DISQUS

Ok, I know this is slightly off topic but is that a potty in the photo? We have the exact same one except ours is white.

Anyway - I know lots of people who have lived with parents or wherever while in between houses - it totally sucks (especially for long periods of time) but eventually it will be part of history.

TML - you are comparing apples and oranges. I'm not surprised that people who use credit cards spend more but I'm not so sure about the reasons.

Is it possible that some of the people who pay cash can't get credit or are maxed out? Is it not also possible that people who use cards a lot are in a completely different demographic than people who use cash and that explains the difference?

And as for the apples and oranges comment - where does the rewards fit into your statement? Do people who use rewards cards spend more than those who use cards without rewards (assuming all other variables are equal).

As far as pimping goes - I agree with Steve - Adsense is the worst thing going for shitty ads - check out the ads on some of your stimulus posts and you'll see what I mean. Of course everyone excuses themselves since bloggers "don't have any control over what shows up on Adsense". But, if I sell sell one little payday loan ad in my footer then I guess I'm a pimp (or whatever).

Kevin, the problem with some people (and apparently you are one of them) is that they refuse to take responsibility for their own shortcomings. Some people can't handle credit and credit cards and instead of admitting that it's their own fault - they blame someone else. The credit card companies, evil bloggers like Steve - it's all their fault.

Not sure if your example really fit the post (which was good). The idea of not moving just because they have to rent is pretty lame - methinks they don't really want to go.

I just can't get over the health care costs in the US. I think it was our friend Plonkee (among others) that said it was ironic that the country that represents capitalism also very much discourages it because of poor health care coverage.

Interesting post - your tax burden sounds quite familiar. :)

It seems a lot of Americans think Canada is relatively "socialist" but maybe the main difference is that American taxes are spread out more (ie pay health care separately) whereas Canucks pay more up front in income taxes?

I tend to analyze way too much as well...I have gotten better about making decisions though. For most decisions it really doesn't matter which choice you make (ie garden hose) as long as you don't make a really horrible choice.

It usually doesn't take much analysis to avoid a really bad choice.

I don't think it's giving up. Giving up is when you try to succeed in a career path and you don't and end up doing something else - which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Changing careers....is just changing careers.

Thanks for saying this. I wouldn't say I "love" my desk job but I do like it quite a bit. The reality is that it is a far better way to make a good salary than anything else I know.

I think the cash accounting is a reasonable method for blogs. Even if you did spread out the "one time payments" over the proper time period - things like Adsense etc vary so much.

I do cash accounting and look at 3 (or more) month segments to look for trends.

50% is quite a drop.

If you haven't already done so then you should read Four Pillars of Investing - Bernstein will make you feel happy that your portfolio dropped 50% and wishing it had dropped more. :)

With your investment time horizon (in terms of how long you will live - not just when you will retire) this drop is quite possibly the best thing that could have happened.

1) This reminds me of a quote someone told me "If you want something done - give it to a busy person". :)

2) I read a post by Leo Babauta on ProBlogger yesterday (link below) which talks about time management. He had some great suggestions which I was able to do last night and tonight - basically it was to limit your time working on something. The idea is that it will force you to not do the unimportant stuff (ie checking stats).

Here is the link for anyone who wants to check it out - it's more related to blogging but the principle applies to anyone - http://tinyurl.com/85ve7f

Mike

I have a proper comment to make but first - my son is almost 2.5 and isn't toilet trained at all. Admittedly we haven't tried very hard but we will soon.

Part of the problem is all the horror stories I hear about how hard it is... :)

I think what you did was wrong - but having said that, I`ve been in many similar situations and although I like to think of myself as morally correct (as you do) - the reality is that my behaviour in those similar situations was almost random. Sometimes I tell the waiter, sometimes I don`t, sometimes I felt bad about it, sometimes I felt good.

It seems that we make sometimes make split-second decisions which are dependent on a lot of factors. How much alcohol, did you like the waiter, was the food good - was it a fun evening, did the Jets win their last game?...that sort of thing :)

Now is the time to buy equities (if you don't need the money soon). As for the US going down the toilet - diversify!

Thanks for the mention.

Good point that desparate employees are probably more willing to jump ship.

cool internet geeks Isn't that an oxymoron? :) Or perhaps - stating the obvious?

I would love to be the elite - intellectually, financially etc - I think the mark of every ambitious person is that they want to be better than everyone else.

As for voting tests - I know it's almost a cliche, but how but minimum standards to be a parent?? Hmmmm?? :)

Any time!! :)

I've always liked kids and wanted some of my own. It didn't happen until a bit later in life - I think I was 37 when my son was born. Money wasn't a consideration since we have enough to raise a couple of kids fairly easily - especially with our generous relatives.

I agree with some of the other comments that the time (opportunity cost) is the big one. Get any travelling out of the way before you have kids!

Mike

Oh - and I love the logo - just noticed it. :)

Neat post - I definitely agree with #16 - I keep telling my wife that the only way either of can get anything done is if the other person takes the kids for a couple of hours - preferably out of the house.

Mike

Man, you said it would be bad - but that Onion article was just horrible. I haven't really been reading them lately but I don't think I'll go back either.

Sorry to hear about the 'let go'. Even if it is a good/great thing it's usually better to do it of your own accord.

Bring on the problogger!!!

Mike

I have the same problem - I always think 'what if I had xx - would I then be happy?' - but then when I get those things, I just keep thinking about new things/situations that might make me happy.. :)

I have to agree with you on this one. Especially about the kids! Even if there was a 'perfect time' for the second, there are too many other factors which can delay things.