Search found 259 matches

by bhough
Thu Dec 28, 2023 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Book recommendations for emotional control
Replies: 34
Views: 4275

Re: Book recommendations for emotional control

Can't Hurt Me. David Goggins.
by bhough
Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recommendations for Fund Management Software
Replies: 1
Views: 183

Re: Recommendations for Fund Management Software

I'm assuming you are a startup and aren't a managing director at Goldman Sachs. If starting, would recommend two systems. One is an SQL database. The other separate piece is email. However, let me suggest that with a backend database, you could allow clients to access their records in real time online and have them "opt-out" of paper delivery or email. What I get from Fidlety is an email that says my statement is ready if I want to login. Easiest solution: backend SQL with real time interface with prices (see iexcloud.io). Then close out accounts once/month with and end price (last day of the month) to create statements. This can be done in batches and then uploaded to pages the clients have permission to see. I guess what I am sa...
by bhough
Thu Jan 12, 2023 7:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why Do People Like Linux?
Replies: 254
Views: 19134

Re: Why Do People Like Linux?

I like LInux because: 1. I care about privacy. I'm not interested in my operating system collecting information about me. (or my browser for that matter) 2. I like to understand how things work. I have to admit that I don't completely understand what the kernel is or how I might modify it. But one can use the command line to do things and make bash scripts which are just consecutive command lines. And then you cal ask crontab to run these at the time of your choosing. It seems harder at first without a GUI, but then it seems so much easier once you get it. 3. Everything is going to "pay by month". Eventually apple and microsoft's operating systems will be pay by month. I know outlook is already that way and I know that office is. ...
by bhough
Wed Dec 14, 2022 8:11 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Building a EUR bond ladder at negative real yields?
Replies: 17
Views: 1908

Re: Building a EUR bond ladder at negative real yields?

Maybe this is a dumb question, but if you have enough money to buy 10 years worth of bonds for living expenses, wouldn't you have enough money to pay for a broker to buy you US TIPS, which currently have a positive real yield? Not beating you up, just asking to understand.
by bhough
Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Extra $7,000 - need advice
Replies: 11
Views: 3016

Re: Extra $7,000 - need advice

Hey bud,

If you don't have time to read, one option is not to invest it until you do. The other option is to put it in a target fund. The target funds are for the year in the future you plan to retired. The good target funds do part stock index funds and part bond funds. I'd pick Fidelity or Vanguard to do that with. I bonds aren't a bad idea, but if you are young, you may not want to be all bonds.

Good luck!
by bhough
Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where can I save my downpayment money to get >3% returns?
Replies: 27
Views: 2748

Re: Where can I save my downpayment money to get >3% returns?

>3% nominal in short term treasuries.
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by bhough
Tue Dec 13, 2022 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I need inspiration...[still invest in stocks?]
Replies: 49
Views: 2798

Re: I need inspiration...

What are your options?

Option 1: Stop investing and spend all of your money now on things because a low return rate punishes savers and discourages deferred gratification.
Option 2: Invest in something besides stocks, or change your asset allocation. Real estate would be reasonable except it is currently overpriced. Do you think you might feel a little more comfortable having some boring treasuries quietly accumulating interest?

Saving some money for the future with a reasonable asset allocation using index funds is boring, but so is brushing your teeth. Just do it. You shouldn't need inspiration.
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by bhough
Sun Nov 13, 2022 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Practicing" retirement ... and having mixed feelings
Replies: 77
Views: 13255

Re: "Practicing" retirement ... and having mixed feelings

My job isn't as exciting or fulfilling as yours, but I had a similar period without work for several months and had some similar thoughts. I'm just a few years younger then you, so I feel qualified to comment. I suspect that when someone in our country has enough money to comfortably fund their lifestyle and their loved one's lifestyles until death, extra time or money feels less like a luxury and more like an obligation. How can I "help humanity". What "noble pursuit" can I undertake. I think this is what people mean when they talk about purpose-filled lives. I also think this is what really rich people are doing when they sit on the boards of their city's opera, symphony, etc. It gives them purpose and meaning. You nee...
by bhough
Thu Nov 10, 2022 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Add backup camera to older car
Replies: 26
Views: 2844

