Search found 2545 matches
- Tue Nov 07, 2023 9:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Planning to Engineer My Own Layoff for Retirement
- Replies: 29
- Views: 4939
Re: Planning to Engineer My Own Layoff for Retirement
You can quit but set your last day 2 months from now (or whenever). Then don’t any work. They aren’t going to bother firing you when you already quit so there you go.
- Sat Sep 30, 2023 5:29 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
- Replies: 760
- Views: 149448
Re: Good Modern Science Fiction
I'm not sure if Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire belongs in this thread or not, as it is not merely good but freaking brilliant, both as a story and as an exercise in world building comparable with Tolkien or LeGuin: an entire culture with its own language, history, religion, traditions, non-alphabetic glyphs, jokes, song cycles, epic poems, romance novels, and episodic holoproductions, all of which shape how its members think and act. If you like space opera, you should read this; if you don't, you should read it anyway because it's that good. I will admit, however, to not liking the title. I wasn't a fan of this book, at least for me I found it quite boring and tedious (if I'm going to learn a bunch of dry history I'd rather it be...
- Tue Jul 11, 2023 8:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Advice on hiring interior designer for bathroom remodel
- Replies: 72
- Views: 8219
Re: Advice on hiring interior designer for bathroom remodel
If you are in the Bay Area I can recommend a very good GC I’m using right now for a 2x bathroom remodel (they also did kitchen as well earlier). DM me if you want.
Otherwise I would just look on Yelp and ask like 3-5 for estimates and the pick the one you like. They will do all the permits for you, and even help with design (it’s good if you have a rough idea though).
To give you a rough idea I spent about 8k in materials for two small bathrooms plus 35k for construction. So this would easily fit in your budget since you just have one (of course it depends a lot on the exact work and materials you want etc).
Otherwise I would just look on Yelp and ask like 3-5 for estimates and the pick the one you like. They will do all the permits for you, and even help with design (it’s good if you have a rough idea though).
To give you a rough idea I spent about 8k in materials for two small bathrooms plus 35k for construction. So this would easily fit in your budget since you just have one (of course it depends a lot on the exact work and materials you want etc).
- Sat Jun 10, 2023 10:37 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: House inspections: Mold, duct issues, Remediation or back out
- Replies: 35
- Views: 3937
Re: House inspections: Mold, duct issues, Remediation or back out
I’ve been working on resolving mold issues in my house. So far I’ve spent $50k because I had to replace a lot of stuff that got affected. And probably about $5k more when I’m 100% done. So be careful when estimating the total cost.
- Tue May 16, 2023 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Job Offer From Start Up. What To Ask?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2779
Re: Job Offer From Start Up. What To Ask?
I’ve researched this quite a bit and the key thing to consider is that startup equity grants are generally “fair”. That means if they offer you $200k in equity at current valuation then the expected value of this is indeed $200k. They will try to talk about how the company will 100x and so you are actually getting $20m but that’s a very high variance outcome. Of course 90% of the time you will get $0 so it is kind of true that if you do make money on equity that it’s going to be much higher (in those 10% of cases).
There are some exceptions like if the company is small and you are adding so much value that you expect it to materially impact their chance of success (compared to another person). But that’s unlikely to be the case.
There are some exceptions like if the company is small and you are adding so much value that you expect it to materially impact their chance of success (compared to another person). But that’s unlikely to be the case.
- Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Requesting advice as I consider a job offer in Mountain View, CA
- Replies: 53
- Views: 5754
Re: Requesting advice as I consider a job offer in Mountain View, CA
If you are going to have kids soon I would strongly recommend staying close to the grandparents. It will be invaluable.
- Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:29 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Why can't we have another 20 years of bull market?
- Replies: 224
- Views: 22032
Re: Why can't we have another 20 years of bull market?
We can. No one knows the future.
- Sun Jul 19, 2020 1:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How would permanent WFH reshape Silicon Valley?
- Replies: 79
- Views: 8128
Re: How would permanent WFH reshape Silicon Valley?
FWIW, Facebook’s pay scaling is trivial. Like maybe 5-10% less going CA -> Kansas. The lower taxes alone make up for it, let alone cost of living.
