Bogieblog

Interesting IRS Change

Yesterday I found an interesting article about new tax rules for 2025 that are little known to the public. Well, I'm always up for a good laugh (since they rarely apply to me) so I skimmed thru it. After reading one of the bullet points, I had to Google because it did not seem right. However, where I have my rollover IRA account, they showed the same information.

Then I went to the Gov's IRS page, and it is true. Here is the relevant snippet from the IRS site:

This has gotten the catch phrase of the "super funding limit".

This rule is so oddly specific - those between 60 & 63 are given the ability to save a higher "catch-up" amount than those older and younger.  I mean, if they had said everyone 60+ gets it, I could understand it. I could understand anyone between 60 and 67 (67 being full retirement age). I could even understand 60 to 65, since the full retirement age was raised to 67 in 1960 (although they did a gradual change starting for those born in 1957). But only those within a 3 year age range? That is so strange.

A couple of things I would like to note or have questions about:

• Unless something happens real fast, shortly after I hit full retirement age (2029), it is expected that SS benefits will be reduced by 21-25%. Note that the timing is always changing (2031-2037), as is the reduction percentage.
• If one takes advantage of the extra 401k contribution, it will lower their taxable amount - thus affects how the IRS calculates any SS payout.
• I don't see anything official about those that turn 64 DURING 2025. I have seen some sources that say if you reach 64 during the year, even on December 31, 2025,  you cannot participate. On the same note, if you turn 60 on 12/31/25, you can participate. Those make sense because of the way they usually work determining age.
• I don't know if this is a multi-year thing, or just for 2025. I would guess that it is a one year deal.

IDK the reasoning behind the rule, but will take advantage in 2025.

Why Does No One Follow Directions?

I belong to a specific brand tool FB group. I got some of their tool containers several months ago. Those containers come with small item cups, which I do not use since the containers hold tools, not hardware/fasteners.

These items go retail at $3-$7, and I thought I would offer them for free to that group.

I thought that at least one person would follow directions to PM me. But no, I get people commenting where they live. Seriously, I don't care where they live, I care that you are willing to come pick them up. I gave them enough information to figure out where they would be going - Googling the 1/2 way between Concord and Keene, NH would give the town. And all they have to do is look at my profile, which gives the exact town anyway (I do that if I see something I might be interested in). Although I did appreciate the comment from the guy in ATL

Guess I'll put them on FBM.

Travel Observations

Note: I thought I had posted this on Sunday (6/16/24), but apparently I only saved it as a draft.

I traveled back to see the family a couple of weeks ago. CC wanted me to bring home something of value.I declined as I usually have trials getting thru TSA. Sure enough, they were already lined up to pull my carry on, shoes and purse before they had made it half way thru the xray.

I'm not sure where they took everything, but it was a good 5 minutes before they came back and put them back thru the system. As a side note, they opted NOT to pull me out and use a hand held metal detector on my person this time - a small win.

Somehow, even before 9-11, I have always been singled out for having ridiculous additional over site done like running an electronic sniffer around and thru every crevice of my carry on, doing hand searches. The most egregious thing they have ever found to closely examine was an unopened bottle of saline for my contacts (that under a medical need was legal at 4oz) and a tube of toothpast that was too large - in which I had them throw away.

They usually don't even try to be discrete when checking my belongings, even tossing out my undies and bras for the world to see. I have literally been yanked out from under the metal detector for a more thorough wand and hand search - even though the metal detector didn't go off.

I'm pretty sure that if I had chosen to try to bring the valuable item thru the airport, it would have gotten confiscated at the screening. Not only was it valuable, but it was heavy and they would have claimed that either:

• It was ill-gotten gains (they don't even have to give you a trial for that to happen - and they don't give it back). They will even take "large" amounts of cash that they deem you shouldn't have.
• It could be used as a weapon (being heavy).

I'm not even sure they would have let me back out of taking my flight so that I could hang on to the item. Yeah, not even tempting fate.

And, putting it in a checked bag would have guaranteed that thing would have disappeared since my bags are, more often than not, searched. Not even saying that would have been a perscribed confiscation - if you get my drift.

2023 Tax Filing

Most years I have simple taxes, without any deductions or credits. I still use a tax program because it is much easier than going thru and checking my math 97 times (because the first 3 times I always have discrepancies - LOL).

Last year (tax year 2022) I had credits for the solar array install so the program was more than helpful. I did have to wait until the form was updated on 2/2/2023 before I could file, but that wasn't a bad delay (I like getting them in as soon as eligible). This year I have a minor credit for the combi-boiler that was installed last February as the result of the hot water heater failing and proactively replacing the 30 year old boiler. I also bought a small battery backup solution after the 3 day power outage last March. It isn't a large solution, but can be expanded and will make heating much easier to deal with if I need to.

