Search found 6679 matches

by Random Musings
Mon Mar 18, 2024 2:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any thoughts on sector rotation - March 2024?
Replies: 20
Views: 871

Re: Any thoughts on sector rotation - March 2024?

Freeman2025 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:36 pm Curious as to what sectors people think we should be rotating into (or out of) at this phase of the cycle (March 2024). Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Are you looking for the Robinhood forum?

Just as an FYI, when posting, just don't start asking about cryp............. That's a no-no.

RM
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
Replies: 302
Views: 27405

Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?

.... on the exec side they keep talking about eliminating most of the staff in some AI utopia world of max profits and mass unemployment. Who knows, but it does not sound like a world I would particularly like to live in if these 20 year projections come to fruition. I guess maximizing profits in conjunction with a optimal unemployment rate. I just don't see how a reasonable subset of the human population who ends up with limited "self-worth" by not being allowed to contribute to or be involved in society is going to work out without some serious social unrest. Fantasies about a life of leisure and having AI/robots do our work for us may not pan out if AI decides that people who are an economic burden in society (cash flow negati...
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Awesome Portfolio: 20% Stocks..20% Bonds..20% Cash..20%Real Estate, 20%Gold
Replies: 38
Views: 3895

Re: Awesome Portfolio: 20% Stocks..20% Bonds..20% Cash..20%Real Estate, 20%Gold

quattro73 wrote: Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:59 pm Swap out you REIT for MCD. It is a a partial REIT anyway.
That's a pretty hefty bet on one individual stock - I would pass on that. The academics at the business school I attended back in the late 90's would put no more than 5% in individual equities (play around with money) - rest was index/passive.

Don't care for the 20 x 5 model. Back testing always works until it doesn't. I bet something else will work out better over the next 50 years but no one knows what it will be.

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:07 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is the appeal of Robinhood
Replies: 85
Views: 5920

Re: What is the appeal of Robinhood

But they did that by literally cheating their customers on Payment for Order Flow. The SEC fined them $65 million for stealing from customers and lying to them. As the SEC pointed out, Robinhood made a big deal out of zero commissions, but were silently making it up on the back end from PFOF fees -- unusually high payment for order flow rates -- as the SEC says. From 10 to 100 times normal payment rates. And they lied to customers promising on their FAQs that they were getting "execution quality matched or beat that of its competitors." So, yes, it's a lot easier to pioneer zero commissions when you are cheating your clients on the back end to finance it and lying to them about it. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2020-321 ...
by Random Musings
Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15187

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

$5MM and $200k a year?

Cry me a river.

RM
by Random Musings
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Treasuries - Up or Down rest of 2024
Replies: 20
Views: 1802

Re: Treasuries - Up or Down rest of 2024

I can say with confidence that treasuries will be up and down the rest of 2024.

RM
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: moving from ~600k to ~1.5M income
Replies: 74
Views: 11761

Re: moving from ~600k to ~1.5M income

Yes, you can I'm looking for both financial/ tax planning advice, as well as guidance on maybe loosening the reigns on lifestyle spending a bit. With $6MM in net worth and $1.5MM pre-tax coming in this year (which is more of a known), the only thing I would be careful about is to be slightly conservative in the future income years when doing your projecting. At a 50% tax bite, you are looking at a roughly $450K increase in cash flow for current year. Perhaps take half of that towards "loosening the reigns", as you put it, and then reevaluate future years when those incremental cash flows are known. At a certain point, when you are in the top 3% or so in your age bracket for net worth, you should be in excellent shape for the futur...
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]
Replies: 19
Views: 1471

Re: [Visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan with a small child]

When our kids were that young, we brought the pack-n-play for them to sleep, a good stroller and the basic stuff you need for small children (thermometers, creams and so on). Don't worry about the "unknown" as that can occur anywhere. Have fun on the island!

RM
by Random Musings
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you spend a month on food?
Replies: 334
Views: 29218

Re: What's normal for grocery costs for a family?

For four people, excluding restaurants, $500 to $625 a person per month seems on the high side specifically towards food. And we also buy a lot from Costco in a MCOL area (some Walmart and grocery store as well). Same family size, one athlete.

Motostash mentioned that 30% of food is wasted and thrown out. I can say we are at most 5%, so that keeps food costs in check. Can't argue that recent inflation hasn't helped matters with respect to monthly food expenditures.

