[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Villagesgal

I'm sorry, but that is such crap. The American dream is living a happy life with family and friends, and that doesn't take a fortune; it takes "just enough" money and a lot of your own time invested. Enough money to have a stable place to live. Lots of places in the U.S. still have affordable housing, it's not a dream mansion, but you don't need that to be happy . It takes living somewhere with public transit and using it. It's being happy with a reliable car, not a car to impress others. It takes working your way through trade school or a state university. It takes buying many things in the secondary market, used; no one knows where you bought your beautiful things. Being happy takes spending time with your kids, not throwing money at them. Being happy takes spending quality time with your friends and family, at home or in a park enjoying each other's company. We traveled the world, still do, but never spent a fortune doing it. We stay in private guest houses, senior hostels, religious guest facilities, etc and take trains, public buses, or walk. We used to take our kids on cruises when there were 3rd and 4th in the cabin free deals getting inside cabins. Spoiler, you only sleep in your cabin and enjoy everything else during the cruise just like those who bought the expensive cabins. At this point I've seen most of the world, I have a lot of international friends, enjoy my children and grandchildren and have a very happy life. We saved every year, so that we could enjoy retirement. We never cared what "the Joneses" had or thought. We never were high earners, we never bought what we didn't need just because we saw it on TV, we never bought on impulse and we've had a great life, a very happy American dream life. Get your priorities straight. My children are not high earners, but with work they own their own homes, they have lovely children, great friends, cars, good jobs, and are happy. So much of happiness is in attitude. You can still live the American dream and do it on a regular salary. We here in the Villages are blessed living a great retirement too and that doesn't take a fortune either. Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses and start enjoying the beautiful simple life we have here.

Excellent synopsis! We too have enjoyed a good life using common sense and ambition. So many young people today lack the simple skills for home improvements, repairs and painting. Buying new vehicles is a waste of money when a one or two year old vehicle will do the trick. Buying sport clothing at the stadiums is a huge financial drain as are tickets. Seating is much better at home and the restroom is close when watching games.. The list goes on and on. Practical life experience when raising your children is key. There are too many idiots coming out of college now.