Search found 459 matches

by amarone
Wed Oct 19, 2016 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you analyze your spending? (Where is my money going?)
Replies: 69
Views: 15448

Re: How do you analyze your spending? (Where is my money going?)

Another Quicken user here. I download transactions daily in a single download, then spend less than a minute categorizing them (longer if it involves Vanguard money market transactions as VG does not do this right). I run reports quarterly and annually to see income & expenses, net worth, investment performance and comparisons with the previous year.
by amarone
Wed Oct 19, 2016 6:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken 2017 Windows is also available
Replies: 8
Views: 2179

Re: Quicken 2017 Windows is also available

I need to do my three-yearly upgrade. Early reviews of Quicken 2017 Premier on Amazon are better than normal for a first release of the new version. I will still hold off a bit to wait for some bug fixes. Looks a bit pricey though - $110. I know I can get some discount off this, but it still looks like being $20 - $30 more expensive than last time.
by amarone
Fri Oct 07, 2016 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Simplisafe Home Security System
Replies: 55
Views: 10596

Re: Simplisafe Home Security System

We have had three false alarms. One was while we were there - caught our son vaping at 2am :happy . The other two occasions we were not at the house and a false alarm when you are over 4 hours away is not good news. One seemed to be caused by installation of sprayfoam, and we do not know what caused the other. This has led to me not using the alarm at times because I dread handling a remote false alarm. Thank you for sharing your experience. I've wondered what you and other owners of Simplisafe do when they're called about an alarm going off when they're not home. Without video monitoring, how does one know whether the house is actually being burglarized or if it's just a false alarm? Well, two of our three false alarms were upstairs smoke...
by amarone
Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Simplisafe Home Security System
Replies: 55
Views: 10596

Re: Simplisafe Home Security System

We have had three false alarms. One was while we were there - caught our son vaping at 2am :happy . The other two occasions we were not at the house and a false alarm when you are over 4 hours away is not good news. One seemed to be caused by installation of sprayfoam, and we do not know what caused the other. This has led to me not using the alarm at times because I dread handling a remote false alarm. Thank you for sharing your experience. I've wondered what you and other owners of Simplisafe do when they're called about an alarm going off when they're not home. Without video monitoring, how does one know whether the house is actually being burglarized or if it's just a false alarm? Well, two of our three false alarms were upstairs smoke...
by amarone
Fri Oct 07, 2016 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Simplisafe Home Security System
Replies: 55
Views: 10596

Re: Simplisafe Home Security System

I have had a SS system for a little over 3 years in a second home. Overall, I am not too thrilled with the system. We have had many defective components, in particular smoke and CO detectors. I bought these detectors as soon as they became available, so maybe it was teething troubles, but it suggests poor quality control. I have also had a base unit replaced and two communication modules (the things inside the base unit that communicate with the cellular network). Simplisafe support has been very good at replacing parts free of charge, but I have been on the phone to them a lot. I currently have one CO detector that sporadically fails to communicate with the base station, even though it is the closest sensor in the house to the base. We are...
by amarone
Thu Oct 06, 2016 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

What questions should we ask before hiring? What to look out for in the contract? What to make sure is included, and is excluded. How do we make sure the architect engages the right builder? We were told that a benefit of using an architect is that they will bid out the work and help get a good price. However, the first one we have spoken to has a recommended builder. Should we care? How do we make sure the architect does the job correctly and manages the builder? Anything else you can think of I cannot answer your questions but I think I can offer some general advice. Our firm works with architects in bldg design and we perform our own construction administration on all our design work, none in single family residential. - Drive around yo...
by amarone
Thu Oct 06, 2016 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

Why would you spend $300,000 to sell a house? Why not just list the house as is and knock $300,000 off the price? Tried that (and more) - didn't work. The house has been on the market for two years. Initially, few high-end homes were selling. More recently, sales have increased but it is the renovated/pristine houses that are selling. Then the house is still over-priced. Reduce the price until you hit actual market value. A planned $300,000 renovation will probably actually cost you 1.5x or 2x that and generate tons of stress. And then it may still not sell. The house is currently on the market at $1.25m (with one prospective buyer who looked promising but has hit some personal issues that have put things on hold). The comps of nearby hous...
by amarone
Thu Oct 06, 2016 6:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Timing of SS benefit payments to 18-year old
Replies: 0
Views: 430

