Frugal couple accumulate large nest egg by choosing not to live beyond means

Seattle Times ^ | 01/04/04 | Kathleen Lynn

[Maigrey]

On that note, look into purchasing next time a program car from the dealership. The automobile is in great shape (reasonable amount of miles) the car has been taken care of, and you don't have to eat the first 30% of the inflated value as soon as you drive it off the lot!

(I did that with my '97 Ford Escort. I got it as a program car with a little over 8000 miles on it. By purchasing slightly used, I saved over $4000 on the car's price!)

[annyokie]

Buy her a diamond and you'll be a hero forever. Or better yet, give her Grandma's, sentiment And a diamond!

[annyokie]

I thought that, too. We have two kids at home and three grown. Debt free? Forget it.

[Maigrey]

Let me also add thte following:

Diversify your investments, so if the market goes soft again, you don't loose your shirt

Know the state and federal laws (or have a financial advisor who is up to date) on particular investments

Don't take your FP word for certain investments. Read up on them yourself, and you decide on how your money should be invested.

Pay yourself first. If you bank it before you see it, you'll be less likely to spend it foolishly!

[annyokie]

You're gripping about property tax on a home you inherited free and clear? Give me a break.

[wardaddy]

the Manzos, who are childless

Well that counts for a couple of million at least for middle to upper middle class families. But more power to them, life is too short for all that austerity for me though.

[Walkingfeather]

what about the ten bucks you owed me for lunch 16 years ago?...... Forget about it.

[Captiva]

Can you elaborate on the N Dallas story line? Or just a search pointer.

TIA

[Captiva]

Bravo

[RightWhale]

Meaning no disrespect to anyone, but how "rich" are you if you have no children?

Of course each person decides his own worth and value, and some assign value to others. For some it is bringing something of value to the community. What that thing of value might be could be children, but perpetuating the species might not be of value to everyone. For someone else the thing of value could be putting local land records in some kind of perceptible order.

[wardaddy]

Can I bitch about my commerical property taxes here in Nashville...they are about 10% of my gross on average....and F&E taxes while I'm at it....and FICA being self employed which is at least 12K/year..

...please...

;>)

[meowmeow]

Spendthrifts! When I get married, she'll wear her mother's wedding gown and I'll wear my blue business suit. For the reception, we'll have cake and soda in the general-purpose room at our church.

LOL! Good for you Joe! Here's another tip - pick a holiday for your wedding date! This cheapo-bride married on the 4th of July. We had hamburgers and hotdogs at the reception (and cake and soda) in the church basement (it was too hot for outside). Now we don't have to do anything special on our anniversary because there is always a picnic and fireworks somewhere and we always have the day off. How's that for planning?!

[meowmeow]

...Frugal couple accumulate large nest egg by choosing not to live beyond means... Heretics! Blasphemy!

Next thing you know there will be a thread about how eating too much makes people fat!

[bonfire]

Better yet, get married in a church after Xmas. The church is still decorated, flowers, tree, hangings, etc. Saves alot on flowers and you still have a beautiful wedding.

[FLAMING DEATH]

My dad informed me that due to his thrifty measures, he'll be leaving my brother and I somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000 when he and Mom pass on. To them, that means more than any possessions that they have now. But, that's just their preference.

I tend to live rather frugally myself, and intend to pass on whatever savings I accumulate to my children too, someday.

[FLAMING DEATH]

"Who you are is not what you own."

This is the best quote in the whole article.

[VermiciousKnid]

Your post made me giggle with a fond memory.

When I announced my engagement to my family, my grandmother immediately went up to the attic to fetch my mother's wedding gown. She proudly brought it downstairs and commanded me to try it on for size.

"But Grandma, Mommy's gown won't fit me!" I squeaked.

"Certainly it will. You are very trim," she said.

Oh yes, I'm very trim -- and I was even trimmer before I had children, but the waistline wasn't the problem. You see, my mother was 19 when she married, is all of 5'2" and weighed approximately 100 pounds on her wedding day. She had no bust to speak of back then and her shoulders required no more than a size 2 in order to cover them. I, on the other hand, was 27 years old, stand 6 feet tall, weigh in at 140, have a 38" bustline and shoulders that require a size 12 to cover. (I have a hard time finding clothes that fit me well...)

I couldn't even button the first button on Mommy's gown. Grandma had this to say: "My goodness! When did all THIS happen to you?"

It's too bad, actually. I would have loved wearing it; it was very beautiful...Nevertheless, a few years later we put my mother's gown to good use by making it into Christening gowns. My boys looked SMASHING in them!

Regards,

[Jason_b]

bump for later

[stands2reason]

Mr. S2R hocked his guitar and watch to pay for the marriage licence and a nice dinner for two afterwards. It was very nice. The owner of the restaurant gave us a bottle of champagne on the house when he found out about our very recent nuptuals...

:-)

[walden]

"Would it make any difference in their current lifestyle if he had to pay it himself?"

I doubt it-- this couple is 55 and 58 years old, so college was a LONG time ago.