AUTHOR: Mike Gaynes on 4/5/2026 FIRST: Doug C on 4/5 | RECENT: R Quinn on 4/13
Comments
My wife was overseas visiting her parents on our 5th wedding anniversary, and she'd left her engagement ring home because she didn't like to travel with her jewelry. So I thought I'd surprise her by doubling the size of the diamond. When I gave it back to her, she didn't even notice. I certainly married the right girl, but it was a pretty dumb investment.
Love this idea, Jeff. Thanks for posting. My answer would be my home. Actually all my homes along the way, but this house, bought out of desperation during the 2021 housing craze and way too big for the two of us, has been the best of all. When we finally got my wife's entire family out of China, this place was big enough for everybody. All five bedrooms full, clattering in the kitchen until 8pm, and I loved it. Now it's quieter, a place for Mama to live out her life and for Sarah and I to have a sense of comfort and security in an increasingly weird world, and it's a priceless feeling. As to the second question, the brand-new 1985 Cougar XR-7 I bought to impress my dates as a hot sporty guy still makes me wince in recollection.
Totally agree. This is a "fun" investment, a flyer with no real expectation of return, like buying a share in a racehorse. You get the thrill of participation and the hope of contributing to a great success down the road, and if you're lucky you get to see "your" golfer play on TV some Sunday. It's got to be like watching "your" horse run in the Preakness. But I strongly doubt anybody makes such an investment expecting anything more than that.
Ed, thank you for this thoughtful review of your strategy. I'm gradually heading in the same direction, although I've chosen VT and VYMI over your picks of VTSAX and VTIAX. A two-fund strategy just feels right at this stage of life, and I will likely get there in one of my SEP-IRAs before the end of the year.
I'm about to out myself as having ghastly, plebian taste in coffee. I didn't become a coffee drinker until my late 50s when I got sick. I'd fly into Portland for treatment, and the Portland terminal was redolent with coffee aromas from multiple locally-based stands as well as the national outlets like Peet's and Starbucks. So one day, trying to overcome some pretty intense fatigue, I tried a mocha (I'm a chocoholic) and fell instantly in love. I'd have one every time I came through the airport and started visiting the local stands where I lived. And today I have two mochas almost every morning at home. But here's where it gets ugly, because I'm both cheap and tasteless. I don't use a Keurig or an espresso machine. I use a Mr. Coffee. That's right, the old $19 Joe DiMaggio model. I make it strong by shoveling in big spoonfuls of ground coffee bought at Costco -- the 2-pound bag of Peet's Dark Roast or the massive 3-pound can of Kirkland Decaf, depending on my mood and need for energy -- and for mocha flavor I use (cringe) chocolate-flavored coffee creamer. I love the concoction, but I'm a disgrace to true coffee appreciation. I'll hide my face in shame as soon as I wipe the mocha stain from the corner of my lip.
I adore movies, but I haven't been inside a movie theater in probably 15 years. I have all the movie access I want on my big screen at home, where I can watch anytime I want without driving, parking and paying. I can freeze the movie when I need to use the bathroom (that's a big one for me), and if I doze off I can push a button and replay the part I missed. Plus the popcorn is fresher and the seat is WAY more comfortable. No contest.
I'm afraid this article went over my head, Dick. I am not at all familiar with the acronyms CPI-W and CPI-E. Definitions and brief explanations would have helped.
Comments
My wife was overseas visiting her parents on our 5th wedding anniversary, and she'd left her engagement ring home because she didn't like to travel with her jewelry. So I thought I'd surprise her by doubling the size of the diamond. When I gave it back to her, she didn't even notice. I certainly married the right girl, but it was a pretty dumb investment.
Post: The Art of Spending Money
Link to comment from May 18, 2026
Love this idea, Jeff. Thanks for posting. My answer would be my home. Actually all my homes along the way, but this house, bought out of desperation during the 2021 housing craze and way too big for the two of us, has been the best of all. When we finally got my wife's entire family out of China, this place was big enough for everybody. All five bedrooms full, clattering in the kitchen until 8pm, and I loved it. Now it's quieter, a place for Mama to live out her life and for Sarah and I to have a sense of comfort and security in an increasingly weird world, and it's a priceless feeling. As to the second question, the brand-new 1985 Cougar XR-7 I bought to impress my dates as a hot sporty guy still makes me wince in recollection.
Post: The Art of Spending Money
Link to comment from May 18, 2026
Totally agree. This is a "fun" investment, a flyer with no real expectation of return, like buying a share in a racehorse. You get the thrill of participation and the hope of contributing to a great success down the road, and if you're lucky you get to see "your" golfer play on TV some Sunday. It's got to be like watching "your" horse run in the Preakness. But I strongly doubt anybody makes such an investment expecting anything more than that.
Post: Country Club Venture Capital
Link to comment from May 18, 2026
Ed, thank you for this thoughtful review of your strategy. I'm gradually heading in the same direction, although I've chosen VT and VYMI over your picks of VTSAX and VTIAX. A two-fund strategy just feels right at this stage of life, and I will likely get there in one of my SEP-IRAs before the end of the year.
Post: Slow on the Draw
Link to comment from May 9, 2026
I'm about to out myself as having ghastly, plebian taste in coffee. I didn't become a coffee drinker until my late 50s when I got sick. I'd fly into Portland for treatment, and the Portland terminal was redolent with coffee aromas from multiple locally-based stands as well as the national outlets like Peet's and Starbucks. So one day, trying to overcome some pretty intense fatigue, I tried a mocha (I'm a chocoholic) and fell instantly in love. I'd have one every time I came through the airport and started visiting the local stands where I lived. And today I have two mochas almost every morning at home. But here's where it gets ugly, because I'm both cheap and tasteless. I don't use a Keurig or an espresso machine. I use a Mr. Coffee. That's right, the old $19 Joe DiMaggio model. I make it strong by shoveling in big spoonfuls of ground coffee bought at Costco -- the 2-pound bag of Peet's Dark Roast or the massive 3-pound can of Kirkland Decaf, depending on my mood and need for energy -- and for mocha flavor I use (cringe) chocolate-flavored coffee creamer. I love the concoction, but I'm a disgrace to true coffee appreciation. I'll hide my face in shame as soon as I wipe the mocha stain from the corner of my lip.
Post: Dickie and his magic beans
Link to comment from May 7, 2026
The three toasters turned out to be appropriate, considering all the bread you made over the years! Mazel tov on your anniversary.
Post: For Richer, For Poorer: 37 Years of Compounding
Link to comment from April 29, 2026
I think the thrill of the "crime" is more the point than the popcorn itself!
Post: Live a little
Link to comment from April 27, 2026
I adore movies, but I haven't been inside a movie theater in probably 15 years. I have all the movie access I want on my big screen at home, where I can watch anytime I want without driving, parking and paying. I can freeze the movie when I need to use the bathroom (that's a big one for me), and if I doze off I can push a button and replay the part I missed. Plus the popcorn is fresher and the seat is WAY more comfortable. No contest.
Post: Live a little
Link to comment from April 27, 2026
I'm afraid this article went over my head, Dick. I am not at all familiar with the acronyms CPI-W and CPI-E. Definitions and brief explanations would have helped.
Post: The great COLA debate-maybe not the expected solution.
Link to comment from April 27, 2026
Love this story, Dan. Hard work, relentless optimism and just the right partner to make it all come together under the heading of Life. Well done.
Post: Around the Obstacles
Link to comment from April 25, 2026