I'm having this issue as well. NetSpend previously showed up properly, but now it does not. So my dashboard shows a $5,000 loss in net worth
This is one of several ongoing issues I'm having with Personal Capital. None of my tickets created with their help desk have resulting in resolutions to my problems, so I've quit bothering.
Search found 114 matches
- Fri May 06, 2016 4:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Netspend 5% Saving not showing on personal capital
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1466
- Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:59 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
- Replies: 557
- Views: 387676
Re: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
Yes, the transaction has completely cleared and the money is available.Tico_75 wrote:A few days have passed since you used Ally bank ACH. Did you confirm the money is available? I tried Chase and the pending transaction was declined after a couple of days. Therefore, Chase won't ACH out of Mango.aw82 wrote:The $2,500 unload via ACH pull from Ally appears to have been successful (it has been debited from my Mango account and shows as "Posted not available" in my Ally account, which in my experience is normal for about 24 hours after a transfer in to Ally).
Thanks,
- Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:36 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
- Replies: 557
- Views: 387676
Re: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
I'm also trying to figure out how to get my money out of the [expletive] Visa account. I haven't been paying attention and naively thought Rev was just switching from MC to Visa like the CC companies and banks are always doing (or vice versa). I successfully did an ACH pull from Mango Visa to Ally late last week for $10 (appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - ALLY BANK ($TRANSFER)"). I then tried for $5,000 and it appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - DECLINED" which may have been because it exceeded the $2,500/day purchase limit (which I wasn't aware of). I have now attempted a $2,500 pull and will report back on my success or failure. Fingers crossed. The $2,500 unload via ACH ...
- Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:07 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
- Replies: 557
- Views: 387676
Re: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
I'm also trying to figure out how to get my money out of the [expletive] Visa account. I haven't been paying attention and naively thought Rev was just switching from MC to Visa like the CC companies and banks are always doing (or vice versa). I successfully did an ACH pull from Mango Visa to Ally late last week for $10 (appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - ALLY BANK ($TRANSFER)"). I then tried for $5,000 and it appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - DECLINED" which may have been because it exceeded the $2,500/day purchase limit (which I wasn't aware of). I have now attempted a $2,500 pull and will report back on my success or failure. Fingers crossed. The $2,500 unload via ACH ...
- Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:06 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
- Replies: 557
- Views: 387676
Re: Mango prepaid card - 4.8% (effective) APY
I'm also trying to figure out how to get my money out of the [expletive] Visa account. I haven't been paying attention and naively thought Rev was just switching from MC to Visa like the CC companies and banks are always doing (or vice versa).
I successfully did an ACH pull from Mango Visa to Ally late last week for $10 (appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - ALLY BANK ($TRANSFER)"). I then tried for $5,000 and it appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - DECLINED" which may have been because it exceeded the $2,500/day purchase limit (which I wasn't aware of). I have now attempted a $2,500 pull and will report back on my success or failure.
Fingers crossed.
I successfully did an ACH pull from Mango Visa to Ally late last week for $10 (appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - ALLY BANK ($TRANSFER)"). I then tried for $5,000 and it appeared in my Mango transactions history as "ACH Unload - DECLINED" which may have been because it exceeded the $2,500/day purchase limit (which I wasn't aware of). I have now attempted a $2,500 pull and will report back on my success or failure.
Fingers crossed.
- Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
Practically every credit card will allow you to set up auto pay of the balance in full, including Citi.RustyShackleford wrote:A few comments on this issue.
First, I make more than $75/hr - lucky me. But, that's only when I work, and I'm not working now.
Second, don't you have to log into the Citi website every month anyhow, to pay your bill ? That's one of the things I'll miss if Penfed ceases to be my main card, the automatic paying of it via bank draft. I've never seen another card that will do that, but I could be mistaken.
- Sat Dec 13, 2014 6:55 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Umbrella Liability Insurance - Need it or not?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8034
Re: Umbrella Liability Insurance - Need it or not?
