Search found 2486 matches

by Teague
Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I will need a new car or repair one
Replies: 46
Views: 1912

Re: I will need a new car or repair one

By far the most economical option is fix the car. Get a second opinion on those repairs before you do that.

If you're looking for justification to buy one of the other cars you mention, we hereby collectively grant you permission to do that.
by Teague
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable generator issues
Replies: 20
Views: 2069

Re: Portable generator issues

As billaster helpfully noted above, yep, that's backwards, and that sounds like the most likely explanation from what we've been told so far. I've rebuilt or replaced a number of small engine carburetors (and a few automobile carbs back in the day) and I've never seen one that ran decently right out of the box without adjustment. Have a go at that screw! Just don't screw it inward forcefully or you can damage the needle (the pointy end of the screw) or hole it fits into. Note that depending on the unit, there could conceivably be a low speed and a high speed screw.
by Teague
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gas dryer - safe to tinker?
Replies: 10
Views: 748

Re: Gas dryer - safe to tinker?

I'd say you're very unlikely to get into trouble. When you're done and have reconnected everything, put soapy water on all gas line joints and look for bubbles indicating leaks (if you even take any of those apart). Assuming you're not one of the rare folks who can't smell the thiol/mercaptan odorant in domestic natural gas, give things a sniff as well. My money is on one of the safety mechanisms being defective, or alternatively a bad gas solenoid.
by Teague
Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undersizing whole house generator?
Replies: 62
Views: 4814

Re: Undersizing whole house generator?

OP, can you confirm or refute that you do indeed have 3-phase service? If you do, is it 240V, or 480V? The breaker you linked to suggests that you do, but perhaps that's not the exact breaker you have. Three-phase service to a residence is not common. For sure 480V is unusual. If 480V three phase, do you perchance have a monorail or other theme park ride on the property? You ask in order to spec the generator? Not really. I ask simply out of curiosity because your situation seems so very unusual that I want to know more about it. Like seeing an elephant wandering through the neighborhood streets, it's hard not to ask questions. I wouldn't presume to suggest a generator for such unicorn of a situation because of course that's best left to l...
by Teague
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undersizing whole house generator?
Replies: 62
Views: 4814

Re: Undersizing whole house generator?

OP, can you confirm or refute that you do indeed have 3-phase service? If you do, is it 240V, or 480V? The breaker you linked to suggests that you do, but perhaps that's not the exact breaker you have. Three-phase service to a residence is not common. For sure 480V is unusual. If 480V three phase, do you perchance have a monorail or other theme park ride on the property?
by Teague
Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undersizing whole house generator?
Replies: 62
Views: 4814

Re: Undersizing whole house generator?

snackdog wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:35 am
I'm thinking since 20kw generators are so ubiquitous and cheap now ($5k at Costco), maybe I could get 2-3 and wire up to different subpanel masters. Will have to see. Could be cheaper than one 60 kw ($25,000 for a Cummins).
Is that even allowable? I'm certainly no AC whiz, but since the generators' outputs are not synchronized, you could have many different electrical potentials in reference to ground at any given point in time, at various locations and appliances in the house, perhaps right next to each other. That just sounds really scary, to me anyway. Any electricians out there who can confirm or refute that this would be/not be ok?
by Teague
Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Undersizing whole house generator?
Replies: 62
Views: 4814

Re: Undersizing whole house generator?

OP, could you link a picture of your main service panel, including a photo specifically of the main breaker in that panel?
by Teague
Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any audiophiles on this forum?
Replies: 321
Views: 40838

Re: Any audiophiles on this forum?

My hi-fi journey started when I built my first set of speakers (3-way, designed & wound the air-core inductors myself) in 1977. In 1981 I began selling Dual turntables, Ortofon Cartridges, and ESS AMT 1A speakers, and so on. A couple of careers later the interest still holds. However, at this point I do bypass the greatest distortion sources, which are room acoustics, loudspeakers, and power amplifiers. To that end I have implanted gold electrodes connecting my cochlear nerves to BNC connectors in my temples, to which I attach 100% copper-free copper cables hand braided by the fairest of maidens. These are driven by a spin-corrected electron tube preamp of which there exists only one, so brand really is not meaningful here. So far I hav...
by Teague
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College cheating, what would you do?
Replies: 64
Views: 4353

Re: College cheating, what would you do?

wilked wrote: Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:48 am Here's the thing.... in college everyone cheats...
That is not true. I never did, in undergrad, professional school, high school, whatever. I know other folks who can certainly say the same.

