Search found 53 matches

by cnblure
Sun Mar 12, 2023 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13847

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

We have a toy Australian Sheppard. She is calm, intelligent, and loving. Her size (11 lbs) is perfect for us in that she is easy to travel with, but is still sturdy enough to handle herself. She is great with everyone and very patient with random kids that would like to pet her. We constantly get complemented anytime we take her anywhere on how well behaved she is. We invested a lot in her training though so YMMV... I love her so much.
by cnblure
Sun Sep 05, 2021 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

Clickbait is great.
by cnblure
Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Golden Age of TV over? Any "great" shows still being made?
Replies: 129
Views: 12751

Re: Golden Age of TV over? Any "great" shows still being made?

Warrior
Yellowstone
Ramy
Black Mirror
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones
The Inbetweeners (UK version)
by cnblure
Mon Jul 05, 2021 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085185

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Not Without My Daughter. Sally Field gets trapped in Iran.
by cnblure
Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Movies for kids between 8-12 (not animated)
Replies: 66
Views: 6764

Re: Movies for kids between 8-12 (not animated)

Wonder is pretty good. I also enjoyed Good Burger back in the day.
by cnblure
Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Movies - Name Five
Replies: 277
Views: 24201

Re: Favorite Movies - Name Five

Sing Street
Howl's Moving Castle
There's Something About Mary
The Wedding Singer
The Man From Nowhere
by cnblure
Sat May 15, 2021 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Life events spent more than earned
Replies: 57
Views: 7544

Re: Life events spent more than earned

I moved for a job opportunity. I stopped working the first job three months before I was able to start/get paid at the new job. This could have been handled better, but the new job took forever to give me a definite start date. And I had an international trip scheduled that I wanted to be moved and established before going on. During that three months I had to cover cobra, moving costs, rent for a new place to live, and a $2000 car repair bill just so that my car would pass a state inspection (scam) needed for registration. Obviously most of this was planned and not a surprise, but it still wasn't fun to see my account balance only decreasing for what felt like a long time.
by cnblure
Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Struggling with car purchase
Replies: 31
Views: 2422

Re: Struggling with car purchase

Maybe you buy an older used gx 470 for under $10k and use it just for your adventures?
by cnblure
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Replies: 5
Views: 1281

Re: What important truth do very few people agree with you on?

I don't like music from The Beatles or Queen. I don't understand why their music is so popular.
by cnblure
Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Mixing Bogle and Ramsey to build my portfolio
Replies: 90
Views: 10153

Re: Mixing Bogle and Ramsey to build my portfolio

The plan OP wrote looks good. But I'm just not a Ramsey fan. I understand tough love, but I personally find him very rude. I've only tried to view a few clips from his show. But I can't make it through a single one because he talks over just about every caller like he has somewhere else he needs to be. Or almost like he doesn't want to be there. To me on the show he also exudes an air of "I'm better/holier than thou" but I could just be reaching. I love Chris Hogan though. His personal life issues aside, he seems more genuine about helping/educating people and more personable to me at least.
by cnblure
Sat Apr 10, 2021 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Favorite Boglehead-ish Podcasts?
Replies: 45
Views: 7517

Re: Favorite Boglehead-ish Podcasts?

Afford Anything
by cnblure
Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085185

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Sing Street. A kid starts a band in 1980's Ireland to impress a girl. Definitely watch it if you haven't seen it.
by cnblure
Thu Mar 04, 2021 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2021 Sunglasses Thread 😎
Replies: 61
Views: 6686

Re: 2021 Sunglasses Thread 😎

I bought a pair from Randolph Engineering during their black Friday sale last year. Best sunglasses I've owned.
by cnblure
Fri Dec 25, 2020 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Christmas Movies
Replies: 85
Views: 5612

Re: Favorite Christmas Movies

Jingle All The Way
This Christmas
Almost Christmas
Happiest Season
Arthur's Perfect Christmas
A Madea Christmas
by cnblure
Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who's keeping Netflix now? (price increased to $13.99)
Replies: 215
Views: 19977

Re: Who's keeping Netflix now? (price increased to $13.99)

I will gladly continue to pay and subscribe. For me it's still a great deal.
by cnblure
Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

Yellowstone. It's pretty much a gritty version of Bonanza, but it's still pretty good.
by cnblure
Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: how do you make your home smell good?
Replies: 84
Views: 8768

Re: how do you make your home smell good?

I don't know about good, but I have an ozone generator that eliminates all odors. It's been essential to me as my apartment doesn't have an effective hood over the stove and the window is pretty far from the kitchen.
by cnblure
Sun Sep 27, 2020 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Investing and Saving Considerations for Single Guy
Replies: 51
Views: 5166

Re: Investing and Saving Considerations for Single Guy

I will also probably remain single. I'm concerned about what to do when I get up there in age, or can no longer take care of myself.
by cnblure
Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cardio alternatives to treadmills?
Replies: 115
Views: 10299

Re: Cardio alternatives to treadmills?