We do like fresh fruits and vegetables, but we don't go the organic route, not sure what percentage is truly organic anyway. We also have a basement freezer to buy items we like when they are on sale.

RM
by Random Musings
Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Am I okay spending on wants?
Replies: 13
Views: 1722

Re: Am I okay spending on wants?

Yes. Getting some reasonable wants in now is better than defering as life has no guarantees. Run some analysis, if you had to work full time a year or two more, is that truly a deal breaker?

RM
by Random Musings
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life
Replies: 61
Views: 7376

Re: feeling stuck with kid expenses and this phase of life

With your early level of savings before children, you go a huge head start compared to most people. With kids, and I'm in the early college/late high school years, comes a great deal of expenses. But we wanted kids, so the trade off is to save less during these years. There is no value that can be placed on having children, far better than having more money. IMHO, life is about experiences, and having children is one of those experiences. Material goods are needed at some level in order to live a comfortable life, but as one grows older, very few people reminisce about that aspect of life.

RM
by Random Musings
Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure
Replies: 63
Views: 4442

Re: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure

I would shop rates and perhaps go with a higher deductible. Think about your location and weather risks - a hailstorm hit our area and every house on our street got new roofs. Over a 24+ year timeframe, taking that claim into consideration, net homeowners insurance payments are equal to 2.1% of house value (less if you include contents in home). Of course that money could have been invested to grow but I'm insuring against the small probability a very large claim. No different than carrying umbrella - and in those cases insurance companies get involved because they want to manage their payouts.

RM
by Random Musings
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: William Bernstein On the Financial Industry
Replies: 81
Views: 9779

Re: William Bernstein On the Financial Industry

Condemnation of the Financial Industry is just another form of prejudice or bias. There are good guys and bad guys in most industries. Just because one restaurant is closed by the board of health does not mean all restaurants are unsanitary. I don't think it is prejudice or bias when the largest financial players in the world -- JP Morgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs among others -- have paid literally hundreds of billions in fines and penalties for their crimes including securities fraud, consumer fraud, price fixing, money laundering, sanctions violations, bribery and forgery. Either the institutions themselves are corrupt or the industry tends to attract the most pathological of personalities, or both. Hund...
by Random Musings
Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If/how/how much to financially assist kids that choose not to go to college
Replies: 48
Views: 3794

Re: If/how/how much to financially assist kids that choose not to go to college

Our goal is to provide our children a reasonably close amount of financial support, be it for college, trade school, investment portfolio, whatever. And I tell them that I am not going to financially favor either of them. Why create resentment between siblings? RM shouldn't cause resentment if a child chooses not to go to college. As parents, we chose to pay for our kids education up to 4 years in college. If 1 didn't choose to go to college, they certainly weren't getting an equivalent lump sum $ amount. But it's not just about "college" . Just as an example, if child 1 goes to a four year and $100k is provided for them, while child 2 gets a trade degree for $35k and down the road needs $65k to buy tools/equipment to start their...
by Random Musings
Tue Mar 05, 2024 9:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: National Parks Tour Company
Replies: 3
Views: 776

Re: National Parks Tour Company

Especially for the Yellowstone/Teton area, there are a ton of companies that provide guided tours. However, as you said you are a healthy, active couple, the question is what sort of package are you looking for? One with a fair amount of hikes? How many miles a day and how much vertical? Hotels, camping or glamping? Tour guides who specialize on history, wildlife or geology? What size group do you want to be in? Do you want a tour that provides both of you time away from the group to explore on your own (tougher to find in NP tours)? Lotta product out there these days. Personally, I'm a DIY as the flexibility is the greatest, it is far more cost effective, and I like to research the areas before I go. That, and I don't mind driving. IMHO, Y...
by Random Musings
Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2805

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

In terms of navigating the park is Gardiner a good entrance point vs west entrance? Hotels are cheaper in Gardiner. I just want the best experience and the hotel price is not that big of deal. If price is not that big of a deal, then stay in the park. It is a large park. We have stayed in the park and in West Yellowstone. In the park saves a lot of time. Traffic moves very slowly in the park. The speed limits are pretty low, and people are going slowly to look for wildlife and to enjoy the scenery. If the bison get on or near the road, traffic will come to a dead stop. Don't be in a hurry when driving in the park. It won't help. I would stay near Old Faithful if possible because it is centrally located. There is food and gas in the park. Y...
by Random Musings
Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If/how/how much to financially assist kids that choose not to go to college
Replies: 48
Views: 3794

Re: If/how/how much to financially assist kids that choose not to go to college

Our goal is to provide our children a reasonably close amount of financial support, be it for college, trade school, investment portfolio, whatever. And I tell them that I am not going to financially favor either of them. Why create resentment between siblings?

