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amdx[_3_]

On 10/2/2014 2:56 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:00:40 -0400, F*O*A*D wrote:

I think "middle class" is a tired-out descriptor with little accurate
meaning these days. Lower, middle, and upper income are more easily
definable and more easily adjustable for regional or geographical
differences.

Income is not really a very good measure of quality of life, even in
the same area.
A person who makes wise buying decisions and avoids a lot of
unnecessary debt will live a lot better than a person who pays too
much for things they don't really need and does it with borrowed
money.
It does not take long to get caught in the debt trap and then you are
carrying the bank around on your back.

A broker gave me some great advice around the bicentennial. He said,

if you can't afford to pay cash, how in the hell can you ever afford
to pay the same amount plus interest?

That's my line!

It is simple lack of forethought or discipline.
If you can pay for it plus interest, with a little forethought and
discipline, you can pay cash. But once you spend 3 years saving $10,000,
you really think, do I really want to spend it?
Hopefully that's the beginning of a fruitful future.

Mikek