Search found 417 matches
- Thu Feb 15, 2024 11:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Looking for help with what funds to hold in 401k
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2144
Re: Looking for help with what funds to hold in 401k
At your age, just dump it into the large cap fund and forget about it.
- Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:46 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Understanding Morningstar ratings -- VTI three stars?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2266
Understanding Morningstar ratings -- VTI three stars?
I have been trying to help relatives invest using Boglehead principles, and I hear things like: "VTI only has three stars in Morningstar -- isn't that bad?"
VTI strikes me as one of the core funds to include in most portfolios. Does it get as low rating because it reflects the whole market without "beating" it? If I was rating funds, VTI would be near the top.
I never use Morningstar, so I'd appreciate it if you could let me know what to tell my relative. They invested in VOO because it had five stars (lol), and while this is OK the higher diversification of VTI probably makes it a better fund for her.
VTI strikes me as one of the core funds to include in most portfolios. Does it get as low rating because it reflects the whole market without "beating" it? If I was rating funds, VTI would be near the top.
I never use Morningstar, so I'd appreciate it if you could let me know what to tell my relative. They invested in VOO because it had five stars (lol), and while this is OK the higher diversification of VTI probably makes it a better fund for her.
- Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What income threshold do you keep yourself under in retirement?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 6031
Re: What income threshold do you keep yourself under in retirement?
We're just a couple in a HCOL area with a paid-off house and no debt, so our expenses are under $100k/year. It sounds like the ACA subsidy is the most important thing to shoot for, and, yes, I think I can keep earnings low enough to get it when the cliff returns. Health insurance is our single biggest expense after food, which is particularly galling because our plan is mediocre.
Thank you all for your advice!
- Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What income threshold do you keep yourself under in retirement?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 6031
What income threshold do you keep yourself under in retirement?
My company just imploded, leaving me retired at 55, and thanks to you guys I can probably swing it. :sharebeer I have assets in a variety of accounts, though: an old 401(k) that I'll leave until 59 1/2, a Roth account, a 401(k) at the most recent employer that "rule of 55" will give me access to without fees, a brokerage account of (mostly) stocks that have gained in value, and a stockpile of cash. :moneybag So I can basically dial my "income" in to whatever I want by withdrawing from the right accounts. The cash stockpile is limited to about a year of expenses, so I do want to draw down accounts that would count as income and use the cash sparingly, but I want to keep it under critical threshold values for subsidies. I ...
- Wed Nov 22, 2023 12:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suit protectors
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1435
Re: Suit protectors
I use inexpensive, breathable garment bags like these:
https://www.amazon.com/KIMBORA-Storage- ... r=8-5&th=1
I they do not off-gas, they keep dust off and moths out. I throw a small piece of aromatic cedar in, too, for good measure on the moths.
https://www.amazon.com/KIMBORA-Storage- ... r=8-5&th=1
I they do not off-gas, they keep dust off and moths out. I throw a small piece of aromatic cedar in, too, for good measure on the moths.
- Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirement withdrawals done evenly or avoid selling stocks when market is down?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 6782
Re: Retirement withdrawals done evenly or avoid selling stocks when market is down?
I like the idea of approaching it as an opportunity to rebalance.MathWizard wrote: ↑Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:42 pm I like to use extreme examples to demonstrate a concept.
Suppose your desired AA was 50/50 with a balance of 2 million,
so 1M stocks and 1M bonds , and want the pull 50K per year.
Now suppose stocks went down by 50% , now you have 500K stocks
and 1M bonds. To get back to 50/50, you could immediately rebalance to 750K stocks and 750K bonds, or you could just pull 50K per year just from bonds until you stocks and bonds are back to 50/50.
Just like you could use contributions to slowly rebalance during accumulation, you can use withdrawals to slowly rebalance during the withdrawal phase.
- Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Retirement withdrawals done evenly or avoid selling stocks when market is down?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 6782
Retirement withdrawals done evenly or avoid selling stocks when market is down?
