Stupid debt riddled neighbors...

[jspence1]

I'm about to replace my 98 taurus wagon. I've been looking around at used cars and am shocked what a 2-3 year old car costs. They are so expensive I'd be a fool to buy one. I ran some numbers and when I factor in financing I only pay $1500 more for a new one and in some cases its less money to buy new. Please explain that to me.

 

[motobrewer]

in 4 years this guy will declare bankruptcy and we'll end up paying his bills

btw, we just had our 2nd. we pay $63 / month for medical. birth cost us around $2k out of pocket.

and Gila, for whatever reason, natural births leave "things" better than "stock". donno why. but it's awesome. once it heals, obviously......lol.....

 

[springer]

I'm about to replace my 98 taurus wagon. I've been looking around at used cars and am shocked what a 2-3 year old car costs. They are so expensive I'd be a fool to buy one. I ran some numbers and when I factor in financing I only pay $1500 more for a new one and in some cases its less money to buy new. Please explain that to me.

cash 4 clunkers has dried up the used car market driving up used


Pol people are stupid we had three kids and I was driving a gremlin and my wife was driving a AMC eagle station wagon(uncle was an AMC/Jeep dealer) . Our first new car was a 94 ford escort wagon I traded a Buick elecrtra wagon in and paid cash for the rest...

 

[sithspitt]

Your neighbor sounds like a friend of mine. He's stupid enough to borrow $100 from me just to pay me back $250 next month. Dumb A$$es!

 

[CamelToeJoe]

I wonder how the neighbor would take to knowing his financial well being is slathered all over a public forum?

That and of course being called stupid?

Not that I agree with the shortcomings of "Stupid" as I guess we can nickname him.

I can surmise from this thread:

1. It is unacceptable to have poor money managing skills.
2. It is acceptable to call people stupid and drag their laundry out in a public forum.

What is the purpose of this thread other than to drag another person down when they seemingly are having a hard time?


I am no saint but come on. Would you take this thread print it out and hand it to "Stupid?" How would he react and would it make you proud to have him read it to his family in front your family?

Like I said I am far from perfect, but can't stand to see a man thrown under the bus, when he has no way to defend himself.

 

[Scooby_Brew]

That and of course being called stupid?

I think the word "stupid" is quite fitting in this case. "Stupid is as stupid does".

I just wish it would be illegal for these financial weasels to give a credit line to stupid people like that.

 

[jmendez29]

Agreed on not insulting the guy, at least not when he can't have the opportunity to defend himself.

I had an awakening experience not so long ago. A few years ago, I made the most money in one year I ever had up until that point. Not six figures, but plenty substantial. I was talking to a buddy about it. He makes around 30k, and is quite happy about it. He asked how much I made, so I told him. Then he asked how far in debt I am, so I told him the approximate amount. Then he asked how I'm still in debt. Kind of a rude awakening, because I didn't have a good answer.

So now, I'm in a different job, making more money. I have a beat up, rusting truck that I don't need, but its paid for. I drive it 75 miles round trip for work, which sucks on gas, but I pay cash for the gas. I sold my sleds, planning on selling the jetski in a couple months, and just trying to get rid of extra crap around the house. After reading a Dave Ramsey book, I realized I'm trying to make myself happy with a life of excess that I cannot afford to maintain. My plan is to get about half of my debt paid for this year, and at the same time, to save up another 5-6k to buy a used car so I don't have to spend so much on gas and insurance. Then the car will go to my oldest when he turns 16 in a few years. If I can sell my truck for at least 2k, that will shore up my savings nicely. With this job, that shouldn't be particularly difficult. And as mentioned by someone here, it just takes a little flexing of the willpower muscle.

 

[McKBrew]

It's one thing to make a generalization about a person's habits. It's not like the Pol came in and said.....

My Neighbor Dave Smith at 3000 Wilbury Lane, Columbus Ohio is a complete stupid moron.

He did mention his neighbor, and while it probably wouldn't be too hard to figure out who the Pol's neighbor is with a bit of quick googling, who in here would go that far?

 

[andysim]

I wonder how the neighbor would take to knowing his financial well being is slathered all over a public forum?

That and of course being called stupid?

Not that I agree with the shortcomings of "Stupid" as I guess we can nickname him.

I can surmise from this thread:

1. It is unacceptable to have poor money managing skills.
2. It is acceptable to call people stupid and drag their laundry out in a public forum.

What is the purpose of this thread other than to drag another person down when they seemingly are having a hard time?


I am no saint but come on. Would you take this thread print it out and hand it to "Stupid?" How would he react and would it make you proud to have him read it to his family in front your family?

Like I said I am far from perfect, but can't stand to see a man thrown under the bus, when he has no way to defend himself.

