That sounds like my kind of celebration! The Jersey shore is the best! We are each the eldest child of large families, so my husband and I are used to big family celebrations. For almost 50 years we’ve had a family party at Easter and another at Memorial Day and used to have one on Mother’s Day as well. Nothing fancy, and of course everyone brings food. Since the next day is usually a work day for the kids, we’ve been paring down the celebrations as we’ve gotten older and wiser (?) I decided that this Mothers Day should be a day of rest for Moms and didn’t have a party. We missed it. And so did the kids. Maybe next year..,
I just rebalanced our portfolio from a 60/40 to a 50/50 mix. I’ve had international funds and added a small amount of small-cap value funds (at the wrong time -oh well) I am 75 and husband is 81. We have a 41 year old disabled daughter so our situation is a little unique. The big thing that happened to me at the beginning of this year though was that my social security was suspended for 3 months due to a glitch in the system! The threat of losing that guaranteed income at a time of market turmoil caused me to tap the brakes a little harder than usual. We have a large emergency fund of cash and CDs that got us through the SS nightmare. We are very frugal and don’t pull from our retirement funds yet. But my biggest accomplishment is that I’m learning to listen to the news in much smaller doses and not before bed.
This is an excellent and simple description of how tariffs and the response to them was handled in the past. I often look to history and read memoirs about how the events of history affect people in their everyday lives. Knowing that somehow generations survived in spite of hard times for the middle class gives me comfort and helps me to zone out.
David, my thinking was similar to yours when I retired after working for a local healthcare system. About a year later I received a letter from said healthcare system stating they were in a class action suit with former employees because they were trying to weasel out of ERISA regulations as a Catholic hospital. Now, I have no guarantee of that monthly sum that I receive. When a friend asked me for advice on whether to take a lump sum or annuity when she was retiring, I told her to take the money and run!
Jan, our minds must work the same way, because I do the exact same thing with a spreadsheet I created. I make a habit of tracking expenses and comparing intake and output each month. If nothing else, it makes me mindful of our spending and aware of our cushion and how long it could last.
Comments
Yes! And we all feel like welcomed members of this community!
Post: Creature of Habit
Link to comment from May 15, 2025
That sounds like my kind of celebration! The Jersey shore is the best! We are each the eldest child of large families, so my husband and I are used to big family celebrations. For almost 50 years we’ve had a family party at Easter and another at Memorial Day and used to have one on Mother’s Day as well. Nothing fancy, and of course everyone brings food. Since the next day is usually a work day for the kids, we’ve been paring down the celebrations as we’ve gotten older and wiser (?) I decided that this Mothers Day should be a day of rest for Moms and didn’t have a party. We missed it. And so did the kids. Maybe next year..,
Post: How was your Mother’s Day?
Link to comment from May 12, 2025
They have been converted to Roth’s over the course of the past 15 years or so.
Post: Ch-Ch-Changes?
Link to comment from May 7, 2025
I just rebalanced our portfolio from a 60/40 to a 50/50 mix. I’ve had international funds and added a small amount of small-cap value funds (at the wrong time -oh well) I am 75 and husband is 81. We have a 41 year old disabled daughter so our situation is a little unique. The big thing that happened to me at the beginning of this year though was that my social security was suspended for 3 months due to a glitch in the system! The threat of losing that guaranteed income at a time of market turmoil caused me to tap the brakes a little harder than usual. We have a large emergency fund of cash and CDs that got us through the SS nightmare. We are very frugal and don’t pull from our retirement funds yet. But my biggest accomplishment is that I’m learning to listen to the news in much smaller doses and not before bed.
Post: Ch-Ch-Changes?
Link to comment from May 6, 2025
I always get hung up on allocation. When you say 12% of your equities, then can I assume it is a smaller percent of your total portfolio?
Post: No Exception
Link to comment from April 26, 2025
This is an excellent and simple description of how tariffs and the response to them was handled in the past. I often look to history and read memoirs about how the events of history affect people in their everyday lives. Knowing that somehow generations survived in spite of hard times for the middle class gives me comfort and helps me to zone out.
Post: No financial wisdom here other than ….
Link to comment from April 13, 2025
Plus baby wash cloths for the final cleanup! Gets the job done and saves on the environment!
Post: Help Wanted
Link to comment from March 26, 2025
David, my thinking was similar to yours when I retired after working for a local healthcare system. About a year later I received a letter from said healthcare system stating they were in a class action suit with former employees because they were trying to weasel out of ERISA regulations as a Catholic hospital. Now, I have no guarantee of that monthly sum that I receive. When a friend asked me for advice on whether to take a lump sum or annuity when she was retiring, I told her to take the money and run!
Post: RDQ considers: A lump sum in lieu of a pension, withdrawal strategies, annuities and other mundane decisions – good luck.
Link to comment from March 16, 2025
And, thank you, June, for the gift of your son! Blessings to you and your family!
Post: Asking the Editor
Link to comment from March 10, 2025
Jan, our minds must work the same way, because I do the exact same thing with a spreadsheet I created. I make a habit of tracking expenses and comparing intake and output each month. If nothing else, it makes me mindful of our spending and aware of our cushion and how long it could last.
Post: How does the 4% Rule Change Assuming A Couple in Retirement?
Link to comment from March 2, 2025