Your system is a bit more detailed than mine, but similar. Many years ago my husband and I were working toward a goal and wanted to easily see what our accounts had done over the year. So we listed all our accounts (on paper) and how they had increased or decreased, with a total. Twenty five years later it's so easy to see the progress. It was so helpful when he passed away, too, and I had a list of all the accounts.
Thanks for sharing.
After my husband died, I went in person to the SS office and they printed out a table of his benefits for me. My FRA was 66 and 2 months, but for survivor benefits it was 66. I knew I wouldn't have any SS benefits of my own and that the GPO would be a hit to Survivor benefits. That paper actually turned out to be super helpful in deciding what to do. So I took Survivor benefits at 66 since they wouldn't get any higher.
Retired Texas teacher here, no unions or Social Security. I was the only one of my teacher friends to actually know the difference between a 403(b) and 403(b)(7). We too had an approved list that changed when I was about halfway through my career, so I was forced to choose a "less bad" option. I wasn't happy about it, but saving money is better than not. As soon as I was able to, I rolled it into my IRA.
And a big shout out to my (now deceased) husband for forcing me to learn about investing from the start.
I, too, worked at McDonald's in 1972; $1.60/hr. Still remember all the prices, and I'm sure my kids are tired of me saying, "The price used to be.." And I remember my dad (born 1920) saying exactly the same thing about what he thought prices should be.
Comments
Same. Not that many years, but to the point it was not tolerable. Still, it was very hard to do. The way I looked at it, I had to save myself.
Post: The Ties That Bind
Link to comment from July 26, 2025
Thank you for this. I could say so much, but you are absolutely correct.
Post: Why I Don’t Drink
Link to comment from December 31, 2024
Your system is a bit more detailed than mine, but similar. Many years ago my husband and I were working toward a goal and wanted to easily see what our accounts had done over the year. So we listed all our accounts (on paper) and how they had increased or decreased, with a total. Twenty five years later it's so easy to see the progress. It was so helpful when he passed away, too, and I had a list of all the accounts. Thanks for sharing.
Post: Tracking My Progress
Link to comment from October 31, 2024
After my husband died, I went in person to the SS office and they printed out a table of his benefits for me. My FRA was 66 and 2 months, but for survivor benefits it was 66. I knew I wouldn't have any SS benefits of my own and that the GPO would be a hit to Survivor benefits. That paper actually turned out to be super helpful in deciding what to do. So I took Survivor benefits at 66 since they wouldn't get any higher.
Post: Death Benefits
Link to comment from October 19, 2024
Retired Texas teacher here, no unions or Social Security. I was the only one of my teacher friends to actually know the difference between a 403(b) and 403(b)(7). We too had an approved list that changed when I was about halfway through my career, so I was forced to choose a "less bad" option. I wasn't happy about it, but saving money is better than not. As soon as I was able to, I rolled it into my IRA. And a big shout out to my (now deceased) husband for forcing me to learn about investing from the start.
Post: Teaching Myself
Link to comment from November 16, 2023
My experience with Medicare Advantage is the opposite of everything you said.
Post: Time to Decide
Link to comment from May 31, 2023
I, too, worked at McDonald's in 1972; $1.60/hr. Still remember all the prices, and I'm sure my kids are tired of me saying, "The price used to be.." And I remember my dad (born 1920) saying exactly the same thing about what he thought prices should be.
Post: Fries With That?
Link to comment from May 7, 2022
A friend told me to choose a lawyer and a doctor who are younger than me, and I think that is excellent advice.
Post: Built for Ease
Link to comment from May 1, 2021