Search found 3464 matches

by ryuns
Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which EV should I buy in California?
Replies: 60
Views: 6692

Re: Which EV should I buy in California?

If you don’t qualify for fed tax credit due to income/etc, you can lease it first and then buy out the lease. Kia/Hyundais will build North America plant and start producing end of this year I wouldn’t remove plug in hybrid from list unless long daily commute Yep. After much thought, now determined we need third row, and want the gas option. That puts the Mitsubishi Outlander plug in at the top of the list. I'd add the Sorento to the list. A bit pricier, but considerably better MPG on gas, and seems to get better reviews. Also the Mazda CX-90 looks really promising but similar MPG to the Outlander + more expensive. I'm with you that the Chrysler seems like a great car--I just wouldn't be able to buy a Chrysler after a lifetime of Hondas an...
by ryuns
Tue May 16, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Why not add a "like" button to Boglehead posts?
Replies: 371
Views: 72371

Re: Why not add a "like" button to Boglehead posts?

yosh99 wrote: Sat May 13, 2023 10:17 am
ryuns wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:57 pm
pennstater2005 wrote:Please no like button. I'm not 12.
Just because Facebook does it doesn't mean it's somehow reserved for social networking or 12 year olds. It could conceivably be a way to allow readers to focus on the posts that other people found the most useful. Given the amount of time I spend her relative to some others, I'd personally find this useful, especially for threads that I've missed and have expanded to several pages.
Like and agree
11 years younger me appreciates the supporter.
by ryuns
Tue May 16, 2023 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Visiting Redwood National Park - Recommendations for hotel stays and things to do
Replies: 7
Views: 872

Re: Visiting Redwood National Park - Recommendations for hotel stays and things to do

There is lodging in Arcata, nothing fancy but some budget style hotels. I usually camp when there so I can't give specifics on hotels. Or, you can stay at the north end in Crescent City. There are a lot of areas to explore, hike around the redwoods etc. Prairie Creek Redwoods is one of the more popular areas and serves as kind of a hub for that area. I am a photographer so fog is important to me as far as atmosphere goes, if you are in Prairie Creek area there isn't any fog, and you want to experience the redwoods in the fog, a safe bet is to drive up to Lady Bird Johnson grove. Higher elevation, more chances of fog (from my experience). Although, going the end of June you will probably have no issues finding fog :) IMO the redwoods are a ...
by ryuns
Wed Apr 05, 2023 4:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College Decision: Health/Pre-Med Track In-state vs Out-of-State
Replies: 71
Views: 6350

Re: College Decision: Health/Pre-Med Track In-state vs Out-of-State

newjr wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:37 pm
Big Dog wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 4:53 pm For premed instate, I'd go with Davis. Slightly less competitive vibe than SD.
You are making me rethink UCD. The reason we felt UCD may not be a good choice was because of its ranking and DD was not impressed with the campus when she went to competitions etc during her high school clubs.
In-state seems like a no-brainer to me as well. Among those two, definitely take the time to visit both campuses and spend a night if possible. If she likes kite surfing (and the coast in general), UCSD is probably a no-brainer. Davis's setting is naturally less fantastic than San Diego and the campus lacks the grandeur of UCLA or UCB, but it is indeed a pretty great school, with a great campus life and the surrounding city is pleasant and safe.
by ryuns
Wed Dec 14, 2022 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Keep an idle car that will be needed, eventually? (College)
Replies: 19
Views: 1547

Re: Keep an idle car that will be needed, eventually? (College)

While the transactions involved will be a pain, owning a car you don't use can also be a pain, even if a small, subtle one. Commenters are right to point out that she may want it sooner than the expected timeline, but she also may want it later. It also gives you a chance to switch up her ride, if her needs change. Left field: You don't mention what your other two cars are, how often both are in use, or if you're happy with them. One option would be to part with one of your two primary cars, drive the Verano while she's not using it, give it back to her at some point in the future, then buy yourself something else. (You could, e.g., use this as an opportunity to go electric in a couple years, once there are more options and more cars eligib...
by ryuns
Wed Oct 26, 2022 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IVF - Any Advice? [Financial aspects]
Replies: 27
Views: 2486

