Warren Tunwall

Comments:

• Jonathan - your article reminded me of a conscious decision I made when starting college. My real interest was in archeology but decided I wouldn't make the money or have the job stability other degrees would offer. I pursued engineering (at a state college), graduated debt free (thanks mom & dad) and had a rewarding professional career, the last 31 years all at the same company. Thanks to a good salary, and 401k plan, I retired 5 years ago at 58. I often wonder what path an archeology degree would have lead me on, but am greatly enjoying retirement with my family, and proud of my former career.

  Post: Fire Meets Ice

  Link to comment from February 10, 2024

• Jonathan - Congratulations on a sub 3hr marathon! That's a real achievement. I likewise got into marathon running 30 years ago but under 4 hrs was always my goal. Enjoyed it immensely but nowadays it's swimming for me. Thanks for all the humble financial education over the years, I have benefitted greatly as have others!

  Post: Confidence Game

  Link to comment from November 18, 2023

• A different mindset is needed to go from a career of accumulation to one of spending; I like your plan - it's conservative, simple, and the surviving spouse could easily follow it. I've been retired 4+ years and have spent modestly from our retirement accounts but know I need to nail down a structured plan. I feel comfortable with your approach and believe it will meet our needs! Thanks for the article.

  Post: Our Exit Strategy

  Link to comment from July 18, 2023

• Good article. It sounds like we think alike. I'm retired now, but early in my career, right out of college, I was making good money as an engineer. I found more satisfaction investing in mutual funds then buying a new car or boat, like many friends did. Needless to say, that approach paid off down the road. More young people need to take a long term approach to managing their income.

  Post: A Pleasant Dilemma

  Link to comment from June 27, 2023

• It's pretty common here in eastern Iowa for folks to leave the quarter in the Aldi's cart. Just a simple way of paying-it-forward. - and there's never stray carts left in the lot, but right next to Aldi's is Walmart, with carts everywhere!?!

  Post: Who’s Responsible?

  Link to comment from April 7, 2023

• Great article with valid points folks may want to overlook when considering a second home. Years ago my wife & I bought a small lake cabin. It's 500 miles from our primary home but in an area we were familiar with. The key for us was it actually was affordable for our budget and it's seasonal cabin. So between October and April it's locked up and not heated. Many great memories (and increasing value & property taxes) but it will be inherited (someday) by our son; having just one child makes a lot of things easier.

  Post: The Homing Pigeons

  Link to comment from March 28, 2023

• When I got out of college and started my professional career, I continued to drive the old hand-me-down family car. I could not understand the thinking of many of my friends who immediately bought a new car with huge car payments. I was able to start saving & investing 20% of my income (thanks to sound advice from dad). Fast forward to today - I'm comfortable retired and enjoy reading Humbledollar.

  Post: Six Rules for Wealth

  Link to comment from January 26, 2023

• Great article - I enjoyed it! Another great place to find coins (quarters) is at a do-it -yourself car wash. People always seem to forget they stacked a few extra coins on top of the coin paymt box.

  Post: Walking Around Money

  Link to comment from January 24, 2023

• As stated in another comment, I no longer do my own taxes either, even though I enjoy finances and investing. It's just too big a bucket of worms and is worth the fees our professional tax preparer charges along with the chance to as a few questions face to face.

  Post: What Gets Taxed

  Link to comment from January 23, 2023

• If you're a couple with basically one income and one person will eventually claim the spousal benefit, waiting until each of your FRA's is like boosting your combined benefit by 12% (8% for high earner, 50% of that for spouse). That's how I view delaying collecting SS until FRA or later.

  Post: Marginal Benefit

  Link to comment from January 17, 2023