Debt Dumpers 2020

[jen7233]

I still have Buns of Steel on VHS, no player any more. The tape is probably disintegrated by now. Maybe I can donate it to a museum. lol.
I was even a smoker back then and could zoom right through the whole thing. Omg, it was probably 1000 leg lifts in one session. I had high top Reeboks with the double Velcro strips at the top. Sooo cool back then with slouch socks. Don't forget the Guess jeans with little zippers at the ankles.

Awesome, and yes to all that!

Well, I reserved August on the WDW reservation system. I'm so on the fence about actually going, between rise in cases in FL, the heat in August, mask wearing mandatory. I have to use these tickets though at some point between now and next September as the ones I purchased are nonrefundable. We went with August because we had plane tickets for the cruise we cancelled anyway to and from MCO and had a hotel reservation we made for Disney just in case we altered plans back when the cruise stuff started becoming an issue in the news this year. Watching the news, too, to see if Disney will change their mind about opening?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If you look at FL numbers by county/area, most of their cases are in Miami and Tampa. I took off Wed-Fri preceding Labor Day weekend, hoping back in March that we’d be able to cruise by September. That’s a no go.
My 2nd choice would be a beach vacation in FL on the Gulf coast but that is hard to plan when you don’t know what their numbers will be by then.

 

[jen7233]

If you look at FL numbers by county/area, most of their cases are in Miami and Tampa. I took off Wed-Fri preceding Labor Day weekend, hoping back in March that we’d be able to cruise by September. That’s a no go.
My 2nd choice would be a beach vacation in FL on the Gulf coast but that is hard to plan when you don’t know what their numbers will be by then.

I was thinking something similar to your second choice. Rather than Disney maybe get a VRBO somewhere on the coast doesn't need to be FL though, or a lake/mountains. Just to do a change of scenery for mental health in case the short term future looks worse for many reasons. Looks like we will be online school in the fall for my kids as we wait for concrete news from the school district, have to start thinking about that soon.

I can never find accurate Royal Caribbean cruise news. Carnival for some reason I never have trouble finding. We had an August sailing from Port Canaveral but had cancelled it. Anyone know what RCCL decided on their Port Canaveral cruises, are they cancelled and through when?

 

[pblack]

I was thinking something similar to your second choice. Rather than Disney maybe get a VRBO somewhere on the coast doesn't need to be FL though, or a lake/mountains. Just to do a change of scenery for mental health in case the short term future looks worse for many reasons. Looks like we will be online school in the fall for my kids as we wait for concrete news from the school district, have to start thinking about that soon.

I can never find accurate Royal Caribbean cruise news. Carnival for some reason I never have trouble finding. We had an August sailing from Port Canaveral but had cancelled it. Anyone know what RCCL decided on their Port Canaveral cruises, are they cancelled and through when?

I don't know this for a fact, but I would imagine they've at least cancelled through September 15th like many of the other cruise lines. Carnival cancelled through September 30th...which is making me very nervous for our November trip. Depending on what measures are in place if our cruise happens, I'm not even sure we'd want to go anyway. Sigh.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/06/19/cruise-lines-announce-they-will-suspend-sailing-th.aspx If you scroll down to the second article, it sounds like they are cancelled through September 15.

 

[pblack]

And for some comic relief I just got back from costco and walked into my bedroom to find the wicked witch of the west....

 

[PhoenixStrength]

If you look at FL numbers by county/area, most of their cases are in Miami and Tampa. I took off Wed-Fri preceding Labor Day weekend, hoping back in March that we’d be able to cruise by September. That’s a no go.
My 2nd choice would be a beach vacation in FL on the Gulf coast but that is hard to plan when you don’t know what their numbers will be by then.

I was thinking something similar to your second choice. Rather than Disney maybe get a VRBO somewhere on the coast doesn't need to be FL though, or a lake/mountains. Just to do a change of scenery for mental health in case the short term future looks worse for many reasons. Looks like we will be online school in the fall for my kids as we wait for concrete news from the school district, have to start thinking about that soon.

