Search found 122 matches

by wstrdg
Sun Sep 11, 2022 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Googling yourself - removing personal details
Replies: 23
Views: 3289

Re: Googling yourself - removing personal details

We subscribed to https://joindeleteme.com/ DeleteMe for a year, both spouses. We like that they search multiple spellings of names, addresses, etc

It's affordable. They send a report once a quarter and you can see the number of hits declining rapidly. That said, we probably won't renew at the end of the first year.
by wstrdg
Wed Aug 31, 2022 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Venmo safety? Tips?
Replies: 52
Views: 6765

Re: Venmo safety? Tips?

Link it to an online debit card or checking account to avoid the fee, for example DiscoverBank. Only keep enough money in the online account to cover your Venmo expenses
by wstrdg
Fri May 27, 2022 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New baby - conflicted on paternity leave??
Replies: 123
Views: 10041

Re: New baby - conflicted on paternity leave??

Yes, take it for all of the reasons above. But also because one of the first things auditors/investigators look for is "who didn't take vacation/leave?" An employee who declines leave may be covering up wrongdoing.

You didn't say what your job is, but if your employer comes under scrutiny, you could draw unnecessary suspicion by not taking leave. Just another thought.
by wstrdg
Thu Feb 24, 2022 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone add aftermarket improvement features to older car?
Replies: 14
Views: 1193

Re: Anyone add aftermarket improvement features to older car?

Old pickup truck: trailer hitch and underbed folding step (so I don't break my neck crawling in and out of truck bed)
by wstrdg
Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Citi Double Cash credit card to stop cash rewards
Replies: 39
Views: 8193

Citi Double Cash credit card to stop cash rewards

We got this email yesterday:
You will continue to earn 1% cash back on purchases and 1% cash back as you pay for those purchases. Beginning 03/28/2022, cash back will be earned in the form of ThankYou® Points instead of cash rewards — this means each billing cycle you will earn 1 point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional point for every $1 paid on those purchases.
by wstrdg
Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Living in San Francisco
Replies: 41
Views: 3429

Re: Living in San Francisco

What's typical? If one rents an apartment, is there typically also an add-on fee to use an underneath garage space? If the garage is shared by many vehicles from different households, what's standard custom for shifting cars around for access, and how burdomesome is that? How difficult to get a Civic in and out of such a garage, with a minimum of scrapes and dings? There is no "typical" parking in the city. Tandem parking (where one car parks behind another) is common. And it's a pain. There is no standard custom for shifting cars. Some bldgs have deeded parking, some don't. And deeded parking doesn't mean that your neighbor must give you room to open your car door, just that their vehicle fits within the deeded space. Our family...
by wstrdg
Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best reasonable price eye glass store
Replies: 26
Views: 2980

Re: Best reasonable price eye glass store

+1 Zenni -- I've ordered at least half a dozen pairs from them over the past few years. I get many compliments on my glasses, too

Attractive frames, good quality. They also offer blue-light blocker lenses! And your order includes a much nicer case than our Costco, which always seemed to be out of any cases that fit my frames
by wstrdg
Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Another Bay Area House Affordability Question
Replies: 28
Views: 3737

Re: Another Bay Area House Affordability Question

Look at the hills of Castro Valley. Short drive to BART. More affordable than San Ramon/Danville and better views, sometimes of the Bay. Schools are not quite as good, but look at UC's ELC policy -- that can be an advantage
by wstrdg
Sat Jan 23, 2021 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Real Estate Agent vs. Redfin vs. FSBO advice?
Replies: 10
Views: 1345

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Redfin vs. FSBO advice?

Redfin is a full-service real estate brokerage. They just usually charge a lower commission. Shop it
by wstrdg
Tue May 19, 2020 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Engagement Ring Help
Replies: 85
Views: 7003

Re: Engagement Ring Help

Our kids all got engaged within a 3 month span. One couple bought a certified lab-grown diamond and had it mounted by a local jeweler. One bought a moissanite ring in a setting that they designed. One couple used great-great-grandma's ring, not of great value, but of great sentiment -- they will need to have a new shank installed because it's pretty thin from years of wear.

