Just three. A Wells Fargo cash back card and Chase and Discover rotating category cards.
At some point I'll finally convert VTSAX to VTI so I can send a portion of it to Merrill Edge for a preferred rewards card. Keep putting it off because I have a general aversion to making any changes to my investments and brokerage setups.
Search found 778 matches
- Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How many credit cards do you have
- Replies: 89
- Views: 4015
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: experience with tricycle e-bike
- Replies: 7
- Views: 583
Re: experience with tricycle e-bike
No experience with a tricycle, but I do have a Specialized Turbo Creo something or other e bike which is awesome so I'm a big fan of e bikes. Probably about 90% of the miles I ride are without the motor on. Since I don't get to ride as much now that I have a kid it is really nice to be able to flip that on to help get home or get up a hill as virtually all my rides now are pulling him in his trailer. I just don't ride enough to get in any sort of good riding shape these days.
For a tricycle e bike, are you talking recumbent or sitting up?
For a tricycle e bike, are you talking recumbent or sitting up?
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Would you do a house upgrade?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3547
Re: Would you do a house upgrade?
I'd agree to give consideration to how the move affects your kids. They probably care more about staying with the friends they've already developed than having a nicer house.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Using target age portfolio in 529s
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1444
Re: Using target age portfolio in 529s
I don't consider the 529 as a component of our portfolio for asset allocation purposes.
Our kid is three and the 529 is in an Age Based Aggressive Growth portfolio. At his age that puts it at 60% total stock / 40% total international. It'll stay at 100% stocks until he's 10, then start shifting more conservative every couple years until he's 19 when it'll be 20% stock / 80% bonds.
At some point as he nears college I might move him away from the aggressive growth track so we have some funds in that account in actual cash. Mostly due to living through bond market tanking recently and no longer being as confident in a bond fund holding value.
Our kid is three and the 529 is in an Age Based Aggressive Growth portfolio. At his age that puts it at 60% total stock / 40% total international. It'll stay at 100% stocks until he's 10, then start shifting more conservative every couple years until he's 19 when it'll be 20% stock / 80% bonds.
At some point as he nears college I might move him away from the aggressive growth track so we have some funds in that account in actual cash. Mostly due to living through bond market tanking recently and no longer being as confident in a bond fund holding value.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 9:47 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Shifting funds from one 529 to another to get tax deduction?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 514
Re: Shifting funds from one 529 to another to get tax deduction?
It is my understanding that you can just run the k-12 tuition through your Georgia plan and wouldn't need to touch the Utah plan at all if you're happy with that plan for the college savings.
I know in Iowa k-12 tuition is an eligible expense for a 529, no idea if that varies by state. I have friends who don't use a 529 for college savings at all, but do pass catholic school tuition for their kids through the Iowa 529 to get the state income tax benefits.
I know in Iowa k-12 tuition is an eligible expense for a 529, no idea if that varies by state. I have friends who don't use a 529 for college savings at all, but do pass catholic school tuition for their kids through the Iowa 529 to get the state income tax benefits.
- Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Convert VFIAX to VOO
- Replies: 7
- Views: 831
Re: Convert VFIAX to VOO
This might be a silly question, but do they convert all in an account or can you only convert a portion of an account by picking specific lots?
I want to move 100,000 or so to Merrill Edge to get the bank of America CC. I've been dragging my feet for a long time because I still want to keep the remainder in VTSAX at Vanguard rather than VTI, and I don't like calling businesses on the phone.
I want to move 100,000 or so to Merrill Edge to get the bank of America CC. I've been dragging my feet for a long time because I still want to keep the remainder in VTSAX at Vanguard rather than VTI, and I don't like calling businesses on the phone.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
- Replies: 773
- Views: 146489
Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
I am in the same boat but for migrating to Credit Karma, I need to enter my SSN. This was a no go for me. Tried Fidelity and Empower. Not happy with either. Nothing comes close to Mint. Still looking. I went ahead and migrated mine to Credit Karma this morning so I don't get busy and miss the chance. Downloaded all the Mint data before I did that so that's at least available to me up to yesterday. Using the link in my Mint account I didn't have to enter anything but a new password for Credit Karma though I did have to confirm via a texted code that the info they came up with was me. Maybe it wasn't able to get a match for you and needs the SSN for that? I only poked around in Credit Karma for a minute or two. Initial impression is that I d...
