Search found 536 matches

by djmbob
Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TRICARE/Medicare
Replies: 8
Views: 981

Re: TRICARE/Medicare

Yes, I agree Medicare A&B and TFL are the ultimate. Only pay Medicare premiums. Express Scripts you get 90 day supply for $13 (in 2024).

You should also sign up with the VA. You will get rated on disabilities and even receive compensation. They provide free medical care (I only use them for basic stuff, not bigger problems). They provide free Rx and mail ordering is easy thru MyHealthyVet. Free optical, free glasses (if you like basic style), free dental (if you have a rated dental issue like TMJ).

Thank you for your service.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:04 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TRICARE/Medicare
Replies: 8
Views: 981

Re: TRICARE/Medicare

Yes, I agree Medicare A&B and TFL are the ultimate. Only pay Medicare premiums. Express Scripts you get 90 day supply for $13 (in 2024).

You should also sign up with the VA. You will get rated on disabilities and even receive compensation. They provide free medical care (I only use them for basic stuff, not bigger problems). They provide free Rx and mail ordering is easy thru MyHealthyVet. Free optical, free glasses (if you like basic style), free dental (if you have a rated dental issue like TMJ).

Thank you for your service.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds
Replies: 43
Views: 5030

Re: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds

We filed on 1 Feb, we received our OK State refund within about 5 days, but when checking our "where's my refund" it still says only "reveived."
Ray
by djmbob
Wed Feb 14, 2024 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone know of a good fixed hourly rate Financial Advisor?
Replies: 15
Views: 1521

Re: Anyone know of a good fixed hourly rate Financial Advisor?

+1 for Planvision and Mark Zoril!!!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:41 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Ashwath Damodaran on the S&P 500
Replies: 15
Views: 3519

Re: Ashwath Damodaran on the S&P 500

Thank you so much for posting these... very informative. I've subscribed to hos channel.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds
Replies: 43
Views: 5030

Mega Thread on Speed of 2023 Tax Refunds

Curious as to the speed of everyone's refund after filing fed/state.
Let us know when you filed each, how you filed, and when your refund arrived. :moneybag
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2023 Taxes, How close were your estimates
Replies: 55
Views: 4456

Re: 2023 Taxes, How close were your estimates

When I did my H*R Block tax return in early Jan after the update on 5 Jan, it said I owed ~$600, so I made a payment of $300 to help offset when I filed. However, our inherited annuities had more basis than I estimated. As a result I will be getting a $353 refund from them. So close!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225875

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Tulsa OK, lots of bluebirds at my mealworm feeder, house finches at my thistle feeder, none at my suet feeder.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:38 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Sad News - LadyGeek's Mom has passed
Replies: 158
Views: 37400

Re: Sad News - LadyGeek's Mom has passed

So very sorry to hear. It is an emotional moment. I lost my mom in 2021 after her being in hospice for about 8 weeks. Being far away was difficult for me, but I zoomed when my brother visited. It was so very hard to see her so sedated with morphine. You and your family are in my prayers.
Peace,
Ray
by djmbob
Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: E-filers, How soon was your Tax Return accepted?
Replies: 4
Views: 458

E-filers, How soon was your Tax Return accepted?

Pleasant news using H&R Block Deluxe.
Federal and State returns submitted 2/1/24 at 5:27pm.
Federal accepted at 5:29pm.
OK State accepted at 10:11pm.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Jan 22, 2024 4:44 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Replies: 429
Views: 41942

Re: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂

Happy birthday, Taylor! You have been an inspiration and a blessing!!
Cheers to you today and all through the year!
Ray
:sharebeer
by djmbob
Thu Jan 18, 2024 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Experience with Eco Flow Delta Pro?
Replies: 0
Views: 455

Any Experience with Eco Flow Delta Pro?

We are looking at the possibility of buying an Ecoflow Delta Pro home backup battery system?
Thanks for any input!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Choosing between DIY and Financial Advisor
Replies: 67
Views: 6735

Re: Choosing between DIY and Financial Advisor

I use Mark Zoril and many on here do too. $8 per month, full access, zoom with him as many times as you need. Detailed Emaplan money reports for the rest of your/spouses life. Christian provides tax advice. Can't beat it. I use Mark to bounce ideas off of, get an annual checkup, when to claim SS, etc.
Best Wishes,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best secure email to use instead of gmail?
Replies: 140
Views: 33222

Re: Best secure email to use instead of gmail?

I use Outlook for my primary email and have several pseudonyms, also have a google account because of my android phone.

