Search found 2039 matches

by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any husky (dog) owners out there...help!!
Replies: 46
Views: 4873

Re: Any husky (dog) owners out there...help!!

I owned Akitas for 12 years and the digging was second nature but there was always a reason for it. For instance my dogs would dig to burry a bone for safe keeping or burry their business. Digging to escape was not as much of a problem, but with Huskies they are escape artists and will do anything to accomplish that mission. Husky dogs like having a job to do . . . like pulling a sled. They require long walks or runs on a daily basis and if You don't walk them they will walk themselves right out of Your property. Young dogs like these often should be crate trained to know that the security of their crate is a fun and happy place to be. That would make them come inside for the comfort of their space. I would never use a shock collar because ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Dec 26, 2022 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Crypto Exchange Went Bankrupt and I Lost My Funds. Can I manage the taxes with TurboTax... or should I hire someone?
Replies: 6
Views: 2510

Re: Crypto Exchange Went Bankrupt and I Lost My Funds. Can I manage the taxes with TurboTax... or should I hire someone?

It's my understanding that crypto losses are handled the same way stock losses are handled and therefore if You can claim the 11K loss which is then used to wipe out some capital gains if any and then the difference is used as a loss up to the 3k limit per tax year.

You can stipulate the date of loss would be the date the company couldn't pay it's debts. But realistically it could be the date you receive word that they can't pay you a dime on any of your holdings, which would then be a complete loss.

[An off-topic comment was removed - moderator ClaycordJCA].
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat May 28, 2022 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a home knowing you want kitchen rennovated
Replies: 18
Views: 2918

Re: Buying a home knowing you want kitchen rennovated

In a kitchen remodel, it's important to note how many circuits (not outlets) are in the kitchen. You might need to add a few extra circuits to handle new appliances like a circuit just for a rice cooker or a circuit just for an extra convection oven/microwave. Do You want an electric stove top or a gas burner? These play a large part in a kitchen remodel because it's all about Form and Function. You want it to look good, but if it can't handle what You need, then it's a waste of money. It's also a waste of money if You renovate to make it look good, but never use it....like so many housewives that want granite but never cook. I'd also suggest that in renovating a kitchen, it's a big hassle if the house You buy also needs bathrooms remodeled...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [2006 Nissan Maxima - repair or replace?]
Replies: 11
Views: 432

Re: When to buy a new car vs. repair existing car

My 2005 NIssan Xterra recently required two major things - timing belt & catalytic converter. Both were about $2,000. But instead of giving up on the SUV, I decided to have the repairs considering the 100K miles on it and that it was the original timing belt that usually lasts only 50K miles. In addition, Nissan no longer makes the model, so finding a new xterra is not possible. This SUV has no carpeting in the back and therefore easy to clean for all the gardening or pet projects I have. So this issue of older car versus repair is whether I can find a replacement vehicle at a good price. The answer is no. So, I use this vehicle for its intended purpose - chores - and bought a pre owned Lexus to drive when i want fancy. But I also like ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bay Area Housing - Yet another threadh
Replies: 27
Views: 3714

Re: Bay Area Housing - Yet another threadh

My comment has to do with the legal requirements of turning a garage into living space. While other people might have turned their garage into living space, I would check with the City or Town concerning any Permits necessary. Some places require that if You convert a garage to living space that an additional COVERED parking space be created - like another garage or carport. Also, by converting the space to 'living' there might be requirements for proper ventilation, heating/air systems, exit and entry locations, proper windows, etc. There are sometimes instances whereas if the conversion was NOT done with permits, resale of the property might suffer because while additional space is nice, it's not so nice buying a place that might have not...
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:23 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is considered “Early” vs. “Late” Retirement?
Replies: 87
Views: 10777

Re: What is considered “Early” vs. “Late” Retirement?

In my opinion, early retirement is when You stop working for money or any kind of 'benefit'. That means if You are working at age 80 and making $$$ You're really not "retired". That also means that if You're collecting SSDI (not SSI) for life, even though You haven't reached 65 or 67, You're 'retired'. It also means that if You're homeless by choice, yes there are homeless folks that prefer not to have a 9 to 5, you're also retired. Being retired has nothing to do with age, it has to do with whether one has stopped working and is never going to seek employment again. The fact that the Government and Employers give a certain 'age' to when someone qualifies for a benefit is just a fictitious state of being. Many folks that work unti...
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone negotiate a car lately? Any room as consumers?
Replies: 177
Views: 24763

Re: Anyone negotiate a car lately? Any room as consumers?

