Search found 891 matches

by CoAndy
Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:32 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Significant additional Cash Reserves. If you have/had any how have/will you deploy it?
Replies: 12
Views: 553

Re: Significant additional Cash Reserves. If you have/had any how have/will you deploy it?

Mine is slowly but surely creeping up but not to your level (I am guessing). But I am thinking about a new car in the near future, possibly a replacement car for one or both of my kids, and we may be in the market for a new furnace sooner rather than later. All those items will make those funds vanish relatively quickly. If I had a lot more, I would simply invest or pay my mortgage down.
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
Replies: 75
Views: 3252

Re: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?

NYHawkeye wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:13 pm
CoAndy wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:13 pm
Due to the frequency and intensity of my workouts and my fitness goals, a pound of protein per pound of bodyweight is what I shoot for. Don't always hit it. Sounds like a lot but that is only 800 calories of the daily goal of between 2,700-3,000 that I aim for.
I assume you mean a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. You would have to redo your retirement plan if you were eating that much protein :shock:
Oops. Yes correct, a gram per pound, not pound per pound. :oops:
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: $90K 48 mos loan at 3% OR outright purchase
Replies: 44
Views: 2149

Re: $90K 48 mos loan at 3% OR outright purchase

Domadosolo wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:36 am [Topic is now in Personal Finance (Not Investing) - auto finance vs. cash purchase analysis - mod mkc]

An auto purchase, $90k (BH sideeye :oops: )
Dealer Fin offers 3%/48mos (or 60mos)
I have the cash: $90k currently in MM at 5%. Marginal tax rate is 25%.
I see that the loan amortization is heavy up front.
Approx 9% of payments in yr 1 is interest, and 6%, 3%,1% in yrs 2,3,4 respectively.
Am I right in thinking I can invest the $90k and take the loan, and have a decent likelihood of coming out ahead?
Where would you advise I can invest safely/with some risk (10% at risk)?
How do I analyze this?

Thanks :sharebeer
Might I inquire as to what vehicle you are considering?
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
Replies: 75
Views: 3252

Re: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?

jayjayc wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:13 pm Isopure Zero Carb Whey Protein Powder, Creamy Vanilla when it's on sale at Costco. 1st ingredient is whey protein isolate which is supposed to be more bio-available.

I don't worry too much about taste since I blend it with frozen berries.
Yes that is another good one.
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
Replies: 75
Views: 3252

Re: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?

UpperNwGuy wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:03 pm
CoAndy wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:07 am
UpperNwGuy wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:15 pm Why are you folk consuming protein shakes? Why not just eat more protein at meals?
It is very hard to get 200 grams of protein per day with just whole food sources. A shake with 50 grams of protein is very helpful, quick, and convenient.
Your answer, of course, gives rise to the logical follow-on question: why 200 grams of protein per day?
Due to the frequency and intensity of my workouts and my fitness goals, a pound of protein per pound of bodyweight is what I shoot for. Don't always hit it. Sounds like a lot but that is only 800 calories of the daily goal of between 2,700-3,000 that I aim for.
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
Replies: 75
Views: 3252

Re: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?

I use 1stPhorm whey protein powder, almond milk, a banana, a handful of spinach, and a few frozen chunks of pineapple. That is one of my favorite recipes.
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?
Replies: 75
Views: 3252

Re: Favorite protein powder for shakes at home?

UpperNwGuy wrote: Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:15 pm Why are you folk consuming protein shakes? Why not just eat more protein at meals?
It is very hard to get 200 grams of protein per day with just whole food sources. A shake with 50 grams of protein is very helpful, quick, and convenient.
by CoAndy
Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retirement Accounts or 529 or Saving for New Home?
Replies: 31
Views: 1762

Re: Retirement Accounts or 529 or Saving for New Home?

Personally, I would max out both 401(k) plans and then open a brokerage account and invest there. The money in this account could then be used to assist with the house down payment, kids' school, and your financial independence.
by CoAndy
Sun Mar 24, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I really really afford a 3 million mortgage?
Replies: 104
Views: 9015

Re: Can I really really afford a 3 million mortgage?