Last weekend I completed my taxes but the program said I had to wait for updates to forms on 2/2/2024. I just went in and installed the update but now they say more updates are required and they will be out on 2/9/2024. These are required updates for at least one of the forms I am using, so I guess I'll try again next weekend.

Tax Software Bloopers

I have used H&R Block tax software for years as a convenience. Sure, I usually don't need it per se because it usually boils down to how much did you make, how much did you pay in taxes, and what is the difference? But filling out forms can be so frustrating just to find out that you wasted your time.So for ~$30 I can let the software sort it out.

So I started completing the entries. About 1/2 way thru, I was flummoxed. Why? Because the software made me go the the RMD section (required minimum distribution from retirement plans). At the start of the section it clearly states that   if I am over 72, I have to take RMD. Um, I still have over a decade before I hit that age, and the software "knows" that (because it has my birthday - and yes it is correct), so why is it making me go thru answering the questions? I mean really, at the end it actually said something like, congratulations, you do not have any penalties for not taking an RMD.

Hair cut and Snow Pictures from 1/21/2023

Yesterday I did something I haven't done for years, got my haircut at a salon instead of hacking it myself. No, I didn't get any before / after pics, but it is layered in the back and the full length is only down to my shoulder blades now instead of my waist. It looks a lot healthier now without the constant frizz on the top layer, and some of the body my hair achieved after menopause can be seen now.

After the haircut, I went to the Capitol city (Concord) for my monthly trip to Wally World. Even with the overcast that kept the sun away, I was in awe of the view the whole way as the trees were still heavily covered with snow from the storm the day before. I did stop at Dunkin Donuts in Henniker on the way and snapped a picture of trees across from its parking lot. Of course pictures don't do the scenery justice.

On my way back home, the trees were still heavily covered. Shortly before the Hillsboro exits, the traffic became light enough that I felt comfortable taking pictures. At that point, there was one break in the clouds, which is in the picture (no direct sunlight ). Pictures in order: Just before the western Hillsboro exit, partway into the upper part of the Hillsboro exit off-ramp (before the right hand curve), just before the left hand curve on the Hillsboro exit off-ramp. Yes, that is a long "ramp", with the left hand turn about 3/4 to 1 mile from the surface street.)

At the gas station on the west side of town - too bad Osram Sylvania is behind it, but I was taking the picture from the pump so it couldn't be helped

At the stop light at Shaw's (I had to take 2 pictures as a car pulled into the turning lane right as I snapped the first one - LOL)

I stopped in the middle of the bridge that is shortly before my street. No one was behind me at the time but right after I stopped a truck turned onto the street so I only got the 1 picture before I had to move on.

I was glad I had gotten out and about so I could experience all the quintessential New England beauty after the storm.

First Plowable Snow of the Season

Left the house 7:15 yesterday morning for some errands. Made a stop at the Bedford L*we's for some N.A. made products, made a stop in Manchester to pick up a beautiful calendar that a friend makes from her photographs in support of charities, stopped at Target where everything I was looking for was made in China, so left empty handed. Then stopped at Hooksette Home Dep*t, where I bought N.A. made products. Went to the Concord BB&B, where again I left empty handed, because China.

Came home and unloaded, then to the dump and grocery store. Made it home just as the snow started. Even though it was still 34*, the snow was falling so heavily that after 25 minutes, it was sticking.

Overnight we got some mixed precipitation, so everything settled into about 3" of the white stuff. Will be out snow blowing later this morning.

Introvert DEI Training

Where I work, my boss is required to perform DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) training at least 4x/year. Last Thursday was our last training session that included a short video then discussion for the team (not that this was a virtual meeting).

The video was horrible and was just a couple of minutes about two coworkers talking about an introvert boss (yes, introverts can be bosses) of which the conversation was so inane that I can't remember any of it. The only part of the video that was good was the ending slide which stated something like, "Extroverts are energized by socializing in larger groups of people, while introverts are energized by spending time alone."

Many people interpret "introvert" as shy, and the video did not help in that misconception. During the discussion, I stated that it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that I am an introvert since I love working from home and most of the people in my team are stressed by it. I went on to say that interacting with people just exhausts me. Then the only other person to participate in the training (who is a definite extrovert who is also outgoing), tells me that I need to go to speaking training and do some presentations in front of people until I get comfortable with it - then I won't be an introvert any more.

