If you have seen the news headlines recently, then you know
many people are in debt up to their eyeballs.
What you may not have known is that car loans are starting
to become an even bigger drain on finances than people ever thought possible.
It was reported that 7 million Americans are 90 days
delinquent on auto loans. It was even in the news that in the UK financing is
become all the norm and putting lots of people in debt. Similar to American
consumers, British consumers are driving themselves into the red.
It makes you wonder if financing or leasing a vehicle the fast lane to debt?
Many seem to think so. Myself included.
If you have been reading my posts, you know how I feel about
cars. They put you on the fast track to bebtville, if you are not careful.
So, how can financing cars cost you $1 million dollars?
I’ll show you.
A LOOK BACK THROUGH TIME
I may not be able to take you back in time by going 88 miles an hour like in the movie Back to the Future, but I can give you a glimpse into what things cost by providing you the data here.
Back when Henry Ford was working on the Model T vehicle for
the Ford dealership, he believed in pricing his vehicles at a rate that even
his employees could afford. He said to pay a fair wage good enough so that his
factory workers could afford to buy his car. Oh how things have changed.
CEO’s used to make 20 times their employees wages on average, now they make 300 times more.
As wages have stagnated since the 1970’s, but the cost of
everything has gone up, it has made it very difficult for people to afford the
price of a vehicle today.
Let’s talk about the average cost of a car in 2019.
COMPARISON SHOPPING
I will give you a quick rundown of the average cost of homes
and cars over the last few decades.
This is a comparison of prices over the last 70 years.
If you focus just on the average cost of new cars, you will notice that a car that was $600 in 1930 is now $31,352 in 2013. The cost of a car has gone up over 5000% in 90 years. Wages have gone up 2250% in the same amount of time.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median household income in the United States is $56,516 in 2015. The price of cars have outpaced the increase in wages.
That’s something to think about right there.
WHY SHOULD I FINANCE OR LEASE A CAR?
People used to get around by horse and buggy until the
combustion engine was invented around 1885. Before that, people would rarely go
more than 10 miles from home. That meant you worked, lived, and played within a
10-mile radius of home for your entire life.
Once the automobile was introduced, people were then able to
work further from home. This provided more opportunities.
However, the price of cars has become so inflated that
people are having to decide between paying for utilities or car payments.
If having a car was so great, then why have wages not kept
up with inflation enough for people to truly be able to continue to afford and
enjoy them. I feel the same way about clothes. If your job wanted you to dress
in couture, then they should pay you couture wages.
My sister once said that if a job wanted you to dress in
suits, then they would pay you enough for that. If they want you to wear
designer clothes, but only pay minimum wage, then they get Target and Walmart. Haha.
I laughed so hard at that. Cause it’s true.
When you find yourself needing a car, why not buy what is
affordable?
You could finance a car that you plan to own or lease a car
you plan to trade-in and trade-up in a few years. Either way, it’s going to
cost you.
I say finance to own. Actually, if you can, I prefer you pay
cash for all appliances and that includes a car.
HOW TO SAVE $1 MILLION DOLLARS BY NOT BUYING A CAR
Let me tell you story.
I’ll paint you a picture, like Sophia would in Golden Girls.
Picture it: Washington DC 2003…
It was a brisk day in early Spring. A car salesman was
trying to sell me a more expensive model of the car I wanted, but I declined.
While I waited to sign on the dotted line, I was so nervous
my hands were sweating. It took all day, but I finally got my new car. Sticker
price: $24,000.
I was informed that I would be paying $450 a month. I walked
out and was happy to have a brand new car. Skipping merrily along my way before
reality would sink in.
A mere three years later, as I wrote out that check, I was sick of writing it by then and told myself NEVER again!
I finally paid that car off in 2009. And am happy to report
I have not had a car loan since. I spent about 6 years of my adult life paying
car notes. I promised myself never again. I have not had a car payment in a
decade. I used that money to pay off debt, save, and invest. I turned that car
payment into $100,000 in the stock market.
After doing some math, I found out that $100,000 invested in the stock market could turn into $1 million dollars in 30 years. In addition, if you were to put $5,500 in a Roth IRA for 35 years at an 8% return, you could net a $1 million-dollar portfolio.
Don’t think you can swing that? I think you can. I’ll tell you why.
You could spend a couple hundred grand on cars in a lifetime.
Let me show you how.
The average car payment is over $500 a month. According to Nerdwallet, the average is $530 a month for a car note. That is $6,000 a year. If you are paying that, then that is your retirement money right there.
If you buy a new car every 5 years, at $34,000, then over 30
years you would have spent $204,000. And that is just the sticker price! That
does not include interest, gas, maintenance, car washes or accessories like a
steering wheel cover.
If you can just save a few thousand dollars and buy a car
for cash, then you can save yourself thousands of dollars in interest and more.
You could slowly trade up every couple of years as you save more cash and
upgrade your car.
Do not give up potentially $1 million dollars on cars
because no vehicle is worth giving up that.
Generosity has built America. When we fail to invest in
children, we have to pay the cost. – Bob Keeshan, Captain Kangaroo
If you grew up in the 1960s through the 1990s, then you know
all about Saturday morning cartoons.
They aired between 8 am and noon. It was one of my favorite
things to do besides playing video games on Saturday mornings. The best part
about those cartoons were the lessons they taught. At least, that is my
opinion. I later found out that programs that are geared towards children are
required to be educational. I appreciated that. 😉
Those cartoons helped shape the person I am today. The name
of my blog even comes from an animated episode of X-Men, and the character
Magneto.
If you read my Meet Miriam page, then you already know some of my favorites. Here is a quick recap of some of those toons.
Memories…
Muppet Babies – Baby versions of Jim Henson’s Muppets imagine themselves in fantastic situations. The show aired from September 15, 1984 to November 2, 1991. The show had episodes that discussed morals, teamwork, love, friendship, and ethics.
Jem and the Holograms – Adventures of a music company owner who uses a holographic computer to live a secret life as a rock star originally aired from 1985-88. Jerrica Benton owns Starlight music and is the leader of the rock band Jem and the Holograms. Jem is her alter ego. Her earrings produce holographic images of anything Jem requests. In addition, she ran Starlight house, a home for foster girls. The show ran from October 6, 1985 to May 2, 1988.
G.I. Joe – Animated series from the mid-1980s tells the saga of a fearless, globe-trotting special missions force — called G.I. Joe — which works to combat Cobra, an organization with an evil commander bent on world domination. On land, on sea, and in the air — whenever trouble breaks out around the world, G.I. Joe is there, ready to battle for ideals that America values. The show aired from September 12, 1983 to November 20, 1986.
ThunderCats – “ThunderCats” follows the adventures of a group of catlike humanoid aliens from the planet Thundera. When the dying planet meets its end, the group, known as the ThunderCats, is forced to flee its homeland. The end up on Third Earth and are constantly attacked by the Mutants of Plun-Darr and Mum-Ra. This show was very mature. It was well-written, story-driven, incredible tales of humility, strength, endurance, morality, and ethics. The show aired from January 23, 1985 to September 30, 1988.
