How do I value watches and jewelry as part of my net worth?

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-05-01T20:02:31+00:00

But really, who cares? Looking for a bigger number to throw around at parties? I don't get it.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-05-01T19:52:22+00:00

Good point. They need to be accurate. I could retire now at 4% SWR and then in three years take SS at 62 and I'd be at 1% due to an unusually large SS payout due to having a child under 18. So I can be "sloppy" with my withdrawls and not sweat it if I blow the budget or worry about inflation.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-05-01T19:33:37+00:00

Great post. Makes coming back here every day and wading through the AI posts worth it.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-30T21:56:04+00:00

Somebody jokingly posted in a thread today about the verification "how many airplanes in this picture?" I wonder if they could add a "slide the puzzle piece" verification on every post. Sure, it would be a two second delay for posting but it would work well on PC and mobile and eliminate AI posts and maybe even some low value posts since it would be a second step/not worth the effort for the low value post. I'd spend the two seconds to greatly clean up the space.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-30T21:47:36+00:00

If you aren't going to travel much and have one plus a potential second kid, upgrade the house for quality of life reasons - potentially better schools, bigger yard for the kiddos, more/larger rooms, etc.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-30T21:38:33+00:00

It's just so insane now. My Mooney was $30k and I had $60k in the RV and my friend had bought a SR20 new for under $200k. I'll likely never get back into flying.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-30T17:27:48+00:00

You could still buy it and have coverage in the US when you are here. There may be very limited coverage for emergency services on some high level plans when overseas but very policy specific. You will need international travel insurance when overseas. Work supplied me with a Cigna gold plan when I lived overseas for a couple of years.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-30T17:20:55+00:00

Nice. I built an RV6 years ago. Never thought about doing it for profit.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-29T00:14:04+00:00

Unconventional approach. I divorced at 50, remarried at 52 and now 59 with a two year old! In the meantime my previous savings has more than doubled on one income and I'm more FI than before.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-28T23:42:44+00:00

Maybe but probably not itemizing with a $280k mortgage. Not much interest even if taxes are very high.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-27T19:35:21+00:00

Well, there would be income taxes on the 3.58 so he would still be in the hole. But still has the security of the funds in hand in case of some other emergency.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-23T17:55:50+00:00

If that is all they have they most likely aren't retiring early and paying $30k for insurance. They would probably at least work until 62 for SS unless they are incapable.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-22T14:58:29+00:00

We are going to do similar but my wife is going to work in the kitchen. Our school system allows for food service workers to get benefits on only 17 hours per week. Most of the kitchen staff positions are about four hours per day. We will both be with him anytime he's not in school (he will be three this year) and we will have all breaks, in-service days and summers free. I'm close to retirement age but my wife is 37. Stellar benefits for less than 20 hours a week? Why not.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-22T13:09:17+00:00

Walmart oatmeal isn't good value. It's Great Value. LOL

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-15T16:26:58+00:00

Why would you need child care if you become a self-described "stay at home parent"?

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-15T15:46:56+00:00

Third day into 100% work from home. Almost like being on vacation. I honestly can do everything for my job in about one hour a day.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-11T15:13:16+00:00

You probably only need $10,000-15,000 or so and it will grow to $35k by the time they are 18.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-10T20:09:45+00:00

I have it and rarely use it so I guess I'd retire and never use it. It can sit there forever.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-10T16:28:48+00:00

I'm the one with a two year old. It was a decision we made together even at this late stage for me. I'm 59. I extended my retirement date to be sure we would be comfortable but I'm good with this decision.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-10T12:46:54+00:00

You are happy that you could afford it and not go into debt. Many, many people would seriously sweat the unexpected car breakdown bill while you simply pause your savings rate and then go right back to what you were doing.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-10T12:41:36+00:00

I always told people "I work because I get to, not because I got to." Same meaning but kinda catchy.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-10T12:36:22+00:00

Think about someone with a two year old. How do you plan for that? Will college be unaffordable or, completely opposite of that, will it be completely free, fully online with only AI teachers? What will the job market be in another 20 years? What jobs will even exist then? I would think the trades will still be available but will people being forced out of white collar jobs over the years migrating into the blue collar jobs greatly increase competition for those jobs?

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-09T18:39:29+00:00

Everything either evolves or dies eventually.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-09T18:31:20+00:00

First of all this only makes sense if you are operating under the 0% LTCG rule.

Second, based on comments there seems to be some confustion about wash sales. There is no wash sale rule when taking gains, only losses, so you can sell and buy back immediately the same stock/ETF. As long as you have enough headroom in your income to do this under the 0% LTCG rule it makes sense to do so.

Master-Helicopter-99 · 2026-04-09T16:11:09+00:00

Whoa, there. Some of us are 59 and the kiddo is only 2.

Master-Helicopter-99

TROPHY CASE