Search found 1843 matches

by littlebird
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: “Bellys” on sewer scope for new house
Replies: 41
Views: 2337

Re: HVAC 30 years old on house under contract

It could work for another 5 years or die tomorrow. But the new unit might also fail in 5 years, who knows. "Older" can mean 7 years old or 30 years. If they have no other offers, you can ask for a credit, but I would not say you were misled. They may or may not agree. Hard to imagine anyone would want a home sale to fall through over $7k. Maybe you and the seller split the difference and call it a misunderstanding. Might be a good opportunity to look at a more efficient system, or ductless mini-splits, etc. A 30 year old AC probably eats electricity. You'd probably save by replacing it. I don't live in Arizona but I can't imagine that most HVAC systems last more than 10-15 years due to constant use of the AC anyway. But that's ju...
by littlebird
Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One spouse retiring earlier than the other?
Replies: 38
Views: 2989

Re: One spouse retiring earlier than the other?

My parents, and therefore I too, had a sad experience. My father’s industry imploded around his ears when he was 63, and he was “retired”. My mother, who was younger, and who had only started to work when we kids were teens, still enjoyed the social aspects of her job, and wasn’t ready to retire. They planned for her to work a further 6-7 years and then move to Florida. In the sixth year, my father suddenly needed a risky operation and although he survived it, he contracted pneumonia in the hospital and died. My mother had always been a great one for saying:”Man proposes, God disposes”, but it didn’t seem to have ever crossed her mind that this could actually happen to them, and she was devastated. My father had not been terribly happy reti...
by littlebird
Tue Mar 12, 2024 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
Replies: 126
Views: 10504

Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?

When money was a little tighter than it is now - when we were very young marrieds, or when we were early retirees - it was very pleasurable to avoid spending our discretionary income on things we could easily do without. We took some pride in living well on “less”.

But as money became more available to us, the pleasure in carefully curating it lessened. It became frugality just for frugality’s sake. And we gave it up. Now, in my 80’s with needs changing as debility slowly settles in, I willingly spend on things to make my life more convenient, comfortable, safe and secure.
by littlebird
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrical Outlet Covers
Replies: 48
Views: 3697

Re: Electrical Outlet Covers

This company can make you pretty much any kind, size and design of outlet cover or blank plate.

https://www.switchplategallery.com/

Edited to correct incomplete url
by littlebird
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vendor unable to challenge customer's reversal of credit card charge
Replies: 29
Views: 3734

Re: Vendor unable to challenge customer's reversal of credit card charge

The few times I’ve had a credit card dispute, my bank always communicated with the other party, whether that party was a bank customer or not. And I got only a provisional credit until the dispute was settled after talking with both parties.
by littlebird
Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has Anyone Had This Scenario/Situation With The IRS
Replies: 21
Views: 2970

Re: Has Anyone Had This Scenario/Situation With The IRS

Anyone undergoing what the OP is, might enjoy this true story from my - you will understand why - short stay in NM. Taxpayer was notified that she hadn’t paid previous year’s state taxes. She went to her files and photocopied the front and back of the check she had sent in and which was cashed. She sent it to the tax department. State employee cut out the photocopy of the check front and sent it to the State bank account for deposit. Some time later police appeared at the taxpayer’s door to serve her with a warrant for presenting a forged check. :oops:
by littlebird
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First bonus, taxed at almost 50%!
Replies: 55
Views: 3252

Re: First bonus, taxed at almost 50%!

BarbBrooklyn wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:07 am Being a municipal employee, I never got bonuses, but I occasionally got lump sum back pay

It always seemed to me that they withheld taxes on those payments as if we earned that amount on a regular basis.
Exactly!
by littlebird
Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to be sure there are no capital loss carryover from 2022
Replies: 6
Views: 859

Re: How to be sure there are no capital loss carryover from 2022

Capital loss carryover worksheet is on page 11, I believe, of 2023 Sched. D instructions. It calls for the entries on lines 7 and 15 of your *2022* Sched. D to see if you have anything to carry over from 2022.
by littlebird
Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
Replies: 156
Views: 9906

Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?

In 32 years of continuous experience with regular Medicare (my spouse was 16 years older than me), have only had 2 instances of Medicare errors. Both arose from hospital stays. Neither wound up costing us anything. Neither of us were/are heavy users of medical care, however.

