Search found 320 matches
- Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VW Atlas
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8424
Re: VW Atlas
As a VW Atlas owner, I will be curious as to how the new warranty impacts resale value. Consider the following scenario 5 Years from now when the two cars are for sale used at Carmax, assume similar condition and mileage - Honda Pilot - 5 Years Old - 60k Miles - No Warranty - VW Atlas - 5 Years Old - 60k Miles - 12k miles & 1 Year of Bumper to Bumper Warranty from the factory I doubt the VW will have better resale than the pilot, but I believe a factory original warranty will help close the gap, yes there are extended warranties and aftermarket warranties available, but they tend to have complicated claims processes, deductibles, and don't always over the small things. This is also VW's first entry into the mainstream 3 row crossover s...
- Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VW Atlas
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8424
Re: VW Atlas
As a VW Atlas owner, I will be curious as to how the new warranty impacts resale value. Consider the following scenario 5 Years from now when the two cars are for sale used at Carmax, assume similar condition and mileage - Honda Pilot - 5 Years Old - 60k Miles - No Warranty - VW Atlas - 5 Years Old - 60k Miles - 12k miles & 1 Year of Bumper to Bumper Warranty from the factory I doubt the VW will have better resale than the pilot, but I believe a factory original warranty will help close the gap, yes there are extended warranties and aftermarket warranties available, but they tend to have complicated claims processes, deductibles, and don't always over the small things. This is also VW's first entry into the mainstream 3 row crossover se...
- Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VW Atlas
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8424
Re: VW Atlas
I brought it in last week for some non-urgent recall work, buying a first year model, early in that first year, I new that it would have to go back at some point. It was super easy, quick key trade for a loaner, and back the next day to pick it up.
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 3:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: VW Atlas
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8424
Re: VW Atlas
I purchased an Atlas SEL 4Motion back in Aug, and just hit 5k miles, so far I've been very happy, things that went into the decision - Extremely car seat friendly, I have two rear facing car seats, and the Atlas fit them better than any of the other SUVs - The third row was by far the biggest - Overall cargo space was the largest - The seat movement was easy, middle row slides 9 in, and both sides of the bench can be folded with a car seat installed - Adaptive Cruise control had full start stop capabilities - Pano Sunroof - Boring reliable engine and transmission, these are older proven units - Excellent bumper to bumper warranty, I can easily stay under the mileage limit, 6 years is double the competition - Android Auto & Carplay, real...
- Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Digital alarm clock suggestions?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 5215
Re: Digital alarm clock suggestions?
I hope you enjoy it, it's definitely built to hotel standards, the power cord is super think, and the whole clock is heavy in way you don't see anymore with consumer electronics.
- Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Digital alarm clock suggestions?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 5215
Re: Digital alarm clock suggestions?
This alarm clock is dead simple, pricy but worth every penny.
The dial is super easy to use for setting the time, the dial is also the button for turning off the alarm with once easy swat.
You can also dim the display down to nothing if you need to sleep in the dark.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178ECW6A/
The dial is super easy to use for setting the time, the dial is also the button for turning off the alarm with once easy swat.
You can also dim the display down to nothing if you need to sleep in the dark.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0178ECW6A/
- Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do girls wear Ninja Turtle character shoes
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4566
Re: Do girls wear Ninja Turtle character shoes
+3
"My son is interested" Is the only thing that matters.
"My son is interested" Is the only thing that matters.
juliewongferra wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:12 am+1,000,000!Angelus359 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:05 am The original post makes me sad.
Interest and gender are not intrinsically linked, only loosely correlated.
Ninja turtles are popular regardless of gender
And it's only loosly correlated because of society's prevailing attitudes about what boys "should" be interested in and what girls "should" be interested in! Take away these preformed ideas and you would see greater distribution of interests for boys and girls!
cheers,
jwf
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home backup generator experiences
- Replies: 73
- Views: 14054
Re: Home backup generator experiences
After seeing the gas lines after sandy, I liked having the propane option.
