That is a valid point. I was a computer programmer ‘nerd’.
Organizations paid me for doing what I loved. Basically, solving various issues using the computer. I looked at them as solving puzzles. It didn’t seem like ‘work’ to me. There are (were) certain projects I was quite proud to have worked on. But our financial status is due, mostly, to having retired in an up market. And being too lazy to try to make any fancy investments. Again … not pride … but being extremely blessed.
We paid off the mortgage on our “forever” home 17 years ago. Our compounding far out weighs our savings. But we still try to ‘live within our means’. A lifetime - well 40+ years - of habit is hard to break.
GNeil, Thanks for offering your thoughts on this topic. We help our kids out now. We paid for their college. We provided down payments on their homes. And we always pick up the check at meals UNLESS they specifically say it’s their treat. I guess we’d rather watch them enjoying it now, than, hopefully, have them enjoy it after we pass.
We are extremely conservative when it comes to finances. Besides our retirement funds we have after tax investments. Those after tax investments are about 2 1/2 year’s worth of our normal monthly expenses. We tap that for emergencies or other big ticket items. We have very little debt. Just stuff we’ve put on our credit cards, which get fully paid off each month. We have no mortgage or car loans. We know we could be more heavily invested …. we know we have too much in cash or cash equivalents … but we sleep well at night knowing our bills won’t bother us.
Comments
Please don’t leave us! Reading - hearing - seeing different points of view is healthy for everyone.
Post: If you have done well, be proud.
Link to comment from February 17, 2026
That is a valid point. I was a computer programmer ‘nerd’. Organizations paid me for doing what I loved. Basically, solving various issues using the computer. I looked at them as solving puzzles. It didn’t seem like ‘work’ to me. There are (were) certain projects I was quite proud to have worked on. But our financial status is due, mostly, to having retired in an up market. And being too lazy to try to make any fancy investments. Again … not pride … but being extremely blessed.
Post: If you have done well, be proud.
Link to comment from February 17, 2026
We’re “comfortable”. I don’t feel proud though. i feel blessed.
Post: If you have done well, be proud.
Link to comment from February 16, 2026
I probably posted this before … More fiction has been written in Excel than in Word.
Post: Yes, I am a NIIT wit
Link to comment from February 12, 2026
Good definition!
Post: What does ”means” mean?
Link to comment from February 11, 2026
We paid off the mortgage on our “forever” home 17 years ago. Our compounding far out weighs our savings. But we still try to ‘live within our means’. A lifetime - well 40+ years - of habit is hard to break.
Post: Should You Stop Contributing To Your IRA?
Link to comment from February 10, 2026
GNeil, Thanks for offering your thoughts on this topic. We help our kids out now. We paid for their college. We provided down payments on their homes. And we always pick up the check at meals UNLESS they specifically say it’s their treat. I guess we’d rather watch them enjoying it now, than, hopefully, have them enjoy it after we pass.
Post: Helping Adult Children
Link to comment from February 8, 2026
Our HELOC was very useful when we downsized. We used it to help pay cash for our CanDoMinimum instead of a “bridge” loan.
Post: Advice I give to anyone who’ll listen!
Link to comment from January 26, 2026
I only give advice when I’m asked. 😜 I was charged $75/year to keep an open HELOC. It was our local bank.
Post: Advice I give to anyone who’ll listen!
Link to comment from January 26, 2026
We are extremely conservative when it comes to finances. Besides our retirement funds we have after tax investments. Those after tax investments are about 2 1/2 year’s worth of our normal monthly expenses. We tap that for emergencies or other big ticket items. We have very little debt. Just stuff we’ve put on our credit cards, which get fully paid off each month. We have no mortgage or car loans. We know we could be more heavily invested …. we know we have too much in cash or cash equivalents … but we sleep well at night knowing our bills won’t bother us.
Post: Retiree emergency expenses-how to cope
Link to comment from January 24, 2026