Search found 1838 matches

by flamesabers
Mon Sep 25, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does Threatening to Quit Work
Replies: 113
Views: 13070

Re: Does Threatening to Quit Work

I recently asked for a raise since I am in the lower end of the pay band. I was turned down because raises only come once a year. How do you feel about your last raise? I know we all want a bigger raise than what we get, but objectively do you think you are being given reasonable raises? (i.e. if you had a co-worker or acquaintance in the same position as you, do you think they would have a legitimate reason to complain about not getting a bigger raise?) I have been denied every request to do extra work, rewrite specs, take on projects, learn new appropriate skills, grad courses. My assumption is because of my age, they’d rather give the money to the young. Have you asked why you aren't being given extra work? There could always be factors...
by flamesabers
Fri Sep 22, 2023 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Emergency Fund
Replies: 32
Views: 4407

Re: Emergency Fund

I think it depends on a number of factors like: 1. How quickly would you be able to find a new job at a comparable income to your current job if you suddenly became unemployed? 2. Do you financially support any dependents? 3. Would you be willing to drastically lower your standards of living if you had a significant drop in income? 4. Do you own a house, pay a mortgage or rent? 5. How much job security do you have? (Also, do you enjoy your job or do you hate it so much you would like to quit at the drop of a hat sometimes?) Six months is a good minimum standard to follow I think. However, depending on your circumstances and preferences, 12 months might be more sensible. Ultimately I see emergency funds as a balancing act. It's never good to...
by flamesabers
Fri Sep 22, 2023 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why Not a Bank CD Instead of a Bond Fund?
Replies: 206
Views: 16962

Re: Why Not a Bank CD Instead of a Bond Fund?

I think something to keep in mind is investing isn't just a numbers game, but also dependent on a person's preferences and priorities. Constantly chasing the best rates for short-term gains can take a bit of work, especially if you have a number of CDs maturing at different times and with different banks. The same goes for reporting their interest at tax time. Also, if one bank is offering the best rates one year, and another bank is offering the best rates the next, that's more work to deal with moving the money around during the very limited rollover period. For some, I'm sure the higher (and possibly temporary) interest rate is worth the effort, but others might just prefer keeping all of their investments consolidated with a single comp...
by flamesabers
Wed Sep 06, 2023 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Found old EE savings bonds
Replies: 20
Views: 2131

Re: Found old EE savings bonds

Harmanic wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 10:45 am Don't you have to pay the tax on the year they mature? For the 1991 bonds, that would have been 2021.
On the Treasury Direct website, it states:
Must I pay tax on what the bond earns?

Federal income tax: Yes

State and local income tax: No

Federal estate, gift, and excise taxes; state estate or inheritance taxes: Yes

You choose whether to report each year's earnings or wait to report all the earnings when you get the money for the bond.
https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/ee-bonds/
by flamesabers
Wed Sep 06, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”
Replies: 50
Views: 4598

Re: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”

evelynmanley wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 8:47 amI've set up checkwriting with my Vanguard settlement fund VMFXX so that I can write a check in an emergency. I've stipulated that if funds are not available there, then money should be withdrawn from the Vanguard Money Market Fund VUSXX as an alternative. I find great comfort knowing I can write checks from there if I really needed to. I think the check has to be a minimum of $250.
I had checkwriting with one of my Vanguard funds a while ago. The minimum amount of $250 sounds right. (It was stated on the checks itself IIRC).
by flamesabers
Wed Sep 06, 2023 4:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”
Replies: 50
Views: 4598

Re: Alternatives to Chase traditional savings accounts for “Emergency Funds”

jebmke wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 10:27 am Money market funds at brokers like Vanguard, Schwab and Fidelity are good options.
+1.

I keep my emergency funds in Vanguard's municipal money market fund.
by flamesabers
Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Re: Portable device for watching Netflix?

