#Then I had to help out my brother who drives 90 km in a 40 km zone nearly triggering my slight PTSD

[kcuf-ad]

I am brimming with stress right now and no, it won't stop :).

[narcisbolgor-blog]

25+ Dumb Drivers Who Should Not Be Allowed On The Road

We've all seen at least one PSA about the dangers of texting while driving, but where are the warnings about playing the trumpet while driving (equally dangerous people).

Yes, there are people out there driving distracted by some truly outrageous activities and lucky for us they were caught on camera. The individuals in the following photos could definitely benefit from reading a book on how to drive more safely, however, unlike the guy in one of the photos we don't recommend they read it while driving. This is our reminder for the next time you're out on the road, keep your eyes open for some truly bizarre sights because you never know what you will see on the highway. However, for now, you can scroll below! Don't forget to upvote your favs!

#1 How To You Lose The Mattress, Break Your Arm, And Crash The Car All At The Same Time?

#2 Tree-Wheel Drive

#3 Hay, Watch Where You're Going!

#4 75-80 MPH, Holding A Plate With A Fork And Knife And Talking On The Phone

#5 Riding A Motorbike While Holding A Baby Is A Bad Idea

#6 Caught Reading A Book While Driving

#7 Thought It Was A Backpack At First

#8 My Cab Driver Is Reading "Learning To Drive"... While Driving

#9 I'm Speechless

#10 Driving Without Hands, Feet, Or Brain?

#12 What Could Go Wrong?

#13 Bungee Cord Would Have Been Too Much Of A Hassle

#14 I Have Also Seen A Man Playing The Trumpet While Driving

#15 How You Know They're Straight

#16 Safety First

#17 Really? Not Even A Helmet?

#18 Only In Vietnam

#19 Curling Hair With A Curling Iron While Driving On A Highway At 90 km/h

#20 When Tow Trucks Are Too Expensive And A New Paint And Other Minor Repairs Aren't

#22 Well Secured Load

#23 So This Happened Today

#24 Seen This Guy Many Times With A Shoe.. In His... Mouth...

#25 5 Point Seat Belt

#26 Idiot Of The Week Award Goes To This Lady

#27 How Many Seats Are In This Car?

#28 Well, That's The Last Time I Eat Spaghetti And Drive

#29 It Ain't Gonna Drive Itself Home

#30 This Gurl And Her Mom... Filled Up, Got Right Back On The Highway. Dug A Groove The Whole Way

#32 At Least He Won’t Scratch The Paint

#33 Man Driving With Sun Shades On Freeway

#34 Are A Guitar And Microphone Distracted Driving?

#35 Looks Tiring!

#36 Distracted Driving? That's California For You

#37 Gotta Get Those Lashes Curled

#38 Yes, She's Eating From A Pot While Driving

#39 That's Just Unsafe

#40 This Guy Is Shaving While Driving

#42 Can You Still See The Road When Half The Windscreen Is Covered In Phones? Also, Don't Leave Your Phone In This Taxi

#43 Umm... Not Sure Which Is Worse, The Guy Transporting Sheet Metal On The Scooter, Or The Unsecured Load In The Truck

#44 Transporting A Motorcycle On A Motorcycle

#45 Just Saw This On My Way To Work, Guy Had Skids 15 Feet In The Air With 2 Ratchet Straps And That’s It

#46 Driving Over Harbour Bridge, Spotted This Guy On His Way To Collect His Darwin-Award

#47 Who Needs Trunk Space When You Have Tape

#48 At Least He Is Wearing A Helmet

#49 Who Just Starts Driving Like That

#50 Knitting And Driving, With Headphones On And Visor And Review Mirrors Pointed Down, I Suppose To Help See The Knitting While Looking Up?

#52 Woman Caught Applying Make-Up While Driving Down Busy Road With A Child In Back Of Car

#53 Saw This Guy Playing A Goddammed Recorder While Driving His Fiat On The Highway

#54 How To Get Decapitated

#55 She Was Snapchatting While Driving (40 MPH Road (64,4 KPH)). She Also Had A Little Brother In The Passenger Seat While Doing This

#56 She Drove Like This For A Solid 30 Miles

#57 Hey Don't Worry About Securing That Giant TV With A Big Rope Because, I Got This!

#58 Just Passing By

#59 This Guy Watching "The Office" On His Laptop While Driving

#60 Holding The Door Down On At 8 Lane Road

#62 Does This Count?

#63 She’s Looking At A Phone In Her Right Hand... And That’s Not A Cup Holder

#64 Must Be That New X-Ray Windshield

#65 Six Letters, Starts With An "S", Ends With A "D"

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[yourcertainstudentlight-blog]

