It's a broad generalization but there are some underlying truths to this jingle that I heard many years ago... In your teens, play all you can, in your 20's take all the risks that you can, in your 30's learn all you can, in your 40's earn all you can, in your 50's teach all you can, and in your 60's retire as gracefully as you can.
Last year, our 11-year old west highland terrier named Lola, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. The oncologist gave her less than three months to live without treatment. Going the chemotherapy route could possibly extend her life another 12 months on average but would cost $20k for the entire treatment. We had no pet insurance. but Lola was a loving member of our family and because we had the financial means, we agreed to go the treatment route. At the time, I remember feeling guilty that dog owners without the financial means, when faced with those same decisions, were not in the position to make that choice for a pet that they loved as much as we loved our Lola. Sadly, Lola passed away after only 5 weeks of treatment. Do I regret my decision? No, we had the financial means, and I would have felt worse if she had died without us trying to save her because of cost alone. Was it a good financial decision? At face value, spending $20k for a chance to extend the life of a pet by just 12 months doesn't seem like a good financial decision. But replace the word "pet" with "daughter" and the decision becomes clearer especially if you have the financial means. Lola was like a daughter in our family, and we were fortunate to have the financial means to try to save her. If I didn't spend the money to try to save a loving member of our family, why then have the money?...that was my philosophy. However, In the end, it doesn't matter how much money you have...money can't cure cancer.
Comments:
It's a broad generalization but there are some underlying truths to this jingle that I heard many years ago... In your teens, play all you can, in your 20's take all the risks that you can, in your 30's learn all you can, in your 40's earn all you can, in your 50's teach all you can, and in your 60's retire as gracefully as you can.
Post: What Financial/ Life advice would you give a 2024 college graduate?
Link to comment from June 30, 2024
Last year, our 11-year old west highland terrier named Lola, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. The oncologist gave her less than three months to live without treatment. Going the chemotherapy route could possibly extend her life another 12 months on average but would cost $20k for the entire treatment. We had no pet insurance. but Lola was a loving member of our family and because we had the financial means, we agreed to go the treatment route. At the time, I remember feeling guilty that dog owners without the financial means, when faced with those same decisions, were not in the position to make that choice for a pet that they loved as much as we loved our Lola. Sadly, Lola passed away after only 5 weeks of treatment. Do I regret my decision? No, we had the financial means, and I would have felt worse if she had died without us trying to save her because of cost alone. Was it a good financial decision? At face value, spending $20k for a chance to extend the life of a pet by just 12 months doesn't seem like a good financial decision. But replace the word "pet" with "daughter" and the decision becomes clearer especially if you have the financial means. Lola was like a daughter in our family, and we were fortunate to have the financial means to try to save her. If I didn't spend the money to try to save a loving member of our family, why then have the money?...that was my philosophy. However, In the end, it doesn't matter how much money you have...money can't cure cancer.
Post: How Much is Too Much
Link to comment from June 29, 2024
Be careful who you marry. Therein lies 99% of your happiness or 99% of your misery!
Post: What Financial/ Life advice would you give a 2024 college graduate?
Link to comment from June 29, 2024