Search found 2979 matches
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
- Replies: 207
- Views: 14914
Re: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
It sounds like nobody here is serious about poker.
- Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Flying to London - Delta or British Airways
- Replies: 58
- Views: 5433
Re: Flying to London - Delta or British Airways
Consider booking a mini-van for the trip to the airport. This can easily save you an hour, and a lot of hassle not having to schlep your bags on a shuttle bus from the economy lots to the check-in counter. I live about 45 minutes from ORD, and the cost is about $100 including tip.
Also, check with your phone carrier about service in London, and cost.
Also, check with your phone carrier about service in London, and cost.
- Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Flying to London - Delta or British Airways
- Replies: 58
- Views: 5433
Re: Flying to London - Delta or British Airways
Consider booking a mini-van for the trip to the airport. This can easily save you an hour, and a lot of hassle not having to schlep your bags on a shuttle bus from the economy lots to the check-in counter. I live about 45 minutes from ORD, and the cost is about $100 including tip.
- Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How do you decide air travel priorities? Flight to CDG
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2602
Re: How do you decide air travel priorities? Flight to CDG
When dealing with airlines, terminology is extremely important.
Non-stop means non-stop.
Direct does not mean non-stop. It only means that the flight number does not change. The airplane may land, and continue. The airplane may land and you may have to change planes. It is even possible that you would have to change airports.
Is this deceptive on the part of the airlines? Certainly. But not illegal.
Non-stop means non-stop.
Direct does not mean non-stop. It only means that the flight number does not change. The airplane may land, and continue. The airplane may land and you may have to change planes. It is even possible that you would have to change airports.
Is this deceptive on the part of the airlines? Certainly. But not illegal.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
- Replies: 111
- Views: 12035
Re: Want to leave timeshare.
Even when you get to see an audited financial statement about maintenance costs, this cannot catch intentional self dealing. In many cases the owners relative may own the pool company, the lawn care company, the elevator maintenance company, the plumbing company, etc.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much term life coverage to get for 50 y.o., DINKs, good savings?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2862
Re: How much term life coverage to get for 50 y.o., DINKs, good savings?
If a parent, yours or hers, were in a nice private pay nursing home, and was running out of money, would you feel obligated to help? This could be another scenario where term life could help.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: SPIA: Roth or tIRA
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1332
Re: SPIA: Roth or tIRA
One point to consider regarding your estate. Some people prefer to leave the Roth account to their heirs so the heirs don't pay tax on it. If you spend down the Roth and leave the Traditional IRA to your heirs they will pay taxes over 10 years. If you are leaving your estate to charity definitely go with the Roth. If your heirs are in a higher tax bracket than you they might like to inherit the Roth. It's sort of a decision on whether you are going to pay taxes on your tax deferred account while alive or whether you are going to have your heirs pay them after you are gone. Second: are you sure your wife needs the SPIA after your "expiration date"? It sounds like she has a solid income stream that would pay for a very nice retirem...
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 1:48 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: SPIA: Roth or tIRA
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1332
SPIA: Roth or tIRA
I am trying to figure out the optimum place to put a SPIA for my wife. Based on family history and current health and history, this would be a single life policy with no refund. For context, we are both 75, I am fully retired, she is still working part time (because she still enjoys it) in her own single employee S corp. This should continue for at least two more years, but not more than five years. The net profit tends to be $100k-150k. This is paid out 60/40% W2/dividend. Our RMDs are $110k. We donate 1/3 of this as QCDs. Our taxable holdings generate $50k in dividends and interest. We also have four annuities, three of which are government guaranteed. The two SS checks are inflation protected, the PBGC one is not. The TIAA-CREF one is st...
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
- Replies: 254
- Views: 41960
Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Buying a Kindle Paperwhite.
I used to haul six to ten books on a vacation flight or cruise, now just the kindle. Internal light, long battery life, fast recharge.
I used to haul six to ten books on a vacation flight or cruise, now just the kindle. Internal light, long battery life, fast recharge.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: tipping shuttle driver ?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3965
Re: tipping shuttle driver ?
I'm not sure when this guide was written, but this may be on the low side depending on the city and the hotel.Wwwdotcom wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:49 pm I've been using this guide from an old post on bogleheads.
https://emilypost.com/advice/general-tipping-guide
$2 for the first bag carried, $1 per additional bag.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 6:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vehicle damaged and liable party has low coverage limits
- Replies: 45
- Views: 4028
Re: Vehicle damaged and liable party has low coverage limits
A certain number of accidents involve multiple cars. Also an accident may involve a non-car high value vehicle, that is also quite fragile, such as a motor home.
