Search found 2558 matches

by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 11:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home
Replies: 25
Views: 1777

Re: Help | 85 Year Old about to Lose Home

What are your thoughts? She is family to us. Can you "restructure" her debt - by refinancing the house and then paying off the 40K in credit card debt? There seems to be a lot of equity in the house. Can you then give her money every month to help her with the shortfall between her 3K income and her expenses? I'm assuming she has no immediate family who could be called on to perhaps help contribute to making up the shortfall. Is there any chance that there is a County or City or Something program with local financial institutions that helps the elderly to stay in their home that would help you accomplish doing a cash out refi. Of course, there might be strings attached, but it might give you some options. The better option may be...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First ever job, help with 401k portfolio
Replies: 14
Views: 712

Re: First ever job, help with 401k portfolio

You should read some of the articles in the Wiki. I don't know how to post a link. In the Wiki under Getting Started there's a Prioritizing Investment section that could be helpful. I will throw out there that you should also consider a Target Fund OR the S&P 500 fund. Go long. As far out into the future as you can. You now have 2 choices you can research - look for the fees and for the Target Fund find out how it rebalances and how often. Then pick one. This is about learning about your options and what to look for and how to get to this info. 2 choices are easier to research than all the choices. :) You build on this skill/experience/knowledge so any future "gotta review my 401K selections" will be easier. Little bites of th...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chicken bone broth
Replies: 10
Views: 598

Re: Chicken bone broth

mrmass wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:35 pm Skip to 21 seconds. This is Curly making Chicken Broth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJJzOjtG5vk
Oh my goodness, that is so funny - the whole thing. Curly grabbing a handful of salted peanuts with his raw chicken covered hand did me in... I'm still chuckling. I'm not a big stooges fan... but this clip is VERY funny from start to end.
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chicken bone broth
Replies: 10
Views: 598

Re: Chicken bone broth

NYT Wirecutter says Target chicken broth is the best, but they didn't include Costco Kirkland in the competition. Have you tried both and can compare the two? I am particularly interested in the sippable Chicken bone broth. I'm not very helpful. Since this is such a personal kind of thing can you do your own research and compare the Nutrition Facts labels on both the Target and the Costco versions (I would think they are viewable online) and then if the Costco brand checks off all the boxes for why you are sipping bone broth - can you then just buy some and do a taste test? Sure, if you don't like the Costco brand you are out the money you spent on it - but maybe you can use it some other way rather than sipping it (put it on the dog's foo...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chicken bone broth
Replies: 10
Views: 598

Re: Chicken bone broth

What's the difference between bone broth and stock? You can start a war with a question like that. :) I think it's all about personal expectations and what you are doing with it. I have a friend who is really into "bone broth" and is very specific about how she makes it. Bones, water, salt. And then simmer it for 10 to 12 hours. I make something with bones, any meat left on them, salt, and then onion, celery, carrots, whatever else I have at home that sounds like it would work, and seasonings (rosemary? thyme? garlic? again whatever sounds goood). If I let this simmer until it becomes "soup" about 2hrs to 2.5 hrs... it's broth and/or soup. If it goes longer and/or boils it becomes "bone broth" because it will ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which bank for checking account
Replies: 14
Views: 1027

Re: Which bank for checking account

I would look at which bank (Chase or Bank of America) best fits your banking needs (what hoops do you have to jump through to have "free" checking, for example.) Which bank has the best ATM placement. I have accounts at both Chase and Bank of America. I do not use their mobile apps. I do use their online banking from my home PC. Chase's screens have a more "modern" round look. Bank of America's screens have a less cluttered older look. I don't have any complaints with banking on line. It's always a bit of a "fuss" when I have to set up something new (a new bill pay, a new zelle recipient, a new transfer to another bank/financial institution). I just start the set up and expect that it might take me a couple of ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 26, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My Auto Insurance 6 month premium is going dramatically UP?
Replies: 138
Views: 5750

Re: My Auto Insurance 6 month premium is going dramatically UP?