Re: Add backup camera to older car

Tubes wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:20 pm
bhough wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:01 pm I bought one and installed it on my kid's car. Works great, she loves it. Costs < $150. Easy to do.
For some reason, when you said "kid's" car, I had a vision of you installing on a car like this. :D
You are only half wrong. That's still the way I see my kid!
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by bhough
Thu Nov 10, 2022 7:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many of you are staying the course with bonds?
Replies: 190
Views: 25893

Re: How many of you are staying the course with bonds?

I'm staying the course. New money I have to invest goes mostly to stock index funds. The rest goes to I bonds (post-tax), nominals and TIPS (pretax). I prefer to buy individual bonds, but I might be overcomplicating things. Be careful not to conflate past returns with predicted future returns. Also remember that diversification is the only free lunch! (besides the one your mom makes you).
by bhough
Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Add backup camera to older car
Replies: 26
Views: 2844

Re: Add backup camera to older car

I bought one and installed it on my kid's car. Works great, she loves it. Costs < $150. Easy to do.
by bhough
Sat Oct 22, 2022 9:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Long Treasuries down 55%. Time to bottom fish?
Replies: 416
Views: 52409

Re: Long Treasuries down almost 50%. Time to bottom fish?

Because most individual investors do not have a 1 year time horizon, and interest rate risk is measured as the difference between bond duration and investment horizon. Buying a 1-year Treasury only "locks in" your return for that 12-month period. If you're not spending the money on goods and services when that T-bill matures, when you go to reinvest your money you're at the mercy of the markets for the entire amount of the investment. With a 30-year Treasury, you're locking in your return for the full 30 years: 60 known and certain interest payments plus the principal at maturity. If you take out a mortgage on a house you intend to occupy for decades, most people intuitively understand that a 1-year ARM is much riskier than a 30-...
by bhough
Sat Oct 22, 2022 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I'm overwhelmed, I have money saved, but feel like I'm managing it all wrong
Replies: 16
Views: 5009

Re: I'm overwhelmed, I have money saved, but feel like I'm managing it all wrong

I can't speak for your 401k options. You are smart, just pick the index fund with the lowest expense ratio. Best if they have a life cycle fund, if not, pick a stock index and bond index fund. You need an asset allocation stat. Are you an 80/20 person? 60/40? You mention that you are losing a small fortune each month watching your 401k go down. That isn't something that an 80/20 person says. You are 70/30 or less. I suggest you allocate 60% stocks, 40% bonds by your post. But don't let a stranger decide this for you. Baby step 1: Take some money from your checking account and buy $10,000 of Vanguard or Fidelity's S&P 500 index fund this week. Baby step 2: Take some money from your checking account and buy $10,000 of of 10/31/24 maturing...
by bhough
Fri Oct 14, 2022 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Virtually every investment is a risk right now
Replies: 34
Views: 4326

Re: Virtually every investment is a risk right now

The classic emotional investor during a bull market: borrow money to buy stocks--look how good they are doing! 100% stock allocation (buying when stocks are expensive) The classic emotional investor during a bear market: sells stocks--look how bad they are doing! and bonds to put in cash and money market (selling when stocks are low) There are two ways to combat this behavioral issue (which many of us suffer from). One way is to try and do the opposite of what your heart wants. Sell when you think things are overvalued, buy when you think things are undervalued. But it is hard to define value and one often misses the top or bottom. The other way to combat this behavioral issue (which many of us suffer from) is to invest money each month in ...
by bhough
Sat Oct 08, 2022 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help! I am lost and don't know what to do...
Replies: 43
Views: 7042

Re: Help! I am lost and don't know what to do...

Option 4: do nothing.