They all made the right choice. We never bought an engagement ring. We made the best choice, IMO :D
by wstrdg
Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to get Toilet Paper ? seriously.
Replies: 684
Views: 67482

Re: How to get Toilet Paper ? seriously.

BLUF: Barter When it became apparent that the virus was being transmitted in our community, we made our last trip to Costco and the grocery store. That was Feb 26th. Since then, we have joined Instacart but you can't get toilet paper via Instacart in our community bc the stores limit early hours to seniors and the Instacart shoppers are youngsters. I just kept checking Costco online and eventually found some commercial toilet paper. These are the 1000 ft rolls, 9 inches in diameter -- the kind that go in the big dispensers in the big box stores. So now we have toilet paper but no fresh fruit or veggies. A neighbor on Nextdoor is offering to barter his backyard chicken eggs for toilet paper. Hmmm, we just found a flat of 30 eggs, so we don't...
by wstrdg
Sun Dec 01, 2019 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gizmodo Ring Doorbell Article - Is Nest (Google) any better or is this the world we live in?
Replies: 19
Views: 1625

Re: Gizmodo Ring Doorbell Article - Is Nest (Google) any better or is this the world we live in?

We have used Netgear's Arlo Pro 2 for over a year and are happy with it. We don't subscribe to their cloud service -- we just view any footage as soon as we can, save what we want, delete the rest. The cameras are mounted by magnet, so there's no wiring required. On the downside, that means you do need to recharge them, but battery life is good if you don't point it at a high traffic target. Another downside, they are easy to steal. But we use ours primarily to monitor the wildlife in the backyard area, so thieves are not so much of a problem. The one that monitors our front door can only be reached by ladder. On the upside, you can buy extra magnet mounts and move the cameras around. Costco frequently runs a great sale on these. The new Ar...
by wstrdg
Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Just had home inspection done. What should I get fixed before closing?
Replies: 22
Views: 3178

Re: Just had home inspection done. What should I get fixed before closing?

Re: the garage beam -- are you in an earthquake zone? And I agree with other posts that this could be a more significant problem than your home inspector indicates. Get a second opinion from an expert.

Re: the water heater -- where is it located? If it's upstairs, it's going to be very messy when it finally leaks. If it's in the garage, maybe not so much of a mess.
by wstrdg
Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health insurance for 64 yr old until Medicare
Replies: 10
Views: 1162

Re: Health insurance for 64 yr old until Medicare

In which state do they reside?
by wstrdg
Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inappropriate touching in a workplace- What is the best act?
Replies: 28
Views: 2918

Re: Inappropriate touching in a workplace- What is the best act?

She should document everything that happens concurrently: the episode, the reporting, the follow-up, etc. Include names, places, dates and time of day. All the details.

Best of luck to you both, she's courageous.
by wstrdg
Sun Sep 08, 2019 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone with any experience with Warby Parker eyeglasses?
Replies: 37
Views: 5802

Re: Anyone with any experience with Warby Parker eyeglasses?

I agree with all of the above posts. I have designer-style glasses from Warby Parker at a reasonable price, but not inexpensive. I also have glasses from Zenni at a much lower price than WP and the Zenni quality is just as good as Warby Parker. The cases from WP are much nicer than Zenni's but that cannot account for the huge price difference. I have used Costco in the past, but their frames are a tad too old-fashioned and the price can't match Zenni.
by wstrdg
Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Silicon Valley Interview Attire
Replies: 30
Views: 4302

Re: Silicon Valley Interview Attire

Hahaha, yes:
Also, since you are looking for an engineering job in Silicon Valley, let me help you out from experience:
- shower
- wear deodorant
- don't wear cologne
- don't whip out your personal computer and start setting up unless someone tells you that will be needed
- show up early enough that the first segment can start at the scheduled time
Also, brush your teeth, clean and trim your fingernails (but no manicure), make sure your hair is neat and clean (regardless of hairstyle or length -- it should not hide your face), minimize the jewelry
by wstrdg
Wed Jul 17, 2019 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deck with Lattice skirt
Replies: 13
Views: 1755

