Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

[DayCruiser]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Im only 34 and the situation is getting worrysome for all. I am a federal employee, and due to ignorance from the top at the highest levels I spent my summer giving up 16 hours of work per pay period which accounted for about 900$ a month. Than got furloughed at the end of that and lost another 900 in two weeks. Happiness is what you make of it, I was stressed out alot, but it worked to my advantage. Being in a supervision position I still had to show up for work everyday so I took off hours at a time instead of days. I got to see my kids off to school everyday and make them breakfast before I went to work, left early and beat them home to make a decent dinner early which allowed for homework and the chores to be done for plenty of afternoon play time. I miss it, and wish there was a happy medium between that and the usual full time schedule. I was short alot of cash, but we found so many ways to have fun for next to nothing. It actually reset my mind into how much money we were wasting as a small family. ( single dad two boys) I do not have any debt except my truck and my house, I only achieved this last year after working hard to pay off CC for things I bought in my early 20's, I can tell you this if you can get to this position you will not miss the "stuff". Its so nice to only have to worry about your household operating costs. On a side note the GF dropping marriage hints is alot more stressful than finances!!!!! any ideas for derailment of this train?

Point out the high divorce rate. Why ruin a good thing sweetie?

 

[canoemang]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Ive been self employed for 8 years, You get used to some stress in my line of work but it comes and goes in surges. After awhile you get accustom to it, a certain amount of stress is what drives most people to succeed..

So make the best of what you have and dont try to "keep up with the Joneses" or over spend what you dont have.

Be comfortable and enjoy the life you have created with friends and family who love you!!!!

 

[avenger79]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Insurance can be shopped and brought down in competitive times generally. My prop tax has gone up every year for 10 years yet the taxable value has gone down at about 5 of those years. Plus I'm guessing the OP's income isn't going up as fast as everything else is. That is stressful.

that's the beauty of it. I didn't shop anything down. agent called and told me it was dropping, not a great deal mind you but hey, I'll take any little bit. been with him 20 years though, no one can come close to the rate he gives me so aint leaving anytime soon. (and I have had two totals in the last 7 years)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Put together a budget and then you will know where all your money goes and can get rid of what you don't really need. A lot less stressful when you now have control of the money and not let the money control you.

Don't keep balances on credit cards.
Don't buy new cars.
Don't buy new boats and never ever take a loan on them.
Make sure you have 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Put at least 15% toward retirement.

Corporate greed is a term created/used by a bunch of people that don't do anything for themselves and just complain. Don't become one of those people.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

that's the beauty of it. I didn't shop anything down. agent called and told me it was dropping, not a great deal mind you but hey, I'll take any little bit. been with him 20 years though, no one can come close to the rate he gives me so aint leaving anytime soon. (and I have had two totals in the last 7 years)

Yeah...I did mean property and casualty insurance not health insurance as per the response above. I wasn't clear. I just got an unsolicited quote that will save me $700 on my primary homeowners insurance. I need to get on that. I'm paying about 3k now for a $2500 deductible policy so $700 is meaningful.

Health insurance now is going to be a whole other world with PPACA. Catastrophic plans for those under 40 don't meet the minimum coverage requirements and you will be taxed if you also don't have an approved plan.

 

[bigriver79]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Put together a budget and then you will know where all your money goes and can get rid of what you don't really need. A lot less stressful when you now have control of the money and not let the money control you.

Don't keep balances on credit cards.
Don't buy new cars.
Don't buy new boats and never ever take a loan on them.
Make sure you have 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Put at least 15% toward retirement.

Corporate greed is a term created/used by a bunch of people that don't do anything for themselves and just complain. Don't become one of those people.

Good advice from the left coast. I do the same. The problem is the stress (at least for me) comes from not being able to save as much with a stagnant income (fed) and costs going up. It's not the end of the world but for a very conservative person it is aggrivating.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Corporate greed is a term created/used by a bunch of people that don't do anything for themselves and just complain. Don't become one of those people.

