Search found 683 matches

by investor997
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airline Miles and Hotel Points
Replies: 37
Views: 4408

Re: Airline Miles and Hotel Points

tj wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:37 pm That sucks. When did that happen? I booked in November.

I've had 50k Avios just sitting for like 6 or 7 years.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/british-a ... ka-awards/

Not sure when it was ever possible to book an LAX-OGG flight for 7500 Avios... We managed to do it a couple years ago for 13000 Avios less the 30% Chase Transfer Bonus = 10,000 UR.
by investor997
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Got married in 2023. EV tax credit snafu. File separately?
Replies: 3
Views: 1388

Re: Got married in 2023. EV tax credit snafu. File separately?

rambogleas wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:12 pm Therefore, if H&R Block's software does not have a manual override and is apparently not smart enough to automatically take the minimum of the values for each spouse, starting from scratch by importing your wife's 2022 return might be your only workaround to getting Part I, line 4 (and thus Part I, line 5) to be less than $300K (for married filing jointly) or $150K (for married filing separately).
OP here. Sorry for not responding sooner. This is exactly how I fixed the problem - I restarted from scratch by importing my wife's 2022 return instead of my own, then breathed a huge sigh of relief when the software accepted the Clean Vehicle Rebate form.
by investor997
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portugal trip
Replies: 19
Views: 1452

Re: Portugal trip

Thanks for the replies. I've tried multiple time to get the Bolt app to work. It requires I enter my number to get a verification sms but I never get the verification sms. An email to Bolt was not helpful in that the response was I may need to set the account up when in Portugal and with a Portugal number. I've also heard Bolt can be cheaper than Uber and will take you places Uber won't. In any event, it would be nice to have a back up to Uber. I found very little information online about the trouble I'm having. I saw one website where you can essentially rent a Portugal number to get the verification sms, might look into that. A couple of other things - we are renting a car for about half the trip. We'll take the train from Lisbon to Port...
by investor997
Mon Mar 04, 2024 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airline Miles and Hotel Points
Replies: 37
Views: 4408

Re: Airline Miles and Hotel Points

tj wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:27 pm LAX to Maui, BA each way 7500 Avios.
Same flight booked on AA was like 30k AA miles round trip if not more
Not anymore. Avios were recently devalued. *IF* you can find availability, a flight from LAX to OGG (Maui) is 16K Avios per person per direction. This can be reduced if the credit card you're transferring from (i.e. Amex) is offering a transfer bonus promotion. A 25% transfer bonus would reduce the cost to 12,800 Avios, but since you must transfer in increments of 1000, it's really 13,000.
by investor997
Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878401

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Dukethegator wrote: Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:52 pm
My system now: direct deposit into an Ally MMA (4.4% APY) and have BofA Billpay draw from Ally checking account that overdrafts in $100 increments from the MMA. I am limited to 10 debits from the MMA a month but that is a new limit and it hasn't impacted me yet.

My system in the future: Once BofA accepts Cash Plus, I will direct deposit into Vanguard Cash Plus (4.7% APY) and have BofA Billpay draw from Vanguard Cash Plus. I will keep the Ally MMA account funded with a few hundred in case I need to use an ATM (fees are covered), check, or zelle. I can overnight ACH if I need to fund the account.
This sounds super interesting. Is there any way to set up something similar using TTTXX @ Merrill as the cash storage vehicle?
by investor997
Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airline Miles and Hotel Points
Replies: 37
Views: 4408

Re: Airline Miles and Hotel Points

Having a Chase United VISA unlocks lower redemption costs with more flight options. For example, when searching itineraries, a non-United cardholder might find an option for 20K points which includes a layover and 30K for a nonstop, or no nonstop option at all. Meanwhile a United cardholder searching the same itinerary might find a nonstop option for 20K points. It can be difficult to predict exactly how much better the cardholder's options will be until searching for one. Delta gives cardholders a straight 15% discount on points redemptions. Southwest points are tied directly to the cash price. Having a Southwest card doesn't boost the value of their points, but I like Southwest because you can book a flight with points and cancel it at an...
by investor997
Sun Feb 25, 2024 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Got married in 2023. EV tax credit snafu. File separately?
Replies: 3
Views: 1388

Got married in 2023. EV tax credit snafu. File separately?

