Search found 1665 matches

by sunnyday
Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Process for organizing and sharing photos
Replies: 11
Views: 1583

Re: Process for organizing and sharing photos

Thanks for the replies. For photos, I started this process which has worked great so far: 1. Open iPhoto: iPhoto automatically streams in my and my wife's photos from our iPhones. I don't believe Picasa will do that from iPhone. 2. Select a month and flag my favorites. 3. Upload the flagged items to Flickr. Name the new album YYYY - MM. This is done directly through iPhoto. 4. Clear the flagged items. Move onto a different month. I wasn't a big fan of Flickr but after using it a bit more, I'm getting used to some of the nuances. Also, I never even have to login to flickr.com or any other websites, because everything is done directly through iPhoto. The most important thing, imho, is to be an editor. No one needs a bunch of photos of the sam...
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Yet another TLH question
Replies: 16
Views: 1752

Re: Yet another TLH question

I am kind of feeling like you sunnyday. But I think like all things, it seems daunting the first time you do it. I am sure it will get easier with time. The first couple of times I did it were actually easier because: 1. I TLH'd my entire taxable balance so I didn't have to specify or track lots 2. I had VTIAX and VWFAX in less accounts 3. I didn't run into some of these caveats that have recently come up On a separate note, I went to Vanguard to turn off dividends re-investments in my Roth IRA for VTIAX. I tried to set up the dividends to go to a Prime MM within the Roth, but Vanguard gave me an error saying that the target account cannot have a ZERO balance. So I am guessing I will need to sell some VTIAX and fund the Prime MM before I c...
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Yet another TLH question
Replies: 16
Views: 1752

Re: Yet another TLH question

And yet another question is that you also need to keep track of your spouse's funds correct? If I include my wife's Roth dividend, it would be a whopping $10 wash.

I'm starting to think that TLH isn't worth the time and trouble except in major bear markets.
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Yet another TLH question
Replies: 16
Views: 1752

Re: Yet another TLH question

Can the $130 wash be adjusted to the cost basis when the OP buys back the fund? I'm not sure how it works, but I just read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wash_sale Basis adjustment[edit] After a sale is identified as a wash sale and if the replacement stock is bought within 30 days before or after the sale then the wash sale loss is added to the basis of the replacement stock. The basis adjustment is important as it preserves the benefit of the disallowed loss. You'll receive that benefit on a future sale of the replacement stock. Note: The identification of a wash sale and adjusting the basis of the replacement stock is an iterative process. Thus, the sale of the replacement stock (after its basis is adjusted) can also be identified as...
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"
Replies: 22
Views: 7715

Re: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"

I think it is more like this? For example 10% discount from http://www.prepayrefill.com, and 17% taxes from http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/07/10/cell-phone-bill-hidden-taxes/ (I have never had Verizon service, so perhaps someone who has can give some real numbers). Also not including initial sales tax on phone, but that is the same in both cases so is a wash in the comparison. Page Plus Cellular - iPhone 6 $649.99 (retail) + $863.04 (24 * $35.96) = $1,513.03 Verizon Wireless - iPhone6 $199.99 (2 year) + $1,684.80 (24 * $70.20 ) = $1,884.79 In addition to this the freedom of not having a contract may be worth something as well, eg. if another Verizon MVNO such as Selectel has lower cost plan than page plus in the future it is easy to chan...
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Process for organizing and sharing photos
Replies: 11
Views: 1583

Process for organizing and sharing photos

My wife and I take a lot of photos with our two iPhones and DSLR but most of which are never used and take up space on my iPhone, MacBookPro, and backup drive. I often have to go in and delete/transfer photos and videos to save space and I'm not sure where all of my favorite photos. So I'm looking for a more efficient and better process for saving, viewing and sharing my memorable photos. Here's what I'm thinking about doing: Transfer favorite videos from iPhone to YouTube after taking them. Each month, go into iPhoto and pick out my favorite photos. Transfer them to the Picasa. Each year: 1. Pick out our favorite photos from Picasa and create an annual photo book using ArtifactUprising or Blurb. 2. Transfer all photos from Picasa and video...
by sunnyday
Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with tax loss harvesting
Replies: 16
Views: 2591

Re: Help with tax loss harvesting

Traveller wrote:Sunnyday - thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

I agree that the wiki is not clear, and I could easily be misinterpreting. I primarily based my understanding on the fairmark article http://www.fairmark.com/capgain/wash/wsira.htm which says:
You lose your deduction if you buy replacement shares in your IRA.
I guess my question then is, is a dividend IRA transaction considered a buy?

