Search found 45 matches
- Sun Dec 06, 2020 12:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Reason for dripping safety relief valve
- Replies: 19
- Views: 910
Re: Reason for dripping safety relief valve
Check the nameplate rating of the valve. Conventional direct acting pressure relief valves will simmer “leak” when within ~10% of their setpoint. It is possible that your boiler is slightly overshooting on temperature when coming up in the morning and getting into the simmer range.
- Mon Nov 23, 2020 7:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Need advice for building a 100% fossil-fuel stock free portfolio
- Replies: 95
- Views: 3671
Re: Need advice for building a 100% fossil-fuel stock free portfolio
A bit of advice here: look up the number of everyday items that are directly made from the oil industry (hint, it’s most consumer items). Even if you avoid directly investing in them, any company in which you invest is going to, in part, trickle back to an oil company. Even “carbon free” companies l...
- Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:11 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Expecting first baby/child - recommended reading materials?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 1848
Re: Expecting first baby/child - recommended reading materials?
Second Baby 411. Lot’s of great info for general baby care and psychology. The author also presents the information fairly, and cites multiple resources for each claim. Another one for a year down the road is French Kids Eat Everything. It offers a mindset shift towards food that is helpful for gett...
- Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:39 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trane HVAC - Bad Experience
- Replies: 55
- Views: 3488
Re: Trane HVAC - Bad Experience
Like many other consumer products, HVAC is a race to the bottom. I chose the cheapest brand to replace mine ($3100 installed vs Trane at something like $4,800 The lower installed cost will pay for a lot of repairs even if the unit is less reliable. Given that most parts are manufactured by the same ...
- Tue Oct 20, 2020 6:32 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Protein consumption strength training
- Replies: 80
- Views: 4678
Re: Protein consumption strength training
MP173 Protein consumption vs muscle mass gain tends to follow a path of diminishing returns. The point at which no more observable benefit is found from protein intake depends on the person (age, etc), but it tends to be somewhere near 0.8g/lb of LEAN body weight. Note: this is the MAX recommendatio...
- Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What fun car should I get in the $150k - $200k range?
- Replies: 499
- Views: 31834
Re: What fun car should I get in the $150k - $200k range?
Came for the “I bought a GT3 RS” Left. I'm sorry to disappoint. Maybe the others were right and $3 million is not enough to feel comfortable driving around a $200k car. There is a continuum that starts with FIRE and ends with YOLO. THere is no RIGHT answer. As in a(g) = 36 ft/s^2 Only opinions, sha...
- Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Suggest Video games that make you and your kids sweat
- Replies: 9
- Views: 709
Re: Suggest Video games that make you and your kids sweat
Suggest a game called Amnesia. Play at night with the lights off, and you’ll certainly be sweating!
- Sun Feb 09, 2020 11:04 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Promotion/Raise!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1552
Re: Promotion/Raise!
Thanks, all. No consumer debt to pay off (other than mortgage -230k remaining there). We cash flowed both child’s hospital expenses through an HSA the year they were born. 401k is not maxed yet. Both IRAs should be maxed every year from now on. Wife works part time outside the home, but only brings ...
- Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:34 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Promotion/Raise!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1552
Promotion/Raise!
(To keep this actionable, perhaps post suggestions on how to handle this raise?) I just received a 20% raise that pushed me from the low 80s to the low 100s! I sat down with my boss last fall and showed him BLS stats on earners in my particular field, and showed him a local job listing that had a po...
- Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Optimal thermostat settings
- Replies: 18
- Views: 1489
Re: Optimal thermostat settings
Your question was specifically regarding the furnace, though others have chimed in (correctly) that there isn't likely much of a cost difference in the two options. From a maintenance perspective for the furnace, the more start/stop cycles you have on your system, the shorter your equipment life wil...
- Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Spray on mold remover, for vinyl house siding?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1967
Re: Spray on mold remover, for vinyl house siding?
Jomax. You mix this with bleach (per the instructions), dilute with water, and spray. Wash down with a garden hose 1 minute later and you will be all smiles. I used this on my vinyl siding house - 2 story - that I could not reach with a ladder.