Re: IVF - Any Advice? [Financial aspects]

Good luck to you. We went through this same pattern. We frankly did not expect to keep trying after medication and then rounds of IUI. The doctor at our fertility clinic was great, however, and explained our chances in precise language we understood (statistics!) and we moved forward. We were buoyed by the success rates for folks in our position. Still, we were lucky and IVF worked on the first attempt. Our daughter turned 1 last weekend. Regarding insurance, have you determined what is covered by your current insurance? Because this is often paid at least partially out of pocket, your clinic should be willing to help you determine what is covered by insurance and what will be out of pocket. If you have any flexibility on time (or for futur...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 24, 2022 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home
Replies: 12
Views: 2057

Re: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home

Hi all, our family has gotten a little bigger and we've admitted to ourselves that we'll need a bigger/more functional house in the future. We adore our current 3/1 house and our neighbors and neighborhood, but will need another bathroom and more storage space eventually. We have a 10 month old, and will likely have another kid, and DW and I both work from home 3-4 days per week. Have you considered renovating your existing house, adding a new master bedroom with an attached bathroom? We have! The conclusion we came to was that the only way to end up with a house that we were really happy with, based on the lot and layout of the home, would be to add a second story AND significantly alter the layout of the first floor. This would be very c...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 24, 2022 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home
Replies: 12
Views: 2057

Re: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home

Turnover is low, and renovations, etc, mean fewer houses on the market fit our needs. We think we want to be prepared to move on a house relatively quickly if the "right" one comes on the market, but with a flexible timeline. Quick background: House value $600k-700k, with $500k in equity. Houses we're shopping for are in the $800-1000k range. Combined income is $240k/yr. Hi there, I'm a banker. Honestly this is the exact scenario where setting up a HELOC and using it for the down payment on the new house makes a ton of sense. You have a lot of equity to tap, and the interest you'll pay for a couple of months on the DP amount may be dwarfed by the dividends and returns you'll earn by keeping the DP invested while you house hunt ov...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 24, 2022 1:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Carseat
Replies: 12
Views: 1198

Re: Carseat

Thanks so much! Does the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat include a high back booster seat? Hello fellow dad! Ours turned 10 months yesterday. Graco Extend2Fit is pretty universally beloved, and it seems to be the safest thing on the market. Wirecutter's review is really helpful https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-convertible-car-seats/ That said, for ease of installation, their runner-up Britax gets better marks so it might be worth considering. Their guide on when to change seats is helpful too. No need to rush into the next stage if the infant seat still works, but I get it--ours is already getting tight in the shoulders and feet. As far as I know, the convertible seats just don't pare well with strollers, which is too ...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 24, 2022 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home
Replies: 12
Views: 2057

Re: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home

Outside of the $500k in home equity, how much could you come up with? Emergency fund Taxable Account Roth Contributions How much cash can you save a month towards the downpayment? Roth contributions are the absolute last thing I would touch since they can't be replaced. Thanks for the response. We have about $160k that's in EF + taxable liquid and easily accessible, plus more that's less liquid. So, 20% down payment for $1M house is a little more work, but $800k is doable. I only mention the Roth because as a backup to the EF in the case of a true emergency, before the EF had been replinished. We definitely wouldn't plan to tap that for the house purchase. We're some probably $1k/month, but it's a bit dynamic since our infant started dayca...
by ryuns
Tue Aug 23, 2022 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home
Replies: 12
Views: 2057

Re: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home

We are in roughly the same boat. Here’s what I would do if you can: -raise the 20% down from income and selling investments -raise enough in savings so you can cover both mortgages for whatever number of months makes you comfortable, just in case -buy the new place - given that you have such a small mortgage on the first home your DTI should be fine -sell the old place and replenish all investments to your satisfaction This puts you in a reasonably competitive position. Your income is high enough that it’s not really a huge risk for you. Having savings to cover cash flow for the mortgages should something go south is just a little self-insurance. Remember you can refinance quickly once the first home is sold if you don’t like the terms of ...
by ryuns
Mon Aug 22, 2022 3:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home
Replies: 12
Views: 2057