- Fri Feb 16, 2024 4:03 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Job title for PhD Economist Daughter
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3979
Re: Job title for PhD Economist Daughter
She is a Phd. The simple title of Doctor is always appropriate.
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Dividends in Retirement
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1151
Re: Dividends in Retirement
One thing to consider. If you do decide on a dividend strategy, it is best to keep the high dividend payers in a taxable account. If you keep them in a tax deferred account, that will turn the tax favored dividend income into ordinary income taxed at a higher rate.
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3529
Re: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
Seriously consider a CCRC for age 75-80 onward. We moved in to ours two years ago and we love it. One thing you will always hear about this type of move, is "better five years too early than five minutes too late". I would love to hear more about this, Ralph - thank you. It makes sense and seems like a conservative move that wasn’t on my radar for down the road…but should be…thank you! Hi BHN. To define some terms: An Independent Lining community is a community where essentially everyone moving in is cognitively aware, capable of moving around, (walking, including with a cane or walker, or using an electric scooter or wheelchair), and doing all five activities of daily living. Generally at least one person in a couple must be ove...
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 10:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3529
Re: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
Seriously consider a CCRC for age 75-80 onward. We moved in to ours two years ago and we love it. One thing you will always hear about this type of move, is "better five years too early than five minutes too late". I would love to hear more about this, Ralph - thank you. It makes sense and seems like a conservative move that wasn’t on my radar for down the road…but should be…thank you! Hi BHN. To define some terms: An Independent Lining community is a community where essentially everyone moving in is cognitively aware, capable of moving around, (walking, including with a cane or walker, or using an electric scooter or wheelchair), and doing all five activities of daily living. Generally at least one person in a couple must be ove...
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Margin loan vs. Bridge vs. Heloc
- Replies: 5
- Views: 490
Re: Margin loan vs. Bridge vs. Heloc
In taxable, tax loss harvest any stocks with a loss and offset by selling losses with capital gains stocks. Choose stocks with small percentage gains first.
How much is needed as down payment to get mortgage? Do they need or want to do a completely cash deal?
How much is needed as down payment to get mortgage? Do they need or want to do a completely cash deal?
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Are Owning EQUITY REITs an Alternative to Being a Landlord/Owning Real Estate
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2711
Re: Are Owning EQUITY REITs an Alternative to Being a Landlord/Owning Real Estate
Timberland REITs and Farmland REITs are far more concerned with the changes in the value of the land, than about the operating profit from sales of timber or crops. Thus I consider them to be more akin to direct ownership of property. Also, they throw off relatively little income subject to current taxes, compared to other REITs, so are more reasonable to own in a taxable account.
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3529
Re: Did we miss anything?? Looking to retire next year!
Seriously consider a CCRC for age 75-80 onward. We moved in to ours two years ago and we love it.
One thing you will always hear about this type of move, is "better five years too early than five minutes too late".
One thing you will always hear about this type of move, is "better five years too early than five minutes too late".
- Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Window Unit A/C Compressor won't shut off. AGAIN.
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1383
Re: Window Unit A/C Compressor won't shut off. AGAIN.
As a landlord, I would have considered 10 years on an AC to be normal wear and tear.
- Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Three ways that shareholders make money from mutual funds
- Replies: 34
- Views: 1907
Re: Three ways that shareholders make money from mutual funds
A fourth way is to write call options (only for SOME funds).
A fifth way (for the rich and old), is to borrow money on margin, pay interest, die, and the children get a step up in basis.
A fifth way (for the rich and old), is to borrow money on margin, pay interest, die, and the children get a step up in basis.
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 5:20 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TIAA single life annuity payout of 9.45% - OMG!
- Replies: 35
- Views: 6955
Re: TIAA single life annuity payout of 9.45% - OMG!
Does anybody have a record of what annuity payouts TIAA has offered in the past? This seems unusually generous, and may be an anomaly that should be jumped on before it disappears.
