Post Your Financial Fails

[QuarterMillionMan]

Here is another financial fail: getting divorced...twice. Dumb and expensive both times.

James if the next Mrs Right comes along would try again?

[Scallywag]

Sold 100 shares of $TSLA right before it split! Does that count as fail or absolute stupidity?

[Scallywag]

James if the next Mrs Right comes along would try again?

Is James really that slow of a learner?

[jenn_jenn]

I’ve been pondering this. I’ve had some missed
opportunities. The one that sticks out the most is that I didn’t participate in our employee stock plan at my first job out of college. I didn’t make a lot of money at the time and figured don’t have too many eggs in the same basket. The stock has now increased 400% in the last 5 years.

Could have, should have, would have!

[james.hendrickson]

James if the next Mrs Right comes along would try again?

@QMM, well, the data are clear. People in happy marries are healthier, richer and they live longer. I would post the evidence here, but this point is obvious. You have economies of scale, social support, (usually) more income, etc. etc.

I guess I can't offer any broader helpful observations for the forums than this.

For me personally I simply haven't decided what to do next.

[james.hendrickson]

Is James really that slow of a learner?

Scallywag, oh man. You're totally right. At some point you need to take a hard look at your decisions and realize that, after a certain age, you're a product of the choices you make. I'm still thinking about what to do here.

[QuarterMillionMan]

@QMM, well, the data are clear. People in happy marries are healthier, richer and they live longer. I would post the evidence here, but this point is obvious. You have economies of scale, social support, (usually) more income, etc. etc.

I guess I can't offer any broader helpful observations for the forums than this.

For me personally I simply haven't decided what to do next.

James, I don't know about the data but for me personally, I'm the happiest single guy at 55 with no kids and never married, nor would I ever get married at this point in my life. I'm financially stable & secure, self-confident, have peace of mind, maxing out 457 & Roth, no debts, etc. No kids bills for school, medical, etc. Being single & independent allows me the freedom to go anywhere at anytime not needing to coordinate plans with anyone else, no need to compromise. I can go on a whim. Today for example is my day off and will be going to Tijuana to meet one of my many lady friends for some hanky-panky (lol). I know this is a family site so I won't go into further detail about it. At home it is peace and quiet, no kids crying or nagging. No spouse to argue with or fight with. Life is good being single. It's a misnomer that singles are sad and lonely. I guess some are but not me. What the Lord giveth, he can taketh away in an instant so I'm forever grateful to the Lord for being blessed.

[james.hendrickson]

James, I don't know about the data but for me personally, I'm the happiest single guy at 55 with no kids and never married, nor would I ever get married at this point in my life. I'm financially stable & secure, self-confident, have peace of mind, maxing out 457 & Roth, no debts, etc. No kids bills for school, medical, etc. Being single & independent allows me the freedom to go anywhere at anytime not needing to coordinate plans with anyone else, no need to compromise. I can go on a whim. Today for example is my day off and will be going to Tijuana to meet one of my many lady friends for some hanky-panky (lol). I know this is a family site so I won't go into further detail about it. At home it is peace and quiet, no kids crying or nagging. No spouse to argue with or fight with. Life is good being single. It's a misnomer that singles are sad and lonely. I guess some are but not me. What the Lord giveth, he can taketh away in an instant so I'm forever grateful to the Lord for being blessed.

QMM, more power to you sir. : )

[Scallywag]

James, I don't know about the data but for me personally, I'm the happiest single guy at 55 with no kids and never married, nor would I ever get married at this point in my life. I'm financially stable & secure, self-confident, have peace of mind, maxing out 457 & Roth, no debts, etc. No kids bills for school, medical, etc. Being single & independent allows me the freedom to go anywhere at anytime not needing to coordinate plans with anyone else, no need to compromise. I can go on a whim. Today for example is my day off and will be going to Tijuana to meet one of my many lady friends for some hanky-panky (lol). I know this is a family site so I won't go into further detail about it. At home it is peace and quiet, no kids crying or nagging. No spouse to argue with or fight with. Life is good being single. It's a misnomer that singles are sad and lonely. I guess some are but not me. What the Lord giveth, he can taketh away in an instant so I'm forever grateful to the Lord for being blessed.

