The difference between my two boys...

[Sigarms]

How expensive is fuel where you live that $50 only buys 1/4 tank?

Tank only had a 1/4 in it. I filled it up ($50 for 3/4 of a tank). Only a couple of days later with not much driving, it's already used a 1/4 of a tank (less today when he went fishing with his buddy).

Apologies for the confusion.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah, I still kept my part-time job working for the city as a lifeguard, had a full time job at the airport fixed base operation, worked another part time job driving army trucks from AM General to railroad spurs around the area and loading them for shipment, and going to college full time, while dating my future wife, and even after we got married. Two weeks after she graduated high school she was attending business school in an accelerated Associate degree program in accounting. She got done in 18 months and got a job at a local financial institution where she's been employed for 40 years. 4 years later, we were in the black when we said "I do." We planned our budget on two people making minimum wage. Anything after that was gravy. And man, did we have a nice bowl of gravy. We've paid our first house off in less than 5 years. Paid off 20 acres in another 4 years. Paid off the next house in 3 years (would have been 5 but my father passed away so we used the money he left us to buy a used van and pay off the house 2 years early, thanks dad!). Had two kids. Put them both through Purdue debt free with a combination of 529 savings, cash, and they got scholarships.

We have stressed this story to our kids on multiple occasions:

Live well below your means!

They both get it, and started their ROTH IRAs as soon as they were able. Oldest owes less than $10K on student loans from master's degree. Has a very good positive net worth for a 28 year old. Youngest is in the black as well.

I realize we are more fortunate than many. We haven't had a catastrophic health issue and we've had steady employment. Despite loosing my job 4 years ago to outsourcing and taking about a 40% pay cut, we didn't even feel it. I was re-employed within 2 hours of getting my 6 week notice that I was losing my job. I was kinda worried about being marketable at 56, but it appears I'm in high demand because I have a pulse and can pass a drug test. That, and a pretty good resume.

Anyhow, kids learn from their parents. I saw my parents struggle financially a couple times, yet still made a great home for their kids. I saw them worry, but never saw them fight. Great teamwork. Our kids never met my parents as they passed away before the opportunity. However, my in-laws are also great examples of a couple using teamwork to get what they want and my kids saw that for many years, until last December when my FIL passed away at 93.

We think it's rubbed off on them and we don't have to worry about them, although we still do. It's natural, I guess.

 

[MossRoad]

Tank only had a 1/4 in it. I filled it up ($50 for 3/4 of a tank). Only a couple of days later with not much driving, it's already used a 1/4 of a tank (less today when he went fishing with his buddy).

Apologies for the confusion.

Ah, I thought maybe the truck had a 42 gallon tank like my Suburban.

 

[4570Man]

Ah, I thought maybe the truck had a 42 gallon tank like my Suburban.

That’s about the the size my excursion tank is but gas would have to be $5 a gallon at that rate. The v10 excursion gets really good mileage too... not.

 

[Sigarms]

We think it's rubbed off on them and we don't have to worry about them, although we still do. It's natural, I guess.

Lets say I worry more as a parent on the one with the truck who at this point, doesn't seem to have a concept of saving LOL

When I was shuttling him home one night after work, we were talking about future goals. He's thinking about the Marines after high school. I asked him why not the Army? He looks at me all seriously and tells me "geez dad, I don't want to be killed fighting". Then I ask him why not the Air Force? He looks at me all seriously and informs me that there are too many gay people in the Air Force. I ask him how he knows all this and of course he read it on the internet.

 

[Frankenkubota]

In all honesty, I remember the small bags of chips coming from Walmart, the soda may have been from somewhere else as we'd run to a couple of different places to pick things up.

Speed on the job? Worked security at a factory at night when the place was closed (sometime around my college years). Detex watchclock system. I had like 7 spots in the factory that I had to punch every hour. Found out if I litterally ran, I could hit all the clocks under 10 minutes. Start second run at quarter of the hour, and I'd finish before the hour. Then started 5 after the hour, and I'd finish by quarter after the hour, then that would give me a whole two hours to goof off before my next "run".

One weekend working during the day (factory closed), ended up brining my lawn chair and suntan lotion, and would stay outside for 90 minutes working on my tan. Heard the front gate open up, I run back to the office, put on my work clothes and it was an executive coming in on the weekend to do office work. I greet him with my uniform on, and as he walks past me, he asks me what I'm wearing because he smells the suntan lotion LOL I was young and dumb, and my tan was important to me back then LOL

Looked online, place still in business, looks to be bought out by a Japanesse company.

When I owned my coffee shop i bought as much as i could from Sams or costco. They allow small business owners to come in early.

The coke products were far far less $ than if delivered by the local bottlers.

In Portland the walmart was ALWAYS out of 2 liter diet coke....ALWAYS. I finally asked the mgr. and he told me a lady business owner somehow knew when the coke guy came to walmart, she would go in and buy every single bottle, every time, nothing he could do about it.

I read it takes 8 gallons of fresh water to make 1 gallon of coke etc.

 

[Frankenkubota]

In NC, those would be fighting words.

You also show your ignorance by not mentioning Cheerwine

Are they subs or hoagies you way? LOL

My brother was a mucky muck for the Fiesta Bowl back in the BCS years. As a hanger on, i've been to more big time college football games than i care to remember. Best one ever was Boise St beat someone in a real nail bitter, it was wild right down to the last play!

Pepsi was paying the bills....Frito Lay. My brother had to train himself to ask for root beer because the one thing you didn't want to do was order a coke in front of the Frito Lay folks!

 

[Sigarms]

Pepsi was paying the bills....Frito Lay. My brother had to train himself to ask for root beer because the one thing you didn't want to do was order a coke in front of the Frito Lay folks!

I always find it funny when a waiter has to explain to me why they only have either Pepsi or Coke. It's like its some life or death response on which brand you'll take and they'll piss you off if they don't have the brand you want.

Personally I prefer a root beer or cream soda over a type of cola anyways.

If a have cola for myself, either pepsi or coke would work.

 

[MoKelly]

I always find it funny when a waiter has to explain to me why they only have either Pepsi or Coke. It's like its some life or death response on which brand you'll take and they'll piss you off if they don't have the brand you want.

Personally I prefer a root beer or cream soda over a type of cola anyways.

If a have cola for myself, either pepsi or coke would work.

In Mexico, most on premise locations are exclusive for beer. You get Modelo (Corona) or Femsa (Dos XX)products. Just like here with Coke or Pepsi. Brewers also give retailers refrigerators.

Not in USA. Due to laws exiting prohibition.

On the other side, brewers pay zero for store shelf space. Other consumer products pay a fortune for shelf space.

MoKelly

 

[Frankenkubota]

I always find it funny when a waiter has to explain to me why they only have either Pepsi or Coke. It's like its some life or death response on which brand you'll take and they'll piss you off if they don't have the brand you want.

Personally I prefer a root beer or cream soda over a type of cola anyways.

If a have cola for myself, either pepsi or coke would work.

I was in the franchise fast food business. in that case, the operators have no choice.

In other cases, independents, pepsi and coke compete for your EXCLUSIVE business. They give you hundreds if not thousands of $ in equipment.

BTW, ask any restaurant operator when is the last time they cleaned their syrup tubes running from the back room to the dispenser. hee hee heeeeeeeee