View Full Version : I just kicked Joe Dominguez in the nuts
So I started with simple living back in the early 90s. I think with Elaine St James but it was really YMOYL and this forum (I started with the predecessor forum in the mid 90s) that shaped my views for a long time. One of the best sub-forums used to be the Enough forum, which people frequently misunderstood as having had enough meaning being fed up. But really it was intended as a place for people to recognize they had enough to step back from the hedonic treadmill and lead a more simple life.
Here's my confession: I have had enough simplicity :0!. I've paid everything off, saved enough to retire twice over, fully funded my kids' education, and gave my ex enough to retire comfortably too. Now the marginal utility of dollars saved is significantly outweighed by my sense of having only a limited time left, so I've gone from YMOYL to YOLO. I buy expensive wine, take extravagant vacations, see a play or a concert every week, and eat out almost every night. By YMOYL or MMM terms I am a failure or deserve many face punches. But I feel great about it and have had more fun in the last year or two than I can remember.
Anyone else toed the line long enough to walk away from the principles that guided you for so long?
I am transitioning there this coming year. It’s the last year of my daughter’s college, so after that, when I do the math, we can live much more...exuberantly. After ~20 years of being “retired” I have a good grasp of our expenses and capabilities, and don’t see running out of capital before I run out of days-on-Earth.
sweetana3
10-10-17, 6:25am
It is almost, no it is, harder for me to spend than it was to save. We have enough for retirement and additional help, whether good assisted living or hiring help.
Been retired 10 years and we are finally loosening the spending. Business class sure makes flying easier. Not easy just easier.
We live everyday life with great frugality. We take great vacations (box seats for NASCAR not the bleachers and 2 room hotel suites not the cheapest small room) and I spent a cool bundle on my new (last) car. We eat out any time we feel like it (read, I'm too tired to cook after a long day at work). Other than that, we really don't spend much.
i love the phrase I heard years ago "now that I can afford broccoli, I'd rather grow it". This sort of sums us up:cool:
iris lilies
10-10-17, 9:59am
Good for you, YO! Way to go!
i dont know, I found my limit yesterday at the grocery store. While in the old days of frugality I never ever would buy red raspberries, in recent years I have been buying them whenever I want them, multiple boxes at a time for $3.99 each. But yesterday they were $4.99 per box and I couldn't bring myself to buy them.
I am adjusting into "spend down assets" mode but am mindful of the the spectre of Alzheimer's disease since it is rampant in my family and I dont want to leave my spouse impoverished or hobbled.
Sad Eyed Lady
10-10-17, 10:22am
A lot of us have been on this journey for many years, so maybe it is an age thing where we realize life is getting shorter, I don't know. I too have been thinking along the same lines. DH & I both loved being part of the simple living movement, it made so much sense and we embraced many aspects of it. It fit with how we defined our lives anyway, having come from the "hippie days" of the '60's and had never been big on materialism, wanting to take better care of the planet etc. Now, having just turned 66 and alone in my life, I still don't WANT THINGS, but like iris lillies and the raspsberries, I am a bit looser in spending on some things. Also, like IR, I drew the line lately when avocados were selling for $1.99 each! I will wait. Sometimes when I am looking for a bargain, I think to myself "why?". I have turned 66 years of age, I have no one to leave an inheritance to, and DH & I have worked for the money that I now have. Not that I am wealthy by any means. Just having lived frugally, we were able to save for the future and now the future is here. After seeing my beloved DH pass away literally in the blink of an eye with no warning, (or any that we read anyway), I know life is short and uncertain. I still believe simple living is the way to go, especially when you are young and beginning life's journey. Don't fall into the advertisement game telling you want you NEED, UPDATE, UPGRADE, SPEND. Think for yourself, make wise choices and live below your means. But, at this age and stage in life, not sure I am going to adhere to that 100%. My house is paid for, my car is paid for and only about 3 years old, (a Prius C hybrid), so not a lot of expense there, so I do have some extra savings to enjoy for the time I have left. I guess. Who knows. Sorry, for the ramble. I wanted to answer this intelligently since the same thought has been on my mind recently, but instead I rambled through with my comment.
