Ed, thanks for writing such an upbeat and helpful article. Two years ago, I realized that I was beginning to have trouble lifting my growing first grandbaby up over the raised crib and dancing while holding her for very long (which is her favorite way to be put to sleep). One reason for the crib issue was because I’m only 5 ft tall. The other reason was because I wasn’t very strong or fit. So I went about changing that. While I couldn’t do anything about my height, I did commit to changing my strength and began a consistent weight resistance regimen using an at-home app (Peloton was my chosen one) and dumbbells. I, like others have said, preferred to exercise in private and on my own schedule. I had a harder time committing to an aerobic type exercise like walking. I find it next to impossible to keep doing things that I don’t really like so I decided to combine the walking with interesting podcasts that conveniently ran just over 30 minutes. Not surprising being a HD reader, I particularly enjoy listening to money saving programs like Clark Howard. He has walked with me on countless days. Another way I stay committed is by telling myself that I only need to do something for 5 or 10 minutes and then I can re-evaluate (yes, there are classes I can take that are that short). Most often, that’s all I need to keep going. But some days, I just stop and that’s okay with me. I’m happy to report that I’m so much stronger and can lift my now two granddaughters up fairly easily - as well as my carryon luggage that I need to get to them. I’m also almost 50 pounds lighter now, which has improved my health and overall well being.
I guess my point is to find something you can love that you can combine with exercise if exercising isn’t really your thing - like good music, good listening material, or good friends. That might help.
Mike, thank you for your compassionate reminder that headlines aren’t the story. As a preteen, I used to deliver meals that my mother provided to a building across the street that housed people who were impoverished. Many of them had visible impairments. This had a lasting effect on me. I hadn’t thought of that period in my life in such a long time. It’s a memory worth having. Thank you.
Thank you for that detailed explanation, Mark. That makes sense to me, though I hadn’t assigned specific assets to the “buckets” you and David touch on. I have created an income plan for us for the next 10 years and assumed I would stop reinvesting the interest and dividends to have cash available to pay my husbands RMDs (which begin this year) and to supplement our pension(s) and social security if/when needed. I’ve been thinking of changing our asset allocations this year to move to a lower risk portfolio. We are currently at 68/32 but are not needing to withdraw anything beyond his RMDs. That would all change if I were on my own, though. Lots to think about.
Thank you, Kathy. I rarely can sleep on a plane so that flight does concern me. We haven't started our research yet but I’m hoping there might be a way to break the trip up somehow.
We have travelled around and across the US by motorcycle from FL and have visited many of our national parks and canyons. Those trips filled us with wonder and awe and are hands down my favorite travel experiences. The longest of those trips was 10 weeks/10,000 miles. I doubt that we will ever do that again due to aging (65/73) and the addition of a sweet Havanese to our family. We’ve had other more traditional international travel via cruises and flights. Lately, we have shifted to renting Airbnbs for 31 days — in NM for the last two years and the Scottsdale, AZ area in early 2026. We also have plans for a 10 day trip in Costa Rica in March and a Royal Caribbean cruise next week in the Eastern Caribbean just to experience their largest ship. (Though recent US actions against Venezuela might impact that trip)
I definitely see us doing more evaluating of the type of travel we choose based on our energy levels and capacity for complexity. Sometimes we want easy and sometimes we’re open to more difficulty if the destination is worth it to us. Japan in 2027 is one of those destinations that we’re deciding if it’s worth the physical cost to us. As far as the financial side goes, that’s where our budget tracker helps us decide if we are open to a more expensive year. Our goal is still to hold off withdrawing from our investments beyond the required RMDs that start this year for my husband. We’ve been doing Roth conversions on his IRA so his RMDs will only be a few thousand but will still help lessen the impact of 2026 being a high travel year.
I bought both my girls “F It” 2026 desk calendars and they really appreciate the work directed humor. Of course, they both work remotely so no one else will see it and possibly be offended.
