Search found 236 matches

by scottyja
Sun Feb 05, 2023 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sanity check - non-covered shares and SpecID
Replies: 4
Views: 464

Re: Sanity check - non-covered shares and SpecID

Interesting. I did sell some non-covered shares in 2015, which my 1099-B indicated with the check box mentioned above.

I went to covert the cost basis in Vanguard, and it was actually easier than I thought. Fortunately I only have one fund that contained anything non-covered, and it stated explicitly in the confirmation that non-covered shares would continue using the Average Cost. Hopefully it remains easy in the future to simply choose which bucket I'm selling from. I won't know for a few days, as everything is locked down while the conversion takes place.

Thanks all for the additional details and things to watch out for.
by scottyja
Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sanity check - non-covered shares and SpecID
Replies: 4
Views: 464

Sanity check - non-covered shares and SpecID

Can someone confirm if I have this correct - if I convert the cost basis for an index fund from Average Cost to SpecID, the non-covered shares will still use Average Cost if/when I sell them? I have about 17% of my portfolio in non-covered shares, and all my funds are currently using Average Cost. I want to convert everything to SpecID, as I'll be selling a small chunk of my taxable investment this year. However, I don't have any records for the non-covered shares. Can I just convert everything to SpecID, sell individual covered lots, and when it comes time down the road to sell the non-covered, just use Average Cost? The wiki description of "Specific identification of shares" makes it seem like if I haven't been tracking the non-...
by scottyja
Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Jobs that allow total solitude and are night jobs
Replies: 60
Views: 5646

Re: Jobs that allow total solitude and are night jobs

You should look into being an IT Sys Admin. It's often in demand, many companies need 24/7 coverage, and a lot of the admins hate the night-shift. If you're technical, it's something you can study for and get certified relatively quickly, and the pay is generally good.
by scottyja
Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad
Replies: 58
Views: 5502

Re: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad

My concern is not with connectivity, but the fact that some financial sites are very aggressive with folks that actually live outside the USA. So aggressive in fact that they sometimes close accounts with little and short warning. I dont have any interest in using a relative or someone address when I leave so I am just trying to prepare to set things up in a way that my financial accounts will be safe and I can use them as I do here. Off-topic, but do you have a strategy for a physical mailing address? There are companies that will receive your mail in the US and email you scanned photos of what you receive. You choose what they forward to you overseas. I haven't used one of these services, but again, banks and financial institutions are c...
by scottyja
Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad
Replies: 58
Views: 5502

Re: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad

Well, I plan to live there, forever. So, I would like to be able to sit in front of my laptop ---as I do today in the USA--- and handle all my financial affairs. I dont really do much via apps on my iPhone. I live overseas and use the Google Voice method. It's generally successful. Some corporations will not send authorization codes to VOIP numbers. I have a Microsoft account that was locked and MS would not send a code to my Google Voice number. Fortunately they would send it to my local overseas number. I will caution you on two things: 1) get Google Voice set up BEFORE you go overseas. You will have a very difficult time doing this outside the U.S. 2) purchase a VPN service (such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN) and use it on your computer. Wh...
by scottyja
Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad
Replies: 58
Views: 5502

Re: Two Factor Authentication ---Living Abroad

Well, I plan to live there, forever. So, I would like to be able to sit in front of my laptop ---as I do today in the USA--- and handle all my financial affairs. I dont really do much via apps on my iPhone. I live overseas and use the Google Voice method. It's generally successful. Some corporations will not send authorization codes to VOIP numbers. I have a Microsoft account that was locked and MS would not send a code to my Google Voice number. Fortunately they would send it to my local overseas number. I will caution you on two things: 1) get Google Voice set up BEFORE you go overseas. You will have a very difficult time doing this outside the U.S. 2) purchase a VPN service (such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN) and use it on your computer. Wh...
by scottyja
Tue Apr 23, 2019 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Use of airport skycap experience
Replies: 16
Views: 1915

Re: Use of airport skycap experience

bob60014 wrote: Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:13 pm First, take a look at what you are packing, and unless there are special circumstances, you won't need half of what you think! ;)
Great advice. We're moving, so after what seems to be a million trips to Goodwill, we're taking everything left over.
by scottyja
Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 760
Views: 149446

