Hi I am feeling old and poor

[Mr._johngalt]

oldwoman, the 60's are dead, people now make war not love, and what you are describing sounds like a scene out of Orwell's 1984, that is, until the pigs took over the farm.

You are confusing Orwell's books, sort of like mixing your metaphors,
which I kind of like. Should keep historical facts straight though IMHO.

JG

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I always do this, I also am sort of in accounting, and I always look at construction sites thinking of how I would frame the house, put up the wall board, do the tile work.

I like talking to people and helping people and would love to be a finacial planner but so many are ripping people off I would be embarrised to be one. I want to help poor people that are trying to recover financially. If I ever have enough money I may start a place for divorced women to restart life. It would be a happy place with people sharing daycare duties and cooking and cleaning not much of a charity but an assist. I was lucky with my divorce I didn't have kids and my parents were there for me and I had a good job. I would love to own a farm with perhaps some cabins for people to help grow gardens and chickens and things to get free food. We could all make jam together and can tomatos and if anyone had a job interview or job leave the kids to those of us that weren't working. The kids could do farm chores or homework or build things in the workshop maybe pick berries for the jam. Divorced women often have trouble finding a place they could bring dogs so we could have a homeless shelter for the dogs too maybe a fenced field during the day and the could stay in the cabins at night.

Yep, I took in a divorced woman with 3 dogs. Now she has a built-in
dogsitter while she is out hunting and gathering. In some ways we
have recreated a native American lifestyle. I sit around and
sharpen my tongue weapons while she provides most of the manual labor. Those redskins had a damn good system.

JG

 

[old woman]

Have you explored the posibility of becoming a court appointed conservitor? These folks manage the finances of folks who can't do that for themselves.

I don't know how to do that but it would be worth looking into. One of my coworkers helps and elderly lady with things for pay. My grandmother will be 98 tomorrow and may outlive the man who is taking care of her money, he is 81 and keeps having stokes while she is in perfect health. Grandma still has two daughters but they are nearly 80 also. I could see grandma needing a court appointed person if the family didn't agree on my uncle and in the future his wife.
Do you know where I can apply? My ethics are excellent as well as no criminal history and a great credit rating and the education to do the accounting.

 

[Lazarus]

Yep, I took in a divorced woman with 3 dogs. Now she has a built-in
dogsitter while she is out hunting and gathering. In some ways we
have recreated a native American lifestyle. I sit around and
sharpen my tongue weapons while she provides most of the manual labor. Those redskins had a damn good system.

JG

Funny!

 

[JPatrick]

I am 5% Cherokee Indian and I object to your use of the term "redskin".
However, You may wish me a "Merry Christmas" without complaint 

 

[haha]

Have you explored the posibility of becoming a court appointed conservitor?  These folks manage the finances of folks who can't do that for themselves. 

This is great. Is there anything at all that old woman has told us about herself or her management of her own finances that suggests she should have her skills as a money manager inflicted on helpless members of the public?

Why doesn't she just hang out a shingle as a Doctor? We at least don't have proof that she doesn't know anything about medicine.

Ha

 

[REWahoo]

Those redskins had a damn good system.

I am 5% Cherokee Indian and I object to your use of the term "redskin".

Easy JPatrick. I think JG was referring to the system the Redskins used back in the 80's when they were coached by Joe Gibbs and winning Superbowls.

 

[Brat]

Is there anything at all that old woman has told us about herself or her management of her own finances that suggests she should have her skills as a money manager inflicted on helpless members of the public?

Maybe I missread OPs posting, but I thought she said she has an accounting background.

Frankly I don't see much money managment background here, but she could manage an incompentent person's income and bills.

 

[old woman]

Maybe I missread OPs posting, but I thought she said she has an accounting background.

