Search found 208 matches

by Randomize
Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 457 govt and non-profit - separate limits?
Replies: 2
Views: 389

Re: 457 govt and non-profit - separate limits?

Good question. I know for a fact that the 457 limit is separate from the 401 limit but am not sure about your situation. Please let us know if you find the answer elsewhere.
by Randomize
Mon Jun 27, 2016 2:51 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Brexit, Buy & Hold, & Investor Shaky Confidence
Replies: 23
Views: 3657

Re: Brexit, Buy & Hold, & Investor Shaky Confidence

The thing about stocks is that their value is a present-value calculation of their lifetime income with near-term earnings weighted much more heavily than long-term earnings. You may be right that the Brexit doesn't matter in the long-term but in the short-term, what will all that additional trade friction mean for every company that is in Britain, trades with Britain, or trades with a company that trades with Britain?

But yes, buy-and-hold is your best bet. Maybe rebalance if you care to. Really, what reasonable alternatives are there?
by Randomize
Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:55 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Monte Carlo Software
Replies: 13
Views: 2507

Re: Monte Carlo Software

MCSim is a freebie I use. Not very flashy but the price is right :)

@Risk is a snazzier product I've used professionally. It's a huge step up in both performance and price tag.
by Randomize
Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son
Replies: 71
Views: 9881

Re: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son

nightpharmer09 wrote: Maybe all involved could have handled the situation better, however, I find it fascinating to take the side of the child. Should the parent have rewarded the disobedient child with a extravagant birthday party? It seems on the brink of "official manhood" he would show his father a little respect and at least attempt to clean his room... :annoyed
Are birthday celebrations a reward for obedience in your household? That's certainly not how I view them.
by Randomize
Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Thinking of adding Small-Value and REIT
Replies: 11
Views: 1389

Re: Thinking of adding Small-Value and REIT

Why don't you think the small caps and REITs already present in your Total Market funds are enough?

If you can't answer that question, it's probably not the right move :)
by Randomize
Wed Mar 26, 2014 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son
Replies: 71
Views: 9881

Re: "Spinning Off" my 20 Year Old Son

This all started when on his 18th birthday, instead of having his party, I called for a room cleaning party, and mom and me helped him clean the pig pen. I had ask him repeatedly over 2 weeks to clean his room up. (fire hazard) That's why he moved out. Good luck to all you loving, caring parents. It's tough to see kids grow up into what they are, but we have to cut ties at some point, and I believe nature does a great job of encouraging this. Rusty, that's pretty harsh. His 18th birthday was the big one, the day he officially became a man, and you chose that to make him clean his room? Obviously I don't know any backstory, but if I were him, I'd view that as having my dependence on you rubbed in my face at the worst possible time. Then I'd...
by Randomize
Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frugality regret: What thing do you regret not spending on?
Replies: 208
Views: 52100

Re: Frugality regret: What thing do you regret not spending

DouglasDoug wrote:A ticket to see Lena Horne's great comeback, & generosity to now dead friends.
That reminds me: Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio tickets just before he died :(
by Randomize
Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frugality regret: What thing do you regret not spending on?
Replies: 208
Views: 52100

Re: Frugality regret: What thing do you regret not spending

I went to UHawaii @ Hilo my sophomore year and have always regretted not buying a car while I was there. While I made lots of friends and enjoyed the dorm life, I only got to leave Hilo a couple times while I was there and, what with walking and all, didn't get to fully enjoy even the local stuff as much as I should have.
by Randomize
Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are Rheem gas water heaters good quality?
Replies: 16
Views: 64049

Re: Are Rheem gas water heaters good quality?

I work in the Energy Efficiency department of an electrical utility and the EE specialists swear by Rheem's Marathon water heaters. They're incredibly efficient and long-lasting. They do cost more but the energy savings alone may pay for the cost, depending on your local rates. Add in the peace-of-mind of a lifetime warranty on the tank and it's an easy choice.

Plus, your local utility may offer a small rebate for purchasing one.
by Randomize
Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: W. Buffett - Short-Term Gov. Bonds...
Replies: 15
Views: 4479

Re: W. Buffett - Short-Term Gov. Bonds...

