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Rich Programmer, Poor Programmer

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  • N Nish Nishant

    Hello Paul I'd probably fall in the 1st to 31st category. I finish my pay in 30 days flat. I mean even if I get a hike or a bonus, I still manage to finish it in 30 days. Or if I have a sudden unexpected expense, still it finishes in 30 days. The whole point is that whether I get more or whether I get less, I end up with zero at month-end and I am quite happy with that too. I mean, it's easier that way. I just need to think for 30 days. When the new month starts I get money again and the cycle continues. My point is that even if I start saving money now, it wont amount to much. But 4 years later when I am earning 10 times what I do now, then if I save each month, I can save in one month or two what I could save in an entire year with my current monetary situation :-) Regards Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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    Paul Watson
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: I'd probably fall in the 1st to 31st category. I finish my pay in 30 days flat. I mean even if I get a hike or a bonus, I still manage to finish it in 30 days. Or if I have a sudden unexpected expense, still it finishes in 30 days. The whole point is that whether I get more or whether I get less, I end up with zero at month-end Same as me. Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: and I am quite happy with that too. Not the same as me. I hate living 30 days at a time, it is stressful. Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: I mean, it's easier that way. I just need to think for 30 days. When the new month starts I get money again and the cycle continues. My point is that even if I start saving money now, it wont amount to much. But 4 years later when I am earning 10 times what I do now, then if I save each month, I can save in one month or two what I could save in an entire year with my current monetary situation I think this is a prime example of what the rich (or soon to be rich) people know about, and what the poor (or soon to be poor) people don't know about. IMHO that is a terrible way to think Nish. With your first job lets say you earned X. At the time you thought "not bad, not enough to start saving so lets just live and get a raise." Then you got a raise to 2X. However you forgot what you said when you were earning X and once again said "not enough to start saving, lets waits until I get 3X. Meanwhile your expenses are increasing, you are expecting more from life and you are sick of eating two minute noodles every night. So you spend more. At the end of the day you are in the same position as you were in when you were earning X. Then you get 3X, and once again your perspective changes and you say "4X." And so on and so on. I worked out that if I had saved just 5% of my salary from the day I started working till know I would have enough to cater for any emergency, put a deposit down on a flat (instead of just having enough to rent it), help Janina pay for her education and so on. Yet I said the same thing every time I got a raise "I need more before I can start saving." I am still in the same financial position as I was two years ago, even though I am earning three times as much as then. Rich people, and I work for one, know that you get rich not through big salaries or lucky breaks or huge windfalls. You get rich through small savings which add up over the years and get doubly added by

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    • P Paul Watson

      Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: I'd probably fall in the 1st to 31st category. I finish my pay in 30 days flat. I mean even if I get a hike or a bonus, I still manage to finish it in 30 days. Or if I have a sudden unexpected expense, still it finishes in 30 days. The whole point is that whether I get more or whether I get less, I end up with zero at month-end Same as me. Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: and I am quite happy with that too. Not the same as me. I hate living 30 days at a time, it is stressful. Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: I mean, it's easier that way. I just need to think for 30 days. When the new month starts I get money again and the cycle continues. My point is that even if I start saving money now, it wont amount to much. But 4 years later when I am earning 10 times what I do now, then if I save each month, I can save in one month or two what I could save in an entire year with my current monetary situation I think this is a prime example of what the rich (or soon to be rich) people know about, and what the poor (or soon to be poor) people don't know about. IMHO that is a terrible way to think Nish. With your first job lets say you earned X. At the time you thought "not bad, not enough to start saving so lets just live and get a raise." Then you got a raise to 2X. However you forgot what you said when you were earning X and once again said "not enough to start saving, lets waits until I get 3X. Meanwhile your expenses are increasing, you are expecting more from life and you are sick of eating two minute noodles every night. So you spend more. At the end of the day you are in the same position as you were in when you were earning X. Then you get 3X, and once again your perspective changes and you say "4X." And so on and so on. I worked out that if I had saved just 5% of my salary from the day I started working till know I would have enough to cater for any emergency, put a deposit down on a flat (instead of just having enough to rent it), help Janina pay for her education and so on. Yet I said the same thing every time I got a raise "I need more before I can start saving." I am still in the same financial position as I was two years ago, even though I am earning three times as much as then. Rich people, and I work for one, know that you get rich not through big salaries or lucky breaks or huge windfalls. You get rich through small savings which add up over the years and get doubly added by