I cannot stress enough how vital it was for me to watch
these cartoons growing up. Sure, I went to school, read books, and went outside
to play, but cartoons just stimulated my interest like nothing else. I love to
be entertained. That is one great way to teach me.
One of the biggest influences during this era was Captain
Kangaroo, which was a character played by Bob Keeshan. He was no Mr. Rogers,
but he had a way with words. He was able to captivate an audience of 3
year-olds and believe me that is no small thing to do.
Without further ado, I bring you what I love about Saturday
morning cartoons.
But first…
WHO IS BOB KEESHAN?
Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every
word, movement and action has an effect. No other person or outside force has a
greater influence on a child than the parent. – Bob Keeshan
The best teacher is an entertainer. – Bob Keeshan
Robert James Keeshan was born on June 27, 1927. was an
American television producer and actor. He created and played the title role in
the children’s television program Captain Kangaroo, which ran from 1955 to
1984, the longest-running nationally broadcast children’s television program of
its day. He hosted The Captain Kangaroo show from 1955-1984 and one of my
personal favorites in its original run CBS Storybreak in 1985.
Back in the old days, when I was a child, we sat around the
family table at dinner time and exchanged our daily experiences. It wasn’t very
organized, but everyone was recognized and all the news that had to be told was
told by each family member. We listened to each other and the interest was not
put on; it was real. – Bob Keeshan
One of my fondest memories from my childhood was watching
cartoons. They taught me that I should know the difference between right and
wrong, stand up for my beliefs, have principles and values. All things that
have helped me successfully navigate adulthood and will help you in any setting
you are in.
TELEVISION HAS ITS
LIMITS
One of the big secrets of finding time is not to watch
television. -Bob Keeshan
I read that Warren Buffet, one of the richest and greatest investors
of all time, spends 80% of his day reading. In addition, that Bill Gates reads
about 80 books a years and CEO’s read about 60 a year.
Although, as a kid, I loved reading the Sunday comics; my favorite comic strip was The Peanuts, I also made time to read. Television is a condensed version of books. You have to read to get all the knowledge and shows for kids usually encouraged us to express our individuality and explore our creativity through reading more.
From deciding to read about finances, I learned to do the
following:
Start saving 40% or more of my income
Invest in index funds such as VTSAX, VFINX, or
VITSX
Read 2 finance books a month
LISTEN
A child needs to be listened to and talked to at 3 and 4 and
5 years of age. Parents should not wait for the sophisticated conversation of a
teenager. – Bob Keeshan
I cannot tell you how many times I had to tap dance sometimes
in my house to be heard. When you have siblings you better find a way to stand
out. However, there were times when I would start talking to adults and telling
them how I felt. To my surprise, they listened. I learned not to be shy and to
use my words not my fists. Keep all hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Got
it!
I enjoy meeting not only contemporary children, but
yesterday’s children as well. It’s nice to talk about the experiences we shared,
they tell me, ‘You were a good friend.’ That’s the warmest part. Bob Keeshan
It requires more strength to be gentle, so it’s the everyday
encounters of life that I think we’ve prepared children for and prepared them
to be good to other people and to consider other people. – Bob Keeshan
I would watch reruns of Mighty Mouse, Bewitched, and I Dream of Jeannie Growing Up. They all expressed some of the same ideals. You can catch more bees with honey than vinegar. So, be kind. NOBODY wants to work with a jerk. Treat people right. It comes back to you. 😉
I think just as importantly we prepare people for the
definition of being gentle. – Bob Keeshan
When I think of that statement, I always think of Mr. T. He
always treated people with decency and respect. He was well-spoken, direct,
soft but firm. I have learned to do the same.
Play is the work of children. It’s very serious stuff. – Bob
Keeshan
If I didn’t go outside to play, I would lose my mind. It
just was what I needed to do. So, my parents let me stay outside all day.
After, I did my homework.
Now that I look back, I think they may have done it to get a
break from me. Regardless, I learned the value of true friendship and about
life on the playground.
One of my friend’s mom’s was very sick. She was so sad about
that. Understandably. So, we made sure to always check on her and her mom and
ALWAYS asked her to come outside and play with us. This was when she would
light up. One time she hurt herself really bad on the playground. It was on concrete. I will never forget it, she
cried all the way home and we went with her. We just wanted to make sure she
was okay. Because that is what friends do.
A RUNDOWN OF SOME
FAMOUS CARTOONS
Here is a short rundown of Saturday Morning cartoons. Nostalgia. Haha
The ones in bold
are some of my favorites.
1960’s
The Flintstones
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Quick Draw McGraw Show
The Yogi Bear Show
The Jetsons
Johnny Quest
The Magilla Gorilla Show
The Herculoids
Wacky Racers
The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
1970’s
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
Josie and the Pussycats
Secret Squirrel
Help!….It’s the Hair Bear
Bunch!
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home
Speed Buggy
Super Friends
The Addams Family
The Great Grape Ape Show
Dog Wonder
Tom & Jerry
Jabberjaw
Scooby’s All Star Laff-A-Lympics
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
1980’s
Super Friends
Richie Rich
The Smurfs
The Snorks
Pac-Man
Rainbow Bright
Strawberry Shortcake
My Little Ponies
Pound Puppies
The Paw-Paw Bears
Shirt Tales
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Dennis the Menace
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo
CBS Storybreak
The Raccoons
The Wuzzles
Skeleton Warriors
Galaxy High
Fraggle Rock
Gummi Bears
The Berenstain Bears
Dungeons and Dragons
Voltron
Fantastic Max
1990’s
Tom & Jerry Kids
The Pirates of Dark Water
Camp Candy
Biker Mice from Mars
The Real Ghostbusters
Codename Kids NextDoor
The Powerpuff Girls
The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest
Bettlejuice
Here’s a shout out to Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network and
other afternoon or weekday morning cartoons
Garfield and Friends
Power Rangers
Wild and Crazy Kids
Dare
Noodles
Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics
Woody Woodpecker
Mighty Mouse
Healthcliff
Gumby
Tiny Toon Adventures
The Care Bears
Pinky and the Brain
Hey Dude
The Adventures of the Little Koala
Noozles
Did I bring back any memories?
Is that list long enough for you? Did I miss any?
Let me know. And I will add it to the list.
Have you ever written a blog post about a cartoon? Let me
know and I will add it to a running list right here in this post.
“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.” ― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass
Where do I begin?
Let’s start here. The cost of college.
College is expensive. According to the College Board, the average cost of a 4-year in-state public university hovers around $9,970, at private colleges $34,740, and $25,620 for out-of-state residents attending public universities.
Many folks don’t just have $10,000-$30,000 sitting around in their bank accounts.
According to numerous reports, many Americans do not even have $400 for an emergency. How the heck are they going to come up with 10 times that amount or more for college?
I, myself, had to become an extremely massive saver in order to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck.
This required me to become very frugal and find ways to earn more, cut spending, or both from my household budget.
Most of my problem was the revolving credit card debt I had. So, I had to come up with a plan to get it paid off. Every time I paid off one debt, I started saving that money.
What I really noticed about college besides just the price was that many of the things we’re learning came from equally expensive textbooks. Couldn’t I have saved tons of money by just skipping college and reading the textbook instead? Literally, all I would have needed is the syllabus of the course.