JaneV2.0
10-10-17, 10:32am
I've never had trouble spending money--even when money was short--but I can be frugal when it suits me. I have enough now.
I'm fully in the YOLO camp at this point--though I wouldn't spend $5 on a tiny box of raspberries, either.
Float On
10-10-17, 11:19am
But yesterday they were $4.99 per box and I couldn't bring myself to buy them.
They were $5.49 here yesterday....I looked and held them a little while and even tried to smell through the plastic container....but I put them back.:(
Williamsmith
10-10-17, 12:21pm
They were $5.49 here yesterday....I looked and held them a little while and even tried to smell through the plastic container....but I put them back.:(
Reminds me of my childhood. My friends and I would play sandlot baseball. Just behind the outfield fence were lots of blackberry and raspberry bushes. The game would sometimes breakdown when the outfielders got hungry and began snacking instead of catching flyballs.
I found my limit yesterday at the grocery store. While in the old days of frugality I never ever would buy red raspberries, in recent years I have been buying them whenever I want them, multiple boxes at a time for $3.99 each. But yesterday they were $4.99 per box and I couldn't bring myself to buy them.
.
I snapped the other day. I normally don't buy corn-on-the-cob until it gets to 6-12 ears per dollar. I was buying some things at the grocery store to make a dinner just for myself, and I bought 2 ears for a dollar. I felt unclean, but heck, YOLO.
I snapped the other day. I normally don't buy corn-on-the-cob until it gets to 6-12 ears per dollar. I was buying some things at the grocery store to make a dinner just for myself, and I bought 2 ears for a dollar. I felt unclean, but heck, YOLO.
:D
Teacher Terry
10-10-17, 1:28pm
Yes the last 3 years we have embraced the spending mode. We are taking 2 big trips a year, going out to eat, going to events, etc. We are having a great time. We are not buying things and have been getting rid of things. I do need a new couch but am waiting for the 80lb shedding machine to die before we get one.
iris lilies
10-10-17, 1:31pm
They were $5.49 here yesterday....I looked and held them a little while and even tried to smell through the plastic container....but I put them back.:(
Haha, sniffing them. Poor you!
I think an important distinction here needs to be made between frugality, which to my mind means living below your means as a strategy to husbanding your resources against the time when you will need them (i.e., "saving for a rainy day") versus voluntary simplicity (http://www.duaneelgin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/the_value_of_voluntary_simplicity.pdf). The former is a strategy; the latter is a lifestyle.
I'm not saying one is better than the other. I've been a simple liver for many years, partly by choice but mostly by temperament. But lately, like Yossarian, I find myself considering treating myself more often now that I have not just enough but more than enough. I guess I've concluded that a better motto than "less is more" is "all things in moderation."
frugal-one
10-10-17, 6:15pm
Another person at the point of YOLO! I have been planning and taking more vacations, spending more for food and drink and doing whatever I please. I do, however, have limits as to what I will spend for things... as others here mentioned. I have a hard time spending $60-$100 for one pair of pants for instance. It totally goes against the grain.
I turned 60 this year and I'm defiantly shifting to the YOLO camp. After seeing my dad and some of my other relatives in declining health makes me realize that I have more than enough. Now I can't spend 5 milllion for a new Plane, but we can defiantly take more trips and do pretty much what we want.
The wife wants a new Lincoln SUV. There really is no reason not to get one, her old car is 7 years old now.
iris lilies
10-10-17, 7:35pm
Another person at the point of YOLO! I have been planning and taking more vacations, spending more for food and drink and doing whatever I please. I do, however, have limits as to what I will spend for things... as others here mentioned. I have a hard time spending $60-$100 for one pair of pants for instance. It totally goes against the grain.
Pants! I got a few pairs at rhe thrift store but they were thigh length so only for very casual occasions.
I couldn't fnd simple black stretchy active wear pants in my length. So, I bought some new ones on ebay for $18. But that cost was bugging me necause I a, used to Goodwill pants at $3.50. Today I stopped into Target to check those types of pants amd found them for $24 and $29. That is Waaaaasy too much for dumb poly strech pants, but
I am content with that $18 now.
rosarugosa
10-10-17, 7:41pm
"I just kicked Joe Dominguez in the nuts," so charming.