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      Nish Nishant
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      :omg: I read your post twice Paul. Twice! And I don't do that usually. You are so dead right. Two years ago, I had put a figure in mind when I'd prolly be able to save something and now that's nearly what I get every month. I am kinda thinking like 4 years later, I'll startv saving. 4 years! Maybe I am just procrastinating endlessly. Your words of truth have soured me up a little. I hope to recover soon and continue in my foolhardy manner though :-) For a 22 year old VB programmer [with stress on the VB part] you sure speak wisely, buddy! Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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      • M Michael P Butler

        I liked to think I'm pretty smart with money. I've never really earnt the big bucks but still managed to save a reasonable amount. Enough so that I managed to live for six months last year without any money coming in. I have money put away in my personal pension and a tax exempt savings plan that will mature in a couple of years. My other savings accounts are looking a little bare at the moment but my company account has enough to pay me for 3 months whilst looking for other contract work. Michael :-)

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        Paul Watson
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Michael P Butler wrote: Enough so that I managed to live for six months last year without any money coming in. That is pretty damned good Michael. Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do? I am in that same position, if I lost my job I would have to get one within a month or I would be broke. And then they repo your car, you cannot pay your rent and you have to beg borrow or steal some money to survive. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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        • P Paul Watson

          Michael P Butler wrote: Enough so that I managed to live for six months last year without any money coming in. That is pretty damned good Michael. Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do? I am in that same position, if I lost my job I would have to get one within a month or I would be broke. And then they repo your car, you cannot pay your rent and you have to beg borrow or steal some money to survive. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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          Nish Nishant
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          Paul Watson wrote: Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do Yikes! :eek: :eek: :eek: Don't scare me like that Paul. I guess I can live on my credit card for a month or two. Then I'd prolly have to go under cover when the credit card guys come for the payment :-) The problem with saving is that, even if I start saving money, I'd prolly break the saving to upgrade my PC :-( Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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          • P Paul Watson

            I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad on the way to work (I am slowly learning the art of reading in the sardine tin that is the Tube.) My third management/business/finance book in three weeks, oh no! As usual what the guy talks about makes a lot of sense, it is just actually applying it which is the hard bit. It got me curious about the rest of you and how you handled your finances. I am bad with money, nay, I am terrible with money. Money pushes me around a lot and I am getting so sick of it. I earn a good enough salary and don't have that many expenses, but I still end up with a nice fat zero at the end of every month. What really gets to me was that I can start renting a flat at R2000 per month and still end up with zero while right now I am not renting and yet I still end up with zero. That tells me that there was R2000 floating around which I somehow spent a month on nothing much really. So I have decided to get serious, and strict, about my money habits and was wondering what your situation was like. Do you live month to month? Do you have some nice investments or savings accounts? Are you banking on a retirement fund to get you through the last 30 years or so? Basically, are you smart or stupid with your money? And what can you tell me that actually works or doesn't work? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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            Christian Graus
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            Hi Paul. I've read that book, too. I am TERRIBLE with money. I love books and toys too much. So I have virtually no credit, and on payday I put most of my money onto my house. By doing that I went from crippling debt to owing only on my house and car ( I get $1250 a fortnight after tax and pay $350 onto the house and car combined ). Currently I ahve just finished paying off my debts so I have no savings, but from now on I'll save $10,000 this year, and I'll do it by opening an account where I cannot get the money out once I put it in without significant notice, so I don't make any impulse purchases. In my experience, it's not about having to be 'good', but realising you're not and restricting your ability to waste money. Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

            Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

            I live in Bob's HungOut now

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            • P Paul Watson

              Michael P Butler wrote: Enough so that I managed to live for six months last year without any money coming in. That is pretty damned good Michael. Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do? I am in that same position, if I lost my job I would have to get one within a month or I would be broke. And then they repo your car, you cannot pay your rent and you have to beg borrow or steal some money to survive. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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              Michael P Butler
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              I like to have a good backup plan incase I need to quit my job without having another one to go too. I'm also very good at living without a lot of luxuries. I've always had to work hard for ever penny I've earnt so I know the value of money. I'm also a person who doesn't like to claim state benefit whilst out of work - there are other people who need it more than I do. Michael :-)

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              • N Nish Nishant

                Paul Watson wrote: Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do Yikes! :eek: :eek: :eek: Don't scare me like that Paul. I guess I can live on my credit card for a month or two. Then I'd prolly have to go under cover when the credit card guys come for the payment :-) The problem with saving is that, even if I start saving money, I'd prolly break the saving to upgrade my PC :-( Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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                Michael P Butler
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                I went from Jan 98 til October 2000 without upgrading my PC, which is a record for me as I used to upgrade every six months. Thinking about I haven't upgraded since October 2000 apart from having to fit a new DVD/CDRW last year when mine packed in. I did buy a new laptop for work use though, so I guess that counts as an upgrade. Michael :-)

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                • P Paul Watson

                  I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad on the way to work (I am slowly learning the art of reading in the sardine tin that is the Tube.) My third management/business/finance book in three weeks, oh no! As usual what the guy talks about makes a lot of sense, it is just actually applying it which is the hard bit. It got me curious about the rest of you and how you handled your finances. I am bad with money, nay, I am terrible with money. Money pushes me around a lot and I am getting so sick of it. I earn a good enough salary and don't have that many expenses, but I still end up with a nice fat zero at the end of every month. What really gets to me was that I can start renting a flat at R2000 per month and still end up with zero while right now I am not renting and yet I still end up with zero. That tells me that there was R2000 floating around which I somehow spent a month on nothing much really. So I have decided to get serious, and strict, about my money habits and was wondering what your situation was like. Do you live month to month? Do you have some nice investments or savings accounts? Are you banking on a retirement fund to get you through the last 30 years or so? Basically, are you smart or stupid with your money? And what can you tell me that actually works or doesn't work? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                  Ray Kinsella
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  When you guys say, "I always end up with Zero at the end on the month", does that include or exclude the amount you put into savings. By this I mean, I always have Zero at the end of the month, but its by design, any excess cash on top of a standard sum go to my savings ? X| Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

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                  • R Ray Kinsella

                    When you guys say, "I always end up with Zero at the end on the month", does that include or exclude the amount you put into savings. By this I mean, I always have Zero at the end of the month, but its by design, any excess cash on top of a standard sum go to my savings ? X| Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

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                    Michael P Butler
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    Ray Kinsella wrote: Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? I have two savings accounts, and alternate between putting money into them. One account is designated for toys and cool stuff. If the account has enough money then I'd buy the digital camera. Michael :-)

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                    • M Michael P Butler

                      I like to have a good backup plan incase I need to quit my job without having another one to go too. I'm also very good at living without a lot of luxuries. I've always had to work hard for ever penny I've earnt so I know the value of money. I'm also a person who doesn't like to claim state benefit whilst out of work - there are other people who need it more than I do. Michael :-)

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                      Jason Hooper
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      Of the posts in this thread so far, your thoughts are the ones that concur mostly with mine. I like to have backup plans for all the reasons (the ones I can't think of) that I might need one. I also make pretty junky wages but still seem to be able to get by without a challenge. At this point I could probably live about 3 months off my styrofoam fund, but I hope I never have to. Also, I rarely buy luxuries anyway. My thinking is that your spending will always catch up with your salary, and you'll never be happy with what you have and won't be able to consider it enough. I say, be happy with where you are right now. I have a VC compiler and an internet connection, which is fine for me right now. Every now and then I'll spend some money on myself by going to the movies or buying some special food, but for the most part I don't feel the urge to buy anything. I don't like being a "consumer," and I'm glad there are no toys that I feel urged to buy. - Jason SonorkID: 100.12194 :bob:'s your uncle

