not wanting to say no to people For much of my earlier life I, too, struggled. I finally realized I needed to find a simple sentence that felt natural to me. I searched online for suggestions and found one that felt comfortable, kind, and not curt. Like strengthening a muscle with practice, I have become comfortable with turning down requests, offering an alternative solution if I can. The true value of getting better at saying no is that now I can say yes to something wholeheartedly. Congrats, Dana, on completing year one!
Oh, good, I was wondering whether any other HD readers go digital with e-cards. I've used them for years. There are classy ones available by subscription and some with a free tier, e.g., Ojolie, Blue Mountain, Jacquie Lawson. Huge selection for any occasion, available any time day or night, to send on a scheduled day or immediately, plenty of room to write your message, and no postage cost. True, can't enclose ca$h or check. So just Venmo or Zelle.
Thank you so much for another touching post, Andrew. Your efforts are helping ease our sense of loss from Jonathan's passing. In the same spirit as your story, I've been listening to the weekly My Unsung Hero podcast: a brief, simple anecdote recounted by someone whose life was touched by someone else's kindness.
Years ago my dad gave me some shares of IBM. Owning an individual stock took up way too much headspace: I couldn't relax until the price finally reached my target and I could sell. So it's only index funds for me.
Mark, Gemini AI says: "The quote you are looking for comes from the widely praised book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by physician and author Siddhartha Mukherjee."
So interesting to see the responses! My portfolio is in Vanguard index funds in the traditional and Roth IRAs, and in cash + tax-managed, index-adjacent stock funds (slight tilt toward growth and small-cap) in the taxable account. Percentages of total portfolio are shown. taxable (12%):
07% tax-managed cap apprec (VTCLX)
01% tax-managed small cap (VTMSX)
04% fed money market (VMFXX) tIRA (64%):
16% short-term treas (VSBSX)
32% short-term infl prot bond (VTAPX)
16% tot world stock (VTWAX) rIRA (24%):
24% tot world stock (VTWAX) overall stocks/bonds+cash = 48/52.
This has been on a rising glide path from 30/70 when I retired in 2021, aiming gradually for 50/50. VTWAX is currently 60.5% U.S., so overall ratio U.S. to ex-U.S. stocks is about 68% to 32%. Social Security delayed to age 70 was still not enough to cover my annual CCRC fees and other expenses, so to fill the gap I have a SPIA with 5% compound annual increase and withdraw about 2.5% of the portfolio, reinvesting any unneeded remainder of my RMD in VTCLX. Finally, I have a QLAC to start in 2034.
large, heavy boxes filled with randomly selected items thrown in there and either vaguely or wrongly labeled Long ago, early in my now-ended marriage we moved four times in 16 months. I did most of the packing. What worked for me was to label the boxes not with contents but with numbers, and then just keep an easily editable and searchable numbered list on the computer — and wait to seal the boxes at the last minute. Dana, glad to hear your move is behind you!
Comments
not wanting to say no to people For much of my earlier life I, too, struggled. I finally realized I needed to find a simple sentence that felt natural to me. I searched online for suggestions and found one that felt comfortable, kind, and not curt. Like strengthening a muscle with practice, I have become comfortable with turning down requests, offering an alternative solution if I can. The true value of getting better at saying no is that now I can say yes to something wholeheartedly. Congrats, Dana, on completing year one!
Post: Retirement, One Year On
Link to comment from July 3, 2026
Oh, good, I was wondering whether any other HD readers go digital with e-cards. I've used them for years. There are classy ones available by subscription and some with a free tier, e.g., Ojolie, Blue Mountain, Jacquie Lawson. Huge selection for any occasion, available any time day or night, to send on a scheduled day or immediately, plenty of room to write your message, and no postage cost. True, can't enclose ca$h or check. So just Venmo or Zelle.
Post: Exercising true frugality
Link to comment from July 1, 2026
Thank you so much for another touching post, Andrew. Your efforts are helping ease our sense of loss from Jonathan's passing. In the same spirit as your story, I've been listening to the weekly My Unsung Hero podcast: a brief, simple anecdote recounted by someone whose life was touched by someone else's kindness.
Post: A Letter 40 Years Later: What Mrs. Dolezal Remembered
Link to comment from July 1, 2026
Years ago my dad gave me some shares of IBM. Owning an individual stock took up way too much headspace: I couldn't relax until the price finally reached my target and I could sell. So it's only index funds for me.
Post: Independence Day
Link to comment from June 29, 2026
Mark, Gemini AI says: "The quote you are looking for comes from the widely praised book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by physician and author Siddhartha Mukherjee."
Post: Luck, Stupidity, Automation and Inertia
Link to comment from June 28, 2026
I considered a muni fund but Vanguard's only one for my state is long-term, and I want only short-term bond funds, so no.
Post: What’s in your portfolio ?
Link to comment from June 17, 2026
So interesting to see the responses! My portfolio is in Vanguard index funds in the traditional and Roth IRAs, and in cash + tax-managed, index-adjacent stock funds (slight tilt toward growth and small-cap) in the taxable account. Percentages of total portfolio are shown. taxable (12%): 07% tax-managed cap apprec (VTCLX) 01% tax-managed small cap (VTMSX) 04% fed money market (VMFXX) tIRA (64%): 16% short-term treas (VSBSX) 32% short-term infl prot bond (VTAPX) 16% tot world stock (VTWAX) rIRA (24%): 24% tot world stock (VTWAX) overall stocks/bonds+cash = 48/52. This has been on a rising glide path from 30/70 when I retired in 2021, aiming gradually for 50/50. VTWAX is currently 60.5% U.S., so overall ratio U.S. to ex-U.S. stocks is about 68% to 32%. Social Security delayed to age 70 was still not enough to cover my annual CCRC fees and other expenses, so to fill the gap I have a SPIA with 5% compound annual increase and withdraw about 2.5% of the portfolio, reinvesting any unneeded remainder of my RMD in VTCLX. Finally, I have a QLAC to start in 2034.
Post: What’s in your portfolio ?
Link to comment from June 16, 2026
Living at home would require her to contribute maximum annual limits in her employer 401(k). Brilliant!
Post: Celebrating the Win
Link to comment from June 11, 2026
Which AI tools are the best to use? I'm concerned that my financial data would be scraped and used somehow by [who knows what or whom?].
Post: How to Use AI With Your Portfolio
Link to comment from June 9, 2026
large, heavy boxes filled with randomly selected items thrown in there and either vaguely or wrongly labeled Long ago, early in my now-ended marriage we moved four times in 16 months. I did most of the packing. What worked for me was to label the boxes not with contents but with numbers, and then just keep an easily editable and searchable numbered list on the computer — and wait to seal the boxes at the last minute. Dana, glad to hear your move is behind you!
Post: Moving is Expensive!
Link to comment from May 31, 2026