or " got to have my hair done". I live simple and easy life. Can take as much time off as I want and when I want.

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Anonymous wrote:So I just had to refill my dog's heartworm and flea/tick prescriptions - $200 for his meds. If you have voluntarily gone on this kind of budget in order to save for the future: Do you just not get a dog, or don't get the preventative meds, or is there room in the budget for meds?

I have a small weinerdog. Heartworm medicine is $30 for 6 months. I don't give him flea and tick medicine. A bottle of flea shampoo is $10 and I usually wash him about twice a week because he loves to get in the shower with me.
You are spending $200 on something that can be done for $40. I would order the medicines from somewhere else to see if it can be done cheaper. This is one of those recurring expenses that needs to be cut down a little

This is the PP - my dog is 50+ pounds. His heartworm meds are about $200 for the year - we get them six months at a time. Our vet recommends the oral flea and tick meds that you give monthly. Ticks and fleas are very dangerous for pets - and I don't want them in my house, either. We have indoor cats they could spread to - not to mention ourselves. I had a previous dog who was very sick from a tick-borne blood disease. The $200 on preventative meds seems like a good deal compared with the cost of risking multiple pets' health and safety, to me.

I don't think that's a good place to try to save money, personally.

Awesome. You do you

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I just had to refill my dog's heartworm and flea/tick prescriptions - $200 for his meds. If you have voluntarily gone on this kind of budget in order to save for the future: Do you just not get a dog, or don't get the preventative meds, or is there room in the budget for meds?

I have a small weinerdog. Heartworm medicine is $30 for 6 months. I don't give him flea and tick medicine. A bottle of flea shampoo is $10 and I usually wash him about twice a week because he loves to get in the shower with me.
You are spending $200 on something that can be done for $40. I would order the medicines from somewhere else to see if it can be done cheaper. This is one of those recurring expenses that needs to be cut down a little

This is the PP - my dog is 50+ pounds. His heartworm meds are about $200 for the year - we get them six months at a time. Our vet recommends the oral flea and tick meds that you give monthly. Ticks and fleas are very dangerous for pets - and I don't want them in my house, either. We have indoor cats they could spread to - not to mention ourselves. I had a previous dog who was very sick from a tick-borne blood disease. The $200 on preventative meds seems like a good deal compared with the cost of risking multiple pets' health and safety, to me.

I don't think that's a good place to try to save money, personally.

Anonymous wrote:This crowd is too snobby to ever move there but there really are some nice places to live down south. I moved to Alabama, bought a house on a golf course for $189k, unlimited golf included in $70/month hoa fee. I have access to neighborhood pool and a beach is 20 minutes away. I live 1 mile from a grocery store and home depot

I am from the South and spend plenty of time down there and no I don't want to live in Alabama or Mississippi.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 adults $1520 in base expenses under 20k a year in base expenses

Food $600
Health/medical $125
Transportation/Gas $70
Clothes $150
Utilities $250
Phone $100
Personal $100
Gifts $125


The rest per month $3500 42k a year all would be much lower if our income wasn't as high

Fun $500
Travel $500
House $2500

Car insurance?
Life insurance?
Do you rent?
Water/gas/electric/internet is $250?
No house repairs?
Is toilet paper, etc rolled into the $600... how about cleaning supplies and house repairs?

Eventually, life insurance is no longer needed because you are self-funded.

Anonymous wrote:And these FIRE People also pull stunt of putting kids in "guardianship" so they go to college for free, get ACA and subsidized housing due to no income and hide assets in LLC. They also use food stamps and welfare

My Mom always told me folks not working under 60 are just unemployed they aint retired.

We already have college saved for and covered.

We're not on welfare or food stamps.

Anonymous wrote:This is s/o the Mister Money Mustache thread - I saw a couple of people post there that they live happily on $25k or $36k a year. I am not into luxury stuff - we have one car, an old Kia Soul, for example. But I also think it would be very very very very hard to live at that amount.

Can I ask a couple of questions, for those who are living at that amount by choice? (This obviously isn't about those living on very little because they don't have other options - it's really for those who are living on little while socking away more for later.)

- Do you live near your family? If not how do you afford going to see them?

- Do you have hobbies? What are they?

- Do you ever travel for fun? If so, what's your approach?

- Do you ever find yourself really wanting something that is outside your MMM budget (like a trip to Australia, or some expensive shoes)? Do you ever given in to those urges or do you just figure you'll get over it?

- What do you eat most days? Do you ever buy the expensive mustard or the fancy tomatoes?

- What do you do for yourself, that you see other people spending money on for others to do for them? Do you make your own clothes, or grow your own vegetables, or...?

- Are most of your friends in the same boat? If not how do you do it when your friends want to get together at a restaurant, or to go see a concert, or whatever? You just say no and have them over for a potluck instead, or...?

- What sort of house or apartment do you live in? Did you pick that place in order to be able to spend very little? Do you like your home?

- What do you think are the big misconceptions about how you live? What do you wish others understood about your approach to money - what do we outsiders usually get wrong?

When I was working, I arranged to have the full amount put into my 401K. The HR manager called me and asked if I had meant to do that. I said yes. He sounded shocked I wanted to save $18K / year.

That was one instance when I began to realize maybe I was not like other people.

We have 0 debt.

We are healthy at the moment, but I had to spend over $10K out of pocket for medical expenses several years ago.

- Do you live near your family? If not how do you afford going to see them?