The consensus belief in my senior community is that Advantage works well as long as you are healthy. When serious illness is involved, you’re much better off with regular Medicare.
by littlebird
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help with Section 199A Dividends and Form 8995
Replies: 15
Views: 928

Re: Help with Section 199A Dividends and Form 8995

I put “Qualified REIT dividends” on line one, which was the only one of the choices given in the instructions that seemed appropriate. My Section 199A divs were from Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund. I saved $6 by filling out the form.
by littlebird
Wed Feb 28, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165332

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

Get this message via text about once a week. Crazy how USPS doesn’t have my complete address but they have my cellphone number! Not sure how successful this scam is as the steps are a bit cumbersome. “The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link within 12 hours. https://uspz.xxxx.xx <- edited link to make inactive (Please reply to Y, then exit the SMS, open the SMS activation link again, or copy the link to Safari browser and open it) The US Postal team wishes you a wonderful day” I received that exact same text. If you follow up, the purported “USPS” wants to put a $0.38 “change of address” charge on your credit card so that they can de...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: A confident Boglehead in his 60s pondering managing a portfolio in their 80s and beyond?
Replies: 42
Views: 5528

Re: A confident Boglehead in his 60s pondering managing a portfolio in their 80s and beyond?

At almost 82, I have no problem managing my finances. I have simplified into my current comfort zone. I don’t do Roth conversions, or use Treasury Direct or buy CD’s from local banks with good deals. I do have a revocable trust and when my spouse died, I named a child as co-trustee. This, and not avoidance of probate, is the reason my spouse and I created the trust many years ago. I have one brokerage and one bank. I arranged for an annuity which, together with SS, provides a monthly inflow into my checking account which modestly exceeds my monthly needs and wants. The co-trustee child has their own passwords for my brokerage and bank accounts and takes a look at them from time to time. (My driving, hearing and general demeanor are also cov...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tub to Shower Using a Cut Out Approach
Replies: 9
Views: 1631

Re: Tub to Shower Using a Cut Out Approach

I live in a senior community, so I have seen this many times in homes. All those that I have seen have glass or glass-like enclosures custom made to keep the water inside. I’m fairly neutral about them, but if the costs are not too far apart, or if the cost is irrelevant, I would go for complete replacement with a stall shower.
by littlebird
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gmail: turning off "suggested contacts"?
Replies: 2
Views: 528

Re: Gmail: turning off "suggested contacts"?

I e-mail a certain family member every day. At first the suggestion bot just plucked a random name out of my contacts list and I ignored it, but now it’s only suggesting the certain family member that I e-mail every day and no one else. So it probably was set up to learn your behavior.
by littlebird
Sun Feb 11, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is my company doing something illegal?
Replies: 19
Views: 2271

Re: Is my company doing something illegal?

Google “(your state) labor department”. It may have a different name in your state, but you should be able to find it, and they should be able to answer your questions.
by littlebird
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13595

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

beyou wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:45 pm
MNGopher wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 4:50 pm My parents are 87 and although relatively healthy and living independently on a hobby farm, they lost the desire to travel or go anywhere overnight, about 10 years ago. They did a lot of traveling in there 50s and 60s, and I think enough was enough and they just like being at home better.
Some people are lifelong homebodies. Others have the itch to go out until their last days. Anything in-between can happen.
And many, especially after 80, have so many minor and moderate ailments and discomforts to be be attended to daily, that being at home is their only real option. Don’t ask me how I know this.
by littlebird
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13595

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

I am curious if the age that you look accurately reflects your "biological" age for those who hit their "no-go" years later/earlier. I read an article which says that younger-looking people (this has to be objectively determined by strangers) are actually biologically younger, in the sense that people who look younger really are ageing more slowly This was certainly true for my maternal grandma who still had brown hair - faded and sparse, but indisputably brown - into her mid-90’s. She didn’t need reading glasses, never had cataracts, her eyes were bright and the whites were white, her skin had very fine lines in the cheeks, but no deep wrinkles. One day her doctor said to her: “Rose, you have the heart of a 60-year old...
by littlebird
Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4499

Re: going gluten-free

not our situation, but I could see the family going all gluten free in solidarity for the one with celiac. what I dont understand is going gluten free without celiac issues, but that is another thread. Celiac disease is just one reason to go GF, but there are a host of other auto-immune diseases that respond well to a GF lifestyle like Hashimotos. Some kids with special needs also show improved behavior when put on a GF lifestyle. I know that for myself, I had migraines every week for 15 years like clockwork, but once I went GF, they stopped pretty much immediately and I haven't had one in years. If only I had known!!! When my late spouse could no longer prepare his own breakfasts and I had to prepare them, they were of necessity gluten fr...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4499