Timing of SS benefit payments to 18-year old

We currently get SS benefits for my stepson because his dad is claiming. My stepson turns 18 at the beginning of January, but payments should continue until he graduates high school in May. Payments will be direct to my stepson, whereas currently they are deposited into our bank account on the fourth Wednesday of each month. I have been unable to find out from the SSA site as to exactly when payments will start and stop. Maybe some Bogleheads can help and save having to call SSA. Will his first payment be December or January? On December 22 he will still be 17, but is it payment for the upcoming month, when he will be 18? He graduates on the fourth Wednesday of May. Will he receive a payment on that date, or will the April check be deemed t...
by amarone
Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

123 wrote:This makes me think that the property owner really isn't ready to sell. This is just a convenient stalling technique for whatever personal reasons the property owner may have.
Quite the opposite - that is why he is prepared to lay out a lot of money to get the house to sell. He has not even visited it for two years, so the emotional attachment (which was certainly there initially) has pretty much gone.
by amarone
Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

Architects often do construction administration ("CA") which is a totally different phase of the work from the design. During CA, the architect will represent the owner, forcing the contractor to build according to specifications that were developed and agreed upon at the end of the design phase. My wife is an architect who handles commercial projects through all the way through the budget, design, permitting, and construction phases. This normally costs 10-15% of the total project cost. If your architect is engaged for the CA phase, you may spend a little more, but you are much more likely to get a satisfactory outcome compared to using an architect solely for the design phase and managing the construction on your own. A design-...
by amarone
Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

The architect or designer will put together some pretty plans. Houses sliding down mountains sounds like a geotechnical engineer. Tearing down walls and supporting the existing structure will involve a structural engineer. In that particular area you might find a specialized engineer that does both but I certainly wouldn't rely on an architect keeping a 1.5 million dollar house supported and on the side of a mountain. Flying blindly into it you might just call the municipal building department and ask for 3-5 contractors' names that regularly submit extensive remodeling and/or new construction plans. Don't use the term "recommend" just explain that you would like to talk to a few contractors in the area. Pick a GC and check refer...
by amarone
Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

Rupert wrote:Why would you spend $300,000 to sell a house? Why not just list the house as is and knock $300,000 off the price?
Tried that (and more) - didn't work. The house has been on the market for two years. Initially, few high-end homes were selling. More recently, sales have increased but it is the renovated/pristine houses that are selling.
by amarone
Mon Oct 03, 2016 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

pshonore wrote:Are you looking for an architect to design the changes (sounds like you know what is wanted) or supervise the construction? First step in any construction project is detailed plans. Its difficult to get any reliable estimates without them.
Both. The main part of the work is to modernize the house by making it much more open plan. We need to ensure that the house remains structurally stable after the removal of some interior walls. Especially as it is on the side of a mountain - houses have slid down the mountain in this area before.
by amarone
Mon Oct 03, 2016 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Re: Advice on hiring an architect

denovo wrote:
amarone wrote:My wife and I are helping her father renovate and sell a second home. We are helping mostly because we are only 2 hours from it rather than 5 rather than because we have relevant expertise (we don't). The renovations will be extensive - probably $250 - 300k, and involve significant internal structural changes.

250-300k is a significant amount of work, what is the expected sale value of the home when remodeled?
$1.5m
by amarone
Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring an architect
Replies: 31
Views: 4089

Advice on hiring an architect

My wife and I are helping her father renovate and sell a second home. We are helping mostly because we are only 2 hours from it rather than 5 rather than because we have relevant expertise (we don't). The renovations will be extensive - probably $250 - 300k, and involve significant internal structural changes. We have been advised to hire an architect, which sounds sensible. We have started to talk to some recommended by the realtor. I am asking Bogleheads for advice on how to choose an architect and manage him/her during the renovation. What questions should we ask before hiring? What to look out for in the contract? What to make sure is included, and is excluded. How do we make sure the architect engages the right builder? We were told th...
by amarone
Wed Aug 03, 2016 3:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Lending Club - Thoughts?
Replies: 27
Views: 5638

Re: Lending Club - Thoughts?

