same old stan

[Meliva]

Hey man, I'm enjoying my money while I'm young and don't have a family that depends on me yet. Perhaps I'll pick up your values with age

Now I know you're not all that serious about how bad you think things are or are going to be. Either that or you really are an idiot. You literally said earlier that the way things are going, in 20-30 years, 70 hours of work wouldn't even pay rent. Yet you openly admit that you are enjoying expensive hobbies and are just enjoying your money while you're young.

You do realize that if what you predicted is true, that because you are not investing and saving your money as much as you can now, while things are good, that when crap hits the fan, you are going to be up crap creek without a paddle right? I'll also bet dollars to donuts that when and if that happens, you'll do what you do now. Complain that the government and other people should fix your life for you.

You seem to be really well-off Leo. Here you are complaining about billionaires and CEOS, and how hard life is, while your hobbies are skiing, martial arts, and making music. My guy, most working-class people would be lucky if they could afford ONE of those expensive hobbies, let alone all of them.

If you were smart now, and actually made smart choices with your money, saving it up and investing it, you'd be in a much greater place later on then you are now.

That's the problem with too many people nowadays. It's immediate gratification and enjoyment they seek, and not lifelong success and happiness. This is why so many people never escape poverty. They use what little extra money they have, on immediate satisfaction and enjoyment, and don't try to build it up. Yeah, it sucks having to tighten your belt and make sacrifices, but you will never be successful and thrive if you don't. Because it takes hard work and sacrifice to be able to thrive. That or incredibly good luck, but that's not something you can influence or rely on.

[Dmanwuzhere]

Hey man, I'm enjoying my money while I'm young and don't have a family that depends on me yet. Perhaps I'll pick up your values with age

Yeah, I'm thinking any gal with a long-term family plan isn't going to want you now or later. .... Just a hunch

[Meliva]

maybe if he's really lucky, he'll meet some smart lady who can handle finances and he'll be smart enough to let her handle financial issues.

Though I may be biased, as that's how my old man lucked out . He always said she was the one with the brains in their relationship more or less when it came to the finances. Though my old man at least had a good work ethic and a deep love for family going for him.

[Leo]

I like to think I'm pretty good with my money. I put most of it in savings or in my retirement account, then I keep about 1/3 for spending. I said I have a job that pays well and not too many expenses right now. At this point it's just gas and tuition which I've received scholarships for. I don't know what else I should be doing. I put some of my spending money into the stock market and some into crypto as well with hopes that in 5 or 10 years it will have accumulated a good amount of interest and can help me pay off my student loans and maybe even give me a kick start on buying a home. Most of my spending money that I actually spend goes towards things that help with my hobbies like new strings or new audio plugins or replacement bike parts. I rarely go out to eat and always make food at home if possible. Things will change this year when my living situation changes and I transfer to another school across the country away from my family. I won't be able to keep my job but I've saved up enough in my regular checking account to get me through a couple years if I keep my expenses to a minimum.

[Lachlan]

I'm not sure when you went to prison because I'm not sure how old you are but 13 dollars when I was a toddler went way further than $13 now. Sure minimum wage is ok for teens who just want a little bit of income to buy stuff or save for something but minimum wage for an adult does not go nearly as far. This could be wrong but the absolute lowest minimum wage I've searched up is $7.25. Usually most people work 8 to 10 hours. 8x7.25= $58
Some states apparently the minimum wage is $15 an hour. 15x8= $120. Now I'm assuming and I could be wrong that more states have their minimum wage at $15. If you worked every single day you would get $840 dollars but at least in Australia almost every employer gives their workers one day off per week to reduce burnout. Not sure if it is the same in America but that would leave you with a wage of $720 per week which is not much considering you will have very little once you pay for groceries, power, gas, water, mortgage or if you rent then just rent. That is not much. But sure technically you can live off it but barely. With a wage like that you won't ever be able to buy a house even if you buy just the essentials and no luxury or recreational things and save all the spare money you have.

Now I have no idea if your story is true because I can't verify myself but I'm going to assume it is truthful. In that case I admire your determination and courage to work hard and provide for your family.

