Search found 862 matches

by tigermilk
Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Q - real estate exclusion and estates
Replies: 3
Views: 326

Re: Tax Q - real estate exclusion and estates

toddthebod wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:47 pm I don't see how this is at all ambiguous.
It was this (albeit old) article

https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/c ... ext=elders
by tigermilk
Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Q - real estate exclusion and estates
Replies: 3
Views: 326

Tax Q - real estate exclusion and estates

MIL purchased home in june or July of 2019
MIL passed away in October 2020
We used the home for a few months in early 2022 as ours was getting new floors and paint
House sold in November 2023

Would the home get the $250k exclusion? The section 121 language has me swinging both ways
by tigermilk
Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Retirement update
Replies: 15
Views: 2933

Re: Retirement update

RubyTuesday wrote: Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:34 am
wanderer wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:31 pm Back of the envelope numbers - ignoring inflation.
-Your wife retires in 2 years at age 62 with a retirement planning window of 30 years (age 92). So, overall, 32 years for planning purposes.
-2 years at $5,000/month + 4 years at $7,000/month + 26 years at $3,000/month = $3,625/month average, or $43,500/year.
-$43,625/$970,000 = 4.48% per year. This is more aggressive than the "4% rule".
Why are you dividing by 970k which is less than 1/2 their portfolio?

Wouldn’t the withdrawal rate be more in the 2% range?
Because OP wants the $970k to fund retirement, leaving the rest untouched. In reality I am with you - OP should have no concerns. Not a crime to dip into the other $1.2M if needed.
by tigermilk
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I make this retirement work?
Replies: 32
Views: 6845

Re: Can I make this retirement work?

lzq wrote: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:04 am Thank you all for the comments, they echo my exact concerns. To add briefly, my partner and I are going our separate ways. We did not have kids. I purchased the house when the rates went over 5% a few years back, mostly out of fear.
How does that affect your numbers, mainly your pension? In some states/circumstances the pension is an asset considered in divorce and can be split.
by tigermilk
Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Property Tax Rates - How are they calculated?
Replies: 12
Views: 1136

Re: Property Taxe Rates - How are they calculated?

Thank you. It is Houston, TX in other words. For me as a typical citizen - are there ways I can participate in establishing property tax rates and which local entities i.e. ISD, community college etc. impose taxes? I understand how federal taxes are set but property tax rates go up and down each year without my control. And my reasonable question is to understand why, understand why certain local entities impose tax on me and to keep local authorities accountable. All the taxes will be pretty much understandable, and the rates, as someone mentioned previously, are based on costs to provide services. You know the song and dance- every April/May we in Texas get or appraisal estimates in the mail. We collectively freak out when the appraisal ...
by tigermilk
Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:20 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need permission to stop saving and coast, please:)
Replies: 15
Views: 3289

Re: Need permission to stop saving and coast, please:)

What is your SS strategy and expected benefits? You may very well be in a perfect situation given that.
by tigermilk
Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to exchange $1000 worth of yen for Japan trip?
Replies: 48
Views: 4308

Re: Best way to exchange $1000 worth of yen for Japan trip?

I was last in Japan in August 2023 for 2 weeks. It was my first time back since Covid.i was surprised just how few places were cash only this time around. When I went I had a wad of cash on me, but that cash was pounds and euros that had been sitting around at home, I converted the equivalent of about $400 US of that currency at Narita. If not for a couple of group dinners where we had to pay our Japanese colleagues back I would have come home with yen in my pocket.

Whatever you do, never get yen here at home unless you like lousy rates.
by tigermilk
Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:33 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: TSP Allocation and Strategy
Replies: 51
Views: 4283

Re: TSP Allocation and Strategy

Strategy should be based on your entire portfolio. Do you have savings outside of TSP? Also, other questions to ask include at what age do you plan to retire? Are you a law enforcement fed or not (affects pension situation). What is your FRA PIA? Single or married? If married, what is the spouse's SS situation? When you say pension and SS will only cover 66% in retirement what is that based on? Is that based on your total gross, take home net, desired gross or net in retirement? I like to work backwards - what is my needed spending and figure out my tax and health insurance burden to get needed gross.

