Search found 4050 matches

by prudent
Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Coin grading questions - PCGS, NGC or ANACS
Replies: 1
Views: 315

Re: Coin grading questions - PCGS, NGC or ANACS

In my experience, NGC-graded GSA dollars are well accepted in the market and they grade them in the holder. If your raw CC dollar has a small spread of values between MS grades (as many do) either PCGS or NGC will work fine. NGC is considered a little more generous on classic gold but that might just be talk. You can find NGC and PCGS dealers who accept submissions on their respective web sites. Then you take the coins to one of them, they fill out the paperwork and submit them on your behalf. That way you don't have to fuss with the complex forms AND that dealer may point out something that could keep a coin from being straight graded in case you would prefer to save the fees. Sometimes they will give you a break on postage/insurance $$$ i...
by prudent
Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question on personal finances [Asset allocation]
Replies: 12
Views: 1676

Re: Question on personal finances

Is that last one supposed to be IFEU? Please add the names of the funds next to the tickers, many people won't take the time to look them up.
by prudent
Wed Jan 10, 2024 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Review: Age 41 and looking for all the help I Can get
Replies: 14
Views: 2114

Re: Portfolio Review: Age 41 and looking for all the help I Can get

Welcome! You will probably want to edit in the names of the stocks and funds next to the ticker symbols, as members may not take the time to look all of them up.
by prudent
Sat Dec 02, 2023 1:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are the odds that some sort of cryptocurrency ETF will emerge?
Replies: 5
Views: 940

Re: What are the odds that some sort of cryptocurrency ETF will emerge?

Topic is locked, cryptocurrency posts are off-topic by forum policy. See: Greater Fool Investing Strategies Discussions of investment strategies based on securities or physical assets that have no underlying value or negative expected long term returns are prohibited. Examples include: cryptocurrencies; lottery tickets; tulip bulbs; Ponzi, pyramid, and multi-level marketing schemes; affinity frauds; and market manipulation schemes. And this post by the site owner: New Forum Policy Prohibiting Discussions of Cryptocurrency, Market Manipulation Schemes, etc as Investing Strategies Note - This policy is limited to discussions of investing strategies. Discussions of cryptocurrencies in other contexts is still acceptable, for example for money ...
by prudent
Wed Nov 22, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is PenFed good at?
Replies: 93
Views: 11154

Re: What is PenFed good at?

This was 10-12 years ago, but when I applied for their credit card to get the 5% statement credit on gas (now known as the "old" gas rebate card), they gave me a credit line 4x larger than I had on any other card. And after that, any card I've applied for gave me a credit line in the same ballpark. I remember reading at the time they were very generous with credit lines. Don't know if that's still the case.
by prudent
Sat Nov 04, 2023 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Citi cuts off some paper bill recipients
Replies: 46
Views: 5376

Re: Citi cuts off some paper bill recipients

My concern with online-only statements is maintaining the self-discipline to scroll through every page completely. I remember reading a couple years ago about one issuer who buried a change in terms at the bottom of the last page of the online statement, after a bunch of typical statement boilerplate, while the paper statement had the same notice on the first page.
by prudent
Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cash-only Busineses
Replies: 5
Views: 1114

Re: Cash-only Busineses

Topic is locked (not actionable). General comment threads are off topic in the forums with "Personal" in the title. See: A reminder that non-investing general comment threads are OT
- It must be personal. In other words, you must be asking about your own situation. You can also ask on behalf of someone specific, such as a family member.

- It must be actionable. You must be able to do something specific with the replies that will make a difference in your situation.
by prudent
Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Seven Year Hit on Credit Score
Replies: 20
Views: 3592

Re: Seven Year Hit on Credit Score

SmileyFace wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:15 pm Many years ago I had one late payment to a Department Store.
Same here. It was Sears, I didn't know about it until we applied for a mortgage. The lender said to contact Sears and ask them to remove it. I figured it was going to be a waste of time, but I called and explained this was impacting our loan application and they agreed to remove it with no further prodding.
by prudent
Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does Threatening to Quit Work
Replies: 113
Views: 12941

Re: Does Threatening to Quit Work

I once had an employee at his first year's salary review tell me "Before you get started, if I don't get a 25% raise I'm going to quit." I explained there was no such thing for first-year employees, so he quit. I had a co-worker I was pretty chummy with who was trying to help his aging parents with chores, appointments and shopping. This was pre-Covid. He told me one day it was getting pretty difficult to juggle the job and the caregiving. I happened to know he was highly valued at upper levels of the company and I suggested he consider a "I need to WFH or I need to resign" discussion. He softened it with "I need to WFH and cut back to half-time and handle just one big project" [left unspoken: "...or I wil...
by prudent
Sat Sep 23, 2023 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Part D Charges Far More Than What Analyses Said
Replies: 50
Views: 4857

Re: Part D Charges Far More Than What Analyses Said

How about your Congressional representative? Your having an issue with a federal agency, they should help with that.
by prudent
Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Government shutdown?
Replies: 6
Views: 1177

Re: Government shutdown?

