From: machala@spdc.ti.com (King Mosher)
Subject: Re: time to go back
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 15:44:26 GMT

rperkins@astro.as.arizona.edu (Rachel J. Perkins) writes:

>i can't because my father still claims me as a dependent on his taxes, even
>though he hasn't supported me since i was 17..

too bad.

>>>why does this make me feel inadequate, incapable of dealing with life? 
>>
>>to be frank, because you aren't dealing with life. you shouldn't have
>>these problems if you were in control.

>what do you mean, i'm not dealing with life? i'm here, i'm working every 
>hour of every damned day for a pittance, and i'm paying my bills, and 
>keeping out of debt, and i'm out of control? you didn't read it carefully
>enough, chuck. i said i'd feel out of control if i were in debt. because
>then, i'd have to be dependent on someone else..

you said in your first article "I don't make enough to live and pay for 
school." and, so, were considering borrowing money from some guy in
Houston. (I once dated a woman who owed money to three guys in Houston,
seems they do that alot down there). Hence, if you don't make enough
to live and go to school and you haven't made arrangements to get this
semester's tuition, with it just around the corner, then you are not 
dealing with life. this was my reasoning. perhaps I'm being over critical.
Actually I don't know how you made it this far without going into debt
or getting money from parents, so you are doing a better job than me.
(which isn't saying much, though).

>>>why does financial trouble make me feel out of control? i don't owe
>>>anyone any money (yet), but i feel as if owing will make me die, almost
>>>drown in debt, in humility. 
>>
>>you are one in a million (this is probably statistically correct and not
>>just another cliche'), rachel, because *everybody* is in debt. hell, I'm
>>in for about 15K on student loans, 12K for a car, and about 100K for
>>a house and will be in debt for the rest of my life. my existence is only 
>>important to the bankers and the government, since they take all my 
>>hard-earned money. 
>>they just make sure I have barely enough to survive so I can continue to
>>pay the mortgage and the taxes. 

>is it wrong to not want to owe anyone aything? to not want to be in a position
>of debt? it seems to me that your debt is constantly hanging over your head,
>that you just can't get free because you'll be in debt for the rest of your
>life as you said. that's the feeling of suffocation that i get a taste of 
>when i think of borrowing money. i want my existence to be dependent on only
>me. you owe the great american system for yours. you seem to be preaching
>a lemming's approach..."everyone is doing it, so it must be ok" well, i
>don't want to go hurtling to my death, just because i'll be alone if i don't.

Actually, I was being satirical, rachel. I _am_ suffocating. I have lived the
past few years with almost no debt, no car (paid off), one student loan
paid off and just one other student loan at $100 bucks a month. no big deal.
so I had lots of money, saved a bundle, played the market, made some more,
and basically bought whatever I wanted. now, just this year, I bought a
new car and a house and am basically existing just to pay the debt.
I am not preaching this existence, rather, I am denouncing it. but, heck,
I really can't save 120K for a house, so when you get tired of living in
an apartment, you have to borrow the money. And, with interest rates the
way they are, it is most probably a very good financial move. but, it does
have its price. the cloud of debt looming from month to month. will I even
have a job next month? ah, bankruptcy, just around the corner. 'tis quite
angstful, this "great american system".  

well anyway, enough small talk. stay out of debt as long as possible. 
and borrow at a low interest when you must. and, I'd be worried about 
borrowing from an individual I haven't known for awhile.
 
--

     Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

Chuck Machala-Semiconductor Process and Design Center-Texas Instruments/Dallas
Newsgroups: alt.angst