Search found 72 matches

by zagyzebra
Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ants ... should we keep going or change tactics
Replies: 36
Views: 2895

Re: Ants ... should we keep going or change tactics

I had what I thought was a flea problem this past summer (it turned out to be a new vicious breed of mosquito in SoCal). I set off flea bombs in my kitchen and living room in an attempt to get rid of them. The mosquitoes came back but by golly the ants left and haven't returned, now 8 months later.
by zagyzebra
Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How does health insurance/Medicaid work for self-employed?
Replies: 5
Views: 944

Re: How does health insurance/Medicaid work for self-employed?

Nalor, this is very valuable info for California residents. Thank you for posting it! I personally have had a difficult time as a Medi-Cal recipient (am grateful to be earning too much money now to qualify again). For me, the one year I was on it, they dumped me into LA Care, which had the lowest rated doctors imaginable. Kaiser was not even offered as an option. You are probably right -- they don't ask about savings accounts. Thank you for correcting me on this. They definitely ask how much you have in your checking account, though!
by zagyzebra
Sun Mar 11, 2018 1:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How does health insurance/Medicaid work for self-employed?
Replies: 5
Views: 944

Re: How does health insurance/Medicaid work for self-employed?

Yes, I think so, but you have to earn less than $13,500/year to qualify. Also, they ask about savings. I went from earning money to a long period of unemployment. It was at the end of this period that I needed Medi-Cal. That said, I would never want to tap Medi-Cal for anything other than emergency medical treatment in ER rooms. The regular doctors are bottom of the barrel.
by zagyzebra
Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: wisdom of buying a car about to be discontinued
Replies: 17
Views: 3670

Re: wisdom of buying a car about to be discontinued

In the end, I decided against the C-Max because, after three test drives, I found the turning radius to be overly constrictive. Living in the heart of the LA, I need to get in and out of tight spots quickly and easily. Wanting a hatchback, I opted for the new Honda Civic Hatchback. I got an excellent deal on a spotless 2017 fully loaded turbo EXL with 7000 miles in mint condition. It was salvage, but we requested pictures of the damage and saw all the repair receipts before buying. We could sense the seller who did the repairs has a lot of integrity in his work, and we wanted to support him and his family, honestly. Paid $12,500, negotiated $1000 off his asking price. I relied a great deal on all the valuable information here to assist me i...
by zagyzebra
Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need to shop insurance: curious what you have?
Replies: 22
Views: 3300

Re: Need to shop insurance: curious what you have?

State Farm. State Farm awarded me the full amount I was insured for when my house suffered a fire (not a wildfire, but a house fire caused by my tenant's negligence with candles). As for wildfires, State Farm is still honoring fire insurance in my high-risk area in California. We also have Farmers for our other property in Oregon. We filed a small claim with them last year and they were easy to work with. But for large complex claims on more valuable properties, I would never switch from State Farm (except to perhaps Chubb). When I was shopping lawyers to help me navigate the second half of my claim against the tenant and her insurers, I was frequently told you get what you pay for and that they had heard good things about State Farm from t...
by zagyzebra
Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: wisdom of buying a car about to be discontinued
Replies: 17
Views: 3670

wisdom of buying a car about to be discontinued

Got my old reliable Honda CRV stolen last week and need to buy a car. From Bogleheads, I learned about the Ford C-Max Energy. We found a 2013 with 35,000 miles for $11,500. However, we have just learned that, as Ford's worst selling car, they were recently discontinued. My partner insists the resale value will tank (even more than it already has), and that I will have a hard time selling it a few years down the road. Might this perhaps present us with a better negotiating opportunity? The question is, how much is a better deal? According to Green Car Reports, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Prius C and Chevy Volt rank highest for hybrid and EV resale value. The major disappointments with the C-Max Energi is that their real mpg is much less t...
by zagyzebra
Tue Dec 26, 2017 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Liability Car Insurance Only?
Replies: 10
Views: 1550

Re: Liability Car Insurance Only?

