I don't have any personal experience with self-employee tax, but looking at the forms, I would think that you file the quarterly payment on the 1040-ES for both federal withholding and self-employ tax and then file schedule C and SE at tax time. If you think you won't get a penalty because it's less than $1000, then you can file all 3 at tax time.
Have you check with your state for state tax and unemployment withholdings? They vary from state to state. There may be local tax in some places.
Paul
Search found 1452 matches
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: new self employed person late on taxes
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1199
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Forums for parents with Children
- Replies: 12
- Views: 4924
Re: Forums for parents with Children
I was mostly thinking of forums on child development. We are not friends with kids the same age. For most of my friends, their kids are in high school. For most of my wife's friends, the are mostly single. Majority of my church group are of advance age, but there have been younger family members. They were thinking of setting up a parents group.
What I am looking for is some sort of forum for raising kids and find solutions to issue that will crop up.
Paul
What I am looking for is some sort of forum for raising kids and find solutions to issue that will crop up.
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:43 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Hobbies + Free Time
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3415
Re: Hobbies + Free Time
I used to have a wide range of hobbies including reading, hiking, cycling, investing, bird feeding, etc. After kids, I find that I have less free time and concentrated on hobbies that are still compatible. I still do bird feeding and gardening, but not to the extent I used to. I still cook, but is more restrictive in my experimentation because the kids won't eat it. Instead of cooking some interesting unknown dish that sounds interesting, I end up trying to perfect dishes that my family is willing to eat. I would for example try to perfect how to make scramble eggs or pancakes, etc.
Paul
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bilingual households
- Replies: 39
- Views: 7554
Bilingual households
I speak a second language other than English. My wife also speak a totally different second language. My thought was wouldn't it be nice to teach each other and the kids each other's language. This may be a good time to do it when they are pre-Kindergarten. For Bilingual or even Trilingual households, how do you teach your kids multiple languages without causing confusion. How do you teach your kids how multiple language for the same object or term?
Paul
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Forums for parents with Children
- Replies: 12
- Views: 4924
Forums for parents with Children
Are there good forums for parents? We have been winging it with reading books for the past couple of years, but often I have questions that needs answers. I find that my mom's knowledge appears to be out of date. While Bogleheads forum is great, it is not necessary the place for these types of questions.
Paul
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lightbulbs in Fully Enclosed Recessed Fixtures
- Replies: 57
- Views: 40170
Re: Lightbulbs in Fully Enclosed Recessed Fixtures
Incandescent and Halogen tend to run really hot to begin with, so the issue is not with the bulb but with the material in the enclosed space. CFL don't generate a lot of heat and has the opposite problem with cold temperature. They tend to be dim until they warm up. LED are more sensitive to heat than incandescent and CFL. This is why they have cooling fins. The cooling fins don't work too well without airflow. Usually, this is mostly an issue with totally enclosed spaces. For example, ceiling recessed light are not enclosed. They are opened at the bottom. On high heat Halogen lamps, I often hear noise from the air rushing through the gap. This is an issue with enclosed fixture like totally enclosed ceiling lights, but you can get LED that ...
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Social Security election change? Q for my 71 yr Mom
- Replies: 21
- Views: 3077
Re: Social Security election change? Q for my 71 yr Mom
To the original poster, make sure that you do check if the 1/2 benefit is higher than your mom's benefits. If this is the case, this is a no brainer. The benefit will only increase on the death of the ex-spouse and SSA do not need permission from the ex-spouse to process the claim.
The benefit is limited to marriage of over 10 years, so I think the situation of multiple ex-spouse drawing on the same person's account is probably not all that high.
Paul
The benefit is limited to marriage of over 10 years, so I think the situation of multiple ex-spouse drawing on the same person's account is probably not all that high.
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you keep manuals/packaging for products you buy?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 3566
Re: Do you keep manuals/packaging for products you buy?
If possible, I download the manual in PDF format and recycle the paper form.