However, what if you weren't liable, but were being sued anyway? Some idiot screeches to a stop in the middle of the Interstate for no reason, and there's a six-car pileup. Your car is number 4 in the pile. The different ambulance chasers representing drivers 1, 2 and 3 research all the drivers and figure you're the only one worth going after because you have a lot of assets. After all, you DID rear-end driver 3, and of course that made driver 2's injuries that much worse, and driver 1 is taking the same position. You were just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pretty easy to see how quickly normal liability limits could be exhausted - and if the other parties know you have money, they're going to come after it bey...
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Umbrella Liability Insurance - Need it or not?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 8034
Re: Umbrella Liability Insurance - Need it or not?
We have $1m. It was an easy decision for us because insurance premiums are very low in our state and the monthly premium for the umbrella policy is something like $5.
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: More money equates to feeling poor?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 8661
Re: More money equates to feeling poor?
The less stuff I have, the richer I feel. Whether I feel rich or poor has little to do with how much money I have or spend, but rather my perspective and overall happiness. With maybe two or three exceptions, I have never regretted not buying something, going out to eat, etc. I thought of the example of what I struggle with and feel like what I described:- I could afford lawn service but I always ask for multiple quotes before deciding and spend time as it is now part of the habit of being boglehead now I could afford them but in the process of deciding and sometimes not doing it at all I feel poor! On the other hand, when I see the bill of the services I can't negotiate it makes me really mad, like a pediatrician charged $150 to touch my s...
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 12:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How to teach young kids to be frugal?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7639
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 12:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How to teach young kids to be frugal?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7639
Re: How to teach young kids to be frugal?
Self-denial is a part of voluntary discomfort, a pillar of stoicism. Many people gain significant spiritual and psychological (not to mention financial) gains by practicing stoicism.retiredjg wrote:What are you gaining by not spending any money on yourself?
What I remember from ages 2 through 5 is doing free things with my parents (walking through the park, playing in the sprinklers, etc.). The only reason I remember any of my toys or books is because my mom kept some of them and my kids now play with/read them.Grt2bOutdoors wrote:When you are 2 and 5 you'll remember doing things, playing with your favorite toys and reading those books with your parent.
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 11:16 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Considering more conservative allocation
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2094
Re: Considering more conservative allocation
This might be helpful in double-checking your calculations:
http://theretirementcafe.blogspot.com/2 ... sheet.html
http://theretirementcafe.blogspot.com/2 ... sheet.html
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:22 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Considering more conservative allocation
- Replies: 22
- Views: 2094
Re: Considering more conservative allocation
What's your alternative allocation? If you can retire at 49 with 0% real return, you probably don't *need* to be any riskier than 20/80. But since you're willing and able to accept more risk, and would probably be OK with working a few more years in the event of a recession, then you'll probably not want to go that conservative. Whether you go 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, or stick with what you have will depend on your willingness to continue working if needed and desire to retire even earlier than 49.
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How to teach young kids to be frugal?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7639
Re: How to teach young kids to be frugal?
Not sure that this is something others should do, but I'm a stickler for turning lights off. My almost-4-year-old son is pretty bad about leaving lights on. Whenever I see that he has done this, I point it out to him and remind him that it costs money to have lights on. I also bring home pocket change for him to put in his piggy bank (he doesn't really understand spending money yet but knows its "for college"). I remind him that we have money to give him because we're not wasting it on lights being left on.
Maybe I'm just being a cheapskate dad , but hopefully he's gaining some understanding of money.
Maybe I'm just being a cheapskate dad , but hopefully he's gaining some understanding of money.
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:09 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Car Loan vs Cash Flow
- Replies: 22
- Views: 5714
Re: Car Loan vs Cash Flow
I remember being 23. I knew just enough to be a financial danger to my future self.
One thing that I started doing was figuring out the future cost of current purchases. For example, spending $10,000 instead of $40,000 on a car (and investing the difference) will yield me $500,000 in ~40 years. So I would then ask myself if the nicer car is worth a half million to me.
Some might argue this method, but from a behavioral economics perspective, it's powerful to me.
