Search found 777 matches

by monkey_business
Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Least acidic coffee beans
Replies: 86
Views: 8715

Re: Least acidic coffee beans

You can also reduce acid by adding a pinch of baking soda to the coffee, or using a product like Coffee Tamer. That way you can drink whatever coffee you like.
by monkey_business
Tue May 16, 2023 11:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Short time deal on Pixel 7a phone
Replies: 20
Views: 2320

Re: Short time deal on Pixel 7a phone

I would say Pixel 6a fingerprint scanner sucks. There are many times that it does not work at the moment I need to pay something; and I have to enter the pin number to unlock the phone in the front of the cashier. My old Iphone never failed to recognize my fingers. +100. The fingerprint reader on the 6/6a/7/7a Pixels is awful. It is a basic feature that simply does not work well at all. I am waiting until a new, reliable, unlock feature gets added to the Pixel line. I hear their face unlock is poor too. I do not understand how Google made several generations of phones like this. If they do not improve, I am considering jumping ship to Samsung, or even iPhone. For the record, I have owned Nexus, Pixel, and Pixel 3a phones in the past and al...
by monkey_business
Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Re: Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843

Did you mistakenly enter both W-2s with the same EIN? They have to entered with different EINs, which is what you said in your original post. Because TurboTax uses the EIN to determine whether they should follow the process for multiple employers or a single employer. Quoted from the webpage you linked: (TurboTax determines this by looking at your employer's EIN. In unusual cases where the employer changed their EIN during the tax year, an excess withholding credit can be taken as explained in "Multiple employers," above.) The EINs are different but I figured it out now. So it turns out I do get the credit back automatically but the warning comes afterwards making it seem like I still need to correct it. I checked the underlying ...
by monkey_business
Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Re: Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843

tortoise84 wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:30 am An employer with different EINs counts as multiple employers so follow the section for multiple employers on that TurboTax webpage. You do not have to file Form 843 or ask for a corrected W-2. Instead, TurboTax should automatically claim the excess SS as a credit on Schedule 3 Line 11.
That's the thing, TurboTax does not automatically adjust anything. After both W-2s are entered, it says there is an excess and to ask the employer for a refund and corrected W-2s. It does not even ask about multiple employers.
by monkey_business
Wed Mar 23, 2022 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843
Replies: 4
Views: 353

Excess SS Taxes, TurboTax, Multiple W2s, and Form 843

For tax year 2021 I have received two W-2s from the same employer but with different EINs. One covers one part of the year, and the other another. When entering this information in TurboTax, I am informed that there is an excess SS withdrawing and that I am owed a refund. My employer will not issue the refund or issue a corrected W-2. It appears that I need to file Form 843 to get a refund for this excess amount from the IRS. I have two questions regarding this situation: 1. Is Form 843 the correct way to go? It does not appear there is another path to get the refund. 2. The TurboTax Q&A forum has several responses to similar issues stating that within TurboTax the filer should correct the SS withholding manually to be correct and then ...
by monkey_business
Sun Feb 20, 2022 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to Split Rent for Co-habitating Couple
Replies: 112
Views: 9716

Re: How to Split Rent for Co-habitating Couple

Guys who earn more but don't pay up more whether it is rent or dinner/drinks etc are less likely to find anyone to date let alone share a rental with. Got it; so sex is contingent on subsidy. Makes sense. Yes, the idea that a man is expected to pay more based on generally women-specific expenses sounds really strange to me. Expenses can be heavily skewed by either gender. Sure, on average , women tend to spend more on things like make-up, hair, nails, etc. However, men, on average , tend to spend more on things like tools, computers/tech, video games, car parts, etc. In a healthy relationship is there supposed to be a conversation such as: "Well, dear, you should pay 10% more for our expenses because I spent money on a new haircut and...
by monkey_business
Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Losing a job in your 50's...
Replies: 854
Views: 166234

Re: Losing a job in your 50's...

