Search found 579 matches

by Marylander1
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 4772

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

snic wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:48 pm My flip response to hearing someone complain about my texts showing up in a different color (or whatever the stupid imessage problem is with non-apple messages) would be, "if that is important to these people, I need to find better friends."
In my family, once a few got Pixels on Google Fi, it took off like wildfire and everyone has them now.
by Marylander1
Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: tipping shuttle driver ?
Replies: 34
Views: 3965

Re: tipping shuttle driver ?

We recently returned from a Costco trip and tipped our driver $20 on the way in because he stopped by a 24-hour store that was out of our way for some important medical supplies we couldn't bring with us. And $40 going back to the airport because the same driver took us to 3 different places looking for a specific local product that was surprisingly hard to find.

At the airport we get our own bags and don't tip.
by Marylander1
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Capital One [is/is considering] buying Discover
Replies: 29
Views: 3469

Re: Capital One [is/is considering] buying Discover

I have had wonderful, personal customer service from Discover over the years with CC, savings and checking account, CD. I have had perfunctory, impersonal service from Capital One. If this happens I will consider changing to some other online bank. Same here. Capitol One bought out my prior bank and then swindled me. My local branch manager (from before the takeover) agreed with my concerns and escalated, and was so effective I got a call from the Capitol One executive services team telling me they understood my complaint but would do absolutely nothing about it. I switched to another bank. Discover has always been good to me, all the way back to when I was an undergraduate and got my first general-propose credit card from them. It was nic...
by Marylander1
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25534

Re: What inferior good do you love?

It used to be difficult but cheaper to get dark tasty maple syrup in the USA, because the USDA called it "Grade B" on the presumption that lighter-colored syrup was somehow more "pure". (Of course, if you combine half water and half syrup, it also gets lighter colored, too.)

We always got the "lower quality" Grade B. But then syrup makers petitioned the Feds to move Grade B into Grade A. https://www.federalregister.gov/documen ... able%20use.
by Marylander1
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Odd phone call to an old number, should we be concerned?
Replies: 10
Views: 2232

Re: Odd phone call to an old number, should we be concerned?

I wouldn't worry about it. I still receive occasional mail for my brother who very briefly used my address when he was job hunting 2 decades ago. If it's something that matters, they'll track you down -- and saying "ok" and hanging up is not attempting to track you down.
by Marylander1
Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite book?
Replies: 186
Views: 19929

Re: What is your favorite book?

protagonist wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:09 pm I like science, history, really good sci-fi, good literature, adventure, off-beat stuff or anything of any subject that will knock my socks off.
I suggest you check out
Inviting Disaster: Lessons From the Edge of Technology
by James Chiles
https://www.amazon.com/Inviting-Disaste ... 0066620821

It describes the causes and effects of actual human-caused disasters, often despite the most well-intentioned preventive designs in the systems that caused them.

I read it again every couple of years to remind me to stay on my toes.
by Marylander1
Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12479

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

If available in your area Pinsa are much better than most pizza restaurants. https://www.pinsa.love/
by Marylander1
Sun Feb 04, 2024 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Alternative to Uber/Lyft. Anyone take car service or taxi to airport anymore?
Replies: 55
Views: 4948

Re: Alternative to Uber/Lyft. Anyone take car service or taxi to airport anymore?

The quality of Uber & Lyft drivers has definitely been declining. Last year we had one driver who drove so aggressively he kept missing turns because he didn't want other drivers to get the better of him. And on our ride to the airport another was turning the wrong way onto a highway offramp (at a clearly labeled interchange) and seemed oblivious how bad things would have gotten had he continued. We're much more likely to drive ourselves to the airport now.
by Marylander1
Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refrigerator water filter
Replies: 49
Views: 5296

Re: Refrigerator water filter

Don't get filters from Amazon. On our GE refrigerator, I ordered an OEM filter direct from Amazon (not their third-party flea market). It arrived in a box that looked new, but the filter was missing it's seal, was scuffed and still had water in it!