Re: going gluten-free

If your family eats pretty healthy, no a big deal. It’s only when you bring in processed foods that you run into trouble. I would recommend this app, https://glutendude.app. I find it helpful. I’d also recommend Canyon Bakehouse bread products. Best bread I have found. The problem with GF products is they are expensive. If your family isn’t all going GF, get a separate toaster for your daughter in a can’t miss color like red. Same with dishes and things like pasta strainer. GF pasta tends to be mushy. I love Andean Dream pasta, but if you can’t buy it where you are, you’ll have to experiment. Instead of regular soy sauce, get something like San-J tamari that’s labeled GF. I personally would not buy Cheerios. I know the Celiac Association i...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: going gluten-free
Replies: 55
Views: 4499

Re: going gluten-free

I haven't read everything. Amy's has a number of products labeled gluten-free. Searching just now below I was surprised some are my favorites I had not noticed were. Pulling up a photo of one box, it is labeled but unobtrusively: https://www.amys.com/our-foods?search=Gluten+free+ As a long time celiac I avoid Amy’s as their “gluten free” foods are made on shared lines with wheat foods and they do not submit their products to third party testing and gluten free certification. They are now open about this, but before they were, I tried some of their products and reacted to them. Stick as much as possible to unprocessed foods and if not naturally gluten free and factory-made, as much as possible to foods that carry the third party certificati...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 07, 2024 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13595

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

For some it’s just a gradual slowing down and growing disinclination towards active pursuits. For many it’s the onset of a disability of some sort. Every person’s experience is different. For my late spouse it was bi-lateral knee surgery at 84, on top of worsening Parkinson’s. He was no longer willing to drive and was content to stay mostly at home. For me, it came with 1) being widowed, 2) two autoimmune diseases, which curtailed my ability to be outdoors during daylight hours and to eat anywhere except in my own kitchen, 3) being an introvert in the age of Covid, and 4) having become less than confident in my driving skills, especially on the highways. So, I’ve pretty much been no-going since about age 80. My world has shrunk to my own m...
by littlebird
Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13595

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

For some it’s just a gradual slowing down and growing disinclination towards active pursuits. For many it’s the onset of a disability of some sort. Every person’s experience is different. For my late spouse it was bi-lateral knee surgery at 84, on top of worsening Parkinson’s. He was no longer willing to drive and was content to stay mostly at home. For me, it came with 1) being widowed, 2) two autoimmune diseases, which curtailed my ability to be outdoors during daylight hours and to eat anywhere except in my own kitchen, 3) being an introvert in the age of Covid, and 4) having become less than confident in my driving skills, especially on the highways. So, I’ve pretty much been no-going since about age 80. My world has shrunk to my own me...
by littlebird
Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?
Replies: 36
Views: 4966

Re: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?

Think of it as “adventure travel”. Bring plenty of snacks.
by littlebird
Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Donating/Lending accumulated shares to charity
Replies: 11
Views: 1319

Re: Donating/Lending accumulated shares to charity

Also, be sure to consult with a landlord/tenant lawyer on the issue of “rotating them out” after a period of time. Tenants (possibly even non-rent paying ones) may acquire certain rights to their domicile after a period of time, under state or local law.
by littlebird
Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41936

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

30+ years ago: retiring. Moving to Arizona. Cutting back to one car.

Now: downsizing to a condo. Outsourcing house cleaning to a robot vac, an air purifier and a lovely younger-than-me woman for half a day every other week. Owning a Kindle. Exercising at home by myself. Shopping at night when the supermarket is near empty. Getting cataract surgery.
by littlebird
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Joint Return, one spouse unable to sign
Replies: 13
Views: 1884

Re: Joint Return, one spouse unable to sign

I do my returns by hand. When my late spouse was unable to sign, I followed directions I found in an IRS Publication to enclose a note stating that he was unable to sign due to illness and that he had directed me to sign for him. I signed the return: his name, by my name, spouse.
by littlebird
Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Another Amazon Prime Stage of Evolution - Delivery
Replies: 76
Views: 7669

