Very interesting. I wonder if you do still save money overall by selling all your stuff and then buying back only the things you've realized you really like.
It does seem like it's hard to be sure ahead of time which things you will miss. At least now you know.
I'm a big fan of the pack-it-all-away-for-a-while method, though I've only done it once. I packed away a bunch of clothes. Once I dug through the boxes finding something I was missing, thinking to myself, "How could I have put this in here?!" But the rest was easy to let go of. (Actually, I think I do know why I put that in there--it had metallic threads in it, which are in poor taste, right? But I loved that shirt!)
We agree that going overseas by itself is no guarantee of quality. One has to be very careful in selecting the right hospital and qualified surgeon/doctor. This is where we come in by making your research easier. We only work with the best.
For more, please visit our site: Medical Tourism Corporation
My rule is to buy enough life insurance to replace my salary until my child turns 18. Realistically, that's probably not quite enough, but it should be the bare minimum.
Yes, you always must take caution when researching care from another country. Amy had some great tips for looking into it, and I suggest that everyone take the decision very seriously.
I'm a dentist in Southern California. Frequently, I have to redo work for people who have visited other counties. These people didn't save any money and some of them have done permanent harm to themselves.
Of course some people do get good care in other countries, I tend to see the ones who didn't succeed. If you must get care overseas, I'd suggest Western Europe. You won't save any money there, but you will get quality.
I agree that insurance is a must for everyone , but, dont think one should ever buy anything other than Term plan.. Buy Term and just invest the rest in any good diversified mutual fund or still better invest it in an index fund.
I agree about the web video quality, and this has been a concer of mine, although I've noticed that the cable and satellite companies are compressing their video more and more, so their quality is going down. Meanwhile, the web video is getting better with higher bandwidth, and better compression technologies. Check out NBC and CBS's online video. It's looking pretty darn good now. For the best quality, you can still get "Over the Air" HD channels with an antenna for free, or rent Blu-Ray discs.
Hi,
I'm writing an article about the pitfalls of consumer credit for a journalism course at Ithaca College. Undoubtedly, my story would benefit from an interview with a family or individual who has had interest rates rise on their credit cards without missing payments and/or have found themselves in an car loan or mortgage with unreasonable terms such as high interest rates and other poor terms. This is going to be a very and long detailed article, so I'll appreciate any sources or information that people can provide.
Thanks for your time, I would greatly appreciate a reply,
Andrew Casler
Hi,
I'm writing an article about the pitfalls of consumer credit for a journalism course at Ithaca College. Undoubtedly, my story would benefit from an interview with a family or individual who has had interest rates rise on their credit cards without missing payments and/or have found themselves in an car loan or mortgage with unreasonable terms such as high interest rates and other poor terms. This is going to be a very and long detailed article, so I'll appreciate any sources or information that people can provide.
Thanks for your time, I would greatly appreciate a reply,
Andrew Casler
I heard (A LOT) that Brasso (or any METAL Polish) will work. I don't have Brasso (I can't get it because my dad won't drive me to Wal-mart xD) but I used toothpaste (Baking Soda kind like Colgate or just white toothpaste) and it worked!!!
So I recommend Colgate (baking soda kind) or Brasso. :D
The general public seems to do whatever the TV tells them. Look at popular music when MTV was ruling. Whatever is in rotation, that's what the lemmings listen to. Now, everyone just can't be anywhere without a phone. Who the hell are you , Donald Trump ?
If I didn't need to carry one at work there is no way I would be fielding innane calls during my own time.The dieect connect is the scourge of all time. Beep Beep beep
"what are you doin' ?
"nuthin, what are you doin'?
"nuthin'"
Please kill me now.
So timely. I've been home for just a week after an 8 month around the world trip, before which I narrowed down my belongings to near nothing. I sold my apartment before the trip. I have a bed and dresser in a friend's house, (being used), a few boxes of kitchen stuff and a few of clothes and books in my Dad's basement. Oh, and maybe a few things at my sister's. That "Organization" topic really hit home. I can't seem to find anything, and the things I can find I wonder why I kept in the first place.