I have never tried it but you might want to check to see if Netflix will let you stream when you are outside the US if you will be doing international travel. I don't foresee doing any international travel for this job. Thank you for the information. Do you remember the storage capacity of the amazon tablets you bought? I see the Fire 10 can have internal storage of 32 GB or 64 GB (the latter would only add $10 to total price). It was an older model with around 8 Gb of memory. Note that 32 Gb is not a lot of storage. Get at least 64 Gb. Yeah, I'll definitely get the 64 GB tablet. There appears to be a second Amazon Prime Day in October, I bet Fire Tablets will be on sale again. That's good to hear! I have been very happy with vast King And...
by flamesabers
Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Re: Portable device for watching Netflix?

gavinsiu wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:42 pm Based on what you said, an Amazon tablet will work. The only caveat is the storage. I had pucrhased amazon tablets for my kids. While the tablet did allowed me to add sdcard, I couldn't use it for app storage, so I couldn't load too many cards. Netflix also do not allow me to save movies to the sdcard. If you don't plan to download a lot of video and don't plan to install a lot of apps, then Amazon is ok.
Thank you for the information.

Do you remember the storage capacity of the amazon tablets you bought? I see the Fire 10 can have internal storage of 32 GB or 64 GB (the latter would only add $10 to total price).
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Re: Portable device for watching Netflix?

It depends what how you use it. If you are just playing netflix, you don't need something with high power, and I think even Amazon store has netflix app. Yes, Amazon store does have netflix. Do you plan to use headphones? If not, then you need to find something with decent sound, so a more expensive Apple ipad device or Samsung. If you plan to use headphones, then it's not that much of an issue. I do have headphones, and normally would take a wireless headset when I travel. What about the size of the screen? Tablet comes in 7" to 22" monsters. As for screen quality the low end ipads are not great but serviceable, the next level up like ipad air has a better screen. Something in the range of 10 inch screen size I think would be th...
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Re: Portable device for watching Netflix?

As for the work laptop, streaming websites are blocked. Are they blocked by your laptop security policy or by the network when you are at work and connected to the corporate network (or VPN)? Website blocks are usually at network/DNS level. They don't want everyone using up the internal bandwidth watching movies at their desk when they are supposed to be working, but likely don't care that you stream Netflix from a hotel on the road on your own time. As far as I know, it's a laptop security policy. The websites are blocked regardless of which wifi I'm using. As for the work laptop, streaming websites are blocked. Are they blocked by your laptop security policy or by the network when you are at work and connected to the corporate network (o...
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Re: Portable device for watching Netflix?

I use an Amazon Fire tablet when traveling. I only use it for streaming downloads and reading Kindle books. It works well for that purpose. Sounds great! Thank you for the input. I use an Apple iPad Mini, but they are not exactly inexpensive. They work great for streaming Netflix though and very reliable. Yeah, cost is a major deterrent for me. Decent Chromebooks for your purposes are available for under $200. Thank you, I'll be on the lookout for them Can you just use one of the two devices you’ll already have with you? That is, your work laptop or your cell phone? Hello, I'm looking to buy for a device to watch Netflix on when I'm away from home for official travel. Biggest considerations are nothing too big or bulky ( I'll already be ca...
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Portable device for watching Netflix?
Replies: 99
Views: 7184

Portable device for watching Netflix?

Hello, I'm looking to buy for a device to watch Netflix on when I'm away from home for official travel. Biggest considerations are nothing too big or bulky (I'll already be carrying a work laptop in my backpack) and something economical in terms of price. My immediate thought was a tablet, perhaps the Amazon Fire 10 tablet? It's currently priced at $120, which is around how much I would like to spend on a tablet. For me, seems like the biggest drawback to an Amazon device is not having access to the Google Play Store (in the event I want to use apps on this device that aren't included on the Amazon App store). I think other alternatives might be an android tablet or even a chromebook (depending on its physical dimensions and ability to stre...
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a Home: Mortgage or Cash?
Replies: 17
Views: 2072

Re: Buying a Home: Mortgage or Cash?

I think at some point it comes down to balancing your desire to be debt free versus feeling uncomfortable spending a significant amount of money all at one time. My personal guidelines is if I still have at least 1 year's worth of emergency funds afterwards, I'm much more likely to prioritize being debt free. If I did take on debt, I would restructure my financial priorities to pay off the debt as quickly as possible while still maintaining enough cash in reserve to cover any unforeseeable emergencies.

