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

[freebeard]

...buy a $500-$700 house

I paid $900 for mine, but some around here have gone for 100-$500. One neighbor bought from someone moving out and sold his 30ft motor home to a homeless guy for $1.

There should never be a program in which someone benefits financially by deciding to go from full-time work, to part-time, or from some work to no work.

Suppose there were a government program that sequestered monthly garnishments (impervious to exigent needs and ex-wifes) and then reimbursed that after the job market isn't a viable option.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I paid $900 for mine, but some around here have gone for 100-$500. One neighbor bought from someone moving out and sold his 30ft motor home to a homeless guy for $1.

Either I forgot the K or... Ya, I meant half a million or more.

I remember my parents' house that I grew up in originally costing them $14,000 with land, garage and all.

[freebeard]

If I spent that much on a house, it should shelter me, feed me and put spending money in my pocket.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Suppose there were a government program that sequestered monthly garnishments (impervious to exigent needs and ex-wifes) and then reimbursed that after the job market isn't a viable option.

I'm open to that, so long as that program doesn't assume population growth to always be the same, or create weasel ways to raid the funds ultimately resulting in insolvency and the need to either screw future retirees, or punish careful savers.

Another idea is folks could opt out, and be responsible for their own retirement savings, all consequences and contingencies assumed. I'd gladly forfeit all of the money I've contributed with the promise I'd never be coerced into paying another cent into the poorly implemented system, and I've already contributed half of my working years.

[freebeard]

Haven't read it, but may apply:
The Citizen Shareholder: Modernizing the Agency Paradigm to Reflect How and Why a Majority of Americans Invest in the Market

Citizen shareholder, as a term, also recognizes the relationship between economic interests in corporate actions and social and political interests of investors as members/citizens of society.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Haven't read it, but may apply:
The Citizen Shareholder: Modernizing the Agency Paradigm to Reflect How and Why a Majority of Americans Invest in the Market

I don't need to read an article to understand why a majority of Americans have some position in the stock market. The transaction cost sunk to zero, and no other investment vehicle has returned so much, so consistently, for so long. If there's no barrier to entry, and no better alternative (perfect knowledge of the future being impossible), the better question would be why some Americans are not invested.

[freebeard]

Maybe Xist will care.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Suppose there were a government program that sequestered monthly garnishments (impervious to exigent needs and ex-wifes) and then reimbursed that after the job market isn't a viable option.

Pondered this a bit more, and solved all the problems in the process.

Social Security becomes an opt out proposition, meaning the default is you're in it unless otherwise specified. You can opt out at any time, but that decision forfeits all contributions previously made. It also forfeits all future entitlements.

That allows folks like me to opt out, contributing free money to resolve the solvency crisis SS is faced with, while thriving in private investments into the future. Instead of the government struggling to return pennies on my dollar, they can have it all while I am content to earn dollars on my pennies.

If somehow my investments are proved unwise, I poop anywhere in San Francisco for free. It's a foolproof system, really.

*Speaking honestly, I have too much dignity to poop in San Francisco. I'd poop in the woods, like all the other dignified creatures.

[freebeard]

No reparations without repatriation.

[Isaac Zachary]

I found a place for only $299,000 on Zillow. It turned out to be a vacant lot. I need to stop looking at buying a house. It's depressing.

I did find a place in my price range only 3 hours from my place of work:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...59001633_zpid/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MKw7Ad7ZtU