Bogleheads.org

student wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:20 pm I agree the medical insurance is important. I use GeoBlue.

Have you ever called them for medical assistance while traveling and, if so, how responsive have they been? I’m a new customer of theirs.

We’re currently in Spain and when I called them for assistance it seemed to take 24-36 hours before they replied with a meaningful response.

If you replace a gas tank with tankless, you my loose the ability to retain hot water during a power outage unless you also have the tankless backup power option.

Have you gotten a quote from an electrician for what it would cost to install a 240v outlet in your garage? Ideally 50 amps, but even 20 amps would be a huge improvement over trickle charging. If you are even considering a $50k Tesla, then don’t cheap out on the electric upgrade The electricians are onto this, they know if you can afford a $50K-150K EV you can and will pay $3-5K to add a 50/60 amp circuit breaker and a 240V outlet. Maybe you'll find one who will do it at time and materials if you are lucky. There are some interstates that have good coverage for charging, some do not. There are also some cities that have remarkably little charging infrastructure (e.g. Tucson comes to mind). We use our gas car for long trips and the EV for l...

I agree with others that a 120v L1 charger may suffice most of the time. Our breaker box location also made a new 240v circuit expensive, but our laundry room shares a wall with the garage. I was able to install a 30amp L2 that shares the dryer circuit at minimal cost. Our dryer runs infrequently and the EV charges only at night about once a week. Works great.

I’ve often wondered what the advantage is to owning a timeshare vs simply booking a vacation on Expedia? This week we’re staying in a TS that we often trade into. I don’t have precise figures, but we pay about $1250/yr TS maintenance fee, and then another $200 or so to trade into this unit. After I read your comment I went to Expedia, and they list this unit for $2661/wk. I’m not familiar enough with the timeshare industry to understand what you mean by trade into. Did you also have to pay a lump sum upfront? Trade - thru Marriott's Interval International I can trade my week for another from.1 year before to 2 years after my week occurs. That's the service represented by that $200. Lump sump - I paid about $3250 to purchase the week around...

gtrplayer wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:47 pm

I’ve often wondered what the advantage is to owning a timeshare vs simply booking a vacation on Expedia?

This week we’re staying in a TS that we often trade into. I don’t have precise figures, but we pay about $1250/yr TS maintenance fee, and then another $200 or so to trade into this unit.

After I read your comment I went to Expedia, and they list this unit for $2661/wk.

I'm all about saving a buck, but personally I'm not spending upwards of an entire day of a vacation listening to someone try to sell me something I don't want in order to save a few $100. If I didn't have the money to go on the trip, I wouldn't go. And we aren't pinching pennies when we go away. I mean, if you think about it, if you earn $100,000/yr and work 225 days a year, you make $444/day. If you waste one of your PTO days listening to someone while on vacation it's costing you $444 of compensation. If your spouse also makes $100k it's costing you $888 to waste that day. With the way you calculate the opportunity cost of attending a TS presentation, you might qualify as a TS salesman. I’ve attended a few, but never bought a week at one...

We must be doing something wrong. We own 2 deeded weeks, not points, with Marriott/Interval at Hilton Head. Bought on secondary market. While maintenance fees have gone up, we have been able to trade into properties we wanted. Two weeks ago spent a week in SFO, and I’m posting this from Marriott Marbella in Spain. Next week we catch a cheap flight to Mallorca for a week in the Marriott TS there. Maybe when we can no longer travel we’ll change our tune, but our TS has worked for us. A comparable AB&B or hotel would have cost way more. Do you have any idea how what you paid compared to what the original buyer paid? Somebody got “hosed” here. Maybe it just wasn’t you. It was 30 and 35 years ago, and I have no idea. Possibly in the range o...

We must be doing something wrong. We own 2 deeded weeks, not points, with Marriott/Interval at Hilton Head. Bought on secondary market.

While maintenance fees have gone up, we have been able to trade into properties we wanted. Two weeks ago spent a week in SFO, and I’m posting this from Marriott Marbella in Spain. Next week we catch a cheap flight to Mallorca for a week in the Marriott TS there.

Maybe when we can no longer travel we’ll change our tune, but our TS has worked for us. A comparable AB&B or hotel would have cost way more.

