Search found 1846 matches
- Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much to spend on a backyard?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2902
Re: How much to spend on a backyard?
If you're not planning to sell anytime soon, I wouldn't even think about it in terms of what it could add for value. Do what makes you happy. FWIW, we added a pool, paver deck, retaining walls, multiple patios, etc. Total cost was about 120K and we absolutely love it. We also didn't do this till our...
- Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: For BHs who actually like cars - [what car do you drive every day?]
- Replies: 280
- Views: 17629
Re: For BHs who actually like cars - what is your daily driver?
I have 2.
90% of the time I drive my 2017 Toyota Tacoma (quad cab, long bed). Love this thing!
10% of the time I drive my 2014 Acura TL SH AWD. Normally I drive this if I have meetings in the city.
90% of the time I drive my 2017 Toyota Tacoma (quad cab, long bed). Love this thing!
10% of the time I drive my 2014 Acura TL SH AWD. Normally I drive this if I have meetings in the city.
- Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trex Decking Without Fascia
- Replies: 27
- Views: 1668
Re: Trex Decking Without Fascia
Make sure they “picture frame” the deck to hide the butt ends of the trex. Google it.
FWIW - we rebuilt our deck with azek composite several years ago. It’s held up well, but faded quite a bit. My inlaws used a composite product called “kleer” composite and it’s hardly faded in their deck.
FWIW - we rebuilt our deck with azek composite several years ago. It’s held up well, but faded quite a bit. My inlaws used a composite product called “kleer” composite and it’s hardly faded in their deck.
- Sat Jan 27, 2018 2:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 701
Re: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
It appears Saturday night is either much more popular or much more expensive. I did a quick look at a Friday night and it was $300 to $400 for regular rooms, Saturdays it was in the $2000's for a suite. No regular rooms available the Saturday night I looked at. Best of luck, great deal on the passe...
- Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 701
Re: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
The express passes will allow you to easily do all the attractions in both parks on a single day with lots of walking of course. Might not help in your situation but one tip is that if you stay at one of 3 on-site Universal Hotels (Hard Rock, Portofino, or Royal Pacific) for 1 night you get express...
- Sat Jan 27, 2018 9:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 701
Universal Studios FL - Express Pass?
Hi Everyone, We're headed to Orlando next week and will be hitting both Universal Studios Parks on Saturday, 2/3. For a family of 4, tickets will cost us $650. The optional Express Pass tacks on another $459. The Orlando Informer predicts this day to be slow and does not recommend buying Express Pas...
- Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Don't market time...i know, i know.
- Replies: 34
- Views: 4634
Re: Don't market time...i know, i know.
More than you need? Sure - move your age % to a total bond market index fund.
If you're in retirement and you have a 95 / 5 portfolio, now is the perfect time to move to a sensible asset allocation.
If you're in retirement and you have a 95 / 5 portfolio, now is the perfect time to move to a sensible asset allocation.
- Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Starting to feel like the late 1990s?
- Replies: 145
- Views: 12951
Re: Starting to feel like the late 1990s?
I work in tech and I agree - these tech IPOs and soaring Tech stocks scare me a tad. Unicorns that are going public have increasing Annual Recurring Revenue, but most are losing money hand over fist. It seems like Wall Street just cares about increasing ARR and doesn't factor in whether or not compa...
- Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: When did the bad news start in 2008?
- Replies: 135
- Views: 12969
Re: When did the bad news start in 2008?
It sounds like you're trying to time the market. Don't do that - it's a loser's game. Decide on an AA strategy and stick to it, no matter what! Keep investing, no matter what. And tune out the noise. I've been investing since 2000 - through the dot com bust and the 2008 financial melt down. Both hap...
- Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: 25 Year Old Seeking Advice On Overall Portfolio and Higher Risk Investments
- Replies: 4
- Views: 414
Re: 25 Year Old Seeking Investment Advice
Keep it simple and do a 3 fund portfolio: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Three-fund_portfolio I tried and true approach is to hold your age in a total bond index fund and the difference in a total stock market index fund and a total international index fund (70 % / 30% respectively. If you don't ha...
- Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can We Retire in Hawaii? Please Critique
- Replies: 146
- Views: 13906
Re: Can We Retire in Hawaii? Please Critique
Can't really comment on your financials, but did want to share my dream of eventually winter'ing in Maui November - April and living in Maine the rest of the year. We plan to do that in our early 50s. My plan is long term rentals for the first year or 2.
- Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Paid mortgage: Now what do I do?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2756
Re: Paid mortgage: Now what do I do?
I would get a no closing cost Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) so that in the event of an emergency, you can tap the money if you ever need it. Do this while you're employed. If you ever became disabled, it would be a lot more difficult to get to get this.
- Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Men's no iron dress shirt recommendations
- Replies: 66
- Views: 4334
Re: Men's no iron dress shirt recommendations
Bonobos Tailored Fit.
- Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Water filtration system - worth it?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 2950
Re: Water filtration system - worth it?
Every few years I have to have the plumber come out and replace some faucets because white crud has accumulated on them and nothing removes it. I've tried wiping them dry after every use, but that gets old fast. Would a water filtration system prevent this? We have the same issue. For us, this is d...
- Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:28 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Goodbye Capital One 360!!
- Replies: 56
- Views: 8689
Re: Goodbye Capital One 360!!
I've also been using Capital One since the ING Direct Days back in the early 2000's. I use it for my Emergency fund and literally log in once or twice a year. No issues here.
- Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:15 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Paying off mortgage before investing at all?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 8040
Re: Paying off mortgage before investing at all?
No one has a crystal ball and each person is entitled to their own investment approach. He paid cash for a house while the stock market soared - "dude, what were you thinking?" He paid cash fora house while the stock market tanked - "you must be a genius!" Two things are certain: 1) I've never met a...
- Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Share your net worth progression
- Replies: 719
- Views: 191940
Re: Share your net worth progression
This is a fun one. Started tracking in detail back in 2010: 2010 - 708K . Age 32, owned a house and bought an investment property that year. 2011 - forgot to track 2012 - $1,085,000 - paid off primary residence that year at age 34 2013 - $1,347,000 - moved and sold primary residence that was paid of...
- Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I Want to Buy a Horrible, Expensive Car
- Replies: 155
- Views: 10003
Re: I Want to Buy a Horrible, Expensive Car
Look dude, let me say something. This year, my amazing father in law died suddenly of pancreatic cancer at age 61. poof gone Buy the car if you want the car. Life is worth living if it's worth living to you. The super frugal's will nay-say, even poke fun at you. Be reasonable with yourself, AND you...
- Wed Dec 27, 2017 11:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: The car dealership model needs to die
- Replies: 85
- Views: 4896
Re: The car dealership model needs to die
You may just need to find the right dealership. I recently purchased a Toyota Tacoma last April and didn't enter the dealership till I had the #s I wanted. I used USAA to get 3 quotes from various dealers near me (they picked). I emailed the lowest quote to the closest dealer to mea and asked them t...
- Sat Dec 23, 2017 8:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Feels dumb to hold bonds - Currently 70% Stocks 30% Bonds
- Replies: 97
- Views: 12867
Re: Feels dumb to hold bonds - Currently 70% Stocks 30% Bonds
"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful" - Warren Buffet
I'm 40 and hold 65% stocks and 35% bonds (age - 5). Stick to your asset allocation no matter what and tune out the noise.
I'm 40 and hold 65% stocks and 35% bonds (age - 5). Stick to your asset allocation no matter what and tune out the noise.
- Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Question re: Funeral
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2263
Re: Question re: Funeral
Thank you all for the feedback. Fortunately the children are all grown, though they really lost contact with my sister years ago (long story). The husband is retired Military and my sister served 9 years. Luckily her burial is 100% covered by the military. I don't know his financial situation, but t...
- Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Question re: Funeral
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2263
Question re: Funeral
Edited to include "please consider" Sadly I'm in the process of planning a funeral for my sister. As a family we've decided we'd rather have people not spend money on flowers as we feel it's a waste. The options on the table we're contemplating for the obituary are either: 1) "In lieu of flowers, pl...
