Please bear with me here. I want to present my thoughts on an important subject without steppin' on toes or getting this thread closed. It is a subject that is near and dear to all of us buildin' a car.... 'Money to build cars'... Or more importantly, the lack of it. The reason I chose this subject is because of a statement I made in a post here this morning, and after I did, it got me to thinking... Here's the statement: "Kinda seems its always been this way of the young 'have nots' are always dumpin' on the older 'haves'. But what goes around, comes around and when the young 'have nots' gain years and income and become 'haves, they themselves will be the target of the new younger 'have nots'." After I posted this statement I thought 'Are you helping the situation any, or just stirring the pot?' So I'd like to get your brain juices flowing on how to improve your situation financially...through inspiration... Our education system teaches us how to do a particular job, but not how to get a job. They tell us that college degrees make more money than trades, but they don't really teach us how to make money. The people that have gone to the school of hard knocks and that have beaten the system and have become successful owe it to those that are struggling to teach them how to get there themselves. The old saying: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime' comes to mind here. Remember that I'm not talking about those that won lotteries or that were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but rather the ones who started with nothing and built something through their own education, research, hard work, and determination. Successful people owe it their friends to teach them to attain their goals. And sometimes figure out what their goals even ARE. Rather than having a verbal slugfest here on the Hamb about how much money or how many cars a guy has compared to you, what about asking the guy who's made it how he did it so you can do it too? And the guys who have made it need to offer to teach and advise those that haven't without looking down their noses at them. We help each other here with advice and information on the building, caring, and feeding of our cars, so why not do the same thing for someones' financial situation? If you teach someone here to open their eyes and set financial goals, you are helping them to achieve a better built car. Because it takes a lot of green to build them!! Maybe if we all helped each other with a little knowledge and inspiration from time to time, we wouldn't be so divided and bickering. I will start the first lesson by saying that: You will never make as much money as the owner of the company you work for. You have to BE the owner. If you want financial independece, you must own your own business! And I'm not talking about 'Get rich quick' schemes. This process takes time. You're not going to learn to be a millionaire here in one day, but there are alot of people here that can add to this first lesson. Who's next to give something back? Remember there are alot of youngins' here. Help away...
i guess im middle of the road here.. i have a few cars and a stable life, that i never thought possible 10 years ago.. and own my own biz. however i could probebly make more money if i worked for some one else, but i agree with most of what your sayin..and hate when the younger people say "it must be nice" yeah it is nice , now go work 3 jobs like i did, and you can do, and have the same thing. it wasnt always this way.. im not sure if its relevent but im 34
I think a lot of it is youth, and desperation. When you have boundless energy and the car you're working is your only way to work, laying in a dirt driveway trying to put a transmission back in seems reasonable. When you get older, that shit ain't fun anymore. I never thought anything about air tools when I was 25, but now that i'm 35, I really would like to have some. Honestly, I get somewhat envious of guys that have garages, and lifts, and air tools. It would make things so very much easier. When I was young, I was pissed about it, but as i've gotten older, I see that it is possible to earn these things, so it doesn't both me anymore.
Glass...exactly. I've been the kid with no money who wanted to build a car. Hell it took me 'til I was in my 30's to start to feel like I had my shit together. And it's not easy goin' from nuttin' to havin' somethin' to be proud of. I'm 35 and I struggled for years tryin' to get somewhere. Now that I finally have, I can really appreciate the rewards of hard and persistant work. That's not something that anyone can hand you. You have to earn it. But it's all moot if ya don't give a rats ass what some punk ass kid thinks of ya. Olson
theres no magic formula. Its all about hard work and priorities. The simplest thing to remember is that you can only spend any given dollar once. after that, its gone. Think first.