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                      • P Paul Watson

                        I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad on the way to work (I am slowly learning the art of reading in the sardine tin that is the Tube.) My third management/business/finance book in three weeks, oh no! As usual what the guy talks about makes a lot of sense, it is just actually applying it which is the hard bit. It got me curious about the rest of you and how you handled your finances. I am bad with money, nay, I am terrible with money. Money pushes me around a lot and I am getting so sick of it. I earn a good enough salary and don't have that many expenses, but I still end up with a nice fat zero at the end of every month. What really gets to me was that I can start renting a flat at R2000 per month and still end up with zero while right now I am not renting and yet I still end up with zero. That tells me that there was R2000 floating around which I somehow spent a month on nothing much really. So I have decided to get serious, and strict, about my money habits and was wondering what your situation was like. Do you live month to month? Do you have some nice investments or savings accounts? Are you banking on a retirement fund to get you through the last 30 years or so? Basically, are you smart or stupid with your money? And what can you tell me that actually works or doesn't work? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        Paul Watson wrote: ...and was wondering what your situation was like. Fucked. My money is gone half way between pay days it seems (when I had a job). Then credit gets spent putting us right up the arse. Been happening for about 7 years. Pay rises and payouts when I have left jobs have kept us treading water and not quite drowning. I'm hoping no job for a few months might get the penny to drop so we live within our means for once. Michael Martin Australia mmartin@netspace.net.au "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

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                        • L Lost User

                          Paul Watson wrote: ...and was wondering what your situation was like. Fucked. My money is gone half way between pay days it seems (when I had a job). Then credit gets spent putting us right up the arse. Been happening for about 7 years. Pay rises and payouts when I have left jobs have kept us treading water and not quite drowning. I'm hoping no job for a few months might get the penny to drop so we live within our means for once. Michael Martin Australia mmartin@netspace.net.au "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace" - Victor Stone

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                          Christian Graus
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          Michael Martin wrote: I'm hoping no job for a few months might get the penny to drop so we live within our means for once. Martin, it sounds like the only way you'll achieve this is to do what I did - burn the credit cards. OK, no sex for a month or two, but it's worth it in the long run ( I told Donna I could afford to buy plenty of sex with the money I was saving, if it came to it :-)). Sadly, it's my experience that women live in a financial fantasy land ( quomi/lauren, I obviously don't mean you :rose:, I'm generalising based on my experience of being married twice ), and there's nothing you can do unless you cut off their means to slowly screw you financially. In my case, I'm just as much a danger with credit, but at least I admit it and take steps to make sure I don't do myself any harm ( remove the credit ). Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

                          Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

                          I live in Bob's HungOut now

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                          • R Ray Kinsella

                            When you guys say, "I always end up with Zero at the end on the month", does that include or exclude the amount you put into savings. By this I mean, I always have Zero at the end of the month, but its by design, any excess cash on top of a standard sum go to my savings ? X| Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

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                            Christian Graus
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            Ray Kinsella wrote: Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Not anymore, I could pay cash for one in a month or six weeks. For quite a while I've been close enough to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that I've actually been paying quite a bit over my minimum due on various loans, so I could have diverted funds from that, but I probably wouldn't have. Once you get some momentum up with paying things off quickly/saving, it's harder to justify spending money tha when you're so far in debt already that realistically the loan you're about to take will make no difference in the short to medium term. Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

                            Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

                            I live in Bob's HungOut now

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                            • N Nish Nishant

                              :omg: I read your post twice Paul. Twice! And I don't do that usually. You are so dead right. Two years ago, I had put a figure in mind when I'd prolly be able to save something and now that's nearly what I get every month. I am kinda thinking like 4 years later, I'll startv saving. 4 years! Maybe I am just procrastinating endlessly. Your words of truth have soured me up a little. I hope to recover soon and continue in my foolhardy manner though :-) For a 22 year old VB programmer [with stress on the VB part] you sure speak wisely, buddy! Nish Sonork ID 100.9786 voidmain www.busterboy.org If you don't find me on CP, I'll be at Bob's HungOut