I also have a duck duck go (@duck.com) email account which I use for most of the retail businesses (except banks) and other outside senders because they remove all the trackers from the emails before they get to me. Things like knowing you opened the email, etc.

I just have the duck.com email forward to one of my outlook email accounts.

Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Tue Jan 09, 2024 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where Should We Travel & Vacation To?
Replies: 47
Views: 9662

Re: Where Should We Travel & Vacation To?

Riviera Maya.
Easy to get to, jungle, Aztec archeological sites, beach, great weather.
Enjoy!
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Jan 08, 2024 3:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?
Replies: 657
Views: 133080

Re: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?

Buying three timeshares in Mexico. Way too much money... sales people got the best of us (and misled us). :oops:
But we still have them and love going. They are high quality. Going for two weeks this coming Friday. :D
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition
Replies: 113
Views: 14716

Re: Where do you bank and why? 2024 Edition

I have been a member of USAA since 1978. Like combining banking and insurance and they give great rebates on insurance through their Subscriber Savings Accounts - even more after 40 years!
Also have an account at Pentagon Federal. Good certificate rates including the one I bought today offering 5.35% for 15 months.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Jan 04, 2024 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does anyone use the Drive Safe & Save app from State Farm or similar?
Replies: 81
Views: 17758

Re: Does anyone use the Drive Safe & Save app from State Farm or similar?

My Souse and I use the USAA Safe Driver app and it saves us about 34% or a combined $334 per year.
It is awfully sensitive on the "harsh braking" side. I usually stop for yellow lights, if someone is not on my tail, and it dings me a lot for that.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Jan 04, 2024 9:53 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Finding Good Fee-Only Financial Planner?
Replies: 19
Views: 2843

Re: Finding Good Fee-Only Financial Planner?

+1 for Mark Zoril and Plan Vision
by djmbob
Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:48 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 2024 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST REGISTRATION
Replies: 579
Views: 37992

Re: 2024 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST REGISTRATION

4803.16
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Jan 01, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: USAA Claims Reputation
Replies: 51
Views: 5456

Re: USAA Claims Reputation

I've also had excellent claim experience with USAA. Fast, efficient, able to use the mobile app to make claim, send pics and track progress. I think I've only had 2 home claims and a few auto claims in over 46 years. I also like their subscriber saving account with yearly distribution in Dec and now that I am over 40 years, have been receiving extra dollars back o/a March every year.
Love them!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When to buy eventual retirement home?
Replies: 20
Views: 3513

Re: When to buy eventual retirement home?

I retired out of the Pentagon in 2010. We decided to build our "forever retirement home" in Pennsylvania. Long story short, we ended up 4 years later in Oklahoma (a place where neither of us had ever lived) because my clergy Spouse was called to a church there. We lived in our first house for 7 years before downsizing and building our "forever retirement home" again. We decided to settle in Oklahoma because of their great support of retired military. We built our "forever home" when we were 64/59 while we were still "young enough" to go through that process, because we wanted a new home, energy efficient, without the need for continuous maintenance for many years. We love our new home and are really h...
by djmbob
Fri Dec 29, 2023 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: DAF - Vanguard, Fidelity, or ?
Replies: 28
Views: 2387

Re: DAF - Vanguard, Fidelity, or ?

I had my DAF at Vanguard, but the fees were too high and the amount you needed to deposit was too high, so I moved it to Fidelity.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Dec 18, 2023 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Purchasing Quicken Desktop
Replies: 25
Views: 4193

Re: Purchasing Quicken Desktop

Yesterday, Amazon dropped the price of Quicken Deluxe to what it was around Thanksgiving. 40% off = $35.93, down from $59.88.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Microsoft Rewards Use? [Donating to the forum]
Replies: 3
Views: 4179

Re: Microsoft Rewards Use?

Just following up on this. If not using these I can select another organization.
Thank you,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:13 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Microsoft Rewards Use? [Donating to the forum]
Replies: 3
Views: 4179

Microsoft Rewards Use? [Donating to the forum]

Your Rewards point donation this month to:
JOHN C BOGLE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY
40 points
Thank you for donating your points through Give with Bing. Together, our community is making a difference for nonprofits around the world.
I have my MS Rewards going to the Bogle Center, are you able to get benefit from them?

Thanks & Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: retire in 50s what do you do
Replies: 64
Views: 12051

Re: retire in 50s what do you do

I retired from the military at 52 yo because I had to by law (commissioned and reached 30 years). I then volunteered for several non-profit organizations, which I still do today. Very rewarding experiences!

