Search found 48 matches

by auntJovie
Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cast Iron Skillet Cooking
Replies: 127
Views: 36398

Re: Cast Iron Skillet Cooking

TwoByFour wrote:Just don't try to break ice with it. My wife was whacking a block of ice with a solid cast iron pan and the bottom popped out.
I'll bet that story works well to help new acquaintances relax and feel more comfortable...

I'll see myself out.
by auntJovie
Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Spending trajectory for families with kids?
Replies: 45
Views: 9521

Re: Spending trajectory for families with kids?

So hard to measure! Particularly messy are questions that deal with the opportunity cost (does it count as 'spending' if your spouse stays home and forgoes an income to take care of them?) and intertwined family spending (are your kids eating more, or are you feeding all of you more expensively?). A lot of the extracurricular stuff depends on the area in which you live. I'm in a fairly well-to-do area, but grew up elsewhere, so the "soccer/gymnastics/swimming/tutoring/vacationing/music lesssons/private education/braces/cosmetic surgery" combination I see here (in real life, though also on the forums) is not for me. I'm more a "food/allowance/school supplies/clothing" type of parent. Side note: Free play is so great for k...
by auntJovie
Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?
Replies: 92
Views: 10475

Re: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?

scrabbler1 wrote: Still looking for that "emergencies only" no gimmicks cell phone. Any ideas would be appreciated. Don't need movies, don't need photos, don't want to be charged for spam. Am I delusional?
[url=lycamobile.com]Lycamobile is good for this. Their rates are 2c/min (20% of T-Mobile's), and their minutes don't expire ever. So $10 of initial credit gets you 500min, and you don't have to top up again. (You do have to use the phone once every three months or so, but you can send it a text and that will count.) That said, their customer service doesn't have a great reputation, so you are being "Clark Howard cheap" and accepting lower quality for a lower price.
by auntJovie
Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?
Replies: 92
Views: 10475

Re: POLL: Do you personally own a cell phone?

Smart phone (Motorola Moto G, bought almost-new on eBay for $135) but on the 2c/min Lycamobile pay-as-you-go plan. I use it rarely and so pay about $2/mo for service (I top-up $10 every six months or so). It has data available (for 6c/mb, no thanks!) but I have it turned off. I just do internet stuff on wi-fi, and otherwise it's like my old Palm Pilot but a phone, too! I love the setup, but then I loved my Palm Pilot, too... :wink:
by auntJovie
Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to Decrease Our Tax bill
Replies: 14
Views: 2414

Re: How to Decrease Our Tax bill

1. Quit your job(s)
2. Make no money
3. No taxes!

(In before VictoriaF. :happy)

Seriously, good suggestions are already here. That said, the formulation of the question you probably mean is, as they say in this Vanguard video:
...tax efficiency is not about minimizing taxes. It's about maximizing after-tax return.
by auntJovie
Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 766
Views: 150998

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

Greg Egan's The Clockwork Rocket is fascinating sci-fi and a lot of math and physics fun included. It's part of a trilogy, I think, but I haven't got around to following it up.
by auntJovie
Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Don't be tempted to buy your teen a cheap (old) car, parents
Replies: 139
Views: 17899

Re: Don't be tempted to buy your teen a cheap (old) car, par

Okay, what about the correlation between accident rates and driver income (which affects make and age of car driven)? I would think this would be a confounding factor in the mix, since at-risk youth tend to come from homes with lower income. I'll join with the "skeptical of this study" crowd, and I'd rather send my kids out well-prepared to drive defensively in an older compact car than in a "king of the road" SUV ("I'll be safe!") -- perverse incentives.

FWIW, my mid-80s Camry may be the daily driver for my kids in ten years, if it makes it that long. It's got all the latest security features: an airbag, seatbelts (lap belts in the back), and it's not top-heavy enough to require ESC.
by auntJovie
Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how to join nylon webbing?
Replies: 26
Views: 16292

Re: how to join nylon webbing?

if you have an abnormally strong cat (one that can exert >3000lbs of force), check out http://www.bethandevans.com/load.htm - the "sewing webbing" section gives some good tips, and the rest of the page is fascinating, too. (Spoiler: use a few bar tacks, or tight zigzags on your sewing machine.)
by auntJovie
Wed Nov 12, 2014 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Your favorite classic toys for kids
Replies: 89
Views: 18946

Re: Your favorite classic toys for kids

nisi, you have now got me hankering for a Lincoln Logs simulator...

