Search found 1321 matches

by mike143
Wed Jan 20, 2016 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?
Replies: 19
Views: 2665

Re: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?

There are probably too many variables and it is too far out to be certain. I just want to make the best decision I am able to at this time.
by mike143
Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?
Replies: 19
Views: 2665

Re: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?

2stepsbehind wrote:
Bob's not my name wrote:Is $14k a random number or are the grandparents unaware that they can gift $28k ($14k each) to one recipient without reporting the gift?
Wow, a bit greedy. Or 14k represents the amount that they feel comfortable giving given the current state of their finances.
They can superfund ($70k) it also: http://www.savingforcollege.com/article ... 9-Plan-643
by mike143
Wed Jan 20, 2016 8:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?
Replies: 19
Views: 2665

Re: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?

There is not enough information to be able to give you good advice. Here is what I can say: 1) A 529 will pay for qualified expenses for college. The earnings in this account would grow tax free if used for qualified expenses. However, if your child does not go to college, they would be subject to a 10% penalty in addition to normal income tax (at whatever their marginal tax rate was) upon withdrawal. If they receive a scholarship, they would not be subject to a penalty but would be subject to normal income tax. Who knows what the "education" landscape will be in 17 years, child turning 1 at end of month. 2) You don't say what your income is today (you don't need to) or your assets (again you don't need to) but be aware that most...
by mike143
Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?
Replies: 19
Views: 2665

Grandparents gifting $14k, grandparent 529 alternative due to their age?

My wife parents want to gift our 1 year old $14k. After doing a bunch of reading, max 401k, max Roth....those are being done. It seems the next best option is a grandparent owned 529 taking withdraws the last 2 college years of 4 so that it doesn't effect financial eligibility. My wife was an oops baby (mother 40) and we didn't have ours until she was 37 so her parents are 79/80 right now. The likelihood of her parents being alive when our son is ready for college is slim considering their previous health issues. What is the next best option?

Some reading for options upon grandparents death and transfer of grandparent 529s: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/college ... plans.aspx
by mike143
Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Car - Cash or Finance?
Replies: 32
Views: 4331

Re: New Car - Cash or Finance?

tomhole wrote:
mike143 wrote:0% interest usually gives up a rebate near the cost of financing. Do your research, its usually $ rebate or 0%.
You are correct. Although there are sometimes both, the rebate with 0% is never as big as the rebate and CU financing.
My local credit union never had great rates. The Internet finds bottom dollar, a race to the bottom.
by mike143
Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Low mileage oil change
Replies: 37
Views: 31154

Re: Low mileage oil change

Follow the manual and you can't go wrong. Modern vehicles are once a year or by mileage (5-10k). Some people never change the oil during a lease and the vehicles still live a useful life.
by mike143
Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Car - Cash or Finance?
Replies: 32
Views: 4331

Re: New Car - Cash or Finance?

I have a 1.49% loan with both PenFed and Alliant. I am a native of Florida. Auto loan with PenFed gives me access to 5% cash back on gas credit card. Also in the process of a home refinance with PenFed, 15 year 2.5% (2.932%) from a 30 year 4.875% with Regions, 5.5 years in. *don't know APR on Regions without pulling files.

0% interest usually gives up a rebate near the cost of financing. Do your research, its usually $ rebate or 0%.
by mike143
Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

Cars are like toilets. You want something you can sit on that's not unusually large or unusually small. You want something that doesn't leak or make strange noises. Some people claim to like toilets that "look good" and are "fun" to sit on. Some even spring for toilets with leather seats and fancy sound systems. But toilet sitting is an inherently un-fun activity and, if you're spending so much time sitting on the pot that you feel the need to make it fun, something has gone wrong. You may need medical attention. New toilets are more efficient that old toilets and still get the job done. Get something that's good for the environment, but don't spend thousands of dollars to save a few gallons. Buy something that's basic ...
by mike143
Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