Also, say you have a $10,000 loss from a VTIAX purchase on 1/2/2014 and a $1,000 loss from a VTIAX purchase yesterday. How does the wash sale rule apply? I assume you can deduct the $10,000 loss but not the $1,000?
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with tax loss harvesting
Replies: 16
Views: 2591

Re: Help with tax loss harvesting

I'm not sure why you mentioned your tax-advantage accounts. You can't TLH in those. Instead TLH on your taxable account and don't bother changing anything in your tax-advantage accounts. SunnyDay - I realize that all harvesting takes place in taxable only. I brought up tax advantaged accounts since they contain the same funds with a recent purchase via the auto reinvestment that would prevent a harvest in taxable until 10/24 due to the "no purchase 30 days before or after the sale" rule. My understanding is that the fact it happened in a different account is immaterial. Oh ok, thanks for clarifying. Why does the wiki only recommend to not reinvest dividends for taxable accounts and not tax-advantage? - http://www.bogleheads.org/w...
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with tax loss harvesting
Replies: 16
Views: 2591

Re: Help with tax loss harvesting

VFWAX and VTIAX work well for tax loss harvesting and are considered "different enough" to not have to worry about a wash sale. At least I've read that on here.

You may want to chose to not automatically reinvest your dividends. It makes the tax lots easier to keep track of.

I'm not sure why you mentioned your tax-advantage accounts. You can't TLH in those. Instead TLH on your taxable account and don't bother changing anything in your tax-advantage accounts.
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle's Explanation of Indexing
Replies: 2
Views: 1000

Re: Jack Bogle's Explanation of Indexing

Homer wrote:In theory, they can. In practice, and over the long term, they usually don't.
At first I was thinking about it as "Why aren't the Warren Buffets beating the Joe Schmos" but I guess if the market is truly efficient, it's like they're competing in roulette instead of poker.
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Jack Bogle's Explanation of Indexing
Replies: 2
Views: 1000

Jack Bogle's Explanation of Indexing

I recently watched some of this interview: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/14/investing-legend-jack-bogle-answers-your-questions.aspx And I didn't really phrase it this way in those days, Tom, but when you think about it, we're all indexers. Every investor in America is an indexer because 25% to 30% — let's call it 25% — is indexed. The other 75% own the index, but one at a time. That's the total market and if you have the total stock market fund, you either own it as a unity or you own little chunks of it and somebody else owns the rest. So, when the unity (let's call it the unity business of the index fund) does better than the trading business (for all these other people that own the index, trading with one another and tryi...
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"
Replies: 22
Views: 7715

Re: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"

^ I run those numbers every so often and the contract always seems to come out ahead for me. My numbers are:

Page Plus Cellular - iPhone 6 $649.99 (retail) + $958.80 (24 * $39.95 - if page plus tax is included ) = $1,608.79

Verizon Wireless - iPhone6 $20 (2 year) + $30 activation + $1,320.00 (24 * $55.00 - customer loyalty plan with tax) = $1550
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"
Replies: 22
Views: 7715

Re: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"

mbk734 wrote:If you talk to a Verizon person on the phone, you should be able to keep your plan (no avoiding the $30 upgrade fee). I just got an iPhone 6+ and kept my plan 2GB unlimited talk/text for $60/month. This $60 plan may be their only individual plan now. I avoided the More Everything (unless you have several lines) and especially avoid the Edge plan.
Thanks. Although the website didn't give the option and the person I spoke with on chat said it was not possible, I just spoke with someone from Verizon and she confirmed that I can upgrade phones and stay with the same plan.
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:51 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account
Replies: 24
Views: 2660