I can never find accurate Royal Caribbean cruise news. Carnival for some reason I never have trouble finding. We had an August sailing from Port Canaveral but had cancelled it. Anyone know what RCCL decided on their Port Canaveral cruises, are they cancelled and through when?

We cancelled both our WDW trip in October (planning to do in October 2021 instead) and moved our November DCL cruise to April 2021, so we decided to do a road trip in October for our only vacation this year. That way we can be flexible on where we go (depending on numbers in each area) and have a variety of options of things to do and see.

@jen7233 they did cancel all cruises from US ports through September 15th. They were the last major cruise line to announce it, they just finally did yesterday. They also cancelled all sailings to Bermuda through October 31st. If you go to the Royal Caribbean International Facebook page they announce everything there. Don't trust the Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook page, that is not by RCCL, it is a blogger who usually has good info, but not always accurate and not official info.

 

[jen7233]

We cancelled both our WDW trip in October (planning to do in October 2021 instead) and moved our November DCL cruise to April 2021, so we decided to do a road trip in October for our only vacation this year. That way we can be flexible on where we go (depending on numbers in each area) and have a variety of options of things to do and see.

@jen7233 they did cancel all cruises from US ports through September 15th. They were the last major cruise line to announce it, they just finally did yesterday. They also cancelled all sailings to Bermuda through October 31st. If you go to the Royal Caribbean International Facebook page they announce everything there. Don't trust the Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook page, that is not by RCCL, it is a blogger who usually has good info, but not always accurate and not official info.

Thanks. I think I was just confused by the wording put out in some press releases and the wording from the CLIA last week (were they recommending or telling?). Well, and then really just some wording over on other sites. Now today I looked at RCCL's site and it looks updated as of today and specific. Maybe we'll try again late next summer or fall, but I'm not booking anything until I see what's up THIS fall and winter with cases. I'd also really like to wait to see how operations go once back on line before committing. Also will be watching and listening how opening week looks at WDW!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We cancelled both our WDW trip in October (planning to do in October 2021 instead) and moved our November DCL cruise to April 2021, so we decided to do a road trip in October for our only vacation this year. That way we can be flexible on where we go (depending on numbers in each area) and have a variety of options of things to do and see.

@jen7233 they did cancel all cruises from US ports through September 15th. They were the last major cruise line to announce it, they just finally did yesterday. They also cancelled all sailings to Bermuda through October 31st. If you go to the Royal Caribbean International Facebook page they announce everything there. Don't trust the Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook page, that is not by RCCL, it is a blogger who usually has good info, but not always accurate and not official info.

This really is the best approach. It keeps all your plans fluid and you can adjust as needed.
Will you just book hotels at the last minute? This is the part that stresses me out, and the driving.
We'll probably just do a beach trip close to home.

 

[barkley]

well, i just saw that disneyland has indefinitely delayed it's reopening. not that we were/are planning on any vacations in the foreseeable future but i think i would be hesitant to consider planning on anything that didn't provide rock solid fully refundable provisions for all aspects of travel/lodging/activities (and ideally have an employer who would let me cancel an approved vacation).

 

[imbatman]

I'm sad for people who need a reprieve. Even a week of getting away from their home. Had someone I know and love compare this to WWII and I had to remind him that there are no bombs and the mortality is far less than they predicted. Heaven forbid some of us want to be responsible AND still live life. I also reminded him that arguing will never win a person like kindness. And so many have forgotten simple kindness in this time.

I scheduled my July payments. DH and I are looking at making a small extra payment. I show him the snowball every other week.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

This really is the best approach. It keeps all your plans fluid and you can adjust as needed.
Will you just book hotels at the last minute? This is the part that stresses me out, and the driving.
We'll probably just do a beach trip close to home.

