Search found 350 matches
- Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:46 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Roof repair
- Replies: 6
- Views: 684
Re: Roof repair
Those are some large holes/gaps. Consider tarping the roof to minimize further water intrusion and calling in a professional roofer for an evaluation. I would be concerned whether the structure has been compromised and needs repair before replacing/repairing the roof. yea, this roof hasnt been repl...
- Sun Jan 10, 2021 12:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage Way Too High?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 527
Homeowner’s Insurance Coverage Way Too High?
I have been asked to intercede on behalf of a 93 year old relative with her homeowner’s insurance policy. She is half owner of a duplex house with DW’s mother, who is in a nursing home on Medicaid. DW has mother’s POA. Relative has always handled homeowners insurance. The house was built in about 19...
- Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are plasma TV's gone forever?
- Replies: 117
- Views: 17149
Re: Are plasma TV's gone forever?
I have a 50 inch LG Plasma from 2012, still working fine and I’m hoping it lasts a lot longer given how TV’s have changed since I bought it. That was the last TV I bought. Our 40 inch Toshiba Regza LCD from 2010 just died on Sunday, January 3rd. No indications of a problem, but I heard a pop while w...
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:41 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
- Replies: 103
- Views: 7330
Re: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
I learned a few things from this thread. 1. Some folks who post on a thread do not bother to read other posts before they post a reply. 2. I had to double check what I already knew: My employer for 36.5 years, the state of New York, consistently paid us less than our annual salary for 10 years so th...
- Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
- Replies: 103
- Views: 7330
Re: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
The government does this. It's designed so your income averages out over a 28 year period. Wow. Please provide an authoritative link that explains the implementation of this program. I’m always amazed to what lengths government will go to. Cheers https://hr.buffalostate.edu/payroll-faqs While the l...
- Sat Jan 02, 2021 10:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
- Replies: 103
- Views: 7330
Re: How do you feel about your extra paycheck in 2020?
New York State does it a little differently than the Feds, but not much. Say your yearly salary is $100,000 for the sake of simplicity. Your biweekly pay is calculated as follows: 365 Day Year = 14/365 = .038356 Biweekly Rate = .038356 x Total Annual Salary So that’s $100,000 x .038356 x 10 work day...
- Sun Dec 27, 2020 12:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Any decent luxury sedan with good reliability and sound system
- Replies: 37
- Views: 2828
Re: Any decent luxury sedan with good reliability and sound system
Our 2016 Lexus es350 has a great sound system. We bought it in early 2019 off lease with 24,000 miles for $26,500 We were trying to replace a 2011 Camry XLE with built in GPS, sunroof, and a V6. Those were very hard to find, as our used car guy looked for over a year for a 2015 or 2016 Camry like th...
- Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon Echo vs. Echo Studio
- Replies: 5
- Views: 537
Re: Amazon Echo vs. Echo Studio
Hi Bogleheads - I'm in the market for an Amazon Echo product. My primary purpose is to stream background music. I recently bought a new Echo (the current version, 4th gen.)... To my hard-of-hearing, non-audiophile ears, it sounds pretty dang good. So I'm thinking of getting another one, or possibly...
- Tue Dec 22, 2020 5:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 6 years to college degree?????
- Replies: 139
- Views: 8194
Re: 6 years to college degree?????
I took 5 years to get my BS in Civil Engineering. It was a long time ago and my state university was inexpensive. 140 credits were required to graduate and there were a lot of labs filling up the week. I had a work study job all 5 years and I worked a 40 hour week from end of finals to Labor Day eve...
- Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are your not free but still frugal hobbies?
- Replies: 155
- Views: 13015
Re: What are your not free but still frugal hobbies?
For my frugal hobby, two things are necessary - an internet connected computer and some kind of music listening system. I have that stuff already. I search for recordings of high quality, non commercially released concerts of artists that I like, then I download them, convert the files from zip to f...
- Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:24 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are you listening to now
- Replies: 1274
- Views: 75899
Re: What are you listening to now
Thanks I hadn't heard about this release. I'm listening to it now... You know, I have never been much of a fan of The Beatles (though a DD bought me a nice 16 CD collection of their releases). I listen to the collection occasionally. I confess, if I were asked to name ONE song Paul McCartney has re...
- Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:19 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What are you listening to now
- Replies: 1274
- Views: 75899
Re: What are you listening to now
Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton Broken Man 1999 One of my all time favorite albums. The tone that Clapton produced on that record was revolutionary. An irreplaceable Gibson Les Paul and overdriven Marshall amplifiers set the standard for rock guitar for anyone coming after. My 15 year old ears were...
- Tue Dec 15, 2020 10:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New home CD player/changer?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1339
Re: New home CD player/changer?
I have had some luck on Shopgoodwill.com - it’s an auction site. Here’s a link for a changer closing soon: https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/110198053 I got a Sony CDP-CE335 five disk changer and a STR-DE995 receiver this summer for about $40 shipped. Both work fine, they just needed a little cleani...
- Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: NYSTRS questions
- Replies: 33
- Views: 1784
Re: NYSTRS questions
:beer OMG, your title is so fitting not my situation. My situation is that I would have enough to retire at 20 years, but not take funds till 62.I would live off my Roth 457 and after tax till retirement. The issue is FAS isn't updated for inflation, so 15 or so years of inflation would make 40% FA...
- Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:28 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is Our Olive Oil Real?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 6041
Re: Is Our Olive Oil Real?
We buy Colavita EVOO Premium in 2 liter bottles from Amazon and are very happy with it. They use olive oils from Italy, Spain, Greece, and/or Portugal. It’s a trusted company. For a few dollars more, Colavita has an olive oil that’s 100% Italian and for another few dollars more they offer an organic...
- Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?
- Replies: 111
- Views: 9086
Re: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?
can you remove the garage door entirely? make it a 3-wall carport? Have you considered this suggestion? We have 2 of these in an old barn and they do offer almost all of the benefits of an enclosed garage except security. Of course, if letting the van stick out of the garage a foot or so would put ...
- Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:55 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tesla's self-driving features for a 70 year old
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2861
Re: Tesla's self-driving features for a 70 year old
My mother is 70. She uses a computer, ipad and iphone for their basic features but does not use GPS or Waze while driving. She drives 50 miles each way to work on the highway everyday, but I'm concerned about her reaction time and discomfort when driving to places she does not already know how to g...
- Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: early "retiree" maintaning professional license of inactive status
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1381
Re: early "retiree" maintaning professional license of inactive status
Retired civil engineer here. I renew my license every year even though I don't use it and it costs me money but I enjoy taking the continuing education classes which allow me to keep up with my industry. TravelforFun I’m also a Civil Engineer PE and have kept my license active since retiring from m...
- Tue Nov 10, 2020 3:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Fire Pits: Solo Stove vs. Breeo
- Replies: 40
- Views: 9371
Re: Fire Pits: Solo Stove vs. Breeo
I’m so done with wood fire pits. Between being getting dry wood, having problems lighting it, the time it took to get it going, smoke that drifted into your face, and repeatedly feeding wood to it I just gave up and got this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Rhino-32-in-W-50000-BTU-Steel-Fire-Table/100...
- Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
- Replies: 55
- Views: 7153
Re: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
If anyone wants to help someone out who is too lazy to read through everything and really hates contract language I would appreciate it. I currently have an I phone 10. I have no need for a new one, but if it is free or even saves me money than why not go with an upgrade? Is this the right move for...
- Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: First time homebuyer. Just got the inspection report on a 100-year-old house. Advice requested...
- Replies: 113
- Views: 7602
Re: First time homebuyer. Just got the inspection report on a 100-year-old house. Advice requested...
One quick reply: utilities in some states, I know that Massachusetts does, offer free energy assessments which then lead to low to zero percent loans to replace old, inefficient heating systems. We received rebates on replacing our oil fired boiler and hot water storage tank and a $5000 zero percent...
- Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:36 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
- Replies: 55
- Views: 7153
Re: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
I feel like I am missing something here. When I go to the site (https://tradein.att.com/) and enter the details of the phone for trade-in (iPhone 8+, 256GB), it tells me on screen that I will get $155, not $800. What am I doing wrong? Thanks. Don’t use that site. I called them and got a very knowle...
- Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
- Replies: 55
- Views: 7153
Re: iPhone upgrade trick w/AT&T
Earlier this year I bought an iPhone SE 2020 for $200 on an installment plan through Walmart, payable to AT&T on my monthly bill, $6.67 per month. I called about the current deal of a free iPhone 12 on certain plans with a trade in of a qualifying iPhone with no real hopes that it would apply. W...
- Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Improving Wi-Fi coverage: Use existing Cat5e and MoCA? [Solved]
- Replies: 87
- Views: 5875
Re: Improving Wi-Fi coverage: Use existing Cat5e and MoCA?
Sometime I need to understand what exactly “backhaul” means and how it’s accomplished. It's pretty simple, really. You have two basic types of devices in your network: Endpoints (computers, phones, streaming boxes, game consoles, etc) and network devices (routers, access points). Backhaul is how a ...
- Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:23 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Improving Wi-Fi coverage: Use existing Cat5e and MoCA? [Solved]
- Replies: 87
- Views: 5875
Re: Improving Wi-Fi coverage: Use existing Cat5e and MoCA?
After struggling with repeaters and Access Points for years, I also have a TPLink Deco mesh 3 unit system. It works very well. But we use MOCA for streaming through Roku boxes to our TV’s on two different floors. We have a a Motorola MOCA distributor (?) at the coax entrance to the house upstairs an...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: iPhone 12 Pro Max OR ...?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 7597
Re: iPhone 12 Pro Max OR ...?
Not sure if this is off topic or not, but I just got an insane deal on iPhone 12 from AT&T. Earlier this year I bought an iPhone SE 2020 for $200 on an installment plan through Walmart, payable to AT&T on my monthly bill. I called about the current deal of a free iPhone 12 on certain plans w...
- Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Tour of New England- help me plan
- Replies: 58
- Views: 2977
Re: Tour of New England- help me plan
I have lived in New England for almost all of my 69+ years and have been to just about every place mentioned in this thread, some a lot more than others. Every one of them has their pluses. There are even a few spots mentioned that I will need to visit. The OP hasn’t said how they are getting to New...
- Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Drinking water at home
- Replies: 72
- Views: 4682
Re: Drinking water at home
DW and I (occasionally) drink Perrier from Amazon or sometimes Walmart. About $14 for 24 half liter bottles plus deposit delivered. We get 2 per month on subscribe and save. Mostly I drink tap water through our Brita. Our tap water has a strong chlorine taste without the Brita. Also use Brita water ...
- Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Golf clubs
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1749
Re: Golf clubs
I don’t golf, but my son, age 19, has started. He’s been using my dad’s 60+ years-old clubs. My son is 6-4. My dad is 5-9. My son says his grandfather’s clubs are too old and too short, and I have no reason to doubt him on either of those points. We want to get him clubs for a combined birthday/Chr...
- Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:40 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Don't pay full price for SiriusXM radio
- Replies: 370
- Views: 47867
Re: Don't pay full price for SiriusXM radio
I was in the last month in July of our current $60 a year plan plus fees (music royalty fees) that made it about $72 a year automatically billed to a credit card monthly when I saw the free echo dot offer. I chatted on line, got an upgrade to All Access plus SiriusXM video whatever that is, an echo ...
- Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1537
Re: Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
Thanks for all the responses. A few are especially helpful and others not so much, but that’s probably my fault for not explaining the situation fully both with MIL’s cognitive abilities and with the visitation protocol at her nursing home currently. MIL’s dementia is such that she doesn’t initiate ...
- Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1537
Re: Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
Both. I’m not sure how to set up the iPad and I’m not confident enough to think that I thought of everything.Cheez-It Guy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:08 pm Are you asking for specific help on the actions you listed, or help in the form of additional ideas?
- Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Reducing road noise that reaches back side of house
- Replies: 43
- Views: 3108
Re: Reducing road noise that reaches back side of house
Please give up the notion of planting trees to reduce road noise. Mostly their effect is psychological. A 100 foot deep dense stand of trees with underbrush (usually evergreens as deciduous trees offer little reduction in winter) only reduces sound pressure levels by 50% and perceived volume levels ...
- Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1537
Set up new iPad for MIL with dementia in nursing home
I have searched the internet for an easy answer to this question without results. Before I get on the phone with Apple support and that whole process, I thought that maybe a Boglehead had done this before. We bought a new iPad for my 93 year old MIL with dementia because staff at her nursing home sa...
- Sun Aug 16, 2020 7:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Products that last forever
- Replies: 239
- Views: 16511
Re: Products that last forever
Toilets and bathtubs. Our 2 of each have been serving us since 1985 when we bought our house. I’m guessing that they were installed in the 1950’s. The toilets have had new replaceable parts periodically and the tubs have been refinished. Come to think of it, there are still some claw foot tubs in se...
