Search found 152 matches

by theta
Wed Oct 05, 2022 5:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Private Golf Course Membership
Replies: 47
Views: 6064

Re: Private Golf Course Membership

Country club member here.
I actually like playing the same course most of the time. You develop a good deal of familiarity that just makes the round feel “comfortable”. No surprise hazards, you usually have a pretty good idea where your ball is going to be, even when it’s way off target. Relationships come a little easier, whether it be with fellow golfers or with the teaching pro.
by theta
Sun Feb 20, 2022 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Right again, Misterbill!

All of the transactions I listed posted as online.
However, the ones that DID NOT get the category bonus posted as POI Funding Transactions, which is an excluded MCC category.

My confusion came in looking for an MCC number. The MCC number is not listed by the BofA app, but the MCC description IS listed.

So, there is some consistency after all. Of course, how to know beforehand which merchants use an MCC that is on the excluded list is still somewhat of a guessing game. That’s where the DofC link posted by misterbill definitely comes in handy.
by theta
Sat Feb 19, 2022 7:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

OK, the IOS app lists a 4-digit Reference Number for each transaction, which I am assuming is the MCC.
FWIW, the MCC for my various gift card transactions are all over the map:

cardcash - 9032
raise - 1486
cardcookie - 2843
rakuten - 4920
mygiftcardsplus - 6151

I'm not sure how the MCC could be useful, given the lack of pattern here.

That said, the DofC database matched up well with my experience (4 out of 5), with only Rakuten showing in DofC as an online category bonus, but not for me.
by theta
Sat Feb 19, 2022 5:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Thanks misterbill for that reply, especially the DofC thread.
How do I find the MCC of the posted transaction? It doesn’t show up in my details, looking via the app. Is it only seen via the web?
by theta
Fri Feb 18, 2022 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

Regarding the purchase of gift cards from online sites using the BofA Customized Cash Rewards card, here is my experience of which sites qualify for the "category bonus", when the CCR is set for the online shopping category:

MYGIFTCARDSPLUS - no category bonus
Rakuten - no category bonus
Cardcookie - category bonus!
Raise - category bonus!
Cardcash - no category bonus

Seems to be no rhyme or reason to which ones qualify. I mean they're all online-only sites and they all are basically in the same business. Apparently, they chose somewhat different business codes when interacting with the credit card companies.

Hope this information helps someone.
by theta
Thu Feb 03, 2022 6:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

My category for my Customized Cash Rewards card is set to "Online", and purchases to Walmart.com and ebay have tracked accordingly. However, I recently purchased a gift card from Cardcash.com, and that purchase did not track. i.e. I did not receive the category bonus. Has anybody else purchased from Cardcash and successfully received the category bonus? It seems to me that Cardcash is most definitely an online vendor, without any bricks and mortar stores that I know of. My strategy had been to purchase a bunch of gift cards for a home renovation project, but I may need to rethink that (and go with the home improvement category instead). Maybe there's another gift card reseller that is classified as Online? Suggestions welcome.
by theta
Fri Jan 28, 2022 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred
Replies: 8
Views: 1506

Re: American Express Upgrade Blue Cash Everyday Card to Blue Cash Preferred

Yes. Every 2 or 3 years I get an offer to upgrade to Preferred with 1st year fee waived. I accept their offer and downgrade after one year.
by theta
Mon Dec 27, 2021 3:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards
Replies: 7057
Views: 891399

Re: Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

So, I logged into my brand new BofA account for the first time today. I had established a Merrill Edge account about 3 weeks ago, with a little over $100k balance.

My new BofA account shows I’m already qualified for Platinum Honors! Have they loosened their requirements without telling us? The 3 month requirement seems to be gone for me.
by theta
Wed Dec 08, 2021 6:03 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 200K Question
Replies: 7
Views: 1368

Re: 200K Question

I’m sure your intentions are good, but to take $200,000 of your Mom’s funds and put them in your name looks bad. Why not leave the funds in her name? Do you have power of attorney?

At a minimum, make sure you document the details of this transaction and share with your sisters. This has the potential to make a future estate-closing / probate very messy.

I don’t know if this transaction would be classified as a “gift”, for tax purposes. I.e. you may owe gift tax.

You may need to consult with an elder care attorney to accomplish your goal here, but I suspect the path you’ve chosen will become messy very quickly.

