363.3: status quo
So, with Japan approaching at the rapid speed of... time... passing... I finally got a response from my folks about advice or what have you, and my father thinks I should just save my money for retirement, though he recognizes that it's my decision in the matter.
Okay, I'll admit I haven't managed to save MUCH in the time I've been employed, but I did stay debt-free in that time, and my savings in the Roth IRA account he's been managing for me as well as my pension/401K through work and my own savings account haven't been touched [in terms of withdrawals] in ever, so I think I'm doing alright. After all, retirement's a good while away, and I've learned from all the letters to Dear Abby about parents who spend so much time at work that their kids grow up before they can turn around and now that they have all this money saved up, the kids are gone...
It's a balance, really. I can't, for instance, work three out of four weeks in every month to fund going to an out-of-state convention EVERY MONTH like some people are prone to doing 9_9 but... we're going to go to Japan ONCE... maybe a few more times approaching or into retirement, but during our prime working years ONCE. This is, honestly, the best time to enjoy it... not when we retire, not when we're bogged down with rugrats or pets or other obligations. It won't kill us to do it now, when we're still 'strapping' and healthy :p
Mind you, he and my mother currently have "the prodigal* son" under their roof again, so they have a bit of a narrower viewpoint in the matter and haven't been monitoring my own earnings and spendings.
*in this case EXTREMELY spendthrift brother of mine
SO
MONKEYS
Charleses suggested seeing the Ash-type to bequeath present things, but he is busy tonight :( but maybe Sunday...
Okay, I'll admit I haven't managed to save MUCH in the time I've been employed, but I did stay debt-free in that time, and my savings in the Roth IRA account he's been managing for me as well as my pension/401K through work and my own savings account haven't been touched [in terms of withdrawals] in ever, so I think I'm doing alright. After all, retirement's a good while away, and I've learned from all the letters to Dear Abby about parents who spend so much time at work that their kids grow up before they can turn around and now that they have all this money saved up, the kids are gone...
It's a balance, really. I can't, for instance, work three out of four weeks in every month to fund going to an out-of-state convention EVERY MONTH like some people are prone to doing 9_9 but... we're going to go to Japan ONCE... maybe a few more times approaching or into retirement, but during our prime working years ONCE. This is, honestly, the best time to enjoy it... not when we retire, not when we're bogged down with rugrats or pets or other obligations. It won't kill us to do it now, when we're still 'strapping' and healthy :p
Mind you, he and my mother currently have "the prodigal* son" under their roof again, so they have a bit of a narrower viewpoint in the matter and haven't been monitoring my own earnings and spendings.
*in this case EXTREMELY spendthrift brother of mine
SO
MONKEYS
Charleses suggested seeing the Ash-type to bequeath present things, but he is busy tonight :( but maybe Sunday...