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Just to give a different perspective--I gave my partners about a year's notice and my patients 3 months notice. I got a LOT of pushback from partners and administrators because I had a very full practice and they worried my patients would leave the practice (and some did). It was a strange and...

For me, the "sweet spot" is around 750 sf per person. That seems to allow for a great balance between communal space and quiet space. Having a study or den that can be closed off allows for one person's enjoyment of music or TV to not invade the peace for someone who is reading. I also am a big...

When I was about to leave for first year of college at McGill University, my father lost his job. At a very inopportune time, money was very tight. I worked throughout college (and between work and some scholarships, paid for college--thank goodness for low tuition at Canadian universities!)...

I am at the end of a year long sabbatical, but from a different field (medicine). I have opted to re-enter the fray, but in a different field of practice that did not require going back for more training, but did require plenty of continuing education and reading to make the switch. When I...

Sometimes all the best intentions and planning cannot totally prepare someone for what (early) retirement will feel like. I left work in December 2011, thinking I was "done". Interestingly, away from all the stress and lack of life-work balance, I was able to think clearly about what I wanted to...

I spend more on good quality shoes, and on certain clothing items that I know I will wear to death. Poor craftsmanship on seams, fabric, or shoe soles aren't worth the money saved. I know a lot of people who like their "cheap duds" will disagree with me on this one. Spending a little more on the...

Current age 55. Retirement age 55 (9 months ago!) Worked 29 years (I counted internship, residency and fellowship as working, as I earned a pittance, but it was still money coming in!) No pension.

Yes, they consider you incompetent/addled. I asked about a taxi and they said a driver was a necessity. This is for any procedure where you have "conscious sedation". So I will have to start a "colonoscopy club" amongst my friends...

This has also come up for me. Tried to set up my colonoscopy but then experienced wierd embarrassment about asking neighbor/friend to drive me to and from. I have other single friends and I am thinking about just diving in and putting the issue out there to form a loose but defined agreement to...

Well, to Texas Proud--she did ask for help, and I thought in a fairly mature way. The impetus for me toinitially post was that I just visited her for the first time since she moved to the small city where she got her job. I knew about her terrible car loan because she told me about it when she...

I did some investigating on the percentage of monthly income that "should" be devoted to transportation expenses (looking at several budgeting models on the internet). Including gas, car insurance, tolls and (optional) car payments as a whole, 10-15% of take home pay seems to be the consensus...

It is 18% of budget, including taxes, utilities, maintenance, condo fee and insurance.

Thank you Thank you to all who responded, and for the excellent advice. By a landslide, "tough love" was the verdict, followed by some assistance to refinance at a lower rate/longer term. I liked the idea of making it easier to fund her Roth account (she contributed during the last 2 years of...

I am looking for some advice. My daughter is 23, a college grad who is employed and living in a low-cost city. Her take home pay is $2000 monthly and she is just barely making it paycheck to paycheck. Of my two children, she is the less financially savvy and knows how to spend but not always...

I did this type of move twice (I did not get it right the first time). I went from a 3000 SF 4 bedroom family home to a 1800 SF 3 bedroom condo in the sky with huge windows, views, great soundproofing and very good walkability when my kids were college age. But the monthly fees were ridiculous...

I do use a financial planner, started 4 years prior to ER (having been a DIY prior to that). It has been educational and helpful for me, as I have managed to do an estate plan, understand and set up a fixed income ladder for the next 8 years, get my various investments in the correct accounts...

I can totally relate! Somehow knowing that you are "almost there" makes every bad day at work feel like even more of a "sacrifice". The logic here is to make sure you and your spouse are really on the same page about what is most important in your lives right now: shoring up your long-term...

I am still "on sabbatical" as I write this but honestly what I did was resign and decided in advance to create a gap before the next job. If you are burned out (from your description) mental health may trump other considerations. I can tell you that it took a full month to start feeling good...

Kayak + cross country skis + excellent bike rack for my car + cello lessons for a year (and maybe a cello). Experiences > material things according to lots of happiness research.

I have used both vrbo and homeaway in the past 4 years and have never had any problems once I spent the time to read all the reviews. I also will allow some time to have an email correspondance with the owner to make sure they seem reasonable. It is hard to beat the experience of having more...

I loved my work for the first 24 years (medicine) but the last 2 years were brutal. No work/life balance, too much sadness (Hematology/Oncology) and too many "rules". I was a textbook case of burn-out. Early retirement has given me back my mojo. I wake up happy every day looking forward to...

On both the personal and "macro" level I am optimistic. We usually learn from our mistakes, and I believe in the basic goodness of most all people. The US continues to have great resources in terms of "know-how" and innovation. My children will have to be flexible in order to adapt to a...

I will be sure to update this thread with my experience and what I learn in a few weeks!

Thanks for excellent advice and suggestions. I did want to clarify my story for clfip--my advisor is independent, not through Fidelity. The rationale to move everything from Fidelity to Vanguard is to get free advice and access to an all-Vanguard SIMPLE portfolio (my current portfolio feels...

Two moves: In 2006 (oldest of 2 children to college) sold 4 bedroom 3000 sf home on small-ish lot with a pool and moved to 3 bedroom 1700 sf high rise condo. The intent was to get my equity out and get rid of all exterior home chores as I was working crazy long hours and tired of raking etc. I...