Search found 202 matches

by turtlebug
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financial implications of long jury duty
Replies: 24
Views: 2020

Re: Financial implications of long jury duty

turtlebug wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:14 am
shorty313 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:11 am I have an employee going through this right now...16 weeks of once weekly state grand jury. Our company will pay 10 days but after that it's PTO. May not be relevant to you but she tries to use just 6 hours a week and work 2 hours that day to stretch it out. She tried to ask for hardship due to childcare issue (as it is state level, she has to drive 1.25 hours each way) and was denied. Now at the same time she was called to FEDERAL grand jury and they won't accept the state jury as a hardship for federal, even asking to serve next calendar year to get the 10 days again.. I was stunned.
Wow :shock:
by turtlebug
Fri Mar 15, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "22 of the funniest novels since Catch-22" (acc. to the NYT)
Replies: 35
Views: 4056

Re: "22 of the funniest novels since Catch-22" (acc. to the NYT)

In addition to some on that list, I would have included:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman. What's it about? "Fencing. Fighting. True Love. Strong Hate. Harsh Revenge. A Few Giants. Lots of Bad Men. Lots of Good Men. Five or Six Beautiful Women. Beasties Monstrous and Gentle. Some Swell Escapes and Captures. Death, Lies, Truth, Miracles, and a Little Sex."

'"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. IMO, a truly unforgettable story exploring the concepts of fate and predestination - beautifully and heartbreakingly crafted with moments of great wit and humor to soften the blows.
by turtlebug
Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]
Replies: 785
Views: 84061

Re: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]

Rare books & 1st printings of 1st editions. I haven't purchased any in the last few years, but that has more to do with storage than anything else.
by turtlebug
Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?
Replies: 207
Views: 15473

Re: How Much Cash Do You Keep In Your Home?

$500 plus about $25 in loose change
by turtlebug
Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10615

Re: What's your primary credit card?

* Citi Double Cash is primary
* Citi Costco for gasoline & Costco/costco.com purchases
* Chase & Discover for quarterly rotating categories
by turtlebug
Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085422

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Charming wuxia love story starring Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Excellent cinematography, production design & costuming. Charming romance film with staggeringly beautiful scenery. A+
by turtlebug
Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Blackout shades for bedroom
Replies: 30
Views: 2239

Re: Blackout shades for bedroom

My sister has this set & is very happy with them.

https://www.costco.com/total-blackout-v ... 51974.html

**edit - Oops! Just saw you're looking for shades, not curtains.
by turtlebug
Wed Feb 21, 2024 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590516

Re: What are you listening to now

The Best of Sade (1994)
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 20, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need advice about real estate investment
Replies: 18
Views: 1991

Re: Need advice about real estate investment

Perhaps you could make capital improvements to your condo with the money from your parents to increase its value as a real estate investment?
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Windshield Chip - Insurance claim or Self Fund
Replies: 61
Views: 5719

Re: Windshield Chip - Insurance claim or Self Fund

Some posters have said that just asking questions about potentially making a claim can count against you. So it might be too late already, if that's actually true. It is quite sad if true. Might you please post some links to the "posters" that stated that and whether they are reliable sources of information etc? The FNOL is only filed AFTER you make a claim. If you don't make a claim, there is no FNOL filed. OP - On a thread awhile back, someone claimed that any contact with an agent can result in a claim filed. When called on it, they backed it down to only captive insurance agents who only sell one companies insurance. When called on that, they backed it down to "most" but offered no proof. There are numerous threads ...
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Windshield Chip - Insurance claim or Self Fund
Replies: 61
Views: 5719

Re: Windshield Chip - Insurance claim or Self Fund

Some posters have said that just asking questions about potentially making a claim can count against you. So it might be too late already, if that's actually true. It is quite sad if true. Might you please post some links to the "posters" that stated that and whether they are reliable sources of information etc? The FNOL is only filed AFTER you make a claim. If you don't make a claim, there is no FNOL filed. OP - On a thread awhile back, someone claimed that any contact with an agent can result in a claim filed. When called on it, they backed it down to only captive insurance agents who only sell one companies insurance. When called on that, they backed it down to "most" but offered no proof. There are numerous threads ...
by turtlebug
Sun Feb 18, 2024 2:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11149
Views: 2085422

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Rewatched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for the first time since I saw it in the theater 20+ years ago. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen. Excellent wuxia martial arts adventure film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung. A+
by turtlebug
Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any recommendation of a book that chronicles the downward spiral of an ordinary person
Replies: 102
Views: 9416

Re: Any recommendation of a book that chronicles the downward spiral of an ordinary person

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
by turtlebug
Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25955

Re: What inferior good do you love?