It seems to be a commonly held opinion that when stocks are down you should draw from cash and avoid selling stocks.
I read a whole book on retirement funding (Living Off Your Money -- good book) that really boiled down to the simple idea that you avoid selling stocks when they are down.
TBH, this sounds a little like market timing to me, and I am inclined to withdraw evenly across all accounts (if stocks are up they contribute more because they are now a larger share of the portfolio).
How do you guys draw down your portfolios?
I read a whole book on retirement funding (Living Off Your Money -- good book) that really boiled down to the simple idea that you avoid selling stocks when they are down.
TBH, this sounds a little like market timing to me, and I am inclined to withdraw evenly across all accounts (if stocks are up they contribute more because they are now a larger share of the portfolio).
How do you guys draw down your portfolios?
- Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Does bumping severance into next year help with taxes?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2005
Does bumping severance into next year help with taxes?
I am getting laid off and will get severance. This past year has seen great income, so if I get the severance this year it will get hit hard by taxes.
If I defer my severance until 2024 I will have no other income, and the tax saving would be substantial.
I have heard, though, that deferments like this are frowned upon and could cause problems if audited.
Is this true?
If I defer my severance until 2024 I will have no other income, and the tax saving would be substantial.
I have heard, though, that deferments like this are frowned upon and could cause problems if audited.
Is this true?
- Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:47 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Tax gain harvesting: how long must I be out for?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1883
Re: Tax gain harvesting: how long must I be out for?
If you buy back in within 30 days it is a wash sale and cannot be deducted.
Just dump into an equivalent like ITOT.
Just dump into an equivalent like ITOT.
- Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is it worth it to transfer from 401(k) to HSA?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1035
Re: Is it worth it to transfer from 401(k) to HSA?
You can contribute directly to the HSA, using savings, cash, distributions from the 401k, or whatever. There's no need to be limited by the once-in-a-lifetime QHFD in your case. Your direct contributions would be tax deductible, there's no testing period or once-in-a-lifetime restriction. There are not many cases where the QHFD makes sense. This is all correct. But to answer your question, IF you did want to do a QHFD, it must come from your IRA. If you only have a 401k plan, you would have to do a direct rollover of a sufficient amount to your IRA in order to have a max one time QHFD processed from your IRA. While the QHFD must be done by direct transfer, unlike other IRA to IRA non reportable transfers, the QHFD must be reported on Form ...
- Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is it worth it to transfer from 401(k) to HSA?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1035
Is it worth it to transfer from 401(k) to HSA?
I will be retiring soon (yay) :D and will probably end up with a high deductible health plan, making me eligible for a HSA. I would like to transfer money from my retirement account to my HSA without paying taxes on it as long as it is spent on health-related stuff. But from my reading it seems that such transfers have to come from an IRA (not 401(k)) and can only be done once per lifetime.(?) As I am 55+ I will be able to access my existing 401(k) without penalty, but is there no way to fund an HSA without moving it into in intermediate IRA, which I would then have to be 59.5 to access? And I can only transfer $7,750 (me & spouse) once, ever?!? :confused This seems not worth the hassle. Maybe when I am 59.5 I can move from the IRA to H...
- Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best bedroom air purifiers
- Replies: 38
- Views: 3862
Re: Best bedroom air purifiers
Wirecutter did a review:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... -purifier/
I bought their top pick (Coway Airmega) about a year ago. It runs reliably (constantly) and is not too loud on the lower settings.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... -purifier/
I bought their top pick (Coway Airmega) about a year ago. It runs reliably (constantly) and is not too loud on the lower settings.
- Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PhD - Student loans or pay every semester?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 6344
Re: PhD - Student loans or pay every semester?
This looks like an over-hyped masters degree to me.
A real PhD will pay you a stipend, and it will not be done in three years. I have known motivated people to complete one in four years of full-time work.
OP, I would consider an MBA if it suits you.