I went on Amazon to see books about the cost of college being worth it. It is right? Well, maybe.
The point I am trying to make with this article is to examine the following:
Challenge the conventional wisdom that college will solve all your problems
Going to college will make you rich
Prestige is to be pursued at all and any cost
THE COST OF COLLEGE
It has been well-documented that college is coasting more and more every year.
The amount of student loan debt in the United States alone stands a $1.5 trillion.
I cannot even wrap my head around that number. Basically, it means that many people are either going to be paying back their loans for a long time or will not ever be able to repay them. That is a sad fact indeed.
We are mortgaging our young people’s future.
Many are unable to buy homes, start families, get married, and put down roots.
The cost of college is especially hard to manage for those that are of low-income. The issues of poverty do not stop with a college acceptance letter.
We are starting to create a reality in where the poor inherit their parents’ poverty while the rich hoard opportunities for their kids.
That glass floor is real. When poor kids are getting 1200 to 1600 SAT scores and pulling hard A’s but still unable to graduate, while trust fund babies are barely pulling soft C’s is just ridiculous. That means, a rich kid can get a college degree simply because their parents have wealth, income, and resources.
I have heard stories of low-income college students dropping out for owing less than $1,000 to get their degree. Frankly, this saddens and alarms me.
And I am not buying avocado toast at $10, according to one politician, who will remain nameless.
The cost of a Bachelor’s (BA/BS) degree is just too darn expensive. The worst part is that an education is not an equalizer. Just because you went to Harvard doesn’t mean you are going to get the corner office. That fancy C-Suite is the carrot being dangled in front of all those Ivy League hopefuls.
Many do not make it there.
Don’t believe me.
Check this out.
When I looked up books on colleges, admissions, and the Ivy League online, I found the following titles:
Excellent Sheep
Nudge
No Sucker Left Behind
Where you go is not who’ll you be
The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton
The Price of Privilege
Paying for the party
Pedigree Elite: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs
The Blessing of the B Minus
Academically Adrift
Winners Take All
Generation Debt: How Our Future Was Sold Out for Student Loans, Bad Jobs, No Benefits, and Tax Cuts for Rich Geezers–And How to Fight Back
Equity and Excellence in American Higher Education
How to Raise an Adult
iGen: Today’s super connected kids are growing up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – And completely unprepared for Adulthood
I have read a few of the books listed above. Many are eye-opening recounts of their experiences with elitism, the Ivy League, college admissions, debt, student loans, finances, etc. Paying high prices, as much as $100 an hour for instruction, for college, taking on tons of debt and then receiving low starting salaries.
Stagnant wages and student loans are a dangerous cocktail.
The one book that still haunts me is No Sucker Left Behind. In this book, he describes college as a rip-off as he feels that colleges are involved in price-gauging schemes. Colleges, in his opinion, have become profit-obsessed businesses with an approach that is more reserved for used car salesman.
There are some Ivy Leaguer’s that become Corporate America rock stars. However, the majority go on to careers in the same type of jobs that those that do not go to top tier colleges.
COLLEGE EARNINGS
You think the Ivy League is the only way to go. Well, think again.
You hear all the time that a college degree means higher earnings, like $1 million more in income over a working lifetime. What you do not hear are the tales of people paying $100,000 for that sheepskin and then getting a $35,000 starting salary right out of college.
He looked up profiles of people that went to Elite Schools.
Mostly more of the same from elites: people chasing money.
Surprise, surprise many end up in investment banking and consulting. If places like Harvard are the playgrounds of the rich, then places like investment banks are close behind. The Elite School graduate sandlots.
I have come to believe that you should pursue what is in your heart and your God given talent. Whatever that may be. God does not give anyone anything he doesn’t want them to use. Sacrificing doing any less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Figure out what you are good at and then pursue that! The money tends to follow.
Some studies have followed, like the one above, people who attended Ivy League schools and others accepted to those schools but who chose lower ranked schools instead. The result: There wasn’t a difference in lifetime earnings. In other words, Ivy League caliber people don’t need an Ivy League education to have high earnings.
WHY FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE?
Remember that $100 an hour for instruction that I previously stated? Due to that, the real cost of college is costing some students $100,000 a year, according to the book No Sucker Left Behind. So, that is what part of the reasoning behind four years is. Collecting the tuition and fees.
The BA/BS degree takes no less than 120 credits to complete.
Why is this?
Should we not question this? I get it. You do not want a doctor that is immature performing surgery on you. However, I value work ethic and experience over age.
Why not have a degree take 48 credits to complete?
How we would do this is to cut out all the unnecessary courses one needs to graduate. Forget the gen eds and endless electives. Stick to what we need to graduate.
A college degree should be done as quickly as possible so that people can get out there and work. Most families do not have 4 years to let junior go off and explore. They need him out there working and bringing home the bacon today!
I read an online forum called college confidential where it asked why is college in America so long. Great question. Here are some of the responses. This is how it went down.
Why is it that it takes so long to get a professional degree in the US?
In order to study Optometry or Medicine or Dentistry etc you need to do 4 years in college first, not even 1 or 2 years but 4 years whereas in the UK the 16-18 education is enough to prepare you for it.
People may want to start/support a family and at the same time pursue their passion but the length of study is off putting.
Answers were the following:
Gen eds.
The US is looking for mature people to be their doctors and lawyers, not a 21 year old whose frontal lobe is not yet fully developed.
If you have many AP/IB credits, you can get your degree in 3 years, too.
I would not want my doctor/dentist to have had only 1 year of formal education.
It’s a business. The more classes one is required to take, the more money the school makes.
What I suggest is that colleges get straight to teaching you all you need to know in your field. This would cut down on the time and expense of school.
And as for those who say people need to mature. Sure, I’m all for that, but how many people know 30 year-olds that are still wet behind the ears? Lots.
If you want people to mature, put them to work. Nothing makes people grow up faster than responsibility and accountability.
If maturity is really an issue, then have people start in at the bottom.
Nothing beats entitlement out of you like taking orders, scrubbing toilets, and fetching coffee.
Make people work their way up. After college, they could apprentice and work while learning their jobs. Get paid to train and work instead of paying for more training. It is just that simple.
I think college should allow student s to do an intensive 8 months and 48 credits
You would take 4 three-credit classes every 8 weeks. This would mean doing 4 eight-week semesters instead of 8 three-month ones. You would earn 12 credits every 2 months.
A college schedule could be like this:
Year One. English, Economics, major, major.
Year Two. Economics, Science, major, major.
Year Three. History, Math, major, major.
Year Four. Economics, major, major, major.
You see what I did there. I focused on the major and getting people out of college. That should be the point of college, right?
Why the focus on finance? Other than the fact Greenbacks Magnet is a financial blog, it just makes sense to teach people about money as they have to manage it for their whole lives.
After 8 months, you earn 48 credits and graduate. That took less than one year. It also saves you heaps of money. If four years costs you $40,000, then 8 months should run you $6,667. That is huge savings!
I was gobsmacked to hear of doctors owing $300,000 to $1 million in student loan debt. Do you know what type of interest you pay on that kind of debt? It’s immoral.