But also, you need to read some more about investing. Do this for a year. Then do something if you need to.
by bhough
Wed Sep 28, 2022 7:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bank of England Quantitative easing
Replies: 5
Views: 871

Re: Bank of England Quantitative easing

Thank you z3r. By political event, do you mean the new prime minister suggested there should be tax cuts? Why did the expectation of tax cuts (fiscal policy) cause people to accept a lower price (higher yield) for the bonds they held?

I understand how one branch of their government (BOE) can act independently of another branch of their government (leader of the predominant party). That certainly happens from time to time in our country. What is confusing to me is why the BOE would perform open market operations to drive down the yield while they are raising the overnight rate to drive up the yield. Shouldn't the BOE act in a way that is consistent with their goal?
by bhough
Wed Sep 28, 2022 7:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bank of England Quantitative easing
Replies: 5
Views: 871

Bank of England Quantitative easing

Dear smarter people, I think I understand that until recently, the Federal Reserve (FED) was buying treasuries and GSEs to artificially depress the prevailing interest rate and that maneuver is called quantiative easing. I also think I understand that recently, the FED started to do two things to control inflation: 1) Raise the overnight federal funds rate and 2) Stop buying treasuries and GSEs and not repurchase any that were maturing. (neither easing nor tightening) I also think I understand that the Bank of England (BOE) has made several increases to their overnight federal funds rate (or whatever it is called in the UK, most likely beginning with Eschequer) for the same reason. However today, I read that the BOE is now BUYING Gilts (the...
by bhough
Tue Sep 06, 2022 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Unhappy with golden handcuffs
Replies: 96
Views: 13513

Re: Unhappy with golden handcuffs

No one is going to like this, but here goes: 1. $400k is an enormous amount of money. 2. Your perception is that your job is boring or hateful, even though the hours aren't long 3. Therefore, you shouldn't change your job, you should change your mind. Here's how to do it: If you are single, immediately move to the lowest cost apartment you can tolerate. Range should be $1000-$1200. A trailer would be better. Save 80% of your income. Take a second job at McDonald's. (I'm not joking). You work this job at night. This second job will do two things. It will show you how bad some jobs suck and your job will look good in comparison. You will also make some extra money. If McDonald's is not your thing, do landscaping on the weekends or tend bar at...
by bhough
Thu Aug 04, 2022 6:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: France trip in June 2023 advice needed - Paris and Normandy
Replies: 67
Views: 6751

Re: France trip in June 2023 advice needed - Paris and Normandy

Was just in Paris. Can only speak for a there. You can buy a 7 day metro pass, but they want you to tape a picture to the pass. If you are taking a train, say to Versaille, the attendants may ask to see your pass and give you heck if you don't have a picture. Pro tip: bring along a small passport sized picture of yourself and some scotch tape. Wife will love the top floor of the Musee D'Orsay. My young family got tired after walking to the place and milling around the first floor, so they almost missed all the iconic impressionist stuff at the top. Pro tip: Start at top floor. Must see the Louvre. Versaille was very cool, but inside was a little overcrowded. Must see Jardin Luxembourg and the Tuilleries. I'm a bibliophile and there were a t...
by bhough
Sat Jul 23, 2022 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Converting PC to Linux
Replies: 39
Views: 3702

Re: Converting PC to Linux

I strongly recommend you do this. You'll learn alot. I predict you will change over entirely from Windows to Linux because of this adventure. I use Ubuntu, but also have debian on a home server. Ubuntu has a robust help ecosystem which I used whenever I ran into trouble. I wouldn't buy any new hardware. That negates part of the fun!!
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by bhough
Fri Jul 08, 2022 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cutting rent costs down for airline pilot
Replies: 43
Views: 5052

Re: Cutting rent costs down for airline pilot

investor656 wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 9:26 am
mrspock wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 7:26 am Buy a house, get roommates. Have them pay for your mortgage… and then some. When you get sick of them… even for 13 days a month, kick them all out (with lots of notice), and enjoy your free house.