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                              Christian Graus
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              Nish [BusterBoy] wrote: For a 22 year old VB programmer [with stress on the VB part] you sure speak wisely, buddy! LOL. He's right though - your pay will increase slowly, and your lifestyle will increase slowly as well. You need at some point to make a decision to save, and then stick to it. There is never a bad time to start, or a time when it becomes easy to part with a portion of your wage instead of spending it. The younger you start, the richer you can be when you die, and the more fights you will cause amongst your offspring :-) Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

                              Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

                              I live in Bob's HungOut now

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                              • P Paul Watson

                                Michael P Butler wrote: Enough so that I managed to live for six months last year without any money coming in. That is pretty damned good Michael. Read Nishs reply to me and then think to yourself: If he got fired, what the hell would he do? I am in that same position, if I lost my job I would have to get one within a month or I would be broke. And then they repo your car, you cannot pay your rent and you have to beg borrow or steal some money to survive. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                                Christian Graus
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                No social security in SA then ? My primary goal for some time ( and now achieved ) is that if I ever lost my job, my debts are such that I could easily live on the dole, if I had to. Heaven forbid, but the point is I don't need to worry now. I just save for stuff I want, and pay cash. Or do without - I still don't have a Gameboy Advance... Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

                                Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

                                I live in Bob's HungOut now

                                P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • P Paul Watson

                                  I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad on the way to work (I am slowly learning the art of reading in the sardine tin that is the Tube.) My third management/business/finance book in three weeks, oh no! As usual what the guy talks about makes a lot of sense, it is just actually applying it which is the hard bit. It got me curious about the rest of you and how you handled your finances. I am bad with money, nay, I am terrible with money. Money pushes me around a lot and I am getting so sick of it. I earn a good enough salary and don't have that many expenses, but I still end up with a nice fat zero at the end of every month. What really gets to me was that I can start renting a flat at R2000 per month and still end up with zero while right now I am not renting and yet I still end up with zero. That tells me that there was R2000 floating around which I somehow spent a month on nothing much really. So I have decided to get serious, and strict, about my money habits and was wondering what your situation was like. Do you live month to month? Do you have some nice investments or savings accounts? Are you banking on a retirement fund to get you through the last 30 years or so? Basically, are you smart or stupid with your money? And what can you tell me that actually works or doesn't work? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                                  Chris Maunder
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  All I can say is: start saving. Get money taken out of your account automatically and into a managed fund or something. My rule of thumb is always have enough money put aside (working for you, but still available) so that if you lose your job tomorrow (or for some other reason are unable to generate income) you'll be OK for 3 months. cheers, Chris Maunder

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                                  • P Paul Watson

                                    I was reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad on the way to work (I am slowly learning the art of reading in the sardine tin that is the Tube.) My third management/business/finance book in three weeks, oh no! As usual what the guy talks about makes a lot of sense, it is just actually applying it which is the hard bit. It got me curious about the rest of you and how you handled your finances. I am bad with money, nay, I am terrible with money. Money pushes me around a lot and I am getting so sick of it. I earn a good enough salary and don't have that many expenses, but I still end up with a nice fat zero at the end of every month. What really gets to me was that I can start renting a flat at R2000 per month and still end up with zero while right now I am not renting and yet I still end up with zero. That tells me that there was R2000 floating around which I somehow spent a month on nothing much really. So I have decided to get serious, and strict, about my money habits and was wondering what your situation was like. Do you live month to month? Do you have some nice investments or savings accounts? Are you banking on a retirement fund to get you through the last 30 years or so? Basically, are you smart or stupid with your money? And what can you tell me that actually works or doesn't work? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                                    Roger Allen
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    I have never been ruled by money. Whether I have it or not, it doesn't bother me. Several years ago I was on a sh!te salary, yet I was still saving (without trying to) at about £200/month. This was due to my lifestyle. I don't drink/smoke, and I didn't really socialise in my time off, spending my time at home (in rented accomadation) playing with my computer or watching my Jackie Chan collection. I have found that since I am being paid more now (almost 2*), I am not saving at all. I still don't drink/smoke or go out. But there is one big difference, I have a girlfiend (yes a girl fiend!). She comes with two kids. The food bills; clothes bills; Mortgage (which is not bad at all); and then her presents (she likes designer stuff - read Gucci/Armani/Cartier etc). Its the presents which are killing me off really. At the moment, I am just treading water, and thats with my yearly bonus and trading all my holidays in for cash. If I lost the girlfiend/kids, installed a paying lodger etc, I could be saving at about £15000 a year. But then love gets in the way. Roger Allen Sonork 100.10016 If I'm not breathing, I'm either dead or holding my breath.

