Saving Is a Must
December 1, 2025
Now, for a few humble thoughts on the first day of the last month of 2025.
First, if I ever have another life to live, please, dear God, remind me that the huge rivers of money I had coming in for the last 30 years or so can and will end.
This means I MUST save more. Mr. Buffett put it well: no matter how much you are saving, save more. Save it in gold. Save it in real estate. Save it in BRK. But save it you must. I got used to seeing immense checks pouring in month after month. I thought that gusher would slow down — but certainly not end.
It has ended, though. And it was incredibly lucky that, for reasons of maniacal egomania and just plain chance, I did have some savings. Not enough, and I have some scary, terrifying moments: the worst moments of my life.
I did manage to look at the bright side. I realized that my goddess wife was my overwhelmingly most important asset. As long as I had her by my side, I was still alive. But please, dear pals and readers, learn from my mistakes.
No amount of vainglory in show-off spending is worth even a tiny fraction of the pain of the fear of homelessness. My parents were always a bit frugal except when it came to my sister’s and my education.
They were smart. I have been stupid. As my smart sister says, “Hollywood encourages foolish behavior. Brooklyn does not.”
Next: Your spouse is everything. If you treat her right and she treats you right, your life will work out fairly well. Not perfectly, but incomparably better than otherwise.
Three, keep your friends through all kinds of weather. It’s not just important to have loyal friends for all of your life. It is essential. Old age is a lonely time for too many of us. Our spouse and our friends are all that stands between despair and death.
Fourth, do not trust the government to take care of you. The horrific “war on drugs” has kept way too many of us from the basic meds we need to stay sane. The “war on drugs” is trench warfare against man’s ability to develop meds that keep us from suicidal pain. It is a disgrace.
I will write more later.
READ MORE from Ben Stein:
Mr. and Mrs. Bureaucrats, Show Us Some Mercy
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