Search found 1259 matches

by Dutch
Tue May 09, 2017 12:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sunscreen for men in office environment
Replies: 25
Views: 5307

Re: Sunscreen for men in office environment

sport wrote:Perhaps a wide brimmed hat would do the job for you while you are outside.
+1

That's what I would do
by Dutch
Fri May 05, 2017 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Milestones achieved [for retirement]
Replies: 1
Views: 824

Re: Milestones achieved

Congratulations! It's important to mark and celebrate your milestones :beer

Onward
by Dutch
Fri May 05, 2017 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Decision
Replies: 53
Views: 6112

Re: Job Decision

Barefoot wrote:
2stepsbehind wrote:Take the offer and keep looking for a new job.
This
+1
It's harder to get hired when you're unemployed

Take the offer and get serious about the job-search. Don't just look locally, look nationally.

And good luck from a fellow immigrant :thumbsup
by Dutch
Fri May 05, 2017 1:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why save so much for when you're old?
Replies: 163
Views: 27982

Re: Why save so much for when you're old?

You're in control over your own life. If you don't see any justification for saving for retirement, then you shouldn't do it.
by Dutch
Fri May 05, 2017 1:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TIAA Traditional reaction to inflation/deflation
Replies: 6
Views: 1447

Re: TIAA Traditional reaction to inflation/deflation

At one time - after the 2008 recession - TIAA had a higher credit rating than the US.

I believe they've been downgraded a bit after some recent big acquisitions, but it's still a very solid company.
by Dutch
Tue May 02, 2017 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401k administrator requiring net worth
Replies: 40
Views: 4665

Re: 401k administrator requiring net worth

Sounds like your plan administrator got bamboozled by the "financial adviser" into thinking that this is required information.
by Dutch
Tue May 02, 2017 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HOA vs No-HOA
Replies: 94
Views: 18561

Re: HOA vs No-HOA

Read "The association" by Bentley Little :D
by Dutch
Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: TV show recommendations?
Replies: 606
Views: 247635

Re: TV show recommendations?

After a two year hiatus a new episode of Sherlock aired in the UK a couple of days ago. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Watson. The Guardian's review sums it up nicely. Sherlock’s back and it's fast, fun, flashy, fantastic Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat built 90 minutes of the fastest, funniest, flashiest, cleverest, most demanding, ridiculous and brilliant drama there is likely to be until … well, possibly until the next Sherlock comes along, sometime in 2017 we are told. A real treat. I have no idea when it will air in North America. (I couldn't wait ;)) It's a great show. But I wasn't all that impressed with the last three episodes. The acting is still great, but the writing/story-line seems to have suffer...
by Dutch
Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: The Wolf of Wall Street is on FX tonight - Worth watching???
Replies: 29
Views: 6177

Re: The Wolf of Wall Street is on FX tonight - Worth watching???

I watched it in the theatre when it came out. I couldn't stop laughing for the 3 hours.

Highly recommended, but not for the easily offended.
by Dutch
Fri Apr 28, 2017 12:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shiller: Europe's low CAPE "reflects psychology"
Replies: 17
Views: 3440

Re: Shiller: Europe's low CAPE "reflects psychology"

nedsaid wrote:This is what I have been thinking as well, better values are overseas, particularly in the emerging markets. A good contrary indicator are all the threads here wondering if people should invest Internationally at all. That and better valuations tell me that this is a good time to be investing in the International Stock Markets. Over long periods of time, cheap beats expensive. The US is relatively expensive compared to the rest of the world.
In addition, when your currency is strong - like the US dollar is now - it makes sense to take advantage of that by buying foreign assets/equities.
by Dutch
Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why never speak badly about boss? [Need Bogleheads' wisdom]
Replies: 138
Views: 18779

Re: Why never speak badly about boss? [Need Bogleheads' wisdom]

It will come back to your boss.
Your boss will be unhappy with you.
That is bad for you.
by Dutch
Tue Apr 18, 2017 5:18 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Weight loss and investing
Replies: 35
Views: 6362

Re: Weight loss and investing

It would seem that they are opposites: losing vs. gaining
by Dutch
Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to make best use of lunch with the company president/CEO?
Replies: 55
Views: 11984

Re: How to make best use of lunch with the company president/CEO?

Order the most expensive dish on the menu.
by Dutch
Fri Apr 14, 2017 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What constitutes "a lot" of money?
Replies: 81
Views: 14382

Re: What constitutes "a lot" of money?

