Bogleheads.org

Funny this thread has been raised from the dead.
I'm trying to talk myself into buying $160/pair of Aviators.
At least I am honest with myself and know that I'm only paying for the style and the brand.
At least it's not a $5000 watch, right?

Whoopsy---

What is your opinion of teaching English as an ex-pat and never returning to the United States---- well for visits only?

Why do physicians feel the need to butt into every thread about student loans with their own stories? And then the anti-physician posters chime in with their anti-doc comments. It's quite annoying to be honest.

Meh--- I'm going to say something that may be divisive or whatever.... Buy a one way ticket to a 3rd world country and teach English. Forget your student debt. Maybe one day it will be forgiven. Pick Taiwan, Thailand, India, China, Mexico, the Emirites or something like that. Find a cutie over there...

Grt2bOutdoors wrote:Surprised no one has picked up on your $1K per month traveling budget - where are you going that costs $12K annually?

Not sure if serious.

One thing that risk adverse people overlook is the risk of inadequate returns---- the risk that does not allow one to enjoy the fruits of retirement.

Interesting that no one has went non-traditional here. My girlfriend wanted a pink sapphire. We went to a local jewelry store and she picked out the setting. Then they had stones sent in and I went in by myself to pick one. Really wasn't any cheaper, well I suppose it is cheaper compared next to a d...

Does anyone have any natural solution for weeds in your lawn/bed areas? I am done dumping toxins to get rid of such problems. We also have way to many to pull by hand. Thanks To get a useful answer, you should define your criteria for "natural" and "toxins". For example, would y...

These laws are outrageous to have on the books - even if they aren't commonly enforced. These laws are unconstitutional *in my opinion*--- they deprive a person of property without due process of law, the laws assign a person a contractual obligation without such a contract. Perhaps they are even a...

I think the OP needs a forced intervention here where he/she is required to spend $10k on an extravagent vacation, gift, etc for the family. You are forgetting why you are are working in the first place. If you think one more dollar squirreled away can prevent the risk of life--- and this is what it...

Just because something is hot today, doesn't mean its going to be hot 5 years from now. Petroleum vs. Nuclear engineering is the perfect case. For all we know in 5 years there will be a breakthrough in a small, unusual green energy---- and the market will react immediately and offer those with exper...

Here's an idea--- I work at the Cleveland Clinic (pharmacist, not physician). The physicians at the Clinic are all salaried. They practice medicine. The hospital employers the billers, insurance agents, pays for the malpractice insurance, etc. You obviously are limited financially because you won't ...

2012: Charleston, SC (long weekend, but not expensive/elaborate) Vermont and then up into Quebec, CA (week or so, planned out well, so maybe elaborate) Chicago, IL (long weekend, stayed with brother, does not qualify) Pittsburgh, PA (weekend, does not qualify) Cancun, MX (qualifes) 2013: Dallas, Aus...

zaboomafoozarg wrote:

fareastwarriors wrote:mmm Ribs.

I know right? Best food in the known universe IMHO.

Where can you get a rack of ribs for less than $20?

[...]To be a functional, well adjusted adult male in the United States (or any other Western country) and to have never have spent more than $20 per person on a meal in his entire life is just not realistic. It is indeed laughable. I enjoyed a hearty LOL. Thanks Jay! With that wide a paintbrush ......

Have never spent more than $20 per person on a meal in my life. LOL. Are you 16? I don't see why you need to LOL about it? If the person doesn't want to spend over $20 on a meal, how is that laughable? He cannot be serious. I took it as a joke and/or snark. To be a functional, well adjusted adult m...

zaboomafoozarg wrote:Have never spent more than $20 per person on a meal in my life.

LOL. Are you 16?

I think I answered wrong and should have picked "2" instead of "1". Anyway, in 2012: January: Lola, Cleveland, OH (self-pay) July: Girl and the Goat, Chicago, IL (self-pay) In 2013: March: Trulucks, Dallas, TX (uncle paid) Mostly though we don't like fancy dining. When my girlfri...

Um. SUPPLY AND DEMAND? There's a huge supply of houses in metro Phoenix as the area was badly affected by the housing crisis and many people are underwater on their homes. I don't see how demand can ever surpass supply in this market, especially with the weak economy and stagnant income. There are ...

Some people here like Vanguard Wellington and/or Vanguard Wellesley. I believe it's been shown---can someone confirm???---that active management does outperform the index--- but not more than the expenses that they charge. IE: Maybe they can perform >0.5% on the index but their fees are in the range...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... olina.html

We did this with Capt. Howie. Tripadvisor #1.

Make sure you stay in the historic district, which means paying big bucks for a botique hotel. It's worth it.

If you like beer/brewpubs----
Kona Brewing Company

Go to Minnesota.

Especially since the Mayo Clinic is in-state. Do rotations there during P4 year. Get a residency there. Bingo. Job at Mayo Clinic.

Note: I am a pharmacist. I'm trying to think of how many states have two flagship schools--- I'm thinking it has to be Texas. I would go to the cheaper school. As long as it is not one of those new schools. But since you said state flagship I'm thinking it's UT vs. Texas Tech and I'd say to go to TT...

