Search found 464 matches
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Germany/Austria Travelers
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1620
Re: Germany/Austria Travelers
As much as I don't want to, I think the best solution is to skip Prague. Heading that far north puts us away from Munich and causes too much back tracking. If we go from Vienna (and a day trip to Bratislava) towards Salzburg (been to the city before but probably a lot more to explore nearby) and then eventually up to Munich that works better. Then from around Munich we can move towards Strassbourgh and the return airport at CDG (barring a change). We should have a good 7-10 days to go from Munich to Paris and can make a few 2-3 day stops along the way. Maybe places like Berchtesgarden, Liechtenstein, Freiburg (Breisgau) or some small scenic places in the Black Forest, to Strassbourg or any interesting towns in south east France. I'll have ...
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Selling house after 33 year; realtor distrust
- Replies: 86
- Views: 9851
Re: Selling house after 33 year; realtor distrust
Well, you said you’d end up with $1M you don’t even need - what’s the problem here?
I’ve done a private sale, but it was to an acquaintance so it was fine and never on the market. If you need to access the open market, you need MLS. Like it or not, the system is what it is. Pay the fee, move on, not worth the stress.
I’ve done a private sale, but it was to an acquaintance so it was fine and never on the market. If you need to access the open market, you need MLS. Like it or not, the system is what it is. Pay the fee, move on, not worth the stress.
- Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Shatter my Van Life Dreams
- Replies: 65
- Views: 8429
Re: Shatter my Van Life Dreams
Mid-size hybrid SUV with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs and a Casita camper. Casitas are made of two pieces of fiberglass and last forever, they are the Camry of RVs. You’ll eventually need a new vehicle anyway, and a Casita weighs about 2500 lbs.
Towing is really quite easy. Just don’t max out your towing capacity. Leave at minimum 1000-1500 lbs of capacity.
Casita runs about 30k and they hold their value well, unlike most RVs.
Towing is really quite easy. Just don’t max out your towing capacity. Leave at minimum 1000-1500 lbs of capacity.
Casita runs about 30k and they hold their value well, unlike most RVs.
- Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: oil change frequency
- Replies: 37
- Views: 4490
Re: oil change frequency
10k intervals is supposedly done to keep the total cost of ownership numbers down. Me, it’s every 5-6k for our Toyotas.
- Sun Jan 14, 2024 8:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Munich in July
- Replies: 23
- Views: 2192
Re: Munich in July
I grew up in the area (in Salzburg, 1 hour from Munich). A few recommendations that could be fun (you need a car for nearly all of them): - In Munich visit the Market "Viktualienmarkt". Go there in the morning and eat "Weisswurst", a typical white sausage from Munich. Make sure you eat it before 11 AM (tradition). - If you like cars: make sure you visit the BMW World. Its really fascinating. - Boat trip on the Lake Königsee, beautiful alpine surroundings https://www.seenschifffahrt.de/de/koenigssee/ - Mountain top visit Schafberg, take the cable car up and enjoy the beautiful scenery. After- take a dip in the beautiful lake. https://wolfgangsee.salzkammergut.at/magazin/der-schafberg.html - Visit the Augustiner Bräu in S...
- Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Family of 4 debating 3 row SUV
- Replies: 71
- Views: 7654
Re: Family of 4 debating 3 row SUV
Have 3 kids, ages 1-8, wife wanted a Highlander Hybrid, wife got her Highlander Hybrid. Now she reluctantly wishes she got a Sienna Hybrid, like I said from the start….
Get over it and just get a Sienna is my advice.
Get over it and just get a Sienna is my advice.
- Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Carry on luggage
- Replies: 40
- Views: 6700
Re: Carry on luggage
Check out the onebag community on Reddit or search it on YouTube. I’m using an Osprey Porter 46, not fully packed. I use compression packing cubes to contain/compress and do laundry once or twice.
This option doesn’t have wheels so you’ll have to be okay carrying backpack style, which I am. The backpack straps on many bags pack away completely so they can be stowed easily.
Osprey Farpoint 40 is the Toyota Camry of onebag travel.