Hello. I have State Farm and I was enjoying $56 a month rate but come May it is going up $49 more per month. I’ve never seen an increase this much in my life. I have 2 jump start battery claims. Zero accidents. No changes in my coverage. I also use the app that monitors my driving and my score is really good. What is causing this? I drive around 2k miles a year. I work from home. What causes it: What is the age of your vehicle (older vehicles are more expensive to repair)? Or is a non-generic type vehicle (more expensive to repair)? The cost of repairs has gone up dramatically. That 700 tail light assembly now costs 1K and the cost of labor to install the new tail light has gone up. The cost of parts for older vehicles may have gone up mor...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Any reason to keep an old bank account?
Replies: 10
Views: 1003

Re: Any reason to keep an old bank account?

I had an account at a local bank that I kept mostly for "nostalgia". The only way I could access the money in the savings account was by going into the bank, filling out a form, and giving the form to the Teller. I eventually closed the account around 2010. I'd had the account since the early 80's. I just never used that bank or that account... for years and years. There isn't a reason to keep an old bank account if you aren't using it or other services the bank offers. Long banking "relationships" generally don't add value once you are established financially. My experience has been it's how much money you hold at the establishment that "buys" you privilege at that establishment. To help you decide if you shou...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New homeowner advice
Replies: 32
Views: 2285

Re: New homeowner advice

To those of you who have lived in one home for 20+ years: 1) What is one thing you wish you had done soon after you first moved in? 2) What "avoidable" mistake did you make along the way? 3) Any other unconventional advice for long-term home ownership? I bought a fixer upper that needed some TLC so I did a lot of work to the house before I moved in (the house was 50 years old and nothing had been done to it for 20years): refinished hardwood floors, painted all the interior rooms (which meant I also fixed all the damage to the walls from pictures/50 years of household use), replaced light fixtures, I refinished the original to the house kitchen cabinets,etc. and then a whole host of projects after I moved in like a much needed new...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what age to tell child about family's finances
Replies: 74
Views: 6101

Re: At what age to tell child about family's finances

Have one child, a 21 year old, very responsible. At what age is it appropriate to let them know about the family's finances/assets, documents, etc? I don't think there's a clear cut answer to this. I think a lot depends on the family's financial situation and age(s). My dad died when I was 11. My mom turned 65 the same year I turned 21. It would have been helpful if my mom had shared more about her financial situation. I did live at home and I did "pay rent" because it seemed kind of obvious (to me) there wasn't a lot of "disposable" income. It wasn't until she died 11 years later that I did get to see her financial information. It was a good thing I "paid rent" and it might have been better if I had known mor...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When brand names matter and when they don't
Replies: 193
Views: 11759

Re: When brand names matter and when they don't

OTC medications like aspirin, heartburn meds, etc: No. The active ingredients are the same and really that's all that matters. Ketchup: Yes. There's Heinz and the rest. Hunts is passable in a pinch and the rest suck. Mustard: No. It's more about what kind you're getting vs the brand name. BBQ sauce: No. I've tried them all including the trendy/popular ones and there's no correlation of cost to quality. Spaghetti sauce: Yes, to a degree. I think the cheap stuff is nasty, the mid-grade good, and the pricey stuff (sometimes) a little better, but I question if they're worth the extra cost. TP: No. nuff said. :) Milk. No. It's milk. There are no high-dollar cows giving superior milk. There are brands which are double homogenized or whatever, bu...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which loans to pay off, advice
Replies: 21
Views: 1488

Re: Which loans to pay off, advice

What do you mean by cashflow when you describe your mortgage, your car loans, etc? I don't understand???? Meaning these cost me x of cashflow per month. So if something has a $500 per month cost, if I pay it off I can then increase my monthly cash flow by $500, and use that $500 to pay down something else even faster. how is calling it "cash flow" meaningful? Say you pay off Car Loan 2: $10K, $400 a month of cashflow with 10K you have in cash. sure going forward you have $400 a month to allocate to something else in your spending plan/budget but you also no longer have 10K in cash. You do have a paid off depreciating asset Car though. Will you redirect the $400 a month to "savings" and rebuild the 10K in cash - or will ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Which loans to pay off, advice
Replies: 21
Views: 1488

