Finances vol: How to keep that VIP car paid for

After being sparked by koukimonster/vipanda and his wisdom in money management, I decided to make a thread pertaining to all things money. If you read an article, book, have a question/answer....this is the place. 

I myself am going through and changing my spending habits to pay down/off my cc, plus learning about investing so I have a cushion in the future.

This most likely wouldnt be here without the aid of alcohol, so a cheers courtesy KoukiMonster 

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/DrifterXL01/Picture003-3.jpg[/IMG]

This guy really did make a thread!! :innoutrofl2:

[url]http://www.firmmagazine.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142:jay-z-50-cent-net-worth-a-you&catid=35:investments&Itemid=55[/url]

mycomeup.com is a good one too for inspiration.

Drink root beer!!

[youtube]mtM7hu5ZTLk[/youtube]

take it for what it is worth, but inspiring.

Hater Check list
[IMG]http://badcopnodonuts.com/wp-content/uploads/9e6987f5c0c3fd58435f261944b71280d14c0746_m.jpg[/IMG]

[URL="http://badcopnodonuts.com/2011/09/05/shes-paid-in-full/"]http://badcopnodonuts.com/2011/09/05/shes-paid-in-full/[/URL]

It's really not about how much money you make (to a point) as much as your spending habits and self control.  
 
Being young and in the car scene is difficult if you're not financially stable.  There's a lot of pressure to keep up w/ the Joneses and get your fix in car modding.  Getting a credit card and maxxing it out or using financial aid money is all too easy (and something I've done in the past).  Now that I've graduated college, secured a well paying job, and gotten out of debt, I can reflect back on my mistakes.
 
Setting up a monthly budget will allow you to spend every dollar on paper before the month begins.  Savings, mortgage, insurance, debt obligations, food, clothing, etc...  Once you have everything written down, it's easy to see how much money you have to play with (if any).

[QUOTE=waijai;425174]It's really not about how much money you make (to a point) as much as your spending habits and self control. 
 
Being young and in the car scene is difficult if you're not financially stable. There's a lot of pressure to keep up w/ the Joneses and get your fix in car modding. Getting a credit card and maxxing it out or using financial aid money is all too easy (and something I've done in the past). Now that I've graduated college, secured a well paying job, and gotten out of debt, I can reflect back on my mistakes.
 
Setting up a monthly budget will allow you to spend every dollar on paper before the month begins. Savings, mortgage, insurance, debt obligations, food, clothing, etc... Once you have everything written down, it's easy to see how much money you have to play with (if any).[/QUOTE]
 
TRUTH

LOL Doback I can't believe you made a thread about this ahahaha. Watch VSC is going to become the next Multi-Millionaire forum ahaha

Might as well be all these high end cars and builds should reflect more of how much wealth the owner has. Since it is after all called VIP. But its okay to have VIP style as well as millionaire style lol

definitely. Live the baller status. Don't fake the funk!

Mr.D reading mind across the globe haha... I was thinking about making this thread the previous day, but the beer ran out so had to go to bed. Weird  :smiley-rofl:

Shit I'm just exploiting people and their weakness', and don't even get paid properly. I need to get a grip and end my year off (7th about to star) and go get my MBA. Can't make enough dough in the family business (junior manager at the moment).
3g's a month (-income tax 30% etc.) doesn't cut it when all you get is spat on, down talking, attacked with knives, death threats and the usual trash talk... and that's just the lovely customers. Gotta deal with the rest of the shit that comes with "running" a bar as well =)

I got my shit straight after selling all my cars with loans, and just paying cash for cars.
 
Sure, they aren't nearly as new or as nice arguably, but now I save hundreds of dollars a month on car payments and insurance.  I can use that money towards savings and mods.
 
Also just bought a house, with a cheaper mortgage per month than my current rent...with a 15yr loan.
 
My next goal is to have the house paid for in 5yrs.  Then I will live the truly debt free life.
 
Also don't eat out all day every day like I used to...not only was I getting fat and unhealthy, but the amount spent even on McDs and bullshit like that adds up ten fold.
 
Your pocketbook will thank you bringing in food to work and eating out and drinking with friends at a minimum, and so will the waistband

Juzzo - great minds think alike, when influenced with alcohol.:smiley-rofl:

Nice to see that other have an interest or learned from their past. Like I said in the original post, I have to fix my ways. Probably the toughest part was understanding the source, which was wanting to party and go out all the time. Not only was it financially irresponsible, it affected my school work. 

