Thinking about getting a paint job...

[doogz]

Let me know when you're ready to pave the way to retirement with some of that dough. Small contributions now mean big bucks down the road, moreso than big contributions later in life.

[Dan]

Let me know when you're ready to pave the way to retirement with some of that dough. Small contributions now mean big bucks down the road, moreso than big contributions later in life.

Don't worry, I knocked some sense into him over AIM about finances.

[Shortzy]

finances, schminances

[Dave88LX]

I like the smoked.

[Chowder Head]

Let me know when you're ready to pave the way to retirement with some of that dough. Small contributions now mean big bucks down the road, moreso than big contributions later in life.

Oh don't think I forgot about that bro. At least I came to my senses and decided against the Saleen kit. Plus I heard they're an absolute b**** to align and mount properly. Even the authentic Saleen stuff.

What'd you have in mind man? That ING thing we discussed earlier or something different? Send a PM to me if you want to discuss it privately.

Dave, that's what I was thinking. I'm still actively searching for all the pictures I can of dark green Mustangs with clear headlights so I have something to compare the smoked against. Any more opinions would be super, thanks.

[EVIL5LITER]

Honestly, even without the body kit, you'll probably still go over 4k for a decent paint job. 

Follow Phil's advice and put it towards retirement.  You'll be thankful you did in a few years. 

You will never get the money back out of the car.  Let me repeat that so it sinks in:

YOU WILL NEVER GET THE MONEY BACK OUT OF THE CAR.

/thread

[Ralph]

Let me know when you're ready to pave the way to retirement with some of that dough. Small contributions now mean big bucks down the road, moreso than big contributions later in life.

Forgive me, Phil, but the guys knocking down the big bucks investing aren't putting small contributions into funds and letting them sit, right?  I mean, you guys get paid good to get people in normal funds, but the shark certainly isn't sitting on a mutual fund waiting for retirement.

If I'm going to play with investing, I wanna be a big baller.  Not a 'ride it out and hope for the best' retirement waiter.

[Shortzy]

that statement right there, ralph, is something we are in COMPLETE agreement on...

[Dave88LX]

YOU WILL NEVER GET THE MONEY BACK OUT OF ANY CAR.

/thread

Fixed.

[Chowder Head]

.....

I'm not doing this so I can sell it. I'm not doing this so I can sell it.

I'm not under the illusion I am going to get back what I paid for. Where did I mention that once? What's wrong with taking care of a car you like? Why mods cars in the first place? Why were we all drawn to Mustangs in the past? I'm not spending every single ounce of money in my car. School and the pursuit of a fulfilling career is my number one goal. Christ people, it's not like I'm talking about running open headers on an environmental forum.

4k for a decent paint job? Somehow I don't buy that.

And retirement....I know, hence why I mentioned the ING thing. I have financial senses, but I want to take care of something I love.

Talk about your buzz kills....

[Dave88LX]

ING Orange Savings is not a retirement account.

Unless you are talking about something else.

Buzz kills.   Welcome to what I've been dealing with for the past 10 years.

[Ralph]

Dude, get your car painted and do whatever you want with it.  Enjoy it.  Christ only knows I try to enjoy as much of my money as I can, and I dont' save enough.  It may or may not bite me, but I hope to have a good time along the way.

You're still young, it's not unusual to want to devote some cash to a toy.  Everyone on here did it once, it's your turn.

[Shortzy]

ING Orange Savings is not a retirement account.

Unless you are talking about something else.

Buzz kills.   Welcome to what I've been dealing with for the past 10 years.

what about the last 10 days??lol

[Chowder Head]

Thanks Ralph. That's exactly the mindset I have.

Again, not spend everything but when I have some money to play around with, I will definitely consider spending it on my car, which is a hobby. It's not like I'm never going to have this money ever again or something. But that doesn't mean I'm going to look at things to help with retirement right before retirement either.

Dave, not sure about the ING account. Hence why I'm talking to Phil about it because I don't have a clue. And yeah, with all the cars you've had and still have, I'm sure you had a few people telling you "NO. Just stop what you're doing" a few times. So I guess you do know what I'm talking about.

[Dan]

I'll come to my financial senses when I have the expendable income to do it, i.e. graduation. I already know I am setting aside a large portion of pay to go towards an investment account. Of course I'll owe on student loans, but that will add up to about what I owe now on minimums in CC debt (which will be paid off, it's not much).

I don't see the point in forcing myself to live bare bones for 10 months when IN 10 months my pay will double and I can start saving appropriately.

If next summer I'm spending money like a fool someone come hunt me down and take it away.