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should (and How) I get out of TDFs in my taxable account
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1335
Re: Should (and How) I get out of TDFs in my taxable account
As far as I know there will be no way to do it without selling what you don't want to buying something else. This will cause you to realize any capital gains that you're sitting on in those funds. If the capital gains are big, I'd probably just turn off reinvestment in those funds if you currently have it turned on and direct those dollars elsewhere. Some day when we hit another bear market you can sell at that time, or not if that still doesn't put them down to an amount of capital gains that you are willing to realize.
- Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?
- Replies: 136
- Views: 8562
Re: Hospital Bill - Negotiation strategies?
Doesn't hurt to ask if they'll do a discount for immediate payment. They'll probably say no since it already went to insurance. I bet their contract with your insurance company says they need to collect your deductibles and co-pays, and likewise I bet your contract with your insurance company says you need to pay your deductibles and co-pays.
- Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
- Replies: 773
- Views: 146489
Re: Intuit's Mint App Shutting Down...Replacement Recommendations?
Is there a Mint alternative that is best for if you just want to track expenses? I don't care about net worth and never even linked any brokerage accounts to Mint. I just like to have all our expenses pulled into one place for easy review and tracking/comparing by category and year.
- Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Good Problem to Have: What to do with Cash? and keep it simple.
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1281
Re: Good Problem to Have: What to do with Cash? and keep it simple.
I'd VUSXX and chill.
To answer your questions:
1. As far as I know you can't schedule purchases of treasuries at auction from Vanguard, you would have to manually do it. I believe some other brokerages (Fidelity?) do allow that.
2. Yes, currently VUSXX or VMFXX would be similar to treasuries.
3. Very safe, they're primarily invested in treasuries and other federal government debt.
4. If you're really high income I think some people may recommend muni funds, I can't speak to that as we aren't in that income class.
To answer your questions:
1. As far as I know you can't schedule purchases of treasuries at auction from Vanguard, you would have to manually do it. I believe some other brokerages (Fidelity?) do allow that.
2. Yes, currently VUSXX or VMFXX would be similar to treasuries.
3. Very safe, they're primarily invested in treasuries and other federal government debt.
4. If you're really high income I think some people may recommend muni funds, I can't speak to that as we aren't in that income class.
- Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Savings % if Roth
- Replies: 6
- Views: 555
Re: Savings % if Roth
Unless you already have a lot of what will be taxable income in retirement to fill the bottom brackets via something like a pension or large traditional IRA/401k, etc balances I'd keep doing traditional contributions.
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Start Roth IRA or pay student loans?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1118
Re: Start Roth IRA or pay student loans?
Are her loans already accruing interest? If so, it could be a good idea to make interest payments on those. If not, I'd do the Roth IRA.
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: what to do with I Bonds
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3060
Re: what to do with I Bonds
I'd probably cash in the May 2022 bond and use 10,000 of that to purchase a new one. That'll move you from 0% fixed rate to the current 1.3% fixed rate. Your other bond has a .4% fixed rate, so I'd probably just hold that. Maybe cash it in at some point in the future to use the funds to buy a higher fixed rate bond if you don't want to add additional dollars worth of I bonds at that time. Disagree. That May-2022 bond is paying a composite rate of 6.48% now, OP would be forfeiting 3-months worth of interest at 6.48% annualized. You are not getting that kind of a return ANYWHERE on any fixed income investment at this time. The composite rate on that particular bond will reset to 3.38% in May-2024, and if you really want to sell, sell in July...
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:46 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: what to do with I Bonds
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3060
Re: what to do with I Bonds
I'd probably cash in the May 2022 bond and use 10,000 of that to purchase a new one. That'll move you from 0% fixed rate to the current 1.3% fixed rate. Your other bond has a .4% fixed rate, so I'd probably just hold that. Maybe cash it in at some point in the future to use the funds to buy a higher fixed rate bond if you don't want to add additional dollars worth of I bonds at that time.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 3:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirement Planning - Target Date Funds
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1926
Re: Retirement Planning - Target Date Funds
We use 2050 Target Date Funds for all our tax advantaged accounts, though I expect to be retired in 2042 at the latest based on my state pension hitting the point where additional years of service aren't particularly beneficial to me. Possibly as much as 5 years earlier depending on how our savings and investments do between now and then. Our allocation is more US stock heavy than that would suggest as I do 100% VTSAX in our taxable brokerage account. I've thought about switching our Roth IRAs to VTSAX or VFIAX since I will have a significant pension and therefore can take more risk. I just don't think I need to based on our current trajectories. And I've never changed investments so the thought of starting to tinker now off-putting to me.
