Search found 285 matches

by wingnutty
Sun May 25, 2014 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Blueberries
Replies: 30
Views: 4352

Re: Growing Blueberries

I have 5 varieties of blueberries growing in a 6x12 raised bed. I did the raised bed so that I could amend the soils to obtain adequate pH. I mixed existing soil with peat moss and added elemental sulfur and then mulch with pine needles and bark. This will be the 3rd growing season and the first where i will harvest a full crop. I picked blooms the first 2 years to aid in establishment. I also have blackberries, raspberries and 4 varieties of strawberries, as well as a small 12-tree orchard with peaches, plums, pears, apples, necterines and apricots. Kind of a hobby for me :D I like the challenge of growing diverse fruits that most people around here don't grow. There is tons of info out there on blueberries. Look up your state extension, o...
by wingnutty
Sat May 24, 2014 8:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving to Alaska
Replies: 19
Views: 3550

Re: Moving to Alaska

and don't let the grizzlies bite.

...I think it's polar bears :happy
by wingnutty
Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Teaching Kids Money Management (under age 10)
Replies: 11
Views: 1885

Re: Teaching Kids Money Management (under age 10)

Will do good wrote:When our kids were young (8-10 years old?), we gave them $3 per week. $1 goes to tax, $1 to savings and $1 for whatever they wanted to spend it on. When they got older it's was $6 per week. Than they got jobs. The saving rate was even better than when they were little kids.

We wanted them to learn about saving early and the tax man is alway there. Today they are savers with a good job, healthy 401K and investment accounts and no debts :D

TAX?! :D haha! You guys were the real deal :sharebeer
by wingnutty
Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Teaching Kids Money Management (under age 10)
Replies: 11
Views: 1885

Teaching Kids Money Management (under age 10)

My wife and I have 4 kids (twin 1 babies, 4 yo and 6 yo). I'd like to start teaching our older daughters responsible money management. This is something I'd like to work on throughout childhood, teen years, etc. I have some ideas, but i would like to hear from others what has worked for them? I am sure there are some great ideas out there. I can't say my parents ever did anything specific, other than just being good parents, but my sister and I are both responsible with money (my younger brother is a tad different, I suppose). Some ideas I have include giving them 2 or 3 different piggy banks (decorated glass jars) for saving. 1 jar for spending and saving for 'wants', another jar for saving (long term saving). When they get money they can ...
by wingnutty
Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Target Retirement Fund or Build your own?
Replies: 32
Views: 5549

Re: Target Retirement Fund or Build your own?

I'm 33 and have gone back and forth on whether to leave our funds (distributed in his/hers Roth IRA's, 403b and 401K) in target retirement funds, or to separate them out into individual funds to match a TR fund at a slightly lower expense ratio. So far, every time, the simplicity of the TR funds have won out. We have ~200K invested at this point, so we could justify breaking them out, but the simplicity of set it and forget it is hard to beat.

So to answer your question, it depends. But if you don't have a lot invested, I would absolutely use TR funds until you build up at least 50K.
by wingnutty
Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance?
Replies: 38
Views: 5239

Re: Dental Insurance?

That stinks :( I have 2 kids with obviously different bacteria. The older one gets a lot of plaque in his mouth but no cavities and the younger one had 3 cavities at 3 years old! I hope she won't have to have crowns at 6! Have you heard of Zellies? I think I'm going to order some and start making sure that my daughter starts eating/chewing these again. Plus my daughter's personality is to be TERRIFIED of everything, so dentist visits are not easy. :shock: My advice would be to just really focus on the dental care at home, floss, brush for them, rinse with water after each meal/snack. I don't know, like I said, we're kinda in shock at the whole thing??? Another wise move might be to do xrays every 6 months instead of every 12 months, this w...
by wingnutty
Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance?
Replies: 38
Views: 5239

Re: Dental Insurance?

