Search found 11644 matches

by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I need a new furnace and AC system.
Replies: 8
Views: 690

Re: I need a new furnace and AC system.

Get comparison quotes from other dealers, other brands first.
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Purchase Investment Sources
Replies: 6
Views: 438

Re: Home Purchase Investment Sources

madbrain wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:28 pm
cheese_breath wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:44 pm #4 ... Put the entire equity from the current home ($315K) as down payment on the new home. Thats over 60% of a $515K home. I find it hard to believe you can't find someone to give you a mortage with a 60% down payment. Then after the mortage is approved, withdraw from Roth, tIRA and other investments as needed.
This is a great idea if there is an existing HELOC . OP may not be able to open a new one due to lack of documented income.

The other possibility would be to sell the existing home first and do a rent back agreement from buyers, until the new home is built.
I should have said, I was assuming he sold the current home first.
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Long term care package?
Replies: 8
Views: 658

Re: Long term care package?

Here's what Medicare covers. Try not to read it all in one sitting. :happy

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050 ... nd-you.pdf
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Purchase Investment Sources
Replies: 6
Views: 438

Re: Home Purchase Investment Sources

#4 ... Put the entire equity from the current home ($315K) as down payment on the new home. Thats over 60% of a $515K home. I find it hard to believe you can't find someone to give you a mortage with a 60% down payment. Then after the mortage is approved, withdraw from Roth, tIRA and other investments as needed.
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim
Replies: 24
Views: 2261

Re: Hospital not following up with my insurance for large claim

I'm not sure I'd want to wait and hope things work out ok. Given the way you describe that hospital, I wouldn't want to risk them sending it to collections.

Does the hospital have an ombudsman?


Edited to include link describing hospital ombudsman.
https://www.scottsharrislaw.com/resourc ... ombudsmen/
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fax setup - Not Electronic
Replies: 17
Views: 949

Re: Fax setup - Not Electronic

Way back in the '90s I had a fax program that dialed out on my phone line to send faxes. I don't know if such programs exist anymore, but you might check into it.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
Replies: 49
Views: 3536

Re: Paying Electric Bill With Checking

ThreeDB wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:23 am This is not something I am particularly worried about. After all, in the old days before electronic banking I used to send my checking account number to my electric company on little slips of paper twelve times a year. Those slips of paper were call cheques. :-) ...
edit: I mistakenly put my reply to ThreeDB inside his post. This fixes it.

I even paid for my groceries with checks in the old days. What can be less secure than that?
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
Replies: 49
Views: 3536

Re: Paying Electric Bill With Checking

ThreeDB wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:23 am This is not something I am particularly worried about. After all, in the old days before electronic banking I used to send my checking account number to my electric company on little slips of paper twelve times a year. Those slips of paper were call cheques. :-) ...

I even paid for my groceries with checks in the old days. What can be less secure than that?
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 23, 2024 6:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
Replies: 49
Views: 3536

Re: Paying Electric Bill With Checking

All my utilities have my checking account number, and have for decades. So far, no problem.
by cheese_breath
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with an After Tax Retirement Annuity?
Replies: 8
Views: 664

Re: What to do with an After Tax Retirement Annuity?

retired@50 wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:47 pm
fedbogle wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:43 pm Hi Everyone. I have an inherited after tax retirement annuity (ATRA) with TIAA. Part A is non-taxable, i.e., all taxes were paid and I could withdraw it as cash. Part B is taxable when it is withdrawn, and could be rolled over into a traditional IRA. I could also rollover part A into a traditional IRA. I can not roll any of it into a Roth IRA.

My objective is to minimize taxes and hold the investment for a long period.

I am thinking it makes sense to roll the whole thing into a traditional IRA. Am I right? Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance to all the good folks here.
Why would you roll part A into an IRA? ....
Couldn't he then convert it to a Roth?
by cheese_breath
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
Replies: 207
Views: 9539

Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread

finfire wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:52 pm
TheTimeLord wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:13 pm This topic occasionally comes up but is fairly hard to search on the form. So how many people are using a dedicated financial computer as their only means of online access to their accounts? Any tips or tricks you think are worth sharing?
Never heard of such a thing. Where is it that it "occasionally comes up"?

If it is a thing, I wonder what kind of net worth these individuals have....
OP is right. It has come up before.