Good for you.

Whenever I get overwhelmed (which is almost daily these days) with my son's needs or have trouble with my daughter (which is getting more frequent as she has anxiety issues and depression), I envy one of my childless cousins who used to be "pitied" by my extended family for never having kids. She incidentally never seemed to care and was finally and ultimately turned off having kids for good after she saw me with my son (which made me feel crappy at the time but now I totally understand)

My daughter tells me she does not intend to marry or have kids because she is afraid of having a child like her brother. I used to get very upset with her in the past but not much these days. As long as she has friends & companionship, I think she'll be ok. Marriage & kids are so over-rated.

[amarowsky]

Biggest financial Fail = Buying a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, on ebay, a few states away.

Beginning of story 2006 age 19 = Drove car home from NJ --> Michigan, it died on the boarder or Ohio/Penn (connecting rod busted through the oil pan). Had to tow it home. FYI this was all back in like 2006 ish. I am trying to remember how much I paid for the car, I think it was $4000-$5000 (of which I barely had, working as a bartender and going to college)

Middle of Story (2007/8) = Car goes to several mechanics to try and get fixed. I had no idea how do to anything beyond oil & tire changes on cars, so I needed 100% support. Also didn't have tools or room (I was only 20-21 ish during this time) Eventually completed the repairs on the motor in early 2008, but had no one to put everything back together. Repair bill is just over $7000 at this time. I started to get some money, but i moved to Indiana for a year to start my 1st career on the railroad (not home to coordinate).

End of Story = 2009 --> 2013 = Car sits idle until it's sold to be crashed in the 2014 movie "lost river" It was sold for $2,500. It was moved from my mom's 1 car garage ---> to my 2.5 car garage when I bought my home in 2010. At this point I had essentially a $12,000 paperweight, that would turn over , but was not completely "put back together" and needed a bunch of minor work to get it road ready.

Lesson Learned = Don't bite off more than you can chew (essentially). And I also learned how much people dislike having their "space" taken up with someone else's project. (weather they're using the space or not). So now I'd like to think I'm much more respectful when people offer their time and space generously. Basically now, I never ask people for this kind of support or help anymore.... Final lesson is the sting of money lost on a failed project, really put a lot of things into perspective.

I'm just lucky my "financial less learned" was just on a physical object and not involving any legal messes. I know far too many people that had to learn a financial/legal/responsibility lesson all at once, with the all to common "DWI or OUI" tons of youngsters get in their late teens and throughout their early to mid 20's.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on lady friends. Although I don't think of it as fails although I imagine some would consider it fails, I think of it as wins (trophies) . Sugar babies love their sugar daddies and vice versa (lol). Mods if not acceptable please delete (I don't want to get banned, lol).

[rennigade]

I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on lady friends. Although I don't think of it as fails although I imagine some would consider it fails, I think of it as wins (trophies) . Sugar babies love their sugar daddies and vice versa (lol). Mods if not acceptable please delete (I don't want to get banned, lol).

Cheaper than a divorce.

Isnt it strange that prostitution is illegal (in most places.) Its legal to give something away for free, but the second money is exchanged for the exact same thing, it becomes illegal. Go to a bar, pick up a girl, have fun...no issues. Go to a bar, pick up a girl, have fun, exchange money...illegal. Makes sense, lol.

[james.hendrickson]

I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on lady friends. Although I don't think of it as fails although I imagine some would consider it fails, I think of it as wins (trophies) . Sugar babies love their sugar daddies and vice versa (lol). Mods if not acceptable please delete (I don't want to get banned, lol).

Why man? You could have invested that money on bonds or stocks and be looking at twice the value right now. Don't chase women, chase excellence.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Ha-ha James that's true but I need to reward myself sometimes as well. It's like a special treat for saving and investing and splurging on myself as a reward.

[Scallywag]

Ha-ha James that's true but I need to reward myself sometimes as well. It's like a special treat for saving and investing and splurging on myself as a reward.

I hope you're taking precautions for health reasons? What do you for companionship? Do you have close friends or family you meet up with frequently? I ask because I don't think you could get companionship from "sugar babies" although YMMV