Re: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account

I just called Vanguard to specify the lots and it was simple to do. One thing I would have done differently though when I exchanged, is I would have specified the number of shares instead of a round dollar amount. Because of this, I had sell some of the shares from one of my lots. Not a big deal, just something I'll keep in mind for next time.
by sunnyday
Mon Oct 06, 2014 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"
Replies: 22
Views: 7715

Verizon: Upgrade iPhone - No longer "Loyal Customer"

I currently have the customer loyalty plan with Verizon: $50/mo for 1gb data, unlimited talk and text. I went to upgrade to an iPhone 6 today and got this message: Purchase of this smartphone requires a data package (minimum of $30/month) for the length of the minimum contract term, or you can move to our MORE Everything pricing. I agree The MORE Everything Plan Enjoy Unlimited Talk & Text, Unlimited International Messaging and Shareable Data. I also saw the small print that they charge a $30 upgrade fee. So if I upgrade my phone and extend my contract by two years, I can no longer be on the “customer loyalty” plan and will have to pay about $15 more a month. :annoyed It seems like all of the top 4 cell phone companies have shady market...
by sunnyday
Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get a product in a national retail chain
Replies: 9
Views: 2935

Re: How to get a product in a national retail chain

Be sure to incorporate to protect yourself from possible product liability issues. You may also want to fund some safety testing based on your plan to marketing the products to children. It will help to have a track record of having sought safety related expertise. Watch the Steve Martin movie The Jerk, and if you have the energy go for it. You might try to get the retailer to sign a letter stating that they recognize your invention and will not seek to copy the idea, though that might be bad relationship juju. At a minimum I would mark any documents shared with copyright (small c or r) and/or patent pending footnote. That said, succeeding in patent enforcement as an individual is almost impossible. Even when you have one it is hard. Been ...
by sunnyday
Sat Oct 04, 2014 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health Care FSA Questions
Replies: 5
Views: 969

Re: Health Care FSA Questions

Hello sunnyday, Unfortunately that is not possible. FSA funds only pay for the current year expenses(you can only make claims until next year January). If there are post expenses like therapy for few months etc, you can probably manage to have them into next year. Fsa money goes back to employers from what I understand. If a employee uses all FSA limit money in January and leaves company in Feb with out making contributions all year, then employers pay for it(they take the risk). Basically it is an account with fixed dollars at start of year and you employer takes money each paycheck to fund it. However the total amount is available any time. I think that is why it is called cafeteria plan? (same as food benefits and public transport etc) ...
by sunnyday
Sat Oct 04, 2014 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Health Care FSA Questions
Replies: 5
Views: 969

Health Care FSA Questions

I just got a large medical bill. Can I make the minimum payments (until next year) and then pay the rest of the bill out of next year's Health Care Flexible Spending Account?

Since FSA accounts are "use it or lose it" where does the money go if you don't use it -- back to the government or does it stay with the company that manages the account?
by sunnyday
Sat Oct 04, 2014 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get a product in a national retail chain
Replies: 9
Views: 2935

Re: How to get a product in a national retail chain

Why would the cheapness make the product poor for online sales? If it has value, people will pay the shipping. Being easy to copy is bad no matter where you sell it. You could probably get higher margins online. Instead of trying to hit singles in the minor leagues and spending years trying to work my way up while competition tries to wipe me out, I'm going to swing for the fences in the majors. The margins also may be better in retail for a few reasons: 1. If I get a big order from a retail chain, I'll be buying in bulk from China (product and packaging will be about 1/3 the cost) 2. No online web store costs 3. No payment transaction fees and charge backs 4. No shipping and handling (whether it's me or the customer, it still eats at pric...
by sunnyday
Sat Oct 04, 2014 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get a product in a national retail chain
Replies: 9
Views: 2935

