#how to manage inflation in retirement

[qqueenofhades]

I think its genuinely fascinating how Biden has somehow become the bad vibes sin eater for the party. I'm seeing people who were doing the whole "voting doesn't matter both old men are the same" pivot hard into voting as harm reduction. The anti voting rhetoric has COMPLETELY lost The Youths on tiktok. People suddenly remember the good things the Biden administration has done but don't associate Harris with any of the things they didn't like. In my swing state volunteers are signing up in droves. People feel ENERGIZED, the vibe shift pre and post Biden dropping from the race has just been insane

Y'know, that is a... good way of putting it. It's also why I'm quite sure that Biden has probably been planning it for a while. I don't think he was intending to step down, and didn't want to be forced out at the drop of a hat, but after he realized that the circus was never going to stop until he did, he did the honorable fall-on-his-own-sword thing and definitely, DEFINITELY spent some time choreographing this behind the scenes. Because while the roll-out has been very smooth, it could just as easily (as many of us were expecting) have been a total disaster, and that doesn't happen without SOME planning. It's also entirely possible that the campaign staff flipped from Biden to Harris are superhuman, to come up with a massive online roll-out, new branding, new signs (they had plenty of 'em in Wisconsin yesterday), new everything, but I'm guessing it's a combination of both. Biden has spent his entire political career being underestimated, and after we literally made a meme out of Dark Brandon juking the Republicans out of their shoes, we should definitely give credit where credit is due in how masterfully he pulled it off.

Because we have had eight years defined by the central question of Whether The President Is a God King Who Should Serve For Life (the MAGAts obviously think yes), the sheer idea of a president willingly giving up his power BEFORE he had to is also novel and admirable. It's sad that this is the case, but so be it. The Republicans also got a heaping helping of Be Careful What You Wish For that was undoubtedly brilliant; they've been yelling for years that Biden is old and frail and can't serve and should step down. Biden went "lol okay" and gave it to them, and now they're fucked.

Aside from that, on the most basic level, it's far, far easier to see the actual difference in the parties with Harris as the nominee, just because it shows that one party is willing to make progress and reflect the new demographic reality and social mores of America, and the other one is not. Now to be clear, Biden deserves an incredible amount of credit for coming out of retirement (he was ALREADY 77 years old when he became president and had had decades of a long and respected career in public service behind him) to fight, beat Trump, and deliver an incredibly successful presidency. He held the line against authoritarianism at home and abroad, he rescued the trashed American economy and managed a world-leading recovery from Covid, he stood up for democracy, he spent four years filling the benches with liberal judges to reverse even some of the Trump/McConnell hack job, he finally passed comprehensive infrastructure investment and the Green New Deal under the name of the Inflation Reduction Act -- and so on. Many of these priorities had been languishing for decades or were completely trashed under Trump, and he could not have done so much in just 4 years without all that age, skill, and experience. Hence why all the Ageism!!! was (aside from being a Republican/media smear job) dumb. He's able to do the job because he has had decades to study. Turns out that makes you actually pretty damn good at it.

Yes, Biden could not do as much as he wanted or originally planned, had to deal with MAGA Republicans and Joe Manchin/Kyrsten Sinema sabotaging him the whole time (lololol Manchin, possible possessor of the World's Biggest Ego and with Trump around that's saying something, popping out of obscurity to self-righteously announce he would not be willing to be Kamala's VP. YEAH ASSHOLE. LITERALLY NOBODY ASKED YOU. NOBODY WHATSOEVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS AT LEAST WE WILL SOON NO LONGER HAVE MANCHIN IN THE SENATE). And yes, Biden made some serious mistakes of his own, because he IS from an older generation and a different style of doing politics/different beliefs that no longer resonate with the younger segments of the electorate. But this old white Catholic guy at the age of almost 80 still managed to be the most progressive president ever, coming in at a moment of incredible domestic and international crisis and getting us safely to the other side, and all cynicism, criticizing, and caveating aside, he deserves an incredible amount of credit for that. I mean that absolutely, and I am very grateful.

As I said, willingly relinquishing that power takes guts, and when Biden saw the writing on the wall that he had to sacrifice himself, he took his time, he didn't jump too early, and he didn't jump too late. On the most basic level, it becomes a hell of a lot easier to make the "both parties are not the same" argument when one is running a (comparatively) young brown woman and the other is still running their loathed felonious old demented orange traitor. Most Americans are not plugged into policy minutiae and details. They look at Biden-Trump, they see two old white guys. When you take one of those old white guys away (who goes in a self-sacrificially heroic manner and in sharp contrast with the coup-happy fascist) and put Kamala Harris in there instead, it generates an obvious jolt. People can see for themselves that there is a real difference that doesn't rely on closely reading news and tracking complex policy, because as noted, most Americans simply don't. The brown first-generation American daughter of brown immigrants is a quantifiably different story from "old white guy career politician," which for better or worse is how Biden was seen, especially the old part. We needed that establishment expertise to beat Trump in 2020; I still think Biden is the only one who could have done it, and as noted, we owe him a great debt for doing so.