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

I've seen some China Mieville recommendations in this thread. I just finished Embassytown by Mieville and really enjoyed it. I'm starting Perdido Street Station now.
by scottyja
Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Use of airport skycap experience
Replies: 16
Views: 1915

Use of airport skycap experience

I've never used the airport skycap service before. I'm able to get my bags into the airport without hassle and have always seen it as an extra, and unnecessary, expense. This week our family will be traveling overseas and will have LOTS of checked and carry-on luggage. Any reason not to use skycap services? Is it safe and secure? It feels like an extra step for something to go wrong and a bag to get misplaced or stolen. Does anyone here use it regularly? Anything I should be aware of?
by scottyja
Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cobra plans and insurance gap
Replies: 7
Views: 891

Re: Cobra plans and insurance gap

prudent wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:35 am The only concern I would have (and maybe there's a way around it) is if someone suffers a severe injury in the 60-day grace period and is physically unable to complete the paperwork to enroll in COBRA in time.
This is a great point... so now I have to ask myself what's my risk tolerance? :|
by scottyja
Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cobra plans and insurance gap
Replies: 7
Views: 891

Cobra plans and insurance gap

I will be starting a new job in the 3rd week of March, but my last day at work will be mid-February. I was told by my employer that my insurance coverage will be good through the end of February, and after that I will need to have Cobra coverage. My new employer's coverage starts day one, so there will be about a 3-week gap. I've seen online that you are able to sign up for Cobra up to six weeks after the end of your coverage. Does anyone have experience doing this? It makes me think I should just wait to see if I'll need it. As I have a HDHP, and given we don't have any health emergencies between now and Feb, we'd be paying for anything small 100% out of pocket. If something catastrophic happens during that gap, I'd just sign up for Cobra ...
by scottyja
Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018
Replies: 117
Views: 17300

Re: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018

I just received my email from them. They are extending existing licenses an extra 60 days, which is nice. I was going to expire in January 2018, now March. Additionally, you can convert you license to their Small Business plan, which is quite expensive ($10/month per machine). However for 12 months you receive 75% off. If I'm reading correctly, I can renew for another year for $30, which is even cheaper than the home plan and will put me into March 2019 before I need to find another plan. I'll likely do this as the conversion seems pretty seamless.
by scottyja
Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018
Replies: 117
Views: 17300

Re: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018

DaftInvestor wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:35 am I use a WD-MyCloud drive. Call me old fashioned - but I feel best when my backups are in my hands.
For off-site backup I have a portable drive that I rotate into a safety deposit box ever 6 months or so.
I do something very similar. 2 encrypted external hard drives (one at my office, one connected to my home computer) that SyncBack backs up to nightly. I swap them out every couple of weeks or so.

With Crashplan, I never had to do a full backup after a catastrophic failure. But there were a number of times that I deleted a file I didn't mean to. More often than not, the file had already been backed up to Crashplan and easily restored.
by scottyja
Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018
Replies: 117
Views: 17300

Re: Crashplan for Home ending service late 2018

I'm disappointed to hear this. I've used Crashplan for the last couple of years and haven't had any issues. The one reason I went with Crashplan is they let me create my own encryption keys which they don't have access to. Granted, if I were to lose the key I would lose my data, but it ensured that not even a rogue employee had access to my data. It was the one place outside my home I was comfortable storing financial data, tax returns, etc.. Last I checked (a few years ago), Carbonite did not offer this solution. Guess I have a year or so to figure out a new plan.
by scottyja
Wed Aug 02, 2017 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Burned out at 28. Do I have enough?
Replies: 62
Views: 16008

Re: Burned out at 28. Do I have enough?

Does your company offer any sort of sabbatical or leave of absence options? If it's a high-paying, high-stress industry, they may have options to help you maintain your sanity. I would look into this is it's available. Or are there other opportunities within the niche market that would allow you to change focus but still maintain your expertise (potentially at a less significant pay cut)?

If none of these are viable, time to change careers. It's always easier to do this in your 20s than later in life.

