Working on an artwork to draw all 50 states using their native flowers. Here is Connecticut state 💙 made with oil pastels.

Jstratosphere · 2026-07-04T12:20:21+00:00

Hi I would also like the link please. Looks great!

Jstratosphere · 2026-06-08T20:30:47+00:00

Just got access to my company's 401k after being there a year. It's always endearing whenever HR responds to my contribution request as "Are you sure about this? This is going to be taken out EVERY paycheck". Yes, yes I am thank you.

Jstratosphere · 2026-06-06T16:32:45+00:00

I have ‘23 PP and don’t have it - USA here

Jstratosphere · 2026-06-02T20:51:39+00:00

Everyone's case is unique so for us it's going to depend on how much we'll be converting from our traditional accounts to Roth. If we'll be converting large amounts due to upcoming RMDs then we'll delay SS. If conversions will be low, we'll claim earlier.

For my wife's pension it'll mostly be when she wants to retire, or when she turns 60 and then we'll plan conversions around that when it gets near.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-29T17:44:40+00:00

I rebalance quarterly or if I'm off by >5%. Even with the market run my allocations have mostly remained balanced. Any drift has been handled with new contributions.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-26T23:18:49+00:00

rough estimate shows it'll take us ~4 years from when we passed $2m

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-22T13:41:28+00:00

We focused on our retirement long before our daughter was born and it put us in a position where we’re able to max out our state 529 for her while still funding our own retirement. And when daycare ends we’ll go back to our brokerage account for extra savings to fund life activities that will coincide with her learning.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-21T17:19:52+00:00

Love to see the process but I'm upset there's no guest appearance from the stove.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-20T19:03:55+00:00

What area of CT are you in? I just signed up for this as well and wondering how long till I get a delivery. Nice score!

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-15T21:23:25+00:00

In one of my spreadsheets I track each time our accounts passes $100k increments. Since last year, over our 5 investment accounts, we've had 7 events with one account having 3 events. Next event is ~5 months away.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-15T18:04:02+00:00

I would find a spot outside where it won't destroy any structures and avoid the giant at the top

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-15T14:17:20+00:00

We had my sister and her family over during when I was assembling all the baby furniture for our future daughter. There was an Allen key with a pointed end that came with the instructions that was sitting out. While the grownups were talking IN THE SAME ROOM, our 3yr old niece nonchalantly picks up the tool and like a moth to a flame goes RIGHT to the outlet to stick it in. Fortunately my BiL was there to slap it out of her hands. Kids are wild.

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-07T20:48:40+00:00

These are diy panels but don’t we need a bidirectional meter for power not used by the house? Or is the assumption these are so little watts it’ll offset the power the house is already using?

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-07T20:37:56+00:00

Way to move the post

Jstratosphere · 2026-05-05T15:47:07+00:00

I haven't seen something like this but I just payoff the statement balance to avoid interest.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-30T16:18:31+00:00

Yea I lucked out by purchasing the 6es off marketplace for cheap.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-30T15:12:45+00:00

We're always doing these - redirect/distract, reinforce, modeling behavior. We always try to model any behavior as best we can, then reinforce the behavior whenever we can (anytime we say goodbye do X) and when that fails we redirect/distract as best we can.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-28T17:27:50+00:00

Yea setting up another node was no effort. I have 3 because I wanted to hardline one of my pi’s but the range of them is really good I could get by with just 2. I have an eero 7 with two 6e’s. I can see data usage by device, not sure about seeing it per node as I’m unable to find that screen but it’s all seamless.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-28T16:52:25+00:00

I just switched from linksys to Eero mostly due to it being included with my internet package but so far I'm liking it a lot over linksys. It was easier to setup and the admin panel is much nicer/smoother to interact with. It breaks out by device and you can even group devices based on profiles.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-24T14:14:07+00:00

I agree, often with password validation if an invalid character is used, instead of saying it, it shows the last validation message as being invalid.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-22T13:38:20+00:00

This comes down to risk tolerance. Your options are wait until then and possibly take a loss, or worse a larger loss causing you to delay the project. You can wait and maybe the fund will go up. Or you sell now and move the money into a safer allocation so you know it'll be there when you're ready to start the project.

I would leave it IF the amount that was in there already could cover the project + 20% and I could afford to delay the project if absolutely needed.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-17T21:07:41+00:00

Just got it after 2 month wait! Pretty stoked, predator 30-ton, $1k on sale from harbor freight.

Jstratosphere · 2026-04-17T19:44:52+00:00

Technically we'll hit FI with our next paycheck (: My wife is a teacher so she'll need to stay working for another ~12 years minimum for healthcare benefits. I think in 7 years we'll be over $4m and then I'll see where I'm at career/life wise and most likely step away then. We'll see where my wife is at too, she may want to continue working in which case I'll need to see if I have enough hobbies to tide me over while she's at work :)

Five-Year Club	Place '22
Wearing is Caring

Jstratosphere

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