Crystal Flores

Comments:

• This is wonderful...absolutely wonderful. I love that you took the time to write an honest, heartfelt, reflective, humble letter to your former spouse. Such a beautiful exercise in honesty. Thank you for sharing and for your vulnerability. Reading this reminds me that we are all human and we're all here working to live our best lives and become our best selves.

  Post: Letter to My Ex

  Link to comment from November 29, 2023

• Wonderful lessons and a valuable perspective. Thank you for sharing.

  Post: My Retirement Prep

  Link to comment from November 29, 2023

• In my opinion, No, parents are absolutely not under any obligation to pay all or a portion of college education. My family was unable to help and made no preparations for my higher education. Knowing that I was on my own made me value every class so much more....I only missed class twice in college, both times because I was sick. I figured that I was paying for this education, so I didn't want to miss any of it. I got scholarships, worked a part-time job, and in general, just made it happen. I see too many kids who are treating college like a 4 year, all expense paid vacation. They graduate emotionally and financially immature, and they're underprepared for the adult world and incapable of being resourceful. For the sake of raising competent, capable adults, I wish more parents either would choose not to pay or to only pay a portion of the college experience (say for the first 2 years, or $20,000/yr. contribution).

  Post: Do parents have an obligation to pay part or all of their children’s college costs?

  Link to comment from November 11, 2023

• I loved this story, thank you for sharing it. First, I am so glad to know that you've made a nearly complete recovery, and secondly, I think there are so many valuable lessons in your story. From the fact that being financially prepared is a long-term activity, to making sure that both spouses understand where the money is & how it flows, to the lesson that health is a big part of wealth. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  Post: My Best-Laid Plans

  Link to comment from November 11, 2023

• Thank you for taking the time to write this. This book has been on my reading list, and I'm moving it to the top. Many thanks to other readers for book recommendations listed in the comments.

  Post: A Profitable Read

  Link to comment from November 1, 2023

• This is a great tale of perseverance and grit. Thank you for sharing.

  Post: My Unemployed Life

  Link to comment from November 1, 2023

• Loved your story; thank you for sharing. May we all embrace our inner Little Engine.

  Post: Failure Is Not Final

  Link to comment from November 1, 2023

• This is thoughtful and really well-written. Thanks for sharing your story. Illustrative and helpful for those of us who will deal with aging parents.

  Post: Taught by My Parents

  Link to comment from November 1, 2023

• Lots of discussion here....am just chiming in to say that lifestyle inflation is real, and a lot of it does have to do with personal choices. As a mortgage broker, I lift the hood on lots of people's personal finances...the #1 and #2 biggest financial stressors that I see people choose are 1) buying too much house and 2) financing cars that are too expensive relative to their budgets. I've had many a mortgage client who cannot qualify for a mortgage just due to their car payments alone. The debt to income ratio is simply too high. Appreciation in housing prices aside, I also find most buyers are absolutely unwilling to consider a smaller, more modest house. I've had agents tell me that they can't find any suitably sized housing for a client on a budget. One agent once complained to me that her client (a young single male) could only afford a small house (1600 sf, in this instance), and there's was NO WAY he could make do in that. She was throwing her hands up, having no idea how she was going to find a house for him. It's still true...making ends meet often means that a family needs dual incomes, but if you make the ends smaller by choosing more budget-friendly housing and cars (they're out there), the lower stress can mean one partner has the luxury to choose a lower-paid job, go without work for a while, or the family has some financial breathing room in regards to unexpected expenses. That observation won't be breathtaking news for the readers of Humble Dollar, but the vast majority of consumers in America are unlike the readers here. My partner and I live comfortably in a 1200 sf home (2 bedroom/2 bath) that's completely paid-off. My reliable hybrid has 160,000 miles on it. I intentionally chose modest housing and transportation for the value of the financial breathing room it offers. In a profession that is 100% commission-based, it's meant that I can weather downturns in the housing market (thank you, 2023) comfortably. Thanks for taking the time to write your article.

  Post: Two Paychecks Needed

  Link to comment from October 18, 2023

• I loved those articles and the simple, no-nonsense advice. I followed it to the best of my ability. Now in my mid-forties, working for money is optional. I have choices in how I use my time. Thank you.

  Post: News You Can’t Use

  Link to comment from October 31, 2022