Yes--it's hard to beat thrift store clothes for value. I used to hit the discounters when I was feeling flush. I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I will willingly pay full retail for clothes.
I pretty much get all my clothes from a small number of vendors: Cabellas, Duluth Trading, REI, Filson, LL Bean. Every year, each vendor has multiple opportunities to get 30-40% off, so I don’t buy anything until they have a sale. And Filson has one outlet store, and a nice person there who will tell me on the phone if they have what I want before I bother to take the trip there.
Like many of our forum members I came across YMOYL a long time ago. At the time I went through all the steps, but the one that had the most meaning to me was tracking expenses. I was already reasonably frugal because that's always been my nature, but the tracking step and applying the life energy calculation showed several areas where I felt like I was overspending for not much bang for my buck. Things like eating lunch out on work days were wildly out of wack with where I wanted them to be. For about 3 years I tracked expenses closely until I was pretty happy with how the chart looked. Then I stopped tracking.
A few months ago I thought about tracking again so I decided to start with a macro view. I crunched the numbers (ok, actually I took my last pay stub from 2016 and then added info that wasn't on it) and figured out the following big picture. I spent 35% of my income on income taxes and social security withholding, 31% went into savings (401k, roth ira, a few non-tax-advantaged investments) and the remaining 34% covered all the things I actually spend money on (rent, food, eating out, travel, car expenses, etc.) This with me not really making an effort to watch what I spend. Admittedly I don't have a lot of expensive tastes. I wear jeans and old pullover collared shirts to work. I own a 15 year old Honda that I inherited from my father. (with only 34k miles on it. Assuming that it will last to 250k miles, given how little we drive I will be dead before it's worn out...) I still have most of the furniture I got in my first apartment in NYC. But we drop $100 or so every week eating out on Friday, usually with friends. And are wine club members at several wineries. And take at least one big vacation per year plus several smaller long weekend type trips. In other words I spend money where I enjoy it and not where I don't.
The reality that I'm not depriving myself but still only spending 34% of my income made me realize that I really don't need to don a scratchy hair shirt and deprive myself just for the sake of saving a few sheckels. The biggest part of my actual spending is rent. Yes, we could maybe save a few hundred per month if we moved out of this city, but the reality is that we LOVE our neighborhood and our apartment and the convenience of being close to things.
The reality is that I still enjoy my job so I don't really feel any urgency to quit it. But if I decided tomorrow or next week that I did, I could. At my current burn rate, even if my assets only keep even with inflation I could live 20 years. That's probably not enough to retire on since I'm only 50, but if I keep working another 10 years it likely will be, especially if I continue to save during that time. So with all that in mind I've decided not to start tracking my spending again.
SteveinMN
10-10-17, 11:03pm
I think oldhat makes a valuable point about the difference between living simply voluntarily and living frugally. In my experience, the two often are at cross purposes. I have been known to buy an item or two while I'm out on errands even when I know those items are more expensive where I am -- because it's simpler than driving to the other store where those items are cheaper (or than ordering on-line).
I also think there's also a difference between a splurge ($3.99 raspberries) and regularly (out)spending one's income to keep up with the Joneses -- to be on the edge of things financially with a new-car payment (or two) and a McMansion payment and fancy new clothes and house décor all the time. Sort of like a "cheat day" on a diet -- you have to keep it liveable.
We're not ready to kick anyone anywhere. For us the big challenge will be ensuring we're financially stable through the several years between when we quit working full-time career jobs to the time we reach 66-67. We had a lot of big expenses this year so I'm hopeful next year will be a good time to return to when we routinely could bank more than we spent. By American standards we are still way ahead of the game. But we can't quite see the finish line yet.
BikingLady
10-11-17, 7:21am
Being frugal is so different to each and everyone. It is only a luxury when you have it to be frugal with. We have been on all sides, poor so we never even knew we were poor. To wow we had a cushion in the bank of one check. To Oh the boom years, then the Oh no what ifs happened. To today peace.