What I have noticed is some peers marveling at how I can recall and integrate concepts from college while they barely have any recollection of having seen those subjects before.
by Teague
Tue Feb 20, 2024 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sound bar
Replies: 43
Views: 4015

Re: Sound bar

Personally, I love my sound bar and it gives me more bass than I need. I mainly use it to listen to music. I don't understand the obsession with house-shaking bass, I have had subwoofers in the past but don't feel it's necessary with a decent sound bar. Yes, it's a massive improvement over most built-in TV speakers. Even a $5 set of earbuds give you much better sound than those. Subwoofers are a curious thing. I have put lots of bass absorbing panels in my home theater to reduce the “woofiness” of my 2 subs in a small room. I am not a bass fanatic, but it adds to the enjoyment of much music and film when you have a properly calibrated system. That said, many/most home theaters are poorly calibrated and the subs are completely out of whack....
by Teague
Tue Feb 20, 2024 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?
Replies: 11
Views: 1308

Re: How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?

CaptainT wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 3:06 am Please don't. My walk says" ♡Nana +pappa " it isn't me nor the owner before me but 2 owners ago and about 25 years ago. Do you really want this still there in 2 owners?
Absolutely! There are such things from previous owners in and around my house and I find them charming, historical even. Perhaps not a Stonehenge or Machu Picchu, but I have no qualms about future societies marveling at the site of "Teague Family 2024."
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?
Replies: 11
Views: 1308

Re: How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?

MathWizard wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:56 pm If you want the letters to be indented,
I'd try candy letters for birthday cakes, and press them in.
I assume that they would dissolve later.
Brilliant! Thank you!
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle
Replies: 24
Views: 1428

Re: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle

student wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:05 pm
Teague wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:42 pm I don't understand the concern, it's not toxic and not an indication that the kettle would ever rust through. Quite the tempest in a tea kettle.
I understand that small amount of rust is probably fine. I boil all my water before drinking and worry about long term effect. Rusting after two weeks is not a good sign to me.
To help reassure that even a large amount of rust is fine, too, consider the meters to miles of rusted steel pipes that your water almost surely goes through before it ever hits your teakettle.

If still concerned, ask the experts at Poison Control. They exist to answer such questions, as well as much more complicated ones. Nationwide number is 1-800-222-1222. They will reassure you.
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?
Replies: 11
Views: 1308

How stamp/engrave/imprint wet concrete?

Howdy,

We are having a small concrete project poured in the next few days and would like to add a corny imprint like "The Teague Family, 2024."

What's the best way to do this? Thanks!
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle
Replies: 24
Views: 1428

Re: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle

I don't understand the concern, it's not toxic and not an indication that the kettle would ever rust through. Quite the tempest in a tea kettle.
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle
Replies: 24
Views: 1428

Re: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle

student wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:53 pm
Teague wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:40 pm The term "stainless steel" covers a lot of different alloys with different degrees of resistance to rust/corrosion. Rust spots are entirely possible on stainless steel. Just ask a Tesla truck owner, regardless of that manufacturer's explanation of "surface contamination."
After two weeks? This is the kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTBXWB4?re ... tails&th=1

How to determine whether it is rust or mineral deposit?
Two weeks? Sure. Even two days should be plenty. As to whether rust or mineral (leaving aside that rust could easily be considered a mineral) it doesn't matter as both are harmless.
by Teague
Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle
Replies: 24
Views: 1428

Re: Brown spots on the inside bottom of the kettle

The term "stainless steel" covers a lot of different alloys with different degrees of resistance to rust/corrosion. Rust spots are entirely possible on stainless steel. Just ask a Tesla truck owner, regardless of that manufacturer's explanation of "surface contamination."
by Teague
Sun Feb 18, 2024 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job title advice
Replies: 31
Views: 3118

Re: Job title advice

Chairman, Dept. of Architectural Database Surgery.

