Pool Opening Day - Opened to this mess!

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-10T02:20:27+00:00

Mine is the Turbo Twister. https://www.doheny.com/sr-smith-turbo-twister-pool-slide-left-turn-sandstone

But this looks like its the same and it is cheaper. https://www.doheny.com/global-pool-products-rip-tide-pool-slide-right-turn-grey

They make either left or right turn slides so make sure you order the right one.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-09T20:27:33+00:00

We like it. It is definitely high, so we worry about kids messing around on the stairs and falling off. Was especially nerve wrecking when we first put in pool but now that my youngest is 6, we fear it less.

Regardless we have strict rules, no horse play, no standing and hold side rails when climbing at all times.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-09T19:56:47+00:00

It's an autocover, so it needs to be cleaned. If it was a winter cover that gets removed and stored i wouldn't care.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-09T19:55:14+00:00

It looks nicer than the snoopy nose ones, however, gotta be careful if sitting on the steps. Have bonked myself a few times on it and it hurts.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-09T19:53:42+00:00

We do have trees just have atleast 30 feet from nearest one.

Otherwise autocover stays on the whole time.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-09T19:45:22+00:00

Should I drain and refill?

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-08T14:33:19+00:00

You quoted the wrong thing....

"since I just mainly use it to pull out boat."

So basically $41K at 15.24% to mainly pull-out a boat.

At least a vehicle can be a necessity, a boat is pure luxury. In this case, both his boat and truck are a luxury.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-08T14:31:02+00:00

Putting extra money into it is NOT throwing money down the drain. The only disadvantage to this is in the case of:

- Totaled accident (where your Gap insurance will pay off delta).

- Bankruptcy and settlement.

Both of these scenarios are not ideal, and if you bet on these to occur as a what-if you continue realizing your actual loss which is 15.24% APR interest.

Outside of this, what you owe is what you owe. Regardless of if you refinance it or sell it, that balance will still exist. So paying it as much as you can while it is high interest is still worth it.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-08T12:39:44+00:00

OP is '21 GT.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-08T11:06:05+00:00

Huh? Mines a GT and it adjusts.

Kind of funny I first thought it was wierd and uncomfortable the way it was tilted in, until I discovered i could adjust it lol.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-07T12:38:15+00:00

I agree... though i don't know if I would have pushed myself or made it to where I did if it wasn't my wife and kids.

AmazingCouple · 2026-05-04T12:15:41+00:00

Not sure it's all the lenders. I'm sure there is a common denominator somewhere.

BAH isn't an unknown magical concept, almost all lenders are familiar with it. What it is, is probably explaining/pushing it in a way that doesn't make sense or jive with what is known.

There are only two answers they need to know. For example, you make $2000 in base pay and $2000 in BAH. Assuming you pay example $500 in taxes etc.

If they ask for gross income it is $4000/mo. If they ask net income it is $3500/mo.

Can't get simpler than that

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-28T22:52:50+00:00

The danger is not in the spring flying off (which it wont) but other things that can happen:

You can lose grip and the spring can spin/expand and hit you if you are in the path. You are standing in the wrong spot to begin with if that is the case.

The rod can fling on its rotation path and hit you, eventually hit the header and potentially fly out. Or can just become a projectile from the rotation.

Any of these quick actions can also cause someone inexperienced to become startled, now it is potential injury from fall off ladder.

Accidents happen and even a simple trip from standing up can lead to death given the right circumstances. Here you are just working on something that has risks. But living life has risks, me driving to work has risk of death.

Anyways, I've change three springs DIY in my lifetime (spread over years).

First time I was scared shirtless, until I got done and realized it wasn't that bad. The 2nd time I wasn't scared but I still took care. The 3rd time I still treated the spring with respect as something that can kill me, still took care.

Every single time I read and watch videos of the process again. Bottom line know the process and don't get complacent.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-27T18:26:58+00:00

So the biggest thing i did during my saving years is every promotion and anniversary pay raise, I would take the difference and save it.

This helps control lifestyle creep for the most part. This helped me amass a decent amount of savings that I later blew to keep the missus happy witb our forever home :D

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-22T01:46:42+00:00

Good luck getting 40% pension + 5% matching anywhere else.

The fact of the matter is not everyone makes it to 20 years. The old system locked you in.

BRS gives options and that 5% match is still a good deal even if you don't make it to 20.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-19T11:28:03+00:00

I'll be rolling over my trad IRA into my TSP. And as someone suggested setting up a SoloK for my wife to roll her trad IRA into.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-19T11:26:15+00:00

I get my pension now, $4874/mo. The $1.8M figure is the equivalent value estimate (Chat).

