Search found 145 matches

by DavidW
Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Speed Queen still the "King" of washing machines?
Replies: 45
Views: 12170

Re: Is Speed Queen still the "King" of washing machines?

I have used Miele since the mid 90s. I just "retired" that machine but have upgraded to new miele over the years as I find them on Craigslist... I moved the older machine to the garage to wash items for garage, car and pets stuff.

My mom has the Speed Queen model. I believe Speed Queen has a longer than normal warranty and it is easy to service. You can't go wrong with either.
by DavidW
Thu May 25, 2023 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Counter Top Coffee Roasting
Replies: 85
Views: 6388

Re: Counter Top Coffee Roasting

The gold standard is Poppery I. I believe it creates more heat than II due to use of AC than DC (I can't be a 100% sure but was told of this). you will see the price difference on ebay between I and II. I keep the green from Sweet Maria's in plastic tubs and I put in oxygen packets to help extend the life of the greens. I keep them in a dark cool place (closet). You can also write down all the various times and temperatures of your roast so that if something seems to work better, then you can replicate it. There are websites and youtube videos on coffee roasting but the major thing to remember is not over roast the coffee. Roasting coffee is a lot like cooking a steak. Pull it too soon and is too rare and pull it too late, it is overcooked....
by DavidW
Thu May 25, 2023 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Counter Top Coffee Roasting
Replies: 85
Views: 6388

Re: Counter Top Coffee Roasting

Along with others, I have been roasting using a popcorn popper and now, a dedicated coffee roasting machine (Quest). As others have mentioned, it does produce quite a bit of smoke. I do it outside when it is dark so it is less impactful to my neighbors. if you want to try this out and see if this is something you would want to explore, you may want to get your hands on a Westbend Poppery I. Here is a link to

https://homeroasters.org/forum/viewthre ... ead_id=270

pls note there is a Poppery I and II, 2 very different machines. You may get lucky at a thrift shop and find the Poppery I (I have previously). You can find them on ebay as well. I was able to do a batch of 150g successfully....

Good luck.....
by DavidW
Sat Apr 08, 2023 12:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: in need of replacing water heaters soon.
Replies: 23
Views: 2936

Re: in need of replacing water heaters soon.

I replaced my original HWH after it stopped working. I thought about the options also but opted to get a HWH that fits the space. Not sure if TX has special rules but in CA, it would require a county inspection if the HWH has to be replaced.

One thing I did do after the new HWH was installed was to flush out the pipes. We did so by turning off the main water line, removing the valve in the shower and turn back on the water line for 30 seconds. My son saw tons of black stuff coming out of the pipes. I suspect the settements from the HWH tank made it out of the tank but settled in the pipes. I also replaced the valves at the same time.

Good luck with your decision.
by DavidW
Thu Mar 30, 2023 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best state to open an ABLE account in?
Replies: 5
Views: 867

Re: Best state to open an ABLE account in?

I found TN to be quite attractive but that was 5 years ago
by DavidW
Tue Feb 28, 2023 11:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Child living out of state for school and work
Replies: 3
Views: 500

Child living out of state for school and work

So, I could use a bit of your advise. My son is in Nevada for school (home is California) and he will be workng during summer. I am funding him for school and living expenses. I believe I can claim him as a dependent. As for him, will he be doing a state tax return in Nevada? He might come home here and there but nothing for months.

As for auto insurance, should they be informed of his status. He drives one of the cars for school. Would it make sense to register the car in Nevada? I take it that it might make sense for him to get a driver license in Nevada also.

Anything else I need to consider?


thank you......
by DavidW
Wed Feb 15, 2023 12:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Miele washer/dryer
Replies: 17
Views: 3131

Re: Miele washer/dryer

I still have my Miele Washer/Dryer since 1996. bought them new and some repair here and there. super reliable. You can't go wrong with them. I now retired my original machine and moved it into the garage for washing garage and dog stuff. Bought another one 18 years ago (a year old) and mainly use for family items...

You would be surprise how many can be found on Craigslist. I am kidding but I bought another miele dryer for $15 because the lady bought a new washer/dryer didn't want the old miele dryer.....
by DavidW
Mon Nov 28, 2022 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tech industry potential severance payout - take it or stay?
Replies: 21
Views: 1940

Re: Tech industry potential severance payout - take it or stay?

If they are paying you out almost 85% of your pay, I wonder if taxes would be adjusted to assume you make a lot more. You may want to check with your accountant to see if you need to adjust your withholdings.