Emeritus.
by Teague
Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sound bar
Replies: 43
Views: 4015

Re: Sound bar

Most "sound bars" would be an improvement over most built-in TV loudspeakers. But it will depend on the relative quality of each. 32 feet away is a long distance, and that implies a large room and so a large volume of air that subwoofer is being called upon to excite. How much bass volume you will get at your viewing/listening position depends on a lot of things, including subwoofer size, mechanical and electrical efficiency, how much power is driving it, basic design of the sub (e.g. sealed vs. ported, tuning frequency), where along the wall it is placed (e.g. in a corner will be far more efficient and therefore louder than in the middle of a wall sandwiched between protruding cabinets), shape of room, and more. And so far we're ...
by Teague
Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25524

Re: What inferior good do you love?

Seedy old run down Nevada Casinos. It's been years since I've been, but I enjoy the in-person history lesson / time capsule experience, combined with modern day sociologic observation.
by Teague
Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: car salvage question
Replies: 17
Views: 1631

Re: car salvage question

Generally you'd need to pay the insurance the salvage value in order to keep it. How much did the insurance quote for this?
by Teague
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12478

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

Since there is a fair amount of discussion about make-it-yourself vs. store bought pizza, allow me to suggest a rabbit hole pizza forum in which one can get lost for hours if not days. There is advice from and for all levels there, from beginner to advanced amateur to commercial industry consultants.

https://www.pizzamaking.com/

You may find that you can pretty easily make a pizza at home that is superior to most pizza parlor products, and for less money. The reason being parlors are constrained by production volume / overhead /operating cost requirements, whereas at home you are lovingly creating one or a few pizzas at a time. They make a commodity, you make artisanal pizza.
by Teague
Sat Feb 10, 2024 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Furniture - It's glued, right?
Replies: 91
Views: 7539

Re: Furniture - It's glued, right?

Very probably glued. As my old woodshop teacher taught us, the purpose of wood screws and fasteners is to hold the pieces in alignment until the glue dries.
by Teague
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment suggestions for an ongoing trust?
Replies: 1
Views: 372

Investment suggestions for an ongoing trust?

Greetings financial comrades in arms, I soon will be tasked with administering a special needs trust for a relative, as I will be the trustee. The amount to be placed in the special needs trust will be approximately $2M. I must decide how to invest this money, keeping in mind that the income tax rates on trusts are quite high. I am looking for tax-efficient ideas for investing / managing this money. There will be occasional withdrawals, probably totaling $50k/year, for the support and welfare of the special needs beneficiary. There could conceivably be larger withdrawals for a medical emergency or the like. My first thought was invest the money in a 50/50 split between a low cost S&P 500 fund, and a TIPS ladder. But could I do better th...
by Teague
Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 41938

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

Retirement

Moving to acreage in the countryside

Willingness to travel for superior medical care

Costco

Knowing how to cook

Daily exercise
by Teague
Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please
Replies: 11
Views: 2200

Re: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please

batman wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:39 am By the way, here is an aged version that you can order from an austrian shop:
https://schaetzeausoesterreich.at/rohmi ... O1916.html

Also this shop is OK:
https://www.steiramarkt.at/produkt/alm-emmentaler/
Wonderful, thank you!
by Teague
Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please
Replies: 11
Views: 2200

Re: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please

batman wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:34 am Austrian here...
Sounds very much like Emmentaler. In particular the holes are typical in Emmentaler and it has a nutty taste.
Could that be it?
Yes, I am pretty certain I seek an Emmentaler. Holes and nuttiness, definitely yes! Unfortunately, the commonly available options here in the USA seem rushed to market with little aging, and are quite bland to my taste. That problem has only gotten worse over the years with cheeses in general. I believe it is indeed a well-aged Emmental I am looking for. But which, and where do I find it?
by Teague
Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please
Replies: 11
Views: 2200

Re: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please

Thanks. The Gruyeres I've tried so far are a bit softer/creamier than what I seem to recall. And no holes, though I really don't care about that, unless holes are required for the flavor. Perhaps it is a different Gruyere, or an aged Emmental that I seek?
by Teague
Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please
Replies: 11
Views: 2200