I love (but no longer eat) red strawberry twizzlers. Haven't had them in years... but I still look at them longingly in the grocery store. :happy
by turtlebug
Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you eat?
Replies: 54
Views: 4992

Re: What do you eat?

Pretty much the same food every day with little variance. Pretty boring but I like it. :happy

Breakfast - plain Greek yogurt with strawberries and blueberries & hot tea (no sugar)

Snack - protein bar & water

Lunch - large homemade salad (spring mix, tempeh, artichoke heart, mushrooms, tomatoes, celery and carrots and sometimes cucumbers (no dressing) & water. Sometimes, maybe once or twice a month, I'll have a hardboiled egg in the salad as well.

Snack - protein bar & water

Dinner - grilled, baked or broiled fish, green veggies, usually asparagus or broccoli & handful of nuts (usually almonds, walnuts or peanuts) & water
by turtlebug
Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?
Replies: 88
Views: 4586

Re: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?

A Groovy Kind of Love (Phil Collins version) and In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel version)
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Safest way to pay bills electronically
Replies: 72
Views: 6209

Re: Safest way to pay bills electronically

I pay as many bills as I can with credit cards for cash back or points (as long as there isn't a fee), and for the rest I use bill-pay with my brick-and-mortar bank. Have done so for years with no issues.
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best dumb thermostat?
Replies: 35
Views: 3074

Re: Best dumb thermostat?

funyun wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:25 pm Sometimes the simpler things really are better!
+1
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite book?
Replies: 187
Views: 20498

Re: What is your favorite book?

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (published 75 years ago this June).
by turtlebug
Tue Feb 13, 2024 1:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best dumb thermostat?
Replies: 35
Views: 3074

Re: Best dumb thermostat?

White Rodgers or Honeywell. We have one of each and both work well - no issues.
by turtlebug
Wed Feb 07, 2024 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Budget-Friendly Venue Ideas for Young Kids' Birthday Parties
Replies: 28
Views: 7697

Re: Budget-Friendly Venue Ideas for Young Kids' Birthday Parties

tashnewbie wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 12:10 pm
OP - could you just bring a cake to daycare?
That's what I did (mid-90s). Cake and popsicles and Barney (that was a long time ago, LOL)!
by turtlebug
Mon Feb 05, 2024 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: DELETED
Replies: 19
Views: 1798

Re: Take Money To Cut Parental Leave Short

It would be difficult for me to turn down a permanent 25% increase. At the same time, you won't get back the additional time you'd spend with your wife and newborn and toddler, and since it's a busy tax season, your employer would likely expect you to work longer hours and see less of your family then you normally would.

I'm sure you'll think this over carefully...
by turtlebug
Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Auto Insurance
Replies: 9
Views: 776

Re: Auto Insurance

If your insurance company does not offer PD limits in excess of 100K and you want higher coverage, you should start shopping around.
by turtlebug
Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:33 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Replies: 429
Views: 43321

Re: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂

Happy Birthday Taylor Larimore! Thank you for your service & for everything that have done and do to enrich this forum.
by turtlebug
Mon Jan 22, 2024 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625647

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

With regard to certain (not all) food and household staples, we've switched from name brands to store brands (private label): for example, Kirkland Signature and GreenWise. Most of the time, the store brand is equivalent to or better than name brands. On the rare occasion that we notice the difference, the money we're saving more than makes up for the difference in quality.
by turtlebug
Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Under-insured primary home?
Replies: 14
Views: 1629

Re: Under-insured primary home?