However.... 2024 is not 2020, and it is not 2016. There has been this HUGE and unbelievable swing to Kamala because she represents the antithesis of what the last eight years of Trump-induced anger, fear, panic, chaos, and hatred has stirred up. That's why people are so ready to rally around her, just as they were (I daresay) around Obama in 2008, after the exhaustion, chaos, war, and mounting economic misery of Bush. Trump has been out of office for the last four years, but his shadow over the American political landscape has been omnipresent. Now people know that we finally have a real chance at getting rid of him forever, and just as Biden was uniquely positioned to capitalize on that in 2020, so Harris is now. Which is why, however tough it will be, she has a real shot at winning. I can guarantee the Republicans know that, and are shit scared. Because the Black Lady Army of Democracy has indeed arrived in force to Get This Shit Done and I don't know about you, but I found that incalculably comforting:

Yikes! All lined up for Kamala pic.twitter.com/Dt4OCDp7WX

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) July 24, 2024

This, at the most basic level, is what scares fascists the most, it's exactly what we need now, and what Harris is uniquely positioned to mobilize, along with her gangbusters appeal to young voters:

This is the energy we need. This is what Biden saw and planned for and which he launched us into, and where all that experience and age paid off. This is why people, even people otherwise disengaged, disillusioned, or checked out of the tedious and mind-numbering drudgery and depression of American politics, are responding to it. Because it's easy to understand, it offers hope, and it tells a very simple story that is nonetheless long overdue:

Thanks so much, Joe. Go absolutely waste that orange fucker, Kamala. We got your back.

[bitchesgetriches]

Fundamentals of investing:

What’s the REAL Rate of Return on the Stock Market?

Do NOT Make This Disastrous Beginner Mistake With Your Retirement Funds

The Dark Magic of Financial Horcruxes: How and Why to Diversify Your Assets

Dafuq Is Interest? And How Does It Work for the Forces of Darkness?

Booms, Busts, Bubbles, and Beanie Babies: How Economic Cycles Work

When Money in the Bank Is a Bad Thing: Understanding Inflation and Depreciation

Investing Deathmatch series:

Investing Deathmatch: Managed Funds vs. Index Funds

Investing Deathmatch: Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA

Investing Deathmatch: Investing in the Stock Market vs. Just… Not

Investing Deathmatch: Stocks vs. Bonds

Investing Deathmatch: Timing the Market vs. Time IN the Market

Investing Deathmatch: Paying off Debt vs. Investing in the Stock Market

Now that we’ve covered the basics, are you ready to invest but don’t know where to begin? We recommend starting small with micro-investing through our partner Acorns. They’ll round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the change in a nicely diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and ETFs. Easy as eating pancakes:

Start saving small with Acorns

Alternative investments:

Bullshit Reasons Not to Buy a House: Refuted

Investing in Cryptocurrency is Bad and Stupid

So I Got Chickens, Part 1: Return on Investment

Twelve Reasons Senior Pets Are an Awesome Investment

How To Save for Retirement When You Make Less Than $30,000 a Year

Understanding the stock market:

Ask the Bitches Pandemic Lightning Round: “Did Congress Really Give $1.5 Trillion to Wall Street?”

Season 3, Episode 2: “I Inherited Money. Should I Pay Off Debt, Invest It, or Blow It All on a Car?”

Money Is Fake and GameStop Is King: What Happened When Reddit and a Meme Stock Tanked Hedge Funds

Season 3, Episode 7: “I’m Finished With the Basic Shit. What Are the Advanced Financial Steps That Only Rich People Know?”

Retirement plans:

Dafuq Is a Retirement Plan and Why Do You Need One?

Procrastinating on Opening a Retirement Account? Here’s 3 Ways That’ll Fuck You Over

How to Painlessly Run the Gauntlet of a 401k Rollover

Ask the Bitches: “Can I Quit With Unvested Funds? Or Am I Walking Away From Too Much Money?”

Workplace Benefits and Other Cool Side Effects of Employment

You Need to Talk to Your Parents About Their Retirement Plan

Got a retirement plan already? How about three or four? Have you been leaving a trail of abandoned 401(k)s behind you at every employer you quit? Did we just become best friends? Because that was literally my story until recently. Our partner Capitalize will help you quickly and painlessly get through a 401(k) rollover:

Roll over your retirement fund with Capitalize

Recessions:

Season 1, Episode 12: “Should I Believe the Fear-Mongering about Another Recession?”

There’s a Storm a’Comin’: What We Know About the Next Recession

Ask the Bitches: How Do I Prepare for a Recession?

A Brief History of the 2008 Crash and Recession: We Were All So Fucked

Ask the Bitches Pandemic Lightning Round: “Is This the Right Time To Start Investing?”

[southernsolarpunk]

Hey what the fuck is this news story?

“ But the world’s largest economies are already there: The total fertility rate among the OECD’s 38 member countries dropped to just 1.5 children per woman in 2022 from 3.3 children in 1960. That’s well below the “replacement level” of 2.1 children per woman needed to keep populations constant.

That means the supply of workers in many countries is quickly diminishing.

In the 1960s, there were six people of working age for every retired person, according to the World Economic Forum. Today, the ratio is closer to three-to-one. By 2035, it’s expected to be two-to-one.

Top executives at publicly traded US companies mentioned labor shortages nearly 7,000 times in earnings calls over the last decade, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis last week.

“A reduction in the share of workers can lead to labor shortages, which may raise the bargaining power of employees and lift wages — all of which is ultimately inflationary,” Simona Paravani-Mellinghoff, managing director at BlackRock, wrote in an analysis last year. “

Is this seriously how normal people think? Improving the bargaining power of workers and increased wages are bad?

“ And while net immigration has helped offset demographic problems facing rich countries in the past, the shrinking population is now a global phenomenon. “This is critical because it implies advanced economies may start to struggle to ‘import’ labour from such places either via migration or sourcing goods,” wrote Paravani-Mellinghoff.

By 2100, only six countries are expected to be having enough children to keep their populations stable: Africa’s Chad, Niger and Somalia, the Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, and Tajikistan, according to research published by the Lancet, a medical journal.

BlackRock’s expert advises her clients to invest in inflation-linked bonds, as well as inflation-hedging commodities like energy, industrial metals and agriculture and livestock.