One thing that I started doing was figuring out the future cost of current purchases. For example, spending $10,000 instead of $40,000 on a car (and investing the difference) will yield me $500,000 in ~40 years. So I would then ask myself if the nicer car is worth a half million to me.
Some might argue this method, but from a behavioral economics perspective, it's powerful to me.
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:44 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Car Loan vs Cash Flow
- Replies: 22
- Views: 5714
Re: Car Loan vs Cash Flow
You could also increase cash flow by downgrading the car and paying cash for the next one. I think you may seriously want to take Seamonkey's suggestion into consideration. I know you probably don't want to hear this but I think you may have bought a car that is simply too expensive. Your car payment is a very large part of your expenses and you'd do well to downgrade the car to something more modest. Just as one reference point: My wife and I make triple your income and we each bought brand new cars recently (hers is a 2014 and mine is a 2015). We paid cash (though I think loans are fine, especially with low rates). We paid a total of $37k for both cars. I agree with both of these statements. You could easily buy a used Honda or Toyota fo...
- Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: FIRECalc Spending Method, Poll
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1677
Re: FIRECalc Spending Method, Poll
Percentage of Remaining Portfolio: Adjust your spending depending on the value of your portfolio each year, spending the same percentage of your remaining portfolio in future years as you are spending the first year. You can soften the impact of large drops in your portfolio by setting a minimum spending in any year to no less than percent of the previous year's spending. (Spending is reported in inflation-adjusted dollars, as with the other models, so you can evaluate future spending power.) You can enter 95 to approximate the "95% Rule" from Work Less, Live More. The 95% rule applies to the Annual Spending. According to the rule, each year's withdrawal is the greater of 95% of last year's withdrawal or 4% of the current portfol...
- Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: (Poll) Did you tap into emergency fund in the past 10 years?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 8829
Re: (Poll) Did you tap into emergency fund in the past 10 ye
Since we developed a defined emergency fund (which coincided with us using YNAB for budgeting a year and a half ago), we have tapped it once for $1,000 to cover the deductible after a car wreck. We probably could have covered this by reducing spending or pulling money from our vacation savings, but we decided to tap the e-fund and just restore it over a couple of months.
Prior to having a formally-established e-fund, we tapped our "hidden away" savings (which was basically our e-fund and general savings rolled into one) a few times for house repairs (new A/C, plumbing leak, etc). Now that we are no longer home-owners, we have to tap into savings less often and are able to better put our money to work in slightly less liquid ways.
Prior to having a formally-established e-fund, we tapped our "hidden away" savings (which was basically our e-fund and general savings rolled into one) a few times for house repairs (new A/C, plumbing leak, etc). Now that we are no longer home-owners, we have to tap into savings less often and are able to better put our money to work in slightly less liquid ways.
- Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:59 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Poll: International Equity Portfolio Changes
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1182
Re: Poll: International Equity Portfolio Changes
Darn, I meant to add "International isn't part of my AA" as a poll option.
It's good to see most Bogleheads are staying the course!
It's good to see most Bogleheads are staying the course!
- Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:26 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Poll: International Equity Portfolio Changes
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1182
Poll: International Equity Portfolio Changes
Many people perform portfolio maintenance at the end/beginning of the year, such as rebalancing, making last-minute IRA contributions, changing AA, etc. I do some of these things, while also spending more time here (and with some choice investing books) to reeducate myself and confirm my investment decisions (convincing myself to stay the course).
With international having a below average year in 2014, and the recent series of threads questioning whether most investors need international exposure (thanks in part to Bogle's recent video restating his opinion that investors don't need to look outside of the US), I'm curious to know if Bogleheads are making any changes to their portfolio in terms of international equity allocation.
With international having a below average year in 2014, and the recent series of threads questioning whether most investors need international exposure (thanks in part to Bogle's recent video restating his opinion that investors don't need to look outside of the US), I'm curious to know if Bogleheads are making any changes to their portfolio in terms of international equity allocation.
