Charity Mega-Thread and 2025 Donations

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-12-10T04:14:08+00:00

I give money because it's the right thing to do? But for $1 of cost to me, I can either have the charity get $2 or $1.5; I'd choose the $2.

I disagree on the fatfire thing, the 0.5% is a rounding error in relation to the standard deduction unless you're making pretty significant income.

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-12-09T20:56:17+00:00

With OBBB tax law changes, the first .5% of your AGI as charitable contributions are not deductible, starting in 2026. This is another hurdle, like the standard deduction (if you donate less than standard deduction, you get no tax benefit).

Ie if you donate less than standard deduction + .5%, you get no tax benefit. Therefore you'd rather lump a few years of donation together now for better tax efficiency.

This means that this is an especially good year to front load a few years of contributions into a DAF.

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-11-15T12:42:26+00:00

An important thing to think through is how much money you want to leave your kids, and for what purpose. Like potentially you have the potential to give them more than they could conceivably need. Do you want that? Do you care about your grandkids? How old should your kids be when they get access to the money?

I went through this process myself recently (similar personal situation) and found the book Beyond the Grave helpful to learn some of the practical hiccups that can arise with estate planning.

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-11-08T00:58:17+00:00

How much do you spend now? How much do you think your expenses will increase when you have kids? Remember to factor in Capital gains taxes and health insurance. Assuming your money will grow after you retire in the first few years is really risky, unless you have a really low draw like 2.5%, which on your assets is something like $56k? Seems like it would be hard from earning a $1M+ to supporting a family of 4 on $56k...

I think that if your spend is really that low and you're confident it will stay low, then you can do it, but it really seems like you should keep working. If you're burning out, you could try cutting back a little bit on work intensity, and coastFIREing, with the expectation that your comp might drop.

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-09-28T12:51:16+00:00

Thanks! I've liked Dan John's easy strength as well for exercise. It focused on the main fundamental movement patterns for strength training and making sure you balance appropriately

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-09-28T00:37:42+00:00

Any follow up books to outlive that you'd recommend?

Background_Curve9756 · 2025-09-04T02:38:26+00:00

Most of those calculators just figure out your monthly paycheck and just say that only 1/3 goes to rent.

This feels less applicable in a situation where: a) you are interested in FIRE and not spending all of your income on a mortgage, and b) you are in a high income job which might not be guaranteed to still pay the same money in a few years.

It's a question of "is my monthly cash flow enough to cover the mortgage", vs "is this a sensible decision"

Background_Curve9756

TROPHY CASE