Breda Iowa Cheap car insurance quotes zip 51436

Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/><br/>BEST ANSWER Try this site where you can compare quotes from different companies: http://freecarinsurance.xyz/index.html?src=scoop<br/><br/>RELATED QUESTIONS<br/><br/>Is there any way I can avoid paying car insurance for 2 months?<br/>I m going to the east coast and my car is just going to be sitting in my garage for 2 months.  Is there any way I can avoid paying for insurance?  I live in CA.<br/><br/>Can a ticket in another state affect my insurance rates?<br/>Can a ticket in another state affect my insurance rates?<br/><br/>Car insurance question?<br/> Ive got a younger brother who s 16 years old, newly licensed, had his drivers license for about 4-6 months...  he s buying a car soon but he s paranoid of what the insurance will be!  Its going to be a used car with a lot of miles (90-130K) and he ll spend no more than $4,000 on the vehicle.  I know there are discounts for good grades, he has a GPA of 4.2    Advice?  How much will it be per month, AND what provider is best?  Thanks! <br/><br/> Does $20 a month for 100,000 life insurance sound legit? <br/> My neighbor just had an insurance company come out to her house and they took blood from her to test for aids and hepatitis and I don t know what else but she has got insurance with them for a 100,000 dollar policy and she only pays $20 a month.  I am interested in getting the same policy but it just kinda sounds really cheap for that amount of coverage.  Is there anything I just ask about if I decide to get this insurance? <br/><br/>Term Life Insurances-canceling a policy?<br/>Dear Sir, Due to being out of work I am considering canceling a term life insurance policy as well as a disability policy.When I m working again I can see about replacement policy.Is there usally a penalty for canceling a policy?How would I go about canceling these policies? <br/><br/>Where and how to get an insurance for a borrowed car?<br/> Hi there, I am going to borrow a car from a friend for one day and since I am not at his insurance policy, I will have to obtain one day insurance for my own name, am I right? 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What are some cheap birth controls that are fairly effective and under $50?    ...and don t suggested Planned Parenthood. The closest Planned Parenthood is an hour away and I m not driving out there for a consultation or birth control every month. <br/><br/>125CC bike insurance for 17 year old?<br/>125CC bike insurance for 17 year old?<br/><br/>I got a car accident for the first time.. how much my insurance will go up?<br/> This is first time I caused the accident and I had someone rear me before which came out as it wasnt my fault.... but accident that I caused I hit a school bus thankfully there were no children in the bus.. however road was icy and I was sliding and couldnt make right turn that I was suppose to make.. it didnt few very small minor scratches in the school bus nothing serious at all but.. my car... damage is pretty bad.front top cover side and front bumper and pink oil?! Was leaking out and my grill and one head light was damanges. How much estimate might be? And how much insurance will go up? Btw its 2009 camery it has about 55000miles<br/><br/>Where can I get the cheapest car insurance?<br/>I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada and I am looking to buy cheap car insurance. I have been driving for 30 years, any ideas, good websites, great companies?   Your help is greatly appreicated. <br/><br/>Is motorcycle insurance cheaper than car insuracne?<br/>for an 18 year old in mississauga ontario, canada   would bike insuracne be cheaper than car insureacne on for(part-time car driver)? <br/><br/>Can I claim my health insurance payments on my taxes?* (see below)?<br/>I dont expect anything back, just asking... <br/><br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/><br/>Insurance rates for speeding ticket?<br/> I accept all responsibility. I am an idiot for doing this and I should have been paying more attention. I was caught going 50 km/h+ on a highway in Alberta. 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Her mom started calling my cell and my house harassing me about it, saying that I got her daughter in touble and that I m a liar becaus I said I wasn t calling the cops. The estimates I got put the damage at almost $4000.  I m sure since I called the police I can write off her promise   to pay for the damage.  I don t feel like my insurance should be paying for this <br/><br/>Car insurance for new driver that will not drive far..?<br/> HI,    I am turning 17 in november, and already looking at cars. The cars i am looking at are getting insurance at over 5000 (im male) a year fully comp! The car is only like 2500.....   The thing is i will barely use my car as i live really close to school, so will walk all weekdays - especially as i am banned from parking in school as i live too close. 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I found out that my t-12 lower spine was fractured and I had a concussion. Now my career was working sheet metal and I was told due to my injury I won t be able to continue or else I ll get more injured. The accident was on may 26th 2011 it is no march 17th 2012 I only receive 300$ a month from benefits and I am l looking for a new career now and going back to school. I just did a MRI and I am seeing a orthopedic surgeon in a couple weeks. Now the girl that hit me had no isurance and invalid sticker. She pretty much ruind my life but it happens. I am going through a lawyer here in Toronto suppose to be the best. I m still in very much pain hurts everyday can barly stay still for no longer than a couple hours. I am doing physio. I was wondering how much I should be expecting. I heard that I sue my insurance cause se doesn t have any, then I go sue her? Is this true? <br/><br/>What is the average taxi insurance price for a Small city?<br/>What is the average taxi insurance price for a Small city? per car?<br/><br/>What cars has cheap insurance?<br/>i no the tato nano is gonna be cheap but that is not in Europe yet so any suggestions<br/><br/> If government bonds pay 8.5% and insured savings accounts pay 5.5% interest, stockholders in moderately risky? <br/>If government bonds pay 8.5% and insured savings accounts pay 5.5% interest, stockholders in moderately risky firm would expect return-on-equity values of :      a. 5.5%   b.6.5%   c. 12%   d. above 8.5%, but exact amount is uncertain <br/><br/>They let me drive of the lot w/o insurance and I got into a wreck a week later... now what?!?<br/> I bought a 2003 midnight blue toyota camry about 2 weeks ago. Friday June 15th 2007 I got into a wreck on the freeway. A suv was swerving into my lane! I kept trying to get the hell out of their way. then they almost hit me and I swirved to the right to hard and my car went out of control and his the wall. my back tire is bent in and un drivable and the back door is ****** up, there is an inch and a half space in the top of it when you close it. The cop was so nice. He didnt make me file a report since i didnt have insurance. I bought my car at a small wholesale lot and financed it through credit union. they told me that I had 30 days to pay sales tax and get insurance. well now my car is wrecked and me and my fiance have to get it fixed. should the credit union pay some of it? was I insured by them? or am I just completely ****** over.... this is the first car ive every bought off a lot. I am 20 years old and have ntohing but bad luck... <br/><br/>How many babies will citizens be permitted to have once costs are fixed through insurance mediums?<br/>How many babies will citizens be permitted to have once costs are fixed through insurance mediums?<br/><br/>Average cost Motorcycle Insurance?<br/>Hello,    Does anyone know the average cost for motorcycle insurance in Arizona? <br/><br/>Can I file my income tax as married but filing seperately because he does not have insurance coverage without raising red flags?<br/>Can I file my income tax as married but filing seperately because he does not have insurance coverage without raising red flags?<br/><br/>Can you get homeowners insurance on a home that is not occupied & will be for sale in the next few months?<br/> Mother-in-law just died.  Her estate is a mess.  She let her homeowners insurance expire (didn t renew her policy) in 2004.  The broker that previously insured the home is having trouble getting an insurance company to pick up the home because it will not be occupied by anyone and will be on the market in a few weeks.  I am concerned that something might happen to the home between now and the closing date (which may be months away).  Anyone know an outfit that will insure this home?<br/><br/>How come I went on geico for an insurance quote and it said 2000 and people say their s is 75 bucks per year?<br/>Im 18, NY, Kawasaki ZZR600, taken riders safety course, any way to lower my insurance? <br/><br/>What is the best insurance for my puppy?<br/>I have a baby puppy and want the best insurance,  but not the most expensive.... I don t know it s kind of different than human insurance. anyways, what is the ebst insurance i could get my 3 month puppy. <br/><br/>I am looking for insurance I am 18 I dont work I live with my god father but he doesn t have insurance either.?<br/>um actually the goverment gives you free insurance till a certain age but I don t know when that is or where to go to fill out paperwork<br/><br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/><br/>How much would the car insurance cost on an 87 Jeep Cherokee?<br/>Located in California.<br/><br/>Cheap birth control w/o insurance?<br/> I just tried going on a new birth control (new to me) called Femcon and although it works well, it s $71 a month. It isn t covered under our insurance, as well as most birth controls. I ve tried Yaz and aside from the fact that it didn t work for me, it was $67 a month. What are some cheap birth controls that are fairly effective and under $50?    ...and don t suggested Planned Parenthood. The closest Planned Parenthood is an hour away and I m not driving out there for a consultation or birth control every month. <br/><br/>What Car insurance should i get at 18 years old?<br/>I am an 18 year old who is unemployed. I need car insurance that is cheap and is helpful. I need to know how much insurance is.<br/><br/> What is the most reliable, low insurance, cheap small car-max budget 1200? <br/> I have an  N  reg Nissan Micra, had it for around 4 years now, it s costing me more than it s worth in repairs and I need to get rid of it! It has been incredible reliable though, engine wise, just other stupid things (no doubt, age related) clutch has just gone and I could have done without that this side of xmas :( but at the moment, not in the position to replace it til next year.   Trying to do my homework on cars til then, I have narrowed it down in this order:    Volkswagen Polo   Suzuki Swift   Nissan Micra (obviously, a few years newer)   Seat Ibiza (I know, budget pushing it on that one!)   and finally, Ford Fiesta (don t know why, i find them so boring to look at, hence last on my list)    Any view on above cars would be much appreciated, or other suggestions also.   I need the car to be very low on insurance and economical to run as well. <br/><br/>Can i combine all of my insurances into one payment?<br/> I have comprehensive car insurance that also has income protection for the finance on the vehicle.     I would like to cancel the loan protection insurance so i can take take out income protection insurance on my entire financial commitments and not just on the loan. i.e. i want to cover my rent etc as well     I would also like to take out private health insurance     Is there a way that i can combine:   Comprehensive car insurance    Income protection insurance    Private health insurance<br/><br/>Affordable Care Act: The Health Insurance Exchange concept seems to do the trick... so why complaints?<br/> The Health Insurance Exchange idea allows individuals to come together and have the purchasing power of a large corporation. In this manner these uninsured people can get insurance at affordable price. This seems to really solve the problem.. who cares that insurance companies are making money? So long as it s affordable, and no pre-existing conditions excuses are used, people can be fully covered. <br/><br/>Anyone have Healthy families insurance in California?<br/> I m 12 weeks pregnant and have a high deductible kaiser insurance plan. I have a feeling I will end up paying 4500 (my out of pocket max) to give birth. Anyway, I recently found out I qualify for Healthy families insurance for me and the baby, so I applied and waiting to hear back. Just wondering if anyone has their own insurance in addition to healthy families? I wasn t sure if I could have double coverage to get help with the deductible... It s too late for me to change my plan because open enrollment at my work has already passed <br/><br/>Does passing on shoulder make insurance go up?