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 9:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Online savings account options
- Replies: 11
- Views: 988
Re: Online savings account options
We keep the bulk of our cash at Vanguard in VUSXX. We also keep an Ally savings account with a little cash and have various bills paid from there. Ally typically isn't the very highest, but their rates are consistently 'good enough' that I don't feel the need to jump around for higher rates.
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:55 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Pre- or After-tax Contribution to 403 & 457
- Replies: 5
- Views: 752
Re: Pre- or After-tax Contribution to 403 & 457
Assuming everything you posted is accurate, I think I'd do Roth.
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: When have you stopped saving for retirement?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4005
Re: When have you stopped saving for retirement?
I've never stopped any contributions to any of the various tax advantaged accounts, though I have stopped contributions to the taxable brokerage account a few times. We paid for our own wedding, so I stopped taxable contributions for six months to build up additional cash for that. I reduced taxable contributions a bit when we put our toddler in daycare, and then eventually stopped them completely again when we took on a car loan. Eventually I'll start them back up. No change in our retirement prospects as we probably still save more than we need to anyway between 401k/457b/Roth IRAs/HSA/State pension. I certainly don't think pausing or reducing your contributions is the worst thing in the world when you have some of those short term goals,...
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 1:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Where to cap 529 contributions?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 5028
Re: Where to cap 529 contributions?
Many people here will probably think I'm crazy, but we only put $250/month in the 529 for our kid. Current balance is only about 11,700. He's not even 3 yet, so I'm not personally on board with the idea of putting tens of thousands of dollars in a 529 at this time. I have absolutely no way of knowing if he'll have the aptitude or desire to attend a 4 year college at this point.
I figure we can always ramp up contributions in the future and/or use other savings and cash flow to pay for college. I'm also not entirely convinced I want bank of dad to pay for 100% of his college, I think there is at least some benefit to a kid being responsible for at least a little of their first major adult expense.
I figure we can always ramp up contributions in the future and/or use other savings and cash flow to pay for college. I'm also not entirely convinced I want bank of dad to pay for 100% of his college, I think there is at least some benefit to a kid being responsible for at least a little of their first major adult expense.
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 12:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vanguard money market fund VUSXX
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1443
Re: Vanguard money market fund VUSXX
It seems to me that VUSXX has consistently been a couple basis points higher than VMFXX over the past year, though admittedly I don't look very often. 7 day SEC yields as of looking on Vanguard right now show VUSXX as 2 basis points higher. What points are you worried about sacrificing between these two?
If the US federal government defaults on the treasuries and other obligations in VUSXX or VMFXX, I'd expect the entire global system to end up collapsing.
If the US federal government defaults on the treasuries and other obligations in VUSXX or VMFXX, I'd expect the entire global system to end up collapsing.
- Mon Feb 26, 2024 1:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do your intra-company yearly raises keep with inflation?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 6331
Re: Do your intra-company yearly raises keep with inflation?
According the the US Inflation Calculator, my current pay is about 3.8% above what it would be if my 2020 pay was just adjusted for inflation. No promotions or anything, just annual merit increases in the 3-4% range plus additional market rate adjustments of 2% in 2022 and 6% this year.
I'm in healthcare and we get wage data from our state hospital association every year. We do market rate adjustments every year for positions that start to lag other comparable hospitals based on size, geographic location, etc.
I'm in healthcare and we get wage data from our state hospital association every year. We do market rate adjustments every year for positions that start to lag other comparable hospitals based on size, geographic location, etc.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 3:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Determining the size for a LTC Buffer?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3095
Re: Determining the size for a LTC Buffer?
I think aside from the LTCI and the $400,000 in dedicated investable assets, I think in our later 70s it would make sense to find a CCRC and use some of the proceeds from the sale of our home to buy a contract to help as well. Our policy covers about up to 50-hours a week of a home health aide at today’s costs. As others have said, this is a more likely need, but one tries to cover some degree of worst case scenario. Once you pass about 80-hours/week you are at parity with a skilled nursing home in terms of costs. We have no children to assist us and little bequest motive for legacy so planning for LTC is important to us. Honestly, with no children or need/desire to leave significant assets as an inheritance, it wouldn't be a huge issue to...
