"Dabbling" in the stock market

[snowbird]

It's amazing how this post takes on a life of it's own!

Thanks to everyone for keeping the responses coming. It's interesting to see how everyone puts a different spin on things.

I've only seen responses from a few of you on whether you would ER on less than 95% FireCalc. It would be ineteresting to see more responses.

I'd also like someone to point me in the right direction relative to health insurance in ER prior to 65. My company provideds $7.5k toward ER health ins. until 12/31/06. I suspect a lot of companies are dropping HI for ER's. I also believe I have to remain in one of the company plans and have to pay the residual, which I hear is ~$425/mo. Seems like an awful lot of extra $$$.

Also, are there any other snowbirds out there that must supplement their incomes with PT work that are having difficulty finding PT jobs when moving back and forth to both places?

Thanks again for all the input so far.

Snowbird

[unclemick]

I believe in 1993 to keep my COBRA was about $750/mo. I passed. It strikes me from past posts that health insurance is location specific along with age and individual health factors. I plan to research again late this month and decide at age 61 to continue to roll the dice until Medicare or get some high deductible as a bridge.

Caveat: the women in the household have medical: mom on medicare plus suppl. and the SO has union (Aetna).

I haven't gone back and run Firecalc with my 1993 numbers but I suspect it would have told me to go back to work. Luckily I just did it - with severance pay, sold and consumed our duplex, one year temp(95) job, pension in 98 at 55, and I'm a really cheap bastard among other things.

BTY - third post this morning, third cup of coffee, I love everybody - heh heh - still like dream police and blow me though.

Any other good ones?

Answering 2 questions (blingual here ...................

First, when I retired I never heard of SWR or FIRECALC
and it would not have mattered as I am pretty sure
any method of precalculating my chances would have
come up "keep working". So 95% or -0- % chance
made no difference in my case. I admire unclemick
for many things, having the guts to go without
health insurance being only one. If I was still single with 5 years to Medicare, I MIGHT take a chance. I do recall
that some coverage was so pricey I knew I couldn't
(wouldn't?) pay it. We have evolved into a
situation where my wife keeps both of us covered,
either through her work, or as currently with a
stand alone (non-employer sponsered) policy.
So far, so good.

John Galt

[Sheryl]

Quote:

Go on the African Safari, Buy that new Lexus etc. When it has a negative X% return you withdraw X% less from your portfolio. Eat more rice and beans and rent movies. Which in reality is what we probably do anyway.

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. I sort of subconsciously modify spending that way - Since I spent a lot last month on unexpected airfare this month I'm taking it easy.

I think ER requires some intuitive or creative thinking as well as calculating.