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I’m truly a bit of a techno refusenik when it comes to social media and much of the current online content. For example, I’m honestly not 100% sure how you’d find or listen to a podcast. Vlogs are a total mystery to me. I don’t know what they are, and I simply don’t have the curiosity to find out.
Obviously, I’m not a total dinosaur. After all, I’m writing this post for Humble Dollar, a most decidedly online retirement and personal finance forum. In my opinion, it provides its visitors with intelligent and thoughtful reading by a small group of amateur writers as they articulate their thoughts and feelings on various retirement topics.
I’ve been contributing since the site moved to the forum model, trying to share my journey through revelations and experiences about my recent retirement, along with anything else I think would be of interest. My unconscious style seems to be mostly conversational and light-hearted. I guess that comes from not taking myself or life too seriously.
I was a long-time lurker, reading and enjoying the content. Over time, I realised that most articles were penned by a small portion of the readership. Seeing an opportunity to add to the material’s diversity and originality, I wanted to try my hand at contributing—to give back something in appreciation for the site’s efforts to educate and entertain.
My motivation for writing this particular article is simple too. I’ve noticed in the comments section of the authors’ articles a large wealth of articulate and intelligent individuals who obviously have the talent and life experience to compose interesting and unique writing to enhance the site—but fail to do so.
I think it would be wonderful and very much appreciated if some of our commentators and the family of silent readers would share their knowledge and perspectives on topics they find interesting enough to spend their time writing, for the benefit of the whole Humble Dollar family.
In essence, I stepped up from being a silent reader, and I know many of you are just as capable. If you’ve been reading and waiting, come join the gang. Enrich our site with your lived experience.
Don’t be shy—we don’t bite… much. 😉
In addition to original posts by HD members, I would find it helpful for people to post nothing more then a link to a notable article, opinion, or data, they have stumbled upon. The internet is too vast for any one person to be aware of quality articles published from the disparate sources which exist. A proverbial “strength in numbers” idea. This could lead to meaningful comments and discussion of the linked piece.
OK, you’ve shamed me into it! I’ve had a shaggy, rough idea floating around in my head. Time to turn it into words I suppose……
👍
Why do I visit Humble Dollar forum? It is a corner of the internet to find brilliance, beauty and wit among a polite community. But as delightful as they are, I do not expect to find it at every visit. Delightful moments are delightful because they are rare and unexpected. I appreciate contributing writers to this forum, for their selfless sharing. Human experiences, no matter how different than mine, are what make our society real. By intentionally spending my time at Humble Dollar forum, I choose real civility over the emotion-churning algorithms elsewhere online.
It is comforting to feel normal and peaceful. I missed out on the recent rise of the stock market since April 2025, but instead of feeling unpleasant, I feel normal among other mature readers here who shared the same experience. The pain of family estrangement, when shared with thoughtful people, confirms individual suffering as universal, not a defect in our lives to be denied or hidden away.
In the Spot Light sections, I find legacy of wisdom that has populated this garden even before I discovered its existence. Jonathan’s wise writings are always present without searching the website map.
All these reasons, and no risk for my downpayment except for my attention, it’s the best ROI in my portfolio.
I became a HD reader a number of years ago, probably after reading an article by Jonathan Clements for HD that I saw a link to on another site.
I continued to read HD primarily for Jonathan’s article, but also for articles by Mike Zaccardi and, more recently, Adam Grossman. Secondarily, I read HD for good articles on substantive topics by some members of the HD community.
Since the shift to the Forum model, I have found fewer articles from which I learn much substantive information that is new to me. Now it seems like a smaller number of contributors are writing more about their personal experiences. The commenters also seem to be a relatively small group of readers who tend to write to and for each other or go off on tangents or down rabbit holes.
i wonder if the Forum model will be sustainable after Jonathan’s passing?
I am an extremely infrequent commenter, and I have never written an article because of lack of expertise, lack of time, and lack of interest.
But, Mark, thanks for the invitation to become a more active HD reader.
One of the issues is that people have varying desire to open up entirely about their own circumstances. Plus it is a lot easier to contribute or take dialogue from a jumping off point than start from scratch.
Then there are the subject areas. The basics of personal finance are not that controversial – save hard, defer gratification through spending, invest in a balanced way, know how to determine where and when the finish line may be, have a purpose thereafter. But the technical minutiae within that may be as complex and varied as individuals.
I find personal stories most interesting but the population is not particularly heterogenous here. Not many people who’ve retired below 50, a sense that most contributors are fairly comfortable in their position rather than living strictly to a budget.
Having said that I’ve just had an idea for a thread so I’ll try.
Excellent BB…. your one of the people in my mind when writing the post.
Mark – I wrote several Articles before Jonathan made the switch to Forum pieces. I’ve noticed that some contributors dive in, author good (sometimes very good) articles, forums, or comments, and then disappear. I know my interest waxes and wanes depending on what’s going on in my life, and assume that’s what happens to others, too.
I remember Dan posted a Forum piece where he wondered where other folks come up with their ideas. I also often come up empty when trying to think of a credible topic. I’ve got one that I’m thinking about, but my youngest son might not want me to post it.
I always look forward to reading your articles while I have my morning coffee. I’m rooting for you to get the green light on your latest ideas. And don’t forget, I’d still love to read an article about your quest for the perfect bike; there’s definitely a story there.
Unfortunately, many of the regular writers for HD before the format change have virtually disappeared and I often wonder why.
I wish they would jump back in to contribute as you suggest.
I also would like to see more contributions from readers who have considerable real life experience with years of retirement. let’s put all the theories and plans to the test.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but perhaps some feel insecure about publishing their thoughts without an editor’s eagle eye going over the piece first.
I seem to remember a while ago Jonathan wrote something about some sort of a reader (app?) that reads back what you write so you can hear what your post will sound like to a HD reader.
See we already miss his knowledge 😢
That’s a good point.
I wondered if that was the reason, but no one expects super polished prose in a forum post. If someone is really worried, waiting a day and rereading should be all that’s needed. Everything I’ve read here is better than your average tweet.
I was a silent follower of HumbleDollar until a couple years ago when Jonathan asked for some new writers to come forward with their own story. What did we do right, what mistakes have we made? Having extensive experience with the latter, I submitted my first article. It was very well received and gave me the confidence to write more.
You may feel as if you don’t have much to say, but I’m betting that people can glean knowledge from your experiences. So give it a go, everyone here is really nice, except for that one guy.
😀
I’m a podcast addict. If you have an iPhone you just go into Apple Podcasts (or whatever it’s called) and search for a podcast of your choice or a topic then click subscribe. You can download old or only new episodes.
If you’ve ever been on YouTube you’ve seen a Vlog. It just means video blog, but it’s not really a term that’s used much anymore because people just post video content on YouTube or Rumble.
Podbean is a podcast app that someone here recommended. You shouldn’t have to pay to download a podcast app. I listen when driving long distances or when gardening. Several interviews with Jonathan took me partway from PA to MO in July. Personally, I like Freakonomics and People I Mostly Admire (a subset of Freakonomics).
Much of NPR’s content is available as podcasts. Planet Money and the Indicator might appeal to HD readers. I also listen to TED talks and Wait, Wait.
Podcasts are awesome!