Search found 38 matches
- Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:01 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: TLT vs BND in portfolio.
- Replies: 40
- Views: 7495
Re: TLT vs BND in portfolio.
I don't know if this is allowed but digging up this old thread for good retrospect. Read the question and all the valuable replies. Now look at what has happened since this thread started. TLT value has taken a much more significant downturn than BND as rates have skyrocketed upward.
- Thu May 21, 2020 2:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Engagement Ring Help
- Replies: 85
- Views: 6937
Re: Engagement Ring Help
Another fan of Blue Nile here. Researched. Shopped around. Bought online. Great experience.
- Sat May 16, 2020 12:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 90%+ chocolate bar
- Replies: 67
- Views: 6388
Re: 90%+ chocolate bar
Trader Joe’s has a gift box around Christmas called chocolate passport for about $10. Has about 10 bars of mostly dark chocolate from all different countries.looks like this... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ADG744Q/
- Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Two factor authentication loophole?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4641
Re: Two factor authentication loophole?
What’s sad is that a lot of financial institutions, including, Vanguard continue to use and implement SMS based MFA which is already proven to be a terrible MFA method. Just a false sense of security.
- Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: My wife's 2016 Mazda CX-5 lease is up. Now what?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3779
Re: My wife's 2016 Mazda CX-5 lease is up. Now what?
You talking model y? Doubt anyone will see a tax credit on it by the time it ships in 2021. I have a 2016 Mazda 3 I was really interested in the Tesla Model 3 but I just couldn’t make the math or timing work. Ended up 16.5k OTD. I really like the current Mazda’s.aristotelian wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:18 am AWD Tesla. Should come in at your budget after the tax credit.
- Sun Jan 20, 2019 12:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Best Credit Card for International Travel
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5243
Re: Best Credit Card for International Travel
Chase Sapphire Reaerve wins hands down
1. Free TSA-Pre check or global entry
2. $300 credit per year on travel
3. Double discount on their travel portal when you pay with points vs other chase cards.
4. Lounge access
5. A lot of travel partner transfer options.
6. Free travel coverage.
7. 4 roadside assistance calls a year ($50 per call)
There are many more perks.
1. Free TSA-Pre check or global entry
2. $300 credit per year on travel
3. Double discount on their travel portal when you pay with points vs other chase cards.
4. Lounge access
5. A lot of travel partner transfer options.
6. Free travel coverage.
7. 4 roadside assistance calls a year ($50 per call)
There are many more perks.
- Sun Jan 28, 2018 11:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: My new car buying experience.
- Replies: 62
- Views: 22812
Re: My new car buying experience.
Bought two cars in the last few years. Did them both very similar to the OP. Test drove and then communicated via text/email on a google voice account only. The key is getting quotes from enough dealers. At around 6 or 7 is where we found a dealer that one would give a price that no one else wanted to match. I only gave each dealer one opportunity to beat the lowest price. I didn't want to keep going back and forth with the dealers. I was ready to buy. One car we actually had to drive 90 minutes to pickup but they were $1500 cheaper than anyone else. Then they found out we were eligible for another $500 loyalty rebate. They could have kept it and adjusted the price. They didn't so we got an excellent deal. When I bought my Mazda 3 it was so...
- Sat Jan 27, 2018 11:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Still using a 5 year old iphone 5. Who's with me? No new phones!!!
- Replies: 151
- Views: 15223
Re: Still using a 5 year old iphone 5. Who's with me? No new phones!!!
I have a 6s. I don't see how I won't be using it for a long time even though I hate it. Removing the headphone jack is just dumb.
- Sat Mar 25, 2017 1:00 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: In-N-Out Burger - Best Chain Fast Food Burger Joint?
- Replies: 157
- Views: 27334
Re: In-N-Out Burger - Best Chain Fast Food Burger Joint?
In n out is pretty good. I like Habit burger better. I also liked shake shack the one time I was near one. Fiveguys was just ok. Never went back.
- Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: First time Maui vacation - where to stay?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 11656
Re: First time Maui vacation - where to stay?
This may not be the best advice for those with kids, but I'm sure others will read this post as well. My wife and I have been to Maui twice. The first time was on our honeymoon. We do not have any kids. The first time we stayed in Wailea at the Hyatt Andaz. The reason was we had Chase Ultimate Rewards points and we were able to book 10 days on points. It was very quite and had a great beach. This may not be the sort of thing your looking for in terms of activities for kids. However, we loved it. So when we decided to go back this year that was our first stop. There is also a Hyatt Regency in the kaanapali area. This hotel was not nearly as nice but it had a lot more activities and access to a much larger beach front. Their were also more an...
- Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Discounted Gift Card Websites - issue
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2102
Re: Discounted Gift Card Websites - issue
In the last 6 months we have spent over $15k on discount gift cards at Cardcash/abcgiftcards and a few $k at raise. I have had a few issues with zero balance or partial balances and I have always received a refund with a day or two. I use to use raise a lot but switched to Cardcash when I realized chase was giving me 5% cash back on purchases from them. Taking a trip to Hawaii in a few months all on my chase points. Spent it before the guarantee is up and there shouldn't be an issue. You can always fall back to your credit card company.
- Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New Amazon Prime Member w/streaming - need recs
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3417
Re: New Amazon Prime Member w/streaming - need recs
+1. We recently watched this and can't wait for the second season.Matt52885 wrote:I really enjoyed The Man in the High Castle. It's an alternative history show based on WWII. It's based on the book by Phillip K. Dick.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740299/
- Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: So my dog did $500 of damage to a hotel room...(she is a rock star)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 7488
Re: So my dog did $500 of damage to a hotel room...(she is a rock star)
Or it pisses off the hotel and then you have a fight on your hands. I would pay it and move on. I agree that the best time to talk cost was at checkout. If your going to look into this I would deal directly with the hotel management and not your credit card unless you can prove they are over charging you.Freddy wrote:You could file a complaint with Amex. Amex will send the hotel a letter saying you are contesting the bill. The managers will have a certain amount of time to answer and provide documentation. If they cannot prove that $500 was a legitimate charge then Amex goes into their account and takes $500 and then returns it to your account. Doing it this way makes it easier for you to get documentation and a refund if you are entitled to one.
- Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Cash Back Credit Card
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1614
Re: Cash Back Credit Card
Amex blue cash preferred for groceries (6% up to 6000), 3% gas (but I figure the $75/yr fee basically eats the cash back we earn on gas). Target red card 5% off at the register for most of our little kid stuff and some groceries and clothes. We have two under two so that's basically all our spending these days (I imagine the days when a travel card wil be worth having!) Got both of those this year. Still using fidelity visa (1.5%) for everything else We've had our blue preferred for just over a year. It was hard to choose the 6% with annual free or 3% no annual fee. Well at the 1 year mark we had $285 in cash back so it was a smart choice paying the annual fee. I buy a lot of gift cards at the grocery store now for every day purchases. Res...
- Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:17 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Large purchase with cash, 0% card, or rewards card?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 4290
Re: Large purchase with cash, 0% card, or rewards card?
18 months ago I bought my ring from blue Nile. Chase had 6% cash back at the time. Ended up getting $400+ back. We were both very happy with the purchase. I believe they offer a 30 day money back guarantee as well. We transferred the Chase ultimate rewards points to Hyatt for our hotel stay in Maui. Ended up getting 10 nights and two round trip flights for our honeymoon on Chase UR points. It was nice paying very little for our honeymoon after paying for a wedding. I love making the CC companies pay me to use their services.
- Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: HMO, PPO, or HDHP+HSA
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1268
HMO, PPO, or HDHP+HSA
My employer is eliminating the health plan I'm on today which is a Blue Shield HMO. So now I have to chose a new one and am having a tough time deciding. I'm in my early 30's and will be getting married in March. They are replacing the Blue Shield HMO offering with a HDHP +HSA. I thought the monthly premium for the HDHP would be considerably cheaper but it's only $11.20/month cheaper than the PPO and actually cost more than the Kaiser HMO. My cost is 20% of the premium. The plans include Rx but the copays are pretty much the same for all 3 plans and are included in the costs below. Blue Shield CDHP - $1458m / 291.60/m(my cost) -Ded: 1500/person/$3000 family -OOP Max: $3000/person/$6000 family -CoPay: 90/10% -HSA employer contributes $500 in...
- Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Help me select a streaming media device
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3329
Re: Help me select a streaming media device
I've about decided to get one (or more). I've read a couple of reviews. It appears there are 4 main choices, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast. From what I have read, Roku appears to support the largest number of viewing options. None of them cost a lot, but I have an aversion to misspending money, so I'm looking for opinions, which box/dongle is best and why do you think so? Some more info. I'll probably still have a cable tv subscription. I have some Apple devices, wife and I both have iphones and we have a Mac Mini computer. My laptop is a Lenovo (Windows based). In order to get good coverage, I might buy two, although I'd probably just buy one to start. I like free content so the device with the greatest access to fr...
- Wed May 21, 2014 1:09 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New PC - Buy Office or use free alternatives
- Replies: 49
- Views: 7210
Re: New PC - Buy Office or use free alternatives
I purchased Office for 9.95 through my employer. under Microsoft HUP. For $10 no way I'm going even bother trying anything open source or god forbid use google docs.
- Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: KeePass vs LastPass
- Replies: 105
- Views: 20295
Re: KeePass vs LastPass
I love lastpass. I think the convenience of the browser plug in outweighs my fear of the cloud storage. I now never reuse passwords and don't even have to think about it. I use 2-factor authentication with it was well. On top of that they have been keeping me up to date on what passwords I should reset due to heardbleed. The cost is very reasonable for mobile use as well.
- Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Which Windows 8.1 tablet?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1430
Re: Which Windows 8.1 tablet?
I'm posting this from my surface rt 1. I love it. You just need to define your requirements. I've had mine for a year but we picked up 2 more at $170 in nov on ebay. For me I use it for web browsing, Microsoft office, one note and email. I don't play many games so windows rt. Works great for me. The full version of windows will work better if you have a need for 3rd party apps like quicken.
- Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: AT&T Mobile Users: Check your plans
- Replies: 75
- Views: 14482
Re: AT&T Mobile Users: Check your plans
Be careful as usual AT&T isn't doing this out of the kindness of their heart. It will save money for some and not so much for others. #1 you can only have 4 line on Next at a time. Lines 5+ either have to be owned or pay $40/m and get the normal subsidized price with 2yr contract I am on the original mobile share with 5 lines 10gb data. So if I move to this new "value" plan my device access fee goes from $30 to $40. There is no way to get back to my plan. Confusing part is it looks like i'll be forced onto the new plan. They will eat the cost of the remaining contract and all 5 lines will be $15 each..... until we want to upgrade then things get interesting since we can only do 4 out of 5 devices if we chose no contract on NEX...
- Fri Jan 24, 2014 5:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What's your dream car?
- Replies: 197
- Views: 22321
Re: What's your dream car?
The new Z07 Corvette looks absolutely amazing.
- Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:37 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Windows 7 stability and usability ...
- Replies: 40
- Views: 3982
Re: Windows 7 stability and usability ...
ITunes has supposedly gotten better on windows. I use to think Apple coded it like crap on purpose to try and get people to switch to OSX. I can't say for sure its better I finally ditched it with my iphone4. That piece of garbage is why I will never buy another Apple product. I quite liked my 3gs, but oh well.
As for 8.1. yes its different but I really like it. Being stuck on windows 7 at work sucks. And the times I have to get on an xp machine....I just want to cry.
As for MACs "just working". Good luck with that. It's a gimmick. It's technology. It's not perfect. I know quite a few Apple support employees who have to deal with mad customers all day because someone told them id they switched they would have no problems.
