Search found 180 matches
- Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Opinions - used 2005 Toyota Corolla with only 87,000 miles?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 1561
Re: Opinions - used 2005 Toyota Corolla with only 87,000 miles?
Two corollas in our family. 2004 LE with 225000 and 2005 S with 190000. Superb reliability. Both still going strong. Paint on 2004 is failing tho.
- Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
- Replies: 222
- Views: 10438
Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
My SO received a debit collection call (which went to VM) from Immediate Credit Recovery regarding an unpaid debit. Not ours!! We have received such calls in the past and I simply block them as spam. I assume they have obtained an incorrect phone number for the real deadbeat and wound up with ours. ...
- Wed Dec 04, 2019 7:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Finally got my 3% ARM mortgage
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2396
Re: Finally got my 3% ARM mortgage
I was feeling pretty good getting 3.5% 30 year fixed on $415K refi 65% LTV. APR = rate. Total cost was $950.00 which I paid out of pocket so I guess I should include that in real APR calc although it wouldn't move the needle much. I am a bogglehead so good credit goes without saying :D I like 30 yea...
- Sat Nov 30, 2019 8:55 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: I wish I could ignore it...but I can't (ZILLOW!)
- Replies: 68
- Views: 9240
Re: I wish I could ignore it...but I can't (ZILLOW!)
My home had been Zillowed at $670K. Visited the site recently and it was down to $630K it has subsequently been increasing by about $1K oer day, now up to $640K....sheesh. Having said this, I believe the lower number is more accurate. What I find really annoying is the estimate record chart shows no...
- Fri Nov 29, 2019 2:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: College for average kids
- Replies: 123
- Views: 13234
Re: College for average kids
I was a 2.5-3.0 student through grade school. A stint as a sailor and 6 years after high school, I graduated from a small state school with a 3.4 GPA in Computer Science. Currently, I am half way through a Master's degree from an Ivy League program with a 3.8 GPA and employed in software developmen...
- Fri Nov 29, 2019 1:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Searching for a thorough online retirement planning / expense projection tool
- Replies: 6
- Views: 556
Re: Searching for a thorough online retirement planning / expense projection tool
With regard to expenses. I developed a spreadsheet containing a detailed budgeting tool in an attempt to capture annual spending, taxes, gross and net incomes required and a number of bolt ons over the years. Now that I am actually retired I tried to keep track of spending to compare actuals vs proj...
- Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:24 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Experience with home refinance as retiree
- Replies: 3
- Views: 452
Experience with home refinance as retiree
I just completed a home refinance. I have been retired for 3.5 years. I was curious as to how income would be verified as I went through the process. I have a few pensions and an IRA. I am waiting to 70 for SS (currently 68). To establish income, the lender required letters from each pension provide...
- Thu Nov 28, 2019 11:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2100
Re: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
Quick follow up. Ordered and received TP Link Deco (same day from Amz), Set up was a breeze. Far superior to Orbi IMO.
And, importantly, no annoying ads contained in the configuration app!!
And, importantly, no annoying ads contained in the configuration app!!
- Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:44 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
- Replies: 70
- Views: 10826
Re: Kitchen knife set. Good quality - Recommendations
My wife and I are eat at home vegetarians. We do alot of vegetable and nut chopping. The best knife I've ever used is a ceramic knife. Unlike steel knives, ceramic knives don't dull appreciably. They remain sharp a long time. Using a much heavier and always duller steel knife is something I loathe....
- Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:11 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Tesla truck]
- Replies: 151
- Views: 8993
Re: Talk me out of buying a Tesla Model 3
Wow that "truck" is ugly. I kept hoping Elon was kidding and bring out an actual truck but nope. And the broken windows! :oops: :oops: :oops: It's the Aztec's less attractive cousin. I'm not sure how this is suppose to be used as a truck with high the bed sides. Impossible to lift anything out or i...
- Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Found hidden safe, should we crack?
- Replies: 291
- Views: 79629
Re: Found hidden safe, should we crack?
I would go with the drill and boroscope method. A 1/4" hole should be big enough to get the scope inside - just stay away from the moving mechanical stuff. If you decided you want to use the safe eventually you can easily press fit or weld a piece of 1/4" steel bar into the hole to restore the wate...
- Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Found hidden safe, should we crack?
- Replies: 291
- Views: 79629
Re: Found hidden safe, should we crack?
My guess is the safe is empty or just worthless documents. People tend not to forget about things of value. How many digits on the dial 0-99 / 100 ? So a million possible combinations (100 * 100 * 100)... You got all the time in the world. Print out some lists of all the possible combinations and s...