The above is important since it helps develop the withdrawal strategy given variable income streams depending on the year.
by tigermilk
Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I say no to my first federal job?
Replies: 65
Views: 7475

Re: Should I say no to my first federal job?

With a PhD in materials science, how about https://www.usajobs.gov/job/775593600

Act quick,the posting closes Tuesday. GS-13 and much closer to south Texas than Ohio. Houston also has one of the highest locality pays in the country.
by tigermilk
Sun Feb 11, 2024 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?
Replies: 99
Views: 10666

Re: Should my 21-year old nephew fire his financial advisor?

At least 3 of those have front load fees - nothing like the advisor padding pockets by charging AUM fees and 2 to 6% front loads. Dump the advisor, and toss it all in total market or at most a life cycle fund for 2065 or thereabouts. Or does he need any $$$ near term for an important spend as a young adult (e.g., education).
by tigermilk
Fri Feb 09, 2024 5:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TSP Contributions Roth vs PreTax
Replies: 13
Views: 1187

Re: TSP Contributions Roth vs PreTax

I'm paybanded, so I'm like a 14 step 9.5 with 29 months to go under 6c coverage. I started 100% Roth back in 2019 and will continue that until I retire. I'm also a retired O-4 from the reserves and will collect that check at 60. Between my FERS and military retirement my gross pensions will be around $100k in today's dollars at 60 assuming I go right at 50. If I stick around I'll likely get a 15 position so a few more years will bump that FERS even higher. With 20+ years for that money to grow a RMD bomb could be waiting, hence the move to Roth. I'll likely do Roth conversions too at some point with whatever traditional 401 accounts we have and try to get to a point where we're nothing but 100% Roth. Same reasoning for me. While I won't ha...
by tigermilk
Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pittsburgh, PA - Probate and estate costs
Replies: 12
Views: 1213

Re: Pittsburgh, PA - Probate and estate costs

Sorry for your loss. Like others here, my advice is to see if you can handle it yourself. My MIL passed away in 2020 and my wife and BIL were executors. My wife did 99% of the work - went to court, settle accounts, disburse assets, etc. We just sold the house this past October and are wrapping up the estate. Only costs were a book to guide her and some court fees. Estate was around $800k, and this was in Texas.
by tigermilk
Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Revector savings or stay the course?
Replies: 3
Views: 393

Re: Revector savings or stay the course?

The question is how would you sock away $$$ in the next couple of years with respect to the TSP? I'd probably use the tax-deferred portion of the TSP instead of Roth. Since you'll be retiring at 57, you'll have plenty of time to do annual Traditional to Roth conversions if you deem it necessary. RMDs won't begin until you turn 75. Regards, Not so much an issue of traditional or Roth but rather which post tax bucket to use. I will be in the 22% bracket (or 25% when rates retire next year), so at least now I am getting a discount. If I had no pension traditional would be the right choice. The question really boils down "if you have saved more than you need, and if you continue to save would you lock it away in your primary 401k where it...
by tigermilk
Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Revector savings or stay the course?
Replies: 3
Views: 393

Revector savings or stay the course?

What would you do in this situation? I am a fed who reaches minimum retirement age in 2 years. My intent is to indeed retire that year at age 57. I will have 5 years of non-COLAed pension that will give me around 60% of income needed. Those 5 years I will also get the SS supplement, bringing me to around 80 to 85% of needed income. I have a low 7 figure TSP balance of which 10% is Roth. We also have his/hers Roths that are maxxed each year (total of around $280k), brokerage account with another $250k or so, HSA, and about $50k left in an inherited pre tax IRA. We have been good about fully funding everything- TSP and Roth contributions include over 50 catchups. The question is how would you sock away $$$ in the next couple of years with res...
by tigermilk
Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is your Effective savings rate
Replies: 50
Views: 4818

Re: What is your Effective savings rate

Why limit to post rax dollars? Or why not rephrase it in pre tax dollars to get a more complete picture? Further, when it comes to savings rate you can make the case for adding employer contributions to retirement. Also, and likely more controversial, I see a case for adding self and employer Social Security contributions. While technically not savings, that is nonetheless a source of money down the road. With your method I have no idea what the lifetime earnings are. I can guesstimate a number thst would put me at around 25% using all assets except for my TSP, and around 50% when including the TSP (which will have employer contributions). Those numbers, however, would be based on gross, ot net pay. If net, those would go up. Have worked fo...
by tigermilk
Mon Dec 18, 2023 7:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SIL considering a PhD in Engineering, worth it?
Replies: 97
Views: 14256

Re: SIL considering a PhD in Engineering, worth it?

