Typical Millennial bank statement

[Atlanticmike]

I dream of buying a village in Europe, say Spain, with friends and moving there en masse. This is my response to Dean Robbers’ suggestion of Mexico. Although Mexico is intriguing.

I would have thought you wanted to move to the highlands of Scotland, in the mountains near Loch. Oh well!

[Kishkumen]

I would have thought you wanted to move to the highlands of Scotland, in the mountains near Loch. Oh well!

My experience of Scottish weather is that it is too cool and damp. Is there a certain Romanticism to my attachment to Scotland? Yes. My family roots do tie me to the place with more than surface interest. If you were to allow me to live in downtown Edinburgh part of every year, I would definitely go for that.

[Alf'Omega]

Why are you jealous a plumber can make really good money?

I'm not. Because most don't. Same is true for most roofers. The most successful roofers are the scam artists who drive through neighborhoods the day after a mild storm, and knock doors to inform residents they can get a new roof at no cost to them because their insurance will cover it. Even though there is literally zero damage, they look at it from 100 yds away and determine there is "hail damage!" Sounds familiar? I'm sure it does. People like you is why I pay $200/month for home insurance.

In our previous neighborhood our next door neighbor tried telling me I could easily get a free roof because of the "storm," even though it did nothing to the roof. Most insurance companies won't challenge it if you file a claim after a storm, and so long as a licensed roofer says there is damage, which they almost always do. Even worse, some people are offered not only a free roof, but cashback for using them. So the roofing company bills the insurance $8,000 for a roof that cost $4,000 and then they give back $1,000 to the resident. That's nothing short of criminal. https://www.atlantaroofingspecialists.c ... uoQAvD_BwE

It is also funny to see people call a roofing company to their house and two white rednecks show up in polo shirts, all clean cut, driving a shiny $80,000 truck. Their job is to convince you to sign the contract. Then when roofing day comes around, a dirty white van with 12 ladders tie-strapped to the roof, full of illegal immigrants making less than minimum wage, show up to do the job.

And if you have plumbers begging you for work then you're dealing with some crappy contractors, ding-a-ling.

They're good, qualified, licensed plumbers who don't have enough work because there are only so many toilets they can unclog in a day. I happen to have more than a dozen licensed contractors in my phone and I know for a fact three of them live in a trailer and they others live in homes half the size of ours. But yeah, tell me more about how it's a $1400/day industry.

So you're jealous of a guy making $1400 in a day and a half.

You can also make that waiting tables on the weekend at a high end restaurant. So what? Why would I be jealous that someone made so little?

[Atlanticmike]

Why are you jealous a plumber can make really good money?

I'm not. Because most don't. Same is true for most roofers. The most successful roofers are the scam artists who drive through neighborhoods the day after a mild storm, and knock doors to inform residents they can get a new roof at no cost to them because their insurance will cover it. Even though there is literally zero damage, they look at it from 100 yds away and determine there is "hail damage!" Sounds familiar? I'm sure it does. People like you is why I pay $200/month for home insurance.

In our previous neighborhood our next door neighbor tried telling me I could easily get a free roof because of the "storm," even though it did nothing to the roof. Most insurance companies won't challenge it if you file a claim after a storm, and so long as a licensed roofer says there is damage, which they almost always do. Even worse, some people are offered not only a free roof, but cashback for using them. So the roofing company bills the insurance $8,000 for a roof that cost $4,000 and then they give back $1,000 to the resident. That's nothing short of criminal. https://www.atlantaroofingspecialists.c ... uoQAvD_BwE

It is also funny to see people call a roofing company to their house and two white rednecks show up in polo shirts, all clean cut, driving a shiny $80,000 truck. Their job is to convince you to sign the contract. Then when roofing day comes around, a dirty white van with 12 ladders tie-strapped to the roof, full of illegal immigrants making less than minimum wage, show up to do the job.

And if you have plumbers begging you for work then you're dealing with some crappy contractors, ding-a-ling.

They're good, qualified, licensed plumbers who don't have enough work because there are only so many toilets they can unclog in a day. I happen to have more than a dozen licensed contractors in my phone and I know for a fact three of them live in a trailer and they others live in homes half the size of ours. But yeah, tell me more about how it's a $1400/day industry.