- Wed Nov 27, 2019 12:26 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
- Replies: 585
- Views: 78958
Re: Flaunt Your High-Mileage Car
2005 Corolla S bought Sept 2004 180,000 miles just did a 2k mile round trip from Cali to Wa. Ran like a charm and got 37 mpg !! 2004 Corolla bought in 2004 from Hertz car sales at 35K miles, now at 215K miles. A little loosey goosey but running great. Bought a few cars from Hertz over the years, bee...
- Tue Nov 26, 2019 8:11 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2100
Re: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
Was setup not too painful? Setup was not painful - there is an app that steps you through it. Thanks for this. As luck would have it, my SO went to Costco today. Since I had heard Netgear Orbi was pretty good from folks elsewhere on this board, I asked her to pick up the Orbi router/satellite bundl...
- Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2100
Re: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
I have 3 TP Link Decos. They are tucked away in closets and I get about 350 Mpbs speeds. Two downsides, for me: 1. I wanted to wire 2 and leave 1 wireless, based on the location/convenience. ...but you can't do that. You can either wire one or wire them all. 2. They don't have an integrated switch....
- Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:19 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
- Replies: 28
- Views: 2100
Re: Google Wifi Mesh 2 Pack vs. TP Link Deco 3 Pack
Perfect conversation for me. I am trying to decide Google (not Nest) vs TP link Deco. I do not want microphones, other than cellphones, in my house, including deactivated microphones (unless they have been deactivated by sledgehammer which would impact aesthetics I imagine). The three node TP link p...
- Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to do in a crash
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7343
Re: What to do in a crash
During the depth of the market downturn following Lehman (early 2009 timeframe) I just could not take it anymore and transferred my target date fund 401K dollars to cash. All dollars were in the Target date fund. I also redirected my maxed out contributions to cash. It was horrible, just day after ...
- Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What to do in a crash
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7343
Re: What to do in a crash
During the depth of the market downturn following Lehman (early 2009 timeframe) I just could not take it anymore and transferred my target date fund 401K dollars to cash. All dollars were in the Target date fund. I also redirected my maxed out contributions to cash. It was horrible, just day after d...
- Mon May 27, 2019 8:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Name something you had to have and now you regret purchasing it?
- Replies: 505
- Views: 69632
Re: Name something you had to have and now you regret purchasing it?
Just pulled the plug on my Alexa. It was sitting in the corner listening to everything we said.
I am usually into tech gadgets but, oddly, the voice command thing did not do it for me.
I am usually into tech gadgets but, oddly, the voice command thing did not do it for me.
- Mon May 27, 2019 8:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Name something you had to have and now you regret purchasing it?
- Replies: 505
- Views: 69632
- Fri May 24, 2019 2:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What is the best way to test drive cars?
- Replies: 39
- Views: 3169
Re: What is the best way to test drive cars?
I usually made up my mind before went to the dealers. Test-drive is just a formality. Prices, colors, add-ons are more important. I don't not mean there is no difference in different cars, just test-drives do not make a difference. I disagree to some extent. A while back I thinking of buying a smal...
- Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New homeowner wants to DIY, but disappointed today
- Replies: 50
- Views: 5467
Re: New homeowner wants to DIY, but disappointed today
The shark bite products are fantastic if you aren't comfortable with solder joints or compression joints. All you need is a clean cut off pipe in copper, PVC, cpvc, pex, etc. No special tools required. They are more expensive but a no brainer for a DIY'er/weekend warrior type. https://www.sharkbite...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 8:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: "Living comfortably in retirement"
- Replies: 71
- Views: 9630
Re: "Living comfortably in retirement"
Hear Hear. And I think this pretty well sums up retirement success too.
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 8:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Did you investigate your partner's financial background before committing?
- Replies: 99
- Views: 6170
Re: Did you investigate your partner's financial background before committing?
Once again Boggleheads have uncovered a superb business opportunity. Start a dating site which includes automatic and updated credit checks, police checks, medical background and routine but unscheduled urine testing. To a great extent Google et al. already have most of this data (or their algorithm...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
- Replies: 318
- Views: 14019
Re: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
Probably around $600k. Out of my tIRA, and some of it would tax deductible. So, you're willing to lose $600K from your IRA to pay for long-term care. But you're not willing to spend $2,800 per year on a long-term care policy that would have $600,000 of benefits. You could allocate only 46 basis poi...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
- Replies: 318
- Views: 14019
Re: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
I applied for LTCi through Mutual of Omaha. I did not like the premium ($4800.00 annually for $200K with 2% inflation adjust covering SO or myself) so I passed. I am segregating the equivalent premium and investing within an account designated for LTC. I'll inflation adjust this contribution as tim...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:07 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
- Replies: 318
- Views: 14019
Re: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
In my mind this is the crux of the problem. The policies end up being very expensive because they cover close to from day 1. If you look at the statistics, most people who need LTC, only need it for relatively short periods of time. But, what you hear from people pushing the policies is the stories...