Good luck moving forward….
by theta
Sun Nov 14, 2021 7:12 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Does high inflation impact social security claiming strategy?
Replies: 14
Views: 1609

Re: Does high inflation impact social security claiming strategy?

Both claimed and unclaimed benefits are adjusted for inflation.
by theta
Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Edward Jones and my in law
Replies: 39
Views: 5832

Re: Edward Jones and my in law

Here’s an objective review
https://investorjunkie.com/reviews/edward-jones/

I would give him a copy of the review and never speak of EJ again.

To get to the actionable item of your question, one way to reduce fees would be to put the whole lump sum in VTI. Insist on this with the advisor and if he refuses, your in-law should walk away. Under this scenario, his fees would be limited to the 1.35%, plus probably a commission for executing the trade.
by theta
Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water heater - too hot water all of a sudden
Replies: 22
Views: 1941

Re: Water heater - too hot water all of a sudden

Very similar symptoms occurred for me a couple of years ago. Turns out there’s a fairly limited number of manufacturers of electric hot water heaters, with lots of vendors just slapping their labels on these generic products.

I opened the two maintenance panels, and there was a distinctive burned electrical smell.
Amazingly, Amazon sold the exact model of replacement thermostat (it takes two), and there was a pretty good YouTube on howto replacethe thermostats. I am not a handyman, by any stretch, but this was easy and did not require special tools. You just need to make sure the power is off while working in there.

Been working fine ever since - now 20 years old.
by theta
Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mark’s Financial Computer Security Methods
Replies: 24
Views: 5527

Re: Mark’s Financial Computer Security Methods

Thank you Mark. Good list indeed.

One small correction. Quicken is not a SAAS. It uses a subscription model, whereby you have to resubscribe every year. Your data can reside only on your computer. The do have a mobile access option, where you can upload your data to the Quicken cloud, for access by multiple mobile devices. But you are not required to use this cloud/mobile option.
by theta
Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Got a good price on 2020 Odyssey EX-L but the 0.9% promo expired.
Replies: 54
Views: 5001

Re: Got a good price on 2020 Odyssey EX-L but the 0.9% promo expired.

I would show the salesman/dealer the $780 difference that mervin calculated in his comment above. Then indicate that you’re willing to split the difference with him - i.e. he needs to lower his price by $390. If he can’t, then be willing to walk away.
by theta
Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why Would All Four Tires Have Slow Air Leaks?
Replies: 104
Views: 17451

Re: Why Would All Four Tires Have Slow Air Leaks?

Chicken Little may have hit on something. Here’s an article about properly torquing valve stems:
https://www.tirereview.com/make-the-rig ... em-torque/
by theta
Thu Nov 19, 2020 7:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Logistics of buying new car with cash
Replies: 55
Views: 5256

Re: Logistics of buying new car with cash

Another thing to ask about is the ability to put some of the purchase on a credit card.
With a good cash back CC, you might get as much as 2% on $5000...
by theta
Wed Nov 11, 2020 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: No stimulus payment from IRS - 2018 AGI>150K, 2019 AGI < 150K
Replies: 4
Views: 494

Re: No stimulus payment from IRS - 2018 AGI>150K, 2019 AGI < 150K

Thanks asyouwish. Couldn’t find anything online because I didn’t know the right search term.
For others, here’s a decent article about the “recovery rebate credit”.
https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/20 ... ities.html
by theta
Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: No stimulus payment from IRS - 2018 AGI>150K, 2019 AGI < 150K
Replies: 4
Views: 494

No stimulus payment from IRS - 2018 AGI>150K, 2019 AGI < 150K

Due to Roth conversion, our 2018 AGI (MFJ) was over 150k, the eligibility limit for stimulus payment. Our 2019 AGI was less than 150k.

Supposedly, we should be eligible for the full payment, but this will only occur as part of the 2020 tax filing procedures.

Does anybody have any info on how this might happen?
by theta
Wed Oct 14, 2020 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Great iPhone deals?
Replies: 16
Views: 2274

Re: Great iPhone deals?

Pre-orders for the new iPhones begin on 10/16, so you may see some pricing specials.
by theta
Tue Oct 13, 2020 6:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best searches for Prime Day deals
Replies: 11
Views: 2749

Re: Best searches for Prime Day deals

Bestbuy has 12 tb external drive on special, for $175.
by theta
Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

My best guess (and it’s only a guess) is that your quicken data file is corrupted. Here’s a quicken community discussion of someone who had this issue a year or so ago. It seems to imply that more than one super validate or file copy or combination may be required:
https://community.quicken.com/discussio ... r-validate
by theta
Sun Sep 20, 2020 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What can I expect from new golf clubs
Replies: 96
Views: 7545

Re: What can I expect from new golf clubs

Slow down your takeaway and shorten your backswing.