Re: How to get a product in a national retail chain

I was just in BuyBuyBaby and talked to the cashier. I did a mini pitch and asked if there was anyone I could speak with. She said a manager and next thing I new a manager and the head manager came over. I gave my pitch again and the head manager said that once the product is ready to let him know and he'll put me in touch with the right people. He said it may require a trip to New Jersey but I said that is fine. Overall I would say the idea is excellent, the product is good, the business is average. I'm not optimistic for the business to take off since it will be easy for others to copy, especially large companies in the space. Selling online is challenging because the product is so cheap and easy to copy. I have a good friend who's a paten...
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to get a product in a national retail chain
Replies: 9
Views: 2935

How to get a product in a national retail chain

I'm working on designing a product for parents of young children. The product will be very cheap so I'm leaning towards retail stores over selling online. I'm wondering how I should approach Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us to try to get the product on the shelves.

Does anyone have any experience getting a meeting and pitching to a buyer at a major retail chain? If so, how did it go and do you have any tips?
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account
Replies: 24
Views: 2660

Re: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account

Thanks for the information - this is an amazing forum.

Here's Vanguard's frequent trading policy: http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Frequent_trading_policy
So it only applies if you sell, then buy. Like most Vanguard mutual funds, VTIAX does not have a redemption fee. So all I need to do is wait 60 days if I want to buy VTIAX again.

That's a good point about qualified vs non-qualified dividends. The amount in my case isn't substantial enough to make a big difference, but I'm curious nevertheless. Lets say I can choose between these two:
A week ago - VTIAX - $27.59
Early this year - VTIAX - $27.19
How would I run the numbers to determine which lot I should use?
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account
Replies: 24
Views: 2660

Re: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account

Thanks for the replies. I just exchanged VFIAX for VWIAX.
I think the final steps are:

1. I selected SpecID, but Vanguard says that I need to call within 1 business day to specify the lot. If I don't call, FIFO will be used (which I don't want).

2. Now the only other thing to make sure is that I don't purchase VTIAX in the next 2 months because I could be charged frequent trading fees, correct?
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account
Replies: 24
Views: 2660

Re: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account

Chan_va wrote:Make sure there are no other transactions (dividend reinvestment, automatic purchases etc.) for 31 days before and after the TLH date to prevent a wash sale.
The wash sale is a bit unclear to me. If I exchange from a lot that I purchased on 9/25/2014, that won't trigger a wash sale. It's only if I buy the fund I'm selling/exchanging -- correct?
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account
Replies: 24
Views: 2660

Steps to TLH from a Vanguard Mutual Fund Account

What are the steps to TLH from a Vanguard mutual fund account?
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leaving a legacy
Replies: 63
Views: 7387

Re: Leaving a legacy

I have a question for the OP and like-minded folks. Let's say that you have two kids. One has demonstrated what you consider to be admirable financial discipline, and the other hasn't. The time comes to refresh your will. Do you leave more to one child based on your impressions? If so, don't you worry about creating strife between them and bad feelings toward you? I'm the responsible child, and I will be getting significantly less overall than the irresponsible ones, partly due to her giving them money now. I have tried to discuss this with my mother and all she says is "You should be mature enough for that not to bother you; they need it and you don't." So I have given up, but I'm still not happy about it. :annoyed I agree with ...
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 10:11 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there an "upper limit" on Boglehead theory?
Replies: 58
Views: 7684

Re: Is there an "upper limit" on Boglehead theory?

Let me clarify what I meant. If I do what's right for the client (charge low fees, invest in low-cost index funds), then I'm considered to be a simpleton. If I do what the slick brokers downtown do (active funds, complicated MLP's with K-1's, SMA's, hedge funds, 1.5% AUM fees), then I'm considered a sophisticated, knowledgeable professional. I mean, these guys offer mean-variance optimized portfolios, private placements, continuous portfolio monitoring with rebalancing, advanced technical analysis from Wharton grads, heat-mapping charts that show the best assets to invest in right now, commodity trading pools, managed futures, and tactical asset allocation based on global economic expectations. What's not to like? Again, I haven't actually...
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: manipulating Amazon reviews
Replies: 33
Views: 4688

Re: manipulating Amazon reviews

I love the products that get sarcastic reviews. One recent one is:
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN105S9-C ... samsung+tv

I cracked up over the one about Sparky.
by sunnyday
Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Re: Android Apps for Toddlers

dolphinsaremammals wrote:
celia wrote:Is this how you planned to raise your kids? How about soothing music to put her/you to sleep?
I think I would not allow the use of any electronic gadgets until the brain is more developed.