Others might have covered this but finding work could take longer as there are lots of other large firms doing the same. I know many consultants burn through their reserve while on the bench.

Good luck.....
by DavidW
Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Roth 401K vs. Traditional 401K for Recent College Graduate?
Replies: 6
Views: 514

Re: Roth 401K vs. Traditional 401K for Recent College Graduate?

It is impossible to estimate what will happen with our tax system in 50 years. If I had to do it over ago (53 now), I would have opted for the Roth 401k. I am facing huge tax bill when RMD begins... I will be paying in tax brackets above my current brackets....

You didn't mentioned taxed account but that will come in handy for home, cars, vacations, kids expenses in the near future.
by DavidW
Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: auto tire pressure
Replies: 68
Views: 6050

Re: auto tire pressure

Another way to simplify adjusting the air pressure is to fill the tires the day before, slightly over the limit. The next morning, you can easily release the air to the correct amount. This avoid having to run the air compressor early in the morning or drive to the gas station and heating up the tires.
by DavidW
Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cleaning a water heater
Replies: 34
Views: 3052

Re: Cleaning a water heater

I had to replace my failing HWH a couple of years ago and I have done nothing to it for 20 years, other than replacing the ando rod (way too late by the time I got to it). I also noticed that the gate valve to the HWH isn't working so the plumber had to turn off the mainline into the house. One interesting thing I noticed is that the hot water pressure to my upstairs shower was getting weaker. We removed the shower valve (after turning off the water into the house) and fully exposed the hot and cold water pipes (we can see the copper pipes). We then fully flushed the pipes and my son mentioned that there is a lot of dirt coming out. It could be from the original plumber, not clearing the pipes but I wonder if some of the dirt from the HWH m...
by DavidW
Thu Jul 14, 2022 8:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need a new dishwasher after just 2.5 years
Replies: 99
Views: 14362

Re: Need a new dishwasher after just 2.5 years

I have had my share of bad luck with Samsung as well (with a Chromebook). I will not buy their computers ever again...

as for miele, I have good luck with the washer and dryer. I have had the washer for over 25 years and had to replace the belt ($40) and recently, the hot water inlet valve (bought an after market valve for $15)... small and simple repairs.
by DavidW
Mon Jul 11, 2022 12:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Brownies Stick to Pan
Replies: 22
Views: 3310

Re: Brownies Stick to Pan

I use parchment paper also. You can use 2 pieces, one go from left to right and the one from front to back. This will reduce the chances of a funny corner piece.

You can also use oil/butter as others have suggested. I found that if you follow it with some flour (since you are doing brownies, maybe use cocoa powder), it will lifts out well. I do this with rice flour when I bake sourdough bread....
by DavidW
Fri May 20, 2022 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone have/had pinball machines in your house?
Replies: 26
Views: 3095

Re: Anyone have/had pinball machines in your house?

I too looked into this but was advised by someone who works on these machines that they require a bit of ongoing maintenance. So, something to take into consideration.

BTW, a bit off topic but in Las Vegas, there is a place call Pinball Hall of Fame (4925 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119)

They must have over 100+ pins with some dating back to the 40s. All functional and most are just a quarter. My $20 there last longer there than $20 on a slot machine :)
by DavidW
Tue May 17, 2022 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for a good touring vehicle - sedan, SUV, van?
Replies: 55
Views: 4989

Re: Suggestions for a good touring vehicle - sedan, SUV, van?

I sold my 15 yr old Honda odyssey last year. That was our main touring vehicle for many years. Comfortable seats for 4 people and good cargo capacity. Kids are now grown up and gone. These days we mostly use our Lexus LS for touring. Much more quiet than odyssey. Adequate space for cargo of 2 people. Did a 4000 mile round trip over 3 weeks last summer as rental car was not available at the destination. Much better on the back than odyssey. Interesting.... I am on and off looking at at an LS as I have back issues. I drove my wife's Avalon 2014 for a 3 hour trip and my back paid for it. I have heard that Lexus has gone with stiffer suspension rather than the softer ones in the early LS (LS400 & LS430). How is the ride level? I test drove...
by DavidW
Mon May 16, 2022 5:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mercedes Benz Clean Air Act Settlement??
Replies: 5
Views: 713

Re: Mercedes Benz Clean Air Act Settlement??

It is possible that the settlement could have been claimed already. I would suggest contacting the law firm handling it to see if it has been exercised.