IN my opinion money and "taste in cars" have nothing in common. But I do know where your coming from. The haves, have, because they were willing to do the things most won't to be able to have the things others don't. I remember someone saying to Denise (hotrodladycruiser) on the board, when she was telling where all she planned on traveling that it "must be nice". She told them they could do it too IF, they worked three jobs,etc., etc, to support there old car habit. Most people won't. My 2 cents. GV
Well, even though , I'm not successful(yet). I'll add somthing to this. I just recently finished my term of service(7yrs) in the Army, and I have to say, although I don't want to go back, and did not stay the full 20, I wouldn't trade it(my time in) for anything. If you are like I was when I joined; too poor to go to college, and not poor enough to go for free, without real direction, or just looking for a change of pace. Do a little time on Active Duty. I sit somtimes and think of where I would be if I'd hadn't served, and only two things come to mind, dead(like one of my best friends at 19yo) or in jail. My outlook on life was completly different. It's funny I went to my civilian job for the first time the other day, and stuff that they were stressing out about seemed insignifcantly simple to me. The mental preparedness and organizational skills gained, not to mention experience and training in a skilled trade are unmatched. Just my two cents. Thanks for the advice, and as a young man hoping to "make it" I'll be follow this thread, to see how those of that did "make it" did it. Drew
Gasserfreak. You just reminded me of how invaluable my military stint was to me. Learning to work with others and setting goals and priorities. Priceless.
I dunno. I think it has a lot to do with commitment. for example I HAVE a lot of cars (though I should mention only 2 currently run) and I HAVE NOT alot of money. I own a custom shop in Austin and am astounded how many guys come in and want us to do this stuff FOR them FOR free! but then again, there are guys like buzzard who want me to get out of the damn way! I really like it when a guy or gal comes in and really wants to work on thier stuff, but they are limited by experience or equipment and we get to help in that reguard. I'm no Barris or anything close (Hell, I am really into muscle cars as a first love) but when what litle bit I know gets passed on to someone else, I feel like I am giving respect to the folks that taught me. That is what I have. I have the people that taught me.
Well I am not 35 or 45 but 57 and have worked several deals, I did go to ou and although never worked in my field so to speak it was certainly worth going. my dad who didn't have an education always told me that too many people were busy making a living and didn't have time to make money , I always remembered that. i have worked for my self building hatrods since 83 and do no advertising and manage to stay busy year round had one day off without work in two yrs. the point is do what you do with passion no matter or you wont make money, you might make a living and that is good but if you really get into what you are doing you will make money, and as state above you only have it to spend once so make it count. i have always had hot rods but always paid for them with side deals and jobs not moma's money and i know of a lot of us old farts that are that way so I know it works. I am envious of a lot of you young guys and the rods you have , you just don't heaar it often enough. Good luck from the old guy up the street with the cool cars, remember him??
waste not... want not. I'm 27, I've got 3 kids and an awesome stay at home mom to support. I've got a nice old house that we bought for $20k, gutted and renovated. I just finished a nice 2 story garage and I've got a pretty viable hot rod project going. We have 2 cars that are paid for (they are 20 years old combined), the only debt we have is the house and some student loans. I make $12 an hour working for the state. I'm not bragging, I'm saying that it takes a lot of hard work and you have to be very smart with your money. I pick up odd jobs when I can and we save whatever we can for the lean times. I hate to hear people complain about being poor when they sit around all day and do nothing. My 2 cents.
Don't know that I'd agree that you have to own your own business to be successful. As a business owner, I know plenty of others that I'd consider successful that work for others. Anyhow............... There are those who have IT because they were born into it or inherited it. There are those who don't have it but learn over time that by making good decisions in life, that they somehow acquire IT. When I was 20yo , I spent all of my $$$ on fast cars and fast bikes. Never had 2 nickles to rub together. Years later, I still love fast cars and added fast boats, but they have become less important than home, family, integrity, work, and other such things. Strangely, as they have become less important, I find that I have more than enough resources to "scratch the itch" as it were. Then you have the people who never learn anything and will always have nothing. I have a few working for me now. They don't know any other way in life other than all out calamity. I don't think some people can function if everything was in order for a month or so.
