Search found 52 matches

by bds3
Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite budget golf balls?
Replies: 38
Views: 3199

Re: Favorite budget golf balls?

Vice Pro balls are nice, but they definitely have durability issues. I don't mean the cover scratches or anything, I mean they lose distance and spin and feel after a round or 2. I used them for a whole season and could't get over the feeling. I had a couple buddies, both scratch golfers, who hit a couple and loved them. I gave them each a sleeve and they both came back to me a couple weeks later and said the same thing.

Since then I've gone to Titleist.

I have a swing speed 110-115, as do both my friends, FYI.
by bds3
Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 31 years old, 1M pretax income, Need advice for investing
Replies: 31
Views: 5429

Re: 31 years old, 1M pretax income, Need advice for investing

… and around 100k of it goes into a high-dividend stock NMFC (9% dividend). Why? That stock is basically flat. They pay out all their gains as a dividend. That’s a horrible return for the last decade and although it would be a nice guaranteed return, there’s no guarantee the price or the dividend will stay that way indefinitely. And that 9% annual return quickly becomes less than 6% in California with taxes. You don’t need income stocks right now. Don’t do it. You shouldn’t want dividends. My income is similar to yours and the only stock I own outside of index funds is BRK specifically because it doesn’t pay any dividend. If you desperately want dividends for some unexplainable reason, at least spread that portion around amongst several st...
by bds3
Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How much Gold do you own and why?
Replies: 522
Views: 56733

Re: How much Gold do you own and why?

I don’t own physical gold, but I do have a bit of physical silver. I bought it during the most unsure period of early COVID, not as an investment but in case I needed it for swap/barter. It still sits in my safe. I was without electricity and running water for a week, and nobody was bartering with precious metals. People were desperately seeking gasoline, generators, drinking water, food and firewood. But not metals. Even if the situation had gone on for months, I'm sure that metals would still have been of little trade value. We have solar, batteries, generators, wells, septic, and more firewood than we could use in 3 years (we heat and cool with geothermal though). Other than propane for the generators, we don’t use fossil fuels. Food, h...
by bds3
Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sold my Business and currently have no Income, but 3m in cash
Replies: 93
Views: 14069

Re: Sold my Business and currently have no Income, but 3m in cash

I would... Sell off enough crypto to pay off the debt+LTCG on the crypto, and otherwise not touch the $3M. In order to have more favorable capital gains rates perhaps you sell some January 2022 and the rest Jan 2023, but that will depend on your income for 2021/22/23, and only you know that. Let the rest of the crypto ride. Your $200k investment will pay off 600+ in debt. That's a win. In your current situation I would keep th 1 year of cash and put the other $3M in VTSAX+ some bond fund, to your desired risk. Hopefully 80/20, 90/10, or 100/0 at your age. I think the risk of low bond returns for 60 years is a big one for you. I would also get a job. Maybe I'd wait 6 months and enjoy some time off, but I can't fathom retirement on only $3M, ...
by bds3
Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Inheriting $4M, not sure what to do
Replies: 52
Views: 12129

Re: Inheriting $4M, not sure what to do

Clearly you should buy 2 million powerball tickets.
by bds3
Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Outperforming The Stock Market Long Term!
Replies: 120
Views: 31825

Re: Outperforming The Stock Market Long Term!

Go 100% TQQQ. Forever. Good luck.
by bds3
Fri Sep 10, 2021 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Asset Protection" for young teenage driver in the household
Replies: 90
Views: 9529

Re: "Asset Protection" for young teenage driver in the household

I didn’t read every reply but several suggested titling the car solely in the kid’s name and getting them a separate insurance policy and bing bang boom problem solved. This was my plan too until my attorney advised me with 100% certainty it wouldn’t work even a little bit for asset protection. Basically if the kid can be considered a dependent (even if you don’t claim him/her as such on your taxes), ie if they live in your house, or are in college and you pay their tuition, then you will still be responsible/liable for their actions.