Interest of 5% on $1,000,000 is $50k a year. That means after income taxes you have to pay $50,000 just to pay the interest on this debt. To service this type of debt, you would have to pay more than $50,000 a year just to touch the principal.
I remember reading one lawyer say that he expected to have that student loan bill tacked to his coffin.
Just utterly insane!
PRESTIGE AND CLASS
I read a book called Class Matters by the New York Times and Bill Keller. The book discusses how people chase money and prestige. Class determines everything about you: where you live, who you marry, what you do to earn a living, where you shop, and who your friends are.
The zip code you grow up in can ultimately make or break you.
In the book, it discusses how Americans have long thought of themselves as unburdened by class distinctions. There is no hereditary aristocracy or landed gentry, and even the poorest among us feel that they can become rich through education, hard work, or sheer gumption. And yet social class remains a powerful force in American life.
Class―defined as a combination of income, education, wealth, and occupation―influences destiny in a society that likes to think of itself as a land of opportunity.
What was jaw-dropping was this part of the book: And we see how class disparities manifest themselves at the doctor’s office and at the marriage altar.
For anyone concerned about the future of the American dream, Class Matters is truly essential reading. I agree with that assessment given to the book.
THE CREDENTIAL RACE
Grades are important. Sort of. Those getting straight A’s have to conform. Visionaries are not conformists. A New York Times (NYT) article quoted Dr. Karen Arnold as saying, “Valedictorians aren’t likely to be the future’s visionaries.”
The NYT article also noted the following:
This might explain why Steve Jobs finished high school with a 2.65 G.P.A., J.K. Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter with roughly a C average, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. got only one A in his four years at Morehouse.
THE REAL GRADUATION RATE
Did you know that the average graduation rate is 6 years?
Roughly 57% of students graduate in 6 years. Only 20% of American students graduate in 4 years.
Most students are not even graduating in the already exceedingly long period of 4 years’ time.
According to Complete College America, for a non-flagship public university, only 19% of students graduate on time and even at flagship research public universities, the on-time graduation rate is only 36%. Only 50 of the more than 580 public four-year institutions have graduation rates above 50%.
According to 2013 data from the University of Texas at Austin, students who graduate on time will spend 40% less than those who graduate in six years.
That means more time out of the work force and more debt.
According to Forbes, staying out of debt and saving are the best ways to build wealth.
WHY SHOULD COLLEGE BE 8 MONTHS?
Why can’t you do your 10-year plan in 6 months? – Peter Thiel, angel investor of Facebook
I whittle it down to this one reason: No student loans or a lesser amount of them.
Building wealth requires you staying away from and out of debt.
They say student loans are good debt.
I say that all debt is debt. You must repay it. Not having to pay back $20,000 or more of debt with interest is life changing.
If you want to be wealthy, stay away from debt. Save every penny. Learn to turn every dollar into two.
Boys tell stories ’bout the man. Say I never struggled, wasn’t hungry, yeah, I doubt it – Drake, Started From The Bottom
So, who is the man behind the mohawk?
Well, you’re about to find out.
Just who he is.
But first…
A shout out to all things hearts and flowers. Valentine’s Day is coming!
Valentine’s Day!!!
Dean: Where am I going? Sam: Dean, it’s Valentine Day. Your favorite holiday, remember? I mean, what do you always call it – uh, Unattached Drifter Christmas?😂
Q: What did cavemen give their wives on Valentine’s Day? A: Lots of ughs and kisses.
Always blows me away finding pencils on the ground… Seemingly so worthless, yet can cause so much damage or love depending on who picks it up and how they use it. pic.twitter.com/TB5m7wX7yz
Q: What did the calculator say to the pencil on Valentine’s Day? A: You can always count on me.
Okay. All jokes and kidding aside.
Who are we talking with today about the sorted topic of coin? Blogger extraordinaire J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy
Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight. – Johnny Cash
Let’s find out the man behind the money and the mohawk?
Let’s not waste any time. We’re diving right into the interview.
THE INTRODUCTION
GBM Miriam: It was great meeting the one and only J. Money at FinCon 18 in Orlando. Congrats, on being an 11-time Plutus Award winner for your blog Budgets are Sexy. You can see more about what others are saying about his blog on his press page. The accolades are well-deserved. I even included him on my list of Money advice that 10 Bloggers told me blog post! That’s because J$ does not hold anything back when it comes to talking money.
Imagine my surprise to meet the man I had been following along to and reading his stuff for the past several years.
He was extremely nice and down-to-earth. One of the friendliest guys I have ever met!!!
He never ceases to amaze me with his sheer enthusiasm for life, unbridled passion for what he does, his unmatched love of talking all things money, and incredible charisma and good vibes is almost like nothing I have ever felt!
It was so great to meet him. He is just awesome to be around. You can never feel bad around J$. I dare you. He’s just too friendly and cool.
I had to reach out and ask for an interview.
MEET J. MONEY (J$ FOR SHORT 😉
This is how it feels to meet J$.
Fun Fact: Both Carl Weathers and Schwarzenegger have starred in films with Sly Stallone. Carl Weathers had famously done Rocky just a few years before he did this film, Predator, with Ah-nuld!
For those who don’t already know the award winning blogger.
Like Jay Z said, “allow me to re-introduce myself.”
J$ STARTS A SEXY BLOG
1. What prompted you to start a blog about money? Why are budgets sexy?
I fell in love with
the community after searching for tips back in 2007 when I bought a house with
no money down and no budget whatsoever (*gasp*). I was entranced by how real
and RAW people were online – especially those sharing their net worths! – and
after a while I thought I’d jump into the ring myself and have a little fun…
Had no idea it would completely change my life, and my finances, over a decade
later!
I came up with the “budgets are sexy” concept around the time Justin Timberlake’s “I’m bringing sexy back” song was charting, and thought it went well together since budgets essentially gives you the one thing that we all strive for – confidence. The confidence to know where your money’s been, the confidence to know where you’re money’s going, and then of course the confidence it gives you within just knowing you’re on top of the game! And how sexy is that??
So, you just decided to toss your hat into the ring! Wow. That’s it. Just jump out there. Well, that’s awesome.
You only live once, that’s the motto…YOLO – Drake, The Motto
I guess you really did take YOLO to heart. ❤👍
Well, alright! 👌
GBM Miriam: I read the Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagen and was pleasantly surprised to see you were featured in it!! Congrats!!!
2. Any favorite
finance books? How come?
My top 3 favorites are:
“I Will Teach You To Be Rich” by
Ramit Sethi (good for action taking and funny as hell)
“The Automatic Millionaire” by David
Bach (also good for action taking)
“The Millionaire Next Door” by
Thomas J. Stanley and and William D. Danko. (good for your *mind!*)
I also love “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, which isn’t a finance book, but more of a lifestyle/career one which heavily influences what I spend my time on, and more importantly – what I don’t.
GBM Miriam: On your blog it states: “A personal finance blog that won’t put you to sleep.” – Benjamin Franklin
Great! Because I liked to be entertained. I don’t want to be put to sleep! I want to talk money and have some fun. They say, give the people what they want.
