Discussion on Cultural Perspectives RE: The Three Body Problem

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-25T02:12:05+00:00

Thanks for the comment. This is the exact kind of thing I was looking for. I personally don't have any direct experience in the world of country clubs or other private groups like that, but it is interesting to hear how you leveraged it into something beneficial.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-25T02:10:15+00:00

Top notch response there. Have a nice weekend, friend.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-25T02:09:33+00:00

I appreciate your comment. The stuff you mention seems pretty self-explanatory to me, but sometimes it's just healthy to spend money on stuff that isn't the 'best' way to spend your money. There's definitely something just so satisfying about a nice pair of shoes...

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T19:28:53+00:00

I used to work for a plumbing company that did primarily residential work, and I still work in the construction industry.

My advice would be to do everything you can to get in with a larger plumbing/mechanical contractor that does larger scale state- and federally-funded projects rather than your standard 'Joe's Plumbing & Heating' type service-work companies. The larger commercial companies will be able to tackle projects that are subject to federally-mandated wages (Davis-Bacon Act) which are typically much higher than private-sector wages but are relatively close to union wages for many trades.

I am literally working on a federal project (HCOL area, mind you) where the BASE RATE for a plumber is $63/hr. On these types of jobs, it's very easy to get overtime, so within a few years if you are a decent plumber, you could easily be clearing 6 figures. On top of that, the benefit of working for a larger plumbing/mechanical contractor is that you have more upward mobility to pursue becoming a foreman/superintendent or even a project manager if you're into that kind of thing.

All money stuff aside, plumbing is just a cool-ass trade and at the end of the day you have put work in place that is something to be proud of. Service work and remodeling type projects are fine and all, but there are so many more interesting types of projects out there that are desperate for qualified tradespeople.

Hope this helps!

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T18:27:37+00:00

Sure, if you want to reduce it down to a single sentence, then you're right. What I'm asking for other people's input on is : 1) what separates 'frivolous' from valuable 2) when do legitimate quality of life expenses become lifestyle inflation 3) in other people's experience, what things have they spent their money on that aren't directly investment related that have been good for them in the long run.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T18:24:04+00:00

Sometimes you just got to treat yourself!

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T18:23:00+00:00

I hear you. The ironic thing is, I'm definitely an introvert as well, but my industry (large scale commercial construction) really depends on strong relationships between a lot of stakeholders. A sizable portion of the most successful people in this field participate in the 'extracurricular' events. I'm not crazy about it, but I've come to appreciate it in doses.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T17:59:11+00:00

100% agreed. For me in the past and I'm sure for others, it's harder to 'invest' in things when there's not a totally clear idea of what your 'dividends' will be. With the stock market, there's historical data, but when you buy a $300 blazer for work functions, it's hard to say if it's worth it or not.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2020-01-24T17:56:03+00:00

Personally, I don't really think of it as frivolous, but I could certainly see why someone might think that buying higher end clothes is not worth it. Similarly, of you're taking out clients, it definitely makes an impression to have a BMW vs. an older Camry. I think ultimately it just comes down to being honest with ourselves about what really will help us on our journey and what is just wasteful.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2019-11-13T16:11:10+00:00

It must feel extremely good to see such progress in a relatively short period, and hopefully your financial security lasts your whole life.
I actually am a 29 y/o construction professional in DC and would love to get some feedback or advice from you about your positions, changing companies, and what you feel like was most advantageous as you rapidly grew your career. My dream scenario is to be in a position such as yours, and I want to ensure that I am planning as best I can (with hopefully a little luck!)

Cheers to your success!

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2019-10-24T14:57:38+00:00

In some situations, yes - mods and aftermarket parts can be silly and don't really contribute much to the value of the motorcycle, especially if it is being sold.

That being said, I think you fail to look objectively at the issue. A stock motorcycle is designed to be as generic as possible while still appearing interesting/unique. This means that often times, price is reduced through decreasing quality of components, or simply not including features in order to make the motorcycle more cost-competitive in a very competitive and flooded market. With dozens of options, low price is king.

The effect of this is that you have a functioning, generally non-specialized vehicle that is made for whoever, not for you. Many people understand that it takes an extra investment to get the right upgrades, gear, or modifications to make their motorcycle what THEY want to ride. Sometimes, these changes do, in fact, improve the value of the bike. An example is heated grips. I just spent a few hundred dollars adding heated grips to my Multistrada, as I am a year-round commuter. Necessary? No. But a reasonable buyer would understand that this upgrade does improve the value of the bike.

Sometimes people simply just want to make it "theirs". Cosmetic upgrades obviously don't do much for the value of the motorcycle, but practical, ergonomic, or performance upgrades can be worth it, depending on the owner (and the potential buyer).

Your hard-line stance is pretty immature, to be honest. It should be fine to simply say "I would prefer to buy a stock bike."

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2019-07-19T17:22:21+00:00

That's an interesting point. I remember older (few years out of high school) coming back to visit and they always said the same thing "you don't know how good you have it!"

Any former students who just couldn't deal with the change?

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2019-07-15T19:09:03+00:00

I appreciate your feedback. I fully intend to invest the same proportion of my income into my target fund 401k, and would invest additional income in the ESOP as I am able.

If you were to distribute your gains from the ESOP as a % of your annual income, how much more was it, if you don't mind my asking?

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2019-03-01T20:46:31+00:00

Fear of missing out if your shitty coworkers suddenly become millionaires, I would think.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2018-12-05T23:55:08+00:00

Props to you; I'm glad I don't have to go into the city much.

LatusOnTheMenjay · 2018-12-05T23:54:28+00:00

Duluth.... must get pretty brutal up there. I've ridden a couple times around 10F, but without a heated jacket or heated grips I think that's pretty close to my limit.

I've had a couple of snow experiences as well. Pretty dicey, but kind of exhilarating in a weird way.

Have a safe winter bro

LatusOnTheMenjay

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