1) Warren Buffett is bullish by nature. For many of us, jobs and retirements are less safe from a market crash. 2) For the "average investor" there are far better deals than that short term bonds: 1% savings accounts, bank CDs and I-bonds. These are not accessible in the market, and often better priced. I would not touch a short term fund right now, unless I was too rich for FDIC-insured funds ($250K per account) to be feasible. 3) Research suggest that it is long bonds that are the better counterpart to a high stock allocation, because they hold or increase their value better in a prolonged crash. 4) We generally don't mix the bond allocation with an emergency fund. The former is for investing, the latter is untouchable except f...
by Randomize
Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52955

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

I feel your pain in dealing with HR, OP. Last summer, I was promised a promotion and 15% raise but, after the boss took it to HR, they claimed that they don't give out raises over 10%. It's a screwy situation where HR has the same authority as my division director... Anyway, the only way to get a big raise is to go elsewhere and then come back. Not exactly what I want to do with my time :\
by Randomize
Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Considering moving to Oregon
Replies: 71
Views: 12900

Re: Considering moving to Oregon

Cheap_rookie wrote:Hood River or the Dalles probably is it.
Hood River is like Waimea to the Dalles' Kona. They're 20 minutes apart (tops) but it's always raining in Hood River and always sunny in the Dalles.
by Randomize
Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:56 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buying a home while in college
Replies: 29
Views: 3542

Re: Buying a home while in college

Being a long-distance landlord stinks you have no idea where you'll move in the future either for work or personal reasons. As a guy who has had to move cross-state but still owns the same house, trust me, you don't want it.
by Randomize
Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu
Replies: 177
Views: 52955

Re: Job Offer Negotiation / Interview Snafu

This may have already been mentioned but you may have been better off not telling them what you're currently paid. By giving them that baseline, it changes their thought process from "What are we willing to pay him?" to "What is smallest raise he'll accept to leave his current job?" I made the same mistake and will not make it twice.

Nice job showing some grit and perspective. Threads like this are an invaluable resource.
by Randomize
Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Considering moving to Oregon
Replies: 71
Views: 12900

Re: Considering moving to Oregon

If you' don't want desert, Ashland is a cool town with a very hippy lifestyle (sort of like Eugene) that's a little smaller. They have an OHSU campus along with Southern Oregon University so both you and your wife would be in good position to find work. I grew up in Tillamook and have to admit that the 100+ inches of rain per year on the coast got to be old. Portland and the rest of the Willamette Valley get probably half that and seemed like a tremendous upgrade when I moved there. Now, I live in the Tri-Cities (SouthEast Washington) and enjoy 300 days of sunshine and <10 inches of rain per year. Anything East of the Cascades (like Bend) will be similarly sunny and, I've got to tell you, it would be very hard to go back West even with all ...
by Randomize
Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Planning first trip to Oregon and Seattle - advice sought!
Replies: 43
Views: 4473

Re: Planning first trip to Oregon and Seattle - advice sough

Hey and welcome to the Northwest! I did my undergrad at Portland State and am a couple years younger than you so my perspective is more local youthy than touristy but if that's okay, be sure to stop by Montage for dinner. It's literally under a bridge and looks pretty sketchy from the outside but you'll be pleasantly surprised by how nice it is inside and the food is fantastic. A+ fantastic. My wife and I actually went there for our first date and she stuck with me so it must be good enough :) The food carts (there's a city of them on Powell in South East I believe) are the trendy thing these days and many are very, very good. If you're looking for something more on the beaten path, any of the McMenamins pubs around the area are good bets f...
by Randomize
Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are 20 somethings handicapped bc of inflation and little SS?
Replies: 162
Views: 15588

Re: Are 20 somethings handicapped bc of inflation and little

A couple thoughts: As has already been mentioned, inflation doesn't mean much when it comes to stocks since they'll grow in value with inflation. This is fairly basic as the value of a stock is the value of all future earnings and earnings = volume x price - volume x cost. If prices and costs rise, earnings rise and stock valuations rise. The assumed inflation average may be unrealistic. The Fed has a 2% inflation target that they never used to have and thus far, they've bounced around a fairly tight +/- 0.5% range of that. It's not reasonable to assume no social security benefits. Even if contributions are never raised, benefits would still sustain at around 80% of today's benefits once the trust is drained. That said, ask yourself what se...
by Randomize
Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:04 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Cruel math [x% loss requires x+% gain to get even]
Replies: 35
Views: 5644

Re: Cruel math

Just measure expected returns as a geometric average rather than a traditional mean and you're good to go :)
by Randomize
Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacuum cleaner advice
Replies: 34
Views: 3839

Re: Vacuum cleaner advice

Consumer Reports is a great resource for this. If you have hairy pets, I recently bought a Hoover Rewind at Costco after seeing it was highly rated for pet hair (and inexpensive) in Consumer Reports and am thus far very happy with it. My mother uses a Dyson Animal and it's pretty darned awesome. Sure, it costs 4x what the Hoover did but it will almost doubtlessly last 4x as long.
by Randomize
Fri Jan 31, 2014 12:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Sleeping With Bonds!!!!!
Replies: 74
Views: 9838

Re: Sleeping With Bonds!!!!!

longinvest wrote:An increase in interest rates would just cause me to sell some equities and buy more bonds yielding higher interests. :moneybag If interests go down and equities go down too, I'll sell some of my newly expensive bonds to buy cheaper equities.