I have similarly used some play money to try this out. I try to select people with an 800+ credit score and want to consolidate debt. I want to say that about 75%+ of my loans are people in this situation and are classified as "Low Risk" in my portfolio there. A little less than a year in, I'm generating a 7.66% return. It was my best performing investment class last year. I know this thread is a little old, but shortly after the time of the quoted post I reassessed my investment in Lending Club. I, too, was getting about 7.5% - according to Lending Club. However, I had a feeling that chargeoffs were increasing. I found that according to Quicken, my returns were actually only 5.5% And this is for what are basically junk bonds. I ...
by amarone
Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should we take this insurance money?
Replies: 9
Views: 1800

Re: Should we take this insurance money?

OnTrack wrote:I know someone in a similar position, except that it was for hail damage. He tried to get he insurance company to take back the check, but they would not take it back.
The insurance company will not want to insure a house with a damaged roof. I had hail damage identified by someone the insurance company sent round doing a routine check on the properties of new customers. They paid the claim to fix it.

They later sent me a notice of non-renewal of insurance because of the damaged roof, having, apparently, lost the record of its being fixed. When I pointed that out, they renewed my insurance.
by amarone
Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast - lease modem/router or buy?
Replies: 72
Views: 10453

Re: Comcast - lease modem/router or buy?

I have bought my own twice and installed them myself without needing an installation kit.
by amarone
Sat Jun 18, 2016 4:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Billing Error - a success story!
Replies: 16
Views: 4304

Re: Medical Billing Error - a success story!

Great to hear! The number of medical billing errors is outrageous. I can't imagine any other industry being allowed to get away with so many billing errors. Calling them "errors" is charitable in many instances. We are handling the finances of my sister-in-law, who had a stroke last September. I have a file of bills that we have not paid because they are wrong - all too high, of course. A favorite tactic is for the provider to bill the insurance company an outrageous amount, the insurance company knocks it down to something more reasonable, and the provider then tries to get some or all of the difference from the patient. This is called out-of-network. The paltry fees paid by the insurance company are irrelevant. This is also how...
by amarone
Sat Jun 18, 2016 4:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Billing Error - a success story!
Replies: 16
Views: 4304

Re: Medical Billing Error - a success story!

Nope. She had reached her annual out of pocket maximum under her ACA policy and therefore had neither further deductible or coinsurance to pay. As the "mistakes" were always in the health provider's favor, I am not inclined to believe that they were always genuine mistakes. Mind you, there is one out-of-network situation. the biggest bill was after the local hospital said that they did not accept her insurance but they would do a contract with her insurance provider. They got paid the usual 30 - 35% of their bill and only six months later did they say it was out of network and demand the rest - after previously sending a bill showing a zero balance after the insurance paid. They are now demanding $27,000. If they push this, my si...
by amarone
Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Billing Error - a success story!
Replies: 16
Views: 4304

Re: Medical Billing Error - a success story!

Great to hear! The number of medical billing errors is outrageous. I can't imagine any other industry being allowed to get away with so many billing errors. Calling them "errors" is charitable in many instances. We are handling the finances of my sister-in-law, who had a stroke last September. I have a file of bills that we have not paid because they are wrong - all too high, of course. A favorite tactic is for the provider to bill the insurance company an outrageous amount, the insurance company knocks it down to something more reasonable, and the provider then tries to get some or all of the difference from the patient. This is called out-of-network. The paltry fees paid by the insurance company are irrelevant. They were not ou...
by amarone
Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Billing Error - a success story!
Replies: 16
Views: 4304

Re: Medical Billing Error - a success story!

