Dude

So if you had the opportunity and were debt free with some money in the bank, which would you choose.

I'm just curious if most of you folks would choose to put in a 40+ hour full time week to buy fancier cars, vacations, cruises, etc.

OR

Would you choose to be more frugal and never working. This would mean no fancy vacations, but activities such as camping are fine and parks. But more or less being on a budget, but waking up each day without having to go into the rat race.

OK NO MORE OPTIONS. :) I know some folks would say "part time" etc.... but for the sake of this question, if you could answer one way or the other I'd appreciate it.

Basically I'm curious on each extreme. Is the plusher and more luxurious life worth the extra stress/work, or is waking up each day and figuring out your day and what you want to do more worth it?

Is the Lexus and a Cruise worth 40 hours a week OR is no work/mostly no stress and enjoying the sunrise/sunset more worth it.

Is the designer clothes worth 40 hours a week or simple ones and not stressing on work the next day?

How about a fancier house with 40 more hours of work, or just enjoying what you have and not working.

You'd have to apply what is luxurious to you and simple to you for the question. Just curious what you'd be willing to give up, or give up on ultimate freedom from 40 HOUR business work each day. :)

AND no giving up on "work" does not mean work. Some people like to work at stuff, like gardening...

I can't figure out what is wrong with this family I know. The mom and dad sort of seem normal enough. But they have 4 children aged 21, twins of 19, and a 16 year old.

None of them:

Drive.

Are allowed to go to college.

Or have had a real world job.

Whenever anybody in my family suggests they drive, come to church, or anything that would seemingly "get them going", they see to vanish for long periods of time. One of their sons had a person who knew their interest in computers and was a professor at a college take him under his wing.... He was allowed to go to that one single class. After a year the professor told him he needed to take other classes to be able to assist teach his class etc., and his parents RIPPED him out of that school.

Understand that professor was "the man", who could land a lot of jobs for people as companies hired out of his class.

I just don't know what else to say. It is very bizarre that they would not let their children grow up or get worldly, or to "kick start" their lives.

They seem very inclusive. They talk very elusively sometimes about details of things (like never mentioning names).

The now adult children seem very nice and respectful....

Oh yes, the children also:

1) Have no friends

2) Have no outside contacts except for almost strangers.

Also:

1) The parents seem to push away everybody that gets close to their family and stops talking to them.

So I'm left dumbfounded and asking Yanswers what the heck is up with this?

Okay, here is a funky situation.

We are going to go full time in our RV. This means that we are going to live in and travel all over the country in our motorhome. We want to shut off the water at our home in the city, (as we won't be needing it) and the garbage bill is connected to the water bill.

The city said that we must have a water bill to pay for the services the way they are setup.

My question is, do garbage men actually take a record of every home they visit? I have NO idea, but the ones around here seem to just want to "go as fast as they can" to get the job done. I don't see records of record keeping.

The reason I ask is not because I want to defraud anybody, but because if I have lawn service come once every two weeks they may have a single sack of grass..... Or once a year we may have 1 bag of trash to put out.

Any time we "land" (usually do to illness) we'll pot in our own water through our RV.

Anyway, I was just curious if they keep records.

I don't know anything about Obamacare (ACA). My grandfather today was complaining saying they actually will mail out checks, give money through the IRS, or the like (in other words the government gives out money and not just directly pay for insurance).

Is this true? (he'd getting up there and complains about everything). He's basically making the case that poor people are getting money from Obamacare and not spending it on insurance. I don't know if this is true or not.

(This does not include other things such as welfare/food stamps. He says it's right from Obamacare).

Thanks.

We are building a chicken coop with 2x4's and other wood. There is a considerable price difference from regular pine wood and pressure treated.

The thing is, I don't mind painting at all and have a lot of leftover exterior paint from a project I did.

So what would last longer? Pressure treated 2x4's left exposed to the rain, sun, and on the floor chicken yuck....

Or regular wood fully painted with exterior paint?

Thank you

Grandad decided to give me his home upon his death. I have a life estate written and notorized (by a title company) to transfer the warranty deed to me upon his death.

Grandfather has his surrounding land (which is deeded) as an ag exemption on the county. He was scared if he recorded this warranty deed that it would remove his ag exemption.

My question is - is it a big deal that he did not record the life estate warranty deed with the county clerk? Does this affect the legality of the warranty deed at all? Is there any details I should be made aware of?

Again, it was fully written out at a title company, signed by my grandfather and notorized.... Simply not recorded.

All I'm concerned about is any negative issues with this being not recorded or further details. The title company said "we can record this at any time".

Thank you.

We lived right next to my grandfather before he passed. Literally NEXT DOOR. Our backyards connect. It is on land though, and there are 3 acres between our homes.

Well he left his home to me and his land.

I was thinking about insurance policies and was wondering exactly what type of insurance to get?

I really don't want to get TWO homeowners insurance policies since I can only live in one house. I am not renting out the other property either... It will be used for storage mainly.

Is there any type of insurance I can get to cover both of my homes - together.... Or something creative that will help me save a few bucks on insurance?

