Search found 40 matches

by jingo
Sun Mar 06, 2022 11:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ready to FIRE. Am I missing anything?
Replies: 281
Views: 23014

Re: Ready to FIRE. Am I missing anything?

No, the last couple of years were actually lower due to pandemic/no travel. I’ve never had much interest in acquiring stuff.


[/quote]
Have you increased your spending?
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by jingo
Sun Mar 06, 2022 10:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ready to FIRE. Am I missing anything?
Replies: 281
Views: 23014

Re: Ready to FIRE. Am I missing anything?

I think you are good to go.

Your question is somewhat similar to what I posted 9 years ago.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=116347

I also tracked expenses for 10 years prior to quitting my job, my annual expenses during retirement years have been pretty close to estimates, no big surprises so far. Assets have doubled since then.

Enjoy your free time, I haven’t missed working.
by jingo
Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Restatement of Fidelity Solo 401k Plan Required by 7/31/2022
Replies: 26
Views: 4155

Re: Restatement of Fidelity Solo 401k Plan Required by 7/31/2022

Thanks! Disabled ad blocker after reading your post, worked like a charm.
jpsfranks wrote: Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:56 pm I found this thread after receiving the same communication from Fidelity. As with some others in this thread, the link in the communications center did not work for me.

If anyone else encounters this in the future and stumbles across this thread, ensure that you have any popup-blockers disabled when clicking on the link in communication center. With my ad blocker disabled, clicking on the link brought up a popup with a button to agree to the restatement.
by jingo
Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are there any different financial considerations/rules for a childless couple?
Replies: 102
Views: 13099

Re: Are there any different financial considerations/rules for a childless couple?

From a purely economics perspectives, children and parents may have conflicting interests when it comes to inheritance.
by jingo
Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Early retirees, how much did you leave on the table?
Replies: 355
Views: 39888

Re: Early retirees, how much did you leave on the table?

I did one more year, saved about 150k after tax, I wouldn’t do it again.

My withdraw rate is around 2%, I’ll likely leave money on the table upon death. Then the question becomes do I have anything I enjoy doing more than work, for me it’s definitely yes.
by jingo
Sun Mar 06, 2016 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything to look for when buying a fridge?
Replies: 38
Views: 5224

Re: Anything to look for when buying a fridge?

It took my delivery guys a few hours to get the fridge up the second floor, also had to take down fridge doors and my entrance door.

I dread the day when I have to replace to fridge, will definitely buy a smaller one next time :oops:
Mudpuppy wrote:
littlebird wrote:Also carefully measure your available space and the potential new fridge itself. I've found that the new fridge sizes are not as standardized as they used to be.
Also measure the clearances through the doors and hallways used to access the space in the kitchen. While most fridges can make it in the house if brought in sideways after removing the fridge doors, it sure would be nice to not have to remove the fridge doors in the driveway just to get it in to the kitchen.
by jingo
Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone not own a Smartphone
Replies: 76
Views: 7622

Re: Anyone not own a Smartphone

I bought a Nokia Lumia for $20. It has 'HERE' maps you can use offline, and I use that for navigation without a data plan.
climber2020 wrote:
DDMP20 wrote:
climber2020 wrote:I think I could do fine without one if I had an easy, reliable method of accessing Google Maps and GPS. I'm an absolute dunce when it comes to directions, and having a resource like that in my pocket has been a tremendous help in my life. Other than Google Maps and a few travel apps like Delta and Skype, I don't really have any apps on my phone.

Why don't you just buy a cheap GPS to use when in your car? It would save you a lot of money.
I get lost walking around as well. I was strolling around San Francisco a couple years back and couldn't find the ocean. It's really bad.
by jingo
Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tell Me I'm Stupid To Consider Quitting My Job and Moving
Replies: 163
Views: 50083

Re: Tell Me I'm Stupid To Consider Quitting My Job and Moving

I retired when I realized it’s silly to do things I don’t like to make money I don’t need.

Firecalc says 100% success rate, good enough for me. If things don’t work out, there is social safety net.