snackdog wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:14 pm
turtlebug wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:09 pm From which insurers did you obtain quotes? In addition to other factors already mentioned, I would take into consideration how well each insurer ranks in customer satisfaction after claims are filed.
Chubb, Pure, USAA, State Farm.
Of those four, J.D. Power & Consumer Reports ranks 2023 customer service for homeowners insurance companies as follows:

#1 USAA (equates to an "A-")
#4 Chubb (equates to a "C")
#5 State Farm (equates to a "C")
(no ranking for Pure)

The 2023 American Consumer Satisfaction Index ranks homeowners insurance companies as follows:

#1. USAA
(tied for #2) State Farm
#6 Chubb
(no ranking for Pure)
by turtlebug
Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Under-insured primary home?
Replies: 14
Views: 1629

Re: Under-insured primary home?

From which insurers did you obtain quotes? In addition to other factors already mentioned, I would take into consideration how well each insurer ranks in customer satisfaction after claims are filed.
by turtlebug
Thu Jan 18, 2024 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS IP Pin - Able to change?
Replies: 20
Views: 2766

Re: IRS IP Pin - Able to change?

sherwood88 wrote: Sat Dec 23, 2023 7:29 am I tried to google but did not come with good answer.

I received an IRS IP Pin yesterday in the mail and envelope appeared to be opened(seal was broken).

My question is can I change a pin...
I received mine in yesterday's mail and it was also ripped open at the top (very easy to see PIN inside). I contacted the IRS to request a replacement and was told me to use the PIN they sent - that since the notice doesn't contain our SSNs, DOBs, etc., that it should be fine. They did make notes. I requested a replacement PIN anyway and they wouldn't replace it.
by turtlebug
Fri Jan 05, 2024 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Marriage tax penalty and getting a prenup in early 30s
Replies: 121
Views: 18354

Re: Marriage tax penalty and getting a prenup in early 30s

softmax wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:33 am
If we ever get married, we want a clean separation when things don’t work out.
If this was my mindset, I would not marry.
by turtlebug
Tue Jan 02, 2024 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Anyone else's Vanguard rate of return way off?
Replies: 57
Views: 6510

Re: Anyone else's Vanguard rate of return way off?

I see this when I log in:

"We're making updates. Performance information is temporarily unavailable while we make updates. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience."
by turtlebug
Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Plumber's Auger - Clogged Shower Drain
Replies: 44
Views: 5921

Re: Plumber's Auger - Clogged Shower Drain

I used to have that issue & expense, but then I purchased a drain screen (hair trap) to prevent the shower drain from clogging and I haven't had to call a plumber for that issue ever since.
by turtlebug
Tue Jan 02, 2024 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: your system for reviewing credit card transactions
Replies: 86
Views: 9764

Re: your system for reviewing credit card transactions

I spend approx 5 minutes a day logging on various accounts to compare receipts from the previous day and, within the same timeframe, verify any charges that moved from pending to posted -- so about 30 minutes a week well spent.
by turtlebug
Mon Dec 18, 2023 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625647

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Hung my laundry inside on a dryer rack overnight so that when I tossed the items in the dryer this morning to warm them & unwrinkle them, I only had to so for 10 minutes.

Soaked some semi-wilted celery in some ice water for 45 minutes, which perked it right back up to crunchy goodness. Tossed that & some carrots in a bag for a snack to-go,
by turtlebug
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Telling our children about your net worth - pros and cons?
Replies: 181
Views: 27854

Re: Telling our children about your net worth - pros and cons?

One can learn quite a bit from failure and you may actually be doing your adult daughter a disservice by continuing to manage her investments. Let your adult children adult themselves so that they can continue to grow in their journey of independence and self-sufficiency.

