Applying for Social Security in 2026 is an adventure especially if you
Continue readingWelcome to the blog
I’ve seen a few articles on the Internet lately trying to determine how much money we need for early retirement. A lot of it has to do with your lifestyle. If you are someone who likes to travel, eat out, or go to shows, you may need more money to
Continue readingOur Social Security Experience
Applying for Social Security in 2026 is an adventure especially if you are trying to do something that is less common. This was my first experience with SS, as I was helping my girlfriend navigate the system. She had reached her full retirement age this year and was ready to
Continue readingRetirement Income Tax
I have lived a modest lifestyle and saved for my retirement. Next year (2027), I plan to apply for social security. At the same time, I will apply for Medicare. No longer will I have to live on my investments. Life will be great, right? Not so fast. Uncle Sam
Continue readingMay Ebay Sales Update
As of mid-May 2026, I have made 4 sales on Ebay. Profit after subtracting fees and expenses was $67. Total number of Xbox controllers sold was 6 (one sale was a lot of 4). I have 2 listed for sale and another 5 that I haven’t listed yet. I’m trying
Continue readingWill Housing Rebound in 2026?
As usual, I invested in the housing market rebound too early it seems. I bought 100 shares of the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) last week. Today, the price is down 2.3%. I also have 100 shares of Fidelity National Financial (FNF) which has dropped 11.88% since late February.
Continue readingMy Property Tax Refund
This year my property tax refund will cover almost 80% of my 2026 property tax bill. This is bigger than last year’s refund because my co-occupant had no income to report. Qualifying for this state refund is one of the primary reasons that I have been able to afford early
Continue readingApril Come Back +$25K
It may be too early to celebrate April’s gains because there is still no peace deal with Iran. But my retirement account has gained back $25K of the $26K that it lost in March. The stock market is acting like the war is over and ignoring the fact that gas
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