I hate being cash poor
August 21st, 2024 at 02:11 amWarning: First World Problem whining about to start.
Well this is sure no fun. I came into this year knowing things would be a little tight, but figured I would be ok with my finances. The tightness is due to doing a large Roth conversion in January, and then I would have my Tesla loan payments, and there are property taxes here in Virginia, but I figured I could take a bit from savings to make it work.
Have you ever heard of go-go, then no-go, years? Basically saying you will likely spend more right after retirement due to being able to travel and do things, and as you get older you will slow down, and slow your spending (finally ending with hi-spend due to medical issues). I figured I wouldn't do much travelling this year, but boy was I wrong. And with that spending has gone up to probably more than I have done in a long time. And of course that means my assumptions at the beginning of the year sure have been way off. Ouch.
First it was driving cross country. Next it is this trip to Europe in October. And then to Florida in November. And I need to (make that I should) get new tires for my car due to all the driving. And then the property tax bills on my house and car. And all the insurances. OK, yes, I am whining at this point.
As has been told to me, "don't stress, this is what your savings are for, and you won't even take out 1% of your savings". Yep, that is true.
I just took out $2,000 of dividends to help pay for things, and I went today and gave the C.U. instructions to not roll my $5,000 of CDs over this coming October, so there is that money too.
Yeah, I can always take more out of the brokerage, selling as needed. But I wanted to try and avoid that and keep myself from getting into a too high tax rate for this year.
Anyway, nothing to do but stick with the plan. At times like this I feel it would be easier to be like my cousin. (please ignore if this bothers you, but it is the phrase "fat, dumb, and happy" that he remind me of). Instead here I am, knowing how to optimize things, and due to this I am having an aggrivating financial day. OK, just a First World Problem - this will pass.