Search found 123 matches

by Robert The Bruce
Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?
Replies: 169
Views: 11117

Re: Can I retire with $1.75M at age 43?

Social Security is calculated based on your highest earning 35 years. You need to calculate what your Soc Security payments will be if you quit now and how they will increase with each year you work.
by Robert The Bruce
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?
Replies: 15
Views: 1623

Re: Signing Listing Agreement Sunday. Any actionable steps with NAR lawsuit?

I don’t have an answer but we are in the same situation. We were planning on a second meeting with a realtor next week but this situation has raised more than a few concerns. Right now we are thinking of signing a contract that offers the buyers agent 2% but make that contract sunset July 1st. A post July 1st offer to the buyers agent could be quite different. As we see it, this change could have the seller’s agent fielding calls from buyers and showing the houses they have listed - both of which would increase their effort for a sale.
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Jan 23, 2023 7:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Shift from Stable Value to Bond Fund?
Replies: 16
Views: 1875

Re: Shift from Stable Value to Bond Fund?

Hey OP!
Thanks for causing me to look my Stable Value situation. I have 10% of my money in my Stable Value fund and it has done what I had hoped it would do, which is retain value as interest rates rose. But I also thought that if interest rates were to reach current levels I would move some of that money out. My 401k has a brokerage account option so I am moving some of the SV money to the brokerage where I will invest it in fixed income or a money market.
by Robert The Bruce
Tue Jan 17, 2023 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who are the best cash home buyers out there?
Replies: 15
Views: 2560

Re: Who are the best cash home buyers out there?

Others have answered your question. I just want to add - you should give 72Sold a call. They are Phoenix based & claim they will sell it in 8 days by generating a bidding war.
https://72sold.com/?utm_source=google& ... FdEALw_wcB

Note to self - How do I make that url look better?
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Helping parents with retirement approach
Replies: 22
Views: 2414

Re: Helping parents with retirement approach

Mom’s Rollover IRA – $900k Dad’s Rollover IRA - $1M Brokerage Account - $500k [*]Delay withdrawing Mom’s social security until 70 to maximize amount. Withdraw a little extra ($30k/year) the first two years to maintain spending until then. [*]Withdraw first the required minimum distribution from the Rollover IRA, then get the rest from the Brokerage account until it’s exhausted.[/list] Questions: Is this a sound approach? Should the Brokerage and Rollover IRA accounts hold different funds? How to think about balancing these over time? What the best way to think about when/if to sell the rental units? This looks good, simple and straightforward. Will your dad need to take his first RMD in 2023? That should be about $40,000 & meets their ...
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for Primer on Home Solar
Replies: 27
Views: 3017

Re: Looking for Primer on Home Solar

One additional consideration, when I was shopping for home insurance, the providers frequently asked if I had solar panels on the roof. I assume they weren’t asking because that would lead to a discount.
by Robert The Bruce
Sun May 29, 2022 11:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Delete photos from ipad but not in icloud
Replies: 15
Views: 1960

Re: Delete photos from ipad but not in icloud

I believe one way around this is to put the photos in a shared drive and then delete them from your iPad/phone. Surprisingly the shared drive size doesn’t affect your iCloud storage.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Form 1041 - Simple/Complex Trusts - DNI - 65-day rule
Replies: 43
Views: 3409

Re: Form 1041 - Simple/Complex Trusts - DNI - 65-day rule

There's another trust, again with a single present beneficiary, and the trust instrument says that all interest must be paid to the beneficiary. However, the beneficiary has needs in excess of the income amount, so receives more than the income each year, which I understand makes this a "complex" trust. - Do we need to add up all amounts that were paid to the beneficiary that year, and report it on the 1041? What difference does that make? Since all income will be taxed to the beneficiary, why does the IRS require us to figure out how much principal was paid as well and report that? Other than the above, are there other reasons that one needs to track DNI or issues/concepts that I am missing here? The beneficiaries and trustees a...
by Robert The Bruce
Thu Dec 23, 2021 9:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Laptops vs Tablets?
Replies: 45
Views: 3285

Re: Laptops vs Tablets?

I am all tablet. I haven’t owned a laptop for 5 years. I use FreetaxUSA at tax time and also used TaxAct in the past. I also file a fairly simple estate's taxes using Adobe Fill & Sign. As evidenced by my number of posts - I don’t create much content. I don’t need to.
by Robert The Bruce
Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend Books on Music Genres?
Replies: 6
Views: 481

Re: Recommend Books on Music Genres?

