Texsox

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 18, 2016 -> 02:54 PM) Planning is great and all unless something bad happens. I am going to have a heart attack at some point, so should I load up on life insurance and spend money now or save a ton of money to retire even though I may not make it there. Delicate balance. Most people don't make the choice. They just do whatever without much thought. If I realized $5,000 saved in my 20s was one less year to work, I may have managed things differently. But I just kind of followed the path of least resistance. Put a little in an IRA.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 19, 2016 -> 12:48 PM) You can master's out but I just completed my first year. I just wanted to pound away some debts and save some money before coming back. I took a huge paycut coming back to school (obviously) and I don't think I was prepared for it. I absolutely want to finish my degree but I also can't focus if I'm worried about how I am going to pay for s***. That is the biggest barrier for most people. FlaSoxxJim once mentioned that if his PhD program allowed him to master's out he would have. They didn't, so he stuck it out and was happy he did.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Apr 3, 2015 -> 02:06 AM) I got into a Ph.D program with s***ty test scores. I am ready to spend the next 5-6 years of my life in absolute poverty. Congrats. I am expecting my acceptance soon. Whether or not to accept is still up in the air. Do you have your masters? Does the program allow you to earn a masters along the way?

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 19, 2016 -> 11:14 AM) Can a PhD student take a sabbatical? Yes, but be careful. The world is full of ABDs, all but dissertation.

It was mentioned repeatedly that his erratic behavior was probably the result of being an alcoholic.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ May 19, 2016 -> 09:43 AM) As much as I'd like to get another masher to complement Abreu and Fraz, I think getting a pitcher is a bigger need at the moment. While an upgrade is an upgrade anywhere in the lineup, I agree. Not only at the moment but looking to September and October.

How many folks here have a regular place they go to hear live music? No cover, just a regular restaurant, bar kind of place. Not "shows" or "events" just a singer, small band, type of place.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 19, 2016 -> 10:26 AM) In the back of my mind, I feel like Kenny really wanted to hire Cito Gaston, and that Guillen was a Reinsdorf thing. This

Keep tarnishing that image.

http://saturdayblitz.com/2016/05/03/nfl-ri...s-shawn-oakman/ Things are changing. And if you look at this in terms of colleges covering up crimes on campus, not just as an athletic problem. the changes are coming rapidly. And sports are driving the changes now after decades of lagging behind. High profile athletes are losing their jobs, suspension, and other disciplinary measures for off field troubles. Yes, there are horrible examples, and this is coming too late and too slow for some, but sports in general are doing more in this area than any other industry.

Colleges have been under reporting crimes for centuries. Athletes are just one group that has benefited. It took the Clery Act in 1990 to force universities to start reporting. Eastern Michigan has received the highest fine to date for an act that no one talks about. Why is Penn State talked about more? Because athletics are involved. So perhaps claiming that athletes are singled out for being covered up for may not be accurate. It is far easier for universities to cover up crimes not involving athletics because people do not care enough about low profile students. Universities want parents and prospective students to believe their campus is safe. Marketing puts the best face on that as they can. High profile cases are hardest to cover up. Athletics may actually do more to uncover these acts than to cover them.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 18, 2016 -> 01:28 PM) Damn you tex...I am an undershirt guy too. Uggh......in all seriousness, these look nice...might have to give them a try. When you say they make such a difference, can you provide a little more color on that. Is it more just these ensure the proper fit (an issue I have with some brands of undershirts). Long tails that stay tucked in. No extra bulk. Flat comfortable seems. Great fabric that wears like iron. Butter soft. AND my favorite feature, the vee necks are deep enough that they do not show with a couple buttons unbuttoned. I hate wearing a polo and seeing a undershirt. These hide well. Same with an oxford shirt. But I am damn cheap with underwear and socks. Now I am a believer.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:54 AM) Well, you have your view, I have mine. After speaking with my grandparents, as well as other seniors, I hear a lot more stories reminiscing about the days when they were young and all the great times they had than complaining about not having another $50k to piss away in some senior care center that charges them $900 a day. Exactly the point. Why wait to retire in your 60s if it means some senior care center? How about a thirty year retirement before that? How many people are you talking to that retired in their late 40s and 50s? I didn't have any. Based on the people you mention, I agree. Spend it now. Planning retirement backwards. If you want to retire at 50, figure out the financial factors and do that. If you want to retire and move to a senior care facility that is another equally valid approach. Spend now, work longer. Spend less now, retire earlier. It's a choice we make, I'm just not certain how much we really spent thinking about it until it is too late.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:17 AM) Thanks dude, nice links. IIRC you are in and out of customers all day long like I was. The only way I found to look decent by lunch was an undershirt. Dropping damn near $20 a piece for something no one else sees seemed stupid, but these are really solid. The underfit is much snugger.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ May 18, 2016 -> 12:20 PM) I don't even know what this means. That was phrased wrong. Everything needs to go right for this team to make the playoffs. Bad calls (luck) working against then may be the grain of sand that tilts the scale to losing.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:43 AM) Tex, that's great. There is definitely something to be said for taking early retirement. That said, I love what I do. That isn't to say I want to work the rest of my life, but I am one of those people that enjoy being in a position to impact others for the better, being in a competitive environment, being in a stimulating environment, etc. Let's just say someone croaked and left me $20 million tomorrow. I don't know that I would stay in my current job, but I suspect I would definitely continue to work in some form or fashion. It's about choices. I was reminded of that when you mentioned urinating on oneself while sipping Ensurer through a straw. With the magic of compounded interest, dropping $10k in your 20s is a much bigger deal than in your 40s. I would like my grandchildren to know what your thoughts are on auto expenses when you are 60. I think it would be interesting. Advice from people in a different stage of their lives, especially ones I will be getting to can be very valuable.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2016 -> 10:39 AM) I was referring more to the post before that, where you mentioned you and your wife have successful careers but have always purchased Fords, Saturns, etc. That being said, no big deal...it's just a hot button of mine that a few have pressed the last couple days in this thread. And you have argued that side as fervently as some of the other point of views. In a sense telling people how and what to post about. And that is what makes this forum great. We do toss ideas back and forth without many taboo subjects. If this was more anonymous, with less long term relationships I would be more inclined to agree with your point of view. But after 10+ years reading some people's posts, financial advice on how to manage major purchases is something I like reading.