Despite that I don’t see that many people interested in permanent remote work. Maybe only 5% or so. So I don’t expect a big shift in the area economy.
Despite that I don’t see that many people interested in permanent remote work. Maybe only 5% or so. So I don’t expect a big shift in the area economy.
- Sun Apr 26, 2020 2:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
- Replies: 760
- Views: 149448
Re: Good Modern Science Fiction
If you like that one I recommend Everyone by Charles Soule. Crouch’s Recursion is also basically like a better version of Dark Matter.Cycle wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2019 10:14 pmI inhaled that one through my eyeballs in one breath.DanMahowny wrote: ↑Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:49 pmYes. Hit that one a year ago. Already read it a second time. Tremendous indeed.
- Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Are your personal expenses down during stay home and shelter?
- Replies: 180
- Views: 15868
Re: Are your personal expenses down during stay home and shelter?
Way down. Probably spent $2k monthly eating out if not more. Also buying less on Amazon with deliveries being what they are.
- Sat Mar 07, 2020 11:54 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Glide path based on $ not time
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2717
Re: Glide path based on $ not time
This is exactly my strategy, though I have a fairly modest difference regardless. But my goal is 60/40 at $4m, with 80/20 at $0. So at $2m I would be 70/30. If I'm fortunate enough to exceed $4m I could see going more conservative. But at that point I expect I will be financially independent so that's why I picked that amount.
- Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:28 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: iPhone 6s - upgrade to 11 or 12?
- Replies: 41
- Views: 3985
Re: iPhone 6s - upgrade to 11 or 12?
Replaced my 6S battery for $25. Now it works great, lasts longer than ever. I actually like it more than the 11 which I use for work (TouchID so much better than FaceID)
- Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do You Have a Long Term Travel Strategy?
- Replies: 67
- Views: 7109
Re: Do You Have a Long Term Travel Strategy?
Wow, that’s very ambitious. Basically no travel with kids is “low stress” maybe until they are teens. Kids thrive on schedule so it’s never easy to upset that. They may have picky food choices and it can be hard to find what they eat I. The place you are going. Changing time zones is rough even a few hours difference. And you have to bring tons of stuff, it makes flying much more of a pain. My kids are 5 and the best trips we’ve had have been driving. We’ve flown a few times with them and it’s basically not fun at all. YMMV but don’t expect much. In a related note I traveled a lot as a kid (2-3x a year to other countries). Until I was ~14 I basically got nothing out of the specific locations, it was more about being with family and friends....
- Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should I find a different job with a better commute?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 4559
Re: Should I find a different job with a better commute?
If it was only a matter of pay it might be worth it. But worse working conditions is a tough pill to swallow. That’s going to be 8 hours a day of feeling bad instead of the extra 2 hours you have now.
- Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:51 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Tech Jobs (Defense vs. FAANG)
- Replies: 21
- Views: 4745
Re: Tech Jobs (Defense vs. FAANG)
FWIW, everyone I know at FB works 40 hours or less (some even more like 30 hours). It's really hard to generalize about a 50k person company.
- Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:54 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Those Who Want to Work Past 70
- Replies: 25
- Views: 2981
Re: Those Who Want to Work Past 70
My plan is to be FI by 40. But I don’t expect to retire till way later. But just in case I’d like to be ready. My grandfather is still working at 82.
- Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:08 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)
- Replies: 357
- Views: 54065
Re: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)
So Google?mottooscillator wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:30 pmFANG, 20 yoe+, 15+ in Bay Areashans2000 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:52 pmThat is outstanding! How many years experience and is it FANG?mottooscillator wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:17 pm Engineer in Bay Area. Total compensation: $1M/year.
Salary: $300,000
Bonus: $100,000
Stock: $600,000
Netflix doesn’t pay equity.
Amazon doesn’t pay that high a base.
Facebook doesn’t have any level that pays that combination of base and equity.
- Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:26 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)
- Replies: 357
- Views: 54065
Re: Engineers - What are you making? ($$$)
Software Engineer in the Bay Area w/ 10 years experience (well-known large tech company). Last year my W-2 income was $850k, which breaks down as $260k base salary, $80k bonus, and $510k vested stock (I sell immediately, so same as cash). This year I expect it to be slightly higher if all goes well, although I also might leave to pursue another opportunity that will not pay as well, so there's that possibility.
- Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:18 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Windows 7 end of support - Jan 14, 2020
- Replies: 107
- Views: 10566
Re: Windows 7 end of support - Jan 14, 2020
It’s easy enough to turn off all the annoying stuff (no telemetry, cortana, or start menu ads) and after that it’s arguably the best windows ever.
- Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:50 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Net Worth Over $1.5M Under Age 45, Have You Paid Off Your Home?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3117
Re: Net Worth Over $1.5M Under Age 45, Have You Paid Off Your Home?
Age 33. Paid off most of it now that we get the less favorable tax deduction because of SALT limits.
Retirement Accounts: 600k
Taxable Accounts: 1m
Home Equity: ~1.4m
Remaining Mortgage: 120k
Mortgage Interest Rate: 3.75%
Retirement Accounts: 600k
Taxable Accounts: 1m
Home Equity: ~1.4m
Remaining Mortgage: 120k
Mortgage Interest Rate: 3.75%
- Wed Oct 16, 2019 8:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Retired Empty Nester Move from House to Apartment
- Replies: 27
- Views: 5357
Re: Retired Empty Nester Move from House to Apartment
Wow, 5500 sq ft, that's crazy for two people...
You could also just get a smaller house. Some disadvantages of apartments could be hard to get used to (noise, less control over living conditions).
You could also just get a smaller house. Some disadvantages of apartments could be hard to get used to (noise, less control over living conditions).
- Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: San Jose (CA) cost of living
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4997
Re: San Jose (CA) cost of living
I’ve lived in San Jose for 25+ years. I would recommend living in Willow Glen. That’s where I would live if I were retired. But depends on what you want from your neighborhood of course.
Your numbers seem close. My car insurance and registration is around 30% lower though (for a new $30k car). Utilities would be somewhat higher if you use AC all day. Although if you don’t then it could even be lower.
Eating out is very expensive in the Bay Area because of high labor costs. Groceries aren’t too bad though so the gap is bigger than most places.
Your numbers seem close. My car insurance and registration is around 30% lower though (for a new $30k car). Utilities would be somewhat higher if you use AC all day. Although if you don’t then it could even be lower.
Eating out is very expensive in the Bay Area because of high labor costs. Groceries aren’t too bad though so the gap is bigger than most places.
- Sun May 12, 2019 4:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Can we really afford $1.25M house?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 7324
Re: Can we really afford $1.25M house?
I bought a house for the same amount in CA a few years ago with slightly lower income (though put 40% down). Compared to how much rent has kept going up it definitely turned it to be good financially. Also my income has kept increasing which was lucky (but I didn’t count on it).
- Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: QLED vs OLED TV
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1040
Re: QLED vs OLED TV
Just get an OLED. It's by far the best TV ever made. You won't regret it.
- Sun Mar 17, 2019 3:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Housing should be no more than 28% of your income.
- Replies: 66
- Views: 9503
Re: Housing should be no more than 28% of your income.
If you own a house you should really count the imputed rent else it’s not exactly a fair comparison.
- Fri Mar 15, 2019 8:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Most people wish they invested more and sooner. Any of you wish they invested less?
- Replies: 38
- Views: 5647
Re: Most people wish they invested more and sooner. Any of you wish they invested less?
No, but I also don't wish I had invested more. I think the amount was correct within margin of error.
- Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:14 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: How long have you gone without a raise?
- Replies: 75
- Views: 7425
Re: How long have you gone without a raise?
I’ve gotten raises annually since I started. Now my salary is 2.5x what it was 10 years ago all at the same employer.
- Tue Dec 18, 2018 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Non-budgeters: How do you handle large purchases?
- Replies: 47
- Views: 5171
Re: Non-budgeters: How do you handle large purchases?