Might look at this one:
Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres Hardcover – Kelefa Sanneh
Not an endorsement - but if you were to buy it & like it, let us know.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Passive index investing - why?
Replies: 112
Views: 55899

Re: Passive index investing - why?

When we say that the majority of active funds fail to beat the market, is that really a fair argument against active investing? If a thousand idiots built skyscrapers, and they all collapsed within a week, would that be an argument against the concept of skyscrapers? Would it be reasonable then to say that a big portion of skyscrapers seem to collapse, therefore we should never build skyscrapers? Perhaps active investing, as a discipline, is actually a valid idea, but there are too many "idiots" attempting it. The problem is (apologies to Lake Wobegon), the active funds can't all be above average. It doesn't matter how clever all the managers are, half of the funds will be below average. And passive gets the average. Just to mudd...
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Sep 22, 2021 10:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best place to be a Snowbird if money is no object
Replies: 129
Views: 15951

Re: Best place to be a Snowbird if money is no object

With your budget, why pick only one? In any case, spend the next 5 winters or so moving from VRBO to VRBO. I could see going back to the same restaurants over and over, but theater? What if there is only one theater in town and they start a 10 year run of “Cats”? And the next town over has “Hamilton”?
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Sep 20, 2021 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What house maintenance thing did you do recently?
Replies: 113
Views: 12725

Re: What house maintenance thing did you do today?

I live in the desert and this year’s monsoons were hard on my gravel yard. I was out earlier, shoveling gravel and sand back into the erosion areas.
We have a well but we also have a 2500 gal tank for backup. The tank is independent of the well, it has to be filled by a water hauling service. It occurred to me that the tank pump had not ran in several months so I turned some valves to get It some exercise. Need to add that to my first of the month list.
by Robert The Bruce
Sun Sep 05, 2021 1:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Combining IRAs?
Replies: 13
Views: 1403

Re: Combining IRAs?

2commaBH wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 10:11 am Is there any reason I shouldn't combine these two accounts?
One reason is that at some point in time you might want to transfer the rollover IRA back into a 401-k. If those IRA dollars have been commingled, you can not.
by Robert The Bruce
Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Aircondition Compressor dilema
Replies: 60
Views: 5763

Re: Aircondition Compressor dilema

Here’s one data point -
I had a guy out yesterday to look at a 15 yr old 4 ton unit. He said the compressor was shot. I didn’t want to replace just the compressor but before I said that he told me they had replaced a compressor in a similar unit last week and the bottom line was around $3,400. One reason this is so much more than yours may be that the older Freon now runs $200 / lb. (Although, you would assume I already have Freon).

I’m outside Phoenix.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Other forums like bogleheads
Replies: 97
Views: 19907

Re: Other forums like bogleheads

Here’s a 529 forum:
https://forum.savingforcollege.com/

Not sure this one meets the criteria of being moderated, but you can explore climate change here:
https://judithcurry.com/

And for Excel help this site is awesome! https://www.excelforum.com/
by Robert The Bruce
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066563

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

I just watched Moneyball based on the book by Michael Lewis. It’s a great story how, in 2002, the General Manager of the Oakland As used statistical analysis to build a low budget baseball team. One interesting exchange between the GM and the team’s scouts involves how the scouts look at batting averages but the GM, Billy Beane, notes it is more important to consider how often a player gets on base.
BB: “He gets on base”.
Scout: “He gets walked a lot”
BB: “I don’t care”
Another good line is when he tells an aging star - the Yankees pay half your salary, they pay you $3.5 million to play against them.
by Robert The Bruce
Sun Feb 07, 2021 10:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Replies: 35
Views: 3440

Re: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

You can find a list of complaints here: Car Problems https://www.carproblemzoo.com/jeep/cherokee/
also at NHTSA’s website.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Use inherited IRA to fund HSA?
Replies: 18
Views: 1298

Re: Use inherited IRA to fund HSA?

jeffyscott wrote: Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:46 am There is not a requirement to have wage income to take the HSA deduction.
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/insur ... n-hsa.html
Well, I’ll be! Let me stray off topic a little - isn’t this inconsistent with medical insurance premiums? My impression is that when I was working I paid those insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars, as shown on W-2, but I pay them out of taxed dollars now - can I deduct those, same as HSA contributions?

