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Read this article on consumer loan companies like Klarna, Affinity, etc. which offer online point-of-sale loans, principally to consumers who are too young or too poor to have credit cards. This hadn't crossed my radar until I was buying masks online in the early days of the pandemic and noticed...

What's the best example (quality and seamless delivery) of managed healthcare that you've experienced in any place you've lived? Can be pre- or post-Medicare. DH and I are still trying to figure out where to live, and healthcare is one metric. Here, docs and specialists are affiliated with Mass...

:dance::dance::dance: When I retired a year ago, I thought I was as excited as I'd ever be about leaving work. But starting my county pension is equally amazing - a tangible reward for years of customer service, Tuesday-through-Saturday shifts, training and managing and mentoring employees. My...

What do you bring or do on extended trips to ensure you maintain quality sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc.? We've indulged our appetites and ignored the gym on vacations while we were w*rking, but we know that we can't do that for retirement travels of a month or more. On road trips, I've been...

Hi all, DH and I are planning a fall road trip to visit an aunt and also rule out/include small cities (mostly 80K population or less) to move to in the next 5 years. We haven't ever visited these cities. Once we winnow down the list from this trip, we would return for a many-week stay to really...

The U.S. has had shortages in toilet paper, N95 masks, hand sanitizer, garden gnomes, bucatini pasta, and gasoline... What's the weirdest shortage you've heard of this year? While in Vegas for a post-vaccination vacation, I saw the attached sign at a Taiwanese tea cafe warning of restricted...

Did you gleefully fill garbage bags for Goodwill at the first opportunity? Or did you wait a while for your retirement pursuits to settle? I'm weeding my closet in anticipation of moving and am finding that I'm no longer wearing the work clothes that are a) loud and whimsical or b)commodious (I...

Hi all, DH's former Megacorp assured him that I could keep our Cigna plan under COBRA as a sole enrollee (DH is covered by VA). This would be in effect from now until we leave CA in May/June, at which point I will enroll in ACA in New Hampshire because this Cigna plan is California-only. The...

In this season of illness, unemployment and photos of food pantries on every news site, is it insensitive to tell colleagues and customers that I'm retiring early? I've tried saying "I'm stepping back from work to pursue my interests," but that sounds like I'm having a midlife crisis and I'll be...

Gen X-er here, so cynicism is my beat. :rolleyes: Here's what made me realize I should save early and often. How about you? - The White House talked about trickle-down Reaganomics while New England's manufacturing sector was gasping for air. My father was an independent technician for factories...

As I near my FIRE date, I realize how much insurance and flex spending I have squandered during my employment, on Varilux progressives, Coach frames, prescription sunglasses, special computer lenses... that money is feeling much more tangible than it did before. I'll be on the ACA for 15 years...

It's been a few years since I posted - thought I'd give an update to my 2012 career crisis and thank the forum users who encouraged me to make a change at that time. The crisis is here: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/have-you-taken-a-promotion-you-regretted-59910.html#post1157835...

Happy Saturday to those of you for whom weekends still matter.;) I've been struggling lately with my j*b and need to get a few things off my chest. I'd also really appreciate feedback from those who have been there. Without too much detail, I interviewed & was promoted 1.5 years ago for a...

Hi all, Been lurking for a while, decided I'd take advantage of a sick day at home (head cold, honest!) to introduce myself. Both DH and I are turning 4-0 this month and are starting to ask some of the big questions. Well, I'm asking them, he's hanging out on the couch with a glass of syrah...