Need Alpine cheese suggestion, please

Hi all, I'm seeking an alpine-style cheese that I recall from my youth, or something similar. It was pretty widely available in supermarkets, sliced in ~8 oz packages. The brand was "Austrian Alps." It had a decent amount of ageing behind it, very nutty, on the firmer side even for alpine cheeses. Many holes, some quite large, which I know some may regard as a defect. No matter. This brand is apparently available online in modern times, though I'm not sure if the modern version of the brand resembles what I remember. However, the shipping charges for an 8 ounce block of the stuff are around $30, which reflexively activated my tightwad response which is insurmountable. I've tried other options: Jarlsberg - meh, too boring, not enou...
by Teague
Sat Jan 20, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do with this car
Replies: 17
Views: 1415

Re: What to do with this car

It's good practice to replace the battery at the same time, especially one that is 4 years old. I'll be glad to elaborate if anyone doubts this.
by Teague
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"
Replies: 32
Views: 2713

Re: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"

You won't know if you are getting a good price without listing the house. I assume the investors don't need a buyer's agent, so call the agent, ask them how the commission is split, and ask them if the investors submit a competitive bid if you can sell it with only the seller's commission taken out. Remember that the agents' commissions are taken out of the seller profits, so there's no difference to the investors if there is an agent involved our not. The only advantage to them in buying direct from you is paying a lower price. The investors will not be using any agents, they are professional real estate investors, will be buying for cash, as-is. This is an either-or thing, once I sign a listing agreement with a Realtor the "investor...
by Teague
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"
Replies: 32
Views: 2713

Re: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"

Big Dog wrote: Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:33 pm selling to investors is common. But note, you are not saving 5/6% commission, as the investors will come in with a low-ball offer; likely all cash and a 30-day close. Very attractive as no-fuss, no muss. They want to either 1) spruce it up and flip it for a quick profit, or 2) turn it into a rental. Kinda like trading yoru car into the dealer vs. selling to a private party.
Actually what happens in this neighborhood is that the house gets razed, the lot cleared, and a giant box of a "mansion" gets erected.
by Teague
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"
Replies: 32
Views: 2713

Re: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"

You won't know if you are getting a good price without listing the house. I assume the investors don't need a buyer's agent, so call the agent, ask them how the commission is split, and ask them if the investors submit a competitive bid if you can sell it with only the seller's commission taken out. Remember that the agents' commissions are taken out of the seller profits, so there's no difference to the investors if there is an agent involved our not. The only advantage to them in buying direct from you is paying a lower price. The investors will not be using any agents, they are professional real estate investors, will be buying for cash, as-is. This is an either-or thing, once I sign a listing agreement with a Realtor the "investor...
by Teague
Fri Jan 19, 2024 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"
Replies: 32
Views: 2713

Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"

Greetings all, I am tasked with selling the house of a deceased relative. I have two options set before me: Option 1: Put the house on the market in the typical fashion. I have made contact with a highly recommended (by a longtime real estate savvy friend) Realtor with 20 years local experience who will charge 4%-5% commission. I have found nothing but positive reviews and recommendations about this person, have met them in person, they have seen the house, and they seem trustworthy and responsive. I do not yet have a written listing agreement with this Realtor. Option 2: Entertain offers from unspecified investors procured by the licensed appraiser who evaluated the property upon the death of the owner. The appraiser seems fine as well, go...
by Teague
Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Resignation Letter
Replies: 70
Views: 6943

Re: Resignation Letter

Should I mention in my resignation letter that I am leaving due to the level of my compensation? I had asked for a raise in June 2023 and when denied I let the manager know that I would considering leaving the company. Multi-billion dollar utility, they have the money. In your resignation letter, be as brief as possible and offer absolutely no comments. Nobody in the company cares about your reason for leaving. In addition, they obviously do not care about your leaving as they have not given you the raise as requested. Agreed. My letter read as follows: "To whom it may concern: I resign and will retire with a separation date of 01/01/20xx. -Teague Associate widget polisher, vaporware division." (I did not like them, Sam I Am.)
by Teague
Sun Jan 14, 2024 9:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How To Drain this Pipe?
Replies: 28
Views: 3339

Re: How To Drain this Pipe?

