Search found 1287 matches

by cheesepep
Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How many credit cards do you have
Replies: 89
Views: 4072

Re: How many credit cards do you have

I have about 9, 4 of which are hotel cards to get free nights, etc. 3 more are business cards, only 1 of which I actively use.
by cheesepep
Sun Mar 24, 2024 8:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are your "hidden" tax tips?
Replies: 56
Views: 4787

Re: What are your "hidden" tax tips?

Don't fully depend on TT to do your taxes. I prepared my 1041 taxes using it and when I wanted to file, it gave me an error of how I'm missing data on my K1 form. But I explicitly clicked the box saying that I had no K1 but it still magically generated the forms and wanted more information. I had to manually delete the forms from my file and all is ok now.
by cheesepep
Sun Mar 24, 2024 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best file encryption software?
Replies: 17
Views: 1379

Re: Best file encryption software?

I'm on a Mac so I just use the built-in .dmg thing. Won't work for Windows or sharing with Windows people, though.
by cheesepep
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 174
Views: 16176

Re: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?

I am honestly a big fan of Jeno's frozen pizza. It is seriously very good.
by cheesepep
Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When brand names matter and when they don't
Replies: 193
Views: 11748

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

Food wise, I am not loyal to any brand usually. I buy whatever is on sale and is not too cheap.
by cheesepep
Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?
Replies: 252
Views: 18163

Re: What Toys Have You Bought That Have Been Worth it?

Well, I read this title with toys being limited to kid toys and not adult toys. I will limit my response to kid toys.

Action figures such as Darkwing Duck and others. A lot of fun.

Stuffed animals. I still play with them to this day!
by cheesepep
Wed Mar 20, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Would you sign a real estate agent contract with 5% commission today?
Replies: 11
Views: 1054

Re: Would you sign a real estate agent contract with 5% commission today?

I would. I have sold quite a number of houses (most being relatively low, low six figures) over the years all to the same real estate agent. I paid her 2 or 2.5% commission, with mostly 2%. She was happy and I was happy.
by cheesepep
Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question regarding taxes and foreign earned income exclusion
Replies: 6
Views: 611

Re: Question regarding taxes and foreign earned income exclusion

typical.investor wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:15 am Why didn’t you do tax scenario 3 - paying US taxes on all the income and claiming a credit for foreign taxes paid? Or do you already know the U.S. rate is higher than you paid on the foreign income.

It probably is, but in some higher tax countries claiming the credit instead of using the FEIE works better.
That may work, but what form and line would I put that on? I did not receive any 1099-MISC. It was all cash. Thanks for the suggestion.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?
Replies: 28
Views: 4310

Re: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?

prd1982 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:58 pm
cheesepep wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:15 pm Can someone answer my original question of whether login.gov only requires the download of an app and FaceID and does not require a picture of myself or driver's license or video call with someone to verify my identity?

I don't want to create another login if I dont have to.
Creating a login.gov ID doesn't require any of that. It also doesn't identify who you are. When you go to a site at supports login.gov, that site will go through the verification process to identify who you are.
Thanks. I went through the process and it was a bit weird, but I finished it. Now I can pay my taxes using the EFTPS website and not use IRS DirectPay.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question regarding taxes and foreign earned income exclusion
Replies: 6
Views: 611

Question regarding taxes and foreign earned income exclusion

I have a conundrum here. I did 2 tax scenarios using TT. Scenario 1) The true scenario. I earned 82000 in foreign earned income. That is good. I entered that number in TT and qualified for the foreign income exclusion in its entirety. That means that this 82000 is not taxed. TT even said "congrats, you qualified for 82,000 deduction!" or something similar. That is why my 1040 line h says 82000 and line d says -82000. Total income is 286,000 according to line 15. Total tax owed is about 45,000 (line 37) not including the estimated taxes filed. Scenario 2: The hypothetical scenario. However, if I do the same thing and don't include any 82,000 of foreign earned income and don't do anything related to the foreign income exclusion, my ...
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?
Replies: 28
Views: 4310

Re: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?

Can someone answer my original question of whether login.gov only requires the download of an app and FaceID and does not require a picture of myself or driver's license or video call with someone to verify my identity?

I don't want to create another login if I dont have to.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?
Replies: 28
Views: 4310

Re: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?

808 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 3:27 am
tlveik wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 7:48 pm Looks like the IRS is getting close to adding login.gov as a sign in option.

https://www.nextgov.com/it-modernizatio ... rs/383932/
Or, not ...

https://www.nextgov.com/digital-governm ... es/391033/

https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/fil ... S070fr.pdf
Not sure why this was posted. The IRS EFTPS website says this: "Secure sign-in via Login.gov or ID.me is required as of October 19, 2023."