I thought that quote on Franklin was pretty funny because I did a blog post on the how the 13 virtues of Benjamin Franklin can make you rich. I am a huge fan of his and that is why I like the Disney film National Treasure so much as it has B. Franklin all over it!
Are you a fan of Ben Franklin?
3. What are you
reading right now? What’s on your night stand?
I’m reading a lot of books on the history of my hometown, which I’m told is even more boring than finances 😉 There’s also a book on Benjamin Franklin that a reader mailed me – “Franklin’s Thrift: The Lost History of an American Virtue” – as he knew I’m a big fan of his habits.
Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money. – Johnny Cash
4. One thing people
may not know about you?
I have mild O.C.D. as
well as A.D.H.D., and I also hate public speaking… which sucks, because you
could really grow an empire in this field if you love getting in front of a
crowd! Here’s an awesome article I just came across btw for anyone else who
suffers from “reading O.C.D.” (It’s a thing!) –> How I Overcame My Reading OCD
Started from the bottom, now we’re here. – Drake
GBM Miriam: I read online that you managed to amass $400,000 in 7 years. That’s no small feat.
I try to think positive. Write down my goals (cause you know, it’s all about the power of the pen). Visualize what I want and say my affirmations to make things come to fruition.
But what about you? How’d you do it?
5. What’s in your wallet? How did you start building wealth?
I’m super minimalist
with my wallet (it’s actually a money clip), and I only keep a credit card in
it, my debit card, and then cold hard cash along with my drivers license.
Although now I realize your question is more about my proverbial wallet
isn’t it? Haha…
For that I max out all my retirement accounts every year using Vanguard index funds, or more specifically – the VTSAX fund (I keep my investing simple too!). Went from $50,000 to $800,000+ by mainly doing that, along with of course cutting back and finding other avenues of income along the way…
GBM Miriam: I appreciate that honesty right there. Thanks for keeping it 💯!!
You just put it out there. And that’s awesome. I need all the transparency I can get right now with the Dow Jones base jumping every other week.
I almost started to Birdbox myself like Sandra Bullock and only look at the stock market blindfolded, but then I thought to just go ahead and look at it, as it’s better to just rip a band-aid off.
Alright, it’s time for the bonus round.
My favorite part of every interview here on Greenbacks Magnet!!!
Bonus Questions (pick
any of the questions from the top or below that you want to answer)
7. What’s your
favorite ’80s and/or ’90s jam? What’s on your ipod? Would you let us hook
up your ‘Recently Played’ list on Spotify to our office speakers?
Haha… I love old school rap, mixed in with a little pop and folk music for good measure. You could hook up my iPod Nano if you wanted (remember that one???) but it’s stuck in the 2000’s as I rarely download anything and tend to stick to the radio or vinyl… I love me some Johnny Cash or Chuck Berry action!
Chuck Berry huh? Anyone remember the film Back to the Future?
Well, here is Marty doing a cover of the 1958 Chuck Berry song Johnny B. Goode. Enjoy!
8. What would
your autobiography be called?
“Normal Guy Gets Lucky and Can’t Believe He Writes Down His Thoughts For a Living”
GBM Miriam: I love that title! That’s really funny, but sooooo accurate.
9. If you found a lottery ticket that ends up winning $2 million. What would you do?
Pay the taxes on it, spend $10,000 lavishly on friends and family, and then probably bank the rest into Vanguard funds and keep going about my business…
GBM Miriam: Smart move. Pay those taxes.
In a weird way I actually DON’T wanna win the lottery as I want to see if I can hit financial freedom *on my own*. Not that I’d turn it down if I won, but I’d probably have to stop blogging since everyone would just assume it was the lottery that brought me to this place and write me off, haha… I already feel like I won the lottery anyways as you can tell from my autobiography! 😉
If you notice we go from 9 to 12, that is because out of 15 (more or less) interview questions, all guests can answer whatever ones interest them the most. Skipping a few questions we move right along.
In the illustrious words of Pauly Shore, “let’s keep on cruisin’.”
12. Do you consider Monopoly to be a game that you play with friends or enemies?
FRIENDS!! Why would
you play it with enemies??? The only real problem with Monopoly is finding
people who will actually *finish the game* with you since everyone bails after
only like 30 mins!! The worst!!
13. If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, song, film, book etc which one would you claim?
GBM Miriam: Personally, I would want the Campbell Soup Cans by Andy Warhol.
Painted around 1962, one painting (of the 32 cans he painted, which the canvases are on display at the Modern Museum of Art in New York) went on to fetch a record-breaking amount for an American artist of $11.8 at Christie’s auction house in May 2006. I do love some Campbell’s chicken noodle soup.
Andy Warhol also said, “the goal isn’t to live forever. It is to create something that does.” It is one of the reasons I chose to start a blog.
BAS J$: I’m gonna take the lame way out and say I wouldn’t steal anyone’s as I hate it when my stuff gets copped. Plus — I already suffer from Impostor Syndrome just being *myself*, so there’s no way I could pull off being someone else even if I wanted to! 🙂
14. Which animal would make the best type of president if the animal kingdom ever rises up and takes over?
Unicorns? I don’t know anyone who hates them, and we sure do need some magic up in here to fix our world!! 🦄🦄🦄
Unicorn!!!!!
15. When it comes to making tea which answer most applies to you?
a) I am the patron
saint of tea, tea for everyone!
b) I’m not a one man
Starbucks. Every man for himself.
c) I’ve only got two hands- so first come, first served.
GBM Miriam: As there was only three options, J. Money decided to do a write in answer. As any boss would.
What I should have asked. And figured would be a coffee drinker’s answer.
Well, that brings us to the end of this interview. This was a fun post and I hope a good time was had by all.
GBM Miriam: Thank you J. Money for stopping by!! I am sure we will see each other again at the next money meets media conference as FinCon19 is coming to DC! That’s right in our neck of the woods. 😉
BAS J$: thanks again for having me! fun and creative questions 👍🙏
Want more straight forward money advice from Budgets Are Sexy?
“Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before
you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before
you die, give.” — William A. Ward
That’s right folks. Step right up. Don’t be shy.
I’m about to simplify your life. Your financial life anyway. A one-tweet financial plan is the way to go.
You see that quote at the start of this blog post.
There, I just gave it to you in the quote stated above. The
end.
Just kidding. But seriously, it is in the quote above. I will just expand upon it.
Warning this post is full of tweets! But lots of information. Stay with me! 😉
WHAT IS A ONE-TWEET FINANCIAL PLAN?
A financial plan that is 240 characters or less and can be sent out in a tweet.
"Whenever I make a decision, I always try to decide: Would I do this for $1?" – David Blaine @davidblaine
I know what you’re thinking. Yeah, right. Well, since seeing
is believing I will show you exactly what I mean.
Here is my one-tweet financial plan.
My 1-tweet financial plan
1. Have a 2-month emergency fund 2. Open a Roth IRA 3. Buy a home for 25% less than you can afford 4. Pay off student, personal, and auto loans ASAP 5. Max out your 401(k)
And due to the recent government shutdown, I have also created a one-tweet financial plan government shutdown edition. 😉 It’s kind of like how they created the Scrabble game deluxe. You take an already good thing and then just expand upon it and make it even better.