Re: Another Amazon Prime Stage of Evolution - Delivery

Pure speculation, but Amazon's electric vehicle fleet may be experiencing reduced range due to low ambient temps. You might be right. I live in the Phoenix metro, where it’s quite warm even now, and my deliveries have all been 1-2 days and as promised, or earlier. Some even the next morning. I do feel some annoyance with how things are going lately at Amazon - no quality control checks on proliferating outside vendors; hostile responses to refund requests on food items, Prime video for free movies barely functioning - but delivery on time is not an issue here. On edit- Whoa- I just discovered a new problem on Amazon: pornographic photos! I got back on the Amazon site to see if I’m getting compartmentalized search results as reported by a p...
by littlebird
Fri Jan 19, 2024 5:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Blocking Extreme Sun/Heat in Window
Replies: 33
Views: 2781

Re: Blocking Extreme Sun/Heat in Window

People who don't live in places like Arizona don't realize how extreme the sun/heat/UV is on a constant basis. We've had some cold, for AZ, weather the last few weeks with nights dropping to freezing and while the days only got into the upper 50s, when you were by that window you could just feel the heat coming from it in the mid/late afternoon. I'm afraid to find out what it will be like in the summer. Fortunately most of the rest of the house that we use is away from the sun and with the tall ceilings things should be pretty good, and only a single story. I might call around to some window places and see what they recommend. I think a solar screen might be the cheapest/easiest initial solution since it doesn't require any permanent chang...
by littlebird
Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Unsubscribe" to Emails
Replies: 37
Views: 4357

Re: "Unsubscribe" to Emails

Yes unsubscribe works. It works because the 'report as spam' button has consequences. If your emails are marked as spam by the recipients the large email providers and isp companies restrict your ability to send emails. So a company would rather have you unsubscribe than report as spam. There's also legislation to mandate unsubscribe buttons but I lack knowledge on the details: https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/controlling-assault-non-solicited-pornography-marketing-act-2003-can-spam-act sounds like the legislated Do Not Call Registry... which has proven to not work. It has worked for me. I used to get multiple calls from local businesses, mostly carpet cleaning and hvac servicing, but some others also. They used to leave m...
by littlebird
Mon Jan 15, 2024 8:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where does the loyalty to Vanguard come from?
Replies: 72
Views: 6400

Re: Where does the loyalty to Vanguard come from?

Because of two separate incredibly stupid and careless human communication errors that posed at least theoretical risks to my safety, I no longer have any money at Vanguard, but there is no doubt in my mind that Vanguard at it best is the reason I am much more comfortably situated than my work and personal history would have suggested. I will, therefore, always feel a connection to Vanguard financial products, if not towards its executive apparatus.
by littlebird
Sat Jan 13, 2024 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pre-marital house and commingling questions
Replies: 26
Views: 3538

Re: Pre-marital house and commingling questions

I guess “With all my worldly goods I thee endow” is not going to be part of the wedding vows.
by littlebird
Mon Jan 08, 2024 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength
Replies: 49
Views: 7588

Re: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength

safari wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 6:12 pm Some jars are just too hard to open. In those cases I use this tool:

https://a.co/d/9auSePO
I use this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092P ... =UTF8&th=1
It’s the successor to several Black and Decker countertop units which did the same thing in more space and more expensively. Started using them after a wrist sprain, and now that I live alone owning one is invaluable
by littlebird
Sun Jan 07, 2024 7:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ronald Read the Janitor who amassed 8 million
Replies: 104
Views: 24425

Re: Ronald Reed the Janitor who amassed 8 million

MetaPhysician wrote: Sun Jan 07, 2024 10:17 am For people who have a long history of investing I wonder what exactly they were investing in before the mutual fund low fee era came upon us such as in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Perhaps Mr. Reed, and others mentioned in this thread, were ahead of their time in this regard.
Before mutual funds were prevalent, people invested in the Microsofts, Amazons and Teslas of their day. I remember my parents owning AT&T, IBM and Rochester Telephone (which I think became Sprint ) in the 1950’s . And they were working class people.
by littlebird
Thu Jan 04, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to take your RMD when you don't need your RMD
Replies: 72
Views: 11848

Re: When to take your RMD when you don't need your RMD

I have my withholding for the year taken from my RMD. So I take it soon after I do my income tax, so that I’ve seen what my “safe harbor” will be for the current year, and have that amount withheld from my RMD.
by littlebird
Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Miele OR Bosch Dishwasher?
Replies: 89
Views: 10447

Re: Miele OR Bosch Dishwasher?