Building toys here, too: Tinker Toys, Capsela, Lincoln Logs.

Also, for little ones, the Fisher-Price Crazy Combo Horn provided me and sibs with hours of entertainment.
by auntJovie
Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mega Back Door Roth and Emergency funds
Replies: 5
Views: 1305

Re: Mega Back Door Roth and Emergency funds

Oblivious Investor says conversion. Specifically, it's treated as a 401(k) and has the same rules (qualified, non-qualified distributions, 10% penalty plus taxes on earnings if certain criteria aren't met).

The 401(K)-ness means you have to play by your 401(k)'s rules, which may or may not allow for in-service distributions.

Importantly, when you withdraw (assuming you can), while you don't pay taxes on contributions, you don't get the Roth IRA advantage of withdrawing contributions first, then earnings. Instead, it all comes out pro-rata: if you have $10,000 earnings in your $100,000 Roth 401(k), 10% of any distributions will be earnings.
by auntJovie
Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 151
Views: 20036

Re: "I've had it" at work - how often

Early 30s, software engineer at a large corporation.

I roll my eyes and sigh every week or so due to office politics, but it isn't terribly demanding, and pays well, so I get on with it. I would rather have the time back, but I am limiting my hours to 40 and everyone else seems okay with that, and I can do it for another ten years (current FI prediction).

That said, I am still young, so I have time for my relationship with my employer to flower into true dislike.
by auntJovie
Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smartphone questions
Replies: 107
Views: 15857

Re: Smartphone questions

My data point:

* As noted above, Android is eminently tweakable, which I love.

* I have an unlocked Moto G (2013), and it's a powerful phone for not much money (paid $135 on eBay six months ago)

* I use Lycamobile, a dirt-cheap prepaid MVNO (2c/min voice) with mediocre data that I don't often use, because:

* Have Wifi at work and at home, don't need much data elsewhere but can get it in a pinch
by auntJovie
Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What happened to the audiophile?[High quality music sources]
Replies: 71
Views: 7135

Re: What happened to the audiophile?

I like Nisiprius. :) I see the problem as one of optimizing the path from audio source to one's ears (audio recording and the brain's aural processing are a little out of my circle of control), which feels a lot to me like optimizing computer performance. So I try and figure out the lowest quality component and replace it until things sound good enough (A-B-X testing works wonders in checking my ego when I can do it). At the moment, I have a cheap USB DAC to get around my computer's buzzy sound card, and some Koss KSC-75 headphones that sound delightful (especially for the price). I have consciously shied away from the rabbit hole of "audiophile"; it seems like there's an "event horizon", and after that you're hooked! :d...
by auntJovie
Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?
Replies: 464
Views: 65093

Re: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?

VictoriaF wrote:
VictoriaF wrote:just as people get mesmerized by tornadoes, avalanches and other natural events happening at a distance.

Victoria
Washington, DC, is under a tornado warning until 13:00. My successful prediction adds credibility to everything else I write.

Victoria
Backtested. Looks good!
by auntJovie
Thu Oct 09, 2014 3:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It's a good day to be Heavy in Bonds ---- 10-09-2014.......
Replies: 13
Views: 2579

Re: It's a good day to be Heavy in Bonds ---- 10-09-2014....

billjohnson wrote:And tomorrow would be a good day to stop posting these worthless threads.
It's a good day to (have silly threads) die.
by auntJovie
Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?
Replies: 464
Views: 65093

Re: Headed for a 300+ point loss today?

VictoriaF wrote:I am concerned about S&P 500 dropping from its 2k level to the WWII levels. At the moment it's at 1941, the year when both the USSR and the US have entered the war.