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Re-inventing career in mid 30s? Law? Tech? Sales?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2459
Re: Re-inventing career in mid 30s? Law? Tech? Sales?
IMO - tech sales is the most lucrative career you can get into with a 4 year degree (if you're good).
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best small Drone
- Replies: 11
- Views: 804
Re: Best small Drone
My daughter started out with a small drone about $50, she had to practice before purchasing a bigger one for some of her work. I think there is some drones that can be controlled by GPS, this is to protect her from losing her expensive. Bottom line is you need some practice. I disagree. The DJI Mav...
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best small Drone
- Replies: 11
- Views: 804
Re: Best small Drone
I was a first time drone user an purchased the DJI Mavic. It's incredible and folds up to the size of a water bottle.
I made this video from footage up in Maine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_3MY6ILNQ&t=49s
I made this video from footage up in Maine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_3MY6ILNQ&t=49s
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1130
Re: Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
This is really good to hear! We purchased the top of the line Bosch dishwasher since it gave us a 12% discount on all of the appliances.
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1130
Re: Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
I would not. I just bought a Bosch dishwasher and did not entertain for one moment the thought of buying additional warranty protection. Some credit cards offer free additional warranty. Do yours? Good question LiveSoft. I honestly don't know. It's a Visa / Fidelity Card. I will look into this and ...
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1130
Buy Warranty for Bosch Appliances?
We're redoing our kitchen and are buying a set of Bosch appliances. Fridge, Electric Oven (induction), microwave and diswasher. The Fridge & Oven are the most expensive - about $2,800 a piece. They both come with a 1 year warranty and we have the option to buy an extended 5 year warranty for $440 a ...
- Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Considering Real Estate License
- Replies: 7
- Views: 630
Re: Considering Real Estate License
If you're not pursuing clients, what's the motivation to get your license? You can buy and sell houses without a license. In fact, you'll probably have more flexibility since you don't need to disclose you're a realtor when buying or selling. FWIW, I got my RE license years ago thinking I was going ...
- Fri Dec 01, 2017 8:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Price of haircut?
- Replies: 194
- Views: 11831
Re: Price of haircut?
$0.00 I've been cutting my own hair for the last 20 years with clippers on the sides and scissors on the top. I have a "high & tight". I fade the sides, buzz the top / back half of my head with a longer attachment and then use scissors to keep the front a little longer. I cut it every 2 weeks since ...
- Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: I Can "Afford" This Right? (New Car)
- Replies: 60
- Views: 5024
Re: I Can "Afford" This Right? (New Car)
It is somewhat of a right of passage. I did it when I was 30. 2 years later I realized it was just a car that got me from point a to point b and I sold it. You can clearly afford it (i assume you’d be paying cash?). Once the thrill wears off, you’ll probably come to the same conclusion I did and sel...
- Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:47 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I Pay Off My Mortgage When I Retire?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 2336
Re: Should I Pay Off My Mortgage When I Retire?
Pay it off and cross the retirement finish line completely debt free.
- Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Which model treadmill to buy
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1736
Re: Which model treadmill to buy
We bought the Sole Fitness S77 years ago and it's been a workhorse. Ordered it factory direct from Sole Fitness as it was a little higher quality than what was sold by Sole in retailers at the time. We only had 1 electrical issue with in the 8 years of ownership and they shipped us free replacement ...
- Wed Nov 22, 2017 5:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Making collegebound Kid Financially Savvy Questions..
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3340
Re: Making collegebound Kid Financially Savvy Questions..
If you re-read your post there's a lot of "I have done this, I gave her this, we have done this for her, etc." It seems like you're doing a lot for her and she's not doing much on her own (yet). Nor does it sound like she's in an environment where she needs to. Does she have financial responsibiliti...
- Wed Nov 22, 2017 8:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments
- Topic: Advice to become wealthy
- Replies: 58
- Views: 5903
Re: Advice to become wealthy
Get a high paying job and live below your means. If you can't get a high paying job, look for alternative ways of making money. They are out there if you're willing to put the time & energy into figuring it out. For me, I stumbled into my career of Software Sales back in 2000. It's been good to me, ...