<br/>If you get a ticket that accuses you of passing on the shoulder, would that add points to your record and make insurance go up like a speeding ticket? <br/><br/>Which is the better pet insurance?!?!?<br/>We would also like to know if you ve had experience with either of these pet insurances and please tell us the pros and cons of both. Thank you again.<br/><br/>UK car insurance question: My insurance allows me to drive my car and also any other car not owned by me...?<br/> with the permission of the owner.   But is it necessary for that other car to itself be insured itself. There is nothing in my insurance documentation to say that this is necessary.   (this is third party only insurance)    If this is the case, then surely I could get cheap insurance on a mini and drive my friends ferrari even if my friend cannot himself afford to pay for insurance for his ferrari. <br/><br/>Do most standard home owners insurances cover sewer line breaks (not sewage backups)?<br/> My plumber told me that since it is not a sewage backup and the pipe is actually broken, they will cover the costs to dig down and get to it and to cover it back up, but not the parts for the pipe. He said this is usually the case in his experience and he s been in the business for 45 years. I want to believe him, but I m afraid I could be stuck with a $8k bill. <br/><br/>Can anyone tell me  a cheap car insurance?<br/>Can anyone tell me  a cheap car insurance?<br/><br/>Has anyone had the wrong home insurance policy wrote up from allstate?<br/> We purchased a home and had allstate insurance, we recently had a fire and now we are being told that we had the wrong policy and we are in a long drawn out process. We dont know if the policy will be covered or not yet. Allstate is dragging there feet. Even though it is the agents responsibility to take pics and view the home she did not. they told us that the agents are not actual employees of allstate. can anyone give us advice on what to do?    We have a single wide trailer with a living room extension and a sunroom extension. The agent was told all the details of the home. She never took pics of the home and never had us sign the policy, however we have been paying them for 5 months now. They have had plenty of time to not insure the house if they wanted.   Arson was never a question, it was an electrical fire, my family was in the home the time of the fire. <br/><br/> 27, single, no kids, great health, should i get term life insurance? <br/> I spoke to an agent and he recommended life insurance (since in the future I plan on having a family, kids husband).  Term insurance for 10 20 or 30 years is pretty cheap ranging from 10-16 bucks a month for me, whole life is A LOT more.  I understand the rate for whole life will just keep going up as i get older, but he said it would make sense for me to get term just so I can take the medical test and in the future 10 years (or before the term life insurance expires) I decide to get a whole life policy with the same company (met life) they would still quote me a premium at the health I had when I got my term policy (in case my health were to worsen)....    Am i Making sense..   So basically he sa <br/><br/>How to get Temporary Car Insurance for one week in Florida?<br/> Heres the deal.  In May a couple of my friends and I are going to fly into Florida to visit some relatives.  They have an extra car that nobody uses on a day to day basis, so instead of renting a car for the week... we would rather drive this car around.  The problem is insurance... I don t know anything about this if its possible or not.  Is there anyway to get one of us insured to drive the car for a week, we are all insured drivers here in Michigan if that matters.  Also would it make any difference that the car we are using is my Aunt s, so we are closely related.      Any information, experience with this type of situation, contact numbers etc. would be greatly appreciated!    Thank you! <br/><br/>Do I need to buy auto insurance for my car?<br/>My car broke down last week and my auto insurance is up for renewal.  Am I required to renew it if I won t be fix it anytime soon?   Will my insurance hike up if I wait 1-2 months before renewing? I ll park it in the garage so it s safe.    Thanks!<br/><br/>My previous tenant duplicated a key and he breaks into the apartment and steals my current tenant s valuables.?<br/>My previous tenant duplicated a key and he breaks into the apartment and steals my current tenant s valuables.?<br/><br/> Can I sell my insurance policy and transfer to other s name? If yes, how can I do so in India? <br/>Can I sell my insurance policy and transfer to other s name? If yes, how can I do so in India? <br/><br/>METLIFE- Super Saver Plan Insurance- FEEDBACK PLEASE?<br/> I obtained a termed-plan insurance from American Life Insurance Co. (ALICO) last year.  I had opted for a 10 yr. plan then I ll cash it out.  I knew that METLIFE had acquired ALICO late last year.  I just want some real reviews from their clients who had insurance which matures & cash-in their investment.  My monthly premium is $200, but I still want to be re-assured that I m putting my money on the right track.  I m serious about this investment and will keep up paying my premiums till it matures.  But i just want to double-check now that their clients are able to cash-in their investment on maturity without nuisance or difficulty.  Please give me some real feedback.  Because I am willing to withdraw it now rather that loose everything all the way.  Thanks in advance for those who will reply.      P.S.  The contract I signed explicitly states a phrase likes this  I represent and warrant to ALICO that I am not a citizen or resident of the United States of America or any state <br/><br/>Is it illegal as a landlord not to have house insurance?<br/>my landlord doesnt have house insurance, the boiler broke down and i asked the plumber questions about my landlord, he informs me that there is no house insurance. this concerns me as a tenent. is this illegal? i mean what if i burn th house down? <br/><br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/><br/>Will my car insurance increase?<br/> I received a ticket for failure to obey street sign, because I went down a closed road. I was wondering will my insurance rates go up because of this? This is my first ticket and have been driving for about 6 years. If I go to traffic school, will it stop the rate from going up? From what I have read online, some people said it does effect and some say no. I have Allstate and live in CA.  Any info is much appreciated. <br/><br/>Can I insure my automobile?<br/>Can I insure my automobile?<br/><br/>How much would it cost for mobile home insurance?<br/>Don t tell me it depends or to talk to an agent.  Just give me a ballpark estimate of what the most basic homeowners insurance would cost per year on a 1997 14,000 dollar mobile home single wide located in idaho.  This is insurance on  the 14,000 dollar value not what it would cost to get a new one. <br/><br/>Is it cheaper to shop for car insurance online vs local agents?<br/> I am looking to switch and was told by an agent that they like it when you come to them in person rather than over the phone? I don t want to spend a whole day running to different agencies only to save a couple of dollars each month because the agent gets a share. Is that how it works? Is it cheaper to shop online? I would appreciate any reply.<br/><br/>Insuring a car financed by someone else....?<br/> So I am looking to purchase a car but of course the insurance will be much higher for me than my veteran older sibling with a longer driving history and a policy as well. Would I be able to have him insure and me as a second driver or can he Co sign to be able to put the insurance under him (me as second driver)?    Is there any way to finance a car and be under someone else s insurance?    Thank you<br/><br/>Need help to find information about health insurance?<br/>Need help to find information about health insurance?<br/><br/>Insurance cost for a 2001 Range Rover?<br/>What would the annual cost be to insure a smart teenager on a 2001 range rover hse?   just a ballpark works...   Thanks<br/><br/>I am a college student and i am looking for health and dental insurance.?<br/> I just moved to texas and I rarely go to the doctor only for like for pap smears birth control and things of that nature. I work PRN an a hospital but PRN employees do not qualify for benefits.I am looking for an affordable insurance until i finish nursing school and get a full time job with benefits? Can anyone help me!<br/><br/>Is it possible to have health insurance coverage in 2 different states?<br/>For instance if you go to school in one state but live in another is it can you have health insurance coverage for both states? It seems like it would be more convenient if I suffered an injury and could be treated in one state or the other at the time.<br/><br/>Looking for a good insurance company?<br/> Im barley getting by as it is so i need an insurance company that can help pay for expensive monthly inhalers, and i need dental insurance. But like i said im barley making it as it is, is there anyone out there that is paying for there on plan and what are you paying? Im 19 my moms 55 and we both need coverage. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. <br/><br/>Gerber Life insurance?<br/> My mom says Im a Gerber baby and she pays monthly into them, idk how much. But from what Ive heard when you reach the age of 25 or something like that Gerber gives you money? Im not sure and I was wondering if its true or not. Ive asked my mom and she said she doesnt know. So is it like regular insurance that if i die or get killed the money will go to someone in my family or do I get a percentage of whatever my moms been paying into? <br/><br/>What is a good CHEAP car for a 16 year old?<br/>i am turning 16 in a while and i really want a cheap used small suv got any suggestions ????? please help my dad and i are tired of fighting over it<br/><br/>How much does a moped cost?<br/>How much does a moped cost?<br/><br/>Do I need gap insurance?<br/>I have an 05 nissan 350z with 30000 miles on it. kept in very good condition. KBB quotes my vehicle trade in value at $18,337.    I paid $19,???. I put $5,000 down. so now i have to pay with interest $18,???.      I have full coverage insurance, but no gap insurance. If i totaled my car would I be screwed? <br/><br/>Does my motorcycle insurance affect my credit report?<br/> I have never lapsed on my insurance coverage in the 7 years I have been driving.  I live in massachusetts and am a motorcycle rider.  My insurance policy on the bike ended in February 2013 and i forgot to renew it.  I just reinstated in today, March 23 2013.  Will this have a significant affect on my credit report?  How much of your insurance score goes into factoring your entire credit score and could this make shopping for insurance more difficult in the future.  Again, I have never had any delinquencies in the past and just complete forgot due to all the snow we received.  Thank You! <br/><br/>Insurance cost/ car cost?<br/>ok i live in canada, and i am saveing up for my first car, what is the cheapest car i can get, cheap but still a good car, a standared car not a stick. and how much insurance will i have to pay for this car. no i only got pulled over once but that was 2 years ago, will that take an effect for my insurance  ......... <br/><br/>Are there anyways of lowering my car insurance?  19 Yr Old Male.?<br/> Im a 19 year old male and I have my own suzuki swift sport which I have worked hard for for the last few years. The only thing is my insurance is around 3000 a year (brand new car)........ I dont mind going on my mothers insurance for example, im not worried about not being able to build my own no claims bonus.............................    I have done a small amount of research into going onto my mothers policy and it wasn t that much cheaper........................are there and other ways of legal going about this?    Thanks for your time,  Matt. <br/><br/>Which car is a good cheap first car?<br/>so im starting driving in january and my grandad has promised to buy me a car (which i am very grateful of). So i was just wondering which car to get? I was thinking a ford Ka. Also i need the car to have cheap insurance. Cheers.<br/><br/>What do you think about bmw for a teen?<br/>im 16, not rich not poor (average), you think i will be able to afford 1998 BMW 528i? i mean i can buy it but the repair cost, insurance is it ok compare to lets say honda accord. is it a good choice because it looks great  <br/><br/>Steps in getting health insurance in one day?<br/>Steps in getting health insurance in one day?<br/><br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/>Nitro West Virginia Cheap car insurance quotes zip 25143<br/><br/> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/discovered-lump-out-unemployment-without-insurance-what-snyder