The wife and I tied the knot in 7/2023. She purchased a Tesla Model Y in 3/2023. Her 2022 AGI is below the single filer cutoff limit and should therefore eligible for the $7500 clean vehicle federal tax credit in tax year 2023. My 2022 AGI was above the single filer EV tax credit threshold - and the joint filer limit also, for that matter. I started our 2023 return using H&R Block software by importing my return from 2022. Despite filing jointly, it used my 2022 single-filer AGI to determine we aren't eligible for the EV tax credit. I cannot edit this field. I can likely restart the return from scratch by importing DW's 2022 single filer return as a workaround but figured I'd ask the Bogleheads hivemind: In order to get the $7500 EV tax...
by investor997
Thu Dec 28, 2023 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878401

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

atdharris wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2023 12:08 pm Right. I usually buy AA eGCs every year and sell them but sites have stopped buying them. I assume because so many people used the loophole for reimbursement on AFs.
It's probably because reselling AA eGCs is against their T&Cs and someone put an end to the party:
https://giftcards.aa.com/terms.jsp
American Airlines will not honor a Gift Card purchased from an Unauthorized Vendor. Gift Cards may not be resold by any individual or any Unauthorized Vendor. Unlawful resale or attempted resale is grounds for seizure and cancellation without compensation.
by investor997
Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878401

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

atdharris wrote: Thu Dec 28, 2023 10:16 am United Travel Bank works with the PR credits, correct? I see no one is buying AA GCs and I need to use my credits before the end of the year.
I had $70 travel credit remaining after using it once this year to cover a checked bag fee. I bought an AA GC for $70 and the remaining travel credit was applied.
by investor997
Sun Dec 24, 2023 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?
Replies: 7203
Views: 1413179

Re: What's Your Credit Card Rewards Strategy?

I've been on the BofA PR bandwagon for several years now (PR + CCR) but I also have an Amex Platinum (the Charles Schwab version) for the travel perks. Although I put most non-category spend on the BofA cards, I had some recent success redeeming Amex MR points at a pretty high valuation towards international airfare. I transferred from Amex to Air France/KLM FlyingBlue and booked long haul Premium Economy and Business class tickets from between 3.5cpp and 7cpp valuation. FlyingBlue is a pretty interesting airline transfer partner; they offer frequent transfer bonuses from both Amex and Chase, and they allow multiple accounts to combine points into a single family booking. Super helpful in 2-player mode (DW has a Chase Sapphire and we transf...
by investor997
Fri Dec 22, 2023 1:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878401

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

spammagnet wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 5:07 pm If you have multiple cards recorded in Paypal, you can select which are authorized for scheduled payments. I recommend permitting only one, that being the BofA card set up for the 3% online bonus. That way you know it always routes to that card (or cards, if you set up multiple as online category.
Sorry, not sure if this was confirmed earlier: Are PayPal purchases via the CCR considered "online"? Does this apply to ALL purchases made via PayPal?
by investor997
Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice for a budding electrical engineer
Replies: 134
Views: 16906

Re: Advice for a budding electrical engineer

halfnine wrote: Wed Dec 13, 2023 3:44 am Full time engineering students that have no obligations outside of school (work, sports scholarships, etc.) should be able to graduate in 4 years. If they can't then engineering might not be the best fit for them. If it takes one 5 years to do what others can do in 4 years then it will likely take them 50 hours a week to do what other engineers can do in 40 hours.
The AP credit I carried from high school helped in this regard. I was able to skate by taking only 13 units per quarter instead of 17 during my final year. This allowed me to work part time at a local engineering company without getting too overloaded and tanking my grades.
by investor997
Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rental cars in Portugal or Spain
Replies: 45
Views: 4240

Re: Rental cars in Portugal or Spain

I recently rented a car in Portugal. I drove it from the airport in Lisbon (LIS) to the Algarve (Sagres and Lagos) before dropping it off at the airport in Faro (FAO). I made the reservation through National since I have status via an Amex Platinum. Turns out, that wasn't really worth anything. National uses a Portuguese car rental company called Guerin. They were the ones who actually rented the car and billed me. All highways/freeways in Portugal are toll roads. Make certain your rental includes a Via Verde toll transponder. You will be billed separately for incurred tolls - in my case, this was about $35. Driving was mostly uneventful other than the gigantic roundabout you have to drive through just outside the Lisbon airport - it's an i...
by investor997
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice for a budding electrical engineer
Replies: 134
Views: 16906