Re: Deck with Lattice skirt

If your neighborhood has skunks and/or raccoons, you might want to skip the lattice. If they crawl inside and die, they will be difficult to remove. Speaking from experience, a dead skunk under the deck is no fun at all. :(
by wstrdg
Sat Jul 06, 2019 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sofa or couch ( an6 difference) for new homeowners
Replies: 25
Views: 2395

Re: Sofa or couch ( an6 difference) for new homeowners

We got our kids a sofa from Burrow as a housewarming gift https://burrow.com/. They picked out the color, arms, legs. Our only gripe is that it arrived too quickly -- they were out of town and we had requested delayed shipping. It's decent quality and won't break the bank. Burrow has fairly frequent sales (in fact, they have one now), suggest you sign up for alerts.
by wstrdg
Sat Jul 06, 2019 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rent and drive a car in northern Europe.
Replies: 16
Views: 1399

Re: Rent and drive a car in northern Europe.

Be prepared to drive a stick. Automatic transmission rental cars are not always readily available.
by wstrdg
Sat Jun 08, 2019 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you carry Umbrella Insurance?
Replies: 142
Views: 13735

Re: Do you carry Umbrella Insurance?

“People can avoid personal liability claims if they don’t buy or own property, if they don’t have kids, if they or their kids don’t drive cars, if they don’t operate watercraft, or they don’t do anything that we interpret as living a normal life. If they do any of those things, they need umbrella insurance to protect their assets.” http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmagazine/2010/march2010/2010_03p068.htm We mostly agree with this view of umbrella insurance. If you can afford the premium, you can't afford not to have it. Here's a nice chart of insurance gaps that umbrellas could cover (not all umbrellas do) https://www.irmi.com/docs/default-source/expert-commentary-documents/hungelmann09-checklist.pdf?sfvrsn=4 . It's from the Insurance for Dummie...
by wstrdg
Wed Jun 05, 2019 3:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refrigerator Advice
Replies: 50
Views: 6690

Re: Refrigerator Advice

We bought a Samsung french door, bottom drawer freezer about 5 years ago. Next time, we will go with LG bc salespeople told us that they receive far more calls about Samsung repair than LG repair. The Samsung is very quiet. But the ice cube maker has frozen up twice. If we had a choice, we would not even bother with an ice cube maker -- we can fix it ourselves but it's a huge pain and we'd rather have the extra space -- but there ice cube maker was standard in this model, no choice. The Samsung also has a cracked bottom shelf -- the glass is not broken, but the plastic frame has cracked and it sags into the drawer below, so you need two hands to open the bottom drawer. It's not worth the $200+ for a replacement frame. Good luck hunting for ...
by wstrdg
Mon May 20, 2019 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Convince me that a 529 plan is a good idea.
Replies: 42
Views: 8880

Re: Convince me that a 529 plan is a good idea.

With three kids, it's a good bet that at least one of your children will have expenses for education post-high school. The 529 can be used for almost any technical/vocational school and graduate/professional school, not just college. You can also use 529 funds for K-12 school tuition (limited to 10K/year).

And you can shift the funds among your kids or to any qualifying family member of the named beneficiary. Who is considered a member of the beneficiary's family? The list is quite inclusive. See IRS Publication 970 at page 55, available here https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf
by wstrdg
Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College for average kids
Replies: 126
Views: 16866

Re: College for average kids

Research your community college system. In my state, the cc system is a gem. Your "average" kid may need a few years to mature and find his academic inspiration, and community college is a great path to that end. One word of caution: if transferring to a four-year state school is the goal, be aware that not all community college classes will transfer. In my state, each cc has an agreement with each state univ/college, specifying which cc classes transfer to each univ/college. The list changes each year. Do the research. You might also look at a non-academic path for a few years. Maybe consider a coding academy, if he/she is so inclined. Or vocational training -- but be careful not to pay for vocational instruction when on-the-job-...
by wstrdg
Mon Mar 11, 2019 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Are academic enrichment courses for school age kids worth it
Replies: 61
Views: 4976

Re: Are academic enrichment courses for school age kids worth it

That sounds like a heavy schedule for kids so young. And they don't enjoy it.

