Search found 2205 matches

by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Mar 03, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Open Social Security Question: When It Says to Take Benefits
Replies: 22
Views: 2371

Re: Open Social Security Question: When It Says to Take Benefits

I looked at the question as to when to take SS without doing any cacluation of the so-called beak even point.

I am in good health, no ongoing health conditions and both parents lived into their 90's, granndparents at least late 80's. Given that and the fact that we had ample resources to make it to 70 (wife to 72) without SS, I was inclned to delay as long as possible to get the largest monthly payment. The fact that I was in effect getting a lifeetime annuity that Icoudl not out live was the icing on the cake.

I also used the years between retirement and SS to do some TIRA>Roth conversions.
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best water heater with solar
Replies: 55
Views: 5233

Re: Best water heater with solar

Not to be a PITA but if you have radiators you have a boiler not a furnace.
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Talk me out of buying a Nissan Armada!
Replies: 29
Views: 1937

Re: Talk me out of buying a Nissan Armada!

Your ability to avoid the accident was, in part, due to the handling of your current vehicle. Sure, the Armada might have been better in the event of a crash, but you avoided the crash with the agility of your current vehicle
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best water heater with solar
Replies: 55
Views: 5233

Re: Best water heater with solar

cmr79 wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:38 am One kWh of electricity in a heat pump moves 3-4 kWh of heat.
It gets a bit more complex in that the heat it is moving has already been produced; if you are in the South and keep it outdoors that is not much of an issue. If your water heater is in space that you conditioned with some other heat source that affects the financials.There is a big debate going on in the HVAC community about this, I come down on the side that the hybrids win the race.

Here is a somewhat dated hands on review:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/ar ... ter-heater
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best water heater with solar
Replies: 55
Views: 5233

Re: Best water heater with solar

There are several models of hybrid water heaters that use 120V; best used if you can mostly rely on the heat pump as the recovery will be slow on the electric side.
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/he ... ard-outlet
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pressure Treated Decking Lumber
Replies: 26
Views: 2306

Re: Pressure Treated Decking Lumber

Indeed, little heart wood to be found.

Years ago an old-timer told me "heart side up, heart side out", not sure if that still is relevant given the youth of the planted timber used today
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Older, clean title vehicle or newer rebuilt vehicle?
Replies: 26
Views: 2368

Re: Older, clean title vehicle or newer rebuilt vehicle?

In earlier times, I always bought cars at "Crash Palace"; it was in MA and the aforementiioned Commonwealth process was followed. Once I bought a two year old Accord, it had been stolen and the seats and ignition were replaced. Drove a treat for many years.All in all, the experiences were fine and avoding the cars from the South was part of the key to success
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HVAC Replacement - Connecticut - Trane + thermo pride oil furnace
Replies: 46
Views: 3558

Re: HVAC Replacement - Connecticut - Trane + thermo pride oil furnace

vsk wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:45 pm
I asked the sales guy is 98,000 BTUH good enought when existing one is 140,000 BTUH and he said
unfortunately I won’t quote you for the 140,000 BTU unit as it would have many problems such as short cycling, resulting in your unit being operated more than it needs to be. The furnace you currently have is oversized for your home. The 98,000 is sized accurately
An installer who wants to correctly size a furnace! Those are rare birds in my experience. I'd ask how he calculated the size and if it is credible, thank him for saving you money and potential discomfort. Oversizing is the usual result of "rule of thumb" to which is added a lttle extra "juust to be sure"
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HVAC Replacement - Connecticut - Trane + thermo pride oil furnace
Replies: 46
Views: 3558

Re: HVAC Replacement - Connecticut - Trane + thermo pride oil furnace

Here is a link to an article featuring John Siegenthaler, regarded as a leading expert on hydronic systems. Much of what he says here can apply to a hot air system (furnace).
https://www.pmengineer.com/articles/967 ... el-sources