Propane tanks don't need power to be refilled, vs gas that required electric pumps. I also have plenty of blue rino exchange locations nearby, so I could buy new tanks with cash, no need for electricity. And as a last resort, scavenging tanks from neighbors BBQs can be an option.
A 20lb propane tank is 4.7gal, I would estimate one tank per day of use.
Propane tanks don't need power to be refilled, vs gas that required electric pumps. I also have plenty of blue rino exchange locations nearby, so I could buy new tanks with cash, no need for electricity. And as a last resort, scavenging tanks from neighbors BBQs can be an option.
A 20lb propane tank is 4.7gal, I would estimate one tank per day of use.
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home backup generator experiences
- Replies: 73
- Views: 14054
Re: Home backup generator experiences
In simple terms, noise, efficiency, and clean power. An inverter generator is much much quieter, and can rev up and down based on electrical demand. The inverter also provided clean safe power for sensitive electronics.
An open frame generator is just an engine directly connected to the generator , it runs full out all the time, the electricy is raw and can be potentially damaging. They are also extremely loud
Inverter generators tend to cost roughly double an open frame.
An open frame generator is just an engine directly connected to the generator , it runs full out all the time, the electricy is raw and can be potentially damaging. They are also extremely loud
Inverter generators tend to cost roughly double an open frame.
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home backup generator experiences
- Replies: 73
- Views: 14054
Re: Home backup generator experiences
I just purchased a portable generator set-up in the northeast, and went with the following. $700 Refurbished Propane/Gas Inverter generator. I specifically chose this model as it was the only inverter generator I could find that would run on propane. Keeping gasoline in storage and having to swap it out is a major hassle, while propane can be stored safely and will last indefinitly. https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100204-3100-watt-dual-fuel-inverter/ $200 4 New Filled propane tanks from uhaul, this is in addition to the tanks I have for my BBQ $1,000 Electrician installed 6 breaker manual transfer panel, along with a 50ft run from the panel to the backyard for the generator impute. (I'm sure I could have gotten the labor chea...
- Tue Nov 07, 2017 3:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: DIY vs work extra and pay a pro
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4329
Re: DIY vs work extra and pay a pro
Rarely do I regret hiring things out once the job is done. I always do the following calculation afterwards.
Take the total hours a professional took to complete the job, then I double it to account for my amateur skills and extra trips to the hardware store.
Round up to the nearest multiple of 8, and then divide by 8. This is how many weekend days I saved by outsourcing. Then take the labor cost and determine how much I paid per day to get my weekend back.
Using this very scientific calculation, I frequently buy entire weekends for $100-200, or save my self from committing to a 6 weekend project.
Take the total hours a professional took to complete the job, then I double it to account for my amateur skills and extra trips to the hardware store.
Round up to the nearest multiple of 8, and then divide by 8. This is how many weekend days I saved by outsourcing. Then take the labor cost and determine how much I paid per day to get my weekend back.
Using this very scientific calculation, I frequently buy entire weekends for $100-200, or save my self from committing to a 6 weekend project.
- Fri Oct 27, 2017 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Annual enrollment time, trying to decide on Dependent Care FSA
- Replies: 9
- Views: 774
Re: Annual enrollment time, trying to decide on Dependent Care FSA
How much is childcare in your area? With infants at almost $2k a month near me, you could use most of it in Jan/Feb, and if you move its pretty easy to use the remaining for evening babysitters.
- Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:03 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Upgrade my Roku?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5482
Re: Upgrade my Roku?
I can stream Netflix 4k through Wi-fi without a problem, good chance your power line adapters are slowing things down.
Roku's are cheap enough they are worth upgrading every 4-5 years. I have a 6 year old Roku in my basement that works, but its dramatically slower than my new Roku TV. Some channels/apps won't upgrade to the current version on the old Roku's (Netflix in particular).
Roku's are cheap enough they are worth upgrading every 4-5 years. I have a 6 year old Roku in my basement that works, but its dramatically slower than my new Roku TV. Some channels/apps won't upgrade to the current version on the old Roku's (Netflix in particular).
- Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car recommendation
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2419
Re: Car recommendation
Check out the new VW Tiguan, it has all the tech you are looking for and then some, won't be as much of a step down from the BMW as a Subaru, and has a 6 year bumper to bumper warranty.
http://www.vw.com/models/tiguan/trims/2 ... tion/edit/
After coming from a new X1, anything HRV/Crosstrek is going to feel like a massive downgrade.
http://www.vw.com/models/tiguan/trims/2 ... tion/edit/
After coming from a new X1, anything HRV/Crosstrek is going to feel like a massive downgrade.
- Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How useful is a home security system?
- Replies: 82
- Views: 11769
Re: How useful is a home security system?
I have a home security system with motion sensors and a front door camera.
A Mylar birthday balloon set off the motion sensor one day, and I had police officers at my door in 4 min flat. Everything is time stamped in the system so I could see the exact response time.
It made me feel better about the $30 a month I pay for monitoring knowing how well the system works.
A Mylar birthday balloon set off the motion sensor one day, and I had police officers at my door in 4 min flat. Everything is time stamped in the system so I could see the exact response time.
It made me feel better about the $30 a month I pay for monitoring knowing how well the system works.
- Thu Aug 10, 2017 8:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Long term car rental vs buying a used car vs leasing
- Replies: 22
- Views: 5755
Re: Long term car rental vs buying a used car vs leasing
Sales Tax
Property Taxes
Registration Fees
Auto Insurance
Maintenance
Dealership Transaction costs
$1,000 a month for rental isn't the cheapest way to solve the problem, but the premium for the flexibility probably isn't that crazy once you add in all the other costs.
Property Taxes
Registration Fees
Auto Insurance
Maintenance
Dealership Transaction costs
$1,000 a month for rental isn't the cheapest way to solve the problem, but the premium for the flexibility probably isn't that crazy once you add in all the other costs.
- Tue Jul 25, 2017 3:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rhoombas, Home Mapping and Privacy
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1791
Re: Rhoombas, Home Mapping and Privacy
My towns tax assessment website, has a floor plan of my house posted online for anyone to see.
So far no one has broken in and rearranged the furniture on me.
So far no one has broken in and rearranged the furniture on me.
- Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buy a vehicle cash or finance?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 6764
Re: Buy a vehicle cash or finance?
Rear facing is also no longer a temporary thing, most states are changing their laws to be mandatory rear facing until 2, and it's recommended that kids stay rear facing until 3-4 depending on their weight.bloom2708 wrote:Define "fine" as a previous poster said, if you are tall with a rear facing car seat, you won't be fine. $27k for not fine isn't fine.alfaspider wrote: As far as the 1978 F-150- you made it home, but I'm guessing the little one would have fared poorly had you crashed. Modern car seats give them a fighting chance.
It was a up to par rear facing car seat with base unit. I just happened to be driving that pickup in 1999.
If you plan to have two kids, you could be looking at 8 years of rear facing car seats.
- Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buy a vehicle cash or finance?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 6764
Re: Buy a vehicle cash or finance?
How tall are you and your wife? I have a 2015 Forester and once the rear facing car seats are installed, I can no longer sit comfortably in the passenger seat, and can't safely drive the car from the drivers.We've decided to get a brand new 2017 Subaru Forester.
We now have a second on the way, and have to sell the Forester since it can't do two rear facing car seats.
For slightly more you can get an outback that has significantly more space.
- Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: UberX or UberXL??
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2350
Re: UberX or UberXL??
Definitely go UBERxl, you can get some really tiny cars with regular Uber, a Ford Fiesta meets their requirements.
- Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best cars for multiple kids
- Replies: 51
- Views: 6165
Re: Best cars for multiple kids
Your going to get lots of general advice from bogleheads on cars, but three kids rear facing with the potential in the future for 3 kids rear facing and a 4th front facing, you have a very specialized problem to solve. I would recommendhttps://www.car-seat.org and http://thecarseatlady.com/2015familyvehiclebuyingguide/.