- Thu Aug 06, 2020 10:17 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1418
Re: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
Additional $400,000 house money is not in retirement funds. So, once we sell our existing house and end up with $400,000 to $425,000 net, we would have $800,000 to $825,000 to spend on a house, but that leaves us with only a $100,000 emergency fund and the need to furnish the new house. I would be ...
- Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1418
Re: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
home paid off, on market, probably net $400,000 to $425,000 Cash available for house purchase an additional $400,000, still leaves $100,000 emergency fund, ... Income is $121,000, consisting of reliable state pension and Social Security .... Retirement savings is $1.5 million including Roth’s of $5...
- Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1418
Re: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
Start estimating your furnishing budget by room. If you truly are going to replace everything for a 10 room house and you don’t want to compromise I’d ballpark at least $100k. Art? Blinds? Pillows, Linens? Kitchen stuff? Probably was a little too reactionary. Would need new living room chairs, couc...
- Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1418
Re: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
How much will you need to withdraw annually from your portfolio to cover your expenses above your income of $121k? Does the $1.5 million of retirement savings exclude the $100k emergency fund and $400k cash for house purchase? First question: Nothing. The RMD’s which must start in 2022 would just g...
- Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1418
How much can we comfortably spend on a house?
Basic Information: We want a new to us single family detached home, so no HOA fees. No problem with hiring a landscaper and a house cleaner for help No debt, 2 late model cars paid off No children, 2 adults, we are in our late 60’s, home paid off, on market, probably net $400,000 to $425,000 Cash av...
- Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:41 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Driveway resurface or rebuild
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1933
Re: Driveway resurface or rebuild
Based on the pictures, it seems like most of the driveway is in really good shape. If it were me, I would just have the major cracks addressed and leave it alone. My driveway is in far worse condition, but I get it seal coated every year or two to keep up the appearance and am hoping to put off rep...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
The title summarizes what we want, but we are having a really hard time finding one online and we are not going to stores at the present time. Obviously, we need an Outdoor rated fan in a Hugger style that hangs down no lower than 1 foot (preferably 8 inches). Does such a fan/light exist? Web sites...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
Your ceiling is too low for an open blade ceiling fan. Installing on open blade fan would be dangerous and subject you to complete liability in the case of an accident. Suggest you install corner or ceiling mounted caged blade fan(s) instead. Safe is way better than sorry. https://www.amazon.com/en...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
If it is an old house, and all it currently has is a light, be aware that you may not be able to mount the fan to the same box the light is currently mounted to. Fans move alot, so their boxes need to be particularly secure. There are after market boxes with adjustable supports that you can put in,...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:06 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
The title summarizes what we want, but we are having a really hard time finding one online and we are not going to stores at the present time. Obviously, we need an Outdoor rated fan in a Hugger style that hangs down no lower than 1 foot (preferably 8 inches). Does such a fan/light exist? Web sites...
- Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
Nice, but it hangs 13 inches down from ceiling. Thanks.Rob54keep wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:24 am I have this Hunter fan for less than $200:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hunter-Port-Ha ... 1001774592
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
Yup, you're gonna have to bump the price a bit. The Vision Max line is the outdoor rated version of the Clarity line. The Clarity line meets your size specs, but the Vision max seems to require a downrod making it just a little lower than you're asking for https://www.homedepot.com/p/Monte-Carlo-Vi...
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Re: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
At your price point of under $200 it will be difficult fining an outdoor hugger of decent quality. What I recently installed: https://www.lampsplus.com/products/44-inch-concept-ii-brushed-steel-flushmount-led-ceiling-fan__19w17.html Thanks for the reply, but this fan is 11.5 inches from ceiling to ...
- Sun Jun 21, 2020 7:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
- Replies: 23
- Views: 1467
Ceiling Fan and Light on Porch with 7.5 foot ceiling
The title summarizes what we want, but we are having a really hard time finding one online and we are not going to stores at the present time. Obviously, we need an Outdoor rated fan in a Hugger style that hangs down no lower than 1 foot (preferably 8 inches). Does such a fan/light exist? Web sites ...
- Tue Jun 16, 2020 2:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Prior to vaccine, safeguard assets in bond index?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1709
Re: Prior to vaccine, safeguard assets in bond index?
My son and I have had this exact same conversation. He is very concerned about putting any money into the market now (he has a good job and good investment options). He sends me graphs showing recent volatility, and then I send him graphs with 30-year time horizons, and point out that the wild gyra...