I don’t want my life ruled by fear of some small probability event.
by jingo
Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Longtime Insurance Customers Get Ripped [overcharged]
Replies: 106
Views: 40120

Re: Longtime Insurance Customers Get Ripped [overcharged]

Insurance companies use credit score, and some other personal information in their pricing models. It pays to shop around since different companies have slightly different models.
by jingo
Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Audit - Backdoor Roth
Replies: 59
Views: 23581

Re: IRS Audit - Backdoor Roth

3 years later, got the same CP2000 today. I faxed in the past 8606 forms and 1099R. For those of you who had similar experiences, did IRS require any other documentations?
by jingo
Thu Mar 12, 2015 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to retire in New England?
Replies: 123
Views: 25954

Re: Where to retire in New England?

This is also my first winter as a retiree – the debacle of MBTA didn’t have much of an impact as I no longer have to commute. My neighborhood has a walk score of 95, though when it was frigid outside walking felt somewhat treacherous. I can see the appeal of snow birding.
VictoriaF wrote:
I am curious about your snow comment. When the snow is so bad that T and buses stop running, driving is difficult and dangerous, is not it? This was my first winter as a retiree. When the roads were impassable, I did not need to drive or to take Metro. Everything I need is within a short walking distance.

Victoria
by jingo
Thu Mar 12, 2015 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to retire in New England?
Replies: 123
Views: 25954

Re: Where to retire in New England?

We have the earliest subway system in the US, and it feels like it. My father came to visit me from China, and we took the Green Line. After a couple minutes he realized ‘oh, this is full speed’. He did say the same thing about Amtrak.
In addition to the Mayflower people, Boston has many recent immigrants – one could hear all kinds of languages spoken during a t-ride. I also take pride in that it’s ranked as the worst dressed city.
by jingo
Mon Dec 08, 2014 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rollover and backdoor Roth
Replies: 2
Views: 434

Rollover and backdoor Roth

I’m trying to decide whether I can do backdoor Roth this year.

Earlier this year I rolled over 401K from my previous employer:
1) Pre-tax 401k to tIRA
2) Roth 401k to Roth IRA

I then rolled over 1) to my current employer’s 401k, so I had balance in tIRA from March 31 to April 21, but not at the beginning or end of 2014.

I have no other money in tIRA. Am I in the clear to do a backdoor Roth without worrying about pro rata rule?
by jingo
Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College & PhD vs $250k working
Replies: 104
Views: 12708

Re: College & PhD vs $250k working

Starting the Ph.D program at Caltech shouldn’t hurt. Graduate school is pretty different from undergraduate, he can get a much better sense on whether this is the right career for him after a couple of years. If he doesn’t have passion for research/or placements for Ph.D. in his department isn’t as expected, he could get a masters and quit.
by jingo
Wed May 28, 2014 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pursuing your calling in life at what cost?
Replies: 58
Views: 11133

Re: Pursuing your calling in life at what cost?

This.
telemark wrote:Doing something you don't want to make money you don't need--now that would be stupid. Knowing when you have enough isn't stupid at all.
by jingo
Wed May 28, 2014 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Large Purchase(s) Ever?
Replies: 45
Views: 4984

Re: Best Large Purchase(s) Ever?

The apartment I bought for my parents – it has substantially improved their living condition.
In the meantime, real estate market went nuts in their city –they sold their old crappy apartment a few years later for more than I paid for the new apartment, and they sent me back the money.
The value of the new apartment also tripled.
by jingo
Tue May 06, 2014 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What it’s like be 100 years old
Replies: 50
Views: 7921

Re: What it’s like be 100 years old

According to age and happiness study, ‘in the great majority of countries people are at their unhappiest in their 40s and early 50s. The global average is 46.’ It seems what people remember fondly and actual level of happiness are two different matters.
by jingo
Thu May 01, 2014 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
Replies: 338
Views: 61758

Re: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?

