©ALL CONTENT OF THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATORS CONSENT 2003-2020



How do people get ahead

Status
Not open for further replies.

squatster

AnaSCI VIP
Mar 27, 2014
3,633
30
48
How do people do it? I am closer to 50 then 40 now and still can't afford shit.
How the hell do people do it?
What is the secret?
 

chrisr116

AnaSCI VET
Nov 20, 2012
3,788
1
0
I'd say when kids get grown and out the house, money should free up some. Also, in my situation I have a better job at my age than I did 10 or 20 years ago. Debt load also factors in big time. It's still tough. I actually budget in my gear and supplements into our household budget to make sure I can afford it before I spend..
 

Magnus82

Banned
Oct 29, 2012
4,827
0
0
Out in the boondocks
To start, I think its very important to live within your means. If making more isn't an option, try to lower your living costs. I know its hard, but can be done. I know I will never live the luxury life style, but am happy with what I do have. I know several people that live better off $40,000/yr than some that make $200,000.
 

Phoe2006

Banned
Jun 10, 2013
5,267
0
0
To start, I think its very important to live within your means. If making more isn't an option, try to lower your living costs. I know its hard, but can be done. I know I will never live the luxury life style, but am happy with what I do have. I know several people that live better off $40,000/yr than some that make $200,000.

This guy here ↑↑↑ hit the nail on the head. It has always seemed like the more money I make the more I just plain didn't give a fuck and I've bought $3600 diamond stud earrings just stupid shit. I've worked weeks where I've put in 120 hours a week but people also don't figure in taxes. The more you make the more taxes you end up paying. The more overtime you work the taxes get ridiculous.

I think with time and family everything starts slowing down. I no longer blow money at the strip club or the bar like I use to. You just need to reevaluate what's important to you. Would you rather have a $50k truck or a $20k and save money? Do you actually need a brand new pair of air Jordan's to workout in or will some old school chucks benefit you more? Do you have a 401k or some sort of retirement plan going? Instead of eating out once a week cut it back to once a month and grill steaks instead. Put that money up into a separate account for savings only that you would've used to eat out the other 3 weeks and that's easily another 150-200$ a month you just saved.
 

Daniel11

AnaSCI VET
Jul 10, 2013
1,139
0
0
My current job typically gives a salary increase each year for inflation and cost of living increases etc. it's not really 100% equal to say increases in rent in the area, etc. but it helps.

On the other hand, when I look at my annual income this year vs 10 years ago it has doubled (x2) so that's not too bad. It still feels like the budget is just as tight and that's because the house is bigger, the cars are bigger and nicer and then add in kids.

Am I getting ahead? In someways yes, in other ways things are pretty much the same.
 

chicken_hawk

AnaSCI VIP
Feb 2, 2013
1,634
0
0
It's a question I ask myself a lot lately. As magnus wisely sated, living within one means is critical...but for me that means no health insurance at the moment. So, keeping thing lean is one thing, BUT I have always wanted to be able to make more since I think there are many sensible things I should have not have to say NO to...like health insurance or a set of jumper cables...yeah I said no to jumpers at Walmart because we have a budget. That pissed me off I mean A lady full of handicap kids asked me on Wednesday to jump their mini van and I didn't have any...stupid problem to have.

Anyway, the only thing I figure I can do with a minimal investment since I have a family of five and make a modest living as a small time contractor was to broaden my knowledge into the realm of HVAC. I am 40+ and have decided to go take a few continuing ed classes for only $300 each and get certified. So, for me I can potentially double my hourly wage for those jobs. I suspect it will not become a 40 hour a week thing, but if I can land two or three HVAC projects a month it will be 900 bucks well spent.

So, one needs to cut back or add or do both or stop working all together and live on the government which appears to be the New American Dream.

