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For a 50 year friend, I'd find a way to help. Maybe pay for the bankruptcy and something to help get started again. If my spouse wasn't on board, I'd find a way to earn the funds to help so it didn't come from communal savings. Guess I have a soft heart too.

We live in Cape Coral for 7 months each year. There are 400 miles of canals, so if you're into cruising canals, you'll have plenty to choose from. The quality of the water is dependent on the amount of discharge from Lake O coming down the Caloosahatchee. The river is as much as a mile wide...

My demented mother actually called 911 from her emergency room bed. The attending physician was not amused. I do wonder how the call between dispatch and the hospital went.....

I've been navigating similar water for the last 18 months with my mid and late 80's parents. It's good that you have siblings to help you get through what lies ahead. We have relied heavily on my parent's doctor for advice. Tough decisions are easier to implement when deferring to a higher...

Unless there's a recall or warranty work, the last time the dealer will see my car is the day I buy it. Right or wrong, I consider the recommended services to be revenue based rather than mechanical necessities. They all get Mobil 1 oil at appropriate intervals and tire rotations at 10,000...

$374,000 including $130k in gifts/donations, $128k in federal tax, $23k in discretionary household improvements leaving $93k in living expenses.

My mother is living in a nursing home and was getting her finger pricked four times daily to check her glucose level. I decided spare her this pain and started buying the libre 2 monitors for $73 per 14 day sensor using Goodrx at Walgreens. Her insurance will only cover these directly if...

Similar experience with Wells Fargo. Submitted letters of incapacity along with trust documents and POA, which they would not accept. They demanded my parents complete WF internal forms and my position was once they were deemed incompetent, their signatures were no longer binding on any...

My folks were never able to change the frugal mindset. They are still unwilling to spend on quality of life enhancements despite their eight figure net worth. Fortunately, I'm spending their money on these enhancements for their benefit anyway. I've stopped asking permission.

We left the water on and had a toilet leak for an unknown period of time. Had to replace some drywall, carpet and the bathroom cabinets. Since the pool maintenance guy needs water for cleaning the filter and filling the pool, we had a separate spigot added before the shutoff for the house...

Two years out of high school, I was working as a cook in a breakfast restaurant and trying to figure out what to do with myself. At the end of a shift, covered in grease splatter, I was doing my least favorite task of cleaning the grill surface with a screen and lots of muscle. Apparently, I...

I'll add a plug (intended) for Honda 2200 linkable generators. We were without power for 11 days after hurricane Ian and we ran two of them 24/7 except for downtime for oil changes. They powered a window ac unit in our bedroom (acquired in advance for such an emergency), two refrigerators and...

Since Mr. Neighbor works in construction, I believe they produced paperwork necessary to get their hands on the proceeds. I shared the story as an example of why insurers are running away from the state. Hopefully, recent legislation will improve availability over time.

Our Florida neighbors had a worn out 20+ year old roof. They didn't have the money to replace it, so they decided to turn in a storm damage claim related to hurricane Irma, three years hence. The claim was denied, so they hired an attorney, sued and prevailed. They promptly packed their car...

Monumentally unhelpful is an understatement. I am a trustee for both my parents as well as POA, both documents were completed in 1997. It took five months of hoop jumping, a saber-rattling letter from my attorney and ultimately a threat to have my parents medically transported to a Fidelity...

Had a fellow employee reach his 65th birthday on Christmas Eve, 1985. He also chose to retire on that day, after 40+ years with the company. He died of a heart attack that night. He didn't get one day of retirement. The event made me determined to retire in my 50's.

I used to look forward to living in our SW Florida home year-round. After spending 10 days there this month, I'm no longer so inclined. Jeeze it was hot.

The experience of cancelling At&t service at my parents house when they moved into an assisted living facility went so poorly that I sold At&t stock my mother owned that was purchased in the 1800's by her grandmother. No one who treats customers like they do will survive in business.

DW asked me today if I was bored. I said pleasantly so and I've earned every minute of it.

I've lost three close friends and my BFF, most from the shenanigan years. Great memories have flooded back since reading this thread. All were married and left behind varied financial pictures, several that were dire. My suggestion is to be a resource for his widow and not the solution. I've...

Atlantic Cigar has the best online prices, if you become a member which is free. Puro Express will ship silky smooth embargo cigars right to your mailbox, although they are quite expensive. I enjoy the Baccarat havana line of smokes.

Tough part of life. My wife was the caregiver for her mother for 17 years after her father died. She didn't drive so this included all transportation. Fortunately (for her siblings), she was a stay at home mom, so she was able to make the time. She knows she stepped up for her mom and feels...

Sounds much like my brother's story without the friends, since most of them died from overdoses. What some people fail to understand is the fear of guilt if you are able to help a family member but choose not to. Where would he end up, dead in the gutter? If it's not a burden to your family...

We've self insured for ten years in Florida. When we made the decision, the house would have sold for $50k more than the land value so I figured that was what we were risking, plus the cost of demolition. Irma and Ian both caused havoc for us but it was more anxiety than actual losses. Most...

I had similar numbers at 55 and also felt a desperation to retire due to work stress. I was able to semi-retire at 56 and fully retire at 59 with a much-improved base. If I were in your shoes and a glide path retirement was not an option, I would consider selling the house and paying cash for...