Search found 272 matches

by beachplum
Wed Jan 24, 2018 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dear wife quits job and now we are down to 1 income
Replies: 190
Views: 23205

Re: Dear wife quits job and now we are down to 1 income

This is a very old fashion way of thought. Even if it’s break even, a spouse *should* continue to work to maintain their skills and career prospects, especially one who was pulling in 70k (!!). It is well understood that women take huge future earnings hits by doing this, it’s bad for equality, it’s bad for your future and it sets the wrong example for children (especially daughters). This isn’t 1978, it’s 2018. Sorry to push back hard, on this but reasoning like this needs to be tempered. It’s old, it’s out of date. Posts like this make me so sad. Looking down on a woman because she chooses to stay home and raise/care fot her family because it is expected that her career should define her is just as bad as assuming the opposite. I know pl...
by beachplum
Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Public and Private Schools in MA - your experience
Replies: 13
Views: 2809

Re: Public and Private Schools in MA - your experience

Here is the info on the rankings of the school systems according to Boston Magazine this year, Concord/Carlisle #2, Westford, #6, Harvard #10, AB # 15, Andover -28, Littleton #37. However, I don't put a tremendous amount of weight in these sorts of things. It's really about the community and how much they support their public schools/their adminstration/philosophy and money available. Personally I think if a school system is in the top 50 you're doing pretty good. Average home price for these towns: 2016 - Acton-598,000, Boxborough - 615,000 (Btw All schools in Acton Boxborough are considered one school system) Boxborough only has elementary and residents of each town can attend either. If you like more rural, you may really like Boxborough...
by beachplum
Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Public and Private Schools in MA - your experience
Replies: 13
Views: 2809

Re: Public and Private Schools in MA - your experience

My children attended Acton/Boxborough schools from elementary thru high school. Last one graduated 2008. What I liked is that you could choose to send your child to any of their elementary schools. Overall, the schools do a very good job, and Acton, imho, is a great town. I also spent a year working on a team in the Junior high as well for one year. I also worked in the Harvard elementary school for 5 years as well as worked at an elementary school in Concord. These are all amongst the highest rated school systems in the State ( as well as all the other school systems you mentioned) Though I don't know enough about Groton and Andover and Littleton , other then I border Littleton and it's a smaller town population wise. You can't beat Harvar...
by beachplum
Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066439

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Just saw Maudie and found it to be one of the best films so far this year. Sally Hawkins will be hard to beat for best actress of the year.
by beachplum
Wed Apr 08, 2015 12:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools
Replies: 304
Views: 54854

Re: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools

hi, In Defense of a Liberal Arts Education by Fareed Zakaria: http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/fareed-zakaria-defends-liberal-arts-education-29990282 I have no particular bias one way or the other on what a student wants to major in and think way too many here are obsessed with this. One of my daughter's majored in English/Spanish which enabled her the ability to teach/live abroad when she graduated and gain invaluable experiences. On return she continued her education with grad school and was offered a well paying ESL teaching contract before she graduated . I should point out that this was never the plan when she started as an undergrad. On the other hand I know people who got engineering degrees at top schools who left those careers ...
by beachplum
Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools
Replies: 304
Views: 54854

Re: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools

I find the suggestion that one should determine the college list based on PSATs incomprehensible. For that matter, I wouldn't base it on SAT or ACT scores either. TomatoTomahto, Why not?? Those are easy tests. If someone cannot even rank among their peer at the top 96% for those easy tests, why bother competing at the higher level?? My goal as parent is to provide growth opportunity for my children. Putting them at an environment where they can grow and be successful. Why should I place them some where they have no chance to compete at all?? KlangFool As I stated earlier in the majority of cases students who don't have the grades/scores/etc aren't going to be accepted into a school where everyone else scores significantly higher, and had s...
by beachplum
Tue Apr 07, 2015 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools
Replies: 304
Views: 54854

