On a road trip to Minnesota with my father a few years back, he wanted to buy all the gas and pay for the lodging. I told him that it would be better if I picked up the tab on lodging and most of the gas, as he provided the vehicle to use, and I let him cover the gas in the less expensive states. I think it is ingrained in parents to always believe that they have to take care of the kids, no matter how old they think they are. He was on minimum SSI at the time, and I was definitely making about 4 times what he was bringing in a year. We hammered out the expenses, without crushing his finances and it barely dented mine.
You are right about parents being ingrained to take care of their “children”. My daughter is 27, married with a high paying job at Google and her husband has a nice job too but I always buy dinner, pay for vacations and still pay my daughters cell phone. I paid for all their college degrees, cars, wedding, honeymoon and down payment on their house but I really need to stop but it will be very awkward to do so. My daughter does try and turn down money when I try and give it to her but I can’t seem to stop myself.
All this information is so very true. I always learn something from Mr. Schmidt. 👍 A person has three choices: 1. Make enough money to pay for everything you need or want. 2. Learn how to do things yourself/become resourceful. 3. Do without what you can't afford or need/want.
I'm 8-10 years from retirement, but I appreciate all of your great information! I make it a habit to listen to you regularly to become familiar with all of the details of that expected change of life. Thank you for your wisdom and clarity!
Great video Geoff. It will be interesting in the next year when people trade their big gas guzzling SUV's for a compact car or EV. Depreciation is always the biggest expense for a vehicle, which people ignore. Best advice is to drive that car for 10 or 12 years.
Very correct. I’m retired and an original owner of a 17 yr old sedan with 100+ on the clock. It starts, it brakes, and is was paid for a long time ago.
Very true John. However, I would add, buy used and drive for a long time. I bought a used 5 year old truck in 2004. I still have that truck in 2022. It runs great and there is no reason to replace it because of what the neighbors think. In 2009 I bought a 3 year old SUV. I still have that SUV in 2022 with 400,000 miles on it. It looks and runs great and there is no reason to replace it. It makes a great spare vehicle if another vehicle has to go in for repair. My neighbors like to borrow it when their newer cars need repair. In 2020 I bought my newest vehicle. A Toyota Rav4 that just came in off a 3 year low mile lease return. That's the best car I've ever owned and it's my trusted long distance travel vehicle. Buy used and keep driving them. I'm at my limit on cars so if I get a great deal on a used Toyota truck in the future then I'll sell my 23 year old truck.
Trade a perfectly good SUV that holds furniture, pulls my boat, carries my kayak, takes extra wood from construction to the dump…. For an EV? An expensive, non-useful car? Are you kidding? I bought my used 2017 Volvo XC-90 T-6 to tow my boat. The only thing I’d change is the color… every parking lot is filled with black SUV’s!
The key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them. An important key to investing is to remember that stocks are not lottery tickets. get a financial assistant
Excellent video- thank you so much for putting all the info out that you do.....I was clueless before I started watching you. Very glad I found you before I hit retirement! Makes me less apprehensive
Dear Mr Schmidt I have learned so much from your videos . Thank you for being the financial voice of reason . Your calm and rationale demeanor is also appreciated .
Wow! You have just quantified years of great, successful financial decision-making in a short video! This is the formula to live by for sure, you just have to 'want to' & just do it, for it to work.
Great points! I think I grew up in an "effective" spending household. My parents were born just after the Great Depression and when they purchased something on a good buy they would buy multiple of the item because 'I saved money and I'll have it when I need it'. That's the mentality I have as well although maybe not to that extent; I do like to buy more of certain items if they are going to get used in a reasonable amount of time. I do go to a warehouse club and buy 6 containers of coffee at a time IF they are cheap enough, saving $2 a tub is like winning the lottery! 🤣 I had a friend years ago that was trying to convince a few of us to buy into a "warehouse club" scheme where the entrance fee was like $200 to join. When I said I couldn't grasp the idea of how I would save that much money in a year at a warehouse club he told me the idea was to get other's to buy into it ... pyramid scheme! No thanks!!
Seriously- this is one of the best channels I've come across for retirement information and really just managing your finances in general as you can apply lots of this knowledge PRE RETIREMENT so that you have more to save / invest or maybe maximize your spending power.
I have had luck negotiating the price of demo, floor models, open box, and ding and dent merchandise. It usually works when an item has sat around for a long time in the store. I just make a mental note; " hey, that storage cabinet with the dent has been there for months". Then I approach the sales counter and ask about it; noting the damage. Sometimes they will not deal. Othertimes they knock 10, 20, or 30% off.
I bought a floor sample patio set at Sam’s for $400 (75% off). Another customer bought the last one in a box so I asked about the floor display and got it!
Great Stuff - thanks!! My problem as a 59 year old with no debt and a decent job is I like the freedom to spend on things that I was never able to during the frugal years. I fully realize it's financially crazy to buy a new car with all the bells and whistles and yet I do it because I feel like I'm finally able to do it without any worry! I know when I retire in a decade or so I will have to shift to efficient spending as you say - I hope I don't have trouble shifting gears!
