This is a welcome change for me. Last time I was able to get into my Treasury Direct account was April 2024. It's been locked since then. I had a whopping $54.70 in there last time I checked, so calling them (the only option) to fix my account access wasn't even worth the hassle.
No chance here. I'd rather watch any sporting event at home on an 85" screen than pay those prices. I'd also prefer not to buy anything through Ticketmaster ever again.
My spreadsheet shows that our combined federal and state taxes last year (not counting property taxes) was 15.12% of our W-2 wages and only 12.02% of gross wages.
Fun fact, our Costco garlic powder has a best before date of January 2016, and we're about 80% of the way through it. Still tastes fine after all these years.
I've been working through different scenarios in the Boldin software, and the best option (for us) seems to be to go ahead with Roth conversions in the next few years, take the ACA and IRMAA hit for a while, but then drastically reduce RMDs and income taxes in the future.
I came to the US at age 24 with $1200 and a dream, and have never regretted it for a moment. It's highly unlikely that I would have had the same opportunities in my home country. I'm looking forward to retiring next year and doing some slow travel around the US and Canada.
No MGs for sale in the US, mainly due to US regulations concerning Chinese EVs and technology. Polestar just got canceled here too. Their appeal to continue selling cars in the US was turned down. I saw a review of the Rivian R2 today, and that looks like a nice car. If I wait a few years, I'm sure I can pick one up for half the original retail price, but right now my fifteen-year-old Lexus with 80k miles is just ticking along nicely, so I have no excuse to get rid of it.
Nice to see the money going to good use. I wonder what his total estate was? If he gave you 12k, and hardly knew you, it must have been substantial. On the Guiness issue, there was a kid in my class back in 1979 who was prescribed a glass of Guiness every day, at the age of fourteen. His parents owned a bar, so that was handy!
Ever since Dollar Tree opened near us, that's the only place I shop for cards. Apparently a lot of other people do the same, because the local Hallmark Store shut its doors for good a couple of years ago.
Comments
The poor /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
Post: If Retirement is Getting Close
Link to comment from August 19, 2026
This is a welcome change for me. Last time I was able to get into my Treasury Direct account was April 2024. It's been locked since then. I had a whopping $54.70 in there last time I checked, so calling them (the only option) to fix my account access wasn't even worth the hassle.
Post: TreasuryDirect changing login procedure to mandate ID.me later in 2026
Link to comment from August 18, 2026
No chance here. I'd rather watch any sporting event at home on an 85" screen than pay those prices. I'd also prefer not to buy anything through Ticketmaster ever again.
Post: FIFA Financials
Link to comment from July 20, 2026
My spreadsheet shows that our combined federal and state taxes last year (not counting property taxes) was 15.12% of our W-2 wages and only 12.02% of gross wages.
Post: A taxing situation, but is it reality?
Link to comment from July 10, 2026
Fun fact, our Costco garlic powder has a best before date of January 2016, and we're about 80% of the way through it. Still tastes fine after all these years.
Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 8, 2026
I've been working through different scenarios in the Boldin software, and the best option (for us) seems to be to go ahead with Roth conversions in the next few years, take the ACA and IRMAA hit for a while, but then drastically reduce RMDs and income taxes in the future.
Post: A $30,000 Mistake
Link to comment from July 4, 2026
I came to the US at age 24 with $1200 and a dream, and have never regretted it for a moment. It's highly unlikely that I would have had the same opportunities in my home country. I'm looking forward to retiring next year and doing some slow travel around the US and Canada.
Post: Happy 250th Birthday America
Link to comment from July 3, 2026
No MGs for sale in the US, mainly due to US regulations concerning Chinese EVs and technology. Polestar just got canceled here too. Their appeal to continue selling cars in the US was turned down. I saw a review of the Rivian R2 today, and that looks like a nice car. If I wait a few years, I'm sure I can pick one up for half the original retail price, but right now my fifteen-year-old Lexus with 80k miles is just ticking along nicely, so I have no excuse to get rid of it.
Post: Tempted by the Shiny and New: Another HD Car Post
Link to comment from July 3, 2026
Nice to see the money going to good use. I wonder what his total estate was? If he gave you 12k, and hardly knew you, it must have been substantial. On the Guiness issue, there was a kid in my class back in 1979 who was prescribed a glass of Guiness every day, at the age of fourteen. His parents owned a bar, so that was handy!
Post: Disposing of Questionable Assets
Link to comment from July 2, 2026
Ever since Dollar Tree opened near us, that's the only place I shop for cards. Apparently a lot of other people do the same, because the local Hallmark Store shut its doors for good a couple of years ago.
Post: Exercising true frugality
Link to comment from July 1, 2026