Belz museum is a hidden gem, https://belzmuseum.org/

Toothpicks in ceiling H is Huey’s

Well I also received an email indicating my e-file was rejected. Unfortunately rejection took 13 days after I e filed and it's a day too late for me. I just landed in Madrid and have no access to HRB software or my return for 3 weeks.

When I read the title I though that stocks don’t “go from Vanguard fund”. Even if they could, you can’t send stocks to your checking account.

Then I read your discussion and realized the title was misleading.

The 3/17 HRB update came out today. I just ran the update and resubmitted my state and federal taxes. My federal has already been accepted. Yay! Good for you. Unfortunately I've called HRB Customer Service 5 times starting on 3/8. The last 2 times (on 3/14 & 3/15) I all but demanded that they reject my e-file that has been in Pending purgatory since 3/5. I have no idea why, while some here have been able to have their earlier pending e-files manually rejected, HRB says they will release mine but have not. So today I also loaded the update into my HRB Deluxe, but it doesn't change the fact that my return remains Pending and I can't make any progress. Edit: Just off the phone with CS, who now tells me my return will not be rejected until...

neowiser wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:00 am This topic appears frequently on Nextdoor, and several people have recommended just driving without the CC after having an extension placed on the pipe to reduce noise. Of course it would not be possible to pass the smog check and register the car.

We have a 2004 Prius with only 70,000 miles. I read that the CC in older models have higher amounts of precious metal and are therefore more desirable to thieves, but I've also been told that older converters are less desirable because of wear and tear.

I suspect that many locations do not require a smog test, so those without a CC would have no problem with registration renewal. Where I live there hasn't been a vehicle inspection requirement for at least a decade.

tc101 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:38 am I find the adaptive battery option kind of annoying and will probably turn it off. I would rather just plug in the phone and have it charge up to 100%, and then buy a new battery when I need one.

That's how I feel if the adaptive battery option just saves me a few months on needing a new battery, but if it saves me a year or more it might be worth it. I haven't found anything so far that tells me just how much battery life it will save.

In addition to the adaptive battery advantage outlined above by ithenderson, how easy is it to install a new battery?

Definitely, even after my too-far-ahead filter and oil collecting hobby period in the '70s, I have unexpectedly replaced a car after already buying filters that I therefore never got to use. And unopened transmission fluid that was no longer the correct type. And as I think I mentioned, two refrigerator water filters, which are more expensive than automotive filters. And two RV water filters. Probably others that I can't think of right now. So now when I decide to change the oil, I might buy a day or two ahead, and hope the car survives and remains in my hands that long. When I bought my last new car, I sold the 2008 Saturn I was replacing and included one new oil filter I had on the shelf. My replacement car doesn't have an oil filter, si...

I've done a tremendous amout of DIY over the years, buy I'm now 73 and some jobs are just too difficult. Sure I've saved money, but in very many cases I'm convinced that had I hired out the work I would have paid for a less-than-proper repair.

Bottom line to me is buying my Michelins at Costco isn't costing me much more than another brand of tire elsewhere so why not go with a brand that has worked well for me for years. When I shopped for tires recently, Michelins (and other tires) were close to the same price at Costco as everywhere else. Installation seemed somewhat less in both cost and convenience at Costco. All the resellers seem to have similar discount offers periodically for some gift card amount when you buy multiple tires. It wasn't like the battery I bought at Costco which was considerably less in price than seemingly comparable prices for other batteries elsewhere. I use a Discount Tire with will happily match Costco pricing, but is much better that Costco when it c...