IF you're planning to keep a car for the long term (150,000+ miles, basically keeping it "until the wheels fall off") it makes sense to buy it new (buy the cheapest 'trim' package you need) and do the maintenance to keep it running. I calculated it out a few decades ago and it can be cheaper than buying a used car every few years. I've only had three new cars in my lifetime (65 y.o.) and I might buy one more in my lifetime.
@@crosslink1493 I did this, sort of. Purchased 1 y/o 95 F150 w/ 34k miles. Have taken care of it well, only in the last 2 years starting to have to do repairs (still less than new truck) mostly 'rubber' (ie seals & bushings) & gas tanks. 265k miles - still looks pretty new inside, great a/c & mechanic loves the OBS and ease of working on it. 😍
Thank you for all the good advice! I've watched many of your videos and always take away a gem of an idea! I'm close to retiring and navigating the current times w/ inflation and CPI moving up it's good to hear advice I can trust...thank you again!!
It’s getting so bad here in AZ. A friends husband is on oxygen but wasn’t using it much. I asked why. She said APS keeps emailing her that she’s over by 1000 kilowatts, and it’s not even summer. These were hard working people now sick on a budget. How did we get here I ask?
I’ve owned a German and Asian car repair shop for 40 years and I will almost always give a discount on a large job…IF YOU ASK. Especially a loyal customer, they will always get something. But it takes a nice friendly sad face request.
I have a German car and most significant repairs will be discounted 15-30% IF you ask and suggest that you will only do a portion of the repairs otherwise.
@@bones2620 Depending on the job the profit margin is very high on most jobs. We build in some room to maneuver and if the customer is loyal we sometimes like to reward them without them asking. I like to believe our success comes from putting the customer first, always. If that means eating a small repair like new wiper blades on us, it’s well worth it. The bottom line is find a shop that really values you, and they might actually be cheaper than the “cheaper place” in the long haul.
@@mikefortney7879 I know the margins are high when changing 6 plugs is almost $1,000. This is the dealer I bought the vehicle from (new) and they are the only ones that have serviced it (exactly as recommended) since new. We’ve had a few arguments to the point I will not let them bid on the next one. Pity, really.
Mmm ... cantaloupe. Despite being wealthy enough to not have to worry about looking for deals, I tend to price shop with an intent to reward those retailers that are making the effort to keep prices down. I live about 15 minutes from any of the 3 nearest towns so I have several options for groceries, gas stations, department stores, hardware stores. Thanks for the video.
I’m hearing now, I’m not making it. Pensions and social security have not caught up with all the expense. Phoenix, AZ. Has now turned into California. People are saying they can’t afford to live here. A two bedroom independent housing community is now paying $3,800.00 a month. Ouch
There isn't much negotiation in car purchases now because of the supply issues. My son sells cars; people have to order the car and virtually everyone is payijng MSRP. At least in Illinois (where I live and my son sells cars), if you say I'm going to get the best price or hang up (paraphrase) the sales person will wish you well. There really aren't cars on the lot waiting to be sold.
I use a budget plan for my electricity. Based on my past year's usage I get a monthly payment that stays the same and in the fall I either have to pay up to settle my account or I get a credit. This is also available for my natural gas usage.
I used a different kind of plan for heating gas,a supplier offered to guarantee a price for the physical gas good for a couple years,at the time gas was cheap so I signed up,now the supply cost if buying gas from the local utility has about doubled compared to what I am paying (for the actual gas used) the bill also includes transmission charges and "maintenance" charges charged by the utility the various brands of gas all get mixed up in the pipes,the gas I pay for is a tiny percentage of the actual gas that I burn
Good video. One efficient method of spending is using float on credit cards, while paying off every month. Ones with cash back i.e. Discover card help also.
Thanks for the comment Jeff. The other creat card trick is to use a card that gives great “points” my favorite is the Capital One Savor One card. The non-fee one gives 3 percent cash back on grocery and restaurant purchases. Of course paying it off is super important because no points/cash will make up for a few months of credit card interest.
You are so sensible. Your calm demeanor and authoritative but inviting tone helps me feel less adrift in my retirement. Thank-you for your careful presentation and matter-of-fact attitude. You are appreciated. :-)
1. One rarely saves by spending. So, being disciplined at the grocery store can save a lot. Planning the weekly menu and only buying to support that menu is a big saver. Plan your menu around the weekly sales at your local price-chopper. Cut down on alcohol consumption. Finally, eating smaller portions will take off a few pounds without endangering your health. (Remember: La vie est dure, sans confiture. So buy those donuts on sale.) 2. Having a ROTH IRA can be a valuable tool for retirees. Especially for bond funds. Since your yearly interest will rarely exceed the principal amount you've converted, any interest disbursed to your checking account will be immediately tax-free even in the year of the conversion. You pay taxes on the conversion only once. With bond prices down, this is an excellent year to convert a bond or bond-fund to a ROTH. Try to get started before you begin receiving Social Security. (I won't mention that the ROTH is an excellent place within which to buy and sell options! Just don't be a pig.) 3. For a large, planned expense, like a trip, obtain a credit card with 0% APR and 12-18 months to pay. You can make the minimum payment monthly while putting the balance required into a US T Bill (in your ROTH!) 4. Best wishes and good luck!
