Franktank232 wrote: Just another reason to own a private jet and a spread in Chile or Argentina or S. Brazil. Its blooming time down there :) Sure, after I cash in the old 401K, I'll use all of the extra money to buy that Chilean estate and the Lear Jet. OOPS, can you say "Great Depression" 10 times real fast? :) Actually, if I were rich enough to afford it, I'd heat my greenhouse for the winter. Tried it a couple of years, it was just too expensive, and seemed kind of dumb -- the heat cost more than the plants, I could have just replaced them all in the spring for less than the heat cost. Dennis SE Michigan

Hi stinkbone, When I first read your message, I thought, "Oh, no ... running a mortgage for 10 years without agreeing formally to pay off a penny of the principal?"! Dave doesn't mind people running a fairly substantial mortgage without their getting their shirt-tails tied into knots to pay them off ... if one uses the freed-up money to invest into worth-while assets. But ... when one considers that a mortgage is an agreement to pay off a (usually large) loan making level rates of payment from the first month to the last, one knows that in the early years, when the loan is large, the amount of interest payable annually is large ... meaning that one pays peanuts on the basic principal during the whole of that first year. In the later years, a very large component of the regular payment goes to pay off principal, as the amount of interest payable on that residual amount owing is quite small - but the borrower has been paying the same amount each time. We've often been told that if one can make one extra payment annually (specifying that it's to be used totally to pay down principal) it'll probably make a larger payment of the principal that the total amount paid off on principal through all the rest of the year (or close to it). That will result in the loan being paid off much earlier than according to the original plan. If you make that official plan, I hope that you'll make a deal with yourself to make that extra payment annually, or more if possible, even if it's not required. If you get someone to run down the effect that'll make in the date that your mortgage'll be paid off, you'll be surprised, I'm sure ... and substantially motivated to carry it out, if at all possible. The people who pay bi-weekly are actually making that 13th month payment in each year, contractually. What plans do you have in place to deal with an emergency? Unexpected illness, if not covered by medical insurance (and few offer coverage of the entire amount, and certainly not up-front ... but medical people like to get paid now, not in half a year ... with you recovering the amount from your insurance company, later). Blowing the engine or tranny of your car? Replacing a furnace ... it may make you sweat (sorry ... "perspire") to do without an air conditioner for a while until you can afford a repair or a replacement ... but you'd get more uncomfortable than that, doing without a furnace (without regard to tearing holes in walls to replace split parts of water pipes after freezing). Will you be able to get a HELOC from your financial institution? For sure? I'll bet not ... if you've been put on lay-off (especially if permanent). And at what rate? I suggest that, even if it means cutting expenses to just the bare essentials for a couple of years (or more), that you make a strong effort to set aside the value of a fourteenth month of mortgage payment each year, to invest as a safety net for use in emergency. I've recommended to many that they try to have 3 - 6 mos. worth of income in case theirs stops, for whatever reason, so that they'd still be able to manage financially. I've told a number of people, as they became more familiar with the ins and outs of capable financial management, that often I don't have such myself. But I have a fairly guaranteed income, being as I'm on three pensions plus required annual withdrawal from a tax-deferred retirement plan, and live on less than that income ... automatic, until I depart this earth. Even if I didn't, I have some equity and mutual fund assets and have had certificates issued ($35 - 50. per asset in stocks, usually fee-free for mutual funds) that I have lodged as collateral backing a Letter of Credit at my bank (which sits unused, most of the time, with no inactivity fee levied) which I can draw on in case of an emergency. So I use credit card to pay for the emergency needs, then draw on the LOC in time to pay off the total owing on the credit card ... as I dislike paying their high interest rates ... I'd rather pay at a lower rate on the amount borrowed on the Line of Credit. Then, as I have surplus income (and I cut expenses to the bone, in such cases) to pay that loan off in full, as quickly as possible, partly due to interest not being deductible. After that, to put the amount that I was paying interest into my pocket. Where I'd keep it for a short while, then use it to buy more assets. I agree with Dave somewhat, however ... in that I will, however use a different Letter of Credit (due to the interest being deductible) to use to buy assets, sometimes agreeing to pay interest only, and some principal if and when it suits me. As I believed, back when I would have to pay 6.25% interest, that I could borrow to invest at nearly nil net cost ... ... so it should be true in spades, now that I can borrow for 4.75%. What's better than putting your money into the bank? Long term ... it's buying a piece of the bank! For reasons that I've outlined elsewhere in these fora. Good wishes for making a deal that you'll be happy with in 10 and 20 years. Learn how money works ... an interesting hobby ... **that pays well**!! ole joyful

I was so hoping for a positive update. I'm disappointed. Miracles do happen. My Daddy had a heart attack and the doctor didn't think he would live. He did. Sent him for bypass surgery but didn't think he would live through it. We didn't either. He lived another 11 years. Hang in there Dave. We all love you. Linda

Hi there - I took Prempro for 2.5 years. I took other HRT before that - on and off for 6 years. The risk is significant for breast cancer using combination HRT. With those side effects and such a small reduction in symptoms - I would DEFINITELY wean yourself off (do it over as much time as possible). I would hit the gym. Gross - right? But let me tell you - it is easier than recovering from breast cancer - and it helps with hot flashes and you will sleep better. Just got back to working out at 55 and about 20 years off. There are some antidepressants that help with hot flashes and night sweats. Some of my friends also smoke pot at night or do marijuana oils to sleep. The CBD oils can also help. Finding out what works can be a full time job and exhausting. But if you do continue with combination HRT (estrogen and progesterone) be sure to know your risks. If you have a family history of BS - you're BMI is over 26 - you smoke (or have smoked) - or drink more than socially - the word is that you should not take combination hormones. I wish I never did. I use to smoke (quit 5 years ago) - was 15 lbs overweight - and drank a few times a week (5 drinks a week... maybe) and got breast cancer. No family history. There is a lot more information and studies finally being done to help woman face all these issues. Do you have a menopause specialist to go to ? The GYNs that also deliver babies are not who you need to go to (speaking from experience). I know the horrible side of sweats and hot flashes. Not being able to sleep made me finally give in to the HRT. But again - the risk increase is significant (25 - 75% depending on the study) of getting BC. Good luck to you! I wish every woman reading this well.