Preparing financially to "jump on" a new home

Hi all, our family has gotten a little bigger and we've admitted to ourselves that we'll need a bigger/more functional house in the future. We adore our current 3/1 house and our neighbors and neighborhood, but will need another bathroom and more storage space eventually. We have a 10 month old, and will likely have another kid, and DW and I both work from home 3-4 days per week. Our timeline is pretty flexible, and we're in no rush, but we really want to stay in our neighborhood, which is about 100 years old. Turnover is low, and renovations, etc, mean fewer houses on the market fit our needs. We think we want to be prepared to move on a house relatively quickly if the "right" one comes on the market, but with a flexible timeline...
by ryuns
Mon Aug 22, 2022 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: BH thoughts - 3rd home as a non-rental investment
Replies: 44
Views: 3784

Re: BH thoughts - 3rd home as a non-rental investment

To add to the choir, obviously a second vacation home is likely to get used less often, so your marginal utility goes down significantly. If the other purported benefit is to hedge against future appreciation in an area you want to live in 5-10 years, what's preventing you from selling your second house and purchasing in the new location? Then you would continue to have a vacation home, while also "pre-purchasing" the home you want to live in full-time in the future.
by ryuns
Mon Aug 22, 2022 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendations for trip to Arches National Park
Replies: 25
Views: 2132

Re: Recommendations for trip to Arches National Park

I do believe you select a time for entry, subject to availability. That said, the timed entry pass is for 2022 only, and they have not announced plans for 2023. Moab is definitely the spot that's going to be centrally located to Arches and Canyonlands. Monument Valley is definitely a long day, so you'll want to decide if you want to prioritize that. One (probably obvious!) thing to be aware of is that it's a long drive to get somewhere where you'll just end up driving more to get to vistas, etc. Castle Valley and other spots around Moab have some similar, if less spectacular, features. Moab is going to be pricey and busy, of course, but it's otherwise a fun, very well-located town. But definitely compare the prices to spots a little farther...
by ryuns
Mon Aug 22, 2022 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Carseat
Replies: 12
Views: 1198

Re: Carseat

Hello fellow dad! Ours turned 10 months yesterday. Graco Extend2Fit is pretty universally beloved, and it seems to be the safest thing on the market. Wirecutter's review is really helpful https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-convertible-car-seats/ That said, for ease of installation, their runner-up Britax gets better marks so it might be worth considering. Their guide on when to change seats is helpful too. No need to rush into the next stage if the infant seat still works, but I get it--ours is already getting tight in the shoulders and feet. As far as I know, the convertible seats just don't pare well with strollers, which is too bad. That said, for travel, an "upgraded" umbrella stroller is a good option if you don'...
by ryuns
Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Affording a CA (Sacramento) Home - Single Buyer Early 30's
Replies: 27
Views: 4516

Re: Affording a CA (Sacramento) Home - Single Buyer Early 30's

A bit late to this, but local, so it caught my eye. You're stretching a bit on DTI, but it's doable depending on other expenses. Put together a budget if you haven't already. If you don't have high expenses elsewhere (student loans, long commute, children), then stretching above guidelines might be reasonable. OTOH, owning a house is its whole brand new expense category. While we've gone >10 years in our house with very few expenses (finally had to replace an old HVAC, and it needs a paint job), my brother's house (also in Sac) almost immediately need new sewer, new storm water drainage, and replaced concrete patio. I know you didn't ask about specific areas, but my unsolicited advice is that you can get a small home like what you're lookin...
by ryuns
Wed Mar 10, 2021 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VSP Plans or something else?
Replies: 5
Views: 887

Re: VSP Plans or something else?

If you have relatively straightforward vision care needs and can buy glasses through an online, probably better to self-insure. It might be worth your time to price out an eye exam at local optometrists to see how that compares to the cost of insurance. They generally run in the ~$100 range at the chains, I believe. With my VSP, I can also get a fancy retinal screening for an affordable copay.