Thank you very much. When I first bought my house, about 25 years ago, it was January, in Wisconsin. One of the people in the negations said he would pay my utility bill if it were over a few hundred dollars, because I was talking about how drafty the house was. Anyway, the bill was actually $900, which freaked me out, but, I called him, and after some complaining on his part, and my telling him I would tell everyone he was a liar, he did pay it! But, I got on the budget plan, which gives a bill that is an average over 6 months and recalculates every 6 months. Although at times I am paying more than the actual bill, I am also paying less many months, such as the winter, and I would not have been able to stay in the house if I didn't have this. I also have done a lot of insulating and caulking, myself, and that has all paid off too. I love your videos, thank you!
I heard that in my county, you can request less taxes on your property bill in retirement due to no children in schools. I plan to contact the county this year as I turn 62 this year.
I get great deals on cars. I first decide exactly which car and which features I want. Then I pay the 30 bucks to consumer reports to give me their suggested pricing sheet for that car with those features. My last purchase was a Jeep. Two car dealerships laughed at me and told me I’d never get that price, and tried to sell me the same car for 4k more. At the third dealership, the salesman looked at the sheet, said I’d made it easy since I had already worked out exactly what I wanted, and sold me the car for $100 LESS than the recommended price. So basically, I spent $30 to save 4k (more if you count the interest). The best part was getting a snarky phone call from the first dealership asking if I was ready to admit how unreasonable my expectations were, and was I ready to buy the car from him. I think having the CR sheet made it much easier.
My 12 year-old microwave worked most of the time and only sometimes acted out in the cold morning when I needed to heat my breakfast. I thought it was a good idea to get a new one with 50 percent discount. I have two microwaves now and am waiting for the old to expire. Is it an effective or efficient purchase? Or neither?
Home insurrance can greatly differ from one insurrer to another, sometimes for several hundreds of dollars a year. Shop around and know that you can break your contract for no fee or sometimes for a very small penalty fee.
yes inflation is up 8 percent they say but something doesnt pass the smell test....2 months ago an item i bought was 8 dollars....that same food item now cost 12(SHOP RITE/didnt buy it.....Im not kidding...not to mention gas...cars...rentals...etc....i believe these businesses are really gouging consumers...maybe you can do a video on the disconnect between stated inflation and real inflation and the shenanigans the govt and businesses are getting away with..it's borderline criminal!!!..and how to fight back...
The government inflation number comes from known formula. Not based on your personal formula which is what counts. It's not criminal it's the fact that the government can't do everybody's personal inflation numbers because of the sheer amount of volume. So it has a set basic formala and this obviously doesn't match nobody's. It's not criminal it's all they can reasonably do . Don't really think there's a way to match everybody's situation exactly when everybody's situation is different, do you?
I love you rule of three but in the real world it would be impossible to get three quotes for three exact car specs, especially if you are asking to buy a used car from the lot, each dealer will have a model that does not match . There. Really is no way around this then.
I love picking up the tab for my millennial age children. Taught them from a young age to spend effectively. I know extra money in their pockets will compound for many decades.
My daughter can save a dime to last a week i can't save a dollar to last a day. She has become my financial babysitter I'm retiring in 3 years because of a catastrophic vehicle accident I had 3 years ago I gave her power of attorney best decision I have ever made
Thank you again for valuable information I have always used budget plan for utilities yes at end of the yr you might have a balance. But it's so much easier to budget monthly!
You ought to describe the difference between Life Expectancy (Males 78 , Females 81) and HEALTHY life expectancy . You can deduct 10 and 11 years off those numbers . The odds of a cancer diagnosis is 50% and the median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66. Therefore people should be focused much more on a healthy living program well before retirement rather than chasing millions into a pension pot that they will never use , if they are dribbling in a wheelchair with a drip. If you retire at 67 don’t think you will need funds until you are 85+ because you probably won’t make it. Sadly . I’d budget for 10 on a IRA and social from 75 because very few older people go hiking up the mountains of the Himalayas at that age and need funds to survive .
At age 74, I love a good sale and do the effective method you discussed. It is hard to break the habit. Now I have a garage full of things i will never use. You efficient model is a plan I have to change into. Thanks!
Self-generation of electricity/heat is a real option these days. You may need to learn to adjust your usage, but it may save you thousands in the long run.
Thanks for the video. I bought solar panels and took advantage of the 30 percent tax deduction. I shopped 3 companies. Now my annual electric bill is down significantly...for decades. Yea!
