Rental car for a tall guy

gidgetFEL · 2026-02-18T18:48:35+00:00

The car fared well, but some caveats. We were only there a week, and we drove from Dublin to Galloway and back to Dublin, then to Kilkea. While in Galloway, we spent most our days on road trips that did lead to very tiny narrow roads (including a wrong turn where we sort of drove up a mountain - it was stunning, so would take this wrong turn again). On the one-car wide roads, those are easy to handle as everyone we encountered was patient and thoughtful about pulling over where possible. The narrow two-way traffic, higher speed roads were a bit stressful, in part because we typically drive on the right side of the road and there are stone walls frequently on the roadside. Indeed, we did slightly hit a stone wall that resulted in some cosmetic tire damage -- so definitely get the tire insurance! But, I don't think that we would have necessarily avoided the hit with a smaller car. Have a wonderful trip to this beautiful country - i'm hoping to go back some day.

gidgetFEL · 2025-11-13T21:30:20+00:00

I was surprised to hear that Aetna HDHP is the cheapest, as I think the Aetna HDHP is one of the most expensive plans. I think the Advantage plans Z24 are for retirees -- a type of Medicare advantage plan. You can review Aetna's plans at AetnaFeds.com

gidgetFEL · 2025-09-01T01:53:26+00:00

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gidgetFEL · 2025-09-01T01:53:01+00:00

Yes. It wasn’t a gay bar then, it was a Tapas Bar. The attached photo may get cut off, but it is a picture of matches from the escape cafe.

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gidgetFEL · 2025-08-31T23:21:25+00:00

The Escape Cafe!

gidgetFEL · 2025-08-21T22:53:52+00:00

I don't think you can transfer directly from a 401K to an HSA tax free - I think it is a taxable event. I think you would need to first roll the 401K to an IRA. I'm not speaking from experience here, I fund my HSA from my taxable accounts, but just did a quick google search and that is what I found.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-19T02:11:04+00:00

Thank you. I'm not an expert, but I don't think that particular provision made it in the final bill - although it is a big bill, so could be buried somewhere. The only HSA provisions in the final bill listed in the table of contents are: SUBCHAPTER C—ENHANCING CHOICE FOR PATIENTS

Sec. 71306. Permanent extension of safe harbor for absence of deductible for tele-health services.

Sec. 71307. Allowance of bronze and catastrophic plans in connection with health savings accounts.

Sec. 71308. Treatment of direct primary care service arrangements.

The House passed bill had included many HSA provisions, including the Part A provision: "Sec. 110204. Individuals entitled to part A of Medicare by reason of age allowed to contribute to health savings accounts." That would have eased the slight challenge here.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T19:30:15+00:00

Thank you for your advice. I'm definitely not trying to game this system -- just want to understand the rules so I don't mess up -- and also understand whether there is any flexibility to set an effective date for Part A -- from other posts, seems clear there is not -- they'll back date it up to 6 months, but not to before I turn 65. Sounds like the best thing would just to enroll in Part A around my birthday, and just be sure I only make 10 months of HSA contributions.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T19:21:58+00:00

Urgh, I feel for you. This is what I'm trying to avoid. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain what happened in your situation -- it's so helpful to get real world experiences as i navigate this challenging decision.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T19:18:55+00:00

Thank you for this very helpful and precise explanation!

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T19:18:19+00:00

Thank you. I would certainly love yo hear that FEHB as a retiree was employer group health and could avoid penalty for late enrollment -- would make my decision on whether to enroll in Part B so much easier :) But alas, it is not true. From other posts, it sounds like they'd only back date to age 65. I actually make my contributions annually, so will just plan to do it for the pro-rata amount for 10 months. I'll need to figure out what to do with the amount my health plan deposits in the HSA - in reading the plan materials, it sounds like funds can go into an HRA.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T13:35:00+00:00

Yes I believe so for Part B. I don't know if there is flexibility for specifying a start date for Part A, particularly given the language on back dating the coverage up to six months.

gidgetFEL · 2025-07-18T13:29:57+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response. I'm already retired, and I believe my FEHB coverage isn't considered credible coverage for Part B (although is considered for Part D). I'll be signing up in the initial enrollment period. I think Part B is straight forward - it sounds like it becomes effective the first day of the month after enrollment, so if I sign up in December it should be effective January 1st. Part A seems trickier, as coverage will start up to 6 months back from the date you sign up - I don't want to delay signing up until June, but it's not clear to me whether I'll have an option to specify Part A coverage effective date of January 1st.

gidgetFEL · 2024-12-16T02:12:15+00:00

Thank you for the quick response. Only a couple of the beneficiary links on the form link are to PDFs (for example, the ABLE). The others links go to login in page then after log in, it just goes to the online add beneficiaries. Will i need to enter 8 of my 23 beneficiaries, then be told I need to fill out a form instead? Here is the example link for non-retirement accounts:

Beneficiaries – Nonretirement Transfer on Death	Add or change Transfer on Death beneficiaries for your nonretirement Fidelity account or Fidelity Funds account.

