I’m in my mid 30s. I work and have been paying max 401k contribution for a while. I also own 2 vehicles less than 10 years old and 100k mi. that were paid off a while ago, I keep mine for as long as they will run safely. Student debt before that. Also proud owner of a paid off 2018 John Deere L110 fwiw. I vacation to nice places but no excess/waste, I air bnb, rent economy cars, fly free southwest if I can, haven’t in ab a year either. I have 400k rewards miles with them from credit card I pay in full every month, and I buy gas with a 5% cash back card for the purpose. I camp a bit with average gear I maintain.
My mortgage was the last thing and had an atypical work event that generated notable extra income. I am already able to save several thousand a month easily and have a lot saved, I was paying additional principal every month. I have a child and another on the way with college funds funded. Wife has similar mindset and makes a really good wage. We haven’t paid $1 for a babysitter bc we’re lucky to work from home and he’s nearly 3 now, our parents watch for outings. The rest will be invested, and a year of expenses set aside ontop of current savings. I’ll continue working and expect another similar event in 24 months. Doing alright now after living cheap, had $0 and was $1,200 in cc debt ab 10 years go.
I bought the house in 2017 with next to nothing down FHA 3.75% (3.9% APR) with high PMI and instead of refinancing with more equity figured I’d pay it off. Bought well below what I qualified for upper $100’s and will stay here a while longer. Might move to a nicer area but I like the house, massive yard, great location in a top 20 metro ab 20 min from downtown, and not in a HOA (never). My lawn equipment and power tools also bought at estate sales except for my john deere. My 20 year old one broke down and used were expensive so I bought new. A lawn company would charge me $60 a week at least so it paid for itself. I’ll continue living this way and feel it’s to the fullest I want it to be. I’ll probably buy some used golf clubs and a bike to celebrate, my last one broke a while ago and have been borrowing my grandpa/dad’s clubs for years which aren’t even good.
February 13, 2021 at 01:12AM