Import labor via migration or sourcing goods? My brother in Christ they are modern day slaves!! I feel like I’m in backwards town reading this what the fuck?!

“ Elon Musk, father of 12 children, has remarked that falling birthrates will lead to “a civilization that ends not with a bang but a whimper, in adult diapers.”

While his words are incendiary, they’re not entirely wrong

P&G and Kimberly-Clark, which together make up more than half of the US diaper market, have seen baby diaper sales decline over the past few years. But adult diapers sales, they say, are a bright spot in their portfolios. “

Oh now the guy with a breeding kink is going to lecture us. Great. /s

“ The AI solution: Some business leaders and technologists see the boom in productivity through artificial intelligence as a potential solution.

“Here are the facts. We are not having enough children, and we have not been having enough children for long enough that there is a demographic crisis, former Google CEO and executive chairman Eric Schmidt said at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit in London last year.

“In aggregate, all the demographics say there’s going to be shortage of humans for jobs. Literally too many jobs and not enough people for at least the next 30 years,” Schmidt said.

Oh god not the AI tech bros coming into this shit too. Wasn’t the purpose of improving tech to give people more free time? So they can relax and spend time with family more and actually enjoy life? Isn’t our economy already bloated with useless pencil-pushing number-crunching desk jobs that ultimately don’t serve a purpose?

I’m not going to post the entire article but give it a read. It’s… certainly something. Anyway degrowth is the way of the future.

[colebabey888]

Financing 101: Handling your money| IT GIRL DIARIES

A few financial tips my father shared with me that has kept me secure and taught me valuable lessons on saving and future planning..

When it comes to managing your money, always apply the 30:30:30:10 rule. This means allocating 30% towards your day-to-day or monthly expenses, 30% towards investments, 30% for future retirement savings, and 10% for your wants and luxuries.

I consider myself fortunate to live with my parents, which means I don’t have to cover utilities or household expenses. However, instead of spending all of my income on luxuries and my wants, I divide it thoughtfully. I allocate 15% more towards investments, ensuring that my money works for me and provides a return. The remaining 15% is set aside and added to my personal wants and luxuries.

Don't use the full amount for luxuries because you want to make sure that you are using the extra funds wisely. This way, you can contribute towards your future plans, even if while living with parents. It’s important to enjoy the present, but always be prepared for the future.

Never keep all your money in one bank account. There are several reasons for this. If you don’t see your money, you’re less likely to spend it, by keeping your investments and savings in a separate account that you rarely check, you’re less tempted to dip into them so keep them separate from your regular income in a different bank account. Also having your money spread out in multiple accounts is much more safer than having it all in one place.

Always put your savings and investments into a high yield savings account so that your money doesn't lose value due to inflation overtime and you profit through interest return.

If you notice your income increasing significantly, it might be wise to consult a financial advisor or get an accountant. A professional can provide valuable advice on how to save, invest, and manage your growing assets effectively.

ALWAYS use a separate bank account for online shopping. Opt for digital payment platforms like PayPal or Venmo. Even with reputable brands, it’s safer not to provide your primary bank details. I personally use a completely separate account for online shopping, only transferring money when needed, and it has kept me secure for a long time.

mwah! xoxo, colebabey8.88

www.thedigitaldollar/gumroad.com

ps: i might delete this some time because im really a gatekeeper when it comes to my parents advice since it's always so good ..

[megacross-ground-zero-rated-r]

Oh, interesting. The FNAF books include a plotline where Springtrap intentionally springlocked himself. Didn't know that when I wrote something similar myself as part of a fake backstory he gives. Haven't looked into the specifics of the book plotine yet.

One consistent trait that I always give various versions of William is that he looooooves lying. And even my more sympathetic version in Fazbear Fault Lines who's backed into corners where he's forced to lie constantly, he still feels immense satisfaction at pulling off a big lie.

Megacross Springtrap has this big, grand story about being a manager / engineer / the sole performer for Spring Bonnie at Fredbear's in which he paints himself as another victim of the predatory company. He slowly watched everything fall apart, including the Springlock Suits because he couldn't get enough parts ordered for them. He gave the parts he did have to Fredbear, putting himself at risk of being crushed to death so other people would have a safe suit.

Sunk cost fallacy, pride, and a lot of other factors lead him to stay, then come up with a plan.

Long story short he tries to fake a Springlock incident "mangling his arm" to force Fazbear to stop using these specific suits as mascot costumes and it ends horribly. Not even retire them period or sue for damages, just stop making people climb into these deathtraps. "That's all I wanted, to keep people safe," and he killed one other person and got Springlocked for it.

Fazbear discovers this plan and fakes a manifesto that paints him as delusional while he's drugged into a coma, attempting to achieve Godhood by fusing metal and flesh. Megacross Springtrap's tone talking about this is quite incredulous, but he admits it was a genius move on their part to smear him: People would much rather believe one guy just lost it and crunched himself over the grim reality of how much Fazbear has been covering up. The community turns on him because of the manifesto and the tragic death of the person who tried to pull the Springlocks open.

Now I don't think it's a bad thing to have William be a remorseless killer AND a mad scientist. He can contain multitudes. The fact he was confident he understood remnant enough to rely on it saving him despite his paralyzing fear of death CAN provide a lot of interesting possibilities.

One way I can think of off the top of my head is his experiments always fail miserably, but his ego is so inflated, he cannot accept the idea of ever making a mistake, that he always rewrites his hypothesis to match what the data shows. He does this again and again but never takes the leap of faith in his own intelligence because some part of him knows how little he really understands. Then his hand gets forced, possibly by the threat of being jailed for his unethical experiments.

