They "could" be available, but often a small employer doesn't think it worth setting up. For myself, a schedule C business owner. I didn't realize all the options available to me in my early years (with conversations when income is low. Section 121 medical plan, solo 401k for my wife and I, etc) so I missed out. My son encouraged his employer (4 employees) to setup a 401k (including a Roth option) which he initially thought it would be hard, but then discovered it is trivial. I don't know of any reason for an employer to not set it up. And for sole proprietors with money to pay aside, you can max out two spouse 401ks plus a 25% employer donation, which has made a huge difference towards our retirement possibilities.
People have different definitions of "necessary" expenses as well. How many streaming music, gaming, and video services are "necessary"? Since a basic cell phone plan costs $15/month, how much higher of a bill is "necessary"? When I was renting out a house to a section 8 recipient, I discovered that she was spending more than I did, and I had a larger family. And she felt trapped because she was only paying the "minimum expenses", which included guilt expenses of not having enough time for the kids so bought them subscriptions and lots of stuff.
You should check out virtual card numbers for your second card. Citibank and Chase have it, I don't know if anyone else does. I get a different card number for every online vendor and they can have their own expiration date, spending limit and lock to a particular vendor or only allow one charge and then auto lock. I haven't had a compromised number in more than a decade. And I can email card numbers because only one charge is allowed, etc so no concern about getting it lost, etc. I would like to know which card you have for 2% on all purchases.
Is that really true about the minimum tax on older cars? I always have older cars, and this year I paid: 2005 Sienna: state: $66, town: $82.50
2004 Sentra: state: $48, town: $42.50
2012 Focus: state: $54.50, town $48.00 1980 man lift: state: $40, town $30.50
2003 popup camper: state: $13.20, town $35.50
various one-axle trailers: state: $13,20 (one was $3.30), town $10.50
Comments
They "could" be available, but often a small employer doesn't think it worth setting up. For myself, a schedule C business owner. I didn't realize all the options available to me in my early years (with conversations when income is low. Section 121 medical plan, solo 401k for my wife and I, etc) so I missed out. My son encouraged his employer (4 employees) to setup a 401k (including a Roth option) which he initially thought it would be hard, but then discovered it is trivial. I don't know of any reason for an employer to not set it up. And for sole proprietors with money to pay aside, you can max out two spouse 401ks plus a 25% employer donation, which has made a huge difference towards our retirement possibilities.
Post: A bleak picture for retirement in the future?
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
I don't understand why unauthenticated pull requests are allowed. Seems like the accounts are completely wide open for this type of fraud.
Post: Financial Fraud
Link to comment from September 5, 2026
People have different definitions of "necessary" expenses as well. How many streaming music, gaming, and video services are "necessary"? Since a basic cell phone plan costs $15/month, how much higher of a bill is "necessary"? When I was renting out a house to a section 8 recipient, I discovered that she was spending more than I did, and I had a larger family. And she felt trapped because she was only paying the "minimum expenses", which included guilt expenses of not having enough time for the kids so bought them subscriptions and lots of stuff.
Post: Americans and their credit cards
Link to comment from August 30, 2026
And don't forget that most people lease cell phones in the US.
Post: Americans and their credit cards
Link to comment from August 30, 2026
You should check out virtual card numbers for your second card. Citibank and Chase have it, I don't know if anyone else does. I get a different card number for every online vendor and they can have their own expiration date, spending limit and lock to a particular vendor or only allow one charge and then auto lock. I haven't had a compromised number in more than a decade. And I can email card numbers because only one charge is allowed, etc so no concern about getting it lost, etc. I would like to know which card you have for 2% on all purchases.
Post: Americans and their credit cards
Link to comment from August 30, 2026
Is that really true about the minimum tax on older cars? I always have older cars, and this year I paid: 2005 Sienna: state: $66, town: $82.50 2004 Sentra: state: $48, town: $42.50 2012 Focus: state: $54.50, town $48.00 1980 man lift: state: $40, town $30.50 2003 popup camper: state: $13.20, town $35.50 various one-axle trailers: state: $13,20 (one was $3.30), town $10.50
Post: …..taxes and you
Link to comment from June 17, 2026