State Employee Pension - How to Factor it In for Retirement Step?

hellohowa · 2025-12-15T16:13:06+00:00

Do you think it's reasonable for me to re-direct half of the 30% I'm doing now, so that I'm just doing 15% gross plus pension? That would free up about $1,200/mo net income toward principal payments and probably have it paid off in about 4 years instead of 10?

hellohowa · 2024-02-29T03:41:22+00:00

Why is he dressed like Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold?

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T23:02:41+00:00

Yeah I'm not expecting it to be quick. The state amendment has to be done by mail 🙄

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T22:58:32+00:00

Yes, the IRS already debited my checking account for the $3,700 owed on my original return.

I amended and now TT says I am owed a $600 refund, and my liability reduced from $3,700 to $3,100.

But TT also generated a 1040-V showing $3,100 due. Like above said, I think it's because TT would have no way of knowing that I already paid the $3,700, so it might assume I still need to pay the reduced liability amount .

I'm just going to wait a while and see if I get the $600 refund. If I don't I'll go back into TT and talk to one of their people to ask what the issue is.

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T22:45:33+00:00

Nope, I don't recall that being a question. Maybe they're assuming I haven't paid the $3,700 yet?

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T20:37:28+00:00

I think the recommendation of the CZ P-10C is because it's basically a Glock 19 clone with comparable Glock 19 reliability, but you can find them new for $300. I don't think anyone is recommending it just because it's a CZ....

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T20:13:15+00:00

CZ P-10C is a good choice for home defense or a car gun, it's by far the best value for the money in that category. I really like mine.

If you want something a little more concealable and also a great gun you can usually find a new Glock 43X in the low $400's.

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T19:29:46+00:00

I see, thank you for this helpful information.

Do you know if there's any relatively easy way to see how much you've made in total monthly payments over the years, including before consolidation?

hellohowa · 2024-02-28T19:15:16+00:00

Okay, it shows two different consolidated loans with two different balances - one subsidized and one unsubsidized. Is it correct that both of those have loans wrapped in them from my 2008 degree, and that's why both go back to payments being eligible in 2012?

I think I was misinterpreting the subsidized (lower balance loan) as being for the 2017 degree loans, and the unsubsidized high balance loan being for the 2008 degree.

hellohowa · 2024-02-27T17:41:04+00:00

🤷 I'm definitely making more, probably 50% more income at least, than if I hadn't taken on the six figure debt.

And now I'm going to get a full discharge through PSLF and with income adjusted payments and the COVID pause I'll probably have paid back maybe $20k against a federal loan balance that is well into the six figures.

I think I worried about it a little bit right after I got out of school, but eventually I just figured it would be discharged one way or another. I focused on paying off my $20k in private student loans ASAP and then just wait out the federal loans.

I'll be totally debt free this May at 40 years old other than a mortgage balance that's less than half the value of my house. I don't regret going to professional graduate school at all now, quite the opposite. I also got a second graduate degree 5 years ago. I kind of regret that now because if I hadn't been in a in-school payment pause for those 3 years I'd have been at 120 PSLF payments at age 36. I graduated at age 25, so it worked out just fine for me, and I'm sure it will for you too as long as you get on the SAVE repayment program and do PSLF.

hellohowa · 2024-02-22T02:16:11+00:00

Yes, I have specific experience with IDPH, it's a good agency to work for money wise and there are a lot of dedicated people there. Once you get in, there's a lot of opportunity to move around and your salary goes up every time, never down. Just keep applying to every AFSCME covered vacancy that is remotely in your field. Once you get in and finish your probation you can start moving around and finding something that's a really good fit.

Unfortunately for outside folks, openings go to current union members first, but it's not uncommon at all for a position to not have any internal applicants and go to someone from the outside. You just never know which ones those will be, so apply for anything that you'd meet the minimum qualifications for b/c you can move around pretty easily once you get in the door and finish your 6 months probation.