From there, are the benefits for lenses and frames worth much? My basic VSP coverage has a few discounts and allowances for lenses and frames, but they still end up massively more expensive than something like Zenni. But if I wanted an in-person location to try on glasses, the discounts afforded by the insurance would be helpful.
by ryuns
Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rooftop Solar Plan and Pricing - Feedback?
Replies: 39
Views: 4378

Re: Rooftop Solar Plan and Pricing - Feedback?

You will go on time of use with PG&E. Your solar credits will drop as PG&E moves highest retail rates to later part of the afternoon, around 5pm. Your solar production will drop like a rock during this time. PG&E will provide solar credits at the cheapest retail rates during most of the production time. This is the reality of it. So take that into account, your payoff time needs to reflect that. It might make sense to consider battery to discharge during peak retail credits, such as after 5pm, and to offset PSPS events. I think this is really worth emphasizing. I would be extremely surprised if PG&E will continue offering net metering to solar customers, which is very expensive for the utility (effectively buying power from...
by ryuns
Tue Oct 08, 2019 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Find my phone -- easy way to find it when lost in the house?
Replies: 38
Views: 3565

Re: Find my phone -- easy way to find it when lost in the house?

In addition to what's been mentioned, google home will ring your phone too. This is more helpful than simply saying "hey google", since you always know where your google home is, but may not be in earshot of your phone. You can set up voice recognition too, so it knows whose phone you're referring to.
by ryuns
Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Triathlon Bike?
Replies: 32
Views: 4098

Re: Best Triathlon Bike?

I have a used P2. Works great. Shimano 105 components. Standard (non-race) wheels. I passed guys on 10k bikes wtih 2k wheels going up the hills on my last Ironman. If you've raced before, you know it's 90% about the engine. Personally, I'd prefer a cheaper bike and a nicer trainer (depending on where you live) and a decent power meter and a Zwift subscription! :D I second all this. If you're going the tri bike route (i ride a roadie with aero bars), a P2 is hard to beat for the money. There are obviously amazing bikes out there, but consensus among cyclists is that your description really hits the sweet spot of investment, while minimizing diminishing returns: A fairly aero bike with a good aero position (dependent on good fit of course). ...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Costa Rica
Replies: 16
Views: 2170

Re: Trip to Costa Rica

There are essentially two airports for international travel. LIberia is smaller and has fewer flights, but it's easier to navigate from and closer to the coast. If you have access and are interested in the Pacific coast, this is a good option. San Jose is big and centrally located. I found driving to be pretty straightforward, except that, as others noted, it took longer than google maps estimates. You also have to be prepared for slower, more poorly maintained cars and people's willingness to pass more dangerously than we'd be comfortable with here (across double yellow, without adequate space). All that said, I found drivers to be surprisingly nice--they seemed to drive aggressively as a survival mechanism but were generally affable about...
by ryuns
Wed Aug 21, 2019 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to "follow up" with colleague about job prospect
Replies: 19
Views: 1506

Re: When to "follow up" with colleague about job prospect

OP here: These are some really great recommendations. Quite a bit of diversity of approaches, which is interesting to consider. I hesitated to ask for professional advice on an investing forum, but I've developed such a respect for folks here that it was clearly a good decision. (As an aside, I worried that such a message, on behalf of my wife as it were, would seem a bit...patriarchal maybe?, so I'm glad no one seemed to take it that way. We're both in first-line management and talk a ton about different issues we face and it's really valuable.) A couple additional thoughts/responses: As for being more self-promoting I think that just takes time and observing people who do that well. Is she in the mindset that any self-promotion is totally...
by ryuns
Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: RV purchase ?
Replies: 86
Views: 8301

Re: RV purchase ?