If it hasn't, you could claim the settlement but it requires the vehicle to be "alterned". You can check out https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php discussion on this. Those that have it done noticed a reduction on power. It is a tradeoff...
by DavidW
Mon May 16, 2022 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garden hose nozzle (multi-spray) - any recommendations?
Replies: 21
Views: 1733

Re: Garden hose nozzle (multi-spray) - any recommendations?

+1 on Iconicus comment. works well and I have gone through multiple of other ones as well. The ones with multiple heads eventually fail due to dirt clogging insdie the sprayheads or it won't turn...
by DavidW
Mon May 16, 2022 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: State pension credit purchase question
Replies: 14
Views: 1230

Re: State pension credit purchase question

I could be wrong but I understand that you can transfer funds directly from a 401k plan without having to "cash out" to pay for it. I believe CalPers offers that. You may want to confirm with the administrator
by DavidW
Mon Mar 07, 2022 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Corolla with idle issues, loss of power
Replies: 45
Views: 5044

Re: Corolla with idle issues, loss of power

Maybe someone mentioned this but check the air filter (I presume you have) and the mass air flow sensor. You just need a special cleaner for it. Scotty Kilmer on YouTube covers this frequently.
by DavidW
Sun Dec 12, 2021 2:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Opinion on used Toyota Sienna - too good to be true?
Replies: 21
Views: 2869

Re: Opinion on used Toyota Sienna - too good to be true?

So, my understanding is that carfax may not pickup body repair if the work is done in house. Maybe have a dealer run a full scan to make sure all the indicators look consistent. Some cars have multiple computers and messing with one could impact others.

Also I read that if a car is made for a fleet customer, there is less quality checks before leaving the assembly line.

Maybe budget in unanticipated repair expenses for contingencies.
by DavidW
Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Berkey Water Filter - Any Recommendations?
Replies: 15
Views: 1817

Re: Berkey Water Filter - Any Recommendations?

I don't have the sightglass to assess how much water is in the lower tank... My daughter uses the trick of tapping the side of the container to hear whether there is water or not (like you would with a watermelon).... One thing I forgot. The dispensing of the water relies on having the ability for the bottom section to get air. Otherwise, water would not dispense (much like if you have water in a straw and seal off the upper end of the straw, water would suspense). sometimes, I would have water in the bottom section and as I refill the top, so water would drip down and get into the seal in between. It creates an air barrier and water would dispense but stops (even though you have water). I would have to lift the top portion or put a toothpi...
by DavidW
Fri Nov 26, 2021 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Berkey Water Filter - Any Recommendations?
Replies: 15
Views: 1817

Re: Berkey Water Filter - Any Recommendations?

So, we have ours for 10 years or so. I want to say mines is one size smaller than the biggest one at the time. Overall, I am happy with it. I went from the plastic spout to SS within the last year. Can't say it made a difference but it looks nicer.... Mines is without a stand. Not sure where you will put this but you have to consider the height of the unit and stand. Also, when you refill, you have to be tall enough.... I usually go through a full thing of water in a day or so (more on weekend). I have 2 pairs of the charcoal/chlorine filters so it takes several hours to finish. I think the newer ones have more capacity. every 6 months or so, I have to clean out the charcoal filter. You will know when it needs cleaning as there is still wat...
by DavidW
Wed Nov 10, 2021 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Toilet overflow, water in ceiling
Replies: 21
Views: 2251

Re: Toilet overflow, water in ceiling

This happened to me also but it was the faucet that leaked water into the cabinet and to first floor. I just cut all the soft stuff and dried it for 3 days with a fan. What a hassle. I still need to have it painted.

Sorry to hear what happened to you.
by DavidW
Sun Oct 24, 2021 11:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: WSJ - I Spent 44 Years Studying Retirement. Then I Retired. - David Ekerdt
Replies: 3
Views: 2778

WSJ - I Spent 44 Years Studying Retirement. Then I Retired. - David Ekerdt

I found this interesting article on WSJ about a researcher who studies retirement/aging and now, he himself has retired (a year and half). He is reflecting from the experience and perspective.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/44-years-s ... 1634913113

Probably most of the items have been mentioned by others on this board here but it is interesting to hear it from a person who did this for a living....

If you have time, check out the comments following the article. There seems to have nuggets of good info as well.
by DavidW
Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FIRE and take up a low paying / low stress job - do you stay 'under cover'?
Replies: 77
Views: 8200

Re: FIRE and take up a low paying / low stress job - do you stay 'under cover'?