Re: Which loans to pay off, advice

What was the plan when you took on each of the debts? How did they fit into your future plans? you know you 2/3/5/10/15 years plans?? How are your current finances? are you being pinched by having too much of your income committed to debts (fixed expenses)? If you pay off some of the debts you have listed - will you have to borrow money to pay for the college costs you will have over the next 4 years? How expensive will it be to borrow that money? With this money, I can leave it where it is, set aside a bunch of it for college costs due over the next 4 years, pay off existing loans, etc. Current options: Primary Mortgage: 316K, $2500 a month cashflow, 2.5% rate, fixed [$680 a month in interest] HELOC: 45K, $500 a month cashflow, 3.75% rate ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Net SS payment
Replies: 10
Views: 1184

Re: Net SS payment

Does being single change the net SS payment amount? Does having a pension that covers one's basic expenses (so more than a pittance every month) change the Net SS payment? Does how much one takes from one's tax advantaged accounts (to cover a yearly short fall in income from SS and pension(s)) change the net SS payment amount? The OPs question reminds me of "healthcare" costs.... you can't compare apples to apples because employers negotiate different plans with providers and the amount employers contribute/pay towards the coverage differs. Same goes with ACA coverage - it's STate by STate and sometimes even County by County. Heck my employer has a great HDHP (a ppo) and covers nearly the entire cost of it - employees pay very lit...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 21, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dangers of excessive optimism?
Replies: 86
Views: 6677

Re: Dangers of excessive optimism?

Optimists take risks. Many times those risks are part of a plan/goal and have been researched with consequences considered. Sometimes their plans fail... but I suspect more often then not the Optimists do ok in the long run. If something fails or doesn't work quite as planned they compensate and improve and go on to other plans/goals. Plans and goals seem to be by nature "optimistic" things. They involve risk. Excessive optimism, to me, implies greater risk due to less planning/unclear goals and less research and with little thought to the possible consequences. They jump on fads, trends, they bet it all on red at the roulette wheel. :) Sure, if you do that enough times you might "win" eventually but I suspect it's a wil...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Largest banks with worst rates....?
Replies: 33
Views: 1806

Re: Largest banks with worst rates....?

Checking rates generally and I'm sure it varies, but I notice some of the largest banks have some of the worst rates for savings accounts, CDs, etc around. ? It is because they can? You'd they would at least be competitive. It's because they can. If my friends (and some relatives) are any indication of people in general - they literally had NO idea that there were banks offering higher interest rates on accounts (like savings or CDs). The upswing started in 2022... so they missed out on all those higher rates for all that time. And maybe didn't lock in any higher rate CDs now (or a few months ago) as interest rates offered seem to be dropping. I think some of it was that they didn't see any marketing for those higher rates OR the marketing...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Xfinity equipment update
Replies: 17
Views: 863

Re: Xfinity equipment update

prd1982 wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:45 pm
LittleMaggieMae wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:38 pm [You can't pull any old router out of the box(es) of mismatched left over/outdated/bought and never used tech and cables and whatnot that your family leaves at your house in the basement because that's where old technology goes to die. Xfinity will tell you which routers (the specs it needs to meet) you can buy and install on your own. You may need to return the equipment you got from Xfinity and you may need to watch your billing so any "equipment fee/rental" charge is not on it.
I don’t think this is accurate. I believe Xfinity cares about the modem, not the router. Now, a lot of folks buy a combination modem/router.
You are right! I've updated my post. sorry for the confusion.
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Xfinity equipment update
Replies: 17
Views: 863

Re: Xfinity equipment update

When I started with Xfinity they sent me a combined modem/router but I didn’t get good Wi-Fi coverage so I installed my own separate modem and router that I already had. It worked much better. I boxed up their equipment and put it on a shelf as I wasn’t paying anything for it. A few months later they asked me to return it. So they could somehow tell you weren't using their equipment? and just an FYI: you have to connect with a modem/router that's compatible with your service provider. You can't pull any old modem/router out of the box(es) of mismatched left over/outdated/bought and never used tech and cables and whatnot that your family leaves at your house in the basement because that's where old technology goes to die. Xfinity will tell ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should I rollover 401(k) from previous employer to current employer?
Replies: 20
Views: 1631

Re: Should I rollover 401(k) from previous employer to current employer?