I returned it and they sent another used one. And a third time they sent another used one. That's when I realized that even new products from Amazon are "co-mingled" with junk, cancelled Amazon Prime, and order from legitimate stores that have real supply chains and inventory control.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-might- ... 1576599910
by Marylander1
Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dishwasher - repair or buy new?
Replies: 60
Views: 5514

Re: Dishwasher - repair or buy new?

Depending on where it leaked, the repair may be as simple as DIY replacing the rubber gasket. Modern dishwasher are energy and water efficient so they tend to no not clean/dry as well. Or even just cleaning the gasket faces. Yeah we've had that happen! Try cleaning the gasket all the way around. If something is blocking it, it might be a simple 5-minute do-it-yourself repair. Our old Bosch water pump died during the height of the pandemic and with none available the sales guy convinced us to buy a Maytag. So far it's been reliable, and the racks have more height which is great. But the rack layout feels like a major throwback: all our dishes had fit nicely in the Bosch with little wasted space. In the Maytag our same dishes take up a LOT m...
by Marylander1
Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Will Costco haul away old washing machine that still has some water in it?
Replies: 11
Views: 1771

Re: Will Costco haul away old washing machine that still has some water in it?

My 20+ year old Fisher & Paykel top loading washing machine (GWL10US) died shortly into the fill cycle of a load (burning smell, no more indication of power). I ordered a new machine from Costco that is being delivered on Monday. They have a haul away service and I'm wondering if they'll resist taking the old machine because there's still some water in it. I emptied the water from the tub, but I can still hear water sloshing around below it. I tried the trick of moving the drain hose low to the ground, but only a little water came out. The drain hose is connected to the top of the machine, so that might explain why that technique didn't work well. Do I need to fully empty it? If so, anything else that's simple to try short of disassemb...
by Marylander1
Mon Dec 25, 2023 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CD early withdrawal penalty for renewed CD
Replies: 15
Views: 1635

Re: CD early withdrawal penalty for renewed CD

Call_Me_Op wrote: Mon Dec 25, 2023 6:53 pm I usually take the notice, highlight the date, and hang the notice and on the wall by my computer. But it takes that special effort or I would forget.
When I get a CD with a penalty (or have any other deadline like a passport or driver's license renewal), I add a reminder to my calendar a week in advance, rather than wait for the bank to notify me. You're welcome to follow your own approach, but I find this very helpful.
by Marylander1
Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon delivery time issues
Replies: 33
Views: 4066

Re: Amazon delivery time issues

Note Amazon only presents excessively optimistic predictions. I've never seen anything suddenly have an earlier delivery date when I add it to my cart.

They're clearly intentionally exaggerating delivery time to drive more sales.
by Marylander1
Thu Dec 21, 2023 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reporting distributions from inherited IRA
Replies: 5
Views: 609

Re: Reporting distributions from inherited IRA

A440 wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:30 am We will begin taking withdrawals from an inherited IRA beginning in 2024 to comply with the 10 year rule. The decedent's RMD was already taken for 2023.
How is the distribution reported to us? Will the custodian send us a 1099-R?
Yes, and regardless of when you take the distribution, my custodians have always sent the 1099-R in January or February the following year.
by Marylander1
Thu Dec 21, 2023 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reporting distributions from inherited IRA
Replies: 5
Views: 609

Re: Reporting distributions from inherited IRA

A440 wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:30 am We will begin taking withdrawals from an inherited IRA beginning in 2024 to comply with the 10 year rule. The decedent's RMD was already taken for 2023.
How is the distribution reported to us? Will the custodian send us a 1099-R?
Yes, and regardless of when you take the distribution, my custodians have always sent it in January or February the following year.
by Marylander1
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite suitcase?
Replies: 56
Views: 7563

Re: Favorite suitcase?