Victoria
Goodness, now it's at 1928, which can only mean another depression soon! ;)

(Or it's behind us, since it seems to be going backward...)
by auntJovie
Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: young sports stars.. or programmers
Replies: 26
Views: 3804

Re: young sports stars.. or programmers

livesoft wrote:Here is a very recent survey of fresh graduates of CMU who work in Silicon Valley: http://www.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and- ... 202013.pdf
The mean and median salaries are above $100,000.
Two things I noticed that surprised me: (1) these graduates have their MS degrees, and (2) the "part-time" grads on page 2 have higher salaries by ~$20K!

I'm under 32, in software; working at a megacorp and earning about $100K. The effort and time required are far less than a startup, and the pay ain't bad.

Thanks, OP, for bringing up the apt sports analogy. I know not a lot of the folks I work with are over fifty; I just assumed they'd cashed out.
by auntJovie
Thu Nov 21, 2013 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA limits for 2014
Replies: 5
Views: 855

Re: HSA limits for 2014

At my company, we can deduct 2500 each person for the health FSA.
by auntJovie
Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Imputed Value of NOT commuting
Replies: 28
Views: 2762

Re: Imputed Value of NOT commuting

kcb203 wrote:Commuting is the best part of my day--I get 40-50 minutes on my bike twice a day.
Love my commute, too; bus time = reading time!
by auntJovie
Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get over finance envy
Replies: 377
Views: 58266

Re: How to get over finance envy

...Seriously, I think there are studies that show that people are happier when they perceive themselves to be near the top of the local totem pole. Three ways to do this: 1. Change your circumstances so you're at the top of the totem pole. (e.g. ex-pats who live like kings in third-world countries; we have friends who moved to the Phillipines for this reason.) 2. Change how you measure so you're at the top of the totem pole in your circumstances. (e.g. Boglehead attitude change: measure on net worth and prudence instead of consumption, and voila! , you're probably doing better than most anyone around!) 3. Change your comparison population, e.g. what linguini wrote above: The easiest way to remind yourself that you are actually very well of...
by auntJovie
Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Beggar" at gas station - how would you handle it?
Replies: 73
Views: 14730

Re: "Beggar" at gas station - how would you handle it?

I was approached in the city by a man who asked for "$2.19 to buy a hamburger". I offered him an orange (happened to be carrying one in my backpack), to which he dismissively said, "Nah, man, I'm allergic to oranges."

I hope he was taking his Vitamin C supplements...
by auntJovie
Fri Jun 14, 2013 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What age did you reach 100K networth?
Replies: 433
Views: 102004

Re: What age did you reach 100K networth?

25, no home equity at the time (renting)
by auntJovie
Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I do 10% Trad & 10% Roth?
Replies: 40
Views: 3686

Re: Should I do 10% Trad & 10% Roth?

Young-ish guy here.

What I did at 24: Roth 401k contributions to match, then Roth IRA. I operated under the assumption that I'd be making more and in a higher tax bracket later. (15% tax bracket.)

What I'm doing a few years later: Tax-deferred 401k to the max, then traditional IRA. This is due to the decision to retire early, placing me at a lower income and hopefully a lower tax bracket in withdrawal years. (15% tax bracket still.)
by auntJovie
Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retirement vs. non-retirement savings
Replies: 12
Views: 4554

Re: Retirement vs. non-retirement savings

MorganEdge wrote:What should my ratio of non-retirement savings to retirement savings be?
As stated previously, it depends on your current and predicted tax brackets. In my case: We're planning on retiring with less income than we currently have, so we're squirreling away as much in tax-deferred ("retirement savings") as we can; any that doesn't fit there goes into taxable. I would love for my ratio of taxable to tax-deferred to be zero, but it just doesn't fit in there!
by auntJovie
Wed May 29, 2013 4:10 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If I pay off my mortgage... I can save more...
Replies: 43
Views: 4677

Re: If I pay off my mortgage... I can save more...

YDNAL wrote:* Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha ("the awakened one")...
Not sure if profound, or profoundly off-topic...
by auntJovie
Tue May 28, 2013 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your favorite android smartphone apps?
Replies: 50
Views: 9850

Re: What are your favorite android smartphone apps?

BusyMe - silences your ringer automatically when you're in a meeting (according to your calendar); great for movies and church, too!

