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Old 05-09-2013, 10:32 AM   #61
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I'm afraid that we are considered to be "the rich" - even tho it took 20+ years to get the portfolio.....
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Old 05-09-2013, 10:50 AM   #62
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This thread was about inspiration. When did it turn into a whine-fest? Between the two, inspiration is definitely more enjoyable...
True that. But in reality we live in an era where many folks define "whining" as "complaining about any situation where I personally have no sympathy for them."

One person's legitimate beef is another person's whine; it depends on whose ox is being gored.
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Old 05-09-2013, 11:05 AM   #63
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To the original poster: The key is to define a realistic set of goals and never forget them. Over 20 years ago I was divorced with plenty of debt and virtually no savings I sat down one evening and wrote a set of goals down on 4 yellow sticky notes (the larger ones). The included items such as 1) Get rid of all debt 2) purchase a house 3) pay for my children's college (3 sons) 4) retirement savings $ goal .... So here it is 20 years later and I still have those yellow stickers and I have exceeded every one of those goals. My three sons have all graduated from college (2 with masters so far), I have no debt, I have a house and far exceeded my retirement savings goal. I retired in December and I am happier than ever. The key was to set the goals and never forget them... It may not happen overnight but it will happen.. You can do it..
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Old 05-09-2013, 11:22 AM   #64
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Yeah, it's always best to measure yourself against yourself -- your past self, that is -- not against other people. "Run your own race," as they say. As long as I feel like I'm doing better than I was a few years ago or a decade ago, I'm okay. Sometimes, if I want to boost my spirits, I'll reflect on what life was like for me when I was a teenager or early 20's (hint: miserable, depressed, lost). I've had a lot of ups and downs, but as long as my life is on an upward trajectory overall, I can feel okay.
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Old 05-10-2013, 01:03 PM   #65
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I am in awe of the personal accomplishments, both big and small, shared on this forum. And it's a little difficult not to be jealous of the uber-successful persons in their 30s and 40s who are able to ER, but I do not want to discourage anyone form posting their success stories. I find these personal stories very enlightening and sometimes motivating. Have I mentioned this forum is awesome!
I'm with BigE on this... I am awestruck at the savings and salaries that some of the folks in their 30's and 40's have put together and I commend them for the hard work and sacrifices that they made to get there. To draw an income at a younger age and choose to look beyond the present and well into the future is a wisdom and sacrifice that can inspire people at any age.

I am immensely grateful for the candid conversation and information from everyone who posts their accomplishments and openly discusses them here. If you feel discouraged, consider the fact that the people and discussions here are a small fraction compared to the people who aren't here and live financial lives with no regard or comprehension of the great things that are discussed and encouraged here. The fact that you are here should be most encouraging as the tools to FIRE are now defined and within your sights.

Thanks again to all who share their insights and stories... it is much appreciated by those of us who are on track (long or short) to being FIRE'd.
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Old 05-10-2013, 01:50 PM   #66
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...........I am immensely grateful for the candid conversation and information from everyone who posts their accomplishments and openly discusses them here. ...........
Personally, I just like to brag, but this is the only place that anyone listens.

Hello....hello....tap, tap.....is this thing on?
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Old 05-10-2013, 02:05 PM   #67
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Personally, I just like to brag, but this is the only place that anyone listens.

Hello....hello....tap, tap.....is this thing on?


Me, too!
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Old 05-10-2013, 02:07 PM   #68
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I am immensely grateful for the candid conversation and information from everyone who posts their accomplishments and openly discusses them here.
+1 , although I do notice that the candid statements sometimes offend a newer poster or two. and that's just in the last month. But in real life, everyone doesn't get a trophy.
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Old 05-10-2013, 02:57 PM   #69
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+1 , although I do notice that the candid statements sometimes offend a newer poster or two. and that's just in the last month. But in real life, everyone doesn't get a trophy.
There is sometimes a thin line between being a mentor or a tormentor.
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Old 05-10-2013, 04:23 PM   #70
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eh - I've found that they overlap considerably :-)
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Old 05-10-2013, 04:27 PM   #71
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I like the lyrics, It's wanting what you got"

And yes, there are some huge slammers along the water front in Charleston. I jogged daily along the water front route.

I am looking for something less however.
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Old 05-10-2013, 05:01 PM   #72
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Sniggle, don't be depressed, its not that difficult. #1 Stay out of debt, then watch you money grow, when people are always paying you instead of you paying them; #2 you don't need a lot of "stuff", live simple, it's less complicated and as you get older most the stuff will have given or thrown away - forget the "jones's"; #3 really understand the difference between saving and investing - saving means you get your principle back + more, with investments, e.g., stocks, you can loose it all & most individual investors by far loose money (Buffett #1 Rule: Never Loose Principle). At 30 I owed 40,000 1/2 Student loans, 1/2 Credit Card debt used to pay for food & rent while in college & worked too. Finally paid it all off in 1998 (go back to #1). Since 1998, and I'm no big executive, paid child support, and now at 56 worth about 1.3 in cash, retire - next year.
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Old 05-10-2013, 07:19 PM   #73
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Yes, I believe I am.

