Search found 22 matches

by Omalley
Mon Oct 11, 2021 11:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spirit airline: Solo travel from NY to west coast
Replies: 33
Views: 3043

Re: Spirit airline: Solo travel from NY to west coast

Flew them many times and never have had an issue. Go into the experience with realistic expectations and some flexibility.
by Omalley
Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Had a baby and received generous check from her great grandparents. Now what?
Replies: 157
Views: 13483

Re: Had a baby and received generous check from her great grandparents. Now what?

I agree with a prior post that recommended the OP talk with the great grandparents to ask how they envision the great grandchild (GGC) using the funds. They may assume that the GGC parent's are quite capable of funding college and want GGC to use the money on themselves. I plan to write two checks in a few years when grandchildren come along. One a gift to my child with instructions to place the funds into a 529 account that they control. The second to my grandchild, which will be placed into a UTMA account with me as a the custodian. The grandchild will know that the funds are to be used as they wish at age 18, most likely to replace the 7 year old silver Camry their parents insisted they drive since age 16. Future grandchild may choose to...
by Omalley
Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much term life insurance do I need?
Replies: 34
Views: 3389

Re: How much term life insurance do I need?

OP - I know that you already decided to apply for policies totaling $1M (you) and $0.5M (wife), which could be reasonable based on your existing assets. One piece of the puzzle which would help with the analysis is your annual family spending. Can either you or your spouse fund your existing lifestyle and save for retirement/college on the remaining income?

I agree that your potential policies should provide a good backstop for settling the mortgage, as well as future college and retirement spending.
by Omalley
Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Skiing Frugally
Replies: 45
Views: 5685

Re: Skiing Frugally

We keep homemade sandwiches in our backpacks and eat on the lifts. No reason to lose precious slope time finding a picnic table at the base lodge.
by Omalley
Tue Jan 14, 2020 1:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stove range lights
Replies: 16
Views: 956

Re: Stove range lights

The factory halogen bulb in our new range hood lasted about 2 months, the LED replacement is fine after a year. As previously mentioned, the halogen had scorch marks when we replaced it and would burn the back of your hand if you bumped the covering. No inadvertent burns with the LED!

The LED low setting is too dim for any real use, so we use on 'high' when in the kitchen.

Omalley
by Omalley
Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do? Car dilemma...
Replies: 61
Views: 4616

Re: What to do? Car dilemma...

Track down a nearby independent German auto repair shop with a good on-line reputation, or check with a BMW driver forum for recommendations in your area. They should be able to confirm that a timing chain replacement with a total cost of $2,000-3,000.

This car isn't ready for the junk yard. Worst case throw it out on Craigslist or eBay for a couple of thousand stating it is a 'project' car. That gets you in a better financial position that a few hundred for donating.

Omalley
by Omalley
Fri Dec 06, 2019 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay off major debt?? Or do something else??
Replies: 12
Views: 1667

Re: Pay off major debt?? Or do something else??

I am sure that you wife would appreciate having you at home three days a week after the baby arrives. I would save your current investments and use them if needed to buy into your practice next year.

Some more standard advice would be to continue renting since you are new to the area. Take the next couple of years to explore and research as you won't be using the public school system until 5 years from now.

I would consider paying the student loan per the original terms as long as you aren't holding up the plans of your generous family member. If they are delaying retirement or their own dreams to subsidize your education, you should strongly consider letting them off the hook early.

Omalley
by Omalley
Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vent Cleaning
Replies: 4
Views: 1082

Re: Vent Cleaning

Agree with bloom2708, you have a filter that needs to cleaned and/or replaced. Using the terminology 'vent cleaning' is quite different than servicing the filter, so that could be causing confusion with your maintenance contact. Vent cleaning is a process to clean the interior of the actual ductwork that runs throughout your building/home.
by Omalley
Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Getting a pool of money into the market
Replies: 5
Views: 764

Re: Getting a pool of money into the market

Not sure what interest rate (if any) you have in the generic savings account, but there are currently CD rates in the 2.3-2.5% range for 1-5 year duration. New accounts can be set up remotely and funded within a few days.