From all of the comments above, it appears if you think you are a smart old guy, self attestation, reviews from any of your colleagues, and the size and scope of your home lab absolutely do not count at all. The SINGLE ONLY VALID WAY to determine whether you are top tier smart or not is to get a job offer from a FAANG or equivalent. Job offers from legacy megacorps like IBM, Oracle, Cisco, etc. don't count. Job offers from anything in-between FAANG and legacy MC means you are average, not a superstar. Your current compensation/position doesn't count. Your IT certifications don't count. Your dog's opinion of your IT master status doesn't count. I think that jives with the observation that there are almost zero age 50+ guys from the dotcom e...
by monkey_business
Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: LenderFi: Who did they sell your mortgage to?
Replies: 62
Views: 8181

Re: LenderFi: Who did they sell your mortgage to?

Closed late October. Sold to Fannie Mae. Still serviced by LenderFi.

Seems they have not been selling the servicing lately if this thread is any indication.
by monkey_business
Mon Dec 07, 2020 10:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277379

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

Has anyone had their loan sold by LenderFi lately? Closed at the end of October, loan sold to Fannie Mae, but still serviced by LenderFi. Just curious where we'll end up, since I doubt LenderFi will be keeping the loan.
by monkey_business
Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!
Replies: 120
Views: 9184

Re: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!

Ok folks. We've narrowed the specs down to this new doc below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n9SEV3MIR2mVBjRC3okjJxzI2RvwAmZkTKx-j-u9I-k/edit?usp=sharing Take a peek. It's way beyond our budget at $1600! Time to wait for Turkey day deals :D Hi there! A few suggestions I would make: 1. Motherboard: https://www.amazon.com/MSI-MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK-Motherboard/dp/B089CWDHFZ. This is a higher quality board for $20 more. 2. RAM: https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820232942?&quicklink=true. The Corsair memory you've selected is really overpriced. 3. Case: https://www.amazon.com/quiet-pre-installed-BGW37-tempered-window/dp/B087D7DBW6. This is a great case in terms of airflow, and comes with 3 good 140mm fans....
by monkey_business
Wed Nov 11, 2020 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU make coffee?
Replies: 342
Views: 30283

Re: How do YOU make coffee?

Burr grind freshly roasted beans. Pour over using a Kalita Wave at 202-205F with a gooseneck kettle using a 15:1 water to coffee ratio.
by monkey_business
Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215635

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

...but now that I saw many people transferred to Mr Cooper (nation star) from whom I just ran away, I hope I stay with Lenderfi. Mr Cooper was so generous in offering a whole point reduction (4.265 to 3.265) and no cost closing with a 5.18% apr. I just learned that my LenderFi mortgage is being transferred to Mr. Cooper. Since you mentioned you are "running away" from them, I was wondering - how is their servicing? I don't really care about their own loan products since I already got my refi through LenderFi, but am hoping their servicing is at least adequate (TBH, I thought "Mr. Cooper" was some guy who was going to contact me - seems like a terrible/gimmicky name for a corporate entity). My previous mortgage was held/...
by monkey_business
Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why is the stock market up? [thread multi-merge]
Replies: 521
Views: 31940

Re: Market makes no sense

The market making sense implies that given the current facts we can determine the true value of the market. If you are saying the market makes no sense, you are implying its current value does not match the facts. If so, what should the market's value be? What, if any, should be its change rate? Why?

Folks: the market is not just a math problem, and it is foolish to think of as such. You cannot simply look at the facts and determine the market's value. If this would be possible, we would be able to predict the market.
by monkey_business
Sat May 16, 2020 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why international?
Replies: 636
Views: 56258

Re: Why international?

