Search found 150 matches
- Wed Feb 17, 2021 8:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Generators]/ supplemental power generation
- Replies: 162
- Views: 8652
Re: [Generators]/ supplemental power generation
We just installed a natural gas 16kW Generac whole house generator. it cost 10k installed in the Boston area. It is expensive, but in our town pretty common. We have a lot of trees in town that overhang the powerlines. Any time it is windy you might lose power. It is a pain to lose heat, water and h...
- Thu Feb 04, 2021 4:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Would love feedback- burned out at work
- Replies: 50
- Views: 5997
Re: Would love feedback- burned out at work
Your salary isn't very high relative to your net worth or to the costs of living in a VHCOL area. I wouldn't do anything rash, but if you can make a similar salary in a lower cost of living area it seems reasonable to quit and move. It is also reasonable to find another job in the same area that has...
- Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
- Replies: 1751
- Views: 162799
Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well
I also had no problems with Amrock. I did follow up with them to make sure that the property tax was paid. Maybe this would have happened anyway. I don't know.
- Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Wedding
- Replies: 78
- Views: 4733
Re: Wedding
Far and away the biggest driver of wedding costs is the number of people attending and how/what you are feeding them. I'll second this. It is hard to do a cheap wedding if you want to invite a lot of people and feed them a full meal. It will number of people * cost per person for the meal*(1.2-2) T...
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:10 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon Firestick vs. Roku
- Replies: 72
- Views: 4341
Re: Amazon Firestick vs. Roku
Peacock is not on the Firestick because of a fight between Amazon and NBC. We use the Chromecast to get peacock and the firestick for everything else.
- Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
- Replies: 10050
- Views: 710161
Re: Refinance Mega Thread
Anyone have recommendations on going with Loan Depot vs LenderFi? They've both effectively matched each other LE's so there's no $ difference for me to use one or the other. Having never used either of them, I'm not sure if one's "better" than the other or if there are other reasons to co...
- Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:17 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
- Replies: 105
- Views: 6350
Re: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
I used Merrill edge. I thought since 2011 they were legally required to track all of the cost bases for all of my transactions. All of the shares were purchased after 2011. It turns out I was wrong. A vast majority of the transactions were properly tracked and i could automatically handle them in tu...
- Sun Dec 20, 2020 9:38 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
- Replies: 105
- Views: 6350
Re: Why do we even need a fund to track the market?
I kind of tried this. I bought 1000 individual companies shares. 1 share for each company. No broker fees. The problem was the work required to fill out taxes. Not all of the transactions ( due to mergers and divestitures) had there cost bases automatically tracked. It took a day of work to figure o...
- Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: MVNO on Verizon network...moving away from Ting
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4418
Re: MVNO on Verizon network...moving away from Ting
xfinity mobile?
- Wed Sep 09, 2020 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Saving on flight schools!
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2047
Re: Saving on flight schools!
20 or 30 years ago the answer was to join the CAP. I don't think it really helps much anymore due to changes in regulations due to liability concerns, but it might still be something to look into.
- Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Nest thermostat question
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1023
Re: Nest thermostat question
did you try removing it from the wall and charging it with a usb charger?
- Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: “Experiences” - aka family vacations
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2857
Re: “Experiences” - aka family vacations
rent a house on the beach on the outer banks for a week. Maybe two. They aren't super cheap.
- Mon Jul 20, 2020 3:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Steel Framed House VS ?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 2338
Re: Steel Framed House (aka Barndominium)
I'm anxious to hear the more educated responses of others, but I think a con for some people is esthetics. You don't want your house to look like a warehouse. I would hope that the builder has ways of making it look like a regular house.
- Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Another Mortgage Pay Off Question (Bond vs Mortgage)
- Replies: 10
- Views: 508
Re: Another Mortgage Pay Off Question (Bond vs Mortgage)
4. Refi to 2.8%
- Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:52 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Should I ever hold ESPP until a qualifying disposition?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2577
Re: Should I ever hold ESPP until a qualifying disposition?