Isn't a balanced portfolio fun? :mrgreen:
+1 for this. My way of feeling in control without changing AAs is to rebalance more regularly than most.
by Randomize
Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1099-Misc for work on rental property?
Replies: 9
Views: 4202

Re: 1099-Misc for work on rental property?

So yeah, his number has been disconnected and he hasn't been responding to e-mails. How well does the IRS take the "I couldn't get ahold of him to give him a 1099!" excuse? :?
by Randomize
Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1099-Misc for work on rental property?
Replies: 9
Views: 4202

Re: 1099-Misc for work on rental property?

Thank you. Now let's see if I can even find the guy...
by Randomize
Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1099-Misc for work on rental property?
Replies: 9
Views: 4202

1099-Misc for work on rental property?

Hi everybody,

I'm a bit confused over 1099's. I hired a landscaper to spruce up my rental property this summer for a total expense of $1320, including materials. Do I need to file a 1099-Misc for this? Part of that expense I made as direct payments to Lowes formaterials - would I have to issue a 1099 for Lowes as well?

Thanks!
by Randomize
Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How low to go on selling a rental property?
Replies: 33
Views: 3776

Re: How low to go on selling a rental property?

hand wrote:Forbes has a calculator to determine sell vs. Rent:

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/rentorsell.shtml
Thanks. That was very helpful for cutting through the clutter.
by Randomize
Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Several thoughts: 1. Helping them out with downpayment is nice but a poor business practice. You essentially agreed to less than you deserved from the beginning. 2. Signing a 2nd long term lease with someone that does not easily have the ability to pay is a poor business practice and it limits your ability to give 30 day notice to leave. 3. Learn your landlord rights in your state and exercise them precisely. FIle with appropriate agencies on the day you can. If they can get their act together, these actions will show them you mean business. The reasons, rationales, sources of money, etc... has no bearing on your bills getting paid. If you wait for any reason, you prolong what could be inevitable. 4. Seek your friendship and being nice nee...
by Randomize
Tue Jan 07, 2014 12:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Just an update for everybody who helped: As was posted, the tenants paid a couple months worth of back-rent in October. They have since kept current and moved out on January 1. They still owed another month's worth of rent but the deposit covered it. Fortunately, there's only minimal damage to the house (a couple spots of drywall, paint, etc.) and the more expensive things such as the carpet and appliances seem to be fine. I got lucky and will carry the lessons learned from this experience forward with the next tenants: -If they're even a day late, call and add a late fee. Issue a Pay or Vacate notice if they don't pay on that day. -Schedule more walkthroughs. Fear of the unknown is an unnecessary stress. -Personally arrange for things to b...
by Randomize
Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good book for gift to high school senior?
Replies: 31
Views: 6232

Re: Good book for gift to high school senior?

The odds of an 18 year-old reading anything having to do with finance is about zero so maybe try something that would help him be a more thoughtful human being?

On The Road did that for me. Throw in a gas card or Amtrak/Greyhound gift card and you've got yourself a nice gift pack.
by Randomize
Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Heat Pump
Replies: 19
Views: 3374

Re: Heat Pump

Heat pumps actually have a built-in thermostat that determines when the backup resistance heat kicks in. The cheapest ones (less than $5 dollars) are set to 40 degrees so contractors will frequently use them even though the units can efficiently operate at lower temperatures. Do yourself a favor and spend the $10 bucks on a 30 or 35 degree thermostat and install it yourself.

Yes, many contractors are more interested in saving themselves $5 bucks in installation costs than they are in the hundred of dollars in savings a different thermostat would save you. My job is in energy efficiency and you wouldn't believe the pushback we got from them when we tried to change the local code to require the more expensive thermostats.
by Randomize
Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What percentage of your income are you saving?
Replies: 208
Views: 26404

Re: What percentage of your income are you saving?