I have friends who retired when they turned 50. She was a school teacher, he was a commercial diver. On a bad year they saved 50% of their net income. They lived very simply while they were working. Now they live aboard their sailboat. Yes, they sacrificed the first have of their adult life to have a long retirement while they are healthy enough to live an adventure. I didn't know anyone like that until I was in my 40s. I thought retiring at 50 was for the super wealthy with amazing jobs. At the minimum I wish someone had pointed out that option. I may not have followed their example, but I wish I had at least considered it. So when someone makes financial suggestions, here, there, or anywhere, I enjoy reading them. One example NSS talked about "sweeping" his end of month balances into a savings account. I've been doing that in additional to my regular savings and investments and it has made a noticeable difference in my savings. I also started micro investing my "round ups" on purchases at Acorn acorns.com/invite/CYA7DP basically you can open an account with a deposit if $5 or so. They track your purchases and "round up" each transaction and place it in a mutual account. You can get started for next to nothing. The danger is the $1 per month fee cuts into any profits on the investment.

Unfortunately the team can't handle too much bad luck. Their margin of winning is too small.

If we are going to discuss dress and clothes . . . I'm an undershirt guy with dress shirts and now with casual shirts. I hated to spend money on them. Now I'm buying expensive undershirts but they make such a difference. http://underfit.com/ and https://ribbedtee.com/store/category/most-p...ar-undershirts/ make well tailored designs with deep vees that are hidden under sport shirts.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 15, 2016 -> 05:05 AM) Trump, $1.5 million per speech...Bill Clinton $750,000 Nobody wants to hear Hillary Clinton speeches, that's why they're remarkably cheaper compared to the big guns. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-do...one-else-2015-8 Although I'm not 100% sure you're going to get accurate numbers. In all likelihood, his accountants write them off as donations to The Trump Foundation or other charities. Lost in the economics of the speeches is many of these are fundraising or publicity speeches for the organization that hires them.

Now I wear a suit only a few times a year. I'm in golf (coaching) clothes most work days. When I was wearing a suit every day I have 6 or 7 summer and 6 or 7 winter suits. I could get 2 to 3 seasons out of a summer suit and one or two more out of a winter suit because it was usually covered by a coat. One of the salesman that worked for me kept track of what suit he wore each day so that he would be wearing a different suit each time he saw a certain client. I was never that organized.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 18, 2016 -> 08:04 AM) After all the talk about how much money to put into a car, I want to add two things... 1. Everyone has something, or some things, they spend "extra" on. Clothing, travel, cars, whatever. I try not to judge it. For me personally, cars have never been something I felt the need to spend big on. My wife and I have very successful careers, and our cars have been Honda, Subaru, Ford and Saturn. Just my preference, because... 2. Cars are NOT investments. No matter how you feel about how much you want to spend or whats important, you should get yourself out of that mindset. Cars are COST CENTERS. That doesn't mean you can't blow some extra money on them if it makes you happy - but they are all depreciating assets with an increasing cost curve. Cost centers. Amen. And I would add for me they are tools. Even when I was a V.P. of a company I looked on my vehicle as a tool. For the past ten years or so I have needed something with towing capacity, five passenger comfort, and lots of carrying capacity. A pick up works perfectly. although a Suburban or Expedition would have also worked.

If you are a casual wearer of suits my students are telling me that Combant Gentleman makes a nice quality suit for not a lot of money. Only on-line. https://www.combatgent.com/

Esteban Loaiza is the greatest example of buying low and selling high in all of MLB history. And that isn't far from hyperbole.