Recently purchased a preowned Lexus. There was absolutely no negotiating on pricing because the dealer had supposedly reduced the price and didn't want to go lower because the 350RX is in demand. This was the FSport version and therefore since there are fewer of these around, just bought it at the price they wanted. IF there was any negotiating it was on the 'rate' if financing the car (negotiated to 2.9% financing on a pre owned car) . . . or on the extended warranty options. I chose the best extended warranty because these cars with electronics and chips can be pricey to repair. And, if there is a 'shortage' and the parts become costly, the warranty will come in handy in my opinion.
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Valuations: 1999 vs now
Replies: 152
Views: 14732

Re: Valuations: 1999 vs now

Do you guys thibk Real Estate at least is in a bubble, or do folks here surmise prices will continue to climb? Maybe they have adjusted to a fair value and will now go back to the normal 1-2% real return? The housing market is pretty vunerable to rate shocks (i.e. what happens when mortgages are 7%?) but given the low rates of today, houses really aren't overpriced compared to the past. I agree. On threads where people ask how much to spend on a house, I often see comments such as not to exceed 3 times income on the purchase. However, this seems to disregard the significance of the rate. An example: If we say a person’s income is $100k, then someone should not spend more than $300k on a house using that benchmark of 3x income. Assuming a 2...
by DiscoBunny1979
Fri Sep 10, 2021 1:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Determining Ethnicity/Nationality of a Surname (Genealogical Search)
Replies: 25
Views: 2360

Re: Determining Ethnicity/Nationality of a Surname (Genealogical Search)

I've been doing genealogy research for some time but there is a big problem with surnames. I've documented my roots to my Great Grandparents by verifying Marriage Certificates that indicate surnames. However, when my Grandparents came to the United States via Europe . . . well, the trail ends. Why??? Because Jews and other folks changed their last names in order to fit in into the 'country' or area in which they lived. This means surnames may or may not be real given names. So, just because You get information that last name was such and such doesn't make it true. During the immigration process for instance, folks could just adopt a new last name in the beginning of last century. One of my Grandparents changed their name from their original...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Splitting solar install over a year to get full federal tax credit
Replies: 23
Views: 2338

Re: Splitting solar install over a year to get full federal tax credit

Why are you getting solar panels in the first place?? I would install all the panels at the same time. Why? Well, don't you want to take advantage of the energy savings? You won't be saving much of anything in the first year if you don't max out. When I got mine, I was able to forward all of the unused credit to the next tax year and then the next year until it was all gone. Get all of them so you know that the 'system' is working as intended. Also, if you wait a year to get the other panels, those panels might be more expensive OR not even available due to shortages or whatever the reason might be. Get them all at once so You have Your panels. Just my opinion.
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Aug 18, 2021 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 22 Year Old Starting Out
Replies: 68
Views: 6820

Re: 22 Year Old Starting Out

Maybe I missed it, but what's Your level of education or what kind of training do You have? If this job has a low salary to begin with because you are being trained on the job . . . the problem with forward thinking into the future about 20 years is that the future has twists and turns that can't be planned for. You might in year 1 of that $50K be happy at the job, and then next year there's a change in Manager or ways of doing things that makes Your secure job not so much a happy one. While investing in a ROTH would be great, I would also recommend investing in additional education or training in something that is not Your job. That way You have other skills to potentially fall back on or make a job change if You want. Staying at a job for...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Jun 26, 2021 1:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What do Bogleheads think about precious metals?
Replies: 55
Views: 5444

Re: What do Bogleheads think about precious metals?

In my opinion, Gold or Silver is really an insurance policy against the worst thing happening....which is that the stock market collapses and the 'paper' one holds is worthless (including the US Dollar). Gold or Silver will always be worth something to someone. A piece of paper, like a stock certificate, not so much. And as the world increasingly gets digitized, one doesn't even own a 'stock certificate' - what's that??? You really own a 'transaction' or a spot on an accounting ledger . . . like buying shares in a Vanguard Fund. You don't get to actually touch the shares. You get to look at numbers on a screen. Gold/Silver is an actual physical item that You can touch, see, and it's a real object. I don't view Gold/Silver as a 'store of val...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu May 27, 2021 11:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "linking" spouses' 'My Social Security" accounts?
Replies: 5
Views: 1099

Re: "linking" spouses' 'My Social Security" accounts?