Done. $16,600 out the door. Honda Civic. The best experience I have had in a dealership. The Toyota guy pulled the "It's only good for 48 hour" and the manager with the " the price is good if you come back in an hour BS. That matters to me. And the Civic is an EX model, with the big screen. The wife is happy. Bought from a small Honda dealer in Van Nuys. Won't say where the Toyota dealer is, though a little north. Seems like an awfully good price. What incentives or discounts does this include? I had the same question. I actually came to respond to the OP to price out the vehicles because the Prii are steeply discounted right now, but you can't argue with that price for the Civic! I purchase vehicles for my company. Most veh...
by mike143
Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

I'm sure the majority of the people who purchase the Prius do not run in to major mechanical issues. I was just speaking on what I've seen first hand. I have a family member who drives a hybrid and loves it, problem free. Others have not had that luxury. Statistically the Prius is a reliable vehicle I cannot say the same for the Honda Civic Hybrid or other hybrids, either Toyota's outside the Prius or other manufacturers. Hybrids as a whole may be unreliable beyond 100k but the Prius is an outlier of the averages. Hybrids introduce a lot of complexity and additional points of failure. I wouldn't consider any hybrid outside the Prius line, it has been proven and improved upon since 2001. It genuinely gets great gas mileage where many hybrid...
by mike143
Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

I'm sure the majority of the people who purchase the Prius do not run in to major mechanical issues. I was just speaking on what I've seen first hand. I have a family member who drives a hybrid and loves it, problem free. Others have not had that luxury. Statistically the Prius is a reliable vehicle I cannot say the same for the Honda Civic Hybrid or other hybrids, either Toyota's outside the Prius or other manufacturers. Hybrids as a whole may be unreliable beyond 100k but the Prius is an outlier of the averages. Hybrids introduce a lot of complexity and additional points of failure. I wouldn't consider any hybrid outside the Prius line, it has been proven and improved upon since 2001. It genuinely gets great gas mileage where many hybrid...
by mike143
Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

Mileage Math: Toyota Prius 2015 MPG: MPG: 51 city / 48 highway Honda Civic: Up to 30 city, 39 highway For this we will say 15,000 miles per year, which is pretty average according to the Department of Transportation. --Most of your miles highway? Prius requires: 312.5 gallons of gas for 15k (15k / 48mpg hwy) Civic requires 384.6 gallons (15k / 39mpg hwy) Prius: $3.50/gallon gas x 312.5 gallons= $1093.75 spent on gas to go 15k miles Civic: $3.50/gallon gas x 384.6 gallons =$1346.15 dollars spent on gas to go 15k miles Saving you an estimated $252.4 dollars per year with the gas mileage. I will use 2014 Civic and 2014 Prius for an example because this is when the Civic changed to CVT and being 2014 there are enough miles reported to fuelly.c...
by mike143
Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you hate your vehicle infotainment system?
Replies: 76
Views: 12846

Re: Do you hate your vehicle infotainment system?

I haven't seen a vehicle yet that can beat the Android/Google GPS. As long as it has Bluetooth that is all that matters. Some vehicles you have to get the infotainment to get the backup cameras but otherwise they are worthless. I have a phone mount/holder that goes in the CD/DVD slot to hold my phone for GPS and music selection.
by mike143
Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

MildlyEccentric wrote:We own both a Prius (2006) and a Civic (1998). I prefer the Prius as it is roomier than the Civic and gets better gas mileage (45-50 mpg). An unexpected bonus with the Prius has been its very low maintenance costs. I've yet to change the brake pads on the Prius (140K miles) and it doesn't have a timing belt to replace.
I have replaced a few timing belts and when I bought a 04 Accord I only considered the 4 cylinder model since it had a "lifetime" timing chain.

*Most last the life of the vehicle, a small few do not.

When replacing my wife's Element only consider the 2006+ Civic due to the timing chain.
by mike143
Mon Jul 20, 2015 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: honda civic or Prius?
Replies: 86
Views: 22599

Re: honda civic or Prius?