I will say it helps having a consistent paycheck, retail made it hard to budget with inconsistent hours. Now I'm looking to build up some savings while paying down cc.

Also, avoid tickets at all costs! That has killed me!

[IMG]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376117_10150382539943693_568193692_8659605_1710193417_n.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393724_10150382541493693_568193692_8659607_1258962929_n.jpg[/IMG]
Got 99 problems and the 1percent aint one.

Nice thread....
This is a main factor of me not reenlisting in the army, I feel that the military in general settles you in that lifestyle by taking care of your basic needs (guarenteed checks on the 1st/15th, housing, health care etc...) I don't regret joining but I know there is much more out there in life, possibilities, and options. Also I believe theres a better path in life for me to take as I am growing both in age and in maturity/wisdom than just being a grunt lol:pat:

I can dig that second photo....
 
Sometimes it's good to step back, and realize how nice it is to spend hours a day, and thousands of dollars on figuring out wheels and tires for our cars....1st world problems huh?
 
MOST people have zero'd out bank accounts or worse, and can barely feed their families.

But the 1% of us that belong in the 8% have big problems as well, I know(or knew) a few millionaires who are just digging their selves an early grave, money so much that don't need to work so they drink(drank) them self to death by 40-50. And take a couple friend with them as well :shrug:

I'm lucky I only have enough money to have the need to work so I can't drink(etc.) myself to death. I would do that if I had the chance =)

Introspective analogy of the year !!


[IMG]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376117_10150382539943693_568193692_8659605_1710193417_n.jpg[/IMG]

Plane and simple .. if you dont have the cash dont buy the parts/ car ! :biggthumpup:
 
Got my Y34 waited 2 years after it came out before it came home with me before that i was a ricer lol

Has anyone ever bothered to ask themselves the question's what is money? where does it get its value? who makes it? how much of it exists? why do we need money?

Something to think about.............
Oh, if your attention span is less than 47min dont bother watching

[url]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2550156453790090544[/url]

Funny you mention that spermbomb, I'm signed up for a course called money and banking that answers those questions. Once I'm home, I'm going to check that video out :biggthumpup:

Once you don't see money as a face value but more as a tool you will use those tools to get you the things in life you desire

[QUOTE=Kouki Monster;425338]Once you don't see money as a face value but more as a tool you will use those tools to get you the things in life you desire[/QUOTE]
YOU'RE A TOOL! <3

we should go back to cash and bartering...  the more and more people start to use debit cards and credit cards the more it scares me.    If that happens many people wouldn't have been in debt.   I blame the card for alot of things.

However I do use it out of convenience....but again because of this convenience I tend to spend more on things I really don't need.   

I NEVER use debit card ever.....  that is a direct line to your cash.   If that card or number get stolen its game over.   It'll take you months to get the cash back into your bank.

When the bank teller asks how would you like your money?  Get big bills.  You are not as likely to break a $50 or $100 for a candy bar.

Get what you need and thats it.  When in the grocery store or shopping, resist sales on things you didnt go in there for (unless you will eventually need it and its not perishable) 


When building a car, plan it out on paper.  List how much everything costs.  Give each item a value of importance of what you are going for.  Wheels may be a 10, suspension a 10, tail lights a 6, fusa or other misc stuff a 1.  When you do this, you think twice before you buy.  Place a star next to it if it is dependent on another mod (like tires are dependent on wheels and body work is dependent on both as well as suspension)

[QUOTE=Blitz;425346]we should go back to cash and bartering...  the more and more people start to use debit cards and credit cards the more it scares me.    If that happens many people wouldn't have been in debt.   I blame the card for alot of things.

However I do use it out of convenience....but again because of this convenience I tend to spend more on things I really don't need.[/QUOTE]

Bartering ftw, we like to use it within our local car community. So much more efficient than cash =)

But gotta say that credit cards are the work of devil, it's just too easy to over spend. I for example took 2 week long boozer trips this year because I had my cc with me. First I started drinking with cash for the first few days all around Finland, then I was off to the airport to step things up and to go check out the bars in Italy. I was so fucked up that didn't even realize to book a hotel. Prior to going to the airport I exhaled 0.24% and felt like I was sober :smiley-rofl:

[QUOTE=widebody_Q;425351]

When building a car, plan it out on paper.  List how much everything costs.  Give each item a value of importance of what you are going for.  Wheels may be a 10, suspension a 10, tail lights a 6, fusa or other misc stuff a 1.  When you do this, you think twice before you buy.  Place a star next to it if it is dependent on another mod (like tires are dependent on wheels and body work is dependent on both as well as suspension)[/QUOTE]


Its funny bcuz ive been doing this same exact thing with every car i build, u'd be surprise how much of the items on that list wont be purchase, or that u'll reconsider after a few months after saving up to get the items that are most important, then i get the thinking like man if i really had the money and didnt have to save or budget, i'd blow alot of money on things that wasnt neccessary or didnt need or dnt like anymore :shrug: sometimes it sucks bcuz things u have written down or have plan to do but cant right away, bcuz of slow money, someone else might end up doing that same mod, forcing u to re-evaluate and get more creative....