This option doesn’t have wheels so you’ll have to be okay carrying backpack style, which I am. The backpack straps on many bags pack away completely so they can be stowed easily.
Osprey Farpoint 40 is the Toyota Camry of onebag travel.
- Mon Nov 06, 2023 4:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lawyers who left the practice of law: what do you do, and how'd you get there?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 10234
Re: Lawyers who left the practice of law: what do you do, and how'd you get there?
Not a lawyer, but an option I have seen is to manage contracting departments of businesses who have to do a lot of procurement. You review and negotiate contracts on behalf of the business. Get a clause in your contract for a small % of demonstrated savings and get to work saving your future employer money, with a recurring revenue stream that benefits you and your teams compensation.
- Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 10080
Re: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
I always go for a professional when electricity or water is involved. I live in a condo and don’t want to cause big problems that I am liable to fix. This is wise, as mentioned above I do side work as a handyman and I actually turned down a garbage disposal replacement just yesterday because it requires touching both plumbing and electrical, both of which I am not licensed for and therefore do not want to be liable for. Ironically, my cautious approach means I probably do better work than people who don’t worry about pesky things like insurance… but I call a licensed electrician to check the work I do on my own house to ensure everything is safe and code compliant, even though I read the code beforehand. The OP was correct to hire the plum...
- Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 10080
Re: Should I pay more for a plumber to install garbage disposal versus a handyman?
What’s really bothering me here is that the handyman is charging $90 an hour. (Plus a 2 hour minimum.). I have a side business doing small handyman projects, and I am insured but not licensed, as I do not do any work requiring permits. I have to quote, plan, load tools, drive to pick up materials, drive to the job site using gas and putting miles on my truck, do the work which the homeowner never accurately describes unless I quote in person to physically see it myself, clean up, drive home, unload my tools, and do my accounting. $100/hr is the standard for full-time handyman. I charge less because it is a side gig and I have much less overhead, but not that much less. Most of my bids are done as fixed price so I don’t have to explain to c...
- Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 9429
Re: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
I'm sure McDs would love to have your data This is what I am worried about. I don't like having to download an app for every store I go to, and having to give them my password. You use a different password for every app, correct? Using a password manager? What if someone hacks into your password manager? I will let the security experts chime in. But as far as I'm aware it is highly recommended to use password managers with complex and unique passwords. If you use Google and have a Google account, you can have Google suggest passwords and store them. It works best in a desktop browser, mixed success on mobile. Just make sure your Google account password is unique, strong and memorable. 12 characters minimum, letters and numbers. 16 is the g...
- Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 9429
Re: Any benefits for downloading McDonald's Phone App?
Lol, I thought the same thing. I don’t think a half dozen chicken nuggets and a small fry are gonna be what does anyone in, and I like to exercise and eat healthy 98% of the time. But when the kids want nuggets… we’re getting nuggets!
OP, yes it is worthwhile. We use the buy 20 nuggets, get two any size fry free deal. 3 kids split the nuggets, we all share the two large fries, me and Mom get a burger or sandwich. We’re all fed on the go for $15!
- Mon Sep 18, 2023 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is/Was Motorsports in your retirement budget?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1510
Re: Is/Was Motorsports in your retirement budget?
I don’t think it’s responsible or safe to be wheel to wheel racing in your 70s or 80s. Phase out the racing, phase in the sunny day cruising. Plenty of ways to enjoy motor sports that don’t endanger others.
- Wed Jul 12, 2023 10:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Supporting a Grandnephew's College Education w/o Deincentivizing his Parents??
- Replies: 81
- Views: 7914
Re: Supporting a Grandnephew's College Education w/o Deincentivizing his Parents??
Lots of complicated replies IMO Make it simple and discuss it when he’s 17 and preparing to apply for colleges. “We recognize you have worked hard in school, we are proud of you and we’d like to provide you with a 4-year scholarship of $10,000 per year, contingent on maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Payments will be $5000 per semester after sending a final grade report.” That’s how just about every scholarship I got worked, and it seems like a simple and reasonable way to handle it. I paid my own way plus scholarships and I would have been absolutely over the moon happy to have had a guaranteed scholarship like that! Edit: I would also encourage the student to do a semester abroad and pay for that assuming 4 semesters of meeting the GPA criteria. My ...
- Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I get new car? Go EV? If so, which?
- Replies: 133
- Views: 11584
Re: Should I get new car? Go EV? If so, which?
Dude, an EV is like 3 weeks of household income for you. Enjoy your new vehicle! You can look up charging rates for Level 1 charging - long story short plan on 4 miles of range per hour charged. If you get home at 5:30 PM and charge it until 6:30 AM, you will easily get 50 miles of range added. I hired an electrician to pre-wire my garage with a 240v outlet (50 amp circuit) during a renovation before I closed in the panel in the basement. He did it as side work. Materials were about 300 - I forget the gauge but it was probably 4 gauge wire and it is surprisingly expensive (I purchased the wire myself at his direction). My total cost was about 800, so his side work of labor was 500. $2000 does not seem totally unreasonable when hiring via a ...
- Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Go go, slow go, no go years in retirement
- Replies: 87
- Views: 9813
Re: Go go, slow go, no go years in retirement
I am many years your junior (in my 30s) but recently learned about the difference between lifespan and healthspan. Lifespan is actual years lived, healthspan is years lived that are worth living (open to your own interpretation of what that means).
Dollar wise, we’ve crossed the safety threshold where our money will grow enough that we’ll be okay. Health wise, I have accepted that I will never be able to stop exercising and caring for my body if I want a long and pleasant healthspan.
It is never too late to get moving and make changes.
Dollar wise, we’ve crossed the safety threshold where our money will grow enough that we’ll be okay. Health wise, I have accepted that I will never be able to stop exercising and caring for my body if I want a long and pleasant healthspan.
It is never too late to get moving and make changes.
- Thu Jul 06, 2023 1:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. Can I? Should I?
- Replies: 103
- Views: 9626
Re: 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. Can I? Should I?
Hi, I don't have anywhere near your net worth or income, but I do own a 2006 Miata I recently purchased for $8500. It scratches my itch for fun because they are perfectly balanced 50/50 cars and they handle incredibly well - often Miatas will catch MUCH faster cars on tracks in the corners, though they can't catch them in straight line speed. You will probably not be able to order a new Cayman at this point anyway even with all the money in the world, so look used where you can find a nice S for 40-50k or consider a Miata for a year as an inexpensive way to find out if you actually enjoy sports cars. Seriously, they are a lot of fun. A 2019+ RF Miata is a very good looking car with a more powerful motor and will run you 25k and never have w...
- Fri Jun 30, 2023 8:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying land with family members
- Replies: 48
- Views: 7078
Re: Buying land with family members
OP replied but not to me… yeah this is not going to end well. You all need to find your own parcels a few miles apart and enjoy having some neighbors between you.
- Fri Jun 30, 2023 4:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying land with family members
- Replies: 48
- Views: 7078
Re: Buying land with family members
This is an interesting one. I think it could go either way.
I personally would not ask the 1/3 owners to pay more per acre if you are buying it as a bulk purchase with pooled money. However, it is certainly not uncommon for a seller to subdivide and ask a per-acre premium for smaller pieces.
Do you need their money to make the purchase happen? Why are they even interested? Do you have a warm relationship with them (like do you want a family hunting camp situation?)or is it transactional like you’re making a mutual investment in agricultural land?
I personally would not ask the 1/3 owners to pay more per acre if you are buying it as a bulk purchase with pooled money. However, it is certainly not uncommon for a seller to subdivide and ask a per-acre premium for smaller pieces.
Do you need their money to make the purchase happen? Why are they even interested? Do you have a warm relationship with them (like do you want a family hunting camp situation?)or is it transactional like you’re making a mutual investment in agricultural land?
- Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:39 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: investing in active institutional farmland management
- Replies: 82
- Views: 6121
Re: investing in active institutional farmland management
Be sure to perform due diligence as it relates to climate change and water availability. In western Kansas, Nebraska etc as the Ogalalla aquifer comes closer to depletion, farmers are running out of water to pump. Land prices are falling there - I saw some advertised below $1000/acre recently. The smart money is getting out, as it will be a desert in 30 more years.