Seat belt overlap, seat bite, Latch, rear tether, ect it gets complicated fast, then you have to add in narrow car seats, and car seats that puzzle correctly.
Seat belt overlap, seat bite, Latch, rear tether, ect it gets complicated fast, then you have to add in narrow car seats, and car seats that puzzle correctly.
- Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Babson College
- Replies: 30
- Views: 4918
Re: Babson College
One of the top rated business schools in the north east, excellent brand recondition, with strong ties to the business community. If he is interested in Babson, he should also look at Bentley and Bryant, they tend to get grouped together frequently.
- Thu Jun 08, 2017 8:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trailer Towing Tidbits? [and epilogue]
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6289
Re: Trailer Towing Tidbits?
Have a good lock for the trailer door. Still trying to work out how to lock the trailer to the ball / hitch. The two U-Haul dealers I spoke with yesterday said they know of no way to do that with U-Haul's default ball connection method. Trailer coupler locks don't work on U-Hauls, I was told. Parking at motels is going to be the buggaboo at this point. I'm not interested in unhooking the trailer at any intermediate location, so the motel will just have to deal. Plus, I doubt I'll be able to lift the tongue once the trailer is loaded. I'll try to park such that it'd be tough to get the trailer unhooked. And hopefully the trailer tongue will weigh about 200+ pounds when I'm done loading. Also, the auto will be full of stuff as well. A padloc...
- Thu Jun 08, 2017 8:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: .
- Replies: 19
- Views: 9071
Re: Buying a House with an Old but Working Roof
Every single system in the house is someplace in it's depreciation curve, and it will all be baked into the market price (not the listing price, but the price of the winning offer)
Unless you live in a LCOL area, where a $10k roof makes up a significant portion of the value of the house, this isn't worth overthinking.
Unless you live in a LCOL area, where a $10k roof makes up a significant portion of the value of the house, this isn't worth overthinking.
- Tue Jun 06, 2017 3:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trailer Towing Tidbits? [and epilogue]
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6289
Re: Trailer Towing Tidbits?
Your not even going to notice it back there, I've pulled the same trailer with a Subaru Forester.
It adds 300lbs of weight, but I would consider moving up to a 5x10 trailer as they have duel axles. They will tow much better, and if you have a tire blowout, it won't be as catastrophic.
It adds 300lbs of weight, but I would consider moving up to a 5x10 trailer as they have duel axles. They will tow much better, and if you have a tire blowout, it won't be as catastrophic.
- Wed May 17, 2017 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Which Small SUV for 15 Year Reliability?
- Replies: 96
- Views: 24492
Re: Which Small SUV for 15 Year Reliability?
2018 Subaru Outback (open to either engine) 2018 Honda CR-V (turbo) 2017 Subaru Forester (non-turbo) 2017 Toyota RAV4 These are all great reliable choices, if you had some BMWs, Land Rovers, or Audis, mixed in we could give you better advice, but you have already chosen four of the most reasonable practical small SUVs. My recommendation is to buy the car you want to spend the next 15 years with, for me it would be the outback, but for you it could be something else. If you love your car it will be easy to put money into it at the 10 year mark in order to get you to the 15 year mark. If you don't like your car, you'll probably ditch it at the 10 year mark and get something new. Some will argue cars are nothing but appliances to be evaluated...
- Mon May 15, 2017 3:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Scolded by my adviser at F******* ! [Fidelity]
- Replies: 23
- Views: 5096
Re: Scolded by my adviser at F******* !
This is the Net Promoter Score System it was created by Bain, and now extremely common in all customer surveys. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Promoter "Those who respond with a score of 9 to 10 are called Promoters, and are considered likely to exhibit value-creating behaviors, such as buying more, remaining customers for longer, and making more positive referrals to other potential customers. Those who respond with a score of 0 to 6 are labeled Detractors, and they are believed to be less likely to exhibit the value-creating behaviors. Responses of 7 and 8 are labeled Passives, and their behavior falls in the middle of Promoters and Detractors.[4]:51 The Net Promoter Score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of customers w...