You can not take it with you, but you can't run out before. Oh that is the dilemma, like how many licks does it take to the center of a tootsie pop.
rosarugosa
10-11-17, 9:10am
Love your tootsie pop analogy, BikingLady!
iris lilies
10-11-17, 10:24am
Love your tootsie pop analogy, BikingLady!
I know, that is funny!
I've lived the frugal life so long that I've grown to like some aspects of it. My accumulations have allowed me to spend more where I might have scrimped a few years ago, but it's mostly improving the quality of what I already have rather than getting more things. I get quality clothing and footwear, good tires, a car that I don't have to worry about breaking down, good insulation and windows for the home, and nicer computers and music center electronics. I'd mostly rather cook at home than eat out and am not comfortable in motels. I'm a little preoccupied with my carbon footprint which keeps spending down.
Maybe things will come up and I'll spend it all, but I don't feel any strong obligation for that. Maybe the nursing home will get what's left or maybe some nice charity will benefit. I just don't think about money as much anymore, which is very nice.
I've lived the frugal life so long that I've grown to like some aspects of it...... I just don't think about money as much anymore, which is very nice.
These 2 statements sum up the value of all the hard work of YMOYL. It is truly a blessing not think about money anymore.....we earn....we save....we spend.
The wife wants a new Lincoln SUV. There really is no reason not to get one, her old car is 7 years old now.
I generally keep cars 15-20 years or so. I don't put many miles on them, and if you get a decent car, it seems to last. My personal regular drivers are a 1998 (small convertible), a 1999 (big truck), and a 2003 (fast sports/GT car). None has more than 40,000 miles on the odometer.
This summer, I was thinking of getting a 4-door sedan, as we are squiring around more guests, and taking more cross-country driving trips with people who don't appreciate being stuffed into a small sports car or noisy truck. I was going to get the boring choice - a Tesla Model S. However, another American company, Dodge, makes a truly stupid and insane 4-door sedan, with > 700 hp, which does the 1/4 mile in the 10 second range, and has a top speed of > 200 mph. I was sort of lusting after this insane supercharged V8 Interceptor, but it's too stupid. My wife sweetly pointed out "Dear, your reflexes and eyesight won't ever be any better than they are now, get the race car now, and get the Tesla next time you upgrade. Enjoy yourself!"
So here's my new Tesla.... Which is not frugal or simple, but I could easily afford it, and my wife was right, it's not like I'll enjoy something this silly more...later.
https://i.imgur.com/mk1OvAd.jpg
I generally keep cars 15-20 years or so. I don't put many miles on them, and if you get a decent car, it seems to last. My personal regular drivers are a 1998 (small convertible), a 1999 (big truck), and a 2003 (fast sports/GT car). None has more than 40,000 miles on the odometer.
This summer, I was thinking of getting a 4-door sedan, as we are squiring around more guests, and taking more cross-country driving trips with people who don't appreciate being stuffed into a small sports car or noisy truck. I was going to get the boring choice - a Tesla Model S. However, another American company, Dodge, makes a truly stupid and insane 4-door sedan, with > 700 hp, which does the 1/4 mile in the 10 second range, and has a top speed of > 200 mph. I was sort of lusting after this insane supercharged V8 Interceptor, but it's too stupid. My wife sweetly pointed out "Dear, your reflexes and eyesight won't ever be any better than they are now, get the race car now, and get the Tesla next time you upgrade. Enjoy yourself!"
So here's my new Tesla.... Which is not frugal or simple, but I could easily afford it, and my wife was right, it's not like I'll enjoy something this silly more...later.
https://i.imgur.com/mk1OvAd.jpg
I hear they run on electricity and tax subsidies. If enough people buy them, Elon Musk will be able to colonize Mars. We're going to need more zip codes.
I hear they run on electricity and tax subsidies. If enough people buy them, Elon Musk will be able to colonize Mars. We're going to need more zip codes.
Well, my "Tesla" seems to run on fermented dinosaur blood and the whimpering souls of liberals.
(I honestly can't believe they sell cars like this right-off-the-lot to random people, it seems very unwise to put an inexperienced driver on the street with something this ill-considered.)
That must be the new Dodge Tesla. Very Rare!
