Just keep the up vote and ignore the down vote if it’s kept. It’s all good. Life’s too short to worry about the petty down vote. Thank you for the article Dr. L. 😎
I like what Dave Ramsey says about budgets. “You’re in charge until you make a budget. Once you’ve created a budget the budget is in charge.” If you don’t want to be financially responsible and live within your means, then don’t bother with a budget. And yes as it’s been said before the individual ultimately makes the final decision. I like living on a budget for many of the reasons stated previously. It gives me boundaries, peace of mind, helps me to achieve my financial goals, and for my wife and I, it’s allowed us to retire earlier than we had originally planned. Thanks for the discussion.
Loved your article. Yes I believe it’s a little prudent to keep some cash on hand. Don’t think the Girl Scouts are taking credit cards at your door…but they might. Also I don’t think my grandkids would want grandpa giving them money via a credit card. I like the joke I made up. It goes like this; ‘I finally got some cash only to find out they only take credit.” Ain’t that just like life. I still like what Dave Ramsey says, “Cash is king”.
Enjoyed your article Mark. Yes as much as I enjoyed my career, I’m enjoying retirement more. However, retirement should not be an end in itself. Work is important for sure and perhaps we should work as long as we’re able or at least as long as it’s rewarding. I like what someone said, “Many people are too busy making a living that they forget to make a life.”
Yea so the word is out. Rather than actually fix the problem our elected representatives choose to ignore it as usual and simply reduce our income. Why am I not surprised. Fixing the problem isn’t that difficult. Our elected representatives, you know the ones we can’t seem to get rid off; they’re the problem. Sad. Our solution is to increase our monthly draw from our nest egg to make up any shortfall. Thanks for the article.
Mark, the situation you’re describing certainly can be frustrating. However, I think you and some of your readers have hit the nail on the head. When this person is ready for the discussion then by all means give them all the advice you can. Until then I don’t believe there’s much you can do except pray for them. Dave Ramsey often says let someone else be the bad guy. Perhaps giving this person a financial book that is “fun to read” (is that an oxymoron); or perhaps sending them a video clip describing compounding interest might spark their interest. Of course you can simply ask them how they expect to live in retirement or even if retirement will be an option for them. That last one can really be an eye opener. I wish you well my friend because we all want our loved ones to do good; albeit some of them are their own worst enemies.
Ben you missed your real calling. You would have made a great fiction writer. You’ve got a real talent. You’re correct, we will never be completely safe from any harm because we leave in a fallen world. But, no worries. As you said all we can do is what we can do and I think you’re making good choices about security (complex passwords and two factor authentication). All we can do is make good choices and have a good protocol in place. At the end of the day if we’re too preoccupied with all of the “what ifs” we will never really be able to enjoy what little wealth we may have achieved over our lifetime. The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, talks a great deal about this very topic. In essence, hard-earned wealth becomes vain if paranoia prevents relaxation, generosity, or gratitude. The book repeatedly shows that pursuing or hoarding riches “under the sun” (I’m sure you earned all of your wealth by hard-work, and diligence); apart from God-centered perspective leads to frustration. True enjoyment comes from accepting one’s lot with contentment and fearing God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20; 12:13). I’m so glad to hear you’re not paranoid or a worrier in general. I say keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy what you have. None of us controls the future. If you haven’t already purchased some ID theft insurance that would cover your nest egg that might be something to consider. Enjoyed your article.
My earlier post was cut short. Quinn NOBODY cares what school you attend. They simply want to know if you can do the job. State schools are just as good (and in many cases better), than well known schools. They are greedy SOB’s if they’re not willing to spend some of their own money (serious money) on their students. You would have been much better off sending the grandkids to a state school and giving them the rest to begin their lives. At the end of the day NOBODY cares what name is on the certificate. I thought you were smarter than that. Guess I was wrong. As a government employee I worked with kids who went to “ivory league” i.e. expensive schools and they ended up working for me. We’ve been duped as a society. It’s time to wake up.
Yo Quinn. Up to this point I enjoyed your articles and thought you knew what you were talking about. Obviously not. In all these years you have not yet learned.