He describes keeping the (boiler in his instance) along with the heat pumps and prioritizing which to use based on efficiency of the heat pumps.
With the heat pumps you get your AC and have a way to access it when heating demands are low (probably 70% f the time in CT). Might even be able to use existing ducts to distribute the air (warm and cool)
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: '19 VW GTI Autobahn with low miles and warranty expiring in '26
Replies: 6
Views: 632

Re: '19 VW GTI Autobahn with low miles and warranty expiring in '26

Svensk Anga wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:08 am If you enjoy the experience of shifting for yourself, you might better hang on to it. Every year there are fewer and fewer choices of available standard transmission cars. And as die hard manual fans hang on to their cars, I would expect the used market to get pretty thin.

There is a list of your skimpy current options in the first post here: https://www.early-retirement.org/forums ... 20940.html
Hyundai Elantra N not a GTI but not GTI $$
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Feb 16, 2024 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bank login security question - need a dummy SMS number
Replies: 52
Views: 4877

Re: Bank login security question - need a dummy SMS number

I have used a GV number for my two accounts (Fidelity, Vanguard) with no issue. In the past few years have migrated to using the app on my Pixel 7, all with fingerprint access. Works when we do foreign travel as well
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electrolux vs LG Washer/Dryer
Replies: 20
Views: 2163

Re: Electrolux vs LG Washer/Dryer

In their review, https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/revi ... and-dryer/ they picked the LG but noted reliability questions. The runner up was an Electrolux.
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Feb 16, 2024 7:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Naming a Trust: Does it Matter?
Replies: 30
Views: 3562

Re: Naming a Trust: Does it Matter?

Cruise wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:56 pm OP here with a follow-up to this three-year-old thread. We ended up using our real names after discussing further with our attorney. One reason we did this is because don’t plan on having any real property to hide. Glad we didn’t use a silly name because that would have looked weird on our bank checks. :)
Back when Vanguard Advantage check writing was available, I had them print the checks that drew on our trust account with just our names, obscuring that it was coming from a trust. For our new check writing asset we established a small joint account that would, upon our deaths, give our son access to early estate expenses.
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Feb 14, 2024 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Re: Parking a US mobile number while traveling

Thanks for the post, I am leaning to sticking with Google Voice, better go with what you know (and has worked flawlessly for me over the years, including extended China trips) than venture to the (to me) untested.
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Re: Parking a US mobile number while traveling

My inquiry is limited to the parking of a US number and it is not AT&T. I intend to discontinue my US-based account for the duration of the trip. I have had a google voice number for years and found it to do what I need wtihout hiccups.

With my two financial homes (Vanguard and Fidelity) 2 factor authentication comes easy with the apps so that meets my needs on that front.
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Re: Parking a US mobile number while traveling

we'll be gone a year and don't want to pay for service I won't use. Google Voice gives me free calling back to the US as well as free incoming calls. Texts come along for the ride.
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Parking a US mobile number while traveling
Replies: 19
Views: 1979

Parking a US mobile number while traveling

We are headed out of the country for 7 months and want to park our mobile numbers somewhere, I have looked at various sites, they all seem indistigushable from one another ie Numberbarn. We each already have a google voice number and that could work but needs to be used from time to time to be kept.

It also seems that some of the parking services would also us to make wifi calls back to the US (we can already do this with GV not sure if it is needed.

Looking for some folks who may have first hand experience in the matter
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?
Replies: 168
Views: 13548

Re: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?

Excellent information and I verified it on the Chevy website.
"How do you know if a dealer is lying?"
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?
Replies: 168
Views: 13548

Re: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?

MH2 wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 6:20 pm A used Tesla Model 3 and Y would be my choice. The EV depreciation issue is overblown.

If you’re only driving less than a couple miles a day, why not look at a PHEV with an electric driving mode?
S/he would be way better served, given the use case, in an EV. Why haul around all that extra stuff if it is never going to be used?
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?
Replies: 168
Views: 13548

Re: Thoughts on buying cheap, used, "intermediate" range EV?

corduroysuit wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:58 pm It’s only been about 6 months but I am really happy with my 2018 Bolt, and expecting to get a $4K tax credit.

