Search found 391 matches
- Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anybody from out of state ever buy a car from a Maryland dealership?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 582
Anybody from out of state ever buy a car from a Maryland dealership?
Maryland charges a 6% car tax. Does anybody know if a Maryland dealer can omit that tax if the buyer can prove they are an out-of-state buyer (e.g., driver's license from a different state)? Or are MD dealerships required to collect the tax regardless of where the buyer lives? I'm in NC. NC only cha...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 3:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 2019 IRA contribution/conversion made in 2020 - when do I get 1099-R?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 285
- Fri Jun 19, 2020 6:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 2019 IRA contribution/conversion made in 2020 - when do I get 1099-R?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 285
2019 IRA contribution/conversion made in 2020 - when do I get 1099-R?
Unfortunately I did not make a 2019 IRA contribution until February 2020, and then quickly completed a backdoor roth. All accounts held at Vanguard. Am I correct that I will not get a 1099-R for this until 2021? I assume that would mean I have nothing IRA-related to report on my 2019 tax returns? Th...
- Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Did you move for better weather? Did you regret it?
- Replies: 108
- Views: 9397
Re: Did you move for better weather? Did you regret it?
We moved from VA to CO - Denver area for several reasons including the weather. I loved the weather there. But there is more than weather. Denver and CO are beautiful, but at least in Denver/Boulder traffic was a nightmare and thus we were not able to take advantage of getting out to the mountains ...
- Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on relocation or staying put
- Replies: 87
- Views: 9317
Re: Advice on relocation or staying put
OP here. Found this thread while searching for something else so thought I'd post an update. We finally made the move few months ago. Picked Denver metro and it's been great! Thanks to everyone for your inputs! OP, now that you've been in the Denver area several years, any regrets about moving to g...
- Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Did you move for better weather? Did you regret it?
- Replies: 108
- Views: 9397
Did you move for better weather? Did you regret it?
I've lived in climates with hot, humid summers most of my life. 90+ degrees and high humidity for 5 straight months (May through September) is too much for me. Also, there's not really any respite it in the evenings or mornings. It may drop to 70 for a few hours (though there are many nights where t...
- Fri May 12, 2017 2:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 529 plan for a new baby -- large lump sum at birth?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1781
529 plan for a new baby -- large lump sum at birth?
Edit: And of course, after I posted this, I decided to do a google search and found https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=158250. So I guess I have all the info I need. If anybody wants to have a new discussion about it please feel free to respond here :) I have a baby on the way (my firs...
- Fri May 12, 2017 2:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Help me reduce my capital gain from a condo I just sold...
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3343
Re: Help me reduce my capital gain from a condo I just sold...
I'm not sure of the timeframe, but any improvement you made the first 6 months(???) or last 6 months(???) can be added to your basis . It looks like you did that for fixing it up to sell. But did you fix/"upgrade" anything before your sons moved in? Why do you think the title and fees sho...
- Sun Nov 20, 2016 3:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Microwave alternatives?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1445
Microwave alternatives?
Are there any legitimate microwave alternatives out there? I see things like this: http://www.goo.gl/pnpZy0. But I'm not sure exactly what it is other than a fancy toaster oven. Anyways, long story short, I'm in the market for a new microwave. To free up some counter space, I'd like to get something...
- Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Northern VA / DC: Recommended building contractors?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 946
Re: Northern VA / DC: Recommended building contractors?
Thanks to both of you for the replies!
- Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Northern VA / DC: Recommended building contractors?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 946
Northern VA / DC: Recommended building contractors?
Any NoVA / DC area folks have a particularly good experience with a building contractor that you would like to recommend? I'm thinking about having a detached 2-car garage with a finished upstairs built on my property and am in the initial stages of trying to put together a potential list of contrac...
- Thu Jun 04, 2015 7:50 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Downside of placing a credit freeze?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 4548
Re: Downside of placing a credit freeze?