Where is KlangFool when we need him?
by CoAndy
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:00 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive
Replies: 98
Views: 5645

Re: Pulled out of Target Fund 2045 to rebalance, more aggressive

I think you will be fine but I also think you would have been fine had you stayed with the 2045 fund as well.
by CoAndy
Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Alaska cruise recommendations
Replies: 27
Views: 2354

Re: Alaska cruise recommendations

I did an Alaskan cruise with Carnival and will be going again next month with Royal Caribbean. This will be our third cruise with Royal Caribbean. From my first Alaskan cruise and from talking to others, this cruise is not a particularly popular cruise with partying teens. The majority of the people are older retired folks. Though there will be families with kids but not like most other cruises, at least from what I have seen.
by CoAndy
Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625908

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Colorado14 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:25 pm
CoAndy wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:36 pm Haven't left the house in two days due to the 20" of snow. Spent a lot of time shoveling, reading, and enjoying leftovers. Sort of a forced frugality, I guess...
And the shoveling counts as no cost exercise, right? 😃

Last week I was joking that we should scoop some of the snow into giant barrels (if we had them) to save the water for springtime watering needs. We may need to look into establishing a rain barrel system...
And there was lots and lots of water in this latest storm!
by CoAndy
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan
Replies: 22
Views: 3322

Re: Retire in 7 years, getting close enough to plan

1. We are hoping to retire in about 7 years, when husband turns 59.5 (I will be 58). At that time, we would need to keep income under ACA thresholds for subsidies and probably withdraw some funds from the retirement accounts in addition to cash. I need a target for how much we need in taxable and how much we need to save each year on top of the maximum contributions to 401k, Roth and HSA. Right now, I think 300K might be right?? Target expenses $10k/month. (I may have overestimated, but I want to allow for travel, home improvements, new cars, medical, etc.) verbose, A) How is that possible with an annual expense of 120K per year? B) The good news is I do not think your estimate of retirement annual expense of 120K per year to be accurate. ...
by CoAndy
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it
Replies: 31
Views: 2869

Re: Older jobless sibling with a daughter and an inheritance - thoughts on managing it

I am assuming they are not investment savvy so maybe a CD ladder might be worth looking in to. I am still seeing rates above 5% for 6 and 12 month CD's.
by CoAndy
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625908

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Haven't left the house in two days due to the 20" of snow. Spent a lot of time shoveling, reading, and enjoying leftovers. Sort of a forced frugality, I guess...
by CoAndy
Thu Mar 14, 2024 4:17 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle
Replies: 180
Views: 15738

Re: 5M, probably enough to retire to a frugal lifestyle

KlangFool wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:48 pm Folks,

It is very simple.

You only need one word to be happy: enough.

You only need one word to be unhappy: more.

Heaven or hell is within you.
- Buddha

KlangFool
Love the Buddha quote. :)
by CoAndy
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What UN-frugal thing do you do? What do you splurge on?]
Replies: 785
Views: 84180

Re: Frugal heros - what is your one guilty consumer splurge?

Expensive gym memberships. My CrossFit membership is $155 per month and the wife goes to Pilates at $185 per month. We also take nice trips but we drive a 2012 Accord and a 2015 CRV respectively to make up for it! :|
by CoAndy
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Maxed Tax-Advantaged - Home Improvements or Investments?
Replies: 2
Views: 335

Re: Maxed Tax-Advantaged - Home Improvements or Investments?

Personally, I would pour on the investing for a while. Doing so will give you more options down the line in case you want to retire early. You can always do your home improvements a few years down the road if you still feel the urge or if early retirement doesn't appeal to you.
by CoAndy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Check Up - How am I doing?
Replies: 13
Views: 1941

Re: Check Up - How am I doing?

CMLAW1 wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:51 am Bump. Anyone else have an opinion on this? What about college? How do I make sure I have enough for that? I plan to cover both my kids expenses there...
I think you should just keep doing what you are doing. You should have plenty in taxable to fund school expenses in the future.
by CoAndy
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?
Replies: 68
Views: 5924

Re: What would you have done differently if you could go back and restart your financial journey?

I would have added more to savings along the way. Even if I could have increased savings rate by 5% more, which I could have, of course, I would be in an even better position right now than I am. Oh yeah, and moving out of equities and into bond funds after the 2008 crash turned out to be an even bigger mistake! :oops:
by CoAndy
Tue Mar 05, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire?
Replies: 41
Views: 4830

Re: Can I retire?

OP looks like you can an enjoy a relatively worry free retirement. Enjoy! :beer
by CoAndy
Fri Mar 01, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mid-career change to law?
Replies: 127
Views: 11962

Re: Mid-career change to law?

Lawyer here. Does your current career involve a lot of reading, writing, long hours and attention to detail? Are you strong in those areas? What about the practice of law appeals to you? Do you have a practice specialty in mind that you could leverage your work experience to date and combine with law? Rereading your post it appears the answer to the last question is yes. At 40, if you took the LSAT this year, you’d be around 44 by the time you graduate and almost 45 by the time you pass the bar. You’d be competing for first year law firm positions with 25 year olds. At 50-55 you’d be in a highly demanding phase and it would just start to cohere. Lots of lawyers make in the $200k range and AI is going to reduce that further. I agree with th...
by CoAndy
Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
Replies: 945
Views: 151264

Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car

2012 Honda Accord 135,786 miles
by CoAndy
Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: CDs: How do you justify holding them?
Replies: 16
Views: 2386

Re: CDs: How do you justify holding them?