I'm very fond of Eagle Creek. Ours just keep lasting through trip after trip.
by Marylander1
Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CA teachers 403b investment choices now limited in vanguard
Replies: 17
Views: 1247

Re: CA teachers 403b investment choices now limited in vanguard

... There are a good 20 or more funds available so we will still be ok but more choices are better . For a Boglehead (like you) who is well versed in fund selection, more choices might be better, but... According to the behavioral finance crowd, (authors including Thaler, Kahneman & Tversky, Ariely, etc.) more choices are often NOT better since novice investors become overwhelmed and don't choose anything. Limiting 403b choices could actually lead to better outcomes for other plan participants. Regards, At a former job, a junior employee asked me for advice allocating his retirement savings among the options in our employer retirement plan. Originally, we had about 12 retirement fund choices, and he'd simply divided his allocation equa...
by Marylander1
Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k Rollover check lost in the mail
Replies: 38
Views: 6693

Re: 401k Rollover check lost in the mail

Zanmar wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:47 am Could you have your mail held at the local post office until this check arrives?
Indeed, if you want to minimize the likelihood of the lost delivery recurring, you can put a hold on your mail at https://www.usps.com/ after which you pick up your mail at the post office. Informed Delivery notices will continue unaffected.
by Marylander1
Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Find OEM Battery for My HP Laptop
Replies: 8
Views: 618

Re: Can't Find OEM Battery for My HP Laptop

Cheego wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 4:52 pm Would you be afraid to trust a knock-off battery?
I've known people whose knock-off batteries didn't burn down the house, but did wreck their laptop in one case and professional SLR camera in another. The laptop was repairable, but the camera was not. Both were mad but the knockoff battery manufacturer ignored their complaints.

I don't use knockoff batteries except in equipment I consider expendable.
by Marylander1
Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't Find OEM Battery for My HP Laptop
Replies: 8
Views: 618

Re: Can't Find OEM Battery for My HP Laptop

CDW is an old-fashioned hardware supplier that, to my knowledge, still has a trustworthy supply chain with legitimate non-knockoff, non-counterfeit inventory. Have you checked https://www.cdw.com/search/computer-acc ... ok+450&w=A ?
by Marylander1
Sat Nov 04, 2023 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My $58 coffee bean burr grinder burned out. Need a new one. Suggestions??
Replies: 58
Views: 4523

Re: My $58 coffee bean burr grinder burned out. Need a new one. Suggestions??

We just replaced ours, which had stopped grinding well after 14 years. The new one has a metal case that should last even longer.

https://www.costco.com/capresso-metal-d ... 78793.html
by Marylander1
Thu Oct 26, 2023 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does your significant other know about Bogleheads?
Replies: 97
Views: 9959

Re: Does your significant other know about Bogleheads?

My spouse was delighted when wise posters at Bogleheads pointed us to the specialist attorney who provided invaluable counsel when something that's never supposed to happen to a retirement account, happened. This is my Bogleheads login and I'm the one who posts, but we often discuss helpful and/or interesting things learned here. We're both grateful to the many people who who volunteer to manage, monitor, and post on Bogleheads.
by Marylander1
Thu Oct 26, 2023 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thunderbird saying "no new email"
Replies: 56
Views: 5190

Re: Thunderbird saying "no new email"

twh wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 12:56 am
tj wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 12:04 am I don't think I've noticed the "get messages" button.

Edit: found it, tiny button next to new message. Never would have noticed it if I wasn't looking for it.
You can customize the Toolbar -- just icons or just text or both and add or delete things you don't care about.
You can also use the F5 key (or Alt->F, W, C, conveniently with one hand) to get new messages for the current account,
and shift-F5 (or Alt->F, W, A) to get new messages for all accounts, anytime you like. They work great when you're waiting for a specific new message.
by Marylander1
Wed Oct 25, 2023 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How can I check if Uber is available in a small town?
Replies: 18
Views: 2373

Re: How can I check if Uber is available in a small town?