If you do pay for the house 100% in cash, have you considered the tax liabilities of liquidating your taxable investment accounts?
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What else can I Do?
Replies: 19
Views: 3474

Re: What else can I Do?

tman9940 wrote: Wed Aug 23, 2023 5:26 am
flamesabers wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:22 pm What exactly are your financial goals? (short-term and/or long-term)
Would like to retire asap and travel. But I also want to buy a house or condo in the coming years. I have around 550k saved up total…investments and savings.
Once you buy a house or condo, do you anticipate your financial goals as shifting? (i.e. building up your savings again for retirement and/or traveling?).

Do you have any considerations for other tax-advantaged accounts? If so, savings bonds might be suitable for you since you can hold them for up to 30 years. Depending on your plans, you could cash them out when you're retired and pay the taxes on the interest when you're in a lower tax bracket.
by flamesabers
Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:22 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What else can I Do?
Replies: 19
Views: 3474

Re: What else can I Do?

What exactly are your financial goals? (short-term and/or long-term)
by flamesabers
Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best No Fee Grocery credit card
Replies: 57
Views: 6350

Re: Best No Fee Grocery credit card

Not a year-long arrangement, but both Discover IT & Chase Freedom Flex have rotating 5% cashback quarterly categories for purchases up to $1,500 per quarter at grocery stores.
anagram wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 9:02 pm
Outafter20 wrote: Wed Aug 16, 2023 6:37 pm I have been using the Capital One Savor card for groceries and eating out for the last 2.5 years. Unlimited 3% cashback with no hassles whatsoever.
How do you redeem the cash if you don't bank with Capital One?
I have the Capital One Quicksilver card. For the cashback I earn, I simply redeem it as a credit to my balance.
by flamesabers
Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Exceeding Roth IRA Income Limit
Replies: 5
Views: 1309

Re: Exceeding Roth IRA Income Limit

Do you have access to any accounts you can contribute to (or increase your contributions) (i.e. 401k, HSA, etc.)?

There's also the backdoor IRA Roth option:

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Backdoor_Roth
by flamesabers
Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 3 checking & 3 savings accounts across 4 institutions...too much?
Replies: 13
Views: 1710

Re: 3 checking & 3 savings accounts across 4 institutions...too much?

I think it's a personal preference as to how many accounts are excessive or not. Typically the reasons to have multiple accounts I think is if each account confers some unique benefit that the others don't (i.e. free checks, higher interest rate, brick and mortar branches, ATM rebate, gain access to special cashback rewards card, etc.) or if the total sum of your money in a single account would exceed the insured limit. A disadvantage of having this many accounts is running the risk of getting hit with inactivity/closure fees (presuming you don't have automated transactions going through every one of these accounts). Another downside is having more statements/logins/taxable interest statements to keep track of. If there's little to no reaso...
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 28377

Re: What motivated you to save money?

kleiner wrote: Wed Aug 16, 2023 8:09 am
secondopinion wrote: Mon Aug 14, 2023 9:28 am I only spend so much. Therefore, I save the excess.
I looked through all the answers to the original question and this comes closest to my situation. My wife and I have had a good salaries and spent only a part of it. So we saved and invested the rest. I had no precise idea what I was saving for except (in an abstract sense) kids college and retirement. Many years later, when I was feeling burnt out from work, that money enabled me to retire early.
I can also relate to this a bit. While there are reasons for me to save money, I also never had the mindset that just because I have money I could spend mean I should spend it immediately.
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:02 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What motivated you to save money?
Replies: 232
Views: 28377

Re: What motivated you to save money?

Two things come to mind:

1. Not having to endure the stress of living paycheck to paycheck.

2. Having the goal of achieving financial independence.

The way I see it, life has enough stressors as it is. If living below my means eliminates (or at least severely mitigates) financial stressors, that's a worthwhile trade-off for me.
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:07 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Cashing out taxable account to become debt free
Replies: 11
Views: 1510

Re: Cashing out taxable account to become debt free

Is this your only taxable account?