Also - why does the IRA to HSA transfer provision even exist?
And, Why do HDHPs have a deductible max? Shouldn’t “high” be “limitless”
THX!
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Use inherited IRA to fund HSA?
Replies: 18
Views: 1298

Re: Use inherited IRA to fund HSA?

A great strategy! You take money from an inherited IRA and deposit in an HSA and zero out the tax impact. The only problem is that the IRS will only let you do this ONE TIME. I’m sure that is in here: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969 but if you google, you’ll find a lot of articles that make clear its allowed only once. I suppose the reasoning is that an HSA must be funded with wage type income to take the tax deduction. You can’t fund it with pre tax dollar dividends and take the tax deduction and equally you can’t fund it with pre tax IRA distributions and take the tax deduction (except for the one time exception). You mention a regulation quirk that is annoying me - why is there a limit to how high a deductible can be in a plan and ...
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Nov 21, 2020 9:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Books for Post Retirement
Replies: 19
Views: 3275

Re: Best Books for Post Retirement

Here’s so that have been vetted on Bogleheads:

“How Much Can I Spend in Retirement?" by Wade Pfau
Google: pafu site:bogleheads.org
"Unveiling The Retirement Myth" by Jim Otar
Google: otar site:bogleheads.org
"Living Off Your Money" by Michael H McClung
Google: McClung site:bogleheads.org
"Retirement Portfolios: Theory, Construction, and Management" by Michael J. Zwecher
Google: Zwecher site:bogleheads.org
viewtopic.php?t=141270
And of course, Google: Spending retirement books site:bogleheads.org
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:11 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Veterans Day Humor
Replies: 1
Views: 766

Veterans Day Humor

Happy Veterans Day to everyone who has worn a uniform of this country or stayed behind and worried about the status of a loved one. I know many have suffered to keep this nation free and I appreciate your sacrifices. *But here’s a little levity, in the vein of the old Reader’s Digest Humor in Uniform column. My father in law, who just turned 97, has told this story about his WW2 experience for the 40 years I have known him. It’s a great story so I thought I would share it with you. I should tell up front, he’s currently locked in assisted living so if you were to question my version, I can’t get you an answer. First some background - Ben was born in a small town in Kentucky in the fall of 1923 and grew up on a small farm. (When they were yo...
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Sep 28, 2020 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Census 2020 question
Replies: 38
Views: 8113

Re: Census 2020 question

It surprises me to hear people are skeptical of a phone number for the census, or a birth date. Where do you think your birth certificate comes from? Or how do you suppose the government manages to track your social security benefits? If you are skeptical of a phone number on a census, I would think using a phone at all would be worrisome to you , and you may also want to avoid the use of forums, Facebook, credit cards, and insurance companies. Perhaps also doctors. Muffs, you seem nice! I think my concern about sharing your birth date is a valid one. I am sure my birth certificate is NOT easily accessible. It is in no way on-line. Ditto my medical records. And I would imagine the SSA has an established a record of keeping their data secre...
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Aug 01, 2020 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who is your favorite fiction author and what is your favorite book of theirs?
Replies: 284
Views: 30289

Re: Who is your favorite fiction author and what is your favorite book of theirs?

Man, What a list!
I count over 100 favorites, 95 of which I haven’t read - I just put in my request to the local library for The Princess Bride, sounds like quite an adventure. The rest I have added to my ever growing list of must reads.

Thanks Bogleheads! I know it’s weird but I have been holding my 100th post for something original, however this would seem to be a worthy use.

Robert Bruce
by Robert The Bruce
Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anybody moved out of State recently.
Replies: 27
Views: 2904

Re: Anybody moved out of State recently.

I have a weird thing to watch out for. As we got ready to move we submitted a forwarding address to USPS and some of our mail was actually forwarded and delivered before closing. But after closing we stopped getting mail. Finally, after about a week, we called the post office and they said it was their (unadvertised) policy that when the previous owner submits a forwarding notice, all mail deliveries stop. And are not restarted until the local post office is notified as to who has moved in. They were holding a stack for us, but some, including a letter from our auto insurer, was returned. It seems trivial now but at the time and when the insurer sent an email scolding me to not falsify my address, it was alarming.
by Robert The Bruce
Thu May 21, 2020 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5802
Views: 574879

Re: What are you listening to now

I’ll weigh in. I’m listening to a Pandora station of old jazz classics based on Tommy Flanagan’s “Angel Eyes” (slow sax & piano). It recently played one of my favorites, Donald Byrd “I’m a Fool to Want You”. Right now it’s Craig Handy “You’re Blasé” —interesting title and he looks to be current artist.

