What do you do for a living?

[Safari Dave]

"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is a good book to give to your children...




Poor Dad wastes all of his money on stupid stuff that make's him "appear" to be rich.

Rich Dad never wastes money on "appearance." He becomes rich my making wise investments and never borrowing money for "lifestyle."

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I lay pipe for a living.

If you want to be able to afford hunting trips and you earn your money by the hour. Try this:

1. Work hard.
2. Save your money and invest it wisely.
3. Don’t buy extra things you don’t need.
4. Invest in yourself.
5. Delay gratification.
6. Don’t live beyond your means.
7. Work a second job to fund your dreams.
8. Sell anything you are not using.
9. Divest yourself of monthly services, memberships, clubs, apps, or anything else that you don’t need.
10. Avoid eating at restaurants or going to bars.

 

[Scott CWO]

I also have had a "side-gig" since 1994 of owning two fishing tackle stores, a flyfishing school, and fishing guide service.

Now the rest of the story comes out! Lol. A good life!

 

[Philippe]

I lay pipe for a living.

If you want to be able to afford hunting trips and you earn your money by the hour. Try this:

1. Work hard.
2. Save your money and invest it wisely.
3. Don’t buy extra things you don’t need.
4. Invest in yourself.
5. Delay gratification.
6. Don’t live beyond your means.
7. Work a second job to fund your dreams.
8. Sell anything you are not using.
9. Divest yourself of monthly services, memberships, clubs, apps, or anything else that you don’t need.
10. Avoid eating at restaurants or going to bars.

And especially if you are married, do not get divorced.

 

[uplander01]

...And you are a damned good independent sales rep. You are an amazing partner to your customers and a veritable encyclopedia of firearms knowledge, handloading and hunting, not to mention an entertaining storyteller and a fun drinking companion. I am proud to work with you, as is the rest of your team.

Thanks for the kind words Tom, means a lot, enjoy working with you as well. Hopefully see you soon or chat and hear about your next adventure

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Forest Ranger (1972-1975)
Divisional Forest Officer (1976-1989)
Director of National Botanical Gardens (1990-1992)
Chief Conservator of Forests (1993-2000)
Member of Parliament (2000-2005)
Director of Ever Green Bengal (2006-Current)
Lecturer at Chittagong Forest Institute (2006-Current)
Inspector General Of Forests (2024-Current)

 

[HankBuck]

And especially if you are married, do not get divorced.

@Philippe - or get Divorced EARLY, then MAKE $$$ and enjoy YOUR Life. That’s what my friend did and he’s living good now, hit it BIG after his divorce. I’m lucky to still be happily married to #1 but know guys that “endure” years of misery before pulling the plug and the last time they got “screwed” was when dividing up assets & paying off their attorney.

 

[HankBuck]

Forest Ranger (1972-1975)
Divisional Forest Officer (1976-1989)
Director of National Botanical Gardens (1990-1992)
Chief Conservator of Forests (1993-2000)
Member of Parliament (2000-2005)
Director of Ever Green Bengal (2006-Current)
Lecturer at Chittagong Forest Institute (2006-Current)
Inspector General Of Forests (2024-Current)

@Hunter-Habib - a life well lived…very impressive & fortunate

 

[mdwest]

@Philippe - or get Divorced EARLY, then MAKE $$$ and enjoy YOUR Life. That’s what my friend did and he’s living good now, hit it BIG after his divorce. I’m lucky to still be happily married to #1 but know guys that “endure” years of misery before pulling the plug and the last time they got “screwed” was when dividing up assets & paying off their attorney.

Yep, divorcing the starter wife at 40 can be quite a set back… especially after children enter the picture..

Choose wisely…

 

[HankBuck]

Yep, divorcing the starter wife at 40 can be quite a set back… especially after children enter the picture..

Choose wisely…

@mdwest - good term “Starter Wife” and you could print that on T-shirts ….future Grooms would buy them as gag-gifts and pass them out to Guests at their First Wedding (should go over big with Brides Father!)

 

[Tusker]

I own and partially run (managers do it better than me) 5 small businesses and 1 non-profit.
Industries: Real Estate (buy & rent), development (build and rent), retail, strategy consulting (board member of several mom&pops) and travel (own a concession somewhere in Africa).

Then I take all the cash and spend it starting new businesses that typically go south . This includes also stock market.
A little of the money I put into the non-profit where we do very cool projects.

 

[HookMeUpII]

"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is a good book to give to your children...

Poor Dad wastes all of his money on stupid stuff that make's him "appear" to be rich.

Rich Dad never wastes money on "appearance." He becomes rich my making wise investments and never borrowing money for "lifestyle."

Grew up basically looking at this book my entire life with my father, on the positive side. Never really knew how good my father did. He always wore Walmart Henley's, Wrangler jeans, and Topsiders he got on sale or Walmart work boots. Always was rough about shelling out cash to us as kids. Never heard him and my mother talk about debt. We had a boat and did 90% of the work on it ourselves. Same with the house.

He put the money where it mattered: Our education and upbringing. I still worked two jobs from the time I was 19 until about 24-25 but we knew the value of hard work.

My father was never a great teacher, still isn't. He did give me a few good nuggets and one of them was: "Don't get yourself in debt." We have a mortgage, car lease, and that's about it. CC's are paid in full the end of every month. Debt is the enemy of the wealth.

Now there are exceptions. Working in wealth management there is debt arbitrage, debt strategies, etc. All on the business side. However, unless you're operating in a higher-league, most of it doesn't make sense.