We have a 2012 Civic LX auto sedan normal/gas/non-hybrid and a 2013 Prius Two. Prius 110%. In a few years it will repay its price difference. I have been all Honda up to this point. 17k on the Prius and 49.x MPG since new. I can't think of anything the Civic does better unless its the manual transmission version. Check fuelly for real world results. When I use to check every tank the averages were pretty spot on for the cars I have owned. * All Honda: 87 Pontiac Grand Prix LE 5.0L, 89 Honda Accord LXi Sedan Manual (200k), 91 Honda CRX DX Manaul (150k), 96 Honda Civic CX (only came in Manual) (390k when purchased, original engine and transmission), 96 Honda EX Coupe Manual (near 200k), 04 Accord LX 2.4L (4 cylinder) Sedan Manual (108k when p...
by mike143
Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advising father in law on investing
Replies: 7
Views: 1360

Re: Advising father in law on investing

His investments are mostly individual stocks and a annuity. Based on all this I told him that individual stocks are gambling and that he should seek the advice of a financial planner. I found a fee only reputable firm and gave him the information. Afterward he had a medical event and it has been about a month now and he finally got his check and again asked me for my advice. I told him I gave him the info for the financial adviser. I don't think he is interested in the financial adviser and he just wants to know where to put the money. I think the best I can tell him is an income fund otherwise I fear he will dump more into the annuity or individual funds. What would you recommend if someone wants partial advice and not the correct answer....
by mike143
Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Advising father in law on investing
Replies: 7
Views: 1360

Advising father in law on investing

Father in law got a $100k payout from the estate due to the death of one of the trustees. The is in addition to further payouts upon his passing (to his children but not his wife) or other trustees passing and monthly payouts that continue during his life. He asked me how to invest it and I basically got a full picture of their finances. He basically gets more then enough monthly form the estate to pay all bills and spend the extra on trips and gambling. His investments are mostly individual stocks and a annuity. Based on all this I told him that individual stocks are gambling and that he should seek the advice of a financial planner. I found a fee only reputable firm and gave him the information. Afterward he had a medical event and it has...
by mike143
Sun Jun 28, 2015 5:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)
Replies: 52
Views: 84064

Re: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)

freyj6 wrote:@Mike

Looks like you're pretty well covered then :) Without the points transfer stuff it's all pretty simple. And yeah, definitely good to cycle through points quickly. Bloggers will tell you to diversify (to get you to get more cards from their affiliate links) but very few people should carry more than one card with an annual fee. And cash back is much better than points if you can get similar value.

...starting to get jealous of you guys who got grandfathered in on citi foward :(
Sallie Mae and Amazon's new card do 5% at Amazon.

https://www.salliemae.com/credit-cards/sallie-mae-card/

http://twocents.lifehacker.com/the-new- ... 1694419150
by mike143
Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart phone data usage
Replies: 57
Views: 11889

Re: Smart phone data usage

midareff wrote:
mike143 wrote:Prepaid carriers let you use a smartphone with no data but post paid carriers do not. I think T-Mobile was the last hold out. I remember having a Blackberry Pearl with no data plan, Wi-Fi only. I switch to a prepaid carrier before they required data plans for smartphones.
AT&T allows as well once you get past their sales BS.
They automatically add a data plan when their system registers a smartphone. The only way you can get out of this requirement is to use their GoPhone prepaid service.

http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp ... 370&cv=820
by mike143
Sat Jun 27, 2015 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)
Replies: 52
Views: 84064

Re: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)

@Mike - It depends on your spending habits. It looks like you're covered pretty well though. I'm not sure if you travel much and where, but you might be able to do a bit better with points. Everyday Preferred is the best grocery card if you can get good value out of MR points (1.5+). The other thing that jumps out at me is you could pick up a Chase Freedom and rack up points in the 5% category for a year or two, then cash them all out for 7.5-10% by getting a CSP or Ink card and transferring them over. Cheers No travel, still a young working man. I redeem my point as soon as possible to protect from point value reduction. PenFed did that with on of their cards, reduced the redemption value from 5% to 4%. I do most my grocery shopping at AL...
by mike143
Sat Jun 27, 2015 6:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart phone data usage
Replies: 57
Views: 11889