Just out of curiosity does anyone know what happens if someone retires at age 62 and applies for their benefits (not married) but maybe 6 months after getting the SS benefits, marries someone 20 years younger. Can the 20 years younger spouse still obtain spousal benefits (after the waiting period of what, 10 years) . . . even though they weren't married at time of original filing?
by DiscoBunny1979
Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing in cryptocurrency. Taxable accounts vs IRA.
Replies: 24
Views: 2239

Re: Investing in cryptocurrency. Taxable accounts vs IRA.

I don't view Cryptocurrency as an 'investment'. . .it's more like Gold or Silver in that You are trading worthless US Dollars for a different form of exchange that could be used to buy or barter with AND that it may or may not go up in value. One needs to understand to some extent what each cryptcurrency You exchange Your money for actually does or will do in the future. for instance, my largest holding is with Cardano . . . and now that one can 'stake' their wallet holdings in order to earn more Cardano makes it a much better option than BTC which doesn't have staking, just the hopeful appreciation. The trouble with trading Crypto is that one needs good software to manage all the trades during the year. I prefer to hold crypto outside of a...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: what to do if you don't know cost basis for taxes?
Replies: 30
Views: 3187

Re: what to do if you don't know cost basis for taxes?

We are in the digital age, but back then, not so much. Therefore, there might be actual hard copy stock certificates somewhere, even at compushare. So one of the first places I'd check for actual dates would be either copies or obtaining the actual stock certificates.
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Nov 18, 2020 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I may die poor
Replies: 159
Views: 19895

Re: I may die poor

In my opinion, there are other places in world other than the bay area to work and with COVID, many in the bay area work from home anyway. Do You have a job that allows you to work anywhere in the world? Also, since this is an investment forum, wouldn't it make sense at Your age to take more risk in Your investments? For instance while this forum dedicates itself to the principles of Bogle investing, I'd suggest that if You want to add a little flavor to the 'future' it might not be a bad idea to have some Bitcoin AND physical silver. Silver is an insurance policy of a potential failed dollar as a currency. And to that end if You're worried about dying poor, if the dollar does eventually fail, You'll need a backup plan in either Bitcoin or ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health Insurance issues after being laid off
Replies: 5
Views: 1112

Re: Health Insurance issues after being laid off

It's my understanding that Medicare becomes Primary insurance with Cobra. Therefore You have to look to see if its really worthwhile to keep both at the same time. Some policies are 'tag along' policies and others are not. This means that employers can dictate the rules of coverage for spouses or domestic partners. Therefore some policies can say that what ever the primary holder does, the other person has to follow . . . in other cases, each person regardless of 'status' of being Owner or dependent can make independent decision making in terms of what doctors to see, what plans to choose, etc. But if Your dependent can't follow you on Medicare because of the age thing, the company can't force her/him off of Cobra because You've elected to ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Oct 14, 2020 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: PV Solar - quote
Replies: 13
Views: 1029

Re: PV Solar - quote

A few years ago bought a 40 panel system from a local company for about $40K . . . or $1,000 per panel. After the rebate for about $12k we owed about $28K . . . so your system sounds expensive to what I have . . . but a few years could indicate there's some kind of extra demand or maybe competition to obtain panels and therefore a higher price. But in my case, the energy cost per month averaged with Edison about $350 a month. So to buy 40 panels for $28K and taking out a loan with a local credit union at 2.9% for the remaining balance resulted in a monthly payment of $248. $100 lower than paying Edison. The loan was for 10 Years which I paid off early. So now, no bill from Edison or the credit union. For me, a good choice. As far as taking ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Tue Oct 13, 2020 12:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Equities in past election years
Replies: 15
Views: 1473

Re: Equities in past election years

There is something called the Presidential Election Cycle Theory that essentially suggests what years are the best time to hold and when to not hold equities. But I came across this that might be of interest:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinmck ... 4f96a04f86\
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Oct 12, 2020 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Science Fiction Movies
Replies: 179
Views: 12685

Re: Favorite Science Fiction Movies

My list includes (not limited to):

