acdii

Yep, you can scrimp and save all you want, do without things that would make you happy, save a few million, and drop dead from a heart attack before you can even use it. I'm doing things that we never did when I was a kid, like RV trips across the country, something that my parents planned, but never did because my father died at 54 from Pancreatic cancer. I'm not getting any savings from my mom when she passes, and there was never a college plan for me, I did it all on my own. If my kids want it, work hard for it now for a scholarship, set your goals because college isn't cheap, so you had better take the courses that earn money and not for some useless diploma.

If my son decides to take a trade, and finds a decent school, I'll of course help, and if my daughter pursues an art career, I will help guide her towards finding the right one that will earn her a good paycheck, she is a very good artist at her age, so hoping that she can channel it towards something that pays well. End result though, they will have to work hard for it like I did, then they will appreciate it, and have the self pride one gets when they accomplish something and wasn't handed a participation trophy.

In the meantime, I'm working hard for my money and damn well going to enjoy it while I can before cancer, or some other calamity strikes. I have my retirement plan, and a pension, and by the time I'm ready to retire, the house will be paid for, and plan to sell it and get an RV and travel the country while I still can. If something happens before then, I have good life insurance that will take care of my wife and kids after I'm gone.

If you can afford it, why the hell not!

elfiero

I live my life by the motto: If I ain’t got the cash in my pocket, I don’t buy it. That includes cars, trucks, houses, etc. If you’re not in debt, your life becomes your own. Ask me how I know.

Stu Cazzo

There's a lot of opinions and a lot of varying degrees of interpretation of what wealth is and what someone can afford.

Unfortunately asking for advice on a matter such as this is sure to solicit a variety of responses...however in reality the only person who can truly determine what they can afford is they themselves only.

Life is a series and sequence of choices - events and decisions. Every choice and decision a person makes in some way will impact their life.

I believe that many people make choices and decisions which they know at the time is probably not the right choice to make...however maybe out of selfishness and/or desire the choice is made...say perhaps to spend more on something than they know they probably shouldn't have.

(we sometimes refer to this as buyers remorse)

So long as the person can live with the outcomes of their decisions - no problem.

People do however seek validation seeking forgiveness or agreement to the negative outcomes of their decisions sometimes which I will refuse to provide.

Anyway...good luck!

Tiredofeverything

One tip. Act your wage.

it's not rocket science by any means.

gregsf150stx

Best answer in the thread. Discussion over.

moparado

HUH! 3700 - 295 = $3405/month

You must have one hell of a mortgage payment pljus credit card, other debts and/or expensive habits.
------------------

To the OP'er, my biggest regrets in life is summed up as:
shoulda, woulda, coulda!

UncleG

Nah, this is the best answer.

JerseyGray

Simple, NO.
Buy your "dream truck" used for half the price.

Koolponycar

I also say NO to P&I on a mortgage. It seems most want to start out with large houses with big mortgages and then that equals higher heating and cooling bills, etc., My dad when he was here would always say to me, if you ride big, you pay big. It finally sunk in for me. I got rid of the big houses and now have a much smaller one with energy efficient features. I see so many people get theirselves into trouble living above their means and I use to do it, no more. If it is really affordable then its OK, but if its questionable, then there is your answer.

Tiredofeverything

nah. I was raised on a mentality that you drive a beater, save, and then only buy vehicles with cash. So any payment is cross grain to what was instilled in me from a young age. It's my own personal feelibg, but feel that it's worth noting in a thread like this.

Right that you only live once and if you can afford it go for it, but at the end of the day it's a motor that makes some tires, some seats, and some accessories go forward and backward, it takes you from point a to point b. Try to treat your future self kindly.