Search found 149 matches

by Matigas
Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chains needed?
Replies: 63
Views: 5529

Re: Chains needed?

thefoggycity wrote: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:03 pm We are near Donner Pass, so I just bought some cables. Thanks!
What is the worst that could happen? Laying up for the winter in Donner Pass could be fun.
by Matigas
Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences
Replies: 51
Views: 3243

Re: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences

I'm a WA resident as well with teenagers, so this is very interesting. I'm surprised not to see Gonzaga on your list :) I'd lean towards Whitman, just because of the size and the town. UW is a wonderful school but I think it's better for grad school personally, I guess we just know several kids who have been unhappy there. It depends on what your daughter wants for a college experience. I believe we live in the same town and Seattle is a pretty big change. Gonzaga was on her list, but one of her close friends from HS who is a year ahead of her enrolled in the Gonzaga nursing program this past fall and is leaving because she says she is experiencing too much racism there. Her friend is a Black student from Jamaica who couldn't make Gonzaga ...
by Matigas
Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences
Replies: 51
Views: 3243

Re: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences

I have no direct experience with any of these colleges but I have walked the path your daughter is considering. She can succeed on this path by doing undergrad at any of the colleges on this list I think. What matters for grad school is what she does in her undergrad degree not where she attends. For elite Ph.D. programs (which are worth the rat race to get into), good/great grades will be necessary but not sufficient even from the UW honors college. The elite grad schools will want to see evidence of significant undergraduate research experience. Ideally she will do enough to contribute to a publication or two and that will require a significant investment of time during the year (she should expect to spend as much time in the research la...
by Matigas
Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences
Replies: 51
Views: 3243

Re: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences

We will be going through this process soon ourselves. Would you be willing to share your daughter’s stats that were used for the merit awards? We are on the other coast, hopefully those more familiar with her chosen schools will chime in soon. Congratulations to your daughter, enjoy the journey! She had an unweighted 3.96 GPA from one of the better rated public schools in WA (only blemish from a perfect 4.0 was one A-) with 8 AP classes (five her senior year). She had a 1400 SAT from Oct. of her Junior year (pre-pandemic) and had 6 subsequent test dates canceled so gave up trying to take again. None of these schools seem to have used SAT for admissions but the privates are kind of coy about whether they use it for merit aid. The public sch...
by Matigas
Sun Dec 27, 2020 4:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences
Replies: 51
Views: 3243

Re: College comparisons (and cost estimates) for life sciences

We will be going through this process soon ourselves. Would you be willing to share your daughter’s stats that were used for the merit awards? We are on the other coast, hopefully those more familiar with her chosen schools will chime in soon.
Congratulations to your daughter, enjoy the journey!
by Matigas
Fri Dec 25, 2020 9:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Looking to truly understand “ability, willingness and need to take risk“ concept
Replies: 55
Views: 4723

Re: Looking to truly understand “ability, willingness and need to take risk“ concept

Investing is only about taking compensated risk.
Now, defining ‘compensated risk’ is where many a shill makes their living.
by Matigas
Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 6 years to college degree?????
Replies: 139
Views: 10798

Re: 6 years to college degree?????

I am seeing the opposite in High School now. For the children's junior and senior year they are allowed to take college classes while still enrolled in their high school. Two teachers are also adjunct professors through two private colleges in the state. They can also take many online state university college classes. My son will graduate high school with 36 credits from the states flagship university. He did take two classes over the summer as well. We only have to pay after 12 credits a year and even that is half off. This is our experience also, although daughter was able to start with college classes her freshman year. Several kids in classes ahead of her finished their Associates Degree while still in high school. My son won’t have an...
by Matigas
Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 6 years to college degree?????
Replies: 139
Views: 10798

Re: 6 years to college degree?????