Also - yes, at your age and savings, you can take a $50k job and manage $1.5-$2m by the time you retire - easily. You won't be making $50k forever.
by scottyja
Thu Jul 27, 2017 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Montreal visit in September
Replies: 11
Views: 1889

Re: Montreal visit in September

Hyperborea wrote:When you are in Montreal you need to eat at Schwartz's deli. Get the Montreal smoked meat sandwich.
You will also need to get a plate of poutine somewhere (lots of places for this) - french fries with cheese curds and gravy on top. Thick cut french fries with gravy is pretty common across Canada but the addition of cheese curds is a Quebec thing.
Couldn't agree more with these suggestions! If I recall correctly, you can order Poutine at Schwartz's with brisket - it's phenomenal. When we were there it wasn't on the menu, but they were happy to make it for you.
by scottyja
Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Glacier National Park - where to stay
Replies: 29
Views: 4544

Re: Glacier National Park - where to stay

OP did you also spend time at Many Glacier (traveling across GTTS for day trips)? We'd like to park ourselves on the east side for a couple of days so we can spend one day in Waterton, but even for Sept it is proving difficult to find lodging on the east side. We made the drive from Columbia Falls to Many Glacier hotel via the GTTS road. It's a long drive (~2 hours), but beautiful and not difficult at all. We went to the Many Glacier Hotel and did the boat tours on Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes, and did a short hike to Lake Grinnell, which was breathtaking. If we didn't have small children we may have done the hike to Iceberg Lake, which I hear is amazing, too. On an unfortunate note, our drive back that evening on GTTS road was delayed...
by scottyja
Wed Jul 26, 2017 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Glacier National Park - where to stay
Replies: 29
Views: 4544

Re: Glacier National Park - where to stay

We just did it by cruise ship..... here's an image for you. http://www.martindareff.com/Travel-in-the-USA/Alaska-a-Frontier-Wilderness/i-875m8wF I believe you're thinking of Glacier Bay National Park. Glacier National Park is on the Montana/Canada border quite a ways from the ocean. We just returned from our trip (I'm the OP). We stayed in Columbia Falls and had a great experience. We saw deer, mountain goats and a grizzly. Also the wildflowers were in full bloom. We drove Going to the Sun Road every day and didn't mind it. There are lots of pull outs and little hikes off the side of the road (if you can find a parking spot). We had one primary hike we did each day with our kids, getting up early to beat crowds and parking. In the afternoo...
by scottyja
Mon Jul 10, 2017 4:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Periodic investing to reduce/eliminate need to rebalance?
Replies: 15
Views: 1839

Re: Periodic investing to reduce/eliminate need to rebalance?

I've always liked this online calculator: http://optimalrebalancing.tk/

I use it to keep my HSA investments balanced as I invest every two weeks.
by scottyja
Tue Jun 27, 2017 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: swimming goggles
Replies: 29
Views: 3749

Re: swimming goggles

I used to swim a lot (ironman distance triathlons) and tried a lot of goggles and the best ones in terms of not leaking that I have ever seen are Aquasphere. Made in Italy, they are harder to find, but you can get them on Amazon. ETA: They are not cheap, it will be around $20 but worth every penny in my opinion. After finding them never buy Speedo again. +1. I swim swim A LOT (but none of that silly running/biking stuff mmarreco does!). I've used aquasphere goggles in the past and never had any issues with leaking. When recommending goggles to novice or new swimmers, this is my default recommendation. Other goggles I've used: TYR Special Ops 2.0 - great if the pool is outdoors, as they're polarized TYR Nest Pro - very comfortable TYR Hyrdo...
by scottyja
Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it possible to only replace sections of a concrete driveway?
Replies: 21
Views: 11032

Re: Is it possible to only replace sections of a concrete driveway?

Have you looked into concrete lifting? We've had good luck with this and it is significantly cheaper. Admittedly I haven't read all the responses, but in cases where whole slabs have sunk dramatically it can be easier just to lift the concrete rather than replace it. However, if the sections of concern are crumbled and heavily cracked it may not be possible to lift.
by scottyja
Tue May 02, 2017 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k administrator requiring net worth
Replies: 40
Views: 4665

Re: 401k administrator requiring net worth

Have you notified your company? The smaller the organization, the more influence you can have regarding administrators. If you inform them that the administrator is being overly intrusive they may push back on the administrator, even threaten to take their money elsewhere. I recently helped a friend push on his HR dept to get more low-cost index fund options. It took him over a year, but he finally got them.
by scottyja
Thu Apr 06, 2017 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are Steam Washer Dryers worth the extra $$?
Replies: 12
Views: 8833

Re: Are Steam Washer Dryers worth the extra $$?

