I'm a sucker for the "3 day vacation" to listen to a 1 hour "interval vacation" spiel. The only issue we've run into is trying to book the vacation into our schedules within the allotted time frame. Otherwise, we've had positive experiences, but always politely decline their sales pitch.
Same here. Met my long lost aunt IRMMA for the first time in 2024 after going over by $512 resulting in an extra $2,297 in Medicare payments. I don't object to higher payments based on income, but the cliff seems a little steep from my perspective.
I will add a few non-financial steps to Adam's "morbid" suggestions:
Write your obituary. It will save your family a lot of time at a time when time is important. Plus, you'll get to say how you want to be remembered and give you an opportunity to reflect on your life.
Outline your funeral and burial plans. (see above)
I've watched my credit score bounce around for years and you would think Fair Isaac would have figured me out by now (I'm 80). Every year in December I put a $20,000 down payment on our beach house rental on one of my credit cards (3% back!). Within weeks my credit score will drop about 20 points. Then I pay it off in full when due and the score goes back up. Same thing happens when I pay the remaining half in the summer. This cycle has been going on for decades. I've never missed a payment or been late on anything, but my score keeps bouncing around within about a 40 point range depending on purchases.
By any standard, I have led a blessed life, for which I am thankful. Prior to voluntary retirement, I never had a period of unemployment in my life. At 80, I'm still in good health, active, and very happily married for 57 years to my high school sweetheart. We still live in our first and only house of 54 years. In my early 20s I realized the importance of two simple pieces of advice: "Invest early and often" and "It's time in the market, not timing the market". I always found a way to invest 10% of my salary and reinvest all dividends and capital gains (except while putting four sons through college:). Most importantly, both my wife and I are very careful spenders, not tightwads, just careful. I also realize that there are those who were far less fortunate than we were due to circumstances beyond their control. However, what I see far more often are those whose lives have been a series of very bad choices.
Here's the recent USPS tracking arrival dates for a package shipped to me in Charlottesville, VA on November 27th:
Chino, CA 11/27
Memphis, TN 11/29
Washington, DC 12/1
Richmond, VA 12/1 (about an hour from Charlottesville:)
Fayetteville, NC 12/3
Fayetteville, NC 12/5 Fayetteville, NC 12/6Greensboro, NC 12/7Richmond, VA 12/8Charlottesville, VA 12/9Delivered to me 12/10Seems like there could be a more efficient way to do this.
I would like to propose a Humble Dollar contest for the lowest amount going over the IRMAA 2024 income level cliff. (Sorry, no prize) I'll start with $552 (ouch!)
I believe I've posted something similar before, but my strategy has been this:
DRIP in my 20s to 60s
Retired at 65 and moved to the following to establish a better cash position and take money off the table: If the value of a fund was higher than when the last dividend was paid, I took the cash. If it was lower, I went back to DRIP.
Moving into my 80s, I'm taking almost all dividends in cash and spend some and put some into money market funds.
Comments
I'm a sucker for the "3 day vacation" to listen to a 1 hour "interval vacation" spiel. The only issue we've run into is trying to book the vacation into our schedules within the allotted time frame. Otherwise, we've had positive experiences, but always politely decline their sales pitch.
Post: Ambulatory Ambivalence
Link to comment from February 23, 2026
Same here. Met my long lost aunt IRMMA for the first time in 2024 after going over by $512 resulting in an extra $2,297 in Medicare payments. I don't object to higher payments based on income, but the cliff seems a little steep from my perspective.
Post: Social Security is not going bankrupt, but that is not the full story
Link to comment from January 25, 2026
I will add a few non-financial steps to Adam's "morbid" suggestions:
Post: Financial Happiness
Link to comment from January 25, 2026
I've watched my credit score bounce around for years and you would think Fair Isaac would have figured me out by now (I'm 80). Every year in December I put a $20,000 down payment on our beach house rental on one of my credit cards (3% back!). Within weeks my credit score will drop about 20 points. Then I pay it off in full when due and the score goes back up. Same thing happens when I pay the remaining half in the summer. This cycle has been going on for decades. I've never missed a payment or been late on anything, but my score keeps bouncing around within about a 40 point range depending on purchases.
Post: The Debt Free Penalty.
Link to comment from January 23, 2026
By any standard, I have led a blessed life, for which I am thankful. Prior to voluntary retirement, I never had a period of unemployment in my life. At 80, I'm still in good health, active, and very happily married for 57 years to my high school sweetheart. We still live in our first and only house of 54 years. In my early 20s I realized the importance of two simple pieces of advice: "Invest early and often" and "It's time in the market, not timing the market". I always found a way to invest 10% of my salary and reinvest all dividends and capital gains (except while putting four sons through college:). Most importantly, both my wife and I are very careful spenders, not tightwads, just careful. I also realize that there are those who were far less fortunate than we were due to circumstances beyond their control. However, what I see far more often are those whose lives have been a series of very bad choices.
Post: How the Other Half Live: The Reality Check
Link to comment from January 12, 2026
Here's the recent USPS tracking arrival dates for a package shipped to me in Charlottesville, VA on November 27th: Chino, CA 11/27 Memphis, TN 11/29 Washington, DC 12/1 Richmond, VA 12/1 (about an hour from Charlottesville:) Fayetteville, NC 12/3 Fayetteville, NC 12/5 Fayetteville, NC 12/6 Greensboro, NC 12/7 Richmond, VA 12/8 Charlottesville, VA 12/9 Delivered to me 12/10 Seems like there could be a more efficient way to do this.
Post: The future of mail and how it affects finances
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
I would like to propose a Humble Dollar contest for the lowest amount going over the IRMAA 2024 income level cliff. (Sorry, no prize) I'll start with $552 (ouch!)
Post: Is IRMAA a tax, a fee or a reduction in subsidy?
Link to comment from December 29, 2025
To answer your first question, I don't think the "real press" is the real press.
Post: Interest Rates Battle
Link to comment from December 14, 2025
I believe I've posted something similar before, but my strategy has been this:
- DRIP in my 20s to 60s
- Retired at 65 and moved to the following to establish a better cash position and take money off the table: If the value of a fund was higher than when the last dividend was paid, I took the cash. If it was lower, I went back to DRIP.
- Moving into my 80s, I'm taking almost all dividends in cash and spend some and put some into money market funds.
So far, so good.Post: You DRIP?
Link to comment from December 9, 2025
Excellent! Thanks
Post: Index Fund Bubble
Link to comment from December 7, 2025