Subj : Re: Careers
To   : Carol Shenkenberger
From : Dave Drum
Date : Fri Mar 08 2024 07:02:00

-=> Carol Shenkenberger wrote to Dave Drum <=-

 >  CS> Yes, most regret not finishing out once retired.  It's a heck of a
 >  CS> difference in medical and income.  Me, pending social security (holding
 >  CS> out 1 more year and will pull it the month before I hit 65), 1
 >  CS> retirement income (Nay), 1 Government civilian (small, was only one for
 >  CS> 5 years), and Don's retirement and social security.  350k TSPs, IRAs
 >  CS> and 401k.  112k CDs, all but 4.8k of house paid off (worth 278k).  10
 >  CS> years ago I started banking 25% of the Navy pension.
 >  CS>  A lot of that in CDs that were allowed to grow from the interest and
 >  CS> roll over.
 >
 > Sounds like my brother. He's drawing a union pension, a school board
 > pension and SSI. His wife is drawing a school board pension and SSI - so
 > they live comfortably.
 >
 > Me, I started drawing SSI @ 62 (had no idea of my life expectancy as
 > both parwntal units checked out in their mid-50s). So I work a part-time
 > gig at AutoZone which fleshes out the gummint cheques. And gives me
 > something to be besides vegging oout banging on this confuser.
 >
 >  CS> Most without those pensions need a LOT more to retire.  We are fine
 >  CS> with it. 7k a month is pretty easy to live on (smile).

Being un-attached and having my house paid off makes expenses low so I
do OK on the gummint dole and my part-time gig. There's the occasional
glitch - like my Beemr had a front shock tower rust through. It ate a
tire - which Firestone covered under their road hazard warranty. But it
will be near to U$1.5K to rebuild the front suspension. OWTCH! Meanwhile
I'm without wheels so dining in is a must.
 
 CS> Yes and they probably do something that at first sounds strange but is
 CS> actually wise.  They give the govt and state a 'free loan' by putting
 CS> extra monthly on state and federal accounts, so they get a good return.

I sock a portion of my SSI into $avings every month. I call it my "rainy
day" fund. It will cover the suspension repairs - and my brother, learning
of my problem has said he is going to repay the open-ened loan I gave him
and Ms. Vicky last spring. That'll go right into pumping the savings back
to where it's supposewd to be.

 CS> There IS a solid reason for it.  No matter what you do, the tax systems
 CS> never add up multiple strams of taxable income and adjust for being in
 CS> a higher tax bracket.  I'm not sure if SSI is taxable but if it isn't
 CS> they might be ok with the 2 pensions but minute it shifts to Social
 CS> secrity they will find out the hard way.  Don and I have 4 now, about
 CS> to hit 5 then 7 as we start low level disbursements from IRA and TSP or
 CS> 401k.  Might just go 100$ a month for all 3.

When I say "SSI" I mean social security pension. It probably has another
"official" meaning. If my gross income is over U$25K the social security
is taxable. When I began drawing it I set it up to hold out 8% just in 
case for taxes. Most years I get all of that $$$ I've loaned the gummint
back on my 1040.

 CS> Works for us.  Put it all in CDs where I only pay taxes on the
 CS> interest.  Those will be the last touched.

 CS> Meantime, still posting Frugal but healthy cooking. in NextDoor.

 CS> Here's a simple one that I don't think I've posted here.  It's for the
 CS> hurried weeknight cooking so uses a jar of sauce.

 CS> Quick Garlic Alfredo with sausage links.

I'm a frugal eater. If a dish costs too much my throat slams shut. Bv)=

I made a red sauced pasta dish for supper last night. I had a couple
pounds of Italian sausage I had bought intending to make meatballs. It
was at "use it or feed the dogs" time. So it got browned up/drained 
and added to the sauce pot. half a stalk of no-longer-firm celery and
a 28 oz jar of store-brand red gravy went into the blender with the
celery and a medium onion providing bulk. Then the mushrooms were added. 

After tasting I added a teaspoon of Italian seasoning and a teaspoon 
of garlic granules to the mix. Didn't have any bell pepper on hand so
that got left out in favour of a 14 oz can of Red Gold diced tomatoes
w/chilies.

Let it all simmer until the pot length whole wheat pasta was cooked to
edibility and presto .... we're living in Little Italy. Room mate and
I ate well - with enough gravy left for another go in a few days.


.... "It's a new world every heartbeat." -- Joyce Cary
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