<p>And yet they pay the dancers on the sidelines less than minimum wage…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s why I “mind” other people’s business. They can do whatever they want with their money as far as they are self-sufficient. I don’t like it when I am asked to help out for a second home or private school education. In my book, those are luxury items and we get them if we can afford. Some people think they are basic normal life expenses that other should help to pay when they can’t afford like food and lodging. I resent that.</p>
<p>Igloo, and what good does your resentment do?</p>
<p>The people you are resenting don’t care. They go on with their lives while you walk around with this resentment. </p>
<p>Does minding about other people’s business change anything? </p>
<p>We don’t even know what other people’s business is.</p>
<p>We judge and we don’t know. (I do this also, but at least I know I don’t know. 
)</p>
<p>I was in a restaurant. I know the waitress. She is sbout 23. She smokes. I don’t like smoking. We are talking. </p>
<p>I asked, "i haven’t seen you in awhile. How have you been? </p>
<p>She lifts up her shirt. Huge scar. Huge.</p>
<p>She has a disease. She can live a long time…or die in a week. A 23 year old has to live with that. Go smoke. </p>
<p>We are in our 50’s, 60’s whatever. We start to see things. Some things we see aren’t too good. My thinking has changed quite a bit over the last several years. </p>
<p>I try to be a little less opinionated about certain things. Like how people choose to live. </p>
<p>Wall Street still has some amoral people working in it. I have no idea why we give tax breaks to billionaires other than that they ask for the tax breaks. :)</p>
<p>“An analysis of U.S. tax laws complied by The Financial Times found that Ballmer could claim about half of the purchase price in current terms over the next 15 years against his taxable income. Those credits could be claimed under an aspect of the tax code covering so-called active owners of sports franchises, the Financial Times said”</p>
<p>Just another huge scam.</p>
<p>I’ll bet he’s going to eventually move the team to Seattle, anyways. Then I won’t mind so much.</p>
<p>Lol!</p>
<p>@dstark, I got so tired of, and yes, resentful, of the hedge fund guys carried interest tax treatment that I don’t discuss it with them any more. Only raises my blood pressure.</p>
<p>My son works at a hedge fund. He said his bonus is treated as ordinary income.No special tax breaks for him. Perhaps you have been talking to people who own hedge funds.</p>
<p>@cbreeze, I think it’s for fund managers and officers of the fund also, not just owners. </p>
<p>Maybe this is why people don’t feel better off.</p>
<p>
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/opinion/job-growth-but-no-raises.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/opinion/job-growth-but-no-raises.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region</a></p>
<p>So, the eternal question is: when to let go and spend or save based on an “expected” long life. I just celebrated a major birthday. Will I live to see the next “major”…don’t know. But, I don’t want to leave my husband destitute…so we invest for “our” future. He has provided me with major life insurance…if things go differently. But, in the meantime we live our lives.</p>
<p>At a point in our lives (when our kids were younger) we sorta kinda were promised a huge amount of money. I knew that it wouldn’t happen but we had the discussion. Our kids wanted stuff that would scream…real money here. I said absolutely never. I wouldn’t buy the 10 million dollar home, drive a rolls royce…it makes you a target. I will, sooner rather than later need a driver…but not for vanity. </p>
<p>I buy what I want and that is it. We go places that I never thought I would see. We give to charity always. And when I see my family around my table, I am rich.</p>
<p>I think we all have to find the balance of savings vs spending that feels right to us This year, I had two patients that had been attending our support group die and last year another one. Several on my online support group have also recently died and have had loved ones die. H has lost quite a few relatives and classmates. We are slowly moving more assets toward spending and travel now while we can enjoy it instead of always putting off and saving.</p>
<p>I am glad we did travel when the kids were young and do a lot of visits to museums, theater and other cultural activities–modest trips but enjoyable and memorable. Our kids still fondly remember the trips and have a love for national parks, museums and theater, and the great outdoors, which I think is largely from our trips over the years.</p>
<p>@IxnayBob, he is a PM in a fairly large company, at least in AUM.</p>
<p>@cbreeze, is that Portfolio Manager or Project Manager? I’m not sure if either would qualify as an officer of the fund, just curious. Most of the people I know are on the older side of the continuum, so they have had more opportunity to move up, and can also cope with the volatility of variable comp.</p>
<p>IxnayBob, lol!</p>
<p>As I read your sentiment and resentment, I couldn’t help thinking you are trying to push my button. :)</p>
<p>I refuse to be resentful the rest of today… Or at least for the next hour. :)</p>
<p>@IxnayBob,Portfolio manager of his strategy.L/S fund.
Hedge funds have limited hierarchies. </p>
<p>He could get paid as either way. He should talk to them. His bonus should be paid as cap gains, though they might have to structure his contract differently. </p>
<p>“Most of the people I know are on the older side of the continuum, so they have had more opportunity to move up,”</p>
<p>What is the older side of the continuum, IxnayBob?</p>
<p>Since my heart attack (on top of leukemia), DH and I have started to do the big vacation every year. Both of our moms were bedridden by their early 60s and I have no idea how long I’ll be around. Carpe diem. I want to make memories. That said, we live in an older, unrenovated house, drive unremarkable cars til they die, and will make the last tuition payment next month. Travel has always been our splurge (besides tuition for two), and we do that as inexpensively as we can, too. (yeah FF miles and caravan parks!) We’ve been living below our means and saving since we got married at 22. </p>
<p>DH isn’t retiring any time soon, if ever, and we will keep throwing $$ at retirement and paying off what’s left on the house. We’ll do what’s necessary to maintain the house, but I don’t see big remodels in our future (I will admit to wanting spiffy new bathrooms and kitchen, but que sera, sera. I don’t think we’d get the return on investment in our neighborhood). </p>
<p>You go, Counting Down! Live life to the fullest. If anyone deserves it, you do. And I sincerely mean it. </p>
<p>Yep. You go Counting Down!</p>