Agree.......I grew up with the understanding that you went into business to make money and it was an accomplishment to become a successful business man. Not sure when making money became greed and being a successful was shameful.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Im only 34 and the situation is getting worrysome for all. I am a federal employee, and due to ignorance from the top at the highest levels I spent my summer giving up 16 hours of work per pay period which accounted for about 900$ a month. Than got furloughed at the end of that and lost another 900 in two weeks. Happiness is what you make of it, I was stressed out alot, but it worked to my advantage. Being in a supervision position I still had to show up for work everyday so I took off hours at a time instead of days. I got to see my kids off to school everyday and make them breakfast before I went to work, left early and beat them home to make a decent dinner early which allowed for homework and the chores to be done for plenty of afternoon play time. I miss it, and wish there was a happy medium between that and the usual full time schedule. I was short alot of cash, but we found so many ways to have fun for next to nothing. It actually reset my mind into how much money we were wasting as a small family. ( single dad two boys) I do not have any debt except my truck and my house, I only achieved this last year after working hard to pay off CC for things I bought in my early 20's, I can tell you this if you can get to this position you will not miss the "stuff". Its so nice to only have to worry about your household operating costs. On a side note the GF dropping marriage hints is alot more stressful than finances!!!!! any ideas for derailment of this train?

Yeah, get a new one. LOL They exit really fast.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Agree.......I grew up with the understanding that you went into business to make money and it was an accomplishment to become a successful business man. Not sure when making money became greed and being a successful was shameful.

About 5 years ago or so. The whole greed thing baffles me as well. Are we supposed to just sit on our hands and watch life pass us by? You get maybe 85 years, why would a person not want to make the most of it? I define greed differently but can not discuss here.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Put together a budget and then you will know where all your money goes and can get rid of what you don't really need. A lot less stressful when you now have control of the money and not let the money control you.

Don't keep balances on credit cards.
Don't buy new cars.
Don't buy new boats and never ever take a loan on them.
Make sure you have 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Put at least 15% toward retirement.

Corporate greed is a term created/used by a bunch of people that don't do anything for themselves and just complain. Don't become one of those people.

Or just live within your means. Someone has to buy the new cars and boats, otherwise you've got nobody to buy them from

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

I tend to ignore status symbols and I live my life well below what society suggest's I should. I try to live in a cash world, and never, ever carry monthly debt except my mortgage. I carry 6-12 months living expenses in the bank and never, ever use it. I refuse to watch the news on TV, and radio too because none of it's even remotely true. It clutters my mind, and I don't believe anything that is "reported". Media both TV and printed are nothing but shock entertainment and very bias. All those items just add to the stress we all could be exposed too. I avoid complicated living, and am quite happy living simple, and conservatively. Seems to help me.


That's a good start to easier mental living, I cant control everything, but I do as good a job as I can. And in the end if that isn't good enough, too bad.

Trying to live beyond your ability, is a stress I don't care to own.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

QUOTE=greenbush future;4420908]I tend to ignore status symbols and I live my life well below what society suggest's I should.
.[/QUOTE]

Says the guy with the twin engine boat.

 

[mccoytr]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Stressed here also. We cope buying our veggies in lump volume from local farmers. Its amazing how great frozen fresh produce can taste in the dead of winter. I think we have put up like 35 pints of corn and many pints and quarts of peas and beans. Yes a little bit of work but sure helps the wallet and I know what I am eating and where it came from. As for meet well its hamburger, and chicken. Since I am local to the coast I get my own fish , I usually buy my shrimp with the heads on which saves a ton of money. Sometimes I can trade some fish for shrimp and stuff.

But I would say most money is saved through freezing and canning my veggies.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Yeah...I did mean property and casualty insurance not health insurance as per the response above. I wasn't clear. I just got an unsolicited quote that will save me $700 on my primary homeowners insurance. I need to get on that. I'm paying about 3k now for a $2500 deductible policy so $700 is meaningful.

Health insurance now is going to be a whole other world with PPACA. Catastrophic plans for those under 40 don't meet the minimum coverage requirements and you will be taxed if you also don't have an approved plan.

Holy smoke mn must be spendy. My homeowner's is just over 700 a year, not for a grand property mind you but still..........

the other one I was talking about was my auto, now days it's just over 200 every 6 months. full coverage, low deductible.

I know when I went to FL their rates amazed me!!! my auto ins would have gone up 5X.

