We wanted to have a child, but it wasn't easy. We had to go through IVF (in-vitro fertilization) multiple times. We had gotten to the point where it was our last attempt - it either worked or we got a dog :) It did work, however, and I'm glad. Yes, we're lucky, our daughter is currently in college and is just a nice human being. We never had any major issues to deal with, just the usual (mostly middle school) kid stuff. We certainly have no regrets, but I also think we'd have been happy not having kids - it wasn't something we felt we had to do. Would things have been different financially? Sure, but not that different. I remember daycare cost a total of $65k or so. College is just over $90k so far. We'd probably have spent a lot of that on more vacations or nicer cars if we'd been childless, but I think we'd have spent it either way. We have friends our age whose kids have basically failed to launch. Does that make a difference to how they feel about their kids? Probably not, but it's definitely more of a financial hit. I respect people's decision to not have kids, whether based on their own upbringing, financial choices, or otherwise. As long as they feel they made the right choice, that's all that matters.
Lol, that makes me feel better! Hershey's chocolate tastes like plastic compared to Galaxy or Cadbury's. Hershey bought the rights to the Cadbury name in the US a long time ago, so the Cadbury's chocolate we get here isn't much good either. I'll have to look out for Tirma - doesn't look like their milk chocolate is available here.
I'm sorry, Mark, but as a fellow chocolate lover I have to take umbrage at "I’m eyeing up a Hershey bar with genuine lust". That stuff barely qualifies as chocolate. I won't eat it even if there's nothing else left in the house. My local British goods store is fully stocked with Easter Eggs and other goodies, and I've managed to stay away. I brought six months worth of stuff back from Ireland in December and it was gone by the end of January. Time for me to lose a few pounds!
We have a friend who worked as a bartender in London for at least 35 years. His employer told him he was putting part of his pay in a savings/retirement account (no idea what kind). The pub ended up going out of business, the owner took off for parts unknown, and if there ever was any money put aside for our friend, it was gone now. He is completely financially illiterate, but luckily lives in a country that provides housing and free medical care. He gets a small state pension. We have no idea how much money he lost over the years, but it would certainly have afforded him a much more comfortable retirement.
I'm retiring within the next two years. I haven't changed anything. According to Boldin, even a ten-year downturn would not affect us at this point. Based on a decade of poor returns your Chance of Success could be 99%
Start of downturn: Feb 2028 (latest retirement date)
Annual returns during downturn: 1% / y
Downturn duration: 10 years
Comments
We wanted to have a child, but it wasn't easy. We had to go through IVF (in-vitro fertilization) multiple times. We had gotten to the point where it was our last attempt - it either worked or we got a dog :) It did work, however, and I'm glad. Yes, we're lucky, our daughter is currently in college and is just a nice human being. We never had any major issues to deal with, just the usual (mostly middle school) kid stuff. We certainly have no regrets, but I also think we'd have been happy not having kids - it wasn't something we felt we had to do. Would things have been different financially? Sure, but not that different. I remember daycare cost a total of $65k or so. College is just over $90k so far. We'd probably have spent a lot of that on more vacations or nicer cars if we'd been childless, but I think we'd have spent it either way. We have friends our age whose kids have basically failed to launch. Does that make a difference to how they feel about their kids? Probably not, but it's definitely more of a financial hit. I respect people's decision to not have kids, whether based on their own upbringing, financial choices, or otherwise. As long as they feel they made the right choice, that's all that matters.
Post: Financial regrets about parenthood?
Link to comment from April 5, 2026
Lol, that makes me feel better! Hershey's chocolate tastes like plastic compared to Galaxy or Cadbury's. Hershey bought the rights to the Cadbury name in the US a long time ago, so the Cadbury's chocolate we get here isn't much good either. I'll have to look out for Tirma - doesn't look like their milk chocolate is available here.
Post: Lent, Chocolate, and the Art of Retirement
Link to comment from April 3, 2026
I'm sorry, Mark, but as a fellow chocolate lover I have to take umbrage at "I’m eyeing up a Hershey bar with genuine lust". That stuff barely qualifies as chocolate. I won't eat it even if there's nothing else left in the house. My local British goods store is fully stocked with Easter Eggs and other goodies, and I've managed to stay away. I brought six months worth of stuff back from Ireland in December and it was gone by the end of January. Time for me to lose a few pounds!
Post: Lent, Chocolate, and the Art of Retirement
Link to comment from April 2, 2026
We have a friend who worked as a bartender in London for at least 35 years. His employer told him he was putting part of his pay in a savings/retirement account (no idea what kind). The pub ended up going out of business, the owner took off for parts unknown, and if there ever was any money put aside for our friend, it was gone now. He is completely financially illiterate, but luckily lives in a country that provides housing and free medical care. He gets a small state pension. We have no idea how much money he lost over the years, but it would certainly have afforded him a much more comfortable retirement.
Post: Debriefing
Link to comment from March 28, 2026
Very useful, thanks! I'll have to make sure I check this when filing 2026 taxes.
Post: Treasury Tax Reporting
Link to comment from March 28, 2026
I'm retiring within the next two years. I haven't changed anything. According to Boldin, even a ten-year downturn would not affect us at this point. Based on a decade of poor returns your Chance of Success could be 99% Start of downturn: Feb 2028 (latest retirement date) Annual returns during downturn: 1% / y Downturn duration: 10 years
Post: Any concern?
Link to comment from March 26, 2026