Jump rope.
by cnblure
Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can an HOA levy a transfer fee without a vote?
Replies: 16
Views: 1311

Can an HOA levy a transfer fee without a vote?

I received an email from someone who owns a town home in the same community I do. It reads: "I have a closing on my townhouse next week and learned yesterday that our board has decided to levy a $2500 transfer fee, paid by the seller, for any unit that is sold. That means your unit is worth unit is worth $2500 less today than it was last month. They’ve evidently termed this a fee and not an assessment…but every unit is subject to the fee when it sells so what’s the difference?" This community now has a new HOA/council of co-owners after the previous board was dissolved due to issues resulting in ongoing multiple lawsuits. Since the new regime has been established I've never received anything like new or updated bylaws. Also, I've ...
by cnblure
Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thinking of buying myself a luxury item.. Is LV wallet a legit purchase?
Replies: 153
Views: 11531

Re: Thinking of buying myself a luxury item.. Is LV wallet a legit purchase?

I have a Filson wallet I really like. Heavy every day use for over three years, and it still looks new.
by cnblure
Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Restaurants recommendations
Replies: 73
Views: 6190

Re: Restaurants recommendations

Porto's Bakery.
by cnblure
Fri May 29, 2020 2:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I spending too much on rent?
Replies: 13
Views: 1565

Am I spending too much on rent?

I am currently renting an 850sqf 1bed/1bath apartment in a Maryland DC suburb. I pay about $1800 a month for rent/water/trash/and a parking spot ($25 a month). My take home pay after maxing out my work retirement account and HSA is $5200 a month. I've rented in other parts of the country, but I'm not used to rent being more than half of my monthly expenses. I moved here for a job opportunity a few months ago and was only able to find a place online before coming here. But it seems to be competitively priced with other similar apartments in the area. There are only a few cheaper places, but only by like $100 a month. The positives are that it feels safe and is in a good location. My commute to and from work is only 20 minutes. Safety is impo...
by cnblure
Sat May 16, 2020 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Upgrade to Pixelbook Go?
Replies: 6
Views: 630

Upgrade to Pixelbook Go?

Does anyone have experience with this kind of chromebook? I'm interested in the model with the least memory, but I can't find a floor model near me where I can see it in person. I've been using a $300 Acer chromebook I got at Costco for the last 3 years. I spend multiple hours a day everyday using this machine. I want to upgrade to the Pixelbook Go because it sounds so great and I think it would be a really good value for me. I can afford it, but I have a tough time spending money on purchases over $100 when I don't have too. Especially since my chromebook still works fine. It's hard for me to justify this purchase, but I want it. I do have a faint purple horizontal line across the screen that is only noticeable when watching videos with da...
by cnblure
Fri May 15, 2020 6:34 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Healthcare post COVID-19
Replies: 66
Views: 7766

Re: Healthcare post COVID-19

I'm hoping Amazon or another company with the means breaks into the health insurance game. If they came out with something like a $200 a month $3000 deductible plan that was as easy to purchase as anything else online, wouldn't this be a viable option for a lot of people? And if they were successful, maybe actual health insurance companies would be more motivated to be competitive and accessible.
by cnblure
Sat May 02, 2020 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Using Taxable Account Money to Buy a House
Replies: 3
Views: 1068

Using Taxable Account Money to Buy a House

I am planning on moving back to my home town in roughly 10-12 years. At that time I would like to purchase a house outright with cash. In the mean time I plan on buying $1000 of VTSAX every two weeks in a taxable account after maxing out TSP/Roth IRA/HSA contributions with the intention of using this money to buy a house at that time. I understand normally down payments and house money should not be invested in this type of account, but I feel like with this timeline and accumulation rate it may be warranted. But I am worried about the potential amount of taxes due to capital gains if I sell and use the money to fund a home purchase. Aside from not selling anything held for under a year to pay the lower long-term rate, is there anything els...
by cnblure
Tue Apr 21, 2020 5:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a new rice cooker from Zojirushi?
Replies: 103
Views: 13863

Re: Should I buy a new rice cooker from Zojirushi?

Yukon wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:46 am
psy1 wrote: Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:26 pm We use an instant pot for rice. Brown rice, white rice, risotto. Also steel cut oats most mornings. It works great, it perfectly consistent, is scaleable, is very easy. Rice cookers are nice but Instant Pots are cheap and much more versatile. Can you make biryani in a rice cooker? Mashed potatoes? Soup? Etc.
I was beginning to wonder why the Zojirushi is so popular when it feels like the Instapot is more versatile. Perhaps the popularity of the instant pot is like the next generation zoji? Has anyone bought a zoji AFTER they owned an instapot?
It's cause of Zojirushi's reputation for quality products. Instapot may be more versatile, but it's still to recent to see how well 15+ year models perform.
by cnblure
Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I buy a new rice cooker from Zojirushi?
Replies: 103
Views: 13863

Re: Should I buy a new rice cooker from Zojirushi?

