And your children will purge further. I’ve been volunteering at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for the past few years and have gotten quite an education as a team member who sorts through donations. Here are a few themes I’ve learned: the majority of America seems to clean out their attics around Labor Day weekend. When volunteers are overwhelmed with donations, we tend to be more selective about what we sell and what goes in the dumpster. I am only 5’2” tall, and last year the donation area was piled high with boxes and bags piled taller than me! Those fancy candles? Fifty cents to a dollar. If the baskets are broken or chipped? In the dumpster they go! Full sets of china get thrown in the dumpster! There is only so much space in the warehouse! We take turns throwing and smashing plates into the dumpster especially if we feel energetic or frustrated that day! It’s crazy! We do find treasures on each shift but they are few and far between! I often feel like I’m on an archeological dig! My advice after this experience? Clean out the attic but hold the donations for a month or so until thrift stores aren’t so overwhelmed. If you don’t throw it out, we probably will. Think twice about buying Knick knacks. And use the good China! I can almost guarantee that your kids don’t want it!
True. Vietnam cut many lives short and ruined others' lives, but the fortunate or wise ones took advangage of the GI bill which paid for an education that they couldn't otherwise afford. I guess it's like the glass half empty/full discussion.
Good health, good luck, and being born at the right time. I got through the first 77 years of my life without any disabling conditions and was able to work until age 70 (in fact, I still have a small amount of earned income each year.) I went back to school in the '80's, when grants and scholarships were available to women who would eventually enter the workforce and got a bachelor's degree in physical therapy with a student loan that I paid off in 6 months. Now the entry level degree for PT is a doctorate and new grads often shoulder loans totaling in the hundreds of thousands. I started saving for retirement in my employer's 403B as soon as it became available. We lived a frugal lifestyle and I was able to support a family of 6 while my husband was a stay at home Dad. Two of our kids were disabled, and there were many programs at the time available to help us support our kids at home. Our frugal habits seem to be permanently embedded in our current lifestyle. So even, as government support for our adult disabled child is falling apart, (our oldest daughter died at age 20) we have still been able to make a plan for a 3 person retirement with savings that we have accumulated from a single income.
“If the person needing care is honest about their need…” says it all, Edmund. I’m also a retired PT and worked in Homecare for many years. It seems to me that “insight” is one of the first abilities to go as we decline. It often takes some convincing to help an individual see what is the best solution to their problem.
Clare, I created a template for myself and shared it with my family via Google Docs with all the vital information that I think they would need for when I die or become permanently disabled. I based it on one that was shared on an episode of the “Catching Up to FI” podcast. I think it was created by Kristin Huddleston.(hers wasn’t real user friendly imo.) My resources are modest but adequate yet my completed template is actually 22 pages long! I included magazine subscriptions that automatically renew and memberships and automatic donations that are paid electronically as well as a link to my extensive password file. It took months for me to complete! I also created one for our daughter who has special needs. Hers is 28 pages long! Have you checked with a special needs trust attorney re your daughter’s situation? She may actually qualify for a special needs trust. We are in PA and I’ve learned a ton of information from our attorney who is also an advocate for special needs.
I started with Bogleheads on Reddit, which lead me to Bogleheads.org, then the "Catching Up to FI" and "Choose FI" podcasts and websites and FB pages, which then introduced me to a ton of different resources, including Humble Dollar. As a retired person who doesn't like to spend money, I view the WSJ as a "necessary luxury," that I can't do without! It really helps to put things into perspective with its mostly neutral and sane reporting.
Comments
And your children will purge further. I’ve been volunteering at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for the past few years and have gotten quite an education as a team member who sorts through donations. Here are a few themes I’ve learned: the majority of America seems to clean out their attics around Labor Day weekend. When volunteers are overwhelmed with donations, we tend to be more selective about what we sell and what goes in the dumpster. I am only 5’2” tall, and last year the donation area was piled high with boxes and bags piled taller than me! Those fancy candles? Fifty cents to a dollar. If the baskets are broken or chipped? In the dumpster they go! Full sets of china get thrown in the dumpster! There is only so much space in the warehouse! We take turns throwing and smashing plates into the dumpster especially if we feel energetic or frustrated that day! It’s crazy! We do find treasures on each shift but they are few and far between! I often feel like I’m on an archeological dig! My advice after this experience? Clean out the attic but hold the donations for a month or so until thrift stores aren’t so overwhelmed. If you don’t throw it out, we probably will. Think twice about buying Knick knacks. And use the good China! I can almost guarantee that your kids don’t want it!