Does anybody know if sites like CreditKarma show "soft" credit inquiries? Or do the only show "hard" credit inquiries? I would assume they only show "hard" inquiries, but I'm curious if anybody knows. I assume the only way to see "soft" inquiries is to get a f...
- Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
- Replies: 29
- Views: 5733
Re: Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
Thanks again for all the replies. The company who provided the quote is a well-known Generac dealer in my area, located on Generac's website. It has outstanding reviews. From the feedback I'm getting here, it sounds like the quoted prices are in the ballpark. I will go ahead and get another quote or...
- Sat Aug 30, 2014 2:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
- Replies: 29
- Views: 5733
Re: Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
Thanks to all for the replies. Would love to hear from others, too.
- Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
- Replies: 29
- Views: 5733
Help me evaluate a standby generator quote
I am looking into having a whole-house standby generator installed. Unfortunately, I know nothing about it beyond what I've learned from doing internet research. I had a reputable company come out and give me a quote yesterday, and based on what I've seen on the internet, it's about 25%-30% higher t...
- Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: $32k Subaru Outback or $14k Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
- Replies: 46
- Views: 8856
Re: $32k Subaru Outback or $14k Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
The Impreza and Crosstrek do not yet have Eyesight though, do they? I've driven an Outback with Eyesight (though I do not own one myself) and I loved it. Really revolutionizes highway driving, if you do much of it. Can't wait to see it makes its way to some of the other Subarus, like the Impreza and...
- Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Travel for work; file tax return in each state I work?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2736
Travel for work; file tax return in each state I work?
I work for a company that has a single office in state X. Employees often travel to NY (and other places, but I'll stick with NY for this example) for work; i.e., meetings with clients, etc. Because employees so often travel to NY for work, my company has determined that it has a "nexus" w...
- Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Importing VG Brokerage 1099-Consolidated into Turbotax
- Replies: 2
- Views: 880
Re: Importing VG Brokerage 1099-Consolidated into Turbotax
Yep, there are Form 8949s created by TT. Thank you for the help!
- Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:02 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Importing VG Brokerage 1099-Consolidated into Turbotax
- Replies: 2
- Views: 880
Importing VG Brokerage 1099-Consolidated into Turbotax
Quick question. In the past, I have manually entered items from my Vanguard Brokerage 1099-Consolidated into Turbotax. I would enter each sale of an ETF individually by lot. I never had very many, but it was still rather time consuming. So this year I chose to electronically import my 1099 from Vang...
- Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:40 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best Credit Card Promos 2014 *Updated*
- Replies: 36
- Views: 82303
Re: Best Credit Card Promos 2014
Could you link to the 2% back on the Capital One Venture? All I'm seeing is this http://goo.gl/aqgZhX. And it seems to be a travel thing (2 miles per dollar), not a cash back thing.
- Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:12 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cost Analysis: Living in CA vs the South
- Replies: 79
- Views: 8703
Re: Cost Analysis: Living in CA vs the South
Rent: $2,500/mo = $30,000 annually Heat/Electric: $720 Are these real numbers? Have you found 2 bedroom homes in areas you'd want to live in for just $2500? Are those utility costs researched? They seem very low. $720 per year is just $60 a month. Do you know someone in the area and can see their u...
- Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Selling real estate without a realtor
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1347
Re: Selling real estate without a realtor
Congrats. If you have the time and energy to put the effort in, I think most motivated people can navigate real estate without a broker in most markets (placed like NYC probably much more difficult). I bought my first home ~3 years ago and didn't use a broker. The seller had a broker, so the transac...
- Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Surrender Flexible Multifunded Life?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 564
Re: Surrender Flexible Multifunded Life?
I'm no expert, but you may have already had it long enough that it's worth keeping. By how much does the cash value increase per year? My wife has a whole life policy that her parents purchased for her when she was a child, and we now use the yearly dividend to pay all the fees and to increase the c...
- Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Home maintenance costs: Does 1% hold true?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4738
Re: Home maintenance costs: Does 1% hold true?