- Wed Nov 22, 2017 7:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone "re-door" their kitchen cabinets?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1765
Re: Anyone "re-door" their kitchen cabinets?
Why not just have your current doors painted? I don't have the name of the company now but a while back I needed some cabinet doors and I ordered them online for a fraction of the cost what I could get them for locally. They were not that hard to put up but I am somewhat handy. The cost of the new ...
- Wed Nov 22, 2017 7:54 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Christmas gifts for lots of kids (experiences or stock)?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3039
Re: Christmas gifts for lots of kids (experiences or stock)?
Contrary to most of the posts above, I think it's actually a good idea to give them a stock or maybe even some shares of the Total Stock Market index IN ADDITION TO a fun gift they an open and play with. Each year, you could include a short note to start teaching them about investing and the value o...
- Tue Nov 21, 2017 5:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retention Bonus
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1179
Re: Retention Bonus
I would talk to an accountant. If you give back the after tax money, your W2s aren't going to shrink. If it were me and I did not sign the acceptance letter, I would probably wait and see how many times they asked me to pay the money back before I took action. For a contract to be valid, there has t...
- Tue Nov 21, 2017 2:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trip to Hawaii - what do I need to know
- Replies: 46
- Views: 4608
Re: Trip to Hawaii - what do I need to know
We went on our honeymoon there 15 years ago and did Maui and Kauai. We went back this past January with our 2 kids and did just Maui. IMO - Maui is where it's at. If you spend time island hopping, you burn precious time. That being said, winter is the most expensive time of the year to visit. To put...
- Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone "re-door" their kitchen cabinets?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1765
Anyone "re-door" their kitchen cabinets?
Hi Everyone, We're looking to update our kitchen and 1st floor living area by refinishing our hardwood floors to a dark walnut and we'd like to update our kitchen cabinets to be a white (currently maple / cherry color). The cabinets are in very good shape and are only 15 years old (Kraftmaid brand)....
- Tue Nov 21, 2017 10:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Honeymoon Suggestions
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2068
Re: Honeymoon Suggestions
Another vote for maui. But for a week, I would budget $7-10k.
- Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Newly built home. sell or rent?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2063
Re: Newly built home. sell or rent?
Speaking from experience, being an out of state landlord is a really, really bad idea.
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Regrets after reaching retirement?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4968
Re: Regrets after reaching retirement?
You should watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqGRnlXplx0
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Maui Jim Sunglasses (or similar quality)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1354
Re: Maui Jim Sunglasses (or similar quality)
I was in Maui this year (twice actually) and invested in a pair of MJ's. They are awesome and worth the price.
- Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone Tried Soylent?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 1826
Re: Anyone Tried Soylent?
"If man made it, don't eat it". But seriously, I wouldn't touch it. I'd much rather focus on eating alive food, not stuff that's made in a lab that's dead on arrival
- Sun Nov 12, 2017 9:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another "Can We Afford This House" ?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2949
Re: Another "Can We Afford This House" ?
Agreed.White Coat Investor wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:52 am5 months in this market without selling? Yea it's too expensive. Or there's something really wrong with it.
- Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you meditate?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 11022
Re: Do you meditate?
Sometimes, but I've never really done it consistently. When I do meditate, I use the Guided Meditation app called Headspace.
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
- Replies: 338
- Views: 39685
Re: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
I paid off my previous home and told everyone. Good and valuable lesson. Next time I wont tell anyone. Top secret. So just curious, for those who have told others, and regretted it, what was the cause of the regrets? My guess would be moochers. I think this largely depends on your age. If your in y...
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
- Replies: 338
- Views: 39685
Re: Did you tell anyone you paid off your mortgage?
We paid ours off in our mid 30s. I only told 1 friend, and he’s of similar economic status / mindset. When people ask me about our mortgage rate, I just say I don’t know and my wife has the details.
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: what pickup truck
- Replies: 65
- Views: 5709
Re: what pickup truck
What are your requirements?