Re: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools

If you can easily afford elite college/university tuition (you are on track for retirement savings etc) and your not hesitant to spend that kind of money then do it. beachplum, Even if the parent can afford it, the parent may not want to do that too. How would you like you kids to study at the school where he / she is average or even worse below average among their peers?? After PSAT score, a person will know where their kids stand in rank as compare to others. If they are not in the National Merit list (top 50,000), why send your children to a school where they can feel like failure for 4 years because their peers are just too smart?? How would you feel to study / live / work at a place where almost EVERYONE is smarter than you?? Even tho...
by beachplum
Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Do you think Ric Edelman is correct, never pay down mortgage
Replies: 407
Views: 111047

Re: Do you think Ric Edelman is correct, never pay dow mortg

[quote="Jazz56" The other side of the behavioral coin is that people who pay off the mortgage early probably will not turn around and invest all of the freed-up income stream upon finally repaying the mortgage. If this money is consumed by spending it on things that would not have been otherwise consumed, maybe the better choice would have been to invest extra instead of paying down the mortgage. I think it's sort of ridiculous to worry about whether Edelman is right that one should "never" pay down a mortgage. The question isn't should one ever be paid down, the question is whether yours should be paid down. The interest rate on my mortgage is low, I'm going to be able to itemize and take advantage of the interest dedu...
by beachplum
Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools
Replies: 304
Views: 54854

Re: Cost of College & Weighing the Merits of Top Schools

If you can easily afford elite college/university tuition (you are on track for retirement savings etc) and your not hesitant to spend that kind of money then do it. But personally I don't think any school (in this case undergraduate) is worth going into tremendous amount of debt(for either parent or student) over or sacrificing my financial future over. People who say otherwise need to provide the compelling research that proves it.
by beachplum
Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to retire in New England?
Replies: 123
Views: 25954

Re: Where to retire in New England?

Lifelong resident here- I dream of a small bustling town on the water for retirement- somewhere I can get an old house, walk to town, eat at a good restaurant, buy nice coffee, walk my errands and still see the boats and get to a quiet beach. I've identified Portsmouth (young and vibrant), Newburyport, Wickford RI (part of North Kingstown), and Newport. I know Portland is nice too. Welcome to hear of any other good ones. I like a classic NE waterfront town. All my life the beauty of it amazes me. I'd like to get out of Boston commuting distance since that drives prices up. And by then I will have the luxury of not caring about schools. Every February I will get the hell out of this god forsaken frozen tundra (but that's besides the point)....
by beachplum
Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to retire in New England?
Replies: 123
Views: 25954

Re: Where to retire in New England?

Lifelong resident here- I dream of a small bustling town on the water for retirement- somewhere I can get an old house, walk to town, eat at a good restaurant, buy nice coffee, walk my errands and still see the boats and get to a quiet beach. I've identified Portsmouth (young and vibrant), Newburyport, Wickford RI (part of North Kingstown), and Newport. I know Portland is nice too. Welcome to hear of any other good ones. I like a classic NE waterfront town. All my life the beauty of it amazes me. I'd like to get out of Boston commuting distance since that drives prices up. And by then I will have the luxury of not caring about schools. Every February I will get the hell out of this god forsaken frozen tundra (but that's besides the point)....
by beachplum
Thu Mar 12, 2015 12:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to retire in New England?
Replies: 123
Views: 25954

Re: Where to retire in New England?

Well I've been living in the burbs of Boston since 92, went to college in NH and camp in the berkshires for many years, know Burlington, VT area very well after subsidizing the young Vermonter university students for 8 straight years, and spend summers in CT. I too would like to know where to retire in New England (mainly eastern MA area closer to the city) in the not to distant future. As much as I enjoy Cambridge and the city of Boston, they are ridiculously overpriced, for what you will get,and parking/rules are even worse (you need a car because when it snows, the T and commuter rail and busses stop running). I've also lived on the west coast and the midwest and grew up in NYC. In all these places I've met and befriended wonderful peopl...
by beachplum
Fri Mar 06, 2015 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy home in area with only good PK-8 public schools?
Replies: 44
Views: 5537

Re: Buy home in area with only good PK-8 public schools?