Manufacturing is a declining proportion of the American economy--this has been going on since the 1950s. All signs are this will continue - despite government policies which have given it a short term boost. This does not mean to say that it is not important - one of the things about manufacturing is productivity rises tend to occur much more than in services -- so even though employment doesn't rise, you get higher output. It's just the rest of the economy (like healthcare) that grows around it. But, generally, manufacturing moves towards cheap labour countries - China is now losing jobs to the likes of Vietnam, which have much lower wages. Manufacturing covers a broad range. Sure blue collar jobs in the steel industry took a hit over the...
by tigermilk
Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:40 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SIL considering a PhD in Engineering, worth it?
Replies: 97
Views: 14256

Re: SIL considering a PhD in Engineering, worth it?

I have a doctorate and focus on structural mechanics. My organization just so happens to have a materials group. Of all the groups in my division, the materials one is by far the one with the highest percentage of doctorates. An undergraduate engineering degree to me is nothing more than a license to work. Unless you have good work experience you are ill prepared for production engineering work. A masters degree gives you a tremendous add to your engineering arsenal. A doctorate n9t as much. The years spent getting the degree are no match for the on the job knowledge you will get. I wanted to get the degree for personal reasons. I didn't have to pay for it, and it didn't give me raises along the way (my performance did that). Manufacturing ...
by tigermilk
Sun Dec 17, 2023 4:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: London Paris Amsterdam Trip - Need Advise
Replies: 41
Views: 6422

Re: London Paris Amsterdam Trip - Need Advise

Each city on your list is worthy of a week or more. Paris and London won't get old even after a couple of weeks. Personally for a first trip I would do London or Amsterdam, avoiding France for now. Many day trips from London should you want to get out of the city. The first time we were in London my wife had us at the British Museum for 3 days. Amsterdam could couple in with Belgium. We have been to Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges. The latter 2 are preferred.

I would opt for a England trip or open jaw with Amsterdam and Brussels or Antwerp as the airport cities.
by tigermilk
Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Men's suits: best time to buy & SoCal shop recommendations?
Replies: 19
Views: 2160

Re: Men's suits: best time to buy & SoCal shop recommendations?

More expensive but more fashionable suits can be found at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, both of which have big sales after Christmas.
by tigermilk
Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When Did You Feel Financially Secure and Comfortable?
Replies: 134
Views: 29383

Re: When Did You Feel Financially Secure and Comfortable?

When 4% of our savings and my pension was more than what we live on .That happened in our late 40s. Still 2 to 3 years out from retirement at 57 and have zero concern about expenses. Bigger concern is learning how to spend more.
by tigermilk
Sun Dec 10, 2023 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food related travel
Replies: 108
Views: 19666

Re: Food related travel

runner3081 wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:48 am 4) Okonomiyaki in downtown Tokyo (made at your table)
Okonomiyaki comes in a couple of varieties - Hiroshima and Osaka style. I would head to those places for this dish. Nagoya is known for its grilled eel, and I can attest to the deliciousness. Ramen I something that can take you all over the country as each l9cale has a unique variety.
by tigermilk
Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Plan my retirement travel for me!
Replies: 65
Views: 10774

Re: Plan my retirement travel for me!

Thanks again for all the helpful comments. I’m inclined to just pick a place and go as some have suggested. As to cities like London, Paris, etc, in the Winter, is it still worth or does weather detract from the experience? Be3n to Amsterdam, London, and Venice in the winter months and had wonderful times. Of those, London in January 2012. We stayed a5 a BnB that couldn't quite keep up with the record cold they were having. House felt like it was in the low 60s. Had a hot bath that filled the bedroom with steam. Just part of the fond memories. Went to an organ concert at Westminster Abbey. It was chilly inside but the music could not be beat. Day trip out to Bath. That trip, despite the cold, was a fantastic vacation. The museums function ...
by tigermilk
Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Plan my retirement travel for me!
Replies: 65
Views: 10774

Re: Plan my retirement travel for me!