Yes, we won't wait until we arrive to book, mostly because we are bringing our dog so we want to do research on dog friendly options first, but we probably won't book the hotels until a week or 2 before we leave, that way we won't be locked into anything. With so much changing every day we would rather just be able to make decisions without the consequences and stress of a more concrete vacation! And I enjoy driving (DH not so much but doesn't mind being the passenger!) so a road trip is fun.

 

[huggybuff]

I'm sad for people who need a reprieve. Even a week of getting away from their home.

I'm likely not going anywhere until Thanksgiving week. I have a book now, pay later hotel room reserved for 2 nights in Anaheim and was so hoping that Disneyland would be up and running by then. Hopes are dimming for sure.

 

[imbatman]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

That’s a great price. Buy as much as you can afford for the longest term you can. When it expires, you will be 25 yrs older and if you want to renew it will cost around 5x what it costs today.
Dh’s 20 yr policy just expired and it will go from $25/month to $130.

 

[barkley]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

i'm a fan of it. dh and i first got it when we bought our first home-made sure to have enough at that time so the surviving spouse could pay the mortgage in full. you might check to see if your auto insurance carrier offers it as well. we have farmer's and since our life, auto and home owners are through them we get a bundled discount that's pretty nice.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Always have as much life insurance as you can afford if you have a spouse / children / debts. If you have any debts it means your surviving family don't need to worry about them. If you have no debts but a spouse / children it means they can take whatever time they need to grieve, sort your affairs out, do whatever they need without thinking that they must get back to work as soon as possible or rush things because they need to get the house sold or whatever it might be. It provides breathing space if nothing else.

If you have younger children it allows for appropriate childcare or housekeeping services so that the surviving spouse can continue to work (if applicable) and spend their non working time with the children providing the love and support of two not worrying about getting the bathroom clean.

I am not in insurance sales but my old job was in payroll & employee benefits and I have seen the difference that having adequate cover (or not) can have on families when things don't go as hoped.

If the worst happens life for the survivors is hard enough, removing or minimising at least, money worries is probably the greatest act of love that can be left behind.

And if you get to the end of the 25 years and are still here you could feel like you have wasted the money but I would say that you have invested in peace of mind.

 

[jen7233]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

Seems a decent rate. I don't know your age assuming not 20 (lol!) but just off the top, sounds ok. I have 250k policy I've had for a while. I did a 30 year term life policy, (I was in my 30s at the time), took out a 250k policy, my rate is $22 monthly. For my DH we took a term policy out last year, we did a 20 year term, 500k policy, he pays $74 a month.

 

[DLgal]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

That seems really high to me TBH, but I don't know your age and health status.

For reference, at age 27, I got a 20 year term $500k policy for $19.27/mo. I am a non smoker with no health issues and was a healthy weight at the time.

I took out an additional $1M 30 year term policy 2 years ago at age 39. Slightly overweight and at the time, my bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes (turned out to be a fluke but I got slapped with higher premiums because of it). My rate for that policy is $80/month.

$40/month for a $250k policy sounds super high to me. I'd shop around some more, unless you have significant health issues or are a smoker, then it sounds about right.

 

[DisneyMandC]

General thoughts on life insurance? I was approved for a $250k/25 years at $40.57/month. I've never had life insurance, only AD&D.

That seems in-line with the rates DH and I have. Same amount and term. I got mine at 25 for $27/mo and DH got his at 29 for $31/month.

 

[imbatman]

Back from meeting with the agent who down sold me on a 10 year policy due to our needs/wants. We will be debt-free by the end of the year and mortgage free in 3-4 years. He said that combined with the fact that I can start drawing on my pension in 9 years (I have more than one and this early pension will be rolled into savings/ROTH) means that we don't need more coverage. We can certainly purchase longer-term, but he suggested this. We can get both of us for 10 years/$250k at under $1k per year. Seems like a no-brainer.