"100% of people who do not save money do not have any!"--Dave Ramsey

[redpoint5]

For those being taken care of, what career necessities are anchoring them to a specific geographic location?

Best course of action is for the one with greatest earning potential to establish in the region most suitable for that talent, then move the dependents.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

For those being taken care of, what career necessities are anchoring them to a specific geographic location?

Best course of action is for the one with greatest earning potential to establish in the region most suitable for that talent, then move the dependents.

Sounds like a paid-for house and no reason to relocate. It seems like Xist's mom can make ends-meet in Show Low on the income coming in. It also sounds like she is past working age so there is no reason to relocate to greener pastures. In fact living in a low cost area makes sense for someone retired on a fixed income.

On the flip side Xist can live with his mom and doesn't need to work full time. Sure he complains about it but he obviously doesn't dislike living at home enough to do what it takes to become independent. His part time work keeps enough money coming in for things like his shed project and collecting old Hondas.

[redpoint5]

I'm not arguing against all social welfare programs, but they do seem to do a better job creating lifetime dependents than "lifting out of poverty". The evidence suggests those most "helped" are the worst off, and I don't think it's because we're not "helping" enough. Specifically I think of native Americans (though I loath the term because I'm native American; weren't born anywhere else), and how they have the most special programs and are doing the worst. The dullards among us would say we're not doing enough, despite their heart being in the right place. Heart isn't everything when an understanding of cause/effect is at play.

Making it to the next day is necessary, but not sufficient. No wonder many of those addicted to minimal levels of "help" fill the vacuum of meaning with various chemicals (alcohol primarily).

We're meant to do more than make it to tomorrow, and we know it. The Human story requires our attention and participation. It doesn't require fame or fortune, but it does require listening to what the future version of you wants and then honoring that person by pursuing those ends.

[Xist]

Mom keeps saying she is leaving my brother and I the house.

I keep asking her to make it official.

I am not trying to get a free house. Here is a 900-square-foot rental for $1,000: https://homefinder.com/property/5479...w-Low-AZ-85901

I am kind of surprised I found one that cheap.

That is how much the motel where the Alaskans stayed charges per month, although that includes utilities and wifi.

So, if rental prices don't go up for a long time(!) my brother and I could share a studio apartment with one whole parking spot!

It would be great to eventually have a paid-off house. Then I could pay for repairs!

The other thing is that, unless something big changes, I will work until the day I die, so hopefully having an eventually paid-off house would help compensate for cost-of-living expenses increasing as I age.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

Mom keeps saying she is leaving my brother and I the house.

I keep asking her to make it official.

I am not trying to get a free house.

Final wishes do need to be spelled out, and avoiding it often places undue burden on others, because the future always catches up to us.

Having a plan that doesn't rely on others is best. A plan that produces an abundance that passes on to others is even better.

I'm telling my kids they get nothing, to motivate them to pursue their life, but I'll pass something along to them. While we all start life as absolute narcissistic dependents, the entire process of maturing is to gain independence which enables one to be concerned with matters outside oneself. It's a balance of both means and mentality. Someone with high awareness of the needs of others and no means is severely constrained in their usefulness, and those with abundance but low concern for others needs is nearly equally useless.

Finally, wisdom is required to discern between what is truly helpful, and that which are shackles in disguise as a gift.

[Xist]

I got that small business loan Kevin told everyone to get, but when I read the fine print I couldn't use it, so I returned it in full. I keep receiving messages to start making payments, but I hadn't been able to log in and see what I owed.

I finally got in and it says that I owe $500 in interest. It looks like I returned my loan of $12,900.00 on 05/18/2021, with $12,426.85 going to principal, and $473.15 going to interest, leaving a balance of $473.15. I have accrued $25.86 on that and owe a grand total of $499.01.

So, take advice from poor people, not millionaires?

[redpoint5]

Why did he recommend a business loan, and why did you take it?

[Xist]

He sold my soul for clickbait?

I thought I could use it as an investment.

I couldn't.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

He sold my soul for clickbait?

I thought I could use it as an investment.

I couldn't.

What investment were you considering?

[freebeard]

He sold my soul for clickbait?

I thought I could use it as an investment.

I couldn't.

How did you fail? I always figure I could build a house for $10K (with inflation it would be 30K today). A demonstrator that would pivot the entire housing industry toward a more sustainable future.

My success so far is sparse, but I haven't given up.