Search found 41 matches
- Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Input needed-Should I open a taxable account?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 882
Re: Input needed-Should I open a taxable account?
I appreciate all of the responses. Yes, it was a typo :oops: . Corrected to 401(k). Unfortunately, a mega backdoor roth is not an option for us. The pensions are in addition to social security. Based on the feedback, it sounds like a taxable at 80/20 or 100% VTSAX would be a good approach? I'd go 1...
- Fri Oct 16, 2020 9:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Appliance purchase - Brand & Store Strategy
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1612
Re: Appliance purchase - Brand & Store Strategy
May or may not apply to your particular case, but do you have access to any kind of employer discount plan for major appliances? Our dishwasher recently died(13+ years old) and no matter where I looked I couldn't get any of the models I wanted in less than 6-8 weeks. I checked my employers discount ...
- Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Motion Detector Lights:
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1628
Re: Motion Detector Lights:
One consideration for me is how hard they are to reach if adjustments are needed. Bulb replacements you'd have to do either way... I struggled through many different brands of these on my house, until I found these: RAB Lighting STL360HBW They are worlds better than the ones they replaced, I had so ...
- Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying an elliptical machine - please recommend
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1299
Re: Buying an elliptical machine - please recommend
I've had a Sole E35 for about 6 years now, used multiple times per week by multiple people for the most part. There are certainly weeks with nice weather where we exercise outside instead... I had one issue early on with one of the glides that the wheels ride on, Sole replaced it without much hassle...
- Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Itching for AirPod Pro
- Replies: 32
- Views: 2904
Re: Itching for AirPod Pro
I've had the pros for a couple months now, I really struggled with laying out this much money for headphones beforehand. I have zero regrets with my purchase. I bought mine to use for working from home, I'm on webex or slack calls anywhere from 6-8 hours per day. They have been excellent for this, f...
- Tue May 05, 2020 12:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best [BBQ grill] for the money?
- Replies: 94
- Views: 6920
Re: Best [BBQ grill] for the money?
Thank you for that write up. You sound like quite the grilling enthusiast! Quick question. How would you describe cooking on the griddle vs a normal BBQ? DW feels like a griddle would be similar to cooking on a flat top in a pizza shop, would get the job done but may not be the same as BBQ'ing on a...
- Thu Jan 30, 2020 9:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bench seats vs captains chairs in SUV second row?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 8780
Re: Bench seats vs captains chairs in SUV second row?
Friends, I'm considering a new 3-row SUV and the second row seating options are either bench seats or 2 captain's chairs. I would rarely have more than 4 people in the vehicle, including myself as the driver. For those of you who have second row captain's chairs, do you miss having a bench seat? Th...
- Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:21 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me find some high quality cargo pants.
- Replies: 63
- Views: 6775
Re: Help me find some high quality cargo pants.
I like Prana cargo pants. I've gone on 100+ mile bike trips in their Zion pants and numerous hikes. This is my recommendation. I have several pair of Prana's Zion pants and they're excellent. I wouldn't wear them in a social setting though...unless you're already married or are not interested in at...
- Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Did humanity ever make good Gas cans
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7025
Re: Did humanity ever make good Gas cans
Another vote for No Spill. My 5 gallon container went 8 or 9 years before I had to replace the top at a cost of about 12 bucks. I have the smaller 1.25 gallon No Spill now as well with the small extension hose. Easy to use and they don't make a mess, even has that apple like push button to let out t...
- Wed Aug 14, 2019 8:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Portable gas tank
- Replies: 7
- Views: 714
Re: Portable gas tank
"No Spill" (brand) is more expensive but much better than the usual cheap cans. It stays sealed so less evaporation and potential for spills, as the name says. +1 - I replaced all of my cans with No Spill ones many years ago. I had to replace the cap on my 5 gallon one after 8 years or so...
- Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: which stud finder?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 3738
Re: which stud finder?
I went through several cheap ones before I found this one and threw all the rest away. It is awesome and better than any other I've used by a longshot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Franklin-Sensors-Professional-Stud-Finder-FS710-02B/302886762?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-1_HAND+TOOLS%7CNA%...
- Thu Aug 08, 2019 7:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mentoring in the office - what to expect?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 3291
Re: Mentoring in the office - what to expect?
As others have said, be careful not to badmouth coworkers, managers, reports etc. As far as what TO do, I'd recommend talking with them about your career goals and see if they can give you advice to help you get there. You could also ask them what their career path was and if there's anything they'd...
- Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:22 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a Smoker
- Replies: 154
- Views: 13538
Re: Buying a Smoker
Glad to hear you stuck with it and took the plunge OP, welcome to the tastiest hobby you can have! I'll be interested to see where you're at in a few months or a year, you'll be a pro by then 

- Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a Smoker
- Replies: 154
- Views: 13538
Re: Buying a Smoker
An option I haven't seen mentioned yet(apologies if I missed it) is a Pit Barrel Cooker.(https://pitbarrelcooker.com/) I have several other grills and smokers, including an 18" Weber Smokey Mountain, 3 different weber kettle grills and a weber gas grill, and each is great for certain things. Wh...