Locard wrote: Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:21 pm I am seeing the opposite in High School now. For the children's junior and senior year they are allowed to take college classes while still enrolled in their high school. Two teachers are also adjunct professors through two private colleges in the state. They can also take many online state university college classes. My son will graduate high school with 36 credits from the states flagship university. He did take two classes over the summer as well. We only have to pay after 12 credits a year and even that is half off.
This is our experience also, although daughter was able to start with college classes her freshman year.
Several kids in classes ahead of her finished their Associates Degree while still in high school.
by Matigas
Sun Dec 20, 2020 8:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College-Age Kids getting student loans when parent income too high
Replies: 133
Views: 10027

Re: College-Age Kids getting student loans when parent income too high

Hi OP. I’m not advocating anything by these questions, but curious to understand the situation a little better, and maybe help further your thought process 1. Do you feel like a state school or a private school is a better fit for your son? 2. Are there situations where you could see yourself agreeing to cosigning for student loan debt ? 3. What are your son’s preferences? 1. state 2. highly unlikely - seems like it would be smarter to loan to him myself and reduce interest rate and hassle. And since there are a myriad of problems with that, state school seems fine. 3. he is totally uninterested in the process as a high school junior right now. I actually think he will be fine with state school, but I think he has a decent chance of being ...
by Matigas
Sat Dec 19, 2020 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why am I investing in bonds?
Replies: 135
Views: 10518

Re: Why am I investing in bonds?

Olemiss540 wrote: Sat Dec 19, 2020 6:40 pm 1 yr returns on TBM are sitting at 6.9%....

Amazing how we see the rise of "mortgage/leverage for equity returns" and "why in the world am I sitting on bonds" posts when the all-time DJIA highs hit and the "I sold all my equities because this one is different and the world is crashing" when the market plummets.

Do you know why the Vanguard symbol is/was a ship sailing the seas? Because bonds are the ship's BALLAST. They are meant to smooth the ROUGH seas so you can wait 30+ years for equities to do what they do.

Prevent selling LOW is the goal of the bond fund. No one is worries about bond returns when the market is plummeting...
Yes, but ballast is jettisoned to haul aboard cargo.
by Matigas
Sat Dec 19, 2020 6:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?
Replies: 657
Views: 134534

Re: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?

Bought a new house thinking I could quickly sell the old house quickly after that. It took a year, was incredibly stressful, and it evaporated about $40k in savings. Even though the numbers have since settled down, I've never been able to regain the emotional feeling of "plenty" that I had before the deal. Ouch, I did something kind of similar but I had a renter in there for a year. The problem was the renter was horrible. I had to threaten a lawsuit just to get them to pay rent after a few months. Put me off ever thinking of being a landlord though. Was able to sell the house for about what I paid for it so it all worked out in the end. Were the two houses you owned at least in the same town? Yeah, same town. We ended up getting...
by Matigas
Sat Dec 19, 2020 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Why am I investing in bonds?
Replies: 135
Views: 10518

Re: Why am I investing in bonds?

This is more of a "Dear Diary" or rhetorical question than anything. I've held an 80/20 AA in a three fund portfolio since I started investing. I'm 35 and we're close to two commas now. Currently 18% in bonds and the rest in equities. Still putting new money in at 80/20 and I question why I continue to invest more money in bonds. 80/20 seemed acceptable when bonds yielded 3-4%, but at barely a 1% SEC yield, I constantly question why I continue to add to them, and hold so much in general. It lets me sleep at night, I suppose, but it's expensive. A sleeping pill is a lot cheaper. And now, we have about 2.5x annual expenses in bonds, so it's not like I need more for an emergency. I tell myself that this is just the market run up tal...
by Matigas
Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why submit a FAFSA?
Replies: 145
Views: 10006

Re: Why submit a FAFSA?

OP, My kids only receive merit-based scholarships. And, I do not need to submit FAFSA. It is very simple. Do not submit a FAFSA voluntarily. Only do it if you have to. KlangFool Not very simple. Depends on where you apply. Not submitting a FAFSA could be the most ignorant financial decision of your life. Matigas, So, are you saying that you are submitting a FAFSA even if no one asks you to? And, even if your kids had won the merit scholarship without a FAFSA? Or, something else. KlangFool P.S.: I know that my kids would not qualify for a need-based scholarship with FAFSA. Aight...UNC Chapel Hill, for many/most, MERIT scholarships, the FAFSA is required. So technically you are correct, only if asked. But only if YOU want to be considered. T...
by Matigas
Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why submit a FAFSA?
Replies: 145
Views: 10006

Re: Why submit a FAFSA?

