Is Everyone a Multi-Millionaire?

[nash031]

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Originally Posted by haha It is also a straw man made up solely by you. I only objected to your assertion that spending more would make a person need to spend more later to lose the weight. This is obviously false, as one equipped with eyes to see can testify. However, this does not make the statement that you make at all reasonable. For all I know, the world may be full of happy, healthy people who eat nothing but carbohydrate, and no one is disputing this. To my knowledge, one doesn't get into heaven by minimized his expenses. This board is I thought about retiring early, and pleasantly. Don't a person's tastes enter into this somewhere? Perhaps you need to economize severely. I don't know because I don't concern myself with this. But it hardly qualifies as a categorical imperative for others, even other retirees.

Perhaps your targeting is off? Your reply is incoherent with mine, because I agree with you: there's no need to spend more on food to lose weight. Spend more on food if it's what you wish to eat, not because of some label that tells you its more healthful.

[nash031]

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy Nash, I estimate you're spending around $0.0035/calorie which is very impressive. Maybe I do need to start using supplemental powders/etc. Organic fruit is complicated for me. I concede that part of buying organic is to reduce the use of pesticides going into the environment and harming the low-wage folks who work the fields/orchards/whatever. For oranges, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, the organic versions are often noticeably better tasting. Blueberries I cannot tell apart so I buy regular. So I guess I am only partially a concerned citizen

I've seen numerous lists that state that the best foods to buy organically are berries and broccoli/cauliflower. So, your post makes sense. If you buy for the taste, I have no issue with that at all! If you buy to avoid pesticides, it also makes sense for things like blackberries, raspberries, broccoli, and cauliflower, where you consume the entire plant and you can't possibly wash the entire surface.

Just FYI: I use a whey isolate protein powder, but that's it, and that only about 4-5 times per week. Cost is about $0.50 per serving (30g protein), and I usually have it mixed with my breakfast. Otherwise, I take fish oil, but nothing else. No vitamins, no other pills or powders. A lot of them are even bigger wastes of money (IMO) than organic produce!

This thread has officially been hijacked!

[nash031]

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Originally Posted by eta2020 I like to split bottle red wine with DW every evening. I don't know if that makes us alcoholics . But this habit costs 600 bucks a month. Add to it food in dollar range that nash031 mentioned and we are looking at 1300-1400 a month. Add to 5-6 times eating out at 30 bucks for 2 and we have all together 1500 dollars gone. We don't plan to change that after we FIRE.

I didn't include our wine in that food budget. I'd guess $30-60/week from our stock that we venture north to buy once per year. Also didn't include eating out, but our budget for that is much less than it used to be... not sure why, but we don't eat out at expensive places as much as we used to, and it's not really due to our FIRE goals. Just haven't had the taste for it, I guess. We're happy to crack good wine, grill ribeyes, and spend a quiet evening at home!

[Mulligan]

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Originally Posted by sailor I think you are overestimating amount of income taxes at this level of income. Even assuming all $75k is taxable and let's say half in LTCG and half STCG & interest, a couple would only pay $1750 in federal income tax. Your state (Minnesota) would only take another $3300. ( Checked here: 2014 Minnesota Income Tax Calculator - Tax Year 2013 )

The "Living on 75k" term is so vague, common ground can't even be reached with taxes let alone anything else. I was just a smidgen north of 75k on my pension income last year. I paid almost $15000 in income taxes with state and fed included. And I also got a 2k state pension tax credit to boot, and itemized. Then throw in health insurance and mortgage it further slips away from 75k. But I'm not complaining as still don't spend all I recieve and I do live in a low cost area, also.


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[nash031]

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Originally Posted by Mulligan Some of our differences in food are reflected in our attitude toward it. Some consider it like a heat bill. A pain in the wallet and expenses need to be controlled. Some prefer the value in preparing great nutritious meals at home.... And as I have gotten older, I have shifted from the "hurry up and eat so I can enjoy entertainment" to "eating for entertainment". I personally would not want to live retirement in such a manner that I felt I couldn't go out to eat when I wanted to with my GF.

Lots of goodness here!

- You're right about attitudes towards food. I am of the mind that there is no better investment one can make than what they put in their body. That said, part of life is the enjoyment of food, whether fine dining, a home-cooked meal, a Digiorno on Friday night (our weekly habit, even with my mindset!), or a carne asada burrito from a local shack. Food tastes good for a reason.

But in general, I do believe that food is one of those "pay a little more now or pay a lot more later" instances in life. A whole host of health concerns, particularly as we age, can be managed with a nutritious diet (no need for supplements!).

With my luck, I'll get hit by a bus anyway.

- When DW and I do go out for a fine dining experience, we relish it and often take two hours or more. Savor a cocktail, enjoy an appetizer, have wine, and then the meal. We don't feel the need to order everything right away. We usually take our time. After all, in most cases, you're paying for it. The server would love to turn the table over quickly, but they don't mind if you're drinking and leave a good tip. Conversation with my wife, wine, and good food cooked by someone else? Yes, please.