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tow hitch cargo
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3845
Re: Tow hitch cargo
I think behind-the-car cargo carriers are the way to go. Much more fuel efficient than roof-top carriers and easier to load. We use such a set-up on our cross-country trips home for the holidays. We use a Curt brand cargo carrier on our CR-V. We put our stuff in 25 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck Totes, which are sized perfectly to fit four totes in the carrier with only a fraction of an inch of wiggle room. I then lash it all to the carrier with ratcheting tie-downs. It's all waterproof and doesn't flap in the wind like a tarp or bag. The only think I worry about is security when we stop. As others have said, it's all about tongue weight rating. On a Maxda 5, the US tongue weight rating is 200lb, which is probably conservative. Of course, US t...
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:31 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8088
Re: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
By this logic, I find it rude when overweight people, people that wear cologne, people that bring food with them, people that lean their seats back, people that smell bad, etc. fly.ladders11 wrote:As someone who has been hit on the head by a squealing baby on a plane, I tend to agree.robert88 wrote:As someone who has been on a plane with a crying baby, I think it's rude to fly with a newborn.
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: High(ish) earner; spending too much?
- Replies: 71
- Views: 13661
Re: High(ish) earner; spending too much?
Wow. I'm way out of my league here (same age, but my gross salary is half of OP's spending and I am supporting a family of four).
If I were in your shoes, I would cut spending for a few years to build up a sizable FU fund ($3.5m if you believe in a 4% SWR). Essentially an amount that would allow you to stop working if and whenever you feel like. Then go back to spending whatever you please. It's great that you love working now (and have a great compensation package), but things change (perhaps something as simple as your company hires someone you can't stand) and it would be nice to know you could walk away from the working world whenever you please and not have to worry about money at all.
If I were in your shoes, I would cut spending for a few years to build up a sizable FU fund ($3.5m if you believe in a 4% SWR). Essentially an amount that would allow you to stop working if and whenever you feel like. Then go back to spending whatever you please. It's great that you love working now (and have a great compensation package), but things change (perhaps something as simple as your company hires someone you can't stand) and it would be nice to know you could walk away from the working world whenever you please and not have to worry about money at all.
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
Citi Double cash is a Mastercard. They have every standard info on the backside. What is Amex Serve and how does it fit into Credit Card bonus? Want to be enlightened, It's a prepaid debit card* that you can load with up to $1000 per month via credit card. You can then use the account to pay your credit card bill (or better yet, your gas bill, rent/mortgage, etc.). You can effectively generate rewards from your credit card without actually spending any money. It's a good way to help you meet minimum spending requirements for credit card sign-up bonuses, or to generate $20/month (if you have a 2% cash back credit card). You have to be careful what credit card you use though. Amex cards won't generate any rewards and some cards (Citi, notori...
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
I don't have the Double Cash card, but I just checked on my Citi AAdvantage card and Thank You Preferred and both will allow transactions to be downloaded in a variety of formats (Quicken, MS Money, CSV, TXT, and a couple of others).RustyShackleford wrote:
Thanks for the download confirmation on the Barclay cards. Hope someone can confirm same for me with the Citi card.
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
Reports on FlyerTalk is that it is a MasterCard. Even if it's not, it would be a Visa (same level of acceptance)RustyShackleford wrote:I can't find anything that verifies for me that the Citi Double Cash is actually a MasterCard.
Edit: I just checked my Barclaycard account and you can download in Excel, Quicken, and QuickBooks formats.
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:47 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
The Southwest card will edge out the Arrival card slightly in terms of redeeming for Southwest flights, but the Arrival card offers much, much more flexibility. Incorrect. The Arrival+ earns 2.2% cash back for redeeming for Southwest flights (or any other travel for that matter). The Southwest card earns 1 point per dollar. Each Southwest point is nominally worth 1.43 cents (but see the link in my previous post, it's actually somewhat higher than that - but still less than 2.2 cents). The Arrival+ earns more than the Southwest card. And, also consider that if you are using the Southwest card, your earnings are in the form of Southwest points. Meaning that compared to using the Barclaycard Arrival+, you will redeem for Southwest award fligh...