Paul
Paul
- Mon Jan 05, 2015 12:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Company Stock in 401k
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1119
Re: Company Stock in 401k
My company matches in stock, so every year or so, I sell off the company stock so that I have about 4-5% max. I would strongly advise anyone to diversify. I know several people who held most of their money in their company stock because their company was doing so well. As a result, they end up not having enough money to retire. Just think of employees of Enron or even AT&T. If you had held 100% company stock, you would be in terrible shape.
In addition, if your company isn't doing well, they laid you off, so you get a double-whammy of being unemployed and a trashed 401K.
Paul
In addition, if your company isn't doing well, they laid you off, so you get a double-whammy of being unemployed and a trashed 401K.
Paul
- Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can I fund Vanguard purchases with my Target REDcard?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 7897
Re: Can I fund Vanguard purchases with my Target REDcard?
I thought Redcard only allow you to purchase items from Target. Are Vanguard funds available for purchase now at Target :-p.
Paul
Paul
- Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How Much Do You Sacrifice?
- Replies: 82
- Views: 9426
Re: How Much Do You Sacrifice?
The goal is not to save everything and then live like a king at retirement. The idea is flawed, since you may not reach that goal due to early death and by the time you retired, you may be too old to enjoy some of the activities that you would have enjoy when you were younger. What you should thinking is not what you should be sacrificing, but what can you do with the resource allocated to you. Basically, you cannot have it all. You can have finite amount of money where you can spend to make your life happy. Your happiness lies in recognizing what you can achieve with the resources available to you. You must prioritized what is important to you and also set some money assign so when you retire you will live in relatively the same life style...
- Tue Dec 30, 2014 8:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How have elderly parents affected your retirement?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 6288
Re: How have elderly parents affected your retirement?
Would you considered having them spend down their asset instead of contributing your own? Retiring early means you can give them better oversight as someone else said. If they are in their 90's, you may not have much time left to spend with them.
Paul
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Transfer money from India to US
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1491
Re: Transfer money from India to US
How much are they wiring per year? If it's less than the annual gift exclusion, then there's There is hot much to worry about. Just do a wire transfer.
For large amounts, if the giver is not a Us Citizen, you may not incur a gift tax, but make sure you wire it from a non-US bank from outside of the US territory. am no expert, but what you should not do is to wire it from a US Citizen account or a US source account or worse bring a check or cash on a airplane.
If you have foreign accounts over $!0,000, you should be real careful and talk with a tax accountant. US has some rather severe laws regarding foreign accounts that can result in stiff fines.
Paul
For large amounts, if the giver is not a Us Citizen, you may not incur a gift tax, but make sure you wire it from a non-US bank from outside of the US territory. am no expert, but what you should not do is to wire it from a US Citizen account or a US source account or worse bring a check or cash on a airplane.
If you have foreign accounts over $!0,000, you should be real careful and talk with a tax accountant. US has some rather severe laws regarding foreign accounts that can result in stiff fines.
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3437
Re: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
(EFC counts retirement contributions as part of income, because they are discretionary spending.) This is so true and was a real eye opener when I learned this 5 years ago. Bogleheads are so used to the mantra of maxing out retirement plan contributions that they treat these as a mandatory expense and not really as available income. That is why I believe families saving for college should still max out retirement plan contributions before putting one cent in a 529 plan. First, the contributions reduce their spendable income and the family gets used to living on less. Second, money in those plans are not counted as assets to be used for college at all. Third, if needed, the family can just stop contributions during the college expense years...
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any Cyclists With a Brooks Saddle?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 6147
Re: Any Cyclists With a Brooks Saddle?
Mines is quite comfortable. I had mines since the early 90's, so it's pretty broken in. One issue with leather saddle is that you have to maintain it. If you let it sit in water and dry it out it will be ruined. If treated well, leather saddle last a pretty long time.
One note with saddle is that not all butts are the same, so one shape will work with someone and be painful to another.
Paul
One note with saddle is that not all butts are the same, so one shape will work with someone and be painful to another.