Power Schedule Basic - turn wifi off automatically at night, or turn your phone to airplane mode then, too

Tasker - advanced, but does all of the above and more

MortPlayer - best music player, there's also one just for audiobooks that is great

Swype keyboard - my favorite replacement keyboard, just works great
by auntJovie
Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any Mortgage Refinance experience with these companies?...
Replies: 17
Views: 3553

Re: Any Mortgage Refinance experience with these companies?.

1. Yes, I've done one refinance through mtgprofessor; would do another.
2. Yes, two: A1, First Financial Services, and A3, Amerisave. Both good experiences and great rates.

The nice thing about refinancing is you don't have to put a ton of effort into finding a 'great' lender; even a marginally competent one will do. Dealing with the lender is temporary (~1mo), but the rate is forever! (Comparatively, at least.)
by auntJovie
Sat Aug 18, 2012 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Now or Wait?
Replies: 8
Views: 2752

Re: Refinance Now or Wait?

Watty wrote:If you can find a no cost refinance at the same interest rate or lower then doing it right away is an easy decision.
+1. When you've got instant break-even, this is easy.

Also, see tfb's excellent articles on the subject:

http://thefinancebuff.com/cost-mortgage ... -down.html

http://thefinancebuff.com/mortage-refin ... table.html
by auntJovie
Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the worst job you have ever had?
Replies: 87
Views: 8978

Re: What is the worst job you have ever had?

Just after high school, I had a one-day stint as a temp at a local drug testing site. I learned that to drug-test convicted felons, you have to visually verify their urine samples are their own. Since the man of the office was out for the day, the nice ladies who worked there had contracted out for a male temp to supervise the male convicts.

I mostly spent the day reading a book I'd brought, being occasionally interrupted to watch another convicted felon pee in a cup.

Not a bad job, really, but always gets a good reaction. Made over minimum wage, too!
by auntJovie
Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Oldster Tax
Replies: 3
Views: 821

Re: Oldster Tax

From the article:
Low interest rates are a two-edged sword. It’s great if you are a young borrower. A low interest rate mortgage means you can buy a bigger house. A low interest rate car loan means you can buy a more expensive car.
Low interest rates are therefore great for the people selling to young borrowers: the borrowers can get access to more debt, and this drives up prices for cars and houses (more debt, same payment). The price increases reduce the value of low rates to young borrowers themselves.

Low rates sure do make life tougher for those living off interest, though.
by auntJovie
Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Statistical Anomaly - Markets Rising
Replies: 32
Views: 4927

Re: Statistical Anamoly - Markets Rising

GRT2BOUTDOORS wrote:[...]Give Wall St. a chance to game the system, they will do it.
But then a hedge fund manager anticipates and profits from that reaction, and then someone else games that system...

The market is a little like The Princess Bride's Vizzini: constantly out-thinking itself in traders' rush to prove their superiority. (Hint: both glasses are poisoned... with high fees!)
by auntJovie
Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Time on timing
Replies: 4
Views: 673

Re: Time on timing

So all the experts are so pessimistic that it's time to buy... except this expert just said to buy (and in Time magazine, no less), so now the prognosis isn't so negative; is it still time to buy?

Media as mirror and molder.
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How are you preparing the increase in taxes for 2013?
Replies: 56
Views: 6897

Re: Are you preparing the increase in taxes for 2013?

I'm preparing just by having my "house in order" and ensuring that I'll have enough to pay any extra taxes that come along.

I'm also not too concerned; predicting that there will be further "band-aid" legislation for e.g. "Bush" and AMT patch. Does this count as pending legislation? :)
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Income Flow Diagram
Replies: 33
Views: 4627

Re: Income Flow Diagram

Bongleur wrote:But isn't the contribution limit for a TIRA/ROTH only $5000 or your income if the income is under $5k ???
Yes, but for married couples, you get $5k each. If your spouse is nonworking, they can put $5k in anyway (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p590/ch ... 1000230412)
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1565990

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

Just finished Conversions by Craig Harline (top-notch narrative historian)

Currently reading Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett (I'm enjoying reading my way through Discworld)
by auntJovie
Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Top five regrets of the dying
Replies: 83
Views: 12267

Re: Top five regrets of the dying

Wish I'd spent more time with my family, especially young kids.
by auntJovie
Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much do you spend on groceries?
Replies: 134
Views: 18510

Re: How much do you spend on groceries?

