Boy....I don't know how people get such cheap insurance. I pay almost $800 a month for my wife's insurance, and that's the super high deductible. Shopped Obamacare and it cost even more. Luck for me I'm on Medicare or I'd pay that much or more for me.

My father's saying (he's long passed) was "it takes money to make money."

So I started maxing out my 401k when I began working after college. You don't miss that 10% savings if you never see it. Retired a few years ago. No financial worries. Gave the same advice to my daughter when she graduated college. Told her if she maxed out her 401K she'll never miss it, and when she is about 41 she'll be a millionaire. So she turned 40 last year and it came to be....It's that easy.

I believe in saving for the future. Always saved, never planned on Social Security. Hoped I would live to enjoy my savings. Thank God I made it to retirement and living the dream!

Could I buy a million dollar mansion? Yes, but I don't want to.
Could I buy a Ferrari or Rolls Royce? Yes, but I don't want to.
Could I buy a NIB pinball machine? Yes, but I don't want to.

My advice....start early, save, invest, automatically if your employer has a plan.

Hey asshole:
If I come out there to visit will you take me water skiing?
Just asking for a friend.

Could I git you to do mine for say..... $75 instead?

Back in 2000 I bought a new Mercedes. A few days later the owner of the dealership called me and said "Mr. Jethro, we don't like people like you." I said "WTF"? He said "you keep your cars too long!" I had traded in a 10 year old model.

Haha. My current one is now 18 years old.

WRONG. SS is taxable income.

My entire working career I never had a budget. I just saved and lived within my means, never borrowed money except for my home mortgage. Well, I did have a car loan on the first few cars I bought, but after that, I started paying cash for cars. Cars were nothing fancy. Think of it this way: a ROLEX cost $9,000. A no name watch cost $5. They both tell time. In fact, the $5 watch may keep better time than the ROLEX. I was more concerned about savings than status. Had jobs where I could wear blue jeans and plaid flannel shirts.

When I retired I was concerned about cash flow and spending. Would I have enough? The advice I received from a friend was to count your money the first of each month. So I did, and I still do. The remarkable thing is, my net worth has continued to increase each month during retirement. Just own one home, paid off of course. Drive a brand new car. Don't want to be a landlord. Haven't had to touch the IRAs. They just grow and grow. It takes money to make money.

What worked for me may not be everyone's cup of tea. If I could work and do retirement all over again, the only thing I would do differently is retire earlier! But I have no regrets. Retirement is great!

Paying off your mortgage isn't always about making a financial decision. It's sometimes about the feeling you have when you are debt free.

Leveraging real estate has made many people "rich." I think most people who have paid off their mortgage get that. They just don't want the hassle of making payments, dealing with the paperwork of having a mortgage, or they don't have the desire to try to make more money.

A US Army LTC with over 20 years will make half of thier base pay. Base pay currently is around $9000 a month. So, they will make at least $4500 a month in retirement.