I think folks get a bit too carried away analyzing the performance of domestic vs international while ignoring the all important diversification and reduction of risk. The main reason to invest in international, in my opinion, is to not have all your eggs in the US basket. Perhaps it will remain the best basket going forward, but if it does terribly, having more baskets offers a reduction of that risk. We don't invest in only the most successful and largest company stocks, we invest in all companies, because we don't know if the most successful companies today or in the past will continue their success. We diversify. It's the same with domestic and international: a portfolio containing both is more diversified and thus less risky in the lon...
by monkey_business
Thu Apr 09, 2020 2:11 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus
Replies: 1653
Views: 109062

Re: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus

According to Table 5 on page 14 in this April 4 2020 study: 1) about 1/4 of younger patients (age 26-49) admitted to ICU died; and 2) about 1/2 of persons who died in ICU lacked any severe comorbitities. ICNARC Study of Covid-19 in Critical Care . It is not true that "Coronavirus almost exclusively kills the very old and very sick". At least no one has linked a medical paper which establishes that claim. This study doesn't disprove or prove either thing. Being young and/or healthy could prevent you from ever showing up in the ICU to begin with. The young and healthy have notoriously given less attention to social distancing than the old. Perhaps a great many more of them have been exposed and those factors prevent them from ever ...
by monkey_business
Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:37 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397359

Re: Coronavirus and the market

What happens to the market in an environment where a contagious disease that seems to have a 10% mortality rate left unchecked .... Source? 10% is what you’re seeing in Italy, France, Spain and other countries that didn’t see this coming. Countries that implemented social distancing much earlier are seeing about a 2-3% mortality rate, which is still unacceptably high. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/coronavirus/ Assuming with more testing these numbers would all be halved, you’re still looking at a very deadly virus. Don't confuse the Case Fatality Rate, AKA the CFR, with the overall mortality rate. The CFR varies significantly because the standards for testing and even determining the cause of death are incredibly varied. Not only that,...
by monkey_business
Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397359

Re: Coronavirus and the market

Sockpuppet wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 3:58 amWhat happens to the market in an environment where a contagious disease that seems to have a 10% mortality rate left unchecked and can possibly reinfect people like the common cold is around permanently and the only way to deal with it is permanent social distancing or permanent regular periods of social distancing?
10% mortality rate?
by monkey_business
Sun Apr 05, 2020 4:03 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus
Replies: 1653
Views: 109062

Re: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak could cost 47 million jobs next quarter, according to estimates by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. That would translate to an unemployment rate of 32.1%, well above the 24.9% rate it was at during the Great Depression. At some point the question might be "What is worse: letting 3 million die or losing 50 million jobs?". If so, are you prepared to volunteer yourself and your family to lead the way? No one is forced to leave their house, or expose themselves to the virus. However, folks are forced to stay at home, and businesses are forced to close. The risk of the virus is not only asymmetrical from a demographics standpoint, it is also asymmetrical from a personal standpoint. In other words, some m...
by monkey_business
Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:32 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [Archived] Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus
Replies: 4963
Views: 304783

Re: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus

I haven't seen discussion of the secondary effect of prolonged sheltering in place. That is the rise in sedentary diseases which fuel those other pandemic diseases of diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, gout, obesity. With about 100 million at-risk in the US, one can imagine at some point these previously prevalent, but less obvious diseases will be outpacing Covid-19's total cost and death toll (if they haven't been all along). The good news is 75% of U.S. adults are already overweight or obese. So there isn't much more damage to be done there. Sadly I wish that was a joke. But your point is well taken and one that will be "lost" I'm afraid. Everyone is fixated on the virus they aren't considering the ripple effects of other he...
by monkey_business
Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How are you supporting your community?
Replies: 60
Views: 4386

Re: Bogleheads, I have a patriotic ask of you

The chance of death for this demographic is incredibly small, unless serious preexisting conditions are present. Making young medical professionals, some of whom are already anxious and stressed out, worry about dying right now is not productive, IMO. I would avoid sending any such lists and instead, if you wish to help, focus on taking care of yourself and those around you. Those that want to put together a will or anything else can figure it out on their own without seeing "Are you ready to die?" emails/posts headed their way.
by monkey_business
Mon Mar 23, 2020 6:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: It's Not Different This Time
Replies: 379
Views: 48746