May vary by state.
by bds3
Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Slim/minimalist wallet suggestion
Replies: 139
Views: 18118

Re: Slim/minimalist wallet suggestion

huzaing wrote: Sun Aug 22, 2021 4:54 pm Hi,

Any recommendations for a slim/minimalist wallet please:

- Decent quality (some on Amazon look good, but some customer photos show poor quality)
- No money clip.
- Less than $50

Thanks.
I have one like the fossil option you posted. Actually it was an "insert" option for a bigger wallet I got as a gift. I threw away the big wallet and have used the little fella for 20 years. Driver license on one side, 2 credit cards on the other. Room for 4 I think.
by bds3
Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Guidance on Max Car Price
Replies: 137
Views: 11720

Re: Guidance on Max Car Price

Old Guy wrote: Mon Jun 21, 2021 6:22 am I’m retired and in my late 70s. Wife is also retired. We gross about $250,000 a year,

I like nice things.

I want a Mustang Mach E for around $50,000 before tax credit and x plan to replace my 2011 Ford Explorer, which is aging. I’ll finance through Ford for a $1,000 off and then pay it off after one or two payments. I am holding off because many dealers are charging above the list price and I will not pay that. I’m going to have to pay at least a thousand to put a 240 outlet and charger in the garage and maybe more to upgrade the electrical system in the house.

Looking forward to these expenditures maybe next year when car price become more realistic.
Good for you for liking nice things but settling for a Ford instead.
by bds3
Mon Jun 14, 2021 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Having a Baby-- Budgeting?
Replies: 38
Views: 5004

Re: Having a Baby-- Budgeting?

Forget budgets. You're screwed. Kids are expensive.

I'm kidding of course but only kind of. Kids are a big reason we changed from a budget to a reverse budget. What's a reverse budget? Well a reverse budget is: I am going to save $xx,xxx per month, and that will achieve our financial goals, and we can theoretically spend everything else.

Off topic perhaps, but I'm a high earner (not dual physician level but high nonetheless), so I can empathize with your situation.

Also $2k a month seems low. I'm in a pretty LCOL-MCOL area and mine was comparable to that.

Good luck and congrats.
by bds3
Fri Jun 04, 2021 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do I go and experience the other America?
Replies: 52
Views: 6200

Re: Where do I go and experience the other America?

Branson, MO
Duluth, MN
Grand Rapids, MI
Black Hills National Forest, SD
Colorado Springs, CO
by bds3
Wed May 26, 2021 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)
Replies: 80
Views: 9493

Re: Saving wear & tear on car (brakes vs transmission)

Buy a new high-end sports car with carbon ceramic brakes. The rotors last 100,000+ miles. Brake all you want and save your transmission.
by bds3
Sun May 16, 2021 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Taxable account allocation
Replies: 33
Views: 3202

Re: Investment percentage

What’s up with the quotation marks?
by bds3
Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Windfall + early retirement portfolio questions
Replies: 29
Views: 4410

Re: Windfall + early retirement portfolio questions

VTI, VXUS, and VWLUX to your tolerance. You will have to plan for how to manage your dividends (for example to NOT automatically reinvest them in the VTI account, to have enough money to pay taxes on said dividends).

For me 6.4M VTI, 1.6M VXUS, and 1M VWLUX. Your tolerance may differ. But keep it simple.
by bds3
Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I cant find anything better than S&P
Replies: 74
Views: 9636

Re: I cant find anything better than S&P

tiburblium wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:43 am Total US and total ex-us (VTI, VXUS)
Deleted for my error.
by bds3
Wed Mar 31, 2021 5:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment choice- surgery center vs stock market
Replies: 27
Views: 3424

Re: Investment choice- surgery center vs stock market

Why do you have to buy in at 6x and can only sell at 3x? Sounds like someone (hospital management company, CEO, founding Drs, etc) is screwing you out of a lot of money.
by bds3
Wed Mar 17, 2021 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where would you put 100k a year?
Replies: 18
Views: 2023

Re: Where would you put 100k a year?

orifdoc wrote: Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:50 pm
I understand that diversification is for safety, but don't you think 40% international would be way too high to start a potential 100% equity path?
VT (total world stock market) is what, 55% US and 45% international? I haven’t looked recently but I think that’s about right. So 40% international would still be a domestic-tilt.