I think this is a great question. I think in reality it would be very difficult to actually hide your financial situation unless you truly shared no personal information with anyone. (Being in any job where you make 0 personal connection with your colleagues must be miserable.) Ultimately people would get a sense where u live, what vacations you go on, what you do on the weekend, etc. A typical barista doesn’t take their family on international trips and go to high end restaurants, live in certain neighborhoods, etc. so if you actually did make and have a lot of $$ it would be hard to hide. If I did it, I would just carry on and let people guess/figure it out. One of the benefits of FIRE is you dont have to care what people think. Similarl...
by DavidW
Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I'm Ready to Buy a DashCam. Help me find some Options!
Replies: 16
Views: 2678

Re: I'm Ready to Buy a DashCam. Help me find some Options!

I ended up with Rexing in case you are open to looking at models with fewer options. https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Dashboard-Recorder-G-Sensor-Recording/dp/B01EX8ATKK/ref=sr_1_3?tag=bogleheads.org-20&sr=8-3 I tried other brands and I noticed that some do not survive the summer heat of Sacramento (110 max). Rexing seems to hold up well for the last 5 years. Couple of things I learned over the last 5 years with this. >> The internal battery will need to be eventually replaced. The Rexing can be replaced but will require soldering (which isn't too difficult). The battery was less than $5 but has a red and black lead that needs to be soldered onto the board. >> I was also told to occasionally "reformat" the SD chip. Sometimes, it...
by DavidW
Sun Sep 19, 2021 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Kitchen trash bags that don't rip?
Replies: 39
Views: 4007

Re: Kitchen trash bags that don't rip?

Same here. No problems.

We don't put paper or junk mail with sharp corners. However, if you haven't change what you toss in the trash, then it is probably a bad batch of bags. Costco will give you back your money but it is a hassle.

See if you can find the batch number or something on the box. Or buy the bags from a different costco...
by DavidW
Sun Sep 19, 2021 9:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: California Property Taxes Question
Replies: 13
Views: 1844

Re: California Property Taxes Question

Sorry, one other thing. Some insurance companies are either not insuring homes or increasing the premiums by 2-5x in certain high-risk areas (fires). You may want to check that also.
by DavidW
Sun Sep 19, 2021 9:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tramontina vs Carote nonstick pan
Replies: 5
Views: 1389

Re: Tramontina vs Carote nonstick pan

Here is something to check out. They cover non-stick, carbon steel and cast iron.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TH0kEjezXs

I prefer the last two as they do a good job cooking. Non stick requires care and not over heating (create toxic fumes).
by DavidW
Sun Sep 19, 2021 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: California Property Taxes Question
Replies: 13
Views: 1844

Re: California Property Taxes Question

I am not sure how prevalent this is in SD but I heard that it is very difficult to find contractors at this time. You probably know that once the work starts, they will find other things to fix....

The property tax bill includes other costs that are added on top of the 1% purchase price. You may want to ask for a copy of the former property tax bill to see what else is included.
by DavidW
Sun Sep 19, 2021 12:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trailer wiring - 14 gauge wire instead of 12 gauge
Replies: 11
Views: 3788

Re: Trailer wiring - 14 gauge wire instead of 12 gauge

Thank you all. I should have included the item (https://www.amazon.com/CURT-55563-Custo ... B001GMX918). I will take everyone's advice and use a 12 gauge wire. I will probably run 2 wires so that I have backup for future projects. Thank you all for your input....
by DavidW
Sat Sep 18, 2021 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trailer wiring - 14 gauge wire instead of 12 gauge
Replies: 11
Views: 3788

Trailer wiring - 14 gauge wire instead of 12 gauge

Hi all

I bought a trailer wiring kit for my Lexus rx330 from Curt via ebay. It was missing the wiring to run from the battery to the controller so I used a 16' piece of 14 gauge wire. The fuse is 10 amp. After I have it all wired, I googled and learned that I should have used a 12 gauge wire.

Should I swap out the wire? or this will be OK? I don't tow that often but wanted to have this in case I need to....

Thanks....
by DavidW
Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New inheritance...need guidance
Replies: 11
Views: 2549

Re: New inheritance...need guidance

PNWpilot wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:52 pm Paying off your home makes a lot of sense. $260k at 1.8% x30 years is nearly $80k in interest depending on how many years you have left on the loan. There's a lot of freedom that comes with paying off your mortgage that will likely be invaluable to you and your family as well.
+1. No matter what happens to the economy/jobs..., you and your family will have a home you own.
by DavidW
Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Combined Pension and SS Income
Replies: 31
Views: 4281

Re: Combined Pension and SS Income

+1 on Kenkat.