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
- Replies: 318
- Views: 14019
Re: Is Long Term Care Insurance worth it?
[/quote] Good points. DW and I are reading this thread with Earnest. MIL is age 94 with dementia and in home care 24/7. Average 8-9k/month! Fortunately, FIL (now passed) had a terrific retirement portfolio that covers, barely, the expenses. I suspect that many have neither a substantial retirement p...
- Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Impact of Historical Income Tax Payments on Retirement Budget?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 653
Re: Impact of Historical Income Tax Payments on Retirement Budget?
Yes, and don't forget state taxes.
Also be familiar with taxation of SS income at Fed and State levels. It can be a non-trivial issue at the State level in particular.
Also be familiar with taxation of SS income at Fed and State levels. It can be a non-trivial issue at the State level in particular.
- Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Should we get the Mutual of Omaha LTC Policy?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1198
Re: Should we get the Mutual of Omaha LTC Policy?
I had a very similar decision to make about one year ago (same provider). I decided to pass. While other factors entered the decision, my biggest concern was the open ended premium. While LTC insurance actuaries think they have a better handle on the insured population than they did 20 years ago, I ...
- Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best town I've never heard of [for relocating]
- Replies: 137
- Views: 21853
Re: Best town I've never heard of [for relocating]
Vancouver, Wa. Nice weather, a bit wet during the winter, little snow Portland, Oregon across the Colombia river - right next door Sail on the Colombia, ski in the Cascades, windsurf at Hood River Gorge, hike everywhere No income tax in Washington. Pop across the river and buy all your stuff in Oreg...
- Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal Adventure - recommendations
- Replies: 97
- Views: 7270
Re: Personal Adventure - recommendations
Thanks everyone for many interesting and, in some cases wild, suggestions. I have settled on thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Southbound (SOBO). Why? It was something relatable for me. I've thought about doing it many times in the past It's budget friendly, I should be able to pull it off for aro...
- Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Leased solar system quandry
- Replies: 1
- Views: 448
Leased solar system quandry
We purchased a home with a Sunrun PPA. I loved the home and held my nose on the PPA part of the transaction. The PO had two small children and was, apparently, consuming power at a prodigious rate where the PPA may have made some sense. Its a small 1600 foot home, my SO and I were downsizing and thi...
- Mon Nov 26, 2018 12:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: New TV Recommendations Please?
- Replies: 80
- Views: 6459
Re: New TV Recommendations Please?
Focusing on picture quality, specs and LED vs OLED, etc. is putting the cart before the horse IMO. Find a TV brand with excellent software, interface, and update support. If you intend to stream, these features will be critical for enjoyment and longevity. If the manufacturer hasn't teamed with the ...
- Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:42 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
- Replies: 4897
- Views: 1268003
Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Just watched it, Very interesting, Be prepared for sad.jginseattle wrote: ↑Sun Nov 18, 2018 5:56 pmA new Western anthology from the Coen Brothers. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Now streaming on Netflix.
Recommended.
https://www.seattleweekly.com/film/the- ... -mischief/
- Fri Nov 23, 2018 9:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Lap Desk
- Replies: 1
- Views: 436
Lap Desk
We downsized to a smaller home a couple of years ago. My SO is not interested in allowing me to convert one of the bedrooms to an office or partly filling it with a desk. I do a lot of journaling and it would really be nice to do it somewhere other than the dining room table. Has anyone purchased a ...
- Sat Nov 17, 2018 6:00 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: best way to find flights
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2466
Re: best way to find flights
Another cool feature is it allows one to select multiple airports for the search. I happen to live in the proximity of four international airports and have found substantial domestic and international fare differences between them.
- Sat Nov 17, 2018 5:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mouse in the house
- Replies: 32
- Views: 2396
Re: Mouse in the house
they said it is not worth drilling a hole in the wall to try to get it out, as it will just desiccate after it dies, and any odor will dissipate very quickly (if we smell it at all). Good luck with that! I had one die in my wall due to a neighbor feeding poison to the mice. It stunk to high heaven ...
- Sat Nov 17, 2018 5:27 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Home sale etiquette: wall repair
- Replies: 53
- Views: 3910
Re: Home sale etiquette: wall repair
I'm pretty surprised by the responses here. I've always patched and painted over all of the holes I made in the walls in the 4 homes that I've sold. It's sort of odd IMO that people suggest the buyer is aware of all the holes. I'd assume they were all hidden by whatever was hanging on the wall. A s...