Gash wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 4:49 pm Open App, request Uber, see what options are available to you. Dont confirm any ride.
This seems unlikely to be accurate. I've sometimes been in a place no Uber driver would touch, and opened the app to see allegations that drivers are available, although it showed none anywhere nearby.
by Marylander1
Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best wireless ANC earbuds for PHONE CALLS
Replies: 3
Views: 388

Re: Best wireless ANC earbuds for PHONE CALLS

I use Pixel Buds Pro for phone calls and online meetings and am told the sound is very clear.
by Marylander1
Thu Oct 12, 2023 2:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Arithmetic error in credit card statement
Replies: 33
Views: 4057

Re: Arithmetic error in credit card statement

So is this error in the statement (as the subject states), or an error from adding various numbers in separate areas on the website displaying your account transactions (not a statement), or your attempt to sum transactions you're aware of?
by Marylander1
Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fidelity Down? [Website]
Replies: 138
Views: 9563

Re: Fidelity Down? [Website]

It's down for me, too. I think this is the time when members of a lesser website would start manufacturing alarming rumours about the outage.
by Marylander1
Wed Oct 04, 2023 4:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Retire Secure for Professors and TIAA Participants" -- a Gem
Replies: 53
Views: 9000

Re: "Retire Secure for Professors and TIAA Participants" -- a Gem

I'm trying to order this book, but unsuccessful so far. In my neighborhood, Amazon's delivery service has the habit of delivering packages to various random houses other than the addressee.

I'm trying to find a bookseller that uses a normal shipping company (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) so I can order James Lange's book. Or I may even be persuaded to visit a physical bookstore like Barnes & Noble if I can confirm it's in stock. Has anyone found this book available from a vendor other than Amazon?
by Marylander1
Sun Oct 01, 2023 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: deleted
Replies: 84
Views: 9623

Re: Are we seat warmers?

delamer wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2023 6:25 pm Most government retirees are eligible for low-priced health insurance upon retirement, which is often well in advance of Medicare eligibility.

For my family, that benefit is very close to the pension in importance.
Retirement health insurance is a superb benefit where available, but be sure to very carefully review its details if you're thinking of early retirement. My employer's pension vesting and retirement insurance eligibility rules overlap but have key differences.
by Marylander1
Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: deleted
Replies: 84
Views: 9623

Re: Are we seat warmers?

It sounds like you're not in the DC area, where the general culture understands public sector work and its tradeoffs relative to private sector.

I've had friends of friends, outside the area, who responded to my university research (public sector) IT work with unknowing, each at a different spot on the spectrum between curiosity ("what's that like?") and cynicism (like your "seat-warmer" acquaintance). My questions comparing their work-live balance, job stability, commute length (since job instability coupled with house stability often leads to long commutes), technical challenges being solved, and retirement benefits usually turn that around pretty quickly. One came to work for us.
by Marylander1
Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best websites to shop for Caribbean vacation
Replies: 7
Views: 996

Re: Best websites to shop for Caribbean vacation

retire14 wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 1:57 pm Looking for a all inclusive resort in the Caribbean in January. Family will have a 2-yr old. What websites do you recommend to do some comparison shopping? TIA.
https://www.costcotravel.com/ is superb
by Marylander1
Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TD bank as all in one bank?
Replies: 17
Views: 2356

Re: TD bank as all in one bank?

I've had a TD Bank Premier Checking account for about a decade, and their customer service has been good. The only feature I wish they had is TXT notifications for every transaction, like I have on my credit cards.

Their ATM fee reimbursement has been 100% effective for me, every ATM fee I've encountered in the USA and abroad has been refunded on the next statement. And there are plenty of ATMs to use.
by Marylander1
Tue Sep 26, 2023 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spouse is expecting...and has been offered a big new job
Replies: 18
Views: 3954

Re: Spouse is expecting...and has been offered a big new job

Nuestroro wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 2:31 pm Your wife will get her sick leave restored and she can use it for delivery and 8 weeks of post-partum recovery.
She may get sick leave restored automatically, or may have to request it and wait a few pay periods.
by Marylander1
Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Costco - Executive Membership for big purchases
Replies: 38
Views: 4867

Re: Costco - Executive Membership for big purchases

Having just bought a set of tires for $900 put us over the top for Executive membership this year. The rest of the year is gravy.
by Marylander1
Wed Sep 13, 2023 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Umbrella Insurance
Replies: 42
Views: 4247

Re: Umbrella Insurance

ebeb wrote: Wed Sep 13, 2023 5:07 pm Which insurance company you using. I pay over double that rate :annoyed
Umbrella coverage varies dramatically. This includes region and extent of uninsured motorist coverage, and specific terms of a policy, not to mention whether it covers watercraft, a swimming pool, and/or a pack of lawsuit-provoking dog breeds.