This thread is locked (not actionable). General comment threads are off topic in the forums with "Personal" in the title. See: A reminder that non-investing general comment threads are OT
- It must be personal. In other words, you must be asking about your own situation. You can also ask on behalf of someone specific, such as a family member.

- It must be actionable. You must be able to do something specific with the replies that will make a difference in your situation.
by prudent
Wed Sep 20, 2023 3:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Question regarding American Eagle Coin values:
Replies: 11
Views: 2330

Re: Question regarding American Eagle Coin values:

I don't believe there were 4-coin gold proof sets issued in 1987. Maybe you have the 1987 uncirculated 2-coin set (1 oz and 1/2 oz)?

There may not be a coin dealer in America with higher prices than Littleton. I would ignore their prices when looking to research values.
by prudent
Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Unions Stray Far From Their Mission
Replies: 80
Views: 8455

Re: Credit Unions Stray Far From Their Mission

Back in the 1970's, my father was on the board of the CU that served the company he worked for. He knew nothing about banking but he cared a lot about people and that's what he brought to the board - pushing back on more fees, and pushing back on those who wanted to add lots of bells and whistles which would mean charging more for things. He got them to stay open until 6 on Fridays so people working overtime still would have time to get there (it was literally across the street from the main gate). When the union went on strike, he pushed to approve emergency loans to striking workers even if they had no relationship with the CU before. He wanted cheap loans for members, and not reporting late payments to the credit bureau if they were less...
by prudent
Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union | 7 Month CD @ 7.19%
Replies: 4
Views: 1907

Re: Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union | 7 Month CD @ 7.19%

No catch that I can see. They are NCUA insured, so your funds are safe. My banker friend told me these odd duration CDs are intended to bring in "new money". The CD terms will likely say when the CD matures, and the depositor takes no action, the CD will be auto-renewed at the same duration (or close to it if the same duration CD is no longer offered). So they are hoping people get the 7-month CD, then when they mature the holders forget. Then the CU or bank can auto-renew them, but this time for 6 months since they won't have a 7-month CD offered at that time (they may have a 9-month, an 8-month, an 11-month, but there won't be a 7-month). And that 6-month CD will have a very low interest rate. Right now their 6-month CD is 0.5% ...
by prudent
Sun Sep 03, 2023 4:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Reasonable annual spend in VHCOL?
Replies: 87
Views: 7286

Re: Reasonable annual spend in VHCOL?

I removed a couple of off-topic posts. Let's not derail the discussion from jory1804's question.
by prudent
Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I Think My Son's On A Gap Year
Replies: 2
Views: 1233

Re: I Think My Son's On A Gap Year

Topic is locked (not finance related, nor would be suitable in Personal Consumer Issues).
by prudent
Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fidelity Down? [Website]
Replies: 138
Views: 9556

Re: Fidelity Down?

Working for me.
by prudent
Wed Aug 16, 2023 10:03 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Why was thread deleted?
Replies: 7
Views: 5803

Re: Why was thread deleted?

Posts can be moved to an area only visible by moderators, for various reasons permitted by forum policy. If a thread was removed, it was removed for a reason, so don't post links to copies. A post above was removed.
by prudent
Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:03 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: I have 2 messages stuck in my outbox
Replies: 4
Views: 5641

Re: I have 2 messages stuck in my outbox

They aren't stuck, they will stay there until the recipient opens them. Then they will move to Sent Messages.
by prudent
Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:49 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]
Replies: 26
Views: 8226

Re: Server time off? [Member timezone setting changed]

LadyGeek explained this upthread.
LadyGeek wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:09 pm When not logged in, the timezone will now be US Central time. Why? That's where the site owner lives. :)

The site home page also shows US Central time (logged in or not).
by prudent
Fri Jul 21, 2023 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Criteria for selecting a new doctor
Replies: 86
Views: 5186

Re: looking for a new doctor

Topic is locked (exhausted, derailed).