I’m in a similar situation to you. I have a very high risk tolerance. I’m 100% equity. I essentially have 80% VTI (total US) and 20% VXUS (total international) because I wanted lower international exposure than VT provided.
by bds3
Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Patio Design Input Needed
Replies: 9
Views: 891

Re: Patio Design Input Needed

I assume the light blue is house? if so extend the whole patio to the edge on the bottom side (bottom of the image you posted I mean) of the area around the fire pit. Like what's outlined in white on the bottom right, but also do it on bottom left to make the whole side square.
by bds3
Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Did you investigate your partner's financial background before committing?
Replies: 99
Views: 7916

Re: Did you investigate your partner's financial background before committing?

runner3081 wrote: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:30 pm Yes, STD screening, criminal background and financial credit checks.

We did those things mutually, wasn't one way.

This is a life long commitment (well, 50% of them are), why wouldn't you?
Agreed. I actually do this with all my friends. You can never be too careful.
by bds3
Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much would you contribute to retirement if you max your 2019 contributions?
Replies: 43
Views: 3768

Re: How much would you contribute to retirement if you max your 2019 contributions?

Between me and wife:

19k Roth 401k
93k 401k
12k Roth IRA (backdoor)
7k hsa

So 131k, 31k of which is Roth.
by bds3
Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Equity-only investment allocation recommendations
Replies: 3
Views: 314

Equity-only investment allocation recommendations

I have high risk tolerance and have no interest in bonds at this time, so please don't bother trying to recommend any.

I am looking for stock index fund recommendations for my Roth IRA and HSA.

I am interested mostly in Vanguard but am open to other options as well. S&P500, total stock market, small/mid/large cap, growth/value, international/US: there are so many options. I would love to keep it simple so 3-4 funds would be great but I'm looking for a little advice on where to spread it around.

I would also appreciate advice on the exact same question but for my taxable accounts, and therefore more tax-efficient funds. I've looked up some apparently tax-efficient index funds but would love some input.

Thanks in advance.
by bds3
Sat Nov 03, 2018 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Time to splurge. MB E class, BMW 5 or Audi 6?
Replies: 70
Views: 7933

Re: Time to splurge. MB E class, BMW 5 or Audi 6?

Forget the A6. S5 sportback for less. Or if you're gonna splurge, bump that splurge up a notch: S6.
by bds3
Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ventilated car seats?
Replies: 61
Views: 7094

Re: Ventilated car seats?

livesoft wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:11 pm I don't see how sucking is going to help, but I see how blowing can be helpful.
I wouldn't turn down either.
by bds3
Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: kids think lazy if retire?
Replies: 70
Views: 11111

Re: kids think lazy if retire?

My dad worked incredibly long hours most of my childhood and then basically retired in his early 50s when I was a teenager. I didn't really think much about it at all. If anything I was happy for him that he got to start golfing more.
by bds3
Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: .
Replies: 36
Views: 4235

Re: Buying House with Odor (not cigarette)

Pass and don't look back.
by bds3
Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help with college choice
Replies: 125
Views: 11622

Re: Help with college choice

Some background about me to put my answer in context: I was valedictorian of a large high school and a multi-sport all-state athlete. I was accepted into every school to which I applied, from state schools to ivy league. With academics + athletics, I had the numerous options for free college. Currently... my kids won't be applying to college for 14 years and god willing I will be able to afford wherever they want to go. So, from a standpoint of when I was choosing a school, and of when my kids may choose a school... send your kid to whatever school he really wants to attend, that you can afford. If you can pay 70k a year and he wants to go to Penn, then do it. If you really can't afford it then send him to Vandy (I would have loved to live ...
by bds3
Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can a cordless Reciprocating Saw do the job of a small chainsaw?
Replies: 30
Views: 19659

Re: Can a cordless Reciprocating Saw do the job of a small chainsaw?

No.

If you need to cut one small branch, it'll probably do just fine. Larger or numerous pieces of wood, the chainsaw is much better. Gas. Stihl. Echo is ok too.
by bds3
Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Balanced index fund or Wellesley for a "set it and forget it" newbie?
Replies: 19
Views: 4176

Re: Balanced index fund or Wellesley for a "set it and forget it" newbie?