We had dental insurance and dropped it last year. We have 4 kids (2x9 month old twins, 4 yo, 6 yo). Went to the dentist last month, the 6 year old has cavities in ALL of her back molars! We were shocked! We take care of her teeth, dentist 2x/year, brush 2x/day, she doesn't drink pop, or much juice and doesn't eat much candy lots of fruits and veggies. Dentist said it is likely mouth bacteria. Poor kid is looking at 4 crowns and 4 fillings. Wish we had maintained dental insurance, as that would help lessen the financial blow :moneybag . Feel like horrible parents, but the dentist says sometimes it just happens with kids if they have the wrong bacteria. So now our 2x daily tooth routine has become a quasi-military drill: floss, dad brushes k...
by wingnutty
Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance?
Replies: 38
Views: 5239

Re: Dental Insurance?

We had dental insurance and dropped it last year. We have 4 kids (2x9 month old twins, 4 yo, 6 yo). Went to the dentist last month, the 6 year old has cavities in ALL of her back molars! We were shocked! We take care of her teeth, dentist 2x/year, brush 2x/day, she doesn't drink pop, or much juice and doesn't eat much candy lots of fruits and veggies. Dentist said it is likely mouth bacteria. Poor kid is looking at 4 crowns and 4 fillings. Wish we had maintained dental insurance, as that would help lessen the financial blow :moneybag . Feel like horrible parents, but the dentist says sometimes it just happens with kids if they have the wrong bacteria. So now our 2x daily tooth routine has become a quasi-military drill: floss, dad brushes ki...
by wingnutty
Wed Jan 01, 2014 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with non-retirement savings?
Replies: 13
Views: 2660

Re: What to do with non-retirement savings?

If your income is in range to allow Roth IRAs, one question is whether you're maxing the TSPs? If not, that's the first place to put more money. In today's uncertain environment, I'd want at least a year of liquid assets for emergencies, because no matter what your occupation, no job is really secure these days -- even gubbament workers and military. It doesn't have to be all in after-tax accounts though. You can withdraw contributions to Roth IRAs at any time with no tax or penalty. So once you have adequate cash on hand for short-term emergencies, you can put some of your Roth money in stable value funds to insure no loss of the principal. Once you have enough in the Roths that you'd have enough for a dire emergency even if the portfolio...
by wingnutty
Wed Jan 01, 2014 12:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with non-retirement savings?
Replies: 13
Views: 2660

Re: What to do with non-retirement savings?

Thanks sscritic, let me clarify:

We currently do own a home: mortgage = 225K @ 3.75%, 28 years left on mortgage. House value = ~$300K, no plans on moving and we plan on keeping said house for long-term time horizon
We do not have additional taxable retirement savings.
by wingnutty
Wed Jan 01, 2014 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with non-retirement savings?
Replies: 13
Views: 2660

What to do with non-retirement savings?

Just wondering what the general consensus is on what people do with taxable, non-retirement savings. Example, my wife and I (both 33 yrs old) fully fund Roth IRA's and put additional monies over the match into our 401k's, totaling ~20-25% of total combined income. Total retirement accounts as of now = ~$200,000. We have a fully-funded 6 mo. emergency acct that we keep in a 'high yielding' checking acct. We also have ~$25K that is in various stocks (5 total) in a taxable account. Some of these stocks were gifted, others I purchased in the past as "fun money", if you will. My ideas is basically to keep these monies outside of our retirement accounts and somewhat liquid in case of a major emergency, or life event, like above the need...
by wingnutty
Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it time for me to find a new job?
Replies: 33
Views: 5141

Re: Is it time for me to find a new job?

I work in govt and am a manager. I get your frustrations, totally understand where you are coming from. I think you need to look around a bit and see what else is out there. It sounds like it might be time for a new challenge.
by wingnutty
Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card Bonuses
Replies: 67
Views: 7686

Re: Credit Card Bonuses

We did the credit card rewards thing for a while before we got too busy with twin babies. We ended up selling some points to points2rewards or something like that and got a ~ $1.25/pt return on our points, worked well and was a pretty good deal. When we were spending some time finding/using reward cards we made something like $3,000 in the year, not bad for a minimal time investment.
by wingnutty
Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strategies
Replies: 7
Views: 1434

Re: Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strate

I appreciate the well thought out responses. I'll continue to do some more research before I make any major switch-ups, but Hoppy, your recommendations are excellent. I've enjoyed the "Completely lazy target retirement index" strategy so far, but it might just be time to make some minor tweaks . Why? My reasoning is because I am not currently invested in REITs and because my current International exposure is via the Vanguard TR funds (ok) and the TSP I Fund, which is limited. The reality is that I really have no burning desire to switch away from holding the TR funds in all accounts, but my concern is that I am limiting myself a little bit by not being diversified enough internationally and not in REIT's really at all. Also, if I...
by wingnutty
Mon Dec 30, 2013 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strategies
Replies: 7
Views: 1434

Re: Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strate

I appreciate the well thought out responses.

