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Post by Ninja on Oct 25, 2007 8:28:45 GMT -5
It worked for me. But aside from not having any kids I didn't have a wife,a home,a car or very many other expense's for a very long time. I retired at 41,and not a minute too soon. On Money: Refuse to be distracted by shiny objects.Will the new ZX Hypergadget with multilayer interface really make your life that much better? And for how long? Spend your money once.IKEA is a racket. Cheep crap that in three years you won't be able to stand the sight of,and thus needs to be replaced. Try to buy things that will outlive you. Things don't need to be new to be valuable. Garage sales are a fantastic slice of American culture. Know what you are looking for and ignore the visual chatter. Don't save.A lot of folks keep a close eye on their savings. That doesn't work for me. If I start looking at those numbers I think (Wow, I could buy a whole xxxxxx). You might feel like you are punishing yourselves if you don't buy something you like. Just touch your billfold and smile in the knowledge that they didn't get your money today. It's all in the attitude. A word on clothes. You're a woman. And some women tend to enjoy buying clothes. Don't be a slave to fashion. Learn what a basic collection is and acquire this first,then accessorize. It is amazing to me how many women don't know how to dress properly anymore. Some things from Ikea are actually very good quality. You just need to know what to look for. As for clothes... I have to agree on that one. Shoes, for example: I own four pairs of shoes (warm and non-slippery ones for the winter, thin and breezy ones for the summer, trainers for exercize and a pair of boots that I only wear on special occasions, like job interviews), but some of my friends own twenty pair. Why ON EARTH would you want to own twenty pair of shoes?!
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Post by eoraptor on Oct 25, 2007 11:04:07 GMT -5
I asked my mom the same question and she said "I might need them someday."
Gee mom, I don't think you'll be wearing those spike heeled leather boots you bought in the 60's now that you're 60. If you didn't wear them when you were 20...
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Post by preraph on Oct 25, 2007 11:40:17 GMT -5
I confess I have at least 20 pairs of shoes -- but most of them are dressy high heels that I am not wearing lately because I'm too fat to get into the clothes they match. The irony is that while I can neither find nor afford a good pair of loafers that will fit me and can accommodate arches being put it, there is an outlet store here way across town that specializes in dress shoes, some quite garish, for feet 10-13. So high heels (or boots), I can buy ALL DAY LONG and CHEAP at this place. I have a whole closet of them. My favorite dress shoes are an unearthly pale pink/lavender python that change colors depending which side you're looking from (like dupioni silk), with a lavender acrylic heel. I had a suit that matched them but the shell changed color with washing. So I'd wear them with mostly black. Anyway, they were under $40 and lord only knows how much they cost originally.
When I went to UK a few years ago, I packed two big boot boxes and at least two high heels, plus loafers and a large coat. I travel like ZaZa Gabor unless I'm only headed to a nature type place, in which case the main baggage is innertubes and dog supplies.
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Post by eoraptor on Oct 25, 2007 12:05:25 GMT -5
If I find a pair of shoes I like (every day shoes) that fit, I tend to buy a few pairs because I know I'm going to wear them out before I've truly been able to enjoy having shoes I like that also fit. Too many times I had a pair of shoes wear out only to discover that particular style is no longer being made. I'm down to my last pair of sketchers and vans right now. Fingers crossed that I'll find a similar style again...
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Post by Ninja on Oct 26, 2007 4:47:28 GMT -5
I absolutely hate shoeshopping. I don't have much problems finding shoes that fit (I have pretty normal feet), but the salewomen! Dear god!!! I'm 21 years old and a girl, so obviously I will only want the sleaziest, horrendous, low quality, anklebreaking pair of glittery ballerina shoes they have! I just don't know it yet! *rolls eyes* That's why I tend to go to stores when there are men or older women 'on the job'. At least they let me walk around and find a decent pair of shoes instead of stalking me with glittery junk.
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Post by eoraptor on Oct 26, 2007 11:34:10 GMT -5
I hate clothes shopping thanks to my mother. She taught me that it was a degrading experience and that's not an easy lesson to forget, especially when salesclerks can be condescending assholes. Yes, I know I'm not a tall ballerina. Yes, I know that no matter how small a size I've ever worn, I still need to buy a plus size cut because you people don't understand the concept of hips, chest, and shoulders. The only reason I'm looking at a regular cut of an article of clothing is because I'm trying to decide if I should buy it and have it tailored, or just make something similar myself. And no, I don't want those elastic pants you keep trying to push on me, nor do I want the skimpy transparent sleeveless top that will make me look like an idiot.
This is why now I tend only to go clothes shopping with my husband. He's an amazing dresser and knows what styles I like, plus can fend off the clerks for me. I'm not above using him for my own purposes. I'm tired of walking away from stores without buying anything because the snooty clerks are condescending, insulting assholes.
