Search found 44 matches
- Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: First Home Buying Experience
- Replies: 65
- Views: 4950
Re: First Home Buying Experience
Ditto for my experience(s).
- Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Legal issues on helping neighbor with home repair?
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2882
Re: Legal issues on helping neighbor with home repair?
Seems if I wanna help my neighbor I should just help my neighbor. If I don’t wanna help my neighbor I should come to Bogleheads for more excuses.
- Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 24 Hour Drive Time w/ Two Young Kids: What Kind of Car
- Replies: 101
- Views: 5310
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 3:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: $250,000 Debt, High-Income Potential, beginner starting from ZERO
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8303
Re: $250,000 Debt, High-Income Potential, beginner starting from ZERO
I think disability insurance is worth it for piece of mind. I know two residents who became disabled during training (large program and 10 year sample size). Disability insurance is pricier than hot showers, but if you have to choose go with DI.
- Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:19 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Selling wife's 1-year old car?
- Replies: 86
- Views: 6234
Re: Selling wife's 1-year old car?
@AZattorney is correct.
These aren’t ridiculous vehicles and you can keep both of them forever. Car seats fit week in both.
I like new cars. You’ll be driving both of these in 10 years (unless you trade for a van)

These aren’t ridiculous vehicles and you can keep both of them forever. Car seats fit week in both.
I like new cars. You’ll be driving both of these in 10 years (unless you trade for a van)


- Wed May 13, 2020 6:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Dentist charges $10 for PPE
- Replies: 240
- Views: 12482
Re: Dentist charges $10 for PPE
In addition to N95 being exponentially more expensive (and necessary). Many dentists are wearing gowns and purchasing air filtration systems. I think it’s reasonable as dentists and hygienists are some of the highest risk professions...where’s that NY Times link?
- Wed May 13, 2020 3:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: New era for TSP "I" Fund?
- Replies: 121
- Views: 18232
Re: New era for TSP "I" Fund?
TSP states today in TSP Plan News: “Board defers action on I Fund transition. Due to a meaningfully different economic environment related in large part to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the nomination of three new Federal Retirement Investment Board Members, pending further ...
- Tue May 12, 2020 12:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: PSLF "Side Fund" and the current economy
- Replies: 5
- Views: 489
Re: PSLF "Side Fund" and the current economy
I am also pursuing PSLF. I have put some $$$ aside in a high yield savings account. This is both my “emergency fund” and my insurance against PSLF evaporating. It’s not enough to pay off the loans (by a long shot) but it’s certainly more than I need for an EF. I expect my PSLF timeline is 2-3 years ...
- Tue May 05, 2020 10:00 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: All my friends are outperforming index funds
- Replies: 122
- Views: 11786
Re: All my friends are outperforming index funds
I’ve outperformed the market these last 3 months, too. But thanks to my asset allocation the market (S&P 500) outperformed me for a bit...
- Mon Apr 27, 2020 10:00 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another 15 vs. 30 year mortgage toss up
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4187
Re: Another 15 vs. 30 year mortgage toss up
Recently had similar consideration. Decided on the 30 year for the flexibility in spite of the fact we could make the 15 year. Uncertainty in the winds with COVID and all that. Found out wife was getting a 20% pay cut hours after we locked the rate. We still could have made the 15 yr payments, but.....
- Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: physician/APC pay cuts
- Replies: 133
- Views: 10553
Re: physician/APC pay cuts
Do not take a voluntary pay cut.
- Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:56 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Does anyone use global cap weight plus a set domestic tilt for equities?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 2744
Re: Does anyone use global cap weight plus a set domestic tilt for equities?
I have an 80:20 stock:bond portfolio. My stocks are 70:30 US:Ex-US. It’s a modest tilt that was unintentional and left over from when I first wrote my IPS and didn’t know any better. As I have learned more I have decided I’m comfortable with it.
- Sat Nov 30, 2019 8:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: On Boots: Chukka, Chelsea and brands
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1914
Re: On Boots: Chukka, Chelsea and brands
I have some timberland chukkas I love. They look better on my feet than in this picture. https://www.timberland.com/shop/mens-timberland-boot-company-wodehouse-chukkas-brown-75509242?utm_medium=plas&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Shopping_Tree&utm_content=Shopping_Tree_Footwear&gclid...
- Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bench press and weights
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4366
Re: Bench press and weights
If you’re just starting out a lot of the above recommendations are too much IMHO. I would get some cheap equipment and see if you use it. Upgrade as you find an exercise you would like to do, but can’t with a couple dumbbells and body weight. FWIW I have 6 kettlebells of varying sizes. Took a while ...
- Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Organization supporting Veterans - Donation
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1049
Re: Organization supporting Veterans - Donation
Another vote for fisher house. Very tangible benefit for vets in our community.
- Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Advice on asset allocations
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2336
Re: Advice on asset allocations
You can help us out by providing the names as well as the tickets for less well known funds.
- Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax loss harvesting in brokerage accounts
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1031
Re: Tax loss harvesting in brokerage accounts
I’m interested in this topic as well. Just starting to invest in taxable accounts so it seems like the time is ripe to learn more.
- Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial anxiety and next steps in relationship
- Replies: 102
- Views: 8310
Re: Financial anxiety and next steps in relationship
Your business. But you're committing financial hara-kiri here. Together, the present combination of your finances is awful, but you're also planning an imminent purchase of a house and immediately having children. There is absolutely no positive financial spin to put on this. [OT comments removed b...
- Tue Jul 30, 2019 6:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Southern California Family Vacation Recommendations
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1041
Re: Southern California Family Vacation Recommendations
With kids that age Legoland is the place to be.
- Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:06 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: first time poster, my portfolio
- Replies: 10
- Views: 936
Re: first time poster, my portfolio
If you plan to head back to school in a couple years you could sell the single stocks at that time when you have low/no income.
- Mon Jul 15, 2019 11:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I start indexing NOW in current Market?
- Replies: 33
- Views: 5144
Re: Should I start indexing NOW in current Market?
Yes. Determine your asset allocation and proceed.
- Fri Jul 12, 2019 9:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 3 kids and 2 working parents - childcare costs
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2005
Re: 3 kids and 2 working parents - childcare costs
I don’t know about the twin cities area, but we pay our nanny $17.50/hr for 3 kids. She works 45-50 hours/week. She gets 4 weeks of paid vacation/year (almost exclusively when we take vacation). I use GTM as our payroll service and have been pleased. We do some summer camps to give the kids some tim...
- Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why NO International Bond Index ??
- Replies: 37
- Views: 5611
Re: Why NO International Bond Index ??
I invest in international bonds because part of our retirement funds are in Vanguard target date. I am OK with this because I believe a currency hedged international bond fund allows for an effective way to obtain exposure to foreign interest rate cycles that are different from US interest rate cycl...
- Wed Jun 26, 2019 6:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Salaries at FQHC | Any physicians here? [Federally Qualified Health Center]
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4031
Re: Salaries at FQHC | Any physicians here?
This is your girlfriends decision. She almost certainly knew the salary would be lower in this clinic when she signed the contract and has probably thought about it. She may/may not value your opinion on the topic — tread carefully.
- Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buy Mini-Van Tomorrow or No?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 4100
Re: Buy Mini-Van Tomorrow or No?
Yes. And don’t get hung up on the post to get a toyota or Honda. I have the sienna and would comment vaunted toyota reliability is questionable. My brother has the Pacifica and it’s nice.
- Wed May 29, 2019 11:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: TSP
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3072
Re: TSP
I will be that guy. More complete information from you will help folks to provide more informed and helpful opinions.
Asking portfolio questions:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6212
Asking portfolio questions:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6212
- Tue May 28, 2019 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: House not selling
- Replies: 138
- Views: 12664
Re: House not selling
I would do two things. 1) start interviewing new realtors. Your current one is not helping matters. Listen to what they say about the condition of the house and it’s pricing. 2) get a book from the library on home staging. I strongly suspect a problem there. If your house is being compared to new h...
- Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: out of network emergency visits. Huge bill!!!
- Replies: 156
- Views: 14456
Re: out of network emergency visits. Huge bill!!!
Good thing you wisely have your emergency fund?
- Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: My fee only advisor at .8%
- Replies: 57
- Views: 9377
Re: My fee only advisor at .08%
Complex situation. Several thoughts. 1. Difficult to say what your asset allocation is without knowing the funds you are in. 50/50 target is reasonable if considering retiring in the near term (<5 years). 2. The taxable account may be difficult to unwind without substantial tax implications if there...
- Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Balance in Marriage and Student Loans
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3708
Re: Balance in Marriage and Student Loans
Thank you for the update. My wife and I have used (still do) a financial planner to help us talk through a financial plan. Really helped us get on the same page.