Re: Advice for a budding electrical engineer

Getting back to the original question as to possible career paths for an EE graduate, I can share a brief summary of the path I followed: 1) Attended a T15-ranked public university. I admit there is zero chance I would be admitted to this school today if I had the same GPA and SAT scores I did back then but hey, 80s kids like me were "free range children". 2) Got a paid internship at a local engineering company during my fourth year (a small company; not anything resembling a nationally recognized brand or "FAANG"). This was my first foot in the door and looking back was a critical first step in establishing myself. 3) Graduated in four years. Yes, it is possible to do this but there is little margin for error. Studying ...
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice for a budding electrical engineer
Replies: 134
Views: 16906

Re: Advice for a budding electrical engineer

I finished my EE degree in 4 years. Two things helped me achieve this goal:

1) AP credit earned in high school. It's not good enough to help you skip out on things like engineering-level calculus or physics but it is good enough to let you skip taking frankly unnecessary general ed type courses later on. It might let you take only 12 units a quarter instead of 16 (or more), which will help you get higher grades in the classes that matter (upper division engineering).

2) A very healthy fear or running out of money. College is expensive.
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40070

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

The salaries above for people coming out of California schools are obviously going to be higher than many other places due to the high cost of living there. Many will stay nearby to work because they are there and because, hey, it's Silicon Valley. The main point is to learn fundamentals. It doesn't matter where. It's up to the student. Look at recent reports that everyone at Yale gets an A. Who cares? Did they learn fundamentals, or not. That can be determined pretty quickly on the job, or during an interview especially after someone has some experience. So, in sum, it's mostly up to the student. They can get an engineering degree, for example. But can they pass a Professional Engineering exam? That's not a very high bar, actually. But it...
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars
Replies: 360
Views: 83914

Re: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars

rockstar wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:15 pm I’d be more worried about suspension than the engine. This is what we had issues with our old Prius.
I know some of the earlier build Model 3s (like mine) are known for developing squeaks from the suspension. It has to do with a design flaw that allows water to accumulate where it shouldn't. So far my car hasn't developed this problem. The fact that it never rains where I live (SoCal) probably has something to do with this. Still, your point about a Prius developing suspension problems proves mine: ICE cars have problems in areas outside the drivetrain just like an EV can, so all things being equal I'd expect an EV to fare well over time given the simplicity of the drivetrain.
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars
Replies: 360
Views: 83914

Re: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars

rockstar wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:00 pm Curious about the next five. I have a five year old ICE vehicle. My maintenance has been oil changes, tire rotation and balance, and a couple of cracked windshields mostly covered my insurance. And I had one battery die during lockdown.

I’m more worried about year 6 through 10.
Me too, but odds are I have little to worry about. An electric motor is far less complicated with far fewer moving parts than an ICE. There's just less stuff to break.
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40070

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

I think the planned transfer approach really devalues the "human" side of college, but that really depends on the person. Freshman year is going to be when you make the most connections for most people. It's difficult to leave that to go to another school, and it's difficult (certainly not impossible) to make those same connections coming in later when others already have their core friend groups. I personally would definitely not have the same network transferring into school 2 years in that I developed going there for 4 years. The problem is that the cost of going to a university - including state school - has exploded relative to inflation. Today's cost is something like 4X what it was in the early 90s when I was a student, an...
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars
Replies: 360
Views: 83914

Re: Tesla savings vs used ICE cars

I've owned my Model 3 for five years now (you can read about my purchase experience here.

Maintenance cost has been near zero. The only repair of significance has been the replacement of one of the two glass roof panels after it developed a crack ($1100). This is more of a Tesla problem; not an EV problem. Aside from that, it's had near perfect reliability. Unlike my former BMWs which had all sorts of expensive repairs like turbo wastegates, fuel injectors, ignition coils, water pumps, leaky valve cover gaskets, VANOS solenoids, cracked radiators and on and on and on...

I should also say that battery degradation has been a complete nothing burger.

