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.
I'm interested to know if I'm the outlier here, but 15 years after retirement, I'm spending more than twice what I spent before retirement. Yes, lots of it is on family vacations, eating out, etc.
Due to multiple data breaches, I operate under the assumption that everybody has everything on me that they need. The best defense is a good offense. Quan Nguyen outlined it best below.
Comments
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
I'm interested to know if I'm the outlier here, but 15 years after retirement, I'm spending more than twice what I spent before retirement. Yes, lots of it is on family vacations, eating out, etc.
Post: AI speaks out on retirement income replacement percentage
Link to comment from December 5, 2025
Happy wife, happy life:)
Post: Health Insurance Double Take
Link to comment from November 21, 2025
Due to multiple data breaches, I operate under the assumption that everybody has everything on me that they need. The best defense is a good offense. Quan Nguyen outlined it best below.
Post: Another week, another data breech notification letter…
Link to comment from November 17, 2025
Thanks for a reminder! Had forgotten to list my wife's and my cell phone opening codes in my master password list.
Post: Dealing with Financial Affairs for Someone Else…..
Link to comment from November 16, 2025