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 4:02 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Interacting with electrician for big-ish job
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2601
Re: Interacting with electrician for big-ish job
I have always done this type of thing on a time and materials basis. You NEED an electrician that you can TRUST for this type of arrangement to work. You want an electrician, not a handyman that handles basic electrical work. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations. A lot of the work that needs to be done cannot be determined until he starts to run conduit or wires, and possibly open up walls. The electrician will normally open the wall, but he is usually not an expert drywaller. He will probably ask if you would like to take care of the patching, either doing it yourself or hiring somebody else. He may have to spend two or three hours scoping out the job, and he deserves to be paid for this time. Tell him that you want to buy th...
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Anyone Ever Retire With a 6-Month Notice?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4593
Re: Anyone Ever Retire With a 6-Month Notice?
When I got hired, Federal law mandated that I could not work beyond my 60th birthday, so that was my retirement date. A few years prior to that date, Federal law changed that to age 65, so that became my new retirement date. Many of us do not have a choice of a retirement date, unless we want to retire early.
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 5:32 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Does it still make sense to do Roth conversions?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2106
Re: Does it still make sense to do Roth conversions?
If you do not have serious LTCI coverages, you should leave enough in tax deferred accounts to cover at least the first to die tax deferred accounts to cover the LTC expenses of that person final expenses. These final expenses will be tax deductible, and the tax conversion expenses would be wasted.
- Sat Jan 20, 2024 3:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: At what invested net worth do contributions start to matter less?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 8281
Re: At what invested net worth do contributions start to matter less?
Nobody has mentioned taxes.
Even if my tax deferred savings do not move the needle on my portfolio, they still save me in current tax dollars. Whether they will save me in long term total taxes is a different analysis.
Even if my tax deferred savings do not move the needle on my portfolio, they still save me in current tax dollars. Whether they will save me in long term total taxes is a different analysis.
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Any pension actuaries here?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1350
Re: Any pension actuaries here?
From what you have said, I am assuming that the pension does not have any inflation adjustment. I deferred my PBGC pension from 65 to 70. During that time the pension increased at a rate of 10.01% per year, compounded. I believe that comparing the delayed retirement credits of this to SS is apples to oranges since SS has built-in inflation adjustments.
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 10:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best bank for international ATM withdrawals
- Replies: 44
- Views: 4159
Re: Best bank for international ATM withdrawals
HSBC Bank is my favorite for international use. They reimburse for ATM fees, and the currency conversion is for the "Million Dollar" rate, (the best rate available to the bank). This only works for their debit card, if you try to pull money from an ATM with the credit card, there is a fee.
You must be a "Premier" account holder to get this service. Only inconvenience is that you must either pay a $50/month for premier status, or keep $100k on deposit. Their money market account is paying close to 5%, so this is not really a problem.
You must be a "Premier" account holder to get this service. Only inconvenience is that you must either pay a $50/month for premier status, or keep $100k on deposit. Their money market account is paying close to 5%, so this is not really a problem.
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 6:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What are people with LMP/TIPS ladders doing with the interest payments?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 4073
Re: What are people with LMP/TIPS ladders doing with the interest payments?
During the recent spike in real returns on TIPS, I bought a few $100K of tips, all with a 0.125% or 0.250% coupon rate. These were all at a significant discount from par. The interest on $100,000 at 0.125% is $125. I collect enough dividends and other interest that this gets lost in the noise.
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 6:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cash Balance plan vs Taxable Brokerage
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1559
Re: Cash Balance plan vs Taxable Brokerage
Does your current high tax state tax the money that goes into your retirement accounts? If not, you have some opportunity for tax arbitrage, if your plans for moving to a no tax state are reasonably firm. The contributions to the retirement plans would go in free of state tax, and also come out free of state tax.
- Thu Jan 04, 2024 8:02 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: RMD Distribution Dates
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1916
Re: RMD Distribution Dates
We are often advised to but bonds in tax deferred, to slow down the growth that will affect RMDs and thus taxes and IRMAA. If you want more in tax deferred, wait until late in the year. If you want more in taxable and less in tax deferred, then take the RMD early and stuff it in a tax efficient fund.
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 1:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Funding Parent's Retirement: Cashflow it or Use Bonds?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2962
Re: Funding Parent's Retirement: Cashflow it or Use Bonds?
Many pure Medicaid facilities are just nasty, due to inability to hire staff at the wages they can afford to pay. Many private facilities will commit to not kicking people out if they have enough money to private pay for a year, and then have to go on Medicaid.
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 1:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Reviewing my 90-y/o mom's portfolio - is this as bad as I think?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3882
Re: Reviewing my 90-y/o mom's portfolio - is this as bad as I think?