I would wait until your first attending job. You don't know where life is going to take you post residency.

My suggested SWR of 2 to 2.5% is not that extreme. Similar numbers are suggested by W Bernstein, W Pfau and Jim Otar as the bombproof numbers (closer to 2% as bombproof). It is nuclear proof though? What about dirty bomb proof? Sometimes we miss the forest for the trees. Numbers such as 8% are reco...

Yes--- I would say for the vast majority here this is nothing to worry about. But I could see a daytrader using commission free ETF's upset.

Given the current state of affairs I would rely on a 2 to 2.5% SWR. Can you live on that and have a cushion in case things don't work out? In your shoes I would probably work longer. Come on---- the dividend yield of the S&P 500 itself is 2.0%. Stocks are not exactly safe investments. There's n...

wesleymouch wrote:Given the current state of affairs I would rely on a 2 to 2.5% SWR. Can you live on that and have a cushion in case things don't work out? In your shoes I would probably work longer.

Come on---- the dividend yield of the S&P 500 itself is 2.0%.

We plan to spend about $300K on a house. Current yearly living expenses are about $100K - $120K, so a pretty good quality of life :) Are your living expenses determined by your current pre-tax salaries or by your after-tax expenditures? $3,200,000 x 4% = $128,000/year. The tax status will depend if...

Simply yes--- you have enough to feed, shelter and clothe you and your spouse for the rest of your lives. But---- I think if you gave us more information regarding the quality of life you expect it would be helpful. $3,500,000.00 will throw off---> $112,500/year at 3% and $140,000/year at 4%. Let's ...

What part of 70-year track record don't you understand? I mean 70 years! (For the record, even I might consider an actively managed fund with that track record) Fidelity Magellan - FMAGX (05/02/1963) Since Inception 16.01 http://investing.schwab.com/public/schwab_oldpublicsite/research_strategies/m...

What part of 70-year track record don't you understand? I mean 70 years! (For the record, even I might consider an actively managed fund with that track record) Fidelity Magellan - FMAGX (05/02/1963) Since Inception 16.01 http://investing.schwab.com/public/schwab_oldpublicsite/research_strategies/m...

Cost savings.

My girlfriend is a teacher and I set up an account through STRS for her. She has the defined benefit plan though.

I think you need to include property taxes in the mortgage calculation because it's implicitly included in a rent payment So should the 0% paid off mortgage crowd revise their estimates to include property taxes and insurance? I think so. In my opinion of course. I suppose you don't need to include...

I think you need to include property taxes in the mortgage calculation because it's implicitly included in a rent payment.

Rent = 10.6% of gross monthly combined income

I've read something like this on a NYT or similar NYC-esq site. Pretty much a huge marriage penalty with the new tax brackets because the 39.6% bracket starts at $450K/year in income for MFJ and $400K for single. So there's a $350K amount that could be taxed a less tax rate if duel income is around ...

Mind you I'm only 27 but from what I've read around here one of the best things you can do is withhold SS to 70. It increases every year your defer it and gives you a bit of longetivity insurance. Same with an SPIA, you can buy one (albeit rates are low now so I would personally market time this) to...

I'm 27. I've never owned a pair of pleated pants. Current style is flat front--- at least for the Millenials.

I'm surprised to hear a couple of you saying that the pharmacist job market isn't that great. My dad (a pharmacist) always said that they dang near fight over you after you graduate. He always needed more pharmacists (he owned several pharmacies). Granted he works in rural Arkansas. I had just assu...

Cruises? I'll never do in my lifetime. Not that I ever get seasick or anything, because I don't, but I'd rather be on land exploring and seeing cultures, countries, cities, attractions and be relaxing on a beach or hiking rather than being at sea and seeing nothing for days, or spending 2-3 hours i...

I'm surprised to hear a couple of you saying that the pharmacist job market isn't that great. My dad (a pharmacist) always said that they dang near fight over you after you graduate. He always needed more pharmacists (he owned several pharmacies). Granted he works in rural Arkansas. Lots of for-pro...

Disclaimer: Is a pharmacist The job market right now is "meh" for pharmacists. Especially in desirable locations. The problem may be is that no employer is going to risk it when there are other candidates with no criminal record and I'm sure they have multiple other applicants. Is the crim...

Between artificially low interest rates, federal mortgage programs and numerous direct and indirect subsidies, I wouldn't be surprised if home values were at least 50% overvalued nearly everywhere. However, only interest rates wil change. JT The market takes into account these things. I agree that ...

Location, location, location!

Calling all negative net worthers!!!! We should start a club!

Fellow Bogleheads, my question is around when do you replace or repair the car? Our situation is my wife has a 2005 Toyota Camry with 173k miles. It is paid for and has been a great car for us up until recently. We had to replace the starter last year and just had to replace struts and shocks a cou...

travellight wrote:77.5% of net.

show your work

origami wrote:75% of after tax income. 33 years old.

show your work

I don't think using AGI is appropriate here because 401k contributions don't show up as wages and thus aren't accounted for.