I've also been thinking a lot about what the article and comments said about having to acquire the necessities of a more sedentary life all over again. I neither want nor can afford to do that, especially now. I ended up leaving most of my clothes on the road at one point or another, so I'm rediscovering my wardrobe from within dusty boxes.
It IS all about balance. I'm not ready to give up vagabonding yet, and though I do occasionally miss my "Stuff" and yearn for just a little of my own space, the sacrifices have all been worth it.
Let's go with the "winning more than I can spend" scenario.
I'm with Diana -- I'd immediately put it in an anonymous trust, so no one could tell I won.
I'd move far from this tropical cesspool that we call Florida, and buy a nice house in the country where they have normal weather. I have autistic children, so I'd endow a school for autistic children and invest heavily in autism research.
After the kids are a little older, I'd travel and/or live in Europe. I like southern France or England. But who knows..?
I would set my parents up comfortably wherever I end up, but not my sibs. They're on their own. ;) And of course, I'd spend on life's little pleasures -- facials, a nice car, someone else to take care of the gritty little details of life.
Mostly, someone has to solve this autism epidemic, and it might as well be me.
About a decade ago, my husband and I packed backpacks and spent 12 weeks traveling from China to Wales. Oh, how we grew to hate every single item of clothing we'd brought with us! Of course, our lowered hygiene standards as we traveled contributed to our dislike.
In London, we happened upon a clothing chain with really cheap clothes. We each bought whole new outfits and several pairs of socks, and it felt _so_ good. We didn't even mind having to discard some of our old clothes to make room for the new ones. Actually, I think the ones we threw out all had pretty serious holes in them by then anyway.
depends on the insentive. 5K goes a long way toward buying a stripped down car that can be found on sale for 10K. Plus interest rates around 5%. I am looking now to buy a clunker and hope the bill will have no rules on how long it was owned. I will buy a big rust bucket 4X4 truck fthat runs for about 500. If the government nixes the trade in I will keep it for hauling and winter driving.
I have a Masters degree in Education. I was a high school English teacher for three years in the state of Florida. My salary was $35,500 when I started. It rose to $37,500 by my last year. Yes, it was a pretty good salary for a recent graduate, but not for someone with an advanced degree and seven years of administrative and training experience. When I lived alone, I did well, but by the time I left teaching, I was married with a child, and the salary didn't cut it anymore.
The cost of living in South Florida is sky high. My benefits were great, but to add my family to my insurance would have cost me $445 a month. And yes, I had my summers off, but much of that time was spent in one of two ways - either re-charging my batteries so that I could go back in the Fall and be a great teacher again or doing training and research for the upcoming year. I loved my job. I loved my students. The bottom line, however, is that I love my family more. I left teaching and am now in a job making $14,000 more a year with much better benefits. The kicker is that I worked MUCH, MUCH harder as a teacher.
Yes, teachers in some places and circumstances make a good living, but it doesn't mean they're paid what they should be for the level and amount of work they're asked to do.
Term life insurance is almost always the smart thing to do. The best life insurance calculator that I have seen is the new ING one. I don't know that they have the best rates but the calculator does a great job explaining life insurance and determining needs based on goals and current situation.
If you are over 55 and separated from your job (fired or laid off), you do not have to pay the penalty for taking money out. Still have to pay the taxes, though. BUT, if you are in an emergency situation, it's one avenue.
Didn't realize salaries for most teachers in most states are so low... From some of the comments above, tenured teachers are making well under $50k. Up in Canada, most provinces start teachers around $40K, moving up to about $65K within 10 years (this can range depending on education, province, etc). But most teachers with a good 5 years under their belt are making over $50K.
But then again, slightly higher taxes here, but also virtually zero healthcare costs. Our schools are underfunded too, but teacher don't have to pay out of pocket for the basics.
Very interesting. I wonder if you do still save money overall by selling all your stuff and then buying back only the things you've realized you really like.
It does seem like it's hard to be sure ahead of time which things you will miss. At least now you know.
