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This makes me sad. FWIW, our vows are on our fridge b/c we know there's always room for improvement. +1 While our vows are not on our fridge - the verse from the bible (Love in Action - Romans 12 9-21) we had read during are ceremony sits framed above our bed. As you said, there's always room for i...

Ok, well...if I'm being honest it feels like a pretty heavy debt load for your combined salary. That said, if you have a bucket of money someplace to pay off the 6.5% debt, just get rid of it. I'd probably dump the 5K student loan next since it's small an easy to get rid of. I'd work the emergency ...

I don't want to pry since you didn't volunteer this, but it's tough for me to give my thoughts w/o knowing income level. We're ~$160k+. However, my wife is a teacher and took a one-year sabbatical so she can raise our son until he's 1. So we'll be at ~$100k from 9/2013 to 8/2014 or so, hence the pr...

So, thought I'd give you guys an update on this. I met the manager of the team in Ann Arbor - he was coming down there for a business trip and they asked me if I'd like to meet him there than flying out to CA. Sadly, it wasn't really a good experience. He was pretty condescending and kept on boasti...

Hi All, Just wanted to solicit the communities input on our financial situation. If you've been following along, it's been a continual improvement thanks to many here. We're 30 years old with secure jobs. Just wondering if you agree with our next steps or feel we should do something different (or ad...

Not trying to hi-jack, but does anyone have a link to that study showing saving % and amounts by age and goals? The top row has stock/bonds blend and the left column has retirement age and then each cell has the relative saving %'s. Thx! try PM'ing grayfox (or is it greyfox?). Thanks! I actually fo...

Not trying to hi-jack, but does anyone have a link to that study showing saving % and amounts by age and goals? The top row has stock/bonds blend and the left column has retirement age and then each cell has the relative saving %'s. Thx!

Hi All, My DW and I bought a home and are moving in Wednesday. In our previous condo we'd get TONS of junk mail everyday. It's a waste of paper and it just goes into our garbage bin. If I could, I'd request all mail be sent via e-mail :) Since I can't get my snail mail via e-mail ... how do I limit ...

Hi All, The good news, we bought a home, and this one doesn't have Radon! http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=111556 I've received two quotes for home insurance and they differ by $200/year. Once is from the local person we have our auto/umbrella through (more expensive) and the...

They could lower the price by 50k and fix everything -- and I still wouldn't buy it. If you do, this thing will be an albatross for years probably. Maybe not, but you won't know until the time has past. There are many many places to buy. Not to mention all of these issues will need to be disclosed ...

Why not just negotiate a number of days they have to find a place and after that date it's a lease-back arrangement? Worked for my friend and even made her a few $$$.

Hi All, I joined the forum in 2007 and if you can find my earlier posts, I was in some considerable debt. Today my DW and I bought our first home and put 20% down (this is after covering a $25k loss on our current condo) and have a year's worth of living expenses 'just in-case". I owe BH (and m...

Thanks for all the advice everyone. The sellers would not negotiate beyond 2-3% of the listing price, so we're off to greener pastures.

Our real issue right now is the sellers countered our offer and are basically not budging on their listing prices (but have agreed to remediate the Radon problem). Not budging, eh? Watch what happens when you write them, "We will offer one single dollar more and that's our final offer." I...

It sounds like there are some minor hassles involved in the house. If the OP really loves the house and can't find anything comparable, it would be worthwhile to deal with the hassles. If the OP is indifferent and can easily locate another house, it would be worthwhile to walk away. Thanks for the ...

No, 4.4 does not mean remediation is required. There is no law requiring this. 4 pC/L is the EPA suggested action level. It is an arbitrary "line in the sand." As I said, I would remediate anything above background. In a 10 year old house, remediation should consist of a simple sub-slab d...

Radon remediation is simple in a newer house. How old is the house and what method of remediation was employed? We don't have the specific remediation details, but it was tested in January @ 4.4. The home is 10 years old. Determine flood damage and evaluate severity. If current conditions are ok do...

Hi All, There are several threads about Radon that I've read, but still have some questions. We've placed an offer on a home contingent on many tests (including Radon). In preparing an offer, we were provided the sellers disclosure and one section was incomplete "Additions, alterations, structu...

Found my wife on Match.com. True story.

Hi All, We've just went through the pre-approval process and are getting ready to start our home search (yes, we're putting down 20%). Our realtor put us in contact with a guy from the local bank, but the today's APR rates (Wells Fargo) are 3.799% for a 30-year fixed. https://www.wellsfargo.com/mort...

We enjoyed Napa/Sonoma, but we also enjoyed the beer in the Santa Rosa/surrounding area (e.g., Lagunitas Brewing and Russian River Brewing). If you like beer, it's worth a visit.

Great book, quick read, and good to read before seeing Zero Dark Thirty in theaters.

Alternately, consider buying coach, but checking in a bit early and planning to take advantage of last minute pricing on an upgrade to Business assuming seats available. This. Had a fried a few weeks ago fly from PHL to Copenhagen. Spent $1,000 roundtrip for business upgrade ... would have spent $6...

I've tried various shirt brands (e.g., JCP, Costco, LL Beans) and none are as good as my Brooks Brothers (BB). I have several Jos A Bank (JAB) shirts, but the same style of shirt often fits differently which speaks to the quality. You can get BB shirts on clearance for $44 (there are some online now...

My car is a 1998; my repair and maintenance expenses starting in 2008 (5 years through 2012) were 1927.33 193.08 776.35 38.67 499.72 When should I have bought a new car? In 2008, in 2010, in 2012? (Note that the higher costs only occur every two years; this is the natural law of automobile repair c...