I would think about where you are in your career/income level before you roll the old 401K to an IRA. Rolling it to a personal IRA may impact your ability to do future Back Door Roth transactions. I rolled an old 401K to an IRA back in the mid 2000's. Because all the advice pointed to either consolidating your old 401Ks or rolling them into your current employers plan. Low and behold I got some really big and unexpected raises in my income by 2020... and I'm brushing up against the limit for contributing to a Roth - and I can't easily do a back door Roth because of the 401K I rolled over into an IRA. The solution should I need it will be to move my IRA to my employer's 401K. It seems like rolling the old plan to your current employer's plan...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets
Replies: 39
Views: 4458

Re: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets

And a bit of advice if the OP has a bumper crop (or just more than they know what to do with). If you have cherry or grape tomatoes - google a Butter and Tomato sauce recipe. Choose one that's literally Butter, onion, and cherry/grape tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste and maybe fresh basil at the end. This is magical stuff. Make it as per the recipe the first time. After that experiment -- start with the recipe and add Pesto, or roasted garlic or Garlic Scape pesto. Or a big handful of fresh basil at the end. Add in some Romano/Parmesan cheese. The versions are endless and they are ALL good. It's a great way to use up 3 to 4 pints (or more) of cherry/grape tomatoes. Use a pasta like rigatoni or penne or Campanelle - this needs a pasta ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 20, 2024 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Xfinity equipment update
Replies: 17
Views: 863

Re: Xfinity equipment update

You can call them (or go on line) and ask what the equipment update "means" in terms of cost of your service. And then ask about the costs involved. One thing to consider is if you are renting your equipment - what will the new cost be each month. It may be worthwhile to figure out how much you are paying to rent the old equipment you already have (and how old it is). It's been my experience that the "rent" cost goes up every year so that at some point you are paying a high price for the use of 3 or 4 year old technology. The notice may also just be a flag for you - in that you will need to replace the equipment at some point in the not too distant future. So it's time to start shopping around for a new provider OR to st...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets
Replies: 39
Views: 4458

Re: Growing Tomatoes in Five Gallon Buckets

I grow tomato plants in large planters (so sort of like 5 gallon buckets). ADDED - you want a southern facing area with hours and hours of direct sun. My tomatoes get hours of direct morning through late afternoon sun. If your patio is shaded or only gets a a handful of hours of direct sun - you might not have much luck with tomatoes. 1.) make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container. See if you can find some sort of "saucer" or something to put under the container to catch the overflow from the container. You want to do this to protect your plants from a rainy stormy weekend and then several days of no sun. Without the drainage your plants will be sitting in water in the container. If the weather/temps don't c...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")
Replies: 219
Views: 25594

Re: The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered")

The best game-changing financial advice you ever received (or "discovered") I worked through and implemented most of the "basic" financial advice (budget/spending plan, have goals, save money/live beneath your means, figure out what you "value" to make it a little easier to NOT keep up with the Joneses OR to motivate you to increase your income, etc) But then I just couldn't make some of the advice "fit", I couldn't figure out how it was suppose to help me - a singleton. Turns out that most retirement advice assumes it's for 2 people (a couple, usually married) who may have multiple streams of income in retirement and where one may out live the other. Well, I'm a "singleton" and always have...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: funeral preparations
Replies: 48
Views: 4437

Re: funeral preparations

Quote from NYT 3/16/24 article: ..."The amount of decisions that have to be made within 24 to 72 hours to put on a funeral, especially if you aren't prepared or have pre-arrangements, is shocking"... So, I'm still kicking. What can I do to "prepare" for my funeral--which will be a cremation? Do you want a "wake" before your cremation? Or maybe a memorial service some time after your cremation? Do you want those picture boards or other things displayed? Any sort of music played? at the wake or memorial? Where do you want this to be held? Who do you want a speaker or something religious to go with it? Who do you want to do the speaking or do you want someone specific to do the "religious" stuff? People...
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?
Replies: 15
Views: 1095

Re: Buying a Home: Am I Required to retain Escrow Services?

If you have a mortgage and escrow is not required for property taxes and insurance... be prepared to provide info about your insurer/insurance coverage and possibly provide proof that property taxes were paid - each and every year depending on how "connected" your mortgage holder is. My current escrow-less mortgage doesn't ask me for 'proof' every year. Apparently the lender checks property tax payment on it's own (public information) and I only have issues with insurance when I change providers. Apparently my current insurance informs my mortgage holder that my house is insured (they have the lenders info and my mortgage id/account info). If I change insurance provider then I get a "nasty gram" from my lender about poss...
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has the 401k been a net positive or negative?
Replies: 21
Views: 1361

Re: Has the 401k been a net positive or negative?