My 1-tweet financial plan government #shutdown edition. 😉
1. Save a 9-month emergency fund 2. Instead of maxing Roth IRA use extra funds for your rainy day fund 3. Do not get any student loans 4. Do not buy a new car, home, or go on vacation until rainy day acct 100% funded pic.twitter.com/Xmslbml3qC
I also like to think ahead to the future and plan for my taxes. You need to save today because the future gets more expensive. What costs a $1 today will cost $1.25 in the future. Plan ahead.
The committee’s analysis also found that Americans earning $75,000 a year or less would also face large tax increases by 2027 because of the Senate’s plan to allow individual tax cuts to expire at the end of 2025.
At the heart of the argument is new analysis by congressional number crunchers that finds the plan cuts taxes at first but by 2027 actually raises taxes for anyone making less than $75,000.
Courage is never giving up. Love that its spelled out here using letters from my favorite game: Scrabble. So never give up on your dreams. https://t.co/b7dQUUpZSZ
It is one of the best qualities you can have. Being a good listener can lead to lasting marriages, better employment, and happier relationships.
Fincon18 lessons: 1. Do not challenge @dreamer_money to a dance-off. 2. Take whatever advice @mjp2520 gives you. 3. Anonymous blogging is only annoying when trying to organize a group photo. 4. If you're too shy to approach people, challenging them to tic tac toe is 1 way to go
I started reading about personal finance and attending
seminars or conferences long before I started writing and tweeting about it.
Coming from a place of experience and information gives you a different point
of view (POV). That POV can make you an expert in your field. Never
underestimate the power of just listening and observing.
THINK
I want you to write down your goals, thoughts, wants, needs, and desires. Like I said before, seeing is believing. Think before you act.
My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to be financially independent.
There is nothing wrong with moving slowly or with caution. However, that does not give you the right to move like a turtle. First, think. Then act and move expeditiously once a decision has been made. Move quick. Make haste. Do not overthink it. This can lead to analysis paralysis.
Be careful not to overwhelm yourself, and only follow advice from credible sources, so you don’t fall victim to progress paralysis or unsuitable and potentially dangerous investments.
Moving slowly does allow you to more clearly see the path
ahead. But once you see it, I want you to run toward your goal. Not walk. RUN!
EARN
You have to earn money to save it. It is just that simple.
I was in debt up to my eyeballs. However, I did not toss my hands in the air and say who cares as I will be in debt forever. Nope. Not me. I chipped away at my debt. Then, I slowly started to have savings. I emerged from the debt cocoon I was in and became a soon to be debt-free butterfly.
All the reasons I want you to pursue financial indepence.
1. Freedom 2-100 see number one
That is the answer always, in the illustrious words of #buzzlightyear To infinity and beyond. 😂
I found ways to get rid of my debt. By any means necessary.
It didn’t matter if I had to sell items, save my change, get 0% deals on every
item I purchased, or stop buying chewing gum just to save a buck.
Once the debt started going away, I had tons of disposable income. Go figure.
I got inspired by @johnlegend to start paying off all my credit card debt from a book by @KSchwarzenegger. thank you. My 🙏 were answered because I needed some inspiration to payoff my debt. Money advice I got from John Legend https://t.co/jZmr1PMgew
I cannot stress this enough. Investing can be the difference between you being one of the haves or have nots. I hate to break it to you, but the top earners invest.
Investing is a long game.
I read the wealthy invest up to 20 percent or more of their income each and every year.
"On average, millionaires invest 20% of their household income each year. Their wealth isn't measured by the amount they make each year, but by how they've saved and invested over time," writes Ramit Sethi in his New York Times bestseller, "I Will Teach You To Be Rich."
The 1 percent are making a killing in the stock market. And you can too.
When I decided I was going to be rich, I turned my attention
toward investing. If you want to know where Greenbacks Magnet is investing,
then check out my post below. 😉
May I recommend the books The Millionaire Next Door, The Automatic Millionaire, and Prince Charming Isn't Coming by Barbara Stanny to add to your growing list 😉
According to Grant Cardone, CEO’s read 60 books and attend 6 conferences a year. The average person reads less than one book a year. I read that in the 10X Rule.
Read the 10x rule. Took his advice. Set 10x goals and do 10x more action. It worked. Many thanks! Went from saving $10 to $10k a year. #OBSESSED
I agree. I got like 11 books on my nightstand right now. Reading taught me how to say no to things and people. Money has to be respected and not just squandered. When I say no I tell people its not personal, it's just business. pic.twitter.com/wBARNSbLJ9
You know all those overnight success stories you hear? Well, those are garbage. It takes years of hard work, persistence, determination and sacrifice to get anywhere worth going.
According to the book The Millionaire Next Door, 80-86% of millionaires in America are self-made. Most wealth is earned. Meaning less than 20% inherit their wealth. This is down from a high of 50% or more who did so around the early 1900’s.
All those bands you hear about or people you see on television. They were honing their craft long before records executives starting signing them to deals.
Gene Simmons said he was going from gig to gig in an old van living off hot dogs with his bandmates in KISS.
Don’t be like Beetlejuice. Remember that scene in the movie where he took his number and was impatient. It was hilarious. One of Michael Keaton’s most memorable roles.
The point is that you have to be patient. I do not mean wait forever. I just mean that all good things do take some amount of time.
Don’t be so quick to judge or criticize others, before you know the full story.
“I praise loudly. I blame softly.” – Catherine II, Catherine the Great
FORGIVE
They say it’s divine.
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
And I make sure to forgive. I always forgive, once.
Investing is the ability to research, seek answers, make decisions & being patient. You may make mistakes but forgive yourself & move on. pic.twitter.com/BlJl4Smv26
Don’t be a quitter. Try first. You will never know if you
have got the goods to make it, unless you get out there and do it. Do
something. Don’t just wait to be discovered. Get out there and meet people.
Shake some hands. Knock down some doors. Make some phone calls. Just try.
SAVE
This one thing can change your life. Saving. It is the start of all things to come. The act alone is a reflection of who you are and what you value.
This is how I started, but on an even smaller scale. It took me six years, but I went from saving $1 a day to over $11,000 a year. NEVER give up on your goals. https://t.co/KK1UBABCLx
I read it is good to have 25 times your salary in life insurance. This is to protect your loved ones. At the very least I say 10 times. Just a suggestion. That means for 25x your income, if you make: $20k = $500,000 $40k = $1 million $50k = $1.25 million Are you insured enough?
Dealerships are offering 84 month car loans! Thats 7 years! Forget that. Do you know what you can do in 7 years? 1. Graduate college (twice) 2. Get married 3. Write the next great American novel 4. Learn a new language 5. Start a business 6. Watch all 13 seasons of #Supernatural
You give as a way to reach back and help those that come after you. It is a way to show your gratitude for all the things those that came before you have done.
There was a time there was no stock market. Or anesthesia. 😮
Let’s take a little walk down Wall Street.
The NYSE celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1992. Wall Street started under a tree in 1792 with commodities.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was founded in 1896 with only 12 industrial stocks. Those 12 companies: American Cotton Oil, American Sugar, American Tobacco, Chicago Gas, Distilling & Cattle Feeding, General Electric, Laclede Gas, National Lead, North American, Tennessee Coal and Iron, U.S. Leather and U.S. Rubber.