Hmm, so during sensitivity training, he is telling me,  that as an introvert, I need to be fixed. And, NO ONE EVEN CAUGHT IT. I, not needing to defend myself, nor wanting to get into an argument, just said, "hmm, that is an interesting theory."

Introversion isn't shyness. Shyness is an emotion while introversion is a personality type. Although I can be shy at times, I am also outgoing and assertive when I want/need to be. Sometimes I can't be bothered, as in the above situation. If I don't see value in it - as in it will exhaust me more than help me or the other person who most likely can't understand (not won't/unwilling, actually can't) - I just let it go.

This article has a chart showing some of the different reactions for different personality/emotional combinations.

A personal example that may explain better; As you may recall, I was active in the local HOG Chapter. I was LOH Officer for several years and also membership officer and editor (I usually had at least 2 positions and one year all 3). I enjoyed participating in and even leading some of the activities. The best one, in which even when I wasn't "leading", I managed to take charge of was the spring bake sale / raffle. See, I would be continuously interacting with a small group of people behind the tables, while dealing with a large amount of the public. The public came to us because they wanted food or raffle tickets. I wasn't trying to convince them to buy, although I could upsell them (hey, you have $2 for change from the cookies, you want to buy raffle tickets with that?). Yes, it was tiring for me, but at the same time I enjoyed the entire day (although when it came time for a break, I would go off by myself into the back parking lot and recharge by not being around people). What I couldn't do, was be the person who circulated thru the store asking people if they wanted to buy raffle tickets - that was being too intimate with strangers. That was a job better suited for an outgoing extrovert (which we employed for that task).

I hated the one year that I was at the Membership table, although the circumstances were much the same as the bake/raffle sale, my job was to convince the public that they wanted to join the HOG Chapter. This circumstance was just plain exhausting with no reward for me. In these cases, you generally want to get on the same page as as the people that visited the table, which means a more intimate conversation with total strangers. I was exhausted after only couple of hours into the full day. I also never managed to convince myself to go to the annual winter bonfires, even though I knew practically everyone that would be there. One year I made myself go, then once I got there I turned around in the parking lot and left. I just couldn't deal with the exhaustion of all those people and the noise. The annual holiday parties were also exhausting. I had to go to those as an officer, but would leave after only a couple of hours (the meal and the award presentations) because I was so exhausted from all the people, noise and activity.

Introvert, extrovert, you do you, just don't make the mistake of believeing that the other needs to be "fixed".

Watching the Big Dogs Work

Went to visit friends from NJ as they visited their property in Winchester, NH. I have gone over a couple of times in the last 2 years to help them clear and stack brush, while others cut trees down. They have been disappointed that the company they hired to remove stumps and rocks, then grade hadn't been up to do the job yet. 5 minutes after I arrived, a machine showed up and started working. The land owners were really happy with this surprise.

I don't know what algorithm Typepad uses to upload a group of pictures, but even though they are numbered, and I clicked on them in order, the order is all messed up. I don't feel like re-ordering, so it is what it is. I also don't feel like going and turning those pics to right side up. It annoys me that this is the only website that shows landscape pics sideways when they are uploaded.

Short Trip to PA

Last week I took a trip to PA for work. Three of us drove there on Monday, stayed thru Wednesday about 1pm, then drove back. Since none of us were the going out type, we fit all our sight seeing in during the drives. We got to go thru some amazing corn and soybean farming country in PA as the GPS took us around an estimated 26 minute traffic backup due to a MV accident on the highway.

On the way back I took pictures while going over the Hudson River Bridge

While I was away, remnants of hurricane Henri hit. Of course since it was traveling over land, it was downgraded to a tropical storm and I'm not even sure it had that designation when it got to VT and NH. Regardless, it dumped some rain.

My pet sitter did a great job and kept me informed of her cat sightings. Rita is the only cat that deigned to make an appearance when Anne was here (she made a total of 4 visits). Since Rita was a rescue that I took in when she was about 7, she must have been socialized  during her younger years. Although she isn't the type to seek out attention from strangers, she quickly settles down when they are around.

Of course the two youngsters have only seen a couple of other people in their lives, and those have been people doing work on my house, so they don't tend to be sociable. That being said, at times I have put them in the cat pen in the living room while others have been here, so they also aren't terrified. This is illustrated by Anne saying that she could hear them chasing each other on the main floor while she was cleaning the cat boxes in the basement. I would just about bet that, at times,  Spot was lurking around watching Anne since she is very curious and adventurous.

It was a good trip with the cats and birds well taken care of, so I couldn't ask for anything better than that.