Well, my "Tesla" seems to run on fermented dinosaur blood and the whimpering souls of liberals.
(I honestly can't believe they sell cars like this right-off-the-lot to random people, it seems very unwise to put an inexperienced driver on the street with something this ill-considered.)
Your auto insurance must run more than my mortgage. Do you get missile launchers or artificial intelligence with that trim level?
That must be the new Dodge Tesla. Very Rare!
They had to equip it to go "vroom vroom" so buyers felt they were getting their money's worth. I got to drive a Viper once. You had to keep an eye on the speed gauge all the time. My Ford Focus starts screaming and making odd whistling sounds at me at higher speeds. It's a good safety feature.
Your auto insurance must run more than my mortgage. Do you get missile launchers or artificial intelligence with that trim level?
I think insurance was about $600/year or so. Probably because they figure I can only drive one car at once, don't have any at-fault accidents ever, got my last speeding ticket in 1988, and have EVD certification and yearly quals.
If they only knew.....
This poor thing has far far less AI than the Tesla, which as far as I can tell is mostly a super-fast iPad with 4 doors. The Tesla computer stuff was pretty nifty, I will concede. The AI on this is mostly devoted to the "car" part of it - suspension control, braking control, steering, traction, engine - you can press a few buttons and completely retune the car anywhere from sedate-ish highway cruiser to sporty road-course machine to NASCAR-mode to a pure drag-racing beast. So in a way it's frugal, as it potentially replaces 3-4 other autos.
I think insurance was about $600/year or so. Probably because they figure I can only drive one car at once, don't have any at-fault accidents ever, got my last speeding ticket in 1988, and have EVD certification and yearly quals.
If they only knew.....
This poor thing has far far less AI than the Tesla, which as far as I can tell is mostly a super-fast iPad with 4 doors. The Tesla computer stuff was pretty nifty, I will concede. The AI on this is mostly devoted to the "car" part of it - suspension control, braking control, steering, traction, engine - you can press a few buttons and completely retune the car anywhere from sedate-ish highway cruiser to sporty road-course machine to NASCAR-mode to a pure drag-racing beast. So in a way it's frugal, as it potentially replaces 3-4 other autos.
I'm going to tell my wife about the new way I've come across to save us a fortune.
The wife's car has about 120,000 miles on it. We bought it new and it's been a good car. But when we moved we sold my big truck, 3/4 ton diesel. There are times when we miss the ability to haul some larger items. Our other car is her old Porsche. So we are thinking a full size SUV would be handy.
When we travel we generaly take the plane and rent a car, so we currently don't put on as many miles as we use to.
They had to equip it to go "vroom vroom" so buyers felt they were getting their money's worth. I got to drive a Viper once. You had to keep an eye on the speed gauge all the time. My Ford Focus starts screaming and making odd whistling sounds at me at higher speeds. It's a good safety feature.
Somehow youtube served up to me a bunch of videos of a guy who likes to go to drag strips with his Tesla. It was quite amusing watching his silent car beat the pants off most of the other guys with their screaming muscle cars.
iris lilies
10-11-17, 9:51pm
Well, my "Tesla" seems to run on fermented dinosaur blood and the whimpering souls of liberals.
(I honestly can't believe they sell cars like this right-off-the-lot to random people, it seems very unwise to put an inexperienced driver on the street with something this ill-considered.)
Of course it is fast, red cars are the fastest.
SteveinMN
10-12-17, 10:16am
I've heard red adds at least 20 hp to a car...
This talk has brought back memories of my first car, many years ago.......a very used VW Beetle. The battery was hanging half out under the car; the horn would honk every time I turned left, and the driver's door would pop open too. There was a hole under my feet , so my mechanic fixed it as cheaply as possible......which meant adding a metal plate underneath with screws.......which would dig into the sole of my left shoe. It wouldn't always start and I'd have to pop the clutch while being pushed down the driveway by friends. It had no heat, so in the winter I had to carry a scraper for the inside of the windshield so I could (sort of) see out. But it got me wherever I wanted to go........most of the time. Ahhh.....good times!
