- get out of debt...because eventually someone with a weapon will be at your door...to force payment compliance...
...self reliance STARTS here...
- save and invest “at least” 20% of your take home pay (after taxes)...working up to this using pay raises is the least painful method...but...get there...
...concentrate your investment in “index” mutual funds (Vanguard or Fidelity or ??? is your choice) (that way when Coke decides white people are too white, you won’t suffer needlessly)...be cognizant of fees and use following percentages:
US funds: 28.5% International Funds: 23.5% Emerging Market Funds: 13% US Real Estate Funds: 20.5% US Bond Funds: 4.5% Emergencies/dry powder/cash: 10%
...do this with the goal of using annual dividends as ALL of your income in retirement (IE, no pension...no Social Security, no other job). As the USA succeeds or fails (long term) adjust your percentages accordingly...this is a “longevity portfolio” and not a “become wealthy portfolio”...
You will find that it will make you quite wealthy...and the peace of mind cannot be given a valued...
- Start getting healthy...
...proper hydration and eating responsibly will go a long way toward equalizing body weight to more normal levels.
Get active...start moving around again. There is no simple way of saying it...we are a fat, lazy, entitled nation. No one will be coming to save you. Make a “get healthy” plan and start executing. The time for “maybe tomorrow” is over.
- Take the fight...to the enemy...financially...
...pare down your spending...become more discerning...stop the wasteful bullshit...
...the US economy is a consumer (that’s you) based economy. Your dollar is the most powerful weapon you have and it’s use in living a lavish lifestyle is your greatest weakness.
...the gov must have you (actually, your money) to continue to torture you. The large corporations are in bed with big gov...and shoving that in your face. They think you are too weak to go back to a time without them. The time to starve them down and make them think twice before they continue...is now...
- One last word...
...all of these steps I list are tested and effective over many thousands of years and through the worlds absolute worst periods. They are not special and require absolutely no special level of education.
I didn’t create them but I did learn bits and pieces of them over the last three decades. I put them here only for those looking for ideas of “what do I do now”. I apologize if you have seen this post several times but I am hopeful that new people come here daily and this helps them focus on positive actions. Oh, and if you believe you are too old, too poor, too young, too whatever to begin, you are listening to the wrong people. Those people suck and are probably a big reason why you are...”here”...in the first place...
Some of the steps appear to conflict with each other and that is okay (I did not take a vow of poverty and nor should you). The steps are not meant to be mutually supporting but can and should be done concurrently... Step 2, for example, is for me while step 4 is for my country...
As you start ingraining these into your life you will be amazed at how successful you become in all aspects of that life. Self discipline creates more opportunity then education, family background, or “lucky breaks”. Not one step is easy which why most don’t try...or give up after only a few months....
...are you ready to change??? You know it must happen...
“See you on the high ground” “Embrace the suck”
No. What I want is for you to think up original posts and stop posting the same essays every day.
I am a multi millionaire and can leave if you want? I don’t “need” to be here...or you can use that meaty digit to keep scrolling.