Lil wayne said it best; when asked where do you see your self in ten years? “I don't—that's stupid. If anyone sees themselves in ten years, they're lying to themselves first, so you know they're lying to you.”

And it is true, so much stuff changes in one year let alone a day or an hour.. I look back ten years ago and i thought I knew where i would be and it is no where even close. I remember even seeing cars I thought I would never own, and ended up in my life.. and one day i realized holy shit! i took pics of this car with my shitty camera not even thinking one day i would own it.

[QUOTE=Kouki Monster;425406]Lil wayne said it best; when asked where do you see your self in ten years? “I don't—that's stupid. If anyone sees themselves in ten years, they're lying to themselves first, so you know they're lying to you.”

And it is true, so much stuff changes in one year let alone a day or an hour.. I look back ten years ago and i thought I knew where i would be and it is no where even close. I remember even seeing cars I thought I would never own, and ended up in my life.. and one day i realized holy shit! i took pics of this car with my shitty camera not even thinking one day i would own it.[/QUOTE]

I agree to an extent.  I think the point of seeing yourself in 1/5/10 years is to plan goals for yourself.  I know so many people who have no idea what they're striving for in life.  They just live day by day and are content with what they have.  They live paycheck to paycheck and worry about what bar they'll go to on the weekend.  It's like their life is stuck on repeat mode.

Personally, I like to set goals, achieve them, surpass them, and continue growing in my success and intelligence.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years is more hypothetical to what goals you are aiming to accomplish within the next few years. Nothing wrong with having goals, of course you set yourself up for disappointment when you see you didn’t quite accomplish what you intended but it beats walking life blind with no clue as to which direction you want to head in.  Lil wayne was probably too high to understand the question.  I don’t see why anyone would ever quote anything he says lol.

I'll probably be living in my car 10 years from now lol - I made the effort to make it an all cash build and when credit was used it was for mileage but cash was on hand. If I did it all again with all the people I know now and some DIY. I could do it on half the budget. Life is about living. Home 1st and at least a 10 grand cushion. Happy wife = happy life.

I say no wife then you have a life. I don't like justifying where I go what I do where I save what I spend. And I realize there is always better out there so why settle. That's fine if anyone else does. But you take on their emotional problems or things come out years later, and you marry her you get the whole family. If you are going to progress she has to be too. Other wise you will be held down. And classes don't mix ever so if you ballin and she ain't her family and friends will try and use you if she doesn't. So I say no wives they are big of a financial risk. And if she says no to prenuptial you don't want to marry her

^good 1 but I guess I lucked up cause wifey backs me no matter what I want to do or want but b4 her I had 4 bedroom house paid for and so on.

Yeah it's the trick for sure. They want someone with success. But does the money attract the woman or is it you. Where the success and money manipulates their mind and make them want you where if you were not that she probably would have nothing to do with you. I see it a lot they learn to accept cause this fat boy get what ever she wants I want, want to drive and muscles o ly go so far. Spending all day at the gym to look good so yo can pick up hotter woman won't get you a lambo lol. I have had more girls that are model type payin attention to me than their boyfriend. And often the dude gets all mad. I always say why be so insecure?? Your the one that's better lookin hahah

lol her family owns a jewlery store so she has he own $ and i have mine but we just work things out so i cant complain.

this is a good thread .. since the addittion of my 2GS3 .. i have actually made a mistake .. i sould have just gotten a UCF 40 .. is what i want .. after all i can only live on sardines and bread for so long lol

Wifey is good to me. I have no complaints but the household has to come 1st.  She knows I want to get things done to the car and I know the things she wants for herself. It's a happy median. She wants a birkin bag.  I probably have 3 birkin bags on the car. Lol. I used to be able to hold her off with Louis v. And then Chanel was the new thing.  Now she trying to cut me at the waist for a birkin bag.  She knows she will never get a birkin bag. Lol. She loves my car just as much as I do even though Ill never let her drive it. It's give and take and she definitely did not get with me for money.  It's my charming good looks.  Lol.