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Protecting your Windows system from malware
- Replies: 44
- Views: 6992
Re: Protecting your Windows system from malware
JRE is JAVA Runtime Environment. Think of it as a component on your computer that Java program has to call to do its functionality. Frankly, I don't know of too many sites that uses Java. I notice an article dated back in 2012 that 0.2% of all worldwide site still uses Java. When I think of Java usage, I am thinking of desktop applications like Adobe Creative Suite, Open Office, and Money Dance. If you don't use Java, you can uninstall it by going to Add/Remove Program on your PC and uninstall the JRE. If you don't want to uniinstall Java, you can also disable the java plugin on your browser. Frankly, Java has always been a pain to update. On Windows, a best practice is to run your account in non-admin mode. When you do this, you get a popu...
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Helping Mom Healthcare
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2298
Re: Helping Mom Healthcare
Hi Paul, yes her care is #1 priority. Even mom knows she isn't ready because she isn't crying to go home yet like she did before. I could get the money (post tax retirement investments) or since I have excellent credit could get a mortgage and seriously considered it but then started to think of all the issues that come with it, I would be buying a big headache unless I sink more money into it to fix it up. My brother can't help financially and if I don't keep helping financially then there is the guilt. I've been doing this April but don't want to go broke doing it. Home health care is so expensive. Yea, I guess that sounds selfish :-( Anyway, after all the stress and thinking about every angle without putting our own retirement on the li...
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 9:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3437
Re: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
Strategy will depend on a lot of factors. I am trying to figure out each factor. This is why the question was specific.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2 ... llege-aid/
According to the site, I will be in the yellow area, which means there is eligibility for 4 year private colleges and elites schools.
Paul
http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2 ... llege-aid/
According to the site, I will be in the yellow area, which means there is eligibility for 4 year private colleges and elites schools.
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Helping Mom Healthcare
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2298
Re: Helping Mom Healthcare
I would advice that she apply for the medicaid and you do not buy her house (unless it is a good investment). If you had a lot of cash to spare, then it would be doable, but it appears this is not the case. In the end, a house is just a house. The house will give her a place she is used to living, but there isn't the highest priority. The highest priority is to get the care that she needs.
Paul
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3437
Re: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
I have read the moneycrasher article but was suspicious of the accuracy because it runs counter to the other articles. Basically what I can determine is: * 529 are counted as an asset, which mean it gets counted as roughly 5.6% if it's under the parent's name. The withdraws are not counted in the EFC. From the financial aid office point of view, you are tapping into an asset. Note that this counts for asset for parents. I believe 529 from grandparents for example may not be counted the same way. * IRA are not counted as an asset. Financial aid will not count 401K nor IRA as part of your asset when calculating EFC. * Traditional IRA withdraws raises your AGI and so will be counted as income for EFC calculation. * Roth IRA can be tapped for e...
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3437
529 and Roth IRA withdraw and financial aid
The consensus on this board appears to be that contributing to an Roth IRA is superior to a 529. Roth IRA can be used to pay education expenses tax free.
However, I did notice that Roth IRA withdraw are counted as income for financial aid and 529 is not. is this true?
Paul
However, I did notice that Roth IRA withdraw are counted as income for financial aid and 529 is not. is this true?
Paul
- Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:39 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: IL 529 question- creating an account question
- Replies: 2
- Views: 889
Re: IL 529 question- creating an account question
The IL Schedule M does not ask who contribute the 529, just how much, so I imagine that it doesn't matter who contributed the 529 when it's joint owners.
paul
paul
- Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare - what if you were given the wrong information
- Replies: 2
- Views: 841
Re: Medicare - what if you were given the wrong information
Based on a lot of searching, I was able to find the term for this type of appeal "equitable relief". Basically, you have to file an "equitable relief" indicating that you were misled by an agent of the federal government. Here's the social security page on this: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600805170 The following are some articles: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703344704574610570928560200 http://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T051-C000-S001-appeal-a-decision-by-social-security.html http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/06/how_health_care_red_tape_can_t.html What's unclear is what you need to put into the letter if you don't keep good records of the date, time and person involved. P...
