Originally Posted by PipeMan

We (I) are worried because all the money coming in can stop nearly on a dime due to pay cuts and furloughs. I don’t plan on keeping this income coming in for long so I am making the most of it for now.

You guys out there with vacation houses, fancy cars, airplanes etc amaze me!

Originally Posted by sailingfun

I would not live your life in fear of what might happen. Once you have 15% below you on the seniority list a quick stoppage of income is highly unlike. The things you mention can be sold if needed. A vacation home for me was always a investment with the added bonus that my family gets personal enjoyment out of it. You want a diversified portfolio and one part of that should be real estate. The real estate side of my portfolio is what is allowing me to enjoy a great retirement without financial issues.

Originally Posted by crewdawg

At some point you have got to live life. After a year or two on property, most of these things can be had if you buy smartly, build a realistic budget (not at 85 hours at your current rate) and have an exit strategy in mind. Extra revenue streams are helpful as well. It’s smart to exercise caution, but no so much that you let life pass you by in constant fear of the next black swan.