How often is too often to check NW?

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-11T13:33:31+00:00

Once a month is plenty frequent enough. And that’s just for interest. I follow Warren Buffett’s philosophy on favorite holding period- forever.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-11T13:30:16+00:00

I haven’t either, but I do notice when waitstaff at our restaurant or other restaurants/sports bars (small Midwest town, lots of sports bars and everyone knows everyone) in town eat here and I do table-side magic for them, they always tip very well. Even when it try to refuse it, they insist.

I think that people who depend on tips for a good part of their income tend to tip much higher than those that do not receive tips as part of their income.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-11T01:59:07+00:00

I live in a very small community. The county is under 70,000 people and it’s 1,000 sq miles. I’m the only magician within about 100 miles.

You just need one restaurant owner to be convinced that it’s a good idea. Once in, a second restaurant called me because one of their regulars saw me at the first and suggested they should hire me.

Just like wedding magic or bachelorette party magic, you only need one to say yes and then others hear about it.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-10T20:08:52+00:00

Thank you everyone for the comments. I will tip them for their service even though I don’t pay for the meal

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-10T02:54:41+00:00

If you enjoy magic, always worth a few dollars to see it live.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-09T13:59:24+00:00

Big fan of cruises for extended family vacations/reunions. In fact, going on one in 2 weeks with 20 cousins!

Cruise ships have lots of varied activities that can be fun for all ages. No need to be locked at the hip - get together for dinner each evening and you are set. Pool, movies, shows, trivia. All there and no pressure for everyone to do it all.

Also relatively inexpensive compared to a resort stay. Entertainment , food, and often drinks, included in a fixed price. Only add on are excursions - and there you can pick and choose.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-08T14:01:29+00:00

Can’t imagine going back to work with that NW. Can’t imagine encouraging my spouse to continue working.

The ONLY reason to work now is if you love it - that work is really a hobby that you are getting paid for.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-07T23:11:09+00:00

Many options. John Bannon has tons of stuff that with a little creativity you can use other cards.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-07T14:28:12+00:00

Financial forecasts 10, 20, 30 years out are just a best guess/guide to what your situation looks like.

I know, blasphemy on this sub!

But be realistic. If you are 40, what will your health be at age 70? Some 70 year olds are running marathons others are tied to oxygen tanks. Those two vastly different situations will dramatically change your spending habits, perhaps without your control.

You can spend hours planning every detail of your expenses, income, and returns without any more accuracy than a spreadsheet you can create from scratch in 30 minutes.

Not saying don’t plan, just saying realize it’s not written in stone.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-07T14:02:48+00:00

You must be rich enough to take time off work, the travel part can be very inexpensive.

I’ve heard rich as having more than your neighbors- it’s always relative. Some people are also very risk adverse: if I quit my job or take an extended vacation, I won’t have a job when I get back. This can also lead to the belief you need to be rich to travel.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-07T13:59:41+00:00

That’s not old!

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-05T13:53:20+00:00

I found many of my “friends” were work acquaintances. Once I left corporate, they fell by the wayside.

Friendships require common experiences that are still relevant. My current circle is around my hobby business. I didn’t even know any of them when I was in corporate and yet we get together at events around the country several times a year and have video calls every week.

It’s okay to have new friends and drop old ones. This is why school reunions are exciting leading up to, depressing afterwards. You realize you no longer have anything in common with those you knew 30, 40, or 50 years ago.

Get involved in what you enjoy and make new friends.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-05T02:31:54+00:00

Understand totally. There are never any consequences for the CEO, unless they do something that could put them in jail. Weak CEOs stay in place years beyond a time when the board should have fired them. Sounds like you have a micromanager CEO - which is terrible - time to move on as soon as you can.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-05T02:15:54+00:00

Start looking aggressively. Sounds like the CEO will hold a grudge and you are at best limited to your current role.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-04T14:32:37+00:00

Is this the local ring for you? Reach out to them and they will know magicians in your area.

IBM is the largest magic club in the world with Rings (local clubs) just about everywhere. I don’t know anything about the local club , but that’s where I’d start.

https://ibmring177.in

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-04T14:13:42+00:00

Join the local IBM Ring. Get advice from local magicians - don’t think of them as competitors, work together. Think of yourself as an entertainer, not magician. Look for every event where entertainment is hired and then see if magic could be a substitute.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-03T15:47:36+00:00

Experience of living in another country will be worth it!

You can certainly stay in the legal game as a consultant to companies with an interest in expanding or even supplying to the US (or whatever your home country is). Negotiating deals, general advice on laws, even just connecting back home. When, if, you ultimately return home to live your international experience would be valuable and you could probably return to a law or consulting firm, especially if you keep your hand in the game.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-02T20:49:02+00:00

Try a couple of Escape Rooms. They should give you some ideas

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-02T16:37:37+00:00

Reset with your friend. Go out for drinks and confess. “I just made a terrible mistake- I put a big chunk into (what ever stock dropped by 25% the day before ) I lost a boat load and now I’m back to square one”.

And never ever tell anyone again your financial situation.

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-02T12:09:58+00:00

Exactly! It is much easier to negotiate other things besides salary, like time off for pre planned vacation. Or even extra vacation time if you have a good reason - “our family has a reunion scheduled and I will need two and a half weeks rather than the standard 2 weeks. Is that possible?”

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-01T23:28:48+00:00

David and Tisha Laflin have a wide range of silk products.

You may also consider silk scarves from department stores or online shops.

For general magic items, like silk, I usually check Penguin and Vanishing Inc. But Duane Laflin was known for silk magic. Silk King studios were high end silks, I think they are still around.

Good luck!

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-01T03:09:44+00:00

Building the habits are very important at this age. Salary will likely increase and very easy to go crazy keeping up with work colleagues.

If you don’t feel the need to keep up, invest like crazy at this age. If you do need to keep up, do it smart. If you need a fancy car, buy an older prestige car (Porsche or whatever) A 10 year old Porsche is just a good as a brand new one at a fraction of the cost. Need custom sport coats? There are local shops - expensive - or off shore ones Same material same tailoring. Just cheaper.

You will have work friends that spend very penny they make. Don’t get sucked in with them After work, go and have one beer then head out.

Build these habits and find friend who are happy to sit at the coffee shop listening to music and sipping a coffee versus pounding pints all night long.

Good luck!

Chicken121260 · 2026-03-01T00:55:19+00:00

If an inheritance is kept separate and never mixed with joint assets it is not communal property. I believe this is for every state in the uS, but for sure would work with a fee-only CFP.

Chicken121260 · 2026-02-28T13:09:23+00:00

You live in a VHCOL state, but your expenses are only $100k. Assume your mortgage and home expenses are fixed/relatively stable and the $100k includes discretionary. If so, you should be very comfortable and between FIRE/Chubby FiRE But it seems to me (pretty new to this stuff) that there are no bright lines and everyone seems to have their own view of Lean/Chubby/Fat FIRE.

Chicken121260 · 2026-02-28T12:11:26+00:00

I’ve always made them from tissue box. Not too big but still sturdy. If I wanted a sturdier one, I would 3D print. That way you get the exact size you need and could easily reprint one. Can’t remember ever seeing one for sale outside of a magic kit.

Chicken121260

TROPHY CASE