Why not invest that money in creative learning toys that they enjoy (Lego, KNEX, Snap Circuits, for example) or creative computer programs (coding, cartooning, video production) or sports equipment (bikes, trampoline, basketball hoop). And make regular trips to your local library, even if reading isn't a favorite activity -- libraries today have more than books: puzzles, videos, games, etc.

Take a look at this for ideas: http://www.elenco.com/
by wstrdg
Tue Feb 05, 2019 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need great hand held vacuum for stairs
Replies: 20
Views: 1693

Re: Need great hand held vacuum for stairs

Dyson V8. It's significantly less expensive than the V10. The V10 has better battery life, but if you're just doing stairs and spot cleaning, the V8 battery will be quite adequate.

Here's a hint for cleaning carpeted stairs: loosen the dirt in the corners with a clean, stiff bristle brush before you vacuum.

And as noted above, the Dyson V8 is a stick model, but the handle easily detaches/reattaches so you can move seamlessly between stick and handheld.
by wstrdg
Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Review of sardine brands
Replies: 44
Views: 9503

Re: Wild Planet Sardines quality problem

Another vote for Tiny Tots. Target carries them, and they are less expensive online than in the brick stores. Yummy!
https://www.kingoscar.com/product/tiny- ... olive-oil/
by wstrdg
Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Black licorice fans - suggestions?
Replies: 29
Views: 4478

Re: Black licorice fans - suggestions?

Definitely try Scandinavian salt licorice. It's nothing like the taste of American candy. See this article on how Iceland got hooked on licorice: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-licorice

You'll love it! :D
by wstrdg
Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law school without practicing law
Replies: 79
Views: 7607

Re: Law school without practicing law

For all the reasons previously given (time, cost, lack of utility), don't get a JD. But you might check out a Masters of Studies in Law (MSL). This is a one-year program designed for professionals in other fields (business, medicine, engineering) who would benefit from legal studies.

Less cost, less time. Same networking. All the benefit you seek without the downside.
by wstrdg
Thu Dec 06, 2018 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dishwasher stopped working well
Replies: 16
Views: 2047

Re: Dishwasher stopped working well

If you use liquid dishwasher detergent, or those gel packs, switch to powder. The liquids tend to leave residue on your dishes. And powder is less expensive per use, too. Win-win :happy
by wstrdg
Fri Nov 16, 2018 2:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Foreign Currency
Replies: 24
Views: 1857

Re: Foreign Currency

Citibank offers foreign currency for an inexpensive, flat fee. It's called World Wallet. They deliver to you or you can pick it up in a local branch. You do need to have a Citibank account.

We used this when our students were studying abroad. You can get a nice selection of small amounts of various currencies for not much in fees.
by wstrdg
Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Washing machine/dryer shopping
Replies: 38
Views: 3507

Re: Washing machine/dryer shopping

How about an electric portable washer? It hooks up to your bathroom sink faucet and drains into your bathtub. Get a dolly to wheel it around, if you don't have the space to keep it in your bathroom. Our adult kid has a Haier. It works great, holds quite a bit of laundry, definitely large enough if you don't have children. And if you use the gentle cycle, it's very fast. Spin cycle gently removes the water very well. The kid drys clothing by hanging it on a rack and uses the apartment coin op dryer for towels and bedding. And when you move, it's easy to take with you.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-1-0-Cu ... N/13346456

And watch owner demos on YouTube! :happy
by wstrdg
Sun Oct 14, 2018 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should we move to San Diego from east coast?
Replies: 141
Views: 16309

Re: Should we move to San Diego from east coast?

Yes. Everyone gripes about cost of housing, but San Diego is a good value compared to the San Francisco Bay Area or the Los Angeles basin. And what folks from snow country don't realize is that Californians don't need to hibernate in their caves during the winter. They tend to be outdoors whenever possible, either enjoying beaches, parks, vistas, hikes, etc. So who needs a big house? Use your deck, garden, patio, whatever as an additional living space. Houses are for sleeping. San Diego traffic is pretty bad, but they are building light rail from downtown to La Jolla/UCSD and doing it pretty fast (from a Bay Area viewpoint). Water: San Diego is smart enough to adopt desal ahead of most of the rest of the nation. Things to do: San Diego has ...
by wstrdg
Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What would you do with some bulk silver?
Replies: 41
Views: 3536

Re: What would you do with some bulk silver?