It's somewhere between: a cr@pload of money - and - not enough
by Dutch
Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Charging Bull and Fearless Girl
Replies: 10
Views: 2458

Re: Charging Bull and Fearless Girl

Nothing against FG, but she needs to find her own spot, somewhere else
by Dutch
Tue Apr 11, 2017 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help on how to spend more on myself (First World Whine)
Replies: 93
Views: 9858

Re: Help on how to spend more on myself (First World Whine)

Budgets can work both ways.

Just budget to spend a certain amount of money each month/year, and take it from there.
by Dutch
Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:30 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Another 457 question
Replies: 11
Views: 1566

Re: Another 457 question

Other disadvantages:
- You can't roll it over into an IRA/401k/403b
- At termination of employment you have to make an irrevocable decision about the start of distribution

I won't discourage anyone from using a non-govt. 457. I use one and love the extra tax advantaged space. But you need to know all the ins and outs before you commit. Read your plan documents carefully.
by Dutch
Wed Apr 05, 2017 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How does one determine their "number" and what exactly does it mean?
Replies: 116
Views: 15359

Re: How does one determine their "number" and what exactly does it mean?

NiceUnparticularMan wrote:We actually can do better than that. We can cast a much broader net in terms of data we use, and use some theory and logic, to derive a better understanding of the range of possible outcomes over very long periods.
Please share your theory and logic, and your conclusions with us.
by Dutch
Mon Apr 03, 2017 4:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Got my second comma -- what is this anticlimactic feeling?
Replies: 55
Views: 9910

Re: Got my second comma -- what is this anticlimactic feeling?

You may be crossing the two comma mark several times.

Maybe it will feel better the second time around :beer
by Dutch
Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Manufactured Spending - is it illegal, or otherwise "bad?"
Replies: 71
Views: 14093

Re: Manufactured Spending - is it illegal, or otherwise "bad?"

It's allowed, or it's not allowed.

You just follow the rules set by the issuer.
by Dutch
Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When do you plan to die?
Replies: 164
Views: 19216

Re: When do you plan to die?

I use 85 for planning purposes.
by Dutch
Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is the secret to getting wealthy...
Replies: 48
Views: 6764

Re: Is the secret to getting wealthy...

Being a millionaire is played out. Living on $10k a year and riding your bike to pick free blueberries at the side of the road is in. You gotta get off Marketwatch and onto Mr. Money Mustache. That's a bit of an exaggeration. Mr. Money Mustache retired on $600K and a paid off house. And he targets life on $24,000, not 10K. The bloggers who retired on $1 million have budgets of around $40,000 (and usually also a paid off house.) Others go for $2-3 million before they pull the plug. It's a matter of picking your income. If you want extreme, try Jacob @ early retirement extreme. He really targets life at something like $7,000 a year. You don't need to be a millionaire to do that, though. So, you're a blogger retiring on a budget of $40,000 or...
by Dutch
Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is the secret to getting wealthy...
Replies: 48
Views: 6764

Re: Is the secret to getting wealthy...

Being a millionaire is played out. Living on $10k a year and riding your bike to pick free blueberries at the side of the road is in. You gotta get off Marketwatch and onto Mr. Money Mustache. That's a bit of an exaggeration. Mr. Money Mustache retired on $600K and a paid off house. And he targets life on $24,000, not 10K. The bloggers who retired on $1 million have budgets of around $40,000 (and usually also a paid off house.) Others go for $2-3 million before they pull the plug. It's a matter of picking your income. If you want extreme, try Jacob @ early retirement extreme. He really targets life at something like $7,000 a year. You don't need to be a millionaire to do that, though. So, you're a blogger retiring on a budget of $40,000 or...
by Dutch
Tue Mar 28, 2017 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Daughter maxed out credit cards, needs help from me
Replies: 92
Views: 9101

Re: Daughter maxed out credit cards, needs help from me

Christine_NM wrote:If she has a job that does not pay a decent wage, gift her some money ($28k or less) each year. Some women are lucky enough to get by with that extra family support, rather than suffer all their lives and get a lump sum at the end.
Parents should support their adult daughters with an annual stipend of $28,000 or less?