Comments
Ed, thanks for writing such an upbeat and helpful article. Two years ago, I realized that I was beginning to have trouble lifting my growing first grandbaby up over the raised crib and dancing while holding her for very long (which is her favorite way to be put to sleep). One reason for the crib issue was because I’m only 5 ft tall. The other reason was because I wasn’t very strong or fit. So I went about changing that. While I couldn’t do anything about my height, I did commit to changing my strength and began a consistent weight resistance regimen using an at-home app (Peloton was my chosen one) and dumbbells. I, like others have said, preferred to exercise in private and on my own schedule. I had a harder time committing to an aerobic type exercise like walking. I find it next to impossible to keep doing things that I don’t really like so I decided to combine the walking with interesting podcasts that conveniently ran just over 30 minutes. Not surprising being a HD reader, I particularly enjoy listening to money saving programs like Clark Howard. He has walked with me on countless days. Another way I stay committed is by telling myself that I only need to do something for 5 or 10 minutes and then I can re-evaluate (yes, there are classes I can take that are that short). Most often, that’s all I need to keep going. But some days, I just stop and that’s okay with me. I’m happy to report that I’m so much stronger and can lift my now two granddaughters up fairly easily - as well as my carryon luggage that I need to get to them. I’m also almost 50 pounds lighter now, which has improved my health and overall well being. I guess my point is to find something you can love that you can combine with exercise if exercising isn’t really your thing - like good music, good listening material, or good friends. That might help.
Post: Frugal Fitness
Link to comment from March 14, 2026
Mike, thank you for your compassionate reminder that headlines aren’t the story. As a preteen, I used to deliver meals that my mother provided to a building across the street that housed people who were impoverished. Many of them had visible impairments. This had a lasting effect on me. I hadn’t thought of that period in my life in such a long time. It’s a memory worth having. Thank you.
Post: Irrational Financial Choices
Link to comment from January 19, 2026
Thank you for that detailed explanation, Mark. That makes sense to me, though I hadn’t assigned specific assets to the “buckets” you and David touch on. I have created an income plan for us for the next 10 years and assumed I would stop reinvesting the interest and dividends to have cash available to pay my husbands RMDs (which begin this year) and to supplement our pension(s) and social security if/when needed. I’ve been thinking of changing our asset allocations this year to move to a lower risk portfolio. We are currently at 68/32 but are not needing to withdraw anything beyond his RMDs. That would all change if I were on my own, though. Lots to think about.
Post: Real vs. Imaginary Returns – Part I
Link to comment from January 8, 2026
Darlene, I agree with all that you say but doubt that I could have expressed it as clearly. Thank you.
Post: The impossibility of defining needs.
Link to comment from January 6, 2026
Interesting. Thanks for sharing that, Dana
Post: Distance from family: inconvenience…or a financial planning blind spot?
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
Rob, could you expound on this a bit more, please? I don’t know what you mean by “a liability matching portfolio.”
Post: Real vs. Imaginary Returns – Part I
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
Thank you, Kathy. I rarely can sleep on a plane so that flight does concern me. We haven't started our research yet but I’m hoping there might be a way to break the trip up somehow.
Post: At what age did travel start feeling like work—and what changed your plan?
Link to comment from January 5, 2026
We have travelled around and across the US by motorcycle from FL and have visited many of our national parks and canyons. Those trips filled us with wonder and awe and are hands down my favorite travel experiences. The longest of those trips was 10 weeks/10,000 miles. I doubt that we will ever do that again due to aging (65/73) and the addition of a sweet Havanese to our family. We’ve had other more traditional international travel via cruises and flights. Lately, we have shifted to renting Airbnbs for 31 days — in NM for the last two years and the Scottsdale, AZ area in early 2026. We also have plans for a 10 day trip in Costa Rica in March and a Royal Caribbean cruise next week in the Eastern Caribbean just to experience their largest ship. (Though recent US actions against Venezuela might impact that trip) I definitely see us doing more evaluating of the type of travel we choose based on our energy levels and capacity for complexity. Sometimes we want easy and sometimes we’re open to more difficulty if the destination is worth it to us. Japan in 2027 is one of those destinations that we’re deciding if it’s worth the physical cost to us. As far as the financial side goes, that’s where our budget tracker helps us decide if we are open to a more expensive year. Our goal is still to hold off withdrawing from our investments beyond the required RMDs that start this year for my husband. We’ve been doing Roth conversions on his IRA so his RMDs will only be a few thousand but will still help lessen the impact of 2026 being a high travel year.
Post: At what age did travel start feeling like work—and what changed your plan?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
Love it! I could have used that back in my working days and maybe should have one nearby for some recent conversations! :)
Post: Your two best investing books—and do you also keep an End-of-Life “family binder”?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
I bought both my girls “F It” 2026 desk calendars and they really appreciate the work directed humor. Of course, they both work remotely so no one else will see it and possibly be offended.
Post: Your two best investing books—and do you also keep an End-of-Life “family binder”?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026