So you're jealous of a guy making $1400 in a day and a half.

You can also make that waiting tables on the weekend at a high end restaurant. So what? Why would I be jealous that someone made so little?

The more you speak the more I feel sorry for your dumbass. First, the most successful roofers don't ride around neighborhoods looking for work, they're turning down work right now. Same for plumbers you ding-a-ling! If you have plumbers calling you for work they suck! You need to find better contractors. And so what if contractors or anyone else live in a trailer. I know a lot of very successful people who live in a trailer. You're an idiot if you think someone isn't successful because they live in a trailer or a house half the size of yours. Are you actually serious??? You must not get out much.

Again, I think you're jealous that people working in the construction industry can make a crap ton of money. Like I said, my family GP makes around $160,000 a year. It pisses him off that a roofer owning his own business can make more than him. I have a GED but I started my business when I was in my early twenties. I've been doing the same thing for a loooooong time. I married a very smart woman who keeps me away from the books. We make a great team and I've been successful because I learned early on to kiss ass and smile big. Hiring a contractor is about trust, and as long as you (the contractor) don't take advantage of that trusting relationship, you'll always have repeat customers. Not only that, but as a contractor, if you can swallow your pride, and just listen no matter what the customer is complaining about, in the end, the customer will seek out friends and family to refer you to, because they're so greatful you didn't take advantage of them. So stop telling me you know plumbers who are begging you for work and they're also top notch contractors. That's total bullxxit! I've been doing this for a long time and top notch contractors don't even need to advertise let alone "beg" for work.

I bet if you go on your local Craigslist, a lot of the contractor numbers you have programmed in your phone will be advertising there. Don't hire a contractor that needs work. Wait for the guy that's swamped.

[Gadianton]

I dream of buying a village in Europe, say Spain, with friends and moving there en masse. This is my response to Dean Robbers’ suggestion of Mexico. Although Mexico is intriguing.

I had it in mind as on a recent trip visiting friends and dining out (where it's not indoors), a relative of my friend showed up -- he's one of these understated rich guys -- and he primarily lives in Mexico on a beach. That was striking because he owns several houses in the US and so he's not forced to economically. But I've ran into others over the years who live there now or talk about people they know who live there, and it's because of money. The general sentiment is it's a good move, and comes with a lot of beach. One day at the lumber yard while picking up some walnut and Bubinga, I overheard a long conversation among the ladies at checkout about friends who had moved to Mexico; it was all positive but they had reservations themselves of doing it. I'm sure most of the folks working there are conservatives who think Joe Rogan is the smartest person alive.

I brought this up due to the discussion of outsourced-based inflation. In a truly free market, we should let wealthy Chinese buy up American real estate, as Ajax recommends, and we can move to Mexico if we can't compete.

[Alf'Omega]

The more you speak the more I feel sorry for your dumbass. First, the most successful roofers don't ride around neighborhoods looking for work, they're turning down work right now. Same for plumbers you ding-a-ling! If you have plumbers calling you for work they suck! You need to find better contractors. And so what if contractors or anyone else live in a trailer. I know a lot of very successful people who live in a trailer. You're an idiot if you think someone isn't successful because they live in a trailer or a house half the size of yours. Are you actually serious??? You must not get out much.

Hey, you're the one making the argument about how much awesome money these people are making by doing contract jobs. My position is that the vast majority of them do not make good money at all. And their income is dependent on certain markets. Do you think these guys are making any money at all during recessions? If their tremendous wealth isn't reflected in their lifestyles, then it is probably bogus, and not so awesome after all. The only two people I know who are upper-middle class in this business are precisely the kind of people I mentioned above who dump $100k into a nice vehicle with their business name plastered all over it. And then they hire illegal immigrants to do the actual work. That's because it requires virtually no skill to do this kind of job. These people speak no English, so how did they learn to do this? They crawl on the roof, throw all the shingles in the lawn, then replace them with new ones using a nail gun. Any monkey can do it. So why are you telling people to go to trade schools at all when, according to you, they can make six figures climbing roofs?

Again, I think you're jealous that people working in the construction industry can make a crap ton of money. Like I said, my family GP makes around $160,000 a year. It pisses him off that a roofer owning his own business can make more than him.

