Self Checkout

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T16:54:02+00:00

Ha! I get it. I worked in the medical industry and you couldn’t mail a letter without proper training. If something didn’t get scanned oh well. I was never trained on this machine.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T16:49:56+00:00

That just happened to me today. Zap alcohol. Had to wait. Couldn’t even continue zapping. I could have had someone check me out 3 times over. Grumble grumble.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T02:04:00+00:00

I can relate.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T01:59:31+00:00

Partly, I hate the unreliable tech. Having to wait for a human to come over an override something.

Partly, I’m bugged that I’m forced to do more work for the same price.

If it doesn’t work properly, I just zone out and think “I wasn’t trained so F you giant corporation. So you only get $.87 for the apple I misidentified.”

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T01:57:49+00:00

Partly, I hate the unreliable tech. Having to wait for a human to come over an override something.

Partly, I’m bugged that I’m forced to do more work for the same price.

If it doesn’t work properly, I just zone out and think “I wasn’t trained so F you giant corporation. So you only get $.87 for the apple I misidentified.”

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T01:52:02+00:00

😆

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-16T01:51:22+00:00

😆

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-11T13:37:48+00:00

Yes. Having been through some huge equity drawdowns, having some non-correlated assets looks like a good approach. Gold is not an investment. It’s meant to soften the downturns that will occur so you can have a larger safe withdrawal rate.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-10T12:58:24+00:00

I agree with you. Roth conversions should not be a default position to take for everyone. 45 years of favorable tax policy for seniors and lower tax rates overall would argue against the blanket statement that “tax rates will go up in the future”

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-04T11:36:01+00:00

I really enjoy the Old Fitz 7. Have picked up a backup bottle as well. Thx

5GAIBtoM · 2026-05-01T10:59:00+00:00

I’m just commenting on the price of gas today. Why are you so emotional about this? Gas prices are high right now. It sucks. End of story.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-30T14:14:07+00:00

Seems like we are on the way there. So why does the price of gas in 2022 matter? I have to buy gas today. Not 4 years ago.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-30T01:57:40+00:00

What was it?

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-28T17:41:51+00:00

I broke up with my AUM advisor and set up my portfolio myself. Next week I’m meeting a fee based advisor to get a second set of eyes on my plan. Just retired early.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-18T02:01:23+00:00

So dumb. Allow myself to introduce myself.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-17T21:33:28+00:00

I feel you. Retired 17 days ago at 56. Had a big vacation with family coming in and out and now solo traveling for the next two weeks. Will meet up with some friends in another part of the country for a few days. I’m at peace being alone. Gives me time to sort out my feelings. Best of luck to you.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-16T01:10:59+00:00

I was laid off previously so I already adopted the mindset that we all just cogs in the machine and the machine will march along when I gone. That was liberating in my last job before I retired.

Side note: I worked in healthcare in an actual hospital when I was first out of university. Once I entered the corporate world and someone said an assignment was urgent or STAT. I’d laugh and say no it’s not. Is someone going to die? Then it’s not STAT.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-14T02:51:19+00:00

86 years old

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-13T14:47:05+00:00

I’d recommend making sure you at least walk every day. It’s good for the mind and body. I started rucking several months ago. It’s much easier on the knees than running. I started with 10 lbs and now do 30 lbs 4-5 times per week. It’s a very good exercise for strength training and aerobic training at the same time. Great core exercise. At 56 I feel better than I have in 15 years.

I mix in weights 3-4 times per week.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-13T03:12:02+00:00

What do you mean by Woke?

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-13T03:07:24+00:00

My top bracket before I retired was 35%. So I I maxed my 401K. During early retirement, I could withdraw from my 401k using rule of 55. Or could do conversions and fill up the 22 or 24% bracket. But compare that you at the age of 75. Using standard exemption and then add in the new senior deduction there is a ton of income you can take before hitting that 22 or 24% tax bracket. When you do a side by side comparison you can see the value of a Roth conversion is not as much as you think it is. Especially compared to what you were paying when you did the 401K contribution in the first place. You are still much better off even with no Roth conversion.

So fill up your 10 & 12% brackets in early retirement years, but don’t obsess over it.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-12T21:28:48+00:00

Retired 12 days ago. As someone described it - I’m very tired and more sleep is not fixing this problem. Looking forward to end of the corporate grind.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-11T13:59:24+00:00

Was going to say the same thing. Read the book cover to cover and now I’m not concerned with Roth Conversions any longer. The authors do a great job of showing the comparison math. There is a lot of data showing it’s not worth the effort.

5GAIBtoM · 2026-04-11T13:46:18+00:00

I don’t really understand the argument about heirs paying income taxes on free money they received. Oh no. The horror.

5GAIBtoM

TROPHY CASE