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Automan Empire
2014 Apr 10, 1:25am
most meals, he eats $1.20 orders of eggs or fish patties at McDonald's.
Whereas for $2.40 he could make a dozen egg sandwiches himself, since money IS an object here.
I used to eat McDonalds breakfast now and again until I watched them unloading boxes of frozen cooked folded eggs.
New Renter
2014 Apr 10, 2:28am
"He didn't know how to take care of money," said the younger Mr. Smith,stepson, who lives in Maryland. The two do not keep in regular contact outside
That and the fact that he is not ready to move to a cheaper town, is the crux of his problems.
Cheaper town... like just across 101 to East Palo Alto!
Or Redwood City... Or even the Santa Cruz mountains. Lots of options that have to be better than living on the mean streets of PA
He needs to get out of (his) Dodge NOW!
SFace
2014 Apr 10, 3:36am
had he bought a home in Palo Alto during his working years, he is probably sitting on $2M instead.
besides that point, 30+ years working credit (high pay) should be enough to live on social security in many places in America.
"But three years ago, Mr. Smith could no longer afford an apartment here, so he moved into an aging Winnebago camper."
That's why you buy not rent. When you are old and helpless, the last thing I want to do is be at the mercy of landlords
Ceffer
2014 Apr 10, 4:31am
They should just go down to Sand Hill Road and take steaming dumps on the Lamborghinis and Porsches until the venture capitalists pay them ten thousand dollars a month apiece to stay away.
zzyzzx
2014 Apr 10, 5:10am
He didn't know how to take care of money," said the younger Mr. Smith,stepson
This guy must be pretty stupid. Even a squirrel knows enough to store enough nuts for the winter.
RentingForHalfTheCost
2014 Apr 10, 5:33am
It is all about perspective:
Life 1:
- lives in a camper and can wake up with any scenery he desires; Mountains, Ocean, Park, Bay, forest, etc.
- lifetime gym membership with lots of time to work out and use all the gym has to offer; stretch, pilates, weights, cardio, showers, cafe, etc.
- lots of time to shop around for the best deal on food; hence McDs
Life 2:
- pay the bank huge sums of money so they don't kick you out of their home. Remember, you don't have the title, they do. Go ahead ask them who owns the home, they will remind you.
- In order to have high income you basically work 24/7 and have no time to get to the gym. Work give you free food so you fatten yourself up while slaving away like a trained monkey. Did I say your family hardly knows you anymore.
- You have no time to cook or even think about food. To make up for all the away time from the family, you are over stricken with guilt and take them out to overpriced restaurants where you just sit and watch everyone living their virtual lives through their iphones and ipads. You sit there eating and thinking about how great life will be when you can sell your overpriced wood shaken to the next idiot. However, by that time you will only have limited time left anyway. Good plan Sherlock.
Who is the idiot here? Hmmm
Strategist
2014 Apr 10, 7:17am
Software engineers make a decent living. After 30 years Mr. Smith could have built up a nice nest egg with 401k's, stocks, property, etc. so where did his money go?
Booze
gambling
drugs
women
Strategist
2014 Apr 10, 7:29am
Life 1:
- lives in a camper and can wake up with any scenery he desires; Mountains, Ocean, Park, Bay, forest, etc.
Most likely the garbage dump, landfill or the dumpster.
- lifetime gym membership with lots of time to work out and use all the gym has to offer; stretch, pilates, weights, cardio, showers, cafe, etc.
Just like the prison, with Brutus as the cell mate, and the biggest guy waiting in the shower for you to perform your morning cores.
- lots of time to shop around for the best deal on food; hence McDs
If you wine and dine at McDonalds, exactly what deal are you looking for?
New Renter
2014 Apr 10, 7:36am
had he bought a home in Palo Alto during his working years, he is probably sitting on $2M instead.
besides that point, 30+ years working credit (high pay) should be enough to live on social security in many places in America.
"But three years ago, Mr. Smith could no longer afford an apartment here, so he moved into an aging Winnebago camper."
That's why you buy not rent. When you are old and helpless, the last thing I want to do is be at the mercy of landlords
Tell that to the people who bought into Detroit in 1950:
FuckTheMainstreamMedia
2014 Apr 10, 10:24am
Software engineers make a decent living. After 30 years Mr. Smith could have built up a nice nest egg with 401k's, stocks, property, etc. so where did his money go?
Booze
gambling
drugs
women
That sounds like a pretty damn awesome life to me!
RentingForHalfTheCost
2014 Apr 10, 1:36pm
Software engineers make a decent living. After 30 years Mr. Smith could have built up a nice nest egg with 401k's, stocks, property, etc. so where did his money go?
Booze
gambling
drugs
women
That sounds like a pretty damn awesome life to me!
Yup, my thoughts exactly. Oh, look how good my life is sweetie. I have a 7 digit 401K. Just think of how spoiled our kids will be when they inherit it in a few months. Oh, my back. Dammit, that trick knee. I wish I had a gym membership and the time to us it. Life sucks. Oh, but the 7 digits, let me check it again... Ahh, life is good for my kids.
RentingForHalfTheCost
2014 Apr 10, 1:36pm
Who is the idiot here? Hmmm
I think i'll be the idiot and pick Life 2.
No need to pick, you are already there. Good for you. Chin up!
CrazyMan
2014 Apr 10, 1:44pm
Don't spend all of your money on guns, beer and women.
Save some to spend foolishly.
Strategist
2014 Apr 11, 12:36am
Software engineers make a decent living. After 30 years Mr. Smith could have built up a nice nest egg with 401k's, stocks, property, etc. so where did his money go?
Booze
gambling
drugs
women
That sounds like a pretty damn awesome life to me!
Yup, my thoughts exactly. Oh, look how good my life is sweetie. I have a 7 digit 401K. Just think of how spoiled our kids will be when they inherit it in a few months. Oh, my back. Dammit, that trick knee. I wish I had a gym membership and the time to us it. Life sucks. Oh, but the 7 digits, let me check it again... Ahh, life is good for my kids.
LOL
You guys are right, I didn't see it that way.
I must be slipping.
Strategist
2014 Apr 11, 12:38am
Software engineers make a decent living. After 30 years Mr. Smith could have built up a nice nest egg with 401k's, stocks, property, etc. so where did his money go?
Booze
gambling
drugs
women
That sounds like a pretty damn awesome life to me!
Yup, my thoughts exactly. Oh, look how good my life is sweetie. I have a 7 digit 401K. Just think of how spoiled our kids will be when they inherit it in a few months. Oh, my back. Dammit, that trick knee. I wish I had a gym membership and the time to us it. Life sucks. Oh, but the 7 digits, let me check it again... Ahh, life is good for my kids.
I changed my mind. I'll go with 30% of life 1, 70% of life 2.
You only live once.
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579479930243974564
By ZUSHA ELINSON
PALO ALTO, Calif.—In the three decades he worked as a software engineer in Silicon Valley, Fred Smith never imagined he would spend his golden years homeless.
But three years ago, Mr. Smith could no longer afford an apartment here, so he moved into an aging Winnebago camper. The 70-year-old showers at a gym where he has had a longtime membership. For most meals, he eats $1.20 orders of eggs or fish patties at McDonald's.