Probably more BS like all your youtube videos. Of course it is easy to claim anything you want while posting anonymously on the internet. But most of us have enough real world experience to know that much of what you say is horse crap. All because you're part of the Right Wing cult and they're telling you you're suppose to be hating on education. I come across people like you on Facebook all the time. People bragging about how much money they made in one day for being low-skill, ignorant and proud, flashing the actual cash as their profile pic. And in a month that money is gone and they're still driving their beat up pick up truck and still trying to catch up with their missed child support payments.

Hiring a contractor is about trust, and as long as you (the contractor) don't take advantage of that trusting relationship, you'll always have repeat customers.

How often do you think someone is going to replace their roof dimwit? Most roofs last well over 10 to 20 years depending on location.

Not only that, but as a contractor, if you can swallow your pride, and just listen no matter what the customer is complaining about, in the end, the customer will seek out friends and family to refer you to, because they're so greatful you didn't take advantage of them. So stop telling me you know plumbers who are begging you for work and they're also top notch contractors.

But it is absolutely true. You just don't want to accept the fact that right now there isn't as much money to be made for everyone in this business. Hell, every other day I get a random friend request from some plumber, electrician, roofer, exterminator, etc who is hoping I'll refer them out to all our clients. Of the 1500+ Facebook friends I have on my list, probably half of them are complete strangers and owners of some kind of trade business like we're discussing. Probably a third of them are Realtors.

And I know all about trusting contractors. I have my guy who renovates, another guy who does windows, a plumber, electrician, etc. Very rarely do I call them up and tell them I have a job for them and they say, sorry I'm backed up for a few weeks. I had my electrician install our Tesla outlet the same day I called him. Our plumber replaced our basement sump pump the very next day. All of our contractors are grateful for the business we provide via referrals. So much so that our granite guy installed counters in our basement kitchen and didn't even charge us. He said it was repayment for all the business we've given them.

[Kishkumen]

I had it in mind as on a recent trip visiting friends and dining out (where it's not indoors), a relative of my friend showed up -- he's one of these understated rich guys -- and he primarily lives in Mexico on a beach. That was striking because he owns several houses in the US and so he's not forced to economically. But I've ran into others over the years who live there now or talk about people they know who live there, and it's because of money. The general sentiment is it's a good move, and comes with a lot of beach. One day at the lumber yard while picking up some walnut and Bubinga, I overheard a long conversation among the ladies at checkout about friends who had moved to Mexico; it was all positive but they had reservations themselves of doing it. I'm sure most of the folks working there are conservatives who think Joe Rogan is the smartest person alive.

I brought this up due to the discussion of outsourced-based inflation. In a truly free market, we should let wealthy Chinese buy up American real estate, as Ajax recommends, and we can move to Mexico if we can't compete.

Yeah! Well, I have been studying Spanish for this very reason. I want an escape route if I am priced out of a humble existence. My big hangup is police corruption. We are catching up, but the idea of paying a police officer personally not to get a ticket is still not a reality I have to deal with . . . yet.

[Doctor Steuss]

I dream of buying a village in Europe, say Spain, with friends and moving there en masse. This is my response to Dean Robbers’ suggestion of Mexico. Although Mexico is intriguing.

Cuba is my wife’s “if only” location. Each time she visits, it’s excruciatingly painful for her to leave. I think if we were able to, she'd pack up tomorrow with our son, if for no other reason than to get him into the education system there.

My “if only” dream simply involves a lot of land, and a lot of critters. The desert is my home and my heart, but I could grow to tolerate humidity if it meant few people, lots of room, and critters galore.

[Kishkumen]

Cuba is my wife’s “if only” location. Each time she visits, it’s excruciatingly painful for her to leave. I think if we were able to, she'd pack up tomorrow with our son, if for no other reason than to get him into the education system there.

My “if only” dream simply involves a lot of land, and a lot of critters. The desert is my home and my heart, but I could grow to tolerate humidity if it meant few people, lots of room, and critters galore.

Cuba is a gorgeous place indeed! I also agree with you about the desert. I served my mission in the High Desert in Cali, and I still miss it. Right now, however, Uruguay is looking really tempting.