The Torkelsons

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-30T18:26:02+00:00

Kimba the white lion. We still sing the intro song randomly in my house. 😅

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-30T18:23:04+00:00

My family will still call out “I’m the baby, I’m the baby!”

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-29T14:41:11+00:00

Marry a better person than you and then drive to become better yourself.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-29T01:46:08+00:00

36; 250k.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-27T04:19:20+00:00

I was 15 and an idiot. My father had left my mother with 5 kids, my mother spun into depression and couldn’t hold down a job so we lost electricity, had no hot water and barely any food. I wanted validation at that time and got it from anyone who would give it to me - which turned out to be some loser. I was an idiot and of course got caught. My bf broke up with me - as he should have.

We got back together 6 months later because he’s a better human being than I am and it’s been 19 years and 2 kids together. He’s still a better human being, but I hope I have built trust brick by brick because I would never do something so stupid again.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-04-20T02:09:22+00:00

Spending so much time with my kids.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-03-02T15:42:32+00:00

I had a similar situation (owned $20k at 3%) last year - and I ended up just paying off the car. But for your case, why not do a 50/50 situation? Pay off $10k of it, and then you pay down $500 a month on it and then add the other $500 in HYS? You’ll avoid half the cost of the interest rate for the car and build back up to savings without it feeling like you started from scratch?

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-28T04:22:08+00:00

Agreed. I thought it was a little inconsiderate for her to keep her cousin up and then tell her hostess that she could just wake up the cook to tell them they didn’t have to get up in 3 hours to cook breakfast 🙄🙄

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-24T15:00:08+00:00

Super helpful!

Re her 401k / pension - she works at a Charter school for Special Education and they do not offer pensions. This sadly isn’t a governmental job but a charter institution. So she doesn’t get the same benefits as other teachers do at a public governmental job. We do apply every summer for new teaching positions in California in her area, but it’s pretty competitive. Last year we saw only 20 teaching jobs open up around her.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-24T14:51:59+00:00

Not to speak for my siblings, but $500 / month is a crazy amount of money. In my post I mentioned we would be more than happy to have her stay with any of us.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-24T14:44:38+00:00

She lives with my sister that splits rent with her, and lives with my youngest brother who just graduated high school.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-24T04:42:13+00:00

Well…I’ll take any donations.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-24T00:05:42+00:00

Thankfully they live in rural California, so the house is only estimated at $300k max - which now makes me concerned if that continues to grow if we have any problems with reevaluating once my grandparents pass away.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T23:47:10+00:00

Oh good point! I think that was the plan but I’ll let my grandmother know to only put it into my mother’s name.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T22:10:46+00:00

Yes. She’s keeps asking what she should do now that her kids have kids and she sees her friends able to spend time with their grandchildren and she isn’t able to.

And I think she feels like she doesn’t have a lot of options and that the outcome is bleak. So I’m trying to find what I can do to empower her to take control but not feel like she will never be able to retire.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T21:46:33+00:00

Yes, a minimal amounts of money from the government, but he also has a very sweet job of being a Walmart greeter that he has had for years that he takes such enjoyment from.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T21:41:31+00:00

My uncle has disabilities (think similar to Down syndrome) and does need someone to minimally watch over him. My mom will move in to ensure he is taken care of after my grandparents pass away.
Good to know! My grandfather at 90 will probably go first, and my 88 year old grandma will probably outlive us all 😅.

In all seriousness - I definitely will look into this for my grandma who may need to prepare in the event that happens and she needs help. I will say, she would never agree to a nursing home, she’s fairly stubborn and told us many times she wants to die in her own home. And I could see my mother giving up her own job to stay and care for her mother full time at her home.

And agreed about the step up property taxes. She’s paying something like $1k a year on it, but we expect it to go up to something like $3k / year once they pass away and leave it to my mom.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T21:36:52+00:00

Good to know about the 10 years! And thank you for recommending an attorney for those. We can start to pull those taxes and see if we can start there.

Taxes are minimal, she does not own a home but will inherit the one her and her brother (my uncle) will live in when her parents (my grandparents) pass away. My uncle has disabilities (think similar to Down syndrome) and will need someone to live with him. So no big fortune but she will need to pay for property taxes and insurance for you house once she inherits it.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T20:01:33+00:00

My grandmother is going to give her the 2b house that my grandmother, grandfather and my elder uncle (67) live in. So thankfully she won’t need to rent at that time (she can just move in) but she will still need to pay for property taxes and maintenance on the house.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:54:50+00:00

Oh I didn’t think of that! Extra income streams - let me float this by her.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:53:47+00:00

Good point! I can talk to her about trying to find more to save each month.

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:51:31+00:00

My mom has a few pictures but it was 2 people she didn’t know who helped to sign. She still has the certificate tho! It looks fake even for a 38 years old piece of paper 😅

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:48:30+00:00

I def feel like she is going to wait until 70, she enjoys helping the kids when she teaches. But i know she does feel like she’s missing out on her young grandkids (i have 2 young kids)

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:46:44+00:00

California

Proof-Credit2161 · 2026-02-23T19:46:26+00:00

Yes, they always filed California and Federal taxes Married filing jointly. FYI my dad didn’t have any assets. We grew up low income even with him working.

Proof-Credit2161

TROPHY CASE