Do you have enough easily accessible cash elsewhere to cover any significant financial hardship for the foreseeable future (i.e. losing your job, having a major health/home/auto expense, etc.)?

As a personal preference, I typically would rather pay off debt than allocate money towards a taxable account. If you don't mind me asking, was there something that changed for you to want to cash out a significant amount to pay off your debts? (presuming you have spent a sizeable amount of time accumulating money in this taxable account you are considering to cash out).
by flamesabers
Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How is American Express better than a 2% cashback Visa/Mastercard ?
Replies: 80
Views: 10231

Re: How is American Express better than a 2% cashback Visa/Mastercard ?

As others have said, I think it really depends on what type of Amex card you get. The one I have through USAA offers 5% cashback on gas station purchases.
by flamesabers
Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is this offer worth to get paid $300? Credit Card/Bank Churn Offers?
Replies: 54
Views: 4897

Re: Is this offer worth to get paid $300? Credit Card/Bank Churn Offers?

I've always preferred credit card rewards over bank account rewards: 1. You don't have to invest your own money to get the reward. 2. The bonus is not taxed. 3. You don't have to worry about getting charged inactivity/closure fees for non-usage after you get the bonus. 4. After you get the bonus, the credit card might still have features that are beneficial for your needs. In contrast, unless you really need another checking account, the standard minimal/zero interest paying checking accounts are so useless that they're available in extreme abundance. As to whether chasing bonuses in general are worth it, that's a personal preference. For some, filling out the paperwork and keeping track of an additional account is well-worth the reward. Fo...
by flamesabers
Sun Jul 23, 2023 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit card rewards vs hassle factor
Replies: 149
Views: 16103

Re: Credit card rewards vs hassle factor

For recurring, monthly charges, I put everything (that doesn't charge an extra fee for credit card payment) on autopay on my 2% Wells Fargo card. For routine purchases, it's a matter of remembering if the store in question qualifies for the quarterly category for my Discover or Chase Freedom Flex card. If it doesn't, I just use my Wells Fargo card. I have other cards that have year-long benefits, like 5% at gas stations for my USAA Amex card. Chase Freedom Flex has 3% for dining and pharmacies. In the grand scheme of things, I don't worry much if I forget to use a particular card for a purchase one day. It's not going to break my retirement. However, the cumulative, long-term benefits of using a variety of cards to my advantage might help t...
by flamesabers
Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Staying in cash?
Replies: 6
Views: 1027

Re: Staying in cash?

I have a fairly large cash position (70% stocks-10% bonds-20% cash, more or less) and have been putting off investing in bonds given the low interest rates (since they now seem to offer interest rate risk without much reward, and fell during the recent bear market, though not nearly as much as stocks). Does this make sense? What am I missing? I think it depends on what your ideal investment allocation is. If your current setup meets both your high/low expectations (being able to meet your financial goals but not so risky that you panic and sell impulsively when the market takes a turn for the worse) you're not really missing out on anything. Nobody knows for certain when is the ideal time to invest in bonds or any other asset. If you think...
by flamesabers
Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I get a debit card???
Replies: 58
Views: 4271

Re: Should I get a debit card???

Hello OP,

I agree with the others who suggest using a secondary checking account for your Verizon payments.

However, perhaps it would be best if you also start looking for a different company in preparation of the day when/if you had enough of dealing with Verizon?
by flamesabers
Fri Nov 27, 2020 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gifts for adults children at Xmas
Replies: 39
Views: 3712

Re: Gifts for adults children at Xmas

retire14 wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:03 amWhat do you think? What’s the best way to do this? Send them cash? They are all very responsible and trust worthy.
Do your adult children already have investment accounts setup? If so, check with the appropriate institution(s) to see if you can mail a check to their investment account on their behalf. If that's not a practical option, you could write a check directly to your adult children and have them invest it.

