Welcome, and what Oro said – I’m sorry it’s so rough for your friend right now!
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You are a very generous friend! Welcome.
Any chance of any aid agencies being a good resource your friend?
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Welcome to the forum! I wish you and your friend the best!
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Welcome to the forum! You have a very kind and generous soul. May your friend land softly when she finally sets down roots, and may you feel the joy of helping another person.
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Hello, I am Sue. 46 year old single empty-nester in Texas USA.
In the last 10 years I went from a single mother on welfare making less than $20K a year (with no college degree) to now having a Bachelor’s degree, a salary of $75K, plus rental property income of $19K and owning two houses ( 1 I live in and 1 is rental property). I never dreamed I’d be where I am now! I did this all by myself ( well God has shown me the way)! Im happily content being single so have no other partner to provide a 2nd income. But for 1 person I am very comfortable so no complaints!
Now my focus has turned to investing and retirement savings. Looking forward to learning more.
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Your success has been amazing. Congratulations for improving your situation - that takes tons of sustained effort. You are tough and unstoppable.
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Welcome!
Yay single and raking in the monies!
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Hi Sue! I’m a 41 y o single parent in Canada with a master’s that I don’t use and some rental properties. I’m glad you’ve joined us.
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Hello, I’m Minerva. I was invited to OMD by @Meowmalade. I’m 53 (she/her) and l live north of Boston with a husband and a middle-aged pug lady named Clementine. I started hard-core investing and saving about 16 years ago, became debt-free, put 2 children through college with cash, and bought a 3-family house as an investment property. I use one of the units of my house as a full-time studio, where I make lots of different kinds of art, write fiction and creative non-fiction, and study classical piano.
I achieved FIRE in 2018 and I now spend my days trying to improve my physical and mental health so I can start living my best life. I didn’t start my life with money. My first apartment back in 1996 (10 years ago, right?) was a dark, dank cement box infested with slugs. Twenty years later, as I worked through childhood complex PTSD with my first therapist so I could do FIRE, he said for a lot of folks with complex trauma, “safe” is always twice as much as you have in savings. And he’s right. Back then, I had $40k in savings. Our combined net worth today is $2.5M, and I still don’t feel truly safe. My husband plans to retire when we hit $5M (safe = nx2, right?) He has childhood trauma too. So we’re REALLY terrific at making and saving money, but we both struggle to relax and find meaning and fulfillment in daily life.
I do all the cleaning, maintenance, and gardening for our 3,200 square foot multi-family property, which we do not rent out at present. I cook all meals from scratch, or close to it, for $125/week. For fun, we go on walks or drive around and look at the ocean. We go out to dinner sometimes, and enjoy reading and watching TV. In September we’ll see Hans Zimmer at the Boston Garden, in average seats. We fly coach, always. And once a year, we pull out all the stops and go to Disney World, and ride the rides, and eat the snacks and give ourselves what we most needed as children - freedom, immersive wonder, and joy.
I’m in dire need of a community that understands the value of financial freedom, and the sacrifices it takes to achieve it, but also groks that saving is only part of the path to fulfillment. I think a lot about how best to use the resources I have, both the money and my one precious life. I look forward to meeting you.
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Looking forward to getting to know you, Minerva!!
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I love how you write about your Disney treat!
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Thank you for reading!
Thank you for the warm welcome!
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Love your pug, please pet her and tell her she’s pretty.
Love your inner child affirming vacation. 
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Omg she has a snaggletoof?? Even better. Pure perfection.
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I love snaggletoothed dogs. Give her lots of belly rubs from me and tell her she is the best girl.
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Best pug! Welcome Minerva!
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Hello good girl! I look forward to seeing more of the darling Clementine in the pets thread.
Welcome @Minerva!
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