Search found 7137 matches
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How many credit cards do you have
- Replies: 89
- Views: 4083
Re: How many credit cards do you have
I have three personal credit cards and I am considering closing one of them.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 2:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 207
- Views: 9508
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
A dedicated email address for financial accounts does improve security.HawkeyePierce wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 11:56 am Neither a dedicated computer nor dedicated email will improve your security posture.
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When brand names matter and when they don't
- Replies: 193
- Views: 11762
Re: When brand names matter and when they don't
What is the criteria for a food to be labeled organic?
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3536
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3536
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 8:31 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 20-30X income, is that the "retirement rut"?
- Replies: 132
- Views: 20452
Re: 20-30X income, is that the "retirement rut"?
Multiples of income is irrelevant to me, I consider multiples of expenses.
- Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
- Replies: 207
- Views: 9508
Re: Dedicated Financial Computer Master Thread
I think it's overkill if you follow safe computing and online practices.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 1:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3536
Re: Paying Electric Bill With Checking
Safe is a matter of opinion and a matter of degree. I used to refuse to give out my checking account number to anyone, including utilities and credit card issuers for security reasons, but I relaxed that rule a few years ago and I have been using the auto debit feature for my electric utility bill as well as my various credit card bills and I haven't had any issues, it's been very convenient and I'm glad I did. But I draw the line at utilities and credit card issuers and the IRS, no one else.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:03 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: If you don't have a will made out...do it. Now. Please.
- Replies: 24
- Views: 4323
Re: If you don't have a will made out...do it. Now. Please.
Are you serious? Most people don't need a will. I don't recall the exact numbers but something like half the population cannot come up with $1,000 in an emergency without borrowing money and have nothing saved. I had a negative net worth until I was about 30.
- Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:44 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: It is really that simple to do it the Bogleheads way?
- Replies: 87
- Views: 8171
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Controling Assets From the Grave
- Replies: 31
- Views: 3635
Re: Controling Assets From the Grave
I agree.toddthebod wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:29 pm I don't see how anything other than a trust that becomes irrevocable can ensure the assets go where you want.
I do not have the desire to control assets from the grave, once my assets are distributed to my heirs then can do as they wish. I have enough to worry about while I'm alive, I'm not going to worry about things when I'm dead.
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When brand names matter and when they don't
- Replies: 193
- Views: 11762
Re: When brand names matter and when they don't
Don't leave us hanging, what is the good stuff?
- Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: When one is ready to retire and pull out of the market.
- Replies: 44
- Views: 4877
Re: When one is ready to retire and pull out of the market.
I will never get out of the market.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:20 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tracking gross or net portfolio value
- Replies: 16
- Views: 917
Re: Tracking gross or net portfolio value
You also have space in the standard deduction or itemized deductions (and other above the line deductions such as IRA contribution and HSA contribution deductions) before your taxable income is even used to calculate your tax within your brackets.Svensk Anga wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:17 am Also, assuming a marginal rate to deflate the tax-deferred portion is too simplistic. I have been converting to the top of the 25% then 22% brackets since I retired. My marginal tax cost has been noticeably smaller than my marginal rate since some conversions used space in the 10, 12 and 15% brackets.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:49 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
- Replies: 219
- Views: 25594
Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Sometimes the best advice comes in the form of counter examples, i.e. learning to do the opposite of what someone else does or says. I remember as a young man of 20-21 years old speaking to an older relative, probably in his late 40s or early 50s, about buying and financing my first car, and I made the comment that I was looking forward to the day when I pay off the car loan so I won't have any more car payments. My older relative spoke in a dismissive tone to indicate that I was being young and naive and said "You will always have a car payment." As a young man that comment struck me, I was surprised that my older relative was not able to own a car without having a car payment, it seemed odd and not financially sound, and even at...
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tracking gross or net portfolio value
- Replies: 16
- Views: 917
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
- Replies: 139
- Views: 12976
Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
Even as a billionaire the house would require maintenance and repairs. Yes, you could pay someone to manage the house, but you could also pay someone to manage it as a rental even as a non-billionaire.jeffyscott wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:42 am If I were to splurge, I think a likely possibility would be a beachfront vacation home. We probably could pull that off with what we have. The hassles of owning and the fact that we would probably have to rent it to others make it unappealing. As a billionaire, I could buy it and let it sit empty for 10 or 11 months each year.
I agree with your general point though, I much rather rent a vacation home than buy.
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mobile finance apps - do you use them?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4182
Re: Mobile finance apps - do you use them?
I do not have any mobile financial apps on my phone... no banks, brokers, credit cards or money transfer apps of any kind. I think it's too risky.
- Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
- Replies: 219
- Views: 25594
Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
How did you extrapolate? I'm not sure if you know this, but you cannot simply compare the index value from one point in time to another because the index value does not include dividends.steadyosmosis wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:53 am .
1. Retrieving the SP500 index value of the day I was born, then extrapolating what one dollar invested then would be worth today.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:58 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Should I Keep Sacrificing or Start Enjoying Myself
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3768
Re: Should I Keep Sacrificing or Start Enjoying Myself
Yes.playboy_number9 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:21 pmShould i start enjoying myself and letting the gas off the pedal?
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
- Replies: 87
- Views: 6414
Re: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
I agree, but "over planning" is a subjective thing. I also travel overseas and I carry two ATM cards issued by different banks, I think it's prudent and not over planning.michaeljc70 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:36 pm If you over plan for the worst case scenario in every aspect of your life I think it becomes very tiresome and wasteful. I don't want to live that way.
- Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:11 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
- Replies: 87
- Views: 6414
Re: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
It's not common, but I occasionally come across people or businesses that only take physical cash. I don't know why and I don't question it because it's none of my business. I do not carry checks and I do not use Venmo or cash app or any similar money transfer app.
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Active Schwab Users
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1067
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
- Replies: 87
- Views: 6414
Re: Charles Schwab cannot overnight a replacement debit card
You can't set it to zero, the lowest is $.01.typical.investor wrote: ↑Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:16 pm You can always set your POS limit to zero which would stop any online or in-store transactions, and just use the debit card for ATM usage.
- Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]
- Replies: 785
- Views: 84171
- Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Is Raymond James beating the SP500? That's what they are claiming.
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4786
Re: Is Raymond James beating the SP500? That's what they are claiming.
I would be wary of a claim based on one 22 year old paper based on one 10 year time period.
There will always be stock pickers who beat the SP500 over various time periods. I could pick 10 stocks right now and if I'm lucky the total return of those 10 stocks might beat the SP500 over the next 5 years, or they might not, but in either case you should not invest based on which stocks I choose.
There will always be stock pickers who beat the SP500 over various time periods. I could pick 10 stocks right now and if I'm lucky the total return of those 10 stocks might beat the SP500 over the next 5 years, or they might not, but in either case you should not invest based on which stocks I choose.
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
- Replies: 139
- Views: 12976
Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
You didn't answer the question, what is your limit?
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
- Replies: 139
- Views: 12976
Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
What is your limit? Would you pay an extra $15,000 for business class? $20,000?
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 12:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
- Replies: 139
- Views: 12976
Re: Have any of you Frugal Zebras Changed Your (Spending) Stripes?
And, I'm not sure I ever will be able to pay for first class air, even though I could. Just can't get over paying thousands more for a seat that gets me from point A to point B at the same time as economy. Even on a long overnight flight, although perhaps some day that will change. I am planning a trip to Europe, the approximate cost for a roundtrip economy ticket for my destination in Eastern Europe with one stop (I excluded all itineraries with more than one stop) is $1,400 and business class for the same itinerary is $6,000 per person. For two people that is approximately $3,000 for economy compare to $12,000 for business class. I can afford to pay for business class but I cannot bring myself to pay an extra $9,000 for an 8 hour flight ...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 5036
Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Some people who use Mac computers may consider it a disadvantage to use a smartphone other than an iPhone because it is not a part of the Apple ecosystem but I consider it to be an advantage. I use a Mac mini and a MacBook Air as my primary computers and I have a Google Pixel 8 Pro smartphone. I use the Mac computers to store my important documents on iCloud and I enabled the Advanced Data Protection program which makes them encrypted, and I use the Mac computers exclusively for accessing my banking and investing accounts and I do not have any banking or financial apps on my Pixel phone. The net result is I feel much safer that my important documents and financial accounts cannot be accessed by someone who steals or finds or otherwise gains...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 5:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 5036
Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Wow, what a family! That would be a reason for me not to get an iPhone.eggraid101 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:22 amI switched back to an iphone because I got bullied by my family who all had them ...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mental health or Money: navigating the OMY question
- Replies: 48
- Views: 4970
Re: Mental health or Money: navigating the OMY question
I would stay for one more year and use all vacation time in the interim to get through it.
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 7:54 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Responding to credit card "update your income" requests
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1078
Re: Responding to credit card "update your income" requests
I agree.nisiprius wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 7:37 am It's a reasonable question for them to ask, and a reasonable question for me not to answer.