[heliosfinance]

Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

[Happy Friday!! Got a special guest to the site today, Bob Lai from Tawcan.com, who talks about what it’s like growing up in a family with FIRE in their veins. You can’t always help who your family is or how they manage their money, of course, but when you find someone rockin’ it (family, friend, colleague) be sure to latch on and learn from them! It’s all about who you surround yourself with!]

********

At FinCon17, I was invited to a FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) beer tasting party by Carl from 1500days. At one point of the night, and many beers in, I joined Carl and a few bloggers on discussing what his life has been like since retiring from his job…

“FIRE is not a foreign concept for me at all, it runs in my family!” I blurted out at some point in the conversation. J. Money later heard of this, and asked if I’d share how impactful this has been, both in my life and my personal finances.

Below is a little about each of these family members of mine, followed by the lessons learned growing up around them. I hope you find it useful.

Cousin #1: We Work Because We Love To

One of my cousins, let’s call her Cousin #1, and her husband met at medical school and opened a medical clinic together in Taiwan after residency. Although they make good income, they are also careful with their expenses and investments.

Cousin #1 and her husband invested in the stock market, but the key to their financial success really came from purchasing several apartment buildings in nearby universities. Because university students always need a place to stay, these apartment buildings are constantly in high demand.

Based on their rental property investments alone, I had a suspicion that they were financially independent. This was later confirmed when we talked about their rental income.  Cousin #1 and her husband have been financially independent since the late 2000’s when they were in their mid-40’s.

Despite being financially independent, they both continued to work at their clinic because they enjoyed what they did and got their schedules down to only 3 times a week. They also employed people at the clinics and felt responsible for their employees.

Since reaching FI, they have been reinvesting their passive income to purchase even more rental properties and stocks. Their passive income has not surprisingly increased over the years. They have also been able to give back to the community using their passive income.

They are enjoying FI life while still working because they love what they do.

Cousin #2: Life Planning vs “Retiring Early”

When I talked to Cousin #2 about his early retirement, he emphasized that he does not see it as “retiring early” but rather life planning.

While studying Management Information Systems at college, he realized that if he was still sitting in front of a computer coding programs when he turned 50, life would be extremely boring. Therefore, during the 3rd year of university, he started learning about finance and economics. He spent time learning how to read company’s financial statements, the different financial indicators, and how to evaluate the price model of bond and financial derivatives. Once he was familiar with these topics, he started investing in the stock market.

Cousin #2 also pointed out that high income does not automatically lead to financial independence or early retirement. He stated that to achieve where he is today, he had a secret weapon – cash flow.

While he was single and later once married, he and his wife were spending less than 50% of their take home income for over 15 years. Because he had a plan and his wife was supportive of the idea, saving over 50% income was not difficult at all for them. Rather, it felt like a seamless process.

My cousin called it quits when he was 42 years old. He went from working over 12 hours each day at a Taiwanese high tech company to becoming a stay-at-home-dad.

Roughly 80% of their passive income is generated through their stock portfolio and 20% comes from real estate. His wife still works today. But just like Cousin #1 and her husband, Cousin #2’s wife works because she enjoys what she does.

Since retiring, Cousin #2 has also been able to focus more on exercising. On weekdays, he would take his kids to school in the morning, then head out biking for around 40 km (25 miles) or play badminton before picking them back up again. On weekends, the family would often go on trips or go out camping.  He has been able to enjoy his life more and pursue his interests. Early retirement life is good.

When I met up with him in Taiwan in October, he told me that he has been reading my blog. He was intrigued about my FIRE plan, and over dinner we chatted about FIRE, investing, and life. It was great that we could openly discuss such financial related topics!