Brown rice needs a little more water. Try that first. I have the model you are thinking about getting, but I wish I had the first model you already have. All I use it for is to cook rice, so a lot of the extra features go unused. And the first model looks way easier to clean and takes up less counter space.
by cnblure
Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:28 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How much (or little) do u talk to/teach others about finances
Replies: 36
Views: 2179

Re: How much (or little) do u talk to/teach others about finances

Very little unless asked. But it can be hard to not say anything sometimes. The other day in a text group a few of my cousins were talking about using the forecasted government stimulus checks to buy marijuana ETFs because several seem be near 52 week lows. I'm not usually pushy or intrusive, but it took a lot for me to not forward a link to this site and a PDF version of 'If You Can."
by cnblure
Mon Mar 09, 2020 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How To Stay Positive When Feeling Nickle and Dimed
Replies: 21
Views: 3175

How To Stay Positive When Feeling Nickle and Dimed

My favorite movie is being made into a Broadway production. NYC is only four hours away, so I thought it would be a lot of fun to to make a weekend trip out of going to see it. At the beginning of planning I was really enthusiastic about it. Now that I have finalized arrangements, I am still looking forward to it but the shine has been removed. Everything but the bus ticket had some kind of additional fee or charge. Tickets to the show were advertised as $40 starting. I am going alone. Buying a single ticket limited me to only being able to pick from a handful of seats. I decided to get a good seat for $150 that felt like the best value for me. I go to check out and there is a $60 "handling fee" added. I'm printing the admission t...
by cnblure
Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Becoming more reclusive as I age - is it OK to be OK with it?
Replies: 101
Views: 9870

Re: Becoming more reclusive as I age - is it OK to be OK with it?

Maybe your social need for love and belonging is already satisfied by the family and friends you have? As long as you are happy it's all good. I can't say if this is normal or not, but I'm only 30 and I really relate to this. None of my friends or family are close to where I now live. I actually want to be more social, but at the same time I have no interests or hobbies that require going out to interact with people. I know that there are meetups/activities/volunteer opportunities. But attending things like this with the goal of being more social or making friends doesn't sit well with me if I'm not genuine about the reason for the activity. I feel like I'm more likely to try and force connections just to meet this goal. I don't know if it'...
by cnblure
Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Am I spending to much on furnishing my new home?
Replies: 53
Views: 5164

Re: Am I spending to much on furnishing my new home?

It seems a high, but does that include having to buy many appliances? When I bought my condo, I similarly wanted to try and buy quality items if I could, and where I lived there was virtually no nice second hand furniture available. I had to buy everything and spent $9000. $1400 for a metal Room and Board dining table with a quartz top, $400 for four dining chairs, $1500 on a sofa and 2 armchairs from Costco, $1400 for a solid wood queen bed frame and a mattress, $1000 for 3 solid wood pieces (tv stand, entry table, and shoe stand), $500 on two oriental rugs for the living room and bedroom, and about $400 on random other things. But then I spent $2400 on a Speed Queen washer and dryer, and also a Whirlpool fridge and freezer. So that brough...
by cnblure
Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best thing you have ever bought?
Replies: 151
Views: 17092

Re: Best thing you have ever bought?

I didn't think I was a recliner person, but I bought a used Lazyboy from Habitat for Humanity for $45. It has been life changing.
by cnblure
Thu Oct 31, 2019 9:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I Negotiate After Receiving the Official Offer for a Government Job?
Replies: 17
Views: 7539

Re: Can I Negotiate After Receiving the Official Offer for a Government Job?

Thanks for all the responses. This is for a federal job. It sounds like maybe I did miss the window for salary. Matching my current pay would already be above the range listed in usajobs.gov posting. But I think I will try to pursue something for relocation if it ends up not being addressed. I've brought it up a few times (the interview, with hr) but I never really got a yes or no. So it shouldn't be a surprise for them if I inquire about it. Thanks again.
by cnblure
Thu Oct 31, 2019 6:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I Negotiate After Receiving the Official Offer for a Government Job?
Replies: 17
Views: 7539

Can I Negotiate After Receiving the Official Offer for a Government Job?