A professional we just spoke with about it said it's fine but she knows we only plan to do it sparingly. I'm not sure if celia is a parent but the advice seems a bit naive to me.
by sunnyday
Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is there an "upper limit" on Boglehead theory?
Replies: 58
Views: 7684

Re: Is there an "upper limit" on Boglehead theory?

Is there a practical upper limit to the simplified Bogle methods? That is, do you think it's really practical to pitch the "three-fund ETF" portfolio to a person with $10m+ in investable assets? Or do you think that at some point, they need more than just the basic three funds? This is starting to become a pet peeve now. Bogleheadism, if there is such a thing, certainly isn't limited to the three fund portfolio. Here are some of the dozens of other great Boglehead portfolios: http://whitecoatinvestor.com/150-portfolios-better-than-yours/ All that said, I see nothing wrong with investing $10M into the three fund portfolio. Not what I would pick, especially if I were hiring an advisor to manage my money, but it's not an unreasonabl...
by sunnyday
Thu Oct 02, 2014 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leaving a legacy
Replies: 63
Views: 7387

Re: Leaving a legacy

I forget who said it, but it bears repeating: "Leave your children enough that they can do anything, but not enough that they can do nothing." A nice legacy could enable someone to do public service law instead of corporate, be a social worker instead of a gov't bureaucrat, be an entrepreneur instead of a salary person. Nice quote Really (on a personal level), and if so, how many? Or are you talking about rich celebrity kids that you don't know? Where I grew up in the NE, the high school I went to had a very wide range of wealth. Some kids rode a bike to school, others drove sports cars. So yes, I met quite a few people on a personal level. But you do bring a good point. Some of these kids expected their sports car when they turn...
by sunnyday
Thu Oct 02, 2014 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Re: Android Apps for Toddlers

JupiterJones wrote:
sunnyday wrote: If anyone has any movie recommendations too that would be great. Something with a lot of music and no princesses would be ideal.
Does it have to be animated? Because Google Play has some classic live-action, kid-friendly musicals, such as The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, etc.
Great suggestion. Thank you
by sunnyday
Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Leaving a legacy
Replies: 63
Views: 7387

Re: Leaving a legacy

I have seen too many trust fund kids become wasteful spenders and drug addicts. Why would I want that for my grandkids? Really (on a personal level), and if so, how many? Or are you talking about rich celebrity kids that you don't know? I have a couple friends who have trust funds. I only know because they bought multimillion dollar homes at certain ages. One of my friends doesn't make a lot (or any) money, but he started his own business. He probably works 80 hours a week and puts himself under a lot of stress -- he has to keep his investors happy and also deal with things like laying people off. I had a lot of friends in college who had parents that were extremely wealthy. None were lazy, all of them wanted to make it on their own, and t...
by sunnyday
Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Re: Android Apps for Toddlers

So all of the apps that I've downloaded have been for free so I'm still wondering how to spend the credit. I may use it on some movies. I prefer Pixar over Disney and Pixar has packs of short movies for $10. I'm not sure though because they may have some violence.

If anyone has any movie recommendations too that would be great. Something with a lot of music and no princesses would be ideal.
by sunnyday
Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Re: Android Apps for Toddlers

Thanks for the replies. I installed a few of them along with some animal sound ones. I think Endless Alphabet/Reader is the best out of the bunch. I probably won't have my daughter try for a little while, but it'll be interesting to see what she thinks about it.
Peterjens wrote:It's a totally different world now than when I was parenting. And now my son is a developer for MSFT in Japan. I am so glad I don't have wonder about which app - not even as a grandparent. Good luck.
Yes, times have changed. Somethings for the better, some for the worse.
You didn't have to think about which app, but you still had to decide between which tv show, which movie, which video game (if they existed), correct?
by sunnyday
Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Re: Android Apps for Toddlers

celia wrote:Is this how you planned to raise your kids? How about soothing music to put her/you to sleep?
No, but I'm also not judgmental about parents who occasionally let their kids have screen time. We have a lot of friends who are terrific parents and allow their kids to use tablets. Some of them travel a lot and only allow their daughter to use an iPad on the plane. She loves flying because of it and it makes travel more enjoyable for her family and the other passengers around her.

