Search found 33 matches

by RootyToot
Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you spend your money on???
Replies: 149
Views: 26144

Re: What do you spend your money on???

Travel-international and domestic
by RootyToot
Mon Aug 24, 2015 5:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Bogleheads' Silent Majority
Replies: 255
Views: 50328

Re: The Bogleheads' Silent Majority

Here and staying the course.
by RootyToot
Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Would you buy a house without AC?
Replies: 60
Views: 7827

Re: Would you buy 1.5 M house without AC?

We've lived in the South Bay for over 20 years. When we bought our house (new), it had no a/c and still has no a/c. While there have been a few uncomfortably warm nights, we've never been "miserable", and definitely not for 2+ weeks running. We live close enough to the coast that we have cool temps most nights.
We do use the central heating, usually just the month of January.
by RootyToot
Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If your net worth is over $3 million, how did you do it?
Replies: 913
Views: 239045

Re: If your networth is over $3 million, how did you do it?

DH and I shared similar views with regard to saving/spending. While we both earned above average salaries, we lived below our means -- saving one salary and living off the other.
by RootyToot
Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help with purchasing Travel Insurance
Replies: 16
Views: 2874

Re: Help with purchasing Travel Insurance

I'd recommend no less than $100,000 in evacuation insurance. You will be in a remote area. If needed, evacuation will be very expensive.
We use http://www.insuremytrip.com -- big selection of insurers and price range.
Sounds like a fabulous trip. Have fun!
by RootyToot
Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anybody who bought a Kindle go back to regular books?
Replies: 74
Views: 7830

Re: Anybody who bought a Kindle go back to regular books?

The Kindle Fire was a gift. I would not have purchased. However, I do enjoy the Kindle especially when traveling
I use both the Kindle and regular books -- all through the library. (I downloaded books from my local library when I was traveling in Vietnam and Laos. Amazing.)
80% (at least) of my reading is regular books.
by RootyToot
Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone used "Journeys International"?
Replies: 0
Views: 356

Has anyone used "Journeys International"?

---a travel company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My husband I are looking into one of their trips to Indonesia -- "Apes, Art and Dragons". If you or anyone you know has used this company, I'd like to get your opinion on the quality of their service/trips.
by RootyToot
Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Joint & survivor pension decision
Replies: 62
Views: 10300

Re: Joint & survivor pension decision

What if wife has non-COLA pension? Husband and wife are same age. Take single life annuity? or 50/75/100% J/S?
The pension is not critical to retirement security.
by RootyToot
Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Volunteering Ideas
Replies: 87
Views: 9084

Re: Volunteering Ideas

Become a literacy tutor. If you want to find out more, contact the ProLiteracy Education Network for an organization close to you.
by RootyToot
Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any New Zealand tips?
Replies: 23
Views: 2690

Re: Any New Zealand tips?

My husband and I took a driving tour of both islands in the early 90s. We did not encounter any problems at all. No "tramping", we stayed in B & Bs. It is a beautiful country.
by RootyToot
Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Convertible pants/shorts
Replies: 18
Views: 4879

Re: Convertible pants/shorts

REI carries several brands. If there isn't a store nearby, you can order on-line.
by RootyToot
Fri May 04, 2012 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Re: What stops you from retiring today?
Replies: 100
Views: 10997

Re: What stops you from retiring today?

Health insurance.
by RootyToot
Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Poll:Tax-Privileged vs. Taxable: Which has more?
Replies: 57
Views: 3835

Re: Poll:Tax-Privileged vs. Taxable: Which has more?

40/60 (Tax adv. vs. taxable)

Early 60s.
by RootyToot
Thu Mar 01, 2012 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grand Circle Travel
Replies: 5
Views: 1190

Re: Grand Circle Travel

My husband and I have traveled with OAT, which is owned by Grand Circle Travel. OAT trips are geared to smaller-sized groups (10-16) and are, as I understand it, more physically active (geared to a slightly younger traveler) than the Grand Circle tours.
We went to Egypt and to Guatemala and were very happy with the quality of the guides, itineraries, hotels, etc. We plan to use them again.
by RootyToot
Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What was your very first job
Replies: 103
Views: 7850

Re: What was your very first job

1964/65 -- my freshman year in high school -- I was a page at the county library. Fifty cents an hour (plus all the books I could read.) One Saturday night a month, I was the sole "librarian" in the building. It was usually pretty quiet. I spent the evening at the check-out desk reading. By the time I graduated high school I'd read most of the books on the "Recommended Reading for the College-Bound" list -- which was several hundred books as I recall.
My pay rate, by the way, never changed. I started at 50 cents an hour and four years later it was still 50 cents an hour. And, they deducted a pension contribution from every paycheck!
by RootyToot
Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dishwasher Recommendation
Replies: 54
Views: 5166

Re: Dishwasher Recommendation

We've had a Bosch for about three months. Cleans well, very quiet.
by RootyToot
Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend a good novel!
Replies: 33
Views: 3610

"Bad Things Happen" by Harry Dolan
by RootyToot
Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 2 Options: Please Help [vanguard vs. sei]
Replies: 45
Views: 10609

My husband and I invested in SEI funds through our financial advisor for about 10 years. We moved our investments (IRAS and taxable accounts) to Vanguard about 2 years ago with guidance from Bogleheads.