- Sat Dec 27, 2014 12:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Protecting your Windows system from malware
- Replies: 44
- Views: 6992
Re: Protecting your Windows system from malware
It's always good practice to keep up with the security updates. This mean OS patches, flash, PDF, java, etc. If you don't install a component like Java, you can probably uninstall it and reduce your target. The problem is that some product comes with their own embedded JRE, which may not be up to date. By keeping your security up to date, you prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities that have been discovered in the past. It will not protect you from a new attack they recently discovered, but have not generated a patch for. The other good practice is to run your daily account without admin rights. The idea is that if the malware get a hold of your account, they won't have enough access to overwrite your system files or the other use...
- Sat Dec 27, 2014 12:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Snow blower maintenance and repair
- Replies: 26
- Views: 5033
Re: Snow blower maintenance and repair
OK,
I decided to just drop the snow blower off at Ace Hardware to be tuned up. It's been 6 years since I got the blower, so a tune up is overdue any way and I barely have time to work on it.
Frankly, I am happy to just shovel the snow by hand. I did this for decades, but my wife insist that I get one in case she had to shovel the snow. Frankly, I am not all that good with using the thing. One year, it did snowed about 2 feet of snow and I couldn't figure out how to use the snow blower to move the snow because it would stall. I ended up shoveling the snow by hand, a rather painful experience.
I followup when the snow blower comes back.
Paul
I decided to just drop the snow blower off at Ace Hardware to be tuned up. It's been 6 years since I got the blower, so a tune up is overdue any way and I barely have time to work on it.
Frankly, I am happy to just shovel the snow by hand. I did this for decades, but my wife insist that I get one in case she had to shovel the snow. Frankly, I am not all that good with using the thing. One year, it did snowed about 2 feet of snow and I couldn't figure out how to use the snow blower to move the snow because it would stall. I ended up shoveling the snow by hand, a rather painful experience.
I followup when the snow blower comes back.
Paul
- Sat Dec 27, 2014 12:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Medicare - what if you were given the wrong information
- Replies: 2
- Views: 841
Medicare - what if you were given the wrong information
This is a followup with a medicare issue I previously posted. Basically, they retired a year and a half ago. Their former employers offers some sort of retirement benefits in the form of retiree insurance. They visited the Medicare center in person and ask about how to proceed. The medicare person informed them that they didn't need to sign up for part B because they were covered by the retiree insurance. Jump forward a year and a half. The former employer altered the benefits, so that instead paying the insurance, they change the plan to give you a fix amount per month to cover the premium of getting their own insurance. Their plan ends the end of this year. This is when the problem begins. It turns out that retiree insurance does not coun...
- Thu Dec 25, 2014 2:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cheap cell phone for security gate
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2444
Re: Cheap cell phone for security gate
How often do people ring the door bell. There are a number of Pay as you go plan that charges about $0.02 to $0.05 per minute.
Wifi over 1/4 mile is possible using a really large dish type setup.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To- ... y-or-more/
Another possibility is if there is a power outlet for lights nearby? It's possible to run a network through the AC wiring.
Paul
Wifi over 1/4 mile is possible using a really large dish type setup.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To- ... y-or-more/
Another possibility is if there is a power outlet for lights nearby? It's possible to run a network through the AC wiring.
Paul
- Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cost to ship a car
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2969
Re: Cost to ship a car
When my mom moved from the East to the West Coast, she used DAS because it wasn't a lowest bidder type shipper. I can't recall the cost, but I thought it was roughly $1000.
I'll ask my mom.
Correction:
My mom said it was $1295.
Paul
I'll ask my mom.
Correction:
My mom said it was $1295.
Paul
- Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:34 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Getting dual health insurance
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1641
Re: Getting dual health insurance
There's nothing wrong with dual health insurance. When you go to the doctor, they will ask if you have additional insurance. What is not covered by the primary insurance gets covered by the other.
