Search found 149 matches
- Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How to conduct job search, hi tech industry
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1631
Re: How to conduct job search, hi tech industry
If you want to stay in SoCal, you can try Broadcom and Maxlinear. If you are willing to move, I believe Apple is doing some ASIC stuffs in Austin.
- Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Weighing pros and cons of potential job opportunity
- Replies: 9
- Views: 727
Re: Weighing pros and cons of potential job opportunity
Does your son go to daycare and does your wife work? The reason I ask is this is because if your son goes to daycare and your wife works, can she handle the drop off/pick up plus dinner/bath? As you have suggested, I think it's a good idea to go to the interview but I think it's crazy to commute fro...
- Thu Nov 16, 2017 4:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Chase Sapphire Res - Anyone use Trip Canc Insurance
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1111
Re: Chase Sapphire Res - Anyone use Trip Canc Insurance
I have done it back in 2012 with Saphire Preferred. It was pretty painless, an immediate relative pass away so I had to cancel to the trip to attend the funeral. The cancellation insurance is done through a third party company basically required me to fax in the funeral information (I don't know the...
- Mon Oct 16, 2017 2:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Reverse Osmosis Systems for Kitchen Sink
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1207
Re: Reverse Osmosis Systems for Kitchen Sink
Water aren't supposed to fill your daily mineral needs anyway, so just enjoy your clean water and get your minerals else where (i.e. food) Says who? Lots of "clean water" (whatever the natural source) contains naturally occurring minerals dissolved. Show me the "science" that such water containing ...
- Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Reverse Osmosis Systems for Kitchen Sink
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1207
Re: Reverse Osmosis Systems for Kitchen Sink
Water aren't supposed to fill your daily mineral needs anyway, so just enjoy your clean water and get your minerals else where (i.e. food)
- Sun Apr 09, 2017 2:54 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: bought a maintenance plan w/car (vw golf alltrack) - good deal or not?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4887
Re: bought a maintenance plan w/car (vw golf alltrack) - good deal or not?
I think it's an ok deal assuming the things they change is the same as my 13 Golf R. 10k oil/tire rotation ($70) 20k oil/tire rotation ($70) + cabine filter ($10 from amazon) 30k oil/tire rotation ($70) + Haldex fluid flush and brake fluid flush So basically you are paying $215 for Haldex and brake ...
- Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: So someone drained $13k from my checking account...
- Replies: 144
- Views: 25759
Re: So someone drained $13k from my checking account...
But I don't know if any of it really makes a difference. I have a client who had her business debit card hacked and duplicated - it was never lost - but it was mysteriously being used to purchase airplane tickets and hotel stays. She was using it for only a couple of transactions per month as her c...
- Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Thinking of getting tires from Costco
- Replies: 68
- Views: 44136
Re: Thinking of getting tires from Costco
Like everyone else has mentioned, unless you don't value your time, buying tires Costco is totally not worth it. The tires selection is limited (no Continental, Goodyear), takes literally half of day to get it done and the price is only average. All you get is the free road hazard warranty which can...
- Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:56 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: After-Tax Contributions in 401K plan without rollout option. Is it worth it?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 1597
Re: After-Tax Contributions in 401K plan without rollout option. Is it worth it?
I don't have anything to add but I want to thank op for bring up this issue to my attention as I have always thought after-tax contributions is the same as roth 401k. It turns out my 401k plan allows unlimited in-service withdraw so I just did one after I read this thread. Also want to thank everyon...
- Wed Nov 16, 2016 1:20 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Open Enrollment, HSA, pregnancy
- Replies: 5
- Views: 804
Re: Open Enrollment, HSA, pregnancy
I have gone through similar scenario this year and we came out slightly ahead due to tax saving of HSA and a uncomplicated normal birth but it could have easily gone the other way. The estimator tool typically assume a full term normal birth, if you have a preemie or need a c-section, you could easi...
- Wed Sep 21, 2016 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should i buy this house?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2979
Re: Should i buy this house?
I wouldn't do it.
Noise is one thing but the air pollution would be a greater concern to me.
I remember reading some articles about living close to the highway (<500ft) increases cardiovascular diseases.
Noise is one thing but the air pollution would be a greater concern to me.