Lots of these have had battery replacements so they come with up to 10 years/10k miles warranty on the battery. I’m not accustomed to owning cars that still have a bumper to bumper warranty still intact, so not really a big difference for me.
I was told by a large Chevy dealer who does a big business in redone Bolts that the battery warranty on these units starts from the original in-service date of the vehicle.
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Supermarket pizza - any good ones? Any great ones?
Replies: 145
Views: 12478

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

The pizza rabbit hole! If I brought a frozen pizza into the house my family would keel over in fear! Best approach I have found for making your own; Yeilds on 240 g crust (scale up or down) Four (bread flour or some good Italian OO) 150 g Water 90 g (60% hydration) Yeast 1 1/2 tsp Salt 2g Through it in the food processor and form a ball Do some mild kneading and let it sit covered for sometime (variable and very flexible, 6-8 hours or so) then pop it in the fridge for 8-24 hours Take it out 3-4 hours before needed Pre-heat oven to its highest temp with a stone on the rack and the rack in its highest position. Stretch the dough, let it rest In the meantime, heat a 10" cast iron pan on the stove top, then put the crust in a lightly oiled...
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13595

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

"Retired" at 58 and spent the next 8 years teaching a semester a year in southern China, going back to the same university each year. Did a fair amount of travel in China and the region during those months long visits. The political environment in China brought that to an end. My wife and I are mid, late 70's and most enjoy traveling to one site and staying a while. This Fall we head to Madrid where we will stay for 7 months (if I can manage the non-lucrative visa application) and use it as a jumping off point for some wiithin Western Europe travel. We have followed this apporach in the past in different regions of the world and find it gives us an oppportuniity for some in-depth experiences without the agony that travel is (for u...
by TheGreyingDuke
Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: EV tax credit for an assumed lease?
Replies: 10
Views: 867

Re: EV tax credit for an assumed lease?

toddthebod wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:45 am
Someone could start a business connecting people who have leases on matching EVs that expire around the same time to buy out each other's cars at the end of the lease.
The Federal incentive for used cars is only available if you buy it from a dealer, wonder how that happened :annoyed
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Feb 07, 2024 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: EV tax credit for an assumed lease?
Replies: 10
Views: 867

Re: EV tax credit for an assumed lease?

toddthebod wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:54 pm
MikeZ wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:47 pm I have the opportunity to assume the lease on a Tesla with 25 months left. I'm leaning towards no, BUT if I can get a dip at 7,500 tax credit, it's a slam dunk. Anyone know if the tax code is really so terrible to make this work?
You are already getting the credit in the form of a reduced lease cost.
The original lease was priced to account for any tax credit; as mentoned, it is baked into the lease terms, nothing for you to get.

With the significant decrese in Tesla prices over the past 12 months or so, a car leased about a year ago is not going to be any great bargain. Buying new is going to be a better deal.
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?
Replies: 38
Views: 3713

Re: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?

Consider a mini-split system. We installed a unit that puts a split in each bedroom all plumbed to a central compressor. The system works great. The problem with a head unit in each bedroom is that the smallest available unit (8k BTU?) is way more than is needed to heat or cool most bedrooms. In my house the largest bedroom (220 sq ft) has a Manual J heating requirement of 2500 BTU. This would result in short cycling and a hit on longevity. It also could inadequately dehumidify the air leaving you cool and wet :( Good to hear that you are having success and would welcome details on how you made it work. They don't short cycle, they are variable speed, so both units throttle down to the needed BTU output. For sure they throttle, but that th...
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?
Replies: 38
Views: 3713

Re: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?

