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bearishgurl
Participant[quote=EconProf]Actually, BG, I think his location was in the Bay Area.
Reading his blog, he seems to be peeved at people nit-picking his lifestyle and choices, and challenging his ideas. But he certainly does not advocate this for everyone. He simply claims that we could all do with a lot less status-seeking consumption if we chose to. And I like how he rips advertisers for shaping our values and habits.
The fact is that capitalism has delivered vastly higher living standards for everyone–rich and poor–in the past two generations. A growth rate of GNP per capita of 3% per year means a doubling in 24 years, and 3% was about our average from the 50’s through 2005. In the 1950’s, houses were far smaller, two-car garages were rare, houses had one black-and-white TV, (but not till the mid-fifties), and cars were clunkers that lasted about 100k miles. This is why he suggests if you want to know what you have to change in your life to live on $7000 per year today, ask your grandparents what they did in the 1950’s and 1940’s.[/quote]EconProf, I was taught never to borrow for a vehicle and that, if new, they depreciate a minimum of $3K upon driving them off the dealer’s lot. I was urged to let someone else take the “new-vehicle depreciation hit.” After the “Certified Used” programs came out, I was taught to only buy a vehicle which was too old to qualify for the program because those (Cert Used) vehicles ALSO typically sell for a minimum of $3K over (Private Party) blue book (apparently not in 2011, though, lol). That $3K+ just goes into the salespersons’ pockets.
I’d be happy today to retire in a mid-century house, even if nothing was done to it. I definitely would want two bathrooms, though and many of them only have one. Unfortunately, they’re not $4K – $12K anymore (like they were *new*)! I could live with one TV or even no TV (as long as I had broadband internet svc) and I don’t mind driving a vehicle until it dies. My grandparents killed their own chickens, pigs and cattle for dinner, lol, and grew their own produce and canned it. I actually believe that it is cheaper today to buy food than it costs to grow it and water and feed it/fertilize it, not to mention all the work that this entails (plus processing/canning). Of course, with a well on the property, it might be cheaper to grow food but you would have to spend time at produce stands getting rid of the excess because it is perishable.
Except for my well-appointed home office, I’m really not that into new gadgets and don’t use some of the electronics I have to the degree that I thought I would. My cell phone is six years old and has voice only plus doubles as my mp3 player. I have a HUGE walk-in closet full of clothes which were mostly given to me by others as I wear a perfect size off the rack. Most still had tags hanging from them when I got them. I could wear a different suit every day for a month!
My food and household items cost about $160 – $200 month (yes, even on holiday months).
I need nor want for nothing and could “retire” frugally in the right house and location and be perfectly happy as long as I could hit the road on occasion :=]
Participanteconprof, I don’t know about living on 7K unless you have your own septic/well/solar, land to grow a sizeable garden, your TV/Internet svc rigged, you buy your own cell phone minutes as needed and never travel.
You example on Early Retirement Extreme was living in apt in Chicago. Not only would I NOT want to live in an apt, I HATE high winds and Chicago has about the worst weather in the nation!
I agree with brian that bartering items and services with friends/relatives/clients, using coupons and shopping deeply-discounted food and other necessities, one can live a life slightly above their means … at ANY age.
Of course no one really knows what the future will bring WRT: future utility rates in urban areas. I think I could retire comfortably on $40K per year and still travel by road whenever I wanted to (that is, if I had no mortgage).
Plane tix, rental cars, restaurants and lodging (though lodging often can’t be avoided) add up quickly and are difficult for a lower-income retiree to afford more than a one-week trip per year. I like to travel multiple times per year and know how to do it on the cheap and also receive comped lodging (thru barter and points accumulation).
Participant[quote=briansd1]I agree UCGal.
I could do veggie garden. And cooking at home. Ive gotten pretty good at making quick simple fresh meals.I think it’s a good idea to payoff the principal residence.
I can’t live in an RV or a mess though. But I could live in a beautiful Spartan mid century or Bauhaus house or apartment….[/quote]
I’m with you on this part, brian… It doesn’t have to be “big,” but I need a “built-on-site” home, preferably a SFR with a backyard.
ParticipantI saw it and thought it sent a message, also. Whether or not it will get people changing their eating habits, I don’t know ….
Participant[quote=CardiffBaseball]Wifey just had a double mastectomy with stage 2 breast cancer.
I hadn’t thought that she was just a leech thanks. Soon Chemo starts up I’ll be sure at that time to let her know she’s a total leech. If only she’d maintained Brian’s lifestyle, she’d be cancer free. Not that every one of her aunt’s had the surgery and her sister died of Ovarian cancer at 42, family history alone makes her an automatic leech in the new progressive thinking world.
Viva la Revolucion!!![/quote]
I’m sorry to hear this, CardiffBaseball. We can’t choose our parents. I myself am close to being the sole survivor of a family of six. We have to deal with the cards we’re dealt in life. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if we have made the effort to keep fit throughout life and didn’t smoke and become addicted to alcohol and/or other substances.
I wish for your spouse full recovery from her treatments and a full remission!
Participant[quote=briansd1]…The funny thing is that people think that more medication is better. Advertising is so pernicious that it convinces people they need expensive medication to feel better. And people do feel like they got something when they get $10/pill “free.”
The truth is that, health wise, you’re better off to change your lifestyle to do without medication.
I don’t feel sorry for those who’s lifestyles induce sickness. They will have it coming to them sooner or later.