- Fri May 12, 2017 7:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car Rental in Mexico
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3802
Re: Car Rental in Mexico
I rented the cheapest car class In Cancun 5-6 years ago, and drove down to Tulum. I recommend making multiple reservations, we started with Avis, their computers were down, things didn't look good, so we went over to Budget and used our backup reservation. The car had no radio, and no airbags. It was a long silent drive :) I recommend bumping up a few car classes. I read expensively about all the possible scams, including the gas station bill swap scam, even being 100% prepared for it, I still fell for it on the last day of the trip as we headed to the airport early in the morning. :oops: It's amazing how good they are. Also, the speed bumps sneak up on you, hitting one at speed in an economy car is quite the experience. Otherwise driving i...
- Fri May 05, 2017 7:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Curb Impact Car Doesn't Go
- Replies: 13
- Views: 7923
Re: Curb Impact Car Doesn't Go
Corollas are not built to handle jumping curbs at speed and definitely not sideways, plus most kids are going to soften the story when telling their parents.
It's impossible to know via the internet, but considering a 10 year old Corolla is worth $3-5k, there a decent chance that it may need more work than it's worth. You could easily be looking at suspension/transmission/engine mounts being torn out of the unibody.
It's impossible to know via the internet, but considering a 10 year old Corolla is worth $3-5k, there a decent chance that it may need more work than it's worth. You could easily be looking at suspension/transmission/engine mounts being torn out of the unibody.
- Mon May 01, 2017 12:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kamado grill
- Replies: 40
- Views: 7022
Re: Kamado grill
Mine doesn't the only option other than taking it apart is to use this thing,lazydavid wrote:Agree with you on this one. Between the removable ash tray and my Kick Ash Basket, it takes me ~30 seconds to fully clean out all of the ash before each cook. Twice a year I take the firebowl out and clean the whole enclosure thoroughly, which takes 5-7 minutes.FoolStreet wrote:Does yours have the sliding removable ash tray? Makes cleaning my Kamado a breeze. Single best feature.
- Mon May 01, 2017 8:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kamado grill
- Replies: 40
- Views: 7022
Re: Kamado grill
I am fearing this. i suspect it will sit and collect dust. i enjoy grilling (only on weekends). weekdays I am away from home (6a to 7p) and i doubt i will have time. I only like grilling chicken, fish (salmon) and some cuts of lamb. 100% agree, I have one that I enjoy owning, but it just doesn't get all that much use. I have a medium BGE that is to small for entertaining, but it's to much work for 1-4 people. The overnight smokes can be fun and 12lbs of pork but can feed a party, but it's a lot or work and requires checking on the temp a few times through the night. If I'm hosting I want a good nights sleep the night before, it's not fun to entertain when you had to be up at 12-2-4-6 to adjust the venting on the egg to keep the temperature...
- Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Purchase new, but older model cell phone - Best method?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2436
Re: Purchase new, but older model cell phone - Best method?
Instead of buying an old high end phone, you will be better off with a new mid-range/low-end phone.
The Moto G5 shares the same form factor as the SG5, but will be much more powerful, have a warranty, and the latest software. All for $229 from amazon.
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compar ... 10421,8202
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5 ... 61011&th=1
The Moto G5 shares the same form factor as the SG5, but will be much more powerful, have a warranty, and the latest software. All for $229 from amazon.
http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compar ... 10421,8202
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5 ... 61011&th=1
- Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What To Do With My Car While in NYC
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4496
Re: What To Do With My Car While in NYC
Depending on your neighborhood, just street park it. It's much easier in the outer Bourgous, but for only a year its not that big of a deal.
A lot of NYC opinions come from people who have visited times square on vacation a few times, but outside of lower-mid Manhattan street parking cars isn't uncommon at all.
A lot of NYC opinions come from people who have visited times square on vacation a few times, but outside of lower-mid Manhattan street parking cars isn't uncommon at all.
- Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 2009 Toyota Highlander on the way out
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2684
Re: 2009 Toyota Highlander on the way out
The new Acadia Denali is really small for a three row, With three kids I would consider waiting for the new Traverse High Country, or Buick Enclave Avenir
http://www.chevrolet.com/all-new-2018-traverse
http://www.buick.com/enclave-mid-size-l ... uv/#/index
http://www.chevrolet.com/all-new-2018-traverse
http://www.buick.com/enclave-mid-size-l ... uv/#/index
- Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to make best use of lunch with the company president/CEO?
- Replies: 55
- Views: 12011
Re: How to make best use of lunch with the company president/CEO?
Great advice on the CEO aspect, I would encourage you to see if you can figure out what peers will be in the room as well. How you are perceived by that audience when interacting with them in front of the CEO, will be much more important. Those "peers" could be your next manager If half the room is from, department X, see if you can get a baseline understanding of what they are doing so you can participate in the conversation.
- Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: RV Rental
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3518
Re: RV Rental
It's a lifestyle decision, not a financial one, hotels and house rentals will be much cheaper than RV Ownership or rental once you add up all the costs.
- Thu Apr 13, 2017 9:34 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where to use $10k inheritance
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1106
Re: Where to use $10k inheritance
+2Silk McCue wrote:+1Jamieson22 wrote:I'd boost that Emergency Fund by $9k, and blow $1k on something nice/fun.
- Mon Apr 10, 2017 12:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me decide what to do with my cars
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3250
Re: Help me decide what to do with my cars
I would keep the Subaru, access to a AWD car that does great in the snow, plus it can handle back-up family duty just fine when the Minivan is in the shop, plus you will get to go 6-7 years before having to worry about getting a new car.
If money was the only thing that mattered, you could just trade in the Subaru for a second 2010 Civic and skip the brand new van, but money isn't everything.
If money was the only thing that mattered, you could just trade in the Subaru for a second 2010 Civic and skip the brand new van, but money isn't everything.
- Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Deleted
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1651
Re: home exchange experiences
I've never done it, but I believe there are some dog related groups who exchange houses, you trade houses and dogs avoiding having to send your pets to the kennel.
- Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair vs Replace car for someone just starting out
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3458
Re: Repair vs Replace car for someone just starting out
This may not be traditional Boglehead advice, but consider pairing back you 401k a little. It's great that you are saving $20k a year on a $46k salary, but not if it's preventing you from starting your life (Moving out and having reliable transportation)
What do you do for work where you are making almost $50k? Are there advancement opportunities? Do you have you bachelors?
What do you do for work where you are making almost $50k? Are there advancement opportunities? Do you have you bachelors?
- Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to buy a car with a Lightstream loan?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7938
Re: How to buy a car with a Lightstream loan?
No Haggle means no haggle, the best you can do is possibly push for worn tires to be replaced, but I wouldn't count on it.
Dealers make a significant portion of their profit from finance kickbacks, at a Haggle dealership "Cash" buyers" pay more, ask the dealer to match your light stream rate and they probably will. Makes the process easier and you get a better deal.
Dealers make a significant portion of their profit from finance kickbacks, at a Haggle dealership "Cash" buyers" pay more, ask the dealer to match your light stream rate and they probably will. Makes the process easier and you get a better deal.
- Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying expensive car, how to keep payments low?
- Replies: 149
- Views: 15003
Re: Buying expensive car, how to keep payments low?
How about the new VW Atlas, well equipped for $40k.
- Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:34 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Boston apartment hunting advice/can I afford a studio?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 5846
Re: Boston apartment hunting advice/can I afford a studio?
Consensus seems to be that you can't afford a studio, and I agree.
Put your efforts into finding good high quality roommates. The stigma of having roommates is gone, It's common for professionals into their 30s to live with roommates, I know some who even spend upwards of $1,800 a month per person for high end three bedrooms with multiple bathrooms, and lots of space. Cleaning is generally the main pain point, but easily alleviated with a weekly cleaning service.