Re: Smart phone data usage

The thing I like the most about Cricket is that they have physical stores. Most prepaid carriers lack a storefront. Doesn't matter as much to me but when recommending services to others I think this is a great value and I don't end up doing the hand holding. We have the TMobile family plan--$100 for 4 lines, 2.5gb/line, unlimited talk & text, plus unlimited international text and data. It has worked well for us so far and there are no overage fees--if you go over 2.5gb, you just get throttled down to a slower speed (which hasn't happened to any of us yet). We have wifi at our home and at most hotels we go to, so we don't use our data much, in fact MUCH less than we had anticipated. Is that before or after taxes? Prepaid carriers let you...
by mike143
Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart phone data usage
Replies: 57
Views: 11889

Re: Smart phone data usage

Prepaid carriers let you use a smartphone with no data but post paid carriers do not. I think T-Mobile was the last hold out. I remember having a Blackberry Pearl with no data plan, Wi-Fi only. I switch to a prepaid carrier before they required data plans for smartphones.
by mike143
Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Smart phone data usage
Replies: 57
Views: 11889

Re: Smart phone data usage

Choose a prepaid carrier that cuts off or throttles after overages. I prefer Cricket since we have 5 lines. Last I knew PagePlus cuts off after you use up your allotment. We have users that use almost no data since they are mostly connect to Wi-Fi.

Cricket (An AT&T company)
1 line = $35 per line = $35
2 line = $35 per line = $70
3 line = $30 per line = $90
4 line = $25 per line = $100
5 line = $20 per line = $100

2.5GB of 4G per line then throttled to 128k, which is still fast enough to stream music.
by mike143
Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you buy used cars like a Boglehead actually should?
Replies: 168
Views: 40540

Re: Do you buy used cars like a Boglehead actually should?

Buying new after cash for clunkers killed the used car market. Not enough savings for a 2-3 year old vehicle with less than 50k from a reliable make (Honda/Toyota). Plan to drive them (12 Civic and 13 Prius) until needs dictate otherwise. If you fancy highly depreciating vehicles you can save 50% at the 3 year 50k mark. I have had many a high mileage Honda and use to work on them. General repairs and even going as far as engine, transmission, and clutch replacement, even did an engine rebuild. Over the years I would have spent less buying a new reliable make and making payments versus doing repairs myself but I learned a lot. I still do my own oil changes including any fluid changes (transmission, coolant, etc.). The furthest I would go now...
by mike143
Fri Jun 26, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)
Replies: 52
Views: 84064

Re: What credit should you get? (Ask me anything)

Let me know if I can beat what I am currently doing.

2% All: Fidelity Amex, Priceline Visa, Citi Double Cash MasterCard (Sam's Club)
5% Grocery: Sallie Mae
5% Dining and Amazon: Citi Forward
5% Gas: PenFed Cash Rewards

Then I take advantage of credit card signing offers when I have large credit card purchase that will not give a cash discount (hospital bills). Recent was Citi Premier spend $3k in 3 month get $500 cash back. My wife and I have taken advantage of Southwest/Chase three times each. Both have around 800 credit scores according to creditkarma.com.
by mike143
Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: taking break from computer use - to avoid back pain
Replies: 17
Views: 1736

Re: taking break from computer use - to avoid back pain

I also drink a bunch of water so have to walk to go to the restroom and refill my water on a regular basis. I will also go respond to an email in person so I have an excuse to walk around.
by mike143
Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: taking break from computer use - to avoid back pain
Replies: 17
Views: 1736

Re: taking break from computer use - to avoid back pain

11 years in IT so I do a lot of sitting. When I was exercising regularly a lot of the superficial pain went away. I have regressed and my back does give me issue. I have been the same amount of overweight during these 11 years but during the regular exercise phase I had better over all well being. I was doing a variation of the Rippetoe workout (squats). When I started I was swatting with a broom stick at 300+ pounds, I was able to progress to 100# + swatting before I stopped working out. My understanding that the extended sitting was bad for you legs/calves and by doing a exercise routine that focused on that neglected area would be of most benefit. I have also tried different chairs, its easy for me to hunch/lean forward. Now my chair is ...
by mike143
Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Might Go $4,000 AAPL
Replies: 68
Views: 9008