One of the organizations I volunteer for is Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) a Dept of Defense volunteer organization... it has been the best! https://www.esgr.mil

They have several types of volunteer positions, train you, pay mileage, travel and per diem if you are away from home, you get to work with Employers and their Guard and Reserve employees, participate in business conventions... SUPERB!!

Cheers,
Ray
:sharebeer
by djmbob
Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?
Replies: 2851
Views: 225875

Re: Bird watchers – what birds are you seeing?

Seeing bluebirds at our feeder with dried mealworms, just bought some live mealworms yesterday to try out.
House finches at our thistle feeder... the goldfinches we saw during the summer haven't appeared this fall.
Tulsa OK,
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Nov 20, 2023 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4524
Views: 617404

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

I did online surveys with American Airlines and Hilton Hotels to earn points so that I can fly and stay for free! Have hundreds of thousands of points between the two.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Nov 18, 2023 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experian Login Failure
Replies: 39
Views: 12652

Re: Experian Login Failure

Same problem happened to me last week. I made a note to call and wrote down their number, but haven't called yet.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Nov 11, 2023 4:10 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Sad News - LadyGeek's Mom has passed
Replies: 158
Views: 37400

Re: Sad News - LadyGeek's Mom has passed

So very sorry to hear this, LadyGeek. My mom passed in 2021 and I still miss her so very much.
Warm Regards,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Nov 11, 2023 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: waiting to pay CC bill to earn interest?
Replies: 71
Views: 6803

Re: waiting to pay CC bill to earn interest?

Paying several times per month has no impact on your credit score. You could pay once per month and accomplish the same thing.
Thanks for the heads up Pizzy! May be time for a change in my approach.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: waiting to pay CC bill to earn interest?
Replies: 71
Views: 6803

Re: waiting to pay CC bill to earn interest?

My USAA checking account pays .01, so not worth it! I usually pay my credit cards several times a month which keeps my credit scores really high.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:18 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can passive index investing beat active AI investing
Replies: 96
Views: 9757

Re: Can passive index investing beat active AI investing

What Vanguard Mutual Funds should I hold for a 60% stock 40% bond allocation. Copy Searching for: Vanguard Mutual Funds for 60% stock 40% bond allocation Generating answers for you… For a 60% stock and 40% bond allocation, you might consider the following Vanguard mutual funds: Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBINX)1: This fund consistently sticks to a 60/40 allocation. It takes an indexing investment approach, meaning the fund samples target indexes. The fund seeks to measure the returns of the U.S. stock market with 60% of its assets. The remaining 40% tracks the performance of a “broad, market-weighted bond index,” according to Vanguard1. Vanguard Balanced Index VBAIX2: This fund has a strategic 60% allocation to the U.S. total stock marke...
by djmbob
Fri Nov 03, 2023 8:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help! Drowning in spam phone calls
Replies: 23
Views: 3057

Re: Help! Drowning in spam phone calls

I have an android with AT&T. With it I get Active Armor which I have set up to automatically block telemarketer and fraud calls. It works really well...

I get many a day and can tell they come from robo dialers with dozens occurring within a minute.

Some calls that don't leave a message, I try to look up on nomorobo or other caller alert sites and block them if they come up as robo calls and others I block because they don't leave a message.

Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sat Oct 28, 2023 3:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mail in passport renewal
Replies: 80
Views: 11180

Re: Mail in passport renewal

WOW! Can hardly believe how fast we received our renewal passports!!

We mailed them in via regular mail on Oct 4, they were supposed to be delivered in Philly on Oct 7, but with the holiday, it wasn't picked up until Oct 11. We did pay for expedited service and return. For the two of us it cost a whopping $419.06!!!

We received them today Oct 28! I guess we could have saved quite a bit without the expedited service. We travel in mid Jan.

Still, just amazed!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Tue Oct 24, 2023 7:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Movies Ticket Prices
Replies: 53
Views: 5733

Re: Movies Ticket Prices

I see movies on the cheap. I buy two $25 Cinemark gift cards at Costco at a discount (can't quite remember the price), then we go on Tuesdays during the day for only $4.25 each. A great deal!! Edit: and I am exempt from paying sales tax! Edit 2: Tulsa OK
Killers total: $8.50 for two. (less when you count the discounted gift card from Costco).

Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Shoud I Buy Trip Insurance?
Replies: 15
Views: 1674

Re: Shoud I Buy Trip Insurance?