A real PhD will pay you a stipend, and it will not be done in three years. I have known motivated people to complete one in four years of full-time work.
OP, I would consider an MBA if it suits you.
- Wed Oct 19, 2022 9:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Stone Paver Rust removal
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1062
Re: Stone Paver Rust removal
Iron out is pretty standard for this.
https://www.amazon.com/OUT-Bathrooms-Ki ... 5524334011
Test in an inconspicuous place first.
https://www.amazon.com/OUT-Bathrooms-Ki ... 5524334011
Test in an inconspicuous place first.
- Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:03 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Valuation questions on value funds
- Replies: 5
- Views: 547
Re: Valuation questions on value funds
My experience with value funds is that the stocks are not well selected. To invest in SCV requires individual stock purchases, IMHO. The funds suck.
Look at the portfolio before you invest! If the top holdings are off don't buy it.
Look at the portfolio before you invest! If the top holdings are off don't buy it.
- Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:09 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What are you all doing for emergency funds?
- Replies: 131
- Views: 19499
Re: What are you all doing for emergency funds?
Once you have a large enough taxable account, a huge EF isn’t needed.
I have not seen this discussed enough. The emergency fund idea is to prevent selling assets like 401(k) or going into credit card debt to fix an issue like a car repair.
If you need to harvest some losses to get the cash it's not a big deal.
I have not seen this discussed enough. The emergency fund idea is to prevent selling assets like 401(k) or going into credit card debt to fix an issue like a car repair.
If you need to harvest some losses to get the cash it's not a big deal.
- Fri May 06, 2022 9:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Architectural software for floor plans
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1514
Re: Architectural software for floor plans
PowerPoint can be used this way. I do it all the time.
All of the dimensions in PowerPoint can be defined. Use a scale (like 1/5 inch per foot -- 20 feet is 4 inches in PPT) that keeps everything on one page.
Once you generate a floor plan, you can make furniture shapes, etc. using the same scale and move them about the plan.
SketchUp is more useful for rendering 3D shapes. For 2D PowerPoint is easier.
All of the dimensions in PowerPoint can be defined. Use a scale (like 1/5 inch per foot -- 20 feet is 4 inches in PPT) that keeps everything on one page.
Once you generate a floor plan, you can make furniture shapes, etc. using the same scale and move them about the plan.
SketchUp is more useful for rendering 3D shapes. For 2D PowerPoint is easier.
- Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:34 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How can you "hold bonds to maturity" if you're in a bond fund?
- Replies: 90
- Views: 11763
Re: How can you "hold bonds to maturity" if you're in a bond fund?
I did see a hedge fund manager say just the other day that her fund held bonds to maturity rather than sell them at a loss. It sounded like a good idea to me -- but what do I know?
Meanwhile BND has lost value YTD more than stocks at times -- I thought bonds were supposed to be ballast? There is a notion that one should take ones risks on the stock side. If I bought individual bonds and held to maturity they'd never drop below what I paid. This seems more like what bonds are supposed to do.
But I don't want to own individual bonds.
Meanwhile BND has lost value YTD more than stocks at times -- I thought bonds were supposed to be ballast? There is a notion that one should take ones risks on the stock side. If I bought individual bonds and held to maturity they'd never drop below what I paid. This seems more like what bonds are supposed to do.
But I don't want to own individual bonds.
- Sat Mar 12, 2022 3:37 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2199
Re: Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
In your OP you mention having VTI and VTSAX. What does that have to do with VTI and ITOT?
I was just using that as an example of how unclear wash sales are and how rarely the IRS seems to quibble about substantially similar funds being wash sales.
- Fri Mar 11, 2022 9:57 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2199
Re: Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
Thanks for all the helpful replies!
I guess at some level I am just wondering how much to worry about it. For example, I have read endless debates about whether VTI and ITOT are "substantially similar," and yet I have never heard of individuals getting pursued for tax evasion for tax loss harvesting from one into the other.