Absolutely. I was on the opposite end of this statement, and am slowly getting smarter... I am 30, no kids (well, my Girlfriend has one, and we'll get married within a year, so I guess I have one!) and just bought my first house a year ago. I was dumb with money up until I REALLY screwed up with credit cards when I was about 23. I decided against the easy way out (bankruptcy) and paid it all off. No deals, just up front paid 100% off. I finished when I was 27. During that time I made about $15/hour, and did odd jobs, web design, etc. to bring in every last cent... the only splurge I made was to buy a 1985 chevy 1/2 ton cargo van that was rusting out to drive to work... for $500. I kept my work ethic streak going, and started listening to my parents (who have been there done that financially), and now have a great (meaning I love it, not that it pays alot) job, a house, soon to be married w/child, etc. Got a project (not perfect, but it's a project) in the garage, health insurance to cover my back surgery, life insurance to cover Michelle (and Jessie), etc. I think it's part about growing up, part about prioritizing and part about accumulation. I'm guessing that 99% of the "gold chainers" get a bad rap because of their nice shiny cars, but are really decent people. On the other hand, I _do_ have a ton more respect for the guy who can tell me the intricacies of what it took to re-route his steering around the Hemi, than the guy who buys a Boyd-Built. (but wouldn't you love to flog the crap out of a Boyd car? ) Just my $.02 Ben
WOW LARRY!!! Very well written post. You get back what you put into life and sometimes it takes a lot of years of hard work and extra jobs to be able to afford what you want. I was old before I could afford the kind of cars I wanted and still often end up working 19 or 20 hour days for not all that much money. You don't have to own your own company to get what you want, but it usually takes a lot of hard work, unless you're just really really lucky.
The thing I would add is the older guys (I'm one of those 59) teach our kids the value of working towards goals. I see the younger people out there that want the top jobs but no experience. I went from a pool mechanic to a senoir manager with an auto company by doing the tough and right things like school and listening to those that have been there. I think I helped many a new engineer with setting manageable goals and attaining them. It will be even tougher for today's young workers to compete, but with the right attitude and desire they can make it. Some people are not cut out for college, so what, there are skilled trades that make more in some cases, the key is stop complaining and do something about it. We need to guide the younger people that we can influence with attitude, goals, and basic planning. Start your own business, you might want to work for someone in the type busniess you want to start and learn from them. We had a saying at work if you want to know the right way ask the gray hairs. One other thing for the young guys is don't be afraid to fail but learn from it.
Owning your own business is NOT always the best way to go. An old saying from both drag racing and trucking goes: "How do you make a million dollars in trucking (drag racing)? Start with five million dollars". I have the same wife for the last 39 years, my daughters are married to great guys, I have a daily driver and a couple of projects that I'm passionate about, I belong to a small car club made up of close friends, I get to help on a race car and have a little house to live in. In my book that makes me a Have. Sometimes I have to remind myself of this and sometimes someone has to point it out, like this thread has done. A lot of this stuff didn't seem so important when I was younger, but it means more than others opinions to me now. Also I was so much more serious when I was in my twenties. Some aging helps just like in cars and wine. cp
Part of the deal is living within your means. Its hard to have any spare $$ for hot rods or anything else if you are driving a new truck with $600+ a month payments, your wife drives something with an equal payment, you eat out 3 meals a day, etc etc and make $30K a year. you must sacrifice one to have another. I dont have alot of money, I dont make alot either. All the bills get paid, I have a house, 2 kids in private school. Most of the "extra" money I get goes into buying more stuff to sell to make more $$ to buy more stuff to sell, and so on. i also drive a 93 Tbird I bought for $400 from the impound. My wife drives a $1200 96 Tbird from an insurance sale. My kids schools cost more than my house payment, which is less than most car payments today. i bought my house when I was 28, for 1500 down through HUD. (I'm 36 now). I knew I had to buy a house in order to do what I do today. Sometimes it takes a change of perspective on whats really important.