I'll continue to do some more research before I make any major switch-ups, but Hoppy, your recommendations are excellent. I've enjoyed the "Completely lazy target retirement index" strategy so far, but it might just be time to make some minor tweaks.
by wingnutty
Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strategies
Replies: 7
Views: 1434

Fed Employee; TSP vs Vanguard Roth IRA Allocation Strategies

I am a federal employee (GS11). My wife and I, both 33, have done well saving, given our income and the fact that we have 4 kids including twin babies. Right now we have ~50K each in Roth IRA's at Vanguard, I have ~90K in my traditional TSP and she has ~15K in her 401K at Fidelity. Historically, we have used target retirement funds and just held TR40 funds in all accounts. When we started investing, I just went this route to keep things simple until we had enough $ to start making it worth slicing and dicing. Well, now we have enough and I'm wondering if it is worth slicing and dicing, or if we should just continue to be lazy and stick with the TR funds? What do other folks do in our position? I don't mind going to the extra work to dissect...
by wingnutty
Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tractor for my 12 Acre Horse Farm
Replies: 28
Views: 15264

Re: Tractor for my 12 Acre Horse Farm

I don't have a lot to add in the tractor dept., but I would strongly suggest just buying hay vs purchasing additional heavy metal to put up hay. You'd need much more than 12 acres to be able to financially justify purchasing machinery.
by wingnutty
Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Co-Worker Gift Etiquette
Replies: 11
Views: 1675

Re: Co-Worker Gift Etiquette

goonie wrote:Any chance the gift was stolen and not paid for at all? Or even re-gifted?
uh wait, what?

We had an office white elephant christmas party one time. Everyone made gifts or purchased inexpensive items, but I bought an ipad in order to make everyone think I was really awesome and generous. It went over great, especially when someone else brought knitted oven mitts and my gift dominated the party. It was funny enough that someone should really make a tv show out of it. 8-)
by wingnutty
Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Just hit the million mark net worth today
Replies: 98
Views: 13490

Re: Just hit the million mark net worth today

Well done! Well done! Savor this, because you earned it. It's an important milestone in most of our lives and one that I someday hope to experience. Take some time and money and spend it on yourself and your family!
by wingnutty
Tue Oct 15, 2013 9:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: GOV shutdown affecting home purchase
Replies: 4
Views: 987

Re: GOV shutdown affecting home purchase

Sorry to hear about your situation. I"m also a Fed employee and although I'm not having any major difficulties (thanks to our emergency fund, etc.), a lot of my co-workers are in various difficult situations as well. One of my employees was in the process of transferring duty stations and with the shutdown everything is on hold...they have offers on their house, but are worried about accepting due to all the uncertainty.

I think ultimately this will mostly blow over and I guess I'd probably continue on-course, but I can only imagine how stressful the situation is when you have so much on the line.
by wingnutty
Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: squirrels
Replies: 25
Views: 3013

Re: squirrels

I saw on that show Shark Tank a buy making little electrified bird feeders to give squirrels a little shock, thought that was pretty funny. I'd probably go with a high powered pellet gun if you've tried other methods and those aren't working. A well placed pellet to the head would make short work of the squirrels. I actually hunted squirrels once, wanted to try squirrel. So I shot 3 squirrels and was going to clean them. Reached in my tackle box for a knife to clean the squirrels and stuck a big treble hook right into my finger next to the nail and it went in almost all the way through my finger...I couldn't push it the rest of the way through so went to the ER where they numbed my finger and then the nurse tried to push it through unsucces...
by wingnutty
Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Got fired earlier this week, now the boss wants me back
Replies: 123
Views: 20540