I will say that the OP is very optimistic! Our kids are preschool / elementary school age and to be honest they'd rather fight with each other over who is the line leader than admire any pretty views or sights on the way. Lol. My kids too will be very similar. I definitely wouldn't expect 7-9 trips per year to be sustainable. Yes, I too suspect that. My reasoning though was that in the past 1-2 years, there have been many weekends where we just wanted to get outdoors and all the state/national park camps were booked out. But there were several RV campgrounds available. 1) YHow is traffic from your house to wherever you would drive the RV? Traffic is horrible near SF. I was thinking of working around that by leaving at like 7:30 PM on frida...
by ryuns
Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:23 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When to "follow up" with colleague about job prospect
Replies: 19
Views: 1506

When to "follow up" with colleague about job prospect

My wife has been at the same job for ~13 years. The man who hired her at that time (bringing her along from a university job where she worked as an undergrad) and supervised her for about half that time recently announced that he was leaving the company for a new job. His new job is in a high-ranking leadership position helping to set up a new research institute, and it appears he will be instrumental in filling positions as the institute is up and running. He was a mentor for my wife early in her career, we attended each other's weddings, and he was instrumental in my wife's career path. Great guy in general. His new job was announced publicly at their current job site, and when she followed up to wish him congratulations, he joked that &q...
by ryuns
Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Poll: Beater or Luxury car for long daily commute
Replies: 33
Views: 2257

Re: Poll: Beater or Luxury car for long daily commute

If you're a person who quickly gets used to having nice things, such that they don't regularly bring you joy relative to a more affordable option, then definitely #1. Nice cars are nice, but they're really expensive, and TCO for a nice car and a long commute will be high. For me, it wouldn't be worth it.

If you get daily enjoyment from nicer options in your life, then consider option #2. But for a commute, a high-MPG middle ground might be appropriate: Camry or Avalon hybrid, Accord hybrid, Lexus ES hybrid.
by ryuns
Fri Jun 07, 2019 5:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Highly appreciated whiskies
Replies: 34
Views: 4396

Re: Highly appreciated whiskies

I think the economically rational answer is that if you wouldn't pay for it what it's currently worth, you're better off selling it. This is basically the subject of Richard Thaler's favorite behavioral economics anecdote, about the colleague who wouldn't sell his highly appreciated wines, but also proclaimed that he's *never* spend as much for the wine as it was worth. If it were me, I'd sell it, but then allocate the proceeds to something extravagant that I *did* find worth the money--a different bottle of whiskey, a fancy dinner, etc.
by ryuns
Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Bank: Schwab or Fidelity
Replies: 20
Views: 3230

Re: New Bank: Schwab or Fidelity

For our personal accounts, I use Schwab and my wife uses Fidelity. Similar features, and both are great. For my part, I love Schwab. I just got back from an overseas trip and got reimbursed for all my ATM fees. I also used my ATM card as a credit card in a couple places where chip+PIN was required (rather than chip and signature, like my CC) and didn't pay foreign transaction fees.
by ryuns
Thu Feb 28, 2019 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I move to a high cost of living area?
Replies: 48
Views: 3418

Re: Should I move to a high cost of living area?

If this is definitely a quality of life improvement, then I would say do it. Marin is beautiful, and the Bay Area, for all its myriad issues, can still be a very nice place to live if you make enough money. Since the work is in Marin, if you can afford to live there/nearby, you can avoid the dreaded Bay Area commutes. You'll also be on the "edge" of the megalopolis, making it an easy trip to get out of the city and to some of the most beautiful places in the country.
by ryuns
Mon Jan 28, 2019 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Subaru Windshields and Eyesight Cameras - What's your experience?
Replies: 22
Views: 4072

Re: Subaru Windshields and Eyesight Cameras - What's your experience?

Windshield replacement, should that ever come up, will likely be more expensive. However, if you carry a low deductible on comprehensive coverage, you're largely insulated from this cost anyway, assuming the overall insurance rates for the Subaru are reasonable. (And I imagine they are, since the system is designed to prevent accidents.)
by ryuns
Fri Jan 18, 2019 11:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Tributes to Jack Bogle
Replies: 266
Views: 42601

Re: Tributes to Jack Bogle

Planet Money's The Indicator podcast dedicated a whole (albeit short) episode to Mr Bogle:
R.I.P. Jack Bogle, Democratizer Of Investing
He was a giant in the financial industry but in a way, his legacy is not about what he did for the financial sector, but rather about the ways that he tried to prevent the financial sector from ripping people off.
by ryuns
Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Restaurant Budget
Replies: 113
Views: 9039

