Half of Americans die with almost no money

[BadJuju]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

They don't. It just feels like it...

Hah.

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

why do married men die earlier than married men, statistically speaking?

because they want to.

"..'til death do us part."

It's not a promise; it's a GOAL.

[metalman]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

Why do married men live longer than single men?

They don't. It just feels like it...

totally screwed up the joke. see edited above.

[Fiat Currency]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

why do married men die earlier than their wives, statistically speaking?

because they want to.

It's God's gift to us ... 7 years in Heaven before our spouses arrive.

[don]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

Time to break out the "Gays Want To Marry" jokes.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

Time to break out the "Gays Want To Marry" jokes.

I wonder what impact, if any, gay marriage might have on estate planning for female/female and male/male heterosexuals?

Could it be possible any change could be used, or would likely be used, as just an estate planning tool?

[flintlock]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

I think its certainly become more socially acceptable to spend lavishly. When you look around and all your neighbors have a new car, you may rationalize a good reason you need one too. Who knows? I've just noticed the generational differences. My Dad would swish water in the ketchup bottle to get the last bit out. Crazy. He still insists on hand washing dishes to "save water". Water here is dirt cheap. And I doubt it saves much if any. He owns a HD tv but wouldn't get HD service because it cost $10 more a month. He's 80, has plenty of money, what difference does it make? When I work at older people's homes, I can't get them to provide new bulbs in the light fixtures. They always pull out the used ones. Pretty funny. And they have a hard time with the concept of replacing something vs repairing. But drop about 10 or 15 years younger, and they are completely different. Spend like drunken sailors in comparison.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

I think its certainly become more socially acceptable to spend lavishly. When you look around and all your neighbors have a new car, you may rationalize a good reason you need one too. Who knows? I've just noticed the generational differences. My Dad would swish water in the ketchup bottle to get the last bit out. Crazy. He still insists on hand washing dishes to "save water". Water here is dirt cheap. And I doubt it saves much if any. He owns a HD tv but wouldn't get HD service because it cost $10 more a month. He's 80, has plenty of money, what difference does it make? When I work at older people's homes, I can't get them to provide new bulbs in the light fixtures. They always pull out the used ones. Pretty funny. And they have a hard time with the concept of replacing something vs repairing. But drop about 10 or 15 years younger, and they are completely different. Spend like drunken sailors in comparison.

Very interesting........I can't help but wonder about imprinting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprinting_(psychology)

Maybe there's truth and value in the "can't teach old dogs news tricks" thing....maybe it's a way to ensure species continuity by only having the younger lemmings more susceptible to being encouraged to run off the cliff.

I just saw this movie trailer recently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInOg12jMiY

Interesting......there's potential to exploit in there.

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

I think the tipping point was in the mid to late 70's. I started college in '75. I was amazed my roommate had a credit card. You didn't give a kid with no income a credit card. Fast forward a decade and card companies had tables at college orientation. Debt went from something you didn't mess with to being perfectly acceptable. Jump ahead two more decades and you have kids signing up for loans that will virtually enslave them. I got hooked for an hour reading testimonials at "Project on Student Debt." I can't decide which is more mind blowing: that these loans are allowed or that the borrowers agreed. If student debt could be discharged in bankruptcy, a lot of good things would follow.

For lots of my friend's kids, it's reversing...Drive your car to the wheels fall off, buy clothes at Goodwill, make do with an iphone, but without a computer.

http://projectonstudentdebt.org/voices_list.php

I think its certainly become more socially acceptable to spend lavishly. When you look around and all your neighbors have a new car, you may rationalize a good reason you need one too. Who knows? I've just noticed the generational differences. My Dad would swish water in the ketchup bottle to get the last bit out. Crazy. He still insists on hand washing dishes to "save water". Water here is dirt cheap. And I doubt it saves much if any. He owns a HD tv but wouldn't get HD service because it cost $10 more a month. He's 80, has plenty of money, what difference does it make? When I work at older people's homes, I can't get them to provide new bulbs in the light fixtures. They always pull out the used ones. Pretty funny. And they have a hard time with the concept of replacing something vs repairing. But drop about 10 or 15 years younger, and they are completely different. Spend like drunken sailors in comparison.

[jpetr48]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

I think the tipping point was in the mid to late 70's. I started college in '75. I was amazed my roommate had a credit card. You didn't give a kid with no income a credit card. Fast forward a decade and card companies had tables at college orientation. Debt went from something you didn't mess with to being perfectly acceptable. Jump ahead two more decades and you have kids signing up for loans that will virtually enslave them. I got hooked for an hour reading testimonials at "Project on Student Debt." I can't decide which is more mind blowing: that these loans are allowed or that the borrowers agreed. If student debt could be discharged in bankruptcy, a lot of good things would follow.

For lots of my friend's kids, it's reversing...Drive your car to the wheels fall off, buy clothes at Goodwill, make do with an iphone, but without a computer.

http://projectonstudentdebt.org/voices_list.php

Yes I was one of those kids who had an Amex card that I could not pay. Thankfully I married a woman who was a pragmatist and 29 years later still clips out coupons though we are fortunate not to. My hope is that the start of these small firms who are educating the public and college/high school on investing continues. I graduated around when you did in 1978 and instead of taking that cool music synthesizer class, a class combining macroeconomics and investing would have been more worthwhile.
maybe some day a bunch of us from itulip will start a foundation, coaching etc or something comparable to educate and give back what we are learning.

[lektrode]

Re: Half of Americans die with almost no money

.....
maybe some day a bunch of us from itulip will start a foundation, coaching etc or something comparable to educate and give back what we are learning.

oh no worries there joe - you guys - thanks to EJ&co - already have!

and MUCHOS MAHALOS (many thanks) to all the uploaders here for their contributions!