Sorry for the extra post, I realize I didn't supply some budget specifics. My mom currently has $4K sent to her checking each month for day-to-day expenses (rent, groceries, utilities, bills, dining, etc). That and Social Security have been more than enough for day-to-day. The only other expenses would be taxes (unless I am missing something major). I am getting an introduction to her accountant (it has been difficult with the holidays etc) to get a look at her tax returns to see what taxes are being paid and what income she needs over-and-above the $48K+SS. She is planning to move to a facility of some kind which is how I got involved. With one option monthly expenses will go up maybe $1000 or $1500 but with a large buy-in ($300K+) and wi...
- Thu Dec 28, 2023 1:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: LA/Vegas/Grand Canyon trip
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5731
Re: LA/Vegas/Grand Canyon trip
From Las Vegas, consider an airplane or helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
- Sun Dec 24, 2023 10:42 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Question about Gifting Stock
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1508
Re: Question about Gifting Stock
I know that when you gift stock to qualified non-profits, you can get more out of your donation because the cost basis is reset. This is a weird statement because the cost basis doesn't change just because you gave the stock to charity. But it also really doesn't matter. Don't forget that the shares must have been held long-term and have unrealized long-term capital gains. If they have been held only short-term or have an unrealized capital loss, then I think that changes things. Livesoft, Yeah, I just meant that with some charities you can gift the full amount and, as I understand it, they get to reset the cost basis not having to pay on the gains, or so I thought. Good point about the short term. Assuming the Giver gave the stock that ha...
- Thu Nov 30, 2023 4:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Small tool chest on wheels
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2852
Re: Small tool chest on wheels
I had a Sears rolling tool chest for 30 years before I had to sell it when I went into a CCRC. Check garage sales in your area.
- Sun Nov 05, 2023 2:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Small to Medium sized cities for FIRE
- Replies: 103
- Views: 10090
Re: Small to Medium sized cities for FIRE
Champaign/Urbana Illinois. Flagship state university, one very high end (selective) university high school.
- Sat Nov 04, 2023 2:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Good options for places to travel in August?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1124
Re: Good options for places to travel in August?
Any of the northern US or Canada national parks. Northern Australia is cool enough in August. Might try Kakadu.
- Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Gifting college money to family friend
- Replies: 47
- Views: 5252
Re: Gifting college money to family friend
Good for you! We are considering providing a similar kind of gift for a close family friend (godchild). I haven't found a better option than simply writing a check at the appropriate time. I'll be following this thread to see if I've overlooked any better option. For the $2,500 that the OP mentioned, I believe that this is the best solution. However, for higher dollar amounts, like giving the godchildren a full ride to an ivy league university, paying the university directly avoids gift tax paperwork. Also, the gift never shows up in the child's (or parents) finances, preserving any scholarship eligibility. Apropos of nothing whatsoever, I wish to observe that the only people who should ever be allowed to get a Doctorate in Medieval Art Hi...
- Mon Oct 23, 2023 4:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Did inflation reduce your DCA amount every month?
- Replies: 177
- Views: 15105
Re: Did inflation reduce your DCA amount every month?
I would like to challenge one common categorization of expenses: I don't like mortgage payments being seen as housing expense. You bought the home as one transaction. In that year you had a big expense. You also borrowed a large chunk of money. As you pay back this loan it should be considered interest expense just like if you ran a balance on a credit card, and not a housing expense. If you pay taxes and insurance through your mortgage lender, then these should be separated out as housing expense.
- Wed Oct 11, 2023 12:46 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: High Yield Term Bond Ladder Crazy or Genius ?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 5575
Re: High Yield Term Bond Ladder Crazy or Genius ?
According to Standard & Poor’s, junk bond default rates range from 18% for BB-rated securities to more than 50% for CCC/C-rated bonds. This represents data over a range from 1981 – 2018. More recently, the annual average default per rating for a range spanning 2014 – 2018 was: Rating BB – 0.14% Rating B – 1.78% Rating CCC/C – 26.22% I can't see putting much $ in this space, though I do have a little in ARTFX, which will have a shorter duration than any ladder you would build. Crazy would be my answer. :P 18% default .. sounds quite outrageaous, are you sure ? Because then interest rate would have to be above 20% to make any sense I have a hard time believing it An important note about corporate bond defaults is that the bond holders se...