Do you expect that you will get more info asking here than doing an internet search?

https://www.carshtuff.com/post/douglas- ... d-any-good

To the OP...neilpilot I'm in the same boat as you. E-Filed on Sunday Mar 5th using HRB Deluxe software. Have been in "Pending" status since then. Have spoken with 6 different people at HRB since the and got same answers you did...until today! Here's the fix: Call HRB support at 888-482-9288 (direct line to support for downloaded software products) Tell them that your E-File is "hung up" on their end. Tell them that you spoke with IRS and they never received your e-file. They will reset your e-file and it will now show "rejected" by the IRS and your state. You will also receive 2 emails confirming the IRS and state rejection. Open up the HRB software, check status and read the "Rejection Report". Mine...

vasaver wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:00 am Interesting - just priced several cars

Current car is 2012 Prius / Married mid 40s / northern Virginia

Annual Increase for new cars :

• ID4 + $218

• EV6 +$274

• Model 3 +$906

• Model Y +$982

• Model S +1126

Gas or Hybrid annual insurance increase for new cars :

• Subaru Outback + $36

• CRV + $78

• Rav4 + $164

• Sienna + $184

Would be interesting to see how much more a 2023 Prius ICE, comparable to your 2012, would cost as well.

meowcat wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:17 am

smitcat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:46 pm

Insurance companies consider loss rates - that is it.

Not entirely. One of the biggest mitigating factors affecting insurance rates is the zip code in which you live.

They consider zip code, and many other factors, because where you live impacts LOSS RATES.

Atlshaun wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:22 pm

EdNorton wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:33 am Go to Bowen's Island for some oysters and other fresh seafood. It's a local institution, great food, great atmosphere. I prefer dive bars.

Excellent esoteric recommendation

I agree. We were there in 2019 & 2022, and will likely return to Bowen's when we're in Mt Pleasant in May.

We also enjoy ordering the local style of whole fried flounder. For this dish, we recommend Ellis Creek Fish Camp on James Island. If you prefer to stay in the downtown area, it can also be had at Hyman's at 215 Meeting St

You should name yourself as beneficiary. That way if the trust "dies", i.e. is dissolved, you would own the proceeds.

I'm the OP that e-filed on 4/5. When I called HRB customer service on 4/9 I was told to expect it to resolve by 4/10.

Now, over a week later the return still shows as pending, with no new information since I filed on 4/5. I called HRB again just now, and CS seems to have no explanation why my return hasn't either gone thru or been rejected. All they offered is to escalate my issue to a higher level of their CS organization. So I'm told to expect to receive an email, but could not tell me how long before this happens.

Watch ABC broadcast

Many years ago, our daughter had to choose between: #1: a quality in-state U that would cost relatively little due to in state tuition, a state scholarship and an academic scholarship. #2: a quality state U that was 2 states over. #2 would cost 2-3x as much as #1 due to out-of-state tuition and no scholarship offer. She agreed that #1 was as strong, or stronger, academically in her field of study. However, she really wanted to go to #2 since "so many of the other graduating seniors she knew were going to #1, and she wanted to break out of the pack. I said we would pay the entire cost of 4 years at #1. If she decided to go to #2 instead, we would pay 50% of the increased cost over #1. She would need to take student loans for the other 5...

pjm8083 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:35 pm Update: Received rejection this evening:

Problem: Your return was rejected because of a problem with our e-file process. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Solution: The problem has been identified and will be corrected in an update that will be available for download the end of the day on 3/13/2023 .
After you download and install the update, you can resubmit your return for e-file again.

Appreciate your update. It would have made sense if my 4/5 efile was similarly rejected when I checked this morning. It's still pending.

Did you get an email about the rejection, or did it appear when you launched the software to check status?

While it's common to use the term "Travel Insurance" don't confuse travel medical/evacuation coverage with coverage for trip expenses such as airfare/hotel. I recently shopped for medical/evacuation coverage and chose an annual policy (GeoBlue Trekker Essential), since I had no interest in covering my actual travel expenses. Annual because I have 2-3 trips planned this year, and the cost of annual coverage was much less than 2 single trip policies. Non-medical issues are, for the most part, either covered by my credit cards or represent minimal potential loss that I chose not to insure. In my case, if I do need to cancel for medical reasons the credit card I used to purchase airfare covers that loss. When I rent a car out of the c...

smitcat wrote: ↑Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:46 am

Driver's record / exact vehicle model historical losses / vehicle repair costs / zip code you live in = total loss rate.

If a tree falls on the Tesla in the driveway the costs to repair may/could be higher than some other vehicles.
FWIW - we do not drive our pickup more 'aggressively ' then our sports car.

add relative risk rating of the location (i.e. NYC vs Moscow, TN), if the vehicle is garaged, how many miles driven (pleasure vs commute, etc)

I just checked via the HRB site and this message is displayed: "Congratulations, your 2022 federal return is complete! As soon as the IRS begins accepting returns, we'll automatically file your return for you and update our systems once it's been transmitted.".