Re: Got fired earlier this week, now the boss wants me back

What others have said: get a signing bonus, or at the very least a pay increase and go back. I like the idea of a 3-month severance clause also. I'd be looking to go elsewhere while I continued working. No way I'd stay with this guy long term, but if I could get a bump in pay, or a nice one-time bonus, I'd consider going back for a while. He is obviously desperate if he called you back after firing you, so now the ball is in your court....make him pay :D
by wingnutty
Mon Aug 26, 2013 12:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choice Of Weapon For Personal Home Self Defense
Replies: 123
Views: 11680

Re: Choice Of Weapon For Personal Home Self Defense

We live in an area where police would not arrive for 5-20 minutes...I take my family's safety very seriously. I also hunt, so I have guns in the house. I have several 12 gauge shotguns handy, should the need arise. My children are young, but we teach them about gun safety very thoroughly. Guns are both tools and weapons and are NOT toys. The stats on the risk of having a weapon accidentally discharged by a family member vs. using it on an intruder are not accurate and depend on many, many individual factors. Not to mention, the risks of having to use it are decreased many fold simply because intruders are less likely to break into houses if there is a chance they may get shot. In my area, most intruders would think twice because the chance ...
by wingnutty
Mon Aug 12, 2013 6:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Friend likes stock-picking. How to change his mind?
Replies: 33
Views: 3002

Re: Friend likes stock-picking. How to change his mind?

It really isn't your job to convince him your way is better. Most all of us agree that indexing is the wisest choice, however, we are a minority when it comes to investors. I would discuss with him when brings it up, otherwise, I would leave it be. It really is none of your business. While we all hate to see friends and family throwing their hard-earned money down the drain, it is their money and often if pushed too hard it will wreck friendships and strain relationships.

Good luck and keep plodding along towards your own investment horizons. :beer
by wingnutty
Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you order your steak?
Replies: 76
Views: 7001

Re: How do you order your steak?

Most of the wild game we eat is usually rare to medium rare as well. Cooking any wild game (deer, elk, duck, goose, grouse, pheasant, antelope, sandhill crane, moose...) past medium rare makes it unpalatable. I need to hangout with you. So awesome to have so much exposure to different types of protein. I'm pretty sure my wife feels the opposite sometimes when we are eating duck and goose :twisted: We actually eat our ducks and geese a lot of different ways, but the best way is take the breast out, wrap it in bacon and throw it on the grill till it is medium rare, ummmm, you seriously can't tell the difference between a duck breast and a sirloin steak when it is done that way, (even my wife will attest to that). Sandhill crane is actually s...
by wingnutty
Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you order your steak?
Replies: 76
Views: 7001

Re: How do you order your steak?

I really like rare to medium rare. I feel more comfortable eating rare if I know the animal that it came from and the way in which the meat was handled.

Most of the wild game we eat is usually rare to medium rare as well. Cooking any wild game (deer, elk, duck, goose, grouse, pheasant, antelope, sandhill crane, moose...) past medium rare makes it unpalatable.

We usually buy a grassed finished hair-sheep (katahdin) each year as well and that is best medium rare. It's actually fantastic!
by wingnutty
Sat Aug 10, 2013 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Eating] Fish
Replies: 119
Views: 26516

Re: [Eating] Fish

jeffyscott wrote:Seems like everything eats poop, including dogs, which we don't eat, but...
Image
:mrgreen:

Hahaha, awesome, thanks for the laugh! :D
by wingnutty
Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Eating] Fish
Replies: 119
Views: 26516

Re: [Eating] Fish

DonM17 wrote:For those who love eating tilapia, it might be worthwhile to read this article: Tilapia raised on feces hits US tables

http://money.msn.com/now/post--tilapia- ... -us-tables

From what I have heard it is the same with shrimp raised in Asia. I always think twice before I eat shrimp now and certainly try not to eat it too often in restaurants. If I buy shrimp in the store its usually ocean caught, although that brings its own set of ecological consequences.
by wingnutty
Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Eating] Fish
Replies: 119
Views: 26516

Re: [Eating] Fish

I'm not a fan of fish, but fish a lot :? My wife and kids like fish, so when i have time to fish we eat it pretty often. Usually landlocked salmon (kokanee), perch, walleye, lake whitefish, lake trout. I get mad when she buys fish since I can usually catch whatever we want. But we do eat tuna and since I live a ways from the coast, we buy wild caught pacific salmon once in a while. Often I can get free salmon from friends/family that fish in Alaska and the Pacific NW.

