[DuvalBigCat]

The "plandemic/pandemic" definitely caused a paradigm shift in redefining what I value and when/how I value it.
I've always been and continue to be a big saver with about 25-30% of our salaries going to savings/retirement, but something changed a couple years back.

I saw people in my age bracket(29-40) dropping dead from the Covid-19 and the vaccines; what's the point of life if we're always to busy or too frugal to enjoy it.

Edit: didn't really complete my thought process but my overall point was that I'm able to afford the HC by ratcheting down my retirement/savings rate at 15-20% of annual income. Sure I might be delaying retirement a few/several years, but those years are also not guaranteed.

 

[riddic99]

Not for me. Fortunately I work in a somewhat recession proof field, and just received an 8.5% salary increase because recruitment is difficult these days.

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[Arabex]

Not for me. Fortunately I work in a somewhat recession proof field, and just received an 8.5% salary increase because recruitment is difficult these days.

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Sounds like you are in the politics business 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Reaperhwk]

I max out my retirement. And anything left over I spend! If I get extra $$ I’ll take the family on vacations, buy jailbreaks, etc. lol

I make enough money where I am happy with what I have and can do, I'm not striving to live in a mansion or buy exotics. Sure I could probably be way more well off if I lived like a peasant and invested everything, but that's not me.

If I want something or want to do something, and it's in my budget, I'll do it....

Can't take it with you. If you die with 20 million in the bank that means you LOST and should have enjoyed yourself. Maybe get a diamond studded casket?

 

[WVHEMIS]

I am retired now so I planned well in life so I could enjoy this short period of my life with the toys that I wanted. I had toys throughout my working career as well.

 

[shademaker]

Not all for me. The vendors, shops, and assorted players in space... made me just not want anything to do with the industry though. I mean, sending letters to state reps to not support the RPM bad. I can afford bad whiskey at a shady bar... does not mean I want to deal with the drama, or graf.

You asked.

 

[PurrKitty]

Na....I still spend $$ like a drunken sailor

 

[JeepGeek]

I agree with many here…no real change. We have always spent our money on things that build experiences and memories. I really don’t care about “owning things” as much as I do spending time and energy to create something money cannot buy - connections with friends and family that will last…I cannot take the money with me and my kids need to earn what they want! One of my favorite Shaq quotes: “we are not rich, I am rich.. you better get to work.”

 

[shademaker]

Have fun. Do it the way that feels right. For all the other stuff :

And thats not just a meme parade. I mean it. Have fun. Crush the detractors, trolls, and Tueday morning quarter backs. Eat popcorn while they lick their wounds then crap on their hood.

 

[NoScat]

Na....I still spend $$ like a drunken sailor

So like a sailor…

 

[riddic99]

Sounds like you are in the politics business

Oh hell no!

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[Xylander]

I have a rule when it comes to buying cars. For me to agree that I can afford it, I want the payment to be at such a level that I don't really have to budget for it. At no point do my cars ever eclipse 20% of what I take home at the end of the month. So long as I maintain that rate, the car doesn't impact my daily spending norms and doesn't negatively impact my ability to save and do future planning. About 8 years ago I was making less than half of what I make now. I got laid off and my savings only left me with about 4 months of time to find a new job. I did the math and selling the car I owned would allow me to stretch that to 6 months... so I sold it.

If I get injured or sick and am otherwise unable to work, I've probably got 3-4 years of savings built up and selling the car wouldn't really push that window at all.

But to answer the OP's question. No, if anything I made out like a bandit coming and going with the Hellcat. I ordered it in March of 2020 at the height of COVID madness and combined with power dollars, got a fully loaded 2020 Hellcat for under 62 grand. I sold it during the height of the resale bubble and got 3k over MSRP for it. I think people who are well qualified to buy a Hellcat actually do better the worse the economy gets. That's because we're somewhat insulated from economic hardship and can jump on deals during downswings. I'm not unique, and that's just how much of the luxury market operates. During high gas prices, people sell their big Denalis and Expeditions and pick up Nissan Pathfinders and Hyundai Tucsons. We buy Hellcats because most of us can pretty much afford $10/gallon gas combined with a car that gets 10mpg in town.

