Search found 250 matches

by Frugalbear
Sun Nov 15, 2020 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Wifi Hotspot
Replies: 27
Views: 1627

Re: Travel Wifi Hotspot

My cell phone does not offer tethering.

We don't have a plan, we are literally going to throw a dart and go. Then when we get there, going to throw another dart and go! No reason to stay in one place.
by Frugalbear
Sun Nov 15, 2020 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Wifi Hotspot
Replies: 27
Views: 1627

Travel Wifi Hotspot

My ask:
Any experience using a mobile wifi hotspot?

Please include all details, brands, and services. Also, pros and cons.

My why:
Working remotely...wife and I are going on a 3 month road trip. She is driving, I'm working.
by Frugalbear
Thu Nov 05, 2020 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you give your adult children at holiday time?
Replies: 175
Views: 18843

Re: What do you giver your adult children at holiday time?

Here are some ideas I think are cool:

1. Coffee subscription

2. Group experiences- tough currently, but essentially where you all are getting together making memories where you foot the bill.

3.AAA memberships

4. Gift cards to their favorite places
-inlaws always get me cabela's, I dig it.

Good luck, I give you credit for attempting to think outside of the usual. Cheers.
by Frugalbear
Sat Oct 31, 2020 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HVAC quotes (Replace both or just one unit??)
Replies: 37
Views: 2903

Re: HVAC quotes (Replace both or just one unit??)

Lennox is a very good product. I've had my first Lennox Unit last 32 yrs. So, naturally, I bought another Lennox. Works the way it should.

Now my poppop got a Trane installed 6 years ago and has had blower issues twice.

My point: even the best products have some bad eggs.

The most important thing when getting a new HVAC system isnt the unit, but the installer.
by Frugalbear
Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water Heater Brand
Replies: 8
Views: 862

Re: Water Heater Brand

samsoes wrote: Mon Oct 26, 2020 4:46 pm
Frugalbear wrote: Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:47 pm What residential water heater brand would you recommend?
What source of fuel? Natural gas? Oil? Electric?
Electric
by Frugalbear
Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water Heater Brand
Replies: 8
Views: 862

Water Heater Brand

What residential Electric water heater brand would you recommend?
by Frugalbear
Mon Oct 26, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tour of New England- help me plan
Replies: 58
Views: 3932

Re: Tour of New England- help me plan

After reading all of this, I can totally see how Maine could be the highlight and it very well may be.

Maine is definitely top on my list....i love majestic views and delicious views with a little sprinkle of history.
by Frugalbear
Mon Oct 26, 2020 12:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tour of New England- help me plan
Replies: 58
Views: 3932

Re: Tour of New England- help me plan

wilked wrote: Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:16 am I love New England for its outdoors. OtherS love it for its beaxh towns. Others love it’s great food. And other love it’s history.

If you had to rank the above most important to least, how do you rank it?

Based on that I can give recommendations
outdoors and definitely food!
by Frugalbear
Sun Oct 25, 2020 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tour of New England- help me plan
Replies: 58
Views: 3932

Tour of New England- help me plan

My wife and I are planning a trip to New England. It's going to be in June of 2021.

10 days total

We'd like to stop in every state and the only landmark that is non-negotiable is , The Nubble Lighthouse.

My asks:
Fav hotels and bed & breakfasts?
Your favorite places to eat?
Must see sights?

Obviously any other things you think are important. Thanks!
by Frugalbear
Sat Oct 24, 2020 11:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Wrong Way to Think About Debt - The White Coat Investor
Replies: 215
Views: 31617

Re: The Wrong Way to Think About Debt - The White Coat Investor

Debt Free= "Options" :mrgreen: One has far more options with invested assets compared to being debt free compare: $350k house with no mortgage and $100k invested Vs $350k house with $300k mortgage and $400k invested. Much more options having invested assets. Appreciate the insight. I was speaking from personal experience. Paid off the mortgage 15 years ago, Immediately started investing the "hypothetical" payment in Vanguard funds monthly. Eventually debt free. We chose the "option" To Retire Early. Now we have "options" to do with our time, (which is limited for all) To Do What We Choose. :happy That’s funny, I was speaking from personal experience also. We kept the mortgage and the low interest rat...
by Frugalbear
Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best way to provide wedding gift?
Replies: 17
Views: 1305

Re: Best way to provide wedding gift?