What checking account do you have earning 2.65%??
by bds3
Tue Feb 28, 2017 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grass trimmer
Replies: 67
Views: 7853

Re: Grass trimmer

Having previously worked in lawn care for 5 years, I will never own anything other than a gas, straight shaft string trimmer. One of two brands: Echo or Stihl, both are fantastic.
by bds3
Sun Feb 26, 2017 8:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage vs student loans
Replies: 32
Views: 2678

Re: Mortgage vs student loans

I'm about to finish residency and will increase my salary to around 200k/year. I'm buying a house (320k total with 20% down). I'm trying to decide what type of mortgage to take based on paying back student loans during the same time frame. I'm not sure how long I will be in the house but could see us being there for a while. Here are my options: 30 year fixed at 4.375% 15 year fixed at 3.75% 10 year ARM at 3.85% I know it seems like the obvious choice is the 15 year fixed but I can't afford that monthly payment as well as ~2K/month on student loans (10 year payoff at a rate of 4.50-4.75). Would you do the 15 year and pay less on student loans? Or do a different mortgage option and pay more on student loans given that has the highest intere...
by bds3
Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy rare steaks?
Replies: 67
Views: 8155

Re: Where to buy rare steaks?

1. Go to a better supermarket.

2. Stay where you go now and ask where they get their beef and how often they get shipments.

3. Go to your local butcher shop.
by bds3
Sun Feb 12, 2017 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Kitchen cabinets
Replies: 73
Views: 9865

Re: Kitchen cabinets

We've had white cabinets for 5+ years and they are perfectly clean, and we have little kids.

Those cabinets you posted are not necessarily dated. Full overlay or--even better--inset cabinets help keep the look more modern regardless of color, as do the clean lines of the detailing. The hardware makes a difference too; the second picture looks less modern because of the hardware. Cherry or oak cabinets with less than full overlay and the wrong hardware will look like 1990 very easily.
by bds3
Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why do you go to restaurants?
Replies: 229
Views: 27061

Re: Why do you go to restaurants?

Most of the time a restaurant is a convenience thing (long day for wife and I and poor planning leaves few options for food to cook at home). Probably once a week, places like Panera, Noodles & Co, simple places like that. Not a great financial decision but it's reality for us.

When I go to fancier restaurants (dates with the wife usually, it's because 1) we go out at dinner time, and 2) I like to get good food that I don't often cook at home (rabbit, duck, sushi, things I can't pronounce, etc).
by bds3
Sun Jan 29, 2017 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sump pump and power outage
Replies: 53
Views: 8936

Re: Sump pump and power outage

I had a battery powered backup sump pump. My basement is below the water level of an adjacent pond and in one particular very rainy outage my backup pump was running every 10 minutes or so. It lasted for 3 days until the power came back on. I'm not an electrical engineer but running for 10 seconds every 10 minutes isn't that much, apparently, for a deep cycle battery. That's surprising to hear. I asked a plumber one time about a battery backup in the situation I was dealing with and he told me the battery wouldn't last in his opinion. I guess there are a lot of variables to battery life such as the size of pit and HP of sump pump. I had a deep pit and a 1/2HP sump pump. When my pump came on it had to run a lot longer than 10 seconds to dra...
by bds3
Sun Jan 29, 2017 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sump pump and power outage
Replies: 53
Views: 8936

Re: Sump pump and power outage

Some of the suggestions already mentioned may work but it depends on factors. The battery back-up idea may work if the water comes in very slowly. If it comes in fast a battery will quickly lose its power. I lived in an old home once where the sump pump had to run every 15-30 minutes depending on how moist the ground was. A battery backup would never last for days at that rate. The gas generator idea might be OK if you can get a decent amount of run time on a tank of gas. It's not much fun to get out of bed in the middle of the night to put more gas in the generator. They should perhaps look at getting a special rider put in their Homeowner's Insurance which covers some damage from water backup due to sump pump failure. I think my policy c...
by bds3
Sat Jan 21, 2017 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medical Charges vs Contract Price - Non Covered Work
Replies: 83
Views: 8070

Re: Medical Charges vs Contract Price - Non Covered Work

First off congrats on the baby. As other have said, but just to reiterate, physicians do bill everyone the same. If they billed you less, it would be fraud. $150 is likely less than what they want and what they think they deserve for the service, but if it was coming from the insurance company that would be their only option. Your recourse is to call and negotiate a lower price, or to pay whatever you think is reasonable and ignore the rest of the bills and hope they don't send it to collections. I wouldn't recommend the latter but to each his own. Very frustrating, I understand. But blame the insurance companies and the state of the healthcare system in this country, not the physicians. The physicians deserve to get paid fair price for the...
by bds3
Sat Jan 14, 2017 1:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stay in paid-off starter house vs. dream house+work a few more years
Replies: 51
Views: 5797

Re: Stay in paid-off starter house vs. dream house+work a few more years

I would buy it for sure.