Problem solved!
by theta
Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

I’m out of suggestions, but tend to agree with an earlier poster who suggested giving Quicken support another try. Here’s how a super user from the community support forum said it: “ It may be time to have support remote into your system to better understand what's the issue.”
by theta
Fri Sep 18, 2020 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

Another update to Quicken was made available today. Maybe it fixes OP’s problem?
by theta
Thu Sep 17, 2020 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

If you haven’t already, I’d suggest you post your problem to the quicken community forum.
Here’s a link to a post with symptoms that sound somewhat like yours:

https://community.quicken.com/discussio ... to-startup
by theta
Wed Sep 16, 2020 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

Here’s a link to past Release Mondo patches:
http://www.quicknperlwiz.com/quicken-su ... tches.html

I’ve never had to do a Mondo patch, so I can’t really advise how that process works...
by theta
Wed Sep 16, 2020 10:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

You can supposedly rollback to a previous release:
https://www.quicken.com/support/update- ... on-product
by theta
Wed Sep 16, 2020 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quicken Disaster!
Replies: 185
Views: 12997

Re: Quicken Disaster!

I would try to use another PC. Perhaps a friend, spouse,or work PC.

If you can get it to successfully open on a different PC, you have definitively pinpointed the problem to something in your PC.

If it does not open on a different PC, you have eliminated your PC as a potential cause.

In that case, there may be something about your data file that is triggering a bug in the latest release.
by theta
Sun Aug 30, 2020 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Just found my dream home/offer accepted, need lending ASAP and have important questions, you're my main resource
Replies: 91
Views: 8090

Re: Just found my dream home/offer accepted, need lending ASAP and have important questions, you're my main resource

One suggestion that I haven’t seen mentioned.

Use bankrate.com to find the best rate. Even if you don’t use it, it might give you some negotiating leverage with your chosen lender.
by theta
Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comfortable SUV/Crossover for a Tall and Short couple
Replies: 7
Views: 811

Re: Comfortable SUV/Crossover for a Tall and Short couple

Me: 6’5”
She: 5’2”

She: primary driver
Me: road trip driver

We found the Honda CRV (Ex-l) to be very comfortable for our needs. A quick test drive might tell you enough to get you to the next step in your process.
by theta
Mon Jul 13, 2020 6:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: VoIP phone: Any advice....
Replies: 20
Views: 1518

Re: VoIP phone: Any advice....

A couple of ideas:

For those who need a fax line, there are lots of fax-over-IP services out there. Especially good for once or twice a year.

For alarm systems, there are several systems that do not require a landline. See this article:
https://www.safewise.com/home-security- ... phoneline/
by theta
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Golf club membership - should I?
Replies: 39
Views: 6378

Re: Golf club membership - should I?

I found the new social circle of other club members to be a surprising benefit.
New friends with shared interest for all family members...
by theta
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best phone plan options?
Replies: 20
Views: 1332

Re: Best phone plan options?

We've had good luck with Visible.
$25/month for unlimited data
Uses the Verizon network
+100 back on purchase of new phones (after 60 days), which are unlocked

Can cancel at any time, no commitment/contract
by theta
Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to put things in order for mom
Replies: 10
Views: 1193

Re: How to put things in order for mom

One of the key things is to keep your siblings in the loop. One or more of them may think you're pulling a fast one, whatever that would mean in this situation. Keeping them informed may help address this.

I would have an individual conversation with each of them. Tell them the current status, tell them what you're planning on doing (and the cost, which may be another fear factor for them), and finally tell them you'd be most appreciative for any help if they have the time.
by theta
Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Homeowners Insurance Quotes - How to get multiple quotes quickly and easily?
Replies: 12
Views: 1440

Re: Homeowners Insurance Quotes - How to get multiple quotes quickly and easily?

Clark Howard recommends a service called Coverhound. I’m guessing it’ll check more companies than a local independent agent, but have not had a chance to try them myself. https://clark.com/insurance/coverhound-review/
by theta
Thu May 21, 2020 6:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Get My Payment up and running
Replies: 369
Views: 32735

Re: IRS Get My Payment up and running

Just an information note, in case anyone tries to call the IRS 800 number.

