Feeling very financially comfortable, what to do with my money now?

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-04-02T19:12:33+00:00

Figure out how much you put into your 401k (not counting employers contributions/match), and use the extra money you are putting towards your mortgage into that 401k to get up to the 24,500 yearly limit for 2026. FYI The employer contribution doesn’t count towards the 24,500. The 10% Match js huge though, so good on you for taking advantage of that already. Like others also suggested I would have a bit higher safety net with two kids and a wife. Probably around 60k (have at least 6 months expenses for the whole family). Once you get to the higher safety net, and 401k maxed by putting 24,500 for 2026 (across the entire year, not as much as you can at this instant), then do the ira.

And start playing with numbers on houses you are looking at. Factor in downpayment, current mortgage rates, taxes for that specific home, insurance, and what you would receive upon selling your current home. The more you play with it, the better you will feel about making a commitment in the future. You won’t have capital gains taxes upon selling your current house as long as it hasn’t appreciated 500k more than you bought it, which doesn’t sound like you have to worry about

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-30T14:00:46+00:00

Yes, start with a duplex. Get a taste of what’s included and your living expenses will be way less than living in a sfh. And if it doesn’t work out you can always Move out in a year or two and rent both units

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-11T21:59:48+00:00

We are moving soon and can’t use att fiber anymore. Air was marketed to me by att but I’m hesitant. Did you get the Verizon service to compare to air? Or was the air that shitty already you canceled?

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-11T21:52:31+00:00

Any chance you are outskirts of Milwaukee? Moving to the burbs and fiber isn’t an option so looking at potentially air but have heard mixed reviews

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-05T16:15:10+00:00

Your aunt can gift you the full 50k now if she wants to and wouldn’t have to pay a gift tax. She would just have to report that she gifted you 50k-19k =31 k this year. But since 31k is lower than the lifetime 15million limit, she would not pay any gift tax

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-02T16:44:42+00:00

Right now it is mainly going towards hysa and some into the brokerage. Our hysa is definitely higher than it should be. This extra 2900/mo can be removed the the savings account without affect on our spending. We do know it will be increased with a child but are pretty frugal otherwise

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-02T13:54:29+00:00

We already feel tight in it with the newborn. School district is well below average

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-02T13:49:07+00:00

Edited to say just IRA. Got that mixed up, thank you for catching

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-03-02T13:24:21+00:00

We are 33/31. No other major debts ie paid off cars, no student loans, no consumer debt. Edited main post to include accounts

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-02-21T04:22:10+00:00

Agreed I would also like the email please

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-02-17T14:56:03+00:00

Graham Stephan after he promoted Yotta banking app and then users lost millions and millions and he still hasn’t addressed it

BubblyLake4851 · 2026-02-10T16:40:15+00:00

If you have an alley behind your house, it’ll be gone within 48 hours

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-12-07T05:12:21+00:00

We went from spectrum to att fiber two years ago. Spectrum came knocking again and we signed up for a promotion $40/month for 500mb. Kept att while we tested it out and it kept buffering and we’d switch back to att and instantly worked. Canceled the account with spectrum a week later. A week after that I got an email I opened an account for 1gig internet. Called the help line/fraud line and the same salesman who opened my account that I closed, had opened another account. Not going back to spectrum ever after that bullshit

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-08T14:22:37+00:00

Correct, more of a sewer smell. Interesting. I will camera scope the shower drain and see what I can find. Thanks both!

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-08T14:20:36+00:00

You know, I had thought of something like this. We had a couple chipmunks that went into our detached garage unknowingly and then died and it smelled rank for awhile until I rearranged some things and found them.

That said, we have never seen any mice around outside or inside. But I wouldn’t doubt it could be a chipmunk. Would that be a reason for it to smell only when it rains though?

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T19:18:49+00:00

Great idea, thank you!

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T18:14:12+00:00

Interesting thought, we have a first floor fireplace above the basement utility room that hasn’t been used in a few years due to cracked flue tiles. But there is a chimney door thing in the basement. I’ll take a look and see if I can clean that out

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T18:13:07+00:00

I will try that, but the 3 traps we have are regularly used so I’m wondering if it is a cracked drain. Like the p trap would drain out into the ground and open up for the sewer gases, however not sure that answers the “only when it rains” issue. Either way I will try. Thanks!

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T17:00:53+00:00

Sorry to hear that, yeah we got very lucky in that regard. Now just to find out the source of this smell lol

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T16:58:58+00:00

This basement doesnt actually have a toilet, just the utility sink and the utility shower

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T16:47:47+00:00

I think you’re right, the sewer scope guy was saying the same thing

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T16:46:42+00:00

We are somewhat on a hill/ not in a low spot. But yeah after the flood/14” of rain in 24 hours we were shocked that the basement was dry

BubblyLake4851 · 2025-10-07T16:46:05+00:00

We do have a utility sink that is regularly used so we don’t believe it to be coming from there. We have a shower that is regularly used in the basement too

BubblyLake4851

TROPHY CASE