OP, My kids only receive merit-based scholarships. And, I do not need to submit FAFSA. It is very simple. Do not submit a FAFSA voluntarily. Only do it if you have to. KlangFool Not very simple. Depends on where you apply. Not submitting a FAFSA could be the most ignorant financial decision of your life. Matigas, So, are you saying that you are submitting a FAFSA even if no one asks you to? And, even if your kids had won the merit scholarship without a FAFSA? Or, something else. KlangFool P.S.: I know that my kids would not qualify for a need-based scholarship with FAFSA. Aight...UNC Chapel Hill, for many/most, MERIT scholarships, the FAFSA is required. So technically you are correct, only if asked. But only if YOU want to be considered. T...
by Matigas
Wed Dec 16, 2020 8:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why submit a FAFSA?
Replies: 145
Views: 10006

Re: Why submit a FAFSA?

KlangFool wrote: Sun Dec 13, 2020 1:16 pm OP,

My kids only receive merit-based scholarships. And, I do not need to submit FAFSA.


It is very simple.


Do not submit a FAFSA voluntarily. Only do it if you have to.


KlangFool
Not very simple.
Depends on where you apply.
Not submitting a FAFSA could be the most ignorant financial decision of your life.
by Matigas
Tue Dec 15, 2020 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reasons to NOT be paid twice and then give it aaway?
Replies: 51
Views: 3475

Re: Reasons to NOT be paid twice and then give it aaway?

It should be Alpha/Bravo, not Able/Baker.
by Matigas
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Commuting after COVID
Replies: 133
Views: 10748

Re: Commuting after COVID

For those who say working from home is here to stay in their sector, doesn’t that mean you can be replaced, or outsourced? Not necessarily meaning foreign workers either. How do you see the labor market changing if someone living in Jackson, Mississippi can do the same job as someone living in Manhattan? Outsourcing to India/(insert other low cost country) has been an issue for software development for 15 years. However, i worked for a manufacturer, and 95% of the time there was no value in me being in the office, but i could go and there was huge value in the times i went to the shop floor. I don't see that company making any of the technology workers come to work when there is no value... However, if they want you in the factory, on Tues...
by Matigas
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Commuting after COVID
Replies: 133
Views: 10748

Re: Commuting after COVID

For those who say working from home is here to stay in their sector, doesn’t that mean you can be replaced, or outsourced? Not necessarily meaning foreign workers either. How do you see the labor market changing if someone living in Jackson, Mississippi can do the same job as someone living in Manhattan? The labor market has already changed. We just hired two people on our team from rural Oregon and rural Tennessee. We're HQ in a major midwest city. We hired them not because they were cheap but because they were a good fit and we are 100% WFH currently. So yes, in essence you are not just competing with local talent, but country (or world) wide talent now. But it goes both ways. It means if you live in NYC you can move to MS and still have...
by Matigas
Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Commuting after COVID
Replies: 133
Views: 10748

Re: Commuting after COVID

For those who say working from home is here to stay in their sector, doesn’t that mean you can be replaced, or outsourced? Not necessarily meaning foreign workers either. How do you see the labor market changing if someone living in Jackson, Mississippi can do the same job as someone living in Manhattan?
by Matigas
Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Prime Retention Rates
Replies: 69
Views: 8539

Re: Amazon Prime Retention Rates

DTalos wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 3:24 am Does Amazon Prime offer "retention rates" for those that want to cancel Amazon Prime. My subscription that I purchased last year with a Veterans Day discounted rate is ending soon. I am unsure if they will have the same promotion this year. I plan to cancel before it automatically renews.
Try this if you are a veteran. https://www.shopmyexchange.com/
Tax free and free shipping on orders $49 and up.
by Matigas
Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help...we're getting a dog!
Replies: 157
Views: 12248

Re: Help...we're getting a dog!

I do not really have much to add to most of the commentary above since it is mostly behavioral sort of stuff. I would recommend researching vets carefully. Compare prices, ask how emergency calls work, etc. We have had a vet where you could not leave for $500 no matter what. Always tests, prescriptions, prescription food, etc. To be fair, this wasnt a horrid recommendation for this dog, but what they did not consider or mention was that a fairly inactive senior did not likely need expensive testing and meds for a heart murmur, could use OTC glucosamine for a joint issue as a first step instead of an expensive prescription, could try some purina pro plan sensitive skin & stomach instead of expensive prescription allergy food, and comple...
by Matigas
Wed Oct 21, 2020 8:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What's the difference between mental accounting and having a budget?
Replies: 17
Views: 1788

Re: What's the difference between mental accounting and having a budget?