Comparing only the net cost for "a $2M umbrella policy" is like one person saying they bought "a car" for $20k, and another annoyed that they paid three times that for "a car", with those cars being a used Hyundai and a new Lexus.
by Marylander1
Sat Sep 02, 2023 9:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: dumb move I made
Replies: 19
Views: 5794

Re: dumb move I made

AlaskaTeach wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:50 pm I was so excited I got my 457b contributions done by the end of May, I continued the trend. I changed my withholding on the computer, to finish all of my withholding for the year on the end of June check.
I've often tweaked my retirement contributions at various times of the year (especially when changing employers) which is a personal choice and by design almost never results in IRS issues.

I've never tweaked income tax withholding at various times of the year, which sounds likely to create unneeded involvement with the friendly folks at Internal Revenue. Is this a common tactic, and do any mainstream financial authors or advisors recommend it?
by Marylander1
Sat Sep 02, 2023 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who is liable? [Hiring a retired cabbie to drive]
Replies: 23
Views: 2838

Re: Who is liable? [Hiring a retired cabbie to drive]

In the USA, isn't medical insurance the first line of defense against catastrophic medical bills? There are many ways other than car accidents to receive profoundly expensive medical care, so addressing that one risk leaves the other risks unaddressed.

If the medical insurance determines someone else is liable, it's on them to pursue reimbursement under subrogation. The injured party's medical insurance would pay first, regardless of whether they are successful in that pursuit.
by Marylander1
Sat Sep 02, 2023 9:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Huge Water Bill
Replies: 16
Views: 3081

Re: Huge Water Bill

I've managed part of a water utility billing system. Water meters are a complex cobbled together patchwork, not an engineered system. When a water meter is replaced, a series of bookkeeping steps have to go exactly correctly, or crazy bills can result. The old meter reading must be logged, the new meter reading must be logged (as many replacements are with used, not new, meters that already have significant usage), and correct replacement date and time must be logged. If anything goes wrong, a very large invalid charge or credit could be created, usually on just one bill before it returned to normal on the next bill. It's also vital for the technician to correctly code the units with which the meter reports usage. All of our meters reported...
by Marylander1
Wed Aug 30, 2023 9:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When do you have your HVAC ducts cleaned?
Replies: 42
Views: 4258

Re: When do you have you HVAC ducts cleaned?

Thinking of this further, on many of the Facebook Marketplaces city, county, regional "garage sale" groups there are an inordinate amount of companies (???) posting, soliciting for duct cleaning. They usually start by saying that they're a start-up and will give a discount for referrals or for larger neighborhood jobs. Judging by the number of companies posting duct cleaning services, there are hundreds of them just in our little county, which is simply amazing........and raises many red flags, IMHO. I moderate a couple of Facebook groups (unrelated to ducts in any way) and more than half of the spam we have to clean up is these jerks who keep joining, then waiting a few weeks to post their junk ads. My experience is that it's be...
by Marylander1
Sat Aug 26, 2023 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bicycle Tire Extremely Difficult to Remove
Replies: 22
Views: 2413

Re: Bicycle Tire Extremely Difficult to Remove

The issue you are facing is that you are apparently used to changing old style tires and rims that popped off easily. More modern tires and rims are often designed to be compatible for tubeless use and so that bead and rim fit MUCH tighter. This is especially the case with mountain bike tires. Ugh, this is why I almost never go biking anymore. I want things that are easy to use and maintain. First road bikes got ridiculous, and now mountain bikes too. Until a decade ago, I could mount and unmount tires onto rims by hand, and I didn't realize how good life was. Are there any brands to look for, or other ways to find bikes and bike equipment that's easy to use and maintain? Or is the entire sport just hellbent on making it difficult to parti...
by Marylander1
Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Geico auto premium up 30%, when to get rid of comprehensive/collision coverage?
Replies: 29
Views: 4009

Re: Geico auto premium up 30%, when to get rid of comprehensive/collision coverage?

