How many of you are self made?

[gmh1013]

I never got one dime from my parents from age 16.
Dropped out of high school in 11 grade because of them and left home at 17.
Worked in the Oilfield because it paid good for a H.S. dropout for several years.
Saved up money and put my ex-wife and myself through college.
Between selling servers for IBM and buying and selling houses in Phx I hade enough to retire at 48 (and playing the market some too).....I was very lucky.....very very lucky.
I could have lost it all in the crash.

[mjclark32]

Congrats on your accomplishments. I'm still in the making...

[Welshwatchman]

Let's keep this one as low key as possible.

I'm a member of the "No leg up from anyone" club.

[Lmbeauleap]

Low key general statement...the harder you work the luckier you get. There are always exceptions. Just keep plugging away.

[CDNWatchNut]

I'm myself....does that mean I'm self made.

[Passionata]

I am


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[azguy]

Originally Posted by Lmbeauleap

...the harder you work the luckier you get.....

No true'r words

[Sub Par]

I'm Oilfield myself gmh1013. Same age as you as well!. Left school at 14 and had factory floor sweeper sort of jobs till getting a start in the oil industry at 19. Started as a laborer and am now as high as you can go for someone field based.

Not rich, but don't worry about money either if that makes sense. Totally self made, never got anything I didn't work for, never borrowed a cent, and am pretty happy about that

[rolexgiants]

Originally Posted by gmh1013

I never got one dime from my parents from age 16.
Dropped out of high school in 11 grade because of them and left home at 17.
Worked in the Oilfield because it paid good for a H.S. dropout for several years.
Saved up money and put my ex-wife and myself through college.
Between selling servers for IBM and buying and selling houses in Phx I hade enough to retire at 48 (and playing the market some too).....I was very lucky.....very very lucky.
I could have lost it all in the crash.

It's all relative...

[wantonebad]

I'd like to say I was self made but I think my parents fooling around in the early 60's had something to do with me popping up?

[Numismatist]

Hated school, missed first 2-3 hours almost every day Junior/Senior year, they graduated me because they didn't want to see me another year!

Just happened to be a computer wiz during the fabulous 1980s at the dawn of PCs (Apple IICs too!), and started making more than the teachers that kept saying I'd never amount to anything...

Now I do coins and stuff privately.

[gwalker]

I've made myself broke.... Does that count???

[Ebruner]

Left home at 17, never took a free penny from parents or government since. Zero regrets.

-Eddie

[rajurama]

Proudly made by a self made man.

[SPARTAN2161]

I want to be self made...but if that entails parents not helping with bills...im out. They still provide room and board (22 grad student)

[Tri-Tip]

I would say I am. Bought my own first car (had a loan), lived at home until 26 paying minimal rent, so I was able to save quite a bit of money, but my parents did me a huge favor by not providing me with everything, so from my teenage years, I knew the power of a dollar.

Started working at a tiny 4-person company part time during high school sweeping floors and packing orders. Still with the same company with sales of over $300 million now, and I'm VP of Information Systems.

Bought my parents townhouse from them at 26, paid it off, and now it's giving me rental income, and I own a home.

I'd say one of the most important things is stashing away as much as possible every year in IRA / Roth IRA / 401k plans as allowed. My original $2,000 IRA from when I was 18 is now worth $40,000, 26 years later.

[Jocke]

I'm more home made that self made.

No education, her own business and have so I'll be fine.

No loan, everything I have is mine.

So I will say I'm lucky.

[rad87gn]

I am. My grandparents on both sides were all very successful rich farmers with a lot of land and property. After their passing their children fought over the money and ended up going to one child on each side of the family. Rest got left nothing. My mom and dad never inherited a thing from anyone. They took care of themselves and worked hard. They taught me to do the same.

[Paladin]

+1.

[cornerstore]

Self made,I have a few man made parts does that count? Seriously truth be told NO ONE is truly self made, we all rely on others for our success, bankers, employees, customers,advisors, they all contribute to ones success or lack there of.Self employed or lack of financal help doesn't equate to self made .

