zk, do you own any real estate? If so, what are your reasons for holding on?

deadzone and carlsbadliving, I completely agree. This was the easiest money I’ve ever made. I felt guilty for selling my house to the young couple who bought it. My husband and I doubled the money we’d scrimped and saved at $500/month for 20 years, in one fell swoop. We earned a half lifetime of scrimping and saving in that one deal.

And for those who are saving $2k/month, you don’t have kids yet. Just their activities are $900 – $1200/month. I am thrilled to blow my money on those little darlings though. You should have heard my son play his sax at that SD Youth Wind Ensemble downtown last week, and my daugther sing and dance. My 9 year old plays Chopin. Add tutoring, rec sports, instrument rental, music lessons, preschool…And clothes, additional airline tickets, more driving, toys/books/games… All worth it, I say.

So if you don’t have any kids yet, keep saving, because it gets harder once you’ve got kids and activities and a wife who stays home. All you men out there, please see the value in a woman who keeps a house humming and sees after you and the children. Don’t ask your wife to work outside the home. A woman with children should spend most of her time looking after her family, or else, why bother having kids? She should clean her own house, not hire a maid to do so. Housekeeping and child rearing are jobs that shouldn’t be outsourced. Off-topic, but I couldn’t resist making a pitch for babies who can fall asleep nursing in their mommy’s arms.