IDK just thought it was an interesting coincidence.

[anathemafiction]

So, at the risk of upsetting Billy, would it be at all possible to retire him as the main riding horse and go with a shire horse? I don't know where the story is heading in book 2, but I think problems would be a bit more manageable from the tall, stout back of a horse like that, no offense to his majesty the hell-horse🤣🤣🤣

Billy huffs and very pointedly turns his large backside to you. You sigh and go around him, but the old horse's good eye narrows in a death glare, and he keeps spinning as you walk so that you can't face him.

"Billy," you plead, putting a hand on his inflated belly. "It's for your own good, boy."

He huffs again. You're always amazed at how much contempt he can inject into such a simple sound.

As you see him reaching for a lonely flower, plucking it between his big teeth, you realize he won't hear you at this time. Perhaps after he's fed, Billy will be in a better mood.

Perhaps.

- - -

Jokes aside, yes! You'll have the option to switch your mount in Book Two. It probably won't be with a Shire horse, however, but… I'm not sure yet. It may be. I'll have to think about it.

But yes, you can part with Billy Boy if you so desire.

[mayakern]

Whenever I see you respond to someone who is like "oh I missed out on a my fav skirt and it won't be restocked :((( any chance it'll be restocked?" I would kinda wonder if you would find it annoying. But reading through your asks and realizing that this is a way of gathering information for business decisions has made me feel a lot better about inquiring about retired designs, especially since you mention how the more people are being vocal the more chances there are of bringing the designs back from the dead sometimes haha

it used to be pretty overwhelming, but for the most part making the skirt design has helped make it more manageable

part of what makes it overwhelming tho is having the majority of it be anon asks. sometimes publishing and ask asking about a certain design is good because i can gauge like the number of likes and whatever comments it gets as part of my metrics, but anon is difficult. i can’t really take those requests at face value because someone could be inflating demand by sending multiple asks. plus, i already take up a lot of dash space for a lot of people and i don’t want to be obnoxious (too late, i know). 😅

so honestly one of the best things you can do is if you see a post about a design you’re interested in, comments/reblogs are really helpful, especially because it helps to organize things in a more condensed location.

anyway here’s the obligatory link to the skirt design tracker.

[trulybetty]

dec' 10 x sleigh ride

Prompt: sleigh ride Pairing: dieter x reader Word Count: 690 Warnings: corporate parties, obnoxious yachts, seasickness, butchering of the bubble dialogue & a brief mention of alcohol Summary: parties on yachts, whose big idea was that? AO3: Linked

x. masterlist

“Dieter!” you cried, “Hold my hair!”

The cool sea breeze did little to ease your churning stomach as you leaned over the rail of the yacht, now festively adorned as 'Santa's Sleigh' for the industry party you’d found yourself at.

The yacht, a vessel of opulence, was adorned with twinkling lights draped on every available surface. Garlands of holly and mistletoe hung from the rails, and a gigantic, inflatable Rudolph with a glowing red nose bobbed at the bow. Even the captain of the boat had gotten in on the act fully dressed as Santa as he guided the ‘sleigh’ off the waters around Marina del Rey. 

Dieter, ever the dramatic presence, stood by your side, his hands gently holding your hair back at your request.

The party around you was in full swing. Executives, actors, and various luminaries of the film industry mingled on the deck, drinks garnished with candy canes and holly, their laughter and chatter a stark contrast to your current predicament.

Dieter gently rubbed your back and the irony wasn't lost on you; Dieter Bravo, the man known for his theatrics, especially when hungover or sick, was now in the role of caretaker. Of that, the caretaker of you, the film producer and his girlfriend, who usually had everything under control.

“You know,” Dieter said, a small smile playing on his lips, “I always thought my hands were destined for holding Oscars, not hair.”

You chuckled, grateful for the distraction. “Well, consider this a new role for you,” you quipped as you tried to take in a deep breath.

As the waves calmed somewhat, so did your stomach, and you managed to straighten up, feeling a bit more like yourself. Dieter handed you a bottle of water, his gaze lingering with genuine concern.

“Thank you,” you took a long sip, “trust me to find out I have seasickness on the one major industry event of the holidays,” you mumbled, trying to find humour in your misery.

Dieter chuckled softly, his deep voice warm against the slight chill of the ocean air. “Well, it's not like you’re hanging out on boats every day, is it?”

His words brought a small smile to your lips. Despite his on-screen persona, Dieter could be surprisingly grounded at times. 

You laughed, “Well, there goes my retirement plans.”

“You okay now?” Dieter asked, concern lacing his words.

“Yeah, I think so,” you replied, taking another sip of water. 

You glanced back at the party, where the festive atmosphere continued unabated.

“You know, I think I make a good nurse.” He mused as you turned and raised an eyebrow at him, “What? Who wouldn't want to be nursed back to health by me?” he asked in mock offence at your wordless response.

"Maybe someone who wants actual medical attention," you replied teasingly.

“Oh, I don't know,” his voice lowered as he stepped closer to you, and you instinctively leaned into him, “I have ways of making people feel better that medicine can't touch, some might say I have a healing touch.”

Your laughter, light and genuine, cut through the cool air, a sound that seemed to bring relief to Dieter's expression. It was a welcome change from your earlier nausea, and his smile broadened, glad to see you feeling better.

He pulled you against his chest, dropping a kiss to the top of your head, “I'll have you know I have impeccable bedside manners.”

A mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he leaned down to whisper in your ear, “In fact, I could show you just how good my bedside manners are if you'd like.”

Before you could respond the moment was interrupted by a burst of laughter from the party, a reminder of the festivities happening just a few steps away. 