All great points that I've been doing for decades...I keep finding ways to NOT spend a penny. The latest is my "new" spice rub shaker. I examined exactly what I needed and rather than a $15 large stainless steel one I realized that I only use a few tablespoons at a time so I checked out my spices and found that the cinnamon bottle had the perfect sized shaker holes so I poured what was left into the new bottle, filled it with hot water to soften the glue on the label to easily peel off and then washed it out. It's perfect for my needs and I'm really looking forward to using it again on the Sunday dinner beef roast I'm making tomorrow. Despite food inflation we're still seeing the same sale prices on the basics such as the beef roast for $3.99/lb and a 5lb bag of potatoes for $2.49. I'm also looking forward to the 99 cents/lb bone-in half hams in a few weeks for Easter. Even projects like reorganizing a lifetime collection of tools...rather than shopping around and drooling over large steel wheeled tool bins for $300+ or plastic ones for $100 each you can think about things a little more and realize that you're getting older and lifting 150+lbs of those large tool bins in and out of your truck isn't going to be as easy as it used to be (it's not going to get easier as you age either) and maybe you're better off using smaller, lighter individual tool boxes and the cases that many of your tools came in. Even better when you think about how you've already got several toolboxes on hand including the 3 last unused Plano boxes you got for $1.99 each several years ago when they were being closed out. What you were planning on spending a few hundred on now doesn't cost a penny and you've come up with a solution that better suits your needs going forward while everything is protected, organized, easily found, transported and deployed. Needless to say, it's pretty hard to "fail" at retirement when you've got this kind of mindset as you just keep building your wealth by leaps and bounds year after year.
Me an the wife try to be as efficient as we can with all purchase's, we always do our homework before any major purchase. An we only use 0 % Credit cards an pay them off pronto, an if possible we try an pay cash for just about everything that we buy. There was a study done yrs ago where when purchasing items with your hard earned dollars it meant more to you as you watched your wealth slip thru your fingers. I've never said this before to you, but yrs ago, I read a book about money that was written in 1972 about how wealth is controlled by the uber rich, or the 1 % er's, its called " REGULATING THE POOR", cant remember the author, an the last copy I got came from the used book market on amazon or E-bay from england, full of stats, charts, graphs an financial history. A really good read, but very dry reading, best taken in small dose's. Hope this helps an thanks for the vid.
Have to have a ton of cash to live off anything..... My normal cost per year is approximately $20K so no that is like 500K paying 5%. What percentage have 500K cash?
Like your 24 hour concept. I might add-stay off the net. That tablet is marketing you 100% of the time-and is good at it. E.g. adds on Facebook. Lastly - budget budget budget. (Especially misc.) I have been retired for 2 plus years now-it works. Even when you don’t make your budget you are way ahead of someone who does not budget. Stay safe!
My Dad had a great expression about buying things you don’t need when on sale by saying; “I can’t afford to save that much.”
I’m going to use this👆
GOLDEN!
Fantastic saying
50% off sale? My brother, Dick, told the clerk, “I am going to save 100%. Because I am not going to buy it at all.”
Great one!!! 😂😅
On a road trip to Minnesota with my father a few years back, he wanted to buy all the gas and pay for the lodging. I told him that it would be better if I picked up the tab on lodging and most of the gas, as he provided the vehicle to use, and I let him cover the gas in the less expensive states. I think it is ingrained in parents to always believe that they have to take care of the kids, no matter how old they think they are. He was on minimum SSI at the time, and I was definitely making about 4 times what he was bringing in a year. We hammered out the expenses, without crushing his finances and it barely dented mine.
Good for you Richard!
Nice Richard!
You are right about parents being ingrained to take care of their “children”. My daughter is 27, married with a high paying job at Google and her husband has a nice job too but I always buy dinner, pay for vacations and still pay my daughters cell phone. I paid for all their college degrees, cars, wedding, honeymoon and down payment on their house but I really need to stop but it will be very awkward to do so. My daughter does try and turn down money when I try and give it to her but I can’t seem to stop myself.
@@sheneedsme cut the cord! We went thru the same thing until my DH pointed out they felt uneasy. Now when I hear of their accomplishments I beam!
.... and kept his dignity fully intact- something important as one gets older ....
All this information is so very true. I always learn something from Mr. Schmidt. 👍
A person has three choices: 1. Make enough money to pay for everything you need or want. 2. Learn how to do things yourself/become resourceful.
3. Do without what you can't afford or need/want.
I'm 8-10 years from retirement, but I appreciate all of your great information! I make it a habit to listen to you regularly to become familiar with all of the details of that expected change of life. Thank you for your wisdom and clarity!
Great video Geoff. It will be interesting in the next year when people trade their big gas guzzling SUV's for a compact car or EV. Depreciation is always the biggest expense for a vehicle, which people ignore. Best advice is to drive that car for 10 or 12 years.
Very correct. I’m retired and an original owner of a 17 yr old sedan with 100+ on the clock. It starts, it brakes, and is was paid for a long time ago.
Very true John.
However, I would add, buy used and drive for a long time.
I bought a used 5 year old truck in 2004. I still have that truck in 2022. It runs great and there is no reason to replace it because of what the neighbors think.
In 2009 I bought a 3 year old SUV. I still have that SUV in 2022 with 400,000 miles on it. It looks and runs great and there is no reason to replace it. It makes a great spare vehicle if another vehicle has to go in for repair. My neighbors like to borrow it when their newer cars need repair.
In 2020 I bought my newest vehicle. A Toyota Rav4 that just came in off a 3 year low mile lease return. That's the best car I've ever owned and it's my trusted long distance travel vehicle.
