Did Obama ever directly benefit from Affirmative Action?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Archaea

People mostly live on the edge no matter what their income is.

No. Financial idiots live on the edge. Now, if you have a low income, living on the edge is more understandable. The higher the income, the less sense it makes to live on the edge. If someone has a $500K/yr income, they have no excuse.

Sure it's possible to screw up no matter how much money one makes. But earlier in this thread you were skeptical that $250K was a high level income. If you honestly believe that, you are out of touch with reality.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Milton Friedman has a few words of advice for us. People don't spend based on their income but based upon their expectations of income.

that's a description of how people behave that's not advice on how to live.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

No. Financial idiots live on the edge. Now, if you have a low income, living on the edge is more understandable. The higher the income, the less sense it makes to live on the edge. If someone has a $500K/yr income, they have no excuse.

Sure it's possible to screw up no matter how much money one makes. But earlier in this thread you were skeptical that $250K was a high level income. If you honestly believe that, you are out of touch with reality.

High compared to what?

I submit that for somebody to be in that bracket they must do certain things socially which reduces the available discretionary income. So that at the end of the day, it's not that much. The person still has one house or a small vacation home, a couple of homes, clothing but not huge savings, no servants.

You're now speaking about prudence, but not what our materialistic society encourages its members to do.

And many government workers don't compute the retirement which they receive. That is extremely valuable.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

that's a description of how people behave that's not advice on how to live.

Well society should note how people behave first and foremost.

[TripletDaddy]

My comment about claiming your kids is a bit TIC, but only partially. If you stopped, you lose the deduction, but what would the offset be if, by doing so, they could qualify for pell grants? That would assist you on a monthly basis by sacrificing an annual perk.

leasing a cars at about $750 per month means you are leasing about a 5 series? Maybe a mid level C class?

Drive a Civic. Those lease for $200 a month. That is a net savings of $1100 per month. Over 6 months, you could pay for a years tuition at BYU for both your kids. Simply by driving a different car.

Your problem isnt your meager income or the AMT....it is not being able to budget very well.

Judging by your scenario, your number one priority is to invest an additional $100 a year, set up an account for your ex on LDSmingle.com, and get her married off. That alimony is killing you.