My Father: Forced FIRE

I still remember the day my dad told my mom and my younger brother that he had handed in his resignation letter. We were all in the hospital after my mother had just completed a minor surgery, and from what I could recall there was a lot of tension between him and the president & CEO of the company. My dad hadn’t been enjoying his job for years, and as someone who worked directly below the president & CEO, he had to make a lot of tough decisions against his will

My dad’s resignation roughly coincided with our immigration to Canada.  He resigned about a month before we all left Taiwan to start a new life.

When we immigrated to Canada, my dad tried to look for a job but there was nothing related to his field of work. After evaluating our household finances, my dad decided to just stop working.

He was 43.

Although my dad stopped working, his life was still quite busy. My dad, alongside with my mom, became the biggest supporters for me and my brother. Without their support and help, I wouldn’t have been able to learn English and get out of my ESL classes in under a year.

Growing up, my dad would drop off my brother and I at school every morning, then pick us up afterwards. He attended all of our extra-curricular activities, ranging from basketball games, volleyball games, field trips, band concerts, etc.

When my brother and I needed help, he was always there.

FIRE was not prominent back in the late 90’s and the 2000’s. In fact, we didn’t even know the terms “early retirement” or “financial independence.” We simply viewed that my dad was forced to stop working, and my parents had to figure out how to support our family financially in other ways.

My parents started looking into passive income streams, and eventually found success in three key areas: stocks, GIC’s (The Canadian equivalent of CDs (Certificates of Deposit)), and rental property.

It also helped that frugality and stealth wealth were engraved in my family’s DNA. Growing up, we didn’t have any fancy toys or fancy clothes. We were thrifty and mostly wore second hand clothes.  We focused on simplicity, value, quality, and experience. There was no need to show off by driving fancy cars, wearing expensive designer clothes, or having the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. Our family only ever had one car, which my parents would drive for 7 years+ before exchanging it in for a newer one.

Thanks to my parents, both my brother and I were immersed in the family financial decisions. We learned about saving money and the different types of investments.

Another benefit of non-working parents? We went on extended road trips all the time!

When I was in high school, every summer we would go on road trips that usually lasted over a month. One year, we flew to Toronto and drove around Eastern Canada and Eastern United States. Another year we drove from Vancouver to Alaska and back. Another time we drove from Vancouver to New Orleans and back. Then once to Prince Edward Island to drive around the Maritimes and Maine. Later would drive to Banff and Alberta multiple times.

Throughout these road trips I obtained immeasurable knowledge and experiences that classes or books would never give me.

5 Lessons Learned Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

Growing up in a multi-generation FIRE family has greatly influenced the way I see financial independence and early retirement. I have been fortunate to learn many things through my two cousins and my dad. Here are some of the main ones.

#1. FIRE has many different looks

FIRE does not have to look a certain way. Cousin #1 reached FI but continued working, Cousin #2 retired early but his wife still works, and then we have my dad who was forced into early retirement. There is no common trend in all 3 cases. If you believe FIRE must look a certain way, then you don’t know the true concept of FIRE.

Financial Independence Retire Early simply means creating freedom and flexibility in your life. It means you can make your own choices on how to spend your money and time.

FIRE gives you more power to take charge of your life, and what you do with it is entirely up to you. You are not living off an approved checklist – you are the one who creates the list! Better yet, you can decide to not create any list at all.

FIRE also gives an entire different perspective when it comes to work. When you are financially independent, you are no longer working for that paycheck every 2 weeks simply because you need the money. You are working because you enjoy what you do, not because you have to. This shift in mentality is extremely powerful.

#2. It’s important to openly discuss finances

Rather than treating money as a taboo subject, discussing money topics openly is vitally important in my multi-generation FIRE family. My parents and my brother and I talk about our salaries, stock investments, and real estate investment opportunities regularly. My parents involved my brother and I in household financial decisions since we were young. Similarly, I can talk to my two cousins about money and other financial topics anytime I want and continue learning valuable lessons from them.

The more openly we discuss money, the more we can learn from each other. Money is simply a tool in life. It is not a dirty word. Having open discussions helps to decrease possible tensions and arguments you may have with family members.

#3. Know what you want in life!

The biggest lesson I have learned from my cousins and my dad is to think about what I truly want in the future. What is keeping me motivated on reaching my dreams? What tools are available to me to reach my goals? And most importantly, do I have any backup plans in case my first plan doesn’t work out?

So what do I personally want when it comes to FIRE?

My wife and I’s goal is to have enough passive income to exceed our annual expenses. Most of our passive income streams come in the form of dividend income. This year, we are on track to receive close to $15,000 in dividend income for doing absolutely nothing while our money works hard for us.

We plan on relying on dividend income rather than the 4% safe withdrawal rule to achieve FIRE, simply because we want to pass on our dividend portfolio to our kids in the future. However, this doesn’t mean we wouldn’t sell any stocks.

Because my wife is from Denmark and I am from Taiwan and we live in Vancouver Canada, we plan to move to Denmark and Taiwan sometime in the future. We plan to live in each country for 2 years minimum to allow our kids to learn about the two different cultures and languages. We plan to explore the nearby countries while living “abroad”.

We also have a dream of traveling the world for a year with our kids. My wife and I believe this is a great way for all of us to learn and gain valuable knowledge.

Beyond that, we don’t have concrete plans. We want our FIRE plans to be flexible so we can alter our plans when necessary. This is why we aren’t perfectly set in our passive income plans and don’t even have a specific FIRE date for that matter. Whether we decide to continue working once we are financially independent is entirely undecided at this point.

#4. FIRE builds stronger relationships

Looking back, I feel very fortunate that my dad could attend all my school events. This is something both of my cousins have been able to do with their kids as well.

Being present at your kids’ school events and other important life events are extremely important. It is a great way to build stronger parent-child relationships. FIRE means having more time on your hands so you can spend more time with your kids, your partner, and other important people in your life.

My oldest kid is in pre-kindergarten this year, but due to work I have not been able to attend all of his field trips. My daughter is less than 2 and she loves to play with me. I try to spend as much quality time with both of my kids as possible when I am at home, and I try to do more every day, but other times I fail. Being FIRE’d will allow me to become even more involved with my kids for years to come.

(Editor’s note: This is exactly why I want to become a stay-at-home-daddy who blogs on the side vs a full-time blogger who dads on the side! Your kids are everything!!)

#5. It’s all about Stealth Wealth

When I examine all 3 of my family members who are FIRE’d, stealth wealth is the only common thing between them. Stealth wealth means not having the needs to show off your wealth. It means driving the same car for many years, buying good quality items that would last a long time, buying second hand products when it makes sense, simplifying your life so you don’t own random crap, and not buying things for the sake of buying them. When one gets the idea of stealth wealth and truly master it, FIRE is something that will be within a close reach.

In Summary…

I have been fortunate to see firsthand how several family members have become financially independent and/or retired early over the years. Life is full of possibilities and choices. FIRE is simply one great option that can bring in more choices for you and your family.

What you do with your FIRE life is entirely up to you. Be as creative as you can!

****** Bob Lai (aka Tawcan) is a Vancouver Canada based blogger. A millennial, frugalist, investor, photographer, cookbook author, and outdoor enthusiast, he started his financial independence journey in 2011 after a financial epiphany. Since then he has amassed a dividend portfolio paying over $1,300 per month. He created his blog Tawcan.com chronicle his quest for joyful life and financial independence.