My how things have changed. None of those stocks are now part of the DJIA.
The good thing about indexes is that unlike individual stocks, when things go south and a business performs badly or goes under, it is culled. That’s right. They remove it from the DJIA and replace it with another business. Usually one that is performing well. That is the reason you invest in indexes. For the protection against a business going out of business and you losing your shirt!
General Electric (GE) is the only member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average that has been in the index since it’s beginning in 1896. It is being taken out and replaced by Walgreens (WBA) as reported of July 2018. That’s a 122-year run.
— Naresh Nambisan | നരേഷ് (@nareshbahrain) July 19, 2018
They have made it easier for you to invest now than 100
years ago.
Dale Carnegie had to ask his mother to mortgage the house so that he could invest the funds in stocks that he knew. That was how he built his fortune. Remember to invest in what you know. Earn a fortune and then give it away.
Giving is one of the best ways to be philanthropic.
Remember that part in the movie Troy where Achilles asks his mother if he should go to Troy. And she says to him only if he wants his name to be remembered and live on throughout the ages.
Giving is a way to have immortality.
Case in point, Ms. Oseola McCarty inspired many others to donate to charity as well after she donated her life savings of $150,000 to a college in 1995. How’s that for a swan song? One of the biggest donors she inspired: Media Magnate and Mogul Ted Turner.
So why is it even noteworthy when Oseola McCarty, an elderly woman, donates $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi? In the case of Ms. McCarty, it is the heart behind the gift, and the lifetime of effort that went into it. For her act of kindness, she was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor and got to ring the stock market opening bell.
How about that for recognition in helping others? And she asked nothing for herself or in return. These things were given to her for her charitable contribution to society.
“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world…but
you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.” – John Green, author
The Fault in Our Stars
The summer of 2015 my nieces really wanted me to take them to go see this movie. Not knowing what it was about, I decided to go ahead and take them because of their sheer enthusiasm alone. I was not disappointed. The movie was incredible.
It is a coming of age teenage romance written by the Fault
in Our Stars author John Green.
The movie was based on a Young Adult (YA) he novel he wrote entitled Paper Towns.
It follows along with two young teens Margo Roth Spiegelman
(played by Cara Delevingne) and Quentin Jacobsen or Q for short (played by Nat
Wolff).
It was turned into a motion picture by Twentieth Century Fox
and released in theaters on July 9, 2015.
The film is a series of adventures and near misses while we
tag along with Quentin to find his dream girl, who goes missing just a couple
weeks before high school graduation. Although, the film is fun, it’s the
dialogue that really captures your attention and wins your heart.
If you get a chance, you can get lost, get found with Paper Towns.
WHAT IS A PAPER TOWN?
A paper town is a fake town that is created by map makers,
as a way to protect their copyright, to know if they’ve been robbed.
In the film, it is referenced as a shallow town or place.
Everything is so fake. A place that is fragile.
ALL STORIES HAVE A BEGINNING AND SOME ARE SWEET
“She had the kind of fingers you want to interlace with your
own.” – Quentin
The story is based around the feelings Quentin has for his childhood
sweetheart and crush, Margo Roth Spiegelman.
At a young age, it was shown that Margo was a precocious
child. This intrigued Quentin. However, as they got older she became more
outgoing and him more introverted.
Throughout my life, I have had to throw caution to the wind
and go for what I want. If you want anything in this world, at times, you will
have to do the same. You have to go all in and strike first.
For example, when I was looking a job many years ago, I
decided to approach it as a numbers game. I said screw it. I’m just going to
apply for as many jobs as I can and see what happens.
I must have put out 100 resumes. Out of all of those job
applications, I got one yes. But that was all I needed. You only need one yes
to change your whole life. It just starts with putting yourself out there.
Nothing comes from obscurity and being shy. Sometimes, you have to be willing
to shout.
PRETTY HURTS
“That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want
to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast
cereals based on color instead of taste.” ― John Green, Paper Towns
What you look like on the outside is all vanity. Beauty is
in the eye of the beholder. Do not let society dictate what you should be. Be
you. And remember this: beauty fades.
“I’m starting to realize that people lack good mirrors. It’s
so hard for anyone to show us how we look, & so hard for us to show anyone
how we feel.” ― John Green, Paper Towns
You have to rely on more than just your looks in this life. Eventually, you will have to take care of
yourself. You better be up for the task or you will have problems.
I have seen tons of beautiful women have bad credit,
horrible relationships, and be broke. But hey, at least they were pretty right?
It is not enough to be pretty. You have to be more than just
fine. No one wants to marry a beautiful airhead or a beautiful fool.
This blog is all about financial independence.
How I feel about blogging.
“Tonight, darling, we are going to right a lot of wrongs. And we are going to wrong some rights. The first shall be last; the last shall be first; the meek shall do some earth-inheriting." – John Green, Paper Towns #papertowns
Have you ever heard the saying a fool and his money is soon parted?
I rest my case.
MAKE THE FIRST MOVE
“I didn’t need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you
picked me back.” ― John Green, Paper Towns
Those who make the first move are usually victorious.
In the film, Quentin wants so badly to be with Margo.
However, he always holds back. In this life, you can’t hold anything back.
Case in point, in this blog, I don’t hold anything back. I
give you everything I have. I know that’s what I want when I deal with people.
So, I make sure to do the same to others. Whatever it is you want in this life,
this is my advice to you: make your move.
YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE IN ONE DAY…OR A NIGHT
“Tonight, darling, we are going to right a lot of wrongs.
And we are going to wrong some rights. The first shall be last; the last shall
be first; the meek shall do some earth-inheriting. But before we can radically
reshape the world, we need to shop.” – Margo Roth Spiegelman
I have read countless biographies of the rich and famous
where they retell how a single incident changed the course of their entire
lives.
Well, in this film, it is the night Margo climbed through Q’s window.
She asks him to borrow his mom’s car so she can go on a
midnight caper of revenge or he could come along too and be the get a way
driver.
Decisions, decisions.
PICK A PATH
“The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle. Like, I will
probably never be struck by lightning, or win a Nobel Prize, or become the
dictator of a small nation in the Pacific Islands, or contract terminal ear
cancer, or spontaneously combust. But if you consider all the unlikely things
together, at least one of them will probably happen to each of us. I could have
seen it rain frogs. I could have stepped foot on Mars. I could have been eaten
by a whale. I could have married the Queen of England or survived months at sea.
But my miracle was different. My miracle was this: out of all the houses in all
the subdivisions in all of Florida, I ended up living next door to Margo Roth
Spiegelman.” ― Quentin Jacobsen, Paper Towns
You can pretty much guess what answer he gave Margo.
He went with her.
Let the fun begin.
REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD AND AT NIGHT
“I always felt like you had to be important to have enemies.”
― John Green, Paper Towns
When she asks for his mom’s car, she tells him that she has like 11 items on her to-do list tonight and that most of them will probably require a getaway car.
I remember that quote from Winston Churchill, “You have
enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
Margo reminds me of that. She found out her friends had wronged her. So, she
decided to take matters into her own hands.