I found mine at a local Ace Hardware store.
I found mine at a local Ace Hardware store.
- Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 75 vs 78% LTV
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1160
Re: 75 vs 78% LTV
Sorry, my loan is a Fannie Mae loan, I believe. Since this loan is under the Fannie guidelines, the loan servicer should have to comply with the standards in the link I provided in the OP, no?
- Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 75 vs 78% LTV
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1160
75 vs 78% LTV
We bought a house 2 years ago with 10% down, incurring PMI. We are now scheduled to hit 80% LTV this December. We had an interesting conversation with our mortgage servicing agency, and they mentioned that we would not be able to get rid of PMI until we reached 75% LTV. Based on some research I've d...
- Thu Jun 13, 2019 7:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Share your net worth progression
- Replies: 2397
- Views: 546684
Re: Share your net worth progression
Age: 27 Status: Married, 1 kid (another due this year) Net Worth Progression: 2014: $5,000 (Graduated w/no debt, married, started career, and had already found the Boglehead site by this point) 2017: $90,000 2019: $166,000 (Received a $20,000 inheritance) Income during this time has ranged from $70k...
- Wed Feb 13, 2019 2:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying a home vs saving for retirement
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2892
Re: Buying a home vs saving for retirement
How do you suggest do away with their stress? I don't make as much as you ($75k), have less in retirement ($72k) and have $141k remaining on a $209k house. My wife stays at home with our one-year-old. Our PITI is $825 and it stresses me out like crazy. It makes me want to recast as soon as possible...
- Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Buying a home vs saving for retirement
- Replies: 30
- Views: 2892
Re: Buying a home vs saving for retirement
Marty18, You live in a HCOL area and are 26, single, renting, with a not-insignificant possibility of getting married in the next 5 years. You also make $85k/yr with an unknown upside (what is your career path, money-wise?). I am in a similar boat as you, but with a few differences. I live in a LCOL...
- Tue Feb 12, 2019 4:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial Checkup
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1124
Re: Financial Checkup
I did, and I appreciate your's and other's responses so far. I hope I don't come across as not listening! Part of wisdom is the ability to learn from others, and that's what I'm trying to do!
- Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial Checkup
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1124
Re: Financial Checkup
: Start 529 accounts for your children at birth. Live on a budget. Discuss it together every month. 1st Comment: Thanks for sharing your experience. However, I never understood the reasoning for investing with a 529 over investing in a Roth IRA if I have the space available (which I do). I know I c...
- Mon Feb 11, 2019 3:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial Checkup
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1124
Re: Financial Checkup
If you have enough extra to pay down a 30 year mortgage fast, you can save a lot by refinancing to a 15 year mortgage and getting a lower interest rate. This thread discusses the issue. Paying extra till you get rid of the PMI makes sense. But beyond that, you should either invest the money in stoc...
- Mon Feb 11, 2019 12:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Financial Checkup
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1124
Financial Checkup
It's been a few years since I last sought advice on this forums, so I'd like to take the time to ask y'all for a quick financial shakedown. Background: 26 years old, married with one kid (2 yo) and one on the way (thus the high HSA contributions!). We got married and started working when I was 22 yo...
- Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Does this rental have good numbers?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1954
Re: Does this rental have good numbers?
My wife's family was in a near-exact situation as you, with the exception of the trusts (had a house in the Arlington area that we rented out after my wife's grandmother, 91 and in good health, moved to assisted living). The numbers were close to yours as well - the house (yet to be sold) is priced ...
- Thu Jun 21, 2018 8:08 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 4K Computer Monitors: 27 vs 32 inches?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 26855
Re: 4K Computer Monitors: 27 vs 32 inches?
Ideal maximum monitor size for 24" viewing distance 20/30 20/20 20/15 20/10 1080p (1920x1080) 23" 15" 11.5" 7.5" 2K (2560x1440) 30.5" 20" 15.5" 10" 4K (3840x2160) 46" 30.5" 23" 15.5" 5K (5120x2880) 61.5" 41" 31" 20.5"
- Thu May 03, 2018 3:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Budget for kid's sport?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 3232
Re: Budget for kid's sport?