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Purposely deducting as little tax as possible each paycheck
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1655
Re: Purposely deducting as little tax as possible each paycheck
Count me in with the group that feels like it wouldn't be enough potential benefit to make it worth the risk that you screw it up and owe penalties that'll easily exceed any benefit.
But yes, you can do it if you really want to though I personally wouldn't call it 'risk free'.
But yes, you can do it if you really want to though I personally wouldn't call it 'risk free'.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Downside of claiming dependents on W4?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 2159
Re: Downside of claiming dependents on W4?
Claiming the dependent doesn't reduce your 'taxable income' it is a credit and reduces your tax liability by 2000.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What all do you track on your spreadsheet?
- Replies: 118
- Views: 17200
Re: What all do you track on your spreadsheet?
Our monthly tracking sheet just has the balances of all of our accounts. I also have sections off to the side that give a rough asset allocation and how funds are distributed between taxable/traditional/roth.
- Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need permission to stop saving and coast, please:)
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3330
Re: Need permission to stop saving and coast, please:)
Are you currently saving 112,000 per year? If not, then your expense and/or income numbers are off. If you are, I'd say you can certainly cut back on saving and spend more though I personally wouldn't cut saving to zero.
- Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: payroll company, employer or my fault?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 2572
Re: payroll company, employer or my fault?
How much was taken from your paycheck for federal taxes? What bracket would your salary fall in because your employer doesn’t know your husbands salary? For instance my wife paid $9 in federal taxes this year. I had $643 in federal taxes withheld on an income of $32,275 in 2023. And FWIW my previous employer who I was with for over 30 years did not know my husbands income. From what you've said, I take it to mean that you filed the W4 with MFJ checked everything else blank, including the box for multiple jobs or the optional step 4 where you would add additional withholding. If that is correct, it would treat your income as the total family earnings. 32,275 is only a few thousand over the standard deduction so I can't see how we'd be expec...
- Mon Feb 19, 2024 4:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Not understanding Explanation of Benefits from health care insurance
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1326
Re: Not understanding Explanation of Benefits from health care insurance
This right here. You owe zero. If the providers office bills you anything, dispute the bill because your EOB states you owe nothing.toddthebod wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 11:52 amI wouldn't worry about it. The provider screwed up and is eating the cost per their contract with your insurer.You aren't responsible for paying this charge. If you are billed for this service, please call Customer Service.
- Mon Feb 19, 2024 2:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Employer HSA contributions not included in W2
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1182
Re: Employer HSA contributions not included in W2
I'd ask your employer for a corrected W2, it sounds like they don't have it setup quite right in their payroll system. If they have any issues, the guidance on the W2 for box 12 W is explicitly clear that it should include employer contributions.
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Best Money Market Fund right now
- Replies: 25
- Views: 4788
Re: Best Money Market Fund right now
That's what we use, too. Rate is very competitive and it is largely exempt from state tax.Bama12 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:13 pm+1
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.
- Replies: 55
- Views: 5359
Re: College student considering staying in a hotel to save money.
I travel frequently to Boston (Seaport area) for work. Where would expect to staying? I consider $150 a night in a decent area a steal and usually end up paying the way more than that or getting forced to UMass or the Airport Hotels off the Silver Line in Chelsea. I paid $450 a night for a dump of a hotel during peak fall season this year 😩. I often spend close to that hour when that happens getting to the office. There’s usually cheaper options on the NW side near the burbs you could probably just have a shorter rail trip for and save some money. I can see this working out to save money between summer, winter breaks, etc. How much is the monthly rent you’re looking at? Splitting a three bedroom apartment will probably be around $1200 a mo...
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 2:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fire safe that bolts into wall stud (not floor)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 720
Re: Fire safe that bolts into wall stud (not floor)
We have a small fire safe. I always remind my wife that it just makes it easier for a thief to get all the important documents in one box. Ours isn't bolted to a wall or floor, but even if it was it would be easy enough to break it free once it is spotted. I actually don't even lock it, it is truly just for the limited fire protection that it offers. Virtually no home 'safe', 'gun safe' etc takes more than a minute or two to break into if someone so desires, especially given that many of us have at least some tools in our home or garage and we don't store those inside the safe. For example, I have a splitting axe in my garage. Sure the door of a gun safe might offer reasonable protection, but the every other surface is just thin sheet metal...
- Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: should i pay off a car at 1.9% or invest in a cd at 5.5%
- Replies: 67
- Views: 6387
Re: should i pay off a car at 1.9% or invest in a cd at 5.5%
I think one important thing missing from this discussion is why car loans rates are so low. My understanding is that it's because it gets people to buy more expensive cars than they would otherwise. By some of the logic in this thread, I should go out and buy an $80,000 car on credit--think of all the money I'll make arbitraging that! OP already owns the car and has the loan. I don't think that is a consideration in this case, but I am sure you are right in a general sense of the manufacturers not offering subsidized financing out of the goodness of their hearts. We have taken advantage of subsidized financing to buy two new vehicles over the last 12 months. We already knew the make/model/trim/pricepoint that we wanted before considering h...
- Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:57 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Who is buying bonds?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 8957
Re: Who is buying bonds?
I guess we buy some every other week via our target date funds in our 401k and 457b.
- Mon Feb 12, 2024 11:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Ignore collections?
- Replies: 72
- Views: 5711
Re: Ignore collections?
Six weeks after the insurance change seems like a reasonable timeframe for the facility to find out her supplement didn't cover it. It isn't like they'd just happen to know that. They had to bill Medicare. Medicare had to process the claim and issue a remittance. Medicare probably automatically forwarded the remit to the supplement, if not they had to send them a claim. Then the supplement had to process it and issue a remittance to the provider listing it as patient responsibility before the facility would know. I'm sorry your mother in law switched insurances during a rehab stay to something that apparently doesn't cover rehab stays . I really am. But how exactly is that the facility's responsibility? Heck, there is a chance they didn't e...
- Mon Feb 12, 2024 8:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
- Replies: 174
- Views: 16147
Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Not exactly pizza, but Jacks has cheesy dippers that I had recently and actually thought were really good. https://www.hy-vee.com/aisles-online/p/ ... ping-Sauce
- Fri Feb 09, 2024 8:01 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: New article casting doubt on index investing
- Replies: 51
- Views: 6615
Re: New article casting doubt on index investing
That is kind of what I was wondering about. Take Apple. They are a US company. The iPhone is manufactured in China with parts primarily from that general part of Asia. I don't know how GDP works to know whether the US or China/Taiwan/Vietnam, etc get the GDP benefit from the iPhone?
- Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:15 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Costs Of Kids From BH Parents?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 5298
Re: Costs Of Kids From BH Parents?
I'm just shocked at how much daycare costs in some of these areas . In my small town we only pay $90/week for our almost 3 year old to go three days per week. It is an additional $28 when we send him a 4th day, not sure what it would cost for a 5th day as we've never done it.
- Wed Feb 07, 2024 2:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Meta's jump
- Replies: 39
- Views: 4412
Re: Meta's jump
My advice would be to leave the stock trading race. You got lucky once. It absolutely will not happen consistently, and the down side risk is greater than the upside potential.
- Tue Feb 06, 2024 2:31 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Are any BH's not wealthy?
- Replies: 165
- Views: 26445
Re: Are any BH's not wealthy?
It's all relative. According to various calculators on DQYDJ my individual income is about 90th percentile, household income is about 85th percentile. Net worth is down around 65th percentile, but if I use the by age group calculator it is around 85th. According the the Millionaire Next Door formula we are just creeping up on being an Average Accumulator of Wealth but we're newer to the higher income and we have a high savings rate so we're rapidly improving. And Thomas Stanley has said that formula doesn't really work for people significantly younger than 57, which at 39/36 I'd assume still includes us. I don't feel 'wealthy', especially compared to many on here, but I am certain that to the family with say a farm hand and a CNA we are wea...
- Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sleeping struggles with two people one bed
- Replies: 71
- Views: 7013
Re: Sleeping struggles with two people one bed
We use different covers. I use a light fleece blanket. She uses a giant pile of god knows what and it's about a thousand degrees under there.
- Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microwave venting or over the range hood vent?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1994
Re: Microwave venting or over the range hood vent?
A hood vent is fantastic. When I look at houses on Zillow I'm always shocked at how many houses don't have one.
- Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Do you ever have to show HSA receipts?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3645
Re: Do you ever have to show HSA receipts?
I have copies of my annual report from my insurance company showing the patient responsibility, which always ends up matching our OOP max. That doesn't prove that we actually paid it, so is that even useful to keep? I don't have receipts for everything as it seems to be just about impossible to get them from some of the places we've had services over the years unless you want to drive there to make the payment in person.
- Wed Jan 31, 2024 1:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Car buyer: Toyota RAV-4 XLE vs Mazda CX-5 Carbon
- Replies: 44
- Views: 5806
Re: New Car buyer: Toyota RAV-4 XLE vs Mazda CX-5 Carbon
Just curious what OP ended up doing?
We just grabbed a 2024 CX-5 on Friday for DW. Premium Plus which is the top trim that comes with the regular engine. 0% for 60 months with nothing down. We'll see how it goes, but it seems to be a very nice car so far. My only gripes at this point compared to my 23 Ridgeline is that the cab is a little more noisy so far as wind/road noise and the lane keep assist doesn't do any level of steering at all. They said some of the higher trims with the turbo have lane centering which must be what my Ridgeline does.
We did get one of the ones that was built without the cylinder deactivation and engine start/stop garbage so that was definitely a point in it's favor for my tastes.
We just grabbed a 2024 CX-5 on Friday for DW. Premium Plus which is the top trim that comes with the regular engine. 0% for 60 months with nothing down. We'll see how it goes, but it seems to be a very nice car so far. My only gripes at this point compared to my 23 Ridgeline is that the cab is a little more noisy so far as wind/road noise and the lane keep assist doesn't do any level of steering at all. They said some of the higher trims with the turbo have lane centering which must be what my Ridgeline does.
We did get one of the ones that was built without the cylinder deactivation and engine start/stop garbage so that was definitely a point in it's favor for my tastes.
- Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you budget?
- Replies: 59
- Views: 5889
Re: How do you budget?
We don't budget. Investing and regular expenses are automated and the rest is available to spend or save as desired.
I do use Mint to track expenses. Still not sure what I'll move to when they shut that down.
I do use Mint to track expenses. Still not sure what I'll move to when they shut that down.
- Mon Jan 29, 2024 1:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Review: Early Retiree (less than $1 Million)
- Replies: 50
- Views: 6844
Re: Portfolio Review: Early Retiree (less than $1 Million)
Thanks for posting the update. Really nice to hear how it's been going years down the road, especially given the oddities of the last few years.
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Resignation Letter
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7035
Re: Resignation Letter
In my opinion a resignation letter should only say two things.
-Please accept this letter as my resignation.
-My last day will be xx/xx/xxxx (whatever the minumum amount of days is to meet the policy to leave in good standing).
If it is truly for a planned retirement you could be nice and give them an extended notice so they can work to fill your position, but that certainly isn't necessary.
-Please accept this letter as my resignation.
-My last day will be xx/xx/xxxx (whatever the minumum amount of days is to meet the policy to leave in good standing).
If it is truly for a planned retirement you could be nice and give them an extended notice so they can work to fill your position, but that certainly isn't necessary.
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gas snowblower recommendations 2024
- Replies: 83
- Views: 9540
Re: Gas snowblower recommendations 2024
We've had a Cub Cadet 3x 357cc with hand warmers, power steering, etc. since 2019 that has been great. I think the 3x is largely an unnecessary gimmick but it was on sale cheaper than the 2x sitting beside it when I bought it so here we are. I guess it does hammer through the snow plow drifts at the end of the driveway with no trouble as opposed to my old 2 stage before it, but I have always assumed that is more due to the much larger engine than it being 3 stage.
- Thu Jan 11, 2024 4:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Employer recoup HSA funds
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1709
Re: Employer recoup HSA funds
I wouldn't expect them to. I know we don't, but I honestly have no idea whether or not we'd be capable of doing something like that. I don't keep much of any dollars in my work place HSA anyway, every few pay periods I move it over to my Fidelity HSA.
Best bet would be to ask HR or Payroll, but if you don't want them to know that you're leaving just yet that may not be an option you want to take at this time.
Best bet would be to ask HR or Payroll, but if you don't want them to know that you're leaving just yet that may not be an option you want to take at this time.