Well, that's certainly an interesting point of view.
by Dutch
Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:54 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Blog on emerging Markets, and investors underweighting them
Replies: 103
Views: 30262

Re: Blog on emerging Markets, and investors underweighting them

I guess this is good news for those who continue to invest in emerging markets.
by Dutch
Fri Mar 17, 2017 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Looking for a snazzy car
Replies: 78
Views: 8065

Re: Looking for a snazzy car

dbr wrote:On the principle that any car with more than two seats is definitely NOT snazzy, an obvious consideration is this: https://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/
A miata definitely has a high snazzy/jazzy factor
by Dutch
Fri Mar 17, 2017 6:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Collection Agency - Are you kidding?
Replies: 33
Views: 7139

Re: Collection Agency - Are you kidding?

Whenever you get a notice from a collection agency, you always respond in writing with: "I dispute the validity of this debt"

Now the collection agency has to provide you (by law) with written proof that you owe the debt, within a certain time period

Often you will hear nothing from them ever again. But if they do provide proof, at least you know what's behind the notice, and you can take action from there
by Dutch
Thu Mar 16, 2017 6:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suspicious organic products
Replies: 101
Views: 10330

Re: Suspicious organic products

Tests were published some years ago that showed higher arsenic concentrations in US grown rice, both non-organic and organic. The reason was the use of chicken manure as fertilizer. Apparently we feed arsenic to factory farmed chickens (!) to make them gain weight a little faster.

Rice from India showed much lower concentrations in comparison. The study or article I read suggested thoroughly rinsing the rice in luke-warm water - before cooking - for a 30% reduction in arsenic. And a further 30% reduction could be achieved by a different cooking method: boiling the rice in excess water and poring off the excess at the end.
by Dutch
Tue Mar 14, 2017 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066266

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

LadyGeek wrote:Lucky Number Slevin, on Netflix. This movie was reviewed as a poor attempted copy of Pulp Fiction. While I can see the similarities in the overall approach, it's very different. The plot is interesting and has some clever twists. There was even some humor at times.

Good acting can make up for a lot of deficiencies. Who's in it? Bruce Willis, Marvin Freeman, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Lucy Liu. I liked it.
Yes, that's a good movie. Try "Wicker Park" = same director and lead actor
by Dutch
Wed Mar 08, 2017 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a rental car.. Any new experience?
Replies: 76
Views: 11942

Re: Buying a rental car.. Any new experience?

Researcher: For someone who does not have any experience buying a rental car - like the OP asked - you sure have a lot to say about the subject.

Hookers and drugs?
by Dutch
Wed Mar 08, 2017 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to Die
Replies: 167
Views: 32006

Re: How to Die

mephistophles wrote:
LazyNihilist wrote:To sleep normally on an uneventful night and just pass away and not wake up. Ahhhhh... what I would give for that.
Completely.
Rest in peace
by Dutch
Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a rental car.. Any new experience?
Replies: 76
Views: 11942

Re: Buying a rental car.. Any new experience?

I bought a 2 year old rental car in 2010 and got a good deal on it. I'm still driving it now. Zero problems and no maintenance, besides oil/filters and tires.

I will definitely consider a used rental again, next time I'm in the market for a replacement.
by Dutch
Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: The Ultimate Guide to Safe Withdrawal Rates: A 2000-2016 case study
Replies: 31
Views: 6513

Re: The Ultimate Guide to Safe Withdrawal Rates: A 2000-2016 case study

The 4% rule is like the pirate's code :D it's more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.
by Dutch
Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Fire TV Stick with KODI - Anyone try this?
Replies: 17
Views: 6673

Re: Amazon Fire TV Stick with KODI - Anyone try this?

I have a tiny windows computer permanently hooked up to the TV. I installed Kodi with some add-ons. Works like a dream.
by Dutch
Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Crazy shipping boxes for small items
Replies: 7
Views: 1356

Re: Crazy shipping boxes for small items

I noticed the same "trend" when ordering some supplements through Amazon. Big boxes that contain one small jar of supplements.
by Dutch
Fri Mar 03, 2017 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Maximizing and Utilizing Dividends during Retirement Years
Replies: 52
Views: 4863

Re: Maximizing and Utilizing Dividends during Retirement Years

I'm vegetarian. What do I do with all these sheep?

Seriously money = money. Tax treatment aside, you're taking money from your portfolio. Dividends or selling shares, it's the same thing.