I'm a big fan of the pack-it-all-away-for-a-while method, though I've only done it once. I packed away a bunch of clothes. Once I dug through the boxes finding something I was missing, thinking to myself, "How could I have put this in here?!" But the rest was easy to let go of. (Actually, I think I do know why I put that in there--it had metallic threads in it, which are in poor taste, right? But I loved that shirt!)
Hi,
We agree that going overseas by itself is no guarantee of quality. One has to be very careful in selecting the right hospital and qualified surgeon/doctor. This is where we come in by making your research easier. We only work with the best.
For more, please visit our site: Medical Tourism Corporation
My rule is to buy enough life insurance to replace my salary until my child turns 18. Realistically, that's probably not quite enough, but it should be the bare minimum.
Yes, you always must take caution when researching care from another country. Amy had some great tips for looking into it, and I suggest that everyone take the decision very seriously.
I appreciate you sharing your experiences!
Linsey Knerl
Great advice-- never put all your eggs in one basket.
I'm a dentist in Southern California. Frequently, I have to redo work for people who have visited other counties. These people didn't save any money and some of them have done permanent harm to themselves.
Of course some people do get good care in other countries, I tend to see the ones who didn't succeed. If you must get care overseas, I'd suggest Western Europe. You won't save any money there, but you will get quality.
Brilliant idea and brilliant post. Well done!
The Writer's Coin | Follow me on Twitter
I agree that insurance is a must for everyone , but, dont think one should ever buy anything other than Term plan.. Buy Term and just invest the rest in any good diversified mutual fund or still better invest it in an index fund.
I agree about the web video quality, and this has been a concer of mine, although I've noticed that the cable and satellite companies are compressing their video more and more, so their quality is going down. Meanwhile, the web video is getting better with higher bandwidth, and better compression technologies. Check out NBC and CBS's online video. It's looking pretty darn good now. For the best quality, you can still get "Over the Air" HD channels with an antenna for free, or rent Blu-Ray discs.
Hi,
I'm writing an article about the pitfalls of consumer credit for a journalism course at Ithaca College. Undoubtedly, my story would benefit from an interview with a family or individual who has had interest rates rise on their credit cards without missing payments and/or have found themselves in an car loan or mortgage with unreasonable terms such as high interest rates and other poor terms. This is going to be a very and long detailed article, so I'll appreciate any sources or information that people can provide.
Thanks for your time, I would greatly appreciate a reply,
Andrew Casler
Acasler1@ithaca.edu
Hi,
I'm writing an article about the pitfalls of consumer credit for a journalism course at Ithaca College. Undoubtedly, my story would benefit from an interview with a family or individual who has had interest rates rise on their credit cards without missing payments and/or have found themselves in an car loan or mortgage with unreasonable terms such as high interest rates and other poor terms. This is going to be a very and long detailed article, so I'll appreciate any sources or information that people can provide.
Thanks for your time, I would greatly appreciate a reply,
Andrew Casler
Acasler1@ithaca.edu
Home:(607)375-4686
I heard (A LOT) that Brasso (or any METAL Polish) will work. I don't have Brasso (I can't get it because my dad won't drive me to Wal-mart xD) but I used toothpaste (Baking Soda kind like Colgate or just white toothpaste) and it worked!!!
So I recommend Colgate (baking soda kind) or Brasso. :D
The general public seems to do whatever the TV tells them. Look at popular music when MTV was ruling. Whatever is in rotation, that's what the lemmings listen to. Now, everyone just can't be anywhere without a phone. Who the hell are you , Donald Trump ?
If I didn't need to carry one at work there is no way I would be fielding innane calls during my own time.The dieect connect is the scourge of all time. Beep Beep beep
"what are you doin' ?
"nuthin, what are you doin'?
"nuthin'"
Please kill me now.
So timely. I've been home for just a week after an 8 month around the world trip, before which I narrowed down my belongings to near nothing. I sold my apartment before the trip. I have a bed and dresser in a friend's house, (being used), a few boxes of kitchen stuff and a few of clothes and books in my Dad's basement. Oh, and maybe a few things at my sister's. That "Organization" topic really hit home. I can't seem to find anything, and the things I can find I wonder why I kept in the first place.
