Are you "Fiscally Responsible?" Or "Fiscally Sound?" "Irresponsible or Unlucky?"

[IdaBriggs]

ON EDIT: Title changed, and no judgment implied (hence the quote marks). This is about how YOU see your financial situation?

There have been quite a few stories lately on different levels of financial issues. I'm curious as to where most DU'ers fall. How comfortable are you with your current financial situation? Are you doing okay? Do you have adequate savings and good retirement planning? What is your debt looking like? Do you live within or above your means? Are you proud of where you've come from, proud of where you are going, or panicked? Share your story, DU!

[etherealtruth]

1. self delete

your edit made my comment moot :)

[IdaBriggs]

3. Title changed, per your request.

I wasn't trying to be judgmental (hence the quote marks) -- just asking how people see THEMSELVES, if you know what I mean.

Peace! :)

[etherealtruth]

4. I just edited to delete my post

It turns out that the two families I know in dire financial straits, are there through no fault of their own.

[Sapphocrat]

2. Let's put it this way:

Once I gave up all hope, I stopped panicking.

Sign me,

One of Those Suburbanites Living Below the Poverty Line

[etherealtruth]

5. That really sucks ...

You're right though, panicking won't help anything.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. Doin Pretty Well Over Here. Not Bad For A One Time Broke Punk Living In A Car And One Time Inmate.

Wish Jersey real estate costs and daycare were a bit less, but compared to the state of which many other people find themselves I'm quite thankful and grateful.

[stillcool]

7. I fall right in..

the gutter. Have been there, albeit not knowing, most of my life. No parents, no school, no money...and no boot-straps! Spent years, and years trying to be a success like Oprah..my outsides weren't bad, but the insides were scrambled. Burning bridges had not been my specialty, but to build a new life I had to set some on fire....they didn't take me anywhere I wanted to go anyway. Once I finally hit bottom, ..ending up with nothing but myself, everything got easier. Now, I look at life as a rental. Somehow I've always managed to earn what I need to live in a non-criminal setting. If life gets too ugly, I know I have choices. That makes me fiscally...?

[tammywammy]

8. I'm between 1 & 2

The only debt I have is my vehicle, and I pay extra on it each month that goes straight to principle.

I'm investing in the 401k offered where I work. I'm only 26, so I have a little in that, but not tons.

But, I have little savings. Thankfully if I got sick or something, my parents could help me out. I have excellent job security right.

[high density]

9. I'm doing well

I got lucky and landed a great new job fairly recently... I'm single and without kids in my 20s and find it easy to save. Only debt left is student loans but those are well under $10k now. Overall my savings rate is about 15% which goes into either mutual funds or a "high yield" savings account. I have about six months of cash reserves which feels good to have while the dumbfuck is 'running' the country.

[Bonhomme Richard]

10. This year has been encouraging because my business is...

beginning to grow substantially. Now I have money in the bank which allows me to relax a bit. Having said that, it has taken six years and I am still not paying myself anymore. I won't do that unless my wife tells me we are not paying the bills. What I am doing is putting the money back into the business toward marketing and doing trade shows (which cost about 5 grand just to set up a booth and pay for expenses).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Gov't retiree. Good pensions, good h/c, good savings, no debt.

I worked for the Feds, my wife for the state. We started planning after a trip to Europe where we thought we could retire on the cheap.

But, we chose not to have kids. How people with kids to support/educate retire comfortably is beyond me.

Also, we're cheap dates. Both heavy readers, don't care about being stylish, driving "cool" cars, or having all the latest "can't live without" gizmos.

[fairfaxvadem]

12. in between 1 and 2 also.

Compared to a LOT of folks, I am doing fine. In fact, I have to remind myself that I am a very fortunate person. I've hit rock bottom financially and have regrouped over the last 12 years. But, I am taking on huge student loans, hoping that this career course change will pay off, even at my age. At least I don't have kids to worry about. Just a mortgage. And that, at times, has been stressful enough. Job-wise and healtcare-wise, for now I am AOK. I have house, car and health insurance, but I don't have 6 months to a year's worth of savings, outside of my 401k and IRAs, so I can't say I'm covered in case of a major disaster, like a layoff.

I'm not sure how anyone but a very small percentage of folks can feel really financially secure. I've never felt that way. I'm doing better than surviving, but I'm not on easy street by any stretch of the imagination.

I can't possibly fathom what it would be like if money was not a concern. However, I have one good friend going through financial problems the likes of which I would not wish on anyone. I count my blessings.

[Samurai_Writer]

13. Was at 2, am now at 3...

I had several financial setbacks in the past couple of months. Snowed in and lost days at work, no paid holidays (but forced to take off), major car expenses, car repossession, medical bills, dental problems (which still are not fixed and causing a lot of pain) and now, a wage garnishment for an old loan I just found out about today. I'm going to have to go to the food pantry after the rest of my meager groceries run out. Am trying to sell everything I possibly can live without. If anyone is in Denver or Boulder and wants the following items, let me know.

Big screen TV
260 DVDs
100 hardcover books
10 antique German beer steins
Camping equipment
Women's mountain bike
Almost new coffee table

I think I'm about to be homeless if I can't pay my landlord something soon, too. Just called a bankruptcy attorney... will see what he says tomorrow.