I really don't see myself buying another ICE vehicle ever again.
by investor997
Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 40070

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

EE here. I guess I'm late to the party but this shouldn't be a debate at all. Full ride at the state school, all day long and twice on Sunday. And if the full ride wasn't an option, I'd suggest two years of community college followed by a transfer. The first two years of an undergraduate EE degree are almost nothing but Math, Chemistry and Physics. There's no reason to pay top dollar for these kinds of weeder classes.
by investor997
Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth 401k, Roth IRAs and withdrawing contributions before age 59.5
Replies: 3
Views: 431

Roth 401k, Roth IRAs and withdrawing contributions before age 59.5

I understand it is possible to withdraw Roth IRA contributions prior to age 59.5 without penalty provided the Roth IRA account is at least 5 years old. Suppose I also have a Roth 401k with my current employer; it's funded by making after-tax 401k contributions and in-plan rollovers, i.e., mega back door style. Further, suppose I do this for at least five years and retire prior to age 59.5. If I were to perform a rollover from the Roth 401k to an existing Roth IRA (age 5+), what portion of the Roth 401k rollover, if any, would be considered a "contribution" to the Roth IRA such that it could be withdrawn without penalty? (I'm trying to scheme ways of generating non-taxable income during early retirement such that I might have a sho...
by investor997
Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Re: Is owning a condo worth the risk?

nonnie wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2023 9:25 pm I still would like OP to answer the question about whether they have mapped the earthquake faults near the condo. Second question is personal rental earthquake insurance.
There is an "inferred" fault within 2-3 miles of my property.

As of right now I do not have personal rental earthquake insurance. I'm not sure what you mean by "rental" - I'm an owner, not a renter.
by investor997
Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Re: Is owning a condo worth the risk?

More often people were just not paying the HOA because they wanted to spend their money on something else. I remember one case where someone was about a two years behind in their dues which was the point where we escalated collections. She had been saying they could not pay it because money was tight but people in the neighborhood knew that they just took an expensive trip to Disneyland and had recently also taken several other vacations too. When a lien was placed on her house and there was talk of foreclosure all the sudden she wanted to pay all the back dues in cash, meaning green paper cash, so someone agreed to meet her at the HOA bank to make that payment. She had not been paying the HOA dues just because she could get by with it. Ou...
by investor997
Fri Sep 29, 2023 5:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Re: Is owning a condo worth the risk?

OP here. It's standard wood frame two story / concrete slab construction built in 1989 and located in Orange County, so I would say reasonably high earthquake risk.

Most of the feedback I've received on this thread has been expected, which is to say, "Sell it." Easier said than done, unfortunately, especially when staring down the barrel of a significant capital gains tax bill (I'm past the 500K deduction) and the prospect of finding a new place to live in a competitive market with very little inventory and high interest rates.
by investor997
Fri Sep 29, 2023 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Re: Is owning a condo worth the risk?

bob60014 wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 3:44 pm
Interesting that a $12+/- increase is thought to trigger more defaults. Curious, how many units in this hoa?
OP here. About 250 units.

The board says that in any given month, between 5-10% of units are delinquent. And for every $10 in increase in dues, this number increases by a couple percent.
by investor997
Fri Sep 29, 2023 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Re: Is owning a condo worth the risk?

OP here. Some more data: 1) Yes, HOA owns the structures in common and owners are responsible for insuring the contents of their units. We cannot, as individuals, buy insurance which covers the structures. 2) CC&R's do not require the HOA to carry earthquake insurance. 3) If I sold, I would lose my property tax foothold (Prop 13). I am not old enough to be eligible for CA's Proposition 19 which would allow me to take my assessed value with me to another home in the state. EDIT: I would also owe capital gains taxes on the sale. 4) Moving out of the area is not presently possible due to a couple different reasons I won't get into 5) Lots of recent buyers stretched their budgets thin to buy condos here. This isn't unique to my development;...
by investor997
Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is owning a condo worth the risk?
Replies: 55
Views: 7710

Is owning a condo worth the risk?