- Fri Apr 26, 2019 3:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Wifi extenders vs Mesh network
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4836
Re: Wifi extenders vs Mesh network
I've tried it both ways. I started out with a wifi extender that was a nightmare of reboots and confused phones not knowing when to be on each network no matter how many times I tweaked things. I finally got fed up with this and went with the Google Mesh system and couldn't be happier with it. Piece...
- Tue Nov 06, 2018 4:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need ideas for unusual gifts for preteen boy
- Replies: 27
- Views: 1945
Re: Need ideas for unusual gifts for preteen boy
A successful gift strategy I've used with my son(now 16) for years is to give him things that will encourage us to spend time together. For example, one year I got him camping gear for our yearly trips together, it really got him excited for our first trip that spring. Another year an RC truck(Traxx...
- Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Oil change interval for low-mileage vehicles
- Replies: 89
- Views: 13417
Re: Oil change interval for low-mileage vehicles
I'm in the same boat as you, I'm a telecommuter and put about 4k per year on my vehicle. My service manual recommends once per year or every 10k with synthetic, bumping that up to once every 6 months or 5k if you have frequent short trips. A fair amount of my trips are short, so I stick with their r...
- Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need iPhone case recommendations
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1436
Re: Need iPhone case recommendations
Another vote for the OtterBox Defender, if available for your phone. I've had one of these on every iPhone I've owned for the last 8 years and never had so much as a scratch on them under the case. I've dropped or accidentally thrown my phones many times in these and wouldn't own a phone without one...
- Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New mailbox and post, plus install
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1374
Re: New mailbox and post, plus install
ETA: Looks like someone posted while I was writing this that is using the same setup, two votes for the easy way :happy My mailbox was installed with something similar to this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-12-Gauge-Black-Powder-Coated-E-Z-Spike-FPBS44/100655352. The one I have does...
- Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How much did your braces/invisalign braces cost?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4856
Re: How much did your braces/invisalign braces cost?
First kid was about 6500, second kid was 6200 as they gave me a family discount. I shopped around some, and prices didn't vary all that much around here. Might be dependent on location. I will say that the orthodontist we chose has been wonderful and I'm glad I didn't shop by price alone. FWIW one w...
- Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How do I fix my heating bill?
- Replies: 73
- Views: 3926
Re: How do I fix my heating bill?
Have you considered adding a pellet stove if burning wood isn't an attractive option? It does require some work and delivery/storage/moving of pellets, but electricity usage to run it should be minimal. You can get a model with a thermostat that would allow you to regulate temperature pretty well. Y...
- Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What have you tapped your emergency fund for?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2054
Re: What have you tapped your emergency fund for?
Medical expenses for me(hospital visit), two sets of braces(discount if paid in full up front) for my children.
- Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Waterbury, Stowe, Burlington, VT
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1137
Re: Waterbury, Stowe, Burlington, VT
I visit Burlington pretty frequently for work and the farmhouse(http://www.farmhousetg.com/) is a place that I always stop at. They have a great selection of beers on tap, and the food is good too, although a bit pricey. If you're looking for a great sandwich shop, check out Martones over in Essex.
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recurring brake rotor problem
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2612
Re: Recurring brake rotor problem
I had to put a 4' cheater pipe on my lug wrench to loosen them after I had new tires installed. I'd avoid wherever you had the install done. 80 foot pounds is about average for max torque on lug nuts. This requires only about 9 inches of lug wrench for an average person. Putting lug nuts on with a ...
- Mon Mar 26, 2018 3:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recurring brake rotor problem
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2612
Re: Recurring brake rotor problem
Severe over tightening of the lug nuts can cause this over time. Those lug nuts should be tightened to a manufacturer specified range of ft lbs. Many mechanics put an impact gun on them and crank the snot out of them. Sometimes this can be 1.5x, 2x or more of the requirements. I've seen professiona...
- Mon Jan 22, 2018 2:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cutting cable
- Replies: 51
- Views: 4568
Re: Cutting cable
We already had Netflix and Amazon Prime channels, so with Sling we get most of what we want. Sling is a good interface, feels like a modern interpretation of the cable box. Sometimes the interface is a bit slow. They do their own ad insertion on some networks which can be annoying (playing the same...
- Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8439
Re: 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil
The last couple years Mobil has been doing a rebate offer in the spring..$12 back for each of (max 2) 5 quart jugs. Basically 50% off. I use 0w-20 Mobil 1 in my Toyota 5.7L and will be looking for the rebate again this year.. This is exactly what I do, they've been pretty consistent the last few ye...
- Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much did you contribute to your 401k in 2017?