You patted his chest with a sigh, “Maybe once we dock Nurse Bravo, we should head back.”

Dieter offered his arm, a gentlemanly gesture. “Shall we? Do a few laps and feign interest in the name of schmoozing?”

You nodded, smiling in appreciation as you hooked your arm through his and allowed him to lead you back to the party.

[anewbeginningagain]

​Have to say that while the top 4 skated well, it was the teams below them that I enjoyed the most, Lajoie/Lagha and Carreira/Ponomarenko especially. 

Going one by one:

​Harris/Chen - finally redemption for them after a horrible season, still have a way to go but this was a step in the right direction.

KoKo - surprisingly enjoyable and overall clean and getting decent levels, I was positively surprised.

Soucisse/Firus - will forever be hampered by their ability to only interpret one style of dance, mostly stagnated even after moving to Carol Lane but at least the country switch will get them to the Olympics before retirement.

Orihara/Pirinin - I dig them so much and they nailed their Chicago FD, not in the same class as some of the rest in terms of skating skills but my god do they commit to their performance. Kudos to Juho for legit committing to the performance more than 99.99999% of ice dance men.

Taschlers - clearly not over their injury, sloppy unfortunate mistake in the RD with the lift, and not enough experience to save the situation. FD was better but they need time to heal.

Demougeot/Le-Marcier - I like them a lot but they are being held up by lifts and pazzez, their step sequences were not great, especially the one-foot.

Davis/Smolkin - terrible swan lake program, terrifying straight line lift that is supposed to impress but is mostly shaky, and mediocre skating skills. Their score was a travesty and seeing their swan lake followed by that of the Mrazeks was so telling.

Mrazeks - the first time I was really impressed by them, their FD was powerful and skated with confidence beyond their experience, they will go places for sure.

Smart/Dieck - not gelling together like you would have expected or they would have wanted just yet. Potential is there but it will take more time. Decent first half of the FD but then really falling apart. Scores too harsh though.

Lim/Quan - like the Mrazeks they are going places, but with them I'm not surprised. Hannah Lim is a STAR. Their FD grew on me and improved over the year, but I did miss their Dance Macabre FD.

Fournier-Beaudry/Sorensen - For the first time she was way more shaky than he was, I feel for her as mentioned before, this FD was skated overall well but it was clear that they didn't stand a real chance of winning anything, doubt they can even feel it was that much rewarding. My hope for her is that they will move on and retire, and that she can somehow put this behind her (whatever way she chooses to).

Turkkila/Versluis - the first time I managed to enjoy their FD, still not my favorite team and I find their skating skills lacking in the step sequences. It's legit a travesty how they are scored in and out of Finland, one of the most egregious cases of home ice inflation when you think about it.

Reed/Ambrulevicuis - love them, would have had them behind CPom overall, they are great but the basics are not as good as some of the rest.

Carreira/Ponomarenko - one of the two major highlights for me, improved power and speed, best one-foot of the event (L/L close second), and while Christina has been on an upward trajectory for two seasons now, today Anthony really managed to deliver as well, strong twizzles, and great interpretation. I will miss this FD so much, and I pray Scott, Madi, and Adria can get them two great programs for next season as well.

Lopareva/Brissaud - just not the team for me, nice skating but doing nothing for me. I hope they move on from Gui's pretentious choreography not gonna lie.

Lajoie/Lagha - second highlight of the night for me, stunning FD skated to close to perfection, and with so much emotions. After the injury they had it's just a testament to their strength that they managed to nail this FD. They too are going places, and hopefully very soon.

Fear/Gibson - were close to unwatchable for me since they were following the emotional high of L/L's FD. To their credit no matter how cringe their material is for me the audience always gets behind them and they did so today as well. But that Rocky FD is a big no for me, and it's depressing to know they will come out with another campy cringe FD next season as well.

Chock/Bates - came close to disaster with the rotational lift but saved it with their experience, this FD is not their strongest and it was skated well but didn't create a moment. Will they retire or not is the biggest question for me.

Guignard/Fabbri - came close to disaster too and also saved it with experience. He was shaky during the FD but they skated well. Bronze makes sense here. I kind of wish they would retire as well but at this point, it is clear Milano is their target.

Gilles/Poirier - Dislike their shtick, but manged to enjoy their FD for the most part. Put of the top 3, deserved to win the FD. Here as well, will they reitre is the biggest question for me (time to leave the stage to L/L).

Final note - praying P/C don't come back, with so many amazing young teams on the horizon it will be super depressing watching them do the same FD for the 8th and 9th years but still be rewarded.

[anti-workshop]

"Last month, I spent days sobbing quietly in the bathroom. I was low on medical supplies for my daily catheterizations—and worse—low on income, desperate to figure out how I was going to swing it. Despite having a near constant flow of work (for which, I’m both lucky and grateful), I’m always barely making it, financially.

While life with a disability isn’t necessarily as removed from the normative experience as I think many able-bodied people tend to think it is, the barriers that plague our access to any semblance of economic stability are nearly impossible to overcome. I have not one dollar to put toward retirement, and no realistic path toward home ownership or meaningful savings or investment. I carry over inflated debts acquired from birth onward that are impossible to pay in a lifetime, regardless of any income I manage to bring in.

I am not alone in this. Contrarily my situation is entirely common. For most disabled people, both those able to work full-time and those living on partial or full federal support funding, economic stability or freedom is often impossible to achieve. We live day to day, crisis to crisis, with little more than the hope that it will work out until tomorrow. I often catch myself wondering: what would it take to feel financially secure in my own disabled future?