Buy used and keep driving them. I'm at my limit on cars so if I get a great deal on a used Toyota truck in the future then I'll sell my 23 year old truck.
Trade a perfectly good SUV that holds furniture, pulls my boat, carries my kayak, takes extra wood from construction to the dump…. For an EV? An expensive, non-useful car? Are you kidding? I bought my used 2017 Volvo XC-90 T-6 to tow my boat. The only thing I’d change is the color… every parking lot is filled with black SUV’s!
Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials - much to live on and much to live for. Invest wisely and get good returns.
thank you, can you give a pointer the best investment now ? i am thinking of getting stocks or cryto
The key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them. An important key to investing is to remember that stocks are not lottery tickets. get a financial assistant
I currently work with TERESA JENSEN WHITE a financial expert i met in a seminar
I recently watched TERESA JENSEN WHITE on TV , such a great speaker . but have you made any profit whatsoever working with her ?
I have been able to make maximum profits off my trade with $40,000 and I have amassed about $190,000 in net profit In 4 weeks
Excellent video- thank you so much for putting all the info out that you do.....I was clueless before I started watching you. Very glad I found you before I hit retirement! Makes me less apprehensive
Thanks Michelle. I appreciate the nice words.
Dear Mr Schmidt
I have learned so much from your videos . Thank you for being the financial voice of reason .
Your calm and rationale demeanor is also appreciated .
Wow! You have just quantified years of great, successful financial decision-making in a short video! This is the formula to live by for sure, you just have to 'want to' & just do it, for it to work.
I try SJ! Thanks for the kind words.
Your channel should blow up with the legit information you provide! Thanks for all that you do!
Great points! I think I grew up in an "effective" spending household. My parents were born just after the Great Depression and when they purchased something on a good buy they would buy multiple of the item because 'I saved money and I'll have it when I need it'. That's the mentality I have as well although maybe not to that extent; I do like to buy more of certain items if they are going to get used in a reasonable amount of time. I do go to a warehouse club and buy 6 containers of coffee at a time IF they are cheap enough, saving $2 a tub is like winning the lottery! 🤣
I had a friend years ago that was trying to convince a few of us to buy into a "warehouse club" scheme where the entrance fee was like $200 to join. When I said I couldn't grasp the idea of how I would save that much money in a year at a warehouse club he told me the idea was to get other's to buy into it ... pyramid scheme! No thanks!!
Seriously- this is one of the best channels I've come across for retirement information and really just managing your finances in general as you can apply lots of this knowledge PRE RETIREMENT so that you have more to save / invest or maybe maximize your spending power.
My dad had a similar expression to Paul's dad; "You can go broke saving money".
I have had luck negotiating the price of demo, floor models, open box, and ding and dent merchandise.
It usually works when an item has sat around for a long time in the store.
I just make a mental note; " hey, that storage cabinet with the dent has been there for months".
Then I approach the sales counter and ask about it; noting the damage.
Sometimes they will not deal.
Othertimes they knock 10, 20, or 30% off.
I bought a floor sample patio set at Sam’s for $400 (75% off). Another customer bought the last one in a box so I asked about the floor display and got it!
Your info is always spot on. Thanks for the great money lessons!
Another great video. Thanks!
The 24 hour rule has saved me more money than anything else in my life.
Great Stuff - thanks!! My problem as a 59 year old with no debt and a decent job is I like the freedom to spend on things that I was never able to during the frugal years. I fully realize it's financially crazy to buy a new car with all the bells and whistles and yet I do it because I feel like I'm finally able to do it without any worry! I know when I retire in a decade or so I will have to shift to efficient spending as you say - I hope I don't have trouble shifting gears!
IF you're planning to keep a car for the long term (150,000+ miles, basically keeping it "until the wheels fall off") it makes sense to buy it new (buy the cheapest 'trim' package you need) and do the maintenance to keep it running. I calculated it out a few decades ago and it can be cheaper than buying a used car every few years. I've only had three new cars in my lifetime (65 y.o.) and I might buy one more in my lifetime.
@@crosslink1493 I did this, sort of. Purchased 1 y/o 95 F150 w/ 34k miles. Have taken care of it well, only in the last 2 years starting to have to do repairs (still less than new truck) mostly 'rubber' (ie seals & bushings) & gas tanks. 265k miles - still looks pretty new inside, great a/c & mechanic loves the OBS and ease of working on it. 😍
I do like your thinking, we do only live once and if you can have the things you want without stress then do it.
With COVID the past 2 years, I haven't found much to spend money on. Its been boring as hell but financially, I am in good shape.
A lot of people are in that place.
Thank you for all the good advice! I've watched many of your videos and always take away a gem of an idea! I'm close to retiring and navigating the current times w/ inflation and CPI moving up it's good to hear advice I can trust...thank you again!!
One of your best videos, such good advice! Thank you so much, Geoff!!
Jeff spot on advice that we all need …! Thank you sir
Hi Sam, thanks for the comment.
Gas prices are based on the tax base of the city or town you are in. EX: Indio, CA vs. Rancho Mirage, CA
Great information thanks
Jeff. I just saved 15 cents on a cantaloupe. Holy Schmidt, thanx...☺... ..Just kidding. Good content...