The difference is mental acuity, which declines as we age.

They both work.
by Matigas
Mon Oct 19, 2020 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Protein consumption strength training
Replies: 80
Views: 6707

Re: Protein consumption strength training

I am having difficulty with the programs described. I do not feel comfortable with squats, particularly with heavier weights. Perhaps that is unwarranted concern, but there is a brand new hip in my body and a second one which will probably need replacement in a couple of years (no issue yet, but Dr. says it will occur). I would *strongly* recommend that you stop any exercise that either causes you discomfort or involves joints that are replaced or are known to have "trouble". Then check with your physician, and perhaps get a referral to a physical therapist... before proceeding to stress those areas. There may well be some exercises that are specifically not recommended, as well as some that may work better for you. RM Most defin...
by Matigas
Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Help high school student choose college career]
Replies: 171
Views: 4769

Re: Undergrad College List Options

Also look at Honors College within the state schools to which you may apply. Some Honors programs assure a spot in grad programs assuming stats are there.
by Matigas
Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Finding Something in life?
Replies: 26
Views: 4601

Re: Finding Something in life?

Your friend might start with reading The Myth of Sisyphus, by Albert Camus.
by Matigas
Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Reasons to invest internationally, or not.
Replies: 191
Views: 14384

Re: Reasons to invest internationally, or not.

Are you diversifying to reduce volatility, or diversifying to increase performance?
Can you have both?
Can anyone truly define risk as compensated Vs. whateveryouwanttocallit?
by Matigas
Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tenants screening
Replies: 32
Views: 3373

Re: Tenants screening

As for whether or not to rent to the tenant you describe, did you do all the background checks, verify all the data on their rental application, and meet them personally and ask 5x as many questions as on your rental app? j :D +1 to this. Basically what I said in my above post, I think Sandtrap will agree. After you've been doing this for a while, you know who the good tenants are when you are meeting them in person, it's not so much what they say, but how they say it. +1 Totally agree. IE: Out of many thousands of rental applicants through the decades, I can’t remember how many times applicants looked fantastic on paper and verifications but just “felt wrong” and it “saved my bacon”. And, how many times I ignored that “little voice” and r...
by Matigas
Mon Aug 31, 2020 8:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Investors Were Warned.
Replies: 171
Views: 16600

Re: Investors Were Warned.

So we use past performance to prove that past performance proves nothing?
by Matigas
Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does a couple really "need" an SUV?
Replies: 225
Views: 16439

Re: Does a couple really "need" an SUV?

A big, heavy, SUV comes in quite handily when involved in a collision with another vehicle.
You don’t “need” an SUV to survive in this instance, but it helps.
by Matigas
Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Evaluating a Potential Purchase of Property in the Philippines
Replies: 29
Views: 2716

Re: Evaluating a Potential Purchase of Property in the Philippines

You are thinking about purchasing a property for the initial purpose of rental income, in a foreign country, where you will never be allowed to have any control or title to because you are not a citizen of said country? Let me guess, BIL thinks this will be an opportunity with unlimited potential, and he will manage said property in your absence?
by Matigas
Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend 3 southern locales to retire!
Replies: 86
Views: 11150

Re: Recommend 3 southern locales to retire!

I'll give my top 3 of places I have lived or close family that I spent much time with: 1. Charleston SC: beach is right there and Medical University of South Carolina University hospital in city proper. Pros - health care, low taxes, excellent healthcare, plenty of history, excellent restaurants, would recommend James Island just south of the city and Folly Beach just 20 min away. Cons - hot and very humid in the summer, bugs, not much else outside of Charleston, 2 hours to Columbia, about 3+ to Charleston or Asheville by interstate (did I mention bugs :). We lived there 9 years, friendly folks, plenty to do, you're in the hurricane zone so may have to evacuate however. 2. Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill NC: about 2 hours to the beach about the...
by Matigas
Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Where should my nephew go to college?
Replies: 55
Views: 4781

Re: Where should my nephew go to college?