Paid cash, my friends knew. Wasn’t a big deal since it’s a small apartment. My best friend also paid cash, and she told me.
by jingo
Fri Mar 21, 2014 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Investing/retirement planning for singles
Replies: 4
Views: 641

Investing/retirement planning for singles

When there is no spouse or children in the picture, how does that impact one’s approach towards investing and retirement planning? For example, I’ve seen many mentions of ‘investing for the next generation’ when retirees take a more aggressive AA, does that mean for singles, a more conservative AA would make more sense?
by jingo
Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transitioning when one hits "the number"
Replies: 72
Views: 7489

Re: Transitioning when one hits "the number"

I quit my job and started a new one with better work-life balance and lower pay. I also have less patience for BS and politics at work.
by jingo
Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reasons why you're choosing your tax software this year
Replies: 39
Views: 3466

Re: Reasons why you're choosing your tax software this year

It looks like TaxAct has individualized pricing – I’m paying 14.99 for a deluxe version (federal + state).
by jingo
Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll: Experience with personal lending
Replies: 52
Views: 5020

Re: Poll: Experience with personal lending

I have a very close friend who borrowed more than 10k from me, she paid it back with interest (she insisted). I also borrowed from another friend when relocating to the country she lives and didn’t have local currency, and paid it back when I got paid (within a month). So I never had any issue, but it was only with friends I know really well.
by jingo
Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bryn Mawr [College]
Replies: 68
Views: 7203

Re: Bryn Mawr

My original post/my example was a data point. The fact the women graduating from women’s colleges are more likely to receive doctoral degrees is based on many data points. Yes, I was trained as a statistician…
NYnative wrote:
jingo wrote:I’m providing one data point. Women’s colleges usually have higher percentages going to Ph.D. programs compared to women in co-ed schools.

That is a very valid data point, but I would not have known that from your original post.
by jingo
Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bryn Mawr [College]
Replies: 68
Views: 7203

Re: Bryn Mawr [College]

Many private schools have good need-based financial aid packages. The only thing my parents paid for was a one-way ticket to the US. This statement is probably irrelevant for this particular student as well, but many don’t pay the sticker price.
by jingo
Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bryn Mawr [College]
Replies: 68
Views: 7203

Re: Bryn Mawr

I’m providing one data point. Women’s colleges usually have higher percentages going to Ph.D. programs compared to women in co-ed schools.
NYnative wrote:
jingo wrote:I went to one of the Seven Sisters, then went on to Harvard and Stanford for graduate schools.

And your point is? Many graduate students at Harvard and Stanford went to state schools. Do they get to say that their schools are as good as or better than Bryn Mawr or other private schools? Your statement is totally irrelevant as to the choice of college for this particular student.
by jingo
Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bryn Mawr [College]
Replies: 68
Views: 7203

Re: Bryn Mawr

I went to one of the Seven Sisters, then went on to Harvard and Stanford for graduate schools.

RobInCT wrote:
Valuethinker wrote:In the professions in the USA it seems to be more important where the postgrad came from (JD, MBA, MD, Phd).
Agreed, though don't underestimate the value of a blue-chip undergrad in gaining admissions to the blue-chip professional schools. Not to say it's impossible to go from anon State U to Wharton, but it is harder. I wouldn't take out $200k in debt to attend Bryn Mawr. If it can be done with a reasonable debt load or with no debt, and if the granddaughter is excited about attending because she is excited about the unique features it offers, I think it's a great school.
by jingo
Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: My firecalc need for certainty
Replies: 20
Views: 2502

Re: My firecalc need for certainty

I’m a statistician and I like taking my chances.
by jingo
Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Chinese version of The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing
Replies: 16
Views: 2266

Re: New Chinese version of The Bogleheads' Guide to Investin

Looking at the table of contents, it appears to be direct translation of the English version.
Does that mean this is not intended to help Chinese invest in China, but to help Chinese (who live in the US and pay US tax) who cannot read English to invest in the US? :confused
by jingo
Mon Aug 05, 2013 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Extreme Early Retirement
Replies: 104
Views: 19268

Re: Extreme Early Retirement

I don’t know what the actual likelihood is, but say if one had more money to pay for stuff not covered by government health insurance, there is a 5% of chance that one could live 10 years longer, then the expected value is 6 months. The question then becomes how much longer are you willing to work for the extra 6 months. I don't mean to make this political, just medical and financial. I saw a person today who had cornea transplants, 'what if' this was not offered by health coverage but was available in a pay to play facility? You pay money or you are blind? What if this procedure costs $40k? I am just using cornea transplant as an example but could be anything like artificial heart (?) in the future etc.. What medical breakthroughs are on t...
by jingo
Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your budget look like?
Replies: 45
Views: 6676

Re: What's your budget look like?

