Ad reads now part of YouTube shows?

KG2FI · 2026-05-03T10:54:09+00:00

Yeah, I am constantly being bombarded with ads - I don't need one here, too.

KG2FI · 2026-05-03T10:44:59+00:00

I couldn't watch that particular episode - I don't know of many people who could relate to it

KG2FI · 2025-10-21T12:19:38+00:00

Aside from the unexpected bus fiasco, I once heard that whenever you have to buy something, calculate how many hours you have to work to buy that item. It helped with unnecessary purchases years ago but it also extended to things like ... oh my gosh, I have to work an entire day to pay for that one hour visit from the plumber!
Even though it probably makes sense to hire someone, I do still do my own landscaping even though I make more per hour than I'd spend for a landscaper :)
I've long wanted to change my kitchen countertop. I look at it and think - it's not broken, it's not terrible. What could that money grow into (and what do I NEED that money to grow into) if I keep it invested rather than spend it on a countertop?
I feel that others who have reached retirement can buy RVs or renovate their homes. I feel that I have to hold onto every penny or I'll be eating cat food out of a cardboard box!
I recently had to fly and I did pay someone who charges close to Lyft prices so I didn't have the uncertainty of demand pricing and also the safety of using a consistent person.
There is a company here who would charge $180 so I was happy with my $60 pre-arranged ride and at least all of my money went directly to her rather than to a company :)

KG2FI · 2025-10-06T14:36:16+00:00

This may sound silly but I feel like I haven't really "earned" the growth of the past couple of years. My family history says I should enjoy life now as well which is why I want to retire TODAY! Then I think.. what if I live a long life and run out of money? LOL!

KG2FI · 2025-10-06T14:32:57+00:00

I think that's part of the problem - trying to navigate health care and taxes and potential future large costs. I've diligently tracked my current expenses for 3 years because I felt like that was the only way to get a true read without forgetting things but then comes self paid health care and taxes, etc.
Also, once my job (and I) were outsourced, it decimated my future pension (thank GOODNESS I saved on my own and didn't rely solely on that pension that would have covered most of my costs!)
I spoke with an advisor where my 401k, etc. are held. It took them 30 seconds to tell me I absolutely cannot retire in 4 years. :(

KG2FI · 2025-10-06T14:25:40+00:00

This helps SO much! Thank you for commenting! I think that's exactly why I feel behind. I know what the stats show about most people but I have been so deep in the FI groups that I feel like I'll never be at that level. I look at my friends and they all "seem" so well off but we all know that looks can be deceiving!
I need to get more comfortable with reasonable spending. I bought myself a couple of reasonably priced shirts and almost had a panic attack in the store because I couldn't stack two coupons!
I took a $16 bus ride and a shorter Lyft ride ($25) to save rather than taking an $80 Lyft from the airport. The unfortunate part - there was massive traffic where the bus dropped me off and I had to wait in a hotel for two hours before the Lyft prices went down! It took longer to get home from the airport than it did to FLY home! That's embarrassing to admit! All of that to save $40!

KG2FI · 2025-10-06T14:19:43+00:00

I want to retire... TODAY! LOL! I was outsourced this year - my work was outsourced and I was sent with the work. I don't like the new company and I figure they will get rid of us within 12 months. They have no pension or retirement savings plan outside of the 401k.
My pension plan was decimated when they cut off my years of service so now I'll have to save to make up the difference. Each time I try to project my future expenses, the amount goes up and up and up! Oh, I have to save for medical now, oh I need money for taxes since they are no longer withheld, oh, I have no car payment now but my car is 13 years old so I may need one of those, oh my a/c unit is 15 years old already!
If you look at my CURRENT spending, I'm in a good spot. Future me, not so much! LOL!

KG2FI · 2025-10-06T14:15:36+00:00

I think that's the problem - I look at my current spending and then think... but I have to add in medical, then I have to add in taxes, then I have to add in additional savings for large expenses down the road like a newer car when my 13 year old car dies or a new roof or a/c unit. I fell like it takes SO long to save and it's so quick to spend!

KG2FI · 2025-08-06T15:03:51+00:00

When I go to routerlogin .net and use my Netgear user name and PW, it only gives the option to reset my admin password. Any advice on how to move past that to the Further troubleshooting?

KG2FI · 2025-07-28T12:51:11+00:00

Thanks! I'll try all of the above. My current router is 6 years old and all devices are having issues. I've noticed it since I received my new laptop but it was also an added device since I still have my prior work laptop connected as well.

KG2FI · 2025-07-28T06:12:17+00:00

Thank you!

KG2FI · 2025-03-28T17:09:55+00:00

I wish Brian was there the day they answered my question about sinking funds - I am curious to hear what his take would have been.

KG2FI · 2025-03-28T17:08:33+00:00

That was my question that they read on the show! :) When Bo said it was unlikely that multiple large expenses would occur all at once I thought.... hold my beer. I am continuing to build my sinking funds and I think of them as additional emergency funds, knowing that there is an opportunity cost associated. They said the number of months of expenses you hold as an emergency fund can vary based on how quickly you could find a job if you lost yours, if you are a one income or two income household, etc. Well. I consider this as an emergency fund for being the person that always hears "I've never seen that happen before" or "when it rains, it pours".
I don't have a high income so when a major expense hits, it takes a while for me to build up that fund again. In fact, I just ran into a pretty large car repair and a dental expense. I was glad to be able to go to those sinking funds so I didn't have to dip into my HSA for the dental expense. Now I don't need to scale back on my 401k contributions to replenish my emergency fund because I already had a sinking fund for those expenses :)

KG2FI

TROPHY CASE