I'm not a fan of gifting cash over an amount I would typically withdraw from an ATM. Cash can be stolen, lost or damaged. I would much rather use a check or some other traceable means of exchanging money in this sort of situation.
by flamesabers
Tue Oct 27, 2020 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Car loan or cash
Replies: 29
Views: 3746

Re: Car loan or cash

If I were you I would pay for the car in cash. Why pay money on interest expense when it's completely avoidable? Also, you may be more inclined to get a lower-priced vehicle when you're paying in cash versus financing.
by flamesabers
Sat Oct 24, 2020 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Affordable photo storage options for older, frugal, and non-tech-savvy people
Replies: 39
Views: 3394

Re: Affordable photo storage options for older, frugal, and non-tech-savvy people

How much space does your grandparents need for their photos? Would upgrading to a larger SD card be a reasonable alternative? Or maybe backing the photos up to an external hard drive every now and than would be a good possibility?
by flamesabers
Sat Oct 24, 2020 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How can I cultivate my love of saving money?
Replies: 50
Views: 5393

Re: How can I cultivate my love of saving money?

In short, how do I add some austerity to my life while having a fun, enjoyable, happy life? I don't think my parent's extreme thriftyness was good but also my free-willing-ness with spending is not good either. I need a happy middle, a Goldilocks zone. Any advice? Any recommendations so that I can get a framework for saving and spending? My advice would be to set concrete, reachable financial goals while also giving yourself permission to spend some money on the enjoyable things in your life. Saving money is always a good habit to have, but it may be a bit difficult if you start to have doubts about why you're saving and almost never spending. If you haven't already, I suggest you make two lists, one for your financial goals, another on wh...
by flamesabers
Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Adding minor as an authorized credit card user
Replies: 31
Views: 2559

Re: Adding minor as an authorized credit card user

OP, I would recommend checking with the credit card company to see if the card would show up on an AU's (authorized user) credit history. My father added me as an AU to one of his credit cards when I was a minor and the card never showed up on my credit history. However, the reason why he made me an AU wasn't so much to improve my credit score but rather because he was away from home a lot and he wanted me to be able to pay for bills and such in his absence just in case the need arose. I agree with the others about it not being particularly advantageous to start building credit at such a young age. It's not as though young adults are locked out of the credit card market unless they have a long history of being an AU. There are credit cards ...
by flamesabers
Mon Jul 13, 2020 12:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Were You Around During Dotcom Bubble?
Replies: 266
Views: 26981

Re: Were You Around During Dotcom Bubble?

I was around during the Dotcom Bubble but I was too young to hold investments.
by flamesabers
Thu May 14, 2020 10:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Which one is better EM bonds or EM equities or both?
Replies: 41
Views: 2624

Re: Which one is better EM bonds or EM equities or both?

Which one is better for emerging markets allocation EM bonds or EM equities? Since EM bonds behave like equities I think this is a fair question. I don't think it makes sense to try to treat bonds as stocks and vice versa. There's no need to try to reinvent the wheel with emerging markets. I think bonds and stocks should be treated as distinctly different asset classes to invest in. If you want to diversify your stocks more and you can tolerate the risks of EM equities, I think it makes sense to put some of your money in such an investment. After all, EM equities may help to improve the growth of your portfolio. I think the purpose of bonds is to provide stability for your portfolio during economic downturns. I think it makes sense to inve...
by flamesabers
Thu May 14, 2020 10:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why GAAP and non GAAP?
Replies: 24
Views: 1982

Re: Why GAAP and non GAAP?

Valuethinker wrote: Wed May 13, 2020 10:06 am US GAAP is a standard. The alternative (used by almost every other country) is International Financial Reporting Standard. IFRS, arguably, is looser than US GAAP (to accommodate all the different national practice)
I would like to add to this by saying US GAAP is rule-based while IFRS is principle-based. In a technical sense I would agree IFRS isn't as rigid with accounting standards as US GAAP, however, I wouldn't characterize that as a weakness so much as a different approach for developing the ideal accounting system.
by flamesabers
Thu May 07, 2020 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Unemployment while still working
Replies: 2
Views: 565

Re: Unemployment while still working

I think you should check with your state's unemployment office to see if you're eligible for unemployment benefits.
by flamesabers
Thu May 07, 2020 8:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Easy $200 from Penfed?
Replies: 52
Views: 6325

Re: Easy $200 from Penfed?

