Missed life lessons - making your money work for you

[golucky]

To the OP, many great advice on this thread. I don't have much to add except to validate what others have already stated with my experience to these very same advice I've received over the years from others or read from literature. Apologies if this post is a long read, but I wanted to include the other's post to validate my own experiences.

1. Your plan will be different from others, find what best fit for you, your skillset, and adjust accordingly especially for major life events. E.g. Marriage, having kids, new job, etc. When each of our kids were born, about 3 months after we started $50 biweekly auto-deposit into their college fund. As Jesselp stated, "Think of it like fitness - make small changes to produce big results over time". Over time, as our income increased, so too did the kid's college fund deposit from $50 to now $200 biweekly based on percentage of what we earned. Today, each kid has a full college-ride and that's before any scholarship, etc.
2. Apamburn stated, "...99% of everything I read is just BS". Yes, I too have read/heard a bunch of BS. I absorbed as much as possible, especially in the beginning to get the necessary foundation. Many big time names out there, Orman, Ramzy, Cramer, Buffet; while very good speakers, actually see what they are truly trying to sell and only use what is best for you without getting raked over. As Allend stated, "Stay away from Ramsey" and about Tony Robbins "his book does a good job of explaining what most of the options out there are....It's IMO worth the 20...." Fully agree. However, there's a wealth of SI members on here who can both talk and walk, with actual results of their financial decisions.
3. Real Estate: My father did real estate, all rentals. I watched, listen, fixed-up properties, and even did security with him. I learned my skillset is not construction, minor-work is fine for me. Going to court to evict sucks and drains your time and $$. Today, I do have rental properties, do some minor work when time permits, but I have a management company that does not all the major work from application process, background checks, property inspection, changing locks, going to court, etc. I avoid those 2 a.m. calls when something breaks. Yes, I pay them as percentage, but for the amount of time I save, its used to generate money elsewhere. All my properties are either near a medical center or college. I check the HOA rules before buying to ensure short-term leases are allowed such as Air Bnb, etc. When the Superbowl was in town, I lease one of my properties for 6 days at $400 a night which equated to 3 months of regular income for that same property. As Apamburn stated, "...real estate to be a good income source but it has relatively high cost of entry and in the short experience I have with it can be unprofitable as it can be profitable". Sound advice here. My current read is "30 Properties Before 30" by Eddie Dilleen just to find out if there is anything to add to my current situation/toolbox.
As LawDog stated, "Rental properties should be viewed solely as an investment; not from the point of view of whether you would want to live there". The same here. This includes LawDog's purchasing a more costly rental property with the potential for bigger profit. I too purchased up. Recently bought our 1st tourist area condo in Florida which cost more than my own home but its short-term leases during the summer, right on the beach, can have bigger returns. renting it for half a month will pay for the full month's expenses. And during the winter, snowbirds will rent out for a whole month but at a lower price point but not by much. Your deposit should be enough to avoid PMI (typically 20% down) which is insurance you're paying for the mortgage company in case you faulter. Buy why pay $$ for someone else?
Red Ryder proof and golden nugget, " Company paid off building, and I sold it at top of market and rolled money into 1031 real estate that pays monthly dividend and is 80% depreciated on my taxes. In 5-7 years when we sell it, the gains roll into another to avoid the capital gains, but I still get checks every month. Currently, that money alone would cover my monthly nut and I do not touch my paycheck." Same here, I roll the gains too to avoid capital gains tax.
My friend doesn't do rental, instead he flips properties because he doesn't want to deal with tenants. At times, he needs investments partners to buy higher end properties. I invest with him after looking into his "books" on said property before deciding.
4. As 7 Mary 3 stated, "You need a "money guy". Yes, I too have a money guy. Again, bring everything to the table for that needed advice. He did and since then, he has both save me $$ on taxes just by moving my funds into different types of account, consolidated a few, and witnessed my portfolio increased significantly. I see him as part of a team including the management company, the handyman, the construction/remodeling crew, lawyer, etc. As they a part, view them as temporary. They are not family. Once they can't serve my purpose or no longer beneficial to me and mine; move on and replace them with someone who can. It's not personal, its strictly business. I tell each one upfront.
5. Stock Market. Personally, I'm not very good at daily investing. Mostly, I've broken even and when I did daily investing, it ate too much of my time (as said by BillyOblivion). As my $$ guy said, it's for my play $$, my Vegas $$. If you have some extra, sure why not. Or choose something else (training and gear from S.I.)
6. Winchester67 example of driving a vehicle that does the job you want, paid off, live modestly, and marry the right woman. Gold! As also said by LawDog. Another is BB82 statements of the rich friends living middle class life, driving Toyotas, clothes from Target, etc. My friends say I fall within this category or "the millionaire next door". My Ford150 is paid off, 12 years old, been reliable, and the $$ I save is invested. All our vehicles are paid off and we run them until they fall apart or no longer financial sense to fix them. Before you retire, buy and pay off a reliable vehicle as you might be on a fixed income during retirement.
7. Retirement accounts - my company has 401K. I max it out at 14% as they also match it $1 to $1 at %14 ! BillyOblivion mentions "30 years of putting 20K a year in means you have at least peace of mind when you retire". Another golden nugget as I too ensure I put away at least this amount. As I maxed out my 401K, I find other places for the retirement fund. I too have a tax sheltered investment or no-load mutual funds as both Uno & BillyObilvion suggested.
8. Home - paid off, been here for 20 years. BillyOblivion posted advice which I've also done. We've builded up over the years a "rainy-day" fund, just in case. initially our goal was 3 months’ worth, then 6 months to 1 years’ worth. An now has built way past this. Also, in an account generating interest.
9. As UNO stated, "One trick I utilize is cash-back CC's." Ensure you look at what they are charging for this. Many will charge a yearly fee. If you hardly using the card that the rewards are less than the annual fee, you are wasting $$. I use both cash-back and air mileage CC's. E.g. Our air milage CC's generate so much miles that we fly every year for free to a vacation destination including Hawaii. Sometimes the mileage is used for rental cars and hotels. Our last trip to Florida, we only used $$ for food and entertainment. Ensure your air milage doesn't expire. Our CC is tied to Southwest airlines. The CC is paid off before their interest kicks in.
Best,