My better half and other family play this game... kinda makes lying a nonissue

Goals... plans to meet those goals... the execution of plans determine your seriousness.
I just turned 53
I hear complaints about a 40 hr week, and I think you aren't serious.
If 1 job doesn't finance your goals, then you get 2.
I had a job at Southern Cast Stone where, 8-9 hours a day, I palletized cinder blocks
Then I clocked out, ate dinner, then clocked back in and spent 9 hours cleaning the 2 mixers with pneumatic chisels
They were huge you climbed inside and had walking room inside them lol
6 days a week
I slept all Sunday and never got to do more than have my sister deposit the check for me.
But I stacked that cheese.
No, I didn't live as Leo thinks one should, but I was never one paycheck from homelessness either..

I don't need to be flashy or show wealth I'm happy to have any old Chevy truck and a great family
I would never be considered to be living according to Leo
But then it saddens me that he will never know happiness with his current state of mind

I'm not sure where you thought I was complaining about a 40 hour work week. I would consider that fine. Because I study full time though I've never worked close to that many hours except on the holidays where in a previous retail job (at an Australian retail chain called Myer) I had I think I did just past 30 hours a week (maybe somewhere between 32 and 34) and because I was a casual worker got paid a few dollars more than the permanent workers which was nice. I only got that many hours though because it was December so almost christmas time. I don't think it's the norm though to work 9 hours, have a little break and then clock back in to do another 9 hours. Sure short term if you are in need of cash you can do that but I don't think it's healthy to do that long term.

[Lachlan]

Hey man, I'm enjoying my money while I'm young and don't have a family that depends on me yet. Perhaps I'll pick up your values with age

Now I know you're not all that serious about how bad you think things are or are going to be. Either that or you really are an idiot. You literally said earlier that the way things are going, in 20-30 years, 70 hours of work wouldn't even pay rent. Yet you openly admit that you are enjoying expensive hobbies and are just enjoying your money while you're young.

You do realize that if what you predicted is true, that because you are not investing and saving your money as much as you can now, while things are good, that when crap hits the fan, you are going to be up crap creek without a paddle right? I'll also bet dollars to donuts that when and if that happens, you'll do what you do now. Complain that the government and other people should fix your life for you.

You seem to be really well-off Leo. Here you are complaining about billionaires and CEOS, and how hard life is, while your hobbies are skiing, martial arts, and making music. My guy, most working-class people would be lucky if they could afford ONE of those expensive hobbies, let alone all of them.

If you were smart now, and actually made smart choices with your money, saving it up and investing it, you'd be in a much greater place later on then you are now.

That's the problem with too many people nowadays. It's immediate gratification and enjoyment they seek, and not lifelong success and happiness. This is why so many people never escape poverty. They use what little extra money they have, on immediate satisfaction and enjoyment, and don't try to build it up. Yeah, it sucks having to tighten your belt and make sacrifices, but you will never be successful and thrive if you don't. Because it takes hard work and sacrifice to be able to thrive. That or incredibly good luck, but that's not something you can influence or rely on.

I don't think martial arts or making music is necessarily expensive hobbies. Although skiing I only hear relatively wealthy people doing it on a regular basis.

[Leo]

Mountain biking is the real money sink. Skiing was traditionally an elite sport but in the past 2 decades it's been done more and more by lower and middle class people. I worked at the ski hill as a lift operator this year to afford my pass. With that expense out of the way you really just need equipment which is super cheap in comparison to mountain biking.

[Lil Lola]

Dman…Mel don’t worry about Leo. He will even out when he gets older.that’s how life is. He needs to live longer and have another decade of life under his belt.

[Leo]

A, classic "he'll become more conservative with age". The notion that conservatism is founded in maturity, the argument is old as time. Yet Bernie is what, 83? And he's only moved farther left over time. Cmon Lola you should know better.

[Meliva]

there are exceptions to general rules Leo. An old saying I recall hearing went like this.

Anyone under 30 who isn't a liberal has no heart. Anyone over 30 who isn't a conservative has no brain.

Also Lachlan, martial arts and music are pretty expensive hobbies-at least to get into them. With martial arts, you typically need to pay for someone to teach you. Now, those prices can vary based on where you go and who you hire, so it could be affordable, but it's like saying a massage isn't expensive because you can find some back alley fellow to give you one for 5 bucks. You tend to get what you pay for. The big cost of music is buying the instrument. Now, once you've trained in the martial art, and no longer need instruction and can just practice at home, and you bought your instrument and all the training required to play it, then it's not bad. Just need to pay for maintenance on the instrument.

Also depends on what kind of instruments you buy. Some are more expensive then others, plus different brands and qualities.

I would say all the hobbies Leo listed are not the most expensive hobbies out there, but they certainly are not cheap ones by any measure. Depends on the quality he pays for.