I don’t do debit cards. If that’s the only thing keeping you away, I’d really reconsider. You can usually make the debit car purchases very easily. Go to Amazon or pay a bill with a bunch of small charges. It takes less than 5 minutes and you’re done. You only do this once. It’s an easy $200 minus taxes. If you’re in a high tax bracket, it may not be worth your while. First, you already would have a high income so $200 would be like pocket change. Secondly, that pocket change would be taxed at a relatively high rate. If you’re in a low tax bracket, the opposite scenario occurs: $200 is a decent sum and you get to keep almost all of it. I'm also in the "don't do debit cards" crowd, but that isn't my only reason for not chasing ban...
by flamesabers
Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Leaning towards EE Bond Purchase...
Replies: 36
Views: 2746

Re: Leaning towards EE Bond Purchase...

I know a lot of BHs aren't big fans of the EE bonds (though some are)....am thinking of buying between $5k-$7.5k soon. This would come out of my 18+ month EF. It seems like an extra bit of diversification in case rates stay low for 20 years and stocks don't recover very well from the coronavirus. Is there a better option to allocate $5k towards? With EE bonds I think it's best to focus on the certainties (deferred tax on interest and 20 year maturity date) instead of the unknown of how EE bonds will perform against stocks and other bonds in the future. If you want to expand the amount of your portfolio in tax-advantage investments, I think EE bonds are a worthwhile consideration. If say you're about 20 years from retirement, are currently ...
by flamesabers
Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Google sheets vs Excel; end of life Office 2010
Replies: 37
Views: 3338

Re: Google sheets vs Excel; end of life Office 2010

I'm wary of exclusively using online based office software. I understand you can save files offline, but what happens when you're working on an important file and you suddenly lose your Internet connection? This isn't a problem if you regain connection within several minutes, but this may be a major problem if you can't reconnect for several hours or longer. There's also the risk of Google/Microsoft temporary (or permanently) suspending access to your account. I think finding out if you're eligible for the Office 365 discount I was talking about is as simple as entering your work email address in the page linked to below. Note that any person in the household can take out a subscription that covers the whole household. I got the same type o...
by flamesabers
Mon Feb 17, 2020 1:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Karma Tax - free and recommended (issues from prior years resolved)
Replies: 15
Views: 1772

Re: Credit Karma Tax - free and recommended (issues from prior years resolved)

SciurusVulgaris wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:09 am I tried, but lack of Form 1116 support for foreign tax over $300 (single filer) makes it a non-starter.
Same here. I was having a different issue with H&R Block, so I switched over to Turbo Tax for this year.
by flamesabers
Wed Feb 05, 2020 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Approval Issues
Replies: 11
Views: 1750

Re: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Approval Issues

I never applied for a Chase card, but I would recommend calling them now instead of reapplying (and risk getting hit with an unnecessary hard inquiry on your credit report). There may be a glitch in the automated system and it may take a manual review for your application to get "unstuck."
by flamesabers
Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you drive without a spare tire?
Replies: 193
Views: 14863

Re: Would you drive without a spare tire?

I think it depends on the circumstances. For driving around my hometown, I wouldn't consider it a major issue since I could always call someone for help. However, when driving in remote areas and/or going on long trips, I would prefer to have a spare tire. You never know when you might get a flat tire in a area that has horrible cellphone reception!
by flamesabers
Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is volunteering worth the hassle?
Replies: 98
Views: 9941

Re: Is volunteering worth the hassle?

I think volunteering is worth the hassle if you can find a cause you're passionate about and the organization is operated at least somewhat decently. If you have a family member or friend you can volunteer with, I think that will make the volunteer experience all the more pleasant.

However, if you're volunteering just to follow the crowd, I think it's less likely it will be a pleasant experience for you.
by flamesabers
Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard lower tax funds?
Replies: 7
Views: 909

Re: Vanguard lower tax funds?