- Thu Apr 18, 2019 8:25 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Young Couple Seeking Financial Advice From Bogleheads
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2975
Re: Young Couple Seeking Financial Advice From Bogleheads
Probably somewhat discordant with the other comments, but don’t wait until you think you can afford kids before you have them. You’ll never feel like you can afford them. Kids will come with chaos which will impact your financial plan and your savings. Embrace it. It will probably even be years when...
- Mon Apr 15, 2019 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Shifting away from 100% stocks - how do you execute shift without timing?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1395
Re: Shifting away from 100% stocks - how do you execute shift without timing?
No one has mentioned volatility risk which I think is important in assessing risk of a portfolio. Consider the following 2 examples investing $10,000: Portfolio A has an annual return of 5%. At the end of the first year you have $10,500. At the end of the second year you have $11,025. Compound annua...
- Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Soon to be dad, how to prepare
- Replies: 127
- Views: 8143
Re: Soon to be dad, how to prepare
My advice would be to get your fill of in-theater movies and nice restaurants now. Also, if you haven't gotten a rocker, I'd suggest one like this: https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/bab/d/portage-fisher-price-bunny-infant-to/6860796145.html For the first few months my son would only sleep on someo...
- Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 92 year old father - portfolio review - how much "help"?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1598
Re: 92 year old father - portfolio review - how much "help"?
For what it’s worth his asset allocation may be appropriate if his goal is to transfer wealth to heirs.
- Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:30 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is your U.S./ex-U.S. stock allocation?
- Replies: 210
- Views: 14635
- Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:14 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Oregon 529 vs. Vanguard 529
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1600
Re: Oregon 529 vs. Vanguard 529
As an Oregon resident I use the Oregon 529 though currently only contribute to the deduction limit. My view is that it offsets the *slightly* higher cost. Additionally, the fund selection is markedly improved with the new services. FYI: The deduction limit for married filing jointly couples in 2018 ...
- Sat Feb 16, 2019 12:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mega Downsize....
- Replies: 113
- Views: 13758
Re: Mega Downsize....
Here's a contrarian view...I vote you keep your stuff, keep your house... Just stop buying new stuff. Get rid of the storage units, so your stuff is not costing you month after month. I agree with keeping the stuff. You wanted it at one time and might in the future. My garage has some items like th...
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Please help me understand Schedule H and Nanny taxes
- Replies: 9
- Views: 836
Re: Please help me understand Schedule H and Nanny taxes
The first time I tried to do our taxes after hiring a nanny we were audited. We ended up getting approximately $3,500 cash back as I had over paid. Now we use an accountant. Money well $pent.
- Thu Jan 31, 2019 5:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Negotiating DayCare Fees
- Replies: 70
- Views: 4375
- Tue Jan 29, 2019 12:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Balancing Investing & Life
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1681
Re: Balancing Investing & Life
We have kids and live out of state from the grandparents. We have student loans and a home mortgage. We us much (though not all) of our tax advantaged retirement space. We still buy plane tickets to visit the our folks a couple times per year as their health could fail and the kids are growing up qu...
- Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:38 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Nice gifts for young kids
- Replies: 33
- Views: 3012
Re: Nice gifts for young kids
Kiwi crate for the 4 year old if you’re looking for something “pricier”. Or just a pile of art supplies including safety scissors.
At 2 a little people zoo or some board books.
At 2 a little people zoo or some board books.
- Thu Nov 29, 2018 9:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pay off Mortgage - performing mortgage
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2532
Re: Pay off Mortgage - performing mortgage
The reason they are unlikely to negotiate is because you contractually owe them more. The negotiation on the principal has already occurred between you and the bank. Selling a loan to a third party is a different negotiation. The third-party still expects to see the full principal Plus collecting th...
- Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How Much, How Long, and For Who Do I Need Term Life Insurance?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 757
Re: How Much, How Long, and For Who Do I Need Term Life Insurance?
My thought: necessary until financially independent (i.e. your kids are grown and your spouse is taken care of). A gross number is probably significant debts + annual expenses x 20 (or 25). Personally, I got 20 year term 5 years ago with first child. Having 3rd soon and going through the process aga...
- Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Massive Student Loan Debt - Fiancee
- Replies: 108
- Views: 11848
Re: Massive Student Loan Debt - Fiancee
Her school likely has loan counseling officers. Sometimes financial education (or at least an understanding of the loan burden and payoff options) can start there. This may also be a case for an hourly financial planner to help discuss and explain options (one with a fiduciary responsibility). Eithe...