Taking SS early might be advantageous if you have health conditions but otherwise, converting your tIRA will help offset the dreaded RMD... Just make sure you a bit extra to cover the taxes...
by DavidW
Fri Aug 20, 2021 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exchanging Loose Coins for cash (or deposit) at banks. Solutions? Help?
Replies: 62
Views: 6036

Re: Exchanging Loose Coins for cash (or deposit) at banks. Solutions? Help?

Not sure if you considered donation but you can get the donated value and let someone else handle it

Some cash heavy business might have a coin sorting machine and they can help sort out the coins. Just grab some high value coins everytime you go shopping at a grocery store that has self service payment. Use coinstar for pennies and nickels

Also, there are collectors out there always looking for older pennies. Maybe you can weigh the pennies and exchange the coins
by DavidW
Fri Aug 20, 2021 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exchanging Loose Coins for cash (or deposit) at banks. Solutions? Help?
Replies: 62
Views: 6036

Re: Exchanging Loose Coins for cash (or deposit) at banks. Solutions? Help?

Not sure if you considered donation but you can get the donated value and let someone else handle it

Some cash heavy business might have a coin sorting machine and they can help sort out the coins. Just grab some high value coins everytime you go shopping at a grocery store that has self service payment. Use coinstar for pennies and nickels

Also, there are collectors out there always looking for older pennies. Maybe you can weigh the pennies and exchange the coins
by DavidW
Sun Aug 15, 2021 7:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is the secret to long term wealth as simple as living below your means and investing in a low cost index fund
Replies: 221
Views: 34301

Re: Is the secret to long term wealth as simple as living below your means and investing in a low cost index fund

As others have shared, it is simple plan but not easy to live by. It is a daily effort and impacts many of your decisions. The Jones’s are all around you and you have to ignore them. However, you will eventually separate from the pack and the reward will be there. It will also bring a sense of peace that you don’t have to adhere to what others are doing.

This a journey thing and not a destination thing as you will find that there a very few you can share your success and information with.

If you haven’t already done so, take a look at Dr Stanley’s book on the Millionaire.

Good luck
by DavidW
Sun Aug 08, 2021 1:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What all do you track on your spreadsheet?
Replies: 118
Views: 17209

Re: What all do you track on your spreadsheet?

I have my spreadsheets similar to others but I have also >> all my logins and hints of passwords. I try to print out a paper copy every few years and store it with my other legal papers. >> I have a spreadsheet of my last 10 years of fed/state tax returns. I track the line items that are more of my interest (wages, foreign taxes, AGI, ....). It worked great until the changes in the tax return a couple of years ago. The nice thing is that you can estimate your taxes, especially with changes to the tax code. I foresaw the impact with $10K SALT limit and made adjustments. >> the typical, when should I retire spreadsheet... >> I recently did a forecast of my portfolio if I convert all my 401k to a Roth 401k before and during RMD. I included the...
by DavidW
Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Toyota Sequoia?
Replies: 42
Views: 5467

Re: New Toyota Sequoia?

I have been researching on a Sequoia for a month now and here are some of my observations The pricing is quite high due to a shortage of supply (at least for the used car). In my quest to boil the ocean, I found this interesting report from Manheim (https://publish.manheim.com/content/dam/consulting/ManheimUsedVehicleValueIndex-WebTable.png). Manheim is a large auction house for used cars and that is where dealers buy and sell cars. The report shows the pricing of used car market on an index basis. You can see that in the last month, used car prices may have peaked.... However, there is a long way down to normal prices. One thing that wasn't mentioned but I am looking into is the 3rd row. I have 3 adult children so I was looking closely at ...
by DavidW
Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost to keep Beater Truck?
Replies: 33
Views: 4139

Re: Cost to keep Beater Truck?

I am kind of in a similar situation (don't mean to hijack your thread). I have a family of 5 but my cars (camry/avalon)/suv (rx330) can barely fit 5. I was thinking of buying a used minivan(sienna) or large suv (sequoia) but I would only use it when all 5 of us travel together (or with others joining us). I even thought about buying a used Crown Vic (cop car) just for that purpose.

The cost to maintain/insurance/registration would run about $800-1000/yr. I don't own a boat or have a need to tow (maybe occasion trip to the dump with my friend's trailer)

I had a Sprinter van but my young adult son converted to his vanllife/mancave on wheels...