[Dave88LX]

Hell I still get it today.  I asked a simple question on GFY about a family vehicle with tow capacity.  It's up to 350+ replies of nothing but stupid bulls***, and idiots bring up lawmowers, the firebird that doesn't run, the A/C in my wife's Civic, the semi-pro football league, just anything and everything.  350 f***ing replies.  I can't even find the serious replies in that thread.

Now that I have a baby on the way, it's "OMG you piece of s*** you need to sell everything you own and buy your wife a BMW or else you're the most horrible husband and father on the planet". 

I've heard it a million times, Chowderhead.  That's why I'm not going to put you down for wanting to what you want to do, whether I agree with it or not.

[Shortzy]

Dave... you just summed up ALL of GFY, not just your thread...  thats why i dont go there anymore...

[Ralph]

Hell I still get it today.  I asked a simple question on GFY about a family vehicle with tow capacity.  It's up to 350+ replies of nothing but stupid bulls***, and idiots bring up lawmowers, the firebird that doesn't run, the A/C in my wife's Civic, the semi-pro football league, just anything and everything.  350 f***ing replies.  I can't even find the serious replies in that thread.

Now that I have a baby on the way, it's "OMG you piece of s*** you need to sell everything you own and buy your wife a BMW or else you're the most horrible husband and father on the planet". 

I've heard it a million times, Chowderhead.  That's why I'm not going to put you down for wanting to what you want to do, whether I agree with it or not.

That's the weird thing about parents.  Lots of them gave up their own personal aspirations and goals and transfer them to the successes of their children.  They live vicariously through Johnny's baseball games and feel perfectly happy to bust ass 9-5 everyday just to make sure they can support their little snowflake.

I'm well aware that having children changes your priorities.  I just don't get where in the fine print it says that you have to lose your own identity and give every bit of blood, sweat, and tears to your newfound parasite til they reach the age they can move out and put you in a nursing home.

Have kids, do a good job at it, but jesus, don't turn into one of these drones like I work with that have nothing to say about life except what their kid is doing.  I don't get it, at all.

[Dave88LX]

I don't get it either Ralph.  I really don't get it.  The awesome part is that the advice came from mostly single, never been married, and have no kids bachelors in their mid-30s

I refuse to sell all my s*** just because I have a kid on the way.  It's not selfish, it would just be stupid IMO.  I've worked years to attain what I have (even though it looks like mostly trash right now).  The kid ain't going to be needing attention 24/7 it's whole life from me.  There will be time to work on projects, even if it's not until a year or two, and it's a couple hour a week.  Don't take that as "I'm going to neglect the kid to get my POS Firebird running", but hundreds of thousands of parents have successfully raised a kid AND had a hobby.

Sorry for taking your thread off-topic.

[Chowder Head]

It's cool man. Now I'm just shopping around for the average price. Oh, Chris, check your PM's.

I THINK I decided on the smoked headlights. It's not definite but it's damn near close. Next thing after I get it painted and such would be to lower it and get some new shocks and struts and stuff. Make it handle and look even better then save up for either a mild HCI or power adder. Then I'm basically done with my car. Just looking for a street car with 100% reliability. I might get some new stereo equipment but I hardly call that a "performance" mod, haha.

[EVIL5LITER]

Let me know when you're ready to pave the way to retirement with some of that dough. Small contributions now mean big bucks down the road, moreso than big contributions later in life.

Forgive me, Phil, but the guys knocking down the big bucks investing aren't putting small contributions into funds and letting them sit, right?  I mean, you guys get paid good to get people in normal funds, but the shark certainly isn't sitting on a mutual fund waiting for retirement.

If I'm going to play with investing, I wanna be a big baller.  Not a 'ride it out and hope for the best' retirement waiter.

I've had many people with lots of financial know-how and experience tell me that $500/month into an average mutual fund will end up being ~ 1 million in 25 years.  For those too lazy to do the math, that is a 125k investment. 

[KC LX]

  The awesome part is that the advice came from mostly single, never been married, and have no kids bachelors in their mid-30s

They know it ALL, Dave.  Those w/o kids, aren't married or off a bitter divorce, are the ones most pleased to tell you how to run your marriage and raise your kids.

Chowdie - I'm split on the do what you want vs save the money.  Look at MFE's ride; the amount of mods it has in it but we have no car payments on any of our rides, the 2nd engine, trans 2.5, car just flipped 180K and he loves it, expects to learn more about body work when our son is driving age 10 years from now because I don't see selling it.  Ever.  You don't buy a car as an investment, but it's something you want as a 'luxury' or a simple use item.  I love it when I can drive it on the track and that f***er's running right.  I mean it's great to have a track car that isn't a trailer queen...when it causes us no grief.