applekisses said:

i'm so sorry about that applekisses

not having divorced, moved, started all again...

Settle down...

It comes with maturity...

(hard long way !!!)

Ocean said:

Having enough that I don't HAVE to work and my partner does not HAVE to either. We can do stuff that we want to do and invest time in the kids (they are not here yet). In order for that to happen I would need the mortgage paid off the business sold and some dough in the bank. I do have a target but that is for me to know.....should be there before i am 40
[Edited 11/1/05 10:26am]

TMPletz said:

me too....
I have dreams of owning a home, but with houses at 600,000.00 in my area. Not gonna happen anytime soon. I have really suffered from the high gas prices. My son is pre-teen so he eats twice as much. I had to have my break pads replaced yesterday....that costs an arm and a leg.

Ive been able to say in the black , but November will not be a good month for me...
car insurance is due, which is an extra 250.00,I do not have....ILL BE IN THE RED


Life is tough, just gotta roll with the punches.

TMPletz said:

Amen my brother.

amorbella said:

Amen my sexy sexy sister.

Ocean said:

I would define financially secure as having enough money to make you feel personally secure... for instance myself I'm quite happy to just have enough to do what I want to do right now but that may change in time to come

I think there's a big difference between being financially secure and financially independent, at least according to my definition.

To feel secure all it takes is to be able to pay the most necessary bills like rent and food and health care. I don't even need to be able to buy new clothes or take trips to feel secure; I just see it as a minimum level for a sustainable life.

To feel financially independent, the minimum would be to be able to pay for all the things I already do (i.e. eat well, live well, go out every now and then, hobbies, trips etc) without having to work at all.

Everything in between is acceptable. The closer it is to being financially independent the better, but everything above that level would just be luxury. Enjoyable, but not so much that it would make a significant difference to me personally.

My definition is to have the bills paid, a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, transportation and enough left over to go to a Prince concert.

Steadwood said:

You mean that people tend to indulge themselves too much if they aren't under financial pressure? True, but in the end I think that really depends on the individual, whereas pretty much everybody is harmed by financial stress.

being able to pay the bills on time each month, with some money from your check going towards a savings/money market account or some kind of stock, your 401(K) plan, deductible for medical benefits. Then if you still have some change left over to do whatever, then you are financially secure.

Also, get a mindset for your budget..I always feel like if i'm $500 or below in my checking account, that i'm broke and should stop spending unless it is something important that I need.

retina said:

Well spotted

Yep...That statement was supposed to read "too little financial stress can be as harmful as too much financial stress"

So yeah.....I Agree.....

Thanks everyone for ur opinions

Having enough food to eat and somewhere to live for the rest of your life.