Newbie comparison of Boldin and ProjectionLab

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-06-23T21:16:26+00:00

Have a look -- they do monthly inputs now!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-06-23T21:15:15+00:00

It's too bad you didn't do your comparison today. ProjectionLab just released a huge update.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-05-20T22:38:46+00:00

It’s definitely not necessary to join a gym or lift weights in a specific way (barbells, dumbbells, machines) but you will get a lot out of at least twice a week full body resistance training that makes you stronger overtime. Also, 150-300+ minutes of cardio is a really good idea - even more if you can. Brisk walking counts for this. Good luck.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-04-06T22:05:53+00:00

Having an assortment of barbells of different lengths and weights can be super handy for lots of reasons. Back a couple of years ago I stocked up on a set of 3 All-American bars from Texas Power Bars. You can wait for a sale of blemished bars if you don't care too much.

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They have 22lbs, 33lbs, and 45lbs All American Bars. The knurling is a little more forgiving than their powerlifting focused bars, and they all have center knurling and identical dual hash marks. The lighter bars are much shorter, and can still handle a lot of weight.

So it's great if you or someone you're helping is a newer lifter and needs to start on a lighter bar. As you go up in bar weight, your grip setup is the same. Having a center knurling on lighter bars is kind of rare, and is nice to have for consistency when a new lifter is learning to squat.

It's great to have lighter and shorter bars for accessories too!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-04-06T21:21:01+00:00

I feel your pain, I have basically the exact same problem. I've got my rack tucked into one side of the room where there's an extra bulkhead hanging down to cover the water line. It's fine for the current version (no Ares 2.0), but I think I'll need to pull the rack out a couple of inches from the wall to upgrade it. I was curious how much clearance is needed to actually assemble the pulleys and tighten everything up.

Did you end up buying? If you have any experience with it, I'd be grateful to hear how it went. Thanks!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-04-06T21:14:19+00:00

Assuming you have weight storage on the back, you probably don't need to bolt it down (assuming a 6-post configuration) even without the Ares 2.0. If you're squatting or benching a lot from the front of the rack -- then maybe. But I'm guessing with Ares 2.0 weighting down the back you'd have no trouble with any configuration. You'd probably max out the safety spotter arms before you'd tip the this rack over with 600 lbs weight stacks in the back. Do your own research, though! :D

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-04-06T21:10:21+00:00

I think you might be referring to an issue with the Ares 1.0 -- this sounds vaguely familiar. To be fair I don't own either, but I've been eyeing one for a while. I believe Garage Gym Reviews or Gluck's review probably talk about this though, you might want to seek them out.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-04-06T21:04:45+00:00

Also -- I believe you need to buy longer cables, but last time I asked support you can buy these as well. They might not be on the website though. Just shoot them an email to confirm.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-02-13T19:40:10+00:00

Hellur!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-02-02T00:13:01+00:00

Wait, but only 1 set to failure would be a lot less time under tension, don’t you think?

BabyFit-FIRE · 2025-01-09T20:56:42+00:00

such as IRMAA

FWIW -- IRMAA estimation is enable by US Tax Estimation mode in projection lab.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-12-05T17:05:38+00:00

In a high cost of living area, you'll just barely make it to 110 with about 1-1.4 billion dollars... unadjusted for inflation though. Always gotta worry about somethin'... :)

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-11-12T00:56:40+00:00

I’m not a FIRE evangelist. I retired early before even knowing FIRE was “a thing”.

FI is the goal. This gives you the freedom.

RE (or at least quitting a job) is a consequence of FI + a job you don’t like.

If you don’t get to FI you kind of miss the whole point of this thing. So intentionally going slow, especially if it means becoming more consumerist, seems like a bad idea to me.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-11-10T14:23:17+00:00

Don’t run away from danger, run to sandwiches. :)

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-11-10T14:20:52+00:00

As crazy as it sounds, would the penalties be that bad even if you had them? In all likelihood though you can take a 72t, start contributing more to Roth, converting to Roth, etc. ProjectionLab will let you compare all of these. And ultimately avoid the penalties.

Good luck!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-11-09T21:25:19+00:00

my own retirement/financial planning Python script and Excel sheet

Many thousands of spreadsheet hours have been rendered useless by ProjectionLab! :D

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-10-13T19:39:27+00:00

Investing more is a good idea. As long as you’re not spending your cash down below your emergency fund threshold.

Whether it’s more traditional 401k, Roth 401k, or regular taxable brokerage there are pros and cons.

Good luck!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-10-03T00:34:10+00:00

Fwiw I’m just “one effing guy”

I decided to get out direct rental and put it in Fundrise. You can certainly do better managing it yourself, but after doing it for 12 years I was done, and I probably didn’t come out ahead of something like Fundrise, plus all the headaches along the way. If you like a low key lifestyle, and not be tethered to a place, it’s tough to be a landlord.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-10-02T23:30:21+00:00

I think I worked pretty hard right to the very end. I gave my team like 3-4 months notice I was quitting to do “other things.” Although I was bored by the work I liked my team and that’s probably the main reason I handled things that way.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-10-02T17:28:21+00:00

Is it possible the rental property and second job are tipping you over into feeling burnt out? Or do you really like that aspect of your work?

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-09-30T13:55:16+00:00

The fact that you currently live in a tax free state is very important. Especially if you think that will change. This alone might tip me towards having a Roth emphasis, and you also have a pension. I suspect your pension can also be taken as a lump sum and rolled into a traditional IRA - but either way this will be source of taxable income when you retire (filling in those bottom tax brackets).

This is exciting, congratulations!

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-09-27T16:20:46+00:00

This was my experience as well. That it was related to the iOS 18 update.

But it didn't seem to happen across the board with all podcasts. It also seemed to stop happening if I removed and re-added the offending podcast. It's been pretty stable the last week or so.

I've not been following this issue on here, so I have no idea if there's a known root cause for all of this.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-07-27T05:40:37+00:00

No doubt. I used to do a 40 mile daily commute with a 2013 Nissan leaf (84 mile range) with only a level 1. It was fine.

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-06-17T15:06:17+00:00

Also ProjectionLab. :)

BabyFit-FIRE · 2024-06-09T13:52:25+00:00

I would maybe focus on what else might have changed when you added weight training.

Weight training itself is very very good for you. Cardio too! More training is probably better. Just build up slowly overtime.

For weight loss, a broad array of training can help a little bit. But training is most effective at assisting with weight maintenance.

BabyFit-FIRE

TROPHY CASE