I was driving a 2001 Honda CRV with 145,000. Up until last week. It was the car that wouldn't die and that all my friends made fun of. But I loved it, and couldn't seem to be bothered by buying a new car. And then last week it was stolen from the street in front of my sister's house. Coincidentally, we had just switched insurance carriers and, against logic, kept full coverage on it. Man am I glad we decided to do that now. Because what I collect from the insurance company will be a down payment on my future new car.
by zagyzebra
Mon May 02, 2016 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to get best deals on hotels
Replies: 10
Views: 1865

Re: How to get best deals on hotels

Get superior and more interesting accommodations for 25% cheaper than hotels on Airbnb.
by zagyzebra
Wed Apr 27, 2016 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pea gravel as paver patio alternative
Replies: 28
Views: 8663

Re: Pea gravel as paver patio alternative

Here's another thought. How about large flat slabs of stone infilled with pea gravel? That's what we did for a hugely wide walkway that traverses the side of our house, and it works perfectly. The slabs more or less keep the pea gravel in place, and the contrast between the yellowish stones and dark pea gravel looks fantastic. The only thing you need to do is the stone lay out, and dig the earth to wedge the stones in place and fill in between with the gravel. As for weed barrier, it depends on where you live. I'm in So Cal, and yes weeds come through, but not many nor enough to cause much of a problem. Obviously no weeds are going through the large stone slabs. But here, the cost of pea gravel and stones aren't so cheap. Plus there's deliv...
by zagyzebra
Sat Apr 02, 2016 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar City Sales-pitch
Replies: 50
Views: 12959

Re: Solar City Sales-pitch

vested1 wrote:In my area there are very few homes with AC because it's simply not needed. On the few days a year where the temperature nears triple digits a fan is all that's required. The average temperature is in the low 60's all year long. One or two days of frost, if that. No snow, no damaging hail, very little lightning.

Honestly I can't see how a solar company can make much money in our area because the electrical bills are so low. Maybe that's why they're going door to door.
But, wait, what about global warming?

Also, another factor: how many shade trees you have around your property. But then, I guess you have to choose: being cooled by beautiful shade trees or solar panels.
by zagyzebra
Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar City Sales-pitch
Replies: 50
Views: 12959

Re: Solar City Sales-pitch

If you live in an area where you need heat most of the winter and AC most of the summer, then yes, I think solar would provide a considerable savings. I suppose it all boils down to how temperate your climate is and how well insulated your house is.
by zagyzebra
Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar City Sales-pitch
Replies: 50
Views: 12959

Re: Solar City Sales-pitch

Honestly, until they can improve technology to the point where these solar panels are not so large and intrusive, I don't see a lot of homeowners with 2,000-ish sf homes wanting to cover their roofs in them. I mean, if you paid a lot for an attractive stone, slate or tile roof, how appealing is it to cover it up with ugly solar panels for the meager monthly savings in energy costs -- especially in mild California locations?
by zagyzebra
Thu Mar 10, 2016 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge
Replies: 67
Views: 7739

Re: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge

$7500-$8000/month, am I reading that correctly? According to Zillow there is exactly one home for rent in my entire state more than that, and it 7k sq. ft and located at a world famous ski resort. Similar houses are for sale for over $3m. Someone bought at the right time. Two words: Los Angeles And I did buy at the right time, about 24 years ago to be precise. I'm a firm believer in hanging onto property as long as it appreciates in value over the long run, and it can be rented for a profit. I also have a house in Oregon with a monthly nut of about $1000, and we generate $3150 from that one. Well, actually, they're three little houses on one sweet semi-rural property. It's all about finding the right deal and being able to envision how it ...
by zagyzebra
Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge
Replies: 67
Views: 7739

Re: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge

Keeping a big house does make sense if you either 1) want to live in it or 2) can rent it for a sizable profit. In my case, my mortgage on my big house is $1300/mo. Include prop taxes, homeowners and maintenance, let's round it off to $2500/month (and that's pretty generous). The minimum rent I can command is $7500-8000/month. Therefore, I'm pocketing $5000 a month. And, the big house is still appreciating in value.
by zagyzebra
Wed Mar 09, 2016 3:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge
Replies: 67
Views: 7739

Re: Keeping a Big House as an Inflation Hedge

I road out the recession with a high-end home that I no longer lived in. Sat on it for months as I kept ratcheting down the rent until I finally reached the sweet spot: 25% less than the previous tenant. That was a bitter pill to swallow at the time. But lo and behold, the housing market rebounded in spades and now the same house is worth probably 25-30% more now than it was during the recession. So I say yes, it depends on whether you can afford to hold onto it. I would say the other factor depends on where your house is located. If it is in a fairly stable housing market, then I personally feel that physical property beats out other kinds of investments because it has the potential to generate substantial income while at the same time app...
by zagyzebra
Sun Jan 24, 2016 6:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Netflix increasing prices. Will you keep it?
Replies: 73
Views: 13858

Re: Netflix increasing prices. Will you keep it?