I am still chuckling about the suggestion from someone to downsize the horses to shetland ponies....too funny.

All my worry may be for nothing....as this weekend I agreed to join my wife on a competitive trail ride which could possibly result in her receiving a life insurance windfall
Not to worry... With a sense of humor like that, you'll do well no matter what!

Except for a health scare and retirement at 53, we'd probably still be working. It's been 24 years of not working or paying taxes, and it happened on a heck of a lot less than a million dollars. More a matter of what one needs than what one wants, and the willingness to adjust to what one has.

For starters... drinking water-instead, at McDonalds or restaurants... 4X week @ $3/meal will give you an extra $10,000 if you retire at age 62. In our case, we like water and figure we've saved about $25,000 along the way in retirement. (periodic deposit 5% interest compounding)

It was intimidating coming here, to find "youngsters" earning more in a year, than I did in a decade, but the members are mostly more concerned with helping than bragging.

Enjoy the ride.
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Old 05-10-2013, 07:22 PM   #74
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This thread was about inspiration. When did it turn into a whine-fest?
IIRC, the initial post was about jealousy and depression! :-)
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Old 05-11-2013, 03:07 PM   #75
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I'm afraid that we are considered to be "the rich" - even tho it took 20+ years to get the portfolio.....

Please keep that under your hat. Someone at the Cincinnati IRS office may google that up and be off to the races with their tax checking software. Please continue to use struggling instead of r**h.
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Old 05-11-2013, 04:24 PM   #76
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LOL! "struggling"!

Also, don't use the words "Patriot" or "Tea" in your business name. Why be a target?
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Old 05-11-2013, 09:41 PM   #77
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Yeah, it's always best to measure yourself against yourself -- your past self, that is -- not against other people. "Run your own race," as they say. As long as I feel like I'm doing better than I was a few years ago or a decade ago, I'm okay. Sometimes, if I want to boost my spirits, I'll reflect on what life was like for me when I was a teenager or early 20's (hint: miserable, depressed, lost). I've had a lot of ups and downs, but as long as my life is on an upward trajectory overall, I can feel okay.
+1

It can be a little hard to internalize, but honestly it really doesn't matter what others do or don't do to prepare for retirement. After all, they aren't going to get to live your retirement; you are!

Think of it as an extension of "life isn't fair" philosophy. In other words, if the people at work aren't saving as much as you are, and are living the high life, just remember that life isn't fair. Some of them probably have spouses with big incomes, or maybe a relative helped them to buy their house decades before you did at a lower price and it is all paid off. Life isn't fair.

Likewise, if someone is saving more than you, remember life isn't fair. You never know what someone else is faced with, alimony, elder care, a disabled child, or who knows what.

I love the way ER Eddie phrased it above: "run your own race".
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Old 05-12-2013, 05:30 AM   #78
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There will always be those who have "more" than you do and there will always be those who have less. I was reminded just yesterday during a conversation with a pilot friend who has done a lot of charter flying and he spoke of being amazed at the level of poverty in south american countries.

Again I was reminded that a very large percentage of the world's population would be thrilled to have the storage shed in our back yard as a home.

And the fact remains that we do have the option of not having to work. How many will have to work until they physically cannot work any longer? I think it a safe bet that those outnumber those who have the option of retiring at any standard of living.

That said, I will never own a Rolls, or probably even a Benz. And I don't care because that just doesn't matter. To me. If it does, then keep on working.
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:11 AM   #79
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Please keep that under your hat. Someone at the Cincinnati IRS office may google that up and be off to the races with their tax checking software. Please continue to use struggling instead of r**h.


Maybe change 1040 status to "unemployed" as well......
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Old 05-12-2013, 10:37 AM   #80
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And the fact remains that we do have the option of not having to work. How many will have to work until they physically cannot work any longer? I think it a safe bet that those outnumber those who have the option of retiring at any standard of living.
That is so true, and the thought of such a fate is frightening! Imagine having to work, and not being physically capable of doing so. Having to rely upon soup lines at free food kitchens, and other charity just in order to keep body and soul together. That is not my idea of "the golden years".

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That said, I will never own a Rolls, or probably even a Benz. And I don't care because that just doesn't matter. To me. If it does, then keep on working.
You know, I thought I wanted a Mercedes until I could finally afford one. Somehow for me, that dream worked out better as a daydream than as a reality. When I finally could afford a Mercedes, I decided that I didn't actually want one. All I wanted was the dream, I guess. I prefer the Venza that I bought instead. A little luxury, but with lots of room for my stuff when heading out of town on hurricane evacuations.
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