Hawk
 
Last edited:

squatster

AnaSCI VIP
Mar 27, 2014
3,633
30
48
It all sucks- I sold my truck so there were no payments- no health insurance- no vacations - got off the juice for now- cut way back on the food so my kids can eat a little more - work has dead off and when I do work I have to go cheep to just get the work - nothing else I can lean out now except get rid of the house and buy a tent - I am sick of this shit. Some times you just need that one good job - but then the extras go to back bills. I am late 40 - should be set by now
 
Last edited:

squatster

AnaSCI VIP
Mar 27, 2014
3,633
30
48
Miss my truck and really miss my juice - I was getting large and sreddedsredded
 

chaotichealth

AnaSCI VET
May 19, 2014
1,585
0
36
If you can't afford what you want rethink your job. Don't settle for low paying chase the money. Or make cuts in other things. Its all a matter of priorities
 

squatster

AnaSCI VIP
Mar 27, 2014
3,633
30
48
The only thing I stayed on is the Melanotan 2 - the other peps make me way to hungry for now till I get stable.
The big thing I think I am going to do about money - I am looking into moving to Texas - Arlington or some were near Dallas great economy for construction
 
Last edited:

AnaSCI

ADMINISTRATOR
Sep 17, 2003
8,626
18
38
Taking the "born into money" factor out of the equation:

There is no secret. Everything in life is risk and sacrifice. Watching for opportunities and knowing if/when to take them. Every single person out there have the same opportunities go by them, most just do not recognize them when they do.

When a door opens another one closes, and vice-versa. Most of the time we walk through the wrong door which will always set us back from our goal(s). Once family and children are factored in MANY doors close because your risk to reward ratio changes greatly.

The above being said, from what I have realized if you're not willing to risk big (which means you are willing to take the chance to lose big), then you will never succeed big. I have blinked during deals and saw $50k+ disappear just like that because I chose the wrong door, made the wrong decision, made the bad investment.

But when I speak of risk and sacrifice I am not only referring to money or investments or leaving your secure employment for another or sacrificing your gear supply or your big screen tv etc, I am talking about being willing to do whatever you have to to get where you want to be and if that means risking and if necessary sacrificing your materialistic freedoms as well then so be it. Because imo whether we choose to believe it or not, we are all in prison as long as we are ruled by our governments and their 1% backers!
 

chaotichealth

AnaSCI VET
May 19, 2014
1,585
0
36
Ever time I go to work I put my life on the life I could die at any given time. Or loose fingers or arms what ever. But it's the chance I take to be a good provider
 

Sully

AnaSCI VET / Donating Member
Dec 3, 2012
3,324
0
36
There's an old Italian conventionalism that says- "there's only 3 ways to achieve wealth. inherit it, marry it, or steal it." I believe there is a fair amount of truth in there. It's obviously not a complete and total truth, but it's far from being what I would call wrong. Inheritance & marriage aside, I don't think anyone has ever achieved monetary wealth without stepping on people. It's up to u to decide whether u can accept that.

As someone said earlier, risk vs. reward. If you're not willing to risk and sacrifice everything, you're unlikely to achieve the financial success that you might crave. I've kicked myself several times for passing on opportunities that turned out to be good mines. I just lacked the foresight and willingness to risk the money, so I missed out on the spoils. And there have been more than one of those opportunities that I look back on and wish I had that opportunity again. I simply have to accept my current situation as the inevitable outcome of my less than stellar decisions in my past.
 

Alinshop

Registered User
May 20, 2013
754
0
0
The only thing I stayed on is the Melanotan 2 - the other peps make me way to hungry for now till I get stable.
The big thing I think I am going to do about money - I am looking into moving to Texas - Arlington or some were near Dallas great economy for construction

Dallas is a great place to live and make money. Good thinking.
 

humpthebobcat

Registered User
Dec 22, 2013
585
0
0
I agree with anasci and lil sully...our country runs on capitalism...which as far as I can see is a smarter person taking advantage of a dumber person in some fashion...the question is, is it morally right to do so? I'm pretty sure Jesus or Buddha would say no...so it comes down to how much your conscious can take screwing other people over
 

amateurmale

AnaSCI VET
May 7, 2013
1,220
0
36
Some of your points of view are similar to the small fat guy in the gym who sees someone in shape and says. "Yeah they just take steroids and have good genes"

Wanna know how to get ahead? Work your ass off! That's how. Saying that you have to be born into it, steal it or marry into it is a cop out.

Oh and also don't vote for socialists.
 

amateurmale

AnaSCI VET
May 7, 2013
1,220
0
36
I agree with anasci and lil sully...our country runs on capitalism...which as far as I can see is a smarter person taking advantage of a dumber person in some fashion...the question is, is it morally right to do so? I'm pretty sure Jesus or Buddha would say no...so it comes down to how much your conscious can take screwing other people over


Omg. Koolaid man Koolaid. Like I said, a cop out. Capitalism provides the highest standard of living for a nation of people ever in the history of the world! Now let's change and go for socialism or communism. Yaaaayyyyy!!! :banghead:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.