Up until now, I've been horrible with money. A lot of great times, but nothing much to show for it beside stories to tell and pictures to show. I got $10,000 in South Korea for a signing bonus and spent $3,000 on a trip to Busan for Labor Day weekend. Instead of putting the rest of that money away, I spent it on electronics and going out every night throughout the year I was there. I literally have nothing to show for that $10,000.

When I was discharged from the military I accrued a lot of debt because I couldn't find a job right away to make payments on some of the stuff I was paying for (car loan, credit card). That's pretty much the time where my credit plummeted and I've been slowly recovering ever since. I literally have nothing in my possession that I bought when I was in the military.

Through college I used my student loans for school, living expenses and again, going out and taking vacations all over the place. Now that it's all said and done, though, I look forward to paying them off. It's been about five years since my military debts were reported to the agencies, which means I have another two before everything is completely cleared (some already have). I think having these student loans will be great, too. I've already put together a strict budget and am fully focused on living below my means for the next few years in order to pay them off quickly. That should help my credit score a lot.

I also got a secured credit card about a year and a half ago to help build my credit back up, and it's helped more than I thought it would. My score has jumped up quite a bit.

So yea, I've been a complete moron when it comes to money. You'd think being "broke" would help you when you get some because you know how to live without it, but then once you get it you want to spend it on the things you were never able to get before. It took time, but I feel like I'm on the right track and in a good position to fix a financial fuck up from my past. Once I pay these student loans, I'll be golden.

Oh, and also, I've already assured my girlfriend that she will be handling our finances for the most part. Not only does this give her reassurance as to where the money is going, but fuck me if I haven't noticed that women (at least the ones I'm in contact with) can be so much better with it than guys.

I call bullshit on the 10 000$ signing bonus.

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Freak Out Tóng Zhì

Nope.

Most money I've ever had at one time, and I was 19 and in South Korea.

What did they really expect me to do with it?

never mind. i thought you meant as a teacher.

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Freak Out Tóng Zhì

quote:

Originally posted by Miss Pie It isn't that much more money to eat fresh...the difference in price is negligible imo. When you learn how to eat clean, you actually eat less...it all balances out in the end. I really don't know how people can eat processed shit - how they aren't aware of the way it makes them feel crappy. So many people I work with eat such terrible food, the same people who always complain about being tired all the time, who are always sick, always stressed out....bad skin, bad hair, can't understand why they can't maintain a healthy weight. Truly boggles the mind. You are what you eat!!

I find the opposite to this. When i eat a healthy breakfast before work i will be hungry again in a couple hours versus a timmies or mcdicks breakfast sandwich which for some reason keeps me full until lunch
I always assumed i had more calories to burn with the junk so i am satisfied longer

granted my work has low level of physical labour

quote:

Originally posted by OrangestO Oh, and also, I've already assured my girlfriend that she will be handling our finances for the most part. Not only does this give her reassurance as to where the money is going, but fuck me if I haven't noticed that women (at least the ones I'm in contact with) can be so much better with it than guys.

I would have to disagree... most of my male friends are money concious while majority of my female friends are clueless.... i feel like they beleive theyre gonna get with a guy with money and dont care what they have stowed away

I know exactly what you mean, I have friends that make triple, and quadruple what I make, and yet they're constantly broke/in debt because of their poor spending decisions. Sometimes I don't even know where the money is going. It's easy to tell when some jackass is buying a new computer/car/electronic gadget every 6 months, but some of these people just squander their money on NOTHING (and it's not drugs either... I don't think). I really don't understand it because of how disciplined I am, and how logical and simple living within my means seems to me.

Granted: I'm lucky in that I work as a Jr Sous Chef and one of my perks is the ability to eat "whatever I want." So I'm able to make myself grand meals while at work, and then take any extra food home with me (I still have about 15 Trout fillets in my freezer from our last menu change). So I never need to buy food.

