<p>I realize that the inheritance thing is just a small part of this overall thread. But there is one aspect I’d like to point out. Often an inheritance feels rather more like a cloud of resources rather than like actual money. You almost don’t understand its impact, on you or on anyone else. It has odd emotional weight. Therefore irrational acts aren’t uncommon. Buying a Ferrari, for example. Or, on the flip side, allowing the non-inheriting spouse to assume they have authority over the money, and the overall power structure of the marriage to dominate the use of the funds.</p>
<p>If you have the money there are many worse things to buy than a Ferrari. Simply one of the best cars to drive in the world–and the best looking–and I’m a Porsche fan for the most part. Every one is like a work of art.</p>
<p>I think mom2collegekids point was that the money could have been spent to better the family situation, rather than on a toy. If the family were well set otherwise, that would be different.</p>
<p>Barrons, if you own a Ferrari, check if yours had been recalled recently.</p>
<p>[Ferrari</a> recalls 1,250 sports cars after some catch fire - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100901/bs_afp/italyautocompanyferrarisafetyrecall]Ferrari”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100901/bs_afp/italyautocompanyferrarisafetyrecall)</p>
<p>A toy like a Frerrari is nice but it does require $$ for maintenance, expensive insurance, etc. Where would that money come from if all of the inheritance $$ were spent on the car?</p>
<p>Have we dated barrons? Had a boyfriend who could have written your last post. We remain friends and he recently told me of market conditions which parallel the housing market, although two years ago he thought they were the greatest investment of all time.</p>
<p>Dated as in went out with on a date with (no way), or as in carbon-dating to the Paleolithic Period, when men with similar perspectives towards females clubbed their women over the head and toted them around by the hair.</p>
<p>I think you get to a certain age & you realize people are more important than things.</p>
<p>Of course that takes a certain sense of self, to not be constantly worrying that not having certain * things* doesn’t mean that you aren’t as bright and shiny as Mr Pepsodent smile, but boy it sure makes life simpler.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The family WAS well set otherwise by many accounts. Just not as well set as the wife would like to be.</p>
<p>To determine that they needed to save more for retirement, she was working off the assumption that both social securities and both pensions would disappear, so she didn’t include very much value of them in her retirement figures. </p>
<p>Her financial picture appeared to be pretty strong to me. Probably around $50k in annual retirement income from pensions and social security, $150k in liquid assets, two rental houses where they rent for more than the mortgage payment, one house that they have a mortgage on, and soon to be half of a fourth house. Many families would love to be this well of financially. They are currently paying for all kids education from their annual incomes and are not dipping into savings for that.</p>
<p>I think there is always a better place somebody can put their money as opposed to buying toys. I’m not in favor of buying expensive toys, and that’s why I drive a 15 year old car that has 175,000 miles on it and my wife drives a 12 year old vehicle with 177,000 miles on it. But she’s married to someone who enjoys owning toys. She can’t change that about him. </p>
<p>If she accures enough in assets throughout their life, Uncle Sam will take half upon their death.</p>
<p>Right jym, it was a total and complete joke. Barrons married his high school sweetheart from what I can only assume was arpund the Paleolithic period.</p>
<p>phone, to start making changes like you are doing after so many years is nothing short of impressive. My hat is off to you!</p>
<p>My husband has a Ferrari and he’s one of the most conservative, rational people I know!</p>
<p>I just wonder why some parents think that THEY would be “bored silly” taking care of their OWN kids but they think strangers would not be? LOL"</p>
<p>Some people enjoy being around babies and small children all day long and others don’t.</p>
<p>No Ferrari–just 3 early (69-73) 911S Porsches and an Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 that gets serviced by the local Ferrari dealer so I do get to see the F cars regularly. It,s there right now for a valve adjustment. All my cars are collector cars around 40 years old. 73 is the newest but they all run and drive better than new. I have driven several of them on long trips–LA, Chicago and back. I get more than my money’s worth of fun out of them and they keep going up in value unlike most cars. There is hardly a day I drive one when somebody does not stop and ask me about them and often ask if they are for sale. NO. When I’m dead call my wife.</p>
<p>Men and their cars (er, toys). 'Nuff said. :D</p>
<p>It’s a head-scratcher, isn’t it?</p>
<p>Men buy toys to overcompensate when their own pistons fire inadequately. ;)</p>
<p>My accountant and several men I know have such cars. One man was having financial problems, and sold one of his cars. Within day he had buyers drive across states to get his Ferrari. Not only did the car turn out to be a liquid investment, it netted huge profit. (Better than anything in stock market.)</p>
<p>I don’t know about this one, ladies.</p>
<p>H buys toys. I buy H toys, in fact. He is happy when he drives his machines, really happy, like when we were in HS and college happy. He smiles when he gets out of the car. He smiles when he comes in off the boat. Happy, happy, happy.</p>
<p>Can’t beat living with a happy man who is happy to see you.</p>
<p>I have to come down on the pro toys side of the discussion.</p>
<p>For both sexes, actually.</p>
<p>Costs a lot to restore, insure etc. old cars. Hope it wasn’t your accountant who was having money troubles! I’d be a little concerned.</p>
<p>Lets not derail this thread-- this thread isnt about car models. OP and phone 30, how are things going?</p>
<p>my quote…</p>
<p>There is a man in our community that drives a Ferrari…yes, a Ferrari…even though the family is not rich. He inherited the money and spent it on THAT, while his wife struggles with the family budget. </p>
<p>*
I think mom2collegekids point was that the money could have been spent to better the family situation, rather than on a toy. If the family were well set otherwise, that would be different.*</p>
<p>Babyontheways…naive response
*
The family WAS well set otherwise by many accounts. Just not as well set as the wife would like to be.*</p>
<p>BabyontheWay…I know this family. YOU do not. You don’t know that that the “family WAS well set”. Why would you say that?</p>