It sounds like you are looking on the North side of chicago :D if so, you can read on for my opinion... We chose to buy in Chicago before even wanting to have kids, so our priorities were location, safety, and home style/size. Have loved our neighborhood and it is a wonderful place to live. I don't love the suburban sprawl and lack of walkability in a lot of places, also home prices can be just as high and property taxes higher than in the city proper, depending on suburb. We valued living in the city, and our oldest is starting the CPS thing next year for Kindergarten. Like you, our neighborhood and nearby magnet K-8 are all well-rated, but our neighborhood default high school isn't so great. However, based on a neighbor's experience, the...
by beachplum
Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How does one increase their typing speed and accuracy?
Replies: 70
Views: 12360

Re: How does one increase their typing speed and accuracy?

I would tell you to enroll in Katharine Gibbs Entre program, but it no longer exists. practicing for long periods of time every day and the pressure to meet goals set by that program I was in (entree) did it for me. In a former life I actually taught typing skills to high school students and community college and know that it takes consistent continued practice (drills) and timings to test yourself (not looking at your fingers, posture etc is a good idea). I learned from typing books that had drills and timings (and a teacher). It may seem old fashioned, but it works if your dedicated.
by beachplum
Tue Feb 24, 2015 4:33 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Metro Boston's Chapter
Replies: 505
Views: 218406

Re: Master Thread for Boston's Chapter (MA)

siamond wrote:Boston's chapter next meeting will be on Feb 28th, starting at noon, at the Burtons Grill in Burlington: http://site.burtonsgrill.com/stores/burlington-ma/

Current running list (18 attendees):
  • siamond
    mikef40320
    zelda
    marielake
    bh10
    crg11
    chabil
    wellfleet
    timoneer
    etarini
    The Wizard
    dlord88
    Dinerosaurus
    Silence Dogood and girlfriend (tentative)
    beachplum
    Mr-et-Mrs-R (both of them, tentative)
Please post here if you're thinking to come. LAST CALL! :beer
Please add one more to beach plum for a total of two, Mr. beach plum wants to come.
by beachplum
Tue Feb 24, 2015 11:27 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Metro Boston's Chapter
Replies: 505
Views: 218406

Re: Master Thread for Boston's Chapter (MA)

I can't figure out how to add my name to the list, so I will post here that I will try to attend this Saturday so please add me to the list.

thanks,

beachplum
by beachplum
Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to wrap my head around downsizing my home?
Replies: 47
Views: 5454

Re: How to wrap my head around downsizing my home?

If you can narrow to a couple neighborhoods of Boston, minimum bd/ba, Max. price, proximity priorities, accessibility needs, and any special interests you have (large modern kitchen, higher ceilings for artwork, etc.) , then just type up a list and take it to a meeting with a realtor in the city. Narrowing it down is the hard part. I count 6 cities/towns and a total of roughly 50 neighborhoods between them. There's a bunch of neighborhoods I can reject out of hand because of crime or poor public transit access but that still leaves maybe 30 prospective neighborhoods (more if I consider parts of Arlington). How big is the territory that a real estate agent would know really well? I'm friends with an excellent real estate agent on Beacon Hil...
by beachplum
Fri Aug 08, 2014 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Health screening
Replies: 15
Views: 1570

Re: Medical Health screening

I'd avoid anything weird the few days before the exam. If you aren't normally vegan, I wouldn't do that just before the test. TRUE STORY: US rates of diverticulosis and diverticulitis soared the last few years. Seems the "gluten-free" craze has the side effect of reducing fiber in the diet, and setting the stage to allow the gut to develop problems. Hilarious that in trying to "do good" we create unintended consequences and "do worse." If you normally drink a bit of alcohol or coffee most days, I'd do that. If you like to finish off a whole jar of pickles while watching TV at night, don't do that. They are running diagnostics, they are just checking for the usual red flags, which your doctor would have warned ...
by beachplum
Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling House - Do We Need a Listing Broker?
Replies: 61
Views: 5627

Re: Selling House - Do We Need a Listing Broker?