On our dryer steam is only used for 2 of the many cycles - refresh and wrinkle release. It runs the dryer for 10-15 minutes to get wrinkles out.
by scottyja
Thu Apr 06, 2017 3:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are Steam Washer Dryers worth the extra $$?
Replies: 12
Views: 8833

Re: Are Steam Washer Dryers worth the extra $$?

I use the function occasionally to get some wrinkles out of clothes. If you're in the habit of putting clothes in the dryer with a wet towel to get wrinkles out, this does the same thing minus the wet towel.
by scottyja
Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How best to handle disrespectful employee?
Replies: 40
Views: 5643

Re: How best to handle disrespectful employee?

bluejello wrote:My boss is very supportive of me in however I want to handle this guy. However, at this point neither of us want to fire him. I'd much rather find a way to improve his performance and keep him.
Have you been this direct with him? It's usually a wake-up call for an employee with a complex to hear "I don't want to fire you, but I need you to ....". Sometimes they don't really feel like you have the ability to fire them or that it's even an option.
by scottyja
Thu Apr 06, 2017 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Unused credit card with positive balance
Replies: 14
Views: 2172

Re: Unused credit card with positive balance

jlcnuke wrote: I'm wondering how you have nothing owed on the card but have to make a $30 payment by the 25th?? I'd call them up and get it sorted with them directly.
This is what really jumped out to me when I saw it. I'm betting that it's simply poor website design, but I'll need to call them.
by scottyja
Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Unused credit card with positive balance
Replies: 14
Views: 2172

Unused credit card with positive balance

We have a credit card associated with an old credit union account that we don't use anymore. It was accidentally used for an online purchase and it went unnoticed. When the $10 bill went unpaid, we accrued a late fee and some interest. I called the credit union and paid the bill and interest and asked if they would remove the late fee, which they agreed to do. They did all the transfers for me, but were somehow off by 84 cents. I now have a positive balance on my credit card for 84 cents, with a message that a minimum $30 payment will be due on the 25th. My question is what happens if I do nothing? How does a positive credit work on a credit card? If we used the card we would just get a credit, but what happens if we never use the card agai...
by scottyja
Fri Mar 31, 2017 2:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Glacier National Park - where to stay
Replies: 29
Views: 4544

Re: Glacier National Park - where to stay

We found and booked a little place in Columbia Falls. I had no idea Glacier was such a popular destination, or maybe it's partly due to limited lodging, but now I feel like we're in for a treat! We'll be there 4 full days, so time to plan the itinerary. Again, thanks all for the quick responses.
by scottyja
Fri Mar 31, 2017 12:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Glacier National Park - where to stay
Replies: 29
Views: 4544

Re: Glacier National Park - where to stay

Wow, quick replies! Thanks! It's looking like there are more options on the west-side of the park, and you are all right, options are pretty limited right now! I'll see what we can grab for mid-July sometime.
by scottyja
Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Glacier National Park - where to stay
Replies: 29
Views: 4544

Glacier National Park - where to stay

We're thinking of doing a trip up to Glacier National Park mid-to-late summer. No one in the family has been there, and it doesn't look like there's a major town/city nearby. Any recommendations on where to stay that would be good for 3-4 days in the park? A moderately-priced hotel would be ideal - we're not much into camping, but plan on doing lots of day hikes. Any places you really enjoyed or would avoid?

Thanks!
by scottyja
Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Car experts - Honda Odyssey question
Replies: 23
Views: 6638

Re: Any Car experts - Honda Odyssey question

Interesting quote from Edmunds : Oil samples from engines during the first 3,000 miles of driving show elevated "wear-in" metal levels, coming from the pistons and camshafts, says Ryan Stark, Blackstone's president. But he added, "To me, it doesn't make that much difference because if the filings are big enough to cause damage, they will be taken out by the oil filter." However, a Honda spokesman says its cars come from the factory with a special oil formulation for the break-in period. Honda advises owners to not change the oil early. Stark said Blackstone Laboratories' test of Honda's break-in oil shows it contains molybdenum-disulfide, an anti-wear additive. But Stark said Honda is the only manufacturer he knows that'...
by scottyja
Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Car experts - Honda Odyssey question
Replies: 23
Views: 6638