RM
by Random Musings
Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2805

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

In terms of navigating the park is Gardiner a good entrance point vs west entrance? Hotels are cheaper in Gardiner. I just want the best experience and the hotel price is not that big of deal. If price is not that big of a deal, then stay in the park. It is a large park. We have stayed in the park and in West Yellowstone. In the park saves a lot of time. Traffic moves very slowly in the park. The speed limits are pretty low, and people are going slowly to look for wildlife and to enjoy the scenery. If the bison get on or near the road, traffic will come to a dead stop. Don't be in a hurry when driving in the park. It won't help. I would stay near Old Faithful if possible because it is centrally located. There is food and gas in the park. Y...
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2805

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Hi We are flying into KC beginning of June and planning an 11 day trip to drive through Nebraska to Sioux Falls, Mt Rushmore and end in Bozeman. Looking for any recommendations and ideas because we are totally unfamiliar with area. Is the drive difficult? I believe a lot of it is flat and my wife hates mountain roads. Also how difficult will it be to see some of Yellowstone around June 15. We are not in our early 70’s and walk a lot but not interested in hikes. Thanks. Are you just driving via Sioux Falls or spending time there? My thoughts: Make sure you have your senior NP pass. You can stop at Mitchell to view Corn Palace, it's a 15-20 minute photo stop. There are also a bunch of restaurants in that area. My kids always want Culver's. R...
by Random Musings
Sun Mar 03, 2024 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2805

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

In the Black Hills area, visit Mount Rushmore at night. Consider visiting Custer State Park, one of the best state parks in the country. Can take the wildlife loop which is flat, but the Needles Highway is a favorite of mine. Sylvan Lake is at one end, you can at least take a stroll on the left side and return back to the parking lot. Flat as a pancake. If you take the full loop, there is a some minor elevation changes at the back. I really enjoyed my visit to Custer State Park, especiallly the burros. You can get out of your car and go right up to them. https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/blog/2018-09-13/special-friends-custer-state-parks-begging-burros-beckon-you-back-slobber-and-all We took Iron Mountain Rd from Custer to Mt Rushmore and...
by Random Musings
Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip from KC to Bozeman
Replies: 41
Views: 2805

Re: Trip from KC to Bozeman

Hi We are flying into KC beginning of June and planning an 11 day trip to drive through Nebraska to Sioux Falls, Mt Rushmore and end in Bozeman. Looking for any recommendations and ideas because we are totally unfamiliar with area. Is the drive difficult? I believe a lot of it is flat and my wife hates mountain roads. Also how difficult will it be to see some of Yellowstone around June 15. We are not in our early 70’s and walk a lot but not interested in hikes. Thanks. Are you just driving via Sioux Falls or spending time there? My thoughts: Make sure you have your senior NP pass. You can stop at Mitchell to view Corn Palace, it's a 15-20 minute photo stop. There are also a bunch of restaurants in that area. My kids always want Culver's. R...
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President
Replies: 371
Views: 34709

Re: Vanguard Announces CEO Retirement and Appointment of President

This retirement announcement seemed to come out of the blue. With no immediate CEO replacement, makes me feel the Board wanted him out. If that's the case, can't argue with that decision, except for the fact it took too long. An uninspiring CEO, to say the least.

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Want to leave timeshare.
Replies: 111
Views: 12024

Re: Want to leave timeshare.

illumination wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:51 am I've literally heard about homeless people being gifted timeshares as a loophole in unususual situations where you just can't "quit" one.
Like that one.

RM
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
Replies: 302
Views: 27405

Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?

KlangFool wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:08 pm
Random Musings wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:50 pm

Humans are flawed creatures.
Random Musings,

I disagreed. Humans are perfect as per human beings. The flawed is in assuming human beings as something else. Wrong expectation is the problem.