Borrowing money or wasting money on lifestyle is one of the top problems I see in today's world. It's all social media driven. People see the families with the nice house, nice car, etc. They think it's paradise and they need to get there. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they are house poor, have a $1,000 in the bank, and have a ton of unsecured debt.

The issue, in my life and my line of work, is I'm surrounded by folks who are in a whole other echelon. Triple digit millions net-worth. For them, a splurge item might be a $250,000 car. Very tough to not fall into the comparison game.

I basically live my life the same as my father. I wear Marshall's clothes, Levi's, drive a Mazda Cx50 (my wife drive's a Tahoe, to be fair), etc. The stuff that matters to me is my family, our health, and having a safety net-fund for emergencies.

 

[Philippe]

Yep, divorcing the starter wife at 40 can be quite a set back… especially after children enter the picture..

Choose wisely…

I divorced at 57 and the children left, I found myself in my underwear, forced to give everything after a busy professional life $$$. Lawyers are strong and I'm a bit stupid

 

[HookMeUpII]

@Philippe - or get Divorced EARLY, then MAKE $$$ and enjoy YOUR Life. That’s what my friend did and he’s living good now, hit it BIG after his divorce. I’m lucky to still be happily married to #1 but know guys that “endure” years of misery before pulling the plug and the last time they got “screwed” was when dividing up assets & paying off their attorney.

The reason I have 2 kids under 3 at 42 is because the idea of marrying and/or having kids with my ex's makes me cringe. I have buddies who married young, maybe not the best decision, and a couple are teetering on divorce.

I thank God every day for 3 things:

1) My wife
2) My kids
3) All of our health

On another note, a word from my "book" lol. If ever you are married and think about the prospect of infidelity, ask yourself one question: "How do you think you'd take to watching another man raise your kids?"

That one hits hard. I've had to give friends that advice before.

 

[HankBuck]

Grew up basically looking at this book my entire life with my father, on the positive side. Never really knew how good my father did. He always wore Walmart Henley's, Wrangler jeans, and Topsiders he got on sale or Walmart work boots. Always was rough about shelling out cash to us as kids. Never heard him and my mother talk about debt. We had a boat and did 90% of the work on it ourselves. Same with the house.

He put the money where it mattered: Our education and upbringing. I still worked two jobs from the time I was 19 until about 24-25 but we knew the value of hard work.

My father was never a great teacher, still isn't. He did give me a few good nuggets and one of them was: "Don't get yourself in debt." We have a mortgage, car lease, and that's about it. CC's are paid in full the end of every month. Debt is the enemy of the wealth.

Now there are exceptions. Working in wealth management there is debt arbitrage, debt strategies, etc. All on the business side. However, unless you're operating in a higher-league, most of it doesn't make sense.

Borrowing money or wasting money on lifestyle is one of the top problems I see in today's world. It's all social media driven. People see the families with the nice house, nice car, etc. They think it's paradise and they need to get there. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they are house poor, have a $1,000 in the bank, and have a ton of unsecured debt.

The issue, in my life and my line of work, is I'm surrounded by folks who are in a whole other echelon. Triple digit millions net-worth. For them, a splurge item might be a $250,000 car. Very tough to not fall into the comparison game.

I basically live my life the same as my father. I wear Marshall's clothes, Levi's, drive a Mazda Cx50 (my wife drive's a Tahoe, to be fair), etc. The stuff that matters to me is my family, our health, and having a safety net-fund for emergencies.

@HookMeUpII - sounds like You have great Wealth - even if not a lot of $$$ money ! And you live well, have your priorities straight, value what’s important - Family, Health, etc.. I worked as an executive in retail clothing stores for 40 years - some selling very high end but my clothing (outside of work) was always Cabela’s, Duxbak, Carhartt, Woolrich, Filson —- that was what I valued and considered ‘functional quality’ and NOT a suit or tie that would be out-of-fashion in a year. While I could afford an expensive car - preferred a nice pick up truck. Hunting Africa is expensive but something I value for the experience..

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Retired Military - didn’t get married, divorced, knock up a stripper (who knew my name), or buy a vehicle at 20% APR.

 

[YancyW]

I buy drinks and play golf for a living.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

@Hunter-Habib - a life well lived…very impressive & fortunate

@HankBuck
Indeed. Life is the greatest adventure of all.

 

[Gdot]

Quite the inspiring stories and entertaining responses in this thread, thanks OP for opening this fascinating discussion!

Did 12 years in the USAF, recently started career 2 at Boeing in systems engineering & test, and my wife & I are about to offer up our first rental property, the first of many, we hope. Admittedly, I have not made it to Africa yet, but I certainly don't view it as out-of-reach.

 

[dailordasailor]

I've worked in Manufacturing since graduating college. Wasn't the plan but working out alright. Started as entry level supervisor on night shift and since have worked at multiple companies chasing opportunities to grow to where I am now in management. My parents were blue collar and every weekend as a child i spent working on the house or picking up rocks in our field. Hated it then, happy it happened now as I am much more mechanically inclined than many of peers.

Likely will retire from a manufacturer in one shape or another. We dont have kids, been with wife since was 19 (35 now) and we both drive a Kia for the warranty and low cost. I went through the phase like most young folks of buying cars, boats, guns and toys etc but re-evaluated things around 2020 and started spending our money on trips instead of items.

In a couple years plan to buy our first rental property and see where that takes us. I'll never forget an employee at my first job made about $60k a year operating machinery and hunted Africa every year. If there's a will, there's a way.