Recent content by CardsFan

Taxes are part of your spending. You need to estimate taxes and add it to your estimated spend.

+1. $50k each is more than generous. We only have one son. When he got married they were both in their 30's with well paying jobs in Chicago. Her parents could not afford to pay for a wedding, so they did it themselves. They did not ask us for anything to help. I think they came in just under...

I agree, BUT, I would not rule out the possibility of a consumption tax (VAT?) being ADDED to the current tax burden. Likely, NO. Possible? Coupled with a huge deduction for low income people, it could be touted as progressive, and not regressive. I don't think either will happen, but if I had...

Nothing on that list would entice me to change. When it comes to my local B&M bank, all I want is free checking, free on line bill pay and a safe deposit box. I get that with a $5,000 minimum balance. Of course, it is not really free, as I am only getting 0.02% interest there, versus 4% or more...

In my case, when I hit a number that I thought was FI, it totally changed my attitude. I didn't retire, but I knew that I could. Work became more fun. I could give my opinions, and if they didn't like them, I could leave. Funny thing was, I spent 3-4 years actually being listened to! The more I...

I'll play their digital game! CVS sends d-coupons all the time. 30-40% off one item. $10 off $30, etc. Almost once a week we get a 30 or 40% off coupon. We buy items that we use all the time and are already a fair price in the local market. Easy game, when you are retired and can go to the...

MIL would get 1/2 of his FRA amount IF, she waited until her FRA to collect. If she started early, it is reduced. If he waited until 70 then his FRA amount would be less than $2500. Just a couple of possible reasons.

Back in the Boston area (60'-70's), there were Rotary's. The biggest two that I remember were at the bridges going over to Cape Cod (the Sagamore and the Bourne bridges). No lines for traffic. Road was 3-4 cars wide. It was free for all on a Friday night or Saturday morning in July or August...

A friend just told us about Kanopy. Use your library card to get free streaming movies and shows

I know nothing about this kind of company ownership, but if the value of the land is "the" big thing, why not announce you are "retiring" and the best thing to do would be to sell the company, and/or divest of all property. Point out to them how much they will get. If they are as greedy and...

We are pretty much in the same place. At 69, we will continue to convert just below the IRMAA level, which really puts us at about the same level as we will have when RMD's kick in. JMHO, but I think we sometimes get too hung up on this. In MOST cases, 90%?, the ultimate impact of conversions...

A quick story about "fall off the bone ribs" (I probably said this here before) We were at Rendezvous in Memphis with some friends. The other wife asked if the ribs fell off the bone, without missing a beat, the waiter said "Well, you have to use your teeth". Her husband and I both broke out...

Open Office here. My days of extensive number crunching and long documents are way behind me. It is adequate for our use. If I am sending a document to someone else I will save it as a pdf so reading it is not a problem.

Love it. "Let's just move the CO2 to some one else and take credit for reducing emissions"

But not too early to be thinking about plans.