Oh, and when you meet that special life partner, prenup the heck out of the house. Thank me in 20-25 years.
Have been interested in this, but haven't been saving much for it. Putting all my extra cash into Roth/HSA. Should I start saving cash for house you think?
You should start saving for a downpayment on a house. Then househack it with other pilots and stewards/stewardesses. You will live rent free.
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by bhough
Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow
Replies: 30
Views: 4092

Re: safe investment for a 78 year-old widow

How about a rolling ladder of 6 months treasury bills? The 6 month bill was yield 2.6% today. Buy $10,000 once a month for 6 months. At Fidelity, you can automatically repurchase the same duration.
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by bhough
Tue May 31, 2022 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Private School for eldest daughter
Replies: 79
Views: 8797

Re: Private School for eldest daughter

Didn't read other replies, here's my advice: Pay for private school for both. Wife and I went to our below average public school and given we make more than our parents did felt that it might give the kids a leg up to go to private school. Kids have been through one move, so we've seen two private schools (somehow got all the kids in the best private school in each town). Compared to our school, these two private schools are more organized, have better teachers, and have positive peer pressure instead of negative peer pressure. Whomever in your house went to Harvard undergrad from public school must realize that it is unlikely (although it happened at our below average public school) to happen again on your house. This is the only time that...
by bhough
Mon May 23, 2022 5:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: First 20% of bonds in long-term Treasuries
Replies: 2259
Views: 269156

Re: First 20% of bonds in long-term Treasuries

Don't want to fight, just want to add one piece of information which may or may not have been mentioned in the last 33 pages. This thread made me think of something I hadn't thought about before. For that reason, I purchased some 30 years nominals. Since I purchase them, they have in fact gone down. However, every 6 months, the government puts $950 into my account for interest. If I looked only at the current price on the secondary market and compared to what I would have had if I just left it in cash, it is true that both the current asset value for the 30 year nominal plus the interest is less than what the cash would have been sitting in my account. However, I didn't put all of my assets in 30 year nominals. I put some in I bonds and TIP...
by bhough
Tue May 10, 2022 9:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 457b or I-bonds?
Replies: 8
Views: 878

Re: 457b or I-bonds?

I'm guessing that your 457b is a government 457b, right?
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by bhough
Tue May 03, 2022 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pension vs 401k
Replies: 38
Views: 6681

Re: Pension vs 401k

A pension plan that pays 0.025 x years of service x highest average 36 months salary (I'm 33, so if I work until 65, that would be about 80% of my ending salary). ... I must pay 7% of my pretax salary. Note that when I say salary, this is referring to my "covered compensation," which amounts to being about 2/3 of my actual salary. A 401(k)-style plan where I contribute 7% and my employer contributes 8%, so 15% of my "covered compensation," which, again is about 2/3 of my actual salary. As you've set this up, nukephd, your contribution is the same (7% of covered compensation) for both the pension and the 401(k). Therefore, we can just estimate which option is likely to produce the higher value for a given contribution. T...
by bhough
Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: If I start investing today at beginning of bear market
Replies: 43
Views: 5415

Re: If I start investing today at beginning of bear market

David Jay wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:25 pm
madmax_ wrote: Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:00 pm...will be investing aggressively per month...
The effect of investing monthly is Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA). You are not purchasing all of your shares at one time, you will get a wide range of share prices over the next 20 years (240 different prices!).

Your friend would be partially correct (not his percentage, but the concept) if you made just one lump-sum purchase at the very peak of the market compared to just one lump sum purchase at the bottom of a pullback. But this is not the case with DCA.
This is the way.
by bhough
Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell individual Treasurys or stocks?
Replies: 3
Views: 282

Re: Sell individual Treasurys or stocks?

Agree I would sell treasury notes.
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by bhough
Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Employer is Creating a Hostile Work Environment and Escalating. What are my Options?
Replies: 75
Views: 6966

Re: Employer is Creating a Hostile Work Environment and Escalating. What are my Options?

They are never going to change and now they don't like you. Unless you have a non-compete, find a new job, sign the contract, then give current job notice.

