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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 03:05 PM
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#21
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Non sequitur
The answer to that is simple...
They simply do NOT raise their children.
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*takes the bait*
Ya know, I'm childfree, and as annoyed with examples of poor parenting as the next person...but isn't that a rather broad generalization? I don't know that I could work and raise a child well, and for that and other reasons that i don't feel like getting into here, DH and I have decided against adoption (the only way we could have a child). However, I know of plenty dual-income families (my in-laws come springing to mind) who do a very good job with their kids.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 03:10 PM
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#22
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 718
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
We are we to selfish for children. Now nieces/nephews/godkids are great fun to spoil
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 03:24 PM
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#23
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,811
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spanky
Another question: Do you have any regret for not saving enough money?
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Yes
I regret not having a wife who understood the value of saving instead of being selfish.
I could have done more for my kids and could have retired much earlier and would have avoided all the pain associated with a divorce (both financial and emotional).
No
I am going to retire in a couple of weeks on my terms and with closure on my career that makes me happy and proud to have done the job I did over the past 33 years. I don't regret saving what I have over the past 15 or so years to get to FIRE. Had I not changed my life I would stll NEED to work until age 66; I am thankful I don't need to work another day the rest of my life.
__________________
Work? I don't have time to work....I'm retired.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 03:48 PM
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#24
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 218
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
No regrets from me. We were never spendthrift types but, on the other hand, we never did without any of those things that a family needs for comfortable living either. We didn't take a big vacation every year, but worked in plenty of nice ones, including a couple to Europe, over the years. Our two daughters made it through college debt free and got nice starts on lives of their own. We paid for two nice weddings without going into debt and gave the girls new cars when they started college so that they would have transportation for the years that they were in school.
Now, we did live in a relatively small home for twenty years and we kept our vechicles a long time, etc. But do without the little things that make life fun? No way.
Lots of what we saved has already been put to good use and now that the girls are on their own I don't regret having saved ahead of time for their benefit or what we've saved to make ourselves more comfortable for the rest of our lives. Spending money to impress the neighbors is not important to me. In fact, I get somewhat of a kick watching my neighbors spend like there's no tomorrow while, at the same time, they wonder out loud how in the world we manage to stay home everyday while they head into rush hour traffic. Gotta love 'em.
__________________
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." - Mark Twain
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 04:42 PM
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#25
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,072
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
None! Of course, I am not sure I have saved too much. If I were sure of that, I would FIRE today.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 05:03 PM
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#26
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,016
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Nope. I equate saving with my #1 financial rule. Be independent. As long as Vanguard keeps chugging along, I shall be independent and a beneficiary of compound interest; another nice rule. In keeping with the implication of the question, if you just can't spend money, then your survivors will do it for you. Hey, I did spend some this week. I bought a Plasma TV; then, had to buy larger home entertainment furniture for all the electronic equipment and the new larger TV set. See, I'm learning balance. Tomorrow I might go to Starbucks!
__________________
Resist much. Obey Little. . . . Ed Abbey
Disclaimer: My Posts are for my amusement only.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 06:41 PM
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#27
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 859
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustCurious
Therefore, my question is, do any of you who are retired regret that you saved too much when you were younger? Do you look back and wish you would have spent a bit more to enjoy your youth, or your kids' youth? Do you now realize that you oversaved and you have more than you need, and you should have spent a bit more when you were younger?
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If I had to do it all over again, I would have spent a bit more on our honeymoon and maybe bought a nicer house.
And the house thing is only because I can look back in retrospect and see that it would have been a good investement. Other than that I have no regrets. The best is yet to come.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-06-2007, 07:13 PM
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#28
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Therefore, my question is, do any of you who are retired regret that you saved too much when you were younger? Do you look back and wish you would have spent a bit more to enjoy your youth, or your kids' youth?
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I am certainly not guilty of oversaving, and that's one of the reasons why.