I was just reminded of something my Dad always said: "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get to where ya wanna be". Thanks Dad.
#1 Pay your credit cards off every month. #2 Get rid of all of them but one (MC or Visa) and then follow #1. Think about what you could do with 16%-27% of that money you gave to the credit card company every year.
ain't that the truth ....i consider myself lucky (and on curtain days unlucky) that i work for myself......probably one of the that i would say helped me ...was getting married....before that ...it just seemed like i waste money on stupid stuff....after i got married ...it seemed like it had a place to go.....haha ...i was fortunent to be able to build my house with my step dad ....(which helped me learn other useful things....) i have a son that is expressing interest in my profession .....( striping and lettering) thats a good thing ....i have a couple hot rods and projects....which keep me motivated to keep working ....i hear that same phrase....."must be nice...." i just tell them to get rid of the car payment ...quit buying those high dollar shoes and clothes...& build a car ....then talk to me ....oh yeah while they are at it ....make sure you get that 700 buck a month health insurance payment in on time.....yeah its a neat deal to have some stability in your life....at this point in my life i have more than i ever did as a youngster....i have a place to come home to ....and a hot rod to drive.....and a cool wife and kid....what else do ya need...hahaha brandon
Years ago, I didn't take life too seriously. I didn't have a damn thing. Spent all my spare time partying, spent all my money on drugs and beer, wishin' I had this or that and not doing a damn thing about it. I had a good job, just wasted all my money on crap. Finally I quit drugs and beer(wish I could quit cigerettes), and now I've paid off MY 2nd house and gettin' ready to buy a 3rd. I've owned a t-bucket and Model A coupe in the last 6 years. Me and my wife now drive good cars and trucks, (not new) and I've just bought my 3rd bike in 2 yrs. If your young and you're parting all the time quit now, start putting your money in the right places, and you'll end up with a better life. Get your priorities straight
If your young and you're parting all the time quit now, start putting your money in the right places, and you'll end up with a better life. Get your priorities straight[/QUOTE] you said it....hah brandon
I will agree that not spending all of my avalible free time at the bar sure helped out. I am just now learning that if I spend more time away from the shop, the time here is more enjoyable and I get more done. what scares me is all of my old bar buddies(with a few exceptions) have aged 10 years in the last 4. and they are still at the bar. yikes!
Amen, I could have kept so many cool cars over the years if hadn't spent it all on stupid stuff. The beer and strippers were good investments, but the college and all the eating out I did, really pissed away a lot of money that I could be using now. I still spend over $200 a month on lunches that I could turn into $2400 a year on cars. It's all about priorities I guess. I just decided that instead of being smart with my money, I'd make a whole bunch more money. That hasn't panned out just yet though. I'm going to buy lottery tickets now. I think that $208M powerball ticket could fix this for a few weeks.
I enjoy what I have read so far. I am one of the young (19yo)have nots but am determined to change that, nomatter how long or how much it takes. I went to WyoTech,(just graduated) and worked my ass off to leave with honors and all that other good stuff. I realize that the auto-body area in general isn't a place to make big money but I love cars and figure this could at least get me somewhere for the first decade of my working life. Owning a business sometimes sounds great, but I have been told by owners that there is a lot to go through and there is money to be made working for others still. I have been lucky thus far in my life as I have a great family who has pretty much supported my lazy ass through school but have had to bust ass themselves in order to get me going on the right foot. My dad constantly stresses education and hard work, but more than that...priorities...credit is oh so important and now I realize that. I have been home 2 weeks and been a lazy shit so far thanks to the devils that are cable tv and the internet which I did not have while at school (never realized how much of an effect it had until I lost it, I could have been valedictorian in highschool!) Now I need to go get a job and work my ass off so my loans can dissappear and my Impala can get done. I guess what I have said is a whole bunch of nothing...but I would like to thank those of you who have shared your thoughts and experiences...definitely food for thought. Greg
I think I just got a warm fuzzy. This makes it worth the 30 minutes it took to type this post! Hunt and peck typin' don'tcha know.