We generally come close to our budget of $315/mo for family of three (little one's almost two), not including the household stuff. We're currently experimenting with purchasing beef "on the hoof" as a cost-saving measure -- results remain to be seen.
by auntJovie
Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Income Flow Diagram
Replies: 33
Views: 4627

Re: Income Flow Diagram

I love it! Cool way to think about your money inflow, and creating my own version is giving me some insight into my cashflow.
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Short Term Financing
Replies: 1
Views: 287

Re: Short Term Financing

I'm assuming you have no mortgage on house #1.

First off, the less interest you are paying, the cheaper this will be. Then there are the 'human elements'. The main concerns here should be cash flow (can you afford the payments?) and duration (are you 100% sure your house will sell in three years?).
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: sychronize Outlook on the computerS ??
Replies: 10
Views: 1340

Re: sychronize Outlook on the computerS ??

Depends how you get your mail. If you download through Exchange, this should happen automatically. Connecting via IMAP should be similarly synchronized. If you connect with a provider via POP3, it's more of a headache, I think.

Also, here's a site that might help: http://www.outlookipedia.com/outlook/synchronize.aspx
by auntJovie
Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Does anyone else...
Replies: 5
Views: 899

Re: Does anyone else...

Yes indeed, that does provide a nice little pick-me-up. :)
by auntJovie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security
Replies: 24
Views: 6726

Re: Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security

Hadn't seen this before. After going to the site and running the calculator, it looks like Stanley's PAW/UAW formula, maybe done on a more even keel for young folks.

Looks like an interesting read; I just added it to my holds list. Thanks!
by auntJovie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Savings Rates
Replies: 15
Views: 2455

Re: Savings Rates

sscritic wrote:I use net, because I like bigger numbers.
I use gross, and for the same reason!

I also include retirement savings, emergency fund, and even mortgage principal (!) if I'm suffering "personal finance blog inferiority complex". (It's a surprising pick-me-up.)
by auntJovie
Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: would you rather retire early or retire richer?
Replies: 86
Views: 8405

Re: would you rather retire early or retire richer?

fandango wrote:My motto: "You know how much money you have, but you don't know how much time you have."
Wow. I love this. Words to live by.
by auntJovie
Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cap Rates for SS and Pension
Replies: 4
Views: 754

Re: Cap Rates for SS and Pension

Can't speak for others, but I use a 7% cap rate (nominal dollars) for that estimate. You might want to use a different cap rate between the two sources to reflect confidence (or not) in getting the payout of each source. (I'm weighting SS down in mine.)
by auntJovie
Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Smartest Financial Move You Ever Made
Replies: 139
Views: 22689

Re: Smartest Financial Move You Ever Made

My best move was to keep my living standard at "college student" levels for a few years after getting a full-time job. Let us save a bundle of money, quick, and even though we are not saving so radically now, that firm footing set us up for a lifetime of debt-free livin' and peace of mind.
by auntJovie
Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Kids Allowance
Replies: 25
Views: 2779

Re: Kids Allowance

Keeping the allowance separate from "family duties" is wise. It lets allowance be a tool for learning about money and not get wrapped up in emotions more than necessary.

For a 7-year-old, a weekly time period seems more realistic. It also allows more rapid feedback and more chances for observation and discussion. As she starts to succeed in managing her weekly stewardship, you can lengthen it out to a monthly period in a more "hands-off" scenario.

As to the amount itself, that probably depends on what she'll be spending it on. (Will she be required to buy her own treats with this money?)
by auntJovie
Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: would you rather retire early or retire richer?
Replies: 86
Views: 8405

Re: would you rather retire early or retire richer?

I'm currently planning to retire early. That said, I agree with rrosenkoetter: should a half-time job offer be available before I "hit my number", I would gladly delay my retirement date in exchange for the additional time now.