Prices vary wildly among silver dealers, so phone ahead for a current quote and compare. Pawnshops and coin collectors tend to pay less than bullion dealers.

Grandma left her sterling silverware set to our daughter. Grandpa left her several generic silver coins (one-ounce pieces). We took the whole lot to a local bullion dealer and left with several hundred dollars. It was a fun afternoon -- the dealer was entertaining and willing to teach us as he tested and weighed the items. In fact, it was so much fun that we were inspired to sort through the family coin jar for mercury dimes, old quarters, etc. We made a second trip to our friendly bullion dealer and left with enough cash to buy lunch for three (ramen noodles, but still)!
by wstrdg
Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do I need insurance for a brief occupancy after selling my home
Replies: 3
Views: 349

Re: Do I need insurance for a brief occupancy after selling my home

yes :happy

Renters will cover property loss and potential liability. Think of all of the traffic in your home during this stressful time (movers, etc). Renters is very inexpensive.
by wstrdg
Fri Aug 24, 2018 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling old car - expired registration
Replies: 31
Views: 2307

Re: Selling old car - expired registration

OP wrote:
changed brand new battery early this year
After you changed the battery, you should have driven the car for at least 20 minutes, going through all the gears to generate enough data to pass the emissions test. Did you do this?

BTW, California DMV will give you a no-fee one-day vehicle moving pass for purposes of driving the car to get your registration/smog test renewed.
by wstrdg
Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:49 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: WSJ: When to Pick Mutual Fund over ETF?
Replies: 21
Views: 3407

WSJ: When to Pick Mutual Fund over ETF?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-to-pi ... 1533521340
All else being equal, there are two primary factors that can differentiate mutual funds and ETFs tracking the same index—the tax efficiency of ETFs over the long run, and the implied cost of a bid-ask spread that ETFs face but mutual funds don’t.
by wstrdg
Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ashley furniture experience? 2000 dollars for 13x8x8 sectional
Replies: 40
Views: 6128

Re: Ashley furniture experience? 2000 dollars for 13x8x8 sectional

If you are in the SF Bay Area, take a look at http://customsofas4less.com/

Yes, the website is cheesy, but the furniture is made in the Central Valley (Calif) and is rock-solid. Custom orders at a big box price. You choose not only your fabric but your sofa length, depth, arm style, cushion style, legs, etc.

Delivery was faster than promised, too. And you may be able to bargain for a discount roughly equal to sales tax -- or free delivery.
by wstrdg
Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I want to sell my home, but I don't want to fix it up
Replies: 72
Views: 10144

Re: I want to sell my home, but I don't want to fix it up

Agree with ask a good local Realtor. It depends on how hot your local housing market is. Fix what needs to make the property move and sell "as is." Redfin offers "concierge service" in some US markets for a slightly higher listing fee (varies, but maybe 2% versus 1.5%) -- with concierge service, they pay for the cosmetic fixing up and staging, not you. So compare Redfin with other brokers if you are in one of these markets, and remember that it's the experience of the broker that makes the difference, not the company shingle under which they are currently hanging their hat.
by wstrdg
Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bears!!!
Replies: 60
Views: 6653

Re: Bears!!!

maybe one of those motion-activated sprinklers, to scare the bear away? of course, your garbage collectors aren't going to be very happy if they get soaked
by wstrdg
Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is expensive olive oil worth it?
Replies: 63
Views: 10008

Re: Is expensive olive oil worth it?