Remember if you drop coverage on the car you own, you also drop it on the car you rent.
by Marylander1
Sat Aug 19, 2023 8:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ever Work for a Micro Business?
Replies: 56
Views: 4592

Re: Ever Work for a Micro Business?

...Am I missing any other potential financial concerns if I were to accept an offer from this employer?... When things go south with a small employer like this its possible for things to get very bad very quickly with no one but the owner (and maybe their spouse) the wiser. Typically owner will control all finances and accounting and cannot be relied upon to truthfully disclose much. If things go bad, think real bad, like taxes withheld from pay not forwarded to government. Absence of a standard office, like everyone works from home, magnifies the risk of not knowing what is going on. But the boss will be happy, confident, and smiley all the time, that's how psychos operate. They sell you on their dream and you end up in a nightmare. I onc...
by Marylander1
Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Laid off today
Replies: 67
Views: 14104

Re: Laid off today

Parkinglotracer wrote: Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:56 pm
LambertStrether wrote: Wed Aug 09, 2023 11:31 am Lock or sanitize all social media. Do not post about the layoff or employer.
I have seen numerous messages on linked in and other social media sites where people have stated they lost their job and included what they are looking for professionally in the future / what skills and experience they have to offer another employer.
I strongly dislike Facebook but when I saw there that an old friend I hadn't seen for 30 years was looking for a job and their resume seemed a good fit, we connected and they've been my coworker for several years now.
by Marylander1
Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 18” vs 20” tires
Replies: 111
Views: 9810

Re: 18” vs 20” tires

Ars Technica, a well-known technology and science site, covered this topic in detail this week:

Can we please just go back to using smaller wheels and tires?
And now, a rant about wheels and tires that are too big.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/08/ca ... and-tires/
by Marylander1
Sat Aug 05, 2023 8:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Small debt sent to collection- what to do
Replies: 65
Views: 7696

Re: Small debt sent to collection- what to do

hachiko wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2023 8:10 pm By the way, running over a nail may not be considered a "collision" that triggers credit card coverage or any CDW bought from the rental car company. If it isn't considered a collision under the contract, and the CDW is a true "collision" waiver, I don't know what type of coverage you could purchase from the rental car company that would cover this.
Seven years ago I had a rental Hyundai on which half the body-colored plastic gas flap broke off in normal use when I filled up the tank. (I presume I hadn't noticed a crack.) My Chase Sapphire coverage paid for it, even though there was no "collision."
by Marylander1
Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone getting passport cards?
Replies: 99
Views: 14289

Re: Anyone getting passport cards?

Who wouldn't want an extra card that provides authorization for everything including the TSA, federal facilities, and I-9 validation? It's a great backup.
by Marylander1
Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: what do do with small 401k balance in old employeer plan?
Replies: 5
Views: 685

Re: what do do with small 401k balance in old employeer plan?

I would keep track of this account using whatever means necessary until you have a new employer with a new 401k — or (especially if it has high expenses) I believe you can roll it over to a personal IRA, but that seems of marginal value as it's still 1 account you will need to track.
by Marylander1
Fri Jul 21, 2023 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I Fight a bad VRBO Customer Review
Replies: 29
Views: 5511

Re: Should I Fight a bad VRBO Customer Review

SeattleLaw wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:27 pm Our experiences overseas have been much better than in the US, but I’m starting to drift away from the apps and going with actual, local vacation rental companies. At least you know it’ll be professionally managed and cleaned…
How do you find good local vacation rental companies in a given location? A few times, we've found a rental company listing on VRBO or AirBnB that looked nice, then Googled and booked directly through the rental company. (We've had mostly good experiences with AirBnB but VRBO's lousy customer support seems to add nothing but fees, delays, and aggravation when you rent through them.)

If there's a good way to find good rental companies by location, that would be even better.