You know the real estate market in your area better than anyone on this board. If you live in an area where houses are in high demand you should have no problem selling on your own however you need to do your homework as others have pointed out. I think some of the opinions here are biased and connected to people who are realtors or associated with them. I also live in a very popular neighborhood and feel it would be easy to sell my house myself. My neighborhood is on a yahoo group where neighbors periodically have friends looking to buy in our area so that's free advertising. There have also been neighbors who have sold their homes easily without a realtor. Btw, people who use realtors also experience buyers who go thru the offer process a...
by beachplum
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Options/guidance for a lazy person to be fit
Replies: 79
Views: 17071

Re: Options/guidance for a lazy person to be fit

What works for me is doing an activity I love (contra dancing) 2x a week for a total of 5 hours plus cutting back on sweets. When not dancing I luv to walk or go for a bike ride and strength training in the past has always helped. No matter the opinions expressed here diet and vigorous exercise works best for me. I've thrown away money buying books on how to loose weight thrown money away on gym memberships and got bored with exercise classes. I found using an elliptical to be the most boring of all. Now I get to dance to live bands and with cute guys and the weight is fast falling off, and most importantly I'm not bored anymore. So op the hardest part is just getting started. Take it one step at a time and find an activity/s you enjoy. Was...
by beachplum
Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Rent Question
Replies: 12
Views: 2278

Re: Rent Question

BostonPickEm wrote:Looking for some feedback from all of you savvy individuals.


The apartment requires a 12-month lease (fine), ~1-month security deposit depending on credit (fine), and 1-month broker fee (standard in this market). Given it hasn't rented and the owner is looking to rent for 7/1, I was thinking of saying we are committed and ready to go through the process if
.
I'm very familiar with the Boston rental market. Yes there are landlords requiring 1-month broker fees, but there are also apartments requiring 1/2 month fees and plenty with no fees which are just as nice. It's still a good time to find an apartment for September without having to throw away so much money.
by beachplum
Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College & PhD vs $250k working
Replies: 104
Views: 12718

Re: College & PhD vs $250k working

Financially, a PhD in STEM isn't necessarily a great decision. It's a lot of extra work, and it won't necessarily payoff in the end, even though you're stuck living as a grad student for a long time. It's true about the ceiling being higher, but that really depends upon your industry. In some industries, a PhD can actually hamper you, since it can 'price' you out of a lot of options. If you want to be in R&D or academia, of course, a PhD is the way to go. In my industry, my PhD buys me very little except a title that occasionally gets used. The PhD years are just considered 'years of experience' from a pay standpoint, which means that I'm behind everyone who stopped at a B.S. or M.S., as they were being paid well during those years I w...
by beachplum
Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Commute to elementary school [French language spoken]
Replies: 37
Views: 4595

Re: Commute to elementary school [French language spoken]

I'm wondering how your children will learn to read and write in English if all their classes would be in french at the private school.
by beachplum
Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: should I buy real estate in Boston area? How much to spend?
Replies: 31
Views: 4607

Re: should I buy real estate in Boston area? How much to spe

Both the girlfriend and I work in Cambridge. Somerville and Cambridge are simply too expensive for me. What about this place? http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/50-Bacon-St-Watertown-MA-02472/2130198137_zpid/ too expensive? I think the townhouse is very nice inside. Not so sure of the location. I read on redfin the fee was 700 a month (not sure if that's split with the other owner). so when you factor in condo fee/taxes and the possibility of having to sell in 2 years (5% commission to the realtor if you don't sell yourself), I don't see how it's worth it. If your going to buy, I would go with something smaller, less expensive and close to the "T" and or bus that will take you into town. That will give you great resale value. Livi...
by beachplum
Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: should I buy real estate in Boston area? How much to spend?
Replies: 31
Views: 4607

