Blow that Dough 2024

[Ronstar]

Which Gerstner chest did you get? I have Kennedy (the vintage ones from the 1970s) and need another machinist chest.

I got the Gerstner retro chest. One of their smaller chests. I’m running out of flat space to sit things.

 

[Nords]

In any case, next year will be a fairly big BTD year as well - interestingly the bathtub of 'resources' is not emptying but is still filling, albeit slowly. REWahoo and Nords told me this would happen....so true, so true...I want to enjoy it while I am able.

Our work here is done!

 

[REWahoo]

Our work here is done!

Yep!

 

[CO-guy]

Just BTD again. $7,200+ for business class seats for me and DW to Venice and then Cinque Terre for early 2025 - Lufthansa/United Polaris.
Airlines tickets are getting more expensive. Spent $5,100 on American Airlines business class on April-May 2024 of this year for Switzerland, Germany and Austrian trip. We tried Norse Air Premium seats to London (Sept-Oct. 2024) then EasyJet to Scotland. Norse Air (New York to London Gatwick) was cheaper and actually good, because their seats recline 45 degrees.

That's not a bad deal. We're looking at tickets to Italy this summer and even economy is over $2k.

 

[audreyh1]

Drumroll…… although this is really for 2025.

I’m turning 65 soon and DH will turn 70 in 2025. So I’m thinking that it’s time to increase our withdrawal rate from 3.0% to 3.5% for 2025! This represents a 16% raise even without any increase in portfolio. We’re not getting any younger and we really need to make the most of the next 10 to 15 years.

FWIW We withdraw funds based on the Dec 31 value of our retirement portfolio each year rather than the more traditional Trinity type inflation adjusted method.

 

[REWahoo]

Drumroll…… although this is really for 2025.

I’m turning 65 soon and DH will turn 70 in 2025. So I’m thinking that it’s time to increase our withdrawal rate from 3.0% to 3.5% for 2025!

Living on the wild side, eh?

 

[braumeister]

Congrats on a big milestone for both of you!
Since you're considering this a BTD moment, be sure to come up with something especially fun.

 

[audreyh1]

Congrats on a big milestone for both of you!
Since you're considering this a BTD moment, be sure to come up with something especially fun.

Of course. But increased gifting also plays into this. I’m a big believer in gifting with a warm hand.

 

[audreyh1]

Living on the wild side, eh?

Since you're considering this a BTD moment, be sure to come up with something especially fun.

So I already have 3 National Geographic trips booked for next year including a longish Lindblad cruise. That’s definitely a step up in our travel spending. Looking forward to it especially less detailed travel planning on my part. We’ve traveled with Nat Geo before and it was outstanding. This will be our first Lindblad cruise. We’re definitely shifting to more curated travel rather than rolling our own.

 

[Retired Expat]

Thinking to invite our daughter and her family on a 2 week cruise and Disney world vacation. Figure this will blow some serious dough! If I can keep it under 20k I will be happy! Anyone have experience with such a trip?

 

[Winemaker]

Thinking to invite our daughter and her family on a 2 week cruise and Disney world vacation. Figure this will blow some serious dough! If I can keep it under 20k I will be happy! Anyone have experience with such a trip?

I booked a Disney trip for 7days and nights for my DW and DD, DD's SIL and her two kids (we're like grandparents to them) and a friend and her two kids. So 4 adults and 4 children for next June, it was about $15k, if I remember. Direct airfare on Southwest will be on points.

 

[Ronstar]

Cutco knife guy came over to sharpen our knives. We bought a few things, but not their $21k upgrade collection.

 

[marko]

So, we just signed up to have a service come over next week to decorate our house with Christmas lights. They put them up, then take them away in early January. The peak of our house is about 45 feet so there's no way I'd climb up there.

All for the low, low price of $2850!

 

[skyking1]

I picked up a Predator 4550 watt generator tonight because it is less noisy than the old beasts that we are running on the house build. ~$700 for some peace.
I filled it with gas and started it with the first pull, cannot complain about that.

 

[flyingaway]

On next Tuesday, we will start our trip to Argentina and Brazil, with day trips to Uruguay and Paraguay, expecting to cost $5k ~$7k. This will be our 5th, hopefully the last overseas trip this year, bringing my total number of visited countries and territories to 80.

 

[street]

On next Tuesday, we will start our trip to Argentina and Brazil, with day trips to Uruguay and Paraguay, expecting to cost $5k ~$7k. This will be our 5th, hopefully the last overseas trip this year, bringing my total number of visited countries and territories to 80.

Wow! Interesting how so many people love to travel and good for them all!!!

 

[flyingaway]

Wow! Interesting how so many people love to travel and good for them all!!!

Travel is an activity that one can do alone or with others, which is a freedom that I like. One needs other people to participate in for other activities, such as playing cards, sports, etc.

 

[timbervest]

Just booked Danube cruise for next summer.

 

[robnplunder]

I've got a new iron set (golf) for about $1000. My old one is about 10 years old, bought just before ER.

 

[sdtech]

Took a cruise last month - one stop was Pompeii (the city covered in ash in 79 AD. It was much more impressive and impactful than I expected.

 

[cyber888]

That's not a bad deal. We're looking at tickets to Italy this summer and even economy is over $2k.

I hope you avoid Rome during summer. It's pack like sardines. We love Italy during Fall season - went to the Amalfi coast last year 2023.

 

[Retired Expat]

So, we just signed up to have a service come over next week to decorate our house with Christmas lights. They put them up, then take them away in early January. The peak of our house is about 45 feet so there's no way I'd climb up there.

All for the low, low price of $2850!

Post photos so we can see!!. Do you provide the lights or is that included?

 

[athena53]

Just booked my next trip. Originally planned on Korea next Spring (cousin is in Seoul with her husband who works for the government for a couple of years) and Vietnam with OAT but it's just too much. Too much traveling, no nonstops from West Coast to Saigon (have to go through Manila or Tokyo and I'm starting in Kansas City), too many time zones, lotsa airfare. Cancelled that and I'm going to Vienna in late April/early May. Business Class, of course. Will likely take a side trip to Berlin. I've been to Vienna twice (1980 and with late DH in 2002) but not Berlin. I'm brushing on my German with an on-line course.

 

[tulak]

It’s a bit longer, but you can take a train from Vienna to Berlin, that takes you through Prague and Dresden. It can be a nice way to travel if you have time.

 

[audreyh1]

We went from Vienna to Berlin. Since we were also visiting Prague and Dresden and Leipzig we went by train. There is the same train that goes from Prague to Berlin through some railway that is a German/Czech line. I think we used the Austrian railway to go to Prague from Vienna. From Vienna all the way to Berlin might be a very long train ride.