Here is a scenario for my ESPP: 0. My STCG tax rate is 48% and my LTCG tax rate is 28% 1. On 1/1/2020 the stock price is at $100 and the ESPP offering period begins. 2. On 7/1/2020 the first purchase period ends. The stock price is at $200. 3. $10k worth of shares are purchased for me at $85/share....
- Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Retiring Abroad
- Replies: 110
- Views: 14831
Re: Retiring Abroad
I have to say I didn’t expect this many replies in this subject. Thanks to all for your input. One of the options we are considering is woofing (https://wwoofinternational.org/) whereby you work on a farm for (typically) room and board. This would allow us to scratch our farming itch and have some ...
- Tue May 12, 2020 8:24 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Direct Indexing Revisited
- Replies: 24
- Views: 2171
Re: Direct Indexing Revisited
I tried a version of this first with motif and then with Merrill edge (100 free trades a month). I never tried to track an index really, but just tried to buy a whole bunch of different stocks. At one point I owned 1000 companies at Merrill edge. The problem I had was doing my taxes. I figured every...
- Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: we live in westchester, kids in nyc, bring them home?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 712
Re: we live in westchester, kids in nyc, bring them home?
they are right.
- Mon Mar 09, 2020 2:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Battery powered lawn mower recommendation
- Replies: 71
- Views: 2627
Re: Battery powered lawn mower recommendation
I have an Ego. they aren't cheap but them seem to work.
- Thu Feb 20, 2020 1:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: HS Latin or Spanish/ASL?
- Replies: 63
- Views: 2638
Re: HS Latin or Spanish/ASL?
take Spanish and try to actually learn something.
- Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Losing a job in your 50's...
- Replies: 674
- Views: 103071
Re: Losing a job in your 50's...
even if you ask, it doesn't mean that they will necessarily do it. I have a coworker who went in and yelled at this boss for not laying him off a few years ago. We have had two rounds since then and he is still around. Maybe they don't take him seriously. Don't know.
- Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Company Paying Moving Expenses...or not
- Replies: 8
- Views: 528
Re: Company Paying Moving Expenses...or not
Do like my friend did, moving from Hudson, MA to Dallas, Texas. He sold and gave away everything he owned except his audio set up and extensive Grateful Dead collection, including a goat. He sold the house. He packed everything in his Volvo wagon and a small open trailer and drove to his new home. ...
- Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:38 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: For those who invest in Merrill Edge, what are you invested in?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1952
- Tue Nov 19, 2019 5:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Are individual stocks back on the table now that we have $0 commissions?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 4800
Re: Are individual stocks back on the table now that we have $0 commissions?
I did this at Merrill edge. I bought 1000 individual shares in the largest companies in the world. The problem was at tax time. All of the stocks were covered so theoretically the cost basis of every trade should have been accounted for and everything should have transfered directly into TurboTax. I...
- Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I buy the family cottage?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 9569
Re: Should I buy the family cottage?
the price you pay is up to you and your father. He can do whatever he wants with it. It is his. I guess he does have the responsibility to explain this to your siblings if they have problems with it.
- Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I buy the family cottage?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 9569
Re: Should I buy the family cottage?
If you want to retire there buy it outright. If you just want to use it occasionally and never full time, buy it with as many siblings as possible, so that all of the running costs can be shared. If your siblings use it but don't pay for it you will resent them.
- Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:26 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity 401k - BrokerageLink & Index Fund Options
- Replies: 3
- Views: 661
Re: Fidelity 401k - BrokerageLink & Index Fund Options
I use brokerage link in my 401k. I'm 25% FZILX and 50% FZROX. I haven't seen any issues so far.
- Mon Oct 07, 2019 12:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Utah the most convenient "Out West" destination for East Coast skiers?