Starting point for a good student would be in-state flagship public university. Some states have more than one. If parents want to pay more they can. I would not encourage nephew or his parents to take out loans or sacrifice family's financial well being to pay for any private college. If they have the means and want to do it that may be a choice they want to make. For a middle class family OP is inquiring above an expensive private that meets full need with no loans may well turn out to be a more economical alternative that the state flagship. Depends what middle class means. Since this is Bogleheads some on here will believe making $300K/year is middle class. Yes, if grants are possible and if they aren't tied to continued stellar academ...
by Matigas
Sat May 23, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: NJ property taxes too high. What are my alternative states?
Replies: 97
Views: 9854

Re: NJ property taxes too high. What are my alternative states?

jb1 wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 7:51 am I used to live in NJ and moved to coastal NC 4 years ago. Everyday I see more and more NJ/NY license plates and it’s great to see.

NJ and NY are overpriced and besides the ability to have a city, offers nothing.

Who wants to be charged a ton to live in the cold on unpaved roads?
We have met our Yankee quota here.
by Matigas
Tue May 19, 2020 4:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ford F150 Engine long term reliability - V8 versus Turbo V6?
Replies: 86
Views: 10989

Re: Ford F150 Engine long term reliability - V8 versus Turbo V6?

Both have been incredibly reliable. You literally cannot make a bad choice here. The Ecoboost has been put through some crazy torture tests. To start, when they introduced it 10 years ago, an engine was picked off the line at random, and had this done to it: A production EcoBoost V-6 engine, serial number 448AA, was randomly selected off the assembly line at Ford’s Cleveland engine plant. The dual-overhead-cam power plant was shipped to dynamometer cell 36B in the Ford Dearborn engine labs and run for 300 hours to replicate the equivalent of 150,000 customer miles, including repeated temperature-shock runs when the engine was cooled to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit and then heated to 235 degrees. The engine was then shipped to Ford's Kansas ...
by Matigas
Mon May 04, 2020 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car rolled backwards in drive. Operator error
Replies: 23
Views: 3367

Re: Car rolled backwards in drive. Operator error

So the operator ran alongside the ENTIRE 10 feet? Amazing.
by Matigas
Sat May 02, 2020 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stimulus help for small businesses, sole proprietors, s-corp etc
Replies: 627
Views: 48522

Re: Stimulus help for small businesses, sole proprietors, s-corp etc

An individual is most definitely not supposed to accept both PPP funds and PUA.
by Matigas
Sun Apr 05, 2020 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Stimulus help for small businesses, sole proprietors, s-corp etc
Replies: 627
Views: 48522

Re: Stimulus help for small businesses, sole proprietors, s-corp etc

AerialWombat wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:31 am
theplayer11 wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:57 am It's up to $10k on the EIDL loan and from what I've read it will most likely be determined by the # of employees.
Yes, it is definitely being based on number of employees. This has been confirmed in public comments by several SBA regional administrators on various conference calls. Thursday night, the Region IV administrator said that only businesses with 10 or more employees would receive the full $10k.

If you have truly lost revenue from this disaster, be sure to follow through with the full EIDL loan process when SBA contacts you to do so (not just the short online app for the grant). The amount of working capital you can borrow is significant ($2 million max).
So a sole proprietor with ZERO employees would receive what?
by Matigas
Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frozen 2 on Disney+
Replies: 2
Views: 454

Frozen 2 on Disney+

For those at home with kids right now, Frozen 2 is now out on Disney+.
A 7 day free trial is available.
by Matigas
Sat Mar 14, 2020 10:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?
Replies: 200
Views: 17538

Re: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?

Shallowpockets wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2020 10:19 am
Matigas wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 am People speaking of fast food drive through only, home delivery of groceries. So we just assume food production and processing will just waltz along unaffected? Processing, transportation, distribution of food takes people too.
This is the big elephant in the room.
We can do with out many services. We don’t need Apple stores. Lots of other things can be done remotely or online.
Food not so much.
That is what I was trying to infer. Many people fail to understand the food supply chain. Our food does not come from restaurants or grocery stores. Not trying to be one to fan the flames of panic, but everyone just staying home is simply not realistic.
by Matigas
Sat Mar 14, 2020 10:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?
Replies: 200
Views: 17538

Re: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?

whereskyle wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:28 am
Matigas wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 am People speaking of fast food drive through only, home delivery of groceries. So we just assume food production and processing will just waltz along unaffected? Processing, transportation, distribution of food takes people too.
It does but with minimal person-to-person interaction.
Really? Have you ever seen the inside of a poultry, swine, or seafood processing plant?
by Matigas
Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?
Replies: 200
Views: 17538

Re: So what does shutting down the US economy for a few months look like?