You say you're 30-something and will be able to retire (or be FI) in a few years. Do you want to retire in a few years? Because if you like your jobs and plan to work until you're 65, then it doesn't matter quite as much if you "have to" work until you're 45 instead of 42 to become FI. I apologize if you already answered this in the numerous responses I didn't read.

I too have a growing family and am upgrading into a house that makes me nervous. But I work really hard and want to enjoy the home I live in.
by bds3
Thu Jan 12, 2017 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you typically spend in a restaurant?
Replies: 171
Views: 19777

Re: How much do you typically spend in a restaurant?

We often get near $100 for the two of us, medium cost of living area. 2 entrees, maybe an appetizer, and 2 drinks for me and one for her. We can be at 60 depending on the day and place, but we could also be over 120, albeit rarely. The difference maker is the drinks and appetizers, obviously. I also probably tip a little too well, but I used to be a server.

I think the creep for us has been the fact that we're slowly becoming more "foodies" - I used to really order based largely on cost and now at the same restaurant I get the food I want regardless of price (within reason), and our income hasn't changed. I just really like good food more now.
by bds3
Wed Jan 11, 2017 8:44 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me decide if I should Invest or Payoff Loans?
Replies: 15
Views: 2242

Re: Help me decide if I should Invest or Payoff Loans?

Pay off the student loan. Today.

Stop trying to time the market. What if it keeps going up? You'll wish you would've gotten in now.
by bds3
Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ways to charge money on Credit Card
Replies: 21
Views: 3685

Re: Ways to charge money on Credit Card

TravelforFun wrote:
cheesepep wrote:Bill paying via credit card is nice, but I prefer how they do bill payments where I am now. You take your bill that you receive in the mail and take it to the nearest 7-12 or equivalent (of which there are many, many) and pay cash for your bill there. For me, much easier.
How is this easier than online pay with a few clicks on the computer keyboard?
+1. Mine are autopay. I don't even have to click anything; it happens on its own on whatever day of the month I designate.
by bds3
Mon Jan 09, 2017 5:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ways to charge money on Credit Card
Replies: 21
Views: 3685

Re: Ways to charge money on Credit Card

I have all my monthly bills autopay to my credit card. Utilities, cell phone, cable, insurance, etc.
by bds3
Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Whats your number to walk away?
Replies: 360
Views: 64149

Re: Whats your number to walk away?

$10M. $10M to go. I'm 30.
by bds3
Sun Jan 01, 2017 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Audiophiles help me with setup
Replies: 48
Views: 5985

Re: Audiophiles help me with setup

Do you have an existing receiver/speaker setup? If so you can hookup to Sonos connect and control everything with your device, over wifi (I hate Bluetooth). If you have speakers but no receiver you can do the same with the Sonos Amp. If you have nothing and don't want to deal with separate speakers, Sonos stand alone speakers are great. What's your budget? Sonos play:1 is fine, 3 is good, and 5 is pretty incredible. How many rooms do you want music in? You can set up 2 speakers in the same room as stereo sound, but if you're wanting multiple speakers in multiple rooms you could get into thousands of dollars easily. I love the Sonos versatility, easily controlled from my phone with simple independent control for each room I have speakers in....
by bds3
Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When is it "OK" to get a car loan?
Replies: 42
Views: 5317

Re: When is it "OK" to get a car loan?