Omalley
by Omalley
Thu Oct 17, 2019 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dishwasher Finally Installed - Sample Tabs [of Finish Quantum Power Ball Tabs]
Replies: 29
Views: 2053

Re: Dishwasher Finally Installed - Sample Tabs [of Finish Quantum Power Ball Tabs]

All dishwashers should get routine cleaning/maintenance. Once a month pull out the bottom rack and inspect/clear the drain. Then run a wash cycle with a coffee cup filled with white vinegar sitting in the top rack. This will help to clear the drain lines and disinfect the inside of your machine.

We use powder, liquid, tabs - whichever we get for nearly free at various sales combined with coupons.
by Omalley
Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: car battery change or not? 2 year old battery
Replies: 118
Views: 10630

Re: car battery change or not? 2 year old battery

In my experience, most batteries will provide some sort of sign (hard cranking) before they die completely. The key is recognizing when the vehicle is starting differently. In most cases, my vehicles usually give one or two hard starts indicating that the battery needs to be replaced. I keep the correct sized wrench and flashlight in the glove box so I can buy/replace the battery that day in the store parking lot. After many battery replacements over the years, I can change most in 2-3 minutes. If you are unsure of how to change your battery, read up on the process or watch a few on-line videos. Then go to your car and practice by removing/installing the battery a couple of times. This will give you confidence when the battery does eventual...
by Omalley
Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Older used car with low miles or newer used car with higher miles
Replies: 37
Views: 3192

Re: Older used car with low miles or newer used car with higher miles

First decide on the make/model/year that you want to own. Then, based on your low annual miles driven, find a very high mileage vehicle (25-30k miles per year) at a presumably lower price. You will bring down the average annual miles driven over your time of ownership.
by Omalley
Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accord approaching 100k miles, how to push it beyond
Replies: 45
Views: 6773

Re: Accord approaching 100k miles, how to push it beyond

You should review your owner manual for suggested maintenance. I would expect the manual to mention suggested replacement timing for the spark plugs, but not necessarily the belt and water pump. The longer the original spark plugs stay in place, chances of a problem replacing a seized spark plug increase. At some point, you are better off leaving the original spark plugs in place instead of attempting a replacement. As for the belt, I keep the original belts in place until they fail. Replacement belts often last for a much shorter period of time. I would inspect the belt monthly for nicks/cracks and install a replacement belt when the original one is showing noticeable changes in condition. Maybe I have been lucky, but I have only had one w...
by Omalley
Wed Jul 17, 2019 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Letter from Amex - scam?
Replies: 34
Views: 10946

Re: Letter from Amex - scam?

I worked Escheats at megacorp for a few years, and this is the exact process we used to try and confirm a current address so we could re-issue the payment or send the funds to the appropriate state. I am not surprised that Customer Service wasn't aware of the Escheat activity as most megacorps aren't integrated to that level. Unpaid obligations from all corners of a company find their way to a dusty Escheats department where the liability is electronically maintained for 5-7 years. Six months before the required escheatment timing, a due diligence letter is sent to the last known address as required by State laws. If no response is received, then States will agree to accept the funds and maintain the liability in their own databases. You ha...
by Omalley
Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Much Home Can I Afford?
Replies: 18
Views: 2041

Re: How Much Home Can I Afford?

I don't think the $2,500/month mortgage budget suggested by Grt2bOutdoors was meant to imply a reasonable mortgage amount for the LA market. That is the limit of a reasonable monthly mortgage payment you should personally take on considering your stated take-home income of $6,000/month.

Continue to save a down-payment that allows the remaining mortgaged amount to be below $2,500/month. Perhaps a mortgage of $350k, with HOA fees, property tax, and insurance resulting in a monthly payment around $2,500. Most likely a $250-350k down-payment on a $600-700k property.