Re: Might Go $4,000 AAPL

I only buy individual stocks with play money, willing to lose it. I bought AAPL after the iPhone 6 came out and it took a down turn. I knew/speculated the iSheep would buy it up for the holidays and the stock would rise. I sold under 40 days for a 10% return after trading fees. I did the same with YHOO with the Alibaba IPO, just under 50 days. This was pure speculation/gambling that I would probably not do with larger sums of money. I would not hold individual stocks long term and only hold them short term for play. It pays better then when I take my money to the casino.
by mike143
Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iPhone upgrade
Replies: 30
Views: 4948

Re: iPhone upgrade

As a business we buy iPhone 5c near mint on swappa.com, they are going for under $200 right now. We can never justify paying the full price of the current model. I don't spend $600 on a laptop or a desktop, I am not going to spend near that for a smartphone. iPhone has gone stale since the 4s, no improvements worth the substantial price difference. Since most iPeople are so upgrade happy it helps drive down the prices of the previous version(s).
by mike143
Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to buy sweetie for Valentine's Day
Replies: 97
Views: 9699

Re: What to buy sweetie for Valentine's Day

Nothing, we stopped exchanging gifts after a few cycles. We do cards for the big dates (Anniversary, Birth Days and Valentines Day). We just go have a nice dinner near the date of the event but not they day of.

We had a baby last Thursday and ask my wife if we need to exchange cards, she said no. We are pretty busy right now and she is limit since she can't leave the house on her own until she is done healing.

* Your Math May Vary: My wife understands that words have meaning and not to play games where yes means no and no mean yes and maybe means potato. I took us awhile to reach this understanding but once you do life is much simpler.
by mike143
Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Amazon Prime - good deal or calculated conditioning
Replies: 50
Views: 5823

Re: Amazon Prime - good deal or calculated conditioning

You can share the prime shipping benefits with four other people. Even at the $99 it cost now that is only $20 a person. Between home and work I had 191 orders for 2014. I compare price against Google Shopping and buy from Amazon when it makes sense. Recently bought a humidifier not on Amazon because they charged tax and another reputable vendor did not, same pre-tax price.

2014: 191 orders
2013: 172 orders
2012: 167 orders
2011: 89 orders

I buy a lot of odd ball items that you cannot pickup in a local store. Recently needed a low wattage medium base LED bulb. Try finding a 25w equivalent medium base LED bulb at the store.
by mike143
Wed Jan 14, 2015 2:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Amex Fidelity CC 2% Cash Back
Replies: 60
Views: 42251

Re: Amex Fidelity CC 2% Cash Back

Fidelity Amex since 2011. I collect all the 2% cards in case they lower cash back and grandfather. I also have the Priceline Visa at 2%, now grandfathered and also pickup the new Citi Double Cash Mastercard at 2% for the occasional Sam's Clubs visits. I also have the Citi Forward 5% Amazon.com and dining, now grandfathered. I extract every last bit of cash back as possible, my wallet is full of cards. I have this card but no Fidelity account is needed. I just redeem the rewards as a $250 statement credit once I reach 25,000 points after spending $12,500. Lower redemption levels are less than 2%. You can redeem in $50 (2%) increments if you setup a Cash Management Account. This is just a central repository that allows you to transfer out to ...
by mike143
Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Florida prepaid college plan. Dumb or undumb?
Replies: 51
Views: 20333

Re: Florida prepaid college plan. Dumb or undumb?

s255075b wrote:Don't most students qualify for the Bright Futures scholarship, which covers 75-100% of tuition? In that case, I am not sure why the prepaid tuition plan makes sense. Maybe I am missing something.
Who knows that the future holds 18 years from now.
by mike143
Thu Jan 08, 2015 8:56 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Florida prepaid college plan. Dumb or undumb?
Replies: 51
Views: 20333

Re: Florida prepaid college plan. Dumb or undumb?

Florida lowered their prepaid rates significantly for 2015. Our child will be born in the next 30 days. I am leaning toward maxing Roth instead of doing the prepaid. " http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2014/02/14/how-assets-hurt-college-aid-eligibility-on-fafsa-and-css-profile/ : Retirement assets such as 401k, 403b, IRAs, SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh, profit sharing, pensions and Roth IRAs are not included in the calculation of EFC under any of the three EFC methodologies. Assets that aren’t in retirement accounts — balances in checking, savings, CDs, brokerage accounts, money market, investment real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, commodities and 529 college savings and prepaid plans—do get included in the EFC formulas." Re...
by mike143
Thu Dec 25, 2014 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacuum Food Sealers - Love it or gimmick?
Replies: 23
Views: 4533

Re: Vacuum Food Sealers - Love it or gimmick?