I don't really have anything to contribute to this thread other than I would like/wish to be a car guy. The bad news is that I'm 6'5 and finding a car that fits me is a pain. I sat in a Porsche once and almost had to get help getting out of it. Sports cars are NOT designed for tall guys. :| I'm also 6'5" and used to valet back in my glory days. I've driven almost anything you can imagine and there are tons of sports cars that easily fit people like us. Porsches were a definite exception; I never found one I could fit into. But I didn't find any other make where every mode was too small for me. Jaguar had a few models that were too small but I don't know if it was a problem for the whole line. American cars (corvettes and vipers) were ...
by bds3
Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a home for the first time (mortgages!)
Replies: 13
Views: 3435

Re: Buying a home for the first time (mortgages!)

Your profession puts you in an advantageous position for loans, so don't forget about the physician mortgage loan. The larger banks that have them in each state can be found on some websites (just do a google search), otherwise ask your colleagues and they may know of some local banks as well. The benefit to most young (younger than you) physicians is of course 0% down with no PMI, but those are often only for ARM... since you can put 20% down you will likely be able to get a very competitive rate for a fixed mortgage. I am just now looking at this very issue. I can get 0% down no PMI for 3.5% for a 10 yr ARM, but with 20% down I think the same bank was offering 30 yr fixed for 3%. I'm not 100% sure about the rate - I don't have 20% to put ...
by bds3
Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are there any benefits to achieving "great wealth"?
Replies: 106
Views: 12862

Re: Are there any benefits to achieving "great wealth"?

I have achieved what I consider "great wealth". [...] I won't spend mine. You haven't achieved "great wealth" if you're afraid to spend any of it. You've achieved a middling amount of wealth, since you're worried that buying a stereo system might affect your wealth level. (Which, by the way, is totally fine; it is a great achievement!) The people I know who have achieved "great wealth" spend it. And still have "great wealth" left. They don't "go into debt" and have to work it off. Agree. I am many many years from "great wealth." And assuming we're talking about financial "wealth" only... IMHO you haven't achieved "great" wealth unless you can buy whatever stere...
by bds3
Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: At what age, income, and NW would you buy a $50k car?
Replies: 174
Views: 18654

Re: At what age, income, and NW would you buy a $50k car?

Barring disaster, in 5 years (at age 35) I will have well more that $400K income, but less than that $2M NW, and no debt but mortgage. I will absolutely buy a $50K car. In another 5-8 years when I have a good chunk--if not all--of kids' college paid for, my next car will be in the range of $80-$100K today's dollars.

I love cars. But I'm new to this site and may change my mind when I'm looking at my retirement accounts all the time.

So I'm not the person you should be looking to for advice, but if you like cars, what's the point of saving money if you can't spend it when you determine it is reasonable to do so?
by bds3
Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it possible to graduate from college in 3 years?
Replies: 101
Views: 9093

Re: Is it possible to graduate from college in 3 years?

It's very possible. I didn't have an engineering degree as many have discussed so that may be an exception, but I had a science double-major with mathematics and accounting minors. I started college with 42 credits, no summer school, and played a Division I sport. During the season I took 12 credits, and in the offseason I took 18; I finished with somewhere around 160 credits, with 120 (124?) required to graduate. Because of the science-heavy load this included a lot of labs which means my 12 and 18 credit-hour semesters were the workload of 15-24 hours. Had I only focused on one major I could have graduated in 2.5 years, especially if non-science. The only reason I stayed for the 4th year was athletics; in hindsight I would have focused on...
by bds3
Wed Dec 21, 2016 8:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quartz versus granite
Replies: 44
Views: 7847

Re: Quartz versus granite

Quartz, without a doubt. The only reason to get granite over quartz (for the average consumer) is if you absolutely love a specific granite look and there isn't a similar enough quartz option.
by bds3
Wed Dec 21, 2016 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: housing options-- stretch for schools?
Replies: 37
Views: 3626

Re: housing options-- stretch for schools?

This has probably been said but I didn't read every single post before me. IMO the metrics you can find online for schools--and the rankings/ratings--are more often a function of the student body than the quality of the school. I was raised in a city of ~1M people. My school was the worst in the district, but probably middle of the road for the city. Just looked up the US News data on it and it has 81% graduation rate, 40% mathematics proficiency, 55% english proficiency, and "college readiness" of 21.7 (I have no idea what that means but it seems low on their scale). I can't imagine those numbers excite many people. I scored incredibly high on the ACT and SAT and got straight A's. I was accepted into every college to which I appl...