Bogleheads.org

Michread

Not all states make 529 worthwhile aka non-taxable and many small companies do not offer retirement plans. So some are stuck with just $5500/yr IRA We saved but never specifically for college. We paid off the mortgage early and paid all college expenses out of pocket. Still doing this for one child....

Michread

When our children were small, they loved Storyland, Clark’s Trading Post and Santa’s Village in NH. We loved watching them enjoy themselves! There are many small children things to do in the White Mountains of NH as well as big kid activities.

Michread

We spent 40k on a camper and SUV to tow it. We had the camper for 9 yrs and SUV for 12 yrs; 10k back on sale of both. So 30K for camping experiences during the precious formative years of raising ours sons. Those years and experiences cannot be duplicated at a later time. We spent 30K on our yard - ...

Michread

We just bought 2 inflatable kayaks from Amazon.

Low cost to see if we like it. We took our maiden voyage last week on a calm lake in our town. It was smooth and fun. Not great on the lower back but I think with some adjustments it will be fine.

Michread

Soup and salad almost everyday alternating between the two. There are endless varieties of soups to be made.

Michread

When you look at the Boglehead Wiki on VPW, those in retirement with higher equities can spend the larger amount every year. https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Variable_percentage_withdrawal BTW, I like this wiki and agree with it which maybe to our peril... since we are new retirees this year with hig...

Michread

We were 90/10 until this year at age 55. We are slowly changing AA this year due to retirement in less than 3 months. It worked for us through all these years of ups and downs. Do only what you can stomach. Yes, we lost about half our investments in 2008-2009 but we held on and have been rewarded. ...

Michread

Thank you!

Michread

No Florida expert but just stayed in St Augustine and passed through DeLand which are both nice.

Be sure to visit the manatees in Blue Springs State Park near DeLand and take the boat ride through the St John’s River. In March, there were many alligators and birds to view - really nice ride!

Michread

I’m tired of hearing, “Your too young to retire,” so I need to stop telling people.

Michread

No, keep your cars. Taking on debt and/or not saving in your early years is a mistake because of loss of compounding on your money. Get a new car after you buy the house and after you have kids, not now. Camry is a good car. We have a Toyota Camry v6 2005 with 140k miles or so. We put money into it ...

Michread

The combined smell of your soap, clothes from laundry detergent, underarm deodorant, shampoo and conditioner is enough. People stop smelling what they are used to. Try switching your products and then you will be able to smell these perfumes. Save your dollars and your health (toxins in perfumes). C...

Michread

We just did (retired) this month with less than what you have. We are younger, 55. But we expect we only need 80k on an up year to live the good life. :sharebeer “As soon as (Benjamin) Franklin acquired enough wealth not to have to work, he retired from business at the age of forty two and became a ...

Michread

My church has 5.7 million with Morgan Stanley. I have tried to discuss with the board about changes to no avail. If we as a church switched to Vanguard, we wouldn’t need our members to continue to increase their church pledges every year. It’s a tough sell because it’s everybody’s money but yet nobo...

Michread

Superfeet arches always feel like the are too far back toward my heel, anyone else experience this? Thanks again!! Than you have the wrong size of Superfeet! Buy the larger size than suggested for your size and cut to size for correct fit (esp. if your size is on the higher end of the Superfeet sho...

Michread

+2 Superfeet inserts from Amazon worked for me! I use blue for my almost flat feet.

Michread

My Honda HRV 2018 mid-model was 25k. Backup and passenger side cameras, 2 heated seats and brake hold are some of the features that are new to me that I really enjoy.

Michread

Today is our first day of retirement for both of us at age 55. We expect to live on 80k/yr but if we had to we could live on 40k without any problems. That keeps us from worrying along with a plan for the next 10 years and beyond. Plotting it all out helps!!

Michread

This is very funny, I am the OP from 3 years ago. Well, we've since sold our home in NY and moved here full time in 2017. We absolutely love it! Summer was a bit humid but I played tennis all the time. Golf beach water reached 88 deg. Snowbirds are gone during the summer and there so much to do. We...

Michread

In January 2018, I spent two weeks in Prague and then two weeks in Karlovy Vary. In Prague, I don't remember seeing new construction, but they were closing a bridge for maintenance. In Karlovy Vary, I saw a hotel in the central area being remodeled. Otherwise, I enjoyed beautiful cities unpolluted ...

Michread

No!

Michread

Everyone over 40 should read, “The End of Alzheimer’s “ by Dr Dale Bredesen. I highly recommend it! There are many interviews with him on YouTube as well.

Michread

We were 90/10 until this year at age 55. We are slowly changing AA this year due to retirement in less than 3 months. It worked for us through all these years of ups and downs. Do only what you can stomach. Yes, we lost about half our investments in 2008-2009 but we held on and have been rewarded.

Michread

Send them the link to John Oliver show on retirement. Losing 2/3 of their money through compounding fees may open their eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvZSpET11ZY

Michread

I suggest reading the book The End of Alzheimer’s by Dr Dale Bredesen for everyone over the age of 45. It’s not just about Alzheimer’s but about keeping mind and body healthy. It’s about living life eating right, exercising and taking supplements.