I would just send it and let's the cards fall where they may. Just like when you donate money you hope that they do the right thing, but you can't control it.
by Frugalbear
Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me plan a family trip to Italy - Two Weeks
Replies: 67
Views: 5226

Re: Help me plan a family trip to Italy - Two Weeks

3 pieces of advice:

1. Always ride business class on the FS trains. It's 100% worth it.
2. When you are in Florence, go to Perche No! For the best gelato possible in Italy (not kidding, I've eaten a lot of gelato in Italy).
3. When in Venice, you buy the water taxi ticket in the tabacco shops. If they are closed let the captain or staff welcoming you on the boat immediately and pay them. Wife and I got fined, kind of glad we got caught, fun memory!

Bonus: wear comfortable sneakers lots of walking!

For hotels, the Hilton in Venezia and il Duomo hotel in Firenze.

Have fun! Your kids are lucky they get to see all of that beautiful culture. Cheers!
by Frugalbear
Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Homeowner attempting to resurface neighborhood public road
Replies: 86
Views: 10917

Re: Homeowner attempting to resurface neighborhood public road

8foot7 wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:31 pm You certainly have no obligation to pay for this so I’d just enjoy the paved road if it actually happens
+1
by Frugalbear
Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you stay organized?
Replies: 17
Views: 1865

How do you stay organized?

How do you keep your day to day organized?

Anyone out here still using a pocket calendar or agenda book?
by Frugalbear
Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

Here is the deal in bullets for easier viewing: 1.No debt besides mortgage 2.Roth MAXED VTSAX(mine and wifes) 3. 401k MAXED VTSAX (mine and wifes) 4. 9 months in expenses saved 5. Started a taxable...currently of 5 shares of VOO 6. Current mortgage $123,533.75 14years and 11months left at 2.9% Do I... A...Make extra principal payments? B...Add to my taxable? C...Do both? I would do none of the above. Instead, I'd just bank the extra money where the 9 months expense are held. By the time you get to $80K for example and your mortgage is about that, you can decide what you want to do. Lump sum pay off, need a new car and can pay cash, need an addition for growing family, you become ill and need to take off a significant amount of time, etc. I...
by Frugalbear
Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:31 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What fund(s) are in your taxable account?
Replies: 138
Views: 17072

Re: What fund(s) are in your taxable account?

Just out of curiosity, I see a lot of you have international stocks in your taxable. How come?
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

mortfree wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:32 pm How much extra per month are we talking here?

I don’t recall that being mentioned.

For me the thread title is deceiving. You’re not paying off the mortgage. You’re paying it down faster.

Semantics but you could be paying this down for 10 years.
$650/month
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

Armoured wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:51 pm Do you think investments will make at least 5%?
I'd like to think so, but I know nothing!
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What fund(s) are in your taxable account?
Replies: 138
Views: 17072

Re: What fund(s) are in your taxable account?

retiredjg wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:47 pm If I had a taxable account, it would be a total stock index and/or a total international index.
Why don't you have one?
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 3:37 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What fund(s) are in your taxable account?
Replies: 138
Views: 17072

What fund(s) are in your taxable account?

What fund or funds are in your taxable account? Why did you choose that fund?
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

1.No debt besides mortgage 2.Roth MAXED VTSAX(mine and wifes) 3. 401k MAXED VTSAX (mine and wifes) 4. 9 months in expenses saved 5. Started a taxable...currently of 5 shares of VOO 6. Current mortgage $123,533.75 14years and 11months left at 2.9% I'd ask what age you and your wife are, since I think it's worth considering what your income level looks like when you hit 50. At that age, you can up the contributions to retirement, and you enter an increased risk of leaving a job on someone else's terms. Which one happens is equal parts planning and luck. If you time your payments to have the house paid off by the time you're 50, you can either a) enjoy more cash flow for hitting the increased max amounts of your retirement accounts, or b) wit...
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

MrBobcat wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 12:09 pm
Frugalbear wrote: Fri Sep 25, 2020 11:42 am
To completely level with you, no I have not reached a satisfying conclusion. My only goal in life is that God forbid something happened to me prematurely, my wife is financially okay. So I go back and forth... it is becoming more clear to me that you can't eat a house though. Thank you
Get adequate term life insurance if you haven't already.

