Bogleheads.org

You really can't appreciate Depression era thinking nowadays. I was born in 1936, so all I know of the depression is a childhood view, but I do remember some telling traits of my folks and those around us. Hardly anything was thrown away. When a shirt was worn out all the buttons were cut off and sa...

This thread caused me to dig out my Killawatt device. I previously said that my computer and peripherals drew 18 watts when off, but I was mistaken. The present reading is 30 watts when off and about 80 to 90 watts when on. I agree with other poster. 30 W off doesn't sound right. My laptop runs 35-...

This thread caused me to dig out my Killawatt device. I previously said that my computer and peripherals drew 18 watts when off, but I was mistaken.

The present reading is 30 watts when off and about 80 to 90 watts when on.

An astonishing amount of electricity is from "vampire" drains. Your TV isn't really "off" when you turn it off because there is a tiny trickle going to it so that you get "instant on" when you hit the remote "on" button. The same with computers and accessories...

Thanks for the answer. I'm having my software expert (my wife) search for the malware. It' really annoying, but I'm sure she will ferret it out.

I'll try out some key words the malware seems to like: spam, investment, retirement, and money.

Is it just my computer? There seem to be a bunch of "key words" in the text of posts that lead to spam sites. What's happening? Is the forum software set up this way as some sort of revenue raising device? I don't care for it very much. (Good grief! One just showed up in the first line of ...

It appears that house flippers and hedge funds are working hard to bubblize (to make up a word) the housing market again.

People keep cheering rising prices, which seems strange to me.

(Disclaimer: my mortgage is paid off.)

SBP = Survivor Benefit Payment. If you sign up for SPB your retirement payment is reduced right now, but if/when you die your spouse continues to get 55% of your retirement pay. The choice is reduction in retirement pay now in order for spouse to get 55% of pay upon retiree's demise. (For those not ...

. . . . it's relatively liquid for the recipients if they so desire. Is it really? I guess it depends on what the meaning of "relatively" is, but aren't there some serious transaction costs involved in trying to sell a coin, gold or not? Personally, I'd accept the gift and say "thank...

I, for one, think it would be a wonderful gift!

I certainly don't think Nisiprius or Mel Lindaur are paranoid about Treasury Direct or the internet in general. Their point (and mine) is that paper bonds are less likely to be overlooked by your heirs. If you have arranged so that your heirs can step up to your computer and access your account (and...

+1 what Nisiprius said!

Save yourself pain: don't read things that offend you.

Disclaimer: (Yes, I am a firearms owner.)

I bought a Ford van from Enterprise and I was satisfied (but I'm easy to please).

IRS Publication 590.

It can be confusing at times leading the reader to mix up traditional IRA's with Roth IRA's, so read carefully.

Cherokee8215 wrote:I'll admit I'm a subscriber (using airline miles). I enjoy reading it, even if their ideas aren't ones I typically take action on. Kind of makes me feel like a "rich investor guy".

Like a loner reading a Playboy, I guess.

My vote for the funniest post of the day!

The fine print: "The material contained herein is intended as a general market commentary. Opinions expressed herein are those of Richard Madigan and may differ from those of other J.P. Morgan employees and affiliates. This information in no way constitutes J.P. Morgan research and should not b...

I got rid of the escrow account as soon as I could on my first house and avoided (big enough down payment) on my two subsequent dwellings. It is not very onerous (in my opinion) to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance by writing checks from your own account. Why pay PMI? Why rely on someone e...

I'm going to take a four day "mini" cruise next month.

Since we are going on Carnival Cruise Lines it may turn into an "adventure" (but I hope not).

I'm arithmetically challenged so please bear with me. If one cube is $100 million and there appear to two cubes to a stack ($200 million), then the first five stacks in the first row should equal one billion dollars. (A billion is one thousand millions, right?) Just the first five stacks doesn't loo...

Because your avatar is labeled "s b Ashore".

I think you will find that if you try to buy silver (real silver coins or bullion) you have to pay a "premium" that brings the actual price back up to approx. $30 per troy oz.

Unless of course they are mysteriously "out of stock".

I've filed unnecessary forms before (K-1 for instance) and the IRS never made a comment one way or the other.