[apamburn]

I genuinely appreciate everyone's input here. There is a treasure trove of information, as is typically the case here at WarriorTalk.

My approach at the moment is to move into rentals. I am working on acquiring a few different properties here locally that I think will work out. I will eventually put these and any other properties I end up with under management for the reasons cited by others.

I'm also doing some sidework in the software realm as that is my skillset but like a 9-5, it requires babysitting.

[Mike OTDP]

WRT money, I'm a fan of the Motley Fools. They have advice suited to the common man, as opposed to the wealthy investor. Short form:
1. Pay off the credit cards. They're charging you 18-20%, with 100% certainty of collecting. There's no investment you can make that pays that much with 100% chance of working.
2. Take advantage of retirement products such as IRAs and 401Ks. If your employer does matching, put at least that amount in. Whether to do a Traditional or Roth IRA depends on where you are in your career, how much money you are making, and whether you figure on retiring at a higher or lower tax bracket. I'd suggest doing a Roth IRA until you are 35-40, then switch to a Traditional. But run the numbers for YOU.
3. A 10% increase in the house payment can get you a 15-year mortgage. You get a lower interest rate, build equity a lot faster.
4. If you're going into the stock market, it's hard to find a mutual fund that can beat the S&P 500 index...and that index fund has a lot lower overhead.
5. If you're going into the stock market, have courage. Most small investors panic when the market drops, lock in their losses, and lose their shirts. If anything, it's when the market drops and people are panicking that you buy. I shoveled every dime I could spare into the market in March-April of 2020...made a hefty profit.
6. Buy quality goods, make them last. I expect my cars to go 150K miles...my Miata was retired at 243K.

