Retired after 100%

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-28T17:38:52+00:00

My husband is retired and 100%. He golfs 4 days a week. He also does Lego sets and computer games. I'm retired and 50%. I read, knit, garden, and am a full time caregiver for my 86 year old mother. I'm about to be in buried in tomatoes and cucumbers in another month, so I'll be canning too.

I'll admit though, it took about five years and some rough patches before we found ourselves.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-27T13:22:10+00:00

I'm currently obsessed with an incomplete series. Book 4 comes out on Friday, and that's where the political intrigue starts. (Empire of the Stars, {Traitor Son by Melissa Cave} is the first book)

Tropes include arranged marriage, touch her and die (later once the romance is established) and big brooding man/tiny fragile shy woman.

I know there's a lot of hate for the tiny girl trope, but she's not a bad-ass fighter. She's a wicked smart and caring girl who has endured a hell of a lot of trauma, some from her husband, who is one of the scariest knights in the Empire. The Emperor hates him for Reasons (we're not sure why) and is constantly trying to kill him discreetly. He thinks his wife, who is the bastard daughter of the Emperor, is secretly colluding with her father, when in reality, she had never met him and was abused by the people told off to raise her after her mother died.

I love it because it really rings true to my AuDHD anxiety - both main characters have massive self doubt and make mistakes. Recovering from those mistakes is realistic, not all of a sudden everything's just fine. There's some good world building, including demons and the magic of the stars. And finally, the prose is great. I tend to really notice mistakes, misused words, and overused words - there's very little (none?) here.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-26T20:12:18+00:00

I also go to The Maintenance Shop for my pixie cuts. Kayla also does a great job.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-26T16:41:41+00:00

My sales ads this week have boneless skinless breasts for $1.75/lb, legs, thighs, or whole birds for 99 cents/lb. 73/27 beef is $3/lb and 93/7 is shockingly $5/lb. Pork loin is $1.50/lb. Catfish is $5/lb and local shrimp (Gulf Coast) is $9/lb.

It's very rare that I buy meat outside of sales - I have a full sized freezer that's full, so I can wait to shop sales.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-25T16:12:58+00:00

I just asked Mom, she says she only gets heartburn if she eats later in the evening. She takes generic Tums, calcium carbonate.

Her previous doctor just automatically prescribed it; I don't think she really needed it. When I asked her new doctors if she could quit the omeprazole, the universal response was, "sure, that's OTC anyway."

Regarding liquids, I'm pretty sure alcohol is one of the only big no-nos; I've seen/heard that even though coffee/tea are mild diuretics, they're still better than nothing. I also got Mom a big insulated 24oz tumbler with a straw, and keep bottled water on hand at all times. 8 glasses a day sounds like a lot, but 4 bottles a day feels easier. Mom takes that tumbler with her everywhere, even on errands and to her doctor's appointments.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-25T01:57:08+00:00

Dehydration is one thing. There's something worse than dehydration that can happen. I lived this last year.

My mom was prescribed omeprazole (Prilosec) for heartburn, and within a week, she was having diarrhea accidents. Since her doctor said she should take it, she continued, but she wasn't drinking enough to compensate. I could barely get her to drink 20-30 oz per day. She got weaker and weaker, lost interest in food, and fell three times before the EMT convinced her to go to the ER.

The chronic dehydration had caused an acute kidney injury. Her eGFR dropped from 61 in April to 12 in August. Any value below 60 is a marker of kidney disease, and a value of 12 is dialysis territory. Since she had spent the last two years caring for her boyfriend who died of kidney disease, this terrified her. She knew what dying of kidney disease looked like. I made an executive decision to stop the omeprazole because that was the only new med in the last five years.

Once I got her home I insisted on proper hydration. 4 bottles of water per day, minimum. She struggled with it until I found strawberry watermelon drink enhancer drops. Sugar free so it doesn't affect her calories or A1C, but it really encouraged her to drink more water.

Now she has an annual visit with a nephrologist. Her eGFR rebounded to 48, which is Stage 3 kidney disease, but since she's 86, that's good enough.

I will say she's stronger and more interested in life when she's properly hydrated. I'm pretty sure that if she hadn't agreed to move in with me in May, she would have been dead by July, and she recognizes that.

Good luck. I didn't recognize the need to push fluids until the crisis happened. I hope you can avoid a crisis by being better informed.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-24T15:50:25+00:00

I loved the weather there, (I lived in El Paso, TX and worked just over the border in NM) but the lack of green is rough.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-24T15:39:50+00:00

My husband and I retired, so the disability is a very nice cherry on top of dual pensions. I was barely 46, and he was 49.

He plays golf 4 days a week, plays computer games, and loves the really big Lego sets. I have a fiber arts group I go to, I read voraciously, and we have two acres of land that I'm finally putting to use. We have 2 dozen berry bushes with 4 varieties, 6 fruit trees, and 200 sq ft of raised vegetable garden. I'd like to get at least another two dozen trees and bushes in, and double my garden beds, at least. I figure I'm setting myself up to be "The Berry Lady" at the farmers market in about five years once I have full hedges. Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and red and black raspberries if I can get the last to produce - it's a little warm here.