I think it's important not to get into the habit of answering random questions, particularly over the Internet, just because someone asked. I do pay attention to the little "this information is required" asterisks and I do not fill in blanks if they are not required.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Does testing out FreeTaxUSA make sense?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2768
Re: Does testing out FreeTaxUSA make sense?
Yes, it is possible. I use TaxHawk (I think it is part of the same company and uses the same software) it is also free and I can submit any information I want and review the results before e-filing. You can review the results in summary form on their software, or you can review the information on the IRS forms with a DRAFT watermark printed on the forms.WeakOldGuy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:22 pm Is it possible to go through the process of doing the return in FreeTaxUSA but just not submitting it?
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1643
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1643
Re: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
Wow, 8foot7, that is interesting information about EWS. It is troubling to me because if a customer gives their bank account information to anyone, the bank will claim that is a violation of their terms of service and often use that as grounds for refusing to compensate fraud victims... and yet banks routinely give customer account information to EWS? I was under the impression that my bank does not share my bank account information, including balances, with anyone without a court order or government compulsion.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1643
Re: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
To my knowledge there is no service that knows how much is in my checking account, that would violate my expectation of confidentiality with my bank. Besides, the amount changes everyday and intraday as various amounts are credited and debited throughout the day.MGBMartin wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:31 am The last few cars I’ve bought I paid for by personal check; never questioned about it.
I asked one of the dealers how they know the check will be good and he told me they use a service that checks if the account is good for that amount plus they know where I live.
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:24 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1643
Re: Best way to pay for a car in cash with Schwab
What do you mean by "direct debited?" I think the reason for refusing a personal check is the risk that the check will bounce several days later after they do all the paperwork and you drive away with the car.scifilover wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:44 amGiven that most checks given to businesses are direct debited to the account of the writer, there isn't any real reason for refusing a check.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Safe to Travel to Egypt in 2024?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2262
Re: Safe to Travel to Egypt in 2024?
Define what "safe" means to you.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:19 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Retirees: at what age...?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 5262
Re: Retirees: at what age...?
I agree, it is a question of degree. We are all wired differently and we all have different life experiences, some of us can be very happy spending much less than others.delamer wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pmEverybody spends money on things that they don’t strictly need. It is just a question of degree.Florida Orange wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:28 pm Having lived frugally my whole life, first out of necessity then out of habit, I now find it difficult to spend money on anything I don't need, even though I easily could and probably should.
It's possible for someone to spend $500,000 per year and live a jet set lifestyle and be miserable while someone else may spend $50,000 per year and live a relatively modest lifestyle and be very happy.
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:14 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Retirees: at what age...?
- Replies: 48
- Views: 5262
- Tue Feb 27, 2024 8:02 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Divorce and co mingling asset question
- Replies: 49
- Views: 6981
Re: Divorce and co mingling asset question
Did you ask your attorney? The answer depends on the law of your state and the judge assigned to your case and whether you and your spouse will fight over the issue. Regardless of the law of your state, if there is no fight then there is no issue.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5268
Re: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
Most likely yes.roamingzebra wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 12:24 pmBut if one wants to close a parent's bank account, yet leave the credit card side open to pay off remaining bills (the credit card being paid off by an entirely different bank), will this be thwarted by MegaBank shutting down both checking and credit card?
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5268
Re: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
I think that is a good idea, so long as your sister knows about the account. If you do that but do not tell her, or if you tell her but she can't remember where the account is after you are gone, then she will not be able to access the money. I've often wondered what happens to accounts with beneficiaries if the beneficiary does not know about the account or does not contact the institution where the account is located. I think it depends on the policy of each institution and the law of each state, the account eventually escheats to the state.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5268
Re: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
Your understanding is correct. It's not generally that way, it is always that way.HomeStretch wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 5:26 am My understanding is that an authorized signer’s authority generally ends with the death of the account owner.
I suspect when capran wrote of "added with signatory ability" that meant a joint account. Also, the bank does not usually find out of the account holder's death immediately.
- Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5268
Re: In the event of an untimely death, what is the best way for family members to have immediate access to funds?
She doesn't have to agree. And there doesn't have to be any checks, I'm sure this varies depending on the institution and the account, but In my experience with opening new savings or checking accounts ordering checks is an option not a requirement.
- Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:24 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Odd phone call to an old number, should we be concerned?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2256
- Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Umbrella Policy
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2158
Re: Umbrella Policy
If my umbrella gets damaged I can cover my head with a towel so I don't feel the need to pay for umbrella insurance.
- Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Who is buying bonds?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 8957
Re: Who is buying bonds?
I understand (and I know you know this) but I think being "out of favor" is a good thing for buying new shares.
- Sun Feb 18, 2024 10:25 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Who is buying bonds?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 8957