Good Riddance Annus Horribilis

[John Galt incarnate!]

2020 was such an awful year that I think 2021 can only  be better.

What are your thoughts of 2020 and predictions for  2021?


!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

[Adventine]

Happy New Year! I am glad to leave 2020 behind and hope everyone has a better year ahead.

My wildest prediction, with no basis in reality: aliens attack Earth! We enter an intergalactic war. And life changes forever for the people of this planet.

My serious answer: governments all over the world will rise and fall based on the success or failure of their vaccine rollout program.

[marty998]

You’re 12 hours too late mate.

2020 was my best year ever in terms of net financial worth growth.

I’m not a fan of the “net worth” term, because people are worth so much more than a $ value. Something that appears to be lost on politicians and various decision makers these days.

2021 will be more of the same for the first few months... we’ve already seen the COVID-19 virus mutate into various strains (UK, SA), I’m hoping there’ll be a mutation soon that turns it into a less deadly and transmissible variant... I feel that’s our best shot at returning to normal.

2021 will be the year that the West will push back against autocracies. It has to be.

[American GenX]

2020 was such an awful year that I think 2021 can only  be better.

What are your thoughts of 2020 and predictions for  2021?


!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

2021 is looking really hopeful.   A vaccine is being distribed, it's looking promising on the ACA being upheld by SCOTUS, Biden will be taking over as president, and the economy is expected to improve.

For me personally, I'll get my second dose of Moderna in January, I'm heading into the new year with a record stash, and I might FIRE in the spring.  So, indeed, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

[John Galt incarnate!]

You’re 12 hours too late mate.

2020 was my best year ever in terms of net financial worth growth.

I’m not a fan of the “net worth” term, because people are worth so much more than a $ value. Something that appears to be lost on politicians and various decision makers these days.

2021 will be more of the same for the first few months... we’ve already seen the COVID-19 virus mutate into various strains (UK, SA), I’m hoping there’ll be a mutation soon that turns it into a less deadly and transmissible variant... I feel that’s our best shot at returning to normal.

2021 will be the year that the West will push back against autocracies. It has to be.

My portfolio fattened as well, not at all what I expected given the unprecedented blow to the economy in Q2 when according to TradingEconomics the unempolyment rate skyrocketed to "an all-time high of 14.70 percent."

Even  more foreboding, in Q2 GDP decreased by "an annual rate of 32.9 percent" according to the  Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 I thought this unprecedented economic apocalypse  would plunge the economy into a severe and protracted economic depression.

Happily, my dark apprehension was misplaced for 2020 resulted in  a return of ~20% for 2 of the ginormous index funds, VTSAX and FSKAX.

May our portfolios continue to fatten in 2021.

[Metalcat]

Funny, 2020 was actually the least stressful year of my entire life.

Granted, my 2019 was a fucking horror show of literal constant torture, so there is that. But yeah, 2020 was a breeze by comparison.

Hilariously, because of 2019, I had specifically set up my life to just stay home and read for 2020.

[OtherJen]

2019 was ... not great for personal reasons. 2020 was worse. I’ve never lost so many people (to death) in my life in an 8-month span, and I’ve never before had a parent with a major illness (not COVID). It’s so odd that it was also one of our best years, financially. I’m grateful that money wasn’t a worry for us in 2020 (although job security was a concern for the first half), but beyond that I am numb.

At this point, all I can hope is that 2021 doesn’t complete a trifecta of emotionally painful and exhausting years.

[stoaX]

Funny, 2020 was actually the least stressful year of my entire life.

Granted, my 2019 was a fucking horror show of literal constant torture, so there is that. But yeah, 2020 was a breeze by comparison.

Hilariously, because of 2019, I had specifically set up my life to just stay home and read for 2020.

While 2019 wasn't a horror show for me, like you, my2020 wasn't an annus horribilis either.  No one I know lost their job and the few people I know who got the covid suffered only mild symptoms.

I fully understand and sympathize with those who suffered tremendously in 2020, but for me it was more of an inconvenience.

[Metalcat]

Funny, 2020 was actually the least stressful year of my entire life.

Granted, my 2019 was a fucking horror show of literal constant torture, so there is that. But yeah, 2020 was a breeze by comparison.