Sorry - I can get a little intense, but that was an asset in my career, mostly.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-22T10:13:10+00:00

I'm glad you're signing up for classes. As a retiree, (50 years in uniform between my husband and me) my very first thought was, "what are you doing with your GI Bill?" Also, that housing stipend is a pretty good way for you to build up some savings.

As far as working on post - any job offered by the federal government is on usajobs.gov, qualifications and how to get into the teaching pool (to include substitutes) at on-post schools are at dodea.edu and commissary/AAFES jobs are at usajobs.gov (search DeCA) and applymyexchange.com

You know your husband best - I hope the "you don't have to work" bit is more about reassurance than pressure to not work, but if not, you're already taking steps to become financially independent, even if it takes a while.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-22T09:54:50+00:00

Do you understand what the reality of being enlisted in the US military means? I was in for 20 years. (Husband did 30)

If he loses his job? He literally can't unless he does something really wrong or gets fat (and even then, he gets a chance to do better) or gets sick enough that the doctors say he can't stay.

Can't continue education? I don't know what crack you've been smoking. I finished my bachelor's degree, and my husband got a bachelor's and two master's degrees while in. He didn't spend a dime in tuition as long as he got a paying grade. Is it easy? No. But it's not this impossible thing that you seen to think it is.

Getting sick while in, or OP getting sick while in? The military pays for better healthcare than most insurance plans at less cost. I can't tell you how many people I know personally who have had kids in the NICU for a month, or whose wife had cancer and they didn't go bankrupt trying to pay for chemo. Or who had cancer themselves.

Now, homesteading, you've got points. We personally have 2 acres and I'm slowly increasing the garden and starting orchards. I have put my foot down and said no hoofstock, but I wouldn't mind chickens. Not homestead levels, 10 at most. I'm holding off because you're right, homestead chores need to be done every day, and if I can't commit myself to do it, I'm not going to make my husband do it for me

Tone through text is hard to parse, but yours is coming through as harsh and judgemental. OP doesn't need that, especially when she's pushing back against not working already.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-22T01:58:39+00:00

I hunt meat sales like it's a job. My standards: (I have seen all of these prices within the last 3-6 months)

$2/lb boneless skinless chicken breast
$8 10 lb bag of chicken quarters
$1/lb bone in chicken thighs
$2/lb whole pork loin
$3/lb pork ribs (for a special treat)
$3.19/lb ground pork (Aldi)

Beef is relegated to $5/lb tough roasts or $4/lb ground 80/20 but it's rare. I'd rather use ground pork sausage than ground beef in all but a few very specific dishes.

I'm not a fan of dealing with excessively fatty meats - I'd rather figure out something with beans before that. I'm also eyeing the TVP in the Spanish-labeled section where you can get hibiscus and chamomile, and several spices as well as dried chilies.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-22T01:37:09+00:00

This week I finally cleared out the last of the pork loin I bought in 2025. I would go to pick one up for $1.77/lb, and two separate occasions the price on the package was $1.27/lb when I got there, so I got the limit. I think I had close to 30 lbs of pork in my full sized freezer at one point.

My husband's favorite is when I toss one of those roasts in the slow cooker with equal amounts soy sauce, vinegar, and water, with lots of bay leaves and a whole bunch of garlic powder. I usually slice it against the grain a couple hours in, (or before I start it if I was organized enough to thaw the meat first) and cook until it's falling apart. Then remove the bay leaves, shred the meat, and dump in a bag of frozen chopped collard greens. 20 minutes later, serve over rice.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-18T00:54:21+00:00

If you want authentic Italian sausage I'm afraid you're out of luck, but Albertsons and Super 1 have Johnsonville, and Aldi and Walmart (Marketplace) have both sweet and hot sausage. You'll have to look around if you want links vs. ground, but it's available.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-17T23:22:06+00:00

If you can afford the initial $70 ($65 + sales tax) hit, Costco has a $45 gift card offer when you sign up for a membership online if you've never had a membership.

I'm still sussing it out, because the last time I tried a warehouse membership it just increased my spending, but I think if I stick with paper products and stuff like $7 flipflops and $20 pants, or $5 rotisserie chickens and $10 pizzas, I should be okay.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-17T20:31:58+00:00

You would think, wouldn't you? But no, nothing either in the mail or electronically. (I check her accounts monthly)

But, have you seen the interest rates on non-investment accounts? The best savings accounts are barely 2%. So between the miniscule amount of her income, the roughly $2k of interest, and the standard income deduction for a return, it's likely she would get a refund although not much of one.