Our house maintenance costs, which included remodeling and a new roof, in this 14 year period totaled $50,442 or $3,603 per year. That annual average comes out to be 10% of my original cost, or 2.6% of my approximate present home value. Does remodeling count as a maintenance cost? It seems to me th...
- Wed Jan 01, 2014 1:51 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Rebalancing the Permanent Portfolio
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3545
Re: Rebalancing the Permanent Portfolio
The problem is that rebalancing back into gold and long treasuries right now would take nerves of steel. If your total capital is piddly, no big deal. But if you're talking bigger bucks and/or your entire portfolio it's something else. Frankly, I'm thinking that there are only two people in the wor...
- Thu Dec 26, 2013 6:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Stressless Recliners
- Replies: 40
- Views: 24919
Re: Stressless Recliners
I have two. Got them because I have a bad back and needed good lumbar support. I like them and would buy them again, but I'd look around to make sure there wasn't anything cheaper that I liked as much. Last time I bought, there wasn't, so no regrets here, but do your homework before you buy.
- Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:19 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Swedroe-type portfolio: downside risk vs tracking error risk
- Replies: 40
- Views: 11388
Re: Swedroe-type portfolio: downside risk vs tracking error
I strongly considered a portfolio of this type for awhile but ultimately rejected it. Although I love the idea of minimizing the fat downside tail, I know myself well enough to know that I could never maintain the asset allocation in a period like 1984-1999 which large caps are outperforming small c...
- Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:15 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Young physician with a family, lots of questions...
- Replies: 25
- Views: 4367
Re: Young physician with a family, lots of questions...
wife is a veterinarian currently staying at home (since our move), but interviewing for jobs right now that will probably pay around $80-90k for full time work. How much she works will determine our child care costs. Sorry this is not a response to your question. But just out of curiosity, is it no...
- Wed Dec 04, 2013 4:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: LTE - does it give better coverage?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1465
Re: LTE - does it give better coverage?
At least in Massachusetts, if you are getting a LTE phone, make sure you can get one that can switch back and forth to 3G if needed (e.g., an Iphone). My wife and I both got Samsung Galaxy S4 (on Verizon), which only uses LTE and can't switch back to 3G ; our service is horrible where we live (in B...
- Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New cellphone
- Replies: 63
- Views: 5668
Re: New cellphone
I also recently got a Nexus 5. I think 5" is a little too big for a phone that sits in my pocket for much of the day, but otherwise, it's a fantastic device. I'd say it compares favorably to the other "flagship" android phones on the market, especially when you consider its price. The...
- Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 23605
Re: Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
Hyperion, did you ever look into the cost of that? It's also something I've pondered but never looked into seriously.
- Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 23605
Re: Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
Thanks for the feedback. I'd definitely try multiple times before I buy. I don't even have room where I live currently for a pool like that, but hopefully will someday soon. I'm more of a swim for 30 minutes 3x per week person, but I currently live somewhere that doesn't really have convenient lap p...
- Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 23605
Anybody here own an Endless Pool?
I generally find the opinions of Bogleheads to be useful on just about any topic. Anybody here have an Endless Pool for swimming "laps"? http://www.endlesspools.com/ Everything I can find on the internet seems to be positive, but I'd value any input if somebody here owns one or has used one!
- Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Overcontributed to 401k due to Employer Error. Help?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7318
Re: Overcontributed to 401k due to Employer Error. Help?
Thanks to all for the helpful replies. I will read more closely and digest, but it sounds like the 1099-R is generally the proper procedure. In response to the last post, I will note that the Box 7 distribution code is a "2" and not an "8." I have currently input everything exact...
- Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Overcontributed to 401k due to Employer Error. Help?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7318
Overcontributed to 401k due to Employer Error. Help?
My wife changed jobs in 2012. Before she started her 2nd job, she maxed out her $17,000 401k contribution at her first employer. She correctly told her second employer to contribute nothing to her 401k from her paycheck. Unfortunately, her employer screwed up and accidentally did take 1% out of her ...
- Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying a Condo/Townhouse in DC (and lost!)