Jeepergeo wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 8:07 pm Consider a mini-split system.
We installed a unit that puts a split in each bedroom all plumbed to a central compressor.
The system works great.
The problem with a head unit in each bedroom is that the smallest available unit (8k BTU?) is way more than is needed to heat or cool most bedrooms. In my house the largest bedroom (220 sq ft) has a Manual J heating requirement of 2500 BTU. This would result in short cycling and a hit on longevity. It also could inadequately dehumidify the air leaving you cool and wet :(

Good to hear that you are having success and would welcome details on how you made it work.
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Oil fired hot water boiler
Replies: 66
Views: 5049

Re: Oil fired hot water boiler

Is there a way to directly compare a heat pump electricity use in kWh vs an identical oil system? Use my current costs. Oil is $3.25 a gallon and electricity on my last bill was $0.38 per kWh. I'm in the Northeast. I've always heard natural gas is cheap but we're taking care of my father in law's 700 square foot single level house and his natural gas bill (heat and water) last month was $325, which surprised me. We have oil but also a wood furnace so I can't use my costs as comparison. Our alternate that I know of is propane. There's no natural gas on my street. We had propane and it was more expensive than oil. I got rid of it after a house in the center of my town, next to the fire station had a leak and blew the house to smithereens, ki...
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pure Insurance vs. Chubb, $1,000 Savings
Replies: 15
Views: 7988

Re: Pure Insurance vs. Chubb, $1,000 Savings

Kidneydoc wrote: Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:21 pm My GEICO umbrella insurance for $4M is $826. Allstate quoted me $536 for $5M coverage. PURE quotes on their website $780 for $5M. I have yet to meet with individual broker for auto/home quote. Is is worth going to PURE/Chubb vs the mass market insurance companies?
My $3 million umbrella with GEICO hit $750 this renewal, prompted me to shop around. Local agent offered Erie for $236, with auto and condo total was almost $800 under GEICO, never had a claim in 20 years
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:13 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: upstate NY geothermal considerations
Replies: 22
Views: 2344

Re: upstate NY geothermal considerations

Firs things first, following the credo of one of my friends "The greenest kW is the one you don't use", take advantage of the no cost to you energy audit. Get your heating load as low as economically feasible before you do anything about new systems. Once you do that have someone come out and do a Manual J analysis so you have in hand a room by room assessment of your heating (and cooling) needs. The economics in the Empire State yield a great disparity on electricty-natural gas prices with natural gas being way cheaper for unit of energy. So while it is true that a decent cold cimate heat pump might average a 250% efficiency year round and gas will struggle to reach 90% year round, gas is so much cheaper you'll pay more for the h...
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Jan 21, 2024 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare Plan G, N, or G-HD?
Replies: 49
Views: 6474

Re: Medicare Plan G, N, or G-HD?

Dmevsjd wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:08 pm I’m confused about the paperwork issue raised. I’m new to Medicare but got a number of things done after getting covered. I have had no paperwork. Doc bills Medicare, Medicare does its thing and then forwards to supp insurer and they pay their share.

The only “paperwork” was getting an email from my doc’s office indicating I had a balance due for the deductible which was easy to verify before payment.

:?:
Correct, there is no coordination or the like to do, much more streamlined than pre Medicare
by TheGreyingDuke
Sat Jan 20, 2024 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Auto Lease Question
Replies: 6
Views: 937

Re: Auto Lease Question

A cardinal rule for leasing is to never put money down, you risking losing out if you have a wreck early on
by TheGreyingDuke
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"
Replies: 32
Views: 2713

Re: Sell house on open market vs. to "investors?"

A study indicating that when realtors ell their own house they get a better price as compared to when they are an agent for a seller.
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/busi ... -mile.html
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather
Replies: 68
Views: 8121

Re: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather

suemarkp wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:50 pm
If you can heat you house with 60k btu (a 5 ton heat pump), and the ducts can flow 2000 cfm, then a heat pump can work. If those sizes dont work, aux heat can be added but this is raw electric resistance (expensive) or a gas furnace like you already have. You could also reduce your heat needs by installing better windows, adding insulation, etc. Finally, your power panel may not be big enough to handle the heat pump(s). So system upgrades may be required..
Look at this video to see if there is a way you can proceed without a panel upgrade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dl0FG ... B6&index=6
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather
Replies: 68
Views: 8121