Yossarian
10-12-17, 1:34pm
it's not like I'll enjoy something this silly more...later.
Indeed. For years the operating principle was deferred gratification, i.e. resisting a smaller but more immediate reward in order to receive a larger reward later. I don't know if there is a technical term for it, but now I think for some things the deferral results in diminished returns, not enhanced returns.
Ah, rationalization is a wonderful tool.
This talk has brought back memories of my first car, many years ago.......a very used VW Beetle.
My first car, which I purchased my senior year of college, was a 1968 Datsun 510 station wagon, so it was 16 years old at the time I got it. I paid < $300 for it, and the value of the Sears Craftsman tools I had in the back to keep it operational exceeded the value of the car. Someone stole it once *and brought it back* a week later - apparently it was too lame to keep. I loved that car.
My first car was a 1977 Mercury Bobcat that I bought by selling my coin collection. You had to turn off the air conditioning to get up steep hills. I should have kept the coins.
My first car was a 1977 Mercury Bobcat that I bought by selling my coin collection. You had to turn off the air conditioning to get up steep hills. I should have kept the coins.
My wife-to-be got pulled over driving my Datsun, and the nice officer told her he'd clocked her at 72mph.
She laughed. "I didn't know this could even break 60 mph, it must have been downhill. I'll see if my boyfriend will put the speedometer back in." By that point the Datsun was mostly duct-tape colored.
The officer let her off with a warning, after some consideration of the merits of her argument.
My wife-to-be got pulled over driving my Datsun, and the nice officer told her he'd clocked her at 72mph.
She laughed. "I didn't know this could even break 60 mph, it must have been downhill. I'll see if my boyfriend will put the speedometer back in." By that point the Datsun was mostly duct-tape colored.
The officer let her off with a warning, after some consideration of the merits of her argument.
The cops never stopped my Bobcat. Either they were embarrassed to be seen with it or they were afraid the gas tank might suddenly explode. Or they could have made the assumption that anyone driving such a car was too poor to pay traffic fines.
LOL.......these 'first car' stories are funny! I loved my little VW.....but it had its challenges, for sure. I took the interstate to visit my parents a number of times. Not the safest car....with nothing but an empty trunk in the front. I always pictured myself driving down the interstate with nothing in the front, except my legs hanging over. My little bug also had the habit in winter, for awhile, of sometimes staling when I would turn right. It was winter, and someone told me to get some stuff to put in the gas tank to help with that. (not sure why that would help turning right!). So I bought a can to keep in the car with me. I also had a hankerin' for spaghettios once (forgive me, I was young and stupid), so I bought a can on the way home one night. Sure enough, I turned right into a street and the car stalled. A guy walking on the sidewalk asked if he could help. It was dark and I grabbed the can of stuff for the gas tank to show him what someone told me to use, but accidentally grabbed the spaghettios without realizing it and said "I've been told to use this." hahaha
Having survived some of these "adventures" of youth, I can now laugh at them.
Too poor to pay traffic fines.
I guess you didn't live in Ferguson where they lock you up if you can't pay the fines. Making money off indigent motorists and criminalizing civil infractions is a disturbing trend in parts of the country, as is increasing criminalization of childhood mischief in our schools.
But I guess it is easier to generate revenues off poor people than to get the taxes needed to fund local governments adequately passed.
Williamsmith
10-13-17, 3:33am
My wife-to-be got pulled over driving my Datsun, and the nice officer told her he'd clocked her at 72mph.
She laughed. "I didn't know this could even break 60 mph, it must have been downhill. I'll see if my boyfriend will put the speedometer back in." By that point the Datsun was mostly duct-tape colored.
The officer let her off with a warning, after some consideration of the merits of her argument.
I recall stopping a young woman driving a dodge neon of questionable mechanical condition. She was doing 82mph in a 65mph zone. The moment in a traffic stop between the time the first approach to the driver and when the window goes down is similar to the anticipation of opening an unexpected wrapped package. The condition of the car is a hint ....like shaking the package.
I was direct as usual....”I stopped you for speeding, is there an emergency or something I need to know about?” I preferred to get the excuse out of the way immediately. She asked how fast and upon being told my certified and tested radar had her at 82, she responded, “That’s impossible, the steering wheel shakes at 70mph!”