That reminds me of something my uncle alwayse says... "Son, you're fuckin' someone else's duck." I never really got what he meant...
That's exactly what I was thinking as I was reading thru the posts... new cars are way overrated. The last two years I drove for a daily a wrecked '92 mercury Grand marquis that a co-worker GAVE me...it had a little frame damage but it drove straight. The whole time my wife was pusihing me to get a newer, nicer vehicle.. Nothing like riding for free....now I picked up a $500 '88 mulletmobile camaro and am having a ball with it..(always wanted one when they were new). Still no payments.... I guess my advice to younger people (i'm 37) would be PATIENCE...you don't have to have it all right now, even though that's what you've been taught your whole life. Education is important, even if it's only a degree in history or something, education will get you in the door even if it is unrelated to the job. I spent six years on a 4-yr degree because I was working and paying while I went... didn't do a lot with cars then, but I did what I could afford... I guess by some standards I'm on the "haves" side, got a nice shop, nice house, and a big-ass mortgage..(well, not that big by some standards), one finished car, and a bunch of half finished ones. I really would like to be in business for myself one day, but it's too easy right now to do the corporate thing, got decent insurance, and with three kids that's a big factor... The other advice I have would be...do something you are happy doing. Don't trap yourself in a job you really don't like just because it pays good, or has good benefits..life is too short to worry yourself over something that's not gonna matter in the long run.. I wish someone had stessed that to me. I don't hate my job, but I don't really care for it either...but I only work 3 days a week, so I deal with it. And, one more thing. When you get that "perfect job" (yeah, right), contribute to your 401k if you have one available. If you have a company match, put at least that much in. If you get a raise, up you contribution by that much, you'll never miss it. If it wasn't for it I wouldn't have a penny of savings..but if you never see it you don't miss it. I forget the exact numbers, but if you save between the ages of 20 and 30, and quit saving, by retirement you will have more than someone who started saving at 40 and saved at a higher rate... Just a few things I have learned...
The other advice I have would be...do something you are happy doing. Don't trap yourself in a job you really don't like just because it pays good, or has good benefits..life is too short to worry yourself over something that's not gonna matter in the long run.. I wish someone had stessed that to me. I don't hate my job, but I don't really care for it either...but I only work 3 days a week, so I deal with it. Huge agreement on this one. I just turned down a really high paying job for one that pays just pretty good. I now love my job. I've never felt that way about "work" before. That was definitely worth the $30k pay cut I'm gonna take this year. Work is the bulk of your waking existence, you'd better enjoy it. I make less money but also work about 25 a week less and never work weeekends anymore. That gives me time to do things that mean something...like family and hobbies. I can also do more things around here myself instead of hiring it done like I used to have to do. That saves money too, and a LOT of it. No point in saving ALL of your money for retirement as too many guys kick off right after they retire anyway. Enjoy your life WHILE planning for the future. You can still drive a hot rod for far less than a new car payment. Saves you money, the car never depreciates, and you enjoy going places as opposed to just making it there. Learn how to cook. It's fun, chicks dig it, and it will save you money and make the quality of your life better. It's not all about saving money or planning for the future, it's also about enjoying the present and being creative as opposed to just spending money. Brew your own beer, grow your own weed, sew your own clothes, rent your yard to a sheep farmer and sell your lawn mower (stay away from the sheep though unless you are just counting them to save money on sleeping pills). You can be cheap and still have fun...probably even more so but don't let your life revolve around the money (whether it's having too much or not enough). Keep your life simple and it's easier to manage and you'll get more done. Then when you really "need" the money, odds are it will be there.
The Jalopy Journal
