:ohbrother: No degree by either my wife or myself less than 5 years from paying off the house, no car payments, no credit cards, and sending 3 girls through 12 years of catholic school........I think we've accomplished quite a bit, and have enjoyed every minute of it. Yeah, we don't go on vacations, and sacrafice quite a bit but it's worth it.

 

Congrats! :thumb:

 

We don't vacation much either, but that has more to do with me being a homebody than it does anything money-related.

Congrats! :thumb:

 

We don't vacation much either, but that has more to do with me being a homebody than it does anything money-related.

 

LB vacations. Instead of his chair being in sand it's on concrete behind a fence watching softball.

LB vacations. Instead of his chair being in sand it's on concrete behind a fence watching softball.

 

:lol2: I assumed as much.

:ohbrother: No degree by either my wife or myself less than 5 years from paying off the house, no car payments, no credit cards, and sending 3 girls through 12 years of catholic school........I think we've accomplished quite a bit, and have enjoyed every minute of it. Yeah, we don't go on vacations, and sacrafice quite a bit but it's worth it.

 

Well, yeah, but you're not going through college "these days". I'm not talking about those who graduated high school 20+ years ago, I'm talking about those currently getting out of high school, and trying to find a job.

:lol2:

 

I wasn't trying to say that you specifically needed to look harder; I'm just saying rent can be found cheaper.

 

I know what you were saying, I was just being a smart-donkey's rear.

 

In all seriousness, I really envy the situation you're in. I feel I'm well on my way to getting there, but still a long ways off. Also, having kids will definitely throw a wrench in things down the line. :lol2:

What a student makes working through college doesn't even come close to covering tuition costs. Associates degrees are about as useful as toilet paper these days. And unless you're smart enough to get a scholarship for school, you're looking at near $50K now days in college debt.

 

In my opinion, there is almost nothing greater one can do for one's future than to make sure and keep your nose to the grindstone to make sure you get a scholarship. And if you don't get one to cover everything, bust your hump to get out there and apply for grants or third party scholarships. I didn't pay one red cent for college. Neither did my wife. A few people I know actually MADE money when all was said and done. I think for the majority of people, this can be a realistic expectation if they put in the work.

 

I have bought nothing but used cars and the last one of those was a '98 Honda Civic I bought in 2006 with cash and still drive. I will never in this lifetime buy a car I can't afford to pay outright for then and there.

 

I have been fortunate enough to be debt free since 2008 (my second year out of college), 100% including my home. My home was a fortunate circumstance that others may not be able to duplicate, but even so, that would be the only debt I have if I hadn't been blessed. Discipline and living within your means can make this a reality for most.

In my opinion, there is almost nothing greater one can do for one's future than to make sure and keep your nose to the grindstone to make sure you get a scholarship. And if you don't get one to cover everything, bust your hump to get out there and apply for grants or third party scholarships. I didn't pay one red cent for college. Neither did my wife. A few people I know actually MADE money when all was said and done. I think for the majority of people, this can be a realistic expectation if they put in the work.

 

I have bought nothing but used cars and the last one of those was a '98 Honda Civic I bought in 2006 with cash and still drive. I will never in this lifetime buy a car I can't afford to pay outright for then and there.

 

I have been fortunate enough to be debt free since 2008 (my second year out of college), 100% including my home. My home was a fortunate circumstance that others may not be able to duplicate, but even so, that would be the only debt I have if I hadn't been blessed. Discipline and living within your means can make this a reality for most.

 

I was lucky enough to be one of those that got paid to go to college. I was dumb at the time and spent most of it on a car that I've since totaled...

Average college debt is $25k.

I know what you were saying, I was just being a smart-donkey's rear.

 

In all seriousness, I really envy the situation you're in. I feel I'm well on my way to getting there, but still a long ways off. Also, having kids will definitely throw a wrench in things down the line. :lol2:

 

When we tell people that we're less than a year (hopefully) from paying off the house & therefore being completely out of debt, they say something along those same lines--about envying our situation. I know how they feel, because we have friends who are out of debt completely too. Anybody who knows me knows that this is one of my top goals in life.

 

What a lot of those folks don't realize is how much sacrifice is required. Fewer and less-expensive vacations, not eating out multiple times per week, learning to love Beef flavored Ramen noodles (:lol2:), driving crappier cars, not having as spacious a home, etc.

 

I honestly think half of the battle, if not more than half, is learning to be content...or at least having the ability to regularly tell yourself, "No."

 

I was in your shoes not so long ago. And when I paid that car off, as you are about to do, I continued driving it. I'm still driving it ten years later. :lol2:

Average college debt is $25k.

 

I had $18k & that was thirteen years ago. I would have guessed it was $35k.

I had $18k & that was thirteen years ago. I would have guessed it was $35k.

 

Instate tuition at NKU, with no financial assistance from scholarships, means a student will graduate in 4 years with just over $32K in debt.

 

I'd imagine NKU is cheaper than almost every other KY school. I'd be interested in knowing if Clyde's number includes all college students, including those who have scholarships, or have no student loans.

The dealers are now limited on how much they can mark up the rates. In the old days there were some people that got slammed by stores.

 

My in-laws did. They didn't know better and we never knew until they both died and we had to settle the estate. Luckily they had a life insurance policy that paid off the truck so we didn't owe anything on that.

Instate tuition at NKU, with no financial assistance from scholarships, means a student will graduate in 4 years with just over $32K in debt.

 

I'd imagine NKU is cheaper than almost every other KY school. I'd be interested in knowing if Clyde's number includes all college students, including those who have scholarships, or have no student loans.

 

It's a figure I've seen a lot in the last year. My guess it's the average for those that actually have student loans.

Congrats! :thumb:

 

We don't vacation much either, but that has more to do with me being a homebody than it does anything money-related.

 

Correction, we have gone on vacation 3 times ('99, '05, &'12), however on my mom and dad's dime. 43 foot RV with 3 slideouts is a home away from home with plenty of room. :thumb:

 

LB vacations. Instead of his chair being in sand it's on concrete behind a fence watching softball.

 

Definitely some truth to that. :lol2:

Last month was he biggest new car sales month since about 2008.

 

Average new car price in 2013 is about $31k.