Re: Restaurant Budget

One thing I've enjoyed "growing up" with this group (starting visiting fresh out of college when I started investing in a 401k) is that, while this group tends to be fairly frugal in general, there's not stigma to spending money that you have budgeted, to do things you enjoy. If going out is something you value, and you're meeting all your other financial goals for savings, debt payoff, etc, then by all means. On the other hand, $700/mo is a good chunk of change. If a lot of the eating out is simply because you didn't have anything in the fridge to cook that night, or you didn't plan to bring leftovers to work, then there are a lot of ways to bring that number down. For my wife and I, we spend a fair amount going out, but it's mos...
by ryuns
Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart Home: Google, Apple, or Amazon?
Replies: 45
Views: 5755

Re: Smart Home: Google, Apple, or Amazon?

I just got a couple of Google Home Minis for next to nothing via the Spotify deal and they are fairly useful even without smart home stuff: we do have a Nest but leave it at a set temp. Smart lights are just not worth it at this point. Cameras seem a little paranoid. Most useful Google Home features so far (I'm curious what else it can do): Reads the headline, political, financial news Make a call with convenient hands free speakerphone (without my phone around) Ask for interesting facts Play music from Spotify: just ordered a Chromecast Audio to play through the stereo Chromecast audio integration is seamless. I love that. It's far more functional, IME, than bluetooth. I generally use it to play a given artist or playlist, but it also wor...
by ryuns
Fri Oct 12, 2018 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Downtown Condo Living w/ Kids
Replies: 15
Views: 2377

Re: Downtown Condo Living w/ Kids

As others have said, you can always give it a go and see if it works for you. While there would be plenty of added difficulties, there are also benefits to density, short commutes, and close amenities. There are plenty of headaches and expenses that people in the 'burbs put up with as a cost of doing business, just as there are with people in the city. I'm not yet a parent, but I think that means I don't have much of a conflict of interest ( :happy ) when I say that kids are probably going to benefit most from what makes you most happy and what makes you most able to spend time with them and take them places. My wife and I are from the same, relatively small, home town, and the experience of children in even our mid-sized town is wildly dif...
by ryuns
Mon May 14, 2018 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bicycle insurance? when you're in the roadway like a car
Replies: 38
Views: 4723

Re: Bicycle insurance? when you're in the roadway like a car

Might not answer all your questions, but this is a pretty helpful overview of insurance coverage and insurance needs for cyclists: https://www.bikelaw.com/2016/06/does-au ... accidents/
by ryuns
Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?
Replies: 17
Views: 2147

Re: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?

Thanks so much for all the helpful advice, everyone! This is such a great community of folks
by ryuns
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?
Replies: 17
Views: 2147

Re: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?

badbreath wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:13 pm Has your Mother asked you to think about this, if not move on and get your finances up.
Ok...I'll be sure to make sure my finances are "up " :confused In any case, I think I tried to explain this in my post, but yes, I've clearly been involved in a limited capacity in some of my mom's finances. It's very explicit that if something were to happen to her, the responsibilities for the estate would fall to me, but I don't know exactly what those responsibilities are and whether that's cause for concern.
by ryuns
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?
Replies: 17
Views: 2147

Re: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?

When you say she has asked you to log onto several accounts, are those accounts that are in her name? You should not be logging in using another person's credentials. If she wants you to be involved in her finances and prepared to help her out should she need it, you should go through the proper channels of her giving you "agent authorization" on the accounts, which can be done with a form (no lawyers involved). For more complex estate planning, she would want to name you as power of attorney. Sorry--I wasn't clear there. When I say "signed on to several accounts", I mean as authorized agent. (I'll update the OP). We were in a bank. Obviously, my imprecise language is a reflection of the reasons why I felt I should post...
by ryuns
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?
Replies: 17
Views: 2147

Re: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?

