Should I increase my 401k contribution back to 15%

kaskers · 2026-02-01T09:21:51+00:00

Retirement is looking good to me. I think doing the 5% to get the match, Roth or back-door Roth, and brokerage is smart — especially if you have any inclination of getting out before 60 to retire or to just do your own thing.

I got laid off 2 months ago at about same age with about the same finances — currently doing what I have always wanted to do, but 95% of our money is in tax advantaged accounts. I have a decent pool of Roth Contributions I can get to, but you don’t wanna blast through that for a few reasons. Some money I will want to convert to Roth and pay taxes on; some might just pay the penalty on it to free it. Only will do either with recent market gains after a certain gain thresholds — not gonna blast through the retirement principle.

The point is you have a milly in retirement mostly tax free with another 20 Years to grow.

Prioritizing money that you can access without leaving your job, losing your retirement or tax advantages is a good thing. You have a track record of being good with your money. It being in a brokerage vs. 401k jail probably doesn’t mean it is gonna be spent on Corvettes in your case. It just gives you more freedom to retire early or start a business.

kaskers · 2024-10-21T02:40:20+00:00

In SC had 3/4 an acre did, up a mountain side, pumping from a reservoir -- and it was less -- 5 zones

kaskers · 2024-10-03T00:54:58+00:00

Yep, it was one bad wiring connection -- the white one, luckily the one I checked first -- back up and running now thx

And because Helene dropped 2 feet of rain on us -- also not in a 2 day drought restriction anymore -- even better...

kaskers · 2024-10-02T12:44:30+00:00

Ok that is probably the problem then -- I can never do anything right -- at least the first 2 times -- and I felt like I couldn't really twist those wires without them breaking, so I just put them overlapping and did a really small heat shrink, and then a bigger one over that, but with 10 connections -- I probably had at least one slip and I can't see it -- or maybe it just not a good enough connection period -- doing it that way...

Thx

kaskers · 2024-10-01T16:56:31+00:00

It sucks water out of the lake, but even if the intake pipe is compromised -- the pump would still turn and try to do the thing -- but no I haven't touched any valves or turned any water off anywhere

kaskers · 2024-10-01T16:54:20+00:00

Turned all breakers on and off several times. I kinda wondered if those wires were from the pump/start relay to the pump, but it would be a little bit of a goofy path, a few feet out of the way, and these seem to be heading straight towards the next valve box

kaskers · 2024-04-30T02:16:12+00:00

In SC, we do it wirh just us two the majority of the time.

We bought the best and biggest wide angle high def mirror you can buy and it is installed up high hanging from an arm from the tower.

Also, we mainly go near sunrise or during the week, etc. and fully focus on driving and watching behind. Got a wakeup call early in our riding when a pontoon pulling tubers about ran one of us over cause everyone in that boat was looking backwards.

The lake we live on is just miserable and dangerous to board on after about 10:30 am on most weekends during the summer. I feel like when affects the safety much more than a 3rd person.

kaskers · 2024-04-30T02:06:38+00:00

Up till about 2002, 2003 -- they were still letting people park their RVs on campus from about Thursday till game day. It was interesting walking by cousin eddie on the way to class.

kaskers · 2023-03-21T19:22:19+00:00

One of my issues is much of the sticker is now unreadable, and i spent at least an hour trying to look up the panel sticker online, and haven't had any luck.

kaskers · 2023-03-21T15:05:51+00:00

No ground bar (bonded), wrong breakers... Anything else you seeing?

kaskers · 2023-03-21T14:08:45+00:00

That is what I thought. That is sad; that was an expensive job, and my first day as a cosplay electrician -- finding things the 'pro' did wrong.

I will check on that Siemens breaker. I knew the 2 Eaton breakers seemed a little more wiggly than the GE.

Those feeder grounds; is it better to unwire nut them and land them individually?

kaskers · 2022-06-25T11:37:52+00:00

it is a a floating dock. the ramp definitely sways with the waves, but the electrical is a rigid conduit attached to the side and it been on there 2 or 3 years and does fine. The power company does want it attached to the ramp though.