I smoke a lot of the little inland salmon that I catch, as well as the whitefish. Smoked salmon and whitefish is outstanding.
by wingnutty
Fri Aug 09, 2013 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Opinion on taking 2yr break from substantive retirement inv?
Replies: 48
Views: 7588

Re: Opinion on taking 2yr break from substantive retirement

Wow, feels good to know I'm not the only one in this position! LOL! :sharebeer My wife and I are 32 and 33 and have 4 kids (5 month old twins, 4 yo, 6 yo). Retirement savings thus far ~175K. Daycare is a killer! My wife also works 3 days/week. We live in Montana so our housing costs and incomes differ a bit, but we probably even out pretty closely when you factor everything in. It's tough right now. We cut back our 401K's to just above match and 'try' to max out our roths, but I"m not sure that is going to consistently happen every year. I can't even think about college yet :shock: and there is no way we can pay for 4 yrs for 4 kids, so I stress about that. About the only thing folks like us can do is stick to a reasonable budget and t...
by wingnutty
Tue Aug 06, 2013 8:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: casper wyoming
Replies: 27
Views: 3814

Re: casper wyoming

+1 on checking the forums at city-data.com - reading the local newspapers online probably very helpful General cautionary note about moving to small communities. I'd give some serious thought to what you and your family will do if this job doesn't work out and/or you want to change jobs again some day. And whether your kids (now or future) will thrive growing up there. The whole state of Wyoming has lower population than many metro areas of Florida. Having grown up in a small community in Montana and having lived in numerous small communities in MT and Idaho, my take is about a 180. My wife is from Chicago, she wouldn't leave our small community to move back for anything. Living in a small community provides a ton of benefits that a bigger...
by wingnutty
Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Photos of my bike tour from Missoula, MT to Japser, AB
Replies: 46
Views: 5046

Re: Photos of my bike tour from Missoula, MT to Japser, AB

Very nice! You rode right through my backyard 8-) , but you just missed my town...I live in Polson, MT, along Flathead Lake about 60 miles south of Whitefish.
by wingnutty
Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Transition Question
Replies: 10
Views: 1775

Re: Career Transition Question

It seems like you are giving up a position with uniquely valuable skill set -- legislative, public affairs, communications skills -- and trading it for a position that anyone can do with a high school degree and good personality. I would look for a position that will better leverage your skill set, perhaps in public affairs, corporate communications, journalism, etc. I think Outer Marker's post might be worth some serious consideration. Are you sure the insurance thing is something you really want to do and that it will provide you the 'happiness and fulfillment factor' that you seem to seek? You do have a unique skill set and are probably in a position to meet a lot of people and be exposed to a lot of different opportunities. If the insu...
by wingnutty
Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Term life question
Replies: 19
Views: 2924

Re: Term life question

Stupid question: When I search termlife, the nearest agent is 3 hrs away from me (I'm in Montana)...is there other ways to find agents that carry these companies?
by wingnutty
Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll: At what age did you hit $500k Net Worth
Replies: 68
Views: 36377

Re: Poll: At what age did you hit $500k Net Worth

We're 33 and aren't there yet, hopefully in 2-4 years, depending on market conditions, etc. There really is a large range of factors that come into play with any of these types of comparisons. The arrival of our twins this spring, in addition to our other two kids will really decrease future savings %, there is just no way around that. But that is ok. In the end, the amount needed in retirement and also the amount saved is very individualized and trying to compare one's self to others is really quite unrealistic. Heck, some folks on here make more in one year than I do in a decade :sharebeer ! The key is to set achievable savings goals and stick to them through thick and thin and not let success or failure of others detract from your specif...
by wingnutty
Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Building new house - central vacuum worth it?
Replies: 52
Views: 23396

Re: Building new house - central vacuum worth it?