Edit: I've not yet regretted paying off my mortgage even with the hindsight of knowing I could have done better putting the money in a taxable account.
I have a lot of health issues... that has stopped me from exploring this option
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The One Who Pays
Replies: 33
Views: 4324

Re: The One Who Pays

I also come from a poor family ( food stamps, trips to the laundromat, and no eating out) and it was a challenge for me when my now inlaws would pay for everything. Finally after years of them not letting us pay the bill, I was just open and honest and told them how it made me feel. They explained it to me like this, we'd rather enjoy our money with you while we are alive. Makes sense...but I expressed to them I felt like I was being a freeloader and to let us pick up the tab once in a while...so I'd say the ratio is now 5 to 1. The moral of the story, communication. No sleight of hand, just a good ole honest conversation. I will admit, I can see it harder coming from the people who always pay side... It would stink to find out these people...
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

The nice thing about doing half of each and revisiting periodically is that if you decide you were wrong about one half, you were only half wrong, and only for the period of time until you decide to take the other wrong side of the decision. Personally, I think there's no one-size-fits-all on this. When you have a lot of mortgage, there is real value to building a bit of a "deep emergency fund" in a taxable account. When we got our first house, we worked hard to get less house than we qualified for, and things came in at 98% LTV (a first plus a second plus last-minute negotiating). We expected to pay more down payment, but decided to keep that money in our accounts, because it was a HCOL area, so if things went south we thought w...
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

Toadandfriends wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 11:13 am OP,
Check out this podcast episode, you might enjoy these thought experiments:
What is your ROR on Home Equity? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbUXLRLdndkhe
"The more equity you have in your home, the safer you have made your home for the bank."
"When the worst things happen, do you want to be the one that is more secure, or more exposed?"
This episode argues that "the more leveraged home is the one that is safer."
Cheers,
Toadandfriends
Thank you! You know I do have a property in mind if it ever came to be for sale I'd buy it tomorrow. The only catch is, I have no idea when that day will come. Could be 5 yrs or could be 20yrs.
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

At this point, having asked this question a gazillion times, it’s time to make your decision and move on. Decide (for example) you will prepay $200/month and save the rest in a taxable account. Do this until January 1st and then revisit your decision. Every January 1st decide if you’ll increase the prepayment or keep it the same. Otherwise don’t think about it. Making decisions will allow you to move forward. Just my suggestion as an older person who has paid off 3 mortgages and had the good fortune to grow a taxable account. :beer Thank you and after reading this, I really like that approach of reevaluating on a yearly basis is a good option. Alternatively, maybe I'll do 6 months extra principal and 6 months taxable...alternating months. ...
by Frugalbear
Fri Sep 25, 2020 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

Do you find the mortgage to be a burden? If not, I would add to taxable. Just my two cents. Not from a cost perspective, but from a mental- what if I lose my job or get sick perspective then yes. If you are losing sleep over it, pay off the mortgage. Otherwise, don't. You asked the same question a few weeks ago, and still haven't reached a satisfying conclusion? If I lost my job (back before I was retired) or got sick, I'd prefer to have a bunch of money in the bank rather than in the walls of my home. But then, I never lost sleep over having a mortgage. To completely level with you, no I have not reached a satisfying conclusion. My only goal in life is that God forbid something happened to me prematurely, my wife is financially okay. So I...
by Frugalbear
Fri Sep 25, 2020 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Re: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

traveler901 wrote: Fri Sep 25, 2020 9:32 am Do you find the mortgage to be a burden? If not, I would add to taxable. Just my two cents.
Not from a cost perspective, but from a mental- what if I lose my job or get sick perspective then yes.
by Frugalbear
Fri Sep 25, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Gazillionth mortgage pay off question
Replies: 67
Views: 6676

Gazillionth mortgage pay off question

Here is the deal in bullets for easier viewing:

1.No debt besides mortgage
2.Roth MAXED VTSAX(mine and wifes)
3. 401k MAXED VTSAX (mine and wifes)
4. 9 months in expenses saved
5. Started a taxable...currently of 5 shares of VOO
6. Current mortgage $123,533.75 14years and 11months left at 2.9%

Do I...

A...Make extra principal payments?
B...Add to my taxable?
C...Do both?

I understand personal finance is personal, but im hoping I get a response that make me see things from a different perspective or outlook because this analysis paralysis is nerve wrecking. CHeers and thank you!
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 4:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Annual oil changes a must? Car maintenance during these times
Replies: 101
Views: 10046

Re: Annual oil changes a must? Car maintenance during these times

Oil still breaks down...regardless of mileage always get at least one oil change per year. Oil is the breakdown of dinosaurs from a million years ago, an extra few months or a year isn't going to make much of a difference. Seriously, I worry more about breakdown of olive oil after 12 months. Here's someone with similar annual mileage and longer change interval asking same question getting similar varied responses. Oil filter has only 2k miles but 2 years on it. Can I leave it on for next oil change? https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-filter-has-only-2k-miles-but-2-years-on-it-can-i-leave-it-on-for-next-oil-change.331791/#post-5522053 If oil analysis didn't cost about as much as an oil change, I'd use the data to help make th...
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 3:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

firebirdparts wrote: Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:51 pm
Frugalbear wrote: Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:14 pm
Also I've only been investing for 6 years and really haven't seen compounding work it's magic.
Username checks out. If you're a bear you won't.
HA! I got a kick out of that one! :sharebeer
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Annual oil changes a must? Car maintenance during these times
Replies: 101
Views: 10046

Re: Annual oil changes a must? Car maintenance during these times

Lynx310650 wrote: Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:56 pm We have a pair of Hondas that even before COVID we were driving less than 5000 miles/year. It's now less than 1000/car over the last year.