Honestly the only recommendation is to just get your butt in gear, renew your passport if not current, pick a place, and go. If you want a "gentle" start pick London. I have been a few times a day realized I could spend a month there and still have things left to see and do. You can easily spend a week in other great cities (been to and loved Tokyo, Paris, Amsterdam,...). Pick a few of those "big name" places as a start to get your feet wet, keep an open mind about using local mass transit to go further out if you run out of things to do, ...
by tigermilk
Tue Nov 21, 2023 3:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: I'd appreciate a retirement plan check
Replies: 19
Views: 3588

Re: I'd appreciate a retirement plan check

Your assets are $7M and that is 35x your most recent annual spending? So you spend roughly $200k/year? You will immediately offset that with your $130k/year pension and your spouse's $20k? So in essence you need that $7M to cover $50k/year in expenses before SS kicks in? If this is generally correct I would ask why you aren't retired already!? For context, what we have saved currently is only 15x our pre-tax needs. Financially I could retire today due to a pension that would cover nearly 60% of our needed income, and once SS kicks in at 70, pension and SS cover everything. I am over-funded in terms of the gap needed. And you are better off. There is no risk of you retiring in 2024 other than regretting not doing it earlier. You can make you...
by tigermilk
Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:24 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to help coworkers with retirement planning?
Replies: 66
Views: 7803

Re: How to help coworkers with retirement planning?

Depends on context. I gave a presentation at work about retirement that was very well received. I did not go into specific investing strategies but instead focused on the broader picture. Mind you all the employees are FERS feds, so the discussion was centered on things like FERS pension calculation, expectations for SS benefits (increase with delaying, spousal benefits), the FERS SS supplement (calculation, when it starts and ends, many didn't even know about it), other investment avenues to help retirement planning (Roths, brokerage, HSA, etc), thinking about pre vs post tax investing, tax brackets, the concept of SWR in the context of bridging to SS, etc. If asked a question about how to invest, I merely stated it is up to them individua...
by tigermilk
Sat Nov 18, 2023 7:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you calculate your savings rate?
Replies: 25
Views: 2643

Re: How do you calculate your savings rate?

There are numerous ways to calculate. Not sure the value of one over the other. For example, you can go with a post tax basis, pre tax basis, include employer contributions or not. Heck, technically you can throw social security contributions in there as well. I can get numbers from 3x% to nearly 50% based on the method.

All I know is we are good at saving, have enough to retire now, and won't have to worry about eating cat food.
by tigermilk
Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5802
Views: 574289

Re: What are you listening to now

My Friday ritual is to check the new releases listed on allmusic.com. This morning I see Cat Power has a new album. She recreates Bob Dylan's 1966 concert at Royal Albert Hall at the same venue, same set list. Great album (his and hers).
by tigermilk
Mon Oct 30, 2023 8:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it worth visiting Japan only for 10 days?
Replies: 29
Views: 4929

Re: Is it worth visiting Japan only for 10 days?

More than enough time. We have taken my parents on a trip about the same length and another trip with my MIL. The itineraries were along the lines of

Trip 1 - Tokyo, day trip to Nikko, Osaka/Nara/Kyoto, hitting Himeji on the way to Hiroshima, back to Tokyo

Trip 2 - Tokyo, Osaka/Nara/Kyoto, back to Tokyo

Travel to Japan isn't bad IMO. It is the return trip that is harder on the body. Cherry Blossom time is fantastic. Been on at least 3 trips with full blooms. A highlight was renting a rowboat at Inokashira Park as the petals fell on the water. Be sure to look up the Japan Guide website.
by tigermilk
Mon Oct 30, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Items that are worth the money for the quality
Replies: 553
Views: 64825

