Search found 3972 matches

by Cheez-It Guy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:25 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Blocking Member Posts
Replies: 17
Views: 1692

Re: Blocking Member Posts

Is it me? I barely even post anymore.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is this a termite?
Replies: 28
Views: 3270

Re: Is this a termite?

Carpenter ants don't actually eat wood. They just excavate and discard it. Perhaps the result is the same, but they do not have the microbiota in the gut to digest the cellulose.

There are also so many types of ants that are NOT carpenter ants. Is everyone assuming that is a carpenter ant just because the OP asked whether it was a termite?
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hybrid Pillows exist?
Replies: 13
Views: 1883

Re: Hybrid Pillows exist?

Not sure if this is what you mean, but I have a foam core pillow surrounded by polyester fiber-fill. It was relatively cheap at Walmart years ago. Here is something similar (and now even cheaper):

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SensorPEDIC ... /455965099

Maybe if you don't want to purchase it from Walmart it gives you an idea for the kind of products to search for.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

Nothing wrong with motivational goals. Time is really the biggest effect.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies
Replies: 53
Views: 4496

Re: Am I Only One Who Hates Having Left Over Pennies

I try to avoid the pennies. I don't like them. But I would not sell everything just to avoid them.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

CRC_Volunteer wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:40 pm I would like to go back to a time when Flagship status meant something...
Why not go forward in time and aim for Flagship Select?
by Cheez-It Guy
Thu Mar 14, 2024 5:48 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

It doesn't help when people don't take the most basic steps to read important communications about their financial accounts which explain the changes that will later confuse and anger them.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

If it's known to some, they can clarify (stating facts about Vanguard's corporate behavior isn't against forum rules). I am guessing this person didn't agree with certain ideological positions Vanguard took which were likely in conflict with their own. OK. Still no clarification. Someone said it might be NZAM. Maybe. Who knows. Yeesh. No bitcoin ETFs at Vanguard? Here's why [Naked link reformatted by moderator oldcomputerguy] OK, maybe the person meant that (and not NZAM). Still nobody knows. If that's what it was, I'd drop the word "alienating" because Vanguard's reasoning is reasonable. And we still don't know what they meant by "divisive branding campaigns". I've seen Vanguard's marketing and there's nothing "di...
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 5036

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

snic wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:48 pm
Cheez-It Guy wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:01 am That's what YOU think, but you're the green person messing up the media in the otherwise Apple-centric message threads.
My flip response to hearing someone complain about my texts showing up in a different color (or whatever the stupid imessage problem is with non-apple messages) would be, "if that is important to these people, I need to find better friends."
The comment I was replying to was referring to a family group. Good luck finding better family!
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

HanSolo wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:05 am
Cheez-It Guy wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:42 pm The meaning is known, although I thought that wasn't allowed per forum rules.
If it's known to some, they can clarify (stating facts about Vanguard's corporate behavior isn't against forum rules).
I am guessing this person didn't agree with certain ideological positions Vanguard took which were likely in conflict with their own.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:56 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Cash Plus Account
Replies: 511
Views: 69506

Re: Vanguard Cash Plus Account

manlymatt83 wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:17 pm I have a Vanguard cash plus account from about six months ago. Frankly, I’ve had about $20 sitting in it and haven’t really touched it.
By now it should be $20.XX!
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 5036

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

That's what YOU think, but you're the green person messing up the media in the otherwise Apple-centric message threads.
by Cheez-It Guy
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

The meaning is known, although I thought that wasn't allowed per forum rules.
by Cheez-It Guy
Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?
Replies: 60
Views: 5036

Re: Longtime iPhone user looking at Pixel - what to know?

ee_guy wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:43 am With pixel phones I can store my mp3. Can't do that with iphone. Integration with Dropbox is great.
You can't? I have thousands of MP3s on my iPhone 14. What do you mean?
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard just won't stop sending me paper mail
Replies: 36
Views: 3911

Re: Vanguard keeps mailing prospectuses

Not from Vanguard, but I have received multiple unwanted quarterly paper statements from T. Rowe Price for my 401(k) despite having e-delivery selected for years. Eventually, it stopped.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 372
Views: 36450

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

Only 33 years of service? Sounds like Ol' Mr. Buckley internalized Boglehead principles and FIREd! More time to post on Bogleheads.org starting next year.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Mar 01, 2024 5:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Investment Question
Replies: 14
Views: 1712

Re: Vanguard Investment Question

If the money is in the sweep account, it is already earning 5.28% interest which will be posted monthly. Mine posted yesterday, so check the account. Vanguard is NOT skimming anything off your money in the sweep account. Rather, that's what the other guys typically do. Take a little time to understand how brokerage accounts function before you move everything in frustration and end up with a sweep account that truly pays you nearly nothing. Frankly, I don't see the advantage to VMRXX over VMFXX anymore. Seems like an extra unnecessary step. VUSXX on the other hand does have some tangible advantages for many tax situations.
by Cheez-It Guy
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When did your Net Worth surpass your lifetime earnings?
Replies: 93
Views: 11841

Re: When did your Networth surpass your lifetime earnings?