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-07-2007, 03:05 PM
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#29
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 275
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
It was never money I was short of. There were and are many things I do not enjoy doing alone and so don't, but it was never for lack of money.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-08-2007, 09:09 AM
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#30
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,719
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3 Yrs to Go
My hunch is, if you have to ask this question, you probably already have your own answer. If you feel like you are taking saving to an extreme, you probably are. No harm in loosening up a bit and enjoying the ride . . . you only get one go-round. (That is, of course, unless you feel "deprived" by not owning all the latest designer doo-dads and high-tech gizmos).
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Dead on. I couldn't have said it better myself. It is important to keep in mind, however, that in loosening up, you don't go overboard. It is VERY easy to do this, as you get used to spending the extra money, and wants become needs.
Quote:
For a long time I did regret going to night school for my degree while working full-time (it sucked). While I worked and took summer classes most of my friends partied and traveled around Europe. Although I probably saved something in the low six figures by going to school part-time, it wasn't worth it. But now with some distance, and with the prospect of being able to stop working before I hit 40, I don't feel so bad. While I'm looking forward to spending months on end traveling, learning languages, and pursuing many other ambitions, all of those friends will still be working 70 hour weeks trying to keep up with the payments on their new McMansions and kid's private school tuition. Although I may have missed out on some experiences in my 20's, I've righted the ship and put myself in a position to more than make up for it over the next 30-60 years.
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Delayed gratification can be a very good thing. Imagine spending a few years in your 20s traveling the world and then having to work until you're 65, versus saving during those few years and retiring early at age 40 to travel the world for the next 20 years. That said, you'll only get one chance to travel with your 20-something friends before they (like you) get tied down with responsibilities. It is so sad to see a 40-year old acting like he's a 20-something in a desperate attempt to reclaim a lost youth.
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He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it . . . It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. -- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 06:18 PM
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#31
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 355
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
I'm so happy in ER that I don't regret any saving. Money wasn't ever a problem during my work years. As others noted, those good times weren't based on my financial condition, nor are they now. Feeling happy seems to be unrelated to spending, at least for me.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 06:21 PM
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#32
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,396
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby
It is so sad to see a 40-year old acting like he's a 20-something in a desperate attempt to reclaim a lost youth.
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Actually, I think it's quite charming.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 06:24 PM
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#33
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 146
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Not at all.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 07:19 PM
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#34
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby
It is so sad to see a 40-year old acting like he's a 20-something in a desperate attempt to reclaim a lost youth.
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Funny, I was just hearing that the other day.
From my daughter.
__________________
*
Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 07:48 PM
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#35
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,375
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby
It is so sad to see a 40-year old acting like he's a 20-something in a desperate attempt to reclaim a lost youth.
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No doubt about it , at age 40, one should probably take advantage of what little time he has left and get busy getting his estate together.
Unfortunantly, the "Damn Yankees" just paid $28,000,000.00 for Roger Clemens. (Age 44).
Act your age, Roger!
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 07:59 PM
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#36
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,021
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarhead*
Act your age, Roger!
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Yeah, just like this guy...
__________________
Numbers is hard
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 08:08 PM
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#37
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarhead*
No doubt about it , at age 40, one should probably take advantage of what little time he has left and get busy getting his estate together.
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Ya mean like this guy?
Jarhead: this is a quiz -- name that old-timer.
Hint: Cardinals, Yankees, Cooperstown.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 09:00 PM
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#38
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,016
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
I'm thinking Enos Slaughter?
__________________
Resist much. Obey Little. . . . Ed Abbey
Disclaimer: My Posts are for my amusement only.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-10-2007, 10:49 PM
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#39
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,375
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle43
I'm thinking Enos Slaughter?
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You're an Eagle-eye, Eagle.
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
05-11-2007, 06:48 AM
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#40
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Re: Do you regret saving too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle43
I'm thinking Enos Slaughter?
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Well done.
Born in 1916, something like 13 seasons batting .300+. Good ole boy from North Carolina. A little controversial regarding Jackie Robinson's entry into the big leagues. My memories of him are dim, in New York, number 9 before Hank Bauer who I believe replaced him in right field (also number 9).
My defining memory is when Enos (known for running -- not walking -- off the field at the end of each inning) would take off his hat to wipe his brow, and this big mat of white hair would pop up. Something unsettling about it in those days. These days, it's reassuring.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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