[Moose]

Originally Posted by kevenj

Am I living beyond my means? Lets see....

I make $31,000 a year (probably a small fracton of your income and most other on this forum) and yet:
-I own my own home valued at about $160,000 (2 years ago it would have brought $200K plus) and my mortgage balance is $46,000
-my cars are my cars, not the bank's. I'm 44 years old and never had anything close to a 'new' car until the 300C.
-I have absolutely no debt (except my mortgage).
-I have well in excess of your "6 months" living expenses in cash in the bank, plus 2 brokerage accounts (one is an IRA).

I'll admit I've had some very good luck in the past and have made some money in the stock market (due to my dad's financial wisdom that I at least had sense enough to listen to) but I think it's fair to say that I do manage my money extremely well; I am not living beyond my means and yes, gas prices are really starting to hurt me. So far it's just annoying that I worked hard and was able to buy a really nice car and truck that I can no longer afford to drive regularly. But the ripple effect of higher prices for fuel is just beginning to be noticed. The price of fuel effects farmer's costs, and then there's the obvious cost to truckers, who deliver virtually everything we consume. EVERYTHING is going to skyrocket, and it's going to affect all of us, not just the stupid people who do truly live beyond their means.

I guess in a not-so-funny way your are right though; but it's not that my living standard has increased; rather it is my "means" that have decreased, due to our ever more worthless dollar (which is the real root of the problem and the reason, along with the debacle in Iraq, for the price of oil today).

Hey, KevenJ - I read your posts and always agree with them. It doesn't surprise me to read what you've done with what you are against. Great job!!