“We bring the rain down on our enemies, not the scattered
showers” – Margo Roth Spiegelman
That is a line that she says of their hit-and-run capers, on
that fun-filled night, as she leaves a Zorro-like ‘M’ that is left at the scene
of all her crimes.
Margo replies this when Q asks her if her scheme of getting
revenge is necessary and if they can do something that is not so risky and
harsh.
I have to agree. Sometimes you have to teach people a
lesson. You have to tell people how you want to be treated. Stand up for
yourself. You may not need a night of midnight capers to do it, but you can
still send a message that you’re not a pushover.
“If you don’t imagine, nothing ever happens at all.” ― John
Green, Paper Towns
Margo has some pretty extreme things she does that night.
First, they shop for supplies.
Second, they visit each one of her enemies.
Lastly, they celebrate their success at escaping getting
caught.
When I was able to start slowly paying off debt one by one,
I celebrated each time. It keeps the momentum going. And just makes you feel
good. Hard work = success and rewards.
Paid off my car. Then I treated myself to a spa day.
Then used that money to invest.
Once I hit my $100k mark, I turned my attention to hitting a target of 3 times more of $300k.
After I pay off each debt, I either save or invest that money.
I started saving $25 a week and slowly went to saving $100 a week and so on.
No matter how big or
small. Winning just feels good so you want to celebrate.
BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT
Quentin had the time of his life that night. It was a fun
ride to say the least. And he enjoyed every moment.
Some dialogue from the film.
“What about the rest of your life?”
She shrugged. “What about it?”
“Aren’t you worried about, like, forever?”
“Forever is composed of nows,” she says.”
During that incredible night with Margo, Quentin is laughing
and smiling. He was having so much fun.
“My heart is really pounding,” I said.
“That’s how you know you’re having fun,” Margo
said.”
While they were running away from one of their capers, Margo says, “I mean, we’re ninjas.”
Of his time with Margo, Quentin thinks to himself, “At least
I carpe’d that one diem.”
As she left notes, at all of her crime scenes, Quentin notices her handwriting and remarks on it.
“Interesting capitalization,’ I said.
‘Yeah. I’m a big believer in random capitalization. The rules of capitalization are so unfair to words in the middle.”
Absolutely. Live in the present. Enjoy the moment. Have some fun. Plan for the future, but don’t forget to live for today. Plan a visit with friends, or to a park or movie or museum. Or relax and take a break.
Every now and then I need to take a break. My to do list on those days is fairly light. pic.twitter.com/dIcN6YWIbB
There will always be something that requires your attention. I say if you have to work, find a way to have some fun too. If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?
If owning becomes more work than fun, it's time to sell. In my experience, the simpler approach is best.
“I’m not saying that everything is survivable. Just that
everything except the last thing is.” ― John Green, Paper Towns
No matter what life throws at you, handle it like an adult.
You can’t always throw a temper tantrum every time you can’t get your way. You
cannot use your fists and throw punches at people. Use your words. That’s what
adults do.
It is not enough to merely survive. You do want to survive,
yes. But you also want to thrive. Success comes to those who work for it. It is
your duty to go out and get it. Your family’s survival depends on it.
If you ever saw the movie Troy, you heard the line, “guard
this sword with your life. As long as a Trojan wields it, our people have a
future.” Same rule applies for your family. You must survive and prosper today,
so that your family has a future.
“Did you know that for pretty much the entire history of the
human species, the average life span was less than thirty years? You could
count on ten years or so of real adulthood, right? There was no planning for
retirement. There was no planning for a career. There was no planning. No time
for planning. No time for a future. But then the life spans started getting
longer, and people started having more and more future. And now life has become
the future. Every moment of your life is lived for the future–you go to high
school so you can go to college so you can get a good job so you can get a nice
house so you can afford to send your kids to college so they can get a good job
so they can get a nice house so they can afford to send their kids to college.”
― John Green, Paper Towns
They say history often repeats.
Did you know that in the gilded age, robber barons held
about 80% of all the wealth in this country about a century ago? And that many
folks had no plan for retirement at all. No pensions, no 401(k), nothing.
That’s right. Before FDR created Social Security in the 1930’s,
there was no pension for the elderly and many were living in poverty. Many
people did not live past the age of 65. They did not have to plan so far ahead because
many did not live long enough to see any type of future.
That has changed. Today people are living longer. You are
your first, best, last, and only line of defense against living in poverty.
Bill Gates said, “If you are born poor, it’s not your
mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake.”
Basically, he means you should do everything you can to
build a better life for yourself. That means if you can’t go outside and play
all day, you have to deal with it.
Can’t see that concert this week. Oh well.
You can only play one sport or instrument. Well, that’s it
then.
You have to stay up and study all night for that big exam.
That’s life.
Buy a new car or invest that money? Your call, but I suggest
you buy a Honda or Ford and invest your dough.
See what I mean. Sacrifice. It yields great rewards.
HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT A DEMOCRACY
“High school is neither a democracy nor a dictatorship –
nor, contrary to popular belief, an anarchic state. High school is a
divine-right monarchy. And when the queen goes on vacation, things change.” ―
John Green, Paper Towns
This is a nice take on the whole high school experience.
I felt high school was so silly. I could care less about who
wears what or say this or that. I have never been a gossip. I kept my eye on
the prize: high school diploma. Everything else is just stuff you do in-between
until you reach the end of that goal. Most of the stuff that goes on won’t even
matter after you graduate.
“I know it’s impossible for you to see your peers this way,
but when you’re older, you start to see them–the bad kids and the good kids
and all kids–as people. They’re just people, who deserve to be cared for.”
Amen.
“As much as life can suck, it always beats the alternative.”
― John Green, Paper Towns
You have to make lemonade out of lemons. There is always
another rainbow and tomorrow does always come and it can get better. The
alternative to getting old is dying young.
I will never forget this one time I was talking to an older
gentleman and he said he felt old because he was retired. It went down like
this.
Him: I feel old. Now, that I’m retired.
Me: Retirement means income.
Him: I like you. (He smiled and perked up.)
A few words of kindness can elevate someone mood, lift their spirits, make their day, and change a situation completely. So, be kind.
“Be curious, not judgmental.” – Walt Whitman
“You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people
not to be themselves. I mean, I could hate you for being massively unpunctual
and for never being interested in anything other than Margo Roth Spiegelman,
and for, like, never asking me about how it’s going with my girlfriend – but I
don’t give a shit, man, because you’re you. My parents have a shit ton of black
Santas, but that’s okay. They’re them. I’m too obsessed with a reference
website to answer my phone sometimes when my friends call, or my girlfriend.
That’s okay, too. That’s me. You like me anyway. And I like you. You’re funny,
and you’re smart, and you may show up late, but you always show up eventually.”
― John Green, Paper Towns
That last line brought it home didn’t it? He started kind of
shaky, but he finished strong. And that is how life is. You start out shaky and
are working on a learning curve, then you finish strong. You do everything in
your power to stay grounded, stay hungry, hustle hard, and stay humble.
I promise you, that if you ever get lost, the harder you
work, the louder you shout and the more you seek to find answers and the truth,
then the more likely it is you will find what you are looking for and get
found.
