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Hey everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the beautiful spring weather. It’s been a while since I posted an update. To be completely honest, blogging became much more difficult once I stopped posting every single week. There are always so many things to do around the house, and writing is much harder when I don’t stick to a strict schedule. Anyway, I promised to update my withdrawal plan, so here it is. This plan isn’t set in stone. We’ll constantly modify it to minimize taxes and respond to unforeseen circumstances. We will likely withdraw more in some years to cover “lumpy” expenses, like buying a new car. Life is full of surprises, and we’ll have to adapt as needed. Our early retirement withdrawal plan is flexible. Right now, we have almost $1 million combined in our taxable brokerage account and Treasury bonds. However, we also have changing family circumstances to navigate. Our parents are getting older and need more assistance. Because of this, we plan to move to California to be closer to Mrs. RB40’s family when our son finishes high school in 2029. As you’ll see below, this move is a massive factor in our financial timeline. (For context, I am 52.5 years old right now.) The Timeline: 2026 to 2049+ 2026 to 2028: The Early Years & Simplifying Real Estate 2026 is our first year of full retirement. Our active income will be minimal—probably around $5,000 from blogging and minor side gigs. Fortunately, Mrs. RB40 has a small pension of about $10,000 annually. More importantly, her retirement plan includes group health insurance coverage. We pay the same premium amount as we did when she was working, and it’s deducted directly from her pension. This is huge. Not having to worry about the ACA marketplace or healthcare costs gives us a lot of breathing room. Estimated Annual Expenses: ~$75,000 Active Income + Pension: ~$15,000 Passive Income (Dividends/Interest): ~$20,000 The Gap: We need to cover a shortfall of about $40,000. The Solution: Since we are moving to California in a few years, I am winding down our Portland rental real estate. We recently put our rental condo on the market. Once sold, it should generate roughly $150,000 after fees and taxes. This cash pool, combined with our other income streams, will fund the next 2 to 3 years of living expenses. Our Housing Adjustments: Currently, we live in a duplex and rent out the upstairs unit. However, I’ve asked our tenant to move out in 2027. RB40Jr is a teenager now and needs more space. One bathroom doesn’t cut it anymore. Mrs. RB40 also wants more room since she is home full-time. We will use the next few years to live comfortably in the whole property while fixing it up to get it ready for sale. It’s a big win that we resisted upsizing for 15 years. Most families expand their housing when they have kids. Note on a lumpy expense: I may purchase a new car
Most estate planning conversations begin with questions about transferring wealth efficiently. Families want to know who inherits retirement accounts, whether a trust is necessary, how to avoid probate, and whether estate taxes will become a problem. Those are all legitimate concerns, but they are rarely what causes the greatest stress when a crisis actually unfolds. The breakdowns that destabilize families are usually operational. A surviving spouse suddenly cannot access accounts. Bills stop getting paid because everything […]
Looking to revitalize your hair without breaking the bank? DIY hair oils are a fantastic way to nourish your locks naturally, and the best part is, you can whip them up at home with budget-friendly ingredients! In this guide, we’ve rounded up 10 easy and effective recipes that cater to various hair types, so you can customize your own blend and enjoy salon-quality results right in your kitchen. ezstandalone.cmd.push(function () { ezstandalone.showAds(609); }); Rosemary Infused […]
How one woman saved $30,000, quit her job, and traveled the world for a year (then never stopped). Quitting your job to travel the world sounds unrealistic to many people. Maybe even irresponsible. But…for long-term traveler and creator Kesi Irvin from Kesi To and Fro, taking a career break to see the world felt necessary. […] The post How To Plan a Round the World Trip Step-by-Step with Kesi Irvin appeared first on The Thought […]
I used to think that the purpose of budgeting was to get your spending as close as possible to what you predicted you would spend when you set your budget amounts at some earlier point, maybe a month, or even a year, in advance. No wonder so many people hate budgeting! That sounds like an impossible task! Allowing your budget to be flexible is the key to success! It’s okay to pivot mid-month when you […]
It can be challenging to sort through the huge list of budgeting apps to find which might work best for you and your family. In this Simplifi vs. Monarch Money review, we’ll examine two of the best budgeting apps available and present their benefits and downsides. While both Simplifi and Monarch Money are great choices, there’s probably one that you’ll prefer based on its unique features. Let’s look at each and see if we can […]
If you’re searching for the best breakdown of YNAB vs Monarch Money. you’re probably trying to answer one simple question: Which budgeting app will actually help me manage my money without making my life harder? I’ve personally used both budgeting tools over the past several years. I tested YNAB multiple times, used Mint for years, and eventually switched to Monarch Money after Mint shut down in 2023. Today, my wife and I use Monarch Money […]
The post How Long Will Your Retirement Savings Last? A Practical Guide to Planning Smarter appeared first on Dividend Power. At some point, everyone asks the same question: how long will my retirement savings last? It’s a simple question with high stakes and no easy answer. With longer life expectancies, rising living costs, and fewer traditional pension plans, retirement today looks very different from what it did a generation ago. The good news? You’re not powerless. With […]
Helping young students stay organized can be challenging as they begin balancing homework, reading assignments and classroom responsibilities. The right planner can be an effective tool in keeping students on track and helping them build organization skills from an early age. Why Elementary Students Benefit From Using Planners A well-designed planner can helpKeep Reading The Best Student Planners for Elementary Schools was originally published on WhatMommyDoes.com
🎙️ Episode #487 – Feel behind on retirement? Don’t panic. Here’s how to build a “rental pension” in 10 years without taking big risks. Listen… The post Starting Late? The 10-Year Rental Retirement Plan appeared first on Coach Carson.
It is easy to talk about tax-efficient retirement planning in theory. The framework makes sense. Spread income over time, use different account types, and avoid pushing yourself into higher brackets than necessary. On paper, it all feels manageable. The challenge is that the tax system retirees face is not smooth or predictable. It is layered, uneven, and full of pressure points where relatively small changes in income can lead to disproportionately large consequences. In practice, this is […]
There’s nothing quite like returning from a big trip, finally unpacking your suitcases, and reflecting on the memories you just made. Whether it’s looking back at photos from a recent family getaway to Hawaii or plotting out the itinerary for an upcoming cruise, reliving those adventures is half the fun of traveling in the first place. But as your list of destinations grows, remembering exactly where you stayed, what you did, and when you were […]
You are probably overpaying for electricity right now. We’re talking $100 to $200+ annually just thrown away. For typical families, that’s real money. The fix? Five minutes. Here is why 63% of Singapore households are still throwing money away on SP Group’s default price plan, and how to stop being one of them. The electricity […] The post Best Electricity Plans In Singapore (2026) appeared first on Turtle Investor.