I was satisfied with my 3-rack Bosch, but left it behind when I sold my house. The new house had a Whirlpool and it cleans better than the Bosch, especially knife blades, and it dries better. In my opinion.
by littlebird
Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is you top priority for 2024?
Replies: 31
Views: 3933

Re: What is you top priority for 2024?

Continuing to simplify and streamline my finances and lifestyle, so that I can take care of myself and live on my own into my mid-eighties and beyond (81 now).
by littlebird
Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165332

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

Thanks, we do use an answering machine and we don't have a personalized message. I used to answer the phone "Hi, this is Nonnie" but recently switched to just "Hello." When there is a scammer on the line, I used to ask "what do you need. " I'm frustrated, though, because today three separate times, they did leave messages, unintelligible with lots of boiler room noise in the back. Just this minute I got a call from "CVS" and decided to see what was going on. They wanted to help me with my "diabetes supplies" and when I said I wasn't diabetic, they asked me if I had pain in my back, and when I said no they asked me if I knew anybody with pain in their back. Not very sophisticated. I wonder h...
by littlebird
Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 2023 was a retired investor's dream
Replies: 41
Views: 6359

Re: 2023 was a retired investor's dream

gavinsiu wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 11:19 am I remembered back in 1980s when interest rate topped out at 15% or so, people were saying they will retire on 300k. Unfortunately retirement last more than a few years.
Some of us actually did ( on quite a bit less even) and 35 years later — still doin’ :sharebeer great!
by littlebird
Fri Dec 29, 2023 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Annuity - what to do with it?
Replies: 11
Views: 1267

Re: Vanguard Annuity - what to do with it?

You didn’t say that you have long term care insurance. Although the percentage of your annuity that is gain is taxed - proportionally if you annuitize, first out if you withdraw - if you do so when one or both of you have high medical expenses, including long term care/end of life care expenses, there’s a good chance your medical deductions will be so high that you’ll never pay any tax on it. You can think of it as a form of long term care insurance, if you don’t need it for regular expenses.
by littlebird
Sun Dec 24, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Pros and Cons of Long Term Care Annuities
Replies: 4
Views: 2252

Re: Pros and Cons of Long Term Care Annuities

When one or both of you needs long term care, your lifestyle is going to be heavily impacted by the condition that’s requiring long term care, and by the fact of being confined in long term care.

Part of the cost of long term care will be balanced out by not living your previous lifestyle, eg. less or no travel, restaurant meals, entertainment, etc.
by littlebird
Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Essentially target date funds become too conservative
Replies: 83
Views: 10580

Re: Essentially target date funds become too conservative

dkturner wrote: The “ideal” equity allocation should depend on the percentage of your portfolio you are consuming each year in retirement. Bill Bernstein has been playing this song for the last few years, but very few people seem to be listening to it. I am having a strong case of Confirmation Bias. The notion that one's allocation should be at least partly related to one's burn rate is something I have felt in my gut over the years, but never saw it mentioned here or elsewhere, and I haven't read his work. Bernstein talked about it in an interview in July 2023 on Morningstar’s The Long View . Bill Bernstein: Revisiting ‘The Four Pillars of Investing’ To me it’s just so obvious. For whatever reason, most people like to continue accumulatin...
by littlebird
Fri Dec 22, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I get merchant to stop charging us?
Replies: 84
Views: 7931

Re: How can I get merchant to stop charging us?

Federal Trade Commission is the appropriate Federal Agency for this type of complaint:
https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/contact
by littlebird
Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Saddlebrooke Ranch in Oracle, Arizona
Replies: 31
Views: 5883

Re: Saddlebrooke Ranch in Oracle, Arizona

Alfalfa crops serve factory farms and nothing is gonna stop that behemoth. How else are the masses gonna get their cheap meat? Overdevelopment will cease once the real estate market crashes in AZ and NV. Most likely next recession and when the flow of Kalifornia expats slows Desalination is way too expensive. We can’t even afford to fix the roads and infrastructure. Climate change and water scarcity will forever change the commercial and residential landscape in AZ and NV. Can we spell debtor nation? People are going to do whatever it takes to continue enjoying the gorgeous winters we have in AZ. 75 degrees today. I ate all three of my meals outdoors on my shady patio yesterday, and will eat at least two of them outdoors today. We’re looki...
by littlebird
Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??
Replies: 131
Views: 30089

Re: Anyone Bored in Retirement ??

