So happy to see our tax return from the IRS pending in our checking account. With all the craziness of the past month, I had a small concern about our money coming through.
Also seriously considering divesting from my paper savings bonds. I've been slowly cashing them out as they reach maturity, but I'm not convinced the current administration won't default on their payments given the verbage around some loans not being valid.
I just need to shout this into the void:
Fuck this fucking bullshit. What the hell is wrong with this country. I fucking hate this timeline.
I don't think I would sweat a few days either way. I'd just automate to sell on payday (or whenever makes the most sense for you) and if you're out a few hundred dollars from the market for a few days, it won't even be noticeable in the long run.
Keeping your MAGI low enough to get good subsidies on the ACA marketplace. Or live in a country with decent healthcare infrastructure.
If you're working, then you're generally stuck with whatever provider your company chooses.
Deciding to pay off the mortgage is a tricky decision, especially for those of us who locked in super low rates. I always assumed the best choice was to pay off the mortgage asap (long before I'd learned about FIRE), but with a 2% mortgage I'm inclined to never actually pay it off early. I have more money and flexibility by keeping my savings invested than if I dumped it into my mortgage.
If I had a higher rate (like 5%+), I think I'd be more inclined to agree with you. Though it'd have to be obscenely high rates for me to decide taking the tax hit of selling investments in order to pay off the house.
Update:
Both my spouse and I were informed we are safe (we work for the same company). At least I don't have to worry about our income being impacted.
Two of the people I work closest with have told me they were cut. I'm hoping there aren't any more close to me, because I already don't know how we are going to manage without those two people.
Happy first full week of work after the holidays - to everyone still on the grind.
It's layoff week at my company. I have mixed feelings in that I'm far enough along that I wouldn't hate a funemployment break, but given I'm not quite at my number yet and the state of the tech market, I'd really hate to start burning through my savings. I just want to know which way the dice rolls for me because it's really hard to make plans for this next year when it's 50/50 if I'll have a job this year.
If you want it to be truly anonymous, make sure your neighbors don't have doorbell/security cameras first!
We shall see. My company is pending mass layoffs so I may not have a choice in the matter. As of now, I hope to just keep going as my company provides a decent work life balance (lots of PTO compared to basically every job posting I see)
With the recent market rally, my portfolio has finally reached the point where a 4% withdrawal rate would pay more than my first job after I graduated university. I could theoretically leanfire on that amount, though I'm planning a higher number due to lifestyle inflation since then.
Great analysis! I do some basic tax efficient placement, but don't overly worry about it. I keep my bond funds in my 401k, tradIRA, and HSA. Stock funds only in my Roth IRA and taxable. I do have some international stocks in my retirement accounts, but I do get a decent amount back in foreign tax credit due to my taxable holdings as well.
Wondering if I'm being penny wise, pound foolish here.
Just took a 9 hour drive to another state. Route 1 has a portion of the road that is a $6 toll. Route 2 detours around the toll, but adds 20 min of drive time. I went with route 2, but am wondering what others might say.