Hilariously, because of 2019, I had specifically set up my life to just stay home and read for 2020.

While 2019 wasn't a horror show for me, like you, my2020 wasn't an annus horribilis either.  No one I know lost their job and the few people I know who got the covid suffered only mild symptoms.

I fully understand and sympathize with those who suffered tremendously in 2020, but for me it was more of an inconvenience.

Lol, oh, 2020 was not a kind year for me in any objective way.
It's just that the years before it were much, much worse, and because of that, I was already prepared for a year of hiding at home, so the timing was great.

Also, we essentially hit FI (sort of) late 2019, so for the first time in my life, my serious health issues no longer create a constant stress of whether or not I'll be able to financially survive.

Not caring about whether or not I make money has been a HUGE pressure relief in terms of coping with my continual loss of function.

[John Galt incarnate!]

Funny, 2020 was actually the least stressful year of my entire life.

Granted, my 2019 was a fucking horror show of literal constant torture, so there is that. But yeah, 2020 was a breeze by comparison.

Hilariously, because of 2019, I had specifically set up my life to just stay home and read for 2020.

If you asked me to sum up 2020 in a word   or two I would say that personally, 2020 was a somber year.

The horrid  scourge of COVID-19 did not affect my lifestyle or finances but my cognizance of  the millions of lives  that were affected disquieted  me.

Calimom's changed circumstances are a case in point.

[John Galt incarnate!]

2021 is looking really hopeful.   A vaccine is being distribed, it's looking promising on the ACA being upheld by SCOTUS, Biden will be taking over as president, and the economy is expected to improve.

If Professor Little's prediction turns out to be correct the opinion in Texas v. California could be handed down this month.

If the opinion is what  we think it will be that result will greenlight your FIREtirement as I know you posted in the ACA thread  that an upholding of the ACA would be the crucial determinant of your decision to FIRE.

[GuitarStv]

Given that we're past the point of no return regarding the effects of climate change, we can expect many more years like 2020 to come.  Crazy weather, wildfires, crop failures, pandemics, rising sea levels . . . 2020 was likely just a sneak peek 10-20 years in the future. But odds are 2021 will be better, and we've got the memories of goldfish.  :P

[RetiredAt63]

Given that we're past the point of no return regarding the effects of climate change, we can expect many more years like 2020 to come.  Crazy weather, wildfires, crop failures, pandemics, rising sea levels . . . 2020 was likely just a sneak peek 10-20 years in the future. But odds are 2021 will be better, and we've got the memories of goldfish.  :P

Did you have to insult goldfish?

If the stories are true, elders used to be respected because they remembered the odd events from years ago, and could point out that just because there had not been an (event) in the last 5/10 years didn't mean it couldn't happen.  Now history is anything from more than a year ago and no-one pays attention to history unless some aspect of it is personal.  I was concerned about the H1N1 flu back in 2009 because it was the same strain as the 1918 pandemic, and I lost family members to it.  So it drives me crazy when people say "it's just the flu" because that is like saying "oh it's just bubonic plague or cholera" or whatever.

What I have noticed over the last 20 years or so is that we now want politicians to be charismatic and interesting and folksy, instead of boring and intelligent and competent.  Can you imagine Lester B. Pearson being chosen as leader of the Liberal Party these days?

[FINate]

There's no guarantee that 2021 will be better. It's possible that the past 30-ish years were an anomaly of relative peace and prosperity. Consider the generation that lived through WWI, the great depression, and WWII.

That said, I'm thankful to have had the privilege of completing yet another orbit around the Sun on this tiny speck of a planet. Nothing but empathy for those who've lost lives, loved ones, and livelihoods -- I don't want to minimize their plight.  We lost some friends (COVID and other), while others experienced job losses and economic hardship. As I'm sure is true for many here, our personal finances were a rollercoaster, but mostly worked out in the end. We sold our house and did a long distance move during the pandemic, which presented a bunch of unique difficulties, and we missed out on a bunch of "normal" life. I'm sad for my kids, a year seems like an eternity to them and they badly need real human interaction with other kids. However, the challenges of 2020 have produced growth, with increased patience and resilience. Above all, a much stronger sense of gratitude, that life itself and everything that comes along with it is a gift.

