Buying a truck

Noting builds character better than bankruptcy.

I recommend at least 3 good bankruptcies by 25.

4 if you are a real go getter.

 

These are all the reasons I think used trucks are usually worth scrap price unless you can prove otherwise… I seem to have a budget of about $13k or less for purchase prices for trucks. LOL

 

Ours doesn’t start for less than $130 an hour, unless we are using it on a project of our own. For hire, $130+. Not terrible money, but like a number of other guys mentioned, those trucks lead a hard life. Ours has 605,000 miles on it, and it’s about toast. Rolling the dice between a brand new and decent used, hard part of that decision is, the new one would “probably” be better than used, but we don’t run it full time, so…..

 

I love your advice. I actually wish I had a bit more of that mindset. I am always so careful when it’s anything to do with finances. I avoid debt like the plague. Now at age 35 I have hardly gotten anywhere financially in life, (although I’m not broke either,) and many of my friends have their own businesses and think nothing of signing bank loans to grow or expand their operation. Many of them live in nice houses with plenty of money, and drive nice vehicles. I live in a single wide, have two older paid for vehicles, and nervously think about trying new things but am too worried about failure. Obviously I know there’s some sarcasm in what you say, but I also think there’s some sense in it too.

 

I definitely know what you mean and I bet there's certain areas in life where you have a bigger appetite for risk.

I guarantee there's a line of guys right now a mile long who would love to be in your position with what you've put together. I'm not being sarcastic I really think staying above water and not going broke nowadays ain't so easy.

Everything is working against us in the sense that some of the sharpest people on the planet are designing, marketing, manufacturing all types of things that bypass our best intentions and shoot straight for the desire button deep down in us.

And on the other hand... It ain't gambling if you're good and there's only one way to get good.