Re: Items that are worth the money for the quality

Martin Logan Electro-Static audio speakers (I own Expressions 11A). From hometheater.com: "No dome or cone speaker I've ever heard can compare." +1000! I’ve been a fan of electrostatic speakers since owning a pair of Acoustats decades ago. I only have the ML ESL X, but I have paired it with a ML subwoofer, so it sounds pretty sweet in our listening room. I power ours with an Anthem Integrated Amplifier, which has Anthem Room Correction software built in, which is very handy in our challenging space. Another thing worth the money is TIDAL streaming music service. It just sounds better over a quality sound system. When I was a kid, a real kid, electrostatic speakers were called condenser speakers and were generally inferior to dyna...
by tigermilk
Sat Oct 28, 2023 12:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House plan review
Replies: 66
Views: 6349

Re: House plan review

Under 1900 square feet and 2 story? Personally I would go back to the drawing board and go with a single story. You have a contingency to turn the downstairs study into a bedroom if physically you can't get upstairs. Why plan for living in half a house down the road? Live in the whole house the rest of your life by enlarging the ground floor. We have a single story 2400+ home and would never consider 2 story only accessible via stairs.
by tigermilk
Sat Oct 21, 2023 5:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Saving money by preparing meals
Replies: 15
Views: 1940

Re: Saving money by preparing meals

Soups. We have a couple of favorite homemade soups and a veggie chili that we make in large batches to freeze.
by tigermilk
Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quality men's leather belt?
Replies: 44
Views: 3690

Re: Quality men's leather belt?

Purchased a Magnanni belt a year before Covid. Didn’t get much use during WFH, but in the last 15 months it has been worn 3 or 4 times a week and held up great.
by tigermilk
Sun Oct 15, 2023 8:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Biketires, keep getting flat
Replies: 43
Views: 3943

Re: Biketires, keep getting flat

If you’re getting pinch flats, your tire pressure is too low or the tube install wasn’t done correctly. 90% of flats are caused by this here. that said, “4 flats in a few years”, basically avg once a year, is not considered anomalous. 4 years is an anomaly because after the first 3 I got frustrated and didn't ride my bike for 2 years. :wink: is there a trick of some sort to make sure the tire is installed properly? Haven't messed with tunes the last 2 years, (new bike has tubeless) but I would install the tube , give it one or two pumps to get a little pressure in, and then go around the circumference of the wheel and alternate pushing the tire inward to make sure the tube is seated inside the tire and not getting pinched. I have heard goo...
by tigermilk
Sat Sep 30, 2023 6:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vocational colleges for a Mech Eng/Aero Eng major
Replies: 92
Views: 12037

Re: Vocational colleges for a Mech Eng/Aero Eng major

Your son may want to think beyond robotics and more generally to mechanisms. Mechanisms being those things with parts that move relative to each other. All those moving parts on a robotic system? Mechanisms. Car engine? Mechanism. A ganged set of latches on an aircraft door or spacecraft hatch? Mechanisms. In aerospace robotic systems obviously rely on software and avionics, but without engineers who can do mechanism design it will falter. I would urge a school with good intern coop programs. I am a product of one and it was valuable in my training. One semester at work packed as much real learning as a year in school. School became a breeze once I started doing hard-core engineering. Granted I had assignments that relied heavily on theory ...
by tigermilk
Sat Sep 02, 2023 9:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Software] Virtual Machines - Run a computer within a computer
Replies: 48
Views: 5566

Re: [Software] Virtual Machines - Run a computer within a computer

dual wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:22 pm Tigermilk:
. I have it on my government laptop as well, though the paid version, with Scientific Linux installed on it (I am an engineer ruining analysis, so a lean version of Linux centered on the tools I use is great).
I am curious why you run your analysis on a virtual machine?
Saw I never replied to this - my main operating system is Windows with quite a few engineering apps. A few apps from a particular federally funded lab are Linux binaries, so for those it is virtual machine time.
by tigermilk
Mon Aug 28, 2023 6:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Japan trip, June 2024
Replies: 60
Views: 4764