The above message is different from what the software shows. It implies that the IRS hasn't been accepting e-files returns since I transmitted my file on 8/4.

I'm having exactly the same experience with HR Block Deluxe; e-filed Sunday and still have a pending status. I've used HR Block for years and never had an issue. My return is substantially the same, nothing out of the ordinary so I can't think of a reason for the IRS to reject. I called HR Block yesterday and similarly they told me that it was a delay on the IRS side but I wasn't confident the customer service rep knew what she was talking about. I owe tax this year so don't know of a way to check via Where's my refund. Appreciate your reply - so I'll wait until this weekend before I contemplate any further action. I owe as well, and entered a 4/14/23 payment along with the e-file. I'm keen to know the filing has gone thru OK, since the en...

On Sunday 3/5 at 2pm I used H&R Block Deluxe to e-file my TY2022 return. Immediately afterwards, I received the usual message that "your federal return was successfully transmitted". The message from H&R Block goes on to say that "the IRS accepts most returns in 6-8 hours, but may take up to 48 hours". In previous years I've received an email confirmation of acceptance by the IRS within a few hours after filing. However, it's now been 4 days and I've received no communications, either of acceptance or rejection. When I open the software to check, the message simply shows "Pending" with no new info. Have others e-filed using HRB recently and either had their return accepted or experienced a similar delay...

meowcat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:49 am

neilpilot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:44 am

meowcat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:37 am

SpaghettiLegs wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:13 pm 2022 Model Y for me is $1200/year, 2012 Prius is $750.

Kind of meaningless if we don't know where you live.
I pay $3,000/yr for a 6 year old Honda Accord!! Clean record. >800 FICO, no tickets, no accidents. 59YO. 33065

Kind of meaningless if we don't know where you live.

Check the zip code.

Got it....though that was miles driven

meowcat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 09, 2023 10:37 am

SpaghettiLegs wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:13 pm 2022 Model Y for me is $1200/year, 2012 Prius is $750.

Kind of meaningless if we don't know where you live.
I pay $3,000/yr for a 6 year old Honda Accord!! Clean record. >800 FICO, no tickets, no accidents. 59YO. 33065

Kind of meaningless if we don't know where you live.

That's the conclusion I came to as well. As much as I loved the Tesla, the added cost of installing a charger , the vehicle itself , electricity , insurance , etc. completely negates any cost savings of going EV. When I look at that, and consider the tradeoffs of EVs right now, it just doesn't make a ton of sense. Of course your evaluation is highly dependent on many variables, as is mine. When I decided to replace my 2008 ICE with a similar sized non-Tesla EV back in May 2021, here's what I found: my added cost of installing a charger: $381, reduced by a $114 tax rebate = $267 vehicle itself = the same, or less than, a comparable ICE SUV after the $7500 tax rebate electricity = a net SAVINGS of about $1350 when compared to what I'd purcha...

I am not sure with electric vehicles just yet. Promising? Absolutely! Fast charging and readily available network? That is the hesitancy when I talk about EV’s with most folks. Like anything, our country will build the technology, improve it, and build the infrastructure, thus creating new jobs and a whole new industry! Best. Tony You are right that the charging infrastructure is quickly improving. If buying a Tesla right now, you don’t have anything to worry about because their Supercharger network is so good and reliable: https://www.tesla.com/en_eu/findus?v=2&bounds=58.64986171841682%2C-82.82445861486077%2C9.917569968663182%2C-119.21117736486077&zoom=4&filters=store%2Cservice%2Csupercharger%2Cdestination%20charger%2Cbodyshop...

Lowest price to Bilbao in June would typically be to look for the best deal to Madrid, or another gateway airport that offers low fares to Bilbao. For example, a RT Madrid-Bilbao in June is typically $55-70/pp.

In most cases, you pay way less by booking a separate ticket HOU-MAD & MAD-BIO. Just leave plenty of time for the MAD connection.

