Has the wealth effect changed your spending?

[NW-Bound]

Hmmm...

When things get tight, the tax police may come knocking on your door asking how you could buy those Grande Utopia speakers on your SS, even with RE tax reduction. You must have hidden income or assets somewhere. They will ask for clawback, or will confiscate your beloved speakers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejman ... I really should consider those Utopias after all...

[Helen]

We are currently at a 2% withdrawal rate due to the bull market. Next year will be my 5th year in retirement and we have yet to spend all of our annual budget.

These are our high spending years since we are doing a lot of traveling. We are also helping friends in need and donating to charities.

We have good health and no financial worries plus very good subsidized health insurance. We are very blessed and we are grateful.

[ejman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Hmmm... When things get tight, the tax police may come knocking on your door asking how you could buy those Grande Utopia speakers on your SS, even with RE tax reduction. You must have hidden income or assets somewhere. They will ask for clawback, or will confiscate your beloved speakers.

shssssss.... Don't tell 'em

[Scuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Yes, I also got my free flu shot yesterday. More than made up for this “freeness” at wine store though. Our favourite Chardonnay (Rombauer) which we bought last week at Costco in Scottsdale for $29.95 was over $61 in Canmore. Yikes, got something a little cheaper, J Lohr and La Crema.

Love Rombauer Chardonnay! $30 is a really good price.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Love Rombauer Chardonnay! $30 is a really good price.

Yes, usually it’s $36-40. AJ’s (Arizona) sells it for about $40 and has periodic 25% off sales. That pushes it down to about $30. I cleaned Costco out-3 cases.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 While some of the cabin air is recycled the air from the vents also comes from fresh air from outside (after it's been warmed and compressed by the engines). So the vent air would be somewhat diluted. That might help, but not by much.

I heard that airlines stopped mixing as much outside air because it cost more than recycling the indoor air (after all, at 35000 feet, it is pretty cold). I would be tempted to wear a mask if the cabin temp forced me to use it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugeauxgirl According to the kids, Dasani works best because of the shape and stiffness of the bottle.

Thanks. It is good to know that it is fit for the purpose!

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Originally Posted by ugeauxgirl We ARE willing to pay more for bourbon, which we mostly drink without mixers, but I drink vodka when my allergies are bad (it doesn't aggravate them) and since I'm going to put cranberry juice or something else in it, the brand makes no difference at all. My friends are all bourbon or beer drinkers- I'm the only one who drinks it here.

In Mexico, I drink a local brew which is 54 pesos/liter. It is fine for my Bloody Caesar and other heavily mixed drinks. But for finer applications, I use Costco which has Grey Goose and also Kirkland US. The Grey Goose is sweeter but the US is mighty fine! I have taken to using it in my alternative to wine drink of vodka/tonic/soda/lime at cocktail hour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieB Taxes are not something I worry about.

Yup that and death are things that worry will not influence. Although I know that worry causes prematurely grey hair. What me worry? Alfred had it right!

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Originally Posted by Helen We are currently at a 2% withdrawal rate due to the bull market.

OK so you are using VPW? So are we!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba Love Rombauer Chardonnay! $30 is a really good price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Yes, usually it’s $36-40. AJ’s (Arizona) sells it for about $40 and has periodic 25% off sales. That pushes it down to about $30. I cleaned Costco out-3 cases.

We love stocking up on wine at Costco. The prices are always tough to beat. The only problem is consistency of supply. Remind me not to shop the day that Danmar was there before me!

We also buy Tillamook cheese when it is on their shelves. Buy two because it will not return for 2 months...

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejman shssssss.... Don't tell 'em

Some will, because there may be a reward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan ... We love stocking up on wine at Costco. The prices are always tough to beat. The only problem is consistency of supply. Remind me not to shop the day that Danmar was there before me!

Well, not much of a stockup, as they enforce the booze limit at the border.

When I cross the border going up north, the Canadian border guards ask me about booze. When I cross it going south, the American side asks me about "illegal substance".

[Trawler]

The recent gains did finally get me to spend some of the unused budget money or should I say deferred expenses that has been accumulating from the past five years since RE. New car as old one had 250K miles on it. Replaced a 31 year old furnace and Air Conditioner and a 21 year old Hot Water Tank. So this year looks expensive but 5 year average sill below budget. DW also got the green light for one of our bucket list trips to Europe in 2018.

[RobLJ]

Bought a Silverado and gave the Subaru to DS and his wife (and grandkid, since it gives them more room in the back of her car for the babyseat). Part of it was gains and part of it was preparing for starting to do partial withdrawals in 2018--I convinced DW that the last 5 years were good enough for her to hang it up. I'll still work online part-time for another two years, but we will start withdrawals and then hit the portfolio for 5-6% withdrawals from 2021-2023, after which SS kicks in for me. We're back to 3-3.5% withdrawal rate when DW's SS kicks in later.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Well, not much of a stockup, as they enforce the booze limit at the border. When I cross the border going up north, the Canadian border guards ask me about booze. When I cross it going south, the American side asks me about "illegal substance".

Don’t cross the border with wine for the reason you mention. Not worth the hassle of carrying it in our luggage. Plenty of opportunity for drinking it when we are in Arizona.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Well, not much of a stockup, as they enforce the booze limit at the border.

I stock up at Costco in Mexico. No borders involved. In Canuckistan, I shop at wine stores and government places at high prices. We do order wine by the case from California.