Paul
Paul
- Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Snow blower maintenance and repair
- Replies: 26
- Views: 5033
Snow blower maintenance and repair
My Toro snow blower stopped working after a few years. Based on what I read, I am supposed to do a tune up every year and drain the gas. Of course, I didn't do that :D . However, my father-in-law indicated that he never maintain his Toro for 20 years and it never seems to failed to work. I have drain the gas and refilled it, but the engine still won't start. I was going to get a spark plug to test if it will resolved the issue, but the store didn't have the plug in stock at the time. I did talk with the mechanic store and he told me that it was most likely the carburetor being filled with bad gas. He complaint that gas these day have too much ethanol, which eventually cause water to collect in the carb. He said that flushing it may work, bu...
- Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:11 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How often do you get an appraisal on jewelry
- Replies: 0
- Views: 669
How often do you get an appraisal on jewelry
I noticed my insurance recommend an appraisal every 2 years for Jewelry and the nearby Jeweler quoted me a appraisal fee of around $90-$100. What are your opinion of how often the appraisal should be and how much it would cost? Is there a certification that the appraiser must have to make it acceptable by the insurance?
Paul
Paul
- Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3340
Re: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
The sibling discount is 10% for the older child, while the corporate discount is 10% for both child. Apparently, they won't give out both discounts .
Paul
Paul
- Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3340
Re: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
The following is a summary of what I have tried so far: 1. Check for corporate discount. Kindercare does have a 10% corporate discount for my wife. Good for about $250 per month. 2. File for dependent care FSA for my workplace. The limit is $5000 a year, which would only cover about 2 months of expenses. The FSA is better than the tax credit because it reduces taxes for fed, state, social security, and medicare. Good for $5000 x (28% + 5% + 6.2% + 1.45%) = $2,032.5 per year. 3. The maximum fed tax credit is $6000 per year for 2 children minus what's in the FSA, so I could apply for $1,000 worth of tax credit and get about $280 back assuming I don't hit the income limit for tax credit. 4. Pay the bill using discover, which has a 1% cash back...
- Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3340
Re: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
Thanks.
Daycare only takes discover and debit cards, they won't take the citibank card.
I already maxed out my flexpay. The problem is that there's a $5k limit per family even with 2 children. As a result, it pays for may be 2 months of tuition.
Paul
Daycare only takes discover and debit cards, they won't take the citibank card.
I already maxed out my flexpay. The problem is that there's a $5k limit per family even with 2 children. As a result, it pays for may be 2 months of tuition.
Paul
- Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3340
Daycare payments - a way to get further discount?
My daycare takes several forms of payment: check, discover card, debit card, and bank account transfers. Since the amount is like $2500 a month, I am wondering if there's some way to get additional cash back or what would be the cheapest way to pay. The discover card appears to give you 1% cash back. It also give out free FICO scores, which seems to be a nice bonus. I haven't seen any debit card rewards. Also I am wondering why one of us should get the credit card. I have pretty good FICO scores, but don't really want another credit card. My wife may have no so great scores, at last she did several years ago. She doesn't really have that many credit card and she could use that FICO tracking. Would applying for a card and then paying it off ...
- Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What to prepare for first baby due next month?
- Replies: 55
- Views: 9546
Re: What to prepare for first baby due next month?
Congrats: Set up baby crib area so that baby will be ready to settle in. Setup trash can, wipes and diaper around the changing area, because you will need to do that a lot. Get diaper cream, since baby will likely need it. Make sure you have ample supply of diapers, wipes and baby clothes. Even if you plan to breast fed, get some formula just in case it doesn't work out. Get your car seat ready and installed. Stock up on some frozens since you may not have time to cook. In fact, enjoy life now because once the baby is born, you won't have the time. After the baby arrives, sleep while you can. Try not to go crazy with the baby for the first month or so. You want to avoid infection. My friend at work had a sick baby in the first month and had...
- Wed Nov 19, 2014 1:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How much is saved by taking mass transit to work?
- Replies: 51
- Views: 6721
Re: How much is saved by taking mass transit to work?
These type of question is very location specific. The best I can suggest is to work out the math.