I remember reading some articles about living close to the highway (<500ft) increases cardiovascular diseases.
- Wed Sep 21, 2016 11:54 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do I go for 0% down, no PMI, on a mortgage in SF?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1457
Re: Do I go for 0% down, no PMI, on a mortgage in SF?
Just restate op's question, what's the worst case scenario that can happen to OP if the bubble bust? He lose his job, he can't afford the mortgage he can just walk away. Bad credit for 7 years where the upside is if the bubble continues, he can make out 20% or more and have some equity in the place ...
- Mon Sep 19, 2016 4:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Transfer Citi Thank-you points to United Airlines
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1457
Re: Transfer Citi Thank-you points to United Airlines
You can't transfer directly but you can use the point to purchased airline tickets at a discount if you have citi thank you premiered card.
- Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Breaking the iPhone cycle - Any Macbook users with Android Phones?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 5222
Re: Breaking the iPhone cycle - Any Macbook users with Android Phones?
Interesting to see the Android love here. I've been a diehard anti-apple person since the iphone came out. I've used every smartphone from WebOS to Windows Phone to Android. On android, I've always gotten the flagship phone, the one that was $200 plus a contract. The S4, LG G3, etc. I broke down an...
- Wed Mar 30, 2016 5:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Job in Mountain View, CA
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2751
Re: Job in Mountain View, CA
check with the potential employer about alternative transportation, Google runs tons of shuttle all over the place, you maybe able to take advantage of that.
- Tue Mar 29, 2016 8:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Which Engineering Discipline for the next 20+ years !!!
- Replies: 122
- Views: 10665
Re: Which Engineering Discipline for the next 20+ years !!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_engineering#University_programs Folks, By the way, 20+ years ago, the hot / fashionable engineering area was Industrial Engineer. So, where is it now? Do not jump into the latest fashionable engineering area for your bachelor degree. You have 20 to 30 years ...
- Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:37 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: RSU/ISO - Transfer To Separate Brokerage Account?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1713
Re: RSU/ISO - Transfer To Separate Brokerage Account?
When I had ISO at eTrade before they were charging like $100 /transaction plus few cents/share; however, I was able to transfer the shares to a self direct brokerage account within eTrade which charged less than $10/transaction. Maybe you should give Morgan Stanley a call and see if they have such o...
- Sat Dec 26, 2015 2:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Downsize my car to save money?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2887
Re: Downsize my car to save money?
Without breaking the bank or selling the car, the first thing I would do is re-finance your loan to penfed @1.49%/36 months. https://www.penfed.org/Auto-Loans-Overview/?WT.ac=1931 If I were you I wouldn't sell a 2 year old car because all the depreciation plus the tranaction cost (tax/license fees) ...
- Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Need Advice - Young Engineer pondering of switching Great Job for more $$
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2244
Re: Need Advice - Young Engineer pondering of switching Great Job for more $$
A more apples to apples comparison would be total compensation comparison, which would would be 100K/year --> 240K/year ish (about 2.4 times increase) . Keep in mind the 240K/year calculation includes 20 hours of OT assumed worked per week where as the 100K/year total compensation only includes bas...
- Sun Jun 07, 2015 1:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Canadian banking question for green card holder (Wife)
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1027
Re: Canadian banking question for green card holder (Wife)
The problem of leaving your wife's money in Canada in a non-retirement account may make Canada think that she did not cut her residential ties with Canada, therefore, make her liable to filing Canadian taxes each year. Many Canadian banks may not want to open a new account for her if she gives a US...
- Sat May 23, 2015 12:41 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Move DRIP holdings to Vanguard brokerage?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1494
Re: Move DRIP holdings to Vanguard brokerage?
Most of the posts we see about DRIP at Computershare are how to figure out the cost basis when selling their shares held in a taxable account. Apparently, most folks never kept track of the cost basis. The aggravation and annoyance of figuring out that number means they leave it to their heirs to f...
- Mon Jan 19, 2015 6:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Birthday gift ideas for a 7 year old chess player
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2448
Re: Birthday gift ideas for a 7 year old chess player
Thanks again for all the great advices, I think I will go with lightheir's advice on the book selection. I will talk to his dad about getting an online membership, I don't mind start the boy off with a 3/6 month membership but I don't want to burden his parents with recurring fees after that. Anothe...
