My budget spreadsheet shows a net of no increase in monthly expenses vs. plan from Jan thru November, so I'm leaving it at 0% forecast for 2010.
Just got my notification from my former company; no increase in 2010 for medical plan contributions (includes me/DW).
I don't look at portfolio % witdrawl, since we won't have all income sources come "on-line" for another eight years (pensions/SS) and our draw rate dosen't mean much till then.
For instance, in 2009, our draw rate was to be a bit over 5%, but was below 2.5% since my wife still continued to work (not yet emotinally ready to retire.)
Over the next eight years, it is forecast to rise each year through age 69, with an estimated withdrawl rate of just under 10%. At age 70, it drops back down to 2.5% and stays below 4% till age 90.
At that time, I guess we can spend a little more, if we're still breathing
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That's why we don't (even though we know the suggestion) keep to the 4% withdrawl rate. If we had all our retirement income sources available on day one of retirement, it would be much different, and probably a bit easier to plan...