I have found that keeping the freezer at the lowest temp and refrigerator near freezing has done more to extend food life than how its packaged.
by mike143
Thu Dec 25, 2014 7:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: new tablet/smart phone question
Replies: 23
Views: 3512

Re: new tablet/smart phone question

Personal thanks go out to everyone who replied to me in such rapid-fire fashion. Much appreciated!! My problem lies in the fact that I'm a techno-idiot. Thus, it's going to take a bit of time & some serious due diligence to reconcile which of these suggestions will work best for me. As of now I'll have to stick with my dumb phone & use my laptop to exist. Not a resolution that I'm comfortable with, but the litany of options is somewhat intimidating. Thanks again & best of health in the New Year. Be Well, fmhealth I have a Nexus 4 and I would recommend that or a iPhone 4s for you to cut your teeth on. They can both be had for $150 and if you end up liking OS you can upgrade to a newer unit or try its competitor. Both device get ...
by mike143
Thu Dec 25, 2014 6:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cheap cell phone for security gate
Replies: 10
Views: 2444

Re: Cheap cell phone for security gate

I would assume that its a GSM cellular module so that will exclude Page Plus (Verizon).

You might look at some home security forums for cheap prepaid service that is used for low usage. Here is one that popped up during my search: http://alarmsim.com/
by mike143
Sat Dec 20, 2014 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cooking Lessons
Replies: 22
Views: 3344

Re: Cooking Lessons

If you wife will tolerate you in the kitchen I bet she would appreciate it more it you just start helping her in the kitchen throughout the year. Once you felt you have learned all you can then branch out for more training. Cooking is just following instructions. You will make mistakes, hopefully they are edible, learn from them and move on.

I am the cook in the house and would prefer my wife assist in daily cooking than to come home one day and say hey I can make one fancy meal.
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?
Replies: 51
Views: 16856

Re: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?

I don't believe that the prius is comparable to a corolla to all buyers. Sure it may be in size, but not in its potential prestige and resale value. I regularly walk through a lot where a higher paying profession works. Sure there are BMWs, and mercedes, and lexus. But there are also several prius and some teslas. Sometimes the rich may look at a prius different from a corolla. And, for some rich people, they might buy a 28k prius instead of a 50k BMW. The corolla isn't in the picture as an option. This may not make financial logic to a boglehead, but this happens. Hence, the comparison of cars is not always cars in the same class. Another example, is that a corvette may have the same performance or better than a porsche 911, but the buyer...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bah Humbug [managing Christmas spending]
Replies: 52
Views: 8034

Re: Bah Humbug [managing Christmas spending]

As an adult, I don't desire to receive or give gifts for any occasion, for other adults. Luckily for Christmas we have, as a family group, decided that no gifts for over 18. We where doing a name draw for over 18 but after realizing that we are just exchanging gift cards we decided to keep our monies and just spend time together. My wife and I don't exchange gifts either, for any occasion. As an adult I buy everything I need and also stuff I don't (wants). The wife and I still exchange cards and I wish we could do what her parents do. They go to Hallmark and pick a card and show it to each other and don't buy it. She toss the card within the week so I think we will be there soon. 1. Don't give gifts to extended family, friends, neighbors, 2...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I being cheap? [wedding/engagement ring]
Replies: 192
Views: 18846

Re: Am I being cheap?

What you should do is sit down with your future wife and lay out your finances. Show her how much you make and spend. Show her how hard you worked to pay off your debt. Show her how much you save and what your financial goals are. Then go buy the ring with her and let her make the decision with the full knowledge of how it will affect your future. This way it will be her decision if she wants a $500 ring or a $5k ring. Then be content with her decision. My wife does not have any financial fortitude. When we started dating she was paying too much for cellular service, I corrected that. When I started delving into her finances, while we were dating, she was paying credit interest charges on a small balance but had 20+ times that in cash avai...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I being cheap? [wedding/engagement ring]
Replies: 192
Views: 18846

Re: Am I being cheap?