But in answer to the question, I don't have a separate computer for such things,
by cheese_breath
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Long-Term Care/Protecting Assests
Replies: 89
Views: 4984

Re: Long-Term Care/Protecting Assests

... Your circumstance may be different, but I'm very confident in saying that the vast majority of LTC facilities that accept Medicaid are going to provide inferior care, amenities, food, quality of life, etc compared to private pay and drive a sad end of life experience for your loved one. Not the way I want to go out or will let my loved ones go out. Forget inheritance for me, go out with some dignity and respect. +1 For those who can afford it, it all comes down to what is your prority? Money or the best care for your loved one? It's hard to believe, but in a couple weeks it will be seven years since DW's stroke. I met with an elder care lawyer at the time and discovered I could shelter everything in my IRAs, most of our joint taxable a...
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but how?
Replies: 39
Views: 2599

Re: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but h

Nicolas wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:23 pm This doesn’t answer your question but I wonder at the value of learning to balance a checkbook now....
About as valuable as learning to tune a carburetor, although I admit there may be a few exceptions here.
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but how?
Replies: 39
Views: 2599

Re: Simple things like writing a check, balancing a checkbook, depositing, withdrawing, interest. Teach a child... but h

How many checks do you expect him to write in his life? Maybe you could make it more interesting if you helped him manage his apple wallet and introduced him to Quicken or other personal accounting software.
by cheese_breath
Wed Mar 20, 2024 10:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Largest banks with worst rates....?
Replies: 33
Views: 1806

Re: Largest banks with worst rates....?

The large banks retain customers because: 1. Safety deposit boxes. For some bizarre reason many people think they need one. 2. Ability to walk into a local brick and mortar branch and talk to a banker. 3. The prestige factor ("I bank with JPMorganChase and my guy there takes care of my needs.") 4. The hassle of changing banks and setting up all the direct deposits, bill pays, and brokerage links. 5. People assume that a savings account must have a decent interest rate, but they fail to check to see if it is true. 6. People like to use special services like wiring money or getting medallion guarantees. I'm sure there are more reasons that others can add to this list. As for me, I haven't had an account at a commercial bank since 2...
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Basket of Stocks
Replies: 34
Views: 3047

Re: Basket of Stocks

AllMostThere wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:20 pm I totally misread this title. I thought it was Basket of "Socks"! Thought to myself, "now I've seen it all!". Yet I still clicked on it. :oops:
Sometimes one must just call it quits and go to bed early. Goodnight. :beer
Oh, yeah. TSM and/or SP500 for me.
I was thinking of food stocks in a basket. Grapes, cherries, oranges and the like.
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What did you do today to increase your income? [Financial]
Replies: 64
Views: 4235

Re: What did you do today to increase your income?

Retired too My CDs gained another day's interest.
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Softest brand of cotton swabs?
Replies: 1
Views: 336

Re: Softest brand of cotton swabs?

Too bad the My Pillow guy doesn't make swabs. He uses the only best ultra-soft cotton from the fertile valley of the Nile River in Egypt.
:D :D :D
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Genius of the Financial Industry
Replies: 44
Views: 3034

Re: Genius of the Financial Industry

Regal 56 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:31 pm In what other industry is compensation so deeply imbedded in how much money the client has? ...
Three letters, IRS
by cheese_breath
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fees for selling Mutual Funds?
Replies: 18
Views: 1610

Re: Mutual Fund Sales Charges

I don't know because I wouldn't buy those kinds of funds.
by cheese_breath
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625813

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Went to a pizza party last night. Host bought more pizza than necessary, offered me some of the leftovers. I accepted.

Had some of the free leftover pizza for lunch today. Put the rest in the freezer so I can have a frugal lunch some other day.
by cheese_breath
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nervous about giving out information
Replies: 36
Views: 3514

Re: Nervous about giving out information

sfmdk240 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:37 pm
SmileyFace wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:01 pm Make sure your username is anonymous and has no relation to your real name or info.
In other words - if your real name is Cheryl Y and you were born in February 1979 you should change it. (
Go to your town clerk and have your name changed as well as your birth date. Alternatively change your username.
Out of curiosity, how does one got about changing their username on Bogleheads? There doesn’t seem to be an option to do so under account settings.
PM a moderator with your request.
by cheese_breath
Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Nervous about giving out information
Replies: 36
Views: 3514

Re: Nervous about giving out information

That's why you use an anonymous user ID.
by cheese_breath
Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?
Replies: 59
Views: 4135

Re: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?

557880yvi wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:13 pm ....and I believe that they are only saying this so that they can replace my 3 hrs a week of PT with higher paying clients.
But unless you can prove this, you're just spitting into the wind.
by cheese_breath
Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?
Replies: 59
Views: 4135

Re: Dumped from PT due to low Medicare reimbursements?

DoubleComma wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:09 pm Under the impression that Medicare only covers $2,300-$2,400 annual for “therapy services”.

Have you reached your annual cap?
There is and there isn't a cap on how much Medicare will cover, and your numbers are correct. But the cap can be exceeded if your medical provider deems it necessary.