Shouldn't we make this as hard as possible to calculate?
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Using PayPal to pay bills and earn 5% on credit cards]
Replies: 603
Views: 90412

Re: [Using PayPal to pay bills and earn 5% on credit cards]

My two utilities (electric and water) are both gone now too.

RIP
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Laundromat and Carwash
Replies: 30
Views: 3460

Re: Laundromat and Carwash

Can't believe this isn't a reference to Breaking Bad.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do your intra-company yearly raises keep with inflation?
Replies: 60
Views: 6335

Re: Do your intra-company yearly raises keep with inflation?

I don't really need equal-percentage wage increases to keep up with inflation, because I spend such a low amount of my income on meaningfully inflated things.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do your intra-company yearly raises keep with inflation?
Replies: 60
Views: 6335

Re: Do your inter-company yearly raises keep with inflation?

OK, well what about your INTRA-company raises, then?
by Cheez-It Guy
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much did you pay Vanguard this year?
Replies: 66
Views: 7012

Re: How much did you pay Vanguard this year?

LOL! Interesting ideas and interpretations espoused in this thread.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help! Lost a 1099
Replies: 6
Views: 567

Re: Help! Lost a 1099

You will probably find it later once you don't need it anymore. I e-file my taxes, and so physical copies of 1099s are never included, and that has never been a problem. If you have the data required to populate the needed tax forms and if the entries match what the IRS has, then I can't see it really being much of a problem in practice. Although I also really hate losing things.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turbotax for Mac requirements
Replies: 16
Views: 1039

Re: Turbotax for Mac requirements

This was VERY helpful, thanks. PS all except the part about Windows. One of the many benefits if retiring is not having to use Windows any longer. No plans to ever run windows again unless something in the industry drastically changes. Other family members use Windows, but despite being "the IT guy" in the house, I tell them Windows is no longer supported in this house :-). They haven't seen the light, but that's not my problem. I have never used Windows 11 and have no plans to do so ! Glad if you found it helpful. I also prefer not to work in Windows, but I have a Dell laptop from work, and if I had no other option available, I might choose to spend a couple hours once a year doing taxes on Windows rather than spending a couple ...
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turbotax for Mac requirements
Replies: 16
Views: 1039

Re: Turbotax for Mac requirements

I suspect TurboTax just limits the age of OS they list in order to make their support life easier. I think it is quite likely that it will run fine on older OS versions, but if there's a problem, they can just tell you that they don't support that OS. I doubt if they even do much testing of the older version. You would think this, but as someone who has run up against their support limits before, I can tell you that the software fundamentally will NOT install and run on an unsupported version of the OS. If they wanted to, I'm sure they could make the software work on older versions of the OS, as it's very clunky and very little seems to change in terms of basic software function from year-to-year, but they clearly don't want to do this, an...
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Turbotax for Mac requirements
Replies: 16
Views: 1039

Re: Turbotax for Mac requirements

This is an annoying practice, but there is little way around it if you want to stick with the download version on Mac. I don't know why Intuit does this unless it has to do with the software development kit they use to port the software, and perhaps just not wanting to troubleshoot on older OS versions for what I assume is a small subset of their users. Unfortunately, these are not recommendations, but requirements (from their side). The software will not install and run if the OS is incompatible with their claimed range of support. One potential way around it is to patch your system and install a version of the operating system which is not officially supported by Apple (but which in many cases still works reasonably well). I have had good...
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:44 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Are any BH's not wealthy?
Replies: 165
Views: 26462

Re: Are any BH's not wealthy?

This isn't a whoa is me post but sometimes reading this forum makes me depressed as to how far financially I seem to be behind most of the people who post here. I know we are all responsible for our path in life. But... I read many "I have $1.5m in a Roth IRA and no debt and my HOI is $200k per year" posts. Are any BH's here not wealthy? Just normal middle or lower class people? It would be nice to know I'm not alone, that's all. Sorry to be pedantic, but I would want someone to correct my usage so I could avoid it in the future, especially since this forum is anonymous. It's "woe" is me, not "whoa" is me. As for your original question, years ago I would have been in your position. I wasn't born into wealth, a...
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Very concerned about security!
Replies: 34
Views: 5848

Re: Very concerned about security!