I've also been thinking a lot about what the article and comments said about having to acquire the necessities of a more sedentary life all over again. I neither want nor can afford to do that, especially now. I ended up leaving most of my clothes on the road at one point or another, so I'm rediscovering my wardrobe from within dusty boxes.
It IS all about balance. I'm not ready to give up vagabonding yet, and though I do occasionally miss my "Stuff" and yearn for just a little of my own space, the sacrifices have all been worth it.
Let's go with the "winning more than I can spend" scenario.
I'm with Diana -- I'd immediately put it in an anonymous trust, so no one could tell I won.
I'd move far from this tropical cesspool that we call Florida, and buy a nice house in the country where they have normal weather. I have autistic children, so I'd endow a school for autistic children and invest heavily in autism research.
After the kids are a little older, I'd travel and/or live in Europe. I like southern France or England. But who knows..?
I would set my parents up comfortably wherever I end up, but not my sibs. They're on their own. ;) And of course, I'd spend on life's little pleasures -- facials, a nice car, someone else to take care of the gritty little details of life.
Mostly, someone has to solve this autism epidemic, and it might as well be me.
About a decade ago, my husband and I packed backpacks and spent 12 weeks traveling from China to Wales. Oh, how we grew to hate every single item of clothing we'd brought with us! Of course, our lowered hygiene standards as we traveled contributed to our dislike.
In London, we happened upon a clothing chain with really cheap clothes. We each bought whole new outfits and several pairs of socks, and it felt _so_ good. We didn't even mind having to discard some of our old clothes to make room for the new ones. Actually, I think the ones we threw out all had pretty serious holes in them by then anyway.
I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.
Remember this!... Unemployment funds, are my funds!!! I paid into the system and now I get back what I paid into!!
depends on the insentive. 5K goes a long way toward buying a stripped down car that can be found on sale for 10K. Plus interest rates around 5%. I am looking now to buy a clunker and hope the bill will have no rules on how long it was owned. I will buy a big rust bucket 4X4 truck fthat runs for about 500. If the government nixes the trade in I will keep it for hauling and winter driving.
I have a Masters degree in Education. I was a high school English teacher for three years in the state of Florida. My salary was $35,500 when I started. It rose to $37,500 by my last year. Yes, it was a pretty good salary for a recent graduate, but not for someone with an advanced degree and seven years of administrative and training experience. When I lived alone, I did well, but by the time I left teaching, I was married with a child, and the salary didn't cut it anymore.
The cost of living in South Florida is sky high. My benefits were great, but to add my family to my insurance would have cost me $445 a month. And yes, I had my summers off, but much of that time was spent in one of two ways - either re-charging my batteries so that I could go back in the Fall and be a great teacher again or doing training and research for the upcoming year. I loved my job. I loved my students. The bottom line, however, is that I love my family more. I left teaching and am now in a job making $14,000 more a year with much better benefits. The kicker is that I worked MUCH, MUCH harder as a teacher.
Yes, teachers in some places and circumstances make a good living, but it doesn't mean they're paid what they should be for the level and amount of work they're asked to do.
Term life insurance is almost always the smart thing to do. The best life insurance calculator that I have seen is the new ING one. I don't know that they have the best rates but the calculator does a great job explaining life insurance and determining needs based on goals and current situation.
ING Life Insurance
I think your readers will also benefit from "A Tale of Insurance" at financialtales.com
I think your readers will appreciate "A Lumpy Tale" amongst others at financialtales.com
Keep up the good work.
If you are over 55 and separated from your job (fired or laid off), you do not have to pay the penalty for taking money out. Still have to pay the taxes, though. BUT, if you are in an emergency situation, it's one avenue.
Didn't realize salaries for most teachers in most states are so low... From some of the comments above, tenured teachers are making well under $50k. Up in Canada, most provinces start teachers around $40K, moving up to about $65K within 10 years (this can range depending on education, province, etc). But most teachers with a good 5 years under their belt are making over $50K.
But then again, slightly higher taxes here, but also virtually zero healthcare costs. Our schools are underfunded too, but teacher don't have to pay out of pocket for the basics.
Teachers do have low salaries if you compare them to those of most other people with jobs that require a degree.