We live near some. We drive to others for the price of gas. Maybe $100-$200 for this.

- Do you have hobbies? What are they?
Reading, hiking, attending exhibits and concerts, cooking.

- Do you ever travel for fun? If so, what's your approach?
Yep! Almost every year. We usually take a big trip--sometimes overseas and sometimes not.

- Do you ever find yourself really wanting something that is outside your MMM budget (like a trip to Australia, or some expensive shoes)? Do you ever given in to those urges or do you just figure you'll get over it?
Nope. I just make sure things are accounted for in the budget and then I have money for whatever I want/need. The "You Need a Budget" website is great for this type of planning, if anyone needs help in that department.

- What do you eat most days? Do you ever buy the expensive mustard or the fancy tomatoes?
This is one of our larger expenses. We are wasteful and working to be better.

Salmon + veggies, chicken + salad, roasted veggies + meat or rice, tacos, burritos, lasagna, beans/rice, salads.

- What do you do for yourself, that you see other people spending money on for others to do for them? Do you make your own clothes, or grow your own vegetables, or...?
Making clothes takes forever. Not worth it unless you love to sew!

We mow our own lawn and clean our own house. We do not order from meal delivery services.

It's kinda funny that people buy gym memberships to get exercise and then do not clean house/mow lawn, which would provide exercise...

- Are most of your friends in the same boat? If not how do you do it when your friends want to get together at a restaurant, or to go see a concert, or whatever? You just say no and have them over for a potluck instead, or...?

"In the same boat" suggests that this is not such a great place to be.

I like the choice we've made, because I value my freedom more than a boat / country club membership / shoes.

- What sort of house or apartment do you live in? Did you pick that place in order to be able to spend very little? Do you like your home?

SFH. We spent way less than most anyone in the DC area, and it will be paid off in 4 years!! I wish a few things were different about the house, so I do not love it 100%. Overall, it does its job.

- What do you think are the big misconceptions about how you live? What do you wish others understood about your approach to money - what do we outsiders usually get wrong?

I have no idea. I assume people think we're poor.

Anonymous wrote:I am starting to think that FIRE people are just moochers. They try to get all the benefits of someone living in poverty while taking advantage of friends and family for vacations and pass me downs. Nothing illegal about this, but they seem to be textbook wellfare queen. Of course all wealthy people take advantage of the system, but FIRE seems so much more obvious.

Sorry but what’s FIRE?

Anonymous wrote:So I just had to refill my dog's heartworm and flea/tick prescriptions - $200 for his meds. If you have voluntarily gone on this kind of budget in order to save for the future: Do you just not get a dog, or don't get the preventative meds, or is there room in the budget for meds?

I have a small weinerdog. Heartworm medicine is $30 for 6 months. I don't give him flea and tick medicine. A bottle of flea shampoo is $10 and I usually wash him about twice a week because he loves to get in the shower with me.
You are spending $200 on something that can be done for $40. I would order the medicines from somewhere else to see if it can be done cheaper. This is one of those recurring expenses that needs to be cut down a little

So I just had to refill my dog's heartworm and flea/tick prescriptions - $200 for his meds. If you have voluntarily gone on this kind of budget in order to save for the future: Do you just not get a dog, or don't get the preventative meds, or is there room in the budget for meds?

18 holes of golf then an afternoon at the beach. Come back and throw some steaks on the grill. Life really is good

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:And these FIRE People also pull stunt of putting kids in "guardianship" so they go to college for free, get ACA and subsidized housing due to no income and hide assets in LLC. They also use food stamps and welfare

My Mom always told me folks not working under 60 are just unemployed they aint retired.

I fully funded my kids college with 529s before retirement. I do not use food stamps or welfare. I have a paid for house on a golf course.

Where does your health insurance come from?

Explained earlier that healthcare is cheap if you have a low income. Having wealth and having an income are not the same thing

So, government subsidies?

I pay every penny that I am asked to pay

Wow, you are really going through some contortions to avoid admitting that your health care is heavily subsidized by the government (i.e. taxpayers). Is this is sore spot?

Is this a bad time to point out that you fir the classic definition of a welfare queen - much better, in fact, than the urban poor so often demonized that way?

It's not a sore spot at all. I'm extremely happy its available. My numbers don't work without it. Please continue your 60 hour weeks and inch worming through traffic everyday so that I can retire. I can't thank you enough

Welfare Queen.

Welfare King. Getting ready for my 10am tee time.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And these FIRE People also pull stunt of putting kids in "guardianship" so they go to college for free, get ACA and subsidized housing due to no income and hide assets in LLC. They also use food stamps and welfare

My Mom always told me folks not working under 60 are just unemployed they aint retired.

I fully funded my kids college with 529s before retirement. I do not use food stamps or welfare. I have a paid for house on a golf course.

Where does your health insurance come from?

Explained earlier that healthcare is cheap if you have a low income. Having wealth and having an income are not the same thing

So, government subsidies?

I pay every penny that I am asked to pay

Wow, you are really going through some contortions to avoid admitting that your health care is heavily subsidized by the government (i.e. taxpayers). Is this is sore spot?

Is this a bad time to point out that you fir the classic definition of a welfare queen - much better, in fact, than the urban poor so often demonized that way?

It's not a sore spot at all. I'm extremely happy its available. My numbers don't work without it. Please continue your 60 hour weeks and inch worming through traffic everyday so that I can retire. I can't thank you enough

Welfare Queen.