After 15 years in the condo, they moved. The move was made easier because Steve and his wife never refinanced and took any money out of their condo. Plus, they paid a little extra on their mortgage each month.
With the large equity in their condo, they were able to put down 40% on a much nicer place and still had money for landscaping and new furniture. Their mortgage payment was low.
While they worked, they put aside money in their 401(k)s, just as the experts were advising them to do. Over time, thanks to gains in the stock market, they built up a nice sum.
Over the past 20 years, they have never missed a mortgage payment and were a little bit late only a couple of times, for no other reason than they just forgot.
They avoided credit card debt by faithfully paying off the balance in full each month, just as the experts said to do.
They started a policy of paying cash for everything. They saved money for vacations, and then traveled.
During the years that his kids were active in sports, Steve coached them in baseball, soccer and softball. Steve and his wife rarely missed a practice or a game.
Steve and his wife also rarely missed a school event such as a play or an awards ceremony.
Despite a few traffic citations, Steve the Writer, obeyed the law, refusing even to cheat while driving by crossing over the double yellow line into or out of the carpool lane.
Once, when his kids were 10 and 12 years old and with him in the car, he scraped an unoccupied vehicle with the side mirror on his own car. No one was around.
Wanting to set an example for his children, Steve the Writer left a note on the other car with his name, phone number and an apology.
Steve and his wife are proud of the fact that they have never taken a cent of government assistance.
Over the years, Steve the Writer and his wife witnessed all sorts of corporate shenanigans, from the savings and loan crisis to the tabloid stories about Enron and WorldCom executives living the high life.