Forbidden Planet
The Time Machine
Battlestar Galactica
Blade Runner
Logan's Run
Gattaca
Sound of Thunder
Mission to Mars
Total Recall
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Sep 23, 2020 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice: Solar credit when home is sold
Replies: 12
Views: 1286

Re: Advice: Solar credit when home is sold

Why would You buy Solar Panels for a house you "might" not live in 1 year out? But since I've bought panels and took advantage of the Federal 30% tax credit, here's my two cents that might be totally useless lol. IF you buy the panels (whether all cash or take out a loan) . . . the panels are Yours. That means that if You can take them off Your roof if You need to repair the roof, You can also take them off and put them on a different house, although the configuration might be wrong and need adjustments. If you leave them on the house you sold, they become the property of the buyer. . .but You had either paid cash for them or loan and therefore the ability to take the credit is You, not the new home owner. The IRS tax credit if th...
by DiscoBunny1979
Fri May 15, 2020 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Worth refinancing?
Replies: 18
Views: 1458

Re: Worth refinancing?

In my opinion if You have to rent out rooms to cover a mortgage then You can't afford the place. But that's my opinion.
What is Your yearly income?? Have You had to replace any major systems . . AC/Heat; Roof; Carpeting; Electrical Panel upgrades? Do you have an emergency fund for home repairs and what is the balance of it? While refinancing to a lower rate to save $$ is a good idea, what is the motivating factor - affordability? If so, then lowering rate is a band aid that doesn't solve the initial problem, which is renting rooms. Could you refinance and increase rent. Do You declare the 'rent' as income on Your income taxes and what are those taxes or have You made it a 'business' which might impact insurance coverage.'?
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: difference between SLV, silver and silver coin
Replies: 11
Views: 1339

Re: difference between SLV, silver and silver coin

For inflation protection, you might consider TIPS or I-Bonds. I'd rather buy I-Bonds for inflation protection than some silver/gold coins. In my Opinion, Silver or Gold is for insurance protection against the total collapse of the dollar or War or some kind of event that makes the Dollar worthless. You hold the actual Silver or Gold because SLV or GLD is a paper contract, is not Silver or Gold, has no value except what wall street wants SLV or GLD to be at any point in time. And in this environment it has no relevance in terms of the true price of gold or silver when the spot price is at all time highs and therefore the actual cost of the metal for public consumption has nothing to do with the wholesale cost that Governments or non public ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: At what point is it necessary to cut down dead trees?
Replies: 46
Views: 3129

Re: At what point is it necessary to cut down dead trees?

Call up your utility company. They are more interested in being sure the tree doesn't ruin their infrastructure. They will do it for free. I doubt this In my area, a private company hired by the Utility company does cut trees that could fall on or are over utility lines because of the danger of a tree touching or falling on wires. But, they are only obligated to cut a tree back away from the lines, not completely cut down. I cut down a pine tree a few years ago and it didn't take long for the stump to decay. It's my opinion that dead Pine trees should be cut down because they are soft wood and the rate of decay is faster than lets say an Olive Tree. If another tree is hanging over Your house, cut that one down as soon as possible. Some tre...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Apr 04, 2020 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advice for a 26 year old with $400k cash
Replies: 76
Views: 6497

Re: Advice for a 26 year old with $400k cash

I kind of think it funny how a lot of folks here think that it's ok to just dollar cost average or lump sum because we are now at a low and even if the market goes lower, adding shares for the 'future' is a good thing. The stock market doesn't always have to go up back to all time highs making further highs. ... it could just go sideways for years. The past is no indication of future results. I would not be adding to the stock market right now until the stock market proves that it's not manipulated by the Fed or any bank. One thing that has not really been mentioned is that this student doesn't have regular income AND will be looking for a job in a market that might see what . . . 10% unemployment? He couldn't get a job as a dishwasher if h...
by DiscoBunny1979
Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who is still going into work and why?
Replies: 41
Views: 3073

Re: Who is still going into work and why?