PS: “Tawcan” is a combination of “Taiwan” and “Canada” that Bob made up if you were wondering ;)

Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family published first on http://ift.tt/2ljLF4B

[fesahaawit]

Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

[Happy Friday!! Got a special guest to the site today, Bob Lai from Tawcan.com, who talks about what it’s like growing up in a family with FIRE in their veins. You can’t always help who your family is or how they manage their money, of course, but when you find someone rockin’ it (family, friend, colleague) be sure to latch on and learn from them! It’s all about who you surround yourself with!]

********

At FinCon17, I was invited to a FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) beer tasting party by Carl from 1500days. At one point of the night, and many beers in, I joined Carl and a few bloggers on discussing what his life has been like since retiring from his job…

“FIRE is not a foreign concept for me at all, it runs in my family!” I blurted out at some point in the conversation. J. Money later heard of this, and asked if I’d share how impactful this has been, both in my life and my personal finances.

Below is a little about each of these family members of mine, followed by the lessons learned growing up around them. I hope you find it useful.

Cousin #1: We Work Because We Love To

One of my cousins, let’s call her Cousin #1, and her husband met at medical school and opened a medical clinic together in Taiwan after residency. Although they make good income, they are also careful with their expenses and investments.

Cousin #1 and her husband invested in the stock market, but the key to their financial success really came from purchasing several apartment buildings in nearby universities. Because university students always need a place to stay, these apartment buildings are constantly in high demand.

Based on their rental property investments alone, I had a suspicion that they were financially independent. This was later confirmed when we talked about their rental income.  Cousin #1 and her husband have been financially independent since the late 2000’s when they were in their mid-40’s.

Despite being financially independent, they both continued to work at their clinic because they enjoyed what they did and got their schedules down to only 3 times a week. They also employed people at the clinics and felt responsible for their employees.

Since reaching FI, they have been reinvesting their passive income to purchase even more rental properties and stocks. Their passive income has not surprisingly increased over the years. They have also been able to give back to the community using their passive income.

They are enjoying FI life while still working because they love what they do.

Cousin #2: Life Planning vs “Retiring Early”

When I talked to Cousin #2 about his early retirement, he emphasized that he does not see it as “retiring early” but rather life planning.

While studying Management Information Systems at college, he realized that if he was still sitting in front of a computer coding programs when he turned 50, life would be extremely boring. Therefore, during the 3rd year of university, he started learning about finance and economics. He spent time learning how to read company’s financial statements, the different financial indicators, and how to evaluate the price model of bond and financial derivatives. Once he was familiar with these topics, he started investing in the stock market.

Cousin #2 also pointed out that high income does not automatically lead to financial independence or early retirement. He stated that to achieve where he is today, he had a secret weapon – cash flow.

While he was single and later once married, he and his wife were spending less than 50% of their take home income for over 15 years. Because he had a plan and his wife was supportive of the idea, saving over 50% income was not difficult at all for them. Rather, it felt like a seamless process.

My cousin called it quits when he was 42 years old. He went from working over 12 hours each day at a Taiwanese high tech company to becoming a stay-at-home-dad.

Roughly 80% of their passive income is generated through their stock portfolio and 20% comes from real estate. His wife still works today. But just like Cousin #1 and her husband, Cousin #2’s wife works because she enjoys what she does.

Since retiring, Cousin #2 has also been able to focus more on exercising. On weekdays, he would take his kids to school in the morning, then head out biking for around 40 km (25 miles) or play badminton before picking them back up again. On weekends, the family would often go on trips or go out camping.  He has been able to enjoy his life more and pursue his interests. Early retirement life is good.

When I met up with him in Taiwan in October, he told me that he has been reading my blog. He was intrigued about my FIRE plan, and over dinner we chatted about FIRE, investing, and life. It was great that we could openly discuss such financial related topics!

My Father: Forced FIRE

I still remember the day my dad told my mom and my younger brother that he had handed in his resignation letter. We were all in the hospital after my mother had just completed a minor surgery, and from what I could recall there was a lot of tension between him and the president & CEO of the company. My dad hadn’t been enjoying his job for years, and as someone who worked directly below the president & CEO, he had to make a lot of tough decisions against his will

My dad’s resignation roughly coincided with our immigration to Canada.  He resigned about a month before we all left Taiwan to start a new life.

When we immigrated to Canada, my dad tried to look for a job but there was nothing related to his field of work. After evaluating our household finances, my dad decided to just stop working.

He was 43.

Although my dad stopped working, his life was still quite busy. My dad, alongside with my mom, became the biggest supporters for me and my brother. Without their support and help, I wouldn’t have been able to learn English and get out of my ESL classes in under a year.

Growing up, my dad would drop off my brother and I at school every morning, then pick us up afterwards. He attended all of our extra-curricular activities, ranging from basketball games, volleyball games, field trips, band concerts, etc.

When my brother and I needed help, he was always there.

FIRE was not prominent back in the late 90’s and the 2000’s. In fact, we didn’t even know the terms “early retirement” or “financial independence.” We simply viewed that my dad was forced to stop working, and my parents had to figure out how to support our family financially in other ways.

My parents started looking into passive income streams, and eventually found success in three key areas: stocks, GIC’s (The Canadian equivalent of CDs (Certificates of Deposit)), and rental property.

It also helped that frugality and stealth wealth were engraved in my family’s DNA. Growing up, we didn’t have any fancy toys or fancy clothes. We were thrifty and mostly wore second hand clothes.  We focused on simplicity, value, quality, and experience. There was no need to show off by driving fancy cars, wearing expensive designer clothes, or having the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. Our family only ever had one car, which my parents would drive for 7 years+ before exchanging it in for a newer one.

Thanks to my parents, both my brother and I were immersed in the family financial decisions. We learned about saving money and the different types of investments.

Another benefit of non-working parents? We went on extended road trips all the time!

When I was in high school, every summer we would go on road trips that usually lasted over a month. One year, we flew to Toronto and drove around Eastern Canada and Eastern United States. Another year we drove from Vancouver to Alaska and back. Another time we drove from Vancouver to New Orleans and back. Then once to Prince Edward Island to drive around the Maritimes and Maine. Later would drive to Banff and Alberta multiple times.

Throughout these road trips I obtained immeasurable knowledge and experiences that classes or books would never give me.

5 Lessons Learned Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

Growing up in a multi-generation FIRE family has greatly influenced the way I see financial independence and early retirement. I have been fortunate to learn many things through my two cousins and my dad. Here are some of the main ones.

#1. FIRE has many different looks

FIRE does not have to look a certain way. Cousin #1 reached FI but continued working, Cousin #2 retired early but his wife still works, and then we have my dad who was forced into early retirement. There is no common trend in all 3 cases. If you believe FIRE must look a certain way, then you don’t know the true concept of FIRE.

Financial Independence Retire Early simply means creating freedom and flexibility in your life. It means you can make your own choices on how to spend your money and time.

FIRE gives you more power to take charge of your life, and what you do with it is entirely up to you. You are not living off an approved checklist – you are the one who creates the list! Better yet, you can decide to not create any list at all.

FIRE also gives an entire different perspective when it comes to work. When you are financially independent, you are no longer working for that paycheck every 2 weeks simply because you need the money. You are working because you enjoy what you do, not because you have to. This shift in mentality is extremely powerful.

#2. It’s important to openly discuss finances

Rather than treating money as a taboo subject, discussing money topics openly is vitally important in my multi-generation FIRE family. My parents and my brother and I talk about our salaries, stock investments, and real estate investment opportunities regularly. My parents involved my brother and I in household financial decisions since we were young. Similarly, I can talk to my two cousins about money and other financial topics anytime I want and continue learning valuable lessons from them.