We moved into a house that has central vac. We don't really care for it and don't really use it at all. I would never spend money to put it in. We have a dyson and it is just easier to move that from room to room than it is the central vac hose. With the quality of today's vacuums, I just don't see the need for central vac. I mean, you still have to haul around vac hose, so I fail to see how there is a reduction in time and hassle, plus, I think it is actually more of a pain to lug the vacuum hose around than it is to roll the dyson around.
by wingnutty
Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: first time home buyer- warning bells?
Replies: 23
Views: 3325

Re: first time home buyer- warning bells?

It kinda depends how handy you are. If you are very handy and this is a screaming deal, then maybe. If you are not handy, the walk away and don't look back. This house could very well be a pit and you need to be able to handle some basic repairs if it is. I agree with TRC, if this is an insanely cheap deal, then maybe it is worth considering, but even then, don't take it on if you can't deal with most of the potential problems by yourself. The water leakage would concern me greatly. It could be a simple issue, or it could be a major issue, you just don't know until you do some hardcore investigating...a home inspection isn't gonna find this issue. Don't rely on a home inspection to tell you much. I've bought 3 houses and built 1 in the past...
by wingnutty
Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Hit a financial milestone today
Replies: 26
Views: 4099

Re: Hit a financial milestone today

Great job! Now keep it up! I'm 32, and was about where you were when I was 28, now we're sitting at ~170K between Roth IRA's and our 401Ks. Just keep churning money into them and before long you'll pass the 100K milestone and then it is on to 250K, 500K, 1m....

But really, you gotta celebrate these milestones, they can really keep you going when things get tough :beer
by wingnutty
Sun Jul 21, 2013 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What risks did you choose to take?
Replies: 18
Views: 2551

Re: What risks did you choose to take?

double post, sorry
by wingnutty
Sun Jul 21, 2013 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What risks did you choose to take?
Replies: 18
Views: 2551

Re: What risks did you choose to take?

I think the biggest risk I've taken is to stick my neck out to support/protect an employee of mine when I knew she was correct and HR and the lead supervisor didn't believe or and/or accused her of lying. I could have ducked the issue and she would have probably been fired, but I couldn't do that, I would never do that. The risk(s) I took put my career on the line and made things very uncomfortable for me. I have since moved on from that position, but still work for the same company with the same bosses. I still fear that someday the issue will come back to haunt me as there is a very vindictive person at the center of the issue and that person is still in a position of power, but I wouldn't do anything different if it happened again.
by wingnutty
Sun Jul 21, 2013 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Road trip: Chicago to Yellowstone
Replies: 27
Views: 7848

Re: Road trip: Chicago to Yellowstone

I'm from Montana and can give you some pointers in this beautiful state. Here is a cool route you could take on your way home and see a lot of cool stuff: Day 1: Leave from West Yellowstone on Hwy 287, drive through the Madison Valley (beautiful), to the cute town of Ennis. Take Hwy 287 West out of Ennis to the old gold mining town of Virginia City (cool town with old boardwalk/buildings). Head to Dillon (30 miles), then take Hwy 278 NW out of Dillon through the Bighole Valley. Beautiful, isolated valley with cattle ranches. Turn west on Hwy 43, stop at the Bighold Battlefield where Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce was attacked by US forces as his band tried to make their way from Idaho to Canada while evading US forces. Continue on 43 and tur...
by wingnutty
Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:13 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Sad news - Pat Larimore]
Replies: 225
Views: 26836

Re: [Sad news - Pat Larimore]

I'm so sorry Taylor. She obviously made the world a better place. She will be missed by many. God bless.
by wingnutty
Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gardening, the new year
Replies: 90
Views: 14061

Re: Gardening, the new year

I'm jealous of some of you who are already picking veggies. All we've got so far is radishes and lettuce. Our springs are just so much later up here.

But, we are picking our strawberries now, ummmmm. The raspberries are a few weeks out and the blackberries are blooming. The blueberries are starting to get some color and the garden is finally growing with our warmer temps. All my fruit trees that I planted this year (peaches, nectarines, apples, apricot, cherry, pears) are doing well.

