Any good reason to stick with 1st Gen?

[Sapphireho]

Story time:

All the van talk reminds me of a guy I knew. We called him Parking Lot Mike. He worked at a grocery store for about 30 years when he got the shaft in a divorce, and had two kids to put thru college. In order to afford 2 college educations on a grocery clerk salary, he sold everything he had and bought a conversation van. One of those with a bed, sink, and stove burner, and tall so you could stand in it. He got a post office box, a cheap gym membership to shower and shave, would hang out at bars and pizza places where he could nurse a couple beers and watch the games, and lived in parking lots. I thought it was quite creative.

[wbradley]

Like this guy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Norris

[saltywetman]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Story time:

All the van talk reminds me of a guy I knew. We called him Parking Lot Mike. He worked at a grocery store for about 30 years when he got the shaft in a divorce, and had two kids to put thru college. In order to afford 2 college educations on a grocery clerk salary, he sold everything he had and bought a conversation van. One of those with a bed, sink, and stove burner, and tall so you could stand in it. He got a post office box, a cheap gym membership to shower and shave, would hang out at bars and pizza places where he could nurse a couple beers and watch the games, and lived in parking lots. I thought it was quite creative.

So the moral of the story: don't get married, don't make kids

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

I bought a truck, thinking we'd get a travel trailer, but we never did get one. If I ever do go that route again, I'll buy a small box truck, like an Isuzu NPR, and convert the back stealth. It can park anywhere in a city business district and go unnoticed.

https://tinyhouselistings.com/listin...uck-conversion

https://www.thewaywardhome.com/box-t...r-conversions/

I'd spend 6 months traveling the country. It would be a blast, I think.

Yeah, we've read the quality of the newer smaller trailers is absolute crap, so that's kept us from actually making a move.

My dad has always told me in situations like this, "If you don't know what to do, don't do anything." In other words, don't change stuff for the sake of it if you aren't sure that's the right path.

[Th3rdSun]

Originally Posted by saltywetman

So the moral of the story: don't get married, don't make kids

Or let the kids pay for their own college education.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by Th3rdSun

Or let the kids pay for their own college education.

Or live in a conversion van and save money!

[EAGLE5]

Down by the river.

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by Th3rdSun

Or let the kids pay for their own college education.

No you want to give your kids the best chance. So save money when they are young. Put it in a 529 when they are born and let compounding interest and time be your friend. My two daughters college are paid for and I only contributed 43%. The rest was tax free gains.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Ernest72

No you want to give your kids the best chance. So save money when they are young. Put it in a 529 when they are born and let compounding interest and time be your friend. My two daughters college are paid for and I only contributed 43%. The rest was tax free gains.

but if everyone else is going to college, is it really 'the best chance'?

learn a trade. they're not going anywhere, need to be done, and pay just as good, and many companies will pay to train.

[Kona61]

Originally Posted by soundman98

but if everyone else is going to college, is it really 'the best chance'?

learn a trade. they're not going anywhere, need to be done, and pay just as good, and many companies will pay to train.

Eh, I was a mechanic for a while and much prefer NOT doing that lol.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by soundman98

but if everyone else is going to college, is it really 'the best chance'?

learn a trade. they're not going anywhere, need to be done, and pay just as good, and many companies will pay to train.

I don't disagree, particularly if you kids aren't interested in STEM fields. Still, as a parent, nothing wrong with being prepared should they want to go to college. Worse case, more money for the retirement fund.

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by soundman98

but if everyone else is going to college, is it really 'the best chance'?

learn a trade. they're not going anywhere, need to be done, and pay just as good, and many companies will pay to train.

Completely agree but trades can require education as well, so you have the cash to support them either way. My dad was an electrician with 45 years in the union. Great job and great life provided to 4 kids. Paid for their education as well with out 529s. I wanted to be a scientist so college it was and my first company paid for my masters.

Yes Nothing wrong with trade jobs at all, just depends what you want to do in life.

[Th3rdSun]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I don't disagree, particularly if you kids aren't interested in STEM fields. Still, as a parent, nothing wrong with being prepared should they want to go to college. Worse case, more money for the retirement fund.

I agree with this. Not every kid is made for college,so saving money for those particular kind of people might end up being a waste,but if you are just saving and in ends up being for retirement,then that's a very good alternative.


I feel like giving your kids the best chance isn't necessarily handing them things that they didn't work for. There's nothing wrong with making them bust their asses to try to get scholarships

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by Th3rdSun

I agree with this. Not every kid is made for college,so saving money for those particular kind of people might end up being a waste,but if you are just saving and in ends up being for retirement,then that's a very good alternative.


I feel like giving your kids the best chance isn't necessarily handing them things that they didn't work for. There's nothing wrong with making them bust their asses to try to get scholarships

Saving the money is never a waste. It’s only tax free if used for education. You can always take the money out and pay taxes on it and use it for whatever that person needs or for yourself or another sibling.

Trust me my kids know this money is not for free. Their work is their grades. Bad grades and they will pay.

In the end you can only give if you got it. Life is getting more expensive and it’s tough on many.