I know that my brokerage and my IRA will have different tax forms and won't reflect a wash sale. Does the IRS really pursue these small potatoes? How many except obsessive Boglehead types would even notice?
I am inclined to not worry about it.
I guess at some level I am just wondering how much to worry about it. For example, I have read endless debates about whether VTI and ITOT are "substantially similar," and yet I have never heard of individuals getting pursued for tax evasion for tax loss harvesting from one into the other.
I know that my brokerage and my IRA will have different tax forms and won't reflect a wash sale. Does the IRS really pursue these small potatoes? How many except obsessive Boglehead types would even notice?
I am inclined to not worry about it.
- Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:13 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2199
Can dividend reinvestment in IRA cause wash sale for ETFs sold in taxable funds?
I just sold a bunch of VTI in my taxable account to tax loss harvest.
My IRA contains VTSAX (the mutual fund version of VTI -- substantially similar for sure) and automatically reinvests dividends. Some of this will happen within the wash sale 61 day window. Will dividend reinvestment in my IRA create a wash sale scenario for the VTI I sold in my taxable account?
My IRA contains VTSAX (the mutual fund version of VTI -- substantially similar for sure) and automatically reinvests dividends. Some of this will happen within the wash sale 61 day window. Will dividend reinvestment in my IRA create a wash sale scenario for the VTI I sold in my taxable account?
- Mon Jan 31, 2022 10:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Oil change interval - low annual mileage car
- Replies: 54
- Views: 5865
Re: Oil change interval - low annual mileage car
I have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma that gets about 1,000 miles per year. The manual says to change the oil every 5,000 miles or six months.
I asked this board the same question years ago and got the same range of answers. It is hard to argue with what the manual says to do, but I get my oil changed once a year, full synthetic. The oil on the dipstick (which I check now and then) looks pristine with over 10k miles on the engine.
I asked this board the same question years ago and got the same range of answers. It is hard to argue with what the manual says to do, but I get my oil changed once a year, full synthetic. The oil on the dipstick (which I check now and then) looks pristine with over 10k miles on the engine.
- Mon Jan 24, 2022 5:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal computer ?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1232
Re: Personal computer ?
You might find Wirecutter's recent review to be helpful:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... t-laptops/
Your friend's suggestion was their #1 pick!
I have the same laptop, and I must say that it is really quite good. The machine is very thin and high-quality (like a Mac). Battery life is phenomenal. The only real downside is that it has only USB-C ports (and a headphone jack), so if you need more ports you'll need to look at something other than an Ultrabook.
If you don't need a laptop you could save money by going for a desktop machine, but I assumed you wanted a laptop given what you had.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... t-laptops/
Your friend's suggestion was their #1 pick!
I have the same laptop, and I must say that it is really quite good. The machine is very thin and high-quality (like a Mac). Battery life is phenomenal. The only real downside is that it has only USB-C ports (and a headphone jack), so if you need more ports you'll need to look at something other than an Ultrabook.
If you don't need a laptop you could save money by going for a desktop machine, but I assumed you wanted a laptop given what you had.
- Sun Jan 02, 2022 1:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Seattleites: Where should we buy a single family home?
- Replies: 84
- Views: 8668
Re: Seattleites: Where should we buy a single family home?
Ballard, Magnolia, Interlake come to mind.
The commute should avoid Mercer at all costs.
If you have faith that the West Seattle Bridge will be repaired anytime soon there are bargains to be had in West Seattle now because the bridge is kaput.
And just to throw it out there: Bainbridge Island has a friendly community, and a ferry ride can be a nice commute (40 minutes direct to downtown).
The commute should avoid Mercer at all costs.
If you have faith that the West Seattle Bridge will be repaired anytime soon there are bargains to be had in West Seattle now because the bridge is kaput.
And just to throw it out there: Bainbridge Island has a friendly community, and a ferry ride can be a nice commute (40 minutes direct to downtown).