Cancel over a $2 increase? Nah. Just last night I watched a 90-minute Part 1 of a 4-part entertaining Chelsea Handler documentary series. To me, original specials like these help justify the price increase.
by zagyzebra
Thu Dec 17, 2015 6:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coffee maker
Replies: 38
Views: 6083

Re: Coffee maker

Stainless steel French press.
by zagyzebra
Mon Dec 14, 2015 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bose SoundTouch 10 vs Sonos Play:1
Replies: 26
Views: 6095

Re: Bose SoundTouch 10 vs Sonos Play:1

As DSInvestor pointed out, Sonos cannot play Youtube, which in my opinion, is a huge drawback. There may be some sort of work around for this, but I don't know what it is.
by zagyzebra
Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Financial and investment education for 11yr old
Replies: 8
Views: 1321

Re: Financial and investment education for 11yr old

You can choose whatever approach to attempt to teach them about financial responsibility. In all honesty, however, until they are forced to live on a fixed income budget, and begin earning their own money, the lessons won't make much sense to them.
by zagyzebra
Wed Nov 11, 2015 9:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much car can we afford?
Replies: 29
Views: 3549

Re: How much car can we afford?

Ninnie: I assume the $10,000 monthly expenses includes the rent and investments? Because otherwise it's crazy high.

Really? For two people?
by zagyzebra
Tue Oct 27, 2015 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?
Replies: 20
Views: 4553

Re: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?

Retirement is in the eyes of the beholder. To me, raising a child without having to work was retired. It was a walk in the park compared to the 10-year stint of building and running my own agency, and the previous 10-year commitment of working for other people. When you come to the point where you don't have to work for a check, you're retired -- that's my pov. I think retirement translates into different things for different people. Some people prefer to continue working part-time, or volunteering for a passionate cause, or achieving their dreams that they couldn't do when they were working full-time. Other people consider it leisurely mornings, matinees and day time naps. Since I have always been the breadwinner, and my partner has never...
by zagyzebra
Tue Oct 27, 2015 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?
Replies: 20
Views: 4553

Re: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?

Retirement is in the eyes of the beholder. To me, raising a child without having to work was retired. It was a walk in the park compared to the 10-year stint of building and running my own agency, and the previous 10-year commitment of working for other people. When you come to the point where you don't have to work for a check, you're retired -- that's my pov. I think retirement translates into different things for different people. Some people prefer to continue working part-time, or volunteering for a passionate cause, or achieving their dreams that they couldn't do when they were working full-time. Other people consider it leisurely mornings, matinees and day time naps.
by zagyzebra
Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?
Replies: 20
Views: 4553

Re: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years latter?

zagyzebra wrote: I retired at the age of 41 in order to get out of the rat race and concentrate on raising my toddler child. We downscaled. Bought a farm in Oregon, far from the big city. Did farm things, relaxed easy life. Acquired pets and animals. Relished being a full-time mom, chief chef and caretaker of animals. Got lots of exercise. Didn't get to travel as much, though, because of my school-age child. Then, at around age 52 or so, right at the beginning of the recession, I started to get the itch to work again -- both out of financial necessity, but also the feeling that I wanted to grow an enterprise again. I dabbed into one thing and another, but never quite found a fit. Then, something happened that literally catapulted me back i...
by zagyzebra
Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years later?
Replies: 20
Views: 4553

Re: Typical Retirement Day, 5 years latter?