I live in California in a condo I own outright (no mortgage). The HOA recently sent out a notice saying they were canceling our master earthquake insurance policy due to a 50% increase in premium. Several homeowners, myself included, attended the most recent HOA board meeting to better understand why this decision was made. The reasons given were: 1) Increase in premium, while not large in absolute numbers (about $12/mo increase per unit in the development), would increase the number of units which default on their dues each month, which would in turn require the board to spend more on attorney and recovery fees, which in turn would would require us to collect more dues, which would... 2) The master earthquake policy always carried a 25% de...
by investor997
Tue Aug 15, 2023 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations
Replies: 120
Views: 18100

Re: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations

BionicBillWalsh wrote: Tue Aug 15, 2023 5:16 pm Until further notice. You cannot go into West Maui the way you're suggesting.
...which is why I suggested anyone with a reservation in West Maui scheduled within the next 3 months cancel.
by investor997
Tue Aug 15, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations
Replies: 120
Views: 18100

Re: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations

marcopolo wrote: Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:58 pm Going on the Bypass does NOT bypass the burned areas, it puts you pretty much smack in the middle of the fire zone.
That just drives my point home even further - the local government will need to secure/block off/isolate or clear out/decontaminate all of the burned areas adjacent to the Honoapiilani Highway before tourism can resume in the areas of Ka'anapali northward. It's the only practical way in and out of there.

I think we'll have a better sense of what's going to happen within the next few months.
by investor997
Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations
Replies: 120
Views: 18100

Re: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations

As of now, unless you're an emergency, essential worker, you can only access those areas from Central Maui by going through Kahakuloa Way. The dangerous, narrow, road-to-Hana-like route without the guardrails. https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/643-kahekili-highway-usa.html#:~:text=Why%20is%20Kahekili%20Highway%20so,but%20with%20two%2Dway%20traffic. Those in West Maui are allowed to egress via the Lahaina bypass and around the Pali. Basically, counter clockwise access to the area only for those with legitimate reason to be there. Right - that route is so slow and dangerous that from a tourist's perspective, it may as well not exist. The predominant way to/from the resort areas of West Maui will continue to be the Lahaina Bypa...
by investor997
Tue Aug 15, 2023 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations
Replies: 120
Views: 18100

Re: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations

For those unfamiliar with West Maui, most visitors stay in hotels/resorts and/or timeshares/condos to the north of Lahaina. I'm describing the areas of Ka'anapali (about 2-3 miles north) all the way up to Kapalua, home of swanky properties like the Montage and the Ritz-Carlton. None of these areas burned but the only way to reach them is by going *through* Lahaina, mainly by via the Lahaina Bypass (3000) and eventually turning right onto the main highway (30) directly across the street from the Cannery mall (which I believe did *not* burn). Perhaps the government can set up road blocks which force traffic to stay on this specific route. That way visitors can reach the resort areas while avoiding contact with Lahaina's worst burned areas. If...
by investor997
Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Planning Kauai Visit - Reccomendations for First-Timer
Replies: 36
Views: 4611

Re: Planning Kauai Visit - Reccomendations for First-Timer

There is a book I'd highly recommend called "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed" I'd post a link if I knew how to do it so that the funds would go to bogleheads. Kauai has a lot to offer but I think 2 weeks will feel a bit long. You may want to also considering allotting a few days for the Big Island, Lanai, or Molokai. One week on Kauai and one week on the Big Island would also be a great option. The two islands are quite different but both equally spectacular in their own unique way. As much as I loved the helicopter tour on Kauai, driving to the summit of Mauna Kea (13,800 ft) in a Jeep Wrangler rental to catch the sunset was also unforgettable (you can brag that you stood on top of the world's tallest mountain - Mau...
by investor997
Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Planning Kauai Visit - Reccomendations for First-Timer
Replies: 36
Views: 4611

Re: Planning Kauai Visit - Reccomendations for First-Timer

I've been to Kauai twice in the past decade. My highlights: - Afternoon/Sunset snorkel and Na Pali "booze cruise". - Helicopter tour. Try Jack Harter Helicopters and go for the doors off option. Expensive but worth it. - Mountain Tubing adventure through Kauai Backcountry Adventures. Way more fun than I thought it'd be. - Kalalau Trail day hike to Hanakapiai Falls (8 miles round trip). Used to be able to just drive up and go without any reservations or permits. No longer the case so do your homework (research access to Haena State Park) - Waimea Canyon and the drive to Kalalau Valley lookout - Kauai Coffee - Rum tasting at Koloa Rum Company (Lihue) Beaches on the north shore are beautiful. Anini beach in particular has a large ree...
by investor997
Sat Aug 12, 2023 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Talk me out of buying a Tesla Model 3
Replies: 963
Views: 103284