Since you can access the top of the intake pipe, how about this:

Thread a sturdy (resistant to collapse) hose or tube down the pipe to approximately just below the lake surface, wherever that may be at the moment, precision placement is not important. Use a self-priming pump or similar to begin evacuating water. Slowly withdraw the tube while the pump is running. When you start sucking air, very slowly start to reinsert the tube, a couple of inches at a time, until you get a steady flow of water. Withdraw the tube slowly again, when you start sucking air again, you should be done. You should wind up with only air in the intake pipe above the lake surface level.
by Teague
Fri Jan 12, 2024 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: mailbox won't stay closed - gizmo is too soft
Replies: 19
Views: 1976

Re: mailbox won't stay closed - gizmo is too soft

tunafish wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:01 am Okay, I sent her an email.

I am a little puzzled. Where I lived before the mailbox was 30 years old and didn't do this. They're both some kind of metal, i assume some sort of steel.
Sure. But there is steel for making tin cans, steel for making Martian probes, steel for making watch springs, steel for shotgun pellets...
All very different.
And we haven't even touched how the thing was designed, shaped, or assembled. Anyway, you have some good suggestions for fixes here, good luck!
by Teague
Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What sort of mover should I hire?
Replies: 11
Views: 1343

What sort of mover should I hire?

Hi gang,

In about 3 weeks I need to move some stuff about 250 miles, for a relative. Basically it's about half of a one-bedroom apartment worth of stuff, to a different apartment, again 250 miles away.

Back in the day I'd just rent a U-Haul and do it myself, but over time my get-up-and-go has decreased while my bank account has increased, so I'd prefer to hire this out.

What are the best options for hiring out a small job like this? I've never used a mover before so I am completely unfamiliar with the available options.
Thanks!
by Teague
Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oil change frequency on older Toyota (w/ 140k)
Replies: 64
Views: 7569

Re: Oil change frequency on older Toyota (w/ 140k)

I would like to offer my thoughts consisting of a collection of old wives' tales, unsubstantiated dogma, attractive but unsupported rules of thumb, and negatives which cannot be proven, all interspersed with the occasional fact just to keep things seemingly believable. However, as this work has already been done for me, I'll just offer that I generally follow the manual. Unless of course I feel like doing differently at the time.
by Teague
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2009 Corolla and its ABS light
Replies: 17
Views: 2026

Re: 2009 Corolla and its ABS light

To keep things in perspective, remember that ABS is not needed to stop the car, and that many of us drove for decades without incident before that newfangled contraption was even invented. Why, I remember back when Ma and me was heading down to Woolworths one day to buy a new washboard, when...

Well, anyway, the point being the car will still run and stop even if the ABS is non-functional. Best to get it fixed, but no emergency there.
by Teague
Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2009 Corolla and its ABS light
Replies: 17
Views: 2026

Re: 2009 Corolla and its ABS light

Intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose. Be aware the dealer may not be able to find the problem if it is not misbehaving at that time. However, hopefully there is a "history" code set in the computer. Those type of codes set when a malfunction occurs, then resolves itself. Very useful for tracking down intermittent issues. They don't always stay set forever though, and so if it has been a long time since the malfunction there may not be any malfunction code there to interpret. Probably the most common cause of this problem is a defective wheel speed sensor, or a broken/intermittent wire to such sensor. For example, a rodent has been chewing on that wire down near the hub. Those issues are usually relatively cheap to fix...
by Teague
Tue Jan 02, 2024 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: did/will dealing with difficult people cause you to retire?
Replies: 31
Views: 3240

Re: did/will dealing with difficult people cause you to retire?

If by "difficult" one means a sociopathic narcissist boss who has virtually no supervision, why then, yes, that can indeed be a contributing factor.
by Teague
Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Choosing child over spouse for pension survivorship benefit
Replies: 37
Views: 5057

Re: Choosing child over spouse for pension survivorship benefit

I tried doing just this sort of thing a few years ago when I retired. A state government agency-affiliated organization in my case. The paperwork was cruising right along through the process until near the end, when everything went through a series of checks before being finalized. In the end, naming the child was not allowed. The explanation I was given was that this was prohibited by a (I think IRS?) rule which stated something like the potential (actuarially likely?) benefit to the survivor cannot be more than x% of the potential benefit to the retiree. So, while naming the child seemed to be the most logical thing to do, and the first tier or two of retirement department employees didn't flag a problem with that, in the end it was disal...
by Teague
Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CCRC's are out. Tips for "aging in place"?
Replies: 45
Views: 8970

Re: CCRC's are out. Tips for "aging in place"?

