[redbaron]

Bill, I know how you feel on expenses. I live in an area with a slightly lower housing cost, but due to wealth issues, we actually have the highest cost of living in the nation (seattle metro area)- part of that is due to one of the top 5 highest sales taxes, the #1 highest minimum wage, etc. You can rent a 1 bedroom apartment in the outskirts of seattle for around $1k, or maybe lower if you don't want something too nice. It's pretty awful.

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Honestly Joel, there's always something that will be consuming money. I thought when i went from 23k a year to 30k I would be "rolling" in extra money, then when I jumped up to the 50~ish bracket, i thought i'd be happy. I noticed that my lifestyle continually adapted to be more and more expensive, and I was always using it all up, no matter how much I made.

I guess my point is here, that you're going to spend the money one way or another. you might as well look at your priorities, and figure out where you want to be in 1/5/10/20 years.

If I were dating a girl that I were serious about marrying, I'd change my spending habits in a heartbeat so that I was financially able to do so. Small sacrifices for such a wonderful thing are ALWAYS worth it.

[Symbiotic]

well, the job i have right now is primarily for being able to afford a ring....and after that, to help me get settled into a place in the spring.....i'm also going home this weekend for thankgiving(canadian), and i plan on telling my parents....but, not asking them what they think.....i want them to know though

[Symbiotic]

First off, let me apologize for resurrecting this thread...that said, i will close this thread after submitting this message...

i was just reminiscing and going through old stuff and found this thread...it's very outdated now(we are married now)...hard to believe that this thread is as old as it is....seems like yesterday....and there is stuff i kinda wish to follow up with....if anyone is interested in a follow-up post, i will do so in my blog....just leave a message there that you would like one, or PM me, or UC me...i'll do one if anyone is interested...otherwise probably not, since most of my blog readers(which are few) will be totally clueless as to what i'm talking about....but if anyone show interest, i'll do it....that is all....much thanks