Addressing the mental side: Books. Find out what he likes to read (mystery, sci-fi, historical fiction, etc) and either read it to him or have him start reading. I was eight when I read the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Little Women, Red Badge of Courage, etc series/books. My parents lavished me ...
- Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: .
- Replies: 100
- Views: 10996
Re: Hot Water Delay at faucet/shower far from water heater
Couple of tips: Don't turn on the cold water when trying to get hot. Faucets are flow-limited, so turning full-on cold/hot taps will take approximately twice as long to heat up as the hot-only tap on. Same with the shower - turn all the way to hot for fastest heat up. On that note, all plumbing fixt...
- Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: So someone drained $13k from my checking account...
- Replies: 150
- Views: 35822
Re: So someone drained $13k from my checking account...
One way to minimize theft is to keep the minimum necessary in your checking account for your operating expenses from paycheck to paycheck + a small buffer ($500 has worked for us). Then, to avoid any possible fees from overdraft, link a savings account (again, for us, $500) for overdraft protection....
- Thu May 18, 2017 1:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Why 20% House Down Payment?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3478
Re: Why 20% House Down Payment?
The banks will take the balance they are owed from a foreclosure. The only way you lose all of your money is if the house is sold/auctioned/etc at a value lower than your remaining balance. If you only have one payment left, the likelihood of this is near-zero and is a misrepresentation of reality. ...
- Mon May 15, 2017 8:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Online Mortgage For Lower Rate?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2542
Re: Online Mortgage For Lower Rate?
I am closing today on a home in the southeast. I used an online lender (goodmortgage.com) that is based in NC. They have two divisions - brick and mortar and online division. I was told by the brick & mortar that the online was more competitively priced. PM me if you want the contact information...
- Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:21 am
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Your USER NAME...what does it mean?
- Replies: 555
- Views: 76580
Re: Your USER NAME...what does it mean?
I came, I saw, I left...
I am the ultimate forum lurker. I have chosen to now surface from the shadows, dripping with intrigue and mystery, in order to give you a foretaste of what isn't to come!
I am the ultimate forum lurker. I have chosen to now surface from the shadows, dripping with intrigue and mystery, in order to give you a foretaste of what isn't to come!
- Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Loan a Tool Manufactured Spending?
- Replies: 0
- Views: 942
Loan a Tool Manufactured Spending?
I recently used Autozone's loan a tool program, wherein you put a deposit down on the tool (which is the full purchase price) and then return the tool later on for a full refund of the deposit. The thing is, they seem to refund your money in cash. Does this mean this could be a source of manufacture...
- Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:38 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Thank you, Bogleheads
- Replies: 1
- Views: 731
Thank you, Bogleheads
Just want to give a big thank you to all the helpful members on this forum. I found this site a few years ago as an engineering intern, and haven't looked back since. I have since gotten married, with my wife working part-time on a variety of things (most don't pay, but she enjoys them!). We are lik...
- Tue Nov 17, 2015 11:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a wedding ring
- Replies: 39
- Views: 5509
Re: Buying a wedding ring
I got my wife's diamond from Debebians, and got the ring from a local jeweler. Debebians by far provided the best price for the diamond alone, easily beating Blue Nile and other online retailers. They had a 30 day return policy, and customer service were very helpful. The ring itself was from Whiteh...
- Thu Oct 15, 2015 7:23 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Move from Spartan Investor to Advantage class
- Replies: 4
- Views: 772
Re: Move from Spartan Investor to Advantage class
Being a new investor myself, I recently went through this same situation. If you exceed the $10k threshold for the transition from Investor to Advantage, Fidelity will automatically convert your shares in the index from one to the other. However, this "automatic" conversion is not a comput...
- Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:28 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: $13 Million Goal for Early Retirement (am I crazy?)
- Replies: 202
- Views: 47651
Re: $13 Million Goal for Early Retirement (am I crazy?)
