I do the same thing. I don't up or down vote very often. Usually, if I think a person makes an outstanding point, even if I don't necessarily agree, I'll give them an up vote. Even less often I will pile on a down vote in one of those rare times when a person makes a comment that seems like a personal attack. If I see that there a few down votes on a comment that really shouldn't have been voted on at all, I'll add my up vote to try and get it back to zero.
You are correct. My wife and I consider ourselves very fortunate to have federal and state pensions. It has certainly made planning for retirement much easier. Moreover, my health benefit from the Air Force means I do not need to pay for Medicare part D or part G. Spending 20 years in the military and then 25 years at state jobs were never part of a plan, just the way things worked out.
My wife, working in a state job planned she would retire at 63 and immediately start SS. She also immediately started her state pension. I'm 18 months older and I planned on working until, at least 65. I taught at a state community college where I was only required to be on campus 32 hours a week and during the summer only one day a week. Pretty good gig. A few weeks after my wife retired, covid hit. For the next 18 months I worked from home, teaching only online classes. The month I turned 65 they opened the campus again so I decided to work another Fall and Spring semester because I really missed teaching in person classes. Unfortunately, the campus opened but the students didn't come back. They all still wanted online classes. The governor decided all state employees had to be in their office two days a week. So, that semester I spend two days a week in an empty building, on an empty campus teaching online classes. I decided to retire at the end of that term. I started my state retirement immediately. With my wife's SS and state pension and my military pension and state pension we more than meet our everyday expenses. We enjoy short trip vacations, doing most of our travelling in the Fall and Spring when everyone else (except HD people) are working and going to school.
Six years ago my daughter's 16 year old car suffered a terminal repair bill so it was junked. I gave her my car and then my wife and I went shopping for a new commuter car. Clark Howard mentioned the USAA buying program so I thought I gave it a try. We went to a Kia dealership on a Sunday and looked over all the Kia Souls and I found one I liked. We went home and I went to the USAA website and looked up that car. Sure enough, it was 2k less there than on the sticker. I selected that car, printed out the guaranteed USAA deal and set up an appointment with the dealer. It was the best experience I've had buying a car. I arrived, met the dealer rep, took the car for a test drive and when we got back to the dealership, I said I want to buy it and they honored the USAA price. Took less than 30 minutes with the financing (turning down all their extended warrantees) and setting up insurance with USAA. Even with the test drive I was in and out in less than an hour. I have always dreaded the dealership experience but this was as easy as buying a lawnmower and Home Depot. I know that Costco and Sam's also have similar programs. I'll never buy a new car the old fashion way again.
Your post made me wonder if a non-profit could take foreign currency. I figure many humble dollar readers have currency they will never use in their sock drawers. Here's where you can send it: Donate your foreign currency on an American Airlines flight or at an Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge. You can also mail in your foreign currency to:Change for GoodUNICEF USA125 Maiden LaneNew York, NY 10038
Natalie Brunell has an excellent youtube channel that has tutorials and she has a guest join her every few days to discuss bitcoin. https://www.youtube.com/@nataliebrunell
That's impossible. Here in South Carolina it is illegal for anyone but a dealer to sell you a new car. Why? Because dealers "protect" consumers. Really, that's their rational. We build Scout vehicles here but since there aren't any Scout dealerships the people who make the cars can not buy them. Crazy.
I purchased a 80v, 21 inch mower from amazon. I have a bit over 1/4 acre to mow. I can almost mow my property 3 times before the battery needs to be recharged. I now recharge after mowing the total property twice even though the battery registered as being half full. I was reluctant to purchase the battery mower but I've been very happy with it. Plenty of power and I can do the whole lawn without having to gas it up. The bigger advantage is that it's much lighter than the gas mower so mowing is much less taxing too.
Comments
I do the same thing. I don't up or down vote very often. Usually, if I think a person makes an outstanding point, even if I don't necessarily agree, I'll give them an up vote. Even less often I will pile on a down vote in one of those rare times when a person makes a comment that seems like a personal attack. If I see that there a few down votes on a comment that really shouldn't have been voted on at all, I'll add my up vote to try and get it back to zero.