I retired at the age of 41 in order to get out of the rat race and concentrate on raising my toddler child. We downscaled. Bought a farm in Oregon, far from the big city. Did farm things, relaxed easy life. Acquired pets and animals. Relished being a full-time mom, chief chef and caretaker of animals. Got lots of exercise. Didn't get to travel as much, though, because of my school-age child. Then, at around age 52 or so, right at the beginning of the recession, I started to get the itch to work again -- both out of financial necessity, but also the feeling that I wanted to grow an enterprise again. I dabbed into one thing and another, but never quite found a fit. Then, something happened that literally catapulted me back into more than a fu...
by zagyzebra
Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microwave Recommendations?
Replies: 17
Views: 2416

Re: Microwave Recommendations?

I recommend you direct this question to the appropriate Houzz (previously GardenWeb) forum, where there is a suitable and knowledgeable audience that addresses these types of questions on a daily basis.
by zagyzebra
Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: LED's for recessed ceiling lights
Replies: 15
Views: 2320

Re: LED's for recessed ceiling lights

Funny, my electrician is here today changing from recessed LEDs to recessed incandescents. Fingers crossed they will produce enough light to read under. It seems everyone hates the LEDs, and, on top of that, I have learned that they are bad to read under just before going to sleep at night…has something to do with the kind of light they produce and how it affects your eyes. LEDs will be great for doing any kind of detailed work, though. As for the flickering, I too have that problem, which we are addressing today. In my case, I have four LED interior uplights that consistently flicker. We're trying an LED dimmable switch today, plus a new transformer that will handle LEDs. If you don't care about whether the lights are dimmable, put them on...
by zagyzebra
Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell or Rent House After Moving
Replies: 5
Views: 622

Re: Sell or Rent House After Moving

Don't forget to factor in an increase in insurance. The rates go up from homeowner's insurance to landlord insurance.
by zagyzebra
Tue Sep 15, 2015 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: food allowance $ for child in college
Replies: 44
Views: 9072

Re: food allowance $ for child in college

I pay for my son's apartment while he is in college and give him $100 a week allowance, which he can use for whatever he needs, including food. If he goes over $100, and needs more money, he has to earn it. He comes home every weekend to pick up his $100. I could pay him a lump sum in advance, but I prefer not to.
by zagyzebra
Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066367

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

"Wolves of Wall Street," strictly for the decadently exuberant fun ride. Great film.
by zagyzebra
Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 51
Views: 19025

Re: Enough is enough

I decided enough was enough when I was 41 years old and came home to my baby every night exhausted. We hatched a plan to rent out the house and travel the world with child in tow. I guess at the time I thought I would return to my previous working life, except I never did. Instead, we decided to downscale when we settled down, and rented out the pricey urban property and bought a rural farm with two houses on it and added a third. Over the years, we have exhausted more of my retirement savings than I would like. On the other hand, pricey property just keeps getting pricier and pricier, and this offsets other monetary losses. I guess you could say I have faith in landing on my feet and definitely value quality of life over monetary security ...
by zagyzebra
Sun Jun 07, 2015 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my math wrong? When to buy a house
Replies: 11
Views: 2170

Re: Is my math wrong? When to buy a house

I think you have to consider your location. Are you in an urban market where there is marked increase of annual rents? If so, you may find that in the long run (maybe 10 years more or less, depending on whether you are paying down your principal), for the same amount of monthly outlay you will get much more home for your money by owning your own home than you would if you were you renting.
by zagyzebra
Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [new position, facing an] hour commute (each way)
Replies: 52
Views: 14188

Re: does anyone have an hour commute (each way?)

The level of dissatisfaction/satisfaction experienced is relative to the quality of the drive. If it is constant stop and go in a place with little scenery, then I can understand why a commute drives people batty. But it it's a lovely, scenic commute, then 50 minutes whizzes by.
by zagyzebra
Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does an AirBnB guesthouse make sense?
Replies: 19
Views: 3420

Re: Does an AirBnB guesthouse make sense?

I lucked into a property that had two houses (one tax bill, two separate addresses). I will say that we didn't go looking for this property. We stumbled onto it. Had we been looking for it, I doubt we would have ever found it because it wasn't in the neighborhood we had wanted. But we were wowed by the view and the privacy this location offered. Plus, the houses were old and in need of fixing but sweet. More like cottages than houses. Only after we moved in did we begin to appreciate how we could maximize our investment. One of the houses was oddly long. So we decided to convert the attached garage into a living space and divided the house into two different units. On top of one of the units was a separate room, which my significant other c...
by zagyzebra
Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone ever use a closet design company?
Replies: 22
Views: 12132

Re: Anyone ever use a closet design company?