So I'm thankful for 2020, with all its ups and downs. And I look forward to 2021, whatever it happens to bring.

[American GenX]

2021 is looking really hopeful.   A vaccine is being distribed, it's looking promising on the ACA being upheld by SCOTUS, Biden will be taking over as president, and the economy is expected to improve.

If Professor Little's prediction turns out to be correct the opinion in Texas v. California could be handed down this month.

If the opinion is what  we think it will be that result will greenlight your FIREtirement as I know you posted in the ACA thread  that an upholding of the ACA would be the crucial determinant of your decision to FIRE.

That would be great.  That would be one less thing to worry about. I'm hopeful but not optimistic of a decision coming down that quickly.  Yeah, if the ACA was to be overturned, I wouldn't FIRE this spring.  I'm just not sure if I should take the risk of FIREing as early as May if a ruling has not been given by then, even though I think it will be in my favor.

[John Galt incarnate!]

2021 is looking really hopeful.   A vaccine is being distribed, it's looking promising on the ACA being upheld by SCOTUS, Biden will be taking over as president, and the economy is expected to improve.

If Professor Little's prediction turns out to be correct the opinion in Texas v. California could be handed down this month.

If the opinion is what  we think it will be that result will greenlight your FIREtirement as I know you posted in the ACA thread  that an upholding of the ACA would be the crucial determinant of your decision to FIRE.

That would be great.  That would be one less thing to worry about. I'm hopeful but not optimistic of a decision coming down that quickly.  Yeah, if the ACA was to be overturned, I wouldn't FIRE this spring.  I'm just not sure if I should take the risk of FIREing as early as May if a ruling has not been given by then, even though I think it will be in my favor.

If you are worried about the risk of  FIREing in May you only have to wait another month until the last week in June when all the opinions are handed down.

[American GenX]

2021 is looking really hopeful.   A vaccine is being distribed, it's looking promising on the ACA being upheld by SCOTUS, Biden will be taking over as president, and the economy is expected to improve.

If Professor Little's prediction turns out to be correct the opinion in Texas v. California could be handed down this month.

If the opinion is what  we think it will be that result will greenlight your FIREtirement as I know you posted in the ACA thread  that an upholding of the ACA would be the crucial determinant of your decision to FIRE.

That would be great.  That would be one less thing to worry about. I'm hopeful but not optimistic of a decision coming down that quickly.  Yeah, if the ACA was to be overturned, I wouldn't FIRE this spring.  I'm just not sure if I should take the risk of FIREing as early as May if a ruling has not been given by then, even though I think it will be in my favor.

If you are worried about the risk of  FIREing in May you only have to wait another month until the last week in June when all the opinions are handed down.

May 7th is a date I've been looking at if I was to take a risk, and that's with at least 2 weeks notice to my employer in April.  So waiting until a potential late June ruling, then a 2 week notice, I'm into July before I could actually FIRE.   So by waiting for certainty on the ACA, I could lose 2 months of freedom where the weather it getting nicer here in the midwest.  So, that's why I'm considering going ahead and taking the chance by retiring in advance based on what the justices said during oral arguments back in November.  I'm just not sure I can go through with it.  An alternative would be to use up a nice chunk of PTO time in May and June so I feel like I'm at least down-shifting until there is final word on the matter.

[deborah]

2020 was the year of the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead - when it was good it was very, very good, and when it was bad it was horrid. I’ve had worse years. January and February were appalling - confined to the house because of smoke so bad I coughed continuously each time I went outside (weeks of the worst air pollution in the world); a 10 minute destructive hail storm that destroyed 44k cars; the two hottest days ever recorded here that killed trees everywhere you looked; seeing fire from my house for weeks and worrying that there’d be strong winds; floods ruining fire ravaged landscape that no longer had any plant cover.

After all that, covid19 restrictions were pretty easy to comply with. I think that’s a major reason Australia did better than most other countries.

2021 is going to be more difficult. It will take most of the year for those countries with vaccines to distribute it to their populations, and everyone will start to let precautions ride because there's a vaccine.