Thank you.

I sell baby chicks that we hatch here at the house. I know the money money I make is taxable.

However, there is not a profit really. If I sell a chick for $3 but have $2.70 invested - I know I basically owe taxes on the $.30.

I make under 40k a year, and have 2 children and know there is an "earned income credit".

Would the entire $3 be earned income, or just the profit of .30 be earned income?

Hi,

My grandfather whom my family lives adjacent to has setup a life estate plan which of course gives him the rights to live on the property so long as he is alive. (and we hope he is there for some time because he's a hoot to live next to!!!)

Anyway, I'm a bit confused on how the process works. If he dies, I believe that is when everything is fully conveyed over to me is this correct. (I believe I am called a remainderman or something like that).

Unfortunately, he's had a few small strokes lately. :( Nothing real serious but just small things he can't do anymore.

I'm not sure what is going to happen, but my mother is talking nursing homes soon, especially if he has another small stroke. She has the power of attorney over him.

If he were to go to a nursing home and leave the property, does that give me the right as a remainderman to live in the property itself? I mean it would be vacated and all, and I certainly would want to maintain the property (it's literally NEXT DOOR).

My mother has power of attorney for him if he becomes unable to care for himself or make decisions.... I am just not sure when the house "officially" is transferred. Is it upon death or upon him being (hypothetically) incapacitated? (this stinks thinking about it). The doc has him on strong meds, but said that it is probable more strokes will happen soon.

I just don't know if he goes to a nursing home, do I need to take over the bills/taxes and just leave the property empty? Or do I have the right as a remainerman to go take care of the property - or perhaps even live there.

Sorry, just kind of blank on this one. I know it is just a "life estate", and have found information on if he dies.... His family has a history of men that have had "small strokes" over the course of a decade. That's a long time to upkeep a home and pay taxes if he's not even there.... :(

Anyway, I thank you for your time, knowledge, and answers.

Hi, Probably best for people who know of real estate out there... Don't know there are any tricks here....

My wife and I currently have our home paid off. 100% out of debt.

We really want to move (to more or less retire) to a "hilly area", remote, with land and a small home.

We TRULY want to stay out of any debt at all. We REALLY don't want to sign for a loan or anything else. Is there any tricks in the real estate world where we could "acquire" a home until ours is sold. We need the equity in our current home to pay off where we want to move to. We want to STAY AWAY from home equity loans or any other kind of loan that will cost us interest.

With that said, I only know of option #2, which would be -

Sell our house. After closing live in a hotel (or 1 month in an apartment) until we can find the new place we like and directly pay cash.

I'm just wondering if there are any "tricks out there" to "acquire" the home. Like could we put up some money (like $5k to 10k) and close when "our house sells"?

Back in 1996, I was accused of a felony (non violent or sex). Anyway, there was not enough evidence and it was dismissed. So my brother and sister now over 30+ years old, called me up on Sunday morning and met me and threw it in my face. They told me that I was a liar for never telling them... They also started hitting me up for the ways that we (my wife and I) are raising our children, and guilting me about things in the past (20 years ago again no sex / violence), just muck stuff. We raise our children "different" than many people, as we homeschool... So I'm getting guilted about my history, questions about our raising our children, guilt from the past... All the sudden, unprovoked, for no reason. (My history involves me being a STUPID 18 year old kid, and that ENDED when I was 19) Been married 17+ years and have a stable family.

I mean this was a complete ambush. I'm considering never speaking to them again. Just feel violated and want an outsider's point of view.

Question 2: Is it EVER right to dig up MUCK on a family member, of a "bad past", and throw it at them 20 years later? (completely unprovoked?)

Hi, my finances were devestated in the crash of 2008. Long story, but I had a lot of bad debt. Carrer change, not really a way to pay it off...

Anyway back in 2010 I got a 1099-C form in MAY and I filed my taxes in the beginning of FEB 2010 and already got a small refund.

I was never aware the debt was cancelled. I thought 1099's had a Jan 31 limit on postmark. Needless to say 2 years later I get a letter from the IRS saying "guess what you owe us money". Paid it.

So anyway, some of those debts are still unfortunately on the books now... As my field is again being devistated by the economy, I may be losing my job soon again. I need my refund and can't pay off the old debts.

That said, how can I protect myself or what should I do if I go ahead and file my taxes now? If I get a 1099-C again in May (of 2013 this time), can I report them to the IRS or do anything about it? Am I able to somehow edit my 2012 taxes so that I won't have to pay so much interest on the "ERROR". (a lot of what I had to pay back to the IRS was interest)

Thanks!

Of course, I'm back here on YA to get info on taxes....

Well long story short, I was laid off in mid-2012 after 15 years at the same job.

Got unemployment.

Decided to start a carpet cleaning business because jobs in my field were nill...

So anyway, I invested about 6 grand into my own company. This included a truckmount cleaner, backup portable cleaner, restoration tools.... Also a lot of parts to fix this used cleaning equipment which I rebuilt.