I spent $1,500 via bluenile.com. Solitaire with plain band and a good quality half carat that was GIA certified. I set a $1,500 budget and we looks at many stores: nationwide, region and local franchises, Sam's Club, Costco, and BJ's and none really provided the same value that bluenile.com did. I spent quite a bit of time researching on truthaboutdiamonds.com. It appears that that site is no longer available in the form I knew it. I bought in Oct 2010 so here is archive.org cache of it from Sep 16 2010: https://web.archive.org/web/20100916042000/http://www.truthaboutdiamonds.com/truth-about/diamond-color/ My wife, early on, liked to bring up what other think or do and I simply tell her, and she is now understands, that most people are inco...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?
Replies: 51
Views: 16856

Re: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?

I always get a good chuckle when some is driving a new Escalade. They care so much about perceptions they are literately burning money. http://wallstcheatsheet.com/automobiles/dont-plan-on-reselling-these-10-cars-depreciate-fast.html/?a=viewall Cadillac’s respected Escalade SUV might be worth $70,000-plus when it’s driven off the lot, but used models — even ones from 2010 — have trouble keeping up with half that. Go back five years further, and there’s a deluge of used Escalades that now command prices below $15,000 consistently — $8,000-$10,000 range, often, about a tenth of what the vehicles used to sell for when new. I don't feel any new vehicle is worth over $25k OTD. It really has to have a specialized task to justify prices above that.
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who Paid for the wedding?
Replies: 94
Views: 12735

Re: Who Paid for the wedding?

He needs to put all his chips on the table. He nor his family do not have the ability to pay and he is not willing to go into debt for the wedding. If other party doesn't respect this he can find a replacement. My wife's parents paid for the majority of the wedding and if they didn't it would have been a 10th the cost, it really wasn't that big or extravagant. I told my wife I was not willing to go into debt for the rings, wedding or honeymoon. Her ring set was $1,500, mine was $5, honeymoon was about $1,500, I would have to guess the wedding cost was about $7,500. I also told my wife I didn't want anyone at the wedding I haven't met yet outside of family. If the person is not enough a part of your life that I hadn't met them or heard their...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investing Emergency Funds?
Replies: 12
Views: 2108

Re: Investing Emergency Funds?

I put it in an income fund.
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?
Replies: 51
Views: 16856

Re: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?

tainted-meat wrote:Probably because people realize how goofy they look driving one :)
If I cared about that I would drive one of these. I would rather retire early than worry about what the average poor decision making American thinks.

Image
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?
Replies: 51
Views: 16856

Re: Why So Many Used Prius for Sale?

My commute is 27 highway miles and the prius gets 45 mpg+ without fail. No non-hybrid, non-diesel car could do the same. I grant the advantage is small under these conditions but it is not zero. What year is your Prius, what is the top speed for this trip and what state is it driven? I have to try really hard to get 45mpg or less on a trip. 2012 Prius, average 72-73 mph the whole way in mild weather (average morning temps 45, afternoons 55-85). We live in western Washington state. We've owned our car for 30 months and have 60k miles. The car is mostly on the highway but with that kind of mileage sees plenty of city driving as well. We think it's been well worth it as our gas savings over a comparable small hatchback (maybe a Mazda 3) are p...
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling your old cell phone for cash
Replies: 19
Views: 2792

Re: Selling your old cell phone for cash

In order: swappa.com, craigslist.org and ebay.com. I don't think anyone of those middle man sites give you a fair value for your phone.
by mike143
Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Underpaid at Job
Replies: 6
Views: 1319

Re: Underpaid at Job

ddurrett896 wrote:Mike that's pretty much exactly what they do. After they are presented a competitors offer, they normally match but 100% of the people leave.

When the last team member was promoted, it was offered to me and is doing well.
I am in IT and this discussion pops up on spiceworks and it seems that you generally have to keep moving to keep up with what you are worth. Everyone that has left our company did better and even the ones that came back years later did better than if they stayed.