Re: It's Not Different This Time

When we talk about This Time It's Different, we need to define what "It" is. In my view, It, aside from being Pennywise, the murderous demon clown, is the reason why capitalism is successful. It, is the desire and the drive of people all over, to create products and services for others, and to make a profit in the process. This drive creates countless innovations, enriches countless people, and even allows us to communicate with one another on this forum. As long as It remains, This Time It's NOT Different. Uncertainty, fear, and economic contractions, even as rapid ones as seen at the moment, do not change It. One day in the not too distant future, we will all wake up, the uncertainty and the fear will clear up, and It will kick ...
by monkey_business
Sun Mar 22, 2020 11:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling 100% stocks on a bounce
Replies: 256
Views: 27552

Re: Selling 100% stocks on a bounce

watchnerd wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 8:59 pm
denovo wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 8:53 pm
ThePrince wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 7:56 pm
nps wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 7:39 pm
mathguy3021 wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2020 7:32 pm Investors who are short sighted will say that it's too late to sell because of the recent crash. The reality is that in my case, it's equivalent to moving to a much safer allocation after gains in 2016.
Investors who are short sighted also rationalize their panic selling in down markets.
+1
+10
+100!!

Conan, what is best in life

Conan: To buy from weaker hands, take their shares, and to hear the lamentations of their statements!
:D
by monkey_business
Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397359

Re: Coronavirus and the market

GETTING THE FLU SUCKS. Omg I’m so tired of reading “don’t worry it’s just like the flu”. People die from the flu. There’s a flu vaccine and yet, a lot of people still die from it. So what if there was a pathogen that spread like the flu, had a higher mortality rate and yet there was no vaccine ? Like this virus ? People would die. A lot of people. People that post on this forum. Have you ever had the flu? It makes you feel like crap sometimes for weeks. My office of perhaps 30 people had the flu spread through 3 or 4 years ago. There was an entire week where 50% or more of the employees called out sick every day. How do you think our production level was? It’s not hard to envision significant negative effects on the economy. It’s not absur...
by monkey_business
Thu Feb 06, 2020 2:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much REIT in portfolio?
Replies: 57
Views: 7995

Re: How much REIT in portfolio?

I had 10%, split 50/50 between domestic and international a while back. I didn't feel like adding to it to keep it at 10%, and over time it became less than 5% as the rest of my portfolio grew. I then reduced it to 0% as having <5% was not worthwhile.
by monkey_business
Fri Jan 31, 2020 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mazda 3 v Civic Si
Replies: 46
Views: 4467

Re: Mazda 3 v Civic Si

The GTI is a great choice but if long-term reliability is high on the list, the Mazda and the Civic win.
by monkey_business
Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)
Replies: 357
Views: 54336

Re: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)

Folks, My observation/opinion in terms of pay. There are 3 levels of engineer's pay: 1) 60K to 80K 2) 80K to 120K 3) 120K to 150K This is about what my company pays: 70-85k for Engineer/Senior Engineer 90-125k for Principal Engineer 135-160k for Fellow Engineer This is for ME/EE/NE/CE which are most common in this company. So I am a bit surprised by some of the responses here with those backgrounds that are making north of $150k without the 20yrs exp it typically takes to get to the Fellow role. But yes, I realize that HCOLA and software engineers are skewing the numbers up. sapper1371, I have to tell the joke about the experience. When a person said that he/she has 20 years of experience, is it A) 20 years of different experience Or B) 1 ...
by monkey_business
Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shiller: Homeownership is a bad investment
Replies: 480
Views: 69885

Re: Shiller: Homeownership is a bad investment

It all depends on the definition of investment . According to Mirriam-Webster, the word "investment" means: the outlay of money usually for income or profit According to Dictionary.com, it means: the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value Buying a house meets these definitions as the value is expected to increase. Therefore, a house as an investment. The better question is: is buying a house a good investment? I don't agree that the value of a house is "expected to increase". At least, not in real terms, meaning after inflation, maintenance, and property taxes. It is self-evident that the value of housing cannot increase faster than wages indefini...
by monkey_business
Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:40 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Now is a good time to start tracking your net worth.
Replies: 123
Views: 13650

Re: Now is a good time to start tracking your net worth.