Re: Talk me out of buying a Tesla Model 3

harikaried wrote: Wed Aug 09, 2023 2:22 pmWith the increased energy usage, have you looked into solar (& storage)?
We live in a condo so solar isn't an option for us. As of today, juice costs $0.26/kWh during off-peak hours. That's approximately double what it cost in late 2018 when I first got the car. Nonetheless, it's still less than what we'd pay to gas up comparable ICE vehicles. Premium gas is $4.79/gal at the nearby Costco.
by investor997
Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Talk me out of buying a Tesla Model 3
Replies: 963
Views: 103284

Re: Talk me out of buying a Tesla Model 3

OP here. Quick update after nearly 5 years of ownership. Between the pandemic and my new WFH schedule I'm just not driving as much as I used to. I'm at just under 35K miles on the odometer. I've replaced the tires once (can't remember if I posted that earlier). I went with the 19" OEM Continentals. I like the way they drive and they're reasonably quiet (they have the foam inner lining common to EV-specific tires). A few months ago I noticed a large crack in the front-most glass roof panel. I can't recall hitting anything (rock chip, etc) which would have caused it. The cost to replace was about $1150 at Tesla service. My insurance deductible is $1000 so that was a bit of a bummer. I also changed my daily charging habits. These days I d...
by investor997
Tue Apr 25, 2023 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Renting Tesla 3 first time, tips?
Replies: 17
Views: 1719

Re: Renting Tesla 3 first time, tips?

The "miles remaining" next to the battery level indicator is optimistic, especially if you plan to drive on the highway a lot. If you do, set the destination in the nav system. The car will automatically guide you to a Supercharger along the route, if necessary. But at the same time, it may put you at your destination with <15% charge remaining, so keep that in mind, too.
by investor997
Tue Apr 25, 2023 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Blown Gasket - Time for a new car? EV?
Replies: 41
Views: 3256

Re: Blown Gasket - Time for a new car? EV?

OP, I recommend exploring what it would take to install a Level 2. Get a couple quotes from electricians. They will let you know whether it's feasible or cost effective given the layout and infrastructure of your property. If they seem reasonable, you can submit a request to your HOA, or at least attend a board meeting and ask the board members for immediate feedback on the proposal. You could also ask your HOA property manager if they have an EV charger policy already. It's possible you aren't the first. If your Level 1 option involves running an extension cord from your patio out over a lawn and maybe crossing a public sidewalk where someone could trip over it, forget it. That's not an option. As a 4+ year Tesla owner, I don't recommend a...
by investor997
Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7041
Views: 878401

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

bbrock wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 5:44 pm Is it $2500/mo capped for both the groceries/wholesalers, and the same $2500 cap for other categories as well?
It's $2500 per quarter, not per month. And yes, the grocery/wholesaler and the other categories both count towards the $2500 quarterly limit.
by investor997
Tue Jun 07, 2022 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Taking the keys away from an elder parent
Replies: 42
Views: 3860

Re: Taking the keys away from an elder parent

Thank you for the responses thus far. I like the doctor visit idea the best. Next time I visit them I'll pull Dad aside and mention the idea to him. I'm sure he'd be open to it, especially since he's the one driving her to her appointments these days. I will also see if I can organize something like an "Uber" day where I come over to visit and from there we leave as a group via Uber/Lyft.

Getting old sucks...
by investor997
Tue Jun 07, 2022 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Taking the keys away from an elder parent
Replies: 42
Views: 3860

Taking the keys away from an elder parent

Without getting into too much detail, Mom, who is closing in on 80, was recently involved in a car accident and was declared at fault. The other party was badly injured and if it weren't for an umbrella insurance policy, the settlement would have been financially devastating. Thankfully the insurance did what it was supposed to do but this was a bad situation that could have been far worse, not to mention what happened to the other guy. This brings me to the subject of this post: I don't know for certain but I believe her deteriorating motor skills and vision were at least partly to blame. She hasn't been behind the wheel since but to prevent it from happening again, I would like to explore taking away the keys for good. Naturally she resis...
by investor997
Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle
Replies: 36
Views: 5356

