Search found 118 matches
- Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Thoughts on the "last" car before electric vehicle
- Replies: 52
- Views: 4423
Re: Thoughts on the "last" car before electric vehicle
Outback. Fully loaded with everything and largest engine is still around upper $30ks. All wheel drive. Great size and versatile for people and cargo. Like it a lot. And some of the tech is so good it was better than the Mercedes we drove.
- Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Marriage and separate accounts - how does it work?
- Replies: 98
- Views: 5335
Re: Marriage and separate accounts - how does it work?
We are married. Finances are married.
- Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Diamonds [Earrings and ring]
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2690
Re: Diamonds [Earrings and ring]
I just bought diamond earrings also. There are a number of good online vendors but I went with Jamesallen.com at the end because they do not charge sales tax to my state and one of the other big ones would. THAT IS 8%. Big difference. And they have the same 30 day return policy. Very easy. Wired the...
- Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best MVNO for Verizon Network - any updates?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2084
Re: Best MVNO for Verizon Network - any updates?
Also, I need a 4 line plan ideally. I could break it up to single lines, but would hope a family plan would be better. I see Total has those.
- Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best MVNO for Verizon Network - any updates?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2084
Best MVNO for Verizon Network - any updates?
As things are constantly changing, I thought I would ask everyone for their updated experiences on the best MVNO on the Verizon network. I want to stay on the VZW network because of certain rural coverage but see no need to pay full price. Any recommendations?? Also, so far, the only things I know o...
- Tue Nov 13, 2018 5:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: rule of thumb for using HSA funds?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 3468
Re: rule of thumb for using HSA funds?
Not sure I agree. Paying from savings or paying from your HSA will not affect your taxes this year. Keep in mind that the HSA is the Grail of investing - pre tax dollars, growing tax deferred and using them tax free later in life for med expenses. If at all possible, I think you should NEVER spend H...
- Fri Nov 02, 2018 5:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Multiple newspaper and magazine subscriptions - how much do you pay to stay informed?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 2767
Re: Multiple newspaper and magazine subscriptions - how much do you pay to stay informed?
The only news I pay for is WSJ Online. Best, overall quality news without a strong slant. I like Drudge since it has relevant articles from all over the world and I think it is one of the top 3 news sites in the world. I end up getting a lot of US news from British sources linked through Drudge. Muc...
- Thu Aug 09, 2018 4:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Biggest Threats to Financial Well-Being
- Replies: 99
- Views: 9745
Re: Biggest Threats to Financial Well-Being
Your daughter wants a horse....trust me, even worse than a boat...
- Tue Aug 07, 2018 12:23 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: "Age in Bonds" fails almost everyone
- Replies: 217
- Views: 15198
Re: "Age in Bonds" fails almost everyone
Well, when Treasuries hit 8%, I will be 100% Treasuries and TIPS.... 

- Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:26 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Acceptable uses...New Financial Chromebook
- Replies: 35
- Views: 5065
Re: Acceptable uses...New Financial Chromebook
I went through this same analysis a few months back. Really struggled. I finally decided NOT to go the chromebook path because: 1) (this is just me) I think Google IS about as trustworthy as malware and just cannot give them my important data; 2) cant store MS Office docs on your drive; very limitin...
- Mon May 21, 2018 4:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Moving to Texas - [Request for clothes, car window tint] recommendations
- Replies: 42
- Views: 3668
Re: Moving to Texas - [Request for clothes, car window tint] recommendations
Dallas is more cosmopolitan cowboy than Houston. Houston is extremely international and you can find any international cuisine done well and cheap. Yes, most folks have guns. We find it helps keep everyone polite to each other. Honking and arm waving in traffic is generally not acceptable. :shock:
- Thu May 10, 2018 4:39 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Total Bond - SEC yield breaks 3%
- Replies: 104
- Views: 14077
Re: Total Bond - SEC yield breaks 3%
But isn't it the case that even if the bond fund NAV falls, you only lose money if you sell, right? If you are holding long term, you get your expected interest rate and no harm, right?
- Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fee Only Financial Planner - Recommendation
- Replies: 3
- Views: 635
Re: Fee Only Financial Planner - Recommendation
Great. Thanks. This is my preference - to have someone who has been actually used by the person making the recommendation. I will check him out.
- Wed Apr 25, 2018 4:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fee Only Financial Planner - Recommendation
- Replies: 3
- Views: 635
Fee Only Financial Planner - Recommendation
Searching the collective wisdom database here. Can anyone recommend a good fee only financial planner? I just want a decent objective opinion on my numbers and how close to FI I am - and am willing to pay for it, since I am getting close. I don't think it matters where they are based since everythin...
- Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Help me choose a top law school!
- Replies: 65
- Views: 6919
Re: Help me choose a top law school!
Sorry Gill. Writing too quickly. I meant a student at Cornell or any other good school that is not officially graduating top X% OR, if the school sets honors levels, with some level of high honors (magna cum laude, summa cum laude). That student may be a great student, it will just be hard to tell h...
- Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Help me choose a top law school!
- Replies: 65
- Views: 6919
Re: Help me choose a top law school!
Echo on Harvard, if you get in, need to go. I would also not undervalue class rank. If you have it down to a few good schools, you may want to go where you think you will end up in the top 10%. To me, top 10% Notre Dame is more attractive as a hire than unranked Cornell. I want to hire a lawyer that...
- Sun Apr 08, 2018 5:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3577
Re: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
Thanks for all the good suggestions! I think this is really a growing issue. I saw some malware hit this past week and stopped partial operations in 50 different companies - all with good IT protections in place. Imagine if they launch something more intentional on personal machines. With teenagers ...
- Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3577
Re: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
My laptop did get a windows free upgrade to 10. I forget if it was windows 7 or 8 to start. It is about 7 years old.
- Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3577
Re: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
Oh, and I am not a techie, so Linux is really not an option for me, though it sounds very good...
- Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:31 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Class Action suit against DDD?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3952
Re: Class Action suit against DDD?
Unless you are serious about hiring your own lawyer and going after them for whatever (which would not make sense), fill out the class action paperwork if you qualify. Good chance you would get a few dollars.
- Sat Apr 07, 2018 11:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3577
Finance only laptop? Can I use an old one?
I have read with interest the conversations about having a chromebook or laptop that you use solely for your work on financial web sites and work - the idea being that is minimizes the risk of picking up a virus because you are not doing web surfing other than to controlled sites. I dont want a chro...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:36 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Grok's LMP-4: The 3-legged stool approach to retirement planning
- Replies: 150
- Views: 15989
Re: Grok's LMP-4: The 3-legged stool approach to retirement planning
3 legged stool??? I am conservatively predicting a single leg - my investments - going up and down with market....i.e. a POGO STICK! 

- Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Young Lawyer in Big Law -- NYC or SF?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1983
Re: Young Lawyer in Big Law -- NYC or SF?
I agree with most of these smart comments - and, with nothing else to base it on, would pick NY. That being said, a big firm lawyer at the end of the day is a walking P&L. The best indicator of your success in the long run is your own personal book of loyal business. Accordingly, you have to think a...
- Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Downsides to Total Wireless as alternative to Verizon?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6625
Re: Downsides to Total Wireless as alternative to Verizon?
Wow. Great info! Thanks for taking the time to share and teach - for me and others! Greatly appreciated. 

- Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Downsides to Total Wireless as alternative to Verizon?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6625
Downsides to Total Wireless as alternative to Verizon?
All - I like Verizon service but am tired of paying Verizon fees. Reviews suggest Total Wireless is the best MVNO using the Verizon network. Do you know of any downsides to their service vs using Verizon directly? - Also, do you know if you can use your phone as a hotspot on Total Wireless? Thanks -...
- Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Scotland/Ireland/Northern UK
- Replies: 6
- Views: 731
Scotland/Ireland/Northern UK
Need some guidance from fellow travelers. Finally planning a trip for late June to see Ireland, Scotland, Northern UK. Planning about 10-11 days. is there too much to see in this time period? Should I focus on a couple of areas and skip others? Should I just attempt Ireland and Scotland? I have the ...
- Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Who has had a pool?
- Replies: 79
- Views: 5472
Re: Who has had a pool?
Have in ground pool in the south. Kids used it a bit when young and then just a huge money and work pit. Just got bids to fill in a 13 year old pool! About 8k + landscaping after that. Some of our neighbors did not pay for a pool but had a nice wooden playset. kids enjoyed it just as much for a lot ...
- Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:43 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Amazing how much your IPS can de-stress your life
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4950
Re: Amazing how much your IPS can de-stress your life
Thanks Salty Caper! I guess if it falls more than 50%, I consult my IPS, rebalance and use it as a buying opportunity!!! (at least that is what I hope I will do) 

- Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Amazing how much your IPS can de-stress your life
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4950
Amazing how much your IPS can de-stress your life
I am amazed how much my life has changed and de-stressed since I have found my IPS and agreed to live by it. For newcomers, my steps were as follows: 1. Truly accept that no one, including you and your brother in law, can predict the market long term. This is harder than it sounds. 2. Come up with a...
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Another Smart Phone Thread, Low/Mid priced phones and carriers
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5192
Re: Another Smart Phone Thread, Low/Mid priced phones and carriers
I would stress the issue raised above about updates. This should be a key criteria going forward. I have a Samsung 5S and Verizon wont give me the next Android OS update. There is clearly an incentive for the carriers to stop updating your phone after a while so you have to buy a new one. I hear the...
- Tue Nov 07, 2017 9:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I Cut the Cord yesterday!
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5690
Re: I Cut the Cord yesterday!
And if you want the premium cord cutting experience, I highly recommend that after you get your antenna, get a DVR for over the air broadcasting. I got mine from Channel Master and it is awesome. One time charge, and if you get the wifi connected model, they provide you a full channel guide on the s...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: WSJ Digital Subscription - a bargain!
- Replies: 119
- Views: 44336
Re: WSJ Digital Subscription - a bargain!
The bigger issue here is the decent reporting of the news. Why pay for a periodical when you know what they are going to print based on the narrative that periodical has decided to support? It has really turned me off. I find I learn more academically about what is really happening in the US by read...
- Thu Oct 26, 2017 9:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What is going on with the home insurance rates?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 7110
Re: What is going on with the home insurance rates?
Ditto. Our homeowners went up an insane amount! I could not believe it and the agent was not very helpful. We had Geico for car insurance so asked them. Their price was like 30% of the other quote! A normal amount. The agent says Geico digs deeper into the underwriting info and does not just tag you...
- Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon Prime customers can now give Amazon access to their home
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5894
Re: Amazon Prime customers can now give Amazon access to their home
Yep. Found Bezos in my kitchen the other day....had to shoo him out. He said he was cooking Prime rib... 

- Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?
- Replies: 141
- Views: 13307
Re: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?
No. I am trying to distance myself from Google and their silly intrusive evil spying practices. I think using THEIR actual hardware would be the coup de grace. Might as well bank with them, give them all my tax returns and run a broadcasting camera from my bedroom!!! 

- Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best weight loss resources?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4155
Re: Best weight loss resources?
Still Counting Calories? Your Weight-Loss Plan May Be Outdated
Harvard Study
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/health/19brody.html
Harvard Study
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/health/19brody.html
- Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best weight loss resources?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4155
Re: Best weight loss resources?
I dont think I disagree really. But I would note that a normal overweight person who simply focuses on low caloric intake, but still eats starches and sugars and potatoes, will be creating enough extra insulin to keep them always hungry. It is just not a formula for success, unless you can stay in s...
- Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best weight loss resources?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4155
Re: Best weight loss resources?
On the problem with the "calories in/calories out" argument, I would suggest Gary Taubes' What Makes us Fat. It is eye opening and uses the actual science and real life examples to prove the fallacy. From Amazon summary: Taubes reveals the bad nutritional science of the last century—none more damagi...
- Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best weight loss resources?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 4155
Re: Best weight loss resources?
I had felt just like the OP. I did what everyone said and it never worked. I have been immersed in nutritional history and science for the past 4 months. What I found is CRAZY! In the Big Fat Surprise, the author looks at all the studies being used by the USDA and others to promote the "eat less/exe...
- Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Selling burial plots in Alabama
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1832
Re: Selling burial plots in Alabama
Really? That really burns me up!
- Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:00 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: New Woodlands, Texas Local Chapter
- Replies: 23
- Views: 5171
Re: The Woodlands, Texas Chapter?
Please add me as interested also! Thanks.
- Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Password Protection
- Replies: 83
- Views: 8309
Re: Password Protection
I had heard at one point (I think on BH) that if you give your password data to a third party, you can end up waiving any liability protection you might have from say someone hacking your bank account or other financial account. Not sure if its true, but it does have some logic to it...I do not feel...
- Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: TV DVR Dilemnia: OTA or Satellite
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1430
Re: TV DVR Dilemnia: OTA or Satellite
If you go with the Live TV option, I highly recommend Channel Master. Their box is the size of a notebook and has a wifi option to get 14 days of programming on the menu. Truly awesome.
- Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: My first promotion without a pay increase
- Replies: 47
- Views: 6350
Re: My first promotion without a pay increase
I agree with some others that they might not think you are a flight risk....Every now and then, wear a suit to work. Get haircuts regularly and make yourself look more marketable (whatever that means in your situation). Take off a day with very little notice. At the same, make a positive case to you...
- Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suggestions for organizing bookmarks
- Replies: 9
- Views: 903
Re: Suggestions for organizing bookmarks
I added the Pocket add on to my FF. It has worked great so far. Of course, it is just a bookmark also and thus you run the risk of your page not being there when you want to reference it again. For really important stuff, I may save it as a pdf...
- Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cash on hand for emergencies
- Replies: 43
- Views: 4483
Re: Cash on hand for emergencies
I understand and have been made comfortable by all the arguments regarding modernity and silly prepping. BUT then I realized I was suffering from arrogant first worlder privilege. Problems can and will happen. By definition, we do not EXPECT them to happen. I realized (and this is just me) that if I...
- Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Spray Foam Insulation
- Replies: 20
- Views: 3046
Re: Spray Foam Insulation
A few thoughts from my experience: 1. Good for NEW build, less so for retrofit because the chemicals need to air out when it cures. Could be problems on retrofit. 2. Insulation value is MUCH higher. 3. The house stays very tight, so you must have a way to bring in fresh air - such as with the ac air...
- Thu Sep 14, 2017 1:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Experian credit freeze by phone vs online
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2124
Re: Experian credit freeze by phone vs online
Has anyone been able to use the Experian freeze online? I get the feeling they are giving us the runaround. I put in on the info and then get kicked out saying I have to physically mail in a bunch of documents. Crazy. The other 2 worked fine.
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
- Replies: 67
- Views: 6755
Re: Large portable generator vs. permanent natural gas generator for home
It seems like a key issue here is whether natural gas would keep flowing in an emergency. I have been in the South for most of my life with lots of hurricanes and I have never heard of natural gas pipes being curtailed. That is a new one on me. I wonder what they had in Sandy that made that happen. ...
- Tue Sep 12, 2017 1:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Two Factor Authentication and One Time Passwords
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3497
Re: Two Factor Authentication and One Time Passwords
Schwab still offers a physical token for its 2FA. I got that over the phone app since the reviews on the phone app were awful and your phone can be hacked. I've gone retro on those hackers! hah.