kentlacey@sbcglobal.net

Comments:

• It is interesting reading the replies on how to fund retirement. Two obvious facts: The H.D. readership (whether retired or still working) is extremely well off and so far above the average citizen it is as if we are all in Never-Never Land. Maybe we are. How we choose to invest and to spend is not too important as there seems to be plenty of "dry powder" to go around. . Although I may be at the lower end of the spectrum reflected on Humble Dollar I am grateful for any advantage that may be available to me now that I am long out of the work force. I believe there is a real need to economically educate a much larger spectrum of America's workers, but I have no idea how to accomplish that. Thank you all for sharing your ideas.

  Post: Drawdown Drawbacks

  Link to comment from March 9, 2022

• My parents lived thru the depression and WW II. Neither had any education beyond high school. They never talked about money as they never really had any to speak of. Each pay check covered the next weeks expenses. But they owned their own house and raised 5 kids. Three of the kids went to college, back when college was not a financial ripoff. . I took no interest in managing money nor retirement until my mid-40s and there was no real internet nor ability to manage ones savings. It was only after quiting work at age 51 did I get serious about how to invest, and then it took 10 years to be skillful at it. . Today, with full internet access and information everywhere it might be easier, but I think any newbie needs an "uncle" or knowledgeable person to advise them. Saving and investing for life is not intuitive. People need instruction. Heck, our society spends more time teaching kids how to brush their teeth, than time spent on how and what to do with money.

  Post: The Last Taboo

  Link to comment from March 2, 2022

• Great article, it is so nice to have a qualified expert writing about his field of expertise. Funny that I and some many others turn up our "worry quotient" when flying, but we think not at all about jumping into the family car, a taxi, or Uber, all of which are much more dangerous than any airplane. Humans are weird in that our emotions, beliefs and fears overrule logic and rock solid statistics. Think of the effect human quirks have on Investing. Oh my gosh!!!

  Post: All Safe

  Link to comment from March 2, 2022

• pls excuse my typo. That should be "if you OWE money on your credit cards . . ."

  Post: Should folks create and follow a written budget?

  Link to comment from February 28, 2022

• Simply speaking, one should spend less than they make. It should be pretty easy to total how much is spent each month. (A computer or fancy software is not needed.) A good rule of thumb is to save 20% of monthly income for retirement, but each of us can set their own percentage as we all have different commitments. Lastly, if you own money on your credit card(s) you are in big trouble - seek help immediately.

  Post: Should folks create and follow a written budget?

  Link to comment from February 28, 2022

• I believe the HUMBLE DOLLAR attracts a readership that is far above average. No matter if you are measuring intelligence, good jobs, income, savings . . . . it is all one and the same. If so, then the readers have excess income and they are free to do with it as they wish. And what they do may not be what you or I would do, but there is really no right or wrong. And some years down the road they may run out of resources, and in retrospect wish they had been more conservative. . On the other hand, the most savings oriented of us could have a few million tucked away and die at age 61. He or she may have wanted to enjoy the money in their fifties but just never did. . There is no "right" answer on these topics. We all make our choices then live with them. Chose what works for you, and pray that you chose well.

  Post: View From the Top

  Link to comment from February 23, 2022

• There are a million jobs in the world, but real maple syrup is limited to certain geographic areas. I am so lucky living in New England and I always have few gallons of the dark variety hidden away.

  Post: Chewing It Over

  Link to comment from February 23, 2022

• This topic of taking Social Security benefits has been beat to death with millions of words written about it. The world will not end no matter which decision is made. If a person has only this source of income they will take it ASAP. People with savings and a pension can do what they want. I equate Social Security with cashing in bottles for the deposit. . Some people throw the bottles away into the recycle bin as it is a pain in the ass to haul them to the store. Other folks carefully wash and dry them and return them for 5 or 10 cents. Still other folks will retrieve bottles other people have thrown to the side of the road as the nickels and dimes are very important to them. There is no right or wrong answer, not to bottles nor to Social Security. Please let this topic have a one or two year hiatus. Find something more original to discuss. I thank you all in advance, and God bless.

  Post: Making Your Claim

  Link to comment from February 16, 2022

• Wow, this is a great topic. But the answers must take into consideration that the economic status of all retired people in the US spans from folks worth many millions of dollars to others who are on the dole. The health of older folks spans a similar spectrum, as does the age that we will die at. They are so many unknowns. A hundred thousand dollars is not what it once was. Our government could double our taxes overnight. The world is a shaky place in the best of times and Ameirca is very far away from the best of times right now. . I think people of modest means must continue to save and be careful with any spending so they have some chance of being solvent until called to their eternal reward.

  Post: Retire Those Fears

  Link to comment from February 9, 2022

• Hey, Subaru man, Great article, well done. I have never found so many links to helpful websites in one place. Thank you for those. And yes, just about every educated citizen wants to know how they measure up in salary and savings. Not everyone needs nor wants to be at the top, nor even the top ten or twenty percent. But it is useful to know where you are in the big picture so you can make the decision to be happy now, or do you need to work/save at a higher level. Having good statistics is empowering.

  Post: Measuring Up

  Link to comment from February 5, 2022