I asked a few others what that meant to them." - A. Andrews

[financeattips]

Millennials Money Tips for Personal Finance

It is very difficult for millennials to manage their own finances today as the world of competition requiring one to workout harder has changed in a matter of months. From student loan debt to increasing living costs, this generation has faced financial struggles that are all its own. Nevertheless, there are strategies out there that can work for the millennial in search of sustainable financial security or even just a better bottom line. Below are a few of the basic personal finance tips for millennials.

1. Set Clear Financial Goals

The first step in any financial plan is establishing specific and attainable goals. Whether it's to buy a home, pay off your student loans, or save for retirement — knowing what you're working towards will keep you more engaged and inspired. Divide your goals into short-term (one to two years), medium-term (three to five years) and long-(five or more). This approach helps you to prioritize and use your resources accordingly.

2. Create and Stick to a Budget

The Facet of Financial Management: Budgeting Track your income and expenses: The very first step is to track how much you are earning, after that what things consume your bills? Budgeting tools; you may use an app to categorize what you spend on and where they can be reduced. If possible, adhere to the 50/30/20 rule — apportion half of your funds towards needs and twenty percent for saving or repaying debt.

3. Build an Emergency Fund                                                                         

It is only a rainy day fund to act as an emergency safety net in case life decides not to follow your plan. The hopefully three to six months of absolute must-have sequestered in a separate, liquid account. It can help you with the cost of surprising expenses–whether they be medical bills or it lets you maintain your financial schedule, rather than having a huge hole in it due to car repairs.

4. Manage Debt Wisely

For many millennials, student loan debt can be a large financial weight. Start your payoff journey with high-interest debt — credit card balances are a solid place to begin. Refinance or consolidate student loans at a lower interest rate. Establish and Maintain a HISTORY of consistent on-time payments to improve your credit score, reducing overall debt.

5. Invest for the Future

If you want to create wealth then investment is the most important thing for it. If your employer offers a matching 401(k) plan, that is what you should start with. Demand more investment options like IRAs, Stocks and Mutual Funds. Simply Diversify A toasted way to diversification! The point is that, your money should earning with compounding.

6. Enhance Financial Literacy

One can be really good at making informed decision which is backed by financial literacy. Use online sources, books and courses to learn more about personal finance. Understanding concepts such as interest rates, inflation and investment options can help you make more informed financial decisions.

7. Plan for Retirement

Architecting retirement: It is never too early to plan for retirement. Save a minimum of 15% of your income toward retirement. Make use of Roth IRAs and traditional IRA tax-advantaged accounts. You may want to talk with a financial advisor who can help you put together your own retirement plan based on what you hope for in retirement and how much risk you are willing to take.

8. Protect Your Assets

But while it may not be the sexiest asset class around, insurance is integral to any complete financial plan. Make sure of health, auto and and home insurance coverage. Good idea: If you have dependents, consider life insurance. Disability insurance provides you income in the event of an illness or injury.

9. Check Your Credit Score

Great credit can unlock lower-interest rates and financial possibilities. Review your credit report on a regular basis for inaccuracies and work towards building up the score. By paying your bills on time, keeping credit card balances low and only opening new accounts when you need them (and therefore improved scores so long as other key factors don't weigh in ).

10. Seek Professional Advice

If you are unsure of where to begin or need help, then speak with a financial advisor. They can give you advice and even consult with you to build a financial plan as well. Also look for a good pedigree — Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

With these personal finance tips, a millennial can move forward in the financial journey feeling more secure for their future. Earning money is only part of the process… its mastering discipline, consistency and continuous learning that leads to long-term financial success.

[bitchesgetriches]

{ MASTERPOST } Everything You Need to Know about Investing for Beginners

Fundamentals of investing:

What’s the REAL Rate of Return on the Stock Market?

Do NOT Make This Disastrous Beginner Mistake With Your Retirement Funds

The Dark Magic of Financial Horcruxes: How and Why to Diversify Your Assets

Dafuq Is Interest? And How Does It Work for the Forces of Darkness?

Booms, Busts, Bubbles, and Beanie Babies: How Economic Cycles Work

When Money in the Bank Is a Bad Thing: Understanding Inflation and Depreciation

Investing Deathmatch series:

Investing Deathmatch: Managed Funds vs. Index Funds 

Investing Deathmatch: Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA 

Investing Deathmatch: Investing in the Stock Market vs. Just… Not 

Investing Deathmatch: Stocks vs. Bonds 

Investing Deathmatch: Timing the Market vs. Time IN the Market

Investing Deathmatch: Paying off Debt vs. Investing in the Stock Market 

Investing Deathmatch: What Happens in a Bull Market vs. a Bear Market 

Now that we’ve covered the basics, are you ready to invest but don’t know where to begin? We recommend starting small with micro-investing through our partner Acorns. They’ll round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invest the change in a nicely diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and ETFs. Easy as eating pancakes:

Start saving small with Acorns

Alternative investments:

Small Business Investing: A Kinder, Gentler Alternative to the Stock Market 

Bullshit Reasons Not to Buy a House: Refuted

Investing in Cryptocurrency is Bad and Stupid

So I Got Chickens, Part 1: Return on Investment

Twelve Reasons Senior Pets Are an Awesome Investment 

How To Save for Retirement When You Make Less Than $30,000 a Year

Understanding the stock market:

Ask the Bitches Pandemic Lightning Round: “Did Congress Really Give $1.5 Trillion to Wall Street?”

Season 3, Episode 2: “I Inherited Money. Should I Pay Off Debt, Invest It, or Blow It All on a Car?” 

Money Is Fake and GameStop Is King: What Happened When Reddit and a Meme Stock Tanked Hedge Funds

Season 3, Episode 7: “I’m Finished With the Basic Shit. What Are the Advanced Financial Steps That Only Rich People Know?”

