I’m glad to hear that you’ve got such a wonderful daughter — not surprised — just glad.

I’m actually in the Northeast, people’s republic of Delaware to be precise, for the time being at least, I’m actively looking to get out.

I must attribute my financial accumen to my parents, both of whom grew up during the first great depression. Mom was lucky, her father — with an eighth grade education — was able to get a good job in a refinery and provided nicely for his eight children. Dad’s story was not so happy. His father owned an auto repair shop, and they struggled. My grandmother would take my father and his brother and sister to a family farm in Salisbury MD each summer to “fatten them up”.

My first lesson in economics came in the early 80’s when mom had me put $500 dollars I’d saved up from delivering newpapers into a CD. If I recall correctly, the interest rate was just over 18% on a 5 yr CD. When it reached maturity, I was about 17. I went in and asked if I could roll it over at that rate!

I bought my house when I was 24. I’d been living at home, which was ok with the folks, because they knew I was squirrelling away about 2/3rd’s of my income. I put 1/3 down on the house. I was making $8/hr at the time (1992). Since then I’ve changed careers, and I’m making nearly 4x’s as much.

I’ll consider your advise on where to find a good woman. Sadly, I’ve reached the conclusion that I’m not gonna find her around here. Is it too much to ask for a woman who’s witty, conservative, and can split a little firewood (not a whole cord, but just a little bit in a pinch)?

Yes, I’ve read about the “gun control” bill in Montana. Personally, to me gun control has always meant: sight picture, sight alignment, trigger control and follow through.

Anyway, bes wishest to you and yours, and keep up the great articles.

“Your other boy” ; )

Jack.

What a wonderful e-mail and all I had hoped for when I began writing for W&G. As odd as it may sound I wasn’t looking for “fame and glory” but for interesting companions. Responses like yours are what I dreamed of. Chuckle…we’ve finally found one thing to agree with Sonia Sotomayer on! A wise old half Irish lady knows better than a passel of liberal legislators, and she knows men of substance and character when she comes across them, too, and a few of you young whipper snappers have great plans, as well.

I LOVE your account of your life which parallels mine in many ways. If YOU, personally, would like to carry on this conversation, please write me at ranchLT4@aol.com.

The reason you aren’t married yet, Cupcake, is that there are far few superior females in this world than there are males. (Take that, NOW! It’s a fact, so live with it. Of course there are fantastic ladies, but in general anything one of them can do well a lot of men can do just as well.) It can take many, many decades to find a fitting mate.

My darling Charles and I are so bonded and happy that we do not need the sanction of man or even the church, although I appreciate your comments. It is a sad commentary on life now that the “ethical” thing to do is to have an untraditional arrangement, but that’s how it it is. Our families approve of our relationship, we don’t care what the world in general thinks, and darned if we can see any reason to forfeit significant sums to the government to change my name. Thought! For about $25 I can go do so legally with no penalties!

Seriously, OMR, I would like it if you and I became friends because I suspect strongly that you are “one of my species,” which most of homo sap. aren’t. Hug, Linda

Nice article, perhaps I can offer a solution to your marriage dilema. Have a marriage ceremony in church just dont have it certified by the government. The idea that the government has any right to decide who can and who cant get married dosnt make any sense to me. On another note I congradulate you on educating your daughter in such a fashion. It seems amazing to me that people will spend hours upon hours teaching their children about sports, hobbies and other non essential parts of life, but do not take the time to educate them about finances. My father (a farmer) spent countless hours teaching us about money and finances. When I was 5 he gave my brothers and I a twin calf that the mother would not accept, to raise and sell. He taught us how to figure expenses and profit margins. He taught us how to do cash flows, figure depreciation, commodity markets and budgets. When I was in jr high I started buying silver and when I was in high school my brothers and I went together to buy a cow herd, rented land and farmed as a partnership. We all had steady employment during the summers from about 3rd grade on. (not working for dad though, he didnt pay very well) When my brothers and I would reach 7th grade we were put on a salary of $20 per week. I didnt find out till later this served two purposes. 1 he was able to write this off as an expense and 2 it limited how much we cost him. We had to pay for all our own expenses: clothes, school lunches extra ciricular activites, pretty much everything. This was the mid 80s so it really wasnt that much. It gave us just enough money to cover the basics but not enough to get us into trouble. He also paid this to us on 1 Jan of each year in a lump sum, so we would have to make it last the entire year. (of course mom took pity on us and would sneak us a new pair of shoes now and then). We also knew where the key was for the gas tank on the farm We all paid for our own college, although dad helped us out getting financial aid by “adjusting” his income. The other thing he taught us was that we were all in it together. Our money did not belong to us..it belonged to the family. Money even to this day flows between us all easily and without issue. We always had an all for one and one for all approach to living. We are closet socialists disguised as capitalists. As a result we can out compete our independantly minded neighbors.
It wasnt until recently that I really appreciated the education that our father gave us. Im in my mid-30s now and live on about $800 per month. I drive a 1992 honda that I bought for $750 that gets over 30 miles to the gallon(if I take a long trip I just rent a car its just cheaper this way). I rent a small house (I have run the figures on buying a home and its the worst investment I can imagine) I have 4 pieces of furnature a table 2 chairs and an inflatable bed. I have a laptop and books for entertainment. (Im not married hahaha I wonder why??) I invest in farmland (land and animals are the only true forms of wealth) gave up on investing in pieces of paper long ago. The other side of this is that I vacation in Europe 2-3 times a year. Im not worried at all about the future. I can change my career path any time I want. I have the philosophy that after your basic needs are met a person should only spend money on things that increase your life expiriences, wisdom and friendships. Live simply but live richly …. the more things you own the more you are owned by things…are my personal mottos (I stole these from other sources, but i dont remember where now) I have a good job that puts me in the upper 25% of incomes in the USA. As a result I can give 10 to 15% of my income to worthy causes without feeling a pinch and can do some real good in this world which is far more satisfying than any amount of money in the bank. Thanks for the articles that keep making us think.

You and I both.

What a lovely compliment, thank you! Linda Traynham

I’m VERY proud of you for managing to keep your household expenses so low in this day and age. What are your secrets?! Share, share, ’cause the other readers need to know. One of mine was never going with the herd, and hunting a house until I found one I liked that was within budget, and never mind what sort of neighborhood it was in. Of course, that was safer back then. Sometimes good ones can be found in older neighborhoods, lovely old places with lots of space and light.

My sincere sympathy for having to live in the PNW, with high prices, high taxes, and ultraliberal politics. Still, the opera is good in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver (BC) and Victoria…are you going to make the bash in Canada with Gary and the guys? We’re planning on going next year, assuming ‘planes are still flying then…

Thanks for the nice note, and write again. I’m always looking for interesting correspondents, and I would love suggestions for articles readers would like to see as well as your comments on business. What’s the local reaction to Montana’s great “gun control” bill?

You don’t know much about it up there, but we have interesting mechanical contrivances known as “air conditioners,” and even in the summer Texas is wonderful.

Hugs,

Mom-Mom (That’s what Andrew’s numerous friends all call me!)

I ask this with all sincerity (tongue in cheek)…..Got any daugthers? If so, and they’ve got half of your sense, I’d love to meet them! ; ) I’d be more than happy to relocate to Texas, at least until June, July and August roll around.

And I wouldn’t even ask them to live in sin, I’d take the plunge for a woman with a good head for financial matters. Can’t seem to find any up here in the people’s republic of the greater northeast.

FWIW, I make the same money as your son, though I am a bit older, and my household expenses are less than 1/4 of my take home pay. : )

Jack.