I currently have 4 CD's at my local credit union. I am holding them as they pay 5% and a vanilla savings account pays about .3% or so.
by CoAndy
Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Max out 401k pre-tax or post-tax
Replies: 18
Views: 2778

Re: Max out 401k pre-tax or Roth

Wiggums wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:46 am I would use pre-tax contributions instead of after-tax
+1
by CoAndy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Funding a New Vehicle
Replies: 33
Views: 3374

Re: Funding a New Vehicle

OP you might start experiencing issues though I think it is more likely you could get a few more years out of it. I have a 2012 Honda Accord with 135k miles and I am planning on at least getting to 150k and then re-evaluate from there. My car has been 100% problem free as well (knock on wood)!
by CoAndy
Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7650
Views: 1724076

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

"The Exchange" by John Grisham. Sequel to "The Firm".
by CoAndy
Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 591062

Re: What are you listening to now

Patty Smyth
by CoAndy
Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concept 2 rower question [rowing machine]
Replies: 27
Views: 3374

Re: Concept 2 rower question [rowing machine]

OP I do CrossFit about 5 days a week, am 53 years old, and my 2000m time is 7:45. So, 9 minutes at your age is pretty decent. With some training you should be able to get it down to 8:30 or so. Good luck on your journey.
by CoAndy
Mon Feb 19, 2024 11:40 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Let me retire! Please?
Replies: 62
Views: 8169

Re: Let me retire! Please?

You're fine! A 3.5% withdrawal rate is nearly guaranteed to last you 30 years with that asset allocation. Remember that the 4% rule is conservative by definition; following it means that you are actually quite likely to die with MORE money than you started with. Only in bad sequence of returns scenarios do you get close to running out of money (and if you find yourself in those scenarios you will adjust well before calamity strikes). Also remember the 4% withdrawal plan assumes you increase spending each year for inflation AND that you spend more and more every single year until death (which in reality few retirees do; those lucky enough to live into their 80s and 90s almost inevitably slow down consumption and travel). Also, your stated w...
by CoAndy
Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Exercise Is Overrated
Replies: 32
Views: 3425

Re: Exercise Is Overrated

Will be doing a long CrossFit metcon today. Love it.
by CoAndy
Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay Down 7-Year ARM Or Invest?
Replies: 35
Views: 1756

Re: Pay Down 7-Year ARM Or Invest?

Also, would be helpful to know your salaries and investment account balances.
by CoAndy
Sun Feb 11, 2024 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Just got laid off
Replies: 120
Views: 16232

Re: Just got laid off

Great update OP. Please let us know how the rest of the interview process goes. Fingers crossed for you!
by CoAndy
Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:03 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How Taylor Larimore made a difference in my financial life - Salute to Taylor's 100th
Replies: 53
Views: 10305

Re: How Taylor Larimore made a difference in my financial life - Salute to Taylor's 100th

AnnetteLouisan wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:27 am I greatly enjoy reading the Jack Bogle quotes that Taylor Larimore carefully selects for just the right situation. Taylor has been a very dear friend, correspondent and defender of mine on the forum. Thanks to Taylor’s wise counsel, and that of the Bogleheads community that he champions, I’m much less anxious about my finances and earn so much more now in investments. In short order I’ll be able to live off my investments. Happy Birthday, dear Taylor, and many more! 🎈🥂

Bogleheads, in honor of Taylor’s 100th, please add your posts here on how Taylor Larimore has made a difference in your life. 😀
That was a great post Annette. Thank you for posting it.
by CoAndy
Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:04 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Early Retirement Plan - Age 38 w/over $2 million
Replies: 120
Views: 29275

Re: Early Retirement Plan - Age 38 w/over $2 million

No way id live off 40k with kids. Its miserable. We're on year 10 of marriage with kids, highest ever spend in a single year was ~$45k in our MCOL area; when my wife was in school full-time, both kids in childcare, and we still had a mortgage. We're well below $40k/yr in spend now and we are definitely not miserable. We'd spend more if we really thought it would increase our QOL and we can definitely afford to (NW >$2M and ~$300k/yr in income). But, if we were comfortable with projecting $40k/yr in spend in retirement, we'd have quit the game a while ago. I wouldn't plan on retiring with a family on $40k/yr even in LCOL area, that doesn't leave very much wiggle room for unplanned expenses and things change. I'm especially concerned about m...
by CoAndy
Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Wife got laid off. Portfolio Review.
Replies: 35
Views: 5267

Re: Wife got laid off. Portfolio Review.