[TattooedGQ]

I can honestly say I'm not self-made....however I'm thankful for everything given to me. My parents helped me out substantially growing up, My Dad's a Mechanic, and my Mom works with group sales for a local arcade....very blue collar all the way and solid middle-middle class.

My parents supported me in any path I chose, rarely financially for anything frivolous. I went to college on a 3/4 academic scholarship and paid my own way from there. Now I'm 31 and successful in what I do because of my own hard work, so in that sense I am self-made, but couldn't have done it without their support and encouragement....so thanks Mom & Dad!!

[Grissom]

I fit into that category....never got any help from my folks, started working at 15, worked all through college, always had something on the side, buying and selling, to make a little extra money in the beginning, ended up running a residency program, and then started a forensic medical practice with a buddy, funded it with my own money, and worked my *ss off (18 hours a day, traveled all over the world, as needed) to make it successful. Guaranteed total satisfaction, or I would not take any money for our work......and was able to retire at 41......although I still kept my foot in the door, when an interesting case came along.......

Funny, though, how I made sure I helped out my kids, as much as I was NOT helped out by my parents (I told my kids that I would support them as long as they were still in school, and pay for their schooling), and in retrospect, I wonder now which methodology will end up yielding the best results.....So far, seemingly so good, as my son is now a successful Environmental Engineer with a graduate degree from Berkeley, and my daughter is in a graduate program in sociological practices. While I am certainly proud of my accomplishments, I would have liked a little more hands on help from my folks, both financial, and emotional.....

Nice thought provoking thread!

All, in all, like Paul, I guess that would make me a member of the "No leg up from anyone" club....

[MonBK]

I'm waiting for Paul to chime in to tell us how he helps himself.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Let's keep this one as low key as possible.

I'm a member of the "No leg up from anyone" club.

X2

[MoBe]

In the biological sense my parents made me and that`s as far as they went,the rest was up to me.

[F&Iguy]

I would say I'm self made but only with my wifes support. We have been together since I was 16 and she was 14, 20 some very good years. I'm very lucky and greatful

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by Grissom

I fit into that category....never got any help from my folks, started working at 15, worked all through college, always had something on the side, buying and selling, to make a little extra money in the beginning, ended up running a residency program, and then started a forensic medical practice with a buddy, funded it with my own money, and worked my *ss off (18 hours a day, traveled all over the world, as needed) to make it successful. Guaranteed total satisfaction, or I would not take any money for our work......and was able to retire at 41......although I still kept my foot in the door, when an interesting case came along.......

Funny, though, how I made sure I helped out my kids, as much as I was NOT helped out by my parents (I told my kids that I would support them as long as they were still in school, and pay for their schooling), and in retrospect, I wonder now which methodology will end up yielding the best results.....So far, seemingly so good, as my son is now a successful Environmental Engineer with a graduate degree from Berkeley, and my daughter is in a graduate program in sociological practices. While I am certainly proud of my accomplishments, I would have liked a little more hands on help from my folks, both financial, and emotional.....

Nice thought provoking thread!

All, in all, like Paul, I guess that would make me a member of the "No leg up from anyone" club....

I was telling my wife's grandson who takes 6 hours in a J.C. and works about 25 hours a week ( he thinks thats hard) that if I can do it .....anybody can.... if they want it bad enough

[Grumpy Badger]

I'm lucky to have parents who have helped me but I'm proud to say I've worked damn hard as well.
I admire people who have built themselves up from nothing but I'm not ashamed to say that I had a bit of help along the way.

[Monte Cristo]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Let's keep this one as low key as possible.

I'm a member of the "No leg up from anyone" club.

Count me in as well.

[Paladin]

Originally Posted by F&Iguy

I would say I'm self made but only with my wifes support. We have been together since I was 16 and she was 14, 20 some very good years. I'm very lucky and greatful

CONGRATS!!!! Seldom hear about soulmates who are fortunate enough to find each other at such a young age.