The more openly we discuss money, the more we can learn from each other. Money is simply a tool in life. It is not a dirty word. Having open discussions helps to decrease possible tensions and arguments you may have with family members.

#3. Know what you want in life!

The biggest lesson I have learned from my cousins and my dad is to think about what I truly want in the future. What is keeping me motivated on reaching my dreams? What tools are available to me to reach my goals? And most importantly, do I have any backup plans in case my first plan doesn’t work out?

So what do I personally want when it comes to FIRE?

My wife and I’s goal is to have enough passive income to exceed our annual expenses. Most of our passive income streams come in the form of dividend income. This year, we are on track to receive close to $15,000 in dividend income for doing absolutely nothing while our money works hard for us.

We plan on relying on dividend income rather than the 4% safe withdrawal rule to achieve FIRE, simply because we want to pass on our dividend portfolio to our kids in the future. However, this doesn’t mean we wouldn’t sell any stocks.

Because my wife is from Denmark and I am from Taiwan and we live in Vancouver Canada, we plan to move to Denmark and Taiwan sometime in the future. We plan to live in each country for 2 years minimum to allow our kids to learn about the two different cultures and languages. We plan to explore the nearby countries while living “abroad”.

We also have a dream of traveling the world for a year with our kids. My wife and I believe this is a great way for all of us to learn and gain valuable knowledge.

Beyond that, we don’t have concrete plans. We want our FIRE plans to be flexible so we can alter our plans when necessary. This is why we aren’t perfectly set in our passive income plans and don’t even have a specific FIRE date for that matter. Whether we decide to continue working once we are financially independent is entirely undecided at this point.

#4. FIRE builds stronger relationships

Looking back, I feel very fortunate that my dad could attend all my school events. This is something both of my cousins have been able to do with their kids as well.

Being present at your kids’ school events and other important life events are extremely important. It is a great way to build stronger parent-child relationships. FIRE means having more time on your hands so you can spend more time with your kids, your partner, and other important people in your life.

My oldest kid is in pre-kindergarten this year, but due to work I have not been able to attend all of his field trips. My daughter is less than 2 and she loves to play with me. I try to spend as much quality time with both of my kids as possible when I am at home, and I try to do more every day, but other times I fail. Being FIRE’d will allow me to become even more involved with my kids for years to come.

(Editor’s note: This is exactly why I want to become a stay-at-home-daddy who blogs on the side vs a full-time blogger who dads on the side! Your kids are everything!!)

#5. It’s all about Stealth Wealth

When I examine all 3 of my family members who are FIRE’d, stealth wealth is the only common thing between them. Stealth wealth means not having the needs to show off your wealth. It means driving the same car for many years, buying good quality items that would last a long time, buying second hand products when it makes sense, simplifying your life so you don’t own random crap, and not buying things for the sake of buying them. When one gets the idea of stealth wealth and truly master it, FIRE is something that will be within a close reach.

In Summary…

I have been fortunate to see firsthand how several family members have become financially independent and/or retired early over the years. Life is full of possibilities and choices. FIRE is simply one great option that can bring in more choices for you and your family.

What you do with your FIRE life is entirely up to you. Be as creative as you can!

****** Bob Lai (aka Tawcan) is a Vancouver Canada based blogger. A millennial, frugalist, investor, photographer, cookbook author, and outdoor enthusiast, he started his financial independence journey in 2011 after a financial epiphany. Since then he has amassed a dividend portfolio paying over $1,300 per month. He created his blog Tawcan.com chronicle his quest for joyful life and financial independence.

PS: “Tawcan” is a combination of “Taiwan” and “Canada” that Bob made up if you were wondering ;)

Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ

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Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

[Happy Friday!! Got a special guest to the site today, Bob Lai from Tawcan.com, who talks about what it’s like growing up in a family with FIRE in their veins. You can’t always help who your family is or how they manage their money, of course, but when you find someone rockin’ it (family, friend, colleague) be sure to latch on and learn from them! It’s all about who you surround yourself with!]

********

At FinCon17, I was invited to a FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) beer tasting party by Carl from 1500days. At one point of the night, and many beers in, I joined Carl and a few bloggers on discussing what his life has been like since retiring from his job…

“FIRE is not a foreign concept for me at all, it runs in my family!” I blurted out at some point in the conversation. J. Money later heard of this, and asked if I’d share how impactful this has been, both in my life and my personal finances.

Below is a little about each of these family members of mine, followed by the lessons learned growing up around them. I hope you find it useful.

Cousin #1: We Work Because We Love To

One of my cousins, let’s call her Cousin #1, and her husband met at medical school and opened a medical clinic together in Taiwan after residency. Although they make good income, they are also careful with their expenses and investments.

Cousin #1 and her husband invested in the stock market, but the key to their financial success really came from purchasing several apartment buildings in nearby universities. Because university students always need a place to stay, these apartment buildings are constantly in high demand.

Based on their rental property investments alone, I had a suspicion that they were financially independent. This was later confirmed when we talked about their rental income.  Cousin #1 and her husband have been financially independent since the late 2000’s when they were in their mid-40’s.

Despite being financially independent, they both continued to work at their clinic because they enjoyed what they did and got their schedules down to only 3 times a week. They also employed people at the clinics and felt responsible for their employees.

Since reaching FI, they have been reinvesting their passive income to purchase even more rental properties and stocks. Their passive income has not surprisingly increased over the years. They have also been able to give back to the community using their passive income.

They are enjoying FI life while still working because they love what they do.

Cousin #2: Life Planning vs “Retiring Early”

When I talked to Cousin #2 about his early retirement, he emphasized that he does not see it as “retiring early” but rather life planning.

While studying Management Information Systems at college, he realized that if he was still sitting in front of a computer coding programs when he turned 50, life would be extremely boring. Therefore, during the 3rd year of university, he started learning about finance and economics. He spent time learning how to read company’s financial statements, the different financial indicators, and how to evaluate the price model of bond and financial derivatives. Once he was familiar with these topics, he started investing in the stock market.

Cousin #2 also pointed out that high income does not automatically lead to financial independence or early retirement. He stated that to achieve where he is today, he had a secret weapon – cash flow.

While he was single and later once married, he and his wife were spending less than 50% of their take home income for over 15 years. Because he had a plan and his wife was supportive of the idea, saving over 50% income was not difficult at all for them. Rather, it felt like a seamless process.

My cousin called it quits when he was 42 years old. He went from working over 12 hours each day at a Taiwanese high tech company to becoming a stay-at-home-dad.

Roughly 80% of their passive income is generated through their stock portfolio and 20% comes from real estate. His wife still works today. But just like Cousin #1 and her husband, Cousin #2’s wife works because she enjoys what she does.

Since retiring, Cousin #2 has also been able to focus more on exercising. On weekdays, he would take his kids to school in the morning, then head out biking for around 40 km (25 miles) or play badminton before picking them back up again. On weekends, the family would often go on trips or go out camping.  He has been able to enjoy his life more and pursue his interests. Early retirement life is good.

When I met up with him in Taiwan in October, he told me that he has been reading my blog. He was intrigued about my FIRE plan, and over dinner we chatted about FIRE, investing, and life. It was great that we could openly discuss such financial related topics!