- Tue Dec 09, 2014 8:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
You should also consider the Barclaycard Arrival. It blurs the lines between a travel rewards card and a cash back card. Essentially, you earn 2.2% on all your purchases (2% on purchases plus 10% of your points refunded after redemption), which can be redeemed dollar-for-dollar to reimburse yourself for travel purchases (plane tickets, hotels, Uber, rental cars, Amtrak, things purchased via Travelocity/Priceline/etc.). For example, you spend $20,000 on the card, which gives you 2% back (they enumerate it as 40,000 points). You then buy a $372 ticket from Southwest. In a separate purchase, you pay $52 for an Enterprise rental car. After your purchases post, you can redeem 37,200 points to reimburse yourself for the plane ticket. The Arrival ...
- Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: switching main credit card
- Replies: 63
- Views: 226270
Re: switching main credit card
You might like BOFA's double cash card as a replacement. I think you're talking about the Citi Double Cash card (pays 1% cash back on purchased, plus 1% back when you pay your bill, so essentially 2% cash back). Comparing the PenFed card and the Southwest card (or Fidelity Amex and Southwest) is apples and oranges. There are basically two types of rewards credit cards: 1) loyalty points/miles and 2) cash back. It's easier to compare the latter type as all cash is relatively equal (although some give more cash for certain categories while others give higher average cash back levels). Comparing points and miles cards/programs is very complicated and depends on your travel habits/preferences. So the question is, what is your primary goal? Cas...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced
- Replies: 92
- Views: 22952
Re: Vanguard Turbo Tax prices anounced
We will have simply taxes this year and could use the Free version for federal. But $36.99 to file my state return? Lame.
Maybe I'll give TaxAct a try this year.
Maybe I'll give TaxAct a try this year.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Help with taxable account (conservative)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2028
Re: Help with taxable account (conservative)
If I was in your shoes, I'd try to find a compromise or two, then create a table to illustrate the probable maximum gain and loss of a 50/50, 40/60, and 0/100 allocation over the last 30-50 years (to make risk more tangible), as well as overall growth/income. If you expect to draw the funds in the next 5-15 years, you might want to look at number of 5-year periods with losses and 5-year periods with gains in the last 30-50 years.
We rail against relying on past performance here, but for many people it's the easiest way to understand things.
We rail against relying on past performance here, but for many people it's the easiest way to understand things.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5072
Re: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
Our expenses are $6-8,000 per month (housing, food, clothing, entertainment, etc). EDIT: Thus, $20k would not cover us for six months. How much of that 6-8,000 is essential and how much is discretionary? If you were to lose your job, would you keep going out to eat as often? If I lost my job, we wouldn't go out to eat or buy new clothes at all. My calculation of an emergency fund is: [(rent/mortgage/property taxes + gas/electric/water + $150 groceries per person + insurance premiums + minimum debt payments + phone bill) * 6 months] + Medical Deductible (or max out of pocket) For me with a family of four and a relatively high housing cost and very high gas bills tanks to living way north, this equates to $20,334. $4,000 ballpark. (Whole Foo...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5072
Re: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
There are plenty of ways to get 2-4% rates on FDIC-insured accounts. https://www.depositaccounts.com/checking/reward-checking-accounts.html I looked at this site. Call me old fashioned, but I'm not going to send $40,000 to a bank called "Redneck Bank" so I can earn an extra $200. (I am not making this up, check the site.) My preference would be something that I can purchase/manage through Vanguard...if that's CDs, then fine, but if not then something else. I like having my finances centralized, which is one reason I moved all my accounts to Vanguard from Morgan Stanley. I guess I just don't trust these fly by night Internet banks. They claim to be FDIC insured (and they may be) but if they collapse I don't need the headache of tr...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5072
Re: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
How much of that 6-8,000 is essential and how much is discretionary? If you were to lose your job, would you keep going out to eat as often? If I lost my job, we wouldn't go out to eat or buy new clothes at all.Admiral wrote:Our expenses are $6-8,000 per month (housing, food, clothing, entertainment, etc). EDIT: Thus, $20k would not cover us for six months.