We would never go back to SEI. I cringe when I think how much we lost in fees (to both the advisor and SEI) over the years. It was a small fortune. Furthermore, our investment losses in 2008-2009 were far greater than they should have been for our asset allocation. In order to compensate for the high fees, SEI had us in investments that were much riskier than we realized.

We feel much more in control of our finances now and are indebted to the Bogleheads who helped us, and continue to help us, with our investments.
by RootyToot
Mon May 23, 2011 4:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you eat for breakfast?
Replies: 116
Views: 14626

Oatmeal with blueberries and skim milk - every day.
by RootyToot
Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Allowances..........did you get one or give one now?
Replies: 52
Views: 7313

Ten cents per week starting in first grade. I saved my allowance and bought a Timex watch for $2 and cereal box tops. Loved that watch!
The allowance increased to 50 cents/week in 6th grade.
At 14 I had my first job as a page at the public library -- fifty cents/hour. Then the money really started to roll in!
By the time I graduated high school, I had $1000 which paid for much of my first year of college tuition.
by RootyToot
Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Galapagos Islands
Replies: 31
Views: 7528

My husband and I traveled to the Galapagos in October 2008. We used Galapagos Travel. Small group (13); excellent naturalist and tour leader.
They specialize in this part of the world and have 10-day and 14-day trips -- all of that time is spent on the islands. We highly recommend them.
by RootyToot
Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance
Replies: 13
Views: 2369

Husband is retired and has no 401-k. I was following the format and probably should have just omitted it entirely.
by RootyToot
Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance
Replies: 13
Views: 2369

One Year Later: Neophyte Boglehead

Hello- It's been almost a year since I asked for help with our portfolio. Since you were so gracious and generous with your advice, I thought you might like to know where our portfolio stands today. We made changes immediately or as soon as reasonably possible. I changed jobs in December so my old 401-K was rolled over to Vanguard. My new 401-k offers some Vanguard funds and I enrolled immediately. We were able to contribute to ROTHs in 2009 and did that instead of contributing to IRAs. We feel as if we are on track and feel much better about the state of our portfolio -- even with all the recent volatility. Thanks again for your help -- suggestions for improvement are welcome. Taxable: 28.8% VG Total Stock Market 11. 6% VG FTSE All-World E...
by RootyToot
Sun May 30, 2010 2:59 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 6/12/10 at 3pm: Los Angeles (South Bay) area meetup
Replies: 36
Views: 9407

I have another obligation at 5 pm. I think 3 pm will be cutting it too close.
Look forward to meeting all of you next time.
by RootyToot
Fri May 28, 2010 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Search for cheap flights to "anywhere" on a given
Replies: 12
Views: 9869

airfarewatchdog.com
by RootyToot
Thu Apr 22, 2010 5:27 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 6/12/10 at 3pm: Los Angeles (South Bay) area meetup
Replies: 36
Views: 9407

I can do any time on 5/29 and 5/30, but would prefer morning/afternoon; can do only morning/early afternoon of 6/12.
by RootyToot
Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:40 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 6/12/10 at 3pm: Los Angeles (South Bay) area meetup
Replies: 36
Views: 9407

I'm live in Redondo Beach, work in Manhattan Beach.
by RootyToot
Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:20 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 6/12/10 at 3pm: Los Angeles (South Bay) area meetup
Replies: 36
Views: 9407

I'd be interested in attending, depending on date/time.
by RootyToot
Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: East African holiday?
Replies: 15
Views: 3607

Bluto-
My husband and I spent two weeks in Kenya (2006) during the Great Migration. In my opinion, the money spent ( a lot) was well worth it.
Go! You will have a lifetime of memories and not a moment's regret.

RootyToot
by RootyToot
Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance
Replies: 13
Views: 2369

retiredjg, livesoft and chip-
You've addressed the concerns that I've had about the portfolio. I can't tell you how much this helps!
I may be able to sleep again!
Thank you!
by RootyToot
Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance
Replies: 13
Views: 2369

Thanks, Chip.
We've talked about dropping Wellesley and switching to bonds in our Tax Exempt accounts. We went with Wellesley because of the income. But since then I've read that our focus should not be solely on income, but total return. I understand why we need to make this change, but I confess I like seeing those dividends every quarter!
I have one bond fund in my 401-K:
DWS US Bond Index BTUSX .15%
Ruth
by RootyToot
Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance
Replies: 13
Views: 2369

Neophyte Boglehead needs guidance

Emergency funds: Yes Debt: None Tax Filing Status: Married Filing Jointly Tax Rate: 28% Federal, 9.3% California Age: 60/60 Desired Allocation: 40/60 Int’l allocation: 30% of stocks Current Portfolio: Low 7 figures Taxable: 10.7% VG California Tax-Free Money Market VCTXX (Cash for investing) 8.5 % VG Total Stock Market VTSAX (.09) 3.8% VG Total Int’l Stock Market VGTSX (.34) 5.5% VG Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund VWSUX (.12) 17.3% VG Interm-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund VWIUX (.12) His Rollover IRA at Vanguard 18.4% Wellesley Income -Adm VWIAX (.23) Her Rollover IRA at Vanguard 23.3% Wellesley Income -Adm VWIAX (.23) Her ROTH at Vanguard (Future contributions doubtful; met income requirements only one year) .2% VWINX Wellesley Income VWIAX (.3...