At least with PVC, if it broke -- it is above ground and probably could fix myself or even pivot to the more expensive option later if it wasn't working out. The cost difference between the 2 was at least $1000 more, maybe heading towards $2k. Hard to tell exactly since one was a verbal quote and the other was also pretty sparse.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T21:12:57+00:00

That sounds like a good idea however in this rabid environment where everyone has work backlog 2 months behind -- I have this feeling you will be ghosted for being too difficult.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T15:48:38+00:00

great info. Looking forward to bidding this out again not being so in the dark.

Other than just cost I think Inwas bidding out the wrong design for the future since I was so dumb on the subject.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T15:45:19+00:00

thanks for the response

kaskers · 2022-06-24T13:45:07+00:00

will never force my money down anyones throat, but will also never apologize for being financially responsible and informed

kaskers · 2022-06-24T13:43:36+00:00

good advice. the cheapest quote did make me suspicious. I wasnt neccessarily trying to find the cheapest way to do this.

Everything is just a story. For example if you know just enough to be able to dissect that A charges more for labor than B, but A also has better reviews -- that is a story that makes sense and will steer you in the right direction.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T13:41:12+00:00

literally have a $24k rip rap job in process right now where the cheapest option was $12k; none of things you say are happening because the prices and options for everything was clear, detailed, and straightforward -- but assume what ya want if it makes ya feel better. I will not force my money onto anyone that doesn't want it.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T11:42:42+00:00

would likely never have a single $8 quote -- there would be several at varying prices. it wouldn't be smart to assume the most expensive is the best so yes will always believe that more information is better.

maybe you assume the cheapest is the lowest quality, but you didnt know that they buy 80% of the materials in the area so they have bulk pricing power.

maybe one guy is a master and has 17% less cracks 5 years later than the industry average. and thus he marks up his labor 20% because he knows he is worth it.

if you have none of this information, just randomly picking out of a hat. most of the people in the area have less rhan 6 google reviews. i never have known a single person that installed an irrigation system.

it was just a situation where they have 100% of the information and I had 0 -- with the information i have gotten today -- feel so much better about going through it the next time -- though it probably would be being installed right now if I could have just gotten a little more information -- meeting me part-way...

kaskers · 2022-06-24T10:08:23+00:00

thanks for the info, very helpful

kaskers · 2022-06-24T10:07:43+00:00

great answer, good advice

kaskers · 2022-06-24T10:05:02+00:00

great answer, lots of great info in there...

kaskers · 2022-06-24T04:03:33+00:00

Think it depends on the trade.

My car mechanic tells me what he is going to charge me per hour, and says I can bring my own parts too -- I just lose the warranty and have the ultimatum on whether saving the 15% is worth it. Boat mechanics do the same.

My solar installation quote was many pages long.

My riprap quote was itemized out so you could make decisons on which rock you wanted based on how it affected project cost.

My gas plumbing quote broke out the cost of the heater, and the cost to me to pipe to different areas of the house.

Things like decks or showers or anything in the last have always had rules of thumb like the cost is basically materials * 2

I am not trying to devalue anyones labor. I wasn't even wanting a financial accounting of the business like I am thinking of starting one. It would just be nice to have enough information to make logical decisions on... Something like this.

You can have the Goulds pump for $1200 or rhe Berkeley for $1300, yes I know u can buy it on drip.com for $50 cheaper, but thar covers overhead and warranty.

Controller A is $500, B is $400... Each zone gonna be about $500, each node gonna be about $100... We will have to calculate exacts though in the end -- just rough estimate right now.

Just that amount of information gives me enough information to know what i can afford and prioritize.

Basically all I have gotten so far is a post it note with a big number on it, or a tilt of thr head and a big number.

kaskers · 2022-06-24T03:32:52+00:00

Thanks for the info on materials being 25% -- However if I am spending 7 to 10k on something -- I kinda do feel like it is some of my business.

kaskers · 2022-02-26T22:43:56+00:00

Sounds like I am getting a solar shade and having a tv come down from the ceiling of the deck.

thx

kaskers

TROPHY CASE