My advice, since I just installed two wardrobe closets this year, would be to use a finish carpenter if you want customization. BUT, make sure to first hire someone experienced in drawing up plans for kitchen/closet/cabinets. Work out the rough details with that individual and then hand the plans with precise measurements to your carpenter. This will eliminate misunderstandings, screw- ups and mistakes. It is worth paying the extra money to take this extra step. Because the mistakes will be a lot more costly in the long run than having a plan drawn up in the first place.
by zagyzebra
Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: POLL: My home is worth less/more in 2014 than in 2007?
Replies: 97
Views: 11813

Re: POLL: My home is worth less/more in 2014 than in 2007?

Prices of both rent and home sales are sky high in Southern California in desirable locations. I can understand why. I am in the process of restoring a home, and the cost of construction is crazy high. To turn a profit on a piece of real estate, prices of housing need to be steep. The cost of living is so high that the cost of housing has followed suit.
by zagyzebra
Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice wanted on first computer purchase since 1982!
Replies: 107
Views: 13928

Re: Advice wanted on first computer purchase since 1982!

I walk around with my 17" MacBook Pro all the time, and don't find it to be too heavy. But I mostly use my laptop at home, and my ipad mini at work. If I were planning on lugging my laptop back and forth to work, I'd definitely invest in a macbook air.
by zagyzebra
Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone regret paying off mortgage early?
Replies: 2483
Views: 291417

Re: Anyone regret paying off mortgage early?

I agree with Tom T. One size does not fit all. This is an interesting question and I recently faced paying off my mortgage. Ultimately I decided to stay the course in case I needed that money as a down payment for another property. I made this decision after discussing it with my contractor consultant, who said he regretted paying off his home for this very reason. He said he assumed he would be able to draw loans against his property (ocean view Santa Barbara), but as a retired contractor, he was unable to.
by zagyzebra
Mon Jun 16, 2014 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: car repair ordeal
Replies: 21
Views: 3522

Re: car repair ordeal

In addition to the other useful suggestions, please take time to write up your ordeal on Yelp. For the sake of others who might be considering taking their cars here in the future. Bad Yelp reviews impact businesses negatively.
by zagyzebra
Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water conservation
Replies: 44
Views: 4810

Re: Water conservation

This is a timely question. My house is under construction in Southern California and I have been pondering what is the lesser of two evils (from a water efficiency perspective): a pool or a lawn. After reading a few suggestions here for grasses that use less water, I think the answer may be grass. Certainly less costly to install. I've got a big flat patch that is wonderful for kicking around a soccer ball, throwing a frisbee for the dog, or exercising. Or it could be a pool. Alhough I have reservations about a pool. I think a lot of people with pools just look at them, rather than use them.
by zagyzebra
Sat Oct 26, 2013 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads' "Rags to Riches" Stories
Replies: 110
Views: 23491

Re: Bogleheads' "Rags to Riches" Stories

In what I thought at the time was a tragic twist of fate, I was forced to drop out of college. An automobile accident in the summer between graduate and undergraduate school left my writing hand immobilized in a cast from the fingertips to above the elbow. It was all the energy I could muster just to get back and forth to my classes. When it became unbearable, I faced facts and dropped my courses before it became too late to get financial credit. I had every intention of undergoing three subsequent surgeries and re-entering grad school a year later. As luck would have it, my former boss at a company I worked at on a part-time basis as an undergrad called to see what I was up to and offered me a full-time job. I took the job and never did go...
by zagyzebra
Sat Oct 26, 2013 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inherited House w/ Mortgage. Rental Property?
Replies: 66
Views: 9131

Re: Inherited House w/ Mortgage. Rental Property?

I second thanking you for the link to that post!
by zagyzebra
Sat Oct 26, 2013 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Inherited House w/ Mortgage. Rental Property?
Replies: 66
Views: 9131

Re: Inherited House w/ Mortgage. Rental Property?