One could speculate about many things (e.g., the value being provided by the "financial planner who has a long-standing relationship with our family") but until/unless your mother asks, it may not be worth volunteering to help. Thanks for the response. I suppose that is my question--whether it should be my business to try to glean information that I may eventually need, so I'm not left in a lurch trying to figure it all out. Like, I *think* she's done most of the best practices that one would recommend for someone in her position, but I just don't know. I'm not really interested in second-guessing the individual decisions about things like investments. For what it's worth, I mention that her financial planner has a long-standing ...
by ryuns
Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What do I need to know about my mom's finances?
Replies: 17
Views: 2147

What do I need to know about my mom's finances?

Hi friends. I'm 33. My mother is 72, but is in excellent health, living independently and doing a ton of traveling. But she is a widow (my father/her husband died ~23 years ago), and I will be the main person dealing with her affairs after she passes. (I have an older brother, but I'm a 3 hour drive away compared to his cross-country flight.) And because she is a complete saint, she is also the "provider" for her brother-in-law (my dad's brother) who deals with mental illness (schizophrenia, and possibly other diagnoses). (Statistically, she'll probably outlive him--he's been hospitalized several times for heart issue and is generally pretty unhealthy--but obviously nothing is certain). She doles out money to him from social secur...
by ryuns
Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Worth changing 40 gal. to 30gal. hot water tank?
Replies: 90
Views: 16663

Re: Worth changing 40 gal. to 30gal. hot water tank?

If one is really interested in saving on the utility bill, the size of your water heater is pretty low on the list of things to consider (and may not help at all, as others note. Reduing the amount of hot water you actually use is a lot more effective. Many folks disagree, but I actually found downsizing from a 2.5 gpm showerhead to 1.5 to be pretty painless. It takes my wife a little longer to rinse her hair, but not a huge deal. Saves a pile of money (and I never worry about running out of hot water because I'm draining the tank far more slowly.)
by ryuns
Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it difficult to switch from an iPhone to an Android?
Replies: 99
Views: 11887

Re: Is it difficult to switch from an iPhone to an Android?

Looks like Costco has a good price for Moto G5 Plus at about 170 this month for members only. I am not a member so don't know if it would be worth it for me compared to Amazon with ads at $185. My kid does belong, however, so that is another option. I have been watching their online site for quite a while. FYI, a leaked Costco Black Friday ad shows that deal is expected to come back on Nov 17 on Costco.com: https://bestblackfriday.com/ads/costco-extended-black-friday/page-12#ad_view I'd actually rather get the upgraded 4gb of RAM version for a bit extra, but that's not an option at Costco, so I'll hope for a sale at Amazon. Thanks. I was there but lost track of details. I am still waffling on which way to go, and am not in a great hurry to...
by ryuns
Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: GPS watch
Replies: 26
Views: 3515

Re: GPS watch

General recommendation: No one does reviews of fitness devices better than www.dcrainmaker.com Excellent site.
by ryuns
Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it difficult to switch from an iPhone to an Android?
Replies: 99
Views: 11887

Re: Is it difficult to switch from an iPhone to an Android?

BL wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:23 pm Looks like Costco has a good price for Moto G5 Plus at about 170 this month for members only. I am not a member so don't know if it would be worth it for me compared to Amazon with ads at $185. My kid does belong, however, so that is another option. I have been watching their online site for quite a while.
FYI, a leaked Costco Black Friday ad shows that deal is expected to come back on Nov 17 on Costco.com: https://bestblackfriday.com/ads/costco- ... 12#ad_view

I'd actually rather get the upgraded 4gb of RAM version for a bit extra, but that's not an option at Costco, so I'll hope for a sale at Amazon.
by ryuns
Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CR doesn't like some formerly favored SUVs
Replies: 25
Views: 4057

Re: CR doesn't like some formerly favored SUVs

The Consumer Reports reliability rating is based on owner surveys, so it is real data, but it has some major caveats. First of all (you might have heard this line before), past performance is not a guarantee of future results - some reliability problems get fixed, and sometimes new problems are introduced during a redesign, etc. I want to say I read they don't give newly redesigned models top reliability scores, but I can't remember for sure. Second, it doesn't, as far as I know, clearly discriminate between functional problems with the vehicle, and problems with the myriad accessory features many modern cars have, especially the higher end cars. Glitchy infotainment firmware is quite a bit different than premature transmission issues. Thi...
by ryuns
Thu Nov 02, 2017 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?
Replies: 141
Views: 16443

Re: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?