I’ve been wondering - I use free Pandora, hate the ads, like the price. I like that it picks the music for me, without looking, I couldn’t name more than 5 or 6 artists. That being said, have any of you left Pandora for another service & been happy with the move, even if it meant an increase in cost? And which ones? Thanks up front! I don’t listen a lot, usually as background when reading - hence the price/ value decision.
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Apr 25, 2020 9:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Capital gains efficiency SPY vs Fund
Replies: 26
Views: 3331

Re: Capital gains efficiency SPY vs Fund

I hold the total market ETF (VTI) and Fidelity’s total market fund. Both paid out 1.77% last yr. The fund (FSKAX) paid it all as Qualified Dividends. The ETF however had a breakdown that was 94% Qualified Dividends, 5.8% as Section 199A and the tiny remainder as non-qualified dividends. As I sit here, I am thinking the 1.77% is based on the 12/31 value and not on the dividend payout date - but you get the idea.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Be wary of taking any capital gains.
Replies: 8
Views: 1206

Re: Be wary of taking any capital gains.

It’s the Yang plan. It’s Double Yang.
https://www.yang2020.com/policies/the-freedom-dividend/

Could the government turn around and get the money back through taxes?
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Apr 11, 2020 10:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bob Brinkers Marketimer Alert
Replies: 25
Views: 7072

Re: Bob Brinkers Marketimer Alert

Stinky wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:24 pm Market timing is hard. And Brinker has proven that he doesn’t do it very well - no matter what the title of his newsletter is.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the QQQ call. After the 2000 crash, Brinker recommended subscribers buy the QQQ at $80 to take advantage of a quick bounce back. Problem was the bounce never happened and he never closed out the recommendation. Here’s a recap:

https://honeysbobbrinkerbeehivebuzz3.bl ... worst.html
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My treadmill broke. Now what?
Replies: 36
Views: 2742

Re: My treadmill broke. Now what?

We have a Vision 7200 elliptical https://youtu.be/YNm_17RdJMg and love it! I use it for 60 min, every other day. I don’t know how someone could use the thing and not experience a workout. The hand position options work for me, on some elepts I am not comfortable holding on for an hour but with this one that’s not a problem.

I used to love to run but my back can’t take it. And I know running is good for bone strength, but hopefully I do enough weight work and hiking to compensate.
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 9 Reasons Not to Tax Loss Harvest (WCI)
Replies: 50
Views: 5266

Re: 9 Reasons Not to Tax Loss Harvest (WCI)

So I read the article and I must be missing something, specifically this quote: I’ve done it several times since the start of this bear market and booked hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax losses. With the $3K cap/year - how long do you expect to live? LOL Even if you think you have 70 more years left on this mortal coil, all you need to do is book $100K worth of losses. or can you donate them somehow? (scratching my head) I don’t think anyone has responded to this so I will offer - you can use your banked losses to offset ALL capital gains on your current taxes. For example, my FiL tax lost harvested in 2008 and built quite a bank. Last year he rebalanced out of some ETFs for significant profit (well in excess of $3,000) but is not p...
by Robert The Bruce
Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Census 2020 question
Replies: 38
Views: 8113

Re: Census 2020 question

I’m going to piggyback here with a NEW QUESTION.

I’ve already completed it so in a way the question isn’t actionable but the Census asks for your date of birth. Will you be entering your actual DOB or something close? I suppose a way off date is a viable option also.
by Robert The Bruce
Sun Mar 15, 2020 12:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security bend points/early retirement estimates
Replies: 21
Views: 5872

Re: Social Security bend points/early retirement estimates

Reviving this conversation. The current and previous bend points are on the SSA website: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/bendpoints.html

These points do not increase with the cost of living. I was told once that they are tied to productivity - is that true? (And if so, where can those rates be found?). The bend points increased about 3.6% from 2019 to 2020. I say “about” because the 2 seem to increase at slightly different rates each year. The SSA used 1.6% for the cost of living increase for 2020.