Re: should I buy real estate in Boston area? How much to spe

[quote="deuceplus"]In the Boston area real estate is booming, particularly anything within 10-15 miles from Boston proper. Many houses in towns such as Arlington, Newton, Watertown and Lexington are now selling for more than during the previous top 2005/2006 even after adjusting for inflation. Houses in more urban areas such as Somerville and Cambridge are literally flying off the market after 2-3 days. I have a friend who paid near 500k for a 800sq foot 1br attic condo conversion in Cambridge. When i visited, I thought it was a nice place but for half a million?? Here is an example of a place in somerville http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/103-Highland-Rd-UNIT-1-Somerville-MA-02144/60111537_zpid/ price is higher than what it sold...
by beachplum
Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: deleted
Replies: 89
Views: 23813

Re: Where would you retire, if $ were no object?

nisiprius wrote:Image
Oh I used to eat at that diner in Albany. It was the best back in the early 80's.
by beachplum
Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Phone calls trying to sell me stocks
Replies: 36
Views: 4578

Re: Phone calls trying to sell me stocks

Received a phone call the other day from a company wanting to give me a stock tip on MCIG. the number was 310 775-2033. I told them I didn't buy individual stocks and to put me on their "do not call list".
by beachplum
Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tough college choice
Replies: 72
Views: 20031

Re: Tough college choice

DanDav - I think the issues are more connected than you state. If my daughter learns better in smaller classes, then the size of the school (assuming it relates to the number of kids in classes) is a factor to how good an education she will get. But the main issue is as you state - Where will she get a better education? I'm trying to figure that out. hiddensee - True. She would have different decisions if I hadn't saved money for her. I'm glad. She's not a totally independent actor here, but I don't think I ever implied that she was. But she does have some skin in the game and I'm glad that is a factor here. Just because Oneonta is smaller, does not mean that all of it's classes (in particular freshman/sophomore) are smaller in comparison ...
by beachplum
Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Daretobedull--Allan Roth
Replies: 15
Views: 4576

Re: Daretobedull--Allan Roth

Allan set my husband and I on the right course financially after years of throwing away money to a previous financial advisor. He was so good at it, that I have not needed to pay him for advice, or anyone else, in two years. I also continue to read his blogs for free advice. For now I'm comfortable knowing he's just a Skype away when needed.
wendy
by beachplum
Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son
Replies: 71
Views: 9824

Re: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son

I guess I didn't make this clear. It's not that I want to disown him. I am thinking about this from a liability perspective mainly. He would get his own car and health insurance. It's something that will happen in 3 years anyway. And if he got into a bind, of course we'd rescue him just as we would if he was technically still a "dependent". Personally I wouldn't give up the tax deduction on him at this point.If he's a responsible driver then why not keep him on your insurance. An umbrella policy will help with liability. It's fine if you take him off, but it will cost him more. What would you save by taking him off your health insurance? I'm just guessing, but I assume that your health insurance coverage is way better then anythi...
by beachplum
Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tough college choice
Replies: 72
Views: 20031

Re: Tough college choice

A friend of mine's two daughters graduated from a private four year college with a similar major and ended up working in stores doing jobs that high school grards do. A friend of mine's daughter graduated and eventually became the store manager of a major department store, then manager of the flagship store in that state, and then moved up in the corporate structure of that business. Believe it or not even people who graduate from expensive schools and major in subjects with the potential of higher earnings can still end up doing jobs that a high school grad can do for any number of reasons i.e. they hate being an engineer and decide to become a musician instead. I just don't believe that because one goes to the Univ of Delaware they are a...
by beachplum
Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tough college choice
Replies: 72
Views: 20031

