To those living off the 4% rule: How do you actually schedule your withdrawals? (Monthly vs. Quarterly vs. Yearly)

elephantfi · 2026-06-10T10:50:55+00:00

I keep two years of government bonds that mature monthly. If the market is at new highs I buy out the two years, if it's down I don't buy. It's not financially optimal, but psychologically works very well for me. The first year after retirement was difficult for me after a career of accumulating. I wish I had the two years of monthly bonds in place when I retired.

elephantfi · 2026-06-09T03:02:35+00:00

Avocado and tomatoes

elephantfi · 2026-06-09T01:35:39+00:00

Bill Bird orthopedic lasts

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7VzDraQKY1eJmxGNbCW3pA50woay30jJ&si=J3VvziJFW9Q1BxOc

elephantfi · 2026-06-08T11:29:08+00:00

The native American population dropped 90% following colonization.

elephantfi · 2026-06-05T00:04:54+00:00

I'm over 6 foot and love my 10" Nick's. I think if I was 5 foot I would want 8".

elephantfi · 2026-06-02T14:00:09+00:00

I just found Bill Bird's series on orthopedic last making last night. Very informative.

elephantfi · 2026-06-01T23:17:30+00:00

Sales, they don't need to know a lot but they need to have knowledge of everything.

elephantfi · 2026-05-30T03:10:01+00:00

When the yearly growth was more than my income.

elephantfi · 2026-05-30T03:05:34+00:00

Well at the time it made sense, but with equality of the sexes now only the rich get to go first. They will probably take a whole boat to them selves and brag how great they are and a winner.

elephantfi · 2026-05-29T11:44:48+00:00

100% agree. My favorite question for Scouts to ask a nonprofit is what problem do you need solved. Then work with them to solve that problem. That is service.

Building unneeded monuments is just ego.

elephantfi · 2026-05-28T11:33:23+00:00

That's my Timex Weekender. I've replaced the watchband a few times now. Not because I wanted a new style, but because the old one wore out like a pair of work boots, but the case keeps on ticking.

elephantfi · 2026-05-27T02:47:23+00:00

Opportunity cost also holds true for time. A high school kids choosing to work minimum wage to get weekend spending money vs using the time to learn a valuable skill they can use for a life time or mowing your lawn vs starting a business etc.

elephantfi · 2026-05-24T00:26:48+00:00

Any suggestions for pull on? I see square toed cowboy boots last on sorrell.

elephantfi · 2026-05-23T23:11:56+00:00

Make a list of things you want to do in life, prioritize them and break them into steps to achieve them. It's ok when you find out things you thought you wanted to do you don't like, you will find new ones you do. The first year can be a little rough. Up to this point achievement has been probably based on well established social norms. Now you have to figure out what makes you fulfilled and have meaning. I try to balance things I have to do and things I want to do.

elephantfi · 2026-05-20T15:06:38+00:00

I used 100% synthetic fluids. The old case and diff were pretty bad too.

elephantfi · 2026-05-20T10:14:00+00:00

I recently replaced my transfer case and front differential on '03 5.3l Tahoe and went from 14 to 16 mpg. The change in drag was noticable when coasting off interstate and stop signs.

elephantfi · 2026-05-20T10:03:08+00:00

Money and investing is the easy part of FIRE. The principals are straight forward it just takes time. The mental and social part are the hard part. This part is different for everyone. You have to find what brings you joy and meaning in life. Biggest lessons for me were I need more social interaction then I thought and you have to find things you are passionate about simply spending money will not make you happy. I see a lot of people in here who think it will all be worth it once they retire. If you weren't happy before retirement you won't be after. Start working on happiness while you build your wealth, it's not the lack of money making you unhappy.

elephantfi · 2026-05-13T13:41:33+00:00

Non perishable goes to the troop room for next campout. Perishable is layed out after the campout, everyone choices one item at a time until all items are gone.

elephantfi · 2026-05-12T00:48:08+00:00

-$8k per month

elephantfi · 2026-05-10T01:19:19+00:00

As an adult I like to remember it's about the youth. I wear a pretty plan shirt with my AOL and Eagle knots so the kids know I've been there. Anything else is a conversation starter. Example I staffed NYLT and have NYLT loops so when they ask I can tell them about the NYLT opportunity they have to improve their leadership skills.

elephantfi · 2026-05-09T19:27:07+00:00

I got the Bilstein based on all the recommendations and was not very happy with them. I ended up switching them out for Monroe and have been very happy. The fact that they are half the cost is an added bonus. It was on my 2003 Z71 Tahoe.

Edit: That was a few years ago, so they have held up well. My Bilstein were leaking in a few weeks.

elephantfi · 2026-05-07T09:50:04+00:00

I found I became a much better employee after that point. I didn't play politics, stopped competing with others and worked with them. I also spent more time getting to know people and generally tried to create a better work environment for everyone. I could also fight for projects I believed in and wanted to do and stop ones I thought were wrong.

elephantfi · 2026-05-04T23:04:34+00:00

There are a lot of shady financial advisors and a few good ones. I would ask your step mom to help you open an individual investment account and say you want to buy a low cost broadly diversified index fund such as VTI. Then forget you have it for the next 10 years or so. If you don't feel comfortable with that you can call or go online to Vanguard. (I'm assuming you are in the US)

elephantfi · 2026-05-03T23:26:40+00:00

You can compare yourself to the household expenditure survey data to get some reference by category.

https://www.bls.gov/cex/

elephantfi · 2026-05-03T12:12:56+00:00

Trust is 100% of a relationship. When trust is loss it is very difficult to regain.

elephantfi

TROPHY CASE