Bogleheads.org

appears there is no furniture in the home, so that rules out a sofa

A few things..

I am moving in a few months to a lower cost of living city. I just found a beautiful apartment in a suburb of that city. The suburb just lost its largest employer, so economics of the town are changing - which allowed me to negotiate a great rent price on the apartment.

I just found out about Temu, which is similar to Amazon but with greatly reduced prices for categories of things I typically buy....my spend in that category will greatly reduce.

I am currently visiting a city outside the US where my USD are going farther. I just purchased a ticket through Ticketmaster for the symphony.\
Price? $7.56 USD

I’m curious if you have any data on hotel room invasions?

yes, personal.

two experiences - one a friend, one a family member and numerous reports in travel groups. I don't need more - you may, we each assess risk personally, often based on circumstances, past and present.

now let's see how many more angels we can get to dance on the head of this pin lol.

I like the earlier comment here from the city cop on a door alarm. That seems reasonable.

Thank you for the feedback. I am most appreciative of the info provided by 5oh! investor - you have given me a great tip to use a door alarm versus extra lock. I will be looking into that right now.

For all those who have complete confidence in lodging door security - appears to me you might be fortunate to never travel as female, never traveled in areas where crime is higher than average or or traveled in some independently owned lodging with dicey security features. Keep on your four and five star hotels and safest locations lucky you.

Some very good tips here.

3 comments:

(1) what is a work band?

(2) there is an exception to the no third party booking rule, IMO - in international destinations, I sometimes book independently owned properties. I prefer using a third party with whom I can communicate in English any changes or requests or issues at all. Booking.com has worked well for me in this regard.

(3) no need to fight I-195 to FLA or NY with the Auto-Train.

Curious question.

I belong to a women's travel group. The subject of hotel security comes up often.

Some women carry door wedges and alarms and additional locks to further secure the doors on their rooms while on travel.

Other women argue that this is unwise since if they were having a medical emergency and could not reach the door, emergency responders
would be unable to reach them due to the extra door devices.

Opinions as to using additional door security?

You say you are traveling Amtrak from East to West, but I believe Amtrak only runs to Memphis from the North (Chicago) or the South (NOLA).

I am traveling from New York to LA. Not all segments will follow a straight line, east to west, it's the destination

I am very familiar with Baltimore, so the comparison is helpful. Thank you.

I'll be traveling by Amtrak in May - from east to west and plan a stop of a few nights in Memphis. I am a huge roots music fan, so there is much to see there.

Will be on foot or rideshare/taxi - possibly a bus to Graceland.

Please chime in with your Memphis suggestions - food, sights, tips for getting around, hotels, music haunts, safety concerns, must see places.

Gracias.

I've never experienced an account hacking (faking impersonation) that seems to be common on Facebook, but yesterday I had an odd experience and wondering if anyone else has had the same. I was on my laptop and received an emailed message from Facebook (and I verified it came from Meta) that my account had been accessed by someone else and that I would first need to change my password before logging back in. So, I changed my password. Later in the day, I was on my cellphone and decided to look at Facebook from there. When I opened the app, I got a message that I needed to log in (presumably due to changed password)- and it asked me which profile I wanted to log in from - my own - or that of a Facebook "friend".? This Facebook "...

Thank you for the feedback. I am not yet involved in RMDs since I am still in my early 60s.

I realize there are tax implications, since this a tax deferred account.

From reading the accounts of some of the problems posters are having, it might warrant a decision on my part to just leave some funds in the G Fund and just move the rest of it out to a regular brokerage. Staggering to think about - but it shouldn't be.

great, sounds easy - I'll just have them sell and send the proceeds to my checking account.

I'm a federal retiree about to make my first TSP withdrawal.

Does anyone know if they allow you to designate the transaction from a particular fund?

Is the typical process to rollover to an IRA at a brokerage and then cash out from there?

Thank you all.

Following up : climber2020 - that Wallet Slayer case design makes it look as if the credit card could easily slide right out of the slot??

