Search found 1814 matches

by cmonkey
Fri Jan 28, 2022 2:46 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

@cmonkey, how did your Roth conversion go? What were your reasons for doing it? Is 100% of conversion taxable in the year it’s done? It was uneventful, just a transfer of $$$. I could have transferred shares actually but since I need to prove income for healthcare, I wanted a single line item. It i...
by cmonkey
Fri Jan 28, 2022 2:40 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

Some states also have asset limits that disqualify you from Medicaid. For example, in Alaska the asset limit is $2,000 for non-seniors. This includes stocks, bonds, checking accounts etc etc. Didn't know that. Minnesota doesn't have an asset limit (for now). What options do low income Alaskans have...
by cmonkey
Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:17 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

I’m kinda surprised there isn’t more participation in this thread on this forum. I know many are in their 20s and 30s here, but don’t people still need healthcare?? Many flying without a parachute, I guess. Agreed, I was surprised to not find many anecdotes when I searched. I think many don't like ...
by cmonkey
Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:11 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

Still in process, they require proof of income prior to processing so I am waiting for January financial statements. I should be able to report back by mid February.

Made my first Roth conversion today!
by cmonkey
Mon Jan 10, 2022 12:57 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

Asset clawback depends on the state you live in. Where I live (MN) they only try to recover assets if the funds are used for long term care once you are over a certain age.

Of course I will be keeping an eye out for any changes that might be made and make adjustments.
by cmonkey
Thu Dec 30, 2021 11:06 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

There are solutions to the indoor problem. We have a HEPA air filter running at all times in our basement and it makes a huge difference. Also make sure you get your draft going before you start the fire. We have almost no pollution in our home, just an occasional puff when I put wood in. Of course ...
by cmonkey
Mon Dec 20, 2021 4:28 pm
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

We have been burning consistently for 6 weeks at the end of this week and I'd guess we've gone through about 1/4 of a cord. It's looking like we will come through the winter with wood to spare, which is great. I think I have about 2 cords left. I have 4 cords split for next year which will likely la...
by cmonkey
Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:48 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

Received my first bill of the year and so far it's a huge success. This first bill includes about 45-50 gallons of 'top up' because they don't top us off in the summer. We actually burned about 50 gallons of propane over the last 30 days. Gallons - 95 compared to 270 last year $$$ - 199 compared to ...
by cmonkey
Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:35 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

@Married2aSwabian - Red Oak will likely take long than 12 months to season even if you split it small. Or so I've read. That is a great amount of oak and will provide tons of heat! Wood stoves are much more efficient than a fireplace. How efficient depends on what room you have it in. In an air tigh...
by cmonkey
Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:20 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

One thing I've noticed this year is that having the boiler temp set significantly lower is resulting in a huge drag on propane efficiency. Last year I calculated we were burning about .8 to .9 gallons of propane per hour of 'run time' as calculated on our thermostat. I won't know until I start getti...
by cmonkey
Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:01 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

We've had wood stove fires the past couple of days and with good results overall. We can go about 2.5-3 hours between fill ups and can still get the next load going without kindling. First load at about 8, next loads at ~11 and then another at ~2. 5-6 splits per load. We have 2 sets of stairs on opp...
by cmonkey
Thu Nov 04, 2021 10:39 am
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Re: Anyone on Medicaid?

Good point. I've been making some calls and clinic/hospital services are fully covered around here. Same with our current eye clinic. Dentists are another story thought. It's like pulling teeth (ha!) trying to find anyone who even accepts state programs, let alone is accepting new patients. After ab...
by cmonkey
Wed Nov 03, 2021 4:20 pm
Forum: Health and Food Questions
Topic: Anyone on Medicaid?
Replies: 39
Views: 6859

Anyone on Medicaid?

I've reached the point where my family will either be on Minnesota's Medicaid program or MinnesotaCare and need to make the decision in about 1 month. We live comfortably on about 2/3's the poverty level for a family of 3 which means we can withdraw enough from our IRA to stay just below the standar...
by cmonkey
Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:17 pm
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

Had the initial 'cure burn' this afternoon for my wood stove. It performed perfectly. I got it a bit warmer than I should have at 400F instead of 250F but it'll work to cure the paint. After an hour the fire is died down now. Even with the windows open and the door wide open to ventilate, it warmed ...
by cmonkey
Mon Oct 25, 2021 1:49 pm
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

Currently, we are only having a small fire once a day in the morning. Temps at night have been 14-20 F and upper 20s, lower 30s during the day for the past few weeks. We deliberately try to make a small fire, otherwise the house will quickly turn into a sauna with temperatures in the 80s. Temperatu...
by cmonkey
Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:00 am
Forum: ERE Community
Topic: Going card free?
Replies: 28
Views: 8821

Re: Going card free?

I try to use cash for almost everything, I just enjoy the privacy of it and enjoy the physical experience of cash. We don't spend near enough to really benefit from cash back.
by cmonkey
Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:58 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

Our insulation is pretty good, the attic has about 2 feet of insulation in it from what I can tell. Overall the house isn't drafty, it's just way too big by ERE standards. We like room to run around though, keeps us warmer. :lol:
by cmonkey
Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:26 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

I pull a clothes drying rack next to it and load it up too. It's much faster to dry clothes that way than hang in our basement. We have a giant clothes line strung in our basement, so I imagine we can run the temp a little lower on those days we do laundry due to the increased humidity. Still waiti...
by cmonkey
Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:24 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

Wood heat is the best! Of all the heating systems I've had, agreed I like wood the best as well. It's very satisfying to know you provided for yourself! We turned the heat on Saturday night. It was 53F in the morning Saturday after it dropped to 30F that night. We were gone the entire day otherwise...
by cmonkey
Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:39 pm
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Winter Heating Challenge/Log
Replies: 51
Views: 11872

Re: Winter Heating Challenge/Log

cmonkey, have you tried heating the house with it to see how much it affects the living space? How many cords of wood do you have? We usually burn between two and three with a little leftover. We haven't started yet. I still need to cure the paint. Waiting on a thermometer currently. I have about 2...