- Sun Dec 19, 2021 6:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab TIPS ETF instead of iBonds?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3320
- Sun Dec 19, 2021 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Schwab TIPS ETF instead of iBonds?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 3320
Schwab TIPS ETF instead of iBonds?
The recent climb of iBonds above 7% was impressive, but the clunky website and $10k/yr. maximum are discouraging.
Is SCHP a reasonable stand-in?
Is SCHP a reasonable stand-in?
- Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I drive my car 4k miles a year. How often should I change the oil? It an older car that takes standard oil. Most trip
- Replies: 60
- Views: 7457
Re: I drive my car 4k miles a year. How often should I change the oil? It an older car that takes standard oil. Most
I have a Toyota Tacoma that I drive about 1K miles a year. The manual says to change the oil every 6mo or 5000 miles, whichever comes first.
I have decided, after lots of discussions and research, to change the oil annually. I use synthetic oil since it does not seem to have a downside aside from cost.
I have decided, after lots of discussions and research, to change the oil annually. I use synthetic oil since it does not seem to have a downside aside from cost.
- Mon Nov 29, 2021 12:41 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: What does it mean when a stock just stops trading?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 721
What does it mean when a stock just stops trading?
Dear Bogleheads, I have a small stake in EACO, which a few weeks ago went up substantially and then stopped trading altogether. :shock: Something like this happened before when a company I had stock in was purchased by a larger company (Lubrizol), but there seems to be no news on EACO. When Lubrizol was purchased it was in the news and announced on their website. I would like to hold this for at least another month to make the capital gains long-term, but I am confused as to what is happening here. There also doesn't appear to be a current market price or any trading. EACO has a valuation over $100M, so it seems particularly odd that it would just go radio silent. Can anyone enlighten me as to what could be going on? :confused Thank you for...
- Wed Nov 03, 2021 10:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Seeking wisdom on individual stocks - your experience
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1995
Re: Seeking wisdom on individual stocks - your experience
I have done this for a long time.
Keep it less than 5% of your portfolio, though. There are lots of forces working against you: most stocks lose money, for example. And you do not have the active monitoring that the professional traders do (with which they still generally underperform indexes).
You should invest for at least a year so that you pay long term capital gains taxes (15% probably) rather than your income tax rate. I find that investing in individual companies helps to encourage savings. I have beaten most index funds, but not by much, and with greater volatility, and it sure wouldn't be worth the time if it wasn't a hobby.
Keep it less than 5% of your portfolio, though. There are lots of forces working against you: most stocks lose money, for example. And you do not have the active monitoring that the professional traders do (with which they still generally underperform indexes).
You should invest for at least a year so that you pay long term capital gains taxes (15% probably) rather than your income tax rate. I find that investing in individual companies helps to encourage savings. I have beaten most index funds, but not by much, and with greater volatility, and it sure wouldn't be worth the time if it wasn't a hobby.
- Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Convince me that buying a nice house is a dumb idea
- Replies: 49
- Views: 5241
Re: Convince me that buying a nice house is a dumb idea
You should not look at your home as an investment. The fact that their house tends to be most people's most valuable asset is only because people buy them with leverage and have long timelines. The stock market has almost always beaten real estate as an investment, especially when you consider the interest paid on the loan. That said, if you want a nicer home you should seriously consider it -- you only live once!
I would never be a landlord, however. That is a headache even with the best tenants, and one bad tenant could be ruinous.
I would never be a landlord, however. That is a headache even with the best tenants, and one bad tenant could be ruinous.
- Thu Oct 21, 2021 8:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kitchen Renovation, what is your prefered way to do the floor?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3867
Re: Kitchen Renovation, what is your prefered way to do the floor?
Of course you would do the floor first. Any later problems with the cabinets would be an easy fix.
- Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How do I purchase original artwork?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3690
Re: How do I purchase original artwork?