My daughter has well over a hundred books and is read 20+ books a day. I'm not too concerned if I let her watch 15 minutes of football on Sundays while snuggling and waking up from her afternoon nap. I'm also not concerned if she looks at a tablet sparingly.
by sunnyday
Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I picked up a penny today...
Replies: 20
Views: 2842

Re: I picked up a penny today...

The penny will even out perform some indexes in the last couple days -- woohoo! :)
Bustoff wrote: “There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can.” | ― Mark Twain
That's an interesting quote considering how poor of an investor he was. In his later years he went bankrupt, had to take jobs he didn't want to do, and I believe lost his mansion. Maybe he wrote the quote after all of his financial troubles, or maybe Mark Twain was a great investor, but Samuel Clemens was not :)
by sunnyday
Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Those under 35 with a child 5 or under: Costs of child?
Replies: 58
Views: 8400

Re: Those under 35 with a child 5 or under: Costs of child?

It could have been interesting if the OP asked people to list savings from having a child too. Now that I'm a parent, I rarely go to nice restaurants and never go out to bars. I don't travel as much or do my expensive hobbies as much. I do miss those things, but there's a whole new list of things that are just as enjoyable. Overall I was still surprised that we spent less after my child's first year compared to the previous year. The main expenses were health insurance, part-time nanny ($14/hr) and diapers ($70/month), but we had tons of gifts and hand-me downs so we didn't need to buy anything else. We'll spend more in the second year (new car, more toys, travel, etc). In general, it seems like the cost of a child depends on how much you w...
by sunnyday
Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Android Apps for Toddlers
Replies: 17
Views: 2325

Android Apps for Toddlers

I have a $25 Google play credit that's going to expire soon. I use mostly iOS but have a Nexus 7 that I use primarily as a baby monitor. I may also let my 18 month old use it sparingly (airplanes, long car rides, in pain from teething, etc).

What are some good apps for toddlers and preschool kids, both free and ones that cost money, that I should try? She loves animals and music so something like videos of the Fresh Beat Band could be a big hit.
by sunnyday
Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Note from Experian: Change of name, address, or SS#
Replies: 2
Views: 1704

Re: Note from Experian: Change of name, address, or SS#

Thanks cheese_breath. That's what I was thinking too. Since everything on my credit report looks legit and I have my credit frozen, I should be fine.
by sunnyday
Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Note from Experian: Change of name, address, or SS#
Replies: 2
Views: 1704

Note from Experian: Change of name, address, or SS#

I received a letter from Experian today stating:
We are required to notify you that within the last 30 days changes to your name, address or social security number have been reported to us by a creditor. We are required to notify you because of your security freeze.
I paid a dollar to view my credit report from them (I already used annualcreditreport.com this year) and the only thing that I saw off was my name was listed twice and my middle initial wrong for one of them.

Is this worth taking a closer look at and if so, what can be done?
by sunnyday
Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I pay off my sisters student loans?
Replies: 49
Views: 7522

Re: Should I pay off my sisters student loans?

How does your sister feel about it? The first step, IMO is to talk her and see what would help her the most. I have relatives who wouldn't want a dime from me regardless of how much money I had.