I never spend more than I have in my checking account on large purchases. (The only exception was house downpayment, for which I sold investments from my taxable account). I just try to keep ~3 months expenses in there and that's usually enough to cover most large purchases. After that I let it replenish by not investing for a bit. So far has worked out fine.
- Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Decent compensation to move to Bay Area CA?
- Replies: 290
- Views: 29257
Re: Decent compensation to move to Bay Area CA?
If you rent a reasonable house it's probably $5k/month, so you'd want something like $300k/yr to have a similar lifestyle. Of course it will be hard to buy a house on that income unless you have large savings. Also note that many people really like the bay area for various reasons (weather, culture, activities) so you are paying a big premium for that. If you don't actually like the bay area as a location it doesn't really make sense to live here.
- Sat Mar 03, 2018 6:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What will you do with your tax refund?
- Replies: 87
- Views: 9350
Re: What will you do with your tax refund?
Last year I got back $12k but this year I owe $8k. It’s pretty hard to estimate correctly in my situation.
- Fri Mar 02, 2018 9:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: What was your % pay raise?
- Replies: 179
- Views: 24894
Re: What was your % pay raise?
For last year it was ~8%. My highest ever without getting a promotion or switching jobs.
- Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:30 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax loss harvesting and whether robo-investor fees are worth it
- Replies: 27
- Views: 4507
Re: Tax loss harvesting and whether robo-investor fees are worth it
Most people don’t have regular gains so the value of TLH is capped at 3k*marginal tax rate. And obviously you have to pay those taxes later on when you sell, so it’s even less than that. But at some point a 0.25% fee will exceed that. Since you can’t get TLH without ongoing contributions it’s inevitable. So in the long run it’s never going to be saving you money.
- Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you wear a wedding band? [at a job interview]
- Replies: 157
- Views: 16086
Re: Do you wear a wedding band?
Neither my wife nor I wear one. We don’t like the feel of rings. Somehow we haven’t forgotten that we’re married yet.
- Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Bogleheads with $100K+ MSRP cars?
- Replies: 146
- Views: 24014
Re: Bogleheads with $100K+ MSRP cars?
To put it in perspective, a $100k car costs about the same as just using ridesharing (Lyft/Uber) for all travel.
- Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:58 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Buying a new sofa with two young kids?
- Replies: 36
- Views: 5006
Re: Buying a new sofa with two young kids?
Bought a cheap leather couch for $800 six years ago and it’s going strong (we have two young kids). It’s also super comfortable. So I don’t think you have to pay all that much to get something decent.
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do people still use AAA?
- Replies: 306
- Views: 36748
Re: Do people still use AAA?
I use them for my auto/home insurance so membership is required. Its basically more than free because the total cost is still less than other insurance by around $100/yr. I’ve used it maybe 3 times ever and it was very helpful.
- Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Amazon Prime - Decline in Delivery Service?
- Replies: 61
- Views: 9079
Re: Amazon Prime - Decline in Delivery Service?
If anything it’s gottrn faster. I often get things in one day rather than two and now they even deliver on Sundays. I think I’ve had maybe 1 missing item in ~1000 orders the past couple years.
- Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Lower Cost USA Cities to Live
- Replies: 102
- Views: 13242
Re: Best Lower Cost USA Cities to Live
http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/20/autos/t ... index.htmlhicabob wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:31 amCompared to Southern England the vehicle traffic in the Bay Area and LA area is not bad at all.Valuethinker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:55 am
Conversely the traffic is generally horrible-- which makes it hard to meet people, meet up with people, maintain friendships and relationships. And it must be quite lonely. There must be a sense that if you are not happy or fulfilled then there is something wrong with you. Community ties are perhaps not what they are in other parts of the USA.
- Fri Aug 04, 2017 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Kicking Betterment to the Curb
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3352
Re: Kicking Betterment to the Curb
It used to be 15bp for >$100kjbolden1517 wrote:Sorry I'm losing you. Their fees are 25 basis points. Used to be higher (usually 35). What did they hike fees from and to for you?livefreefam wrote:I'll just answer my own question here... Betterment is private and they hiked fees 66% and they aren't public so it's likely a wash.livefreefam wrote:I do wonder if there is any concern with Schwab being a publicly traded company, though. Something of concern? I don't expect a bait-and-switch like Betterment but it seems more plausible here than with Fidelity...maybe?
- Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Is 60/40 too conservative for 31 year old?
- Replies: 69
- Views: 11787
Re: Is 60/40 too conservative for 31 year old?
I'm 31 and want to switch to 60/40 too because I'm ahead of my saving goals (currently 70/30). So it seems reasonable
- Sat Apr 29, 2017 1:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car maintenance for older cars - where do you go ?
- Replies: 52
- Views: 6553
Re: Car maintenance for older cars - where do you go ?
I've been using YourMechanic. They come to you and my house already has free wifi and coffee .
- Sat Apr 29, 2017 1:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cost of car compared to Gross Income
- Replies: 138
- Views: 19007
Re: Cost of car compared to Gross Income
New cars are only ~25% of the car market. So the median person is buying a used car.unclescrooge wrote:I believe the average car price is $35k. Of these, 30% are leased.Bacchus01 wrote:The average new car has to be around $30K now. So does that mean the average gross income is $300K? I don't think so.
Unfortunately cars are expensive.
We're also seeing a higher number of defaults on these leases, since the average income is still around $50k.
Hopefully we'll see a huge decline in used car prices in the next few years!
My car is ~1% of my annual income. But when I got it it was closer to 100% . So these guidelines are very arbitrary.
- Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:49 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Purchase new, but older model cell phone - Best method?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2436
Re: Purchase new, but older model cell phone - Best method?
I think you will save money overall buying a new phone and keeping it longer. Plus you get a better phone on average.
- Wed Apr 19, 2017 9:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: CA State Tax Refund ~ 3 Month Processing Time
- Replies: 19
- Views: 7104
Re: CA State Tax Refund ~ 3 Month Processing Time
I called and they said I have to wait twelve weeks. MehDoubleClick wrote:I'm yet to receive mine:
Interestingly, I mailed this on Mar 11 ! Didn't know first class mail could be this fast .We received your 2016 California Income Tax return on:Wednesday, March 8, 2017.
We are taking longer than expected to process your return.
I have a large refund due. Should I prod further or sit and wait?
- Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Is my electric bill high?
- Replies: 60
- Views: 15535
Re: Is my electric bill high?
Ours is around $300 but we use AC a lot. So it seems not that unreasonable.
- Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: leaving early from work
- Replies: 57
- Views: 10286
Re: leaving early from work
Reason number 4. In this company, looking busy means more than being productive. (Especially, looking busy on nights and weekends.) - John P. Greaney, Retire Early Home Page I just wanted to remind everyone of this classic quote. There may actually be some mythical companies out there where 'We don't care how long you work or where you work as long as you get your assignments completed on schedule with high quality.' applies. The only one that I ever worked for was a small family company where that rule only applied to the president and his two sons (no one ever knew what their assignments were anyway). At all of the places that I have been employed at there was he\\ to pay if you weren't at your desk or on assignment at 8:00am every morni...
- Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:02 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Tax loss harvesting and Betterment
- Replies: 26
- Views: 6540
Re: Tax loss harvesting and Betterment
Betterment TLH works pretty well. There's no way you will harvest as much as they do without spending a ton of time on it. However, it's probably not worth the fee because you only get to TLH in the beginning but have to pay the fee forever.
- Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Calif Tax Refund Length of Time to Receive
- Replies: 19
- Views: 3111
Re: Calif Tax Refund Length of Time to Receive
I efiled on March 3 and haven't gotten it yet. I guess I should call them but I'm too lazy. Hopefully I get it eventually without having to do anything.
- Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Should I drop Full coverage on my car?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2389
Re: Should I drop Full coverage on my car?
I never have collision coverage, even on new cars. But I have enough saved to be able to replace them easily.
- Sun Mar 26, 2017 8:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: In-N-Out Burger - Best Chain Fast Food Burger Joint?
- Replies: 157
- Views: 27296
Re: In-N-Out Burger - Best Chain Fast Food Burger Joint?
In-N-Out is my favorite, and I've tried almost everything else mentioned in this thread. Of course de gustibus non est disputandum.