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                                    • C Christian Graus

                                      No social security in SA then ? My primary goal for some time ( and now achieved ) is that if I ever lost my job, my debts are such that I could easily live on the dole, if I had to. Heaven forbid, but the point is I don't need to worry now. I just save for stuff I want, and pay cash. Or do without - I still don't have a Gameboy Advance... Christian I have come to clean zee pooollll. - Michael Martin Dec 30, 2001 Picture the daffodil. And while you do that, I'll be over here going through your stuff. Picture a world without war, without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they would never expect it.

                                      Sonork ID 100.10002:MeanManOz

                                      I live in Bob's HungOut now

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                                      Paul Watson
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      ****Christian Graus wrote: No social security in SA then ? No, not unless you have no arms, half a head and can claim you were disadvantaged by Apartheid. Even pensioners have it rough. They get something like R500 a month. Put it this way, that is what I spend on petrol (gas) for my car for 2 weeks... And I don't travel that far. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                                      • C Chris Maunder

                                        All I can say is: start saving. Get money taken out of your account automatically and into a managed fund or something. My rule of thumb is always have enough money put aside (working for you, but still available) so that if you lose your job tomorrow (or for some other reason are unable to generate income) you'll be OK for 3 months. cheers, Chris Maunder

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                                        Paul Watson
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        Chris Maunder wrote: All I can say is: start saving. It is damned hard for us procrastinators Chris. My parents never taught me all this stuff and only once I found myself in the deep end did I really start to think "crap, I had better do something." How did you start to save? What motivation or events got you saving? Or are you, and I am cringing because I think this is true, just one of those very controlled (in a good way) kind of people who do it almost automatically? To you it is obvious and no trouble at all. As I said, these books and people can give all the advice they want, it is the application of it which is the difficult bit. How do those who do it, do it? regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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                                        • R Ray Kinsella

                                          When you guys say, "I always end up with Zero at the end on the month", does that include or exclude the amount you put into savings. By this I mean, I always have Zero at the end of the month, but its by design, any excess cash on top of a standard sum go to my savings ? X| Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire"

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                                          Paul Watson
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          Ray Kinsella wrote: By this I mean, I always have Zero at the end of the month, but its by design, any excess cash on top of a standard sum go to my savings ? Well obviously if that were the case with us then we wouldn't be worrying or trying to sort ourselves out :-D I meant it as "no matter what the monthly costs, big or little, and no matter the salary, we end up with zero at the end of the month, with nothing left to save." Of course as Chris says, save first, then spend. Rather than thinking "how much will I have left to save" think "after saving what I want, how much will I have left to spend?" Ray Kinsella wrote: Further to that, I have thinking for a couple of months about buying a digital camera. I was just wondering, if it where you, would you have a problem taking money out of you the standard monthily sum you put away to fund this purchase ? Thats the weird thing. If next month I wanted a digital camera I could save the money for two months and buy it, no problem. But try and get me to save money just to put in an account... well that is a whole other ball game! regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Martin Marvinski wrote: Unfortunatly Deep Throat isn't my cup of tea Do you Sonork? I do! 100.9903 Stormfront

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