Maybe we can call him " financially challenged", "financially ignorant", "creditcoholic", "Indiana University grad.", or "WTF, you're going pay for my overspending in higher interest interates, medical bills, and everything else when I file for bancruptcy"'.

But we don't want to call him stupid.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[brrman]

Well, no ones grass is as green an The Pol's. I have seen it and even walked on it (when he wasn't looking). I **** you not - it was the color of a "forest green" crayon.

I think its a good subject for discussion here - he never identified his neighbor. "Debt Living" is a major problem with America and more it is talked about the better.

 

[CamelToeJoe]

Alright fine, the guy deserves it.

I just don't think he would appreciate this thread.

 

[Brew-Happy]

Having listened to Dave Ramsey for many hours, it would seem Pol's neighbor is "normal". While Pol used a term HE felt was appropriate, is it any more appropriate to criticize Pol??? Nope.

Now, is his neighbor doing anything that would be considered abnormal these days??? Nope. Unfortunately, our economy (and current mentality of our admin) is based on spending. spending requires individuals like me finding spending opportunities from CC companies and banks. I think it would be rather intelligently challenge (aka stupid) to put myself underwater (and under the bus) by strapping on thousands of $$ in debt while bringing a baby into the world.

My wife and I are waiting to afford a dog&cat ! Much less than a child.

Point is, why do people run down a dead end alley instead of turning right or left to avoid financial ruin? Not a new subject. Just refer to much of the Old Testament in the Bible for past references to financial stupidity.

 

[sudbuster]

We will have our house paid off in 6 years at the current rate.

Personally, I know I MAY (depending pn markets) be able to get a better overall return by investing those $$ instead of paying off the mortgage, BUT, I dont like debt, I dont like being owned.

We make almost 3 paymenst per month in this box... after that, as long as I can keep the lights on and pay my property tax, my family is secure.

Some things you cannot avoid, then there is gross fiscal negligence. These people make it VERY hard for me to listen to people say they need assistance and have any compassion... because I automatically think of my neighbors

The Poll,
Sometimes we may not totally agree on brewing methods ( very trivial) But on this , I am with you 100 percent. This is the second home we have owned outright and where we plan to die. People in the USA have come to think the Government must provide for them. That is Socialism. A good example is how USSR turned out. Socialism will never work unless ALL the people work. Once the gonverment starts providing, nobody works. I aplaude your attitude young man.

 

[freebd]

Oh wow... most C-sections are not even medicaly needed..but I won't go off on that .. We are having a home birth with a midwife in about 9 weeks...I am gonna be the first to catch my new baby...like wassaid in the beggining.. $1500...then it will be time to crack open the home birth beer...my chocolate mint stout.. Woo Hoo!!!

 

[remilard]

We will have our house paid off in 6 years at the current rate.

Personally, I know I MAY (depending pn markets) be able to get a better overall return by investing those $$ instead of paying off the mortgage, BUT, I dont like debt, I dont like being owned.

We make almost 3 paymenst per month in this box... after that, as long as I can keep the lights on and pay my property tax, my family is secure.

Some things you cannot avoid, then there is gross fiscal negligence. These people make it VERY hard for me to listen to people say they need assistance and have any compassion... because I automatically think of my neighbors

Assuming your mortgage rate is close to market (since you would have refinanced otherwise), the effective rate is pretty damn low once you recognize the effect of tax deductible interest. You probably could do better, but I can understand the psychological benefit of prepaying debt. At a minimum I would prepay any other debt without tax deductible interest (car loan?) first but you may very well not have any.

The day I started making too much money to deduct student loan interest (which was sadly the day I got out of school, apparently if you get a valuable degree and make a contribution to society the government takes away all the incentives) I started prepaying the student loans.

 

[Bdogg]

One day your neighbor is going to knock on your door begging for help. When lenders notice this kind of thing, they start calling in debts. A girl I knew in university had a couple maxed out credit cards and started bouncing checks - a few months later, got a phone call and subsequent letter from her bank telling her that her student line of credit was being called in and was due in full in 30 days. $15000. If you don't pay it, they'll go after your cosignors or collateral. I don't fully understand why people do this kind of thing. Don't write checks that can't be cashed, and don't take loans you can't pay. You're going to be totally screwed in the long run.

Also, nobody should be without health insurance. We have public health care here which is good enough, but if you live where it isn't provided, you NEED it. It breaks my heart when I read some of the stories about people who didn't have health insurance and something bad happened.

 

[McKBrew]

If you guys want to put a name to the face, you can use me. I'll admit it, I've been stupid with money in the past. I realize it now, and yet I still bought a new vehicle this year that I really didn't need.

I'm a bit buzzed tonight, so I don't care.

