[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Abster

Well...when I walk with a small group or listen to people in a social setting here and they are talking about financing a golf cart or car or their home mortgage, it indicates (to me) they are living beyond their means. That's my own opinion of course - and it's probably correct!

I totally understand where you are coming from. We've owned many homes and have not had a mortgage since we were in our early to mid 40's, when our two kids were in college. At our age now, of 69, we would not want the burden of a mortgage or loans for furniture, etc., cars, golf carts, etc.

We only buy what we can afford. Like you, we have done extensive remodeling over the years, always paying from our savings. It's a blessing not to have debt in your senior years. Once our home sells here, for good or bad (as far as profit goes) we will only spend what we have, with no need for a mortgage.

I once read on TOTV of how a villager in her nineties got a mortgage. That was surprising to say the least. Our town bankers have always been so conservative that I'd bet anything that they would not give such an elderly person a mortgage.

Perhaps it is just Yankee Frugality or New England Frugality.
Who knows? But I do "get" your message.