Post: Make the Attic Great Again
Link to comment from September 4, 2026
True. Vietnam cut many lives short and ruined others' lives, but the fortunate or wise ones took advangage of the GI bill which paid for an education that they couldn't otherwise afford. I guess it's like the glass half empty/full discussion.
Post: Why can’t more people plan for their retirement future?
Link to comment from June 28, 2026
Good health, good luck, and being born at the right time. I got through the first 77 years of my life without any disabling conditions and was able to work until age 70 (in fact, I still have a small amount of earned income each year.) I went back to school in the '80's, when grants and scholarships were available to women who would eventually enter the workforce and got a bachelor's degree in physical therapy with a student loan that I paid off in 6 months. Now the entry level degree for PT is a doctorate and new grads often shoulder loans totaling in the hundreds of thousands. I started saving for retirement in my employer's 403B as soon as it became available. We lived a frugal lifestyle and I was able to support a family of 6 while my husband was a stay at home Dad. Two of our kids were disabled, and there were many programs at the time available to help us support our kids at home. Our frugal habits seem to be permanently embedded in our current lifestyle. So even, as government support for our adult disabled child is falling apart, (our oldest daughter died at age 20) we have still been able to make a plan for a 3 person retirement with savings that we have accumulated from a single income.
Post: Why can’t more people plan for their retirement future?
Link to comment from June 28, 2026
“If the person needing care is honest about their need…” says it all, Edmund. I’m also a retired PT and worked in Homecare for many years. It seems to me that “insight” is one of the first abilities to go as we decline. It often takes some convincing to help an individual see what is the best solution to their problem.
Post: The Myth of the Default Caregiver
Link to comment from April 11, 2026
And how much could the rent increase in that time!?
Post: The Home Ownership Gamble
Link to comment from April 7, 2026
I did a little searching and learned that US rentals increased by 29% pre pandemic to 2024. So wouldn’t this also affect the bottom line?
Post: The Home Ownership Gamble
Link to comment from April 6, 2026
Clare, I created a template for myself and shared it with my family via Google Docs with all the vital information that I think they would need for when I die or become permanently disabled. I based it on one that was shared on an episode of the “Catching Up to FI” podcast. I think it was created by Kristin Huddleston.(hers wasn’t real user friendly imo.) My resources are modest but adequate yet my completed template is actually 22 pages long! I included magazine subscriptions that automatically renew and memberships and automatic donations that are paid electronically as well as a link to my extensive password file. It took months for me to complete! I also created one for our daughter who has special needs. Hers is 28 pages long! Have you checked with a special needs trust attorney re your daughter’s situation? She may actually qualify for a special needs trust. We are in PA and I’ve learned a ton of information from our attorney who is also an advocate for special needs.
Post: Your two best investing books—and do you also keep an End-of-Life “family binder”?
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
I started with Bogleheads on Reddit, which lead me to Bogleheads.org, then the "Catching Up to FI" and "Choose FI" podcasts and websites and FB pages, which then introduced me to a ton of different resources, including Humble Dollar. As a retired person who doesn't like to spend money, I view the WSJ as a "necessary luxury," that I can't do without! It really helps to put things into perspective with its mostly neutral and sane reporting.
Post: What are the financial subscriptions you believe are worth it for yourself and would recommend to others?
Link to comment from December 3, 2025
Maybe fat fingers and presbyopia. Hit the wrong arrow?
Post: The Financial Metric I Refuse to Calculate
Link to comment from September 15, 2025
The American Dream.
Post: Our road from high school to retirement- one of many routes
Link to comment from September 4, 2025