If you do have a non-compete and can't/don't want to move, time for you to de-escalate. Meet with HR and explain that you go carried away. "I'm really a company guy, sorry about this. Time for me to get back to work". Whatever you have to say.

You "fighting from the inside" is a fools' errand.
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by bhough
Wed Apr 13, 2022 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If You Grow Your Own Food, How Much Is It Saving You?
Replies: 56
Views: 4958

Re: If You Grow Your Own Food, How Much Is It Saving You?

I save on my basil and rosemary. I save on my flowers and fruit. If there is a certain kind of fruit you like and you have mature trees, you can eat all you want (in a 2 weeks period,...). Also with flowers, you can have 10X what you could buy in the store. Also, certain flowers can last a long time with repeated cuttings (Tithonia, Cosmos). I probably lose on my tomatoes and beans. However, it is difficult if not impossible to find "shelly beans" in the store or fresh fava beans. The real benefit to me is the exercise and pleasure I get in being outside and eating what I've grown. My family doesn't think my carrots taste as good as what is in the supermarket. However, my tomatoes, corn, potatoes, collards, herbs are all better! C...
by bhough
Wed Apr 13, 2022 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why IBond not replace equity
Replies: 11
Views: 1978

Re: Why IBond not replace equity

Let's reframe your question. I don't think it should be "should I sell my after tax equities to buy I bonds this year?" It should be: "For each additional dollar I have to invest this year, what is the optimal stock/bond ratio for me." If one only buys an asset when it is doing well, you will be chasing your tail and will likely obtain lower than average returns for that asset. You can overcompensate and only buy assets that have been beaten up which is what value investors do. That makes more sense to me than buying the mutual fund that had a "22% returns last year". However, the approach recommended on this website is to pick an asset allocation that you can live with (sleep with) and then execute. I would hu...
by bhough
Fri Apr 08, 2022 6:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 529 Keeps losing money- better way to set aside funds for college?
Replies: 25
Views: 4764

Re: 529 Keeps losing money- better way to set aside funds for college?

Have you thought about funding a treasury direct account for him with 10k in I bonds each year? Currently guaranteed 7.12% return.
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by bhough
Sat Mar 26, 2022 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Domain name registrar with lowest renewal fees?
Replies: 21
Views: 2166

Re: Domain name registrar with lowest renewal fees?

bluebolt wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 5:00 am
bhough wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:32 pm Google domains is the best out there. And I’m not a Google, MSFT or Apple fan. I’ve tried several domain providers and Google is at least twice as good as the next best.
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Can you elaborate in what ways Google is better/others are worse?
1. Ease of use--Their website is less klunky.
2. They explain some of the particulars better.
3. Page loads faster.
4. When I made changes, the seemed to occur faster.

Just my 2 cents.
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by bhough
Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Domain name registrar with lowest renewal fees?
Replies: 21
Views: 2166

Re: Domain name registrar with lowest renewal fees?

Google domains is the best out there. And I’m not a Google, MSFT or Apple fan. I’ve tried several domain providers and Google is at least twice as good as the next best.
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by bhough
Sun Mar 20, 2022 4:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: ilex crenata vs cherry laurel hedge
Replies: 8
Views: 978

Re: ilex crenata vs cherry laurel hedge

I live near your zone and I put in a skip laurel hedge. It looks great, low maintenance. In my opinion, much nicer looking than ilex hedge, also taller. If are you are putting one in, I'd recommend spacing at every 3 feet to make sure it is dense enough. I give mine 10/10/10 a few times/year and we love it.
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by bhough
Tue Mar 01, 2022 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to invest in long term japanese government bonds?
Replies: 9
Views: 1378

Re: How to invest in long term japanese government bonds?