Hi All, We've finally saved enough to begin our home search and list our unit for sale. It's a one bedroom first floor condo in a great place to live outside Philadelphia. Unfortunately, first floor one bedroom condo's are difficult to sell - according to our realtor. We have no interest in renting ...

I'm not the executor of the estate, but the executor is working with an accountant, lawyers, etc. to work out specifics. When I heard I would not have to pay tax on the inheritance I was surprised. From what's posted above, it sounds common that the tax would be paid by the estate on the front end a...

Good Morning All,

This is a question regarding the current tax structure. I am receiving an inheritance of ~50k (estate is NJ and I live in PA). How, if possible, can I limit my tax liability?

rdmayo21 wrote:Full-time employment upon successful completion of the degree and internship (required 2-year job commitment).

Just be careful as you'll be at the companies disposal. They can change your position, make you transfer, work long hours, etc.

My biggest trip was when as a German engineering student I spent 3 month in Western Turkey, my first time in a foreign country, what a change. I took the Orient Express from Munich to Istanbul, saw many great mosques in various cities, lived for 2 months in Eskishehir with Turks, swam in the Bospor...

When did the deposit take place? Have the deposit posted/cleared to your account? Having worked in customer service for a large bank in the past, I'd give it some time. Generally errors are fixed when tellers reconcile at the end of the day. The problem is their changes generally post two days later...

An independent appraiser may be able to help with this, too. I spent $100 and received a plethora of information. Some of the information was the symbol / numbers on the diamond that reconcile back to the GIA certificate. Have the diamonds checked before and after wouldn't eliminate the risk, but wo...

I give a ringing endorsement for selling. I recently sold my home that became a rental for 3 years. I forked over a lot more than you did because it was still underwater, but it was worth every penny. Remember, you'll be slowly bleeding every month, and that $20,000 liability will never go away (or...

serenemind wrote:The PMs I am sending you are stuck in outbox. Do you accept PMs?

I received your PMs and responded.

While traveling in SE Asia I brought my VISA Credit Card and AMEX for purchases and my debit card for ATM withdrawals. I hit the ATM right after I arrived at the airport and once in the city. Used my VISA / AMEX anywhere it was accepted. Only went to the ATM two times during my whole trip, Asia is p...

sschullo wrote:16 day Mediterranean cruise on HMS the QE2. Recently, Africa, 3 countries, 17 day safari and getting wet at Victoria Falls.

Wow. Sign me up. Did you do this before or during retirement? Pics?

You should assume heavy travel with E&Y as you will have to go to where project is located. Most likely not your base city. Also career path at Big 4 firms is typically towards management and management consulting, not technology. Best wishes. I disagree. EY, along with all the Big4's, are very...

Depending on your role, working for Ernst & Young will provide you with an opportunity to work for multiple clients. The learning curve is vertical and you'll always be challenged to learn and do more. Accountability at a Big4 is spread across the ranks so the opportunity to manage teams will co...

The interest rate will be ~4% instead of the current ~3.25%, but we can buy the interest down with points just like any other mortgage. This seems like a great idea Unless I'm missing something this does not sound like a good idea. If you get a home improvement loan, usually it will be a variable r...

Thanks for the thoughts so far. Another mortgage broker I spoke with said the easiest way would be to just put 3.5% down, use the remaining money to fix the place up, refinance, and the value I add to the house should allow me to get rid of PMI (of course this is no guarantee). ------- Some loans a...

Thanks for the thoughts so far. Another mortgage broker I spoke with said the easiest way would be to just put 3.5% down, use the remaining money to fix the place up, refinance, and the value I add to the house should allow me to get rid of PMI (of course this is no guarantee).

What is the appraised value of the home? You might be better off getting a conventional loan for 80% LTV, then getting a HEL or HELOC for the remainder (I believe some lenders will still lend for >80% LTV). We don't know this right now. We haven't made an offer or begun to move forward as we're not...

Hi All, We have the opportunity to buy a foreclosure. The town home is ~15 years old. Great location, no one is currently living there, great structurally, and the "must haves" are there (e.g., high ceilings, lots of windows, end unit, low assoc fees, great schools, etc.). It's going for $...

I spent six weeks in Thailand with my wife and son earlier this year. I would recommend doing everything yourself, not so much to save money but I think you can then focus on what you like. +1 I wish I was fortunate enough to have been there six weeks. My friend and I did two weeks across Bangkok a...

Good Morning BH! My wife and I have our financial house in order, but have been putting off Disability Insurance, Term Life, and creating a Living Will. Thanks in advance for the quality advice I know I'll receive - much appreciated! A few questions: Disability Insurance 1 - We understand it's bette...

I wouldn't worry about it.

My clothes are too cheap...it doesn't make sense to tailor it... But that's my point...my $20 JCP dress shirt now fits like a ridiculously expensive custom fit dress shirt. My one and only suit which I got on sale for around $125 and paid like $25 to have tailored fits me so well I had friends gues...

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i426/DHoss83/0511-Pfau-Table-1.jpg http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73938 How does one read this? If in retirement I want 70% of my final salary for 30 years post-retirement, my allocation is 40/60 (40 is stocks?), and I have 40 years until retirem...

I work 9+ hours a day all year round without a Friday off. The Friday off is a nice touch! I usually don't take off to eat so I work 8 to 5. Plenty of time for me to shower, eat, hit the gym, read, etc.

Steve Miller Band