Personally, I'm going to start shopping in plus size stores like CJ Banks. It's not always easy to find clothing young enough to wear and everything I find will have to be tailored to smaller sizes, but the clerks are nice, they tend to focus on the positive rather than negative ("you have great muscled arms" vs "that will never fit your...large arms"), and I can relax long enough to find something.
I haven't had the same problems shoe shopping, but I also tend to make a beeline for the men's section. I just explain that I've never found a pair of women's shoes that fit properly or had a style that I liked after 1994, but the men's shoes are always snappy and tasteful. Men working in the section like the flattery and women working the section usually know what I'm talking about. Of course, this is why I only have three pairs of dress shoes, all purchased in the last ten years. At least I wear them infrequently enough that only one pair is starting to look worn.
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Post by happy2bchildfree on Oct 26, 2007 14:05:40 GMT -5
I hate clothes shopping thanks to my mother. quote] I don't like clothes shopping either. Not because of my mother but because it's so hard for me to find anything I like that is both age and figure appropriate, and reasonably priced. Almost everything is either strictly for the very young or is too matronly/conservative for my tastes. There is very little in between. There are almost no styles which flatter (or fit!) my figure type. (short, full-hipped, fairly small waist) Everything is designed for tall, hipless stick figures. Everything is pants, which I rarely wear. Casual skirts and dresses are all but nonexistant. Clothes shopping is NOT fun.
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Post by preraph on Oct 26, 2007 14:31:26 GMT -5
I just need to lose a couple of dress sizes and get back into my old wardrobe. I'd still be fat, but my clothes would be better ones. And I'd feel better. She said as she contemplates making lasagna later today.
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Post by ana on Oct 26, 2007 14:42:20 GMT -5
For me No Kids will definitely = early retirement.
We've both been fortunate enough to be in well-paying jobs our entire career. (busting my as*s probably didn't hurt either, and that one year I supported my husband so he could go back to school for another career). I've never been a saver but my husband is. I LOVE shoes but I only shop when I need to buy presents, and usually pick up something for myself. I have over 50 pairs of shoes. However, I HATE malls so I don't shop often. I usually update my wardrobe twice a year. I don't need a lot of stuff (except shoes), but I do like quality.
Our secret is to not buy on credit, period. The only loans we've had is for our first vehicles and our mortgages. Once a vehicle was paid off we wouldn't buy another until we had saved to buy it outright. We paid off our first home in 10 years because we were living well below our income. So when we built our new home, we had more than 2/3 of it paid off and had a smaller mortgage than our first house! We are hoping to have this one paid off in 8 years.
I believe we will be able to retire by the time we're 55 at the latest. We haven't denied ourselves, and we enjoy life now as well.
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Post by shell on Jan 22, 2008 12:01:44 GMT -5
As far as shoes go, I think buying more expensive shoes is the way to go. Not only do they fit well, I find they last longer. I have a hard time finding a good fit, so if I find some that I like, AND they fit, I don't care how much they cost! I have a fair number of shoes, too many....
Same goes with clothes, you get what you pay for. That being said, at quality consignment stores you can find some great clothes at a good price! Although it is hit and miss, especially if you are on the bigger side. I am into plus sizes, and it is not easy to find great looking clothes, the higher end stores seem to carry more fashionable clothes, and I find the fit better as well.
Our plan is to get away on extended holidays as soon as we can. We are 40-ish now and hope to start doing this for a few months a year as soon as we can; possibly within the next couple years. We are self employed, and are working hard on getting (and keeping) great staff who are reliable. Not sure if we will ever retire completely, I really don't think we will until we are quite elderly.
Another thought, the whole consumerism trap is definitely something that most people (not all) with kids fall into. I think with the media, it is hard not to. Kids want what all their friends have and so on. I can't believe all the '''stuff''' my friends kids have, and it must have cost an absolute fortune.
Shell
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Post by happy2bchildfree on Jan 22, 2008 15:27:38 GMT -5
As far as shoes go, I think buying more expensive shoes is the way to go. Not only do they fit well, I find they last longer. I have a hard time finding a good fit, so if I find some that I like, AND they fit, I don't care how much they cost! I have a fair number of shoes, too many.... Same goes with clothes, you get what you pay for. That being said, at quality consignment stores you can find some great clothes at a good price! I really agree with you about buying more expensive shoes. It's been my experience that cheap shoes hurt my feet and don't last. Since I don't buy a lot of shoes and tend to wear my shoes until they wear out, buying more expensive works for me. OTOH, I don't buy expensive clothes. I buy a lot of clothes and rarely wear anything for more than a couple of seasons. I've never had any problems buying inexpensive clothing. We have a few consignment shops here in town but their selection is very limited (in any size!) and their prices are way too high for used clothing. Probably why most of them don't stay in business long. I've gotten great clothes in thrift stores. I have kind of an offbeat taste in clothing so I find a lot I like--many things name brand and almost new. I sew, so a repair or alteration is no big deal. It's hit or miss, but it's hit or miss in the department stores, too.