I’ve been retired 36 years, and it’s only now, in my early 80’s when my activities have been circumscribed by health issues, that have I felt the slightest niggling of boredom.
by littlebird
Mon Dec 18, 2023 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deductibility of LTC
Replies: 31
Views: 2143

Re: Deductibility of LTC

. . . but it's not worth putting much work into figuring it out unless a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that you are somewhere near spending 7.5% of your income (AGI) on it (and deductible out-of-pocket costs of health insurance). It's only the amount over 7.5% that is deductible. Yes, this is true but 7.5% of income for most people is a VERY small amount compared to the cost of a nursing home or any type of LTC. My mother was in a nursing home for 3 years after the death of my father. Her SS and pension were about $45k combined (in 2011). Luckily, she had almost $2 million in taxable + TIRA +Roth. With $1 million in taxable, she received $20k/yr in dividends + interest. So all in about $65k of yearly income. 7.5% of $65k = less th...
by littlebird
Sat Dec 16, 2023 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CCRC's are out. Tips for "aging in place"?
Replies: 45
Views: 8970

Re: CCRC's are out. Tips for "aging in place"?

OP — re recommendations of food from outside being brought into a facility: I am your age and also have Celiac. Most home food delivery services that claim to deliver gluten free food admit that their food is not meant for people who actually *need* gluten free food, but only for people who adhere to a gluten free diet for “lifestyle” reasons. This service, which I think is new ( I search for this every few months) is the only one I’ve seen that actually seems to cater to people with Celiac. I have not tried them, and therefore can make no recommendations.

https://www.mealpro.net/medical-meals/celiac-meals/
by littlebird
Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Whose is Self Insuring for Long Term Care (LTC)? I'd Like To Hear Your Plan
Replies: 202
Views: 21125

Re: Whose is Self Insuring for Long Term Care (LTC)? I'd Like To Hear Your Plan

so I think of this less as 'accepting risk' and more as 'accepting reality' or accepting how life works. and that is ok (to me). In traditional culture I came up from, the idea of putting your parent (or relative) in any form of nursing home or care facility is shunned and considered to be a major shame to do as a family (and wider as a community as a whole). Abandoning your elders (or elders of your community) - this is not who we are, this is not what we do type of attitude. BH board has frequently distorted view of reality of life, especially of reality of life outside of 1% of the golden billion. In many traditional cultures planning for old age is built into the customs and mores of that culture and is not any more natural or praise w...
by littlebird
Wed Dec 06, 2023 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Whose is Self Insuring for Long Term Care (LTC)? I'd Like To Hear Your Plan
Replies: 202
Views: 21125

Re: Whose is Self Insuring for Long Term Care (LTC)? I'd Like To Hear Your Plan

stan1 wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 3:01 pm
It's Medicaid when assets are depleted so not sure if that's an "average Joe".
It's Medicare if people are getting put into hospice early expecting to live a few years and leave more to their heirs (it does happen).
Hospice is a very helpful and valuable program, paid for by Medicare, but it does not pay for residential care. Your care, while in hospice, takes place at home or in a facility and is funded just as it would have been without hospice, ie: by you, family, insurance, or Medicaid.
by littlebird
Fri Nov 24, 2023 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Returning food to the grocery store
Replies: 143
Views: 24358

Re: Returning food to the grocery store

Gluten free folks have relatively few options so I wouldn’t want to narrow them even more by giving brands that cater to them a hassle. Agree. As someone who can only eat gluten-free, I do everything I can to encourage stores to carry g.f. food and therefore I would never return such an item. I have however called the food manufacturer with my opinions. Edited to add in response to other posts: gluten free food is much more expensive-when available- than regular food. Gluten free ingredients are difficult to source, must come with a “pedigree” of sorts, create expensive machine cleaning problems, must be made in small batches and are a fairly recent innovation. Many small producers of gluten free foods have gone out of business. I can eat ...
by littlebird
Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Parents want to give me their house and a large plot of land (by them)
Replies: 27
Views: 4409

Re: Parents want to give me their house and a large plot of land (by them)

“Its an emotional issue. They have a lot of value in their property and want to see all of their assets go on to me and not get scooped up by the government or the nursing home”

That’s one way of looking at it. Another, more fact-based way in my opinion is: either I use my assets to take care of myself in my old age, or my neighbors have to do it.