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Two of us and our monthly grocery bill is now averaging $1,100/month. It used to be closer to $600/month but we have switched to organic produce and grass fed meats. I'm actually shocked to pay what we're paying for grass fed meat. It's considerably more than Prime grade meat (ribeye and...

Thanks Koolau! I've read a lot of your posts and have definitely benefited from them so I'll take your geezer advice any day!

That's a simple formula to follow! I have the ability to keep my income low for at least the next few years by using my taxable account. I will crunch the numbers as many have suggested but I'd love to find a hybrid solution where I can do some conversions and also get a decent health...

I won't know the COBRA rate until my wife leaves her company but based on what we paid for COBRA before (she left her job and was later asked to return) and reviewing ACA plans that would be appropriate for us, the numbers are close. Worthy of further review for sure. Thanks Dtail.

Thanks Walkinwood. PB4 mentioned a few of the same things but it's good for us (wife and I) to re-read it. We are leaning towards just keeping our income low for the ACA subsidies but will see what we can do in terms of Roth conversions later. It's likely that we'll be on COBRA for 18 months...

I suspect I went a little too deep on selling equities. That said, I also think equities have risen pretty dramatically recently so I didn't feel awful selling. I'll probably return to something closer to 60% equities 40% safe stuff within the next few years (I get it, I'm trying to time which...

Good idea on using HY savings account and moving money as needed. I appreciate everyone's help in this thread.

We're just about to have a new roof put on our house ($30k - standing seam metal roof) and we also have to replace our deck which will be at least $20k. Your point is appreciated. We would ordinarily keep around $30k in checking. Thanks.

PB4 - can you give me a little more here? We will need ACA subsidies. I want to be clear with what you mean when you say "blow up" the analysis above. Am I now back to withdrawing 4% from each IRA and Taxable account for living expenses and not doing any conversions until 65 since we need ACA...

Our ETF holdings are primarily: VOO, VYM, VTI, VOOG, VUG. Thanks for the tip about Rick Ferri's book.

We would benefit from ACA subsidies. We will have no health insurance when my wife leaves her job which could be as soon as April of this year. We would be eligible for and use COBRA for 18 months. I would be quite happy to start some small'ish conversions especially knowing my tax bill...

My wife and I hope to fully punch out this year. I'm 57 and she is 59. Here are our details: tIRA $1,286,000 (45% ETFs 55% brokered CDs) Wife's tIRA $ 895,000 (45% ETFs 55% brokered CDs) Taxable Brokerage Account $826,000 (50% ETFs 50% brokered CDs) Wife's Roth $50,000 100% ETF...

I'm interested in seeing this chart ERD50. I'm nearing retirement and was fortunate to receive some good advice on this forum about re-balancing instead of selling everything. I also have a friend that is a financial planner and his advice was to get closer to 60/40 from where we were which...

joesxm3 - Please do and thank you.

Thank you both! Sorry for the thread drift.

Please help me understand why it's undesirable to have dividend payers in tax deferred accounts. I'm asking because my Vanguard advisor suggested that my IRA have mostly dividend payers in it. In my brokerage account she suggested ETF's like VTI for example.

Your list is quite extensive. If someone wanted to dabble a bit from your list, could you recommend 5 to 7 companies (from your list) that might offer reasonable diversification?

Yes and thank you. There used to be a link at the bottom of the home page for this but it's been removed but I'm able to see what I want to from Distribution Payouts. Thanks again.

Vanguard account holders...Has anyone noticed that the Dividend Summary page has been removed? In typical fashion with their customer service recently, I haven't received a reply to my very simple question about whether or not this page has been removed. I found it very helpful to see a...

Used to get the flu shot but won't get that anymore. Will never get any of the other shots.

I think cooking (boiling) it for more than two and a half minutes is ruining it. I'm not sure that people realize that cooking it so long takes all the sugar out of it. I've told so many people that they should try cooking it for just a few seconds longer than 2 minutes and everyone tells me...

OP - Yes, I've seen the hydrofoil stuff. Just amazing! My windsurfing buddy is into that now. I taught him how to windsurf and in about 2 months he was better than me! He's a crazy athlete. Anything he tries he gets unbelievably good at. I can watch the Gorge sailors for hours. I can...

Talk to your doctor. No way, if I were you, would I rule it out until you do. Remember, you don't have to ski like you possibly did years ago. You could just ski the easier trails and not push yourself too hard. As much as I wish I could tear up the blacks, I simply can't but that doesn't...

I probably ski more like you do. I wouldn't say I keep my skis welded together but they're pretty close with the downhill ski about the same as you (3" ahead). I wouldn't say my weight is way over the tips but a fair amount over, yes. I think the benefit I've noticed from shaped skis is...

Yep, I completely misunderstood. Clear now. Thanks.