To the person who asked about my neck pouch - I use one from PacSafe - works well.

So, you tether the case to closet piping or around the base of the toilet or some such permanent fixture in the hotel room?

Curious

I've also started using Airtags - more so for me than for a thief, lol....to help me find something - but it seems that if something did get stolen - an Airtag inside might help retrieve it?

I realize there are other issues with Airtags, so hopefully no tangents there.

I would appreciate hearing about the steps others take in securing important items during travel: cash, credit cards, passports and important docs? I tend to pack light and go minimal, but have started keeping some cash and a credit card in my purse which i am careful to not carry it carelessly (crossbody, don't leave it on chair etc) and I wear a neck pouch under my clothes for additional cash and passport docs. I have never used to a hotel safe in my room - for no particular reason. With respect to cash and credit cards, I tend to split them up and not carry all in the same place. Someone suggested taking a photocopy of your passport and keeping that on hand, so I do that as well, tend to stick that in a locked section of my suitcase - no...

https://www.napfa.org/

thanks!

I have gotten very good advice here. I just want another view. It's too important.

Thanks again

Do these folks have a professional organization that I could become acquainted with ?

Do they hold certifications that you can ask for to verify fiduciary status?

I am seeking advice regarding a Soc Sec withdrawal strategy, help with Medicare planning and an overall tax strategy and related topics as a retiree.

Thank you

Looks like I need to become acquainted with some acronyms - QCD, NUMCRITs, etc.

Does anyone have a book or website to recommend for beginning to set this up? I will get legal help with drafting a will, but would like to find out
what I need to do with the beneficiaries? contact them ahead of time? name them on accounts, etc.

I've been trying to plan the distribution of my assets upon death, as a single person. I have a 7 figure estate. I don't have heirs, but plan to bequeath some assets to my siblings. I feel like I am flying blind here. I never expected that one day I would have a dollar beyond my immediate needs. I also may try to set up a scholarship related to my rural high school in a low income area. I am considering charities. I don't belong to a church, but I have been studying Buddhism. I would like to leave assets where they can do the most good to support causes that are important to me - literacy, support of victims of domestic violence and public libraries. I would be interested in reading what you've done with your estate to support causes that a...

Do any of you use this service? curious about the benefits and any drawbacks? thank you

You do need to stop spending from your savings account. Your TSP/rollover IRA balance is large for a single person (assuming it is all tax-deferred). You need to start spending it now.

Yes, I need to get over my hesitation and start pulling from my TSP or Rollover IRA.

As I prepared for retirement, it became a mantra to never sell equities in a down market - i.e. sequence of returns related issues.

I guess I should start by transferring some money out of the TSP.

Current and and previous accrued losses are used to offset any current gains first. If there are still losses left after that, up to $3k is used to offset current ordinary income. If there are still accrued losses left after that, they are carried forward for similar use the following year.

Thank you, this sums it up concisely and clearly for me.

I think you can afford a home. I also think that renting is fine if it suits you. You have the financial flexibility to do either of those things. I have begun to look at various locations to compare renting vs. owning overall costs. Some have mentioned NY as being more expensive than FLA, although the areas in NY I am interested in, are upstate and not as expensive. Florida is more costly in terms of insurance and home pricing, HOA expenses, NY is costly due to taxation, - to they about balance each other out, lol. My Roth conversion amounts will decrease, so the state income tax advantages will as well - lots of moving parts here. Also, NY has several exemptions for retirees. I realize it's a risk tolerance/comfort level/highly subjectiv...

Is your estate planning (i.e., Will, durable power-of-attorney, healthcare POA/advance directives, account beneficiaries, perhaps prepaid burial arrangements) up-to-date?

I have appointments in January to update these documents.

