Welcome to early-retirement.org. Please take a moment to read through this discussion if you are having trouble posting or have other basic questions about how our forum works. Here are some links to find more help about using the forum (if you don't find what you need in this discussion thread). Forum Rules - Posting guidelines, community practices, etc. Forum FAQs (frequently asked questions) Our help desk - e-mail us for tech support, passwords, account issues, etc... Read more ..read more

In the past day, we've been working to update the forum to a new software platform and we've been offline. Welcome back! The new forum software is called Xenforo and there are some new features and functions. LOGIN CHANGE: Your account can be accessed by logging in with your e-mail address or username (that displays on posts) plus the password for your account. If you are having trouble with this and can't get through the password reset process, you can click the contact link at the... Read more ..read more

I searched but didn't see any references to the new NY Times puzzle, "Connections." I've been playing it for about two weeks now and I find it challenging. You are presented with 16 different words. The words have an underlying common connection to each other. The idea is to place the items into groups of four that share the same category in common. For example 4 of the 16 words might be: Fairlane, Galaxy, Pinto, Thunderbird These are names of bygone Ford vehicles... Read more ..read more

Waffle is a grid of 6 interlocking words, with some of the letters scrambled. You unscramble the letters to complete the words. Originator claims 100K people are playing. wafflegame.net #waffle61 2/5 ���������� ������ ���������� �����&#57321... Read m ..read more

One of the two key fobs (Remote Key Entry transmitters) to our 2022 Bolt EUV has gone missing. The dealer wants $300+ for a new fob, programming, and cutting the key. Outrageous, of course. I ordered a replacement from Amazon for $40. The owner's manual outlines the procedure for programming a fob when you have only one, and it is a complex 30 minute multi-step procedure with built in timing delays. I assume the delays are to discourage theft as the procedure for programming a third when... Read more ..read more

This morning I was answering a question and looked up minimum starting investment. I found Fidelity is $0 and Vanguard is $3,000. Then I went on to find for Total Stock Market Funds, Fidelity has a 0.015% management fee vs 0.04% for Vanguard. Both are low, but I was surprised to see Fidelity less than 1/2 of Vanguards fees. I'm a 30+ years user of Vanguard, but their lack of good customer service is showing. I have stated, I would pay a higher fee, for good service. Just something I learned... Read more ..read more

Several posters have noted in here that happiness generally equates to better health ("other things being equal" - e.g., genetically-based diseases, and of course YMMV). And many have mused that the "simple things" (e.g., sunsets, walks in the great outdoors) now mean more to them than material things, and that these "simple things" mean more to them as they age. However - one poster, interestingly enough, pointed out, "Then why do we have a 'pet peeve of the day' page in here but not a... Read more ..read more

I was going to post to the "Baseball 2023" thread but it was locked. So I guess this is the "Baseball 2024" thread. The Dodgers spent another wad of money on a free agent. After signing Shohei Ohtani $700 million over 20 years they just committed to paying Yoshinobu Yamamoto to $325 million over 12 years. Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto? He's a 24 year old starting pitcher from the Japanese baseball's Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB.) His career stats: 172 games 14 complete games... Read more ..read more

New year, new thread. Here's a link to last year. https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/what-did-you-do-today-2022-version-112375.html As for me, I got up early and started in on our annual New Year's Day brunch. First, I made cranberry scones from scratch, with honey and roasted walnut butter to be served with them. Then, I set about ironing and starching our white linen tablecloth and napkins and polishing all the silver. When the young wife woke up, she made the... Read more ..read more

Any advice on those insurance policies to pay for ambulance,medivac and other expensive transport. We have Medicare and Tricare.. Is the additional insurance needed ..read more