- Replies: 42
- Views: 5257
Re: Is Utah the most convenient "Out West" destination for East Coast skiers?
i have been a couple times. it is incredibly convenient. been to Colorado as well. not nearly as convenient. at any rate, just want confirmation as well as recommendations of mountains. been to Park City/The Canyons, Snowbird and Brighton. would love to hit Powder Mountain but that seems far (about...
- Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:27 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Wedding Finances-Today
- Replies: 107
- Views: 9690
Re: Wedding Finances-Today
It is very difficult to have a cheap wedding. The main way to control expenses is to not invite many people and to not serve much food. These things are easier said than done. It is not fun excluding people and food for many people is very important. Limiting the food will also limit the length of ...
- Wed Oct 02, 2019 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Wedding Finances-Today
- Replies: 107
- Views: 9690
Re: Wedding Finances-Today
I'll echo the others and just say write a check and ask where you can help them out in terms of labor. It is very difficult to have a cheap wedding. The main way to control expenses is to not invite many people and to not serve much food. These things are easier said than done. It is not fun excludi...
- Tue Oct 01, 2019 12:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Willingly going from lucrative job to unemployed?
- Replies: 132
- Views: 15984
Re: Willingly going from lucrative job to unemployed?
Young childless people who make good money do this sort of thing all the time. Ask for however long of a leave of absence that you need or just quit if you aren't' sure you want to return to the same company. Take the time that you want and come back and find a job when you get bored of travelling o...
- Tue Aug 20, 2019 1:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Battery powered lawn mower
- Replies: 54
- Views: 3846
Re: Battery powered lawn mower
EGO 7.5 Ah. had it for a month. so far so go.
- Mon Aug 05, 2019 2:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Australia Trip - 2021
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2035
Re: Australia Trip - 2021
we did 14 days, Sydney/ blue mountains port Douglas / great barrier reef Uluru all and all a lot of fun. I remember the cairns port Douglas drive being stressful, but I think that was because I was just getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road. we rented a camper van in alice springs an...
- Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Three or four-day Fall Getaways (Northeast US)
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1759
Re: Three or four-day Fall Getaways (Northeast US)
I know some people who do that drive every weekend in the winter. My guess is that it is 6-7 hrs.Bob Sacamano wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:43 pm
LOVE Stowe, but that is a really far drive from Central NJ
i do think there might be flights into Burlington.
Burlington has flights from Newark.
- Wed Jul 31, 2019 3:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Bloomberg: Forget Tech, Medicine Still Pays More
- Replies: 124
- Views: 10515
Re: Bloomberg: Forget Tech, Medicine Still Pays More
In the end you need to do what you are interested in and are good at, but all else being equal it is pretty good to be a Dr. in the U.S. now. ( this could change) The pay is good, the hours are good. ( these two can be traded off) You have a high social status. You are usually more or less your own ...
- Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Three or four-day Fall Getaways (Northeast US)
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1759
Re: Three or four-day Fall Getaways (Northeast US)
curious where some of your favorite getaways are in ~October? we've done southern Vermont the last few years and are looking to switch it up. Lake George? The Hamptons/Montauk? Maine (maybe too far)? not opposed to flying either. thanks! Northern Vermont? Burlington, Stowe, Waterbury, Waitsfield, M...
- Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 2.5 million to invest for myself[35] and father[70]
- Replies: 43
- Views: 4378
Re: 2.5 million to invest for myself[35] and father[70]
If there is a chance that your dad will not be under the estate tax limit (the biggest risk might be future changes in legislation!), it might make sense for him to start gifting you the annual gift tax exempt amount ($15k) each year to reduce this risk.. Your father could give $15k to you and $15k...
- Mon Jul 15, 2019 10:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Can an HOA ARB legally deny a request to install motion sensing SPOT lights
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2715
Re: Can an HOA ARB legally deny a request to install motion sensing SPOT lights
wyze cams are cheap and seem to work well.
- Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Trip to Vermont/New Hampshire
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2716
Re: Trip to Vermont/New Hampshire
Near Burlington: Shelburne Farms in nice. https://shelburnefarms.org/ Mt. Philo is a very easy hike https://vtstateparks.com/philo.html You can drive to the top of Mt Mansfield and walk around a bit. Camel's hump is a tougher hike. Stowe is touristy Waterbury is the beer mecca Middlebury and Montpel...
- Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:13 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Santa Fe real estate
- Replies: 64
- Views: 4764
Re: Santa Fe real estate
Have you considered Taos?
- Fri May 24, 2019 8:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best small AWD to 'drive into the ground'
- Replies: 87
- Views: 7475
Re: Best small AWD to 'drive into the ground'
an hr-v with studded snow tires will do the trick.
- Thu May 23, 2019 1:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Legal Advice Needed: Immigration and employment question
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1403
Re: Legal Advice Needed: Immigration and employment question
If she entered the U.S. illegally it is probably not possible for her to ever become legal. If she legally entered the U.S. and then overstayed a visa she can be sponsored by her daughter when her daughter becomes an adult. This is assuming that the law doesn't change in the next few years.
- Wed May 22, 2019 11:21 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Fidelity 401k brokeragelink fund review
- Replies: 9
- Views: 938
Re: Fidelity 401k brokeragelink fund review
I'm using the zero funds in my brokeragelink 401k. fzrox and fzilx. I don't see a good reason not to.
- Thu May 16, 2019 8:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4 ?
- Replies: 98
- Views: 11502
Re: Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4 ?
Long time Honda owner thinking about getting a new CRV. Was wondering how a RAV4 would compare especially on price and reliability. Your thoughts? I bought the rav4 rather than the crv after reading the oil dilution thread. I was freaked out that China was banning the sale of the offending engine.
- Mon May 06, 2019 2:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: China/Tibet Visa Weirdness
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2554
Re: China/Tibet Visa Weirdness
my 10 year old data point is that we needed 5 people with the same country passport, but didn't need to all apply at the same consulate. We flew usa-bejing-chendu-chongching- lhasa, lhasa- beijing-usa
- Mon May 06, 2019 1:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Educational pathway(s) for future engineer
- Replies: 89
- Views: 4793
Re: Educational pathway(s) for future engineer
this has already been stated, but just because he has 37 credits done, doesn't mean he needs to use them all. Retaking classes in college that you already took in high school is not a bad idea. You will end up learning it better and have a good shot at getting good grades. It's not uncommon to study...
- Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:27 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 27 & 30 Year Old Married Couple - Need Investing Advice
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2075
Re: 27 & 30 Year Old Married Couple - Need Investing Advice
if you spend only $800 a month on housing, where does the other $4,300 in expenses go to? $1,100 to retirements assets so then there is another $3,200 left.... Also wedding/honeymoon in Australia seems quite extravagant.... take the honeymoon to Australia. Add New Zealand if you have the time. It w...
- Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Moving from Vanguard to Merrill Edge
- Replies: 127
- Views: 19428
Re: Moving from Vanguard to Merrill Edge
I did this a few years ago for the 1k. I turned my mutual fund into an etf before doing the transfer. It seemed easier that way to me. I've never moved anything back. the platinum rewards bonus on their credit cards is a good deal.
- Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google fi users - happy with it and recs?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 4343
Re: Google fi users - happy with it and recs?
I use it. It works well. The coverage (sprint + t mobile) can be weak in rural areas. It is a little expensive. The reason I keep it is that it has data coverage all over the world for the same price as at home ($10/GB). The data works on your phone and on up to 9 other sim cards that you can get fo...
- Wed Mar 20, 2019 2:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Donating stock instead of cash to charities
- Replies: 37
- Views: 2225
Re: Donating stock instead of cash to charities
We have some stock that was bought at a discount in an employee purchase plan long ago and which has appreciated, so if we sell it the capital gains will be considerable. It's not in a retirement account, just with a brokerage. We don't have nearly enough deductible expenses to make it worthwhile t...