UpperNwGuy wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:05 am
Barefoot wrote: Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:40 pm Why do I need to know my net worth?

Why should I care?
You don't need to know your net worth, and there is no reason for you to care. However, tracking net worth seems to be an activity that many bogleheads find entertaining. If they enjoy it, let them do it. But please don't tell us that we *ought* to start doing it.
I don't understand this. Net worth is the financial independence gauge. Saying you don't care about your net worth is like saying you don't care about financial independence. If that's the case, this forum is an odd place to spend time.
by monkey_business
Wed Jan 01, 2020 5:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shiller: Homeownership is a bad investment
Replies: 480
Views: 69885

Re: Shiller: Homeownership is a bad investment

It all depends on the definition of investment.

According to Mirriam-Webster, the word "investment" means:
the outlay of money usually for income or profit
According to Dictionary.com, it means:
the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value
Buying a house meets these definitions as the value is expected to increase. Therefore, a house as an investment.

The better question is: is buying a house a good investment?
by monkey_business
Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA Transfer Timing
Replies: 1
Views: 267

HSA Transfer Timing

I've looked around and could not find a clear answer to this. If I transfer funds from one HSA to another via a distribution at the end of the year, such as right now, does it matter if the official rollover doesn't happen until next year? For example, suppose I request a distribution for $1,000 from one HSA into my bank account today. Then, I send my other HSA provider a check for $1,000 along with the appropriate rollover paperwork. However, the receiving HSA rolls over the funds in January. Does this matter from a tax standpoint?

I know that the distributing HSA provider will report the $1,000 distribution so I am not clear as to the timing here.
by monkey_business
Thu Dec 19, 2019 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Shopping for Mortgage.
Replies: 7
Views: 874

Re: Shopping for Mortgage.

You can also submit the loan estimate to Better.com. They have a guarantee that they can beat an offer by $1,000, or they pay you $1,000. It worked well for us.
by monkey_business
Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2019 VW GTI or Hyundai Elantra GT N?
Replies: 43
Views: 2569

Re: 2019 VW GTI or Hyundai Elantra GT N?

Make sure you research stall issues with the 2019 GTIs.
by monkey_business
Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage to prepay or not prepay
Replies: 83
Views: 8566

Re: Mortgage to prepay or not prepay

JoeRetire wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:11 pm If you believe that paying off a mortgage is best, why wouldn't you use the entire $700 toward paying it off? And if you believe that paying off a mortgage isn't best, why would you use any of it toward paying it off?
That's a false dichotomy. You could also believe that you would like to pay off the mortgage faster, but not necessarily as fast as possible. For example, if you are thinking of retiring in 15 years and you just got a 30 year mortgage, you might want to put extra towards the mortgage to get rid of it by the time you retire.
by monkey_business
Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:17 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage to prepay or not prepay
Replies: 83
Views: 8566

Re: Mortgage to prepay or not prepay

My reasons for putting extra into the mortgage, instead of investing even more into taxable are as follows:

- Not having a mortgage when older/retired. Personal preference.
- The main basket for investing is stocks and bonds. Putting extra into the mortgage feels like having an extra basket to put some eggs in, i.e. a bit of diversification so that not everything invested is "paper" assets.
- Having a paid off house seems like a nice psychological relief. While the math can work out in favor of just keeping the mortgage and investing instead, I really like the prospect of having drastically lower expenses. Without a mortgage, the remaining bills are low and could be paid for with a very minimal income.
by monkey_business
Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Possible Layoff: Need Assurance That We Will Be Okay
Replies: 156
Views: 17545

Re: Possible Layoff: Need Assurance That We Will Be Okay

bearwithbear wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2019 4:08 pm OP,

