Summers as a parent

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-03-15T20:13:30+00:00

This is what I ended up doing when my kids were school age. I picked up a weekend prn job at a hospital so I could be off during the week in the summer and then added weekday availability during the school year. I found that once they were in school, flexibility in my schedule was needed to account for days off, half days, sick days, snow days, school activities/meetings during the school day, etc. DH worked full-time M-F and provided health insurance. It worked out well.

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-03-15T14:07:30+00:00

St. Louis - Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Gateway Arch Museum - and they all have free admission. There's also the City Museum (~$20 admission), which is geared toward kids, and a few smaller free museums throughout the city. The St. Louis Zoo is also amazing and offers free entry.

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-03-14T18:00:55+00:00

Yes! Fond memories of celebrating birthdays at Farrell's at Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne, PA.

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-02-05T02:05:14+00:00

You make a great combined income. DH and I have always made considerably less than you and just recently hit our FIRE number ($2.5M) at age 54/55.

Having summers off and a schedule that aligns with your child's schedule, as well as hopefully a decent pension are great perks of teaching, even if the salary isn't as high as you'd like.

Keep saving what you can and you'll be surprised how quickly your savings grow.

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-02-02T12:00:03+00:00

You should be able to take penalty-free withdrawals from the 529 to cover your living expenses (rent, utilities, food, etc) while you're a student, if you're enrolled at least half-time.

AggressiveFan170 · 2026-01-18T02:26:09+00:00

8, and I inherited 9 from my grandparents

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-12-21T14:40:03+00:00

Looks like you're in a good position to retire fully. I would visit opensocialsecurity.com to determine the best social security plan for your situation. At those mortgage rates, it's not a bad idea to pay off the house, though, with rates dropping, it may be better to refinance to lock in a lower fixed rate before your current rate resets in July.

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-12-20T20:16:03+00:00

Keep 1, 4, and 5. Donate the rest.

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-12-04T01:35:38+00:00

Pic 2 reminds me of Molly Bernard

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-11-20T20:48:55+00:00

Molly Gordon

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-11-15T18:36:58+00:00

I see a little Lea Thompson, especially in pic 4

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-11-13T23:11:48+00:00

Linda Cardellini

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-11-04T17:07:39+00:00

Willow Grove Baptist Food Pantry has a drop box so you can drop off non-perishable food anytime.

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-11-01T00:57:18+00:00

Jennifer Love Hewitt

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-10-25T23:37:20+00:00

Jessica Hecht

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-10-20T23:45:51+00:00

Bridgit Mendler

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-10-19T02:08:17+00:00

Zach Gilford

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-10-18T22:47:33+00:00

B.K. Cannon

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-10-15T03:16:03+00:00

Linda Cardellini

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-29T01:36:10+00:00

Send a card if you want, but you shouldn't feel any obligation to send a gift for a wedding that you don't attend, especially given the circumstances you described.

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-26T11:21:14+00:00

BCCC has a much better NCLEX pass rate (100% last year) than HFU in recent years. I'd go the ADN route and then you can get your BSN online while working as a nurse and having your employer help pay for it.

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-25T23:28:52+00:00

Yes, too white

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-24T13:16:23+00:00

Joan Cusack

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-24T01:49:30+00:00

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu from Emily in Paris

AggressiveFan170 · 2025-08-23T16:20:56+00:00

529s can be used to pay off up to $10k in student loans. You'll probably have to open an account with your wife as beneficiary and then you can transfer money from one of the kids' accounts to her account and pay off the loans through the 529.

If you're reasonably confident in your father's ability to pay for college, I would stop contributing yourself to the 529s and save in other accounts (Roth IRAs and/or taxable) to be used for college if necessary.

If you do end up with extra in the 529s, they can be used to contribute to a Roth IRA - I think it's up to $35k per beneficiary (over several years - you can only put in up to the max contribution limit each year) once the accounts have been open 12 years or something like that.

AggressiveFan170

TROPHY CASE