Surprise, corn doesn’t grow well in areas that get 15-20 inches of rain a year without irrigation. Who would have thought…
Surprise, corn doesn’t grow well in areas that get 15-20 inches of rain a year without irrigation. Who would have thought…
- Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Strategy for last internal combustion engine car
- Replies: 75
- Views: 6499
Re: Strategy for last internal combustion engine car
I don't have such a thing now. Many millions of people in the US don't have such a thing now. I think that this is why widespread EV adoption is at least a few decades away. Retrofitting apartments, condos, and so on to support at-residence charging will cost a fortune, and is there even widespread demand for it? Maybe on the coasts or in highly urban areas, but in middle America/flyover country? I just don’t see it. The US is divided, in more ways than just politically—driving between population centers that are east of I-35 is a completely different experience than driving between those that are west of I-35. A four hour drive in the east can likely get you to another state and the charging infrastructure is probably sufficient. A four h...
- Wed Jun 14, 2023 12:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Land Purchase Sanity Check
- Replies: 62
- Views: 5168
Re: Land Purchase Sanity Check
Well, first question: have you lived through an entire Montana winter? It will be a very expensive endeavor if you end up finding out bitter cold and never ending wind are not something you enjoy for 6-8 months of the year. That part of the state has also has to contend with socked in overcast, imo depressing, winters as well. Right. I think $10,000-15,000 for a 4 week “vacation” in December or January would be money well spent in this situation. There’s a reason really rich people have vacation homes in the mountains and not their primary homes… it’s wonderful to stop in/out for a ski holiday, it’s absolutely miserable to be there for a 6 month winter, sitting in your (hopefully) heated UTV plowing snow for the 68th time just so you can d...
- Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:56 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Land Purchase Sanity Check
- Replies: 62
- Views: 5168
Re: Land Purchase Sanity Check
Well, first question: have you lived through an entire Montana winter?
It will be a very expensive endeavor if you end up finding out bitter cold and never ending wind are not something you enjoy for 6-8 months of the year.
It will be a very expensive endeavor if you end up finding out bitter cold and never ending wind are not something you enjoy for 6-8 months of the year.
- Thu May 25, 2023 10:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Looking for Direction (Burnout/Mid-Life Crisis?)
- Replies: 46
- Views: 8236
Re: Looking for Direction (Burnout/Mid-Life Crisis?)
FMLA for 12 weeks to get calmed down and recentered, with weekly therapy visits, a lot of time exercising in the sunlight, and taking care of your mind and your body.
Return to work for 3 years (maybe you can even transfer to a lower pace job?) to get the pension (it is useful after all, and you’re so close!) and then I think assuming your expenses are reasonable, quit working for good.
Return to work for 3 years (maybe you can even transfer to a lower pace job?) to get the pension (it is useful after all, and you’re so close!) and then I think assuming your expenses are reasonable, quit working for good.
- Thu May 25, 2023 1:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Looking for a work truck: Is this a good deal?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1620
Re: Looking for a work truck: Is this a good deal?
I drive a pickup truck (Tundra) and I take my Segway electric scooter everywhere I can for small local errands. Love it. Anyway, I personally would suggest you replace the Malibu with a small gas efficient SUV (CR-V, etc) with a tow rating of a couple thousand pounds so you can tow a 5x8 or so trailer as needed. I have rented U-Haul trailers before for very large loads, it’s a minor inconvenience at most, because you don’t need a second driver like you would with a box truck rental. I use my truck often for “truck stuff” but personally wouldn’t suggest one as a second vehicle for most people. We take my wife’s Highlander Hybrid almost everywhere instead. Edit: looks like the Bogleheads darling, the RAV4, can tow 3500 lbs when configured wit...
- Tue May 23, 2023 5:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bicycle Recommendations?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 4397
Re: Bicycle Recommendations?