I don't think there will be handouts for student loans. Were there handouts to people who were underwater with mortgages?
by sunnyday
Sun Sep 21, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5
Replies: 12
Views: 2460

Re: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5

Thanks cyberbob. That's good to know about transferring contacts. It seems like running a Verizon iPhone 5 on Straight Talk can be a bit of a hassle - http://smartphonematters.com/using-a-verizon-iphone-5-with-straight-talk-wireless/ What exactly about the article is a hassle? I switched using a Verizon iPhone 5 to T-Mobile. I ordered a nano sim from T-Mobile. Removed the Verizon sim and replaced with the T-Mobile sim. I called T-Mobile and they activated the sim. The cheapest plan is $30. LTE works just fine, the article got it wrong. The only hassle I can think of was reading the sim and IMEI number correctly to a CSR that with a heavy foreign accent. Maybe it won't be too bad, but are you going straight through T-Mobile or Straight Talk...
by sunnyday
Sat Sep 20, 2014 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5
Replies: 12
Views: 2460

Re: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5

I'm planning to give my Verizon iPhone 5 to my mother, who currently has an android phone on t mobile straight talk. She's probably a medium to light user in terms of data, minutes and SMS. Is it possible to switch the phone over to straight talk? Or are there better options? Also is there a way to transfer contacts from a tmobile android phone to verizon iphone? If Sprint has good coverage in your area, then Ting could save you quite a bit. And you may be able to use her Verizon iPhone 5 with them. Go here to see if it's compatible. https://ting.com/byod If it is, then you can use this link to get a $25 credit when you signup. https://zsngnqrbj1.ting.com/ I've had them for a couple years and have been more than satisfied. Ting would be a ...
by sunnyday
Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5
Replies: 12
Views: 2460

Re: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5

Thanks cyberbob. That's good to know about transferring contacts.

It seems like running a Verizon iPhone 5 on Straight Talk can be a bit of a hassle - http://smartphonematters.com/using-a-ve ... -wireless/
by sunnyday
Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5
Replies: 12
Views: 2460

Best cell phone plan for Verizon iPhone 5

I'm planning to give my Verizon iPhone 5 to my mother, who currently has an android phone on t mobile straight talk. She's probably a medium to light user in terms of data, minutes and SMS. Is it possible to switch the phone over to straight talk? Or are there better options?
Also is there a way to transfer contacts from a tmobile android phone to verizon iphone?
by sunnyday
Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Roosevelts, PBS special
Replies: 104
Views: 13713

Re: The Roosevelts, PBS special

I made sure to record this after watching the Mark Twain PBS special by Ken Burns.

I was amazed to learn how poor of an investor Mark Twain was -- too bad this forum wasn't around when he was alive :)
by sunnyday
Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hi performance fleece jacket
Replies: 9
Views: 2053

Re: Hi performance fleece jacket

I went to a local store today and tried on a bunch. After speaking with the sales associate, I decided against wool since it can be less durable and shrink in the dryer. I couldn't find the exact fit I was looking for -- mediums were too tight around the chest and a little short and larges were too bulky around the stomach. I wound up picking up this - http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=Mens&model=Delta-LT-Zip-Neck I'm going to check REI too -- I know this is an outstanding jacket - http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=Mens&model=Delta-LT-Zip-Neck and I own a Novara cycling jacket that is a perfect fit and probably the best functional piece of clothing that I've ever owned. Now that I think ab...
by sunnyday
Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hi performance fleece jacket
Replies: 9
Views: 2053

Re: Hi performance fleece jacket

Thanks for the replies. I agree that it's best to try things on to get the best fit. I plan to do so, although sometimes it's tough to get a feel for how clothing will do up against the elements, but I find most staff at outdoor stores to be knowledgeable and helpful.

Good recommendation for wool too. I tried a lot of things to keep my feet warm mountain bike, including insulated wind resistance shoe covers. Wool socks work the best by far.
by sunnyday
Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hi performance fleece jacket
Replies: 9
Views: 2053

Hi performance fleece jacket

I'm looking for a nice fleece jacket that I can wear in 45-60 degree wether and also in cold weather as a mid layer under my Arc'teryx Atom jacket. I'd like something with a snug athletic fit and something that isn't bulky. I prefer the fit and warmth to weight of Arc'teryx but will consider other brands.

A few that I'm considering are:
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/p ... 0000001_-1_
http://www.rei.com/item/855422/arcteryx ... -mens#tabs
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/p ... 0000001_-1_

Does anyone own those or something similar? Any recommendations?