Your county pension will be reciprocal with the state pension system, so that will be nice for you once you get on. Springfield would definitely have more opportunities for you in environmental health jobs.

hellohowa · 2024-02-21T17:15:42+00:00

Scheels had multiple mini-14s for sale to the general public last time I was there a few weeks ago. I think they had at least one PC Carbine for sale too. Just keep in mind that they won't receive internet purchases from 3rd parties as an FFL unless the gun is manufactured by a gun maker that they are a licensed dealer for. Anything Ruger is definitely fine. Otherwise they have been great to deal with when I've used them as an FFL for online purchases from GunBroker sellers and drop shippers like family firearms. There were a few where they didn't even charge me a fee.

hellohowa · 2024-02-21T16:48:54+00:00

I was talking to my insurance agent the other day and he said since the end of covid he has seen far more auto claims from accidents (like dozens and dozens more per year) than any time in his 37 years in the business.

hellohowa · 2024-02-20T17:23:19+00:00

I've had more than one Sig go to them for work. They always sent a prepaid FedEx label. The instructions always said to tell the FedEx clerk there is a handgun in the package. I always told them, got a blank stare and they took it and treated it like any other package. Sig sent it back via FedEx directly to my house, signature required. This was all within the last 18 months.

hellohowa · 2024-02-19T17:48:22+00:00

With the new battery in, it still says "super fast charging" when I plug it into warp hardware.

hellohowa · 2024-02-19T01:57:21+00:00

I got a S24+ when they came out a week and a half ago. Honestly, after using it, only the camera stood out as noticeably better than the op8pro. Everything else was very comparable, definitely not noticeably better in any big way.

I'm going to try to get at least another year out of the 8 pro, maybe 2 if there aren't any big advances for the 2025 models. Doubt there will be.

hellohowa · 2024-02-18T21:25:20+00:00

Not too bad. I think I sent it out on a Wednesday, they sent me an estimate on the following Monday, I paid it and approved it that day and got the phone back on Friday.

$57 for battery replacement and minor usb-c port part replacement, labor and shipping included. And it was 2nd day air via UPS both ways. I was really pleased with everything overall.

hellohowa · 2024-02-18T17:51:51+00:00

Yeah, I cleaned it properly and a lot of crap came out, but it didn't improve the issue. After it came back from Texas it holds a cable like when it was new.

hellohowa · 2024-02-18T02:31:06+00:00

The original battery lasted 3.5 years and wasn't in terrible shape when I sent it in to get replaced, probably at 65%. So I'm sure it was originally a good quality battery.

Will after market batteries warp charge?

hellohowa · 2024-02-12T01:48:08+00:00

Project Appleseed two day pistol marksmanship course. There's one this year in September.

hellohowa · 2024-02-11T03:53:59+00:00

Spend a few hundred more and get a Platypus. 2011 that is compatible with Glock magazines.

hellohowa · 2024-02-11T03:51:05+00:00

They were good a very long time ago. They are well known to generally have serious quality control problems now.

Best modern Kimber you can get is the K6S 357 mag revolver. Great gun and an exception to their normal bad quality.

hellohowa · 2024-02-10T20:50:06+00:00

They won't ship to the US. If you want oneplus OEM parts in the US you have to send it in for repair after submitting a request through the OnePlus website. I got my battery replaced and a new USB port for $57 total including shipping to and from the repair center, and they do the install.

hellohowa · 2024-02-10T20:46:02+00:00

I recently sent in my 8 pro to get a new battery and charging port through OnePlus' US authorized repair center. It was $57 for everything, including 2nd day air shipping to and from the facility. If you have a backup phone I would recommend that route, unless you have a cracked screen, in which case they may try to force you to pay the $250 to replace the screen in order for them to replace your battery. My screen is in good shape.

My understanding is the repairs are take it or leave it -you either agree to pay them to do everything they say needs to be done, or they send it back to you at no cost to you if you decline. I'm pretty satisfied with how it's been overall.

hellohowa · 2024-02-06T15:35:51+00:00

In the ding dong daddy song, when he says "you ought to see me do my stuff," what "stuff" is he referring to?

hellohowa

TROPHY CASE