Once you pay your annual property taxes and homeowners insurance, you will probably be left with around 5% annual return -- maybe. And if there are maintenance issues, unexpected large repairs, or vacancies -- even less. Good dividend producing stocks could perform almost, if not equally as well. Real estate and stocks go up and down. Rents go up marginally. It might be too much trouble for the return. That said, I do consider real estate to be my most solid investment and worth the headaches over the long haul. If the rent you earn could be used to pay off the mortgage, in the long run -- and after school when you are earning money -- you will be able to refinance it. Paying down the mortgage in combination with refinancing will earn you a...
by zagyzebra
Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 9540

Re: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences

Since there have been posters sounding the alarm on the potentially dire consequences of waiting to have a child past the age of 31, I will offer my counter view. I did not start my business until I was 31, my success arced when I was 36, I got pregnant on my 40th birthday, and retired at the age of 41. It was during those prime earning years in the decade of my 30s that I made enough money to then comfortably make a choice whether to become a SAHM or continue working when I finally did become pregnant. I chose the former and do not regret that decision. Therefore, from my point of view, while there are certainly risks with waiting to have your first child, if you play your cards right there are also HUGE potential financial advantages. In ...
by zagyzebra
Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences
Replies: 95
Views: 9540

Re: Want to have kids, scared of the financial consequences

I SO FEEL FOR YOU. It was this exact conundrum that made me jettison my 10-year-old agency, and downscale by leaving Los Angeles for Oregon. In my case, having a child and experiencing the overwhelming guilt I had coming home at 6:30 or 7 and having just 30 minutes with my baby before he fell asleep was enough motivation to cause me to force my family through some serious lifestyle changes. I personally couldn't do both: work and raise a child. Seeing that grumpy nanny's face at the end of a busy work day made me question why I chose to have a child in the first place. All the successful professional couples with kids I know have nannies, unless one of the parents opted out of the workforce to raise the kids. So my advice to you is choose y...
by zagyzebra
Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How many square feet is your home?
Replies: 162
Views: 17816

Re: How many square feet is your home?

I think the feel of an expansive home is a lot more important than sq ftg, such as ceiling height and and open flow. Currently I am renting while my own home (1500 sq ft, 3 br/2 ba) is being rehabbed. Next to my rental is a two-story monster. I'd say less than 15% of that house is occupied most of the time (judging from the lights on at night), while all 900 sq ft of my rental is utilized fully.
by zagyzebra
Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do we still need to own a home?
Replies: 34
Views: 5198

Re: Do we still need to own a home?

I am a long-term homeowner and landlord who, due to circumstances, is now renting. In the next couple of years, I too shall be faced with the question: to buy or to rent? In addition to the financial questions involved, there is the issue of ageism. Do I want to be renting from someone as I get older in life, or would I rather own my home, where I am the one in control of my own little piece of earth? I like the idea of being able to move around, now that my son will finally graduate high school, and sample different places in the world I'd like to live. But then I wonder, will my age prevent me from getting the places I want to rent? I realize that age discrimination is illegal, but it still exists I suspect. In highly desirable neighborho...
by zagyzebra
Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yahoo email account hacked today...
Replies: 30
Views: 5462

Re: Yahoo email account hacked today...

I have Outlook (formerly msn, aka hotmail). I was once hacked, but it was easy to fix. I just changed my password. On the other hand, my partner's Yahoo account was hacked and, despite changing his password, he continued to have problems. He decided to switch to Gmail.
by zagyzebra
Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boost Mobile/Straight Talk....opinions
Replies: 31
Views: 10817

Re: Boost Mobile/Straight Talk....opinions

Count me as another happy Page Plus customer. With the service's excellent monthly rates and call coverage through Verizon's towers, I wouldn't change it up for another plan at this point.
by zagyzebra
Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is the academic literature against the bogleheads?
Replies: 90
Views: 8857

Re: What is the academic literature against the bogleheads?

"I don't think it surprising that there isn't literature showing how it's possible to beat the market. If someone discovered how to do it, why would they tell anyone?"

This is the most logical answer to the topic question in this fascinating thread. Exchanges revolving around challenge are always the most educational.