Great to hear! The number of medical billing errors is outrageous. I can't imagine any other industry being allowed to get away with so many billing errors. Calling them "errors" is charitable in many instances. We are handling the finances of my sister-in-law, who had a stroke last September. I have a file of bills that we have not paid because they are wrong - all too high, of course. A favorite tactic is for the provider to bill the insurance company an outrageous amount, the insurance company knocks it down to something more reasonable, and the provider then tries to get some or all of the difference from the patient. This is called out-of-network. The paltry fees paid by the insurance company are irrelevant. They were not ou...
by amarone
Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Uber Car and the real cost of driving
Replies: 71
Views: 12457

Re: Uber Car and the real cost of driving

The government $0.55/mile deal is for deprecation, insurance, maintenance, and fuel. There is a large range of cars, some as cheap as $16k new (Honda Fit), and some as expensive as $60k new (fully loaded mini van for example). So, if we assume the government calculated out a $30k car for 125k miles, that would be $0.24/mile right there. For donation miles, they give $0.14/mile, which covers gas and oil I think. So, now we are up to $0.38/mile. Insurance for a new car is at least $0.6/mile, which puts you at $0.44/mile. So, the last ~$0.10/mile has to cover tires, basic maintenance, and major repairs (more than enough). So, the government figure at ~$0.55/mile is reasonable. That doesn't mean that you can't beat it, as the number was for &q...
by amarone
Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Billing Error - a success story!
Replies: 16
Views: 4304

Re: Medical Billing Error - a success story!

sawhorse wrote:Great to hear! The number of medical billing errors is outrageous. I can't imagine any other industry being allowed to get away with so many billing errors.
Calling them "errors" is charitable in many instances. We are handling the finances of my sister-in-law, who had a stroke last September. I have a file of bills that we have not paid because they are wrong - all too high, of course. A favorite tactic is for the provider to bill the insurance company an outrageous amount, the insurance company knocks it down to something more reasonable, and the provider then tries to get some or all of the difference from the patient.
by amarone
Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 3 Row SUVs - Help Educate Me
Replies: 42
Views: 7171

Re: 3 Row SUVs - Help Educate Me

How often do you need both 3 rows in use and decent luggage space? If it is only a few times per year, then why drive a bigger (and probably less economical) car all the rest of the time just for those few occasions? Get a medium SUV and a cargo carrier for the roof.

Or a minivan.
by amarone
Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renew flood insurance?
Replies: 10
Views: 1240

Re: Renew flood insurance?

GreenGrowTheDollars wrote: I'd be much happier with a flood policy that provided up to $750K of coverage, included finished walk out levels, and that had a $10K or $15K deductible.

I can write a check for a fat deductible. What I want is coverage that protects me for the tail losses I can't so easily cover, but that isn't on offer.
Right. It costs me $1,850 to cover $250k of house and $100k of contents, with a $2k deductible, and there is no way I can change those amounts.
by amarone
Sun Jun 12, 2016 6:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Actionable advice in a Brexit scenario
Replies: 162
Views: 25539

Re: Actionable advice in a Brexit scenario

Iridium wrote:Otherwise, stay the course. The market has already priced in the short-term impacts.
No it hasn't. The market has priced in the possibility of short-term impacts. It has not priced in a 100% certainty. So if Brexit occurs (or does not occur) the market will adjust to the actuality.
by amarone
Sat Jun 11, 2016 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much to keep money in bank account?
Replies: 8
Views: 2572

Re: How much to keep money in bank account?

Although I do have an online savings account, I do not try very hard to minimize the balance in my checking account. At current interest rates, there is not much to be gained - every $1,000 you can lower your average balance by is worth a whole $10/year, less taxes. If we get a big receipt, such as an annual bonus, I will put that in the savings account and drip feed it into the checking account $5k at a time, but I don't juggle regular stuff such as salary and pension checks.

My checking account has $15k in it at the moment, which is fairly typical.
by amarone
Sat Jun 11, 2016 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Lending Club desperate for investors?
Replies: 87
Views: 13981

Re: Lending Club desperate for investors?

I had $18k in Lending Club and it was one of my best investments last year. Nevertheless, I am getting out. At the end of last month I analyzed my account as I had a feeling that charge offs were increasing. Charge offs averaged 0.5% of my investment per month in 2015. Over the first five months of 2016 they have averaged 0.84% Although Lending Club reports my annualized return as 7.5% (was higher) after allowing for a mark to market for late loans, my return as calculated by Quicken was 5.4% That is not worth the risk to me for what are essentially junk bonds. I fear that things could go very south in the next recession. It will take me years to get out - I have stopped the automated investing and will withdraw cash as it accumulates.
by amarone
Mon May 30, 2016 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking to buy a golf cart
Replies: 15
Views: 3664