Post: The “Mean Girls”/Junior High Bullies at HumbleDollar
Link to comment from January 11, 2026
You are correct. My wife and I consider ourselves very fortunate to have federal and state pensions. It has certainly made planning for retirement much easier. Moreover, my health benefit from the Air Force means I do not need to pay for Medicare part D or part G. Spending 20 years in the military and then 25 years at state jobs were never part of a plan, just the way things worked out.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from December 30, 2025
My wife, working in a state job planned she would retire at 63 and immediately start SS. She also immediately started her state pension. I'm 18 months older and I planned on working until, at least 65. I taught at a state community college where I was only required to be on campus 32 hours a week and during the summer only one day a week. Pretty good gig. A few weeks after my wife retired, covid hit. For the next 18 months I worked from home, teaching only online classes. The month I turned 65 they opened the campus again so I decided to work another Fall and Spring semester because I really missed teaching in person classes. Unfortunately, the campus opened but the students didn't come back. They all still wanted online classes. The governor decided all state employees had to be in their office two days a week. So, that semester I spend two days a week in an empty building, on an empty campus teaching online classes. I decided to retire at the end of that term. I started my state retirement immediately. With my wife's SS and state pension and my military pension and state pension we more than meet our everyday expenses. We enjoy short trip vacations, doing most of our travelling in the Fall and Spring when everyone else (except HD people) are working and going to school.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from December 29, 2025
Six years ago my daughter's 16 year old car suffered a terminal repair bill so it was junked. I gave her my car and then my wife and I went shopping for a new commuter car. Clark Howard mentioned the USAA buying program so I thought I gave it a try. We went to a Kia dealership on a Sunday and looked over all the Kia Souls and I found one I liked. We went home and I went to the USAA website and looked up that car. Sure enough, it was 2k less there than on the sticker. I selected that car, printed out the guaranteed USAA deal and set up an appointment with the dealer. It was the best experience I've had buying a car. I arrived, met the dealer rep, took the car for a test drive and when we got back to the dealership, I said I want to buy it and they honored the USAA price. Took less than 30 minutes with the financing (turning down all their extended warrantees) and setting up insurance with USAA. Even with the test drive I was in and out in less than an hour. I have always dreaded the dealership experience but this was as easy as buying a lawnmower and Home Depot. I know that Costco and Sam's also have similar programs. I'll never buy a new car the old fashion way again.
Post: The Monthly Payment Trap: How Car Dealerships Hide the Real Cost
Link to comment from December 15, 2025
Noah Smith who's blog is Noahpinion had a very interesting take on the AI bubble and it's consequences. You can read it here: America's future could hinge on whether AI slightly disappoints
Post: Same But Different: The AI Bubble That Isn’t (Quite)
Link to comment from October 12, 2025
Your post made me wonder if a non-profit could take foreign currency. I figure many humble dollar readers have currency they will never use in their sock drawers. Here's where you can send it: Donate your foreign currency on an American Airlines flight or at an Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge. You can also mail in your foreign currency to: Change for Good UNICEF USA 125 Maiden Lane New York, NY 10038
Post: Memories With a Cold Spanish Beer
Link to comment from September 29, 2025
Natalie Brunell has an excellent youtube channel that has tutorials and she has a guest join her every few days to discuss bitcoin. https://www.youtube.com/@nataliebrunell
Post: Why Bitcoin?
Link to comment from September 27, 2025
You are correct that you can not hold gold in your hand but I believe that there is real value in bitcoin and it will be more valuable as time passes.
Post: Why Bitcoin?
Link to comment from September 27, 2025
That's impossible. Here in South Carolina it is illegal for anyone but a dealer to sell you a new car. Why? Because dealers "protect" consumers. Really, that's their rational. We build Scout vehicles here but since there aren't any Scout dealerships the people who make the cars can not buy them. Crazy.
Post: How do I scam thee? Let me count the ways
Link to comment from July 26, 2025
I purchased a 80v, 21 inch mower from amazon. I have a bit over 1/4 acre to mow. I can almost mow my property 3 times before the battery needs to be recharged. I now recharge after mowing the total property twice even though the battery registered as being half full. I was reluctant to purchase the battery mower but I've been very happy with it. Plenty of power and I can do the whole lawn without having to gas it up. The bigger advantage is that it's much lighter than the gas mower so mowing is much less taxing too.
Post: Pedaling Away From Tightness
Link to comment from July 25, 2025