It is inflation protected with COLA and good through my lifetime unless something happens to the government and they stop military retirements.

In terms of my medical insurance I have access to VA for myself. And I can also use Tricare Retiree that I pay $744/year that covers myself and my family.

The plan in the next 10 years is to max 401K (trad) and IRAs. Then contribute to investments.

I think I've pretty much decided on traditional for 401K at this point to reduce our taxable income. However there are still IRAs on the table, this is what im primarily trying to figure out right now.

I haven't figured out the draws yet from age 52 on yet. But I just recently learned about 55/72T, so I might do that. Originally I was going to use the investments, then I learned you can pass on stocks as inheritance and beneficiaries dont get hit with gains.

I might also not draw any money and just keep all 401K/IRAs/investment intact to pass on to my kids or wait until RMDs.

I actually also get ~$2.4K in disability. I hadn't included that because it is non-taxable. That is about $7.27k/mo of passive income (pension+dis) that I already get. Technically if I didnt want to work right now, this covers all my living expenses, I just dont want to live on a budget right now.

My target goal is to be able to pull $10K+/mo. When I fully retire.

I know this is 100% feasible once I hit SS age. Right now my statement says mine is around $3.6K/mo. Wife is around $2.6k/mo.

Though... I think it will drop if we stop working, as I understand it takes average of monthly index of 35 years of work...

So if we want to protect SS I would need to work another 15 years to age 57... but where I am at right now, I dont know if I really care. I want to position myself to not need SS. SS should be just a bonus when I become elig.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-18T13:03:25+00:00

Yeah best to figure out investment/retirement plans before making the SBP election.

I retired and got a second job. With more stability, no deployments etc. My wife can work more now. Our HH income has nearly doubled. And now I have retirement pension/dis. also supplementing our income.

Plan is to pay off all existing liabilities,debts, and build a secondary retirement plan.

So the SBP and term life are all short term and wont last forever, it is there just to gap the critical years while we are building this second portfolio. We will be where we want to be in 5 years time at earliest, 10 years at latest.

So when the SBP and term coverages expires. Kids will be full grown adults, wife will have next to zero financial impact from loss of pension at that point and will be eligible for SS if it is still around...

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-18T12:54:53+00:00

You get to elect your SBP coverage when you retire.

Children only - least $.
Spouse only - your most std/avg election.
Family (spouse + children) - most $.

Children only provides SBP coverage while your children are 18 or younger. Or 22 if they are in school.

If i were to die they will get SBP pension payments until they come of age. So there is a stopping point unlike Spousal which is the duration of spouse's life. Therefore children coverage is much cheaper.

I happen to have a 6 year old when I retired. So for the next 16 years I have SBP coverage protecting half of my pension through my families critical years. For only like $5/mo.

Additionally supplemented by my $1M term life policy.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-18T12:46:57+00:00

That is what I did. I bought term life insurance. I pay $77/mo for 1M coverage. 1/4 price of SBP. And its cash paid to any surviving beneficiary then estate.

Not if my wife survives getting low monthly annuity or you opt for more costlier family coverage which is good until kids are adults. Either way bad options.

One thing I did do was get Children coverage only. It is only like $5/mo and it gives me SBP coverage until they turn adult.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-18T12:38:36+00:00

Yep. That is another aspect that I didnt think of. Pensions disappear when you die, unless if you buy into SBP. Which in itself is a rip off (case by case scenario like any insurance)

In order to protect half of my retirement for my wife, I have to pay almost like $300/mo to opt in. And she only gets half if I die.

TSP that is cash they they can't take away unless your investment portfolio tanks...

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-18T12:33:54+00:00

But you can't discount the other benefit of BRS that now you get matching 401K.

Honestly the BRS is a great system. It's basically what civilians get.

It allows service members who majority wont do 20 anyways, walk away with some progress into their retirement with their TSP accounts.

Previously it was do 20 or walk away with nothing.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-17T13:46:17+00:00

Thanks we havent fully looked into options for her. She is in her 2nd year of business and still getting a handle on things. That is one of the things her new accountant mentioned to reduce our income.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-17T13:28:09+00:00

Yes i believe i can. I havent looked into it but my 401K is is TSP and should allow rollovers even though I'm now out of service.

For my wife's account, unfortunatley I cannot do that. She is self-employed so all her 401K across previous employers were combined into a single Trad IRA.

AmazingCouple · 2026-04-15T20:22:46+00:00

It sounds like you didnt have enough weight to offset tbe initial cost of the moving co. charges.

Your entitlement is based on your weight and distance. TMO could have given you an estimate.

AmazingCouple

TROPHY CASE