David Lancaster

Comments:

• When we are traveling by car domestically, know we are going to be staying only one night in a town, and where there are multiple hotels we make same day reservations on an app called Hotels Tonight and feel we get a decent discount. When going on big trips, especially overseas my wife likes to research restaurants to get an idea of what’s around, whereas I’m more likely to want to be in an area physically scope out restaurants. Both seem to work well.

  Post: Booking It by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 13, 2024

• I am a big proponent of paying for Morningstar premium membership as they provide a plethora of excellent information. However once I enter my portfolio manually (I don’t link my investment accounts with any website for security reasons) and then look for an appropriate benchmark with my allocation to compare performance there are none as the benchmarks are all stock based such as S and P, Dow etc.. As a result I use Morningstar’s and Vanguard’s target funds for my benchmarks. Since Vanguard’s are set up in five year increments it there is usually a fund that matches my allocation.

  Post: False Comparisons

  Link to comment from September 12, 2024

• Our combined income rarely exceeded 100K, (both either our children, or their spouses individually already exceed this level), but we are comfortably well off in retirement.

  Post: Can your retirement survive a financial shock? It seems many can’t. Have you thought about it? Rdq

  Link to comment from September 9, 2024

• Camden is a beautiful little seacoast town in Maine. Trip Recommendation: Stage 1-Fly into Portland Jetport. Drive 1 3/4 hours to Camden. Partake in a windjammer cruise (we did for our 10th anniversary more than 30 years ago). Stage 2- Drive another 1 3/4 hours to Bar Harbor (another great seacoast town- but more crowded in the summer) and go to Acadia. You won’t regret it!

  Post: Rembrandt or Not?

  Link to comment from September 9, 2024

• Thirty-two percent of retirees said they could not spend $10,000 without it affecting their retirement security. Financial security is spending 7K to covert to central air (from a single window unit downstairs and sleeping on the couch on hot nights) because your 102 year old mother in law moved in with you in the spring (and you were planning on doing eventually) without blinking and eye. We are blessed (but we were frugal while saving for retirement).

  Post: Can your retirement survive a financial shock? It seems many can’t. Have you thought about it? Rdq

  Link to comment from September 9, 2024

• United Healthcare was the most expensive plan G in my area. Kickback?

  Post: Medigap pricing question

  Link to comment from September 7, 2024

• Andrew we have many of the same habits despite my being 6 years younger. Start am with 1/2 serving of steel cut oatmeal (a whole serving seems like too much), and Greek yogurt. Got hooked on making my own tabbouleh from scratch (and during the summer most of the ingredients from my own garden), and home made hummus. Eat while watching my favorite sports talk show about Boston sports. On Sundays it’s Conseulo Mack’s Wealthtrack. Last week I knew, and excitingly told my wife about Jonathan being on this week. Now check Humble Dollar every morning with coffee (used to be Wednesdays and Saturdays, but I’ve upped my game, or is it become a stronger addiction). Not sure but if it is an addiction, but if it is it’s a financially rewarding one. Workout 5-6x/ wk. Local news and PBS Newshour every night. I hear yeah ‘bout looking forward to “the boys” on Fridays. Only read one genre of a book at a time but my “vegetables”, and “desert” are switched.

  Post: The Habits of Old Men by Andrew Forsythe

  Link to comment from September 7, 2024

• I get another choice. Kapalua beach on Maui!

  Post: First Place by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 6, 2024

• The night sky is one of the big draws at Joshua Tree National Park. We didn’t stay until dark cause the girls had to get to Palm Springs for their cocktails.

  Post: First Place by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 6, 2024

• Gotta move on further down the road then 😂

  Post: First Place by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 6, 2024