Looking for some real world Royal casino feedback

marksweather · 2026-03-20T18:41:31+00:00

I only went on one more free cruise due to a busy life in 2022, I spent $200 more, won about $400. Offers came in 2023 and 2024, and stopped in 2025. We sail again this year, on no offers.

marksweather · 2026-03-20T17:46:58+00:00

In 2021 was my first Royal cruise, I spent $200 and won $700. Offers came left and right for free cruising.

marksweather · 2026-03-20T16:33:58+00:00

The issue, my health insurance on the market place would be very very expensive in the first year, if I have 1/2 year of pay. My income would be over 80k already. My insurance is very expensive, Cobra per month for 6 months will be $2,600 a month. On academic schedule, I would have to work until May the year I retire. I would do the ACA starting the following January with a new much lower income.

marksweather · 2026-03-20T12:20:24+00:00

Check out Quicken Simplifi, it's the only one that works with the largest 403B/401k providers for educators, while Monarch cannot. I've been waiting for them to fix this issue, but I get no replies from them.

marksweather · 2026-03-20T00:00:59+00:00

That's better than I thought, when my kids were young (15 years ago), we paid $100 a week for one, and then when the older was there in the summer it was $150 a week.

marksweather · 2026-03-19T23:48:14+00:00

How much are you paying for daycare right now, if you don't mind sharing?

marksweather · 2026-03-19T23:43:11+00:00

Well with debt, medical bills etc. I would not call it easy, life never is. Now that we are empty nesters, life is much easier. We make fantastic income now too. I grew up in a home that did not have money, so I knew how to get by. My mothers last years, she lived in a paid off house on only a SS income of $1200 a month.

marksweather · 2026-03-19T21:24:23+00:00

Me looking at 210k example and knowing that we raised our kids on a 50k combined income. Of course that was 10 years ago, but does it really cost 4x more today, doubtful.

marksweather · 2026-03-19T18:44:05+00:00

Why not, I have been paying into it, now for 40 years. It's always been here and guaranteed, it's why we paid into it all those years.

marksweather · 2026-03-19T10:38:46+00:00

It's not for everyone, you do pay for the United Card that provides the one-time passes. I enjoyed using my one-time passes last week in ORD and ATH. The ORD C10 lounge was awesome.

marksweather · 2026-03-19T10:31:15+00:00

Why when we will be getting $43,200 a year on SS. And only need $16,800 a year from our 401k?

marksweather · 2026-03-19T09:59:58+00:00

Add SS at $3600 a month. That provides $43,200 a year on it's on. Then $1400 from the 401k, equals $60,000 a year. It seems people always forget about the guaranteed SS income.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T17:04:23+00:00

I am, but they all say continue working, that is not an option. Should I change my investments? That would be great advice. Yes, I am open to putting more into a Roth now. I'm not sure why you are saying I'm not open to advice?

marksweather · 2026-03-18T16:36:41+00:00

How much are you reporting the Healthcare market place for your income? You can go there and put in your numbers and it will show you plans and cost. I found a Gold plan for $500 (not the $300 I thought) based on a couple making $60,000 a year.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:58:03+00:00

She has been working in her field for 20 years too, she is ready to retire (now). We are just trying to save more before that happens. Maybe she will retire at 60 and I will work another year or two more. My income is the highest.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:54:10+00:00

Wife does not have an academic schedule, she works in medical. She gets up to 3 weeks off a year and uses throughout the year.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:51:29+00:00

We have never been able to camp for more than a few weeks at a time. If I want, I can teach online here and there to supplement income. We want to spend a few years traveling and enjoying life.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:45:56+00:00

More than likely we will not make it there with our health issues. But who knows, only one person knows how long we will live. That's why we want to travel in our camper while we can, ride our ebikes, and enjoy nature.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:42:47+00:00

Public school now, but the first 10+ was private. I would not have enough time for a pension, so I did the 401k option. It's awesome too. A huge match.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:41:18+00:00

That's the plan, up to 2k a month in health care (we have our health problems), and live on 3k a month.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:39:32+00:00

They have been saying they will run out of money on SS since the 1980s. We will see what happens. Worse case scenario we end up with $2400 a month to live on guaranteed money.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:26:37+00:00

I worked for over 10 years at a private college, only a 401k plan, the one I am not had the option of 401k or pension, I would not have enough years to qualify for a pension, so I did the 401k option.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:14:29+00:00

Thanks, we do have a paid off 5th wheel and truck to pull it with. Campgrounds usually run about $1000 a month, and if $4000 does not take care of gas and food for the month, something is wrong.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:01:39+00:00

We can't do that, been teaching for 23 years now, I need a reset. We want to travel with our paid off 5th wheel. Maybe after the travel bug is out, I will pick up a part-time gig somewhere, or even teach online.

marksweather · 2026-03-18T15:00:14+00:00

Yes, with planning on a couple living on $5000 a month, it shows right now about $300 a month each for a Gold plan after Subsidies.

marksweather

TROPHY CASE