We are in this time of life. One of our elderly parents who lives alone has memory issues. How did you know when it was not safe for your parents to be in their home anymore?  Chris

It’s easy for someone like me with a pension and Social Security as income to harp on the need for a steady income stream in retirement. The thought of coming up with a withdrawal strategy from investments combined with the possibility- even unlikely – of  running out of money scares me no end. The complexity of strategies I read about is just as disturbing. I doubt I could do it.
On the other hand, quite unintentionally I have built an income stream with two dividend paying stocks and a few bond funds.

MY WIFE AND I TOOK a hiking trip last fall that included wandering through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. The leaves were just starting to change colors, something I so badly miss living here in Texas.
I returned exhausted and sore, yet mentally energized and invigorated. For the majority of the trip, we were untethered from technology: no cellphone service during the day, no newspapers or TV distractions, no political talking heads,

YOUR CAR IS TALKING to your insurance company. You aren’t part of the conversation. Suddenly, though, your insurance premium shoots up 50%. Welcome to the brave new world where your car is spying on you.
In one instance, a Florida resident drove his Cadillac around a racetrack during a special event. His insurance subsequently skyrocketed—by $5,000 a year.
Has artificial intelligence taken over? No, but automobile companies have, and without our knowing it. Carmakers are spying on drivers and passengers,

I am shocked. When sifting through Morningstar for an international index mutual fund, I naturally turned to Vanguard’s popular Total International Stock (VTIAX). I noticcd its expense ratio is .12, uncharacteristically high for the definitive purveyor of low-cost funds.
My eyebrows raised, I thought I should take a peek at a comparable Fidelity offering. I discovered the behemoth fund group sponsored a contraption named the Zero International Index fund (FTIHX). Incredibly, that zero refers to the expense ratio.

VICKY AND I took a 2-week road trip through North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. We spent the Easter weekend with 3 of her siblings and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. From there we drove to Savannah for 4 days of southern charm, beautiful architecture, and great food. After Savannah we drove to Kiawah Island for the wedding of one of my best friend’s daughter.
Meeting fellow retirees, and hearing their stories is always fascinating.

Baseball is my religion and Willie Mays was/is its god.  Last year MLB announced the first game to honor Willie and the history of the Negro Leagues would be played on June 20, 2024 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  My team, the San Francisco Giants, would be playing the St. Louis Cardinals at the oldest professional baseball park in the country and the place where Willie first played with the Birmingham Black Barons. I circled the day on my calendar and reached out too friends who I thought would like to join me.

Life if full of important things to be concerned about, some very important stuff – health, family, money. There are also little things that annoy us, things we should probably ignore, that are a waste of time worrying about. They nevertheless can stick in your craw.
The following list is the result of reaching 80 with nothing better to do and lots of time to become annoyed. 
Sorry if you find yourself on the list.
Here is what annoys me.

JEFF, DAVE, JERRY, Glenn, John, the ElderBeerMen, and then Jeff again. Experts say a robust social network is crucial to a happy retirement. My life’s journey has revolved around a handful of friends who begin and end with the same good dude. 
I was a 15-year-old kid who didn’t like school, and I had the grades to prove it. I did, however, have two burning desires. I couldn’t wait to turn 16 so that,

BACK IN THE 1980s, I was working for an insurance company on Wall Street. This was when I was between marriages. There was a nearby bar and restaurant called Harry’s, located below street level. The bond market was going strong, so the bond salesmen with their fat paychecks were there, which meant the pretty young girls were also there.
The place reminded me of Cheers, one of my favorite TV shows.

Do you write reviews for items you buy from Amazon? Most people probably don’t bother. But I do at times, especially if I find a particular purchase to be either great or horrible. Although the ways of the Amazon Vine program are mysterious, I’m guessing that’s why last October I was invited to join.
The Vine program allows members to pick from a daily and ever changing menu of Amazon items to receive for free. In exchange,

I have a high-yield savings account and several CDs at Marcus bank, owned by Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs and named after one of its founders, Marcus Goldman. I originally discovered Marcus bank while perusing rankings on bankrate.com.
Marcus is an online bank and a member of FDIC. All accounts are insured up to $250,000. Marcus charges no monthly fees. There is no minimum balance to open a high-yield savings account, but a minimum balance of $500 is required to open a CD.

What you give for $386,000? If you were 5 years from retirement, would you move 3 hours away from your home and friends to accept a job that pays about $60,000 more annually? Assume you won’t sell your house but would rent a small one-bedroom or studio that would cost maybe $1000 a month.
So, I tried following the decision-making process of David Gartland (link to Make That Choice) to help me with my decision. First,

On our drive back from our stay in South Dakota, I was feeling pretty good about myself. We didn’t get lost and the trip was going according to plan. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse monument, Wildlife Loop road, Spearfish Canyon scenic byway and Needles Highway were lots of fun.
I admit, after watching an online video of Needles Highway, I had my doubts that I could drive our rental car, a Toyota Camry, through the Needles Eye Tunnel.

When to claim Social Security retirement benefits is one of the most popular topics on HumbleDollar. It can also be a somewhat controversial topic among retirees. I’ve met many people who are firmly convinced that they made the right decision, despite any facts to the contrary.
I think much of the emotion around the topic comes from the fact that it forces us to contemplate our mortality. The popular concept of “breaking even” is all about getting our money back before we die.