I really hope someone can explain to this me like I'm a 5th grader, because I am missing something here - no matter how many times I read up. I see mention here of people taking capital tax losses ( not sure of the correct term) and often in large amounts) in order to offset income tax liability. However, we are limited to $3K per year to take as a loss with our annual tax filing. Even if we live another 40 years, that's still only $3K X 40 = $120K in deductions? Why try to harvest much more than that? Let me take a guess? we can only offset ordinary income by $3K per year (and carry forward the excess to future years) but perhaps there is no limit on capital losses offsetting capital gains.? That just doesn't seem right or what am I missin...

Following up with some more data. Thank you to all so far, who've provided very valuable data.

I do not have long term care insurance. I do have health insurance as part of my retirement package as a federal retiree.

I will certainly go look up and and plug in the specific bond and equity fund names - but I can say now that my equity holdings are limited to the popular three fund portfolio.

My bonds consist of short term bond funds, a Vanguard broad index bond fund and six figures (need to check ) worth of I-Bonds.

My cash is in HYSAs.

Thank you all again!

deleted

deleted

Problem statement: Retired in 2021 before latest market downturn and before inflation surge. I've worked since I am 12. Childhood history of poverty. Over the past year, struggling to continue to see my portfolio as a utility to fund my life - instead of panicking and viewing it as security blanket to shield me from the vagaries of life. I recognize this as a behavioral psych issue. I am becoming scared to spend. Watching real estate market in the past year or so has me concerned about continuing to rent (no control over future increases) versus purchasing a home in order to gain some control over my housing expense - which is my largest expense item. If I purchase a home, obviously that takes a chunk out of my assets and they are no longer...

[i]You don't need specifically this money. If you have less money in the savings account but more money in the Roth IRA, you can fund living expenses later with the money in the Roth IRA. That would be better because the money in the Roth IRA grows tax-free until you use it.[/i]

I wanted to circle back to specifically thank you for this nugget. This was my blind spot.

This is why we ask questions of others. Money is more than cash - it can involve behavioral based blind spots.

Peace. Thanks again.

radiowave - that seems a good endorsement - i.e. that you have decided to retire in that part of NC.

In terms of plenty of things to do - he prefers hiking, pickleball or tennis, indie films, wine and beer tasting, socializing in general.

can I ask what types of activities you enjoy there? (just to get an idea of availability) thanks

Have any of you used a Loctote/Pacsafe/Similar locking slashproof bag to store passport, cash, etc. while traveling?

**I realize nothing is 100% guaranteed*** - but hoping for something that at least might be a theft deterrent.

Seeking comments from those on whether any of these bags seem well made and secure/worth the price? Thanks

I was gifted a bottle. I've never had this one before. I usually lean toward bourbon and rum. Gin and vodka in summer.

yes, he's actually considering the wester part of the states in VA or NC, thinking the winters would milder (it's in the south) but not as hot or humid as the coastal areas of those states.

We have both lived in VA in the summers. Yes, they are hot and can be humid, but they are mostly time bound (June through early September) - whereas Florida is often non-stop LOL....

My brother has decided Florida for retirement is not for him. He gave it a couple years, but cannot acclimate to the humidity.

Yet, he does not want to go all the way back to New York (too cold) ...hence, people are jokingly telling him to become a "half-bacK"....

but neither of us are familiar with any 55 plus communities or retirement communities in the Carolinas. He prefers to live in a location where he can be around other retirees for socializing, sports, activities, etc.

We suspect these are not ubiquitous as they are in FLA.

If anyone has any recommendations, that would be great.

I'll be spending a month in a location that tends to get a lot of snow- ski country.

Parking is out doors. I am thinking of getting one of those car covers like people use to protect their car from UV rays.

Wouldn't one of these be easier than scraping ice and snow? I could just pull the cover off.

What am I missing in this idea? thanks

Are there any recommended banks/brokers for HSA accounts other than Fidelity? Thanks

I did a search here and some of the similar posts are dated, hence a new one.