I'm building a nice wash station in the garden with a stainless steel sink so that we can wash all the veggies and fruits before bringing them indoors.
by wingnutty
Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Returns as of June, 2013
Replies: 10
Views: 2134

Re: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Returns as of June, 2013

Very cool. Thank you for taking the time and for sharing! I may share this with some co-workers as well.

Much appreciated.
by wingnutty
Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Poll] What's Your Current Mode of Camping?
Replies: 93
Views: 12262

Re: [Poll] What's Your Current Mode of Camping?

We have a tent trailer, but haven't been able to use it this year because we had twins this spring. Camping with a 4 and 6 yo is hard enough, but with twins babies it just takes the fun out of it :shock:

I did promise the girls that we would set up the tent in the backyard tonight and then go fishing in the morning though so that is about as close as I can come in the near-term to getting out and going camping.
by wingnutty
Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is "buying organic" food worth it?
Replies: 89
Views: 8698

Re: Is "buying organic" food worth it?

Would you trust "organic" label on "Made in Mexico" or "Made in Chile" apples / grapes / etc.? No. I would not really trust them. Like I said before, there are good organic producers and there are bad. Organic certainly doesn't always equate to 'better', of that I can guarantee you. If I were to religiously buy organic, it would be from local producers who I know are conscientious and good land stewards, otherwise, you really don't know what you are buying and it may or may not be a better product. I've been in a lot of large operations where I would feel very safe eating crops right out of the field without washing, I've also been on organic operations where I wouldn't do the same. There are just so many plac...
by wingnutty
Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is "buying organic" food worth it?
Replies: 89
Views: 8698

Re: Is "buying organic" food worth it?

I work with organic and non-organic agricultural operations every day, I see a lot and have a lot of 1st hand experience. I think that for some crops, as Raybo mentioned, it is worth it. Is it a marketing ploy? Well, that is up to opinion. In some cases, yes, in others, no. It all boils down to how good the operator is. There are good organic operators and bad, there are good conventional operators and bad. Unfortunately, the consumer has no idea who the operator was. It is my opinion based on experience, that there are a lot of conventional operations out there that are every bit as healhy and safe as the best organic operations. And, I think as a whole our food is extremely safe. In fact, as a reflection through history, the safeness of o...
by wingnutty
Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Giving Bogleheads book as gifts
Replies: 4
Views: 752

Giving Bogleheads book as gifts

So I've got a question for everyone. What are your thoughts on giving The Bogleheads Guide to Investing as a gift for say graduations, weddings, life events, etc.? I don't want to come off as pushy or give people the idea that I am prying into their lives as investing can be so personal, but I also want to try and respectfully share the Boglehead philosophy with others, especially when they are young and just starting out after a major life event such as a high school or college graduation or a wedding. Does giving the bogleheads book, as part of a gift come off too strong-handed and pushy? Thoughts? I really don't want to offend folks, but I also really value the fact that I found the bogleheads at a relatively young age (22 years old).
by wingnutty
Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: career advice: gov vs. private vs. non-profit (Env. Science)
Replies: 13
Views: 2452

Re: career advice: gov vs. private vs. non-profit (Env. Scie

There are pluses and minuses all around.

One thing you'll want to think very hard about is if you want to be regulatory or non-regulatory. I work in natural resources and I am non-regulatory, I get to work with folks on a voluntary basis. You couldn't pay me enough to be in a regulatory field.

If you want more info, you can PM me, but I work for a gov't agency and generally find my work very rewarding. I get to work with a lot of different people and provide guidance and advice on a litany of natural resource issues. I wouldn't want to do anything else.

I know a lot of folks who work for the state, non-profits, other federal agencies, etc. All seem happy, but I'm in the right place for me.
by wingnutty
Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Full Time RVer - Mail and Internet
Replies: 53
Views: 7800

Re: Full Time RVer - Mail and Internet

Wow, congrats! Living the dream. I sincerely hope you enjoy this new and well-earned adventure.

I've got no tips or ideas other than HAVE FUN :sharebeer