As others have said, go to galleries. It's a nice way to spend the day even if you don't end up buying anything.
Auctions can also be really fun. You will wan to go to the preview so you can actually see the art in person.
Auctions can also be really fun. You will wan to go to the preview so you can actually see the art in person.
- Wed Sep 22, 2021 10:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: (Updated) French Door Installation- Gaps at the top not same for both panels
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3013
Re: Door Installation-is this ok?
I don't know how risky your area is but that strike plate would not survive a single good kick to the door.
In my city house I need a deadbolt and a security strike plate with extra long screws. And that gap is filled with plywood to better anchor the screws.
In my city house I need a deadbolt and a security strike plate with extra long screws. And that gap is filled with plywood to better anchor the screws.
- Sat Sep 18, 2021 8:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on wired access points
- Replies: 17
- Views: 1415
Re: Advice on wired access points
Linus Tech Tips recently installed a Ruckus mesh system with PoE antennas.
It was an "unlimited budget" system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJeKZkK31JE
I have been very happy with my Orbi mesh system, but I still wire everything that I can. It's just the ultimate in speed and robustness.
It was an "unlimited budget" system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJeKZkK31JE
I have been very happy with my Orbi mesh system, but I still wire everything that I can. It's just the ultimate in speed and robustness.
- Sat Sep 11, 2021 12:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I semi retire?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 5775
Re: Should I semi retire?
If you don't find your job fulfilling you should consider doing something else, even if it is part-time or pays less.
You have earned that freedom.
You have earned that freedom.
- Tue Sep 07, 2021 11:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Master / Primary Bedroom Above Garage - Thoughts?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 5501
Re: Master / Primary Bedroom Above Garage - Thoughts?
There are very specific fire safety codes relating to this. If the house is newer you are probably fine, but I am not so sure I'd park a car in an old garage under my bedroom.
- Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Is it worth flying first class?]
- Replies: 265
- Views: 30174
[Is it worth flying first class?]
Dear Bogleheads,
I spent the first 50 years of my life looking smugly at those fools in First Class that were paying 2-3x my ticket price for a few hours in a bigger seat.
And then I flew to San Francisco for my 50th birthday -- only a few hours, but first class. And I was like, hmmm. Nice. Not worth it.
But then I took a 14 hour flight business class. With full layback seats, hot towels, silverware... Dang.
Do you folks splurge on air travel? It really seems like the most wasteful thing to spend extra on, but I've almost convinced myself that it's worth it.
[original off-topic (not personal) title "Never fly first class" replaced by admin alex]
I spent the first 50 years of my life looking smugly at those fools in First Class that were paying 2-3x my ticket price for a few hours in a bigger seat.
And then I flew to San Francisco for my 50th birthday -- only a few hours, but first class. And I was like, hmmm. Nice. Not worth it.
But then I took a 14 hour flight business class. With full layback seats, hot towels, silverware... Dang.
Do you folks splurge on air travel? It really seems like the most wasteful thing to spend extra on, but I've almost convinced myself that it's worth it.
[original off-topic (not personal) title "Never fly first class" replaced by admin alex]
- Wed Aug 18, 2021 4:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I buy a lot of individual stocks -- is that better than an index?
- Replies: 100
- Views: 12043
Re: I buy a lot of individual stocks -- is that better than an index?
Wow, thanks for all the high-quality answers! :beer Most of my portfolio is the boring 3-fund, which has done well (thanks, Taylor!). I have been doing this for decades and have resisted any urges to time the market. There have been times (like 2008 and the beginning of the pandemic) when it might have seemed prudent to sell, but I never did. My friends who DID sell never figured out how to time getting back in and lost money in the end. I have you Bogleheads to thank for the stay-the-course mentality. :sharebeer Some people asked how I pick the stocks I buy. I used to be a small cap value investor but expanded to midcaps when I ran out of attractive small caps. Honestly, I am running out of midcaps now, too. Everything seems overvalued. :a...
- Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: I buy a lot of individual stocks -- is that better than an index?
- Replies: 100
- Views: 12043
I buy a lot of individual stocks -- is that better than an index?
I started investing in individual stocks as a hobby after maxing out my 401(k). It was small potatoes but has grown to russet size (10% of portfolio). :D For decades now, every paycheck would automatically have some diverted to my brokerage, and when $2k built up I would buy a stock on my watch list. (I am a mid-cap value investor, but that's a discussion for another thread. No penny stocks. :annoyed ) I intend to hold long term, and I now have over sixty stocks, some of which I have bought more than once. :wink: Is this worse than the Boglehead notion of just buying an index? There are no trading fees now, and when stocks go down (as some always do with this many) I can tax loss harvest up to $3k against my regular income. That's a great a...
- Sat Jul 10, 2021 12:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Simplifying CC setup
- Replies: 20
- Views: 6021
Re: Simplifying CC setup
OP, I am in the process of doing this, myself. :D Here's what I'm down to: Amazon Chase card is used only for Amazon. 5% back is unbeatable. It stays in the drawer. :beer Chase INK card for most everything. 3% back on restaurants, gas, office supplies. 1% on everything else. Wells Fargo AMEX for recurring cell phone bills, streaming services, and travel. 3% back on airfare, restaurants, car rentals, streaming services, and hotels, no foreign charges. It has great travel/auto rental insurance, and if you pay your cell phone bill with it you get phone damage insurance. They paid out $200 to me for a cracked Pixel3 screen -- after jumping through a lot of hoops. So I'm basically down to two, except for the Amazon card that I don't think counts...
- Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What to do when a parent's money runs out?
- Replies: 275
- Views: 56107
Re: What to do when a parent's money runs out?
Thank you Bogleheads for all the thoughtful replies! :beer I can't believe this thread has been going for so long. Let me address some of the things that have come up: You should pay bills, not send money directly. This is a common idea, but my mother is very independent-minded. It is part of her enjoyment of life. Honestly, the total she is living on is very little. She quit smoking and drinking, which were two holes in the bucket. She might blow the money on something like books, but she doesn't have any super destructive habits left. She should get a job. Yeah, that's not happening. Eight years ago she hired a financial planner who told her the same thing. I think it's a little sad because a small amount of money from a part time job cou...
- Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Early 403(b) withdrawal -- penalties on a small amount?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 249
Early 403(b) withdrawal -- penalties on a small amount?
Hi, Bogleheads, When I left my previous employer I rolled my 403(b) over into a Vanguard IRA without penalty or taxes. The old account stayed open, however, and accumulated a few dollars due to delayed interest payments or something -- it's less than five dollars. TIAA wants me to collect this money. Honestly, I do not care about taxes or penalties on $5.00 as long as it is limited to that amount and doesn't make my previous rollover subject to them. Everything I've found online suggests that this is the case, but I wanted to check with you smart people because this stuff is complicated. :beer I could roll it over as well, but it hardly seems getting the trouble as long as just cashing it out would not have unforeseen consequences. Thanks! ...
- Thu Jul 01, 2021 8:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What to do when a parent's money runs out?
- Replies: 275
- Views: 56107
Re: What to do when a parent's money runs out?
I thought this thread deserved an update, so here you go: I am still sending money to my mother every month, automatically. It was $500/mo. but became $1k/mo. when I could afford it, recently. I think her place in Maine may be falling into ruin, but she loves it there. For those who did not read through this enormous thread, important positive events were as follows: she discovered she was eligible for food stamps and heating assistance (unknown for years) :oops: the heating company installed an auxiliary heat pump/mini split for free her furnace was fixed/retrofitted/??? (not sure; it was broken -- $15k repair estimate) free by the state Basement was insulated by the state for free She will not be able to live there forever, but I am grate...
- Thu May 27, 2021 10:44 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Small play account - discussion
- Replies: 27
- Views: 2767
Re: Small play account - discussion
Stock picking is a hobby that encourages savings.