We've always just gotten annual oil changes per the recommendation in the owner's manual.

One of our cars is now at about 14 months since the last oil change. I'm a tad uneasy about car maintenance during these times, and am also questioning whether an oil change is a must due to the very low miles. That being said, it has been 14 months...
Oil still breaks down...regardless of mileage always get at least one oil change per year.
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

This all has been eye opening. Yes, I understand that personal finance is personal, but it doesn't take away the wonder.

Also I've only been investing for 6 years and really haven't seen compounding work it's magic...so I have/had some uncertainty. Thank you everyone who shared their story.
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:10 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

Nonexistent. Same here, for our early - mid 30's. Traditional IRA's were not available to me/wife until 1982, when we both turned 34. Up to that point, we both had pensions (later eliminated) but were barred from contributions to an IRA. That was changed with the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA), which allowed IRA contributions starting in 1982 for those that had a defined pension plan. Our respective companies did not start their own 401(k)'s until years later, when we were both in our late 30's. Neither company offered Roth 401(k)'s during our employment years. As far as other investments? None to speak of. There was no reason to prepare for our retirement years. Like our parents/grandparents, we assumed that we would also have t...
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:08 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

Nonexistent. I was a graduate student for nine years--it's unusual to take that long and still actually get the degree, but I did. So from the mid-sixties through the mid-seventies my wife and I were living on roughly $3,000/year, the equivalent of about $20,000, in grad student quasipoverty. So I was the "Larry Lately" in the Bogleheads' Guide example of the importance of beginning early. First serious investments started when I was about 32 because I was at an institution with a TIAA-CREF program, which, after three years, began making automatic payments equal to 10-15% of my salary into a TIAA-CREF account; this wasn't money taken out of my salary, it was a substantial additional benefit. I also had the opportunity to contribu...
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

Chuck107 wrote: Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:51 am Nothing, Paycheck to paycheck.
Just bought my first house, 2 weeks later lost my job, One child and another on the way.
Not a good time, account wise.
At what point did things change?
by Frugalbear
Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

Re: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

bo105954027 wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:36 pm I asked the same question several years ago:

viewtopic.php?t=194305

A popular topic indeed.:D
Thanks for directing me to your popular thread! A lot of what im looking for is on there.

Im interested in knowing what your situation looks like now...care to share?
by Frugalbear
Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What did your accounts look like in your 30's?
Replies: 89
Views: 10608

What did your accounts look like in your 30's?

What did your pretax and post tax accounts look like in your 30's?

Did you feel like you were ahead of the game or behind the 8 ball?
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Career path out of sales into another field
Replies: 8
Views: 651

Re: Career path out of sales into another field

It will be difficult to get a new non-sales job, especially because you have a selling background. And if you have a successful track record selling, people will really wonder why you're applying out. What career are you targeting? That would help narrow the possible options. One option is to get certifications/learning in the targeted area.That way you can demonstrate genuine interest, and possibly network with other like minded people. If you really stand out in the class, the instructor may provide a recommendation to someone hiring. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can start tweeting/blogging in that area and build a wider reputation. Some areas (writing, software, etc.) are wide open - you can do much of the learning by yourself...
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Career path out of sales into another field
Replies: 8
Views: 651

Career path out of sales into another field

Currently working in sales and would like to get out of the field. However, I find it almost impossible. I've been to interviews for non-sales interviews and then being offered a job for a sales role during the same interview.

If you ever worked in sales and transitioned into another field, I'd like to hear about it. Here are my questions:

How did you do it?
What field did you go into?
Did you have to acquire any more education?
Any other advice or directionwould be appreciated!
by Frugalbear
Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coping with Megacorp rat race
Replies: 168
Views: 20181

Re: Coping with Megacorp rat race

Thank you all very much for giving me a different perspective of my situation. Although some of the information I always knew deep down inside, some of I never looked through that certain lense.

I have decided not to take things so serious and focusing a bit more on what I can control. No point in letting the "what ifs" of the workforce affect my life professionally and personally.

Also, I've decided to look into alternative employment. Maybe even make a couple extra bucks!