The wife and I are both back in school, me working full-time and her part-time, so probably only 7% until we get the student debt paid down, then more like 15-20%. I have a pension and she'll have one too in her prospective line of work so that should be plenty.
by Randomize
Mon Oct 28, 2013 1:44 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New ibond rates for nov 2013
Replies: 45
Views: 9692

Re: New ibond rates for nov 2013

Conspiracy theories are off-topic, but enough people believe this particular one that it is worth addressing occasionally. US inflation rates are based on publicly available definitions and publicly available pricing data. If you are going to make a claim that they are understating the inflation rate, you need to show what is wrong with the definition, what's wrong with the prices, or where they have miscalculated. There have been attempts to do this, but none of the so-proclaimed debunkers have stood up to the slightest scrutiny. This has been discussed previously, see for example: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73943 http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73073 This is not to say that your personal inflation rat...
by Randomize
Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can't seem to spend money on myself, guilty feelings
Replies: 34
Views: 4755

Re: Can't seem to spend money on myself, guilty feelings

OP, I feel your pain. My wife and I are still in school so even though I have a decent job already, finances are pretty tight while making aggressive payments on student loans. We pay the bills on time and keep up with the statement balances on credit cards but there's no slack there. Maybe it's because I handle the finances (and stress of juggling payment schedules with a limited checking account) that my wife is much less bothered by buying "stuff," so while she may spend a couple hundred bucks a month on eating out with friends or clothes, I feel like it would be wrong of me to buy almost anything more than the basics. It sounds your past was similar? If so, it wouldn't be surprising if you have some kind of PTSD. If college co...
by Randomize
Thu Oct 03, 2013 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

BW1985 wrote:Why are you renting your house and living in a 'crummy duplex"?
1. We don't live in that area any more. Had to move for a job after being laid off.
2. Can't sell it and don't want to own two houses. The housing market in the area is still terrible (10%+ unemployment) so I'd have to write a check to sell the place.
3. Less disposable income. The wife and I are both back in school, classes are expensive, and she works only half time since she's a full-time student.
4. Something never seemed right about paying high rent for a nice place. If you're going to spend that sort of money, I'd rather be buying than renting.
by Randomize
Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Good news: I was in the area for a meeting earlier this week and was going to issue a Pay or Vacate notice while in town. I checked my account literally minutes before driving over and saw they'd paid two months' worth of rent. It's not enough to catch them up but it will definitely buy them some more time.
by Randomize
Mon Sep 30, 2013 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: F150 Fair Price
Replies: 12
Views: 2033

Re: F150 Fair Price

For that sort of money, could you get a diesel? If it's the last truck you ever want to buy, it would be reassuring to know that your engine is good for 300K.

Also, be sure to check the fine print on the financing agreement. My wife (we weren't married at the time) bought a Kia at some terrible rate and wasn't allowed to refi until 24 months in :(
by Randomize
Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is Bond/Bond Fund investing just a bad idea all around now?
Replies: 40
Views: 5610

Re: Is Bond/Bond Fund investing just a bad idea all around n

What's your timeframe for when you'll need the money? If it's comparable to or longer than the duration of your bonds or bond fund, it would be a bad idea to stay in cash.
by Randomize
Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Student loan repayment plan
Replies: 20
Views: 2111

Re: Student loan repayment plan

You are making a horrible mistake; a lifetime of debt. Sorry, but you won't even be able to make your interest payments. The arithmetic is simple. The annual interest payment on $235,000 of 20-year loan debt at 3% is a little more than $15,000 a year (~$1300 a month). The average pharmacist makes about $115,000. Stafford loans for graduates currently run about 5.5% and are limited to ~20K/year. He'll have to do PLUS loans and probably some privates at higher rates to get $200K more. It's still totally doable with a six figure salary but let's not sugar-coat it :) IBR/PSLF. Make sure you take out as few private loans as possible. Work in a hospital pharmacy or get a job with some government agency(VA, FDA, NIH, state health agency.) 10 year...
by Randomize
Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: "Lottery Winner Sues Advisors for Poor Policies"
Replies: 6
Views: 1852

Re: "Lottery Winner Sues Advisors for Poor Policies"

It'd be satisfying to see these guys go down for breach of fiduciary duty. What a bunch of sharks.
by Randomize
Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Heat Pump
Replies: 19
Views: 3374

