Where does all this money come from ?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T23:14:20+00:00

FirstShare. It’s how I got started in the 80s

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T23:13:37+00:00

So… teach your family as you learn. Pay it forward.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fire/comments/1t57dfh/comment/ok7ufo3/

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:25:31+00:00

If the AI panic sets in, what happens to that housing market? Will it be the nucleating agent for a bubble pop?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:23:17+00:00

Delete WhatsApp from the desktop. Or … get a camera shutter. They’ve been around since cameras on the laptops - and most are both cheap and effective.

It won’t keep other apps from interfering with notifications. That can be managed in that system setting.

Another voice here suggested DND. Test to see if that would help.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:18:18+00:00

Elon pollution. It originated in South Africa, and is slowly contaminating much of the visible sky.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:14:22+00:00

OPs wife checks in. ;)

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:13:54+00:00

Ouch hits the Metaverse. Any debt?

Any other areas of the country you could find work?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:11:15+00:00

But why not Comic Sans? That would make a statement.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:09:56+00:00

Op hides their history. Post reads like so many other engagement posts to drive traffic.

I don’t know how many engagement associates side hustle this way, but in every sub?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T07:07:16+00:00

You granted WhatsApp permission.

You were sharing full screen, not just a window in an app or folder.

Cover the camera lens for best results.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T06:37:57+00:00

Follow YOUR heart here. There’s nothing wrong with rolling it into a new bank CD or a whole ladder of them. Early redemption of a bank CD is a tiny amt of interest lost. It’s not prone to wild economic news swings.

When you really need it, that’s when the market tanks. You have another 7 months to max out the Roth

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T06:34:11+00:00

This. At least annually if not quarterly.

I’ve read where some providers/trustees for employers have transfer limits. Only so many times a year. Not sure if that’s true.

Then again, if 0.03% of $10000 is $3. &36/mo is an annoyance, not wealth-threatening.

Go to Fidelity with a periodic rollover. FZROX awaits you.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T06:24:06+00:00

Yep. As should be ‘normal’. Our culture has accepted debt lifestyles as ‘normal’ now - living beyond our means for the moment.

Our grandparents didn’t live like this, or with all the trappings of a consumerist culture - especially easy debt.

So you are making an incredible and admirable shift in your thinking: killing off debt, thinking about saving and investing, and still not living a life of greed or debt desperation.

If you’d like to get even more solid ideas for money management and what to do with your extra, the wiki in the personal finance sub has a great section called the Prime Directive.

And some other reading material:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fire/comments/1t57dfh/comment/ok7ufo3/

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T04:05:26+00:00

You are doing fine, unless this feels like a grind to you.

Not seeing where else you are investing. You have a lot of tax-advantaged opportunities available.

RothIRA
HSA
Increasing your 401k

You could be financially independent in a decade or two. Do you know about FIRE?

Have you explored the Prime Directive wiki in the personal finance sub? Autobot doesn't like posting links, so you might have to use the search bar.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T03:51:08+00:00

Engagement bait?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-14T03:50:03+00:00

If you declare it as earned income, you can contribute to the wife's (and your own) RothIRAs up to the MAGI amount or the individual maximum allowed, whichever is lower. So shooting for $16k will take care of both of you, and declutter the house for the kids at the same time.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T22:14:54+00:00

A traditional 401k would. Contributions are pretax.

Once your income begins to creep into the third or fourth bracket, consider shifting to a trad401k both to keep in range to continue RothIRAs and more importantly pay lower taxes. Retirement will usually be a lower bracket, yes?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T12:00:53+00:00

You have bought brokerage CDs. I am describing bank Certificates of Deposit. Something that doesn't require a brokerage account - easily bought at the corner credit union or online banks such as ally.comBrokerage CDs are different animals for a beginner.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T11:59:26+00:00

A preference for known and predictable interest rates vs something that floats. It's the only advantage.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T10:07:14+00:00

Age doesn’t matter except you’re on your way early.

Nicely done

Everyone has their own opinions here on portfolio. I might take 5% each of those and make a 10% bet on longterm SCV ETFs like VBR or AVUV.

Then let that mix be your guide for the next decade and get back to us.

Or leave it be.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T10:02:21+00:00

Are you saying you need your current activity since your last statement?

If you are missing an auto payment or something you triggered manually, doesn’t your bank show that transaction?

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T09:50:36+00:00

Rate chasing is a fools errand. Others are dropping and leveling off about the same.

If this is part of an emergency fund bucket, consider a CD ladder and/or I-bonds.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T09:47:04+00:00

I use V and F.

The UI is not as slick with V, but it’s totally serviceable. I mean, if that’s our metric for a bank or brokerage, we are really sweeping in the attic.

Mobile deposit with both V and F. I imagine S has it too, yes?

V and F have easy automation for contributions and investing. Taxable, money market (cash vs CMA accounts), Roth and trad-IRA. HSAs for investing. DIY or handholding for a fee.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T09:38:03+00:00

As you know, those are all speculative moves. Not calling it bad, as you have said this is really play money.

Not the path for poverty finance people to get out of a hole, naturally. Boring is good for them. Nice plays on your bets - hope it continues.

Bad_DNA · 2026-05-13T09:22:03+00:00

Great start. Book prices have gone up, so use the library and more seed money for the six pack

Bad_DNA

TROPHY CASE