In conclusion, I found a lot of comfort in the responses to my initial post.
by Frugalbear
Fri Sep 18, 2020 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I help my mother pay off debt?
Replies: 35
Views: 3547

Re: Should I help my mother pay off debt?

Hi Baxxter,

If I were in your shoes:

1. Talk to your wife about how you feel about the situation and weigh things out.
**If you are both agree this is a good idea then to number 2**
2. Talk to your Mom and let her know how well you are doing and that you would like to help and that you appreciate greatly what she has/is doing for you.

If you cannot help your mom with this, I am sure there will be other ways down the line you will be able to repay/show your appreciation.

I think your mind and heart are in the right places. When you start going down this path of saving and maximizing, it is tough ( at least for me) to get out of battle mode and remember there are more important things in life than money.
by Frugalbear
Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tiffany Quality
Replies: 35
Views: 3399

Re: Tiffany Quality

You are a person of class! I would appreciate something of this nature , but I'm 32 and I have a China hutch!

If you do change your mind as you probably know, cash works well. Good luck let us know what you end up doing!
by Frugalbear
Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Misspelled Trust Name in IRS Form
Replies: 19
Views: 2407

Re: Misspelled Trust Name in IRS Form

A relative of mine had a lot of correspondence with the irs in the form of a payment plan for taxes owed. At any rate, the IRS never spelled his name correct on an of the correspondence.

Moral of the story, I think the EIN number matters most.

I don't think that makes it right that the attorney shrugged it off, but I think all will be well even if it doesn't get fixed.

As far as the banking person goes, I would take their opinion with a grain of salt.
by Frugalbear
Mon Sep 14, 2020 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coping with Megacorp rat race
Replies: 168
Views: 20181

Coping with Megacorp rat race

I'm 32 working for a Megacorp and I'm feeling burned out. Kind of exhausted from all the smoke and mirrors... sleight of hand actions.

I've thought of getting a new job, but fear of the unknown and current compensation keeps me here. Then I have thoughts that I should be grateful to have a job.

How did or do you cope with it?
by Frugalbear
Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early
Replies: 167
Views: 17605

Re: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early

geerhardusvos wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:00 am
Frugalbear wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:34 am Is anyone who has a sub 4% fixed mortgage interest rate paying it off aggressively early? If you are, why?
If you are nowhere near retirement, I would personally not pay off any debt under 5%, but would rather invest aggressively. Pay off the mortgage in the last 5-10 years of your career. Get your investments growing early!
32 years old... My problem or maybe it's not a problem depending who you ask lol.... I get a lot of enjoyment from maximizing my money earned.

I've really enjoyed reading your posts on this thread, sincerely. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my financial picture..... If you are willing of course.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=324897
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: is it time to pay off my 2.375% mortgage?
Replies: 39
Views: 4829

Re: is it time to pay off my 2.375% mortgage?

My head started to hurt after thinking different options of our current financial options. I need some help! 5 years ago we sold our business for $200k, exactly amount as our mortgage balance. Because our rate is so low at $2.375%, we were reluctant to pay it off. We put that $200K in a CD ladder (100K for 5 year @ 2.25%, $100k in checking @ around1.76%), so that we could max out our retirement savings. Also, we thought if we have a chance to buy an investment rental house, we could use the savings. That did not happen. Looking back, it seems that we should have lump sum the $200K to stock, reduce 401K contribution to cover mortgage. Or, pay off the house to save $20K mortgage interest. I guess we made a costly mistake. :( Now, we have 90K...
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 12, 2020 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early
Replies: 167
Views: 17605

Re: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early

Not everybody has access to those rates, whether due to state/market, credit score, or smaller mortgage balance. Seems like almost everyone on Bogleheads does, judging by the Refinance Mega Thread. Best I could get was a no cost 30 year fixed at 3.375%. My loan balance is on the smaller side, 120k. I still went through with it as I was coming from 3.875%. 50 bps on a relatively small balance still adds up. Yes the paperwork is a hassle but worth it. We fuss on this forum over 5 bps sometimes. As for the thread, no, not paying it off early at all. Still in mid accumulation stage, mostly equities and only a modest amount of fixed income for safety (~1 year expenses). If I were in bonds for long term growth rather than safety, I would redirec...
by Frugalbear
Sat Sep 12, 2020 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early
Replies: 167
Views: 17605

Re: Paying off sub 4% mortgage interest rate early

Admiral wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:40 pm
Toons wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:09 pm I am not
But
I Would
If I had a Mortgage




:mrgreen:
Toons I always enjoy your Haiku-esque responses! :happy
+1