Bogle7 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 8:15 pm

neilpilot wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 7:13 pm the OP wants to avoid large cities. Doesn't that include Barcelona?

Not if you live in China.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... population
Just saying.

OP: “We would like to avoid the large cities Barcelona and Madrid”

Your reading comprehension is questionable.
Just saying.

strummer6969 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:01 pm Why not Barcelona? The Gaudi architecture is amazing.

In the context of this thread, the OP wants to avoid large cities. Doesn't that include Barcelona?

Our experience is a bit outdated, having taken a Seine dinner cruise 10 years ago this April. We very much enjoyed the cruise. We boarded at the foot of the Pont Saint Michel, and it lasted about 1.5 hours. This was a dinner cruise with champagne for 2.

The listed price of the cruise €149, but using the French Groupon site we paid €69 for 2. The ship was "Paris en Scène"

If there’s a toilet near the shower look carefully at it’s water supply line to be sure it isn’t dripping.

Very dependent on what your interested in. We frequently fly thru either Madrid or Barcelona on the way to either Malaga or Palma, and then stay in a resort in one or both of those areas. When we go it's typically 2+ weeks sometime between December and April. For example, in a few weeks we'll fly thru Madrid to Malaga, and stay for a week in Marbella. At the end of the first week, we'll fly from Malaga to Palma and stay on Mallorca about 20km outside of Palma for the 2nd week. Then we'll fly back to Madrid and stay in Madrid for 3 days (during the start of Semana Santa) before returning to the USA. Intra-Spain flights are economical. Our upcoming 3 flights (Madrid-Malaga, Malaga-Palma & Palma-Madrid) average $45pp for each ticket, exclu...

Depending on when in May you plan to be in Memphis, check out "Memphis in May" activities. They include, but are not limited to, a huge BBQ contest and a outdoor music events.

You say you are traveling Amtrak from East to West, but I believe Amtrak only runs to Memphis from the North (Chicago) or the South (NOLA).

regarding #2, while most I-bond holders likely wait until the year of redemption to pay tax on their bond, I think there is the option of breaking out and paying the imputed tax annually.

Sometimes it's not a matter of which state, but of how many states. Back before TN dropped the Hall tax, when I lived in TN and worked in AR I had to file tax returns in both states. Many states have NR (non-resident) returns for workers that reside out of state.

I was early on Tesla's wait list for the base M3. At the time, I was ready to buy it as soon as delivery was available. However, for maybe a year after introduction the Model 3 was only available with expensive options such as dual motor, so I held off.

By the time a base model of the Model 3 was offered, Tesla had exceeded the IRS cutoff sales volume and the initial $7500 tax rebate had disappeared.

So I put off the purchase a while longer, test drove a M3 and disliked the fit and finish. Ended up buying a VW ID.4 instead, and their fancier 1st edition trim, after rebate, cost me much less than the base M3.

I have no idea about your "can lights", but in my case I can use various wattage in addition to a dimmer. Also, the bulbs I use are available as either spot beams or flood beams. If you happen to have spot beams now, try changing to floods for a more diffused pattern.

My SS earnings career wise nearly match yours. I retired at 62 and lived on savings for the next three years while converting large TIRA amounts to Roth. My gut instinct, and nothing else, indicated that taking SS just as Medicare kicked in at 65 was the way to go. This was five months ago, and I have no regrets so far. SS takes care of the majority of core expenses while TIRA distributions at 2% more than cover the rest. Pundits will argue that holding off until 70 will result in larger payouts. This is true, if you're still alive to collect them, and I'm not taking that chance. Nobody can decide for you, but I'm satisfied about how events have transpired. If you're married and your spouse's SS isn't as high, then waiting until 70 makes w...

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2020/2020-1031-publication.pdf I do not interpret as working in CA while on vacation as needing to file and pay income taxes in CA as some others on this thread do. Publication 1031 explains the difference between Resident and Non-resident, Section E page 4. "You are considered a resident if you are Present in California for other than a temporary or transitory purpose." Section H on page 5 discusses Temporary or Transitory Purposes. "When you are present in California for temporary or transitory purposes, you are a nonresident of California. For instance, if you come to California for a vacation, or to complete a transaction, or are simply passing through, your purpose is temporary or transitory...