Update: See below. --admin LadyGeek
by prudent
Sun Jul 02, 2023 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Resource for making Quicken simple?
Replies: 18
Views: 1574

Re: Resource for making Quicken simple?

Some people want very granular, but that's not a requirement. For us it's enough to separate household purchases and groceries. It's up to what you want out of the reporting. Personally I think more granular is useful when trying to find areas to cut back on spending. If you happen to be able to spend as you want without any worries, maybe less granular is satisfactory. If you spend $200 and buy housewares and groceries at Costco on the same trip, would it be sufficient to just ballpark that $125 was groceries and $75 was housewares, using your best estimate? Being precise to the penny isn't critical IMO. Also consider sometimes you can filter on the payee to break down spending. If you pay Company A for car insurance, Company B for homeown...
by prudent
Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Homeowners Insurance Termination/Cancellation - Advice Sought
Replies: 76
Views: 10599

Re: Homeowners Insurance Termination/Cancellation - Advice Sought

Let's focus on helping the OP find a path forward to getting new coverage rather than the finger-wagging about filing small claims, which is not helping.
by prudent
Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What am I missing here?? international
Replies: 199
Views: 10023

Re: What am I missing here?? international

Some off-topic posts were removed, please stay on topic.
by prudent
Mon May 15, 2023 5:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any must haves for travelling to Europe?
Replies: 126
Views: 10370

Re: Any must haves for travelling to Europe?

Some completely off-topic comments related to social and cultural issues were removed. Please stay on topic.
by prudent
Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selecting a Medicare Part D drug plan
Replies: 56
Views: 4349

Re: Selecting a Medicare Part D drug plan

Let's stick to the topic of selecting a Part D plan. Generic comments about the healthcare industry are off-topic.
by prudent
Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Family and Money
Replies: 19
Views: 1976

Re: Family and Money

Topic is locked. This is a relationship issue, which is off-topic.
by prudent
Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Lost passport - quickest service?
Replies: 15
Views: 1216

Re: Lost passport - quickest service?

Costly, but doable.

AAA Travel partners with RushMyPassport.com (not an endorsement, just pointing out one option). Here's what it costs:
Expediting times start once documents are received.
Emergency Service 1 Week $799.00
Priority Service 2 Weeks $599.00
Expedited Service 7 - 9 Weeks $189.00
Smart Service 10 - 13 Weeks $109.00
*Government fee of $209.53 to be paid to the "U.S. Department of State" is not included.
by prudent
Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Worth joining credit union just for car loan?
Replies: 23
Views: 3722

Re: Worth joining credit union just for car loan?

ResearchMed wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 3:10 pm If the credit union has the best terms for the loan, is there a downside to joining?
Other than what is probably a relatively small fee or annual fee?

RM
I've been a member of 3 different credit unions and there has never been a downside.
by prudent
Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mail in passport renewal
Replies: 80
Views: 11176

Re: Mail in passport renewal

A relative mailed in a renewal in on Feb 1 and received it March 23. Not expedited.
by prudent
Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Replacement Panasonic Shaver Blades?
Replies: 5
Views: 474

Re: Replacement Panasonic Shaver Blades?

https://panasonic.encompass.com/item/10 ... /WES9032P/

That's where the Panasonic.com site sends you when looking for spare parts, so would be genuine.
by prudent
Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy Gold Necklace online?
Replies: 10
Views: 1683

Re: Where to buy Gold Necklace online?

After hearing so many stories from my coin dealer friend who has had to tell people the "gold" jewelry they brought in to sell was not actually gold, I would never buy online from a random company. People who have bought while on vacation, people who bought online, people who bought when visiting relatives in other countries, or bought at garage sales, etc. etc. It's a minefield. I would recommend sticking to big name sellers only who have a reputation to uphold.
by prudent
Mon Mar 13, 2023 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dipping a toe into the I-bond pool
Replies: 3
Views: 797

Re: Dipping a toe into the I-bond pool

Topic is locked. Topics in Personal Investments must be personal and actionable per forum policy. General comments about what you are doing does not comply.
This subforum is for personal financial issues that don't involve investments. Examples of acceptable topics are:

- insurance
- employment issues
- credit card and credit rating issues
- mortgage and loan issues
- legal issues that have a financial component like wills and pre-nuptial agreements

Note that topics must be directly connected to your (or your friend's or family's) financial life. General comments or complaints about these topics will be locked or removed.
by prudent
Sun Mar 12, 2023 7:37 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Is it possible to use formatted tables in this forum?
Replies: 4
Views: 2621

Re: Is it possible to use formatted tables in this forum?