 

[cjs5061]

Not necessarily the last few years but the decision to buy one was made in part by realizing tomorrow isn't guaranteed (though it is likely). I'm like you in that I put a lot away for retirement but will probably need to slow it down a bit to buy the car. Not a ton but a little. And I decided it's worth it to me.

After you hit your investing goals for the year, the rest should be for spending. (Assuming no high interest debt and the like)

 

[Rockster]

The "plandemic/pandemic" definitely caused a paradigm shift in redefining what I value and when/how I value it.
I've always been and continue to be a big saver with about 25-30% of our salaries going to savings/retirement, but something changed a couple years back.

I saw people in my age bracket(29-40) dropping dead from the Covid-19 and the vaccines; what's the point of life if we're always to busy or too frugal to enjoy it.

Edit: didn't really complete my thought process but my overall point was that I'm able to afford the HC by ratcheting down my retirement/savings rate at 15-20% of annual income. Sure I might be delaying retirement a few/several years, but those years are also not guaranteed.

Ratcheting down your retirement savings by 15-20% to buy something for the here and now is the worst thing. Retirement savings works best over time. The more you save/invest early the more time it has to grow. For some years before I retired my retirement savings was growing by several times or more my annual income and as a software engineer I made pretty good money.

And you can't be sure you can catch up later. I talked with a guy about savings/retirement and he said he was going to have to get started seriously saving for retirement. I suggested sooner rather than later.

Then some time later COVID hit and he got laid off. Hard to save for retirement with no job...

 

[AeroF16]

Ratcheting down your retirement savings by 15-20% to buy something for the here and now is the worst thing. Retirement savings works best over time. The more you save/invest early the more time it has to grow. For some years before I retired my retirement savings was growing by several times or more my annual income and as a software engineer I made pretty good money.

And you can't be sure you can catch up later. I talked with a guy about savings/retirement and he said he was going to have to get started seriously saving for retirement. I suggested sooner rather than later.

Then some time later COVID hit and he got laid off. Hard to save for retirement with no job...

If he is on track for HIS goals (read: not yours) and can stay on track by reducing his savings (which is very significant in my opinion), then it’s absolutely fine and far from “the worst thing”.

Everybody gets too choose how to live life and we don’t all have to do it the same.

How many software engineers died every year due to the nature of your job while you were working? In my line of work, we bury a few co-workers every year, some as young as 23 years old. Needless to say, my risk analysis is probably different than yours.

COVID actually made my wife and I realize how fortunate we are. I actually sold my first Hellcat and then started giving more and spending more to support our local businesses. Like eating from our local Mom and Pop restaurants 4 nights a week and tipping as much as we could to try to help people out.

 

[DuvalBigCat]

Ratcheting down your retirement savings by 15-20% to buy something for the here and now is the worst thing.

IDK, that's kinda my point.

Ratcheting down 10%, from saving 25-30% of gross to 15-20% of gross for 401k and IRA contributions, still puts me ahead

Retirement is not guaranteed. What good is the extra 1-2 million in retirement if I never reach retirement age?

 

[Long Island SRT]

Its interesting to see everyone's take on this. It depends on so many things: age, job, family, location, and what we each value for the experience of life, and most importantly what you consider "financial stable" at this point in your life.
At 52 I'm closer to the end than the beginning and through hard work I now have the $$ to get one of these bad boys. The last few years of turmoil made me want to get this car more than ever.

 

[AeroF16]

Its interesting to see everyone's take on this. It depends on so many things: age, job, family, location, and what we each value for the experience of life, and most importantly what you consider "financial stable" at this point in your life.
At 52 I'm closer to the end than the beginning and through hard work I now have the $$ to get one of these bad boys. The last few years of turmoil made me want to get this car more than ever.

Yep, it’s 100% an individual thing. Some people would live with anxiety if they didn’t save every penny for retirement. Some people can’t be bothered with saving and want to live only for the now.

I try to find the middle ground. I have an idea of how much I need in retirement (plus my pension) and then make a plan with some very conservative assumptions to get there. Anything left over after giving/bills gets spent.

However, if somehow I got in a tough financial bind, the Hellcat would be the first thing to go before jeopardizing my retirement.

 

[Parshooter]

My Hellcat is cheaper than therapy.

 

[BrakeFade]

Pandemic has allowed me to sell/buy cars like underwear. Buy low and sell high! Unlike my stocks where I seem to buy high and sell low!!!