My calculation of an emergency fund is:
[(rent/mortgage/property taxes + gas/electric/water + $150 groceries per person + insurance premiums + minimum debt payments + phone bill) * 6 months] + Medical Deductible (or max out of pocket)
For me with a family of four and a relatively high housing cost and very high gas bills tanks to living way north, this equates to $20,334.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8088
Re: Fly or drive? Not just time vs. money anymore
(but, note that you can take car seats on the plane as checked baggage for free on most airlines) You really don't want to check car seats. They partially rely on EPS foam to reduce g forces in a crash and mistreatment can result in the foam being compromised without leaving visual evidence. There isn't a problem checking car seats. However, there could be a problem checking an unprotected car seat for the reason you state. Not sure about all other airlines, but American will allow you to box your car seat up (with padding) and check it for free. I've done this a few times. I put an empty box and a roll of packing tape in the trunk. When we get to the airport, I put the car seat in the box and tape it up. It helps if it's the original box ...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Economics of credit card branding
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1597
Re: Economics of credit card branding
I have some ideas as to why various banks choose higher or lower tiers, but I don't actually know anything about it.
However, I will say that I have some Visa Sig and MC World Elite cards, as well as some plain jane of each. Honestly, the benefits from the upper tier cards are useless to me, with the exception of the couple that offer primary rental car insurance (most cards are only secondary coverage). I pick my cards based on the rewards (cash back or points).
However, I will say that I have some Visa Sig and MC World Elite cards, as well as some plain jane of each. Honestly, the benefits from the upper tier cards are useless to me, with the exception of the couple that offer primary rental car insurance (most cards are only secondary coverage). I pick my cards based on the rewards (cash back or points).
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:17 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8088
Re: Fly or drive? Not just time vs. money anymore
(but, note that you can take car seats on the plane as checked baggage for free on most airlines) You really don't want to check car seats. They partially rely on EPS foam to reduce g forces in a crash and mistreatment can result in the foam being compromised without leaving visual evidence. There isn't a problem checking car seats. However, there could be a problem checking an unprotected car seat for the reason you state. Not sure about all other airlines, but American will allow you to box your car seat up (with padding) and check it for free. I've done this a few times. I put an empty box and a roll of packing tape in the trunk. When we get to the airport, I put the car seat in the box and tape it up. It helps if it's the original box ...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:52 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5072
Re: Emergency Fund: does it need to be in cash? VSCGX?
I feel like I've been saying the same thing in all of these recent emergency fund threads... 1. It all depends on the size of your emergency fund and the amount that you could conceivably need immediate access to. 2. You need to decide if it's really an "emergency" fund you're talking about (because your overall assets are too low to be tapped in an emergency) or simply a cash reserve so you don't have to rob your investment accounts in a cash flow situation. Regardless of your overall assets, most families probably don't need more than $20,000 in cash (depending on cost of living, dependents, etc), which is probably enough to cover a job loss, medical emergency, etc. So if your "emergency fund" is $50,000, then sure, in...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:58 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon product restricted to Prime members. Is this new?
- Replies: 34
- Views: 7008
Re: Amazon product restricted to Prime members. Is this new?
We have Prime because we originally signed up for Amazon Mom (subscription service for diapers, wipes, etc...basically a gateway drug), which gave you free Prime membership. Then they stopped offering it for free after a few years. We really don't like Amazon's business practices, but at this point we're still putting our convenience above our morals. We live in a downtownish area, far from the big box stores, so the convenience of Prime outweighs the $79 (now $99) per year cost.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 9:30 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Giving money to your alma mater: Have to vent
- Replies: 166
- Views: 22992
Re: Giving money to your alma mater: Have to vent
I went to the University of Texas, a land grant university that makes and spends millions off its football program (as coach, Mack Brown was the highest paid public employee in the state and did a right awful job, in my opinion). While I was there, they also spent millions building a new art museum that as far as I could tell had no academic function. I wasn't a 4.0 student, but my grades were decent. Each year I applied for scholarships and grants and once I was awarded one. For $50. Yes, fifty dollars. So I took out student loans. Luckily I don't get pestered all that often, but it is always irritating to me that they* have the nerve to call and ask for money. The first ask is usually $250...five times the total of scholarships that I rec...