You will be fine.
Breath.
...
Breath.
gazelle1991 wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:01 pm Now breath. Everything will be fine. :beer
Breathe. :P
by monkey_business
Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Review of sardine brands
Replies: 44
Views: 9505

Re: Wild Planet Sardines quality problem [Review of sardine brands]

The finest sardines I have ever had: https://www.vitalchoice.com/product/wil ... oz?cat=861

Nothing else comes close. Ordered them many times and got several other people ruined for life.
by monkey_business
Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Laid Off - Want to Retire / Am I OK
Replies: 145
Views: 23793

Re: Laid Off - Want to Retire / Am I OK

Some of the responses here to threads like this are what make regular folks think retirement is impossible. The average household income in the US is less than $60k a year. The OP has a net worth equal to over one hundred times the average annual income. He could see his portfolio increase 0% real for the rest of his life, and have the ability to live an average American lifestyle for the next century . For crying out loud, YES, you can retire at the age of 51 with six million dollars. You'll be just fine. What difference does it make to the OP if the average household income is less than $60K/year? He wants to know if he can sustain his current spending given his assets. Let’s say you make the average household income. If I told you that ...
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 26, 2019 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Laid Off - Want to Retire / Am I OK
Replies: 145
Views: 23793

Re: Laid Off - Want to Retire / Am I OK

Some of the responses here to threads like this are what make regular folks think retirement is impossible. The average household income in the US is less than $60k a year. The OP has a net worth equal to over one hundred times the average annual income. He could see his portfolio increase 0% real for the rest of his life, and have the ability to live an average American lifestyle for the next century.

For crying out loud, YES, you can retire at the age of 51 with six million dollars. You'll be just fine.
by monkey_business
Mon Jul 22, 2019 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Whole Bean Coffee: Worth the effort?
Replies: 89
Views: 7593

Re: Whole Bean Coffee: Worth the effort?

If you brew cheap mainstream (almost anything from a regular supermarket) pre-ground coffee in a cheap drip coffee maker, and think it tastes fine, then do not get whole bean coffee. You are simply not into coffee, and grinding is not worth the effort for you.
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 19, 2019 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"
Replies: 217
Views: 26081

Re: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. What's the point of any of your life choices? My point is we all make life choices in how we live our lives, and if we are happy in our life choices today then those are the right choices for us today regardless of whether we die at 52 or 92. So if someone chooses to forego certain consumption until retirement and that choice makes them happy during their life before retirement, that is the right choice for them even if they die before retirement. That's stating the obvious. People that are perfectly happy working do not FIRE. The people that want FIRE prefer not to work. In fact, most people in general would prefer not to have to go to work. A small fraction of these people are financially ab...
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"
Replies: 217
Views: 26081

Re: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"

mptfan wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:25 pm
monkey_business wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:16 pm It's not necessarily a matter of regret, but rather the journey to that point. Suppose you could have saved more and retired at 40, but decided you'd rather be much more safe and retire at 60. You get struck by lightning at age 50 and die instantly. While there will be no regret, you would have experienced a different life leading up to that point. All a matter of choices.
Yes, you would have experienced a different life leading up to that point, but so what? You're dead.
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. What's the point of any of your life choices?
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"
Replies: 217
Views: 26081

Re: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"

Being conservative is good to an extent. However, I feel a good number of folks here forget that life is finite. Waiting until the last decade or two of your life to enjoy the fruits of your labor carries a lot of risk as well. What is the risk of you dying prematurely? What is the risk of your health declining such that your quality of life suffers significantly? What about your loved ones, friends, and significant others? Will they be around and in good health too? I get your point, and I generally agree, but I don't worry about the risk of dying permaturely because if I'm dead I don't think I will regret my decisions. It's not necessarily a matter of regret, but rather the journey to that point. Suppose you could have saved more and ret...
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"
Replies: 217
Views: 26081

Re: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"