If girl stuff can sell as well as our stuff (car parts) on the used market then I'm all for it.

it can. for sure!

I have a few things left if you want to spoil your womenz

bringing this back since its been dead for a while, and a previous thread of mine sparked it. So i am posting the same video here

[youtube]cJD8pZiRIzs[/youtube]

I agree on the no wife have a life thing. Just some people are better off without a wife, like myself.

wife makes this game better. my build may be going slow right now but its been planned so perfect because we practice practicality. i have 2 daughters and saving for our 1st home all while being able to afford high end parts for the gs. you need someone to bring your head out the clouds about instant car modding gratification. these guys that don't have any support except VSC are usually the one's selling off they're rides in the end because they need money or bored of the car/ never finished. invest in life and financial well being and that car will reflect your practices. the parts and upgrades aren't going anywhere but the love of the game and scene will fade without discipline.....

[QUOTE=T's!;433321]wife makes this game better. my build may be going slow right now but its been planned so perfect because we practice practicality. i have 2 daughters and saving for our 1st home all while being able to afford high end parts for the gs. you need someone to bring your head out the clouds about instant car modding gratification. these guys that don't have any support except VSC are usually the one's selling off they're rides in the end because they need money or bored of the car/ never finished. invest in life and financial well being and that car will reflect your practices. the parts and upgrades aren't going anywhere but the love of the game and scene will fade without discipline.....[/QUOTE]

True that...Id rather be driving a broke ass neon and have a dope house then a nice whip living in an apartment or renting a home. there is nothing baller about being vip and living with mom....Its materialistic, a lot of people just think living in the moment is were its at....they don't relizse that when there 50 broke with no retirement cause they never practiced good financial planning so they could have the dopest wheels, the people giving props now will be laughing later when their people greeting at wally world...

I live significantly below my means, like at 30% of what I can, do I care that I could go out and buy a 2012 benz in cash without breaking a sweat yet I drive a Lincoln LS,  not really if I wanted it I would get it, id rather drive my LS its perfect for me and exactly what I want in a car. Im on my second house im waiting to close on thats double the size of the home I live in now and come summer Ill have no problem taking the money I could spend on the benz and rent a house in Newport RI on the water like last summer and the one before that....Its about priority, for me living comfortable and banking mad cash so that i'm set and never looking at my accounts worrying about social security that wont be there.

As far as being married, there's nothing better then sharing the good life with someone.....id take being married and happy then single and partying any day,

So cus you dont get a wifey you live with moms? GTFO here with that! LoL 
"yall just a bunch of suckafolove ass ngaz" - Ghostface Killah

Naw but like I said some people just dont see marriage as something that they want. To each their own.

i wont say to avoid credit cards, but definitely only have a few and use them wisely as good credit is something that is essential in this country. i really only use them to get miles/rewards. other that that, i think for the average person it is absolutely usury as most people don't know any better or they haven't figured out how the system works.

its a shame basic fundamentals of finance are not taught in high schools; people would likely different spending habits. i've been investing 50%+ of my paychecks the last few years and i already have a nice cushion should anything adverse happen.

depending on risk aversion, i would recommend anyone young to edify themselves and invest all they can afford.

some books i like:

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Essays-Warren-Buffett-Lessons-Corporate/dp/0966446127/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327000175&sr=8-1[/url]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Plain-Sight-Investing-ebook/dp/B004X6ZEOO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327000175&sr=8-2[/url]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Investing-Practical/dp/0060555661/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1327000175&sr=8-4[/url]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Bullish-Thinking-Advisors-Surviving-Thriving/dp/0470137703/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1327000201&sr=8-7[/url]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Ivy-Portfolio-Invest-Endowments-Markets/dp/1118008855/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1327000236&sr=8-4[/url]

[QUOTE=JDOX;433333]
.....id take being married and happy then single and partying any day,[/QUOTE]
Most people that are married ain't happy, so better be single and party all day 'er day =)

[QUOTE=Juzzo;433365]Most people that are married ain't happy, so better be single and party all day 'er day =)[/QUOTE]

Single with a fleshlight! :giggity:

[QUOTE=Tito Escobar;433374]Single with a fleshlight! :giggity:[/QUOTE]
 
 
:smiley-rofl:
 
Good to see the thread still has movement. 
 
Anyone look into investing in copper?