- Mon Jan 19, 2015 1:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Birthday gift ideas for a 7 year old chess player
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2448
Birthday gift ideas for a 7 year old chess player
A friend's son is turning 7 next month and he has been playing chess for a little over a year. Neither do his parents nor I play chess and I am wondering what can I get him to help him improve his chess skills. I was going to get him some chess video games so he can play alone at home, but I think h...
- Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best online checking account
- Replies: 59
- Views: 11708
Re: Best online checking account
+1 for Ally. Used to have ING but switched because Ally had the nice checking account offer with free use of ATMs including international I believe. Sadly Ally no longer offers free international ATM transactions. Schwab does. I have both. Love both. :thumbsup Did this happen recently? The reason I...
- Sat Nov 15, 2014 2:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How premium cable can cost $59K
- Replies: 45
- Views: 7635
Re: How premium cable can cost $59K
Able to watch Game of Thrones is priceless 

- Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New car and how to handle my father's trade in
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2786
Re: New car and how to handle my father's trade in
Okay so this method of emailing dealerships is actually becoming a pain although I still believe it will yield the best result.... After contacting the three lowest dealerships ($26,165 to $27,100) it appears they are trying to pull one over on me by trying to trick me into visiting them. What is h...
- Thu May 15, 2014 1:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: The Great Bond prediction Bust of 2014
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1998
Re: The Great Bond prediction Bust of 2014
2014 is not even half way over but it's always fun to be Monday morning quarterback. 

- Sun May 11, 2014 3:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Canadian citizen in the US - RRSP discussion
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2923
Re: Canadian citizen in the US - RRSP discussion
I have done #1 last year and the tax wasn't that difficult. On the Canadian side, as you've mentioned, you'll get taxed at 25% non-resident rate (I didn't report anything as the deduction was done automatically and as far as CRA is concerned I am a non-resident). On the US side you can use the tax p...
- Sun May 04, 2014 1:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: New Car. Finance?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 981
Re: New Car. Finance?
I would finance it. Even if you open a money market account at Penfed, you can get 1.5% for 5 years.
- Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: ESPP Shares - What to do?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3258
Re: ESPP Shares - What to do?
I am an imperfect Boglehead. Part of my investment philosophy is to minimize taxes by buying and holding until retirement (the only exception being when I bought and eventually paid off my house by selling ESPP). Once I retire my tax rate will be lower thanks to lower income and (possibly) relocati...
- Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: ESPP Shares - What to do?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3258
Re: ESPP Shares - What to do?
Would you buy your company's share if there were no discount was given? If the answer is no then why would you want to hold it for long term cap gain (if there is even one)? If the answer is yes then you may want to consider hold it. The bottom line is don't let the tax tail wag the investment dog.
- Thu Mar 27, 2014 2:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Upcoming European Vacation - Currency Exchange Questions
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2263
Re: Upcoming European Vacation - Currency Exchange Questions
Just came back from London and Paris a couple of weeks ago and we used Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa for most of the purchases and Ally bank debit card for cash at ATM. Ally supposedly can charge up to 1% of transaction fees but I didn't get charged for anything when I used it once in London and onc...
- Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:48 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Kid on the way... Can wife stay at home?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3508
Re: Kid on the way... Can wife stay at home?
Just want to point out a few things, if your house is worth 410k why don't you get it reappraise to get rid of the PMI? Also, if your wife isn't working your take home should be higher because the tax will be less. Personally, I think you can swing it but your budget will be tight. You are the only ...
- Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Leased a new car -- now what?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10798
Re: Leased a new car -- now what?
Also, proof of insurance can be shown with a smart phone.
So if your insurance company has an app that shows your insurance card, you wont even need to have it print it out.
So if your insurance company has an app that shows your insurance card, you wont even need to have it print it out.
- Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: $25K Budget for a Fun Car
- Replies: 64
- Views: 9414
Re: $25K Budget for a Fun Car
Used lotus
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ct ... 25394.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ct ... 74131.html
great handling and rare. HP is not up there but it's super light.
Look is subjective though....
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/ct ... 25394.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ct ... 74131.html
great handling and rare. HP is not up there but it's super light.