A few minutes and a written warning later later she was off like a trout released back into the water.
I guess you didn't live in Ferguson where they lock you up if you can't pay the fines. Making money off indigent motorists and criminalizing civil infractions is a disturbing trend in parts of the country, as is increasing criminalization of childhood mischief in our schools.
But I guess it is easier to generate revenues off poor people than to get the taxes needed to fund local governments adequately passed.
Yes, nothing screams white privilege like a used Bobcat, it being the more luxurious version of the Pinto..
My childhood mischief was often punished with methods that might be treated as criminal today.
iris lilies
10-13-17, 10:58am
I guess you didn't live in Ferguson where they lock you up if you can't pay the fines. Making money off indigent motorists and criminalizing civil infractions is a disturbing trend in parts of the country, as is increasing criminalization of childhood mischief in our schools.
But I guess it is easier to generate revenues off poor people than to get the taxes needed to fund local governments adequately passed.
Sweetheart, they dont lock anyone up in Ferguson for outstanding traffic fines.
We can barely get perpetrators of assult and more serious crimes locked up around here.
All that means is that someone drives around with outstanding warrents and IF picked up MAY be hauled in to be immediatley released. An inconvenience in their day for sure, but no jail time.
LOL.......these 'first car' stories are funny! I loved my little VW.....but it had its challenges, for sure. I took the interstate to visit my parents a number of times. Not the safest car....with nothing but an empty trunk in the front. I always pictured myself driving down the interstate with nothing in the front, except my legs hanging over. My little bug also had the habit in winter, for awhile, of sometimes staling when I would turn right. It was winter, and someone told me to get some stuff to put in the gas tank to help with that. (not sure why that would help turning right!). So I bought a can to keep in the car with me. I also had a hankerin' for spaghettios once (forgive me, I was young and stupid), so I bought a can on the way home one night. Sure enough, I turned right into a street and the car stalled. A guy walking on the sidewalk asked if he could help. It was dark and I grabbed the can of stuff for the gas tank to show him what someone told me to use, but accidentally grabbed the spaghettios without realizing it and said "I've been told to use this." hahaha
Having survived some of these "adventures" of youth, I can now laugh at them.
My dad owned a bug. I remember that if you shut both doors at the same time it made your ears pop.
iris lilies
10-13-17, 12:06pm
I leadned to drive on a stick shift Volkswagon bug.
JaneV2.0
10-13-17, 12:31pm
I learned to drive a stick shift coming home from the VW dealership in rush hour traffic. Drove the whole way in second gear.
I learned to drive a stick shift coming home from the VW dealership in rush hour traffic. Drove the whole way in second gear.
LOL! I loved my bug. It went up slick hills in winter when other cars couldn't. One time my dad, for some reason, wanted to use my car to drive him and 2 other men somewhere in town. I went along, to drive back. We were going up a small incline that lasted a while and the car filled up with smoke. My father was laughing, but continuing. (See if I ever let you use MY car again DAD!!) Whatever happened, went away, fortunately. It was sort of like the little engine that could.........
Actually, this was the second Bug in a very short time. The first one had all sorts of problems and I immediately took it back to the shady used car dealer. He at least gave me another one, which was a tad better. He was a creep. At the time I was working in an E.R. A day after I had off, someone there told me that this creep had been brought to the E.R. in an ambulance........some kid had sliced his neck with a knife because he came on to him.
I was soooooooo disappointed I was off that day. :devil:
Sweetheart, they dont lock anyone up in Ferguson for outstanding traffic fines.
We can barely get perpetrators of assult and more serious crimes locked up around here.
All that means is that someone drives around with outstanding warrents and IF picked up MAY be hauled in to be immediatley released. An inconvenience in their day for sure, but no jail time.