My Father: Forced FIRE

I still remember the day my dad told my mom and my younger brother that he had handed in his resignation letter. We were all in the hospital after my mother had just completed a minor surgery, and from what I could recall there was a lot of tension between him and the president & CEO of the company. My dad hadn’t been enjoying his job for years, and as someone who worked directly below the president & CEO, he had to make a lot of tough decisions against his will

My dad’s resignation roughly coincided with our immigration to Canada.  He resigned about a month before we all left Taiwan to start a new life.

When we immigrated to Canada, my dad tried to look for a job but there was nothing related to his field of work. After evaluating our household finances, my dad decided to just stop working.

He was 43.

Although my dad stopped working, his life was still quite busy. My dad, alongside with my mom, became the biggest supporters for me and my brother. Without their support and help, I wouldn’t have been able to learn English and get out of my ESL classes in under a year.

Growing up, my dad would drop off my brother and I at school every morning, then pick us up afterwards. He attended all of our extra-curricular activities, ranging from basketball games, volleyball games, field trips, band concerts, etc.

When my brother and I needed help, he was always there.

FIRE was not prominent back in the late 90’s and the 2000’s. In fact, we didn’t even know the terms “early retirement” or “financial independence.” We simply viewed that my dad was forced to stop working, and my parents had to figure out how to support our family financially in other ways.

My parents started looking into passive income streams, and eventually found success in three key areas: stocks, GIC’s (The Canadian equivalent of CDs (Certificates of Deposit)), and rental property.

It also helped that frugality and stealth wealth were engraved in my family’s DNA. Growing up, we didn’t have any fancy toys or fancy clothes. We were thrifty and mostly wore second hand clothes.  We focused on simplicity, value, quality, and experience. There was no need to show off by driving fancy cars, wearing expensive designer clothes, or having the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. Our family only ever had one car, which my parents would drive for 7 years+ before exchanging it in for a newer one.

Thanks to my parents, both my brother and I were immersed in the family financial decisions. We learned about saving money and the different types of investments.

Another benefit of non-working parents? We went on extended road trips all the time!

When I was in high school, every summer we would go on road trips that usually lasted over a month. One year, we flew to Toronto and drove around Eastern Canada and Eastern United States. Another year we drove from Vancouver to Alaska and back. Another time we drove from Vancouver to New Orleans and back. Then once to Prince Edward Island to drive around the Maritimes and Maine. Later would drive to Banff and Alberta multiple times.

Throughout these road trips I obtained immeasurable knowledge and experiences that classes or books would never give me.

5 Lessons Learned Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family

Growing up in a multi-generation FIRE family has greatly influenced the way I see financial independence and early retirement. I have been fortunate to learn many things through my two cousins and my dad. Here are some of the main ones.

#1. FIRE has many different looks

FIRE does not have to look a certain way. Cousin #1 reached FI but continued working, Cousin #2 retired early but his wife still works, and then we have my dad who was forced into early retirement. There is no common trend in all 3 cases. If you believe FIRE must look a certain way, then you don’t know the true concept of FIRE.

Financial Independence Retire Early simply means creating freedom and flexibility in your life. It means you can make your own choices on how to spend your money and time.

FIRE gives you more power to take charge of your life, and what you do with it is entirely up to you. You are not living off an approved checklist – you are the one who creates the list! Better yet, you can decide to not create any list at all.

FIRE also gives an entire different perspective when it comes to work. When you are financially independent, you are no longer working for that paycheck every 2 weeks simply because you need the money. You are working because you enjoy what you do, not because you have to. This shift in mentality is extremely powerful.

#2. It’s important to openly discuss finances

Rather than treating money as a taboo subject, discussing money topics openly is vitally important in my multi-generation FIRE family. My parents and my brother and I talk about our salaries, stock investments, and real estate investment opportunities regularly. My parents involved my brother and I in household financial decisions since we were young. Similarly, I can talk to my two cousins about money and other financial topics anytime I want and continue learning valuable lessons from them.

The more openly we discuss money, the more we can learn from each other. Money is simply a tool in life. It is not a dirty word. Having open discussions helps to decrease possible tensions and arguments you may have with family members.

#3. Know what you want in life!

The biggest lesson I have learned from my cousins and my dad is to think about what I truly want in the future. What is keeping me motivated on reaching my dreams? What tools are available to me to reach my goals? And most importantly, do I have any backup plans in case my first plan doesn’t work out?

So what do I personally want when it comes to FIRE?

My wife and I’s goal is to have enough passive income to exceed our annual expenses. Most of our passive income streams come in the form of dividend income. This year, we are on track to receive close to $15,000 in dividend income for doing absolutely nothing while our money works hard for us.

We plan on relying on dividend income rather than the 4% safe withdrawal rule to achieve FIRE, simply because we want to pass on our dividend portfolio to our kids in the future. However, this doesn’t mean we wouldn’t sell any stocks.

Because my wife is from Denmark and I am from Taiwan and we live in Vancouver Canada, we plan to move to Denmark and Taiwan sometime in the future. We plan to live in each country for 2 years minimum to allow our kids to learn about the two different cultures and languages. We plan to explore the nearby countries while living “abroad”.

We also have a dream of traveling the world for a year with our kids. My wife and I believe this is a great way for all of us to learn and gain valuable knowledge.

Beyond that, we don’t have concrete plans. We want our FIRE plans to be flexible so we can alter our plans when necessary. This is why we aren’t perfectly set in our passive income plans and don’t even have a specific FIRE date for that matter. Whether we decide to continue working once we are financially independent is entirely undecided at this point.

#4. FIRE builds stronger relationships

Looking back, I feel very fortunate that my dad could attend all my school events. This is something both of my cousins have been able to do with their kids as well.

Being present at your kids’ school events and other important life events are extremely important. It is a great way to build stronger parent-child relationships. FIRE means having more time on your hands so you can spend more time with your kids, your partner, and other important people in your life.

My oldest kid is in pre-kindergarten this year, but due to work I have not been able to attend all of his field trips. My daughter is less than 2 and she loves to play with me. I try to spend as much quality time with both of my kids as possible when I am at home, and I try to do more every day, but other times I fail. Being FIRE’d will allow me to become even more involved with my kids for years to come.

(Editor’s note: This is exactly why I want to become a stay-at-home-daddy who blogs on the side vs a full-time blogger who dads on the side! Your kids are everything!!)

#5. It’s all about Stealth Wealth

When I examine all 3 of my family members who are FIRE’d, stealth wealth is the only common thing between them. Stealth wealth means not having the needs to show off your wealth. It means driving the same car for many years, buying good quality items that would last a long time, buying second hand products when it makes sense, simplifying your life so you don’t own random crap, and not buying things for the sake of buying them. When one gets the idea of stealth wealth and truly master it, FIRE is something that will be within a close reach.

In Summary…

I have been fortunate to see firsthand how several family members have become financially independent and/or retired early over the years. Life is full of possibilities and choices. FIRE is simply one great option that can bring in more choices for you and your family.

What you do with your FIRE life is entirely up to you. Be as creative as you can!

****** Bob Lai (aka Tawcan) is a Vancouver Canada based blogger. A millennial, frugalist, investor, photographer, cookbook author, and outdoor enthusiast, he started his financial independence journey in 2011 after a financial epiphany. Since then he has amassed a dividend portfolio paying over $1,300 per month. He created his blog Tawcan.com chronicle his quest for joyful life and financial independence.

PS: “Tawcan” is a combination of “Taiwan” and “Canada” that Bob made up if you were wondering ;)

Lessons Growing Up In a Multi-Generation FIRE Family published first on http://ift.tt/2ljLF4B