You can also try a cyclo-cross style bike. They have drop/curved bars usually but have wider tires and disc or cantilever brakes. More for on and off road riding. Better for gravel and mixed paved trails. Unless you race cyclocross, I would steer you towards a gravel bike instead, which is very similar but has several advantages. First, gravel bikes typically have more comfortable geometry. Cyclocross bikes are usually more racy with a lower handlebar position. Gravel bikes often have better gearing options for getting up steep hills and wider tire clearances, giving you more options of where you ride. Nowadays, there are some cyclocross bikes that blur the lines between them, but in general gravel is going to be superior for most riders, ...
- Tue May 09, 2023 10:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Porsche recommendation 1980 to 2000
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2274
Re: Porsche recommendation 1980 to 2000
I own a Miata and love the convertible but hardtops are better for rigidity, so there is a reason to stick with them.
Agreed on auto, you might check with your wife if she even actually wants to drive it… I would never own an automatic sports car. I love engaging with the car.
Not sure why you’d want a 20-40 year old Porsche unless you like spending boatloads of money. Brand new or lightly used Cayman S or Boxster S is the easy button answer here, depending on if you want a drop top.
- Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Hotel recommendation (or at least what area) in DC
- Replies: 64
- Views: 5097
Re: Hotel recommendation (or at least what area) in DC
I didn’t read the whole thread but I have been to DC twice, once we stayed near Georgetown and once at the Hilton Capitol Hill. I much preferred the Hilton as we didn’t have to use the metro at all, not that there is anything wrong with the metro, but it was nice to walk for 10 minutes and be on the mall. There’s busses on the mall that are free if I recall, they run a loop so you don’t have to walk 3 miles each way or whatever if you don’t want to.
- Sun Mar 05, 2023 12:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Austin for Formula 1 October 19-22
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1619
Re: Austin for Formula 1 October 19-22
Friends went a few years ago and it took several hours to exit the track, so I’d plan on traveling home on the Monday following. They drove and it made for a VERY late (maybe all night?) drive home.
- Mon Feb 27, 2023 11:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2222
Re: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent
I have a kodiak canvas truck tent and the quality is very good in my opinion. I would assume that translates to their ground tents as well.
Yes it is heavy, yes you have to dry it, but it will keep you warm and dry unlike many nylon tents.
Yes it is heavy, yes you have to dry it, but it will keep you warm and dry unlike many nylon tents.
- Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice for student looking at psychology careers?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 4929
Re: Advice for student looking at psychology careers?
There is a lot of demand for behavioral health nurses, if going the RN-BSN route is something she would be interested in, and being a nurse generally means a decent wage.
- Fri Feb 17, 2023 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
- Replies: 117
- Views: 12416
Re: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
I think open plan is a fashion, and will go out of fashion. Conversely, I think walling off every room was an artifact from European aristocracy trying to stay separate from the servants IMHO a more communal/open house is more “Lindy” (to use a Taleb-ism) Also probably of structure - the limit to the size which could be spanned? The problem is one of acoustic privacy. I certainly know people with open plans who regret it when they have teenagers. Having that one room that can be closed off - either to contain the chaos or to preserve sanity. (Open plan you do need servants - or at least a cleaning person). I don't know the word Lindy. But I do observe that things come in and out of fashion in houses. I see Victorian houses being remodelled...
- Fri Feb 17, 2023 8:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
- Replies: 117
- Views: 12416
Re: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
You said you were going to get rid of the porch, but I would suggest you do the opposite - build a full length front porch! Think southern plantation house.This will make a notable difference in thermal transfer to the first floor, and sitting out front and watching the world go by is a joy. Plus, without a front porch your packages will get soaked in the rain! You likely can’t fit a 3 car garage, but try and give yourself an extra 8-10 feet of depth on the right side where you can set up storage and a workbench or whatever you need. A 10x12 space would be a huge help. Interesting idea. Something like this? https://cdn.houseplansservices.com/product/898eed6c8256abdeb8397da04ace5b362951e8cc79991fce9ae1a8c1f3ceaed2/w800x533.jpg?v=11 That’s e...
- Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
- Replies: 117
- Views: 12416
Re: Building a House -- Criticize My Decision and Floor Plan
You said you were going to get rid of the porch, but I would suggest you do the opposite - build a full length front porch! Think southern plantation house.This will make a notable difference in thermal transfer to the first floor, and sitting out front and watching the world go by is a joy. Plus, without a front porch your packages will get soaked in the rain!
You likely can’t fit a 3 car garage, but try and give yourself an extra 8-10 feet of depth on the right side where you can set up storage and a workbench or whatever you need. A 10x12 space would be a huge help.
You likely can’t fit a 3 car garage, but try and give yourself an extra 8-10 feet of depth on the right side where you can set up storage and a workbench or whatever you need. A 10x12 space would be a huge help.
- Sun Feb 12, 2023 2:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Exotic cars
- Replies: 164
- Views: 10477
Re: Exotic cars
Porsche Cayman is the answer to this question IMO. Starts in the 60s and in the top trim is about as fast (in some cases faster) than a 911.
They are surprisingly, almost unbelievably reliable. It is a Porsche so it’s not cheap to maintain like a Honda, but people put 150,000 miles on Caymans.
They are surprisingly, almost unbelievably reliable. It is a Porsche so it’s not cheap to maintain like a Honda, but people put 150,000 miles on Caymans.
- Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:34 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Basement Finishing Financing
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4258
Re: Basement Finishing Financing
You don’t need an architect but you do need detailed plans for the permit, which mainly means the framing structure, electrical and plumbing. A competent contractor can take care of this for you in consultation with you.
- Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Basement Finishing Financing
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4258
Re: Basement Finishing Financing
I think if you can't pay cash, you can't afford it. I'd keep saving and do it when you can pay cash. This may be the 20s but it ain't the 1920's. We have fully transitioned in to a debt based society and current costs of labor and goods reflect it. Also, considering rampant wage stagnation there aren't any alternatives either. If we kept "saving up" for everything we'd never have anything on time (eg: affording a basement finish AFTER kids are grown up and gone). Ask those who kept saving for 20% down and then saw prices sky rocket during the pandemic. Most missed the boat on purchasing their primary residence. I'm not saying it's best practice but let's not try to impart age old wisdom that hasn't been applicable for decades at ...
- Sun Feb 12, 2023 7:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Basement Finishing Financing
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4258
Re: Basement Finishing Financing
Is this something you just decided to do? If you have $2,500/mo in cash surplus and planned ahead, you could easily save up sufficient funds to tackle your project. In fact, you can do the project in stages which may be advantageous in several ways. Waterproofing and egress window first. (Don't forget, if your children are young and you plan to just "throw the kids down there", the window needs to be low enough that they will be able to exit the home safely without having to climb up to it.) Now you can put a rug down and the kids can play there if you'd like while you save for the next part of the project. Once funds are available from cash savings, do the rough framing. Next would come plumbing rough-in. Then electrical rough-i...
- Sun Feb 12, 2023 6:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Basement Finishing Financing
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4258
Re: Basement Finishing Financing
I think if you can't pay cash, you can't afford it. I'd keep saving and do it when you can pay cash. This may be the 20s but it ain't the 1920's. We have fully transitioned in to a debt based society and current costs of labor and goods reflect it. Also, considering rampant wage stagnation there aren't any alternatives either. If we kept "saving up" for everything we'd never have anything on time (eg: affording a basement finish AFTER kids are grown up and gone). Ask those who kept saving for 20% down and then saw prices sky rocket during the pandemic. Most missed the boat on purchasing their primary residence. I'm not saying it's best practice but let's not try to impart age old wisdom that hasn't been applicable for decades at ...
- Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Basement Finishing Financing
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4258
Re: Basement Finishing Financing
HELOC or a full-on refinance is probably the best option.
FYI… you may be low on your estimate. I’m currently DIY (re)finishing my basement, which is about 650 square feet. It was already framed, I added new drywall on top of the old paneling. I haven’t added it up, but I’m likely at $7500 or so just in materials + the one outside service I did was having the drywall finished (I hung and taped) for $2500.
