Good morning!!!!

[ronjhall]

When I calculated a few years ago the age was in early 80s. I need to recalculate. I would retire now if I could get decent priced health insurance.

That was a big consideration when I retired. Company I retired from paid it until I was 65.

 

[daugen]

my covid check arrived in today's mail. The national debt isn't but
the delivery was impressive.

fired up the generator, it ran fine and put more bird feed out. This time I sprinkled
capsicum in a couple of places and let's see how the squirrels like that.

 

[sodamo]

RNG, I took my SS at 62, I was already retired from Army and drawing my pittance. One strategy is to invest that money hoping it produces more than if taking SS at later years. My strategy was somewhat along those lines. I invested by paying down the house. Was about same time that itemized deductions quit being helpful to my income taxes. So now I still have my reduced SS, but no longer having a mortgage is a far greater positive offset. Maybe at some point I should consider reinvesting that bonus, but don’t see the benefit of an increased estate out weighing the ability for new toys, I mean tools.

 

[sodamo]

I like horseradish, especially with cocktail sauce with shrimp or oysters. Rarely with roast beef, but very once in awhile.

 

[ronjhall]

RNG, I took my SS at 62, I was already retired from Army and drawing my pittance. One strategy is to invest that money hoping it produces more than if taking SS at later years. My strategy was somewhat along those lines. I invested by paying down the house. Was about same time that itemized deductions quit being helpful to my income taxes. So now I still have my reduced SS, but no longer having a mortgage is a far greater positive offset. Maybe at some point I should consider reinvesting that bonus, but don’t see the benefit of an increased estate out weighing the ability for new toys, I mean tools.

I forgot about not having a mortgage. Now if I did not need to pay property taxes.

 

[Thomas]

31F partly cloudy stiff wind.

4" wet heavy snow clean up went okay,made sure snow was push way back will setup like cement over night.
Refill the critter food area turkeys squirrels small birds were some happy.
No plans for this evening recliner dinner recliner old movie share carrot cake with vanilla ice cream with the kittens.

Enjoy the evening all.

 

[Bird]

I like horseradish, especially with cocktail sauce with shrimp or oysters. Rarely with roast beef, but very once in awhile.

Me, too. And I like it with roast beef, but usually just forget and don't have it with my roast beef.:laughing:

 

[sodamo]

I forgot about not having a mortgage. Now if I did not need to pay property taxes.

PLEASE share when you get that one figured out.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG, I took my SS at 62, I was already retired from Army and drawing my pittance. One strategy is to invest that money hoping it produces more than if taking SS at later years. My strategy was somewhat along those lines. I invested by paying down the house. Was about same time that itemized deductions quit being helpful to my income taxes. So now I still have my reduced SS, but no longer having a mortgage is a far greater positive offset. Maybe at some point I should consider reinvesting that bonus, but don’t see the benefit of an increased estate out weighing the ability for new toys, I mean tools.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, David. We have a lot in common.

When I retired, I sold a paid off a home in the SF Bay Area and downsized, so I still don't have a mortgage. When I did have a mortgage, I always itemized, but once the mortgage was paid off, the standard deduction was usually a better deal. It for sure is now, after tax reform. My living expenses are covered by a pension, even though the amount of it was about 66% of what it might have been had I worked there until age 65. That has turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made, for so many reasons. I put money left over from the home sale/downsizing to work fixing the new place, any left overs went into an S&P 500 index ETF, and a handful of individual stocks. I still haven't started Social Security, and after looking at some break even calculations, think I'll hold out for the Full Amount, since I really don't need the money to pay expenses. That will bump my federal tax rate from 22% to 24%, but it'll also boost monthly income by 66%. I haven't looked into Medicare premiums yet, but am guessing that the SSI payment will more than cover it, and I can roll whatever's left over into a Roth IRA. In good years like this one I've been cashing out gains in the stock market for major purchases like tractors and solar power systems. I also saved a bunch of money this year by not traveling much, I guess a small silver lining to the CoVid mess.

Going forward I'm worried about inflation, what with all the government spending and debit increase. That means CDs and other cash investments will struggle to keep up, and I don't have a strategy there for an alternative. REITs were once popular, so that might be an option. I've lost a lot of money on defaulted corporate bonds, and returns aren't great now anyway. Coupons on new bonds will go up as inflation takes hold, but I'm not sure the coupons will keep up if inflation gets bad enough. One things for certain, though. People have figured out how to game most all of the major investment groups and the days of being able to put money somewhere and just forget about it are gone. I sure miss those days...

I'm also worried about Medicare and affordable MediGap insurance. It's almost certain my medical costs will start increasing as my body ages, and good insurance brings with it a lot of peace of mind. That's probably the next aspect of my financials I'll tackle, after jumping through the hoops set up by the PG&E Fire Victim's Trust to complete the claim process.

 

[rswyan]

37F and cloudy @ 17:00, temps are forecast to stay steady through midnight. Daily high temps forecast to be above freezing for the rest of the Ten Day.

Refilled hopper, deer, ear of corn, and the two suet feeders on the back deck. Spread more cracked on ground.

Not a lot of activity out there ... bunch of doves up in the trees just as I came out, squirrel on squirrel feeder. He fled and was replaced by a cardinal ... but he's back out there now.

Noticed days seem to be getting longer slowly but surely ... :thumbsup:

Sampled the Texas Sheet Cake earlier ... think I'm liking using the buttermilk in the frosting. Waiting on final word on that from The Woman.