Re: Tough college choice

My daughter is a senior in high school and we're trying to decide between two schools that offer a certain program. She wants to major in fashion merchandising and wants to go to a school that has a joint program with the Fashion Institute of Technology (she'd spend 1 year in NYC going to FIT). The two schools she's deciding between is the State University of NY at Oneonta (I live in NY) and the University if Delaware. Here's a quick pro/con list I cam up with: Delaware: 1) Cost: $157,014 ($67,278 more) 2) Size: 18,000 students 3) Weather: a little better 4) 2.5 hours from home 5) Considered a better school SUNY Oneonta: 1) Cost: $89,736 2) Size: 6,000 students 3) Weather: a little worse (10 degrees colder) 4) 3.5-4 hours from home I know ...
by beachplum
Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Supporting Family Members
Replies: 30
Views: 2759

Re: Supporting Family Members

Retread wrote:
DireWolf wrote:A good way to avoid the taxation problem is to directly pay for things like their mortgage, car payment, bills, etc. No tax obligations with this strategy.
Wow! This is one of the worst pieces of advice I've ever seen. Please refrain from giving tax advice which amounts to fraud.
Bruce
by beachplum
Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Your thoughts on vacation home or second home
Replies: 61
Views: 9542

Re: Your thoughts on vacation home or second home

My husband and his sister inherited a seasonal beach cottage (no mortgage) literally over a marsh/water that overlooks the CT side of Long island Sound. We love it for sentimental reasons and spend as much time as possible there from may to October. However, I would never ever buy property that close to the water. Hurricanes/tropical storms are always a threat along coastal areas. Luckily we were only flooded once in the 20 years we've owned it, and we were lucky that the house does not have finished floors/walls or heating system. But the clean up was not fun, replacing mats, beds, fridge, and couch and chair pillows all adds up. I'm concerned about rising water levels into the future. The expenses are property taxes, home insurance/flood/...
by beachplum
Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy vs rent no longer relevant?
Replies: 60
Views: 10166

Re: Buy vs rent no longer relevant?

The attitude towards home ownership is full of cognitive biases: - The real estate industry, with its powerful lobby and strong community ties, emphases the advantages of the ownership and suppresses discussions of drawbacks. - A homeowner focuses on the tax savings and dismisses occasional high expenditures. He experiences the "confirmation bias" of the merits of ownership. - Some homeowners get lucky by buying in rising markets, but people tend to extrapolate this luck to all home ownership. This is an example of the "availability heuristic." Owning may, in fact, be less costly than renting under certain conditions. For example: - In cheaper markets, houses are affordable whereas rentals are relatively pricy. In large...
by beachplum
Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy vs rent no longer relevant?
Replies: 60
Views: 10166

Re: Buy vs rent no longer relevant?

I'm currently in the market for a home purchase, but the numbers just don't jive. A decent 2 bd/ 2 ba condo are selling (quickly) for ~$400k + HOA = $2400/mo . But the EXACT same place currently rents for $1800 ! So by not buying, I'm re-allocating $600/mo and my $80k down-payment to other investments. I'm not a math-major, but this just doesn't add up. How do people afford these places?! If you're so inclined, S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices is a great site to follow: http://us.spindices.com/index-family/real-estate/sp-case-shiller EXACTLY! This is also the problem I'm having. My rent is $1,400 for 2bd and 2ba (1,200 rsf) and the mortgage for the same size as that will be more than double that amount. :oops: This is exactly why no...
by beachplum
Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do I stop worrying about money?
Replies: 72
Views: 11762

Re: How do I stop worrying about money?

Zytos wrote:Take a break from this board.
That and stop reading all the articles written in magazines every month. Meditation mentioned above. And Cognitive therapy if if you need more.
by beachplum
Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Certificates of Deposit alternatives?
Replies: 20
Views: 3296

Re: Certificates of Deposit alternatives?