[QUOTE=Tito Escobar;433374]Single with a fleshlight! :giggity:[/QUOTE]

A lot of good points. Some people need a woman life cause they would be wreckless. You reay have to love bringing in someone elses life love them and take their issues as own. And if you don't, they think you suck and leave you. It's like I am sorry you have problems that I would not in my life. A lot of the time you have to pick one. Cause a woman is an investment. You having kids is going to cost she is going to cost. So you have to ask which is more important. I say get you money stacked then go after the women you now have a common interest in. A lot of women are into investments and stacking cash. While majority are just broke, no ambition have drama lookin for a guy to help support them cause you need to have two people to make ends meet since it's more difficult on your own. 

With that said. If you need to have a woman to ground you from being otherwise wreckless. Then you aren't really helping your self. You need someone else to tell you what to do which is not really helping your self. It's like aa meetings best and first step is noticing the problem your self and wanting the change. 

You have to want it your self, not having your signifigant other or find one to tell and help you.

I'll say this and be through with it. Woman is man's help mate. For all the guys that have self control; will understand my last post. The ones that don't understand, more than likely spend they're money on WOMEN, thus meaning your bank account will never compound. Happiness with a companion does not mean your balls of making educated choices have been clipped; it just means you've grown up. Happy modding!

I'm out this piece:-)

like stated, may work for you. and thats cool! I dont believe women makes you a grown up.

Glad it has worked for you, divorce rate is higher than ever, the child birth ratio is higher to single parents. (risk I am not going to take. and prenup or no wedding show up)

And spend money on women? bank non compounding? trust me bro. You save more money with out one. You arent paying for that person, and the kids you have every time you go out to dinner. You pay for your self. What ever they do, they have to do for their wife or its not equal. What ever I do, I do for me. 

Sure you can get a better tax rate cause of marriage, but you could opt to take no tax out cause that is just a loan to the government you get back in partial. I pay taxes every year, so I dont have tax returns.

spend their money on women thus meaning your bank account will never compound is a joke.

To sum up by not readin that up there I will quote Ice Cube:

I dont pay for *****, or water, cause i both get em for free

I work at a bank Full time and have my business on the side, and as people would ever ask what do you do for a living....  "I sell Debt" from mortgages side to the bank side. 

think about it and it will make sense. We sell the dream of getting out of debt and mostly we don't. we use the other money for other things and don't help the situation. people need to have control. 

I am however selling all 3 of my cars ;) More plans for me and I have reached the goals I have wanted when I started Vipdout. and now its time to move forward and make more things happen.

for me i just keep myself busy working all the time. so this way i don't have time to spend $

[QUOTE=REV-01;433501]for me i just keep myself busy working all the time. so this way i don't have time to spend $[/QUOTE]

Tried that, didn't work... after I got out of service I continued working in the family biz and although I worked 28-30 days a month I still managed to drink/etc. all of my salary(3k+) even without any days off. After a year off this I decided to get into the car game, now I'm even more of broke ass fuck up :smiley-rofl:

[QUOTE=T's!;433442]I'll say this and be through with it. Woman is man's help mate. For all the guys that have self control; will understand my last post. The ones that don't understand, more than likely spend they're money on WOMEN, thus meaning your bank account will never compound. Happiness with a companion does not mean your balls of making educated choices have been clipped; it just means you've grown up. Happy modding!

I'm out this piece:-)[/QUOTE]

Dude that is so pot, kettle, black. Like KM said a woman is an investment and so is a family so in that sense you are spending money on women and children. COME ON SON!

:slap:

make more money and you won't have to worry about going broke...lol

That is why, in the words of Rick Ross  I got my broke ni66a replant

act like youre broke and you will never really be broke

Thats actually true if you act like money is tight your money will never be tight. LOL! 

Just spend wisely!

If you get a chance to be around selfmades you will see more often than not they lie to their wives about what things cost what they bought it for and often hide their lambo from them too.

Let me just say I like this thread, I am always trying to reinvent myself... I grew up hood rich, the boys looking out cause I was a good dude.. plain and simple, wouldn't really consider being part of the "game".. The hood part is where I get my love for modding, seeing them thangs roll roll by had me mesmerized. I had to have a house when I got the job to support the cost that go along with home ownership. I then picked up the Ody (paid for of course) to start modding. I saved and paid for everything in cash, had a movie theater full of parts...  This is why I was able to drop the Ody 95% complete, with them thangs...