I still struggle with spending too much on eating out though (I don't often eat out unless the bill will be close to $100 by the time I'm full), as well as socializing (alcohol be expensive son). But I'm also lucky in that my personality is addictive, meaning that my hobbies include a small set of things that I dedicate myself to for years, so my entertainment costs are low. Overall those balance out.

So on a cook's wage (it's said a cook starves until staff-meal), I'm still able to save a few grand every year, and could save more if I really disciplined myself to focus on saving and trim down the few excesses I enjoy. It baffles me to see how people who make much more than I do can always be in such tough economic straits.

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Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Heart???
These forces are supposed to combine to create Captain Planet?
Bullshit.
Those forces combine to create a soaking, boiling mudstorm on Valentine's Day.

quote:

Originally posted by Miss Pie It isn't that much more money to eat fresh...the difference in price is negligible imo. When you learn how to eat clean, you actually eat less...it all balances out in the end. I really don't know how people can eat processed shit - how they aren't aware of the way it makes them feel crappy. So many people I work with eat such terrible food, the same people who always complain about being tired all the time, who are always sick, always stressed out....bad skin, bad hair, can't understand why they can't maintain a healthy weight. Truly boggles the mind. You are what you eat!!

it is. Unless you eat the same thing every day. But you don't, and then ingredients go bad. I honestly don't understand your fucking issue when you just claimed that you blew all your money. I mean didn't you start this fucking thread ?

I believe everyone should claim bankruptcy by 19. By the time it matters, you will have that expunged.

what is with americans and their fucking white washed views. You can live poor and consider it a virtue while everyone and their cat fucks you left and right, or you can learn the system , use the system and live well. People have more money than you, most didn't earn it. It is your right as a fucking mouth breeder to live as well as you want to. The people that should be ostracized are the ones that have more money than they know what to do with it, not those that live beyond their means. Unless they are like black and are buying gold teeth and shit. Basically, if you buy stupid shit , that is what should be judged.

Buying good things that last long over something you can afford now is just one big poverty circle jerk were you don't benefit. So fuck it. Live large. Everyone else is doing it. All the banks, most of the corporations. They get bailed out. Take their cue.

People that live within their means just aren't ambitious.

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old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
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quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney People that live within their means just aren't ambitious.

Know what this is?

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney it is. Unless you eat the same thing every day. But you don't, and then ingredients go bad. I honestly don't understand your fucking issue when you just claimed that you blew all your money. I mean didn't you start this fucking thread ?

Uh, what the fuck are you talking about? Lol.

quote:

Originally posted by OrangestO I literally have nothing to show for that $10,000.

i dunno man. just because you can't easily attach a monetary value to your memories and experiences, or perhaps have something tangible in front of you as a reminder or signifier of some sort, doesn't mean they're worthless, as you seem to be implying. maybe in your particular case as per your own assessment, it was all stupid and easily forgettable and that sucks. but for me all the good times i had in my earlier days, even tho they cost a heck of a lot, were totally worth it and if i had to go back i'd do it (and them ) again.

now if you were to argue that the same amount of fun could've been had for much cheaper, that would be more interesting. but you can always chalk that up to "being young and clueless"

i think we should extend this thread beyond just finances and lump in people that just make terrible life decisions.

i work with a few girls that have real fucked up families and the ALWAYS have drama in their lives, but i really can't say i feel sorry for them because in a lot of ways they basically bring it on themselves.

always talking about how they want a nice guy bla bla bla, but then fucking around with guys that the KNOW are married and shit.

always quick to loan their shitty family members money (i'm not talking about $50.00 bucks, i'm talking cashing in 401K's and give thousands).

getting pregnant by dead beat's that are just going to move on to the next skank and never pay child support.


they do it to themselves man. every time.



as far as the money thing goes. i think that's very true. i have a friend that is always whining about how poor he is, but then blows money on the newest tech gadgets and useless consumer crap. maybe you didn't need that 55" vizio dawg?


meh i think it all ties together. there are people that care about running their lives properly and building wealth and there are people that just don't get it or haven't matured enough to understand it's importance. they of course catch on way too late in life and then end up trying to play catch up.