Re: Any Car experts - Honda Odyssey question

Do what the maintenance minder tells you, especially for Hondas. It's following your driving habits and knows better than you or a preset formula when the oil should be changed. Additionally, Honda manuals indicate the oil put in the car from the factory is a special blend and needs to be in the car for a while. What that means, I don't know, but I would stick with what the car is telling you.
by scottyja
Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)
Replies: 17
Views: 2340

Re: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)

Thanks all for the help. I'll see how feasible it is to completely remove the latch. I think it'll be much easier to work on it with it removed. Again, many thanks.
by scottyja
Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)
Replies: 17
Views: 2340

Re: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)

dbr wrote:I can't figure out what is shown in your photos
Here's a view of what the part looks like:

Image

I'll have to think about the metal rod. That might be the right approach. Thanks for the input.
by scottyja
Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)
Replies: 17
Views: 2340

Re: Broken plastic handle

FraggleRock wrote:Uh, contact Thule and buy a replacement?
Thule only honors warranties if you're the original purchaser, and this isn't a replaceable part - you basically have to purchase a whole new unit. I spent a good deal of time with them on the phone this afternoon and there's not much they will do.
by scottyja
Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)
Replies: 17
Views: 2340

Reinforcing plastic handle (call to any material scientists)

Buyer beware - I know. We recently purchased a "new" Thule Apex 5 bike rack we found on a local online classifieds site (similar to craigslist). It looked good initially, but when we got home we noticed one of the handles that tilts the rack forward is warped/cracked. I don't know how I missed it when we bought it, but I did. Of course texts and phone calls to the seller, who assured us we could get our money back if we weren't satisfied, are unanswered. So I think we're stuck with it. The question is if there is a way to reinforce this handle with some type of epoxy or fiber to prevent further cracking or breaking? This isn't my area of expertise, so I'm hoping others out there may have some ideas. I'm envisioning something I cou...
by scottyja
Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stand Up Desk
Replies: 29
Views: 4850

Re: Stand Up Desk

They say sitting more than a few hours a day is bad for your health. A study showed that even vigorous exercise did not overcome the negative affect that sitting has on heart and circulatory health. Interesting article I read today. I think science is finding it difficult to measure the real-world impact sitting has vs. standing. You sometimes hear sitting referred to as the new smoking, which seems extreme. An interesting insight from the article: Adjustable desks that allow a sitting and standing option (sit-stand desks) could be a good first step, especially for very sedentary and unfit workers. But these aren't a complete solution as people don't expend much energy, or exert themselves, using them. Even well designed studies of people ...
by scottyja
Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stand Up Desk
Replies: 29
Views: 4850

Re: Stand Up Desk

Sandtrap wrote:Bad back, bad neck, knees, etc. Tried a stand up desk (feet hurt after awhile)
Mine was a result of a back injury, too. My back doctor recommended the standup desk and even wrote a prescription for it, which my boss got a chuckle out of. My feet would get sore initially, but after a couple of weeks was used to it. I now stand most of the day without issue. Helps my back, too.
by scottyja
Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stand Up Desk
Replies: 29
Views: 4850

Re: Stand Up Desk

I'm using my Veridesk right now and really like it. Quality of the product is fine and raising/lowering is very simple. I try to stand all day unless I'm talking to someone else in the office, then I sit, so I'm adjusting it 10-20 times a day. I've used it regularly for about 9 months.
by scottyja
Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: -$280k Net Worth Has Me Up At Night
Replies: 68
Views: 11790

Re: -$280k Net Worth Has Me Up At Night

Will do good wrote: +1, sell the low profit property and use the money to pay off the high interest student loans. Most BH works thru all kinds of ways just to gain a .5% on investment and you are paying some 6%+ interest?
Would this depend on where they are with the amortization schedule? They're not earning a ton of profit on the rental, but part of that mortgage payment is going towards principal and needs to be added to the overall return. Agreed, though, that 6% loans are probably eating away any realized gains.
by scottyja
Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Silly math question [Percentage gain]
Replies: 10
Views: 1648

Re: Silly math question

Not Law wrote:The goal is subjective, not mathematical. So it is not a math question at all. You could say perhaps that you exceeded your goal by more than twice what you expected. But to try to be mathematically precise in a subjective goal is not logical.
I'm not following you - the goal is to gain 0.5 units above 30.79 units, regardless of what the units represent. The user wants to know by how much the goal was exceeded if 1.08 units were gained. Seems mathematical to me.
by scottyja
Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Silly math question [Percentage gain]
Replies: 10
Views: 1648