You're probably correct. Jails cost money and since the police force in ferguson exists not to reduce crime, but instead is there to bring in revenue, it makes much more sense to just fine people into oblivion. After all, if they never can get ahead of it then you can just keep stopping them and keep tacking on fines and penalties.
catherine
10-13-17, 2:18pm
My first car story:
I REALLY wanted the Datsun 510 that bae mentioned. A new one. So I went to my family advisor, my uncle, to see what he thought. He asked me to do up a monthly budget for him to look at and on the basis of that, he told me I shouldn't get a new car, BUT his daughter, my cousin, had a car she could sell me for $100, and it was only a couple of years old. She had just recently driven across the country and back in it with her Hare Krishna friends, but otherwise, it hadn't much mileage. I thought, wow, too good to be true! You know what they say about "too good to be true."
This was a manual Chevy Vega, and for some reason, the paint was singed off in a very weird pattern all across the entire body of the car. I have no idea what had happened to the car, but my heart sunk when I saw it. Plus I had to learn how to drive a stick shift in order to get it out of my uncle's driveway.
I had the car until I got married a couple of years later, when I gave it to my mother, who was completely broke at the time. She had to learn how to drive stick to drive it, too.
Wish I knew the story behind that Vega and the stripped paint. The Datsun 510 sure would have been nice!
I learned to drive a shift in an early '60s Rambler station wagon. My father made my slightly older brother teach me in the arena parking lot at Purdue (when nobody was there!). I loved using the stick shift and was sort of sad when it was no longer the usual. But automatic was a good thing, once my knees went bad. Took a long time to learn not to always lift my left leg and reach for the stick though!
Sorry for getting a bit off-topic Yossarian!
Williamsmith
10-13-17, 2:26pm
Because of reciprocity.....nobody goes to jail for traffic violations. Licenses get suspended. First of all, you’d have to screw up your own day by arresting someone. Secondly, you have to exercise due process and take them before a judge. Thirdly, the judge doesn’t like you screwing up his schedule for a traffic violation and he lets you know about it. Fourthly, after the judge has his hearing, sets up another payment schedule which will undoubtedly be defaulted on even though it is equal to the price of a pack of cigarettes a month.......you get to take the offender back to where you picked him or her up. Just one big waste of taxpayer money. So no.....nobody goes to jail unless they happen to have a kilo of cocaine in that impounded car somewhere. Then being a traffic violator really sucks.
You think Joe D. Ever got a traffic ticket?
We were going up a small incline that lasted a while and the car filled up with smoke. My wife had that exact car and all the same problems you've mentioned as her first car. The only malady she experienced that you haven't already mentioned is that her back seat would routinely catch fire. It's because the seat sat directly over the battery and pressure on the seat, or sometimes something as insignificant as a left hand turn, would cause the seat to touch the battery terminals, resulting in sparks. I'll bet that's where your smoke came from.
My wife had that exact car and all the same problems you've mentioned as her first car. The only malady she experienced that you haven't already mentioned is that her back seat would routinely catch fire. It's because the seat sat directly over the battery and pressure on the seat, or sometimes something as insignificant as a left hand turn, would cause the seat to touch the battery terminals, resulting in sparks. I'll bet that's where your smoke came from.
LOL Alan. How did we survive back then? Hmmm.....thinking back on that time with 2 of my father's colleagues in the back seat.........I wonder if one of their butts got really hot?? :~)
But isn't that the whole reason behind living a frugal, simple lifestyle? Being mindful of what brings you pleasure and living your life so you spend your time and money on what YOU want - not what we're taught to want and following along like lemmings. Enjoy your YOLO!
Gardenarian
11-2-17, 1:58am
Well said, beckyliz :)
I loved my 1st car, $165 worth of rusted out Karmann Ghia - holes and all. And I still prefer to shop in thrift stores and am happy with my 13 year old Scion.
I also enjoy getting great seats to the latest Oregon Shakespeare Festival production, buying the best (not cheapest) local produce from the co-op, and supporting and taking part in a lot of the environmental groups here in Southern Oregon. And the occasional trip to Europe. YOLO!
A good reminder Beckyliz! There are some basics that can get forgotten. YMOYL for me was about redefining a relationship with money to better align our life with our core values. My values go beyond just having enough money but having enough time and include some giving back to friends, family and community.
My first car was a 1957 Studebaker given to me by a great uncle in poor health. Even at the time it was a little bit of a conversation piece and a great car.
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