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:43 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Someone tried to login to my vanguard account yesterday
- Replies: 38
- Views: 12062
Re: Someone tried to login to my vanguard account yesterday
Good question, but I don't appreciate the stomach ache it gave me.Sidney wrote:How comfortable are you that Personal Capital has your VG account information locked down and not sitting in some Word file like Sony?crg11 wrote:Something I noticed that may be related if you use them: Mint.com doesn't play nice with Vanguard accounts that have 2FA enabled. You'll get a text from Vanguard when Mint.com refreshes your accounts, but it can't update the account (and doesn't offer a way to enter in the 2FA code).
Personal Capital does work with Vanguard without causing a 2FA code to be generated. This might be enough to have me switch over to Personal Capital for tracking investments and net worth.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:35 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Poll: Do you ask questions at company 401(k) meetings?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2796
Re: Poll: Do you ask questions at company 401(k) meetings?
We just started a 401k (moving from a SIMPLE IRA). The broker is trying to get everyone to fill out a risk questionnaire, which at the end directs you to one of 6 portfolios (with names like "Revere" and "Attucks") with 30-40 basis point ERs. At the launch meeting, I asked about adding index funds and got a "we can talk via email after the meeting" answer. Long story short, the broker played dumb (or is dumb) and made me justify why I wanted a TSM or S&P500 index. The response was "We will look at VTSAX if you have done this much research." Hopefully it will be added, but this exchange indicates to me that very few people are asking (in general or just to this broker) for index funds.
- Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:25 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8088
Re: Fly or drive? Not just time vs. money anymore
I don't think it makes sense to compare car fatalities to the possibility of getting the flu on an airplane. I only mentioned the car fatality statistic just to point out that there are perhaps greater risks (if risk is defined as probability of living through the trip) with driving.
It would make more sense to compare:
- Fatalities between the two modes (cars being significantly more dangerous)
- Possibility of major injury (cars again being more dangerous, but the escalator at the airport might come in second place)
- Possibility of picking up a communicable disease (more likely in an airport/airplane than your car, but what about the gas stations, restaurants, and hotels you visit while driving?)
It would make more sense to compare:
- Fatalities between the two modes (cars being significantly more dangerous)
- Possibility of major injury (cars again being more dangerous, but the escalator at the airport might come in second place)
- Possibility of picking up a communicable disease (more likely in an airport/airplane than your car, but what about the gas stations, restaurants, and hotels you visit while driving?)
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 5:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fly or drive [with a newborn]?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8088
Re: Fly or drive? Not just time vs. money anymore
Driving is much more dangerous than flying. You stand a much higher chance of injury or death from an auto accident than from a plane crash. I was going to bring this up, as well. If you're factoring potential health impacts of flying with a bunch of people, you have to also factor in the significant danger of being in a fatal car crash, which kills more people age 3 to 30 than anything else. That said, we're choosing to drive 1,000 one way (and back) this Christmas with our 1.5 and 4 year old kids. This is primarily so we can take more stuff and save money. For us, we basically have three choices: 1. Pay $1200 RT for a direct flight from our local airport 2. Use miles (British Avios on American) to fly for free, but on late-night flights,...
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 28 Year Old Looking for Investment Advice
- Replies: 12
- Views: 2117
Re: 28 Year Old Looking for Investment Advice
It sounds like you're in a good position. Congrats! I'm no expert, but here's what I would do in your situation: First, decide what portion of your savings should be for emergencies (I suggest making sure it's at least enough to cover 3-6 months of expenses in the event of job loss. That amount should also be adequate to cover your medical deductible or even max out of pocket in the event of a medical emergency). Since you have two kids depending on you, I would think $15-20,000 would be desirable. Keep this in an FDIC-insured savings or checking account. It might take a little bit of work, but you can probably find a 2-4% interest rate account for this money. What to do with the remaining $40,000 in savings ($60,000 minus your emergency fu...