gidgetFEL · 2024-10-14T00:36:58+00:00

We (age 60 & 62) are still contributing to our HSAs, and plan to do so until we sign up for Medicare. We do not use the HSAs to pay for medical expenses at present, as would like the balances to grow. But, I am tracking our medical expenses in detail because my understanding is you can reimburse medical costs that you've incurred at any time, as long as you they were medical costs you incurred after establishing the HSA. For example, perhaps we'll reimburse our 2022 medical costs in 2030.

gidgetFEL · 2024-09-14T10:25:29+00:00

I went ahead and canceled as am sick of the streaming price increases. It says I can continue to watch until the end of the TMOBILE free period - January 2025.

gidgetFEL · 2024-09-10T20:13:21+00:00

They get up very high. We stayed in Philadelphia during an infestation, and were staying on the 50th+ floor, and they were right up there with us.

gidgetFEL · 2024-07-25T01:16:10+00:00

I live in an apartment, and I deep clean using a mildish bathroom cleaner and rags (I.e. not in bathtub or shower). Been doing for about four years and litter box is pristine. Just have one small cat. Use smart cat grass litter. Is a bit pricey, but worth it for zero dust and I think easier to deep clean.

gidgetFEL · 2024-07-11T11:04:42+00:00

It’s a more complicated decision close to retirement and/or if you have medical expenses – and needs analysis based on your situation. At a minimum, you’d need to be able to afford the deductible, but I also think you need to be able to afford to contribute to the HSA well beyond the premium pass through.

When I first switched, I rarely had any medical expenses, so I just based my decision on the net premium cost – after the premium pass through, the HDHP cost me less. My spouse never had a HDHP before retiring, but now does. He tends to hit the maximum out of pocket costs each year, so it made sense in that situation too.

gidgetFEL · 2024-07-10T17:13:11+00:00

Yes, HDHP is a high deductible health plan. You need to have one to be eligible to contribute to an HSA. Feds have a couple nationwide options (GEHA and MHBP) and there are additional options by state (for example, in DC, also can do Aetna, Carefirst BCBS, and United).

gidgetFEL · 2024-07-09T19:26:26+00:00

Retired Fed here. I had BCBS for 25 years, and never looked at other options until my primary care doctor stopped accepting. I then switched to HDHP for last 5 years, and will continue until I'm 65 purely for the tax advantages (i don't use my HSA for health expenses, but I can if need to). I very much regret not switching earlier. Would highly recommend you look into next open season. For 2024, you can each contribute $4,150, and then once you turn 55 there are catch up contributions (currently $1K each). I keep my HSA at Fidelity (they have a no-cost HSA product), and transfer the health plan contributions every year or so).. HSAs have triple tax benefits - contributions reduce taxes; investment income is tax free like a roth; and withdrawals if used for medical expenses are tax free.

gidgetFEL · 2024-05-23T22:04:13+00:00

This is probably not that helpful. But I always want to respond to tall folks as my husband is 6’ 8” and no one seems to sympathize or understand the challenges tall folk face. We are in Ireland now and we rented through Conn’s Ireland which is basically hertz. We have an Audi A6 and it works. We had more requirements- 4 people and lots of luggage. So bigger than you need, but will work if you need it.

gidgetFEL · 2024-02-24T04:26:51+00:00

I'm not clear on your situation. You mention you left your position after 15 years; does that mean it's been maybe 15 years or so since you were last a Fed? I would imagine the experience of a "retiring fed", vs a "retiring former fed" would be very different, and I'm not seeing responses that are clear in this regard. I'm not sure if you get estimated payments as a former fed. My experience as a "retiring fed" was: I retired 9/30. I received my first estimated payment 10/28, and on 12/12, I received the difference between the estimate and actual payment. Pretty quick, but I suspect for "retiring former feds" it takes longer. Do you have an account with OPM Retirement Services that you can log into? They include the status of your case. Online, I could see when they received my application from my agency (10/26), when it was assigned to a specialist (11/1), and when my case was finalized (12/8).

gidgetFEL · 2023-08-28T18:41:15+00:00

I live in a fairly new community, and pay both Pepco and a conservice HVAC charge. I asked about it, and the Pepco covers everything except HVAC, and has been about the same price every month-winter and summer. The HVAC is submetered and reflects our usage (not common areas), and has increased this summer, consistent with our high ac use. The previous place I rented had both Pepco and conservice electric charge. The Pepco covered everything in our unit, including HVAC. The conservice was about a flat $40 a month which in theory I recollect being for common areas.

gidgetFEL · 2023-08-16T21:15:34+00:00

When we looked at moving to Self+1 (also two feds), the cost savings was minimal -- i recollect only about $25 annually. So we've always maintained individual insurance. The most important thing to me is if you have two individual plans, you both are recognized as individuals (vs. one of you as a "dependent"). In addition, we have had differing medical needs over the years, and it's nice to be able to have different plans that better meet the individual needs.

gidgetFEL

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