Now I want something more... to be debt free... short sold the house (F the economy!), and I just picked up a small one bedroom one bath condo with a one car garage for 20K, will pimp the shit out of it. Under 600sf for three people. I'm not rich by any means, but I make a decent enough wage, $5 an hour (plus tips, Ha!). Game tight! Gotta keep that mouth moving, could be making nothing... 
People in and around my life are screaming WTF!!! Well, I was paying well over 5K a month to maintain my household, time to save that money and buy cash...  Some have to sacrifice to get ahead... In the end, I will have a house paid cash, and a rental which I think is perfect for a bachelor.... but not before I buy a P.O.S. RHD del sol (paid for and modded) so the wife and I can drive up the mountain for daytrips in the hot ass summer... Have to have some fun in there to prevent myself from going crazy, and my wife from leaving...

Some good reads for those just starting..
Rich Dad Poor Dad,
The richest man in Babylon (so simple a theory)
The five love Languages (so ones wife does not become an Issue)...

I have had Rich Dad Poor Dad laying around, looks like I will be picking it up and finally reading. :biggthumpup:

[QUOTE=lowvanu2;434088]Let me just say I like this thread, I am always trying to reinvent myself... I grew up hood rich, the boys looking out cause I was a good dude.. plain and simple, wouldn't really consider being part of the "game".. The hood part is where I get my love for modding, seeing them thangs roll roll by had me mesmerized. I had to have a house when I got the job to support the cost that go along with home ownership. I then picked up the Ody (paid for of course) to start modding. I saved and paid for everything in cash, had a movie theater full of parts...  This is why I was able to drop the Ody 95% complete, with them thangs...

Now I want something more... to be debt free... short sold the house (F the economy!), and I just picked up a small one bedroom one bath condo with a one car garage for 20K, will pimp the shit out of it. Under 600sf for three people. I'm not rich by any means, but I make a decent enough wage, $5 an hour (plus tips, Ha!). Game tight! Gotta keep that mouth moving, could be making nothing... 
People in and around my life are screaming WTF!!! Well, I was paying well over 5K a month to maintain my household, time to save that money and buy cash...  Some have to sacrifice to get ahead... In the end, I will have a house paid cash, and a rental which I think is perfect for a bachelor.... but not before I buy a P.O.S. RHD del sol (paid for and modded) so the wife and I can drive up the mountain for daytrips in the hot ass summer... Have to have some fun in there to prevent myself from going crazy, and my wife from leaving...

Some good reads for those just starting..
Rich Dad Poor Dad,
The richest man in Babylon (so simple a theory)
The five love Languages (so ones wife does not become an Issue)...[/QUOTE]

I like this one.. u hit it on the spot.. the ones saying wtf, is the ones living with there moms that have no bills and whatever they make goes to their cars.. u do gotta take one step back to move two steps forward..  
I realized i dont care what people think these days, they arent gonna pay your bills and wont understand until they hit reality..   id rather have a fat stack of money in my pocket, no debt, dont owe nobody, and have a good street credit...

its the people living at parents who need to be stacking it til they move out. That is where people get it wrong. Dont move out to get freedom independence. move to grandmas if you cant stand parents or w/e. Look at a lot of the people from the hood who come up. they didnt move out, majority stay with their moms and got paper help parents out and what not, and distributed it when they got loads of it and bought moms a new house.

[QUOTE=Kohinoor;433347]

its a shame basic fundamentals of finance are not taught in high schools; people would likely different spending habits. i've been investing 50%+ of my paychecks the last few years and i already have a nice cushion should anything adverse happen.
[/QUOTE]

This is so true. Americas youth is being done a great disservice by not having basic financial principles taught at a young age. I know when I got out of college and realized what the "real world" was like I read quite a few books on the subject, and very happy I did.

This was the first book I read, after school.. I recommend it to anyone wanting to get out of debt (school loans, cc debt, etc) common sense stuff no get rich quick BS, a good first step:

[url]http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/total-money-makeover-dave-ramsey/1100189798?r=1&ean=9781595550781&cm_mmca2=pla&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book-_-Q000000633-_-9781595550781[/url]

stay debt free

I work two full time jobs.

this is another book i recommend 
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Napoleon-Hill/dp/1612930298/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327597419&sr=8-1[/url]


i also advocate the use of an all in one program like pageonce or mint.com for android/iphone [url]www.pageonce.com[/url] & [url]www.mint.com[/url] - at a glance i can check my cash balances, investment portfolios, credit card balances, various bills, insurance, travel plans (through pageonce travel), etc. both are great apps and i think it was only $4 for pageonce and mint is free.