KlangFool
I'm not being a misanthrope. I can't argue that humans are "humans", and I firmly believe that most people are cooperative; and flaws are just part of being human. Therefore, there is no perfect human in my eyes, but that is more of a philosophical debate.

RM
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:05 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "How much should I have in my 401k" article for various ages - thoughts?
Replies: 45
Views: 6220

Re: "How much should I have in my 401k" article for various ages - thoughts?

Most people, if they saved at the rate discussed in the article, would be in very good shape for retirement. This site is typically on the right tail on saving for retirement compared to the average American.

RM
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
Replies: 302
Views: 27405

Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?

RichIn7Years wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 5:15 pm The internet didn’t fundamentally change things, it just created new ways to process and distribute information. AI has the promise to fundamentally change everything and the ultimate goal is to create minds as good as or smarter than humans. I think AI has much loftier goals and a potential to achieve them. There is also a lot more money involved this time and the players are the most profitable companies in the world.
Let's just hope all their intentions are good. And if so, for all of society and not just for a limited subset of society.

I have my doubts. Humans are flawed creatures.

RM
by Random Musings
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?
Replies: 302
Views: 27405

Re: Dot.Com Era/AI Era?

There are solid companies out there with great cash flows - perhaps a little bit overvalued.

However, some of those hyped stocks have very unreasonable multiples.

RM
by Random Musings
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College cheating, what would you do?
Replies: 64
Views: 4357

Re: College cheating, what would you do?

Your child will be moving out end of semester and will have nothing to do with her in the future.

Ultimately, the "cheating" will catch up with her in the future, unless critical thought will come down to spewing data from AI, which is at the mercy of programming which can contain bias.

The same thing will occur at work, where certain employees don't pull their weight but stay on due to various factors.

Move on, there is a risk of retaliation if the roommate finds out who reported her. And that could be a dangerous risk.

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 22, 2024 6:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can you do better than BND?
Replies: 278
Views: 35071

Re: Can you do better than BND?

To be clear, I'm not suggesting someone with a 30 year horizon put the entirety of their fixed income portion into a 30 year TIPS. Someone who targets an expense in 30 years likely has similar targets for each year leading up to that point, and any rung of that ladder could be tapped in case of an emergency that exceeds their emergency fund. I agree that exactly balancing interest rate risk with reinvestment risk isn't for all investors, but surely some amount of matching makes sense - I do not think long-term bonds should be avoided by default. I personally think LMP is overrated. I just don't need so much safety when I already have SS, it's a duration matching tool by design. Most people already have the rungs set for them by SS, how muc...
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Digital Advisor has "A proven track record with active"
Replies: 16
Views: 2237

Re: Vanguard Digital Advisor has "A proven track record with active"

Do they really benchmark correctly, taking into consideration market cap weighting and value/growth tilts or do they just approximate? Let alone dealing with style drift. I say no, just approximations.

And if used in taxable, actives are less tax efficient. Perhaps their programming tries to avoid that.

If I went this route, I would go index.

RM
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?
Replies: 74
Views: 4586

Re: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?

AlwaysLearningMore wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:57 pm
Random Musings wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:55 am
AlwaysLearningMore wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:28 am
bob60014 wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:26 am
SevenBridgesRoad wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:21 am

But we use ours only at knight.

I won't be a pawn in this conversation.
Wow, you all live like royalty.
That's how is rolls when you live in a castle.

RM
Must be so cool when the local Bishop stops by.
It is! Last time, he was talking about the new church that was being built, but mentioned, en passant, that he just took up oil painting as a hobby.

RM
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Newbie friendly NPR article summarizing Swensen and Boglehead approach
Replies: 32
Views: 4284

Re: Newbie friendly NPR article summarizing Swensen and Boglehead approach

A straight-forward summary, seems close to an ideal read for newbies: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/12/676158680/your-cheat-sheet-for-smarter-investing Pretty significant error in the article: it lists the expense ratio for Vanguard total stock market fund at 0.14%. It's actually 0.04%. "Swensen said to buy a slice of the entire stock market using low-cost, broad-based index funds. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, for example, buys just about every U.S. public company for a very low annual fee of 0.14%." I guess journalism and proofreading ain't what it used to be. This article is from 2018. Expenses ratios have been slashed in recent years. OTOH, it appears that the number of authors per article has gone up in recent ye...
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?
Replies: 74
Views: 4586

Re: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?