- Replies: 155
- Views: 14848
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 8:23 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How old are you and how much do you save for retirement a year
- Replies: 244
- Views: 38887
Re: How old are you and how much do you save for retirement a year
I'll be 39 next week, currently have: 416k in 401k(This would be much more, but I'm still recovering from a divorce) 13k in Roth 10k in HSA 63k in Taxable Savings each year: 18k in 401k plus ~10k employer match 5500 in Roth 6750 in HSA 2400 in 529s 17k in Taxable So total for me is about 50k plus my...
- Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Poll-How much do you have in your HSA?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 6786
Re: Poll-How much do you have in your HSA?
Started in 2015, currently have ~10k, all invested in FSTMX. This is the first year I've maxed it out, and it's all thanks to this forum where I learned what an amazing account it is. I'll continue to max it out every year unless unforeseen circumstances pop up, and I'll continue to save receipts an...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Got an iPhoneX
- Replies: 157
- Views: 16299
Re: Got an iPhoneX
@masterakeph, good point about TouchID after washing hands or taking a shower. Current owners, what case and screen protector did you select? I usually don’t spring for the insurance, but those screen repair prices are scary. I've always used Otterbox Defender. Tough as nails. I have one on my iPho...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 1:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I Cut the Cord yesterday!
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5998
Re: I Cut the Cord yesterday!
Just wanted to say loud and proud that I finally cut the cord from cable yesterday! I now only get internet from Spectrum and we have youtube TV (I had to have access to ESPN) for our channels along with hulu and netflix. It feels great to return all of the equipment to Spectrum. It was funny becau...
- Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: liability of selling used car
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2738
Re: liability of selling used car
I just went through this same decision process with my old truck that I used for around the house chores. Still ran well, but was rusty and had some issues. I decided to take the loss and just donate it instead of dealing with the sale, might have cost me 1000-1500 to do so, but to me it wasn't wort...
- Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:47 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What Percentage CASH are you?
- Replies: 168
- Views: 22414
Re: What Percentage CASH are you?
3% - In emergency funds, in a savings account.
- Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any problem leaving a hole in ceiling of garage?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 5030
Re: Any problem leaving a hole in ceiling of garage?
How about one of these?
https://www.amazon.com/Oatey-34044-Acce ... B005SRVJ0U
Not sure if this is approved for a garage ceiling since it isn't airtight, but I've used these in many places that I've updated plumbing so I can get back in if need be.
https://www.amazon.com/Oatey-34044-Acce ... B005SRVJ0U
Not sure if this is approved for a garage ceiling since it isn't airtight, but I've used these in many places that I've updated plumbing so I can get back in if need be.
- Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I purchase Apple Care for my new Apple Watch?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 7753
Re: Should I purchase Apple Care for my new Apple Watch?
I've had a series 1 watch for about 15 months now and I've had no damage or issues with it. I wear it while chopping firewood, painting, working on cars etc, so it's certainly not babied. I did buy a bumper style case for it that I think really cuts down on how many things I knock it into. If/when i...
- Tue Jan 17, 2017 8:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Heavy duty cordless drill/hammerdrill recommendation
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4626
Re: Heavy duty cordless drill/hammerdrill recommendation
I have a Bosch 18v cordless hammerdrill that I bought along with an impact driver and can't say enough good things about it. I upgraded from a Milwaukee set that I also loved, but couldn't find batteries for a reasonable price anymore. The Bosch in my opinion just feels better in your hand and the b...
- Fri Dec 02, 2016 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Rock hit car windshield, where to repair?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3767
Re: Rock hit car windshield, where to repair?
Another vote for Safelite, I've had them replace windshields both out of pocket and through my insurance in the past with great results and zero inconvenience. As far as replace vs repair, one thing to consider is that with an area that large, you may try a repair and then end up replacing down the ...
- Fri Dec 02, 2016 8:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lexus (and Toyota) Owners --- Routine Service ??
- Replies: 29
- Views: 5670
Re: Lexus (and Toyota) Owners --- Routine Service ??
I bought a new Toyota Highlander last year that came with 2 years of free maintenance(upped to 3 because of some issues with the purchase process). Because of this, it's the first vehicle I've taken to the dealership for service. Working from home, my visits are time based instead of mileage, so my ...
- Tue Nov 08, 2016 3:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Battery backup for cable modem and router.
- Replies: 36
- Views: 12575
Re: Battery backup for cable modem and router.
You're very welcome Dottie!Dottie57 wrote:
What a great 2 in 1 idea. Car and office. Thanks!
- Tue Nov 08, 2016 9:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Battery backup for cable modem and router.
- Replies: 36
- Views: 12575
Re: Battery backup for cable modem and router.
I work from home and need to stay connected when the power goes out. For short durations I don't bother getting my generator out. Instead I rely on a portable jump starter/power station which I already have for use when camping or jumping a car if noone else is home. To do this I have my cable modem...