Put your efforts into finding good high quality roommates. The stigma of having roommates is gone, It's common for professionals into their 30s to live with roommates, I know some who even spend upwards of $1,800 a month per person for high end three bedrooms with multiple bathrooms, and lots of space. Cleaning is generally the main pain point, but easily alleviated with a weekly cleaning service.
- Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a home in a seller's market - how to decide how much to pay
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1382
Re: Buying a home in a seller's market - how to decide how much to pay
Assessed values don' t mean anything by themselves, all they are used for is comparing the value of one house to another. For example Scenario A House A - Value $100k Mill Rate $10 Taxes= $1,000 House B - Value $200k Mill Rate $10 Taxes= $2,000 Scenario B House A - Value $250k Mill Rate $4 Taxes= $1,000 House B - Value $500k Mill Rate $4 Taxes= $2,000 Either way taxes are the same, there doesn't need to be a connection to the selling prices of the homes, all the matters is that the town knows that house A is worth twice what house B is worth. The town/city budget is fixed independent of the real estate market. When house prices rise, the town doesn't bring in additional revenue, they just drop the mill rate. The assessment process doesn't n...
- Tue Mar 28, 2017 11:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What's your personal criteria for deciding whether or not to rent a car?
- Replies: 105
- Views: 8727
Re: What's your personal criteria for deciding whether or not to rent a car?
The stress that comes from making this decision probably isn't worth the minor potential benefit. A benefit that won't become real until it's time to trade in the car.
You have keys to a car in your pocket that will accomplish the task at hand. Go drive it and put the mental energy into other tasks.
You have keys to a car in your pocket that will accomplish the task at hand. Go drive it and put the mental energy into other tasks.
- Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What would it take to buy a house in our neighborhood?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2396
Re: What would it take to buy a house in our neighborhood?
You have $100k in cash now, but can save $80k a year moving forward, what is causing the discrepancy, recent raise? The crazy high income is new for us. My husband is at his first job after grad school, he finished his phd two years ago. My last salary was 60K. I had student loans. What is the plan for kindergarten, public/private? Public. The elementary schools in our neighborhood are fine, even better if you get into their specialty stuff like a bilingual or gifted program. A new middle school has been approved that will be built a few blocks away as a result of strong parent activism in this community. We are happy for our children to attend diverse city schools (many non-native English speakers for sure). I don't love NYC schools in te...
- Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What would it take to buy a house in our neighborhood?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2396
Re: What would it take to buy a house in our neighborhood?
You have $100k in cash now, but can save $80k a year moving forward, what is causing the discrepancy, recent raise?
What is the plan for kindergarten, public/private?
What is the plan for kindergarten, public/private?
- Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Time Saving Tactics: Kids Edition
- Replies: 71
- Views: 9980
Re: Time Saving Tactics: Kids Edition
1. $200 a month house cleaner
2. Let things go
3. Monthly beers with other Dads in the neighborhood
2. Let things go
3. Monthly beers with other Dads in the neighborhood
- Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car dilemma?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2867
Re: Car dilemma?
Buying a selling a brand new car only 27,000 miles on it, probably isn't the best way to deal with this.My biggest regret is selling my 2004 corolla and going through 3 cars and wasting all of that money.
Enjoy your car, take care of it, come back in 7 years when you Audi is 10 years old and has 200k miles on it, then you can get boglehead approval to buy a 2024 Corrola.
- Tue Mar 07, 2017 11:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Work travel question.. car related
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1239
Re: Work travel question.. car related
I would encourage you do do the detailed math on this even with a direct flight, the last mile travel time is significant, travel to the airport, security, rental car counter, drive to your house.inthearena wrote:Thanks everyone for the input, I always find this community very helpful.
As for driving back and forth, the hard part their is giving up 16 hours of a week to traveling but I guess unless I get a direct flight it's not all that different from flying.
You may be giving up an extra 8 hours, but you also get the flexibility to make your own schedule, potentially increasing your family time.