I can't help you with alternatives, but When it comes to investing my money in CD's, I look for those that have the lowest penalty for breaking them for when I find another CD that has a higher interest rate. I did just that back in January when I broke 5 cds with Ally that were earning 1.89% and purchased Penfed ones earning 3%. I believe the interest penalty I incurred with Ally was 2 months worth which was worth it to me. Now if I hold the Penfed cps for longer then a year and break them, I would lose a year's worth of interest. I wouldn't want to buy into a cd at a higher rate if the interest penalty was greater then that, unless I thought the rate was significantly higher.
by beachplum
Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Budget for 21 Year Old
Replies: 15
Views: 5209

Re: Budget for 21 Year Old

I don't mean to pick on you, but was it necessary to purchase a $2700 dollar computer? I don't know what your computer needs are, but my daughter just purchased an Apple Macbook pro with 8gb for around $1,000 dollars. She got 200 off for being a student and didn't need any fancy software other then what it came loaded with.
by beachplum
Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College admission and high school
Replies: 21
Views: 2292

Re: College admission and high school

Crack under pressure? That's amusing. I don't know. My kids have had 4 hours a night of homework since the 6th grade. SAT/ACT are the great equalizers. If a student went to Boston Latin (exam to get in public school....usually #1 in the state), his SAT is likely better than a similarly ranked student in a much less rigorous school. It's also NOT a public vs private split. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with this statement. I If 2 kids have the same level of intelligence/test taking ability, it should not matter where they went to school in regards to their SAT scores. There are kids coming from all over the country, from schools that are less rigorous then Boston Latin, who get into the most competitive schools in this country ...
by beachplum
Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College admission and high school
Replies: 21
Views: 2292

Re: College admission and high school

Crack under pressure? That's amusing. The pressure will unlikely come from academics, but may come from sports, band, prom, drugs, etc. I forgot to emphasize that a high school where all the kids go to college will have enough guidance counselors and meetings to make sure kids are on track for college. They and the school will make sure kids know about PSAT, free SAT study classes, scholarship apps, deadlines for applying, and so on. The English courses may even have several "write a college essay" assignments. They will make sure folks take all those AP classes and tests, and 4 years of a foreign language, and do all the extracurricular stuff, too. The teachers and community leaders will know how to write good letters of recomme...
by beachplum
Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip through New England
Replies: 39
Views: 3379

Re: Trip through New England

dswails2729 wrote:Thanks for the replies everyone. The Freedom Trail and Faneuil Market are on our list of possibilities. We also considered an evening dinner cruise off the harbor. Is there one you would recommend?
Just walk through faneuil market on your way to the north end, don't stop to eat at the market. Forget the dinner cruise and eat dinner in the North End instead.
by beachplum
Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: NJ teen sues her parents for financial support
Replies: 3
Views: 1078

Re: NJ teen sues her parents for financial support

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2014/03/judge_issues_ruling_in_teens_suit_against_parents.html The fact that this case may go to trial is a little disturbing. I always believed that once a child turns 18, the parents have zero liability to provide any financial support or housing. I'm not saying that it's always a good idea to kick your child out the house on their 18th birthday, but don't parents have that right? It seems ridiculous that parents would be "required by law" to support their children after they become adults. My eldest just started her senior year in high school when she turned 18, so no I wouldn't have agreed that her parents (me) would have had the right to kick her out while she was still in high school. Unfo...
by beachplum
Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Oscars
Replies: 25
Views: 2761

Re: The Oscars

I found myself a bit teary eyed during some of it (sad over the loss of some very talented artists for one). Loved the tribute to the Wizard of OZ, though would have liked to see Liza Minelli on stage. Loved the best supporting actor and actress speeches and that Kate Blanchette( even though I'm a bigger fan of the actress who was sitting next to her (sister in movie) won. Think Blue Jasmine was one of the best Woody Allen Films. Brought tears to my eyes to see Sidney Poitier. Even though I'm not a fan of the whole red carpet mentality and the egotistical aspect of the oscars, I am very glad to see there are still some extraordinary movies being made and winning best picture.
by beachplum
Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?
Replies: 93
Views: 13187

Re: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?

tj wrote:
Also, I am a true believer that people make better decisions when they have some skin in the game. Knowing you have student loans to pay back can be good motivation to study hard and stay out of trouble. In the event that our kids do work hard and make good decisions, we may choose to reward them after the fact, and help pay off some of their loans.
Not only that, it might inspire them to pick a more useful degree if they are on the hook.
My best friend's daughter took out loans/worked to attend NYU and majored in art history. She lives in NYC and supports herself (no she doesn't work retail or fast food --it's a professional job) and pays her loans. Usefulness is in the eye of the beholder
by beachplum
Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?
Replies: 93
Views: 13187

Re: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?