When you do factor in taxes, portfolios set-up to generate dividends tend to be less tax efficient.
by Dutch
Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Looking for advice with severance pkg - little overwhelmed
Replies: 46
Views: 5395

Re: Looking for advice with severance pkg - little overwhelmed

sunny_socal wrote:- Cobra is a ripoff (and so is Obamacare. ) Get a job instead or take the relo.
You seem to be confused about COBRA. COBRA is not some type of special insurance. COBRA means that you can continue to use your ex-employers medical insurance for a limited period, if you wish to do so. Your ex-employer will pass-on 100% of the cost.
by Dutch
Wed Mar 01, 2017 3:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Climate and happiness revisited
Replies: 111
Views: 11586

Re: Climate and happiness revisited

Moved from Alaska to California and it made a big difference in general quality of life.
by Dutch
Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: saving for european vacay in 2055
Replies: 31
Views: 4791

Re: saving for european vacay in 2055

I'd invest in a flux-capacitor
by Dutch
Mon Feb 27, 2017 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you clear your inbox?
Replies: 49
Views: 6125

Re: Do you clear your inbox?

Almost 22,000 and counting. I never delete anything from my work inbox, except for the occasional spam email that gets through.

It acts as a big data base and I search it all the time for topics/discussions/contacts that happened years ago.
by Dutch
Fri Feb 24, 2017 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pre-retirement checklist, what is on yours?
Replies: 77
Views: 9933

Re: Pre-retirement checklist, what is on yours?

Turn off automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
by Dutch
Fri Feb 24, 2017 12:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: BH thoughts on Time shares
Replies: 123
Views: 15285

Re: BH thoughts on Time shares

engineer1969 wrote:That's just under $900 a night for these very nice units. This seems expensive, but ...
Yes, that does seem very expensive.
by Dutch
Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:39 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Extreme Valuations, and why you should reconsider
Replies: 307
Views: 32521

Re: Extreme Valuations, and why you should reconsider

I can certainly understand where the OP is coming from. I also "feel" that US equities are overvalued.

But I felt that way for the last 3 years. So, I'm glad I never acted on it.
by Dutch
Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hotel Reservations
Replies: 18
Views: 2657

Re: Hotel Reservations

Unlike flights (which reliably increase as the flight date gets closer), hotels don't have a simple days in advance price pattern. A surprising number of hotel bookings are very close to the day of stay. Peak season in the northern hemisphere is June-August. March is also fairly busy. I recommend booking in advance for high season stays or if your itinerary is fixed. My 3 step hotel booking method* : Exploratory research: 1. Google maps 2. Tripadvisor - Best source for real user reviews. Their booking is clunky though. I use other sites to price shop Search broadly: 1. Hotwire / Priceline express / Priceline name your price - you select an area, but can't select the specific price. Some of the best discounts are found here. 2. Booking.com ...
by Dutch
Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 403(b) "Fixed Return of 7%" Election Question
Replies: 24
Views: 3653

Re: 403(b) "Fixed Return of 7%" Election Question

Where do I sign up?
by Dutch
Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 760
Views: 149448

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

chuckb84 wrote:In a completely different sub-genre, Roger Zelazny. He's most famous for the Amber series, which ultimately went on WAY too long (I gave up on it after the first 4 or 5 books, which were great), but check out "This Immortal" or "Lord of Light" for a very different take on what "scifi" is.
+1 Zelazny is/was one of my favorite writers. "This immortal" is a great introduction to his writing. After you read it, you will want to get your hands on the rest of his novels and short stories.

He won the Nebula Award 3 times, and the Hugo 5 times. Unfortunately he was not a prolific writer and he died too early.
by Dutch
Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Stand Up Desk
Replies: 29
Views: 4850

Re: Stand Up Desk

I've seen a couple of people try them out at work. But I haven't seen anybody actually sticking with it. Same thing happened with the folks using a blow-up ball as their chair.
by Dutch
Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which puppy to buy: golden retriever or labrador retriever?
Replies: 120
Views: 12901

Re: Which puppy to buy: golden retriever or labrador retriever?

reisner wrote: .. and two that ate the compost heap.
Ha :D
by Dutch
Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Desktop Computer - Still relevant? Good investment?
Replies: 76
Views: 10138

Re: Desktop Computer - Still relevant? Good investment?

I got a "desktop computer" for $150 that's the size of a packet of cigarettes. It's permanently plugged-in to the TV. I use it from the couch with a wireless keyboard/mouse combo.

Originally it was meant for Netflix/streaming and it does a fine job at that. But I find myself using it for everything else as well: browsing, email, word, and even excel.

Surprising what those low-powered devices can handle these days. Provided of course that you're not a gamer or a video creator.