December 29, 2011
Dear Everyone:
Well, it’s been quite a year, for me at least.
I
started out the year alive; always a good thing.
Having survived a
heart attack, I went on to survive getting my
right hip replaced. Ever the
adventure.
I
also survived getting FIERd (Forced Into Early
Retirement).
Not a route I would have chosen, but probably for the best.
Might as well enjoy what time I have left.
I haven’t been unemployed since May, 1973, so it’s taking some
getting used to.
Left to my own devices, I probably would have continued knocking myself
out every day at work for another five years.
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) unofficially frowns on people
retiring before
age 65. They
don’t come right out and say it, but the rules are definitely slanted in
that direction.
On
the Plus Side: I shoveled at
least 2% of my income into what was originally called “The Stock Plan”,
which later morphed into a 401(k).
As time progressed, that percentage went up to 6%.
So now I have a tidy little nest egg to help see me through what
“Marshall” calls “The Bonus Round”.
(You young people, pay attention.
Just like we do with computers, “Save Early; Save Often”.
As we were growing up in the
Portland, Oregon area, a local
savings and loan had a slogan that I’ve always taken to heart:
“Pay yourself first!”
If your employer has a 401(k) program, get into it.
If not, start a
savings plan somewhere and pour as much into it
as you can manage. Remember,
it’s tax-deductible. You’ll
thank yourself later.)
Speaking of tax deductions, this is “traditionally” the week that I make
my charitable contributions.
I wait until the end of the year in case I need the money for myself;
but once I know the year is closing out, it’s time to be generous.
A tax accountant once told me that for every dollar you donate,
the IRS gives you back forty cents.
Which you can then put into that savings account we just talked
about. What goes around
comes around.
Unfortunately, for every donation you make, the word gets around and
about a bazillion envelopes land in your mailbox from what I call
“beggars”. They’re all so
“worthy” and more than willing to “give” you return mail labels,
calendars, spare change, etc., in an effort to “guilt” you into donating
to their particular
501(c)(3) organization.
I
throw them all into a box as the year progresses, then go through them
in December. Seriously, I
literally filled a big trash bag with “extras”; multiple “pleas” from the same
organizations, some as many times as twice a month; new organizations
convinced that I don’t have enough places to give money to.
I figure all the money they “hope” to get from me goes to pay for
printing, postage, etc.
And
so many of them have printed forms with helpful little checkboxes (“I’m
donating $X.XX.) Don’t you
wish they would have a checkbox that reads, “I’m donating $X.XX and if
you send me more than three mailings per year, I’ll cut you off without
a dime (including the dime you glued to this mailing)”?
OK,
rant over. I still have that
big bag of paper to take to the recycle bin.
I’m thinking of trying a different approach for next year:
I’ll make a list of organizations and put it on the inside of my
front door. (The door is
metal, making the use of
refrigerator magnets especially helpful.)
As the envelopes come in, I’ll “check” them off on the list.
After that, all new envelopes can go directly into the recycle
bin.
It’s worth a try, right? In
the meantime, here’s hoping everyone enjoys a Safe and
Happy New Year.
Love, as always,
Pete
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