O/T The Market

I don't dispute that a user pays system is in place. But the question, perhaps, is should it be ? Many previous functions of Govt have been thrown back onto the community. How far can this go ? What are the social effects? And if you have the freedom to make a choice, what choices can you make if you don't have the cash ?
Is this the society that we want ? No worries if you're being paid like a CEO I guess.
But what about the small end of town? Oh hang on, as an investor I'm making money out of them working 12 hour days and paying almost half of it in income tax. Maybe I should say &*^* em.
Remind me to sail past the next poor sod who's broken down in his 2wd out in the scrub. It's the same thing, isn't it ? Me first, second and last?

What I'm missing here is the element of degree. It isn't all that bad. The full quotation is, I believe, "Life wasn't meant to be easy. Bit take heart, my child. It can be delightful."

OK footy, get down off the box.

BUT a BIT of proofreading wouldn't go astray either. Sorry.

It's funny how success if very often measured in money.

When I finished high school, I could've done any job, inlcuding law or medicine but chose not to. So, as a result, the three of us are currently living off one below average wage, but we never see ourselves as poor. Infact many our friends (who have a combined income four times that of ours) can't come out to dinner with us because they don't have any money. WTF?

There are many times where we think more money would be very useful but considerring we are in the top 10% or maybe in the top 5% of the worlds income bracket, we shouldn;t really complain.

So my point is that we all live in a world that we build for oureslves and must ride the highs and lows of whatever path we choose.

R.

G'day Willie
There's always a bottom to any hill so the brakes don't matter too much! It's only a gloomy time if one can't wait until the valley floor is reached and one has to bail out early - that could hurt something fearful. Hopefully when at the bottom one will have some fuel left and one can put one's foot down for the next uphill charge.

I'm not sure. Perhaps its because I've lived at the bottom of the hill for so long that I just hate it there :))

Footloose ,
You sound like you need somebody to cheer you up . Have you got any specific problem that you need help with , or is it " life in general " ?
Willie

Willie that's very decent of you, thanks. It's usually me doing the cheering up. Might have something to do with the quotes for new springs on my 80. Crikey, I'd be riding on gold bars.
But that will serve me right for whinging. The asx200 must of heard me, it went down a few points today. Tell you what, I'm going to have to be a happy chappy for the rest of the week.
The glass is half full...empty...full...empty...she loves me she loves me not...NOT! Thank goodness, my wife wouldn't be at all pleased :)))))

Footloose ,
Do you trade shares or are you a medium long term investor ? It was an odd day today . The market went up like a rocket in the morning and came back sharply in the afternoon . It's a bit like fishing - hard to master with any regularity .
Willie

Willie, nah. Just a long term investor in managed funds , investment advisor etc. You know the philosophy, stay poor now so that when you're in your retirement home its a good one kind of thing :)) "You want to WHAT ? Go Bush ? But that's a baaad expenditure you can't afford old son. Its not even tax deducatable in your case "
Oh well, back to the drawing board :))

Couldn't stand to trade each day, although I knew of a kindy teacher who did. She made more than she did teaching. But that wouldn't be too difficult at the time. Not for me, I'd end up jumping :))))))))))

Trekkie, I bought what I wanted (and the wife was there to make sure she could stand it :). Yes, I had researched the vehicle, driven a few and lusted after one for a while. But that was about 8 years and 150K ago. Now it needs new springs. Things dont last, do they ? :))))))))

No, I am on my second lot. The point I was trying to make was dont worry about your shares going up or down on a daily basis. Just as you researched your car I am sure you resesarched the shares. You dont value your car daily, so dont worry about daily fluctuations in the investments. If your shares are up over 12 months you have done well. Hopefully the Invstments will fare better than the springs

Trekkie, yes how silly of me. Ah duh Footy !
You're right of course. But it's all new to me, although I knew the mechanics of the market many years ago. I suspect that my time at various institutes of lower edu ma cation has trained me to want to know every lil detail. Blast, why can't I be like everyone else and let my advisor worry and not me. Because it's not his money, I guess.
Anyway to all those lucky enough to make money from that source, long may it continue to rise(as the actress said to......Footy! Control yourself ! ) :)))))))))

Willem, not many pensioners can afford to do what you do. If that bulldust is true, then I suggest you write a book on how it's done. There's a lot of other "lowly" pensioners that would love to know. As a self funded fool, I'm still trying to afford the upkeep and fuel bills.
I've always tried to keep enough in the kitty so that when I check out, someone will be able to dispose of me. I'm not allowed to be barked and treed, wrong "background":))
I remember the author who wanted to be left in a cave when he went. Now what was his name? You know the bloke. Poor fella my Country and Capricornia were well known and worth reading. Anyway he ended up checking out in Alice Springs. So much for a cave.

Ahh Footy

The secret is not to have any debt.

I try not to waste money. What little money I inherited from my parents and had saved over the the years was put in to housing and toys.

We travel on the pension.

You dont need a heap of money.

I aim to keep my GQ till it, or my time runs out

Willem,what a remarkable job you are doing. Good on you, I just wish I could do it half as well :)) I hope your efforts are well documented somewhere, as they don't appear to be typical of our present generations.

Met a bloke years ago in a van park who was going around Oz on the pension. Rekkoned he'd stop and save, then move on a bit. Personally I hate staying in civilaization when on a trip, it just costs me more :))

I must add though, that costs are rising and a recent costing on our daily requirements sees that we are running close to the wind by only retaining 10% of our pension income calculated on a daily expenditure record.

This has prompted me to restart a previous business venture to supplement our income. I am now in the process of doing this.

When travelling we avoid caravan parks, pub lunches, restaurants, expensive gifts and unnecessary purchases. Everything is budgeted for including posiible vehicle expenses( this I keep on the low side though). I take it easy when driving and hope that the truck sustains no damage along the way.

With the fuel price escalating, I'm surprised that you haven't bottled a special Willem Brew or whatever to try and suppliment the income. I only do what I do to pay for the trips away. Well, mostly.
I have noticed a disturbing trend however. As I get older I find that I enjoy a bit of comfort. I now camp in a tent that's far too big. Stop at the occasional motel for a shower. Take far too much gear, "just in case"........it's a worrying trend.
Next thing you know I'll be travelling with a tag a long tour ! I know what you mean about taking it easy to spare the vehicle. I do long stints at the wheel but only at relatively slow speeds. Last trip coming home, the only thing I passed was a grader. But thats another story :))