Hello. I am worried that I may have missed the time to negotiate salary and relocation compensation. I received and accepted a tentative offer two months ago. Last month I flew out to do the fingerprinting, sent in my last three pay stubs for an advanced rate of pay, and submitted a crediting prior experience for employee annual leave accrual form. A few days ago I received an automated email to schedule a time to come pick up my id. I feel this means an official offer is soon to follow. My plan is to negotiate upon receiving this official offer if something for relocation is not included, but now I'm worried I may have already missed the opportunity for negotiation. Also this would be a move from a normal cost of living to a very high cost...
by cnblure
Fri Jun 21, 2019 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

The West Wing. Thoroughly recommended. I wish I had watched it sooner.
by cnblure
Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Posponing FIRE to go back to School
Replies: 20
Views: 2197

Re: Posponing FIRE to go back to School

Burned out refers to me no longer being able to cope with how my job effects my personal life. I am one of only 2 people that staff where I work. We are on call 24/7 every day after we close. My work cannot be done from a computer and I am required to go on site. I have been on call every other day and have worked every other weekend and holiday for the past 5 years. On the days where I am not on call, I have to go to sleep pretty early in order to go into work and start at 01:30 the next day. Call outs from when we close in the afternoon until 02:00 are common and semi frequent. And so I feel like I can never really do or commit to anything unless it's my weekend off. I don't expect my work situation to change anytime soon, and it is prett...
by cnblure
Mon Jun 17, 2019 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Posponing FIRE to go back to School
Replies: 20
Views: 2197

Posponing FIRE to go back to School

Hello, I am interested in getting an International MBA. I am burnt out in my current career (pharmacist (not retail)) and feel that this would be a great way to make a career transition closer to my interests and make a positive change in my life. The thought of attending this program and the opportunities that could come after excites me. I also like that this provides opportunity to work internationally. I lived overseas from age 3-14 and had a great experience. The program is 22 months. The total tuition is $44,000. It takes $1,500 a month to maintain my current lifestyle. So let's say completing this program would cost me $80,000. It would take me about a year of saving in addition to what I have now to fully pay for this without needin...
by cnblure
Sat Jun 01, 2019 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085185

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Yesterday I watched The Room and Always Be My Maybe. I enjoyed both.
by cnblure
Mon May 13, 2019 3:32 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Financial podcasts
Replies: 38
Views: 7472

Re: Financial podcasts

I enjoy the Afford Anything podcast with Paula Pant.
by cnblure
Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Change VSMPX for VIIIX in my 401k?
Replies: 3
Views: 1731

Change VSMPX for VIIIX in my 401k?

I was reviewing all of the options available in my 401k today and noticed VIIIX. I'm not sure why I didn't notice it before. After reading a little about it, I'm left wondering if I should convert the US stock part of my 401k ($86,000 in VSMPX is currently about 63% of my 401k). They seem very similar in expense ratio, top holdings, ect. VSMPX is more diversified but when VIIIX is spread over 500 stocks, this may not be significant.

I can't really find a reason to switch, but I thought I'd ask just to make sure I'm not missing something.
For completeness I'm 29 and bond allocation is VBTIX(27%) and International is VTPSX(10%).

Thanks
by cnblure
Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: Personal favorite TV/cable series

Cheers, Frasier, Friday Night Lights, The Inbetweeners, Xena, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Cosby Show, and American Vandal.
by cnblure
Sat Dec 22, 2018 5:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I Let My 401k Automatically Rebalance on 12/28?
Replies: 3
Views: 636

Should I Let My 401k Automatically Rebalance on 12/28?

Hello Everyone,

Should dips in the market influence the decision on when to rebalance annually?
My 401k is scheduled to rebalance once a year. This year it is scheduled to do so on 12/28/2018.

My set allocation is
60% VSMPX- Total Stock Market Index
30% VBTIX- Total Bond Market Index
10% VTPSX- Total Stock International Index

After the contributions/market activity this year my 401k is distributed
VSMPX- 58.35%
VBTIX-32.55%
VTPSX- 9.1%

After yesterday (VSMPX -$3.00, and VTPSX -$2.60) do I need to do anything special for my 401k? Or is it best to just let it proceed as scheduled? I just turned 29 this month so nowhere near retirement.

Thanks!
by cnblure
Sat Nov 10, 2018 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

I finished watching Frasier two months ago. Now I'm currently on season 9 of Cheers. It's great!
by cnblure
Thu Nov 08, 2018 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: High-end Christmas decorations
Replies: 41
Views: 5280

Re: High-end Christmas decorations

Kathe Wohlfahrt.
by cnblure
Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Non-alcoholic drinks for wedding
Replies: 79
Views: 6302

Re: Non-alcoholic drinks for wedding

Bubble tea and horchata are tasty/fun options.
by cnblure
Thu May 31, 2018 11:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699376

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

Cobra Kai on Youtube Red. It is the story of Johnny Lawrence from the Karate Kid 30+ years later. Very fun.