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  1. M

    Wish-list for Downsized Home

    This is a very timely thread for us. We downsized from 4,000 sf to 2,800 sf about eight years ago. While it is not too big, it is more than we need. And it has stairs we have to use to access most of the house (darn split level). We are on an 1.25 acres now and own the 2.5 acres next to us, so...
  2. M

    "It's like cheating"

    Agreed for the most part. I also put the caveat of cash as being non retirement savings. So money I can spend (or invest) on whatever I want without penalty (excluding my wife yelling at me).
  3. M

    Selling family "heirlooms" - ok or regret or ??

    I have my mom’s china and crystal. We declined everything else she offered. Have my dad’s dog tags and a few things that were his dad’s. We declined everything else he offered. Do not take stuff you do not have use for. If you ‘have’ to take, sell it in a week or give it to goodwill.
  4. M

    New project for hubby and I.... Tent on wheels

    We bought a Jeep Gladiator and put an AluCab canopy camper on it. We used to camp every few weeks and over the years we went to every few months due to not wanting to set up a tent and sleep on the ground. Now we are back to every few weeks when night temps are lower than 65 deg. We have camped...
  5. M

    Hiring a Financial Advisor

    Yeah, I really just need to take it back, put it in my schwab account, and put it in the same funds it is in now.
  6. M

    Hiring a Financial Advisor

    We are paying an advisor 1.1% now. He gives advice on investments, retirement plan, estate planning, insurance etc. I am not overly impressed and will likely take it back over soon. My issue is that my wife and I have no interest in managing it ourselves. I would rather be riding my bike, making...
  7. M

    Rental car insurance in France and Spain?

    I get at least one ticket every time I go to Europe, parking/speeding/toll. I get about one ticket every ten years here in the US.
  8. M

    What podcast episode have you heard lately?

    I enjoy How I Built This, Freakanomics, Planet Money and Ted Radio. I just downloaded some of The Knowledge Project based on a recommendation here.
  9. M

    Bringing Wine to a Restaurant

    We do it all the time in SC and NC. Corkage is a deal vs paying their markup.
  10. M

    Recommendations on where to park $10K

    I opened an American Express savings account last week, 1.9% if I recall correctly. It is better than the CDs I have had the money over the last few years. I am starting with 10k and will drop another 10k in it over the next month. Two CDs worth a total of 40k mature in November and I add those...
  11. M

    Do you love your home?

    We sold our previously house that we both loved because it was just too big and while we could easily afford it, we decided to downsize so we could travel and save more. I hate our current house but love the area, about three miles from our previous house. My wife loves the house. I dislike is...
  12. M

    Anyone got any travel planned? 2018 version

    We leave in two weeks for Cabo San Lucas. We are not usually resort type people but my wife has been wanting a warm local after her year of surgeries. Next year we head to Italy for hiking and wine.
  13. M

    Keeping emergency cash at home

    I keep $500 in the car and house, and $100 minimum in my wallet. I have a couple of gold coins fior true emergencies and then some guns and a bunch of ammo. We have a 40k pool and a filter, so plenty of water so long as it is not severely contaminated in some manner. If it is, there are ~800...
  14. M

    How Many Here Have Umbrella Liability Coverage?

    I would hope the corporate insurance should protect you, unless you were a sole proprietor. I am an engineer and here in SC my company would defend me in a case unless I was purposefully negligent.
  15. M

    How Many Here Have Umbrella Liability Coverage?

    We have it mainly because we have a pool. While there is a fence all around it and it is built to code, two of the four gates are not locked. Even it they were, it is still easy for a kid to get in and drown.
  16. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    I have interviewed two thus far, just not happy with them.
  17. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    I have used FIRECalc and it shows we will be ok, I need to update it for current salaries and savings though.
  18. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    I did not like them charging a percent of my wealth. I really want someone who just charges an hourly rate when I need them and a fee a few times a year when I need advice.
  19. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    The wife is doing well, thanks for the good thoughts.
  20. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    I actually go back to see him this coming week as a check up. We were going to invest with him but did not like the 1.25% fee. The DIY is a pain at times but has worked out well enough so far.
  21. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    Joeea, No real questions right now, just introducing myself since I have been a member for two years but have not really posted anything until this week. We worked with a financial planner to review our current savings and what our retirement plan is, and it looks like it will work out. We...
  22. M

    47 and planning for retirement at 60

    I am 47 and my wife is 49. We make a combined $180k. We owe $118k on the house with 26 years to go, but plan on paying it off in seven, $280k in equity. We have about $500k in non taxable accounts and $50k in taxable savings. My wife can retire at 60 and will have her university retirement...
  23. M

    How do you ensure that your job does NOT kill you?

    I love resurrected threads, especially since I am new here and did not see it the first time around. Three years ago I was in a very stressful job and felt like I wanted to die. Seriously. My wife wanted to sell our house so we could downsize and so I would not have to work so much to pay the...
  24. M

    Anyone got any travel planned? 2018 version

    We are heading to Portugal in just over a month, it should be a good time. We will do some hiking and wine tasting, and lots of eating.
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