Off the top of my head, LVP $2500, Sheetrock $750, Rockwool $750, lumber $300, and many many miscellaneous other items, and I haven’t even bought paint or trim carpentry/door materials. It adds up so fast.
You could reasonably expect $20,000 in materials cost alone for 1200 square feet.
FYI… you may be low on your estimate. I’m currently DIY (re)finishing my basement, which is about 650 square feet. It was already framed, I added new drywall on top of the old paneling. I haven’t added it up, but I’m likely at $7500 or so just in materials + the one outside service I did was having the drywall finished (I hung and taped) for $2500.
Off the top of my head, LVP $2500, Sheetrock $750, Rockwool $750, lumber $300, and many many miscellaneous other items, and I haven’t even bought paint or trim carpentry/door materials. It adds up so fast.
You could reasonably expect $20,000 in materials cost alone for 1200 square feet.
- Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Parking minivan on driveway
- Replies: 72
- Views: 5947
Re: Parking minivan on driveway
I don’t know that it really matters all that much, but I put a windshield reflector in my truck since it faces east. That keeps most of the sun off the dash/interior. Plastics probably don’t crack like in the “olden days” as much but it certainly doesn’t hurt anything. Otherwise, I just keep up on wash/wax to try and extend the life of the exterior plastics.
One thing to consider is the effects of UV on tires, you may need to replace a bit sooner if it’s a 24/7 outdoor vehicle. But if you put on the typical 10-15k per year, you’ll be at 40-50k and time for new ones before you really need to consider that, whereas I work from home so my mileage is pretty low.
One thing to consider is the effects of UV on tires, you may need to replace a bit sooner if it’s a 24/7 outdoor vehicle. But if you put on the typical 10-15k per year, you’ll be at 40-50k and time for new ones before you really need to consider that, whereas I work from home so my mileage is pretty low.
- Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Am I spending too much on home addition?
- Replies: 66
- Views: 5284
Re: Am I spending too much on home addition?
This is an absolutely terrible idea. You’re kneecapping your financial future. You have a great leg up and you’re talking about completely throwing it away AND going into debt on top of that!
You need to add something like a 12x32 foot rectangle on a slab, connected to the house somehow. Two 12x12 bedrooms and an 8x12 Jack and Jill bathroom in the middle. That will get your the space you actually need for probably 100-150k or so (384 sf at $250/sf new build cost)
This type of project can be done start to finish in 2-3 months, too.
You need to add something like a 12x32 foot rectangle on a slab, connected to the house somehow. Two 12x12 bedrooms and an 8x12 Jack and Jill bathroom in the middle. That will get your the space you actually need for probably 100-150k or so (384 sf at $250/sf new build cost)
This type of project can be done start to finish in 2-3 months, too.
- Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:43 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2023 Child Tax Credit
- Replies: 18
- Views: 2680
Re: 2023 Child Tax Credit
A couple of examples: Joe and Laura have income of $100k and will owe $10,000 in tax due after all deductions. They had $8,000 withheld from their pay via W-2, so they will owe $2,000 to the IRS at tax time. Steve and Lisa have income of $100k and will also owe $10,000 in tax due after all deductions. They had $13,000 withheld from their pay via W-2, so they will receive a refund of $3,000 from the IRS. Both couples would qualify for the $4,000 tax credit for 2 children as both had tax liability ($10,000) that was greater than the $4,000 tax credit. Whether they owe money or get a refund at the end of the year does not matter. The tax credit is based on their total tax liability . I also want to say thank you for this example, as I was str...
- Fri Jan 20, 2023 6:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Basement flooring options from Costco
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1480
Re: Basement flooring options from Costco
Rigid plank (snaps together) or glue down? Both are impacted by how level your floor is. A rigid plank product will need your floor to be level, and without peaks or significant cracks. You can initially put the product down over these kinds of imperfections, but the seams will get stressed over time and will eventually pop. A glue down could go down over a floor that's peaked, because the product will bend more easily and doesn't have a locking mechanism that will get stressed. However, these products can be like the princess and the pea - small imperfections in the concrete will become visible through the vinyl over time. You'll see bumps. Borrow a 6' level from someone and see how level your floor really is. Both are great with water, i...
- Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Changing house (or not) as empty nesters
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1529
Re: Changing house (or not) as empty nesters
My vote is: hurry up and wait. No need to make major changes now. Wait until the kids are settled and start talking about grandkids. You’ll know when the right time to move is, when it’s time.
Being a parent of young kids, I will say this - when you do move, get a place with a basement recreation room where you can send the grandkids when they all come visit. My in-laws have 6 grandkids with likely more to come, and visiting their 100+ year old house (more of a cellar than a basement) drives me crazy because there’s nowhere to send the kids to play so it’s loud everywhere all the time.
Being a parent of young kids, I will say this - when you do move, get a place with a basement recreation room where you can send the grandkids when they all come visit. My in-laws have 6 grandkids with likely more to come, and visiting their 100+ year old house (more of a cellar than a basement) drives me crazy because there’s nowhere to send the kids to play so it’s loud everywhere all the time.
- Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Colorado National Park Vacation in Summer
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5883
Re: Colorado National Park Vacation in Summer
OP, another option may be to stay in Grand Lake, Granby, or Winter Park and come into RMNP on the west side. I do not know the status of timed entry from the west entry into the park, if I recall, I don't remember an entry station on that side of the park the couple times we went up that way. Much less crowded on the west side in the summer, awesome hiking in it's own right, I can't speak of options for a 6 yo however. I stayed in Grand Lake this past august and it was nice and chill but it did burn not long ago so not that scenic. You can get in without a timed entry reservation if you are at the west station before 8, if I remember right. At 8 though, it’s only by timed entry I entered at gate open mid-week, I think probably at 6 AM, and...
- Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Building small house yourself as job
- Replies: 80
- Views: 7852
Re: Building small house yourself as job
I’m on day 6 of hanging/finishing Sheetrock by myself in my 650 square foot basement remodel. My shoulders are on fire and my knees hurt bad. Reminded me of this thread. I can’t imagine a full year plus!
- Sat Jan 14, 2023 8:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sub-$500 Home Improvement Projects That Increased Quality of Life
- Replies: 135
- Views: 23200
Re: Sub-$500 Home Improvement Projects That Increased Quality of Life
I am currently doing a basement remodel myself, so I added 4 8-inch in-ceiling speakers to the TV area to make a surround sound system. Removes clutter from the room and they sound awesome. $120 for speakers (you can also get enclosures, but not required) from Monoprice plus another $30 or so in speaker wire.
- Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:35 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Career Location - Mid-Sized vs Large City?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2348
Re: Career Location - Mid-Sized vs Large City?
Well, I suppose like anything, it depends! I would guess that of the people you go drinking with in your 20s, only 20% of them are still close friends in your 30s, and of those only a few would be the type of friends to come help you move a sofa or drop off meals when you have a baby. That doesn’t mean you can’t reach out for help to all those drinking buddies to get your resume higher on the pile, but I wouldn’t call them friends, per se. This is all somewhat patronizing. People in cities have “real” friends too, not just drinking buddies and social climbers. People grow and change over time. Did you know that, sometimes, people go out to bars together, and later they grow older and some of them also have good jobs, kids, and meaningful l...
- Wed Jan 11, 2023 8:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Career Location - Mid-Sized vs Large City?
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2348
Re: Career Location - Mid-Sized vs Large City?
Well, I suppose like anything, it depends! I would guess that of the people you go drinking with in your 20s, only 20% of them are still close friends in your 30s, and of those only a few would be the type of friends to come help you move a sofa or drop off meals when you have a baby. That doesn’t mean you can’t reach out for help to all those drinking buddies to get your resume higher on the pile, but I wouldn’t call them friends, per se. This is all somewhat patronizing. People in cities have “real” friends too, not just drinking buddies and social climbers. People grow and change over time. Did you know that, sometimes, people go out to bars together, and later they grow older and some of them also have good jobs, kids, and meaningful l...