Re: Japan trip, June 2024

Never stay in Kyoto. The times I have been I stayed in Osaka. Um, every single Japanese person I know I think would respond to that by cheekily saying "Are you ok"? Are you talking price? We always put up family here if we took them to Kyoto https://gion-hatanaka.hotels-in-kyoto.org/en/ It's quite near a shrine which is lovely at night https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/en/ Fat fingers on my tablet. Should be "stayed". I have never stayed in Kyoto. When visiting Kyoto I have only stayed in Osaka. Osaka has enough to do, cheaper hotels, and is a quick trip to Kyoto. Nara is a little longer on the local train. Also, from a historical perspective there 8s a draw to Hiroshima. Though having been to both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ...
by tigermilk
Fri Aug 25, 2023 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Japan trip, June 2024
Replies: 60
Views: 4764

Re: Japan trip, June 2024

Been to Japan more than. 30 times for work and pleasure. In Tokyo I have stayed in numerous locations, including Ueno, Akihabara, Shinagawa, Akasaka, Shinjuku, ikebukuro, and Hamamatsucho. Each has their own positives and negatives. The Tokyo Prince In the Hamamatsucho area was great for being quiet and right next to Zozoji temple and Tokyo Tower. My usual hotel in Akihabara (Wahington Hotel) is perfect for work if I want to stay in Tokyo (one minute walk to Tsukuba Express entrance). Akasaka is also quiet and m9re 9f a pain for transit access. But honestly, I spends little ri time in the hotel that what may be most important is access to stations with numerous options. Never stay in Kyoto. The times I have been I stayed in Osaka. You can f...
by tigermilk
Thu Aug 10, 2023 1:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sell our rent a house - what would you do?
Replies: 5
Views: 548

Sell our rent a house - what would you do?

Mother-in-law passed away a couple of years ago and her paid off home is getting prepped for sale. Will states proceeds to be split 3 ways. My wife initially wanted to sell due to memories, but onow that it is nearly empty the heart strings are not being tugged so much. So n9w she is open to buying the other 2 on the will. Which way would you lean given Estimated sale price on open market could be anywhere from $340k to $380k with 6% realtor fees taken off the top Her share would be 1/3 net in cash, so at least $100k take home If we were to buy the property to rent we would either have a mortgage for 2/3 the value agreed by all or we would empty out brokerage and her inherited IRA to not have a mortgage. For the size the rent would likely b...
by tigermilk
Thu Aug 10, 2023 3:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations
Replies: 120
Views: 18100

Re: Maui Visit - Planning Considerations

I have never been through fire destruction like Maui right now, but I have lived through events like Harvey. Post-disaster services are slim, supply lines face major interruptions and take timeto get back to normal, municipal services are stretched with cleanup,.... The island will appreciate your money, just not in the immediate aftermath.
by tigermilk
Thu Jul 27, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Edinburgh sightseeing ideas
Replies: 18
Views: 1871

Re: Edinburgh sightseeing ideas

Second the suggestions on Holyrood Palace and Royal Yacht.

Would take the 45 minute train ride to Stirling to visit the castle.
by tigermilk
Sun Jul 23, 2023 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Expected rate of return (for retirement planning)
Replies: 70
Views: 7000

Re: Expected rate of return (for retirement planning)

I personally use 3% in my calculations to account for inflation.
by tigermilk
Sun Jul 23, 2023 4:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it worthwhile to go to grad Ivy schools these days?
Replies: 100
Views: 10365

Re: Is it worthwhile to go to grad Ivy schools these days?

What sort of job can she get with her degree, and will a graduate degree give her higher wages than without?

Who will bear the cost of this? Would she have to pay her way or will she get a free ride with stipend?

I have advanced degrees in a technical field. They would not have greatly impacted my wages over the years (i would have come in with a small bump in pay at the beginning which 30 years down the road would be a blip), but I got them because it was zero cost to me. To me it is a financial question (opportunity cost of being out of the workplace for a few years versus potential higher salary and incurred costs) as I am a strong believer that on the job training teaches you both more and faster than the academic setting.
by tigermilk
Sun Jul 23, 2023 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why does my garage have a "GFCI switch"? Is that standard practice?
Replies: 7
Views: 1309

Re: Why does my garage have a "GFCI switch"? Is that standard practice?