Wait… Did I Just Lose All My Money Investing in the Stock Market?

Season 4, Episode 1: “Index Funds Include Unethical Companies. Can I Still Invest in Them, or Does That Make Me a Monster?” 

Retirement plans:

Dafuq Is a Retirement Plan and Why Do You Need One?

Procrastinating on Opening a Retirement Account? Here’s 3 Ways That’ll Fuck You Over

How to Painlessly Run the Gauntlet of a 401k Rollover

Ask the Bitches: “Can I Quit With Unvested Funds? Or Am I Walking Away From Too Much Money?”

Workplace Benefits and Other Cool Side Effects of Employment

You Need to Talk to Your Parents About Their Retirement Plan

Season 4, Episode 5: “401(k)s Aren’t Offered in My Industry. How Do I Save for Retirement if My Employer Won’t Help?” 

Got a retirement plan already? How about three or four? Have you been leaving a trail of abandoned 401(k)s behind you at every employer you quit? Did we just become best friends? Because that was literally my story until recently. Our partner Capitalize will help you quickly and painlessly get through a 401(k) rollover:

Roll over your retirement fund with Capitalize

Recessions:

Season 1, Episode 12: “Should I Believe the Fear-Mongering about Another Recession?”

There’s a Storm a’Comin’: What We Know About the Next Recession

Ask the Bitches: How Do I Prepare for a Recession?

A Brief History of the 2008 Crash and Recession: We Were All So Fucked

Ask the Bitches Pandemic Lightning Round: “Is This the Right Time To Start Investing?”

[exitrowiron]

Investing 101

Part 5 of ?

How to select a Broker/Advisor

Beth's brother works in the Investment Advisor industry, he's not a broker himself, but he recommended a local broker from his national firm. I liked his recommendation because we wanted the security of using a broker from a large firm. Large firms have sophisticated compliance organizations which monitor the trades of their brokers to ensure they aren't churning (buying and selling excessively to earn fees). The firms also ensure that the brokers are licensed, etc. and the firms have secure, convenient online and mobile tools. If you don't have a relative in the business, ask your friends, your parents, your boss. You might want to ask the firm that manages your company's 401K.

Twenty years ago we met/interviewed the broker who was recommended by Beth's brother and we liked him. More importantly, we felt like we could trust him. He asked about our life goals, tolerance for risk, etc. and we felt like his style could match our style. He was a bit older than us, old enough to have experienced several economic cycles. We weren't looking for a guy who was going to call us once a week with a hot tip. We wanted rational, long term investing of a diversified portfolio which would grow to fund our children's college education and our retirement.

Selecting an investment advisor is a little like choosing a psychic (though I don't believe in psychics). You're looking for an advisor who is smart and successful, but let's face it, if he was really an investing savant, he'd be early-retired, relaxing on a beach or golf course instead of slogging out a 9-5 office job managing other people's money. Likewise, someone who was really psychic would have bought the winning lottery ticket years ago.

As much as anything else, an investment advisor helps keep his/her clients from doing something stupid. Beth and I are a perfect example of a couple who has invested broadly in the market and done well, mostly because we haven't done anything stupid. That's not to say every investment has been a winner, but we've cut those losses when we necessary.

Beth and I also have a very conservative view of what it means to do well with our investments. Frankly we have low expectations. We want to earn a few % points more than inflation over the long term. Ideally our portfolio (after paying the investment advisor's fees) will at least match or even slightly exceed the performance of the broader market, but probably not by much. If we see that the performance of our portfolio is beating the overall market by a lot, we assume there's probably something wrong we should fix - we are probably invested in something which the rest of the market thinks is too risky. Likewise, if our performance is lagging the market, we're probably invested too conservatively. We don't trade options, we don't buy meme stocks and a 'guaranteed return' like Bernie Maddoff would instantly make us suspicious.

Whether you invest through a broker/advisor or you do it yourself, the key, in my opinion, is to have a broad portfolio and never stop saving and investing. Don't try to time the market - i.e. pause your investing because you think the market is weak and instead decide to wait until the market starts to recover. I have no idea what the market is going to do next week or next month or next year. But I'm pretty confident that in 5 years it will be higher than today and 5 years from now I will wish that I'd invested today.

This concludes my prepared remarks - what questions do you have?

[pandor-pandorkful]

I feel like by the time I manage to convince myself to update my resume and apply for this library position it'll already be filled, but I guess I need to do the mental/emotional work on myself first because I'm still traumatized by my last job gosh darn it. =_=

Ways library job would not be like old job:

Not cooped up in a literal closet/fluctuating social contact/likelihood of seeing many friendly faces I haven't seen in years

Fewer opportunities for my dyscalculia to fuck with me/little to no math

More chances to move around physically

So many windows so much natural light

Good noise levels and socially inforced quietness/general pleasant library sounds/less strain on my audio processing issues

BOOKSMELL OuO

Stimulating environment in general, good for adhd entertainment seeking brain

$14 an hour is more than I ever made in payroll

Probably less weird dresscode/can be more visibly queer than old job

Statistically likely to be fewer people calling angry about numbers

Might not have to deal with phonecalls at all

No mom freaking out at me to look busy (the stacks can take care of any residual anxiety)

Did I mention less isolated, cuz that's a biggie

Organizational systems that make sense

Access to more fun creative stuff than a boring Payroll office could ever hope for

Probably less emotional exhaustion (aside from Iowa's new book banning laws =_=)

Retirement plan and paid time off (!!!!!!!!)

Downsides/fears:

The plague.