I started doing this when I realized that small cap value indexes were buying garbage, and I wanted exposure in this area.
It's a fun and profitable hobby, but don't bet the farm.
I started doing this when I realized that small cap value indexes were buying garbage, and I wanted exposure in this area.
It's a fun and profitable hobby, but don't bet the farm.
- Sun May 23, 2021 12:30 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: For those who left safe jobs to start-ups
- Replies: 44
- Views: 6718
Re: For those who left safe jobs to start-ups
Go for the start-up.
Honestly, there is no stability in big companies anymore.
Generally, moving companies every 4 years or so is the best for the bottom line.
Honestly, there is no stability in big companies anymore.
Generally, moving companies every 4 years or so is the best for the bottom line.
- Sat May 22, 2021 8:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another job offer evaluation
- Replies: 41
- Views: 5308
Re: Another job offer evaluation
It is time for you to move on. :beer The people who maximize salary typically move every four years or so, in my experience. Sometimes if you are at a small, rapidly growing company it makes sense to stay put and grow with them. But if you are working at established, low-growth companies they will have people already occupying the upper positions. In terms of your own professional value, each new organization you enter will teach you crazy amounts in the first two years. You become more valuable when you have these experiences. You need to stay for four years to not appear to be a dilettante, IMHO. :sharebeer My last piece of advice is to take at least a month off between jobs. :D This is a massive advantage to swapping jobs -- you never ge...
- Sat May 01, 2021 11:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Questions for New York Times Subscribers
- Replies: 42
- Views: 4932
Re: Questions for New York Times Subscribers
I get the NYT and our local paper -- physical copies. It's awesome.
I fill out the crossword and pencil comments for my wife in the margins. We tear out recipes we want to cook. The best pictures and graphs end up on our refrigerator.
I fill out the crossword and pencil comments for my wife in the margins. We tear out recipes we want to cook. The best pictures and graphs end up on our refrigerator.
- Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Oil change interval for low-mileage vehicles
- Replies: 172
- Views: 31060
Re: Oil change interval for low-mileage vehicles
2010 Toyota Tacomas are supposed to have the oil changed every 5,000 miles or 6 months, according to the manual. Given that I drive about a thousand miles a year, it seems silly to change it at the 6 month mark with only 500 miles on it. Toyota also recommends regular oil. I use synthetic because I feel guilty.Cheez-It Guy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 6:24 pm Just follow the owner's manual for your vehicle. It tells you these things. Usually once per year for modern oils.
I took it in for an oil change the other day. Due to COVID I stayed in the car while they did it. The guy triple checked the mileage and told me I wasn't due -- which is astonishing as those guys generally try to up-sell you everything. But it had been over a year so I went ahead with it.
- Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:59 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How to keep yourself honest in investing?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1465
Re: How to keep yourself honest in investing?
Livesoft, Microsoft Money has been discontinued for years.livesoft wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:47 pm The best way that I have found to track performance is to use the free download version of Microsoft Money. That way I don't have do any fancy spreadsheet. I just enter the transactions and can have MS Money do all kinds of performance reports. Then I compare the performance with benchmark funds such as the 60/40 funds VSMGX, VBIAX, and DGSIX. I also have to enter the prices for any date(s) that I want to use in the reports, but this is really easy since I do not have many ticker symbols to look up. Indeed, I have a bookmark in my browser that shows me all the prices, such as this.
This keeps me totally and completely honest.
- Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:07 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: How to keep yourself honest in investing?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1465
Re: How to keep yourself honest in investing?
You know, that's funny because I did something a little like this by making a spreadsheet of all my inflows and the value of VT on that day, then calculating what my return would have been had I just invested in VT instead of all these individual stocks. I beat VT!Marseille07 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:51 pm Time-Weighted Return: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/ti ... tedror.asp
This was a giant hassle, though!