It’s getting so bad here in AZ. A friends husband is on oxygen but wasn’t using it much. I asked why. She said APS keeps emailing her that she’s over by 1000 kilowatts, and it’s not even summer. These were hard working people now sick on a budget. How did we get here I ask?
I’ve owned a German and Asian car repair shop for 40 years and I will almost always give a discount on a large job…IF YOU ASK. Especially a loyal customer, they will always get something. But it takes a nice friendly sad face request.
Thanks for the point Mike
I have a German car and most significant repairs will be discounted 15-30% IF you ask and suggest that you will only do a portion of the repairs otherwise.
@@bones2620 Depending on the job the profit margin is very high on most jobs. We build in some room to maneuver and if the customer is loyal we sometimes like to reward them without them asking. I like to believe our success comes from putting the customer first, always. If that means eating a small repair like new wiper blades on us, it’s well worth it. The bottom line is find a shop that really values you, and they might actually be cheaper than the “cheaper place” in the long haul.
@@mikefortney7879 I know the margins are high when changing 6 plugs is almost $1,000. This is the dealer I bought the vehicle from (new) and they are the only ones that have serviced it (exactly as recommended) since new. We’ve had a few arguments to the point I will not let them bid on the next one. Pity, really.
Mmm ... cantaloupe.
Despite being wealthy enough to not have to worry about looking for deals, I tend to price shop with an intent to reward those retailers that are making the effort to keep prices down. I live about 15 minutes from any of the 3 nearest towns so I have several options for groceries, gas stations, department stores, hardware stores. Thanks for the video.
As always, great information! Thank you,
A good test of tip #1 is a planned trip to Costco. Can you leave the store with only the item(s) you planned to purchase?
It took me seven years to use a tall four-pack of Comet from Costco. I learned my lesson...
No one has done that. EVER.
I’m hearing now, I’m not making it. Pensions and social security have not caught up with all the expense. Phoenix, AZ. Has now turned into California. People are saying they can’t afford to live here. A two bedroom independent housing community is now paying $3,800.00 a month. Ouch
That seems a little on the high side. Does it provide all necessary living needs?
Both “efficient & effective” video. Thank you!!!!
There isn't much negotiation in car purchases now because of the supply issues. My son sells cars; people have to order the car and virtually everyone is payijng MSRP. At least in Illinois (where I live and my son sells cars), if you say I'm going to get the best price or hang up (paraphrase) the sales person will wish you well.
There really aren't cars on the lot waiting to be sold.
Possibly, you can’t mention it, but everyone don’t forget about bartering your skills.
I use a budget plan for my electricity. Based on my past year's usage I get a monthly payment that stays the same and in the fall I either have to pay up to settle my account or I get a credit. This is also available for my natural gas usage.
I used a different kind of plan for heating gas,a supplier offered to guarantee a price for the physical gas good for a couple years,at the time gas was cheap so I signed up,now the supply cost if buying gas from the local utility has about doubled compared to what I am paying (for the actual gas used) the bill also includes transmission charges and "maintenance" charges charged by the utility
the various brands of gas all get mixed up in the pipes,the gas I pay for is a tiny percentage of the actual gas that I burn
Efficient spending - except for underwear, and a few other clothes types, I normally shop at Goodwill, discount stores
I’ve paid for everything for my parents and kids forever and now that I’m widowed and retired, their expectations haven’t changed 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you very much, Geoff.....Your videos offer Great Advice and Wisdom !......
Thanks Jim
Good video. One efficient method of spending is using float on credit cards, while paying off every month. Ones with cash back i.e. Discover card help also.
Thanks for the comment Jeff. The other creat card trick is to use a card that gives great “points” my favorite is the Capital One Savor One card. The non-fee one gives 3 percent cash back on grocery and restaurant purchases.
Of course paying it off is super important because no points/cash will make up for a few months of credit card interest.
I am still working full time and utilize these suggestions now. Great advice!
Thanks BT!
50% off is irrelevant to its value. What matters is how much the equivalent competitive product costs.
You are so sensible. Your calm demeanor and authoritative but inviting tone helps me feel less adrift in my retirement. Thank-you for your careful presentation and matter-of-fact attitude. You are appreciated. :-)
Thanks for the comment Cathi
1. One rarely saves by spending. So, being disciplined at the grocery store can save a lot. Planning the weekly menu and only buying to support that menu is a big saver. Plan your menu around the weekly sales at your local price-chopper. Cut down on alcohol consumption. Finally, eating smaller portions will take off a few pounds without endangering your health. (Remember: La vie est dure, sans confiture. So buy those donuts on sale.)
2. Having a ROTH IRA can be a valuable tool for retirees. Especially for bond funds. Since your yearly interest will rarely exceed the principal amount you've converted, any interest disbursed to your checking account will be immediately tax-free even in the year of the conversion. You pay taxes on the conversion only once. With bond prices down, this is an excellent year to convert a bond or bond-fund to a ROTH. Try to get started before you begin receiving Social Security. (I won't mention that the ROTH is an excellent place within which to buy and sell options! Just don't be a pig.)