Yes, I have receipts For the large truckmount cleaner, it was just a quick hand written receipt that I got from the seller (in a VERY country Texas area). But that alone was $3250 and needed rebuilding. New they are about $15k. (bought in July rebuilt through November)

So anyway, on my taxes that I'm trying to do right now, I have about 6 grand in assets for the business. I started advertising in mid December and have only made a WHOPPING 212 bucks.

My question is, with 6 grand in assets and 212 bucks in income, will the IRS freak out? I should be making more next year I would absolutely hope...

Advice, pointers? Thanks a lot!

So a mom & father have a child in Texas.

The child's mom has 100% custody.

The father goes on with life elsewhere.

The father has never received a court order or anything for child support.

The child is now almost 18.

The father has never had an income at all, and lives with a long time spouse that supported him through all the years.

Texas I hear can go back 4 years for retroactive support, but the father has NEVER had an income at all since the child was born. Period.

If suddenly the mom comes out of nowhere before the child is 18, what would happen?

Can the mom come after the father after the child is 18 for retroactive support? If so, and the father has never had an income, what would happen?

This is actually happening to my cousin, and he has reason to believe that suddenly the mom of the child will come after him... It's a strange situation imho. I don't know what to tell him. He's a great father to his other children he has with his spouse now (and for many years).

Thanks!

Everything I say right now is TRUTHFUL.

My wife and I have 5 children.

We live in a 3500 square foot house that we paid off early.

We have no debt at all. Zero.

I run a web site that earns about $12k a year. The web site is centered around frugality, retiring early, etc. Basically how to save money on just about everything from insurance to toilet paper.

Our bills are:

Property tax: $3200 a year

Living Expenses: $6k a year

The rest goes into savings.

(We also have chickens and goats that provide some of our food expense)

I'm dead serious that's it.

Almost all of our neighbors earn $60-70k a year at least and have WAY less children.

I'm almost positive I will be audited for "making too little". I have absolutely no other forms of income, not cash based or anything.

What type of audit will it be? Will we have to go somewhere to explain ourselves? Would the IRS agent be more understanding when I elaborated how frugal and efficient we are? What if they saw my web site that is completely jam packed with frugal information? Would this help?

I'm asking because I know certain things "stand out" to the IRS. When my neighbors (cookie cutter houses) are making 5 times the money we are...... It stands out.

Curious what will happen.

They had an under ground garden, where they lifted up this thing covered in leaves to get to it....

I think it was from the early 90's...

It was kind of cheesy really... Just in the mood to Netflix it :)

It wasn't the Left Behind series.......

Saw it in school years back, and I wish I could remember more details about it.

I appreciate it.

I OWN MY HOUSE OUTRIGHT. There is no debt.

We had hail damage. We received and ACV check and then will be paid the remainder upon repairing the property. Our home is almost new, and the ACV check was only about $600 less than the rest of the replacement cost.

The thing is, yes we had damage, but I can live with it. Roof doesn't leak and I could care less if our fence has little pelts in it.

The thing is, I know from the ACV check I really don't have to repair my property. On my claim form, if I sign that "I elect to perform the repairs", I believe they will send me the additional amount of money to the rest of the claim. (It was $600 bucks so not much).

What happens if I just sign it and never do any repairs? It is a replacement policy and I will eventually repair but not for a decade.

Would they really inspect me if it was only a $600 amount? Would they kick me off the policy?

I have no experience in this, but I'd like the full amount of money because I really may have it repaired within their time frame. (kind of a confusing time and I may get a good deal from a roofer or something because my area is flooded with them).

Anyway, would like pointers on what would happen if I sign that I elect to do the repairs ($600 difference)

Thanks!

Sigh.... I was laid off after 15 years at the same company. Unfortunately Obamacare cut 20% of medicare payments in my field. So anyway, I've put into unemployment for 15 years and now I need the insurance claim... (I am in Texas)

So anyway, they send me this form as I am pursuing another job that says I need to make 5 contacts a week. I don't know what kind of contact they mean. Do they mean if I email a resume or asking about a job? Could it be me just walking in asking if a company is hiring? Or is it something where I have to send a resume and call and badger 5 people a week?

Unfortunately on monster.com and the Texas Workforce comission web site, there is ABSOLUTELY no jobs within 300 miles of my home that matches the decription. I am in Dallas, the closest is way south of Houston...

Anyway, I don't know what they mean by contact and also don't know if they "really even check" on you.

Need advice on this from others with experience.

I'm poor. Low paying job. I have $500 in the bank. Live paycheck to paycheck. I just want to enjoy company (misery enjoys company??), or at least know other people's situation. I figure the internet is anonymous enough and distance separates all of us so... Thanks!

I can't remember the name of it. I believe it was a family that had a farm that was going into foreclosure. I believe the title (not positive) had the name of a state, city, or country town in it. I believe they farmed corn but not positive. All I remember is catching a glimpse of my parents watching it.... I think there was an auction of their farm gear in the movie...

Anyway, if you know of which movie I'm talking about I'd appreciate it.

Also, other than the more modern movie "the company men", we are trying to find good movies about "hard times, debt, survival, etc.." if anybody can suggest.

Thanks a lot!