I always buy trip insurance through USAA's Travel Insured.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:46 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone still favor Vanguard?
Replies: 359
Views: 48427

Re: Anyone still favor Vanguard?

Yes, I do! I really haven't experienced the problems that others write about on here. Maybe our stuff is pretty simple, between my Spouse and I we have eight accounts at Vanguard.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Aug 10, 2023 3:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Alternative to Federal Money Market [Vanguard Cash Deposit]
Replies: 21
Views: 4864

Vanguard Alternative to Federal Money Market [Vanguard Cash Deposit]

Just received an email from Vanguard that they are now offering an alternative to FMM. An FDIC insured bank product... Vanguard Cash Deposit with a current interest rate of 3.7.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Wed Aug 09, 2023 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Regrets
Replies: 114
Views: 15446

Re: Career Regrets

I retired from the Air Force after over 34 years. I started as an Enlisted Reservist in High School, went Active Duty for 4 years after ROTC, then back to the Reserve. I was lucky and landed an AGR (Active Guard and Reserve) full time position back in 1999, where I stayed active duty until I had to retire by law in 2010 at age 52. With the additional time I spent performing active duty work as a Reservist, I accumulated more time to add to an "active duty" retirement, which totaled over 24 years by the time I retired. My active duty retirement pay started one month after I retired, I have full medical care for myself and my spouse (now for me Medicare and Tricare for Life) which means I pay for Medicare premiums, but nothing for T...
by djmbob
Tue May 23, 2023 5:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Multiple Documents to the IRS - Together?
Replies: 5
Views: 586

Re: Sending Multiple Documents to the IRS - Together?

Thank you, Silk! Good suggestion.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Tue May 23, 2023 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sending Multiple Documents to the IRS - Together?
Replies: 5
Views: 586

Sending Multiple Documents to the IRS - Together?

After finally receiving my dear deceased mom's tax refund (filed 2/17/22), I now need to send the IRS Forms 5495 (Discharge of Personal Liability) and 4810 (Request for Prompt Assessment). The whole experience was a nightmare and I had to have Sen Lankford's office intervene.

In sending in the forms, which I always do Certified, should I put both of them in the same envelope so that they are together? Both forms ask for a copy of her return and my Letters of Administration. I have made two sets which I will include with each form, but am wondering if sending together will get them both processed together, or is it wiser to send separately.

Thanks for any ideas!
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Tue May 23, 2023 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2021 Refund Times
Replies: 296
Views: 29859

Re: 2021 Refund Times

FINALY received my deceased mother's 2021 tax refund today. IRS received it certified mail on Filed Feb 21, 2022. Paper option was the only available option using H&R Bock. Gave account info for direct deposit. After all this time, received a whopping $36.22 in interest on a $2204 refund. And of course we moved in Aug of last year so sent IRS Fm 8822 in August. Asked Senator Lankford's office to intervene on April 3. Had to provide all the documents again, letters of administration, 2 forms of ID, etc. And of course they mailed a physical check to my old address. Thank goodness the PO continued to forward the mail.
Sheesh,
Ray
by djmbob
Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How long did you wait for your tax refund this year?
Replies: 165
Views: 17993

Re: How long did you wait for your tax refund this year?

Initially I tried to file on 2/17 using HRB e-file, but received an error message that the software was messed up
(see
). Had to wait for the HRB update on 3/3.

Updated and e-filed on 3/3.

Received my OK state refund on 3/12.

No IRS refund yet, but it's two weeks tomorrow. Hoping to receive by next Friday.

Cheers,
Ray

EDIT: The day after I posted this, my IRS refund showed up in my bank account 3/17! 19 days :D
by djmbob
Fri Mar 03, 2023 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!
Replies: 26
Views: 4285

Re: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!

Updated HRB this morning. Everything went well with e-filing.
Happier Camper.
Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Mon Feb 20, 2023 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!
Replies: 26
Views: 4285

Re: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!

SleepDoc37
Did you by chance get asked to change your job code? A customer service rep noticed that the program had me change my code from 999999 to 999000, for the first time this year, and feels the current e-file program doesn't have that new code in their system ye[t]...
Yes I did get that "error" and made the change to 999000 for Schedule C!

Cheers,
Ray
by djmbob
Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!
Replies: 26
Views: 4285

Re: Problems with HR Block 2022 e-File!

Sleepdoc,
Have you acquired any further information?
No, I'm just planning to wait until Mar 3 to refile. I also looked up the HRB changes and saw that it only updated 1040X, which I am not filing.

We'll see what happens next. :?:
Cheers,
Ray