Re: PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle

I plan on contacting Schwab by phone next week, but do any Bogleheads happen to know the best way to make sure Zelle is not enabled/connected to my Schwab accounts? Can it be disconnected by Schwab? Maybe the 30 day transfer limit can be set to some low amount like $1? Is it necessary to link emails and phone numbers to another Zelle account at a different financial institution? -NewRain It's not enabled by default. The first time you access Zelle in the Schwab app you're prompted to accept the T&C's of the service. If you're further paranoid, you can always associate your phone number/email address with another Zelle-enabled account. So long as nobody has access to your Schwab smartphone app there's no way to accept the Zelle T&C'...
by investor997
Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle
Replies: 36
Views: 5356

Re: PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle

Invest4lt wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:27 am When using Zelle to send money, I usually ask the person to send me a request to pay through Zelle. That way I only need to click on the request and am reasonably assured that I am sending funds to the correct person in the correct amount.
This.
by investor997
Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle
Replies: 36
Views: 5356

PSA: Schwab now offers Zelle

Without much fanfare, Schwab just added native Zelle support to their mobile app. You'll need to update your iOS/Android apps to the latest versions. This is a nice feature add and makes it easier to break away from the brick and mortar banks - assuming you want to, of course.
by investor997
Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla solar panel + powerwall
Replies: 27
Views: 3739

Re: Tesla solar panel + powerwall

Fascinating. Has it got to the point in California where people are timing their laundry to avoid larger bills? I'm in Southern California Edison territory on a TOU plan. Peak hours are 4p-9p every day so yeah, we avoid laundry/dishwasher during these hours. It's not hard to remember. In the summer months, we blast the AC in the early-mid day to pre-cool the house, then ease off the thermostat starting at 4:00. Also, program the EV to delay charging until 9:00 or later. Actually these days since I'm WFH I program the car to begin charging at 8:30AM. It doesn't cost any less but it makes me feel better about myself since that's when solar's contribution to the grid really kicks in and I know a good portion of the energy going into my car co...
by investor997
Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fallback travel credit card
Replies: 58
Views: 5789

Re: Fallback travel credit card

tomsense76 wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:25 pm
Oh I plan to. Am just looking for a backup.

For example if Visa isn't accepted having a CC using Mastercard would be helpful. Or if BOA locks my card for some reason, would like to have a card with a different institution as a fallback. Or (and hopefully this doesn't happen) the card is lost, stolen, or compromised, having another card would helpful.
In that case I'd probably look at a Citi DoubleCash (2% back on everything). It's a Mastercard.
by investor997
Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fallback travel credit card
Replies: 58
Views: 5789

Re: Fallback travel credit card

anon_investor wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:39 pm
Are there any other airlines where a GC can be purchased to make use of the $100 airline incidentals from the BofA PR card? I got that card this year, but it looks like I won't be able to make sure of that $100 airline incidentals benefit this year.
Check this link for more details on what works and what doesn't:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/triggers ... el-credit/
by investor997
Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fallback travel credit card
Replies: 58
Views: 5789

Re: Fallback travel credit card

Why not keep using the BofA PR card? The AF is pretty low on it and it's easy enough to recover (just buy a $100 American Airlines GC with it). Otherwise they have the new Unlimited Cash Rewards card which is pretty similar to the PR card (-AF, +FTF, 2.62% cash back on everything w/ Platinum Status).
by investor997
Mon Nov 01, 2021 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CA real estate, Prop 13 and "moving back home"
Replies: 16
Views: 2264

Re: CA real estate, Prop 13 and "moving back home"

Carefreeap wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:01 am
Agreed. There's a subspecious of work being done via a Trust that specifically addresses some of the Prop 19 issues. It's a new field and I suspect the operators range on the ethical spectrum.

Interview several O.P.
Yeah, this is bleeding edge stuff, apparently. I have a call scheduled with an estate planning attorney later today.
by investor997
Mon Nov 01, 2021 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: CA real estate, Prop 13 and "moving back home"
Replies: 16
Views: 2264

Re: CA real estate, Prop 13 and "moving back home"

SuzBanyan wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 12:06 pm For the OP, if the FBYV is $50k and the FMV was $1,250,000, then the new adjusted base year value would be $250,000.
OP here. The home has a FMV of about $1M. Cost basis and current assessed value are each about $100K.