Regarding disclosing your net worth info to your adult children, that's a personal decision with various pros and cons. If it makes you more comfortable to do so, then do so. You might be surprised at the reaction (for example, possible disinterest...)
by turtlebug
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Decision about Term Life Policy
Replies: 12
Views: 1595

Re: Decision about Term Life Policy

Do you have 529s set up for the kids & if so, how much is in each 529?
by turtlebug
Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: trashmen tipping conumdrum
Replies: 73
Views: 12194

Re: trashmen tipping conumdrum

Tipping trashmen must be a regional thing. Never heard of it.
by turtlebug
Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Radiator Flush How Often How Much
Replies: 61
Views: 11176

Re: Radiator Flush How Often How Much

Fillmore wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:21 pm I can't find the manual.
You should be able to find it online. Try https://www.carmanualsonline.info/
by turtlebug
Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Radiator Flush How Often How Much
Replies: 61
Views: 11176

Re: Radiator Flush How Often How Much

Normally, it shouldn’t need to be replaced until the car has 100,000 to 150,000 miles. What does your owner's manual suggest? Cost usually runs $60 - $200, more or less, depending on where you get it done/location.
by turtlebug
Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge
Replies: 34
Views: 4055

Re: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge

Gash wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:17 pm
Mr. Rumples wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:15 pm Credit unions are often charted and regulated by the state (unlike national banks). Here is a link to Virginia's information on them and how VA handles complaints:

https://www.scc.virginia.gov/pages/File ... -Complaint
Thank you, it's NFCU which is in VA. This is very helpful!
Thought you might find this interesting...

https://www.classaction.org/news/navy-f ... on-alleges
by turtlebug
Fri Dec 15, 2023 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge
Replies: 34
Views: 4055

Re: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge

In addition to the above recommendations by others, reach out to Clark Howard and/or your local network consumer investigator.

Have you tried going to the credit union to speak with a manager in person?
by turtlebug
Wed Dec 13, 2023 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590516

Re: What are you listening to now

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, his KINGFISH album. Quality blues. Would love to catch a live performance.
by turtlebug
Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are some uncommon luxury goods/services?
Replies: 69
Views: 8226

Re: What are some uncommon luxury goods/services?

Space tourism.

Virgin Galactic: $250,000 for a 2-hour suborbital flight at an altitude of 80 km.
Blue Origin: approximately $300,000 for 12 minutes suborbital flight at an altitude of 100 km.
Axiom Space: $55 million for a 10-day orbital flight.
Space Perspective: $125,000 for a 6-hour flight to the edge of space (32 km above the Earth).
For a suborbital trip on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origin’s New Shepard, seats typically cost $250,000 to $500,000.
by turtlebug
Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Uninterested Spouse
Replies: 166
Views: 23982

Re: Uninterested Spouse

Mr. Potter wrote: Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:00 pm I realized it’s just never going to happen, so what do you do to prepare for the uninterested spouse taking over?...
I've come to the same conclusion with DH. He has so much anxiety when it comes to the handling of finances and no matter how I simplify it or try to make it more approachable, his level of anxiety does not decrease and it's like asking him to crawl over hot coals to convince him to sit down with me on even a biannual basis.

I've just come to accept it. I have our financial plan and the how-tos of everything written out for him in great detail, and should I predecease him, he'll just have to step up to the plate and carry on. :happy
by turtlebug
Mon Nov 27, 2023 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Monastery Fruitcake from Holy Cross Abbey
Replies: 1
Views: 495

Re: Monastery Fruitcake from Holy Cross Abbey

Haven't tried the fruitcake from Holy Cross Abbey but the price is about right. I buy a delicious 2lb fruitcake from a local monastery for $34.50
by turtlebug
Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax 2023 offer
Replies: 282
Views: 51734

Re: TurboTax 2023 offer

Sho wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:49 pm I have always used online deluxe( first year used desktop ) , now I bought and sold a house , is the delux still enough
IMO, yes.
by turtlebug
Fri Nov 17, 2023 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Please ck these laptop specs -am I missing anything?
Replies: 7
Views: 690

Re: Please ck these laptop specs -am I missing anything?

Note, in case it's important to you, that the reviews for your 2nd place Dell indicate that it doesn't have a backlit keyboard.
by turtlebug
Thu Nov 16, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Shopping for a new family credit card
Replies: 33
Views: 4195

Re: Shopping for a new family credit card

The Citi Double Cash Card - 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay) with no categories, caps, or annual fee. Also, right now they're offering $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.