Probably on the same circuit as outdoor outlets which can come in contact with water.
by tigermilk
Tue Jul 18, 2023 7:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Federal job to wrap up career?
Replies: 14
Views: 2340

Re: Federal job to wrap up career?

dukeblue219 wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 7:28 am Assuming this is a standard GS scale position and not a political appointment or SES, I'd advise you find out if it's a term or perm job, and if term, how long and under what conditions you can be converted.

My agency (lots of GS13+ scientists and engineers ) is heavily pushing term hires lately rather than the typical perm. It's not like being a contractor and they're still legitimate government civil service jobs, but you don't have quite the same job security as a truly permanent employee.
Have to wonder if we work for the same out of this world agency. We have many term hires, but I can't think of a single one that was not kept on after the initial probationary term.
by tigermilk
Tue Jul 18, 2023 5:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Brainstorm With Me: Moving from TX to DE
Replies: 39
Views: 3425

Re: Brainstorm With Me: Moving from TX to DE

Google says property taxes in Prosper, Texas are 52 cents per $100. You say your home might fetch $850k. That equals about $4,400 in property taxes. What gives? Edit: I see there is at least an additional county rate, plus another possible tax. I might move, but it sure wouldn’t be to another high tax location! JT And Google would be wrong. Plenty of entities have their hands in your pockets in Texas. We were going to get a new build but decided not too due to taxes. House would have been 50% bigger than our paid off current home, but taxes would have tripled. While some of thst is due to the higher appraised value, the tax rate was also higher - around 3.6%. For the OP another option to think about is finding an older home in the DFW area...
by tigermilk
Sat Jul 15, 2023 6:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How much do you spend on work/ dress shoes?
Replies: 86
Views: 9039

Re: How much do you spend on work/ dress shoes?

After 25 years of buying reasonably priced ($50 to $150) shoes with synthetic soles that ended up in the trash as the heel wore down, I move to higher quality $300 to $500 shoes that are real leather uppers, leather soles that can be replaced, etc. No regrets. I like the Magnanni brand as they fit like a glove and have a great look. Also have a few pair of wilder looking Maglieriapelle shoes handmade in Turkey. All are holding up better than the cheap stuff.
by tigermilk
Wed Jul 12, 2023 3:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to find rare vinyl records?
Replies: 6
Views: 864

Re: Where to find rare vinyl records?

I would have suggested discogs but if that is turning up dry I don't know where else you can turn. I have 9ne record in my collection that I am trying to find the value of, but even discogs doesn't have a hit, and I only have seen 1 reference to it anywhere online.

1980s records can be quite valuable....or not. My vinyl from my 80s teenage years runs the range from $100 up for some alternative/new wave/punk to a buck or two for common pop. But that value for my 60s Bossa Nova Braniff still eludes me.
by tigermilk
Sun Jul 09, 2023 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on hiring interior designer for bathroom remodel
Replies: 72
Views: 8216

Re: Advice on hiring interior designer for bathroom remodel

A good brick and mortar place should have in house design folks. We had our kitchen gutted and redesigned by a local kitchen and bath company with a staff of tradesmen that have been together for years. One 9f the owners who is certainly wasn't an interior designer by trade did a great job. Decades of experience doing kitchens helped him give us something unexpected, really opening up the space. They also cam3 up with a nice design for our bathroom but we just haven't done that yet.
by tigermilk
Sun Jul 09, 2023 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. Can I? Should I?
Replies: 103
Views: 9607

Re: 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. Can I? Should I?

You only go around once. You have the money, and if you don't like it you'll be able to sell it. That said, perhaps expanding the search to include others makes and models.
by tigermilk
Sat Jul 08, 2023 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Amsterdam
Replies: 53
Views: 4359

Re: Trip to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is awesome. You can spend a ton of time at many wonderful museums. Definitely walkable. We stayed at a B&B close to the Troppenmuseum and walked/trammed our way around. On a separate trip we went to Belgium. We stayed in Ghent and traveled to Bruges, which was a real highlight. It was on our year of canal cities - Venice in January, Bruges in April, and Amsterdam in December. Last fall I was in Delft for several days for meetings. It is worthy of a day trip but hard to stretch beyond that.