But I still feel that the humane thing to do is to have universal baseline health coverage for everyone. In the long run, that will reduce costs for society.[/quote]
brian, this is actually a very good post!
ParticipantWhen I become eligible for Medicare (if it is still around, lol), I will sign up for the Aetna Medicare Supplement to cover parts B & D.
Participant[quote=exsdgal]… What should one do in terms of health insurance? Are there products/insurance to consider?…[/quote]
exsdgal, a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) can be had on the open market for between $250 and $300 mo (for age 50) if you are healthy. The premium DOES go up a little once or twice per year.
I have Aetna Open Access Managed Choice (HDHP PPO).
The one I have is $5000 deductible/$8,000 co-insurance (max out-of-pocket) annually. A network PCP costs $40 per visit and a network specialist is $50 per visit. All lab work, x-rays, scans, special procedures and tests comes out of deductible (out-of-pocket until ded is met). Preventative care is 100% covered, incl one annual well-woman/man exam and one mammography. One colonoscopy (every 10 yrs) is 100% covered. Last year, I rec’d a $400 bone scan which was covered 100% as “preventative care.” I’m sure there are tests for men that could be considered “preventative.” also.
Generic prescriptions are $9, $12, or $15. Brand name prescriptions are $50 – $100. Of course, chemotherapy and other brand-name prescriptions I haven’t used could be MUCH pricier.
You don’t have to choose a PCP. Most of the best physicians in SD are in the Aexcel network. You can see a specialist any time you want. You can also choose a plan which will coordinate with an HSA.
http://healthinsurance.aetna.com/health-plans/aetna-insurance
I’ve been on this plan for almost 8 years. I think these are the best plans for persons who don’t go to the doctor for every little problem and possibly use OTC and homeopathic remedies instead. OTOH, if you become truly sick, you have access to the best doctors in the state!
In March of 2014, a new provision of the HCRA will become law. The way I understand the change is that individual plans will no longer be able to price a plan premium for an individual applicant based upon their underwriting results. They will likely price them by age and sex. I think this will cause the healthy to pick up the slack for the unhealthy (whether by bad luck or their own actions) in the form of raised premiums. No one yet knows how our premiums will be affected because it likely depends on the amount of people that actually sign up for each plan.
Participant[quote=sdrealtor]Just ran some preliminary numbers. Looks like inventory is starting to fall even faster.[/quote]
Duh . . . wonder why? Could all those “baby boomers” think their property is somehow “special” . . . . or perhaps . . . currently “artificially undervalued,” lol :={
Participant[quote=desmond][quote=sdrealtor]That’s the one. We should hit darkness around San Jose and sunrise around Mt Shasta which should be the beginning of the best part of the trip.[/quote]
How was the trip? I just got back from my “spring break” with my daughter, she just got her SCUBA certification so she “dragged” me (and my wallet) down to the Grand Cayman Island for some diving. I had not dove for 20 years, made a ton of mistakes, got beat up physically, but had a great time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEtYva2fJI%5B/quote%5D
NO, you didn’t “miss the boat,” desmond. That blue water in your video brought back a LOT of memories of the Pacific … from “back in the day,” lol. It’s always good to try something we haven’t for awhile to see if we can still do it. At least all your equipment still worked properly and you are here to tell us about it 🙂
Thanks for sharing new and old. Can I hire you to put together some “archive photos” for me for u-tube??
sdr, if you will be looking at a Mt. Shasta sunrise in the window of a train sleepcar, that is better than nothing. I understand you won’t be able to bring your telescope with you and it is your wish to get to Seattle on the train with your kids so have a GREAT time in whatever there is to do up there.
Participant[quote=briansd1]…With health insurance, you have the leeches (those with chronic diseases, cancer, families with kids who use maternity services, etc…) and the golden geese, like me, who never go to the doctor’s.[/quote]
Remember brian, that those with multiple kids who are STILL using maternity services are NOT the same as unlucky individuals with inherited predispositions to cancer and other persons being treated for cancer through no fault of their own.
That’s the REAL purpose of medical coverage, IMHO. It shouldn’t be in place for people to pay $10 visit to see drs multiple times per week or month for hangnails and the common cold or to subsidize the pregnancy and birth of one’s 8th child (although I don’t see a better alternative) :={
Participant[quote=briansd1]…In fact, I have a little pink rash on my face that won’t go away. I don’t want to go see the doctor who will just tell me to use a hydrocortisone cream. Anyway, hope it’s not the beginning stage of chronic exzema that will forever mar my good looks. ;)[/quote]
Try Benadryl cream …
ParticipantHire PARRA to inspect your purchase while in escrow. They’re longtime experts in your areas of choice.
http://parrabuildingconsultants.com/
I agree that condition of foundation (footers) is the most important consideration in these houses. In many cases, the outcome of a structural or soils engineering report should also be listed as a contingency in your offer to purchase.
Participant[quote=flu]… I pay for my health care insurance, both as being a w2 employer who provides my health care, and also by my supplemental insurance policy that I bought and paid for myself, and yes with the high deductibles and the high premiums I pay more for insurance than the insurance companies pays the treatment facilities. But it’s still worthwhile to pay for the insurance because they, as a private entity, negotiated the rates with the hospital and doctors….[/quote]
flu, even though I have a $5K/$8K HDHP and no supplemental policy, I agree that it is still worth it to pay the premiums for the negotiated rates alone.
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