Re: Electric Heat Pump / Mini Split vs Natural Gas Furnace in Cold Weather

suemarkp wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:50 pm A central system may be better if you already have forced air ducting. But you need to size for nearly worst case and not average. How big is your furnace? If it is 80k BTU, you wont find a residential heap pump that large. It also needs to move more air because heat pump air is not as hot as air from a gas furnace. So duct work is a size throttle
I wouldn't look at the plate on the furnace and go with that as the heat load. Furnaces are usually way oversized ("let's make it a little bit bigger" is the mantra of installers) and only a percise measurement of your heating (and cooling) needs will right size the system. A Manual J is your firend, don't leave home without it!
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: buying car on lease and paying off in 1 month
Replies: 27
Views: 5341

Re: buying car on lease and paying off in 1 month

MishkaWorries wrote: Sun Jan 07, 2024 11:00 am The dealer told me the $7500 was cash rebate from Hyundai. Maybe he was wrong. You're right to thoroughly research before you buy.
That's close enough to the truth to be actionable. The details are that Hyundai Finance collects the $7500 tax credit and they reduce the selling price.
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Jan 07, 2024 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: buying car on lease and paying off in 1 month
Replies: 27
Views: 5341

Re: buying car on lease and paying off in 1 month

idoc2020 wrote: Sat Jan 06, 2024 9:08 pm I went to the Hyundai website and they say that the IONIQ 5 does qualify for the tax credit (so I'm confused by your initial statement).
They are misinformed
by TheGreyingDuke
Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is this a good deal on Tesla model Y Long range
Replies: 114
Views: 15171

Re: Is this a good deal on Tesla model Y Long range

cmr79 wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 9:36 am Whether Tesla's software focus is a plus or a minus is very much personal, but I would expect the average vehicle in the future to have fewer physical buttons and more functionality controlled by a touchscreen regardless of what fuel the vehicle runs on.
The thing that concerns me about the automatic, non-requested over the air updates is they can also remove items without your say so.
by TheGreyingDuke
Sun Dec 24, 2023 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2023 Prius Prime - $4,500 Lease Cash Offer - how does this compare to paying cash?
Replies: 10
Views: 2126

Re: 2023 Prius Prime - $4,500 Lease Cash Offer - how does this compare to paying cash?

I put down a $500 refundable deposit, got a VIN, and was out of the store in 45 minutes when I bought my Ioniq5 18 months ago this was a long distance transaction
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Post-minivan options
Replies: 24
Views: 2467

Re: Post-minivan options

As I mentioned on a different thread, we rent a minivan 2-3X a year to haul the entire family, suits us fine
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Dec 20, 2023 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling car and using a rental a few times a year
Replies: 34
Views: 2434

Re: Selling car and using a rental a few times a year

Not exactly your situation but perhaps relevant...

My wife and I have gone with 1 car for the past few years. Another factor in our situation is that we travel out of town with our son and his family which necessitates a minivan. Our solution is to rent, usually via our Costco membership.

Over the past year we have had, to date, $1100 in rentals. This has allowed us to specify the type of vehicle needed, one rental was for a pickup truck to move some furniture some distance, two were for minivans, and the rest were the cheapest available. Worry-free driving!
EDIT: Liability =, at the state minimums, comes with the rental, if you have an umbrella policy that might help as well.
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Dec 19, 2023 8:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is this a good deal on Tesla model Y Long range
Replies: 114
Views: 15171

Re: Is this a good deal on Tesla model Y Long range

The model Y is not losing its credit, at least the LR model, to the best of my knowledge
by TheGreyingDuke
Mon Dec 18, 2023 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: American Homeowners Preservation Fund AND Green Energy Investment Company, disaster
Replies: 1
Views: 444

American Homeowners Preservation Fund AND Green Energy Investment Company, disaster