If I had to do it all over again, I would not have let my daughters get so involved in figure skating. THankfully I got one to quit when she started high school, and I didn't spend 20k a year (they were never going to the olympics), and grandpa helped in the later years. Totally ridiculous amounts of money. There should be a sign on the door of ice rinks that states the costs for 14 years . Though we all had a lot of fun sometimes. Not into skating but have a gymnast, I assume you end up with about the same medical bills, sometimes I think the medical bills are more than the gym fees :annoyed As far as high school, we just leave our check book at the office! I don't think anything rivals gymnastics in terms of medical bills. Happily my dau...
by beachplum
Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?
Replies: 93
Views: 13187

Re: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?

RadAudit wrote:In the kids' high school senior year, one of the teachers at a financial aid application meeting encouraged us to limber up that ol' check writing arm. I now know she wasn't joking.

Our state requires a four year undergrad degree and a masters' for teaching above the elementary level. OK, five years. And the next one was a little late in choosing his major for his masters'. Six years.

That said, so far they haven't come back except to visit. They seemed to have turned out OK - but we won't know for sure until we see how the grandkids turn out. Worth every dime compared to some others' life experiences that I've seen.
In MA teachers are required to have a masters' K-thru 12.
by beachplum
Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?
Replies: 93
Views: 13187

Re: Do children become less expensive as they grow up?

Here is what you don't have now. Hockey traveling team. Ice skates for your figure skater at $700 a pop (2012 prices) - that's without blades ($300). [Did you know that feet grow?] Coaching is by the half hour, say $50 - $75 (it's been a long time for me, but Olympic coaches don't come cheap). And when you travel to competitions, you pay the travel and hotel costs for the coach. No, the costs don't drop unless you lock your child in a room and don't let them out. There was a previous thread on tennis. Gymnastics can be the same. Figure $20,000 a year (per child, although if they share the same coach, the travel and hotel costs are split). If I had to do it all over again, I would not have let my daughters get so involved in figure skating....
by beachplum
Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's the Appropriate Net Worth by % for a 27 year old?
Replies: 78
Views: 20268

Re: What's the Appropriate Net Worth by % for a 27 year old?

I keep telling anyone who will listen it's not that hard to save up this type of money. Get a STEM degree from a state school and you'll be guaranteed a job when you graduate making 60-80k, 10% raise within 1 year, 3% raises per year, another 10% bump after 4-6 years and then nothing ever again :) Well not everyone is capable and or the least bit interested enough to get a STEM degree. My husband has one of those degrees and in the 27 years he's been in a science field (with a post-doc), I can't recall him getting any 10% raises his first year or after 4-6 or at any time. Actually everytime the economy tanks he gets less then a 3% raise. Never heard of the raises completely stopping unless the company is doing very poorly which is when he w...
by beachplum
Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Please Help Me Find A Doctor
Replies: 23
Views: 2723

Re: Please Help Me Find A Doctor

I live in MA and my daughters who live in Boston both use the doctors at Harvard Vanguard, one in Cambridge and the other at the Kenmore facility. But they have offices all over. Mainly you want a dr who is board certified as an internist and affiliated with a good hospital and has at least a few years experience. You can get on their site and read all about the backgrounds and interests of any internist on staff. You can also ask friends who their dr is and if they recommend them. As others said, you need to call the dr you had as a child and ask for a copy of your immunizations and then you would give that to your new doctor/college. You can also request all your medical records be sent to your new doctor when you get one.