They do not have the ability to look at your individual record. All they do is give general advice. They told me I might still get a stimulus check. Gosh, thanks.

In case anyone is in the same boat as me, I had a Roth conversion in 2018 that pushed me over the limit. My 2019 income was well under the limit. Now I get “payment status not available”.

I think my only option is to wait, and maybe do something in my 2020 tax return...
by theta
Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:30 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397344

Re: Coronavirus and the market

I suspect it is technically still in testing stage, but here’s a quote,
“Normally the FDA would take a long time to approve something like that and it was approved very, very quickly,” Trump said. “We’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately."

The “almost immediately” gives a little wiggle room, but he also mentioned that Gov. Cuomo wants to be first in line.
by theta
Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397344

Re: Covid 19 cure - chloroquine - how to invest

Storm shadow,

I’m not talking pharma stocks. Rather, a quick return to “normalcy”, and wondering if any companies/sectors would benefit more. For example, retail, autos, amazon???
by theta
Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:57 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397344

Re: Covid 19 cure - chloroquine - how to invest

Re: Jomoney,

Yes, chloroquine is cheap and already available. This should mean that an economic recovery could occur more quickly than would otherwise be expected.

Based on that thesis, are there industries which will bounce back first?
by theta
Thu Mar 19, 2020 8:38 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Coronavirus and the market
Replies: 4089
Views: 397344

[Possible Covid 19 treatment] - chloroquine - how to invest

[Thread merged into here, see below. --admin LadyGeek]

Google “chloroquine covid19” for some positive news about covid19. Too early to say it’s definitely a cure, but it looks very promising.

That said, how should we invest this news?

(To be clear, I’ve stayed the course throughout this thing, but I do have a little play money that might be invested here.)
by theta
Sun Mar 15, 2020 6:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Quantitative Easing again
Replies: 0
Views: 243

Quantitative Easing again

Any investment insights gained from QE last time, other than “Stay the course”?
by theta
Sun Jan 19, 2020 7:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Karma says someone added me as an authorized user on their card
Replies: 30
Views: 6989

Re: Credit Karma says someone added me as an authorized user on their card

The e-mail you received sounds like a phishing exploit.

I’ll bet the link in the e-mail will take you to a lookalike credit karma webpage that asks for your userid and password. Good on you for not clicking through.

Read this article to verify if your e-mail actually is a phishing attempt:
https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/5-w ... hing-email
by theta
Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2019 Free Tax Software
Replies: 4
Views: 530

Re: 2019 Free Tax Software

Credit karma does not support multi-state returns.
by theta
Sun Dec 29, 2019 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home selling advice: Agent vs. FSBO vs. redfin
Replies: 94
Views: 6135

Re: Home selling advice: Agent vs. FSBO vs. redfin

If I read it correctly, you are now out from under the listing contract with the realtor.
Suggest you research FSBO on google and on bogleheads. There are dozens of services that will help you for only hundreds of dollars.

Then, consider cutting your price. This you can do because you’ll no longer have to pay an exorbitant listing percentage. And still come out ahead.

Then consider advertising the price as FIRM. Lots of people will give up haggling if you preannounce that the price is firm.

Good luck...
by theta
Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Golf Clubs Question
Replies: 30
Views: 2636

Re: Golf Clubs Question

Height is not the primary determining factor for if you need longer (or shorter) clubs.
The primary determining factor is the distance of your fingertips from the floor when standing upright. Taller people “may” have very long arms and thus can get by with regular length golf clubs. But a tall person with regular length arms will need longer clubs. The ping static fitting site should be able to tell you more specifics...
by theta
Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water Softener Help
Replies: 8
Views: 1343

Re: Water Softener Help

Fleck is a big name in water softener components. We got our Fleck 19 years ago and have had 0 problems.
Go to Amazon and search on Fleck and you’ll see a number of different models.

My advice would be to find a local trusted plumber and ask him/her to help you select a Fleck system that’ll meet your needs.
by theta
Tue Nov 19, 2019 5:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My New Car Buying Tips
Replies: 741
Views: 206698

Re: My New Car Buying Tips

What was helpful to me was knowing the “deals” that other folks were getting. That is usually discussed in owner’s forums. Here’s a link to one such forum for Camry owners:

https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/wh ... 18/page-78