" There's no limit on how much Medicare pays for your medically necessary outpatient therapy services in one calendar year"

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/physi ... y-services

You'll notice this reference seems to contradict itself. But I exceeded the cap last year and didn't pay anything because my doctor said it was neceassary.
by cheese_breath
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1209

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

OnTrack2020 wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:28 am
Rex66 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:53 pm Why would you assume the prices can’t change?
I'm betting that for the vast majority of plans that people sign with that they are choosing a plan based on those estimates that are given and are expecting the actual prescription prices to be fairly close in price to the original price quoted.
And that's what we all do. Hope the prices we end up with are close to what we expected when we signed up,
by cheese_breath
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1209

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

one of mine went up 56% between January and March, from $3.84 to $6.00.

I can handle the increase, but it would be hard to stomach 56% if this had been an expensive drug in the first place.
by cheese_breath
Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges
Replies: 111
Views: 7471

Re: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges

goonie wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:46 pm ... And the only thing I'd consider right now with regards to the 7th grader is that I would want my spending on each kid to end up roughly in the same ballpark. So evaluate your finances accordingly.
I'd also consider the possibility inflation costing it more for the 7th grader to get a comparable education to the 10th grader.
by cheese_breath
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges
Replies: 111
Views: 7471

Re: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges

Wannaretireearly wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:32 pm
cheese_breath wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:30 pm I think you're getting way ahead of the game. Give them some time in college to discover their interests and options. I changed my career aspirations twice from the time I entered college until I graduated, and ended up in a career that wasn't either of them.
Not directly relevant, but mind sharing the two you started and where you ended up? Curious!
#1 Military
#2 Ministry
Final Information Technology (or as we called it in those days, data processing)
by cheese_breath
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges
Replies: 111
Views: 7471

Re: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges

I think you're getting way ahead of the game. Give them some time in college to discover their interests and options. I changed my career aspirations twice from the time I entered college until I graduated, and ended up in a career that wasn't either of them.
by cheese_breath
Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10618

Re: What's your primary credit card?

I have no 'primary'. I use AAA Visa for drug stores, grocery stores and AAA insurances; Costco Visa for gas, restaurants, and Costco purchases; Discover for anything else. Sometimes Discover will offer temporary 5% rebates on some services. If that overlaps the other two cards, then I use the Discover until the 5% expires.

edit: I also have a GM Mastercard. But I only use it for my Geelong AFL club membership, and that only to keep it active in case I need it for emergencies.
by cheese_breath
Sun Mar 10, 2024 6:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]

bradinsky wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:24 pm ... If you have time for a side trip, the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, MI. are interesting. They are about 60 miles north of Mackinaw City. You can get an up close view of 1000 ft. freighters being raised & lowered on their trips to & from Lake Superior.
Way back in 1974 or thereabouts I took the boat tour through the locks. And to my surprise, they're still in business.

https://www.famoussoolocks.com/
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TurboTax asking for total IRA size
Replies: 11
Views: 1521

Re: TurboTax asking for total IRA size

baconavocado wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:41 pm They always ask for this info, in my experience. Looking at my return, it shows up on some worksheets but I don't see it on the actual return.
My last Roth conversion was in 2020, and I don't recall them asking for it then.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TurboTax asking for total IRA size
Replies: 11
Views: 1521

Re: TurboTax asking for total IRA size

magicalThinking wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:48 pm Hello - First post!
I... Just started my 2024 taxes on TurboTax...
2023 taxes?
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TurboTax asking for total IRA size
Replies: 11
Views: 1521

Re: TurboTax asking for total IRA size

I suspect this is probably some new IRS requirement. I did my first Roth withdrawal this year, and TT asked for my total conversions before 2018, and any conversions after that by year.

I'm more than 20 years past 59 1/2, and my first Roth conversion was in 1998. The IRS probably knows all this anyway, so I just entered it into TT and went on with the return.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NJ “unsafe lane change” law
Replies: 14
Views: 1367

Re: NJ “unsafe lane change” law

LaramieWind wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:42 pm I avoid having to move across more than one lane, but it does happen. When it does I signal, move into the first lane, turn my signal off for a few seconds. Check on traffic, turn my signal on and move into the third lane.
From OP's description, "I had to cross a couple lanes of traffic at an intersection to get to a gas station", it doesn't seem he moved lanes. He cut across lanes.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NJ “unsafe lane change” law
Replies: 14
Views: 1367

Re: NJ “unsafe lane change” law

Doom&Gloom wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:12 pm I'm not saying that I've never done that, but I'd never be shocked if I were stopped and ticketed afterward.