I must be the odd man out. In CA, it is recommended and encouraged if you're over 65 OR have a chronic condition to stay home for the next 2 weeks, period. So I am trying to stay home as a person with a chronic condition. Also, the new standards by the CDC of not having meetings with more than 10 people should make it incredibly difficult for any profession to do their 'job' . . . for instance why fly on a plane? why take a bus? Sure certain jobs are important, but really even Doctors do have difficulty. For instance, i did go to my Doctor yesterday but everyone in the waiting room had to keep "distance" and relatives to patients were sent outside to wait. The Doctor wore face mask. I certainly don't want to be in a waiting room f...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Feb 20, 2020 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bought Too Much Car
Replies: 30
Views: 5559

Re: Bought Too Much Car

hmm Lexus is supposedly a great car with low maintenance that can be brought to a Toyota Dealership for service. I would continue to own it and take it to Toyota for service unless that voids the warranty. Check it out! A Lexus should last for years . . . use it for 10+ years. Get Your money's worth out of it. I'm actually looking at buying the Lexus RX350 but preowned about 2 or 3 years old from a place like Carmax that get a lot of their inventory from end of lease or Business fleet, etc. That's a better route to go than buying new. Let someone else pay for the depreciation. A 2 to 3 year old lexus RX350 can be had for about $30K. That's the car in my opinion.........because it's a V6 with great horsepower . . . compared to the Toyota rav...
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed Feb 19, 2020 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Moving due to house/location regret?
Replies: 18
Views: 3069

Re: Moving due to house/location regret?

There's one thing that matters in real estate . . . Location. However, as with everything else in life, it's never greener on the other side of the fence. I'd agree with a prior post that vetting the neighborhood You want to relocate to is paramount. If you find a house you think is great to buy, I would check out the street completely in terms of what type of traffic it has, who lives next door . . . yes, meet the neighbors before You decide to buy and ask them about how they like living there. Return to check out the area at night on a weekend and see if the neighborhood has changed from being a quiet place to noisy. Moving is a hassle, but in my opinion having more space in a house is much better than downsizing to something that's just ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Feb 16, 2020 12:02 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How important is it to hold Real Estate
Replies: 41
Views: 5001

Re: How important is it to hold Real Estate

I have a number of reasons why I own my own Primary Residence. The first is the sheltering of assets. In CA, bankruptcy protections allow to protect up to $75,000 in equity if single, $100,000 in equity if family, and up to $175,000 for over 65 or disabled. Second is IRS rules regarding treating certain amounts of appreciation as a non taxable event if selling....$250,000 in appreciation for single; $500,000 in appreciation for married. Third is the placing of solar panels on the roof to lock in rates of energy, rather than being victim to Edison, PG&E or any other utility. Fourth is the CA Medi-Cal program if I ever need government assistance with healthcare or other services . . . one can own their own home free and clear and still qu...
by DiscoBunny1979
Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a new-construction home
Replies: 28
Views: 4284

Re: Buying a new-construction home

Just my 2 cents . . . . If buying in a 'new' community of new construction homes . . . be sure to read ALL Your documents provided by the builder. For one of the new construction I bought, the builder included statements like there is no guarantee that the build-out of the 'community' will ever be completed. That means that a builder is under no obligation to finish what they started and what You thought could be a 'neighborhood' ends up being nothing but a whole bunch of abandoned lots with only you and a few others with homes. New construction now a days could be in less desirable areas because most of the good locations have already been built on. This means the builder might have built near Utility lines, by farms that might have a high...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling house without realtor - cash offer
Replies: 30
Views: 3906

Re: Selling house without realtor - cash offer

Couple of issues . . first i would do some comps in the neighborhood to see what houses like Yours are actually selling for. Anyone can say it's worth 'x' just to get You interested in selling. Second, Selling to a 'neighbor' that knows you might be too close for comfort. I usually like selling to someone that doesn't now me. Why? Because if anything goes wrong with the transaction or something is wrong with the house after purchase, phone calls and angry letters in the mail are not appealing to me. Third, if this is an 'as is sale' it needs to be detailed in writing in an original contract . . . for instance if the neighbor offers "x" for the house, in the same offer, they should accept the terms of 'as is sale' with no condition...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Jan 25, 2020 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Some possible luxury SUV choices to buy: Opinions?
Replies: 211
Views: 23114

Re: Some possible luxury SUV choices to buy: Opinions?