Rough Calculations: Starting at 700K, and assuming a 5% return, you'd need to contribute ~370K/yr to reach $13 million. At your current savings rate (~56k), you'd need a return of ~14%/yr to reach 13 million. That sounds very optimistic. OTOH, if you get 5% (real return, might also be optimistic) ov...
- Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:12 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [parents read] Death of Money [- suggestions?]
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1222
Re: Death of Money
what AA would you recommend? Land, cash and gold :) https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-asset-class-allocation?s=y&TotalBond2=40&portfolio3=Custom&portfolio2=Custom&portfolio1=Custom&annualOperation=0&TotalStockMarket2=60&initialAmount=10000&endYear=2014&...
- Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:20 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: [parents read] Death of Money [- suggestions?]
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1222
[parents read] Death of Money [- suggestions?]
Fellow Bogleheads: DW's parents (late 50's, early 60's) have read both Death of Money and Empire of Debt, apparently, and are fearful about the future (i.e. half-seriously thinking about buying a cabin in the mountains, leaving large sums of money in cash, etc). I don't know too much about the claim...
- Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:48 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The X Factor?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 662
Re: The X Factor?
It's been a while since I've posted here. Is posting links frowned upon, or do I just seem like a shady character?packet wrote:LOLLAlearning wrote:Also, I will not click on your link.
I too refuse to click your link!
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- Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:47 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: The X Factor?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 662
The X Factor?
On a lark, I clicked on a link (below) and ran across this interesting talk about a "new" discovery, which I highly suspect is the same old stuff repackaged for selling purposes - "new" method, promised astronomical returns, low risk (haha), exclusive club, etc. Anywhoo, I watche...
- Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Merrill Lynch 401k Options
- Replies: 5
- Views: 7011
Re: Merrill Lynch 401k Options
The update helps quite a bit. Are you charged any additional fees or expenses (like: administrative; advisory; service; record keeping) in addition to those expense ratios? If so, how much? That will help you determine where its best to invest next, after contributing enough to get the full employe...
- Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Merrill Lynch 401k Options
- Replies: 5
- Views: 7011
Merrill Lynch 401k Options
Hi! I am just starting my first job (just finished my first week), and want to start setting up a simple 3-fund portfolio. My 401k is sponsored by Merrill Lynch, and has the following options, listed below. Company match is 9% on a 6% contribution. This money will likely account for a little over 1/...
- Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:17 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8535
Re: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
OP here: Perhaps I am in the minority here. I would argue to execute your plan. I think a couple years of sacrifice accomplishes two critical things: Living with heavy sacrifice builds confidence in your ability to endure hardship. I agree, for the most part. However, there is a differatiation that ...
- Thu Jul 11, 2013 10:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8535
Re: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
Please change that to "when we do start having kids." You need to adjust & change your entire mindset and thought process so that the "we" comes automatically. Bigger issue than finances, IMO. I mean the actual process of having (nearing birthing) a child - i.e. at ~9 months...
- Thu Jul 11, 2013 5:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8535
Re: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
I also think it's a poor investment for your wife to go through college to get her master's degree and only work for two years. As an aside, her college major was a duo in polysci and history. The masters gives her a marketable degree. She may work more than two years, as well. She also wants go ba...
- Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 8535
Sacrifices: Saving 50% of Take Home Pay?
Hello there! I have just finished writing this post, and I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. So, here is a bit of background before my barrage of questions: My fiancee and I will be married next year. I will be graduated by then (22 yo then), and have an expected salary ...
- Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:03 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Roth or TIRA Longterm?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 522
Re: Roth or TIRA Longterm?
Ah. I was unaware that deductions from retirement accounts were counted in your MAGI. I guess this question is more a moot point now. Thanks for all the info!
- Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:53 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Roth or TIRA Longterm?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 522
Roth or TIRA Longterm?
Greetings! I come with my first post as a new convert to your ways! My question requires a bit of background information about myself: I will be graduating college next year, and have an expected starting salary of 65k-70k, based on national averages. Obviously all my numbers will change based on my...