A friend has an elderly mother in her 90's who is in decent health considering her age, including being alert and reasonably mobile with a walker. She has 24-hour coverage in her home, and it is approximately $5,000 weekly in a LCOL area. This is a family that can meet this, and it may be more than many would need in a similar situation. It also involves regular contact with the agency regarding no-shows, staff that are not ideal for various reasons and numerous requests for other needs such as grocery shopping or transportation to doctors or occasional hospital stays from family members. It is very intensive and expensive, though this is more than many families would be able or willing to undertake. That's a good description of the experi...
by Teague
Mon Dec 11, 2023 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Improving cooking skills
Replies: 49
Views: 4990

Re: Improving cooking skills

For whatever books you get, every once in a while open one up and make one of the most complicated recipes in there. I find that to be a great crash course and an introduction to multiple techniques all in one swell foop.
by Teague
Sun Dec 10, 2023 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New to Costco
Replies: 239
Views: 58333

Re: New to Costco

Having shopped at Costco since even before it was named Costco, I've determined that shopping there does not actually save me money. That's despite and because of the fact that they generally have very good to excellent quality things at good to very good prices. So I buy many things that I hadn't known that I "needed."

So no net savings for me. What shopping there has done for me however is raise my standard of living for a pretty modest increase in overall spending. And I happily continue to shop there.
by Teague
Fri Dec 08, 2023 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ordering Citrus Fruit Online
Replies: 10
Views: 1198

Re: Ordering Citrus Fruit Online

I feel a bit silly now. Forget what I said about credibility. My user name should lend me an air of credibility:) I use fastgrowingtrees.com Pleased overall. Of course you realize, citrus trees are difficult to grow outside of its native area. I live in the northeast and even with a greenhouse have not had success with growing anything citrus. Best of luck. I think the OP is looking for fruit ready to eat, not fruit in potentia -- aka trees... ;) Being Bogleheads it actually makes perfect sense. Make initial investment, be patient, watch it grow, etc. You could also try higher end markets, Costco included. I think the mail order fruit thing was more necessary before such stores were common, hence the tales from parents and grandparents abo...
by Teague
Thu Nov 09, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: cross country drive in a 10 year old vehicle, thoughts?
Replies: 87
Views: 8467

Re: cross country drive in a 10 year old vehicle, thoughts?

That's interesting that none us thought of that earlier in the tread even though everybody would have been all over 10-year-old tires. I guess for a while now all Toyotas haven't had belts, but I don't own a Toyota or know for sure. You are correct, I think the Camry's have timing chains, and I know they don't destroy the engine when they break. We broke two chains on a 1995 Camry. Wow, how old and at how many miles did you experience chain failure? That seems unusual. From Toyota, pre 2000's the Camry had timing belts. Timing chains started in 2002. https://support.toyota.com/s/article/Does-my-vehicle-have-7690?language=en_US Francis Ok, the 1995 Camry had a timing belt that needed changing every 60,000 miles and mine broke twice after 75...
by Teague
Mon Nov 06, 2023 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holy FUNGUS GNAT flies
Replies: 46
Views: 5614

Re: Holy drain flies

fposte wrote: Sun Nov 05, 2023 8:18 pm I’m no entomologist, but they look a bit gnatty to me.
Gnatty dread?

If you have a college/university with an entomology department nearby you could probably walk into a random office there with your sticky trap and get a helpful answer.
by Teague
Fri Oct 27, 2023 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Is A Living Trust Enforced After Death?
Replies: 32
Views: 4316

Re: How Is A Living Trust Enforced After Death?

BHawks87 wrote: Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:02 pm If you set up a living trust and the beneficiaries are kids who are very young, how is the living trust enforced after you die if the successor trustee decides to misuse funds? Let's say you have brokerage accounts and checking accounts etc., what keeps the successor trustee from draining those and then hiding the existence of a living trust from the beneficiaries?
Tell a few people (good friends or relatives) besides the trustee that the trust exists, and let them know that the kids are the beneficiaries. Casually let the trustee know that other people also know about the trust.

Of course, picking a reliable trustee is the best defense in the first place.