Re: Looking to buy a golf cart

Tru Blu wrote:Where do you live? Are you in a golf cart community? Most places (other that golf cart communities) require vehicles to be licensed and in order to get that license you need liability insurance and most insurance companies are reluctant to insure golf carts. Tru
My cart is insured under my homeowner's policy at no extra cost. I suspect your question was aimed at the OP, but I live in a golf cart community and they require all carts to be registered, and during the registration process they check that you have liability coverage that specifically mentions the golf cart.
by amarone
Mon May 30, 2016 2:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking to buy a golf cart
Replies: 15
Views: 3664

Re: Looking to buy a golf cart

I would go electric. Gas carts are noisier, unresponsive (lag between putting foot down and going), less convenient to recharge, pollute more, and sometimes (based on those I have rented n golf courses) prone to backfire. I suppose the one advantage is that if you run out, you can just pour in some more gas, whereas with an electric cart you will need a tow.

I would say that 90% of golf courses use electric - there is presumably a good reason.
by amarone
Sun May 29, 2016 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Disability???
Replies: 27
Views: 3631

Re: Social Security Disability???

When you go on SSD you also go on Medicare. That means you might lose your current doctors. Look into that aspect before hand. My sister-in-law went onto disability a few months ago and did not go onto Medicare, nor was offered the option to do so. She is still on an ACA plan. People who qualify for Social Security disability benefits normally qualify for Medicare within two years of the date SSDI payments begin, so your sister-in-law should be eligible within two years (or possibly sooner, if there was an administrative delay in determining her qualification for SSDI, which is common.) https://www.ssa.gov/planners/disability/dapproval4.html Okay. She is 63 so qualifies for Medicare within two years anyway. Maybe that is why nobody mention...
by amarone
Sun May 29, 2016 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security Disability???
Replies: 27
Views: 3631

Re: Social Security Disability???

enebyberg wrote:When you go on SSD you also go on Medicare. That means you might lose your current doctors. Look into that aspect before hand.
My sister-in-law went onto disability a few months ago and did not go onto Medicare, nor was offered the option to do so. She is still on an ACA plan.
by amarone
Sat May 28, 2016 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recall: Subaru 2015, 2016 & 2017 Legacy & Outback steering
Replies: 59
Views: 12839

Re: Recall: Subaru 2015, 2016 & 2017 Legacy & Outback steering

We had a 2012 Outback that, after about 60k miles, needed a top up of oil. I put a quart in after 5,000 of the 7,500 mile service interval. Not a big deal. We subsequently bought a 2016 Outback and noticed that the service interval has been reduced to 6,000 miles. I suspect this might be related to oil usage. The 2016 Outback has a flaw, so far unmentioned in this thread, I think, that means I will not get another Outback until it is fixed. The windshield is extremely fragile. Subaru has acknowledged an issue where the windshield can crack near the heater vent, but has not taken responsibility for the fact that a tiny pebble can take out your windshield. In 70 years of driving between us, my wife and I had lost a total of one windshield to ...
by amarone
Sun May 22, 2016 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Still double checking bank checkbook math?
Replies: 46
Views: 5117

Re: Still double checking bank checkbook math?

Which edition of Quicken does an adequate job with keeping up with your checking account? Is this automatically downloaded to Quicken? Thanks It is every edition, I think, and has been for many years. I download each night by opening quicken and hitting "update." Not truly automatic, but all you need to do is hit the button once you have accounts configured You can configure Quicken to download automatically at a preconfigured time every day. I use 7pm because Vanguard has the latest NAVs by then. I check every transaction, but have never seen a bank error. I see a bad credit card transaction about every 5 - 10 years. Without a simple download system, I would never go to the trouble of writing in a checkbook register or entering ...
by amarone
Thu May 19, 2016 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pride in no inheritance to kids?
Replies: 233
Views: 11490

Re: Pride in no inheritance to kids?

ourbrooks wrote:There are some who feel that they've already given their kids their legacy up front by bringing them up under comfortable conditions and paying for their educations and that their financial responsibilities ended when the children were able to support themselves. The parents would now like to feel free to spend what's left on themselves.
This. And I do not think it is "pride", it is just a matter of priorities.

