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Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:07 pm
by skb12172
This thread was inspired by the comment 308 Mike made when he wished BobTheWitch a happy 36th birthday. He mentioned how he would like to be that age again, with the wisdom he has now.
Well, I'm 37. Not much older than Bob and I wish I could be 18 again with the wisdom I have now. Since that is unlikely to happen anytime soon, I'll settle for the next best thing.
What would you older guys, let's say, age 50 and up, like to pass on to us young punks? If you could be 36 or 37 or even younger again with what you've learned the hard way, what would you do differently?
The younger generation is all too often guilty of ignoring the wisdom of our elders, but don't worry about that here. I'm looking for serious, good advice in any area you would care to offer. Lay it on me.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:44 pm
by Bob K
1. Choose your battles wisely ... especially with your spouse. Winning can be as bad as losing.
2. Have an annual physical. You may feel well, but, surprise, surprise. (Trust me on this one.)
3. You are NOT immortal.
I'm going to be 62 next month. I was a tough guy once. Now I walk with a cane. A pain-free day to me is cause for celebration.
4. Celebrate what you have. Love. Family. Friends. Pets.
Most of my friends have died or retired & moved away. Hold on to what you got.
5. Lift a glass. Thank G-d! For whatever great or small you have.
L'Chaim!!!!!!!!!!!!! (To LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:59 pm
by Fivetoes
I am 56. At 38 you are not too old to start saving for retirement. You are not too old to go or go back to college and get a degree or advanced degree, you are not too old for a career change. You are not too old to start a family. I did some of that and didnt do some of it. Some of It I was already doing.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:06 pm
by Frankingun
1. Save a portion of every paycheck. Every time. Your retirement funds are untouchable until you retire. No exceptions. I've seen too many guys cash out and lose too damn much in penalties and interest. Build an emergency fund, while you're young. Pay in cash for as much as you can. No loans except for mortgages and maybe one car at a time. Don't buy too many trivialities like music cds and anything marked "collectible". Credit cards are more evil than BATFU.
2. Teachers have no concept of real life.
3. Buy quality items for things you will use most often, especially tools and guns.
4. Learn to cook real food. Not just heating something up, but at least mix up a few things and chop up some veggies and cook them too. Something in your stomach has to absorb the grease from a Bacon Explosion.
5. Stay in shape.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:07 pm
by Rod
Start saving as soon as possible. We're thinking of opening an annuity for our son, as long as he contributes to it starting as soon as he gets a job. Our small contribution is a start. Every time you get a raise, add half the raise into the annuity. You won't miss the money and it'll make your account grow.
Don't be so eager to start a family. Having kids in the first 5 years of your marriage can screw it up. You won't be able to be by yourselves for a LONG time (trust me on this). Enjoy each other and THEN start the family. Spend part of your disposable income on what you/your spouse wants.
Don't EVER say, I can't do that. Try it and see.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:06 am
by arctictom
Some of this is worth saying again, support and calibrate family and friends. Keep your word, stay in shape , get your physical each year , colon screen after 50.
Their are no sure things, government is usually wrong, popular opinions don't mean any thing.
Keep lots of ammo,firearms and food handy. Learn how to do things for your self, carpentry, electrical, plumbing , auto maintenance, etc.
Read , founding fathers , basic econ, etc. And learn at least one other language , Spanish , English and German are mine.
No one gets out alive.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:42 am
by First Shirt
It's not a perfect world. If it was, none of us would be in it.
A day when you learn something new is not wasted.
Don't worry about what people think. Studies have shown that most of them don't.
Some people have a lifetime's worth of experiences. Others have a year's worth, repeated for a lifetime. Which do you want?
Don't confuse "mature wisdom" with "too tired".
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:38 am
by arctictom
One more , the best advice I have ever taken was from my father , when I didn't have my head up my ass ( I was 22), he suggested I take a year off after college . I have always been a work alcoholic, graduated with 20k in the bank and no debts. So I took his advice and went to Europe, skied, chased women had a great time.
One of the smarter things I have done is take advice from an old fart, good for you, you have figured it out.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:44 am
by Termite
Frankingun wrote:1. Save a portion of every paycheck. Every time. Your retirement funds are untouchable until you retire. No exceptions. I've seen too many guys cash out and lose too damn much in penalties and interest. Build an emergency fund, while you're young. Pay in cash for as much as you can. No loans except for mortgages and maybe one car at a time. Don't buy too many trivialities like music cds and anything marked "collectible". Credit cards are more evil than BATFU.
2. Many teachers have no concept of real life. There are exceptions; and they are usually the BEST teachers.
3. Buy quality items for things you will use most often, especially tools and guns.
4. Learn to cook real food. Not just heating something up, but at least mix up a few things and chop up some veggies and cook them too. Something in your stomach has to absorb the grease from a Bacon Explosion. Homemade stew is real food.
5. Stay in shape.
All of the above, plus a few.
For the financial side,
Dave Ramsey gives excellent general advice. If you buy a toy, DON'T finance it. It's a toy. Toys are a lot more fun if they're paid for up front.(Even though motorcycles and scooters are also labeled "transportation", they probably also fall in the "toy" catagory.)
Be frugal, but not a miser.
You're probably smarter than at least 50% of the people you meet an a daily basis, so be patient with them. If you let them always annoy you, you'll get ulcers.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best; the reality will be somewhere in the middle.
Re: Advice To A Young(er) Punk
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:52 am
by arctictom
Termite wrote:Frankingun wrote:1. Save a portion of every paycheck. Every time. Your retirement funds are untouchable until you retire. No exceptions. I've seen too many guys cash out and lose too damn much in penalties and interest. Build an emergency fund, while you're young. Pay in cash for as much as you can. No loans except for mortgages and maybe one car at a time. Don't buy too many trivialities like music cds and anything marked "collectible". Credit cards are more evil than BATFU.
2. Many teachers have no concept of real life. There are exceptions; and they are usually the BEST teachers.
3. Buy quality items for things you will use most often, especially tools and guns.
4. Learn to cook real food. Not just heating something up, but at least mix up a few things and chop up some veggies and cook them too. Something in your stomach has to absorb the grease from a Bacon Explosion. Homemade stew is real food.
5. Stay in shape.
All of the above, plus a few.
For the financial side,
Dave Ramsey gives excellent general advice. If you buy a toy, DON'T finance it. It's a toy. Toys are a lot more fun if they're paid for up front.(Even though motorcycles and scooters are also labeled "transportation", they probably also fall in the "toy" catagory.)
Be frugal, but not a miser.
You're probably smarter than at least 50% of the people you meet an a daily basis, so be patient with them. If you let them always annoy you, you'll get ulcers.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best; the reality will be somewhere in the middle.
yup this too.