The other thing to consider: pensions tend to chain an employee to an employer.
In the early years of one's career it might not seem so bad changing jobs after 3 to 5 years with an employer - and losing out on the "pension benefit" you might not have "vested in" - but do that enough times and the employee can loose a decade or two of "pension-y goodness".

Most pension plans pay out the best if you have 30 plus years with the same employer.
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has the 401k been a net positive or negative?
Replies: 21
Views: 1361

Re: Has the 401k been a net positive or negative?

40 years ago is the 1980's. 401K plans weren't the norm. I worked for 2 different employers - 1 didn't offer any sort of retirement plan/pension and the second offered a 401K, BUT you couldn't contribute to it until you had been employed for 12 months (there was an employer contribution but you weren't 100% vested until you had been employed 5 years.) The negative part of a 401K is that you need to work for an employer who offers one OR you need to be financially savvy enough to open a traditional or Roth IRA on your own and then put in the effort to make consistent contributions to it (up to the limit) which has traditionally be MUCH lower than the limit of a 401K. Being able to only contribute (10 to 15% of your gross income which may or ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 15, 2024 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Student loan "refinance" with credit card balance balance transfer?
Replies: 15
Views: 900

Re: Student loan "refinance" with credit card balance balance transfer?

I looked around with a few student loan refi options, the rates are right around 5%. This in theory gives me a lower rate (3%) while my money will earn more in a money market (5% ish ) Until the money market interest rate drops. There's also the "it's a whole lot of work" for very little pay out. You will need to make a payment to the balance transfer card every month and be careful not to make new charges on the card (most likely) and you will need to make sure you pay it off in time. I'd go with the paying it in full without waiting for the final bill date. Is there some reason you need to hold cash? Will paying off the SL in full deplete your EF and any other cash on hand you have? If the answer is no - I'd pay off the SL in f...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricare Retired Reserve: wow it sucks wth?
Replies: 25
Views: 2470

Re: Tricare for Life: wow it sucks wth?

Have you looked and calculated long term? Will the price for Tricare be lower than other insurance in 5 or 10 years (or beyond)? When you are comparing Tricare to the insurance you can get on your own (which you will most likely need to renew/rebuy every year and have changes to it's coverage and providers) are you comparing apples to apples? Are you looking beyond the monthly cost and the deductible? Comparing health insurance coverage and costs can be a daunting exercise in futility but it's worth the effort. FWIW: depending on what doctors/hospitals I could use and what the "covered" prescriptions include that price is a winner! I priced out health insurance and I'd be paying close to 1K per month with a high deductible. I'm ba...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Identity theft or something to ignore?
Replies: 18
Views: 1212

Re: Identity theft or something to ignore?

My wife is getting weekly emails about a past due radiology bill from a hospital emergency room in a city that we have never been in. Does the weekly email pass all the "smell tests" when determining if the email is a scam/phishing email? Here's the government's tips for identifying scams: www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world/recognize-and-report-phishing If it "smell tests" as genuine - and you really want to deal with this you should contact the hospital's billing department. The goal is to get to the billing department and to someone who can do more research on your problem with the information you can provide. When you call in - they don't know you. YOU could be trying to phish or scam them. It might be a bit of a challeng...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 14, 2024 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ran an analysis regarding the opportunity cost of investing in real estate. Curious what my takeaway should be?
Replies: 20
Views: 1718

Re: Ran an analysis regarding the opportunity cost of investing in real estate. Curious what my takeaway should be?