Again, does login.gov just require an app on your phone and FaceID to authenticate? Or do I need a driver's license photo, video call, etc?
by cheesepep
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?
Replies: 28
Views: 4310

Re: IRS rollout of Login.Gov: any updates?

Looks like the IRS is getting close to adding login.gov as a sign in option. https://www.nextgov.com/it-modernization/2023/03/plans-approve-use-login-dot-gov-tax-day-nears/383932/ I want to make some tax payments using EFTPS. I have an account that was established before ID.me and login.gov. I have never used either service before. I see that EFTPS now requires a login.gov service. It appears that no selfie, video call, driver's license photo is required. Only thing that is required is a 3rd party security key/code/pass on your phone, where you use FaceID to authenticate. Is this true? I don't want to create another account if I don't have to. I do realize that IRS Directpay doesn't require any login. I've never tried it before. Can I use ...
by cheesepep
Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Retuning an iPad— How to Clear All Sensitive Info?
Replies: 9
Views: 1299

Re: Retuning an iPad— How to Clear All Sensitive Info?

It is also important (but maybe not needed) to deactivate iCloud, iMessage, etc on your iPad before you wipe your device.
by cheesepep
Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is this a termite?
Replies: 27
Views: 3183

Re: Is this a termite?

steadyosmosis wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:20 pm Ant.
Not to be confused with an aunt.
😎😂
by cheesepep
Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625697

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

I will post 2 examples of frugal things that my family did when I was a kid.

1) Supermarket coupon says buy 1 bag of chips, get 1 free. Limit 1 per customer. My mom would line up all of her kids (me included)in front of the checkout line and have each kid buy 2 bags of chips with a coupon.

2) The bank is offering free copies of whatever document you have (due to some benefit of the bank at the time). So my parents would send in their kids and get 10-20 free prints of whatever document that they had at the moment. Save 5 cents per print.
by cheesepep
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question on using Turbotax and paying taxes
Replies: 1
Views: 395

Question on using Turbotax and paying taxes

I will use TT to file my taxes. I will use TT to prepare the taxes and I will print and mail them to the IRS. I would electronically file, but I need to print them first and write "NRA" for my wife, so got to paper file them instead. I will owe about $42,000 in taxes. This is a lot. Fortunately, the late penalty fee for me is only $7. I would like to pay half of this $42K through an electronic bank transfer done through TT and half on my credit card using pay1040usa or similar (not going through TT's service). Is this possible when paper filing? Do I just click the "I will paper file" button on TT when I want to do an electronic bank transfer also through TT? And after I paper mail my taxes, I just make payment through p...
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10616

Re: What's your primary credit card?

CHASE CSR. 90% of what I buy with my credit card is travel and restaurant related.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: International ATM fees (again)
Replies: 20
Views: 1582

Re: International ATM fees (again)

For Schwab, in case you do get charged a fee, save your ATM receipt and submit it to Schwab for a reimbursement.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges
Replies: 111
Views: 7467

Re: Dual majors and non big 50 colleges

I graduated from a top 50 school and also did dual (engineering) majors.

It is tough. Very tough. I remembered crying over the phone to my mom asking for her permission to drop one major. I think that ten people in my class did something similar to me. Only 2-3 graduated with dual majors.

Basically, go into college and major in a single major. Year 2 or 3, decide if you want to double major or not.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How many are holding cash right now?
Replies: 203
Views: 31410

Re: How many are holding cash right now?

About 95% in SWVXX right now. Will reduce this amount as soon as the interest rates drop. Having a guaranteed 5+% rate is good for me.
by cheesepep
Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]
Replies: 126
Views: 67729

Re: [2023 TurboTax Desktop now requires account login to activate]

I downloaded the 2023 edition to do my taxes today. Reached the login page. I did have a prior Intuit login. I was able to successfully login to the Intuit website using so. Good. I tried the same using the TT 2023 app. No go as it says that my login credentials were wrong. Tried again several times before giving up. I just created a new login. No big deal, but super annoying. Lost 15 mins doing so.
by cheesepep
Thu Mar 07, 2024 7:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Blackout shades for bedroom
Replies: 30
Views: 2239

Re: Blackout shades for bedroom

I also recommend an eye mask. And the best ones are the free ones that you get when flying on an airplane. If you get the premium ones, they are bulky and make it difficult to wear when resting on your side.
by cheesepep
Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looks like Android on Windows is going away
Replies: 4
Views: 1004

Re: Looks like Android on Windows is going away

It won't affect me, but I do feel the pain.

