Search found 123 matches
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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?
https://72sold.com/?utm_source=google& ... FdEALw_wcB
Note to self - How do I make that url look better?
- 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 ...
- 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.
- 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.
- 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...
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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...
- 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”?
- 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.
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.
- Sun Sep 05, 2021 1:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Combining IRAs?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1403
- 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.
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.
- 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/
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/
- 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.
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.
- 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.
also at NHTSA’s website.
- 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?
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?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
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!
- 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 ...
- 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
“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
- 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...
- 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...
- 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
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
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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?
https://www.yang2020.com/policies/the-freedom-dividend/
Could the government turn around and get the money back through taxes?
- 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
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
- 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.
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.
- 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...
- 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.
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.
- 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
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
- 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”
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.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.
- 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”
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.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.
- 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.
- 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...
- Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR THE 2020 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST
- Replies: 688
- Views: 36351
Re: OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR THE 2020 BOGLEHEAD CONTEST
3231
Unchanged for the year.
Unchanged for the year.
- 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...
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?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.
- 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?
- 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!
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!
- 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...
- Sat Jun 02, 2018 4:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Profile: The Road to 1Million USD
- Replies: 42
- Views: 10353
Re: Profile: The Road to 1Million USD
Read William Bernstein’s https://www.etf.com/docs/IfYouCan.pdf
- 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.
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.
- 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
BTW, after seeing this page on the NCDOR website, I switched and did my personal taxes on FreeTaxUSA: https://www.ncdor.gov/ncfreefile
- 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:
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:
- 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.
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.
- 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!
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!
- 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?
I have some from my grandpa going back to the 1920s. I am holding a 1040A from 1922 right now.Epsilon Delta wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:17 pmI 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.cheese_breath wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2018 3:58 pmMine go back ro 1959. Anyone earlier, or do I win the contest?
She never filed on a post card,
- 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”.
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”.