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3690
Re: Buying a Condo/Townhouse in DC (and lost!)
If you really only plan to be here 2 years, buying sound like a bad idea. Even if you do break even, there's a lot of hassle involved, and then you have to figure out what to do with it when you move.
- Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:35 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: How to 'responsibly' gamble part of house downpayment?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2673
- Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:30 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What is the Risk-Free Rate?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1732
Re: What is the Risk-Free Rate?
To me, the risk free rate is the equivalent rate of return that I get by paying down my mortgage early.
- Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:05 pm
- Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
- Topic: Change username?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1174
Re: Change username?
Yes, thanks for the advice. The purpose of changing it is actually to increase anonymity
I PM'd Alex already and he mentioned he would hopefully get to it tonight. If I haven't heard from him in the next day or so, I will send you a PM.
Thanks again.

Thanks again.
- Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Will you get an iPhone 5?
- Replies: 108
- Views: 8476
Re: Will you get an iPhone 5?
I prefer android. It is good to see that Apple finally added a bigger screen, turn-by-turn navigation, panorama mode for camera, and a few other things that previously held me back from getting one. Unfortunately, I think it's too little too late.
- Sat Sep 15, 2012 4:13 pm
- Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
- Topic: Change username?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1174
Change username?
I've messaged several forum administrators, and I'm not sure if they are not getting my messages, or if they are forgetting to respond to them -- but I haven't gotten any responses. I would like to change my username in order to standardize it across the various forums that I visit. Could an admin w...
- Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:02 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Do commodities protect you in bear markets?
- Replies: 90
- Views: 8650
Re: Do commodities protect you in bear markets?
Is PCRIX still the commodity fund of choice?
- Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Vetting muni funds
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1717
Re: Vetting muni funds
Not directly responsive to your question, but if you are looking for the safest muni bond fund available, you might check out BMBIX. Most of its holdings are pre-refunded, which means that those holdings are essentially just as safe as U.S. treasuries. I imagine you are trying to avoid NY state tax ...
- Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:48 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Smartest Financial Move You Ever Made
- Replies: 139
- Views: 20579
Re: Smartest Financial Move You Ever Made
Taking my dad's advice at age 25 (right after graduating from grad school) and reading Bogleheads Guide to Investing. Thanks to my dad (and that book), I have been and plan to be a Boglehead for my entire investing career. Which will hopefully mean that I never have anything to contribute to the &qu...
- Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Property tax payments from escrow
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1366
Re: Property tax payments from escrow
Does the borrower have any say in when the property taxes are paid out of the escrow account? In other words, if we - as borrowers - wish to pay our property taxes every other year so as to quickly hit the minimums for the itemized deductions those years (and use the standard deductions during the ...
- Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: UPDATE - 23 With New Job, 401K and Now Asset Allocation
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2502
Re: UPDATE - 23 With New Job, 401K and Now Asset Allocation
10% of your AA to high yield corporates seems like a bad idea to me. Your portfolio will exhibit a volatility more similar to 90% equities, 10% stocks. With 80% equities as your goal, I would probably want the 20% bonds to really be safe... something like the entire 20% in intermediate-term treasuri...
- Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:46 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Deleted
- Replies: 28
- Views: 3830
Re: all about muni bonds
Those of you who are interested in muni funds but concerned about the credit quality of VWIUX should check out Baird's Intermediate-Term Muni fund, BMBIX: http://www.rwbaird.com/bolimages/Media/PDF/CI/Asset_Management/Fixed-Income/Bond-municipal-fund-fact-sheet.pdf. Short summary: 68% AAA, 95% AAA o...
- Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 11429
Re: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
double post
- Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 11429
Re: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
Option 3: xeriscape. Put in plants (preferably native) that can tolerate the local conditions, and save water. We actually have considered this, as a handful of our neighbors have done it. We just don't really like the way it looks. That being said, I guess about half of our front yard, and a decen...
- Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 11429
Re: Should I have a sprinkler system installed?
Thanks to all for the feedback.