I think what you put in your taxable accounts depends in part what you're investing in your tax-advantage accounts. For instance, if you're investing in a lot of bonds in your IRA and 401k, you may want to invest more in equities for your taxable account to keep your overall portfolio balanced.
by flamesabers
Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is total world bond safer than US treasuries?
Replies: 140
Views: 10339

Re: Is total world bond safer than US treasuries?

Seems like general consensus is that US treasuries are safer than bonds. But wouldn't total world bond be safer than US treasuries? I mean you are diversifying bonds among different countries. If you're making the argument that international bonds are a safer investment then US treasuries, couldn't a similar argument be made for keeping foreign currency in foreign banks for diversity sake? After all, US treasuries and the FDIC are both backed by the federal government. I'll never understand why, when they see the word "risk" in relation to bonds, so many people jump to extreme unlikely events like the kind where FDIC insurance matters. The main risk of bonds is that they go up and down in price when interest rates change, and tha...
by flamesabers
Tue Dec 31, 2019 4:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is total world bond safer than US treasuries?
Replies: 140
Views: 10339

Re: Is total world bond safer than US treasuries?

Blue456 wrote: Thu Dec 26, 2019 8:27 pm Seems like general consensus is that US treasuries are safer than bonds. But wouldn't total world bond be safer than US treasuries? I mean you are diversifying bonds among different countries.
If you're making the argument that international bonds are a safer investment then US treasuries, couldn't a similar argument be made for keeping foreign currency in foreign banks for diversity sake? After all, US treasuries and the FDIC are both backed by the federal government.

Also, if the answer to your question is true, it doesn't answer how much safer international bonds are or whether they're always (versus sometimes) safer then US treasuries.
by flamesabers
Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Vanguard checking -- Use it or lose it
Replies: 76
Views: 7961

Re: Vanguard checking -- Use it or lose it

OP,

I also got a similiar email from Vanguard about my checkwriting. If I remember correctly, Vanguard also mailed a letter to me with the exact same information. While I can sympathize with your situation, at the same time I can understand the rationale of automatically closing unused financial services after 3+ years of inactivity. Imagine if your Vanguard checkbook was stolen (and you didn't notice it missing because you rarely use it), the thief cashed out several thousand of dollars or more, and you didn't find out about it until several weeks later.
by flamesabers
Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: BofA credit card compromised, but they won't say how
Replies: 15
Views: 10402

Re: BofA credit card compromised, but they won't say how

RickBoglehead wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 6:44 pm No card company tells you. Standard practice.
I agree. I had the same issue with a USAA credit card in the last month or two. I only got a notification that one of my credit cards was suspected of being compromised and a replacement will be sent in the mail.
by flamesabers
Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Provider choosing to bill as out of network
Replies: 43
Views: 4665

Re: Provider choosing to bill as out of network

This sounds a bit suspicious. Without knowing the precise details of your plan, it's impossible to know exactly why your provider is trying to do this.

My recommendation is to contact your insurance company immediately. There could potentially be a bit of delay with getting your claims paid due to the mismatch of the hospital billing as out-of-network despite being in-network with your insurance.
by flamesabers
Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is it time to sell I-Bonds?
Replies: 18
Views: 2448

Re: Is it time to sell I-Bonds?

How long have you had these I-Bonds? If it's under 5 years, you may want to keep them for at least 5 years to avoid the 3-month interest penalty.

If the money market rate fell below what you're earning with I-Bonds, would you be more inclined to keep your money with the I-Bonds?
by flamesabers
Wed Aug 07, 2019 10:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon -- no longer the lowest prices, evidently
Replies: 120
Views: 16040

Re: Amazon -- no longer the lowest prices, evidently

catdude wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2019 4:34 pmIs it just grocery items where Amazon is way over-priced? Or does it extend to other categories?
I think it extends to other categories. I don't shop on Amazon nowhere near as often as I did years ago. Unless I'm looking for a product I can't find elsewhere, Amazon probably won't be the best price for me.