I have an accounting background, the only money I have managed is my own.
I have done a pretty good job, starting at less than zero 20 years ago I have managed to invest enough to have over 190K in stocks and mutual funds and have a home worth about 350K that I owe less than 72K. I also paid for two more years of college in a private school and passed the CPA exam on the first try.
The only job I have had that could be called money management was for a major insurance company were I managed millions of dollars. I manage a couple of million now but not invest it we need to keep it liquid I sometimes have to spend a half million or more in a day. I started working in accounting firms in 1974.
It may seem like I did a bad job but I just got a late start because of a divorce where he got everything.

I appreciate the people who have given me good ideas and the insurance information but some posters here seem a little mean.

 

[haha]

I appreciate the people who have given me good ideas and the insurance information but some posters here seem a little mean.

You are right; I am being a Grinch. Sorry, and Merry Christmas.

Ha

 

[Mr._johngalt]

Easy JPatrick.  I think JG was referring to the system the Redskins used back in the 80's when they were coached by Joe Gibbs and winning Superbowls.

I saw an old tape the other day showing Billy Kilmer. Remember him?
"Wobble and Win" with Billy. And prior to that was Sonny Jurgenson.
Big old beer gut but he could throw it a mile. He had a "buggy whip arm". Doubt those guys could play today. They didn't put in the time getting in shape like they do now.

JG

 

[Lazarus]

If you sold your house and combined the equity with your stock savings you would have about $450K at 4% SWR you would have $18K per year. Probably a little tight. It might be possible though if you find a cheap enough place to live. Small houses in the Midwest can often be bought for under $50K. $1500 a month is not a lot but It could work in the right place. Perhaps take a part time job. An extra $1000 a month would make a big difference. And social security is only five years away.

 

[old woman]

If you sold your house and combined the equity with your stock savings you would have about $450K at 4% SWR you would have $18K per year. Probably a little tight. It might be possible though if you find a cheap enough place to live. Small houses in the Midwest can often be bought for under $50K. $1500 a month is not a lot but It could work in the right place. Perhaps take a part time job. An extra $1000 a month would make a big difference. And social security is only five years away.

I have considered that but I don't like the midwest and my family is here. My roommate pays me $165 a week so that helps keep my cost of housing down. I might be able to stay in my current house and retire off my investments or move nearby so I don't have to go so far away. If I worked part time for say 10K a year I would be fine but not able to get ahead. I have considered moving to Forks, WA you can get houses as low as 25K or something decent for 200K. I have also considered having some mobile home spaces for rent on my land. With mobiles the owners would have all the maint and utilities issues I would just collect rents.

 

[Brat]

I have also considered having some mobile home spaces for rent on my land. With mobiles the owners would have all the maint and utilities issues I would just collect rents.

Not a bad idea if you can do that under your zoning and are familiar with mobile home park laws. Be sure to check on water and sewer/septic issues as well. It is more difficult to evict a mobile home than a SFD tennant.

 

[jug]

I like talking to people and helping people and would love to be a finacial planner but so many are ripping people off I would be embarrised to be one. I want to help poor people that are trying to recover financially.

Then this is your calling and is something you would be very happy with. I have a friend who also likes to speak with people, he is retired, but also an accountant and is very soothing to speak with.

He keeps picking up accounts both people in business who cant seem to get their acts together and poor people who just need a helping hand. I see now what he does, he collects pay from those in business who he helps out, which in turn subsidizes his ability to help those not able to afford financial advice.

I believe this may be what you want to do, and I suggest you get out there and meet as many people as possible, and keep in in a blend, some rich, some poor and just talk to them about their problems, not yours, and you will see just by listening to them, they will consider you the best conversationalist they ever met.

Most people are very insecure in their decisions, hence we have this board to give each other some courage and to validate our own RE decisions.

I believe this is true to the general population, since if you have a certain talent, by connecting and "listening to" them, you will be able to offer your knowledge and guidance. This I believe is the key to developing any type of service business, whether it be finance, insurance, banking, whatever, people love to be validated and made to feel secure.