I love downloading iOS/iPadOS apps on my Mac. I mainly use it for the occasional board game that is only available on those 2 platforms, but I use other apps also.
by cheesepep
Wed Mar 06, 2024 5:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625697

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

This happened yesterday. First went to Starbucks and stayed there for 2 hours (I bought a drink) then went to the nearby park and enjoyed my lunch there. I brought my rice, spareribs with black bean sauce, and veggies. I heated them up at home a couple of hours before, so it wasn't totally cold.
by cheesepep
Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: about Norway rats
Replies: 31
Views: 4821

Re: about Norway rats

Watch Shawn Woods channel on Youtube. You will find out what rats eat and whatnot.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Prague Recommendations
Replies: 14
Views: 1372

Re: Prague Recommendations

Personally, I found Old Town Prague to be a huge waste of time and a complete tourist trap. I suggest going to the Vietnamese town which is maybe a 20 mins Uber ride away and eat there and enjoy.
by cheesepep
Mon Mar 04, 2024 12:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: At what point in a car’s life do you try miracle elixir fixes?
Replies: 36
Views: 3373

Re: At what point in a car’s life do you try miracle elixir fixes?

My dad tried some gas additive before, which said that it was guaranteed to help pass smog. It didn't.
by cheesepep
Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?
Replies: 254
Views: 42494

Re: What are some of the things that improved YOUR quality of life?

I haven't done this, but would like to do so:

1) hire a cook for once a week that would cook me a nice meal at home and wash the dishes. This is a bit different than eating out at a restaurant.
2) hire someone to come to my house and play the guzheng once a week.

I think #2 would be easier than #1.
by cheesepep
Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you live healthy?
Replies: 107
Views: 8336

Re: How do you live healthy?

I live how I want to live. I eat normal food including fast food. All in moderation.

Just had a McMuffin and a small bag of Lay's potato chips for breakfast. I don't do this regularly of course.

Food-wise, a lot of my meat is steamed. Yes, steamed. This is a lot healthier than being fried, baked, roasted, etc. I'm not just talking about veggies, but about meat. Steamed fish, chicken, pork patties, spareribs, egg, etc.
by cheesepep
Fri Feb 23, 2024 6:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Punctured tire on Model 3 - WWYD
Replies: 16
Views: 2070

Re: Punctured tire on Model 3 - WWYD

I recently replaced all four tires of my 2020 Model 3 performance with the default Hankook tires that they came with. Only the front needed to be replaced because of excessive wear but the service guy said that the backs were going to be needed to be replaced soon. So I replaced all four and got an alignment also. Cost me $1300. Expensive, yes.
by cheesepep
Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25959

Re: What inferior good do you love?

Holiday Inn

Jeno’s frozen pizza
by cheesepep
Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to exchange $1000 worth of yen for Japan trip?
Replies: 48
Views: 4471

Re: Best way to exchange $1000 worth of yen for Japan trip?

Please watch this video and put at least some of your money on Suica on Apple wallet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTLId1Do_4w


But yes, go to Japan first and go to ATM (not in airport preferably) and get cash out using Schwab debit card.
by cheesepep
Thu Feb 15, 2024 12:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you eat?
Replies: 54
Views: 4992

Re: What do you eat?

I mainly eat Chinese food, specially Cantonese food.

Dinner mainly consists of white jasmine rice (sometimes mixed with lentils or other grain), stir-fried veggies, and some sort of steamed or braised meat dish. Steamed meat includes steamed meat patties, steamed spareribs, and steamed fish.

Soup usually has spareribs, some sort of root veggies, and some sort of beans/grains inside.
by cheesepep
Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10286

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

No work, no pay. If I don't go to Mcdonald's one day for work, it's the same thing.
by cheesepep
Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How/where to find a lawyer? (not seeking legal advice per se)
Replies: 11
Views: 2890

Re: How/where to find a lawyer? (not seeking legal advice per se)

I dont want to divulge any details, but I do appreciate the replies. I found someone on Avvo and waiting for a reply. It seems like a good website.
by cheesepep
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How/where to find a lawyer? (not seeking legal advice per se)
Replies: 11
Views: 2890

How/where to find a lawyer? (not seeking legal advice per se)

I'm being sued and want to perhaps find a lawyer. I'm not seeking legal advice here, but I must give some details for some background.

For sake of example, say I have a mailing address in Florida but a lawyer from New York is suing me in the NY courts. I, however, do not live in Florida, but resides in France, for example. If I do hire a lawyer, do I hire one in New York or Florida or hire a lawyer in France who can represent such matters? Or an online one? I have no idea of where to start.

