They say that in Spring, “hope springs eternal”. I wish I could be so optimistic right now. Spring is frankly my least favorite of all the seasons. Particularly this time of spring – from mid-March to the end of April. In Minnesota, this time of year is still cold, wet, and desolate. We get a few nice days in April, but generally it’s not ‘outside’ … Continue reading Spring Showers
I often read articles & posts where young people are bemoaning their financial lot in life. They complain about student debt. The gripe about limited opportunities. The grouse about job prospects. I’ve always believed they were being prematurely pessimistic. Yes, the economy is a bit ‘wobbly’ these days – but there is no crisis. Sometimes it seems everyone wants to play the victim these days. … Continue reading Every Generation Better …
Well, today is Income Tax Day 2024. We came home from snowbirding three weeks ago and rushed to get our paperwork to the accountant so that they could get the forms properly filled out by 4/15 this year. We successfully filed them on Saturday. We didn’t pay much in taxes for 2023 as we usually do, since we mostly lived off cash we had in … Continue reading Income Tax Day 2024
Sorry I missed my Monday deadline this week. I was on the road to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a buddy. The Speedway was on the line of totality for the solar eclipse! The eclipse was amazing. And, a bit haunting. The cold, black disk of the moon staring down on the darkened Earth is really chilling. Very cosmic & otherworldly. It is no surprise … Continue reading Quirky, Cosmic Trip
Wow. I cannot believe how high inflation has soared over the past few years. High inflation has been my biggest concern since we early retired. I’ve probably written 15 posts worrying about what may happen to our FIRE plans if high inflation came as a result of the economic Pol-idiots in Washington DC. A few favorites: Cut Those Prices In Half! IRS Changes Don’t Keep … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of Inflation?
A quick post on April Fool’s Day today. I saw this post in a FIRE group recently and thought I’d share the person’s question and my response … POST: I am very close to retiring. I am 56, married, and have four kids. Three are adults and one nearly out of high school. I have planned well and can retire and seek freedom and flexibility … Continue reading Feeling Guilty? Nah.
File this under “Things I’m Thankful For, But Have No Control Over”. The S&P 500 is off to a blazing start in 2024. Q1 is ending, and the index is already up double-digits (10.1%). It’s the U.S. equity market’s best start since 2019! I know, a quarter isn’t much to be excited for, but the U.S. market has really been rocking for a full decade … Continue reading Two Different Worlds
We’re shuffling home to cold Minnesota today from our new vacation place in sunny Celebration FL. We’re heading from a place you can walk through a tropical paradise – sunny & 80-degrees – to a snowy landscape with temperatures in the teens overnight. We’ve been gone a full 74 days, so we’re excited to get home. Everyone is asking us when we will be back … Continue reading Two State Shuffle
One aspect of buying a vacation place in Florida that I haven’t discussed yet is the importance understanding nearby traffic. It’s a real consideration. Many of the most popular spots in Florida (or California) are jammed with traffic during snowbird season or in the summer. I was shocked to learn what a big consideration it is back in 2014. We stayed in Cape Coral, Florida, … Continue reading Traffic Kingdom
File this under … ‘They Thought of Everything’. The condo association in our new vacation hometown, Celebration FL, even has its own resident car wash! Included in your $100 monthly dues are a private club – with restaurant, bar, pools, fitness center – and this awesome little car wash. Every resident gets a card to swipe in the pressure washing machine with soap, wax, and … Continue reading Thoughtful Amenities
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