You have answered your own question, get out there and mingle, it will come.
jug

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

JPatrick,

You might be 1/16 Cherokee or 1/32 but 1/20 is hard to do. Reminds me of when Farrah Fawcett claimed to be 1/3 Iranian (or some such).

old woman,

I 'live' in WA, too. It is a great place to live--if you can afford it. Your COBRA health insurance cost sounds very reasonable to me. My wife would have to go into The Pool and it would/will cost her more than twice that. Count your blessings.

My parents ended up in a retirement home. As I recall, there were people who did come to help with people's taxes, etc. You might look for some kind of advocacy group to join. Give talks at luncheons (get a free meal, too).

I have the feeling that buying real estate in retirement is a trap. Beware.

Also, do look for opportunities to reduce your costs. Give Forks a try. See if you can figure out how to do without a car, but remember that rent-a-car companies won't rent to people over 70 (for future reference).

I think there are a lot of people in your situation but not as smart or as well off. I didn't wise up until too late, myself.

Ed

 

[Sheryl]

...but remember that rent-a-car companies won't rent to people over 70 (for future reference).

Ed

Hmm.  I don't think that's a hard-and-fast rule.  My dad's 78 and rents a car a couple times a year when he travels. 

 

[haha]

Also, do look for opportunities to reduce your costs.  Give Forks a try.  See if you can figure out how to do without a car, but remember that rent-a-car companies won't rent to people over 70 (for future reference).

Speaking as one who has actually lived in Forks, start in September, and consider holding off on any RE purchase until you have spent at least one winter there. Great place for hunter/fisherfolk who don't mind rain- I mean way more rain than people who live in Puget Sound can even conceive- but kind of grim otherwise.

Ha

 

[Sheryl]

I've been to Forks a few times. As a retirement locale, it would only work for a certain type of person that I'm not.

 

[yakers]

Hmm.  I don't think that's a hard-and-fast rule.  My dad's 78 and rents a car a couple times a year when he travels. 

Hey, is this true in any way? Is there any age that a car company can refuse to rent if you have a license? The boomers who are big in numbers and financial resources seem like too big a market to just cut off.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

HaHa,

It is astounding that we have someone on the board that even knows where Forks is, and here we have a former resident. The mind boggles. (Now, does anyone know where Drain is?)

I was going to note that Forks is more than a little damp--make that soggy. You can drown crossing the street. I figured that OW probably knew the territory, though.

It is drier on the east side of the Cascades, but it is further from the ocean. I have not researched it, but I am pretty sure one can find cheaper digs on the "east side". Work? Don't know.

There is an interesting article on the front page of today's Seattle Post Intelligencer. "Over 70 and caught in the retirement trap--Many women must work on". It is chilling.

Ed

 

[Martha]

Hey, is this true in any way? Is there any age that a car company can refuse to rent if you have a license? The boomers who are big in numbers and financial resources seem like too big a market to just cut off.

Sounds like age discrimination to me.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

It is astounding that we have someone on the board that even knows where Forks is, and here we have a former resident. The mind boggles. (Now, does anyone know where Drain is?)

I was going to note that Forks is more than a little damp--make that soggy. You can drown crossing the street. I figured that OW probably knew the territory, though.

It is drier on the east side of the Cascades, but it is further from the ocean. I have not researched it, but I am pretty sure one can find cheaper digs on the "east side". Work? Don't know.

It is also much drier just around the corner on the NE side of the peninsula. The Olympic Mtns rain shadow
centers in Sequim, where there is only 16" annual rainfall (dryest coast north of Los Angeles), compared
to 114" in Forks. The Port Angeles / Sequim / Port Townsend strip is currently the most likely spot for
my retirement. Other possibles are Ellensburg, in central Washington with only 8" rain in the Cascade
rain shadow, or Goldendale.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Cyclinginvestor,

I know Sequim, but it ain't cheap any more. We know people who retired there and moved back because they couldn't find enough to do there. Can't generalize from that, though. One has to be able to entertain oneself.

Ellensburg and Goldendale were closer to what I had in mind.

Ed

 

[Nords]

Sounds like age discrimination to me.

You bet it is. Try renting a car if you're younger than 25, same result.