It looks to me like that statute is written vaguely enough that you'll have an uphill battle if the cop shows up to testify in court.
Good luck!
There's another statute that makes it more clear. See my edited post above.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NJ “unsafe lane change” law
Replies: 14
Views: 1367

Re: NJ “unsafe lane change” law

I'm guessing the officer is inferring you can't cross lanes to make a turn at an intersection. i.e. You must be in the farthest lane (left or right) before making making your turn. (b) Left turns on two-way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where it enters the intersection and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in th...
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]

Old Goat wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:56 am I would not worry about the ferry but if you're concerned the trip from St Ignace is shorter than from Mackinaw.
If you're coming from the south you'd cross the Straits on the Big Mac. That's an exprience in itself.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment
Replies: 86
Views: 6042

Re: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment

Faith20879 wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:55 am
cheese_breath wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:50 am I see this thread is almost three weeks old with lots of replies already. But I'd like to chip in my two cents worth anyway. I've done lots of Roth conversions over the years, and I've always paid the taxes out of my taxable account. I'd rather reduce the balance of my taxable than reduce the balance of my Roth by withholding from the convesion.
I've always thought the same way you do. But after reading the OP (and poster twh's testimony) several times I finally understood how the mechanism works. Essentially he is swapping taxable money with tax-preferred money. The taxes are eventually still paid with taxable money. Quite clever... like someone upthread said, money is fungible.
Thank you. I reread OP's post and agree.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: Mackinac Island, Michigan

familythriftmd wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:46 am
cheese_breath wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:08 am Vacationing with a one year old will be a challenge anywhere you go. Life on the island should be no harder than anywhere else. But the ferry to the island might be.

Last time I went, several years ago, we took tne Arnold Ferry Line, and that boat was very noisy. I suspect the others might be as well. That and the possibility of rough seas might be disturbing to a baby.
Shepler's Ferry has a lower deck, so that could work.
We were on the lower deck with Arnolds. The noise came from the engines, not from the wind. And rough seas would be felt regardless of which deck you're on.

ps: I've been to the island three times. The first two were pleasant rides on the ferry's upper decks. Last one was a rough sea on the lower deck.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]

Mackinac is my FAVORITE place in the US! I've only been once, but would love to go again. Where are you coming from? I think that Mackinac would be just fine with a child. Probably easier if you STAY on the island, but you could easily stay near the ferry terminal in Mackinaw City (Lower Peninsula) or St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula). I would stay LP if you're coming from the south, and stay UP if you're coming from the UP itself or from Wisconsin. That would be much cheaper than staying on the island and then just stay the day on the island. Very walkable in the village even with a baby. We stayed at the Baymont in Mackinaw City. Very Spartan, but no complaints otherwise. It was also 10 minute walk or less to the ferry. For that matter, depen...
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment
Replies: 86
Views: 6042

Re: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment

dknightd wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:18 am
cheese_breath wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:50 am I see this thread is almost three weeks old with lots of replies already. But I'd like to chip in my two cents worth anyway. I've done lots of Roth conversions over the years, and I've always paid the taxes out of my taxable account. I'd rather reduce the balance of my taxable than reduce the balance of my Roth by withholding from the convesion.
I tried to set up an account with IRS to pay estimated taxes. It was more bother than it was worth. I have taxes withheld at the end of the year. Seems simpler that way
You don't need to set up an account if you use IRS Direct Pay
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: Mackinac Island, Michigan

bradpevans wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:11 am ... Mackinac Grand is the top end hotel on the island.
Trivia, the movie Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve was filmed at the Grand Hotel. Last time I was there that beautiful picture of Jane was still hanging in the same place it was in the movie.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1514

Re: Mackinac Island, Michigan

Vacationing with a one year old will be a challenge anywhere you go. Life on the island should be no harder than anywhere else. But the ferry to the island might be.

Last time I went, several years ago, we took tne Arnold Ferry Line, and that boat was very noisy. I suspect the others might be as well. That and the possibility of rough seas might be disturbing to a baby.
by cheese_breath
Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment
Replies: 86
Views: 6042

Re: Using withholding on Roth conversion instead of estimated tax payment

I see this thread is almost three weeks old with lots of replies already. But I'd like to chip in my two cents worth anyway. I've done lots of Roth conversions over the years, and I've always paid the taxes out of my taxable account. I'd rather reduce the balance of my taxable than reduce the balance of my Roth by withholding from the convesion.
by cheese_breath
Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 16 yr old - how can I best take on high risk?
Replies: 65
Views: 5610

Re: 16 yr old - how can I best take on high risk?

If you want risk,
.... Tape a list of penny stocks to the wall
... Get a dart
... Blindfold yourself
... Throw the dart at the wall.
... Load up on the stock closest to where the dart sticks
That's about as much risk as you can get. You'll probably lose it all, but you might get lucky and hit the jackpot.

Or you could just invest in a boring total stock index fund. That will give you a good head start over those who wait until they're adults to begin investing.
by cheese_breath
Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your Original Medicare OR Advantage Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?
Replies: 156
Views: 10621

Re: Your Original Medicare Experience: Nightmare or Sublime?

Never had problem with Medicare for 18 years. But I did have issues with my first medigap provider. My before-Medicare coverage was with the same company, and they kept confusing my Medicare claims with the previous plan.