[equid0x]

Originally Posted by RationalExpectations

Very true, but only inside Barnes & Noble. In the Fiction aisle.

If nothing else, I bet it would make for an excellent novel.

[equid0x]

Originally Posted by vegasfan1985

I'm in mid 30s, no college debt, own my home, health insurance, have savings, 800 credit score and no major household debt. If people want to get ahead, they can, but you have to be willing to sacrifice. Lot of people don't want to.

Gambling is a horrible thing to try and get ahead. You're better off investing in something.

Recognize though, that not everyone is in the same boat as you. Yes, sounds like you've made it, and congratulations, but there are plenty out there who haven't and through no fault of their own.

I've seen plenty suggest that "sacrifice" includes things like ... living in your car... getting a Planet Fitness membership so you can take a shower... eat at the local church's spaghetti supper....

Come on now. People should not have to live like this to "get ahead." Certainly, 30 years ago, in this country, we wouldn't even have imagined it.

Is living frugally part of the equation? You bet. The rich don't get rich by spending money. That doesn't mean you should live like you're homeless.

I'm not suggesting that gambling is a viable strategy, but I can see why the desperate would turn to that after years and years of feeling like they're losing.

I gamble, but I don't gamble for money. I gamble for entertainment. I walk in with a set budget to blow and when its gone, I leave. There are a lot of people out there that don't have this kind of self control, though.

[vegasfan1985]

Originally Posted by equid0x

Recognize though, that not everyone is in the same boat as you. Yes, sounds like you've made it, and congratulations, but there are plenty out there who haven't and through no fault of their own.

I've seen plenty suggest that "sacrifice" includes things like ... living in your car... getting a Planet Fitness membership so you can take a shower... eat at the local church's spaghetti supper....

Come on now. People should not have to live like this to "get ahead." Certainly, 30 years ago, in this country, we wouldn't even have imagined it.

Is living frugally part of the equation? You bet. The rich don't get rich by spending money. That doesn't mean you should live like you're homeless.

I'm not suggesting that gambling is a viable strategy, but I can see why the desperate would turn to that after years and years of feeling like they're losing.

I gamble, but I don't gamble for money. I gamble for entertainment. I walk in with a set budget to blow and when its gone, I leave. There are a lot of people out there that don't have this kind of self control, though.

People live with 3 or 4 other people to get ahead in major cities. It doesn't require living in your car or you could rent a room from somebody.

If you know you're going to lose money, even if it's entertainment, why bother? I had a few hundred bucks to my name in 2013 and was living with family and had $5000 in debt. Most of it was my choosing. I finally grew up, got it together, paid all the debt and saved over $20,000 after tax contributions. Moved here a few years back, bought my home last year and rest is history. I make around $20 an hour. I haven't made it. I just have discipline. Always striving for more.

[equid0x]

Originally Posted by EA

Which part are you having trouble understanding?

Your post doesn't make any sense.

[equid0x]

Originally Posted by vegasfan1985

People live with 3 or 4 other people to get ahead in major cities. It doesn't require living in your car or you could rent a room from somebody.

If you know you're going to lose money, even if it's entertainment, why bother? I had a few hundred bucks to my name in 2013 and was living with family and had $5000 in debt. Most of it was my choosing. I finally grew up, got it together, paid all the debt and saved over $20,000 after tax contributions. Moved here a few years back, bought my home last year and rest is history. I make around $20 an hour. I haven't made it. I just have discipline. Always striving for more.

Losers in major cities live with 3 or 4 roommates. I have lived in major cities my entire life and aside from my college years I never lived with anyone else after about 25.

What's wrong with gambling for entertainment? Surely, you spend all kinds of other funds frivolously and purely for entertainment. What makes moderate gambling any different?

You choose to go get a dinner and a movie... I choose to hit the craps tables. You can knock it if you like but at least I have the chance of leaving the venue with more money than I came in with. Name me the restaurant or theatre that pays you to attend. You won't find one.

[airics]

Dinner and a movie costs 50 bucks or so for a person...your hitting the craps table with more than 50 bucks

[WisconsinVegasHeights]

Originally Posted by equid0x

Recognize though, that not everyone is in the same boat as you. Yes, sounds like you've made it, and congratulations, but there are plenty out there who haven't and through no fault of their own.

I've seen plenty suggest that "sacrifice" includes things like ... living in your car... getting a Planet Fitness membership so you can take a shower... eat at the local church's spaghetti supper....

Come on now. People should not have to live like this to "get ahead." Certainly, 30 years ago, in this country, we wouldn't even have imagined it.

Is living frugally part of the equation? You bet. The rich don't get rich by spending money. That doesn't mean you should live like you're homeless.

I'm not suggesting that gambling is a viable strategy, but I can see why the desperate would turn to that after years and years of feeling like they're losing.

I gamble, but I don't gamble for money. I gamble for entertainment. I walk in with a set budget to blow and when its gone, I leave. There are a lot of people out there that don't have this kind of self control, though.

I started going to the casino on a restricted budget also after I started losing. I use the free play plus another twenty dollars and use the food comps. I leave the debit card at home.

[WisconsinVegasHeights]

Originally Posted by equid0x

More than 80% of the country is living paycheck-to-paycheck. Salaries have not kept up with inflation for at least 30 years.

Nobody has any money left. The risk-takers gamble because what else can they do to get ahead? There is no getting ahead. The risk-takers just get knocked out faster unless they get lucky.

Wow, is it really eighty percent? I quit living paycheck to paycheck almost a year ago. Life is too unpredictable.

[WisconsinVegasHeights]

Originally Posted by vegasfan1985

People live with 3 or 4 other people to get ahead in major cities. It doesn't require living in your car or you could rent a room from somebody.

If you know you're going to lose money, even if it's entertainment, why bother? I had a few hundred bucks to my name in 2013 and was living with family and had $5000 in debt. Most of it was my choosing. I finally grew up, got it together, paid all the debt and saved over $20,000 after tax contributions. Moved here a few years back, bought my home last year and rest is history. I make around $20 an hour. I haven't made it. I just have discipline. Always striving for more.

How do you afford that strip view apartment that you previously talked about on 20.00 an hour? I made 21.00 per hour in 2003 and my rent was over 800.00 living in the D.C suburbs. It was not sustainable. Part of the reason was the commute I'll admit.

[EA]

Originally Posted by equid0x

Your post doesn't make any sense.

I'm not responsible for what you can't understand.