Dear Friend, Israel sells bonds directly to US residents. Their rates are higher than US nominals, but I suppose the risk is higher too. I've bought a few of the Mazeltov bonds to experiment. Be careful though, because you will owe tax on the interest income even though you won't receive it until the term is up. Would make sure you max out I bonds before looking at these: https://www.israelbonds.com/Home.aspx Also, on Fidelity, one can buy Mexican, Turkish, Tanzanian, and South African bonds on the secondary market. Sometimes you are limited by the lots (minimum lot for South African bond I saw recently was 100, or $100,000). These are riskier, but have higher rates. The ones I've seen are denominated in US dollars which is good if you are ...
by bhough
Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternative to quickbooks, excel?
Replies: 10
Views: 1089

Re: Alternative to quickbooks, excel?

MySQL with php using home intranet. Free and infinitely customizable.
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by bhough
Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your hobbies?
Replies: 561
Views: 17367

Re: Hobbies for Boglehead Types?

Gardening. Plow up your front yard and grow some corn and annuals. For extra credit, plant flowering perennials. For extra credit, grow several different types of each vegetable. Compost the waste. Give collards to your neighbors. Make a blueberry hedge. Grow some roses for your loved ones. Sow a long row of basil and make pesto for your family. The possibilities are endless and vary with the season. Being outside increases your mood, improves your health and brings your good things to eat and flowers for the table!!
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by bhough
Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are your hobbies?
Replies: 561
Views: 17367

Re: Please find me a hobby to spend the weekend

1. Gardening with the seasons. Should be putting in your peas now. Potatoes and onions soon. Check out Monte Don on Gardener's World on Britbox. 2. Cooking. How about making a meal for your family each night to include an appetizer, main course, bread course and healthy dessert. Do this for 14 nights in a row without repeating yourself. Not easy. Next step--do it vegetarian. Next step--do it from one cuisine (ie Italian only). 3. Catching up on your philosophy/History? 4. Creating an ideal day for yourself balancing exercise, work, spiritual devotion, cooking, music, and creating a loving environment for your family. Now repeat and improve with each repetition. Make this a competitive game with yourself. Yesterday you did too much music and...
by bhough
Wed Feb 09, 2022 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How difficult is it to get a job in Tech if you are "older"?
Replies: 405
Views: 38663

Re: How difficult is it to get a job in Tech if you are "older"?

OP sent his resume to two companies, they didn't call back, therefore it's agesim? that's a cop-out. Work a little harder. Are you sure your resume is good? have you tailored it specifically for the jobs you're looking at? Have your researched the hiring managers on LinkedIn and tried to connect with them? 25 years' experience at one company doesn't mean you have any experience. If you applied online it's likely they get 10-20 resumes a day, and they use algorithms to sort them. sometimes it takes months for companies to call you back. you should send out a lot more resumes. a couple of options 1. find a good recruiter that will help you work on your resume 2. ask internally if you might be able to make a lateral move within your business ...
by bhough
Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Minimalists on here?
Replies: 345
Views: 43742

Re: Any Minimalists on here?

stoptothink wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2013 1:05 pm
Default User BR wrote:I don't think many minimalists would be using a computer and internet connection to post on a web forum.


Brian
I get it for free, in the room that I rent for about 5% of my income. Never owned a TV or even a bed (or any furniture); all my possessions fit easily in my subcompact car (that I almost never drive). In modern terms, I think most people would consider me a minimalist despite my computer and internet.
If there is a club, you are in it. (if not the unappointed leader!). Respect.
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by bhough
Mon Jan 24, 2022 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What % down to put on a house
Replies: 41
Views: 5066

Re: What % down to put on a house

As close to 20% as you can and still get the house. Please note that if you put 19% down with the idea that you'll pay it off in the next year, some lenders require you to jump through crazy hoops to take off the PMI, even after you hit 20%--like paying for another appraisal/etc. They are going to jerk you arou nd if you put less than 20% down, just be aware of that. Find the money to avoid PMI.
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by bhough
Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping Divorced Mom Manage Finances
Replies: 35
Views: 4018