People speaking of fast food drive through only, home delivery of groceries. So we just assume food production and processing will just waltz along unaffected? Processing, transportation, distribution of food takes people too.
by Matigas
Sat Feb 15, 2020 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Entry-Level Jobs with Pensions - What companies still offer pensions these days?
Replies: 155
Views: 15929

Re: Entry-Level Jobs with Pensions - What companies still offer pensions these days?

This way of thinking is odd to me. You'd prefer not to have a huge benefit because it may make you not want to leave? Is the 7% 401k match or completely subsidized health insurance premiums provided by my wife's employer "handcuffs" too? The "handcuffs" are in your head, you're just as free to leave as anybody else who doesn't have the huge benefit. I would not have wanted a job I hated but stayed because of a pension. Lots of areas to balance. Salary, benefits, work culture, career growth, retirement benefits, lifestyle, lcation. These and more need to be prioritized. A pension may not come out on top. Exactly, it's a balance. I don't know why a pension would make one completely disregard all the other factors and stay...
by Matigas
Fri Feb 07, 2020 9:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Merit Scholarships - Advice and Strategies?
Replies: 109
Views: 12098

Re: Merit Scholarships - Advice and Strategies?

Jablean wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:13 am Boise State's close, no beach but new arts building, honors college, College of Innovation, pretty good research stats. Weather is four season but mild. Scholarship would put her at in-state rates.
Boise State? 😂😂😂
by Matigas
Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Not allowed to board American Airlines flight - Forced to buy second ticket for same flight - Help requested [UPDATED]
Replies: 125
Views: 18974

Re: Not allowed to board American Airlines flight - Forced to buy second ticket for same flight - Help requested

I don’t understand how, if the OP was on a TSA “list”, she was even able to get thru the security screening checkpoint. My niece was on such a list for awhile. All she knew was that every time she flew she was pulled aside for secondary screening. Every Damn Time. Nobody told her why or offered any advice on how to avoid the inconvenience until one time her mother made a big enough stink that one of the TSA agents whispered, under her breath, that my niece was coming up on a watch list. All this occurred when my niece was a minor child. Getting Pre-Checked certified solved the issue. Easier to board a flight if you remove your tinfoil hat before going through security. :eek: :eek: :o Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List A lot of peopl...
by Matigas
Mon Jan 27, 2020 5:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Not allowed to board American Airlines flight - Forced to buy second ticket for same flight - Help requested [UPDATED]
Replies: 125
Views: 18974

Re: Not allowed to board American Airlines flight - Forced to buy second ticket for same flight - Help requested

furwut wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2020 2:47 pm I don’t understand how, if the OP was on a TSA “list”, she was even able to get thru the security screening checkpoint. My niece was on such a list for awhile. All she knew was that every time she flew she was pulled aside for secondary screening. Every Damn Time. Nobody told her why or offered any advice on how to avoid the inconvenience until one time her mother made a big enough stink that one of the TSA agents whispered, under her breath, that my niece was coming up on a watch list. All this occurred when my niece was a minor child.

Getting Pre-Checked certified solved the issue.
Easier to board a flight if you remove your tinfoil hat before going through security. :eek: :eek: :o
by Matigas
Thu Jan 23, 2020 5:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Larry Swedroe says "Goodbye."
Replies: 445
Views: 80243

Re: Larry Swedroe says "Goodbye."

So give us all an honest reply. Will anyone really miss the incessant debate over compensated vs. uncompensated risk?
After all, only experts in the field can define the difference.
by Matigas
Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost of living for a retiree in Alabama
Replies: 49
Views: 4274

Re: Cost of living for a retiree in Alabama

Some excellent advice given here.
Not Alabama, but I live in a very rural area of North Carolina.
A few points to consider.
Check internet availability and cost in area you are considering.
Our property values are low, but tax rate is $.88 per $100 valuation.
You are going to want to let that air conditioner hum!
If you shop local, food and everyday items will cost more in a small town.
Gas will cost more in a small town. This is compared to a medium sized city, not a HCOL area...
If you plan to repair something in your home, it may be a couple hour round trip to a building supply store.
A doctor or dentist appointment can be an all day affair.

Definitely doable though, enjoy your retirement!