Look is subjective though....
- Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
I really have no idea, all I can say is Penfed has some great products such as their 5/5 ARMProfessor Emeritus wrote:They make it up on volume?jda wrote: the lender was giving out car loans at lower rate than their own CD.
.
- Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
To me it was a simple decision, free cash is free cash, if someone is paying me to borrow money how can I say no? :sharebeer it''s not free . to get the credit you have to buy the asset at an inflated price. Jewelers have done this for decades. To the dealer I bought from, I was paying cash because...
- Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
To me it was a simple decision, free cash is free cash, if someone is paying me to borrow money how can I say no? :sharebeer it''s not free . to get the credit you have to buy the asset at an inflated price. Jewelers have done this for decades. To the dealer I bought from, I was paying cash because...
- Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
Where would I invest the money in the sinking fund and what interest rate could I get for it? If I can't get > 3% guaranteed for it, then a sinking fund doesn't make sense for my situation. I could set aside $25k for my sinking fund and make say 1% on it. In 5 years, that will grow to $26,275 (even...
- Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
5 year car loan @ 1.49%Ron wrote:What's a car loan?
If I can't buy it for cash, I don't buy it...
If you need to get a car loan, you're buying beyond your means, IMHO.
- Ron
5 year CD @ 3.04%
Both from Penfed.
- Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 6847
Re: What interest rate did you get on your car loan?
1.49% 5 years from PenFed a year ago.
- Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:42 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cost Analysis: Living in CA vs the South
- Replies: 79
- Views: 8051
Re: Cost Analysis: Living in CA vs the South
I live in inland San Diego and I think $2500 is plenty for rent. A nice 2 bedroom 1000 sq ft condo inland (near I15) runs about $1500-1600. You can definitely find a nice condo near the coast for below $2500. Our utility bill is averaging about $50/month for a 1 bedroom 700 sq ft which includes gas ...
- Sat Jan 18, 2014 6:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Re: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
Granted I am in a much lower cost-of-living area in California than San Diego and I have a fabulous vet who does not try to nickel and dime his clients, but $550 still seems excessive to me. I had an elderly cat that was having issues eating a couple of years ago. She ended up needing to have multi...
- Sat Jan 18, 2014 6:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Re: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
Thanks again for all the helpful comments. We went to get a second opinion today and the vet didn't think the gum is that bad that it would affect cat's appetite so we decided to go with more diagnostic test which included blood work ($195) and urine test ($50) instead. Hopefully, we'll figure out w...
- Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Re: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
RM, thank you very much for taking the time to reply to my post, as a nervous new pet owner, I really appreciate it. I have been to this clinic twice and it seems like they keep the place pretty clean. However, I have only been to the check in area and the exam room, so I have no idea how clean the ...
- Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Re: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
I'm surprised at these problems at such a young age. Do you use dry food? We feed him dry food (Orijen and Evo) but we adopted him about 6 months ago and at the time his gum was already showing redness. He was also underweight at the time which leads us to believe his previous owner didn't take goo...
- Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Re: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
We always talked to nearby pet owners to ask who they used for pet teeth cleaning. I suppose it is much easier for dog owners to meet other dog owners while walking their dogs. I have been wanting to walk my cat but the idea got repeatedly shot down by the wife :P . have you tried brushing the cat'...
- Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
- Replies: 35
- Views: 4618
Cat teeth cleaning cost in San Diego
Hi guys, my cat is only 2 year old but his gum is pretty red and has gingivitis according to the vet. The cat has loss appetite lately and has left a lot of broken food pieces around his food bowl which lead us think that his teeth might be bothering him. We got the following quote and I just want t...
- Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:00 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: US Dollar Increasing
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2032
Re: US Dollar Increasing
Fed is going to print less money through QE by purchasing 75 billion worth of treasury instead of 85 billion hence the increase value of US dollar.
- Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Need advice about my Incentive Stock Options (ISOs)
- Replies: 6
- Views: 953
Re: Need advice about my Incentive Stock Options (ISOs)
I work for a startup company and have been issued private stock options (Incentive Stock Options) as part of my compensation. They vest over a period of 4 years, which I think is pretty standard. I've worked at this company for a couple of years, so my options are partially vested. I plan to stay w...