If marriage is a possibility in the next few years, consider renting (and saving) until after the wedding and buying a property that meets your needs at that time.
by Omalley
Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Universal Orlando Trip In June 2019
Replies: 34
Views: 2727

Re: Universal Orlando Trip In June 2019

Researcher - We usually travel to Orlando during the super peak week of Christmas/New Years. Normally spend under $200/nt (inclusive of taxes/fees) for 5 bdrm/3 bath SFH in a different gated community each year. In most cases, the homes have been well maintained and appointed but there is always an exception. If you aren't tied to the SFH model, there are some amazing condo properties very close to Universal mostly with 3/4 bdrm configurations. Times when we have needed 5+ bedrooms, we just used two condo's in the same building. You can all hang out in the same living room until bed, and then head to the other condo until morning.
by Omalley
Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Universal Orlando Trip In June 2019
Replies: 34
Views: 2727

Re: Universal Orlando Trip In June 2019

Sorry to continue to hi-jack this thread, but a link for Researcher: https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p7493256?adultsCount=2&arrival=2019-07-13&childrenCount=3&departure=2019-07-20&petIncluded=false This house would meet your criteria ($171/nt with all fees and taxes) except for the 4th bathroom. Adding the 4th bathroom dramatically limits the number of potential vacation homes in the Orlando area. We have used Homeaway on many Orlando visits and haven't been disappointed yet. To the OP. We did Universal over Christmas 2017, for one super peak day (Dec 27). Using park to park, and front of line passes we hit every attraction (some multiple times) the kids wanted in one 12 hour day. That said, if you have the option t...
by Omalley
Wed Feb 06, 2019 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need a vehicle, need advice
Replies: 11
Views: 1067

Re: Need a vehicle, need advice

In addition to purchasing a 'new to you' vehicle for your household, I would recommend considering keeping your truck with only liability insurance. I assume you have dropped collision coverage on your current vehicles due to their low market values. We have an older third vehicle that has proved invaluable over the years when one of the two newer/reliable vehicles wouldn't start for whatever reason. It is easier to grab the keys to the third vehicle, take off the battery trickle charger and head to work on-time, leaving the diagnosing of the newer vehicles' problem until that evening. Designating the third vehicle as low mileage (under 5k/yr) keeps insurance costs low. Carrying cost (insurance /registration) for the third vehicle is under ...
by Omalley
Mon Feb 04, 2019 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car Benz C-300 Not starting often - Dealer no Help
Replies: 45
Views: 3529

Re: Car Benz C-300 Not starting often - Dealer no Help

After a very quick search on-line, it seems like that era of M-B has issues related to an electronic start lock (ESL) module. You should do some of your own on-line research into this potential issue.

Omalley
by Omalley
Wed Oct 31, 2018 9:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: People with older car, share your unusual repairs
Replies: 84
Views: 6946

Re: People with older car, share your unusual repairs

Man, I have had some hoopties. I had a 1977 F-100 with 300,000 miles that was your classic farm truck. It had a long-throw four speed transmission that would kneecap anyone foolish enough to sit in the middle of bench seat. I was the only person capable of operating the vehicle. The 360 ci V-8 was worn out, and I would add oil when I stopped for gas. The steering box had a broken tooth, so it would let go every now and then. It felt like driving in space. I replaced that with a junkyard part, which also broke in the exact same way 20,000 miles later. Panic stopping with the four wheel drum brakes was not advisable. I did have a nice Kraco tape deck and the total lack of interior insulation made for nice sheet metal and glass acoustics. I w...
by Omalley
Tue Oct 30, 2018 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: People with older car, share your unusual repairs
Replies: 84
Views: 6946

Re: People with older car, share your unusual repairs

Similiar to what an earlier poster stated, you have spent about $1,600 over nearly five years maintaining a vehicle with over 100k miles. In my experience, $300/year in one-off repairs (outside of brakes, tires, wipers, batteries, light bulbs, filters) is pretty normal for most used vehicles.

Over the years and several vehicles in excess of 100k miles, I have personally repaired/replaced catalytic converters, automated retracting antennas, window motors, suspension parts. I consider these normal wear/tear items for vehicles over 10 years old.

Taking on most repairs yourself with the help of Youtube and a handy relative/friend will go a long way postponing your vehicle replacement.

Omalley
by Omalley
Mon Oct 29, 2018 11:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When to get a new toilet?
Replies: 52
Views: 4861

Re: When to get a new toilet?

vested1 wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 10:21 am I suppose the 14 year old Kohlers will go to the dump. What a waste.
Look into donating the toilets being replaced to a Habitat for Humanity re-use facility. Lots of people look for building supplies at these types of 'stores'.

Omalley