3. For a large, planned expense, like a trip, obtain a credit card with 0% APR and 12-18 months to pay. You can make the minimum payment monthly while putting the balance required into a US T Bill (in your ROTH!)
4. Best wishes and good luck!
Love your videos..going to review everything you have uploaded as I prepare to retire in January.
You are always helpful and always common sense. Retired age 67 CPA here, though I do work tax season.
Thank you very much. When I first bought my house, about 25 years ago, it was January, in Wisconsin. One of the people in the negations said he would pay my utility bill if it were over a few hundred dollars, because I was talking about how drafty the house was. Anyway, the bill was actually $900, which freaked me out, but, I called him, and after some complaining on his part, and my telling him I would tell everyone he was a liar, he did pay it! But, I got on the budget plan, which gives a bill that is an average over 6 months and recalculates every 6 months. Although at times I am paying more than the actual bill, I am also paying less many months, such as the winter, and I would not have been able to stay in the house if I didn't have this. I also have done a lot of insulating and caulking, myself, and that has all paid off too. I love your videos, thank you!
I heard that in my county, you can request less taxes on your property bill in retirement due to no children in schools. I plan to contact the county this year as I turn 62 this year.
The negotiating points were very helpful.
Thanks for the comment Cindy!
I get great deals on cars. I first decide exactly which car and which features I want. Then I pay the 30 bucks to consumer reports to give me their suggested pricing sheet for that car with those features.
My last purchase was a Jeep. Two car dealerships laughed at me and told me I’d never get that price, and tried to sell me the same car for 4k more. At the third dealership, the salesman looked at the sheet, said I’d made it easy since I had already worked out exactly what I wanted, and sold me the car for $100 LESS than the recommended price. So basically, I spent $30 to save 4k (more if you count the interest). The best part was getting a snarky phone call from the first dealership asking if I was ready to admit how unreasonable my expectations were, and was I ready to buy the car from him.
I think having the CR sheet made it much easier.
My 12 year-old microwave worked most of the time and only sometimes acted out in the cold morning when I needed to heat my breakfast. I thought it was a good idea to get a new one with 50 percent discount. I have two microwaves now and am waiting for the old to expire. Is it an effective or efficient purchase? Or neither?
Thank you.
Home insurrance can greatly differ from one insurrer to another, sometimes for several hundreds of dollars a year. Shop around and know that you can break your contract for no fee or sometimes for a very small penalty fee.
Good point urlu.
Your videos are excellent but your suit is noisy lol
It’s blue! Lol. JK, I’ll try to mix it up a bit.
yes inflation is up 8 percent they say but something doesnt pass the smell test....2 months ago an item i bought was 8 dollars....that same food item now cost 12(SHOP RITE/didnt buy it.....Im not kidding...not to mention gas...cars...rentals...etc....i believe these businesses are really gouging consumers...maybe you can do a video on the disconnect between stated inflation and real inflation and the shenanigans the govt and businesses are getting away with..it's borderline criminal!!!..and how to fight back...
The government inflation number comes from known formula. Not based on your personal formula which is what counts. It's not criminal it's the fact that the government can't do everybody's personal inflation numbers because of the sheer amount of volume. So it has a set basic formala and this obviously doesn't match nobody's. It's not criminal it's all they can reasonably do . Don't really think there's a way to match everybody's situation exactly when everybody's situation is different, do you?
I love you rule of three but in the real world it would be impossible to get three quotes for three exact car specs, especially if you are asking to buy a used car from the lot, each dealer will have a model that does not match . There. Really is no way around this then.
My impression is he wasn't talking about a used vehicle.
I’ve done the rule of 3 when buying a new truck and it works! But boy does it make the salesmen mad! LOL.
Outstanding practical advice. Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated!
Thanks Mark! I think you will like the next few then. See you on the next one.
Me, we always plan for the worst case scenario when it comes to the economy/finances.
Well done Goth!
I love picking up the tab for my millennial age children. Taught them from a young age to spend effectively. I know extra money in their pockets will compound for many decades.
My daughter can save a dime to last a week i can't save a dollar to last a day. She has become my financial babysitter I'm retiring in 3 years because of a catastrophic vehicle accident I had 3 years ago I gave her power of attorney best decision I have ever made
There have been very few 50% sales in the last 2 years. How about advise on the “new” environment
The most important money skill is too not let your emotions rule your choices
Thank you Geoff! Another great video!
Asking for a senior discount. What do you have to lose ? You will appreciate the savings.
Thanks, Geoffrey, for another great video.
Glad I found your channel. Lots of great tips.
Love your videos!! Many thanks.
Enjoy your videos. Helpful. Thanks.
You are welcome John
Great Schmidt. I really appreciate the simple explanation.
what was the -450,000 + money rules? did i miss something?
I think it was at the beginning…google “Money Rules” and you will get 450,000 results.
Coupons rarely apply to sale items
Manufacturer’s coupons are almost always applied in addition to store sales.
Very well said Jeff. Great information.
Thank you so much! You are so helpful!
Thank you again for valuable information I have always used budget plan for utilities yes at end of the yr you might have a balance. But it's so much easier to budget monthly!