Occam's razor likely applies.
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vanguard just won't stop sending me paper mail
Replies: 36
Views: 3911

Re: Vanguard just won't stop sending me paper mail

I have not had this problem with Vanguard, but had the identical problem with both T. Rowe Price and my local water company. It was frustrating, but both eventually resolved. Probably took a year or more for T. Rowe Price and 6 months or so for the water company. It's frustrating for something that seems so simple and particularly when it is unwanted. I called and told them they are completely wasting money. I think a challenge is that printing and mailing is often or always managed by a third party, so it's not so clear where the disconnect actually lies. Resetting the preference temporarily to postal mail and then back to e-delivery sounds worth a shot under the circumstances.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Products for white hair
Replies: 52
Views: 6693

Re: Products for white hair

Sharpie?
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: VMFXX and 2023 taxes
Replies: 22
Views: 3924

Re: VMFXX and 2023 taxes

Heck, I make use of the 0.06% USGO on Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund dividends. Take what you can get!
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5993
Views: 699749

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

For All Mankind on Apple TV+

Just finished Season 4. Alternate history realistic sci-fi drama. I like it.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Jan 27, 2024 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anonymous gift tax questions
Replies: 9
Views: 630

Re: Anonymous gift tax questions

Interesting hypothetical situation.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Tax Forms Not Available Until Feb
Replies: 18
Views: 1621

Re: Tax Forms Not Available Until Feb

Monster99 wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:18 am I have only Vanguard funds in my brokerage account and have the same estimate. Seems to be later every year....
I remember back in the old days, they arrived in the middle of January. 🙂
I consider January 21 to be the tail end of mid-January. That's when my Vanguard Brokerage Consolidated 1099 was issued this very year. Hold Vanguard mutual funds and two individual stocks.
by Cheez-It Guy
Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shatter my Van Life Dreams
Replies: 65
Views: 8547

Re: Shatter my Van Life Dreams

Matt Foley
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Jan 13, 2024 4:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Adios, Vanguard
Replies: 465
Views: 96189

Re: Adios, Vanguard

HanSolo wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:10 am One might also ask whether Fido and Schwab are subsidizing some of their low-cost funds from other operations, and whether the customers of those other operations are therefore overpaying for them.
Yes, of course they are.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TreasuryDirect - closed bank account and refund payment
Replies: 4
Views: 822

Re: TreasuryDirect - closed bank account and refund payment

I assume funds will be returned to TD and held in Zero Percent C of I associated with your account, but I do not know this for sure. Same place savings bonds and other instruments might go upon reaching full maturity.
by Cheez-It Guy
Tue Jan 09, 2024 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best Vanguard alternatives [when in withdrawal mode]
Replies: 13
Views: 2248

Re: Best Vanguard alternatives [when in withdrawal mode]

What is the error message? Perhaps someone here can help.
by Cheez-It Guy
Mon Jan 08, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to fix my roof leak?
Replies: 33
Views: 5020

Re: How to fix my roof leak?

Perma-Boot could be a quick, easy, permanent, DIY solution depending on specifics of the leak root cause.

https://permaboot.co/
by Cheez-It Guy
Sat Jan 06, 2024 4:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Check in mail stolen
Replies: 7
Views: 1834

Re: Check in mail stolen

I received a $20 check from my local government as payment for jury duty back in 2013, and the check was torn in half by the automated mail processing equipment. I only received the larger half with a note of apology from the postal service. I had to mail the check back for cancellation and reissue. The only theft involved was by the mail-sorting machine which badly wanted a chunk of my hard-earned $20.
by Cheez-It Guy
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:04 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Searching for Lost Contributors
Replies: 544
Views: 140550

Re: Searching for Lost Contributors

MightBeRight_MightBe wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:22 am How about GALawDawg?
I miss their take on things.

Last I remember was going to the Mayo Clinic for treatment. Hope it's just recovery.
Yes, I hope he's OK. He made the below for me. The Vanguard "Big Cheez"! Quite an honor!

Image
by Cheez-It Guy
Thu Jan 04, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401K limit of $14K for HCE
Replies: 10
Views: 1217

Re: 401K limit of $14K for HCE

Lobby your employer to migrate to a "Safe Harbor" 401(k) Plan.
by Cheez-It Guy
Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:41 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution
Replies: 26
Views: 2430

Re: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution

Who is your broker? I think all the major ones allow conversion online. Yes, you can do this monthly. Sweet! The monthly thing is nice plus the ability to do it online I would open one with Vanguard since we already have Roths with them Vanguard can definitely do the conversion online: https://www.physicianonfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/backdoor-roth-ira-2023-09.png What if the funds are not in a money market fund but a mutual fund such as VFIAX, can you still use the covert to ROTH button? Guess I’ve got to wait a few days. I started the process on January 2. Tried to use the easy button and checked convert entire account and shares. Skip paying taxes selected. Then pressed continue. Tells me I’m asking to transfer more shares or g...
by Cheez-It Guy
Wed Jan 03, 2024 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution
Replies: 26
Views: 2430

Re: 1st Time Backdoor Roth Contribution

Ok, so I know there are plenty of posts on backdoor Roth conversions and how to do them. I’ve read through a bunch but I just want to make sure I’m doing it right. I’m unsure how much we will make this year due to some potential job changes for me and my spouse, so trying to play it safe with the backdoor Roth. My situation: Currently I have a 403b, spouse has a 401K with a former employer. We don’t have any normal IRA’s but do have Roth IRA’s we have contributed to in prior years. So to do the backdoor Roth I should: - open an IRA - contribute to the IRA (but don’t invest the $ in stocks, just contribute) - contact the provider to do the transfer to the Roth IRA from the regular IRA - then there’s a form to fill out when we do our taxes n...