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Post by grayjedi on Jan 22, 2008 16:23:43 GMT -5
When I was in college, there was this large vintage store in the Mall of America called Ragstock and they had tons and tons of surplus and "lightly worn" vintage clothing. I used to go there all the time. I spent quite a bit of time at the Ragstock near the U of Minnesota campus during my first year of college. Unfortunately I was recently at the uptown location, and it's not nearly as exciting as I remember.. though they still have a huge amount of Japanese baseball jerseys. DH and I like to say "Retirement? What's that?" All joking aside, we're both taking all necessary steps to ensure that we end up in fields we can see ourselves working in for many, many years. By the time I finish up all my schooling, residency, etc, I'll be around 40, and who knows if he'll want to get more schooling later? So in our case I'd say "no kids=early retirement" does not apply, but it's because we're (OK, I'm) a bit slow in figuring out what I want to do in life. ;D
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Post by Ninja on Jan 23, 2008 13:02:55 GMT -5
I hope it will mean "early retirement", but I know it will at least mean a more comfortable one. Even if you don't buy your kids all the plastic shiny gadgets they want, they still cost a lot!
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Post by Karlita on Jan 23, 2008 18:38:02 GMT -5
Eh, not really in my case. I can retire from my job when I'm 57. Mind you I'm 26 now. I started my job when I was 22 so technically I'll have 35 years in by the time I'm able to retire. However, our retirement plan is based on how long we are with the agency so it would be a benifit to stay for 5 more years. Hopefully my body and mind will be in good condition long past age 62!
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Post by ana on Jan 31, 2008 11:48:45 GMT -5
OTOH, I don't buy expensive clothes. I buy a lot of clothes and rarely wear anything for more than a couple of seasons. I've never had any problems buying inexpensive clothing. I've learned as I get older that the designer clothes just look better on me. However, if you know when the end of season sales are (especially boxing week) you can buy high-quality designer clothes on sale. I hate shopping so I usually buy classic clothes with just a few updates every season. Good quality never goes out of fashion IMO.
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Post by Ninja on Jan 31, 2008 12:37:05 GMT -5
OTOH, I don't buy expensive clothes. I buy a lot of clothes and rarely wear anything for more than a couple of seasons. I've never had any problems buying inexpensive clothing. I've learned as I get older that the designer clothes just look better on me. However, if you know when the end of season sales are (especially boxing week) you can buy high-quality designer clothes on sale. I hate shopping so I usually buy classic clothes with just a few updates every season. Good quality never goes out of fashion IMO. I have a pretty 'standard' body and most clothes fit me well. But I do have narrow feet and find that designer shoes tend to be narrower and thus fit me better. They're expensive, but with proper care they can last years and thus are cheaper in the long run.
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Post by ana on Jan 31, 2008 14:33:09 GMT -5
Hey, I have narrow feet too! Think hubby will buy that only the designer shoes will fit me??? Not that he would ever say no but I have a hard time spending $500+ for a pair of shoes. One day I might own a couple of pairs of designer shoes. My shoes just seem to get wrecked. Something about walking and dancing in them! Now if they were on sale................. ;D
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Post by Karlita on Jan 31, 2008 14:44:14 GMT -5
I've found that I can only buy pants at Old Navy (they really understand the big butt/small waist issue some of us girls have), but like to shop at nicer stores for tops, skirts and dresses. Alas, shoes are rather difficult for me. I love a high heel but trying to find a cute shoe that's built for a wide foot is a pain.
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Post by happy2bchildfree on Jan 31, 2008 15:13:24 GMT -5
I've found that I can only buy pants at Old Navy (they really understand the big butt/small waist issue some of us girls have), but like to shop at nicer stores for tops, skirts and dresses. Alas, shoes are rather difficult for me. I love a high heel but trying to find a cute shoe that's built for a wide foot is a pain. I'll try Old Navy next time I buy pants (I rarely wear pants because of the big butt issue). I have the same problem of finding pants which fit in both the hips and waist. Thanks for the tip. I have the same problem with shoes. I not only wear a very small size, but have wide feet, too. I've damaged my feet from cramming them into too-narrow shoes.
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Post by Karlita on Jan 31, 2008 18:57:33 GMT -5
H2bCF, if you don't have some good belts, get a few of those too. I'm in between sizes so a belt is a must, but a cute belt helps to bring the waist in closer to the body. Ha, can you tell I watch too much What Not to Wear? ;D
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