Recent content by NoEZmoney

There are a number of "golf communities" in France that offer rental or small chalets for sale. The ones I'm familiar with have a mix of Americans, Brits, Germans, etc. There are some French owners as well as these are also holiday homes. They come with country-club amenities like pools...

Driving in France - Some considerations We drove all over France a few years back and it wasn't too big a deal but there were some things I prepped on before trip and learned also along the way. Most car rentals are for standard / manual transmission so unless you're ok with shifting a stick...

We've looked at Mexico. Belize, Costa Rica, and Ecuador for part-time expat living but have decided to pass on these countries. We loved many things about them and got to know people who live in each but there are enough negatives and too many concessions /adjustments. Costa Rica has become...

MC Advantage Plans great until you get really sick So my brother and SIL had Advantage plans to avoid premiums. All went well until a couple cancer diagnosis and blown knee joints. On the knees, SIL was told she really needed full replacement on both but doc said it was borderline and insurer...

Sleep position can make the difference. I've started using a smaller pillow placed between my knees as I tend to sleep on my side mostly and the pillow eases pressure on my left hip which is the most stressed. Helps a lot. I have a bad left knee and left foot issues that I know have affected...

So I gave 45 days notice thinking I'd get my unused leave and pension paperwork in ok but I found HR sandbagged my plans and wouldn't get my documents in on time to state office for processing in a timely fashion. I was informed that my unused leave wouldn't be eligible for payment b/c I...

Sorry this happened to you. As a standard practice, I keep important stuff in money belt tucked in front if my pants and only have small cash & coin in zippered inside pocket of light windbreaker. Wife has sewn zippered pockets inside her light jacket and wears a cross-body , cut resistant...

If it hasn't been mentioned earlier, don't forget that thanks to the Secured Act vers. 2.0, kids who inherit parent's IRAs have only 10 years to withdraw. It used to be indefinite. This could bump their taxes higher. Converting IRAs to ROTH IRAs solves the 10 year withdrawal requirement and...

LTC - 6 to 9 months on average Statistically most people who enter LTC facility wind up using 6 to 9 months before the big "Check Out". Reason being according to some nurses I know have told me LTC residents are usually in such health decline that they will be passing in less than a year. Of...

Other Options / Portable Westinghouse Dual-Fuel Genny We've had quite a few power outtages that lasted more than a couple days and I got a portable generator to help with this. I didn't want to pony up the $$$$$ for a Generac or similar whole-house unit as that's a lot of money that basically...

Water is Life! Many years ago I was working with a medical documentary producer who had been commissioned to explore longevity and health. We filmed/interviewed several folks who were aged 95+, some even over 100. What struck me was how more alert and younger they appeared as they looked and...

Earning an Income From My Income I think it's different for everybody. I mean the whole idea from the time you start learning how to balance a checkbook is to figure out how to have a positive balance at the end of the month and use credit wisely. Sure we have been successful at "maintaining"...

P.S. no transparency from streamers BTW - According to SAG/AFTRA - Only 2% of its members make $60K or more a year. Most have to work other jobs to get by and unless you earn about $25K a year from union gigs, you don't qualify for group insurance. Prior to streaming, residuals from multiple...

I had some experience working on the prodn side of TV / Film in the 1980's. I have old friends who still are involved. Just as DVD technology disrupted the industry, so is streaming. Below is a post I copied from a friend that helps explain what the strike is focusing on...

Tuition costs in wife's home state had soared from 2010 to 2016 thanks to state budget cuts to education (and healthcare) as those were the two biggest areas that the state constitution allowed for cuts without legislative approvals. These cuts were made by the governor at the time who had...