For the car, calculate:
Cost of car insurance
Cost of registration fee per year
Cost of gas (take miles driven x price as a rough)
Parking Fees - if you live in the city, you may need to pay for a parking space.
Tolls that you have to pay to drive to work.
Cost of maintenance
You can compare it with the price of a mass transit monthly pass.
This is of course assuming that you are getting rid of your car. If you are keeping your car, and just taking the train, what you are saving is gas and toll.
Paul
For the car, calculate:
Cost of car insurance
Cost of registration fee per year
Cost of gas (take miles driven x price as a rough)
Parking Fees - if you live in the city, you may need to pay for a parking space.
Tolls that you have to pay to drive to work.
Cost of maintenance
You can compare it with the price of a mass transit monthly pass.
This is of course assuming that you are getting rid of your car. If you are keeping your car, and just taking the train, what you are saving is gas and toll.
Paul
- Mon Nov 17, 2014 12:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 75w LED bulb in a 60w socket?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 9760
Re: 75w LED bulb in a 60w socket?
While LED uses a lot less power than a regular bulb, it can generate a bit of heat. Notice that the cooling fin on the bulb? Check the package to see if the bulb indicate that it should not be used in an enclosed space.
On the plus side, the led bulb probably doesn't generate so much heat that it will result in a a fire. Most likely, the service life of the bulb will be reduced.
Paul
On the plus side, the led bulb probably doesn't generate so much heat that it will result in a a fire. Most likely, the service life of the bulb will be reduced.
Paul
- Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?
- Replies: 300
- Views: 83143
Re: Bogleheads, tell me about your 40's?
I am midway through my 40's. I gotten married later in life so didn't have that much of a opportunity to settle in before starting a family, so the 40's have been more challenging than my 30's, especially since I also relocated and essentially have to restart my life in my 40's. On the plus side, my career and my wife is doing well. We make not amazing money but good money by average American standards and certain better money than my parents. I am more confident than in my 30's and is less bothered by things. The kids while challenging, have been less challenging than expected. With kids though, velocity of life increase exponentially. Now I wish I was more organized back in my 30's. Finance has also become a challenge due to daycare, but ...
- Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Late medicare enrollment if you switch from insurance
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1710
Re: Late medicare enrollment if you switch from insurance
I did some further research: http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&script_id=20 Based on what I can determine, if you are working and on your employer's insurance. As long as your insurance is considered primary (some insurance forces you to make medicare primary upon turning 65) and is equivalent to Medicare in terms of benefits. In my mom's case, she worked until 70 and was my her employer's insurance which was primary and equivalent. When she turned 65, I worked with both the insurance and Medicare to see if she needed to sign up for Part B. They indicated that she did not. She continued to work until 70 and when she quit, i signed her up for medicare part B and had her old insurance sent medica...
- Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:11 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Experience with Target Redcard?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 8597
Re: Experience with Target Redcard?
I tried to signed up for the Debit version. The credit version probably start with a crappy $200 limit, we certain spend more than that at Target each month on groceries and supplies. In the middle of processing, she told us that she needed a blank check, which I don't carry with me. I came back later and was told that I had to start the whole process over. I decide to wait a bit .
Paul
Paul
- Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Life insurance coverage if you leave employer
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2112
Re: Life insurance coverage if you leave employer
Check with the insurance company. Your rate will not be the same as when are employed, the conversion rate is often not very good.
Paul
Paul
- Wed Nov 12, 2014 3:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Life purpose revisited
- Replies: 55
- Views: 13367
Re: Life purpose revisited
In my 20's, I am an insecure individual making my way through the world. High school was a terrible time, but college was somewhat better. As I get older, I feel that I grow into the person I was meant to be. I still have more questions than answers, but now I am less bother by the lack of answers. The purpose of life is to find your own path. The journey itself is more important than the goal because we rarely know where we are going. It is rare to find someone who is still on Plan A. As for the search for spouse, keep at it. I was thinking that I would be married by your age, but being introverted means I had problems talking to women. Most of my friends gotten married way before I did and now have kids in their teens. My advice is to loo...
- Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: When do you know it is time to switch jobs?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 6509
Re: When do you know it is time to switch jobs?
Are you looking for a new job or a career change? I am a bit puzzled by your desire to try other careers. IT to accounting is a bit odd. I am pretty sure accountants are in demand, but will you like the job enough to work for several decades on it? In any case, you should think about if you like the job you are doing. Can you see yourself doing it 20 years down the road. If you are burnt out because you're sick of trying to learn new technology every 5 years, then it's perhaps a good idea to start looking for something else. You seemed to like the technology side and think the people interaction is draining. In that case, you probably should probably avoid the management track. Is the part about being the Jack of all trade bothering you? Wo...
- Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Experience with Target Redcard?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 8597
Re: Experience with Target Redcard?
It appears the debit card version is something call a Decoupled debit card. Supposedly you can't really gain access to your bank account through the card. The card apparently send information to a server at Target, which contains the actual bank account info and then collect the money using ACH.
Not sure about the liability. I am guessing that the credit card one is identical to every other credit card, but I don't know if the target redcard has the same fraud protection as a regular debit card.
Paul
Not sure about the liability. I am guessing that the credit card one is identical to every other credit card, but I don't know if the target redcard has the same fraud protection as a regular debit card.
Paul
- Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Experience with Target Redcard?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 8597
Experience with Target Redcard?
Anyone have experience with Target Redcards? They seemed to come in two different version, a credit and a debit version. In the past, I was always resisted getting one, but I am thinking of using their subscription service since some of the prices appear to be better than Amazon mom and it cost nothing to sign up. It appears I can return stuff physically at the store. One concern I have is with data breaches. Who wants to have crooks empty out their bank account. I looked around and found this article that seems to imply that the card may be more secure, mostly because thieves don't want a card they can only use at Target. http://www.americanbanker.com/issues/178_245/targets-redcard-proves-less-vulnerable-to-data-breach-than-bank-cards-1064...
- Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Late medicare enrollment if you switch from insurance
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1710
Late medicare enrollment if you switch from insurance
My over 65 in-laws used to be on what is term "pension" insurance. I don't think that's the proper term for it, but it's health insurance provided by their former employers as part of their retirement package. Recently, they have been told that their insurance was ending and they hire a firm to help them transition to a medicare. The rep told them that they may be subject to a late enrollment penalty because they didn't sign on with medicare at 65. I was like ???? To my knowledge, if you turn 65, you sign up for Part A. but if you have your own insurance, you can defer signing up for part B if you have an "equivalent" insurance. My mom didn't sign up until 70 and never paid a penalty. I just had to have the former insura...
- Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is this $20 pre paid phone from Amazon a good deal?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2036
Re: Is this $20 pre paid phone from Amazon a good deal?
For an emergency phone, why not considered a dumb phone. One advantage is that their battery life measures in a week vs. a day. That cheap android phone probably has a crappy battery life.
Paul
Paul
- Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: "Gut Feelings," Our "Backup Brain"
- Replies: 22
- Views: 3123
Re: "Gut Feelings," Our "Backup Brain"
I tend to feel that it's the reverse. For the short-term, the gut feeling is good for executing quick decisions. For buy and hold, you are essentially overriding your gut with your brain.Fallible wrote: You could say buy and hold has to do with the good kind of 'guts,' i.e., courage to fight the panic and stay the course in a market crash. Otherwise, buy and hold is a way to help control emotional gut feelings after one has invested wisely based on rational decision-making.
Paul
- Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:49 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Interest is so low that Germans have to pay for savings
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2727
Interest is so low that Germans have to pay for savings
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... banks.html
Interest rate has dropped so much that people now has to pay to keep money in the bank. The US had some deflation in the past as well. Did it ever get to the point where people have to pay banks to hold their money?
Paul
Interest rate has dropped so much that people now has to pay to keep money in the bank. The US had some deflation in the past as well. Did it ever get to the point where people have to pay banks to hold their money?
Paul