A few years ago we bought a house, paid in full with cash. Then I got a small mortgage as an inflation hedge and to invest for fun and profit. We used a chunk of the mortgage to fund moving expenses and to acquire all of the typical home accoutrements, put solar on our roof, and pay the […] The post Investing Our Mortgage – 3 year update appeared first on Go Curry Cracker ..read more

Choosing an ACA Health Insurance Plan is one of those sentimental holiday season activities we look forward to each year. Here is the process I used to choose our plan for 2025. Choosing Our ACA Health Insurance Plan for 2025 First things first, we need to understand the lay of the land. We are a […] The post Choosing our ACA Health Insurance Plan for 2025 appeared first on Go Curry Cracker ..read more

The end of the calendar year is quickly approaching, and that means it is time to run through our year-end tax checklist. The simpler the better. Here are a few important items to review and actions to take. Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist Re-Subscribe to Go Curry Cracker! I am ending my email distribution list. […] The post A Simple Year-End Tax Checklist appeared first on Go Curry Cracker ..read more

Shortly after moving back to the US in mid-2021, an extended COVID-19 hangover meant excessive economic angst for large swaths of the population. People responded to economic woes in a number of ways – some worked extra hours or took on side gigs, others cut back on expenses, perhaps eating out less often or vacationing […] The post Debt as a Recession Tool appeared first on Go Curry Cracker ..read more

3 years ago we bought a new electric vehicle. I am in the process of getting rid of it. If you have spent any amount of time online you have definitely seen an anti-EV meme or two. Charging takes too long. The range isn’t sufficient. They don’t work when cold. California won’t let you charge […] The post Why I Am Ditching our EV appeared first on Go Curry Cracker ..read more

“Isn’t a Roth conversion ladder far superior to an SEPP in every way?” “You wrote all of this stuff about SEPPs but it is a complete waste of time, everyone should just do a Roth conversion ladder.” “Thanks for the SEPP Calculator but isn’t a Roth conversion ladder more flexible?” All good questions / comments, of course. The Roth conversion ladder is a great option to access retirement accounts before age 59.5. But some people will still find that the SEPP is better suited to their wants / needs. Me, for example. Roth Conversion Ladder vs SEPP, Which is Better? The Roth conversion ladde ..read more

This blog makes a little bit of money which helps to fund our quiet and subdued suburban lifestyle. Every once in awhile somebody expresses interest in exactly how much we make and how. Read on, curious one. How Go Curry Cracker Makes Money and How Much 2023 was an interesting year. Blog profit was $14,437 per our 2023 tax return, the lowest it has ever been since I started monetizing things back in 2015. But it is more than zero, which is the amount of work I contributed for at least 6 months. (Why? I dunno, I just wasn’t feeling it.) $$$ Schedule C Profit The IRS has their method of calcula ..read more

2023 was our second full year back in the US where we were subject to the 3 overlapping tax systems – Federal, State, and ACA. In theory this could mean that we would have a high tax burden. But in practice we paid practically zero, with more opportunities to save next year. The Go Curry Cracker 2023 Taxes Executive Summary Total income from all sources was higher than last year thanks to a large tax-free Roth conversion (I learned a few things from last year.) Ignoring health insurance and related subsidies we paid $352 in total tax for an effective tax rate of 0.5%. Including the $1,139 we ..read more

At age 59.5, all access restrictions to 401ks and IRAs are removed. Sometimes people want to retire before then. (Hard to believe, I know.) But what if most/all of your savings and investments happen to be in a retirement account? Or you prefer to hang on to the investments in your taxable account? Fortunately there are a few options to tap retirement accounts early and penalty-free. Accessing Retirement Accounts Before Age 59.5 It is possible to read for hours and hours (as I have) about early IRA withdrawals and come away with: 1) it’s complicated 2) it’s risky 3) you should hire an expert ..read more

I have been a staunch defender of YOUR rights to pay the least amount of taxes possible. The bureaucrats and swamp creatures in DC don’t like it and have taken steps to shut down my free speech. The IRS has been running a totally ILLEGAL WITCH HUNT and trying to stop this blog, threatening me with HUGE fines and jail time. But I won’t STOP fighting for YOU! Defend Your Favorite Blogger We are all victims here, which is why I need your help… to raise awareness and raise capital for legal defense. The IRS runs a shadow court system of unelected officials who are trying to silence me and th ..read more