Re: Silly math question

FreemanB wrote:The original and final value don't matter, only the increases. If .5 = 100%, then 1.08 = 216%. The math is (.5/1) = (1.08/x) -> .5x=(1.08 * 1) -> .5x = 1.08 -> x = 1.08/.5 -> x = 2.16 or 216%.
*whew* - always good to be validated every now and then. :)
by scottyja
Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Silly math question [Percentage gain]
Replies: 10
Views: 1648

Re: Silly math question

I'd say if your goal was to gain 0.5 units, and you gained 1.08 units, then you acheived 216% of your goal (1.08/.5=2.16). Or you could say (0.5/100 = 1.08/x) => x=216.

Others agree?
by scottyja
Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit cards vs. Cash
Replies: 123
Views: 12691

Re: Credit cards vs. Cash

I think people spend less with cash because the whole process is such a pain. I tried it very, very briefly and did not enjoy it. Some of the advantages of using credit cards: 1. Security and peace of mind - I hated having lots of cash in my wallet. I was constantly scared of losing it. If my wallet is lost or stolen, there are three phone numbers I can call and have everything restored. 2. Not having a George Costanza wallet - I noticed my wallet significantly fatter and uncomfortable with cash 3. Rewards - instant 1.5% discount on everything I buy, more for gas, groceries or Amazon 4. Additional protections - I've used the extended warranties from Amex and Visa a couple of times. It's a bit of a hassle, but it really helped 5. Spending an...
by scottyja
Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spring break trip ideas, mid-March, family of 5 (3 teen/tweens)
Replies: 23
Views: 6086

Re: Spring break trip ideas, mid-March, family of 5 (3 teen/tweens)

dixdak wrote:We took our family of three boys twice on Spring break. Once to Arches NP when they were pretty young and then when high school age to Vegas/Zion/Grand Canyon. Weather was nice for hiking by later March.
These are all beautiful areas, especially in the Spring. Just know that you can get great late-season snowstorms as late as April and even into May. With the winter we've had out west, I wouldn't be surprised to see snow on the ground periodically through the spring months.
by scottyja
Tue Jan 31, 2017 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sold rental, TurboTax thinks we made money
Replies: 35
Views: 6322

Re: Sold rental, TurboTax thinks we made money

I was able to get TurboTax to do it correctly, but I had to manually override some values which caused TT to say it no longer guaranteed the return was accurate. I ended up hiring an accountant to do the tax return and he came up with similar numbers, but I had the piece of mind it was done correctly. As this was a year ago, I don't remember all the details, but I know the posts above are correct, which my accountant confirmed. If you hire an accountant, make sure they're familiar with this specific situation.
by scottyja
Tue Jan 31, 2017 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Building Forever House - Can we afford it? Should We?
Replies: 22
Views: 4139

Re: Building Forever House - Can we afford it? Should We?

I have a sister that's in her fourth "forever home". I say go for it if you can afford it, which is looks like you can, but don't be surprised when life throws you a curveball! Forever is a long time and often what you want right now will be vastly different in 10, 15 or 20 years, and that's not a bad thing.
by scottyja
Tue Jan 24, 2017 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: NC 401(k) Plan - Brunswick County. Enrolled in Goalmaker investment portfolio (aggressive)
Replies: 37
Views: 3247

Re: My employer only matches 5% of my salary in my company 401k

I realize I'm nit-picking, but I don't view this as free-money. It's part of the employee's overall compensation, it's just a portion that the employee can choose not to take advantage of. I don't view it any different from my salary or my health benefits. But I do see the point that it's free in that it's there for the taking, but you have to go out of your way to get it. Splitting hairs, I guess. Either way - it's there and you should use it.
by scottyja
Tue Jan 24, 2017 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: NC 401(k) Plan - Brunswick County. Enrolled in Goalmaker investment portfolio (aggressive)
Replies: 37
Views: 3247

Re: My employer only matches 5% of my salary in my company 401k

That seems pretty standard with other companies I've seen. My company does 4% match on a 5% contribution, but I also have a pension on top of that. Regardless, I would always take advantage of the matching, even if the amount is small - it's not "free money", but it's certainly part of your overall compensation package.