Recent content by BigMike

Alex, I don't mean to pry, but are you planning to have children........? If so, does your budget allow for all the costs associated with them? Speaking from experience, children are VERY expensive and will have a definite impact on your budgeting requirements. I'm not suggesting you not have...

Seems to me that one of the keystones of early retirement is obtaining reasonably priced health care insurance (isn't that an oxymoron) until you reach age 65 and become eligible for Medicare. For those of us that do not, or will not have employer provided health insurance provided in...

Hi Rich, The $42k annual living expense figure does not include my interest and principal on the the mortgage (I have already anticipated paying off the mortgage), but it does include estimated taxes and insurance.

Hi Cut-Throat...... First, let me say that I have enjoyed your posts very much over the past few years........ Yes, my wife and I would be eligible for SS. The estimates I receive from the gov'mt say I'd get about $16K at 62 and my wife would get $14k. I'm trying to figure a way to quit at 60...

Hi Everyone, I've already introduced myself.......but would now like some advice and guidance. I just turned 58 last month and my wife will be 57 this August. We have pretty much decided to call it quits at the end of 2008. I guess you could consider that retiring early, but there are many on...

I'm curious as to why you are talking about moving your money...... Are you changing jobs? It's my understanding that you can't move money from a 401k to an IRA unless you terminate your employment. If you are changing employers I think you should roll your 401k to an IRA for two reasons: 1)...

Good suggestions Chris2008....... When my wife and I were much younger, we did take advantage of cheaper travel by staying in smaller hotels/hostels with limited amenities......however; as we have gotten older, we find that "roughing it" is not as confortable as it used to be. We have never...

Thanks HWFR.......I've lived in Texas now longer than I ever lived in Indiana.....so I really feel like a Texas at heart; however my wife (a native born Texan) still sees me as an immigrant. To uncledrz.....it's like anything else, you have to make a decision regarding how much money you want...

Well, I guess today is the day I join this forum too.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I to have been reading messages on this forum literally for years without actively taking part in the discussions.  I guess my sense of guilt has overcome my timidness.  In any case, here is a short thumbnail of...