Re: Heat Pump

Ductless mini split heat pump systems are a great way to retrofit an older building. Maybe that's what they used. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/ductless-mini-split-heat-pumps The ductless models tend to be more effective at heating than their ducted counterparts for whatever reason. The temperature in my area hovers between 0 and 20F for a couple months out of the year and my ductless heat pump has had no issues keeping up. For those of you who own a regular heat pump, there's a thermostat on the unit that dictates when the backup furnace will kick on. Some of them are adjustable (but all of them can be replaced) if you're interested in lowering the threshold a few degrees and saving some money. The contractors that work for my co...
by Randomize
Wed Sep 25, 2013 1:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Their words were that they were receiving a check from his 401k. I had assumed it was a loan but on second thought, they must be cashing it out and taking the penalty. Good advice, thanks everyone. I've put together a summary of payments made and amounts due and will send it on to them today. Assuming they pay some substantial amount this week, I will have a talk with them about whether they can really afford to live there. If not, I'll offer them some cash incentive to leave rather than drag it out through the eviction process. This is my worst fear and a huge source of stress. It's a reasonably nice house and while I make decent money for a 28 year-old, the mortgage is a little less than 30% of my take-home and would be crippling if there...
by Randomize
Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Weight Loss Plans?
Replies: 178
Views: 22113

Re: Weight Loss Plans?

Thanks for the recommendations on myfitnesspal. A week in, it's already very, very clear that my long-time staple of Mac'n'cheese for lunch has been the culprit behind my weight gain :D
by Randomize
Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Thanks for all the comments. On Saturday, I talked with her over the phone. She apologized profusely, reiterated that they've had some kind of delay on his first paycheck with the new job, and asked to have until the end of this week to pay the last couple months' worth of rent. Regardless of whether or not his pay gets straightened out, they're apparently taking a 401k loan and will have the cash. We'll see if they deliver. It's painful as a Boglehead to see anybody pulling from their 401k out of desperation. Lafder, I may be able to get another $100/month out of a new renter but yes, they seem to be taking good care of it. They've replaced the peeling entryway linoleum with pergo, built a nice workbench in the garage, have been touching u...
by Randomize
Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

Re: The Rent is Late

Thanks, guys. Any advice on going after back-rent once they're out? Is it worth taking them to court or better to just move on?
by Randomize
Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Rent is Late
Replies: 31
Views: 6767

The Rent is Late

Back in November 2010, I bought a house and lost my job in June of the following year. After about a year of unemployment and part-time work, I found my current job but had to move several hours away. With the housing market in the tank and minimal equity in the home, I decided to rent it out and found a renter in November of 2011. She and her husband were interested in purchasing the home so we built a clause into the lease where I would help them toward the down payment ($250/month) for each month of rent they paid for the duration of the 1-year lease. They were happy to save the money and I was happy to save a fortune on realtor/listing expenses if they actually bought it. Just before the expiration of the original lease, she lost her jo...
by Randomize
Thu Sep 19, 2013 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: About to buy a boat
Replies: 47
Views: 4997

Re: About to buy a boat

Can't help it. Not appropriate for children. I'm on a Boat!
by Randomize
Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Weight Loss Plans?
Replies: 178
Views: 22113

Re: Weight Loss Plans?

My wife has lost 25 pounds or so over the last 6 months doing a couple things. First, she tried Advocare and lost maybe 15 pounds in 2 months but it's expensive and a lot of the "cleanse" pounds came back after they stopped taking the Fiber shakes. Since running out of the bundled Advocare stuff, she's continued buying their Spark energy drink which she really enjoys. In addition to giving you a jolt of energy, it seems to be very effective at suppressing hunger. She's basically cut out the junk (soda, candy) in favor of Spark and seltzer water and left most of the rest of her diet the same. Between that and exercising 2-4 days a week (mostly hiking but some high-intensity and weights), she's continued to lose weight and feels gre...
by Randomize
Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me save on my $130 cell phone bill
Replies: 34
Views: 5258

Re: Help me save on my $130 cell phone bill

slopecarver wrote:Try one of the ones listed here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Un ... _operators

I'm using Go Redpocket, you could lower your bill to $80/mo with it but you would need an ATT phone.
LOL @ 420-Wireless :mrgreen:
by Randomize
Fri Sep 06, 2013 5:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Please, where do I find my Credit Score?
Replies: 13
Views: 1708

Re: Please, where do I find my Credit Score?

I also did the MyFico trial and immediately cancelled with no issues. If you don't want to give a credit card, try credit.com. They pull your Experian info once a month and generate an estimated score. It was identical to the score that MyFico gave me. CreditKarma does the same thing with Transunion info but my bank doesn't report to Transunion so that was less accurate. Quizzle is also good but only updates every 6 months unless you pay for it. Credit Sesame is another freebie that many have recommended but it was missing my mortgage so like CreditKarma, was less accurate.
by Randomize
Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:09 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help switching Insurance - anyone use Geico??
Replies: 30
Views: 3943

Re: Help switching Insurance - anyone use Geico??

I used Geico for several years and had no issues. My only claim was a roadside/towing job and it worked flawlessly. The only reason I left them was Progressive shaved 50% off my premiums :happy