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I thought I made it somewhat clear that I wasn't trying to sell anybody on an annuity. I don't want this thread to become an annuity bashing-defending thread, that's been done enough. I thought I might have something to add to this thread since I have a Variable Annuity and I have a portfolio...

I have a bigger issue with explaining my NOT spending. I've got friends who kid me because I drive an old pickup, fish out of a little old boat and live in a little 1200 sq. ft. rambler. I'm 10 years younger and will retire 10 years sooner than all of them.

Couple times a year I walk through the cemetary at my little country church. Most of my ancestors are buried there along with the rest of the people who homesteaded in the area 150 years ago when the founded the church. I bring my kids there every Memorial Day to put flags on the veterans's...

Rich, I take it your self employed. So am I. I started kicking around ER when in 1987 when I was 22. I envied how certain sectors of employees could retire in their 50's (police, firefighters, certain union jobs....) and I asked a financial planner how the world can they do it ?? Here is the...

My two biggest regrets are for things that I wish I would have bought. Both were farms that are now worth several times what I could have bought them for. I had the downpayment, and could make it cash flow. My biggest mistake was not finding the right bank to work with that would loan me...

After the Jet Blue fiasco last month, you're going to see more & more airlines just cancel flights rather than take a remote chance that passengers will sit on the ground for 10 hours.

One other thing to consider before denying the coverage. Does your credit card provide coverage for "Loss of Use" ? If the car is damaged while in your possession, the rental company will likely hold you responsible for the down time that the car can not be rented out while in for repairs...

Just make sure you have a second card. If you have any type of loss the first thing the rental car company willl do is max out the card you used with them until they get the whole matter settled, and that can take some time.

21 days til FIRE ?? In my youth I could almost stay up that long. Good for you !

I've got a portfolio over $1,000,000 and live like I make $30k

The most fun I've ever had away from home has been in a tent. This started out of necessity since I couldn't afford anything else, some other broke friends & I would pack a tent in a boat and head to Canada to fish for a week. $100 later we'd come home with $200 worth of fish each. Now, each...

I should have kept my old fake ID.

Hunting in Saskatchewan this October.

Upper Mid-West, the housing market has cooled somewhat. Farmland is at an all time high. Lakeshore & waterfront property seems to be bringing as much as ever before.

Fill 'em up. Like the others mention, don't discount 72t distributions in case you need an income stream prior to 59 1/2. I learned early that for me, once the funds are placed into a retirement account they're out of my mind. I don't get the burning desire for a new car, or bigger house...

I just keep dollar cost averaging the same amount every month into the same mix of funds that I do every other month. Some months I pay more, some less.

Oh I'd bet that Buffett, Gates, Soros and others on the Forbes list maybe have a little more than equities than 4% of their portfolios. I'm not near as well read as most on this forum, but isn't a portfolio this high in bonds actually more risky than one that is closer to 50-50 stocks & bonds ...

I'm self employed and buy my own policy. It has a 6 month waiting period and pays $2,000 per mo. til 65. It could be a deductible business expense, but I do not deduct the premium - this way the proceeds are not taxable. This $2,000, plus SS benefits would about match what I draw from my...

Yea, but wouldn't you at least want to try ?? I think your advice would have more credibility if you held a portfolio closer to what you recommend.

I might be partial, but you'll never be sorry buying a Lund boat. I used to fish the Missouri River quite a bit, and the Tyee was a very popular boat that sounds like what you're looking at. This is coming from a guy who has a 16' Lund ($1,000) and a 1977 model 15 HP Johnson outboard, so I...

I raided the neighbor's garden years ago. Not real proud of that, but he could sure grow tomatos.

I hit a pheasant driving home one day. Yup, I picked it up off the road and took it home and cooked it.

Just watch an episode of "My Name is Earl" and it will pretty much sum it up in a much simpler way.

South Dakota has no state income tax, 32 miles from where I sit. I send the State of MN about 8% for the priviledge of living here instead. I'd love to move the state line East about 40 miles.

In October of 1987 I invested my life savings of $10,000 into a couple mutual funds and within a week watched it go down over 30%. After that, nothing bothers me. By the way, it came back and doubled by 1990. I've invested in equities every month since then and have never sold a one except to...