Let it ride.

I don't understand the problem. Can't you give (gift) someone $16,000 before any "Gift Tax" paperwork is involved?

I don't see the problem giving your daughter $5,000. What she does with it is up to her.

Am I wrong?

But don't ever drop liability!

Maybe yes, maybe no, blah, blah, etc. (Repeat as necessary to write an article.) No body knows. I apologize for the flippant tone of my response (above). I know that some people agonize over articles like the one referenced by the OP, and, really, who am I to make light of their anxiety? I guess my...

Answer: Yes.

ALSO: Burial/ cremation/ body organ donation issues. Repeat this info as often as you think it takes to sink in.

Maybe yes, maybe no, blah, blah, etc. (Repeat as necessary to write an article.)

No body knows.

I was lucky because today was the day my automatic monthly allotment to buy shares ($500) takes place. The way the market started out I thought I might get a really big bargain, but I just got a little bargain instead.

In all likelihood, you are missing the fact that long term capital gains, qualified dividends, etc. are taxed at lower rates than other income, so if you use the tax tables, you pay too much tax. If you did your own taxes, you would be directed to a rather tedious worksheet that would compute your ...

I have a small issue with #4. There are strategies that will ensure a larger SS benefit, but nobody can say for certain if they took it too early. Nobody knows when their time will be up. And depending on other factors taking SS earlier might allow a larger portfolio more time to grow. The payoff f...

Don't know. Let me know when gold gets back down to $375 an ounce and silver is back down to $6. Then I might pick some up, just to hold in the palm of my hand from time to time. It would probably have to get down to that before you could get a deal! I say that because every time there is a dip in ...

Thanks, I bet alot of people get pegged with wash sales unknowingly with these emloyer stock purchase programs. You buy stock at a discount through payroll deduction, sell it out a loss when you're strapped for cash, then 2 weeks later if you're still enrolled in the program you get hit with a wash...

There is an article pertaining to this subject on "Market Watch" website.:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/4-tips ... MW_popular

I received a warning from Vanguard and then later received a "revised" 1099. Much to my surprise it was identical to the first set sent earlier.

I've often wondered about the goofy way they split up the bonds ($50 bonds predominating). My only guess is that they have an awful lot of preprinted stock they want to get rid of!

Anyone got a better theory?

I do the Sunday one. The definitions are devilishly misleading (to me, anyway). Great fun, although sometimes takes me two days to let my subconscious work on it!

Um,... There's always paper (gasp!)

As I recall, "voting" was the was one of the reasons we left the original MorningStar forum.

"Up" or "down" voting can be a huge troll attractor.

I prefer the forum as it is now.

"If you want to hear the gods laugh, tell them your plans".

Just say "no". A good salesman has an answer for everything except "no". They also have answers for "why", so don't explain.

Just say "no". Repeat as necessary.

Thanks for the reply. I wish I could get only $0.56 over spot!

If you do buy mutual fund(s), you don't need a brokerage account; just buy them directly from Vanguard.

Did you buy it at a local coin store? Or, on line? (how much was shipping?)

Or is it "paper" silver?

That's a good price.

I don't carry comprehensive or collision coverage.

That said, my car was wrecked by another car and their insurance adjuster declared it totaled and to my surprise (I get cynical from time to time) gave me a very fair settlement.

Do you know of anyone who actually outlived their money, if so, what did they do? Also, what proportion of the population do you really think runs out of money in their lifetime :moneybag Of course the largest proportion doesn't even have a money bag to outlive--where you been? Now if someone is lu...

None, but I did use Charles Schwab when I sold two inherited stock certificates. I now have no need for a broker.

My understanding is that you may change funds within an inherited Roth, but not add to it. You must take RMD's but not add to it.

I just read somewhere that the Dow (or maybe the S&P 500) is the lowest it's been this year! The year being, what?, 65 days old!

Gasp! What to do!

Next we'll read that they are the highest (or lowest) since last Friday!

It's a very personal decision and I doubt that whatever opinions you get will apply to you or your situation. But, here goes anyway. I retired at 43 from the Air Force. I had often heard of people "taking a year off" and marvled that anyone could be so rich as to take a year off! Since I w...