Thanks for the comment Terry. I do the same thing.
Another gem, always worth watching!
You ought to describe the difference between Life Expectancy (Males 78 , Females 81) and HEALTHY life expectancy . You can deduct 10 and 11 years off those numbers . The odds of a cancer diagnosis is 50% and the median age of a cancer diagnosis is 66. Therefore people should be focused much more on a healthy living program well before retirement rather than chasing millions into a pension pot that they will never use , if they are dribbling in a wheelchair with a drip. If you retire at 67 don’t think you will need funds until you are 85+ because you probably won’t make it. Sadly . I’d budget for 10 on a IRA and social from 75 because very few older people go hiking up the mountains of the Himalayas at that age and need funds to survive .
Make a reasonable monthly budget AND STICK TO IT RELIGIOUSLY !
I think you missed one of the most important money skills -- organization.
Absolutely critical. I’ll mention in on the “six secrets to living well in retirement - about a week) and give you a shout out!
Thanks 😊
At age 74, I love a good sale and do the effective method you discussed. It is hard to break the habit. Now I have a garage full of things i will never use. You efficient model is a plan I have to change into. Thanks!
I think that I just spent 50%. Too much…..free is perfect. This attitude keeps me wearing the same stuff probably for far to long.
When you move your arms around.. the mic is picking up the noise of your arms against your suit. Annoying
Self-generation of electricity/heat is a real option these days. You may need to learn to adjust your usage, but it may save you thousands in the long run.
I will attempt rule 2 anywhere sometimes. It has even worked at Walmart on some items.
Absolutely excellent advice.
Thank you
blbablablalaba he does not get to the point on the three important skills in retirrement!!!!
Thanks for the video.
I bought solar panels and took advantage of the 30 percent tax deduction. I shopped 3 companies. Now my annual electric bill is down significantly...for decades. Yea!
Disposal of those (highly toxic in the ground) panels within 20 years of purchase will be so problematic ...
All great points that I've been doing for decades...I keep finding ways to NOT spend a penny. The latest is my "new" spice rub shaker. I examined exactly what I needed and rather than a $15 large stainless steel one I realized that I only use a few tablespoons at a time so I checked out my spices and found that the cinnamon bottle had the perfect sized shaker holes so I poured what was left into the new bottle, filled it with hot water to soften the glue on the label to easily peel off and then washed it out. It's perfect for my needs and I'm really looking forward to using it again on the Sunday dinner beef roast I'm making tomorrow. Despite food inflation we're still seeing the same sale prices on the basics such as the beef roast for $3.99/lb and a 5lb bag of potatoes for $2.49. I'm also looking forward to the 99 cents/lb bone-in half hams in a few weeks for Easter.
Even projects like reorganizing a lifetime collection of tools...rather than shopping around and drooling over large steel wheeled tool bins for $300+ or plastic ones for $100 each you can think about things a little more and realize that you're getting older and lifting 150+lbs of those large tool bins in and out of your truck isn't going to be as easy as it used to be (it's not going to get easier as you age either) and maybe you're better off using smaller, lighter individual tool boxes and the cases that many of your tools came in. Even better when you think about how you've already got several toolboxes on hand including the 3 last unused Plano boxes you got for $1.99 each several years ago when they were being closed out. What you were planning on spending a few hundred on now doesn't cost a penny and you've come up with a solution that better suits your needs going forward while everything is protected, organized, easily found, transported and deployed.
Needless to say, it's pretty hard to "fail" at retirement when you've got this kind of mindset as you just keep building your wealth by leaps and bounds year after year.
@Pinnedby Holy Schmidt!.. I called the number and your mother answered...I can't believe that she offered to do all of those nasty things for just $3!
New subscriber ❤️
focus focus!!!
👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👊👊
Thanks Irish!
👍 well done
Me an the wife try to be as efficient as we can with all purchase's, we always do our homework before any major purchase. An we only use 0 % Credit cards an pay them off pronto, an if possible we try an pay cash for just about everything that we buy. There was a study done yrs ago where when purchasing items with your hard earned dollars it meant more to you as you watched your wealth slip thru your fingers. I've never said this before to you, but yrs ago, I read a book about money that was written in 1972 about how wealth is controlled by the uber rich, or the 1 % er's, its called " REGULATING THE POOR", cant remember the author, an the last copy I got came from the used book market on amazon or E-bay from england, full of stats, charts, graphs an financial history. A really good read, but very dry reading, best taken in small dose's. Hope this helps an thanks for the vid.
Thanks for the comment and the info William! I’ll see if I can find the book.
@@HolySchmidt Your welcome
😊
If you buy longterm munis currently yielding over 3%…live off the interest and budget
Have to have a ton of cash to live off anything..... My normal cost per year is approximately $20K so no that is like 500K paying 5%. What percentage have 500K cash?
Like your 24 hour concept. I might add-stay off the net. That tablet is marketing you 100% of the time-and is good at it. E.g. adds on Facebook. Lastly - budget budget budget. (Especially misc.) I have been retired for 2 plus years now-it works. Even when you don’t make your budget you are way ahead of someone who does not budget.
Stay safe!