The BBCode tags you can use are documented at help/bbcode

The code tag is your best alternative.
by prudent
Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I afford our “dream” home
Replies: 36
Views: 6083

Re: Can I afford our “dream” home

Off-topic posts about car safety have been removed. Let's focus on the OP's question and skip the comments about the car.
by prudent
Thu Feb 16, 2023 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What am I missing in Cigna Dental Preventative Plan?
Replies: 2
Views: 575

Re: What am I missing in Cigna Dental Preventative Plan?

Topic is locked (not personal). How a company profits from a product is not related to your personal situation as required by forum policy.
by prudent
Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Way to Obtain Honest Coin, Bill and Stamp Appraisal
Replies: 20
Views: 2275

Re: Best Way to Obtain Honest Coin, Bill and Stamp Appraisal

A couple questions. How were the coins acquired - were they pulled from circulation? Did he buy them from coin shops? How are they packaged - loose in a bag or can? In labeled individual cardboard holders with a cellophane window? In hard plastic cases with labels inside the case? This can provide some insight.
by prudent
Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Shift from Stable Value to Bond Fund?
Replies: 16
Views: 1874

Re: Shift from Stable Value to Bond Fund?

Carefully read the restrictions on your Stable Value Fund. Some won't let you add money for a period of time after a withdrawal. Some won't let you move money from a SVF to a "competing fund" which of course could be money market funds unless it's moved into a different type of fund for a period of time.
by prudent
Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Debt ceiling discussion mega-thread]
Replies: 1286
Views: 128318

Re: [Debt ceiling discussion mega-thread]

I removed some comments that were purely political. The topic is for members to discuss the possible impact on investments. Keep on topic.
by prudent
Tue Jan 17, 2023 2:43 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Can I EXCHANGE Funds on the App??
Replies: 6
Views: 466

Re: Can I EXCHANGE Funds on the App??

Topic is locked. OP, repost your question but you need to include more details, we don't know what you mean.
by prudent
Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deleted
Replies: 15
Views: 1063

Re: Car Accident and DUI (NOT alcohol, but prescription drug)

Topic is locked (it's a legal issue, not a consumer issue, therefore not permitted by forum policy).
by prudent
Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Structure of Vanguard - should you be worried?
Replies: 162
Views: 11684

Re: Structure of Vanguard - should you be worried?

Topic is locked (exhausted).
by prudent
Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can I buy a 80-100k car?
Replies: 171
Views: 12081

Re: Can I buy a 80-100k car?

Topic is locked (exhausted and derailed).
by prudent
Fri Jan 06, 2023 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to handle greedy dealer
Replies: 53
Views: 6290

Re: How to handle greedy dealer

In the field of collectibles I dabble in, I approach things with the idea of sellers can ask whatever they want, and I offer whatever I want to pay. Sometimes we come to an agreement, sometimes we don't. I don't see why I would want to stop dealing with someone who often has the items I want even though we didn't complete a particular deal. I don't take any of it personally even if I think I got quoted a much-too-high price. I just say no. I don't care if they thought they were going to get me to pay too much, they are in business to make a profit. Their motivation for quoting a particular price is meaningless to me. Sometimes the seller was the one who paid too much and now realizes he can't re-sell it at a profit. I learned long ago that ...
by prudent
Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Biden signs the Bill!
Replies: 3
Views: 1357

Re: Biden signs the Bill!

Since there won't be any discussion about the signing itself, this thread is locked.
by prudent
Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Debt against my pension? What is your take?
Replies: 1
Views: 1025

Re: Debt against my pension? What is your take?

Topic is locked as a duplicate. Discussion continues at viewtopic.php?t=393398.
by prudent
Tue Dec 20, 2022 10:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: [Secure 2.0 Act is part of 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill - RMD, 401(k) changes]
Replies: 20
Views: 3140

Re: Secure 2.0 Act passed - RMD age change?

Topic is locked, bill has not been signed therefore discussion not permitted by forum policy.
by prudent
Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iMessage to yourself on ios16: Green or Blue bubble?
Replies: 9
Views: 977

Re: iMessage to yourself on ios16: Green or Blue bubble?

Topic is locked, below acceptable threshold for Personal Consumer Issues. See Personal Consumer Issues
Note that this subforum has a much lower threshold for locking or removing posts than the financial and investing subforums. In general, controversial, offensive, pointless, divisive or mean-spirited posts or topics may be locked, edited or deleted (with or without notice) at the discretion of the moderating staff even if they do not otherwise violate forum policies.