AlwaysLearningMore wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:28 am
bob60014 wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:26 am
SevenBridgesRoad wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:21 am
Gort wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:13 am
SmileyFace wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:07 am

Was it purchased at a pawn shop? Maybe a place in Queens?
Czechmates is the king of refrigerators.
But we use ours only at knight.

I won't be a pawn in this conversation.
Wow, you all live like royalty.
That's how is rolls when you live in a castle.

RM
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?
Replies: 74
Views: 4586

Re: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?

livesoft wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:22 am
Random Musings wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:14 am Also have a chess freezer in the basement. With a family, the freezer upstairs does not have enough space and can also buy items when on sale.

RM
The freezer model is the Grandmaster, right?
No, as it opens in a unusual way, it's called the Bongcloud.

RM
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?
Replies: 74
Views: 4586

Re: Do you use a second refrigerator/freezer?

Also have a chesT freezer in the basement. With a family, the freezer upstairs does not have enough space and can also buy items when on sale.

RM
by Random Musings
Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Should I exclude LMP/TIPS ladder from portfolio tracking?
Replies: 43
Views: 2552

Re: Should I exclude LMP/TIPS ladder from portfolio tracking?

As I made a conscious decision to purchase LMP/TIPS ladder (in progress) instead of utilizing other investment vehicles (equities and nominal bonds as examples), I treat that as part of my portfolio allocation. Besides, there are still risks, such as default or seizure (small), selling ladder portions earlier due to unforseen circumstances and potential behavioral issues. Financial history does show that things will hit the fan sometimes. The LMP/TIPS ladder is about as close as you can get to achieving a known real return if held to duration, but you are lying to yourself if you think it's 100% guaranteed Besides, I can easily extract that portion out if I care to in my spreadsheet. Also, I don't consider SS to be riskless in terms of pote...
by Random Musings
Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yellowstone trip - Advice
Replies: 37
Views: 3739

Re: Yellow Stone trip - Advice

Lodging in West Glacier (Yellowstone) is workable, but requires you to pass through the entry gates each day. We stayed at Canyon Lodge during our last visit. It's like a large hotel complex and lacks the charm of the historic lodges, but it's centrally located and, in our experience, more likely to have rooms available in the shoulder seasons. Plan to have dinner at the historic lodges to enjoy the ambiance (but don't expect too much of the food). I agree with Canyon Lodge - it's a great location to start the day at and have done that multiple times. Had cell phone service in our room - well, at least outside the room at our "balcony". Also, they have refrigerators for the perishable food supplies we bring in. Gardiner is a good...
by Random Musings
Mon Feb 19, 2024 2:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yellowstone trip - Advice
Replies: 37
Views: 3739

Re: Yellow Stone trip - Advice

As with most of the NP's these days - hit the hot spots early and later in the day. Middle of the day is best for less visited locations and hiking. To really enjoy Grand Prismatic Spring, take the overlook trial (beginning of Fairy Falls trail - 0.6 miles and 100 vertical feet) to view from above. Avoid driving inside the park at night; hitting large animals would not be pleasant I like May/June for the animals and higher water flow for viewing falls. Next time, though, I'm targeting late Sept/early October. Bring layers, temperatures can swing quite a bit. Bring a cooler, food and beverages with you - have a picnic and save time as well to enjoy the park more If you can, drive the Beartooth Highway which is the NE exit of the park . Also,...
by Random Musings
Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Job title for PhD Economist Daughter
Replies: 36
Views: 3979

Re: Job title for PhD Economist Daughter

KlangFool wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:24 am She has to show career progression in her resume. She can promote herself to senior economist a few years later. Anything else, she may be down graded in a new job. And, that is not good.

KlangFool
This makes sense, a stagnant title could suggest lack of progression.

RM
by Random Musings
Fri Feb 16, 2024 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exercise Is Overrated
Replies: 32
Views: 3342

Re: Exercise Is Overrated

I agree that watching food intake is very important in the weight management equation.

However, exercise is also part of the equation and it addition, it has other health benefits, both physical and mental.

My favorite is walking (or hiking), be it with others or by myself. When alone, it's a good time to make phone calls to keep in touch with friends and family rather than doing that on the couch. Multitasking I can handle. :D

Currently, walking around 45-50 miles a week to shed off some holiday pounds and get ready for some backpacking (so some stretching and weights as well). Typically, I do about 30-35. Ironically, the weekend is the toughest time to get the mileage in.