Michread

My dc is up on dui/oui charges for a first offense. A tree was hit with no injury to anyone. Is it worth it to spend more money on a more expensive lawyer or is this standard fees and terms from a judge that a less expensive lawyer can handle?

Lawyer 1: $2000 fee upfront
Lawyer 2: $6000 fee upfront

Michread

Common but physical must be within one year. So your kids annual physical should be good enough. Take it to the doctors office to fill out THAT specific form from the program if needed. We've never had to do 2 exams in one year. We just kept a copy of the doctors generic form and copied each time ne...

Michread

WOW! Please share with us how you got there. We would like to learn from YOU.

Michread

Superfeet blue for my flat feet works for me.

Michread

We got lucky! We've been 90/10 for the last 27 years. Just this month changed to 70/30 because early retirement is 6 months away at 55. Not recommended by most people. :oops: This is with 21 yrs of one income family of 4 with 2 children. We did it living below our means and with one stable high payi...

Michread

Stayed home to raise my children; homeschooled a total of 11 years. Paying for their college 100%.

Michread

Yes, I searched Bogleheads and the web! Can't find what I need. Specifically, when Vanguard gives "rate of return" on my Vanguard accounts site (non & taxable accounts) - what exactly does that mean? internal, personal, real, total, nominal, net .... :confused Is this before fees or after fees? ... ...

Michread

Rachel Carson showed us the way

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2iS5vIamg

Michread

I have been square foot gardening for several years and have about 200 sq ft in beds. To keep the beds moist during the summer I use clay pot irrigation. A good book for this method is "Gardening with Less Water: Low-Tech, Low-Cost Techniques; Use up to 90% Less Water in Your Garden" by David Bainb...

Michread

I knew what I wrote would get the reaction it got. That is why I said "To each his own." Don't want to eat organic food? Think it's a waste of money? No reason to worry about chemicals put on/in food. OK, fine. I don't want a $5,000 watch. I want to eat organic food. I don't want a $50,000 car, I w...

Michread

Been with STAR for 25+ years, our first Vanguard fund. Yup, low initial investment was key for us back then. Still have a large wad in it but no longer add to it. We have enough taxable investments that all our extra cash goes into 401, 457, 403 and college (one down, one to go). :mrgreen: We've use...

Michread

Market Basket

Market Basket carries Vermont Roasting Company brand of organic whole bean coffee at $10/lb - light, medium or dark roasted - very good imho

http://www.vermontcoffeecompany.com/Ver ... offee.html

Michread

I have NEVER been out shopping on Black Friday. But several years back started to look at things online and noticed the BIG discounts available that day. I have since started shopping online on Black Friday and in stores the Saturday after Black Friday when the prices are still discounted and there ...

Michread

Hi, I have been asked to give a talk on financial literacy to a sorority on the campus I teach at. I am being asked this because I teach the Actuarial Math class, though I have no background on finance. Personally, I'd refer to them to some people who do. People I know who graduated with a finance ...

Michread

Just bought a used car. It wasn't a smooth process! It took us 4 months to get a car my son wanted, and the we, the parents agreed to. Buying from a used dealer, private party or new car dealer? We bought from a used dealer. Not much choice for a 2005 BMW 330xi STICK SHIFT - hard to find car! Does y...

Michread

United States Postal Office in my town doesn't take phone calls!

Michread

The Auto Zone near us doesn't have the code reader available for free any longer. Is this true in your area now?

Which code reader do you recommend from Amazon?

Michread

Filter shower water too! Inhaling/skin absorption from chlorine, etc. in the shower is NOT healthy.

Michread

Speed Queen arriving tomorrow! $750 Had first Whirlpool washer for almost 20 yrs.(traditional top loader) before the motor stopped working. Got a Whirlpool Cabrio HE about 5 yrs ago. It started to smell like mold/mildew a few years back so we took the thing apart and yup, mold under the washing bowl...

Michread

Did you do a google search? We have a 2005 Camry v6 and 2 different lights were on, one was check engine. Many sources on google search said replace the gas cap. We did (Amazon cheap one for our make model) and then had mechanic turn dash lights off during oil change and that solved the problem sinc...

Michread

I chuckle when I hear the term "skin in the game". Let me ask you this - if you had the opportunity to come back today as a kid entering last year of high school, would you do it? You have any clue what sort of pressure kids face today without the thought of taking on debt? How has the job market b...

Michread

19 yrs and still enjoying our pool!

Total cost back then was 30k; last year put in new liner and pump $5500.

Michread

If the original driveway was installed correctly it should last 50 years or more. Yes it might need a $1000 coating every 10-15 years but not need replacing. Not in New England! Frost heaves and mushy soil, 10-15 years, 20 maybe if you could live with all the cracks[/quote Our 24 year old blacktop ...

Michread

I would not expect a 20 year old house to need a roof, gutters, driveway, or air conditioning units. The major part of your expenditures seems to be attributed to items that did not last for a reasonable life span. Your replacements may well have had much higher quality than the originals, and may ...

Michread

Thanks Taylor!

I looked him up and read some of his website; his don't list is very good too.
http://www.jonathanclements.com/

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