While some folks on here have posted they hate the grill on the Lexus, I have to point out that my experience living in the Palm Springs area indicates that there are a lot of folks that own Lexus and therefore there are probably a lot of folks that don't mind the grill and have bought/leased the Lexus because it has low repair cost (can take it to a Toyota dealer) and has good performance with the V6 and good horsepower. The Toyota equivalent . . . the RAV4 (Adventure) can't compete because of it's V4 engine. I test drove a few vehicles lately and I disagree with the person that suggested the Toyota 4Runner . . . it was a slug, had no pick up. Even though the OP wanted high end vehicles, because this is a Boglehead site . . . and some more...
by DiscoBunny1979
Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Who’s Buying Bitcoin?
Replies: 307
Views: 24884

Re: Who’s Buying Bitcoin?

In my opinion, an approach to 'invest' in Bitcoin is to Dollar Cost Average the same way You would buy into an S&P Index fund. But my holdings in Bitcoin is not for 'investing'. I treat my Bitcoin like Gold/Silver. It's insurance against the unknown - like the collapse of the dollar. And because of that, the only crypto holding I needs is Bitcoin (although I also hold some Litecoin). Diversity for insurance purposes is then Gold, Silver and Bitcoin.
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Jan 19, 2020 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Deploying a $40m windfall in current market conditions
Replies: 67
Views: 13340

Re: Deploying a $40m windfall in current market conditions

I question why someone would even post to the Internet a question to unknown people how to 'invest' that sum of $$. But for what it's worth, the issue is about one's goals. When is having money enough money to have? What is the final goal here of that $40M? 80M? 160M? Or, is it just to retain its current value and live life. The reality is that most accounts have insurance to cover $$$ but really . . . for instance Vanguard states that "Vanguard Marketing Corporation is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which protects securities customers of its members up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). Explanatory brochure available upon request or at sipc.org External site. To offer greater prot...
by DiscoBunny1979
Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you paying for car, home and umbrella insurance?
Replies: 35
Views: 3501

Re: What are you paying for car, home and umbrella insurance?

I suppose the OP is asking for a comparison in pricing . . . but since I live in CA my approximate expenses:

car insurance: one SUV 114,000 miles 15 years old: $1100.00
Home Insurance: $300K $1600.00
Home Insurance (earthquake): $700.00
no umbrella liability (yet)

Total per year: $3400 or $283 per month

Note: I don't combine car insurance with Home Insurance because in California some insurance companies will not cover Dog Bites and I have owned Akitas, which are on do not insure lists (exclusions). Therefore, I sometimes can not get insurance with the same company and my rates could be higher because of it.
by DiscoBunny1979
Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: bipolar/alcoholic/broke/jail time - how to move forward financially?
Replies: 37
Views: 5386

Re: bipolar/alcoholic/broke/jail time - how to move forward financially?

Guardianship. Had a relative bipolar and manic. Nothing you can do to make them self sufficient. This is so wrong. Like others have noted, getting evaluated is one of the first steps to getting on a good path. The other first step of course is that the person has to admit they have a problem (not only to themselves but to others) . . . and to take action. A combination of Counseling AND Medication are the appropriate steps to start. Finding to root cause of one's bipolar or manic mood swings can also help. Once they are defined in terms of triggers OR how to determine when one is in a manic episode, one can put the breaks on such episode IF they are willing and strong willed to do so. However, some of these mental issues have no "cure...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Oct 26, 2019 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should we downshift and move to Europe?
Replies: 40
Views: 6397

Re: Should we downshift and move to Europe?

I was in the Army stationed in Germany in the 1980s and I would have, upon leaving the service, moved back to Germany to work and live. Absolutely enjoyed living in a place where owning a Car wasn't necessity. But as Germany's wall was taken down there was a change - Graffiti that was never an issue, the migration of low income folks with no work for them, and a shift in other social constructs. In my opinion, one should 'investigate' the country they want to 'move to' by living there a few weeks. See what it's like today. For instance, would riding a bicycle to work make you happy like some folks do in Amsterdam? Would the cold freezing whether during December make you completely depressed and give you a cold just because it's nasty weathe...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Oct 26, 2019 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much deferred maintenance would make you walk away from a home deal?
Replies: 30
Views: 3182

Re: How much deferred maintenance would make you walk away from a home deal?