I was recently quoted the following prices from a dental office in a small city in the Northeastern US. I am wondering how they compare to similar/same services in your part of the US? Thanks

Porcelain/ceramic crown: $1,250

Implant Crown: $1,500

Composite 3 surfaces: $237

This thread is several years old - curious if anyone has an update to add since I am also curious about training software.

Thanks

Does anyone make their own coffee while on travel? thinking more of lodging travel and not camping.

I have seen these tea bag type disposables with coffee and wondering how they are?

Appreciate any suggestions for a quality cup of coffee while on travel. Thanks

Hello, I am currently in New York state staying with my sister while looking into a possible relocation or home purchase here. My auto policy is expiring, so I asked GEICO for a quote. For 6 months: Bodily Injury Liability - 300/300 $110. Property Damage Liability - 100K $106 Residual Medical Payments - 10K $ 10 Supplementary Uninsured Motorist 300/300 - $ 56 On the 2013 Toyota RAV Comprehensive, $200 deductible, no glass deductible $127 Collision $250 deductible - $215 Personal Injury Protection (OPT A?) $57 Rental Reimbursement, $30 day $900 max $17 Are there any coverages I am missing that I should have? does this look like enough insurance? My umbrella policy is expiring soon and now that I am living with my sister, I do not even have m...

If natural disasters are a primary concern for relocation, NOAA, FEMA and USFS have come up with a list of the following safest locations in the US:

https://www.cbsnews.com/media/top-10-sa ... WH_1My35rY


1. Syracuse, N.Y.

2. Cleveland

3. Akron, Ohio

4. Buffalo, N.Y.

5. Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md.

6. Dayton, Ohio

7. Allentown, Pa.

8. Chicago

9. Denver

10. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, Mich.

I am visiting with my elderly mom this week, spending days with her. I've noticed she gets an awful lot of sales phone calls and it appears a large percentage of them are related somehow to Medicare.

We have all warned her to not give out personal information over the phone, but I am not able to tell if this calls are legitimate in any way.

I am planning to answer some of them if I can, to get a feel for what is up with them, but I don't want my mom to feel as if I am taking over her life - which of course she is resisting.

Do any of you have a relative who gets a lot of sales calls and specifically calls related to Medicare? Do you know what these calls are about?

My mom is on Medicare. My brother has the details of her plans.

Can anyone recommend a brand for women's trail shoes and boots that offer a wider toe box and narrower heel?

**I am sure to get recommendations to visit a store to determine best fit, but I am spending a few months in a very rural area and need to order online**

thanks

I'm familiar with the more popular cruise lines and how things operate, but I am hoping to find a different type of cruise.

To be specific, I am not interested in getting off the ship just to shop, buy souvenirs or to visit a bar and then get back on the ship.

I'd like to disembark to actually get to explore and get to know the local scene, local cultures, perhaps in some of the lesser touristed parts of the world. I assume this means a cruise that is at least in a port for a whole day or perhaps overnight.

Is anyone familiar with a cruise line that offers these types of cruises? maybe they are even called educational cruises? thank you.

This thread has me chuckling. Firstly because many are speculating on the article without being able to read it - for some reason that makes me chuckle and I have to consider the irony given my current situation. I used a boatload of Hilton points to pay for a very nice hotel here in Mexico, but I find myself a little bit grumpy because the hotel has very little to offer in terms of refreshment right now - no bar, no canteen, a restaurant only open at breakfast (and very expensive breakfast for Mexico) - no ice machines anywhere....so I am looking at my lukewarm bottles of mineral water and grumbling at the price of the hotel LOL. I can guarantee you when I was in my 20s and flew by the literal seat of my pants, ice or no ice, I would still...

Cleaning, exam, x rays - October 2022, San Miguel, Mexico - top notch office and dentist did the cleaning : $62 paid by credit card.

Reimbursable by insurance.

Did you really bring back 500 or 1000 coins?

Yes, I have a bag of 500 and 1000 peso coins. At the time, I had no idea I would end up holding them for so long.

I guess I could continue to hold in the off chance I someday make it to Mexico City for other reasons lol.