2007 E-R.org year in review...

[bright eyed]

Well, we all spend too much time here...why? what have you learned? changed? gained?

A few i can think of off the top of my head:

• i started my roth at vanguard and just earned my first dividends!
• i purchased a few years worth of razors from ebay at 1/3 of shelf price...
• i learned more than i ever wanted about (insert long list here)...milk, nuclear energy, tequila, cfls and a host of other things!

Most of all, i am grateful for the kind, thoughtful, heavily researched, patient, funny, odd, and grumpy company... here's to 2008!

 

[W2R]

I finally understand why people like Wellesley (and plan to have some in my portfolio for ER).

Re-using plastic baggies no longer makes me blush.

For some reason, pancakes now make me think of the Easter bunny.

I learned a little more about living in a colder climate, and I found the different perspectives on where to live and what to do in ER were fascinating.

I have a lot of interesting off-topic articles to discuss, so I probably sound more intelligent and informed these days. La-dee-da.

Now I know why most online articles assume such huge expenditures in retirement. Everybody seems to have the travel bug, except me!

Most importantly, I got a more realistic perception of what it may be like for me to be retired.

And absolutely, the company here is the best!! Have a wonderful 2008.

 

[Meadbh]

I learned

• what a troll is
• about Estonia
• more about the US subprime mortgage crisis
• about limited partnerships (thank you Martha)
• more than I ever wanted to know about the healthcare insurance woes of US retirees :

I turned down a j*b offer to be a mod, because it's too much like w*rk

I had 1000s of hoots, chuckles, and endless entertainment

and made some new friends


A virtual toast to everyone, and here's to a great 2008!

 

[Moemg]

I got some great recipes
Found out the advantages of ETF's
Some good book recommendations
Lots of knowledge about stocks ,stock funds ,assest allocation ,etc.
Found out how much people live on in retirement
and had a million laughs
Thanks again

 

[Martha]

I learned it hurt if I did "that" but not if I do "this." Thanks Rich.

I learned a bunch about different consumer products, like iPods and TVs. Got the iPod, skipped the TV.

I learned that I don't have to post every time someone brings up the estate tax.

 

[clifp]

Enough pictures of weird food on pets to last a lifetime.
A terrific 6% CD and even better 4.99% Home equity loan.
A great stock tip on ship stocks and not so good one on SLM Bonds
A learned that a lot of people want to come visit my state , and I don't want to live back east in the Winter
Mostly some new friends and interested discussioning on a lot of subjects..

 

[Khan]

I learned:

A lot of stuff about computers
-----
Some people spend a lot more than I do

Some people spend even less than I do

I don't have to compete with either
-----
There are other semi-hermits out there

 

[Darryl]

You guys helped me with my Mom she only used 1/3rd of her savings for an annuity rather than all of it.

Got excited reading about the memory foam mattress pad at overstock.com and bought one. We love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got excited reading about SLM and bought it at $19.90 I'll let you know on this one?

Got excited reading about cast iron pans and will be patrolling garage sales and antique shops until I make a purchase.

Bought more CFL's as my replacement schedule was to slow.

Moved my checking acct to Schwab at 4% and my savings to Etrade at 5.05%

Joined Penfed and like my 6% Cd very much, Thank You

" " and like my CC with 5% back on gas very much. Thank You

Settled on an AA which left me with the confidence to be buying in July

Pushed Intl to 26% of total AA

Bought some foreign bonds

Bought some Berkshire B

Bought some VEIEX

Bought some VTRIX

Drove my expense rate down substantially from my old program and it's still dropping.

Found myself LOL at the computer too many times to count and most of the time I wasn't even drinking.

 

[toofrugalformycat]

I learned about buying clothing on Ebay and scored a couple of great travel dresses for cheap.

I learned about freerice.com and spend too much time playing it but may someday have a good vocabulary.

I learned why my DH spends so much time reading this forum - it's fun.

Thanks to you all. Happy New Year!

 

[Goonie]

Gosh....where to start....?

I'll keep it short & sweet.....unusual for me but I'll give it my best shot!

The biggest thing, I would say, is after reading through all the posts, any qualms that I had about ER evaporated into thin air! I (selfishly) ER'd in April with NO qualms whatsoever! Thanks to ALL!!!

Found oodles of great recipes! Again...Thanks to all!

I've become very content with my investments & AA's........and have found some future prospects to check out......Thanks!

I've enjoyed the discussions, the banter, and the laughs.....but most of all, I've enjoyed the company!!!

It's been a GREAT year....and here's to an even BETTER 2008!!!

CHEERS!!!

 

[bbbamI]

Oh, let me count the ways.

I learned to read the posts with a spiked beverage, but never reply after the beverage has been consumed.

A monitor can be cleaned well after a beverage is spewed, but the keyboard is a different story!

Some of the financial posts are above my head, but I can learn, then act on what makes sense to me.

Get my priorities in order.

Even though some posts have troubled me, I can think about them and try to understand different opinions.

Receive sincere answers to my questions and get a boost to correct my bad habits.

Celebrate when someone reaches a goal and shed tears when things are going wrong.

I appreciate you all.

 

[Sandy]

Got a better handle on our AA though I am still in the process of moving and consolidating accounts.

Helped DH understand our plan, since he now knows I am not just crazy and cheap.

Find support to keep to the plan even when neighbors are buying, buying, and buying.

Learn endless minutiae.

Get my daily laugh or two.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

...kind, thoughtful, heavily researched, patient...