 

[12vMan]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Put together a budget and then you will know where all your money goes and can get rid of what you don't really need. A lot less stressful when you now have control of the money and not let the money control you.

Don't keep balances on credit cards.
Don't buy new cars.
Don't buy new boats and never ever take a loan on them.
Make sure you have 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Put at least 15% toward retirement.

Corporate greed is a term created/used by a bunch of people that don't do anything for themselves and just complain. Don't become one of those people.

I agree, but man, that would eliminate 3/4 of the boating community! wait...maybe that's a good thing..

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

About 5 years ago or so. The whole greed thing baffles me as well. Are we supposed to just sit on our hands and watch life pass us by? You get maybe 85 years, why would a person not want to make the most of it? I define greed differently but can not discuss here.

Some greed is good. I run a business and I want to make as much money as possible. But I won't take advantage of people to get to where I want to be. I won't gouge people with my pricing. I am talking hyper greed here. I have to keep my prices in line with the competition. I use Duke energy and AT&T as examples but there are many more of hyper greed. There are also many examples of Corporations just trying to make a decent profit and keep up with inflation by passing along price increase. But for Duke to buy out another energy company for OVER a Billion$$ and then ask for another rate increase. Now that is an example of hyper greed. If you want electricity than you have to go with Duke in many cases

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Holy smoke mn must be spendy. My homeowner's is just over 700 a year, not for a grand property mind you but still..........

the other one I was talking about was my auto, now days it's just over 200 every 6 months. full coverage, low deductible.

I know when I went to FL their rates amazed me!!! my auto ins would have gone up 5X.

I honestly don't know if that is spendy our not relative to other similar states. My lake home is only a few hundred less for the same deductible. Florida of course it in it's own world for property coverage costs. My wife had two at fault accidents and I think a ticket as well so shopping our auto is not fun.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

I agree, but man, that would eliminate 3/4 of the boating community! wait...maybe that's a good thing..

There will always be the people that buy the new boats and have to have the new boat smell. I will let those suckers take the depreciation hit.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Some greed is good. I run a business and I want to make as much money as possible. But I won't take advantage of people to get to where I want to be. I won't gouge people with my pricing. I am talking hyper greed here. I have to keep my prices in line with the competition. I use Duke energy and AT&T as examples but there are many more of hyper greed. There are also many examples of Corporations just trying to make a decent profit and keep up with inflation by passing along price increase. But for Duke to buy out another energy company for OVER a Billion$$ and then ask for another rate increase. Now that is an example of hyper greed. If you want electricity than you have to go with Duke in many cases

Well I suppose people will simply go to your competitors as the market does it's job unless you are worth your price. What is hyper greed? Is it Microsoft, google, or Apple with their massive profit margins for products people still line up to buy or is it a much smaller margin earned by a monopoly type company like in your Duke example. The Gas and Electric companies here bother me a bit as well given we don't have a choice. The gas company put in place a tiered pricing structure last year whereby if you have a larger family/use more gas you pay more per therm as you use more therms. That got me mad and ultimately was challenged in court and the gas company lost. Equivalent to that is the idea that the gas company charges us a fee to recoup the lost gas sales due to higher efficiency windows, furnaces, etc. Beyond that is the fee that they charge us to provide gas assistance (forced charity) to gas recipients which is in addition to the fee charged for the heat share program that also provides gas assistance.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Anyone as Stessed Out as I am??

Bruce and others have made some great comments here. As with any budget, or plan, it has to be flexible to some degree and fit the needs/personality of the owner, or it will cause stress.

As for Corporate greed, agree that is a term made to demonize any business ... including the small business owner. So be careful or you will be pointing fingers back at yourself! There is a thing called supply and demand. If people aren't buying, or can't afford, then the business has to lower the prices, close down, or change business models. That only gets interfered with when outside pressures provide incentives or artificially inflate demand. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

As for stressing, nope, not really. Doing a lot of work in 3rd world countries helps you realize that if we stressed less about material things and concentrated more on others, we would be a lot happier. For me, I have an income well below the poverty level of this country. However, I am VERY rich. I have health, I have a great family, I have a lot of love and forgiveness in my life, I have no debt, and I need NOTHING. Oh, I have wants, but they can happen or not, they do not determine my happiness.