Recent content by meekie

$15,600 on eating out, $7500 on groceries, another $5000 for alcohol. Plus Costco is in the shopping category, so it's a good percentage of another $5000. Oh and another $5600 in entertainment and only $4000 in travel because of the pandemic. So probably right at the $40k. We eat out or order in...

Last Year's conversion used up all the 28% bracket, but I was more conservative this year and went for the 250k for the NIIT surcharge. I'm 2 years into my Roth conversion ladder, planning for 5 years, then withdraw from Roth for 5 years till hubby hits 59.5.

I thought about the RV thing, but it seemed pricey if we're just renting it for a month. I like comfortable hotels, and love shopping around so I'm usually able to find a nice Sheraton or similar most places I go. Our road trip will be a mix, and I'm even looking into some glamping spots in the...

Thanks all! Our original number was 2 million when we first started out, but moved to 2.5 million pretty early. It did go up to 3m about 3 years ago when we were getting close to 2.5 and really looked at our current spending. This is in retirement accounts. We have a lot of equity in our...

I joined in 2007 with about $300k in my accounts. This month we hit $3m in our retirement accounts, which is our FIRE number. :dance: I just turned 46, hubby is 49. We started "coasting" a few years ago, I quit my job at megacorp, started a business, got a new megacorp job in a different field...

I wish there was a sensor on a cell phone that you could set for something like 12 hours without movement/interaction that could alert people in your list. All the people I know will check in on their phones at least that often. Heck, even if just facebook would say X has not been on in 24...

Doing up to the 24% bracket since that'll be a discount still if the pre-TCJA tax brackets come back. I'm pretty unbalanced when it comes to Roth accounts, and I'd like to get a good chunk moved over. I'm also still working some, so can't get low enough for ACA subsidies, so I figured I might as...

We haven't had ours come back. We have 2 high risk and one moderately high risk people in our household and are being very cautious. We're also all out of work right now, so we setup a daily schedule for housecleaning so it can be broken up into 10-15 minute sessions per day.

I just got a Masterbuilt 40" Bluetooth Electric Smoker a few months ago and am loving it, but I probably recommend a different model. The Bluetooth is nice for checking on the temp, but every time I switch off the app, it disconnects, so trying to set an alarm for a certain temp doesn't work. I...

I was told calf stretches are the important part, and they've definitely helped. But I'll be looking into omni's site as it looks like they have an even more in depth program. Mine flared up last Thursday, in my left foot for the first time.

I'm not seeing that at all. Married Filing Separate or Single thresholds are 50% of Married Filing Joint, so there isn't a marriage penalty anymore.

DH has been "testing" retirement for the last year, and it has had it's challenges. He's alone all day, so wants to be social when I get home, and meanwhile I need some downtime, or time with friends. He is starting to get some social activities, so it's getting easier. It'll be interesting when...

Just remember about the capital gains rules for selling your primary residence. You can exclude up to $250k (500k for married) of your gains if you've lived in the house for 2 of the last five years. That's assuming you have gains on the house of course. :)

Currently in a 1+m house in San Diego. Bought 7 years ago for 650k, 4bed/2.5bath 2400 sq feet in a super hip neighborhood. Planning on living there during retirement, when I get there.

My work has a financial advisor that meets with people here. They can do fee only, or %. I actually talked to them for 30 minutes for free and got quite a few good tips. I'm thinking about getting a withdrawal plan from them eventually, they charge $250 an hour with a 6 hour retainer, which he...