Are you sure you are on the right forum?

* Estonia (Trek! Keep the door open, will ya?)
* Margarita Island (Where is the trip report)
* HSAs (I'm hooped.)
* US health insurance for retirees (I'm still hooped).
* overstock.com? I gotta check this out!

My thanks to all, also. Happy Kwanza.

 

[Trek]

* Estonia (Trek! Keep the door open, will ya?)

Come on over! You're welcome anytime.

And I've learned this year that I'm not near as crazy as most of you all.

Õnnelikku Uut Aastat!
Happy New Year Everyone!

 

[Fireup2020]

Happy New Year all!

* I thank you ER Board members for the laughter, the education, and the sarcasm in the postings!

* Signed up for a FSA for 2008

* Started my Deferred Comp and nearly maxed out on pre-tax savings combined with my TSP - a first for me!(had to wait for Open Enrollment)

* Am having second thoughts on some of my savings strategies (all good, but second thoughts )

* Met Nords - so am a firm believer he is not a figment of our imagination!

* Like the fact that regardless of our current occupations, we are all on the same page for retirement fun!

Happy Day!

 

[VaCollector]

* I learned that my Mom was absolutely correct when she told me that "it takes ALL KINDS to make up the world"....and then I found them all here

* I learned that I COULD retire after having never stopped to even think about it ~ many thanks to FIRECALC and it's creator!

* I learned that dryer sheets are much more important than I ever thought possible.....

* I learned that there are others out there of like mind....and then there are those who can squeeze a nickle far tighter than I can....AND that I have much to learn from the [-]opinionated, grumpy, single minded, know-it-ALL[/-] wonderful company that is the ER board!

* I found out about WOOT and how to acquire more crap that I don't need but can't seem to pass up 'cause it's such a good deal

.....and I discovered that I have WAY too much time to spend here each and every day....even if it's just reading.....

Thanks for ALL of the company and may your 2008 exceed your dreams!

 

[Sue J]

I learned about PenFed here and I'm another one who took advantage of the 6% CDs.

I learned that there are people out there, just like me, who think before buying, conserve resources, and don't feel the need to spend just because everyone else does it.

I learned that there are real people, retiring on realistic resources and loving it. The "media" sometimes makes it sound like if you don't have huge wealth, you'll be eating cat food and picking through dumpsters.

I'm very glad I found this place. I enjoy the assortment of personalities, the travel stories, the pictures, the intelligence and the humor.

 

[Nords]

This year has been another example of the curse "May you live in interesting times".

I've learned that:
- Discussion boards don't necessarily improve with size or software upgrades or management changes.
- "For profit" discussion boards are philosophically & fundamentally unable to put the interests of their members above the interests of the profit objective.
- Moderating is [-]work[/-] a joyless task.
- The U.S. constitution's First Amendment does not apply to discussion board moderation.
- Life is too short to be wasted giving trolls the benefit of due process.
- Posters who are authoritative, instead of suggesting or sharing, are generally not worth engaging.
- "Ignore Poster" lists have greatly improved my discussion-board experience.
- Somebody on a discussion board always knows more than you do about a question or subject.
- There are other discussion boards.
- There are other things in life besides discussion boards.

- For most of one's young adult life, priorities & motivation are largely set by financial mandates. ("Gotta eat. Gotta pay the mortgage. Gotta support my family.") In ER, without a profit motive, the priorities can be a lot more difficult to identify-- but much more rewarding.

- Writing & publishing are far more complicated than one would expect, especially when you're not a starving author.

- My original question has been answered many times-- the ER lifestyle is as wonderful and as easy as it looks.

I'm still bewildered by how I ever found the time to go to work.

 

[flipstress]

Well, we all spend too much time here...why? what have you learned? changed? gained?

I joined PenFed CU and availed of 4.99% home equity loan.

I bought an MP3 player based on recs by posters here.

I learned about the online language translator.

I do spend too much time here. I think I will try to spend less time but addictions are hard to break...

Happy New Year, everyone!

 

[USK Coastie]

Thanks to all who have posted on this forum in 2007.

Found the board in Nov 2006 and played around with FIRECALC

January 2007 FIRECALC said I had enough, I said I'd had enough, (BS)

Retired July 2007 and still smiling every day

Enjoyed the differing views of posters. It does take a village to enjoy ER

Waiting for spring and mowin' the snow.

 

[DangerMouse]

I learnt all about slow cookers. I purchased mine last weekend and my first dish, an Irish stew, was so delicious that I feel I may become slow cooker obsessed as I have been spending a lot of time poring over cook books.

 

[Dawg52]

I'm another one that learned about the benefits of PenFed. Nice cd rate and cash back on Visa card.

Also learned how to adjust to my first few months of retirement. Not much to learn though, just do what you enjoy each and every day.

 

[bright eyed]

got a few more:
*saved $6k MORE this year than last - just hanging around w/ you people! hope/plan to double that next year!
*opened costco rebate card - hadn't really thought much about those (since i usually avoid credit cards) till i think calmoki posted about the annual benefits...and will phase out my gold card which i pay for!
*purchased quicken, which i'm still figuring out how to use, but hope to be a whiz by end of 2008...

 

[mickeyd]

Other than exchanging a bunch of TIRA to Roth, I made no other changes. Did not even have to re-balance because my IPS says that I have to see a 5% move in my AA and I only saw about 2%. Easy year...great group of smart folks!