- Sun Oct 08, 2023 2:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pulling the Early Retirement Trigger - 39M and Worrier by Nature
- Replies: 76
- Views: 12032
Re: Pulling the Early Retirement Trigger - 39M and Worrier by Nature
If you are staying home with a one and three year old, while your partner works, you can probably forget the hobbies until they are both in school.
- Sun Oct 08, 2023 2:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Diving into My First Portfolio Review: Co-op Considerations, Asset Allocation, and Retirement Goals
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3617
Re: Diving into My First Portfolio Review: Co-op Considerations, Asset Allocation, and Retirement Goals
The biggest driver in the need for an ER is not unexpected expenses, but unwanted unemployment.
As an academic, you have relatively low risk of unwanted unemployment. Is your partner also an academic? In any case with two paychecks coming in, you have relatively little need for an emergency fund compared to a one paycheck, corporate job.
Ralph
As an academic, you have relatively low risk of unwanted unemployment. Is your partner also an academic? In any case with two paychecks coming in, you have relatively little need for an emergency fund compared to a one paycheck, corporate job.
Ralph
- Fri Oct 06, 2023 1:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: My Dream Annuity by Nathan Dutzmann
- Replies: 93
- Views: 9027
Re: My Dream Annuity by Nathan Dutzmann
It is actually quite simple to purchase an inflation indexed life annuity. Simply join the US military, and serve 20 years. Works fine, unless you get shot.
- Thu Oct 05, 2023 10:50 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What asset approximates your concept of risk-free?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 3691
Re: What asset approximates your concept of risk-free?
One risk free real (inflation adjusted) annuity that many people have is a military pension.
While I consider this risk free in retirement, it was certainly not risk free while being earned.
While I consider this risk free in retirement, it was certainly not risk free while being earned.
- Wed Sep 27, 2023 9:30 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Anyone else had Capital One cancel credit card with no notice?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3631
Re: Anyone else had Capital One cancel credit card with no notice?
As to your actual question, yes.
My action? Nothing. If they don't want me, I don't want them.
My action? Nothing. If they don't want me, I don't want them.
- Tue Sep 19, 2023 12:08 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Leaving Fidelity Wealth Management
- Replies: 24
- Views: 5306
Re: Leaving Fidelity Wealth Management
PottedPlant wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:09 pmNot quite true.
Our daughter and her husband are paying for Fido advice.
I asked her why. “So [husband name] doesn’t panic and do something stupid.”
[/
This is definitely one of the few rational reasons for paying for a Financial Advisor.
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 12:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Older house with geothermal
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2512
Re: Older house with geothermal
I believe that it is incorrect to call ground source heat pumps "Geothermal", although I know that it is common. I believe that geothermal heating terminology should be reserved for naturally occurring hot springs, or hot water that can be reached by drilling a few hundred or a few thousand feet deep. This type of "Geothermal" does not need any type of heat pump, the hot water is simply pumped to wherever heat is needed. The entire city of Reykjavik in Iceland is heated this way. My understanding is that the lodge in Yellowstone National Park is also heated like this. Note: The hot water available a few hundred to a few thousand feet down is not suitable for direct use. It is usually a few hundred degrees, very acidic, a...
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water heater replacement . One or both?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1629
Re: Water heater replacement . One or both?
"In Series" means that the water first goes into one heater, passes thru that one, and then into the next one, then to the house. Typically, the first heater brings up the water to a lower temperature, like 85-95 degrees, and then the final heater brings the temperature up to the users desired hot water temperature.
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tipping at car detail shop?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1227
Re: Tipping at car detail shop?
If you can identify the guy who did the work, or most of the work (waxing), I would definitely give him a $20. Not for the general tip jar.
- Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:12 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Variable annuities seem great. So why are they bad?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4014
Re: Variable annuities seem great. So why are they bad?
While I was working, I had Group Term Variable Universal Life Insurance. While working, I only had the premium deducted from my paycheck. After I retired, I wanted to maintain insurance while I waited to 70 to take my 100% joint PBGC pension. If I died before starting the pension, DW would only get 50%, so the insurance would make up for this loss. This particular policy had a fixed income option that paid a guaranteed 4% return for the life of the policy. This was quite attractive in 2014, and remained so till I dropped the policy in 2019. I calculated how much the premiums would be. Luckily, my co-workers averaged very healthy, so premiums were reasonably affordable. I calculated how much I would have to deposit, including interest earnin...