Given likely life expectancies, my kids will probably not inherit until they are within sight of their own retirement. I do not see any reason to restrict my retirement to pay for theirs.
by amarone
Tue May 17, 2016 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Hail damage on roof; what to do with Insurance Providers' $9,950 check
Replies: 52
Views: 24279

Re: Hail damage on roof; what to do with Insurance Providers' $9,950 check

You can certainly take the check, cash it and save it - fixing nothing. However, if you have a roof leak or other issue in the future (as a result of this hail incident or not), you'll effectively have no ability to make another a claim. If it were me and you like your home, I'd replace the roof. It's obviously damaged enough that the insurance co admitted it. A very small water leak can cause a very large problem and future repair bill. Yep. A good part of the reason they're paying to replace the roof is to prevent the possibility of future damage to the structure. So if the now-damaged roof does leak and cause water damage to the rest of the house, I suspect chances are the insurance company will not pay for it. jimb About 18 months afte...
by amarone
Fri May 06, 2016 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how much cash do you carry in your wallet?
Replies: 152
Views: 31238

Re: how much cash do you carry in your wallet?

I average about $150 although the only regular cash transaction I have is my bridge - $10 two to three times per week. Why as much as $150? So I don't have to go to the ATM too often.

I would never feel comfortable with zero cash. After all, it is useful to be able to bail out those people who smugly tell you they never carry cash, just before they ask if they can borrow some for the collection at work/snack machine/tips/donation jar/parking meter....
by amarone
Fri May 06, 2016 9:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you check credit card statements?
Replies: 79
Views: 13298

Re: Do you check credit card statements?

I don't even see my credit card statement. I get an email telling me it is ready, with a link, but I don't bother checking it. I download transactions into Quicken every day. If there is anything I cannot remember, I look it up on the Amex web site where there is more detail. I find an error or fraudulent or duplicated transaction about once every five years. My wife and I also get immediate alert on our phones whenever the card is used.
by amarone
Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Missed Payment Impact on Credit Score
Replies: 12
Views: 1824

Re: Missed Payment Impact on Credit Score

From my experience a missed payment is a big deal, score went from around 780-800 to 730-740 overnight! :annoyed So once upon a time I fell for the "10% off if you get our card today!" offer at a prominent department store. I saved $150 so I thought it was worth it. Paid the full balance as soon as bill came in, thought all was good. (right?) <snip> Le$$on learned. I have a similar story. I saved about $500 by taking the store credit card. I paid for the large purchase on time, then used the card for a few minor things. All my credit cards for the last 20+ years have been on autopay, to pay in full. This card company did not support autopay. I forgot it was not on autopay and forgot to pay. For 2 - 3 months, until they called me....
by amarone
Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ameriprise - Transition to Vanguard
Replies: 12
Views: 2711

Re: Ameriprise - Transition to Vanguard

No need to repeat the excellent advice you have already got, but will hone in on one aspect: Hines Global REIT. I helped someone escape from Ameriprise and was shocked to discover that they put 25% of her money into two unlisted REITs (one was Hines REIT - a different fund from the Global REIT). These unlisted REITs generate high commissions for Ameriprise, yet have performed abysmally. They have lost about 30% of their value over a period in which Vanguard's REIT index fund has approximately doubled. Ameriprise represented the funds like a bond or fixed interest vehicle, focusing on the yield - saying how great 6% return was. Even this number was exaggerated as some it was return of your own capital. One REIT did IPO, allowing an escape. T...
by amarone
Mon Apr 18, 2016 10:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Laptop - Touch Screen?
Replies: 22
Views: 2953

Re: Laptop - Touch Screen?

I am embarrassed to admit that I recently bought a laptop (Asus Zenbook) without realizing it would have a touch screen. I thought I would not use it, but have ended up liking it. If I am doing serious work, or plenty of typing, I am plugged into a docking station with real keyboard, monitor and mouse. But if just browsing with my laptop in my lap, I find the touch screen quite convenient for scrolling and button pressing - easier than the touchpad.
by amarone
Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Did You File Your Income Taxes for 2015?
Replies: 101
Views: 12324

Re: How Did You File Your Income Taxes for 2015?