Also, I found this tool very helpful: https://ssa.tools/

Robert
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Mar 07, 2020 10:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”
Replies: 19
Views: 2424

Re: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”

HomeStretch wrote: Sat Mar 07, 2020 10:15 pm Did you use the account regularly? I had Comenity close a Visa card due to no/low usage.
Thanks for the response - but no, we had a number of auto-pays & frequently some big Walmart buys. But this shows a pattern. I’ve already applied elsewhere. Has anyone ever said - credit cards are like buses, there will be another. Probably not.
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Mar 07, 2020 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”
Replies: 19
Views: 2424

Re: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”

willthrill81 wrote: Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:50 pm
Which bank was this card with? We've had four credit card numbers stolen in the last ~20 years with Chase, and they've quickly issued us new cards and given us no problems at all.

As long as your credit score (assuming it's one that tops out at 850) is above ~730 or so, it doesn't much matter. If it's lower than that, then you probably haven't been paying all of your bills on time at some point.
The card was with Comenity Bank (it was associated with Good Sams the RV people). I don’t pay any bills - but my wife pays them all on time. I just know things like auto insurance rates incorporate your credit score these days. Ours should be perfect but when last we looked it was just shy of perfect.
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”
Replies: 19
Views: 2424

Re: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”

They've let you go as a customer. I'm thinking there's more to this? Did you manufacture spend (back when that could be done) or use any other credit card reward points hacking? I swear there’s nothing more - other than it was a card associated with Good Sams the RV related firm and I think they run an AAA like service that I don’t subscribe to. [quote=willthrill81 post_id=5072980 time=<a href="tel:1583636439">1583636439</a> user_id=116799] I wonder if the OP was adding authorized users to his credit card account for cash. I don't recall the specific name for the practice. Selling tradelines. [/quote] I’ve never heard of that. And no, I have never played any credit card games and would never engage in that.
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”
Replies: 19
Views: 2424

Bank cancelled CC due to “security concerns”

Has this happened to you - or have you heard of it happening? My credit card was denied at the grocery store, luckily I had another card so it wasn’t a big deal, just paid with card B and headed home. When I got home I realized I had gotten a call and voice mail from the bank that issued the card so I called them and the rep said someone had tried to buy thousands of $ of electronics with my card but things didn’t line up so they had denied the transaction and cancelled my card. I, of course, said - no, it wasn’t me, *thanks*, please send me a new card. To which the rep said - No. We've cancelled your account, you can apply for a new card if you want. This seems like an over reaction to me. I assume the fact that I always pay off the balanc...
by Robert The Bruce
Tue Nov 12, 2019 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: (Sigh) "Wasting" year-old smoke detector batteries...
Replies: 93
Views: 6798

Re: (Sigh) "Wasting" year-old smoke detector batteries...

Kenkat wrote: Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:25 am Mine are all hard-wired in and powered via electric service to my home. Since our electric service is very reliable (underground utilities helps), the only time the batteries are needed is when the power goes out - typically once a year (at most) for an hour or two. So, I stopped replacing them yearly and just wait for them to beep, which, since they rarely have power drawn from them, can go years.
This is my impression also. Are those of you on an annual schedule dealing with standalone detectors, or just making sure your secondary power source is fresh?
by Robert The Bruce
Tue May 07, 2019 10:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What’s in your pocket?
Replies: 22
Views: 2932

Re: What’s in your pocket?

Elena wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 9:02 pm
GoldenFinch wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 8:54 pm
Minot wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 8:46 pm
triggerfish10 wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 8:40 pm
Protection
Gun? Switchblade? Nun-chucks?
Sunscreen? Condom?
Bear deterrent spray?
Umbrella insurance policy printout?
Ear plugs? Safety glasses? Ellwood Safety 702-4.5 Carbon Steel Toe Guards?
by Robert The Bruce
Fri May 03, 2019 11:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What non fiction book will you be reading in 2019?
Replies: 198
Views: 23379

Re: What non fiction book will you be reading in 2019?

I’ve added Shoe Dog by Phil Knight to my list after reading the comments in this YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/csZGZZMLkOc ( Pre v Lindgren 1969)

I want to return to - Capitalism in America: A History Hardcover – October 16, 2018 - by Alan Greenspan (Author), Adrian Wooldridge (Author) - read half or so but had to return it to the library before I left on a trip.

I tend to choose books from the “recently received” rack at the library. It’s an abundance of riches!
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Too late to go after driveway guy?
Replies: 21
Views: 3605

Re: Too late to go after driveway guy?