The reason for the large discrepancy in price was due to the fact that their apartment was a condo (mine is a co-op), had an extra bathroom and a small private outdoor space. I'm not sure you can compare your apartment to your friend's apartment. My experience is bathrooms and outdoor space add a lot of value to a property. For example: I purchased an 806 sq ft post WWII "starter home" with 2 beds/1 bathroom. It's a "cookie cutter house" with a partial basement. in that there are hundreds of them sprinkled across my suburb. The houses that have had a second bathroom room (toilet and sink) added to the basement instantly raised the sale value by 20K to 50K (50K if it's got a shower stall big enough for a,um, larger adult...
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Mar 13, 2024 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost of dental visit
Replies: 20
Views: 1426

Re: Cost of dental visit

I use my FSA to cover my dental costs. I get my teeth cleaned twice a year (2 dentist visits). I "budget" $500.00 per year. I don't want to "lose" money I don't spend from my FSA. My last visit to the dentist I paid $312 for cleaning, exam and bitewing xrays. Am I paying too much or is this normal? The $312 total seems reasonable and in line with what I've been paying for dental care for the last few years. Especially, since my next 2024 dental appt would likely be an exam and cleaning and so be less than the $312.00 dollars for the first yearly visit. (remember that $500.00 "budget" :) ) FWIW: I self insure for cavities/fillings/crown. I have one of those events every decade. I can easily cover up to 2K out of...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?
Replies: 23
Views: 1794

Re: Electric wiring along/through basement floor slab?

It's free to check your local building code before you do any changes that require more than an extension cord and a cover over it.

If you add an outlet or run some conduit - it's better in the long run if you make sure it meets the current code.

(FWIW: here any electrical outlets/conduit must be above the poured concrete foundation of the house (basically above "ground level"). That way when your basement fills up with water (and becomes a swimming pool) the outlets will in theory not be under water. :) ok, that's just a mental image for me (the basement swimming pool) no outlets/conduit should be "underwater" if the basement were full of water. :) )
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Mar 11, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Given Haiti Situation, is Dominican Republic safe?
Replies: 49
Views: 32699

Re: Given Haiti Situation, is Dominican Republic safe?

If you look at a map - Port Au Prince is 300 miles from Punta Cana. I'd say the risks of being affected by what's going on in Haiti are pretty slim. Perhaps the wealthy gang leaders vacation/have second homes in the Dominican Republic?

I'd be more worried about the typical bad things that happen to college students while on spring break happening.
by LittleMaggieMae
Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you spend a month on food?
Replies: 336
Views: 30418

Re: What's normal for grocery costs for a family?

Groceries across all sources is probably $2,000 - $2,500 a month (excludes dining out) We eat organic usually if we have the option and it seems reasonable for the price differential. We don't drink a lot of sugar drinks or alcohol or juices. We do consume a lot of high quality protein (athletes in the house) for meals, snacks, and drinks Looking for a sanity check and any tips others have to manage grocery spending without adding significantly more time. What do you spend on groceries for a family? Any tips? You may just need to review/rethink what you are doing. A review is always good - even if you don't change anything. Some things to think about: First, I don't care what you eat/buy. You are the boss of you. BUT we live in a "con...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wool slippers worth it?
Replies: 53
Views: 5415

Re: Wool slippers worth it?

We don't wear shoes in the house, and I have been buying cheap slippers from Kohls, but they end up getting gross after a month or so. The cheap polyester felt holds moisture and smells and the insole breaks down. You can put the dearform and sonoma brand slippers from Kohls in the wash. That keeps them from getting gross. It sounds like you need washable slippers. Have you thought about buying a pair of shoes that you only wear indoors? I bought a pair of those "slip on" casual shoes (they look like gym shoes) in a color I would never wear out in public that I only wear indoors. Slippers don't have enough support and they seem to always "fall off my feet". The slip on shoes work for me because they stay on my feet but ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure
Replies: 63
Views: 4725

Re: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure

Also, keep in mind that once your property is uninsured for a period of time, it may be more difficult and expensive to get it re-insured in the future.
by LittleMaggieMae
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need advice on Home addition.
Replies: 21
Views: 1966

Re: Need advice on Home addition.

boomer_techie wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 10:51 pm
LittleMaggieMae wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:18 pm I'm assuming an architect - would be the person figures out where and how you should connect the addition to your home, lays out the foundation and sewerage for it, maybe comes up with a way to integrate the addition into the rest of the house (so it doesn't look like a "tumor" or a "growth").
Architect: Person who does high level planning. Hire an architect if you want your (new custom) home featured in Architectural Digest.

Draftperson: Person who draws plans. For simple additions, a draftperson is all you need. This person will know standard construction techniques.
Those are great definitions and very helpful.
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need advice on Home addition.
Replies: 21
Views: 1966

Re: Need advice on Home addition.

