April 8, 2025

 In December, we decided to throw caution to the wind, and booked a "bucket list" trip to the Emerald Isle. A couple of months later, we prepared to invest in our retirement comfort and update our original old 70's kitchen. In hindsight, maybe we shouldn't have felt so secure in our future.

I promised not to get political on here, so what's his name will not be mentioned. What we are fearful of is the uncertainty of the financial market, after seeing the stock market bottom out in consecutive days. We are blessed with experts protecting our retirement accounts, but they can't do anything about interest rates. We know the smart thing to do is to ride out the lows and hope for better days.

The topper of the instability came when a customer told Randy his Social Security had been reduced. Our monthly income has kept us from having to draw from our retirement accounts, let's be real. Social Security is being threatened. as anyone who read Project 2025 already knows will become a reality.

What we are now facing is whether we should cancel our trip and put the money back in savings. It's wondering how we would be received in a foreign country. If it's even safe to travel.

The kitchen is off the table, as you all know, because it's already torn up. 

We are heartbroken, disappointed, and very angry over what has developed in our country. Is the amount we spent on the trip going to make that much difference in the long run? Probably not, but at this moment, we don't know what else to do.

The hardest part is the fact that we don't blow money, especially on ourselves, and we are blessed to be debt-free. So to have our plans for the year being challenged like this is indescribable and sad.

We have a big decision to make in the next days. I pray we make the right one.

Thanks for being here. ☘