Wonder if they were “Irish Travelers”. https://www.courier-tribune.com/news/local/beware-irish-travelers-scam North Carolina 2015 “Blair said, as was the case with the Randolph incident involving paving a driveway, “They tell their victims a story about having too much material left over from their last paving job, and how their bosses will fire them if they come back with it because it can’t be returned to the asphalt plant. After convincing the homeowner that their driveway is in desperate need of repaving, they will then offer the victim a ‘deal of a lifetime,’ just so they can keep their job.” I heard these stories in the ‘80s when I lived in South Carolina. You want to believe it’s an urban legend. Here’s another: https://www.gainesvil...
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Energy Industry [looking for website to discuss]
Replies: 23
Views: 2447

Re: Energy Industry [looking for website to discuss]

Hey Brad!
I was on the generation side for years - left a couple of years ago. You might find some things of interest at: https://judithcurry.com. A couple of years ago there was a poster there calling himself “planning engineer” who wrote some insightful things on the difficulties associated with distributed generation.

I’m going to chk some of the areas folks posted above. Almost totally unrelated, this article in Propublica discusses the impact on the locals when large coal plants close. — https://www.propublica.org/article/adam ... -community.
by Robert The Bruce
Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Review of tax software for trusts and estates
Replies: 76
Views: 21999

Re: Review of tax software for trusts and estates

Just a quick *thanks bostondan* also for the detailed analysis! And actually, I don’t have a PC, just a pad so it looks like I am wedded to TaxAct. That’s what I used last year for our trust.

BTW, after seeing this page on the NCDOR website, I switched and did my personal taxes on FreeTaxUSA: https://www.ncdor.gov/ncfreefile
by Robert The Bruce
Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who has had a pool?
Replies: 108
Views: 13271

Re: Who has had a pool?

I don’t think anyone has mentioned adding water. Probably an insignificant cost, but, I’d quess, if it hasn’t rained in the last 2 weeks, we have to stick the hose in the pool and let it run for 20-30 mins.

I waste plenty of time, but never in the pool, I want to sink a mountain climber device in it, similar to this but pool compatible:
Image
by Robert The Bruce
Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books/articles on life 100-120 years ago?
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Re: Books/articles on life 100-120 years ago?

OP here - Good stuff! Thank you all!
Something one of you said made me think of Studs Turkel. I looked and he had written a couple of books in this genre such as:
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Times-Histo ... uds+Terkel

I love all your ideas! I also have to admit this - my FIL, born in 1923 is still alive. Last time I was over I was quizzing him about his WWII service but I need to ask about his early years. He grew up on a farm in Kentucky and has told us about wringing chicken necks but we need to ask about electricity or autos or even how many pairs of pants he had.
by Robert The Bruce
Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Books/articles on life 100-120 years ago?
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Books/articles on life 100-120 years ago?

Hey folk!
I’ve been doing some genealogy searches and wondering about how my grandparents lived. It’s just 2 generations, plus a few years, but from what I guess, it was a whole different world. They were born in the 1890s, 2 in rural England, one in rural Illinois, one in downtown Chicago. Any suggestions on books or articles that might bring their lives to life?

Two that I have thought of are “The Jungle” and “The Warmth of Other Suns”. I wondered about some magazine searches, but not even sure what publications I would be looking for.

Appreciate the help!
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How long do you save tax returns?
Replies: 39
Views: 4975

Re: How long do you save tax returns?

Epsilon Delta wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:17 pm
cheese_breath wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 3:58 pm
Gill wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:44 pm ... Have my returns back to the first one I filed in 1963...
Mine go back ro 1959. Anyone earlier, or do I win the contest? :happy
I have my mother-in-laws going back to WWII (1943 IIRC). The whole file is less than an inch thick. It is in a box that will be shredded if I move or run out of space.

She never filed on a post card,
I have some from my grandpa going back to the 1920s. I am holding a 1040A from 1922 right now.
by Robert The Bruce
Mon Jan 01, 2018 6:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help my 7 year old daughter invest $50 of her Christmas money
Replies: 30
Views: 3430

Re: Help my 7 year old daughter invest $50 of her Christmas money

My thought is that kids are very risk adverse and have a very short timeframe. I bet (no matter what she says today) she’s going to want to spend that money sometime in the next 5 yrs. How’s she going to feel 2 yrs from now when she wants to donate to a worthy cause and the $50 is only worth $40? A loss could greatly affect her impression of investing for years to come.

My thought is you need to hold it for her in a CD in the bank of mom. Give her a good rate. If that’s too boring, maybe you should agree to give her all of the total market index gain, but none of the loss. We’ll call it the “Bulgarian put”.