Re: Helping Divorced Mom Manage Finances

Thanks for helping your Mom. Fortunately, she is in a good situation. However, she needs someone to tell her no about a few things. Here is what I think I understand: 1. 530,000 in cash 2. 600,000 + 130,000 + 1,730,000 = $2,460,000 in pre-tax 3. Paid off house worth $250,000 4. 610,000 from cash from parents invested in funds in a brokerage account. What I would tell my mother if she were in this situation: 1. You have too much cash, calculate your monthly spend (averaged over the last 6 months) and keep 3 months of this in your checking account. The rest goes into investments (see below). 2. Please do a Roth conversion on your pre-tax accounts up to a taxable income of $86,375/year. This puts her top marginal rate at only 22%. If she is li...
by bhough
Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Park tiny amount for teens??
Replies: 13
Views: 1106

Re: Park tiny amount for teens??

duplicate
by bhough
Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Park tiny amount for teens??
Replies: 13
Views: 1106

Re: Park tiny amount for teens??

I've put a little money for my kids in treasury direct I bonds, but also in a custodial account with vanguard. I feel the same pinch--don't want them to see a loss, but also want to grow their money. In both accounts, they can legally withdraw and spend on frivolous/dangerous things at age 18, so I'm only putting in a small amount, mainly to show them monthly statement and how things can grow/not grow/drop as compared to their savings accounts.
by bhough
Wed Jan 05, 2022 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do any of you use webmail exclusively?
Replies: 63
Views: 6005

Re: Do any of you use webmail exclusively?

The fact remains that Google examines the CONTENTS of every email you send and receive, not just the headers or a tracking ID. This isn't just a theoretical possibility (as it is for any email provider unless you use encryption). It is something that Google clearly states that they do. Some of the applications of this may be useful to many people (including, often, myself, and apparently yourself). What else they may do with it, now or in the future, other than their promise not to show ads based on it, is unknown outside of Google. These are facts, not fearmongering. Whether or not you are concerned about Google reading all of your mail is a personal decision. I personally accept it for the convenience for MOST of my email exchanges, but ...
by bhough
Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help! My dad was just charged 20K for buying TIPs on Treasury Direct in December
Replies: 65
Views: 8827

Re: Help! My dad was just charged 20K for buying TIPs on Treasury Direct in December

Great post and replies. OP--I have to admit that exactly like you and your Dad, I thought I had understood the whole process before I purchased TIPS and nominal treasuries from treasury direct (and Fidelity). So I bought $100 each of several durations of TIPS and nominal treasuries. And what I learned is that on both TreasuryDirect and on brokerage accounts that let you do it, you are participating as a non-competitive bidder. The treasury allows you to get the best rate that the big firms get. It is an auction, but instead of bidding higher prices for a painting at Sotheby's, large institutional competitive investors are bidding down the interest rate (or up the price). So, you get what they get. The auctions are listed on TreasuryDirect's...
by bhough
Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I add bonds? And if so, how much and which of these funds?
Replies: 86
Views: 6620

Re: Should I add bonds? And if so, how much and which of these funds?

Lots of good advice above from smart people. Didn't read all of the replies. However, if you are funding any bonds after tax, the first $10,000 for each adult show go in I-bonds.

Just my two cents.
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by bhough
Mon Nov 01, 2021 3:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Bonds Mega Thread (I Bond Heads Rejoice!)
Replies: 6658
Views: 1239537

Re: iBonds @ 7.12%

Buying $20,000 now and $20,000 in January would get you the following interest for the next 6 months
November: $20,000 X .07/12 = $116.66
December: $20,000 X .07/12 = $116.66
January: $40,000 X 0.07/12 = $233.33
February: $40,000 X 0.07/12 = $233.33
March: $40,000 X .07/12 = $233.33
April: $40,000 X .07/12 = $233.33

Total interest: $1,165 for 5 minutes on treasurydirect. No bid/ask spread. No transaction costs, guaranteed return, no risk. If you disagree, please offer me better alternatives (at least for that part of your after tax portfolio that is allocated to bonds).

It's worth it.

If you disagree, please offer me better alternatives (at least for that part of your after tax portfolio that is allocated to bonds).

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