[UNO]

Fees matter as stated. One CC I have is no fees, one is $39/year. I make way more than that on the cash back.

[Oscar01]

Mike OTDP and golucky did an excellent job summarizing.


One thing I didn't see mentioned is cashflow.


How much are you making each month and how much are you spending each month. There might be some frivolous expenses that can be reduced or eliminated.

[apamburn]

Well, I ended up moving on an investment property here and I'm currently under contract.

40 acres, all but 2 or so acres wooded, about 15 minutes from my house, within the county near the city but outside the city limits. There is already a house on it that needs to be renovated.

My plan is to put a few mobile homes on it since two to three mobile homes will cost me as much as it would to renovate the house and each will rent for as much as the house would, and will be faster to get cashflowing.

The first mobile home, maybe the first two depending on how much I actually rent them for, will cover the loan. I'm going to roll the rest of the cashflow into rehabbing the house, then get that rented.

At that point $130,000 for 4 rentals that will net $2200 - $2500 per mo is already pretty good...

But I'll probably put more mobile homes on the land if I can.

The back part of the property may not be something I can develop due to incline though.

If not, and in the meantime, I have a place to shoot (already measured and I can get about 400 yds) and hunt.

Other monetization ideas floating around in my head include:

- selling some lumber to logging companies so I can clear some trails, set shooting lanes, or clear space for more trailers
- clearing campsites and renting them or cabins
- making the shooting range commercial
- hunting leases

Worst case eventually I can just peel off the back chunk of land and sell it on its own.

The bank is financing the purchase and whatever renovations I want. Initially I was only going to borrow enough to do maybe one mobile home and then use cash on hand to do the others; but after crunching the numbers, if I borrow enough money to install all of the mobile homes and renovate, the impact on my cashflow and downpayment is small, so I get to keep more of my cash....so I think I am leaning towards doing that.

I'm already approved for whatever I want to do, just have to decide. Will talk to loan officer some more now that he is back from vacation.

[LawDog]

My plan is to put a few mobile homes on it since two to three mobile homes will cost me as much as it would to renovate the house and each will rent for as much as the house would, and will be faster to get cashflowing.

The first mobile home, maybe the first two depending on how much I actually rent them for, will cover the loan. I'm going to roll the rest of the cashflow into rehabbing the house, then get that rented.

1) Look into the concept of a “detached quadplex.” You may not need it. If you are zoned for multiple mobile homes, then you probably don’t. But learn the concept anyway.

2) When rehabbing the old house, keep in mind that it’s not for you. Also, the “industrial” style is both hip and cheap. Exposed plywood edges are in.

[bubba in c.a.]

The old paperback the Millionaire Next Door, which can probably be had cheap used, sums it up. Work because you have a passion for making money and know life can go downhill rapidly but Cash is King. Live frugally and marry somebody who acts the same. Raise kids who will see how hard you worked and will never become rich even with your help. They will become big earning, big spending yuppies, champions of the 9 to 5, fancy vacations and 401Ks.

My regret is not buying rental units and hiring professionals to run them. My goal in old age is to leave my current wife 2 units when I die. She can go live with her relatives and live off the unearned income from the rents.

[UNO]

The old paperback the Millionaire Next Door, which can probably be had cheap used, sums it up. Work because you have a passion for making money and know life can go downhill rapidly but Cash is King. Live frugally and marry somebody who acts the same. Raise kids who will see how hard you worked and will never become rich even with your help. They will become big earning, big spending yuppies, champions of the 9 to 5, fancy vacations and 401Ks.

My regret is not buying rental units and hiring professionals to run them. My goal in old age is to leave my current wife 2 units when I die. She can go live with her relatives and live off the unearned income from the rents.

I admit, I like to spend my money. Ive watched enough people die who didn't plan on it that my enjoyment, etc trumps a fat savings any day.

[Gabriel Suarez]

I admit, I like to spend my money. Ive watched enough people die who didn't plan on it that my enjoyment, etc trumps a fat savings any day.

Finally!