I don’t budget, saving 80%+ after tax. Based on the responses so far, one can LBYM without having a budget. A budget is a spending plan, my plan is to spend when I need to, it just happens that my needs are simple.
by jingo
Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Consumerism and Happiness
Replies: 83
Views: 10336

Re: Consumerism and Happiness

These ‘happiness’ studies discuss results for an ‘average’ person – e.g., for every one person deriving happiness from super premium vodka, there are 99 where there isn’t a difference; for a random person, it’s more likely they behave like those 99, so it’s still informative to look at these studies.

On the other hand, if you’ve figured out what gives you the largest ‘bang for your buck’, you should pursue that instead of reverting back to ‘average’.
by jingo
Fri May 24, 2013 11:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What podcasts do you listen to?
Replies: 46
Views: 14338

Re: What podcasts do you listen to?

‘In Our Time’ with Melvyn Bragg
Mark Kermode Film reviews
by jingo
Fri May 24, 2013 11:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why do you do it? [POLL] [High savings rate for retirement]
Replies: 78
Views: 10890

Re: Why do you do it? [POLL] [High savings rate for retireme

I’m not good at spending money, and things that make me happy (e.g., a good joke) are usually free.
by jingo
Thu May 23, 2013 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Re: Can I retire - single person version

My current 16k annual expense includes at most ~100 on health-related expenditures (deductible) as my employer pays all premiums. I have budgeted 6000 extra each year for health insurance once I need to pay for my own (and this is based on current individual plans offered in MA). I’m curious to see what will happen to health care cost given the current reform, and I may qualify for low-income subsidies if I ‘retire’. Small condo, not having a car, and not procreating contribute to overall low spending – I didn’t buy the largest house I could afford, just what I needed. Other than that I probably don’t even qualify as ‘frugal’, per ‘That frugal thing you do’ thread. In terms of next steps, I’m still contemplating, I’m hoping to maximize the ...
by jingo
Tue May 14, 2013 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Re: Can I retire - single person version

I don’t keep a budget, just track my expenses and understand where money goes.

- No car – live in Boston and public transportation is decent
- Property tax with residential exemption comes under 2000 per year, though do have a non-trivial condo fee (which includes all major maintenance and utility)
- Food – fairly small appetite, average around 2-300 a month
- Cheap hobbies, e.g., reading (pretty much free given public libraries)

So the ‘fixed cost’ portion of my monthly expense is around 1k/month. 4k/year for ‘variable cost’ which includes travel, entertainment, gifts, etc.
by jingo
Tue May 14, 2013 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Re: Can I retire - single person version

I’m a woman, and my future plan doesn’t involve accidentally making a kid :wink:

I’ve set aside a ‘cushion’ for my parents, though they are currently living comfortably on half of their pension, and offered to take me in if I so wish...
by jingo
Mon May 13, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Re: Can I retire - single person version

I have a lazy portfolio + 5 years of living expenses in cash.
by jingo
Mon May 13, 2013 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Re: Can I retire - single person version

I may actually look for another job, but the criteria will be different – fun, nice group of people, smaller/less stable companies, part-time.
by jingo
Mon May 13, 2013 4:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire - single person version
Replies: 38
Views: 5973

Can I retire - single person version

40 years old, single, no kids.

$1,000,000 in non-retirement accounts
$300,000 in retirement accounts
Home paid for (worth $300k+)
No debts

I’ve been tracking expenses for the last 10 years, and the last few years were around 16K annually.

Living in MA, getting individual health insurance is straight-forward. Monthly premium for a 40-year old is around 300-500. I’m budgeting 500 per month for health-related expenditures.

Tossing in the change, I’m expecting my annual expense once retired to be around 24K.

I’ve decided to quit my job in the next couple months. Given my fairly simple lifestyle, it seems that I may not have to work for money any more.

Does that sound right??