Rockhopper

That sounds like a hell of a deal.

That about covers it.

Sure, why not. I am down to try anything.

It should say more than just cranker. There are 4 cranking rods in the series. Can't tell you how universal of a rod it will be without knowing which specific model you have.

And take my advice with a grain of salt. I do not work in finance. Just learned a lot over the years. They really should teach this stuff in high school.

Opening a credit card can temporarily hurt your credit, yes. Not recommended before making a big purchase or applying for a loan. But over time obviously will greatly improve your credit if used correctly. What dings your credit more than opening one is actually closing one. So choose your credit card benefits wisely. I wouldn't have more than two or three tops. There is a balance between using credit cards correctly vs having too much spending potential when it comes time to apply for a home loan etc. Also, don't open a credit card and never use it. That's bad too.

I, like @GReb, use credit cards for travel benefits. I have one for an airline, and I have one for a large chain of hotels. Rarely, if ever, do I vacation and not have my flights and hotel paid for. I usually take one big trip a year with a family of five. If travel is not your thing, I would choose a credit card with a flat 2% cash back. Don't get caught up on the revolving 5% cash back deal that the benefits change every month or quarterly. You will come out ahead with the 2% on everything deal. My hunting partner uses a Cabela's card quite a bit. He gets a lot of freebies for camo's, bow accessories, etc. Even went on a guided trip once on Cabela's dime using his points saved.

You 100% should be using a credit card for almost everything you can buy with it. Managing that credit card correctly is the key. I do not even own a debit card anymore.

Another thing I did not mention, any high interest debts should be your absolute #1 priority above all else, even retirement savings. Example is a credit card. If you have thousands on a credit card, pay that off before you worry about saving. Then there is the 50/30/20 rule, which is generally a safe way to manage your finances.

You should pay about 1% for total assets under management to a financial advisor. Consult costs can vary, but should be an hourly rate of a couple hundred bucks give or take.

Well that is another issue to consider with the home. Being 52/3 years old and not having the tax benefits of a mortgage for another 10-12 years assuming you retire at 62 to 65 can be a whole different problem. But then again at your age, IF you plan on using that home as a rental, and assuming you want to purchase another home to live in during retirement, I would make that a goal sooner than later. Having 11 years left on that mortgage, I would assume you now have a pretty decent amount of equity in that home if you did not already tap into it. IF the goal is to use that house as a rental, use your current equity to your advantage. Make it go to work for you. Cash it out soon (now to 5 years down the road), buy your retirement home with that equity, and let your renters pay your mortgage(s). Depending on your situation and home costs and equities...hell, you may be paying less per month owning two homes than what you are paying now on one...assuming you keep that place rented and have that cash flow coming in. Being 70 or 80 years old and paying a mortgage is not going to be easy. Maybe you have the means to invest in a new property on a 15 or 20 year term instead of the traditional 30? Personally I would not want to pay on a mortgage in retirement for any longer than necessary.

In my personal situation I would absolutely take full advantage of that ROTH. And I would not put too much money into a personal savings account. You should have enough fluid cash on hand to cover expenses (all expenses) for 3 to 4 months. Once you get to that point in a personal savings account, your money is not doing anything for you, and you are missing out on a lot of growth potential. You are only helping the bank. IF something were to happen that you need fluid cash beyond that 4 months to cover expenses, that is when you start to utilize your money on investments such as HELOC's, cash out refinances, early withdrawals from various funds, etc. Also, your "extra cash" for dinners, play things, baitmonkey, etc should be budgeted for just like a "normal bill". After you consider that extra bill, then you can talk about left over cash and what to do with it.

#1 Prioritize 401k first. (403b, etc.) to at the very minimum whatever your employer matches so you are not leaving money on the table. This can lower your yearly tax obligation and you get tax deferred growth on investment gains. #2 Contribute to an IRA. I prefer a roth IRA to compliment a healthy 401k. Taxed up front, but withdrawals in retirement are not taxed. #3 If you still have left over funds after maxing out your IRA's, go back to step #1. That's the general rule of thumb for retirement accounts. But there is so much that goes into everyone's own personal situations, that it would behoove you to seek financial advice. You need to know what your tax obligations are going to be after retirement to plan the best course of action. This varies by state to state. How old are you now? To what age are you paying a mortgage? Do you even want a mortgage in retirement? How is your health? How is your spouse's health? Do you need to consider funds for HSA/HRA's? Did you have kids late in life that will need financial assistance after you retire? Do you want those funds for those kids to be taxed? Do you have a trust? Will you have other sources of income in retirement from investments such as rental properties or a side hustle? There are many questions that need to be answered with a financial adviser to get the best advice on what you need to be doing with your money. IF I were single, not married, no kids...I would focus on 401k first, then being debt free in retirement (mortgage, not necessarily cars), then a roth IRA, then an HSA, then a whole life or universal life life insurance policy that gains cash value to a certain term. But I am also relatively young and have time to contribute to those various funds to be comfortable in retirement.

Use WD-40

So close!

Alright the hood is driving me absolutely nuts figuring out the truck. What is it? Chevy C50? I am weird like that.

I don't use wd-40 fishing, but devil's advocate, how is spraying a minimal amount onto a lure any worse on the environment than the fuel and grease all your big outboards are leaving in the lake? Especially those running two strokes?

And it attracts fish 🤣

I read a meme today that I'm the only generation that knows how to program the clock on a vcr.

Spec wise that actually looks like a decent rod. I have a super light 5'6" ugly stick with a Mitchel that serves this role for me. Basically the kids use it for panfish. It has been a surprisingly good combo and is pleasantly fun to fish with. https://www.uglystik.com/collections/spinning-rods/products/elite-spinning-rod *Just realized we are talking casting rods. But still, that ugly stick will surprise you.

Records are a complete joke to me, honestly.

You are always welcome 😊