"You should do a walk-through of the property with your inspector and perhaps a contractor. They should be able to give you a good sense of whether the current or prior owners deferred maintenance and an idea of future capital expenditures." This is not necessarily the case. In California for instance, an "inspector" will check things that are visible. They might not inspect things that are hidden, things that require opening up to look and see, or even attic spaces that are not easy to access. For me, my threshold is MOLD. For instance I was in contract on a home that had a leak from behind the water heater whereas MOLD developed all over the back of the closet. I worried that the mold could have migrated into the attic...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Oct 19, 2019 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cheap Cell Phone Plan
Replies: 52
Views: 8709

Re: Cheap Cell Phone Plan

I bought HSN's Samsung Galaxy J7 Crown 5.5" 16BG Tracfone with 1500 Min/texts/data for $109.99/free shipping

I don't think you can beat the tracfone Samsung phone and minute yearly plan. You don't have to renew. Just buy whatever Galaxy phone every year for about $120 and get the minutes with it.
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: solar installation, question on added roof structural support
Replies: 20
Views: 1872

Re: solar installation, question on added roof structural support

Just curious. What happens if you need roof work? You have to pay someone to remove and then reinstall them? Yep. Usually the solar installer will do it for a nominal charge. That's why the general recommendation is to have an older roof redone before the panels are installed. Nominal charge? Before I got my panels installed I asked all those that were to give me bids on the my project and the cost to remove the panels and put them back ranged from about $500 to $1600. I don't know if that's nominal, but it is an added cost. Some said they would store the panels at an offsite location, others said they would store the panels in my garage! Yes, an older roof should be redone, but most of the companies I talked with said that if I had 5-10 y...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Sep 19, 2019 11:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: moving retired/elderly parents to soCal? sane or insane?
Replies: 29
Views: 3380

Re: moving retired/elderly parents to soCal? sane or insane?

I live in Southern California and have lived in all kinds of locations including Palm Desert, Fontana, Chino, and the hi desert area. In my opinion, the HOT weather in summer living in Palm Springs area makes it a difficult fit for some folks because you have to drive and be in air conditioning all the time. While old folks like the heat for aches and pains . . the heat feels good to sooth joint pain. . .it doesn't do good for those that need a mild temperature to feel comfortable. So while it might be cheaper in Palm Springs, or even north to Yucca Valley, the weather needs to play a factor in decision making. Mass Transit in Palm Springs is great . . .but the waiting for the bus in 110 degree heat is not. Yucca Valley for instance has mas...
by DiscoBunny1979
Thu Sep 05, 2019 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: semi-DIY solar panels
Replies: 39
Views: 4458

Re: semi-DIY solar panels

IMO the biggest risk is changes to the regulatory structure affecting compensation rates. Will your system still pay for itself if you only get paid the wholesale rate for electricity you put back into the grid? Can this problem be addressed by "undersizing" the system so that it never generates more than you need? In my opinion, you never want to 'undersize' the system. You want a system that will generate as much energy as possible to meet your current needs and the possibility of future needs - like plugging in an electric car or climate change conditions that require more use of AC than what was 'normal' 5 years ago. In CA for instance, the allowance for the number of panels or total energy production can be based upon a prio...
by DiscoBunny1979
Wed May 01, 2019 10:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My solar investment experience
Replies: 106
Views: 13119

Re: My solar investment experience

One item I have not seen mentioned here has anyone had to remove and replace their panels to redo their roof? I have seen some numbers online as high as $6K extra :shock: :shock: I guess if you have the space there are a number of advantages to a ground mount system... We went with a company that does both Solar Installation and Roofs. Their quote at the time of installation was about $1,000 to take off the panels and put back when and if a new roof is needed. Storing of the panels would be in our garage or else storage at their facility would be more. All the companies we talked with whether leasing or buying had removing and putting back panels between $600 to $1500. After 3 years of having the panels, we have not yet needed to replace t...
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House renovation financing
Replies: 24
Views: 4111

Re: House renovation financing

In renovating a house, I've found a few things to be true unless you know exactly your buyer and styles remain constant . . . no one will like your choice in granite counter top colors. No one will like your choice of kitchen cabinet style or colors. No one will like the colors on your walls. No one will like your choice of carpet. No one will like one sink in the master. No one will like having a bathtub without a shower. No one will like popcorn ceilings. ETC, ETC, ETC. The problem with renovating a house over time is that styles come and go. Kitchens get outdated about every 10 years. Electrical upgrades should be done all at once, rather room by room. Etc. Renovating a house for resale in the future (not flipping) should be done so you ...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Military Advice
Replies: 9
Views: 1942