My adhd issue with volume control when someone talks to me and I get excited

My adhd in general fucking my focus up

How do I get up and out of the house before 8 am??? I can wake up at 6 easy sure BUT GETTING READY TO GO ANYWHERE IS DIFFICULT AND DIFFERENT

Dyslexia in the House of Reading could be an Issue

Transportation.

My tendency to Hate Myself after Every Social Interaction

Having to Do Things, both to apply and as job

How feed cats when gone all day????

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

That thing where I inflate the importance of something and make a tiny issue into a big huge problem in my mind and don't know how to ask for help before it actually becomes a real big huge issue...

The people who will stare at my boobs/creeps in general

The way my boobs will make every physical task excruciatingly painful for my back

Being large in environments where largeness was never accounted for

...but in general, the positives outweigh the negatives....

I'm just... afraid. Of getting burnt out again/worse.

[lalocreativity]

I recognize something fundamentally important when dealing with and managing the subject of income, making money and personal finances. It doesn't come natural to many of us because this current system and how its designed stems from an unnatural, inflated economical greed that has created a huge gap and learning curve for those of us who strive to live our day to day lives from a more mindful perspective.

This way of living and doing life is in opposition to the mainstream of societies' rhetoric to amass for things and wealth even in the name of having a "retirement plan." I'm not against some of the financial planning of such things. We should progress and consider changes as the world evolves. However, the pace at which the world is "evolving" in this area has been problematic for a long time. It forces people to choose altered living, sometimes away from their natural flow of happiness to maintain in this economic strain. It "feels" so unnatural.

The question of what to do about it has now become and has felt like an individualistic situation. This in itself creates another layer of unnatural pulling away, isolation, and shame. Interdependence becomes strained in this scenario, too. I don't have a conclusion for this at this time, but I'd like to encourage by saying, if you're having a difficult time figuring this out, you're not alone.

While we've all made some errors down the road concerning money and financial matters, our economies, if truly designed with all people in mind (at least as the core value of existence) everyone should have the chance to bounce back and rather expediently. Since this is not how most economies are designed, one setback takes much longer to recover from. I'd like us to consider that when we are beating ourselves up for errors we've made or if we seem to be doing all the right things and still struggling with results.

Sometimes, it's a bigger problem out of our control and what's left in our control is the only area we can do something about. I encourage you to find the programs, organizations and non-profits dedicated to this work and tap into their resources and knowledge. Find and create new ways towards interdependence, which I believe the world truly needs and craves. Just start in your own home, family and community.

[legacywealthjoy]

How My Family Achieves Happiness and Success

Establishing Generational Wealth: Our Strategies and Insights

Our last post introduced us and our journey to create generational wealth and happiness. In this post, we’ll share steps and strategies to build a legacy for your family. My family has a financial plan that helps us achieve our goals and live comfortably. We also invest in education, personal growth, and development to improve our future. Here are some strategies we use.

Financial Plan

We follow a 50/10/25 rule to manage our money. We spend 50% of our income on needs, 10% on wants, and 25% on savings. We update our monthly budget to keep up with inflation and find ways to earn more. We save automatically and have different accounts for emergencies, retirement, education, and travel. We avoid debt as much as possible and pay off our balances in full every month. If we ever get into debt trouble, we use the snowball method to pay off our debts from smallest to largest. These habits help us achieve financial security and freedom for ourselves and our child.

Investment Portfolio

My husband taught me how to invest wisely and build a diversified portfolio. A mix of different types of assets can lower your risk and increase the growth potential of your investments. We don’t invest for the short term or put all our money in one sector or region. We balance our portfolio between risky and safe assets and adjust it according to age, goals, and market conditions. We also review and rebalance our portfolio regularly to keep it on track.

Education

Education is one of the critical factors that influence wealth. Education increases human capital, improves financial decision-making and planning, and controls asset diversification and leverage. These factors affect income, wealth potential, and intergenerational wealth transfer. However, education can also create or reinforce inequality, depending on different groups’ access to and quality of education.

Personal Growth and Development

Personal growth and development are essential for achieving happiness and success in life. They help us discover our strengths, overcome our weaknesses, and pursue our goals. In my family, we implement personal growth and development in various ways, such as:

Reading books, articles, podcasts, and videos that inspire us, teach us new skills, or challenge our perspectives. We share what we learn with each other and discuss how we can apply it to our situations.

We are setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals for ourselves and supporting each other in achieving them. We celebrate our achievements and learn from our failures. We also review our goals regularly and adjust them as needed.

By seeking input from others and being open to constructive criticism, we value honesty and respect in our communication and give and receive feedback positively and helpfully. We also acknowledge our mistakes and apologize when we hurt someone.

We are practicing gratitude and optimism every day. We express our appreciation for what we have and what others do for us. We also look for the bright side of every situation and focus on the opportunities rather than the obstacles.

We eat well, exercise regularly, sleep enough, and meditate daily. We also manage our stress levels and cope with our emotions healthily. We seek professional help and care for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

We are having fun and enjoying life. We make time for hobbies, passions, and interests that make us happy. We also spend quality time with our friends. We laugh often and create positive memories.

By implementing personal growth and development in these ways, we have experienced more happiness and success. We have also grown closer as a family and strengthened our bonds.

In this blog post, I wanted to share some tips and avenues for building generational wealth: the ability to pass on assets and opportunities to your descendants. I explain why generational wealth is essential, especially for marginalized communities, and how to overcome common challenges and barriers that prevent us from achieving it.

I also invite you to share your experiences and insights on building generational wealth and any questions or feedback you may have. We hope to inspire and empower others to take action and create a lasting legacy for yourselves and your loved ones.