Comments
Just keep the up vote and ignore the down vote if it’s kept. It’s all good. Life’s too short to worry about the petty down vote. Thank you for the article Dr. L. 😎
Post: The “Mean Girls”/Junior High Bullies at HumbleDollar
Link to comment from January 10, 2026
I like what Dave Ramsey says about budgets. “You’re in charge until you make a budget. Once you’ve created a budget the budget is in charge.” If you don’t want to be financially responsible and live within your means, then don’t bother with a budget. And yes as it’s been said before the individual ultimately makes the final decision. I like living on a budget for many of the reasons stated previously. It gives me boundaries, peace of mind, helps me to achieve my financial goals, and for my wife and I, it’s allowed us to retire earlier than we had originally planned. Thanks for the discussion.
Post: Can a budget do all that?
Link to comment from January 3, 2026
I’m with you Dan. Hoping and praying. 😎
Post: Plan for a Pay Cut
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Loved your article. Yes I believe it’s a little prudent to keep some cash on hand. Don’t think the Girl Scouts are taking credit cards at your door…but they might. Also I don’t think my grandkids would want grandpa giving them money via a credit card. I like the joke I made up. It goes like this; ‘I finally got some cash only to find out they only take credit.” Ain’t that just like life. I still like what Dave Ramsey says, “Cash is king”.
Post: Cash Ain’t Trash
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Enjoyed your article Mark. Yes as much as I enjoyed my career, I’m enjoying retirement more. However, retirement should not be an end in itself. Work is important for sure and perhaps we should work as long as we’re able or at least as long as it’s rewarding. I like what someone said, “Many people are too busy making a living that they forget to make a life.”
Post: The Life That Was Waiting
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Yea so the word is out. Rather than actually fix the problem our elected representatives choose to ignore it as usual and simply reduce our income. Why am I not surprised. Fixing the problem isn’t that difficult. Our elected representatives, you know the ones we can’t seem to get rid off; they’re the problem. Sad. Our solution is to increase our monthly draw from our nest egg to make up any shortfall. Thanks for the article.
Post: Plan for a Pay Cut
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Mark, the situation you’re describing certainly can be frustrating. However, I think you and some of your readers have hit the nail on the head. When this person is ready for the discussion then by all means give them all the advice you can. Until then I don’t believe there’s much you can do except pray for them. Dave Ramsey often says let someone else be the bad guy. Perhaps giving this person a financial book that is “fun to read” (is that an oxymoron); or perhaps sending them a video clip describing compounding interest might spark their interest. Of course you can simply ask them how they expect to live in retirement or even if retirement will be an option for them. That last one can really be an eye opener. I wish you well my friend because we all want our loved ones to do good; albeit some of them are their own worst enemies.
Post: The Festive Sweater and the Dilemma
Link to comment from December 20, 2025
Ben you missed your real calling. You would have made a great fiction writer. You’ve got a real talent. You’re correct, we will never be completely safe from any harm because we leave in a fallen world. But, no worries. As you said all we can do is what we can do and I think you’re making good choices about security (complex passwords and two factor authentication). All we can do is make good choices and have a good protocol in place. At the end of the day if we’re too preoccupied with all of the “what ifs” we will never really be able to enjoy what little wealth we may have achieved over our lifetime. The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, talks a great deal about this very topic. In essence, hard-earned wealth becomes vain if paranoia prevents relaxation, generosity, or gratitude. The book repeatedly shows that pursuing or hoarding riches “under the sun” (I’m sure you earned all of your wealth by hard-work, and diligence); apart from God-centered perspective leads to frustration. True enjoyment comes from accepting one’s lot with contentment and fearing God (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20; 12:13). I’m so glad to hear you’re not paranoid or a worrier in general. I say keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy what you have. None of us controls the future. If you haven’t already purchased some ID theft insurance that would cover your nest egg that might be something to consider. Enjoyed your article.
Post: Can we be completely safe?
Link to comment from December 20, 2025
My earlier post was cut short. Quinn NOBODY cares what school you attend. They simply want to know if you can do the job. State schools are just as good (and in many cases better), than well known schools. They are greedy SOB’s if they’re not willing to spend some of their own money (serious money) on their students. You would have been much better off sending the grandkids to a state school and giving them the rest to begin their lives. At the end of the day NOBODY cares what name is on the certificate. I thought you were smarter than that. Guess I was wrong. As a government employee I worked with kids who went to “ivory league” i.e. expensive schools and they ended up working for me. We’ve been duped as a society. It’s time to wake up.
Post: $92,000 a year is quite an investment. The ROI is real, but maybe not.
Link to comment from December 14, 2025
Post: $92,000 a year is quite an investment. The ROI is real, but maybe not.
Link to comment from December 14, 2025