Random Thoughts 2: Arbitrary Speculations

[EgonSpengler]

6-months is a minimum, not a cap. Ideally, you should be adding to your "emergency" fund perpetually, same as your normal savings.

Right, minimum. As for a cap, I think it's probably advisable to switch your savings strategy once your emergency fund is at a comfortable level, but I wouldn't tell anyone what that level has to be. There are savings methods that are better for the long-term, such as saving to buy a home, for retirement, or for a child's education. You wouldn't want an emergency fund in anything that isn't immediately accessible, but a basic savings account doesn't earn anything (with inflation, you might even be losing money just letting it sit there). I would think that once you're past a reasonable pile in your emergency fund, anything more you put into it could get you more money in the long-term if you invested it or put it in a CD or something. I'm a noob with this stuff, though, so I wouldn't take my word for any of this.

I've had contents insurance for nearly 20 years, but I don't know what renters' insurance is.

I just Googled contents insurance, and it looks like the same thing.

 

[Lexicus]

My monthly spending is pretty close to my monthly income, which is just over $3000. Assuming (and this is probably a little conservative) that I spend $2500/month I have about two months' cash in savings. I'm struggling to save more at the moment because I've been going out and spending money on drinks and eating at restaurants more in the last couple of months.

 

[Zkribbler]

I'm a noob with this stuff, though, so I wouldn't take my word for any of this.

My big brother is a self-made multimillionaire. He would agree with you.

I just Googled contents insurance, and it looks like the same thing.

The same, exact thing.

I'm struggling to save more at the moment because I've been going out and spending money on drinks and eating at restaurants more in the last couple of months.

Here's a trick. Keep your emergency fund in a separate account. When your income comes in, make a deposit into that account, just as it were a creditor who needed to be paid.

 

[EgonSpengler]

Here's a trick. Keep your emergency fund in a separate account. When your income comes in, make a deposit into that account, just as it were a creditor who needed to be paid.

If you use automatic depositing for your paychecks, your bank can probably put a percentage or a fixed amount into separate accounts. Of course they might charge you, but that's banks for you.

 

[Lexicus]

Wanna know my trick for saving a proper amount of money? A sweeping policy revolution that redistributes money from millionaires to people like me and @EgonSpengler

 

[EgonSpengler]

Wanna know my trick for saving a proper amount of money? A sweeping policy revolution that redistributes money from millionaires to people like me and @EgonSpengler

I do wonder, in how many wealthy countries does having a heart attack leave a person homeless?

 

[Lexicus]

I do wonder, in how many wealthy countries does having a heart attack leave a person homeless?

I think the US is literally the only one.

 

[Synobun]

I think the US is literally the only one.

Largely agricultural/village states as well, probably. So... not great company.

 

[Lexicus]

Largely agricultural/village states as well, probably. So... not great company.

"Wealthy countries"

 

[Synobun]

"Wealthy countries"

Give it time.

 

[Takhisis]

Give it time.

Are we there yet?

 

[Synobun]

Are we there yet?

Two trade wars away. Next week, probably.

 

[Lexicus]

Seriously tho like what is the actual argument for protectionism being able to reduce the US to a third-world country

 

[Lohrenswald]

Seriously tho like what is the actual argument for protectionism being able to reduce the US to a third-world country

Something about all the factories and whatnot having been moved abroad already, maybe

 

[Takhisis]

Two trade wars away. Next week, probably.

Are we there yet?

Seriously tho like what is the actual argument for protectionism being able to reduce the US to a third-world country

Basically the US is dependent on foreign trade for more or less anything. Even its financing (it's basically alchemy, but still).

 

[Ryika]

I'm so happy I found /r/GenderCritical.

Entertainment for hours upon hours. Seeing trans exclusionary radical feminists argue in great detail about how, in their opinion, m2f trans individuals are men abusing their male privilege to oppress and marginalize 'real women', and how f2m trans individuals are gender traitors, is the most hilarious thing I've seen in a while. They're using the same words as the other radical feminists, but the context is completely different.

Interestingly enough, when they're not talking about trans individuals, I even agree with a lot of what they say. So in a way developing a distaste for trans individuals would be my path to becoming a feminist - how ironic is that?

 

[Lexicus]

Basically the US is dependent on foreign trade for more or less anything. Even its financing (it's basically alchemy, but still).

But this is like, completely untrue.

 

[Takhisis]

You asked what the argument was, not what my opinion was. It's very problematic that the GOP has reduced policy to politics, statemanship to upmanship, and statements into soundbites.

 

[Synobun]

Seriously tho like what is the actual argument for protectionism being able to reduce the US to a third-world country

I don't really believe that. It's just a joke in a serial thread.

That being said, economic isolationism (especially if it's a side effect of what's meant to be beneficial policy) isn't a thing that works in a global society. The rest of the world can and will form partnerships elsewhere, especially when the military support of the US is now considered debatable. Every major partnership formed in retaliation to the US cutting off its nose to spite its face is a partnership that weakens the US.

The US won't become a third world country, obviously. But it certainly won't become great again.

 

[Lohrenswald]

That being said, economic isolationism (especially if it's a side effect of what's meant to be beneficial policy) isn't a thing that works in a global society. The rest of the world can and will form partnerships elsewhere

What does that like matter
Just because some countries trade, doesn't mean all have to

You're essentially saying "not following globalisation policies won't lead to globalisation", which, yea
That's kind of the point