Re: Military Advice

I mean no disrespect with this post. I'm former Military myself. But I made a conscious decision years ago to not be relying on the Military for anything - not even a pension. With that said, your post really is talking about the future and the future you wish to have with something you probably consider as a 'guarantee' of a pension from the US Government. As Greenspan has once said . . the Government can pay their debts forever because they can always print money (Fiat). The problem is that borrowing to pay Peter and Paul without paying down debt is a great way to end up in Bankruptcy court. And Bankruptcy eventually means pension holders get a cut in benefits - eventually. So, while planning for a retirement counting on the U.S. Governme...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Mar 09, 2019 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I just buy the townhouse I'm currently renting
Replies: 33
Views: 3682

Re: Should I just buy the townhouse I'm currently renting

The other thing to consider is a look back period in price of the townhouse. What were the townhouses selling for during the last Financial Crisis? Should there be another Crisis of equal or greater proportion without a backstop by the Fed or some other Government program, the property value could tumble to prior lows. Therefore I've have to accept the fact that real estate, which is more or less a consumer item (I've changed my belief that it's no longer an 'investment') can go down in value. In my area, we are experiencing another 'Top' in the market whereas prices are inflated to the point whereas the average person can not afford by a strict matrix and banks are again making adjustments to qualify folks. What's your area experiencing? S...
by DiscoBunny1979
Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: sell current home before buying new home?
Replies: 17
Views: 1983

Re: sell current home before buying new home?

Sure you can attempt to sell your house first . . but what if it does like what happened to me years ago. I put in an offer on another house with the only contingency being the inspection. Put my house on the market . . but guess what, it sells with a 15 day close! That meant I had to move out of my house without getting into the new one because I wanted a 30 day close on my purchase. So when my house sold, I had to live somewhere . . an apartment (had to find a month to month apartment near a College because many apartment complexes want year leases)! Moved everything to a storage locker except for bed and washer and dryer. Then, I had the inspection . . . and the house I wanted had a mold issue in the Water Closet behind the Water heater....
by DiscoBunny1979
Sat Sep 15, 2018 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is home alarm monitoring worth it?
Replies: 56
Views: 6607

Re: Is home alarm monitoring worth it?

The issue is having a security system that is a deterrent to crime. No system is 100% perfect. I have cameras in and around my house. Some are completely wired, others are wireless. But there is something both systems have in common. Both have to have a source of power. That means if you go wireless, you have to either choose between plugging into an outlet or having a rechargeable battery. It is not good to have a wireless system powered by a rechargeable battery because the batteries do not hold a charge very long and every so often needs to be recharged . . . which means the cameras won't work. Next in my defense of my house is a Fence that surrounds the property that is at least 5 feet high and meets the code of the town I live in. On t...
by DiscoBunny1979
Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar panels
Replies: 96
Views: 13158

Re: Solar panels

I live in Southern CA and have Edison :-( Purchased Solar Panels 2 years ago and so far very happy. To me, the Math was simple Got an estimate from Edison in terms of going on their "level pay" plan whereas each month would be the same amount. The result in asking was that they wanted $350.00 a month. My highest bill in summer had been $720.00 in August. Cost of System to "max out my roof" cost @ $1,000 per panel for 40 panels or @ $40,000 plus cost of Inverter. So, with an average utility usage cost of 350 x 12 x 10 years = $42,000. Ironically, the cost of the system cost $42,000. Financing was through a credit union @ 2.9% pushing the total cost closer to $50,000. However, the tax credit allowed for $12,000 in tax cred...
by DiscoBunny1979
Tue Aug 23, 2016 12:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Homeowners should consider flood insurance
Replies: 78
Views: 11829

Re: Homeowners should consider flood insurance

I've looked into it a couple of times, but have rejected it because the coverage for a finished basement is poor and our first and second floors would not be vulnerable to flooding. We aren't in a flood zone to begin with--we're on a mild hill, over 400 feet above sea level, and not near any significant body of water. I do have concerns about the basement in a cataclysmic rain event, but the flood policy seemed to exclude too much basement coverage while the premium was priced to cover the entire house...and again, the other floors would not be vulnerable. I'm at 5,400' above sea level, and in the 2013 floods in our area plenty of houses flooded due to torrential rains, mudflows, and rising groundwater. There was a lot of tv coverage of fl...