Again, not seeing legal advice, just want to know where to go for legal advice.
by cheesepep
Mon Feb 05, 2024 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111091

Re: So what are you cooking

I brined a half chicken in a solution containing water, salt, sugar, light soy sauce, white pepper, and a bay leaf.

I placed it in a rice cooker with a 1/4 cup (a small cup) of the brine solution and cooked it in the rice cooker for 42 mins and left it inside for an additional ten mins. Delicious!
by cheesepep
Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fish at Costco
Replies: 43
Views: 6245

Re: Fish at Costco

My Costco now offers individual whole fish to buy. They are behind a stand with a plastic shield and laid out on ice. You tell the man which fish you want and he packages it for you. Costco has blue fin grouper, yellow fin grouper, and regular grouper for this buy. Love it!
by cheesepep
Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you budget?
Replies: 59
Views: 5891

Re: How do you budget?

I don't budget at all, even in my head. Nothing. I do well for myself. As long as money in >> money out, I'm ok.
by cheesepep
Thu Jan 25, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625697

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Stayed at a Hyatt Centric for a night and was given food vouchers for 5 local restaurants/stores. I went around to 3 of them and got 2 free food items and 1 dried noodles (to be cooked later). Very full and satiated. All free.
by cheesepep
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Return My New Apple Watch?
Replies: 83
Views: 6489

Re: Return My New Apple Watch?

I use the Apple Watch 6 as a watch and pretty much nothing else besides some fitness tracking. I receive zero notifications and use zero apps (besides the fitness one). I like it as such.
by cheesepep
Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Travel to China in the Last Year or so
Replies: 42
Views: 5261

Re: Any Travel to China in the Last Year or so

Get a VPN if you go. But before you get a VPN, ask around and see if it can work in China. Some, if not most VPNs, will be blocked in China.

Please also note that some hotels (mainly American like Marriott) will have their own VPN, thus allowing you free unfettered access to BBC, Youtube, Facebook, etc, without the use of your own VPN.
by cheesepep
Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Travel to China in the Last Year or so
Replies: 42
Views: 5261

Re: Any Travel to China in the Last Year or so

I went a couple of months ago. Will reply later with more details.
by cheesepep
Tue Jan 23, 2024 4:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase
Replies: 73
Views: 7444

Re: Psychological Aversion to Decumulation Phase

I feel the same way to my credit card points. I've accumulated so many over the years that it is hard to use them up.
by cheesepep
Fri Jan 19, 2024 3:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are car washes necessary?
Replies: 116
Views: 12799

Re: Are car washes necessary?

Not needed at all. I wash my car twice a year with once of them before meeting my parents in law. And even then, it is just a basic wash.
by cheesepep
Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Renting a car issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1490

Re: Renting a car issue

Many thanks to all of the replies and to the boost in confidence in driving a larger vehicle. I've decided to drive to LAX and drop off the rental car there, as the rental car companies are indeed some distance away from the main airport area. That is a huge relief for me. I would imagine that there are timely shuttle rides to the airport from the drop off zone also.

I think a minivan would suit my purpose also. An SUV kind of scares me.
by cheesepep
Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Unsubscribe" to Emails
Replies: 37
Views: 4410

Re: "Unsubscribe" to Emails

Always works for me, until I find that I have been magically auto-subscribed to something else that I didn't sign up to. Rinse and repeat.
by cheesepep
Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Renting a car issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1490

Re: Renting a car issue

Thanks for the two links. The Rav4 does seem to fit more luggage. I'm pretty sure that at least one suitcase that I will be required to lug around will be a big one. A bit worried about excess baggage fees.

But more hesitant on driving a big car, especially one that rides up so high like an SUV. Maybe a minivan will be more well-suited for this trip.
by cheesepep
Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Renting a car issue
Replies: 12
Views: 1490

Renting a car issue

I plan on taking a two week trip with 3 other people with 2 of them being 60+ years old but in good health. Some of those days will require the need to rent a car. I will be renting the car at Las Vegas airport and returning the car either at Ontario International Airport or LAX in California. Both destinations will be about the same price. I have two issues: 1) I'm kind of scared of driving in a big city like LA. Is the drop off spot for car rentals near LAX easy to find? ONT is easy peasy. 2) For my passengers, and because we will be carrying a ton of luggage (will be coming from overseas first), I decided on renting an SUV like the Toyota Rav4 or a minivan like the Chrysler Pacifica. The minivan is about $50 cheaper. But I usually drive ...