This is a complicated project (mostly because of the bathroom). You will most likely need to work with your local government (permits, and maybe even approval for the project ) Your project requires changes to the water lines and sewers for your home. You will be adding a foundation. And then electric and HVAC to the addition. Your local building codes may dictate some of the this (the foundation, sewer and electricity for example). Then there's how it will connect to your existing home (how it effects load bearing walls if you will be removing/changing walls) and how it will effect the roof line and gutters/downspouts. It sounds like you need an architect who is familiar with your location. It's impossible to say if the estimate is good or...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 07, 2024 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HELP! Need Credit Card Advice for Young Adult
Replies: 14
Views: 1000

Re: HELP! Need Credit Card Advice for Young Adult

I mostly use my current card for gas, rent, utilities, and groceries. I'd suggest something like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card. You automatically get 2% on groceries and you can set the 3% category to gas. Any other purchases are 1% cash back. This might do the job for you if you don't want to keep track of which card to use/when and if groceries are one of your bigger expenses and you don't charge a lot of other stuff (like clothes, eating out, etc.) And here's advice: If possible, see if you can combine a bonus offer when opening a new account. I'd suggest not worrying too much about optimizing your cash back reward. Some cash back is better than no cash back. What you want to concentrate on is making sure that...
by LittleMaggieMae
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:53 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Argument against people that say stock market is rigged, so don’t invest in it
Replies: 80
Views: 5750

Re: Argument against people that say stock market is rigged, so don’t invest in it

I tend to not continue the "stock market" conversation once someone says it's "rigged" or it's "gambling" more than once (as in twice) in any given conversation. . (Sometimes people open with that comment because it's part of the socially acceptable script but they really haven't given it much thought.) It's often impolite to talk about finances and money (your investments), but it's not impolite to talk about what teams you are betting on or where you're favorite poker (or slot) machine is (which bar or business it's in). I work for corporate America - many of the people I know in real life do not work for employers with 401Ks. So, they might not know that they could open an IRA or ROTH IRA and contribute to i...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 05, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you can't access your money?
Replies: 45
Views: 4353

Re: What if you can't access your money?

The thing with "prepping" food and water and whatever - is the upkeep. You need to rotate and maintain your "stored" food/water/batteries/etc. It's a lot of work and sometimes stress and drama to keep your reserve up to date - unless you have so much money you are willing to throw away and replace a sections of your reserve on a timely basis. I prep from the yearly storm season. but then when storm season is done - I do my best to use up what I bought (food/water/etc). I replenish before the next storm season. Otherwise, you wind up with 20 year old Green Giant canned green beans in your reserve... which doesn't sound too appetizing when there is an actual need to use it. :) I don't discount having food/water/necessities...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 05, 2024 2:57 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you can't access your money?
Replies: 45
Views: 4353

Re: What if you can't access your money?

Right, this really goes down hill fast to the prepper portfolio---equal parts guns, ammo, food, potable water. The more interesting scenario to me is the true "one-stop shop" person, who loses access to financial accounts while the world keeps chugging along. Highly unlikely, but in this age of fraud and identity theft, the chances of a full-scale shutdown (legitimately by the providers) of one's credit and cash accounts is increasing IMHO. But this would likely be a short-term problem. This is a "reason" to keep a month (or two) of expenses (all the bills you pay) in checking. Back in the early aughts my employers bank had a hiccup and payroll posted to employees accounts a day late. Many employees raised heck because ...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you can't access your money?
Replies: 45
Views: 4353

Re: What if you can't access your money?

Consider a black swan event that either wipes out a lot of your savings or blocks your access to it. Think: a world-wide internet outage, a bank or brokerage crash or a war or inflation trigger that spreads across the economy. You want to prepare for this now so what could you choose to do? I thought of cashing out a large CD at our bank, like we did for our down payment. Now I have cashier's check for $200,000. Do I cash that into paper money, buy gold or silver coins? Then where do I put it? I understand it will erode with inflation, but at least it's spendable. Where do I hide it? The proverbial mattress gets a lot of laughs, but what would you do? Of course this is unlikely, but that's what a black swan is. And here's my serious answer...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What if you can't access your money?
Replies: 45
Views: 4353

Re: What if you can't access your money?