Being conservative is good to an extent. However, I feel a good number of folks here forget that life is finite. Waiting until the last decade or two of your life to enjoy the fruits of your labor carries a lot of risk as well. What is the risk of you dying prematurely? What is the risk of your health declining such that your quality of life suffers significantly? What about your loved ones, friends, and significant others? Will they be around and in good health too? FIRE vs. more traditional retirement is not a matter of more risky vs less, it's a different risk entirely. FIRE exposes you to more financial risk. Traditional retirement exposes you more to life risk. Assuming you can plan for either, it's an individual choice as to which ri...
by monkey_business
Fri Jul 19, 2019 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"
Replies: 217
Views: 26081

Re: Has anyone seen the documentary "Playing with FIRE?"

Being conservative is good to an extent. However, I feel a good number of folks here forget that life is finite. Waiting until the last decade or two of your life to enjoy the fruits of your labor carries a lot of risk as well. What is the risk of you dying prematurely? What is the risk of your health declining such that your quality of life suffers significantly? What about your loved ones, friends, and significant others? Will they be around and in good health too? FIRE vs. more traditional retirement is not a matter of more risky vs less, it's a different risk entirely. FIRE exposes you to more financial risk. Traditional retirement exposes you more to life risk. Assuming you can plan for either, it's an individual choice as to which ris...
by monkey_business
Thu May 23, 2019 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wiper blade replacement
Replies: 30
Views: 3657

Re: Wiper blade replacement

I buy the one piece Goodyear or Michelin wipers from Costco. They are much cheaper than anywhere else I found, and work well. Sometimes Costco has a sale on them where it's $7 for a pair. I've been happy with them.
by monkey_business
Sat May 11, 2019 9:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My 2017 CRV is a victim of the dreaded oil gas-dilution issue
Replies: 1223
Views: 232654

Re: My 2017 CRV is a victim of the dreaded oil gas-dilution issue

CULater: Is the stress, anxiety, anger, etc that you have been feeling for a long time due to this car worth the $8k or whatever you're trying to save here? I'm honestly puzzled why you still have it.

What's the point of being a Boglehead if you can't even spend a bit of money to get rid of some misery in your life?
by monkey_business
Wed May 01, 2019 11:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who is buying 1-3 year old used Toyotas and Hondas?
Replies: 114
Views: 15353

Re: Who is buying 1-3 year old used Toyotas and Hondas?

I bought a one year old Mazda with less than 10k miles, for $8k less than the best negotiated price I could get on a new one, at the end of the year, from all the Mazda dealers in the area.

Good deals can be had on cars of any age if you negotiate well.
by monkey_business
Wed Apr 24, 2019 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dump international?
Replies: 228
Views: 22508

Re: Dump international?

A few more question for those against international:

1. If you believe international exposure has more inherent risk, such as less stable currencies, political climate, business environments, etc, why do you not apply the same type of logic and pick individual stocks? Why not invest only in companies that have solid corporate governance, high profits, outperforming their peers, etc? Why invest in index funds?

2. If you don't want to invest in international because of underperformance during the last X years, do you believe past performance is guarantee of future results?
by monkey_business
Wed Apr 24, 2019 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dump international?
Replies: 228
Views: 22508

Re: Dump international?

Question for those advocating against international: Do you also advocate against domestic large caps?

Historically, small caps have outperformed large caps:

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Histori ... ed_returns

Why not go all the way, dump all these portfolio anchors, and just invest in small caps?
by monkey_business
Thu Apr 04, 2019 12:21 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Make sure your retirement investment plan includes being fired from your job in your 50s
Replies: 285
Views: 22329

Re: Make sure your retirement investment plan includes being fired from your job in your 50s

I agree with KlangFool regarding basic supply and demand and how the H1B program affects it. It's not that H1Bs are paid a fraction of their domestic counterparts, they are not, it's that bringing more and more engineers into the US increases the supply, which puts downward pressure on salaries. If the H1B program was limited *only* to very high level specialists, the salaries for engineers in the US would skyrocket.