DiggleRex wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:55 pm
ryuns wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:14 pm T-Mobile, which probably doesn't help you, since you're on Verizon. We just bought the unlocked ad-free version via Amazon, so it's mostly bloatware free, excluding a few Motorola items, which are mostly helpful.
Any particular reason she chose that version over the s version?
For her, it was mostly size. She was coming from an iPhone 5c with 4" screen, so bumping up to 5.2 was enough for her [add jokes here]. The reviews I read said the camera wasn't *that* much better, so it's really only worth the extra $50 if you want a bigger screen.
by ryuns
Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?
Replies: 141
Views: 16443

Re: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?

DiggleRex wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:50 pm
ryuns wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:13 pm My wife just bought a Motorola G5 Plus (not the S with the slightly larger screen), for $300 (for the 4gb RAM version). It's super fast--no lag, great response time.
What network is she using it on?
T-Mobile, which probably doesn't help you, since you're on Verizon. We just bought the unlocked ad-free version via Amazon, so it's mostly bloatware free, excluding a few Motorola items, which are mostly helpful.
by ryuns
Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Robot vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floor
Replies: 21
Views: 2735

Re: Robot vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floor

Slight aside: I wish I had a good way to *try* a couple different Roombas and see how they work in my house. We've got tile, hardwood, carpet and a floor rug, along with some half-inch thresholds between each. Seems like the internet is pretty mixed on how effective it would be at handling those thresholds, transitioning surfaces, etc. Might just have to get a lighter, battery-powered vacuum to complement our massive and inconvenient Dyson upright.
by ryuns
Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?
Replies: 141
Views: 16443

Re: Anyone planning on getting the new Pixel phone?

This is somewhat secondhand, from using a friend's phone for a while and getting his take but: It's just a really nice phone. Great design. Non-XL version is the perfect size IMO--right size screen, limited bezel. I personally think the rear fingerprint scanner is a pretty intuitive design. The display is gorgeous (tested it out with some 4k videos on youtube and...wow). The camera is fantastic. My wife just bought a Motorola G5 Plus (not the S with the slightly larger screen), for $300 (for the 4gb RAM version). It's super fast--no lag, great response time. Generally not noticeably slower than the Pixel, though I'm sure it is much slower in certain circumstances. The screen is Full HD but not OLED. It's gorgeous, but not quite as jaw-dropp...
by ryuns
Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cheap low speed unlimited data
Replies: 16
Views: 2415

Re: Cheap low speed unlimited data

What's the cheapest unlimited low speed data plan out there? My main usage will be browsing, email, texting/messaging, maps, and downloading apps/content. If it can stream a radio station or music, all the better. Cricket Wireless has a $30 plan with 1GB of High speed data and "speeds reduced after allowance is used". If you have 5 lines, it goes down to $20/month. https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans Any plans around $10 with unlimited data or less than $20 stand alone? Keep in mind that if you do want to stream music, 1 gb won't last long, and you probably won't be able to keep up streaming with reduced speed. If that's important to you, one option to consider is T-Mobile prepaid for $45 a month, which has 4gb of da...
by ryuns
Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sunscreen: use it all the time? (And what's a good one w/o sting?)
Replies: 58
Views: 6726

Re: Sunscreen: use it all the time? (And what's a good one w/o sting?)

numberman wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:49 am
And most of the hats that provide adequate sun protection look pretty dumb on guys. Oh well.
I feel like it's mostly context dependent. If I'm hiking, or doing yard work, or out at the lake, a wide brim hat looks pretty reasonable. If I'm out at a BBQ or something, then yeah, it can feel a little silly. In that case, my compromise is a nice baseball cap and good sunscreen.