We stick to California olive oils because we can trust that they are unadulterated and honestly labeled, and because they're local. Good oil is first-press, virgin. Cheaper oils can be heat-extracted and you don't want that, nor do you want chemical extraction methods. Costco carries a very good California olive oil under their Kirkland Signature label. The bottle looks a lot like California Ranch brand. California Ranch is available in most grocery stores. Finally, olive oil is tender and can turn rancid. Keep it in the dark in a cool place, but not the refrigerator (and certainly not next to your hot stovetop). Buy only the quantity that you can use in six months. And a good label will give you the harvest date -- you want to use it up wi...
by wstrdg
Thu Jul 05, 2018 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Older Women Lifting Weights
Replies: 203
Views: 27813

Re: Older Women Lifting Weights

Do find someone who knows what they're doing to train you for a few months. This can be a relative, friend, gym, etc. You want good form to build strength, not huge weight lifts to show off "Full range of motion" is important. Don't cheat. This is part of good form. Good form means you won't hurt yourself Younger people can do greater weight/lower repetitions. Older people will benefit from lower weight/greater repetitions Alternate muscle groups, so you don't repeat groups without a day or two to heal. You become stronger with stress, repair, repeat. For example, do chest on Monday, legs on Tuesday, shoulders on Wednesday, repeat. Expect severe burn about 48 hours after you start a muscle group. It goes away. Enjoy shampooing you...
by wstrdg
Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Purchasing an old home in an old suburban area; to what old-house specific issues should I pay attention
Replies: 21
Views: 2039

Re: Purchasing an old home in an old suburban area; to what old-house specific issues should I pay attention

Personally, I would test any prospective home for radon gas. You can do this yourself with an inexpensive kit. If the house is built on radon-emitting soil/rock, mitigation can only do so much.
by wstrdg
Fri Jun 22, 2018 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much (green) cash at home for emergency ?
Replies: 169
Views: 19288

Re: How much (green) cash at home for emergency ?

Gerry L wrote: My mom was succumbing to Alzheimer's when we moved her into assisted living. As I cleared out her little apartment, I kept uncovering stashes of cash.
My dad stashed his mad money in books. We were careful to shake out the 20's and 10's. So, yeah.
by wstrdg
Wed Jun 13, 2018 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Some questions about purchasing earthquake insurance in CA
Replies: 10
Views: 2278

Re: Some questions about purchasing earthquake insurance in CA

Palomar Specialty is another company that offers California EQ insurance NOT via the CEA.
by wstrdg
Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Install different carpet styles/colors in same floor bedrooms?
Replies: 19
Views: 3062

Re: Install different carpet styles/colors in same floor bedrooms?

We bought a home with different carpet styles in each of the four upstairs bedrooms. One was patterned, one was sculpted, one was shag, one was plush pile. The prior owner was a carpet installer -- we presumed he was being frugal with his leftovers. :happy

It may have been frugal, but it wasn't well-coordinated. We replaced it all with a single style.

Make yourselves happy and enjoy your home!
by wstrdg
Sun Jun 10, 2018 11:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renter's Insurance for College Dorm
Replies: 32
Views: 3701

Re: Renter's Insurance for College Dorm

Both of my sons had policies through collegestudentinsurance.com (CSI - now Gallagher). NSSI is another company that offers student property insurance. These aren't normal renter's insurance policies but rather specialized policies for students. The advantage over homeowners insurance is the low deductible and the fact that homeowners doesn't cover accidental damage but these student policies do. My homeowners deductible is $2000 but the CSI deductible is just $25. They cover the student's possessions in a dorm or in an off-campus apartment. They even cover them if the student is studying abroad. Abosolutely yes. We used CSI for three students with a $25 deductible. We filed claims for the theft of a bicycle (and air pump) on a different c...
by wstrdg
Tue Jun 05, 2018 10:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Prepping for College Fall 2019
Replies: 32
Views: 2659

Re: Prepping for College Fall 2019

You need to keep your own records to substantiate "qualified withdrawals" from the 529. We asked our kids to use a dedicated credit card for required textbooks, etc. Keep your tuition and dormitory invoices. If your student lives off-campus, you can find the budget for room and board on the college's "cost of attendance" .edu webpage, updated each academic year. Be aware that health insurance is not included as "qualified withdrawal,"even if the college requires proof of insurance -- subtract any student health plan billed on the college invoice. Computers and related equipment are included, as well as internet access. If your student receives a grant award (not a loan) that reduces the tuition billed, that amo...