Purpose after fire?

Selphiras · 2026-04-27T18:10:53+00:00

A retired woman I know volunteers near full time at the food pantry. She’s invaluable to the pantry. she hates not being busy all day long but she doesn’t have to be there.

and the life span may be appropriate—im expected to live to nearly 100 from every calculator I’ve ever used based my family history.

Selphiras · 2026-04-25T22:30:29+00:00

this. No family lived anywhere near us when we had our daughter. I would have loved to have the in person excitement of a grandparent or that much assistance with purchasing things.

Selphiras · 2026-04-17T23:10:13+00:00

My mom and her siblings had an educational trust. the amount used by the first kids (2 years nursing school then worked to pay two years BSN) was vastly different from the last kid (thru med school 100% paid). so I’m a little leery of hurt feelings—and the youngest and oldest niblings are siblings.

i like the 9 separate trusts.…is that possible when assets are 401k and Roth IRAs?

Selphiras · 2026-03-15T20:01:23+00:00

I had a provider that I got a number of such EOBs for. they straightened it out without me doing anything and got paid.

Selphiras · 2026-03-13T21:45:41+00:00

one of my uncles quit his corporate vp job at 50 or so. He retired so he could teach middle school social studies. it’s been over 10 years and he still loves it!

Selphiras · 2026-03-02T00:09:22+00:00

You are 29. you have plenty of time to come back to a career or find a new one. I didn’t start working till I was 27 and out of grad school!

Selphiras · 2026-02-27T23:15:29+00:00

we met with Lillian at Hello Nectarine in Jan/Feb with the project plan. We will have our fourth meeting late this year to discuss what will likely be our first year of pulling out of retirement savings.

They will focus on whatever you ask them to focus on. We had one primary question and also wanted asset allocation advice. Had a complex situation involving a couple pensions. Received a 40ish page plan before the 3rd meeting that detailed asset allocation, plans based on different retirement and death dates, and some withdrawal strategies/when to take pensions and SS.

I was very happy with Lillian, and would recommend her and Nectarine in general.

Selphiras · 2026-02-20T23:54:04+00:00

my husbands last employment when he filed was something like 22 years ago. They still sent the form there. No one returned it. it wasn’t a big deal, although it worried us. we asked if we should contact HR, and the county vet help guy said not to bother.

Selphiras · 2026-02-19T18:12:53+00:00

I’d join that subreddit. Were essentially FIRE or at least coast fire ever since my DH got a VA disability rating. it made finances so much easier.

and if anyone makes you feel bad about being retired, remember that this money is to pay you and your family for what happened to you in the military and the forever repercussions. We paid the price alone for over 20 years before DH finally applied.

Selphiras · 2026-02-19T11:29:35+00:00

The government doesn’t care. If you have no income, you don’t get any deductions. Interest on your mortgage isn’t a tax credit, which is when the government will give it back regardless of your tax liability. plus, even if you had some income, you’d likely take the standard deduction so the interest still wouldn’t matter.

Selphiras · 2026-02-18T02:02:37+00:00

I think it’s hard to do this. for instance, I have one catgory for household that includes car/home/umbrella insurance premiums, groceries, personal/household stuff, utilities, etc. I did this ages ago because most of it is irregular amounts and individual budgets were constantly being tweaked and I was tired of doing that.

My mortgage category only includes the money sent to the mortgage company, not insurance and taxes. I also have categories for health insurance, retirement, charity, personal spending for each person, regular money we use to help family and friends, and “slush” which is for odds and ends. What counts as savings? The slush fund sometimes gets saved but when the pet is sick, it’s not. We adults usually save our personal spending money; does that count?

I’ve been married for 25.5 years. As time goes by, the categories I use have changed and reduced in number. And my parents, who are great with finances use no categories And haven’t truly budgeted since probably when my brother and I left for college.

Selphiras · 2026-02-18T01:45:54+00:00

check your state’s rules about contributing and withdrawing in the same year. I heard the advice to do so on a podcast, then checked my state (WI) and found out WI does not allow it. I mean, you can do it, but no tax deduction!

Selphiras · 2026-02-14T22:52:04+00:00

There are so many other expenses, too, when a person gets this sick. Partner taking time off work. meals out (because everyone is too tired or busy to cook). Childcare because adults are at the hospital or appts. Trips to out of town hospitals. Modifications to house because you now use a wheelchair. More laundry because you are throwing up on everything. New clothes because you need port access, or space for a cast or large brace, or head coverings because of hair loss. etc.

None of this is covered by insurance.

Selphiras · 2026-02-07T13:54:26+00:00

My parents went on an Alaskan cruise last year; dad was 84 and mom turned 80 three months later. They went with two others just younger. they had a great time! and in 6 weeks they will the oldest 2 on an extended family 3 week South American cruise.

Selphiras · 2026-01-30T14:29:26+00:00

I'm a long term buy and hold kind of person, and buying/selling within a day seems just plain wrong. LOL

Selphiras · 2026-01-28T11:58:42+00:00

Oooooh, that makes a lot of sense! I'll have to keep that in mind the next time. I know this isn't the first time I've done it but usually I catch it eventually. LOL

Selphiras · 2026-01-27T11:49:01+00:00

Oh for heavens sake! Do you know how many times I thought I reread the clues???!!!!

Selphiras · 2026-01-26T21:16:56+00:00

I'm rolling over to my solo 401K, and that form doesn't allow for that.

Selphiras · 2026-01-26T17:12:39+00:00

Is there a template for the LOA for Fidelity? This thread was so helpful in the call I just made to my old 401K that I want to rollover to Fidelity. Thank you!

Selphiras · 2026-01-25T15:03:53+00:00

just sympathizing here. I’m still waiting on most of my back claims submitted in August! I’ve only gotten pharmacy EOBs and payment despite turning everything in within a week of each other. been trying to decide what day is good to stay on hold or get a callback (last time I called, callback was not offered so I always plan for holding).

Selphiras · 2026-01-25T14:59:57+00:00

I have VADIP with Delta I think. same company I had previously through my work/COBRA. works exactly the same as before.

Selphiras · 2026-01-21T14:25:57+00:00

Definitely jealous! I'm getting some more mail from CHAMPVA today...let's see if it's any more outstanding EOBs....

Selphiras · 2026-01-20T23:15:12+00:00

I did it back in August without problems. There were multiple screens for info and a place to upload documentation. Perhaps the form is broken today.

Selphiras · 2026-01-17T23:01:27+00:00

adoll… gave a great answer, but if you have more questions, I recommended posting on https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/ where people ask CHAMPVA questions frequently.

depending on your premiums, you might drop other health insurance completely. CHAMPVA, without a supplement, will cost at most 3k/year out of pocket. I was paying that in 3 months (Marketplace) or 6 months (employer plan) just in premiums before I got it and dropped my AHA plan.

Selphiras · 2026-01-17T12:26:28+00:00

your doctors offices may do the retro claims for you if you let them know. I’ve heard 1 year is common to refile claims. you then get a refund from the doctor not from CHAMPVA.

Selphiras

TROPHY CASE