As for 8.1. yes its different but I really like it. Being stuck on windows 7 at work sucks. And the times I have to get on an xp machine....I just want to cry.
As for MACs "just working". Good luck with that. It's a gimmick. It's technology. It's not perfect. I know quite a few Apple support employees who have to deal with mad customers all day because someone told them id they switched they would have no problems.
- Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: huge Apple fan here BUT....
- Replies: 28
- Views: 4319
Re: huge Apple fan here BUT....
I love my Surface rt. I'm posting this from it. Although I guess I'm in the minority since I don't play games I don't use a ton of apps. Browser and office mostly. Citrix receiver to remote to work. There's still just so many tasks that are 1000x easier with a mouse.
- Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Please recommend a tablet to replace laptop
- Replies: 26
- Views: 4150
Re: Please recommend a tablet to replace laptop
Best Buy will have the Surface RT 1 for $200 on black Friday. Sounds like a good fit for you. I'm posting this from mine. For productivity and work there it's the best. As long as you don't require regular local windows applications the RT works well. I use it with a few apps to browse the web, take notes(one note), and the Citrix receiver for work.
- Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Microsoft Surface tablet for me?]
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2336
Re: [Microsoft Surface tablet for me?]
I'm posting from my surface rt. I love it. When your needs are more productivity based the surface is hands down the best. There is just so much you cannot do on other mobile OSs or so much slower because so much still isn't touch based.
The pro is great because it a full powered system with full windows. You can even connect it to a regular monitor and keyboard at a desk. It just costs quite a bit more.
For me the cheaper rt it perfect. I mainly use my browser and Ms office. I use mine a lot tethered to my phone to remote into work. No way I could control my work PC without a mouse.
The pro is great because it a full powered system with full windows. You can even connect it to a regular monitor and keyboard at a desk. It just costs quite a bit more.
For me the cheaper rt it perfect. I mainly use my browser and Ms office. I use mine a lot tethered to my phone to remote into work. No way I could control my work PC without a mouse.
- Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best deals on gyms
- Replies: 40
- Views: 4804
Re: Best deals on gyms
momar wrote:Costco sells 2 year all club super sport 24 hour fitness memberships for $600. I believe these would normally cost $60/month.
I bought my 2-year all-sport from Costco a year ago for 319. It currently on sale now for 369.99. There isn't even a super sport anywhere near me, not that I would pay the extra unless the super-sport is the only close one.
- Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Android Tablet
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5473
Re: Android Tablet
You should give the Windows tablet a look If you only browse the web and use email any tablet will do. If you are heavily tied into in the windows platform at work (i.e. Excel, Word, PP, VS) you should consider the Windows tablet and Windows phone. Some of the benefits I've seen are - USB port to plug into large monitor - Nice cover/keyboard that magnetically attaches - keyboard is easy to type on - even if you are laying on the couch. - Windows 8 and desktop mode - Blue tooth for full size keyboard and mouse - kickstand - memory card - Writing / markup w/stylus over windows apps - Auto sync between desktop, laptop, and phone - I see lots of people with Windows at work, Windows on machines at home, ipad tablets and android phones - talk ab...
- Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: For Technically Minded:Wifi Extender,Powerline Adapter or wi
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2782
Re: For Technically Minded:Wifi Extender,Powerline Adapter o
OnQ is brand for in house wiring in this case the OP says its CAT5.
- Sat Aug 10, 2013 5:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Clearing car "Check Engine" light
- Replies: 51
- Views: 31333
Re: Clearing car "Check Engine" light
I've used this one several times. It cheap and doesn't do any fancy logging, but its reads codes and can clear them. Use google to translate the error codes.
http://www.amazon.com/Autel-MaxiScan-MS ... ords=obdII
http://www.amazon.com/Autel-MaxiScan-MS ... ords=obdII
- Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: deposit check via scan
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2383
Re: deposit check via scan
They sadly don't have an app for WP so I take a picture with my phone then upload it. It has worked for me dozens of times. I just did one Friday. If they don't get their act together I'm moving my checking to ally too.
- Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: how bad would it hurt to spend an extra 10k on a car (24 yo)
- Replies: 93
- Views: 8804
Re: how bad would it hurt to spend an extra 10k on a car (24
no debt -60k so far in various retirement sources (roth/taxable/tsp) -20k in a savings account -will get an additional 7-8k in early November (short term investment) -expenses of 2k a month 100k a year job in Cali. Oh for goodness sake, you're doing just fine, and IF buying a nice new car will make you happy driving to work and back, then go for it. And if it does impress your friends, what of it. You're young, and being proud of yourself and how well you are doing should be seen as a good thing; I don't see it as keeping up the Joneses. I just bought myself a new Miata (with cash) and it is so much fun to drive. If I were you though, I would try to pay at least half in cash, assuming you can finance the rest for a low interest rate for no...
- Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:16 am
- Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
- Topic: Do you go to bogleheads.org with your smartphone?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4267
Re: Do you go to bogleheads.org with your smartphone?
I do it all the time from my windows phone. I have my browser agent string set to desktop IE so it looks like my laptop just smaller. Pinch zoom works well.
- Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Move Student Loan to 0% Credit Card
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5082
Re: Move Student Loan to 0% Credit Card
One upside is student loans are hard to get rid of. You can normally discharge in bankruptcy. If you move it to a credit card its unsecured debt. A much better debt to have if things go bad.
- Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Whart smartphone should I get?
- Replies: 110
- Views: 27855
Re: Whart smartphone should I get?
tjstogner wrote:Just get the iPhone. Apple's products are always industry standard in terms of quality, and everything else for that matter. Samsung is the South Korean company that wants to be better than the American company by copying the iPhone in every way.
I ditched my iphone because their quality is terrible. I loved my 3gs and upgrade to a 4. What a mistake between signal issues, wifi issues, and the stupid proximity sensor. None of it was ever fixed. I went to a Windows Phone 8 Lumia 920 and couldn't be happier. Apple won't get a dime more out of me and good riddance to that horrible resource hog they call iTunes.
- Sat Jun 15, 2013 5:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Article about young americans not using credit cards
- Replies: 81
- Views: 8310
Re: Article about young americans not using credit cards
I am part of the studied demographic. As a result, I have witnessed firsthand the increasing reluctance toward credit. Equally important, and through my own observations, is the increasing reluctance toward home ownership. I don't know the exact cause of this shift, but I have a solid premonition. For instance, around Q3 2010 student loan debt surpassed outstanding credit card debt. Consequently, student loan debt now has the second largest outstanding balance after mortgage debt. Not only has student loan debt surpassed credit debt, but the average debt per student is growing exponentially in the face of rising interest rates. The average indebted college student has somewhere around $25K in debt. Personally I know plenty with $200K+ in d...
- Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cash Blance Pension portable
- Replies: 4
- Views: 673
Re: Cash Blance Pension portable
That's what I believe as well, however, they say I cannot roll it over when I leave. I cannot do anything with it until I am 55. It doesn't sound right to me so I was hoping there might be some more resources I could look into it further.MN Finance wrote:Not sure if theres a question in there. Since the plan is discontinued it sounds like you can roll it somewhere before leaving employment which is typical. Usually if the plan is active it cant be moved until you leave
- Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Cash Blance Pension portable
- Replies: 4
- Views: 673
Cash Blance Pension portable
My employer was offering a cash balance pension plan when I started. I never contributed as they also offered a matching 401K. However, they have been contributing 5% of my salary yearly. A few years ago they stopped allowing us to contribute and this year they stopped and now put a 6% annual lump sum into our 401K. Everything I have read says that if my employment ends with this company a cash balance plan can be rolled into an IRA. I have spoken to our plan administrator for the company a few times and they say that if I have over 5K then I can do anything regardless of my employment status until I'm 55. Has anyone else run into this?