I Have been asked by a friend for how to proceed with his investments in these two entities. They were sold to him 5 years ago or so and as I review their operations, they were totally in appropriate for him. He is late 60's with modest investments and these two make up about 75% of his portfolio. He had decided to liquidate both of these and neither the "advisor" who sold them nor the entities themselves responsive. It appears that both have suspended redemptions and he is afraid that he is losing all of his money. American Homeowners Preservation ($50k invested) paid out $500 a month from August, 2018 until February, 2023. Their original presentation is that they would return the entire investment by August, 2023. They have stop...
by TheGreyingDuke
Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attention Walmart Shoppers
Replies: 81
Views: 12075

Re: Attention Walmart Shoppers

Teddie peanut butter, no salt, crunchy
by TheGreyingDuke
Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Acer vs Lenovo - desktop computer from Costco
Replies: 51
Views: 5975

Re: Acer vs Lenovo - desktop computer from Costco

LISD wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:34 pm My last computer was a Lenovo. It was expensive, and lasted only 3 years. My wife had (still has) a macbook that was 5 years old. My brother's macbook was 7 years old. I bought a macbook. That was 3 years ago. Never again a windows machine.
The challenge with Windows machines is that they are available at a wide range of prices, unlike your Mac. To compare a cheapo Windows machines, by most any manufacturer, with a Mac is an apples to oranges comparison. For my Windows machines I have always stayed with the "business" line of offrings, usually ending with ThinkPads (but Dell and HP have had reasonable alternatives as well).
by TheGreyingDuke
Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Depositing foreign check in US
Replies: 19
Views: 2325

Re: Depositing foreign check in US

jimrichardson wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:23 am I'm interested in asking if the option of "converting to US$" gives you a foreign currency rate that excludes any commission. For example, if I deposit a Canadian $ cheque into my Bank of America account and the Globe and Mail exchange rate is .74, BofA will only give me credit at .71, taking a 3% commission on the full amount of the transaction. Does Fidelity give an exchange rate of .74 per the example I provided?
That would be more like 4% vig
by TheGreyingDuke
Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Depositing foreign check in US
Replies: 19
Views: 2325

Re: Depositing foreign check in US

jimrichardson wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:23 am I'm interested in asking if the option of "converting to US$" gives you a foreign currency rate that excludes any commission. For example, if I deposit a Canadian $ cheque into my Bank of America account and the Globe and Mail exchange rate is .74, BofA will only give me credit at .71, taking a 3% commission on the full amount of the transaction. Does Fidelity give an exchange rate of .74 per the example I provided?
That would be more like 4% vig
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inexpensive Chromebook or Similar?
Replies: 25
Views: 3264

Re: Inexpensive Chromebook or Similar?

Northern Flicker wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:30 am A new Chromebook comes with 10 years of security and bug fix updates.

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366

Used and refurbished ones have already burned some support years.
You can install Cloud Ready on any computer (Windows, Mac, crhome OS) and maintain secuirty after the Chrome OS updates stop.
https://support.google.com/chromebook/a ... 0247?hl=en
by TheGreyingDuke
Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inexpensive Chromebook or Similar?
Replies: 25
Views: 3264

Re: Inexpensive Chromebook or Similar?

I bought a refurbed Lenovo Flex 5 a few years ago, I think it was $250 or so; you don't want to go too cheap as, for me, the screen and the keyboard are inadequate.
by TheGreyingDuke
Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is 2 hours enough to clear customs and make flight in Atlanta?
Replies: 39
Views: 6718

Re: Is 2 hours enough to clear customs and make flight in Atlanta?

trustquestioner wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 3:36 pm Thanks all. When I booked it was 3 hours then delta did a schedule change.

Can I check the bags for the delta flight in the international terminal or do I have to schlep them all the way to the domestic terminal? I’ll see if we can do no checked bags but seems unlikely without severely irritating my spouse.
Again, I don't know anything about Atlanta but every US airport where I made a switch from International to domestic, you can drop the luggage off as soon as you pass through Customs, with no schleping