- Sat Nov 17, 2018 5:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cremation seminar – with complimentary lunch
- Replies: 84
- Views: 7000
Re: Cremation seminar – with complimentary lunch
Do it yourself! Well, I guess you will need a helper who happens to be alive. There is a DIY pet cremation how to on You Tube (no, I will not post the link). Your squad could just upscale the funeral pyre from cat to human, get a cord of wood, and you are good to go...literally. Put this on a little...
- Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:56 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Dumb question about bedding and comforters
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1876
Re: Dumb question about bedding and comforters
Being a true Bogglehead I decided to move my kids synthetic fill comforters from their rooms to my boat when the kids got too old for them. I have had these comforters on the boat for twenty years. They do not have duvet covers but have held up well with repeated washings. The kids, who are now in t...
- Wed Nov 14, 2018 5:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
- Replies: 1589
- Views: 173309
Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Call My Agent - Nflx - French with subtitles. A group of talent agents works to get and keep jobs for clients. A superb baseline cast with guest appearances by many well known French actors who play the various clients. If you can live with subtitles (or speak French) this is a slam dunk. Outstandin...
- Sun Nov 04, 2018 6:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: retirement travel: RVs vs fly/drive/hotel
- Replies: 98
- Views: 10046
Re: retirement travel: RVs vs fly/drive/hotel
My wife and i believe we have come up with the perfect rig. It consisrs of a 2000 pound trailer with a luxurious bathroom/shower/tub combo and adequate storage for a tent plus misc and sundry camping gear. All we have to do is find a vendor who sells a lux bathroom on wheels and we are good to go. :D
- Sun Oct 28, 2018 3:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need a Pocket Watch
- Replies: 40
- Views: 3010
Re: Need a Pocket Watch
This thread has been quiet fr awhile but I wanted to not I just finished reading a separate thread in which the OP asked about unplugging from the cell, tablet, et al. It got me to thinking about ditching my cell while on long walks and possibly other outings, and just using using a pocket watch. I ...
- Sat Oct 27, 2018 1:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Unplugging from Tech Tips
- Replies: 38
- Views: 3261
Re: Unplugging from Tech Tips
I recently read an article about forest bathing. At first I thought someone had moved a bathtub or shower into the forest and I was gong to read about about taking a bath outside, but it actually described the intriguing and pretty darn simple practice of meandering through the forest or, it turns o...
- Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best way to complain about Hertz bait-and-switch?
- Replies: 58
- Views: 8411
Re: Best way to complain about Hertz bait-and-switch?
Here's a secret - rental car companies are a mess. I did a few years as a consultant and IT - fleet management in particular - was always a disaster compared to other industries. It's a slowly shrinking market due to disruption from competitors like Uber/Lyft and Zipcar and the best minds have long...
- Thu Oct 18, 2018 11:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal Adventure - recommendations
- Replies: 97
- Views: 7270
Re: Personal Adventure - recommendations
I haven't met too many fit 68 year olds who can reach summits so I hope your self assessment is correct. I think there's plenty of fun and challenge doing the 14ers.com in Colorado. Hiking and summitting 14,000 ft elevation on a 3 to 6+ mile hike (double that for a typical out and back) with 3,000 ...
- Thu Oct 18, 2018 10:16 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal Adventure - recommendations
- Replies: 97
- Views: 7270
Re: Personal Adventure - recommendations
I googled the Camino and hit this guy https://francistapon.com/Travels/Spain-Trails/10-Reasons-Why-El-Camino-Santiago-Sucks then this https://blog.nullnfull.com/2014/11/03/camino-sucks-reply/ Oh Boy, its a debate. I have seen the same for a lot of the various ideas. Maybe I should add a criteria "t...
- Thu Oct 18, 2018 10:06 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal Adventure - recommendations
- Replies: 97
- Views: 7270
Re: Personal Adventure - recommendations
How about living in a gym and pounding nails? There will soon be a major building effort in places like Mexico Beach FL and Habitat Homes fared better than most in Michael. They will need plenty of hands and there are good physical and mental challenges ahead. One of my daughters went to coastal Mi...
- Wed Oct 17, 2018 8:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Personal Adventure - recommendations
- Replies: 97
- Views: 7270
Re: Personal Adventure - recommendations
Diving, specifically cave diving. People say cave diving is dangerous but an analysis shows it is dangerous for UNtrained divers. There is a lot of redundancy in the equipment used in cave diving. Talk about unplugging. The training is very intense. Nope!! That I will not do. I was stationed in Gua...