Used downloaded version of Turbotax. e-filed Federal (IRS said my return was incorrect by $1.25 as Turbotax rounded my estimated tax payments - yes, I paid estimated taxes not in whole dollars; I will not do that again). I would have mailed my state tax returns anyway rather than pay the extra fee to Turbotax, but I could not e-file as Georgia does not support e-file if you are filing with more than one state, and Alabama does not support e-filing for non-resident returns. I got my AL refund quickly. My GA return has been in status "error" for some time and I have heard nothing. It will be interesting to see if Turbotax rounding has hit me at the state level also, or whether I screwed something up when printing and mailing my retu...
by amarone
Sat Apr 02, 2016 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help me pick a tax software [Form 8938 - Specified Foreign Financial Assets]
Replies: 12
Views: 4134

Re: Help me pick a tax software [Form 8938 - Specified Foreign Financial Assets]

I have five foreign accounts and TurboTax Deluxe handled Form 8938 with no problem and I e-filed.
by amarone
Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?
Replies: 8
Views: 816

Re: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?

This gets weirder all the time. I just noticed that the transaction I did a week ago for my wife did not complete successfully, so I was mistaken about that. The fund in the Mutual Fund account was sold, and now sits in the PMM fund in that account. It did not make it to the IRA. In my previous effort I started by going to the IRA and specifying I wanted to make a contribution, then choosing an exchange from the Mutual Fund account as the source. So this time I tried it the other way round. I went to the MF account, and specified that I wanted to exchange the PMM fund. I was now able to choose Sell in dollars, and specify that I wanted to exchange to the IRA. I STILL get the message that I must specify in dollars, even though I did. I've gi...
by amarone
Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?
Replies: 8
Views: 816

Re: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?

I have funded IRA contributions from a taxable vanguard mutual fund account in the past and was able to specify dollars. Be aware that you're actually selling shares of the fund that you're exchanging from so there will be capital gains tax issues unless you're exchanging from a Money Market Fund. I have always done it from a MMF in taxable to my IRA so no capital gains tax issues. Capital Gains Losses, actually. :( Then you need to be aware of wash sale issues if you sell for a capital loss. Do not buy substantially identical securities in the IRA within the wash sale window. That's a good point, given that both accounts contain exactly the same security (a Lifestrategy fund) to keep things as simple as possible. That's another argument f...
by amarone
Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?
Replies: 8
Views: 816

Re: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?

DSInvestor wrote:I have funded IRA contributions from a taxable vanguard mutual fund account in the past and was able to specify dollars. Be aware that you're actually selling shares of the fund that you're exchanging from so there will be capital gains tax issues unless you're exchanging from a Money Market Fund. I have always done it from a MMF in taxable to my IRA so no capital gains tax issues.
Capital Gains Losses, actually. :(
by amarone
Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?
Replies: 8
Views: 816

Has anyone funded a Vanguard IRA by transfer from Mutual Fund account?

A week or two ago I funded my wife's tIRA by exchange from her Vanguard mutual fund account into her Vanguard tIRA. This worked ok apart from the issue that I had to enter a number of shares to exchange (i.e. sell), and I could not calculate exactly what would be needed to get $6,500. So I went a little low and topped up to $6,500 with a cash transfer from the bank. Just now I was helping someone else do the same thing. However, this time I got an error message saying that I must specify the fund to be exchanged in dollars rather than shares. That sounds great - exactly what I need. Except the option to choose in dollars is grayed out and it shows "by shares". So basically I cannot do an exchange. Has anyone managed to do this typ...
by amarone
Sun Feb 28, 2016 5:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comcast negotiations
Replies: 58
Views: 9617

Re: Comcast negotiations

Would you be happy with the $120 rate? Take the triple play and just do not use the phone number. Do not port your current phone to them. You get the $120 triple play and a phone number you do not use. That doesn't seem like a great solution. At the end of the year they probably get raised to $200 a year, and then they're in a worse boat than now. Also, unless the OP asked the right questions, it's entirely possible that "$120" is substantially more than $120. My neighbor has a triple play deal with our local cable company for "$90", or $30/service. The cable really is about $30/mo, but the TV runs about $40/mo. and the phone closer to $50/mo. because of all the fees, taxes, and add-ons. So her "$90/mo" is rea...