I absolutely plan for the occasional indulgence like that in ER!

[Mulligan]

Nash, I fully agree with you on the "take your time" and enjoy dinner. The menu doesn't even get looked at until the bottle of wine (cheap $25 Riesling) has been drank. I laughed at server comment because I have thought the same. Like you, I try to relieve their angst of keeping the table longer by tipping over the amount. Maybe I should tell them before hand so they can relax, and not worry!


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[Tailgate]

gotta have the wine

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nash031 Perhaps your targeting is off? Your reply is incoherent with mine, because I agree with you: there's no need to spend more on food to lose weight. Spend more on food if it's what you wish to eat, not because of some label that tells you its more healthful.

Yes, I apologize. I conflated something that I thought you said with another post by another poster.

Ha

[splitwdw]

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Originally Posted by Mulligan ......So nutritious to me is shredded wheat with fresh strawberries and walnuts for dinner! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

One of my favorite meals any time of day!

[explanade]

I like pasta too much to give up carbs. Will just have to work it off more.

Often in a given area, the only healthy restaurants, which have their own organic gardens, are often high-end places, where you could spend hundreds for a meal.

Heard though that there is a chain in Southern Cal and San Diego called Burger Lounge with grass-fed beef.

Of course, I recall visiting Buenos Aires several years ago, when the Peso wasn't as devalued as it is now, and you could get steak entrees for under $10, supposedly all grass-fed beef.

[Mulligan]

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Originally Posted by splitwdw One of my favorite meals any time of day!

That is when I accepted the fact I am old, Split, when I started to like eating shredded wheat.


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[Fermion]

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Originally Posted by Mulligan That is when I accepted the fact I am old, Split, when I started to like eating shredded wheat. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am not old until I start eating Grape-Nuts and explaining it to a little kid.

[aja8888]

Honey nut Cheerios with a sliced banana for me!

[splitwdw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulligan That is when I accepted the fact I am old, Split, when I started to like eating shredded wheat. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

OMG, Mulligan, I grew up on shredded wheat, oat meal and yogurt breakfasts. My friends think it's funny that I pack shredded wheat for trips cause you can't get it at the hotels. I eat it cold or hot.

[Mulligan]

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Originally Posted by splitwdw OMG, Mulligan, I grew up on shredded wheat, oat meal and yogurt breakfasts. My friends think it's funny that I pack shredded wheat for trips cause you can't get it at the hotels. I eat it cold or hot.

You were born to eat right, Split! Being single and not much for cooking, I could eat a family size box of Captain Crunch Berrys or Lucky Charms in 2 days. Finally kicked the habit only about 5 years ago. Not being prone to ever gain any weight at all (until the past few years) promoted my "eat anything sweet or pizza" attitude through my early 40s. Now it's time to grow up and eat better.


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[rodi]

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Originally Posted by explanade Heard though that there is a chain in Southern Cal and San Diego called Burger Lounge with grass-fed beef. .

I hadn't heard of them - but looked at them online - great prices. We're in Hillcrest and Kensington often enough to hit those locations, and we're only 10 minutes from the La Jolla shop.

I'll make a point of trying it out in the next few weeks.

[Jackanory]

Ah, I used to love shredded wheat as a child, back in England ... but only soggified with hot milk! My breakfast for the past several years has been steel cut oats with blueberries -- which comports well with my wheat free regimen.

I realized quite some time ago that being a foodie didn't comply with my LBYM leanings, so I've been mostly successful eliminating that tendency. Whatever protein is on sale at Sprouts gets my vote. Finding local happy hours with inexpensive yet nutritious fare, and proper ales, has become ... let's call it a hobby. Dan Diegos FTW!

Oh, since I just turned 'multi' since retiring earlier this year, perhaps I should reassess the foodie thing!

[nash031]

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Originally Posted by rodi I hadn't heard of them - but looked at them online - great prices. We're in Hillcrest and Kensington often enough to hit those locations, and we're only 10 minutes from the La Jolla shop. I'll make a point of trying it out in the next few weeks.

Burger lounge does grass-fed beef! Only problem is, they also fry in peanut oil, so I can't indulge... *sigh*.

[mpeirce]

I get a dozen local farm eggs for $3.00.

A two egg cheese omelet for breakfast is <$1 depending what cheese you add (or other things).

I think we spend more on the coffee than the rest of breakfast.

[Fermion]

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Originally Posted by mpeirce I get a dozen local farm eggs for $3.00. A two egg cheese omelet for breakfast is <$1 depending what cheese you add (or other things). I think we spend more on the coffee than the rest of breakfast.

But were the chickens that laid those eggs given a name? If you don't pay at least $1 an egg, how can you be sure you are getting top quality product?