With respect to the OP, cc cookies are my favorite.

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

"I see no reason to pay for a service you did not receive." Too big of a power differential involved. Pay up and be gracious about it. Agree! 👍 This is where I have a problem. So, regardless of reason, for every service you don't receive, you should "pay up" and be gracious about it? Or is it just for the magical house cleaning industry, which appears to be the case on this board? I understand a reasonable amount of people on this board have very high household incomes and net worth, but there are still many people on this board and in society that utilize services such as these (for many reasons, including physical limitations) that can't afford to essentially keep workers as an employee who works for them X hours a we...
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25542

Re: What inferior good do you love?

At least with respect to food, if I love it, it is not an inferior good to me.

#Don'tJudgeMyTasteBuds

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

Yooper wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:40 pm
8foot7 wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:50 pm
snackdog wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:23 am You could consider not only paying for the snow day but a tip on top of that in case she had difficulty with other customers, a stuck car, etc.
So now not only are we paying for services not performed but we're also paying more money on top? :confused I can understand, even if I don't agree with, the argument for paying the regular amount but for the life of me I can't wrap my head around paying even more than that in case she had a bad day.
I assumed it was tongue in cheek. Otherwise we're really picking up speed on this slippery slope.
I believe it was. Unless it was a double secret probation tip.

RM
by Random Musings
Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What do you eat?
Replies: 54
Views: 4918

Re: What do you eat?

Here are foods I won't eat. I'm talking typical common (popular) domestic food offerings, not meats like camel, goat and horse, for example. I'm ignoring beverages here.

Honeydew, Canteloupe, Cauliflower (raw), Cooked Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Sardines, Sushi, Squid, Ramen anything, Trix Cereal, Kashi Starburst Candy (or other chewy stuff like Tootsie Rolls), and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Cake with White Frosting.

I do watch my sodium intake and such, so it's fair game to eat many different foods within reason.

Pancakes are meh, I'll take French Toast any time of the day.

RM
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s your love song?
Replies: 88
Views: 4452

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

"Love Shack" by the B-52's.

My wife had a DJ play it on the radio for me during our dating years.

RM
by Random Musings
Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

OP here. Thanks for all the great responses, although I never thought they would be so split. Some clarification for those that asked: She comes once every 2 weeks with a helper, takes about 2 hours and gets $150 cash with generous tip and gift at Christmas. I would bet the helper doesn't get paid on days she doesn't work but I don't know that. She rarely cancels and it's always been due to snow storm. We are retired so pretty much anytime she wants for a makeup day is available but she is booked. We never cancelled yet. When she does cancel, we do the cleaning ourselves so it's not double work on her next cleaning. Some responses mentioned paying during covid which I don't believe applies here but we did pay are previous cleaning lady dur...
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 100% Stocks for the Long Run? Karsten takes on "Beyond the Status Quo"
Replies: 46
Views: 6744

Re: 100% Stocks for the Long Run? Karsten takes on "Beyond the Status Quo"

I heard there was a Japanese version of this article written in 1990 that didn't go over as well.

RM
by Random Musings
Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?
Replies: 119
Views: 10091

Re: Pay cleaning lady for snow day?

I'm all for tipping generously and paying people well, but if this were me I probably wouldn't pay. You receive a service, you pay your money. You don't receive the service, what are you paying for? My barber, who is awesome, has occasionally had to cancel on me for good reasons. I don't wire him cash for not cutting my hair. I agree that payments are for services rendered. Unfortunately, not every Boglehead in this board can afford to pay for services not rendered, tip 20% and up and so on. Let alone have house cleaners, lawn services and ...... If the OP wants to pay, do it and good for you. However, I get paid for working, if the weather conditions make driving to work a no go, I work at home. It's once or maybe twice a year anyway. The...
by Random Musings
Mon Feb 12, 2024 2:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12481

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

Motor City Pizza isn't too bad - kids like it for a frozen pizza.

Also, as mentioned, the refrigerated Aldi's aren't bad in a pinch.

In our neck of the woods, the local pizza that we pick up runs about $25 for two large single toppings (after a $5 coupon). Of course, add tax. If you want to, you can spend a lot of money for one pizza today.

RM