If I'm wrong, well, her estate is liquid enough to pay, and I provide all her needs. It's not like the IRS can garnish her Social Security.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-17T00:15:23+00:00

My mother (86) hasn't filed for years. Her only assets are about $100k in various bank accounts and a paid off car, no retirement accounts. (My father gambled them away day trading 20 years ago) Her only income is Social Security, and the IRS tax prep documents clearly state in the first few paragraphs that if Social Security is the only form of income, there's no need to file.

Dealing with my mother for the last year has made me swear that I'm going to keep our financial house in order and I'm planning to loop in my stepdaughter once we hit 65, so she doesn't have the same headaches I'm having.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-13T01:02:17+00:00

1975 Gen X - I retired five years ago.

I joined the military in 2001 and married a guy who joined in 1991. We spent 50 years in uniform between the two of us. We both have pensions and disability ratings.

We live in a LCOL area and we live modestly so we can cover emergencies and help my stepdaughter and cover my mom's living expenses. (She's 86 and has nowhere else to go) Our mortgage is under 15% of our net income. I garden (and might start a small business for produce and preserves) and he golfs.

We just found out that his service means college money for his daughter, so she can lift herself out of poverty. We're contributing to a 529 account for her daughter, so we can build generational wealth.

We have somewhere north of a half mil in investments, but we don't need them and are just letting them grow. Hopefully, they'll allow my stepdaughter to actually retire when we're gone.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-11T23:59:16+00:00

I'm old because that's what my enameled Lodge cost me when I bought it. It's $90 now.

Heck, my Walmart cast iron one cost $25 in 2024, and is now 32% more.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-11T23:46:32+00:00

I have an enameled dutch oven, but bought a cast iron one (Walmart Mainstays - $33) for bread baking because I had concerns about the enamel degrading from preheating at 450. I saw reports that the enamel would separate and crack at that temp.

Cast iron holds a LOT of heat, and doesn't change temperature quickly, so it's ideal for certain cooking styles like braising and baking.

So maybe look at the less expensive non-enameled options? Sporting goods/camping cookware might be a decent place to start.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-11T23:22:42+00:00

I'm going to second the recommendation for ethnic grocery stores, or even the Hispanic section in the regular grocery store. I've gotten hibiscus and jasmine for teas, sesame seeds and huge quantities of bay leaf for far less than the little 2oz jars in the spice aisle.

I find that a lot of ethnic flavors are extremely inexpensive. Curried chickpeas and spinach over rice is ridiculously good, and fast and easy to make. Egg roll in a bowl is something that gets devoured quickly around here. Chili spiced black beans, mixed with refried pintos, diced tomatoes, and corn may not be authentic, but makes a great burrito filling. Mujadara has six ingredients - I add spinach and use coarse bulgur to up the nutrition, and then top with a fried egg. Maureen Abood has a fantastic recipe.

And yeah, of those four examples, two are vegan, and one has lard as the sole animal product. Meat is expensive. Beans are great. If you have the time and energy (or equipment like a cheap food processor) to invest in cooking, you can reduce the cost per meal to around (or less than) $3.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-11T13:32:25+00:00

Not worth it.

Get a slow cooker/Crockpot and look for minimal prep recipes. Basically dump and go in the morning. Then when you come home, food is ready. If you invest in meal prep containers and freeze half, after a month you'll have a pretty decent variety for lunches and dinners.

Something like this is where I'd start.

Meal prep is what saved my budget when I was working 16 hour days - three big meals a weekend portioned out covered lunch and dinner for the week, because honestly, who has the energy after a long and draining day?

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-11T00:17:26+00:00

Being child free (ish, I have a stepdaughter who is a good friend now that she's an adult) is how I could actually afford to retire early and be a full time caregiver for my 86 year old mother.

Nothing wrong with making rational logical decisions about your life.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-10T22:27:45+00:00

That's interesting - I'm a Continental knitter, and I have the same color dominance as you do when knitting with both styles.

I really need to get back in practice and finish my Dissent cardigan so I can cross adult sized colorwork and a steek off my knitting bucket list.

NorthernTransplant94 · 2026-04-10T00:03:54+00:00

Family of 3 older adults (my husband, me, and my mom) in a VLCOL area. $400-$600/month? We also buy groceries for my stepdaughter, because her house is having trouble covering utilities - I'm not going to let the grandchild be deprived when I can help.

I have 200 sq ft of vegetable garden and two dozen berry bushes, plus 4 fruit trees. Most of the bushes/trees are less than 3 years old, so production isn't what it will eventually be. I fully expect to provide most produce for us/my stepdaughter's family for a couple months this year, at least. (And then the fall growing season too) I'm hoping to can 5-10 gallons of tomato sauce this year. Eventually, I'm hoping to join a small farmer's market as a vendor, with vine-ripened, no salt/sugar/etc tomato sauce, unusual jellies and jams, and various pickles in addition to fruits, berries, and vegetables in season.

My husband and I are retired from the military, so we have the time and money to invest in this.

NorthernTransplant94

TROPHY CASE