Consider a black swan event that either wipes out a lot of your savings or blocks your access to it. Think: a world-wide internet outage, a bank or brokerage crash or a war or inflation trigger that spreads across the economy. You want to prepare for this now so what could you choose to do? I thought of cashing out a large CD at our bank, like we did for our down payment. Now I have cashier's check for $200,000. Do I cash that into paper money, buy gold or silver coins? Then where do I put it? I understand it will erode with inflation, but at least it's spendable. Where do I hide it? The proverbial mattress gets a lot of laughs, but what would you do? Of course this is unlikely, but that's what a black swan is. I don't quite get the though...
by LittleMaggieMae
Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56489

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

I just replaced the wheels on my at home Herman Miller office chair with Rollerblade Office Chair Wheels for under $50.00. So worth it. They are quiet, smooth riding, and should be kinder and gentler to my hardwood floor.

It was easy to remove the old wheels (I needed a small prybar for leverage - I'm old. :) ). The new wheels went in with a push, a little jiggling/twisting and another firm push.

So.much.better.
by LittleMaggieMae
Wed Feb 28, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Zelle Questions: safety, speed, uses?
Replies: 57
Views: 5601

Re: Zelle Questions: safety, speed, uses?

as for Zelle ing to the wrong phone number or email address... When I set up the very first zelle to my lawnservice in 2023, when I entered the phone number - I'm 98% positive it came back with the name of the lawn service (or at least a name that I recognized as my lawn service) after the bank "verified" I had entered a valid phone number. The same thing sort of happened when I zelle'd a nephew for the first time - the bank came back with his name for the phone number I entered. In 2023 - anytime I set up a new zelle transfer that first transfer wasn't "instantaneous" the bank had to "verify" the number or email address in order to give me some identifying info. When I zelle my monthly payment to the lawn serv...
by LittleMaggieMae
Tue Feb 27, 2024 11:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Zelle Questions: safety, speed, uses?
Replies: 57
Views: 5601

Re: Zelle Questions: safety, speed, uses?

My current bank does not offer it, but recently I've had a number of handymen, etc. say that they will take a check but prefer Zelle. It seems like it's a very popular way to pay people instantly, and seems like it would be very convenient. 1. I see that if a bank does not offer Zelle natively, you can still sign up through the Zelle app. Does that offer instant transfers from A to B like it would it you banked with Chase or WF, or is there a 2-3 day delay like regular ACH? Not sure about the app. But I wanted to mention that when I Zelle from my local S&L checking account (yes, even my ancient old fashion I still have a passbook for my savings account S&L offers Zelle) I can tell it what day I want the transfer to occur - either i...
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health Insurance question for 22 year old.
Replies: 9
Views: 1228

Re: Health Insurance question for 22 year old.

My son is starting his 1st real job in July at $50k/yr. He wants to save as much as possible and maybe even max out his 401k. He's going to have 6 months to contribute - 50,000/2080 (assuming a 40 hour work week) 24.00 an hour 1040 * 24 = $25,000 in income. He can contribute up to $23,000 to his 401K for 2024. Will you be subsidizing his day to day living expenses :) My hindsight suggests that your son contribute 20% to his $401K (hopefully it's a Roth 401K). I'd then start building his "spending plan" around what's left over. A spending plan should include his plans for living on his own (building up his security deposit, moving expenses, some $ for new stuff for the new living quarters) It should also have some money going towa...
by LittleMaggieMae
Mon Feb 26, 2024 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health Insurance question for 22 year old.
Replies: 9
Views: 1228

Re: Health Insurance question for 22 year old.

Hey All, He is very frugal and I think he could pull off maxing out his 401k and getting some money into an HSA but, is it worth the extra $72/mo. The company has provided him with specifics on the plans yet so, not sure what an office visit costs under HDHP's. I too am thinking about switching to an HDHP to get the HSA tax bene's but same questions, what will it cost to go to the docs. Will the contributions be to a Roth 401K? Things to think about when using a HDHP and HSA: 1.) What healthcare providers/hospitals/clinics/urgent care be available (they may NOT be the same as the PPO plan). (it sucks to have to drive an hour to an immediate care clinic that is affiliated with your HDHP plan when you cut your finger/hand seriously enough to...