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Share your net worth progression
- Replies: 4273
- Views: 1072543
Re: Share your networth progression
This is all from memory and completely estimated. 2007/24 yo: -$30,000 (Graduated from grad school with student loan debt. Bought a late model used car via loan. Began working at $50k/year salary. Got married.) 2008: -$150,000 (Eligible for 401k at work, started putting 15% away. Bought a house with FHA loan. Got fed homebuyer incentive of $8k. Wife and I working full-time and starting to save, but not a ton.) 2009: -$140,000 (Paid off one car, but totaled the other and had to finance half the cost. Continuing to save.) 2011: -$90,000 (Son born. Saving less now. Paying off debt. 401k growing. Many house repairs.) 2013: $80,000 (Sold house for slight actual profit, but recorded as loss for taxes due to repairs, etc. Moved across country. Sta...
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where do you shop for groceries?
- Replies: 148
- Views: 26094
Re: Where do you shop for groceries?
Been going to Costco the last 6 months or so and I honestly can't tell that it is saving us any money compared to our regular grocery store (see below). I think the prices are slightly lower per ounce, but I think we end up consuming more than we otherwise would. Our regular grocery store (Woodmans) is frustratingly awful in terms of organization but the prices are consistently low and they don't play the whole loyalty club game. Plus, they really don't have sales, so prices are just consistently low (10-25% lower than other stores). My only real problem is that they don't take credit, so I can't use some of the more lucrative cash-back cards here (such as the 5-6% cash back that some Amex cards get at grocery stores). We also occasionally ...
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 11:01 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2014 Taxcaster - Finally!
- Replies: 26
- Views: 6503
Re: 2014 Taxcaster - Finally!
I'm not talking about a large amount. Just trying to maximize my refund by making a small 2014 contribution.
For example, I calculate that I'll get a $600 federal refund. If I make an IRA or HSA contribution of $600 before filing, though, my federal refund increases to $625. If I keep bumping up my potential contribution, my refund keeps bumping up slightly until the two meet at $650 (a $650 contribution makes my federal refund total $650). Simplified math, of course.
Of course, TaxCaster doesn't figure the impact on state income tax.
For example, I calculate that I'll get a $600 federal refund. If I make an IRA or HSA contribution of $600 before filing, though, my federal refund increases to $625. If I keep bumping up my potential contribution, my refund keeps bumping up slightly until the two meet at $650 (a $650 contribution makes my federal refund total $650). Simplified math, of course.
Of course, TaxCaster doesn't figure the impact on state income tax.
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 10:10 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: 2014 Taxcaster - Finally!
- Replies: 26
- Views: 6503
Re: 2014 Taxcaster - Finally!
I'm interested in knowing how/why people use this tool for their 2014 taxes. What are you trying to accomplish? Were most of your taxes withheld throughout the year?
I'm using it to try to figure out how an end-of-year IRA, 529, or HSA contribution can maximize my tax savings, but I'm considering just going ahead and starting my 2014 taxes via TurboTax to get a more accurate picture. I also have found this tool to be useful in forecasting next year's taxes in preparing my W-4, even though the rules might change.
I'm using it to try to figure out how an end-of-year IRA, 529, or HSA contribution can maximize my tax savings, but I'm considering just going ahead and starting my 2014 taxes via TurboTax to get a more accurate picture. I also have found this tool to be useful in forecasting next year's taxes in preparing my W-4, even though the rules might change.
- Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:37 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: New 401k - 100% to REIT index?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2298
Re: New 401k - 100% to REIT index?
You may be over-thinking this. Keep REIT out of taxable (if you have any). Otherwise it doesn't matter much where you put it. Just find the cheapest, most simple way to do it. If it seems too complicated, eliminate the tilts until you have more invested (or forever!). Right now the most important thing is how much you are investing each year. Thanks. Directing 100% of 401k contributions to REIT, then regularly rebalancing by selling REIT and buying TSM in my IRA seems to me to be the cheapest (because it's the same REIT fund in both accounts with the same ER) and simplest (since I'm not introducing new funds/tilts) way to do it. This is what I was thinking from the beginning, but just wanted to post in case anyone saw any glaring problem w...