However, Lost Wages is an interesting place. Even though your description is true, I like visiting. Because their business model is to fleece the tourists, flights, rental cars, and hotels are inexpensive, while Red Rocks Conservation Area is a great running, climbing, and hiking winter destination. Since I have zero interest in the tourist scene, I inexpensively enjoy visiting.
I know residents and they like it as well (and don't go to the Strip either). It's a well run city and ironically fairly low crime.
A good example, is Lost Wages has reduced per capita water use 48%! They got serious and started banning grass lawns 15 years ago - they are a model of water conservation in the US. Phoenix is the worst but it's easier to critique LV.
Haha...I kept looking for Lost Wages as a name of a town, like No Name, CO. Your Vegas hack is a good one. I too have used LV as a jumping off town for backpacking trips to the Grand Canyon. Red Rocks National Park is pretty awesome too. But I'm pretty confident outdoor access is not what keeps the city's economy ticking.
Phoenix is an abomination of a place in so many ways.
What’s more amazing to me is how little a million dollars is today.
I still think it is very possible for people in the US to become millionaires if they practice good stewardship from an early age and choose a spouse of similar characteristics.
It is helpful if it was modeled that having everything now is a loosing proposition. Find a vocation, have a family, be part of the community, and indulge in your desires sparingly early on.
You’ll never always have it figured out. Money is a tool we have to have access to. Having a pile of it gets you no where if you are empty inside and are not charitable.
I will celebrate my 40th year with the company this year. I started by driving the truck, mixing paint, and unloading the trucks. What am I still doing here? Making myself more valuable everyday.
Las Vegas. I hate that place. Been there twice for work conferences. I was out running at 5am while the majority seemed to be just stumbling in. Never saw so many prostitutes in my life at that time of day.
A million might not get you far, especially concerning retirement, but it's a shit-ton more than most Americans have. And while theoretically, folks become millionaires, there are so many complicating factors that prevent the practice of good habits: drugs, booze, getting ensnared in the system (divorce, welfare, arrest, etc.). https://fortune.com/2024/02/01/emergency-1000-expense-most-americans-broke-debt-bankrate/
My citation game on this newsletter is pretty weak, though I too went through a few links until I got to the Unusual Whales site, which seemed sufficiently wonky as to be be legit. Thanks for providing the additional context.
Certainly overall I agree.
However, Lost Wages is an interesting place. Even though your description is true, I like visiting. Because their business model is to fleece the tourists, flights, rental cars, and hotels are inexpensive, while Red Rocks Conservation Area is a great running, climbing, and hiking winter destination. Since I have zero interest in the tourist scene, I inexpensively enjoy visiting.
I know residents and they like it as well (and don't go to the Strip either). It's a well run city and ironically fairly low crime.
A good example, is Lost Wages has reduced per capita water use 48%! They got serious and started banning grass lawns 15 years ago - they are a model of water conservation in the US. Phoenix is the worst but it's easier to critique LV.
Haha...I kept looking for Lost Wages as a name of a town, like No Name, CO. Your Vegas hack is a good one. I too have used LV as a jumping off town for backpacking trips to the Grand Canyon. Red Rocks National Park is pretty awesome too. But I'm pretty confident outdoor access is not what keeps the city's economy ticking.
Phoenix is an abomination of a place in so many ways.
What’s more amazing to me is how little a million dollars is today.
I still think it is very possible for people in the US to become millionaires if they practice good stewardship from an early age and choose a spouse of similar characteristics.
It is helpful if it was modeled that having everything now is a loosing proposition. Find a vocation, have a family, be part of the community, and indulge in your desires sparingly early on.
You’ll never always have it figured out. Money is a tool we have to have access to. Having a pile of it gets you no where if you are empty inside and are not charitable.
I will celebrate my 40th year with the company this year. I started by driving the truck, mixing paint, and unloading the trucks. What am I still doing here? Making myself more valuable everyday.
Las Vegas. I hate that place. Been there twice for work conferences. I was out running at 5am while the majority seemed to be just stumbling in. Never saw so many prostitutes in my life at that time of day.
A million might not get you far, especially concerning retirement, but it's a shit-ton more than most Americans have. And while theoretically, folks become millionaires, there are so many complicating factors that prevent the practice of good habits: drugs, booze, getting ensnared in the system (divorce, welfare, arrest, etc.). https://fortune.com/2024/02/01/emergency-1000-expense-most-americans-broke-debt-bankrate/
My citation game on this newsletter is pretty weak, though I too went through a few links until I got to the Unusual Whales site, which seemed sufficiently wonky as to be be legit. Thanks for providing the additional context.