What are your thoughts?
by DavidW
Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vaccum recommendation?
Replies: 43
Views: 3891

Re: Vaccum recommendation?

+1 on Miele

I have several of them.

You can find them on Craigslist. The canister model is better than the upright (from what others have said on other boards).

The cord tends to be short so you might need to move around
by DavidW
Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leaving California, will I be taxed?
Replies: 15
Views: 2831

Re: Leaving California, will I be taxed?

Maybe too late but I found this article and perhaps it will be helpful to others https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2021/12/29/california-lost-elon-musk-will-133-tax-or-increases-get-you/?sh=2238dac959d5 California Lost Elon Musk, Will 13.3% Tax Or Increases Get You? Most of us could use some good news these days, so here is a little. Two highly controversial tax bills pending in California appear to have died on the vine, at least for now. Technically, with the legislative session ending in the Golden State, they would need to be re-introduced to face a vote and pass. AB 1253 would have increased California’s already stratospheric 13.3% income tax rate to 16.8% on some high income individuals—retroactive to January 1, 2020. The second...
by DavidW
Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How do you calculate how much do you need to save for retirement?
Replies: 11
Views: 1607

Re: How do you calculate how much do you need to save for retirement?

I think others have covered most of the items.

I did a quick check and assume you can only work 25, rather than the 30 years, you will be a bit short on your goal of $6000 ($5640).

Maybe build a buffer so that if you have to quit after 25 years, you are covered. If you can work after year 25, then it gives you the chance to walk off if things aren't going well at work and you can retire on the spot :)

Good Luck
by DavidW
Mon Jan 11, 2021 12:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a used rental car?
Replies: 22
Views: 2085

Re: Buying a used rental car?

I don't have personal experience on buying a rental but learned the following from Scotty Kilmer (youtube car mechanic).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4HBV8t1hk

I recognize that he probably sees cars when there are problems and maybe most rentals are ok. Just something to be aware....
by DavidW
Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Warm coat recommendations
Replies: 93
Views: 7200

Re: Warm coat recommendations

Wings2525 wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:07 pm I'm a big proponent and user of Carhartt products. They are rugged and durable. I use them for ice fishing, snowmobiling and outdoor construction in winter. Carhartt has always served me well.
I agree about Carhartt.... It can a be a bit pricey but they are as tough as they come. They have super large pockets and you can put a lot of items in them ...
by DavidW
Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much can one reasonably negotiate on a new car?
Replies: 82
Views: 8157

Re: How much can one reasonably negotiate on a new car?

Maybe this is cover in one of the many replies.

I have had good luck with buying cars in large market, mainly southern Cal. I would find the model I want and call every dealer in Southern Cal and ask for the fleet manager. I would work on them on the price over the phone. Oncce it is agreed upon, i get an email with the vin number to confirm the price. It is a matter of getting to the dealer.... I am looking at $2000 or so in savings compare to local market (Sacramento area)....

I think the fleet manager is compensated differently than your typical salesperson (exclusively comission only)...

good luck
by DavidW
Sun Nov 29, 2020 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wall Street Journal Black Friday offer
Replies: 10
Views: 2622

Re: Wall Street Journal Black Friday offer

For those of you that llive in Callfornia, I believe the "California State Library" has online subscription to WSJ and NYT. You will need their online library card but you can access the article at no cost. there are some querks to how you access the article but it is worth the cost....

https://www.library.ca.gov/services/online-resources/#W
by DavidW
Sun Nov 29, 2020 5:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why Would All Four Tires Have Slow Air Leaks?
Replies: 104
Views: 17451

Re: Why Would All Four Tires Have Slow Air Leaks?

My wife's car had an issue with a slow leak on one tire. The cause turned out to be the chrome on her wheels. Americas Tire (or Discount Tire in other parts of the country) grinded portion of the rim .... Other posters mentioned the same thing. Maybe it could be addressed that way.....
by DavidW
Mon May 25, 2020 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What will you NOT buy online?
Replies: 96
Views: 8871

Re: What will you NOT buy online?

Parts for the house. Sometimes the parts look similar but not exact (especially plumbing items). You want to make sure it is identical or your repair takes longer.

Sometimes the return is your dime or may require seller's approval... a hassle....
by DavidW
Mon May 25, 2020 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pandemic buys that have improved quality of life?
Replies: 185
Views: 23260

Re: Pandemic buys that have improved quality of life?

extra monitor for WFH. I splurged and got a 34" curved screen. Repurposed with other furniture for the office setup...