Harry Livermore wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:51 pm
whodidntante wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 2:54 pm Seeing a lot of layoffs lately. We've gone from a choir to a big band, and we are working on a mob.

A good time for ALL of us to consider the risks we take. Never take too much or too little risk. Every one of us is replaceable.
Amen. Those of us who are self employed are even more easily ditched...
I saw my business go to zero at the start of COVID, and 2021 and 2022, though improvements, were way down from my "usual". 2023 was the worst yet.
I wonder sometimes if I'm retired and I just don't know it yet.
Cheers
Sorry to hear that. What line of work are you in, if you don't mind sharing?
by CoAndy
Fri Jan 12, 2024 3:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I Would Not Have Retired Without Bogleheads - Thank You
Replies: 19
Views: 4191

Re: I Wound Not Have Retired Without Bogleheads - Thank You

Charles Joseph wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:01 pm
Exurbanite wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:25 am Following your journey has been very inspiring for me. I have more modest means than most here, also. Every time I hope to dare it may be possible to retire sooner than I think, I remember your journey and say to myself "well Charles Joseph did it, why can't I?" So thank YOU, my friend for leading by example.
Oh my goodness! What a nice thing to say! You made my day (week!) Exurbanite. Thank you! :sharebeer
I agree! :beer
by CoAndy
Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625908

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Made coffee (lattes) at home this morning. Actually, drank coffee from home every day this week.
by CoAndy
Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Selling vs. Cash Reserve: Tips for Funding Short-Term Needs in Retirement
Replies: 2
Views: 583

Re: Selling vs. Cash Reserve: Tips for Funding Short-Term Needs in Retirement

Not retired yet but my plan is to pull out expenses for the next year from investment accounts at the end of the year. Of course, if it was the end of 2022, I would not pull from investments and instead pull from cash buffer. End of 2023, pull from investments. I would rinse and repeat until the cash buffer is gone. Hopefully at that point, investment portfolio is very healthy and growing.
by CoAndy
Wed Jan 10, 2024 8:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Filing for divorce. How to pay for it and other advice?
Replies: 50
Views: 7927

Re: Filing for divorce. How to pay for it and other advice?

Agree with the above in regard to mediation rather than attorneys haggling over everything. If this is possible, this could make things much smoother.
by CoAndy
Sat Jan 06, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
Replies: 945
Views: 151264

Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car

Yesterday, just hit 135k miles on my 2012 Honda Accord. Still 100% problem free though my speakers are starting to go out sporadically. :annoyed
by CoAndy
Fri Jan 05, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Review for High Earner Considering Career Change
Replies: 5
Views: 1040

Re: Portfolio Review for High Earner Considering Career Change

Just curious as to why the Au Pair and daycare? Didn't your wife leave work to be a stay at home mom? Just asking as those add considerable expense at the moment.
by CoAndy
Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pre Nup, Late 30's
Replies: 11
Views: 1365

Re: Pre Nup, Late 30's

Agree with above. Need more information to render an opinion.
by CoAndy
Tue Dec 26, 2023 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625908

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Eating leftovers for lunch today. Will also be eating leftovers for dinner tonight.
by CoAndy
Tue Dec 26, 2023 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: how much do you think you need to retire?
Replies: 297
Views: 63036

Re: how much do you think you need to retire?

Can I ask you, since you mentioned you hit your 25-30x but kept on working. What are you doing with the extra money? I remember you saying you created a cash cushion. But what about after that? Have you increased spending at all and if not, do you have a game plan to increase spending in the future? I ask because we also hit our 25x goal a few years back and continued to work part time. Over the years our accounts have grown. In response we chose to increase our discretionary spending to match the increased wealth. My thinking has always been, if I am going to keep working, I am going to enjoy the benefits of the extra cash. Otherwise why even bother? I almost want to start a new thread on this. We jumped past the 25x goal because we sold ...
by CoAndy
Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much Xmas gift money is appropriate for teachers?
Replies: 104
Views: 14031

Re: How much Xmas gift money is appropriate for teachers?

miamivice wrote: Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:23 pm $0 per teacher
LOL!
by CoAndy
Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I make end of year catch-up contribution to maximize 403(b)
Replies: 3
Views: 402

Re: Can I make end of year catch-up contribution to maximize 403(b)

The only option I believe is to set your contribution rate to the highest level for your final paycheck though I imagine it is probably too late at this point.
by CoAndy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625908

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Ate leftovers for lunch.
by CoAndy
Tue Dec 19, 2023 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: We want a new holiday dessert
Replies: 53
Views: 6919

Re: We want a new holiday dessert

Recently tried a peach/apple crumb pie. Was as delicious as it sounds. :D