Truth is, it is very easy for many of us to get into debt for whatever reason. It sucks even more when you see how much debt you have and then look around at everything in your house and realize that you did pay cash for most of it. So where in the hell did the money go? Then you pay interest on the crap you don't see until you DIE!!!!!

Between my wife and I, we make decent bucks but so much of it goes to pay off past bills, that we don't have much left. Damn, wish I could do it all over again.

Anyhow, feel free to call me stupid. Because I am.

 

[BierMuncher]

...My Neighbor Dave Smith at 3000 Wilbury Lane, Columbus Ohio is a complete stupid moron...

Hey...I know that guy and he owes ME money too!!!

Wait until the divorce gets a hold of their finances. And there will be a divorce.

 

[uglygoat]

remember the bad karma you are sending out now pol, when their home goes into foreclosure, and lowers your property values.

 

[cabledawg]

because $200/mo to insure thier families health, is too pricey.

Only $200 a month...... Damn that is cheap. I need that plan. I pay almost twice that. On the other hand I have pretty good insurance

 

[The Pol]

Only $200 a month...... Damn that is cheap. I need that plan. I pay almost twice that. On the other hand I have pretty good insurance

I pay 2x that too, though we have excellent insurance...

If they foreclose, I will pick it up cheap and have a rental property

 

[Grimster]

Only $200 a month...... Damn that is cheap. I need that plan. I pay almost twice that. On the other hand I have pretty good insurance

Where the hell do I signup for $200 a month family coverage?

When I owned my own company we were on "AHIP" basically a state owned group insurance plan where you pay 100% of the premium. When we got on it in July of 2002 it was $740 a month for my family of 3 (I was 32 and the wife 29 at the time, kid was almost 2) within a year and a half it had gone up to $1140 per month yes 11 HUNDRED dollars a month that's $300 more than my damned mortgage payment on our house and our largest bill.

 

[Houblon]

Isn't that the american way?

It sure seems that way, rob peter to pay paul....

3yrs and both my houses are paid off, every car(3)/truck(1)/motorcycle(1) we own as in no monthly payments.

But than again I was taught how to handle my money and live within my means and not live off CCards.

 

[kryolla]

So, my neighbors, with bad grass

too funny, I guess Pol likes his grass or he uses iron to keep it green j/k

I have a neighbor that tries to keep up with us but we make twice as much as they do so go figure. Everytime we renovate they make up some excuse why they can't do that like when we put hardwood floors in they said we would do that but our dogs would mess them up. Dont lie you just cant afford it.

 

[lschiavo]

Yeah I've got health insurance. And it costs way too much. But there really is no good alternative. I think this country needs to get out from under insurance and overpriced healthcare. IMO its a fine line between insurance and extortion. We have to be "protected" because most cant afford to pay for even a short hospital stay.

Wanna know who has all the money just watch TV for a while and count how many insurance/drug ads you see. How much does all their annoying advertising add to the price we pay?

It seems that all "solutions" to healthcare issues involve everyone having insurance. I say the solution is no insurance. Then we can pay a "real" price for a real service.

Just my opinion. What a mess we are all in! But I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

 

[wildwest450]

Ha! Your neighbor is probably on a white trash website talking about his nutty pilot neighbor spending thousands on a shiny setup that does nothing but make beer.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Silly Pol, Money is for things you WANT, not things you NEED. That's the gubment's responsibility!

 

[the_bird]

Where the hell do I signup for $200 a month family coverage?

When I owned my own company we were on "AHIP" basically a state owned group insurance plan where you pay 100% of the premium. When we got on it in July of 2002 it was $740 a month for my family of 3 (I was 32 and the wife 29 at the time, kid was almost 2) within a year and a half it had gone up to $1140 per month yes 11 HUNDRED dollars a month that's $300 more than my damned mortgage payment on our house and our largest bill.

... when my wife used to TA at U-Mass, we were paying $700 a YEAR for our family plan. Gotta love the United Auto Workers, they unionized the TAs and got the school to pay for 90% of the cost. Decent insurance, too; we had to go to U-Mass's Health Services for basic coverage, but when the_Bean was born with a heart arrthymia and had to spend a couple of days in the "big" hospital (plus all kinds of other tests and meds and monitors), not a dime out of pocket. I don't remember paying much of anything for her delivery, either.

 

[humann_brewing]

wow... if that isn't a good example of how not to handle your money.

How about we instate some sort of rule that you cannot have a loan/credit more than $500 unless your credit score is above 700?

 

[humann_brewing]

Ha! Your neighbor is probably on a white trash website talking about his nutty pilot neighbor spending thousands on a shiny setup that does nothing but make beer.

that there is some funny stuff (said in a white trash voice, if there is one)