Search found 41 matches
- Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Do you subscribe to Consumer Reports?
- Replies: 57
- Views: 4178
Do you subscribe to Consumer Reports?
I recently subscribed to Consumer Reports and find the relatively cheap publication ($30/yr?) to be absolutely worth it. I'm just curious if many of you use this magazine and website? I really like how the monthly magazine has (0) advertising which, to me, is refreshing. What categories in the magaz...
- Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Building a house in rural mountains
- Replies: 70
- Views: 7809
Re: Building a house in rural mountains
maybe take a look @ Structural Insulated Panels (SIP's) for the home. quick to assemble, great insulation ability and less labor for a remote site. my Minnesota lake home (awfully rural area) features SIP's and I've been very, very happy with energy efficiency. 500 gallon propane tank heats 2800 SF ...
- Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:04 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 2-week European vacation
- Replies: 34
- Views: 2806
Re: 2-week European vacation
Another vacation thread. Do people even take a look at map,or research anything at all? Or do they just post here first? I am curious because the replies always run to the same things giving good information, but it is all repetitive because the same questions are being asked? First off, people goi...
- Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Convince me to choose a Suburban over a Sequoia
- Replies: 87
- Views: 37659
Re: Convince me to choose a Suburban over a Sequoia
serious time thread bump here. I've got a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT 4x4. 155K miles and purrs like a kitten. Had to replace a steering sensor ($450) at about 120K miles, otherwise haven't put a penny into it. Most of my driving is in ND and MN highway and interstate. Spouse, 3 kids (plus rando...
- Tue Nov 13, 2018 10:51 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: cvt transmissions
- Replies: 67
- Views: 10368
Re: cvt transmissions
i would think, yes, in eco mode less stress on CVT. lower rpm's, lower torque = less stress. I have (2) cars with CVT; 2016 Honda Fit with 22K miles & a 2012 Subaru Outback with 140K miles. To me, the Honda CVT feels better than the Subaru. More responsive, tighter, more positive acceleration, z...
- Sun Nov 11, 2018 8:57 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best city car
- Replies: 20
- Views: 2346
Re: Best city car
i'm gonna throw in another vote for the Honda Fit. I just bought a 2016 w/ salvaged title & 22K miles and it's great. The more research you do, the more you will be thinking about this little Honda. zippy power, great MPG, more room than you would think inside, hatchback, comfy, Honda reliabilit...
- Sun Nov 11, 2018 8:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: cvt transmissions
- Replies: 67
- Views: 10368
Re: cvt transmissions
i have 140K miles on a 2012 Subaru outback with a CVT and it's been solid.
my wife drives it fairly hard, too.
my wife drives it fairly hard, too.
- Sun Nov 11, 2018 8:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5 vs 3.6
- Replies: 56
- Views: 15124
Re: 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5 vs 3.6
i have a 2012 Subaru outback with 2.5L & CVT. Ours has 140K miles and it's been great. timing belt, tires and brakes, that's it. We've had it for 4 years; 3 in MN & ND (snow, ice, brutal temps) and now 6 months in Asheville, NC. Honestly, 50% of the vehicles here are either an Outback, Taco ...
- Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:49 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: Greenville, SC Bogleheads - Who's Interested?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 5117
Re: Greenville, SC Bogleheads - Who's Interested?
I just recently relocated to the Asheville area from the Midwest (MN). My wife and I would be interested in the Greenville group get together. Has this all together died? Just curious if anyone know of a chapter here in AVL? thanks!
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pay off (2nd home) debt or invest more?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 877
Re: Pay off (2nd home) debt or invest more?
wife and I are planning to spend summer and fall in MN when we retire......spend winters down in NC
lake home is about 8% of our total assets.
thx!
lake home is about 8% of our total assets.
thx!
- Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:41 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Pay off (2nd home) debt or invest more?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 877
Pay off (2nd home) debt or invest more?
Wife and I are relocating out of state, from ND to NC. We just signed purchase agreement to sell our current home in North Dakota. We owe $170K on current home, the purchase agreement is for $730K. After real estate/closing fees looking at $690K from current home. We also owe $330K on our lake home ...
- Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:40 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Using Tax Exempt Dividends to Fund IRA?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 488
Using Tax Exempt Dividends to Fund IRA?
My wife and I are holding tax exempt bonds in our taxable account. Last year the tax exempt bonds generated about $13,000 worth of income from dividends. Since we can contribute $5,500 each, per year into our IRA's can't we just use $11,000 of the (roughly) $13,000 to fund the IRA's? Effectively we ...
- Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:39 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Auto Insurance -Drop Full Coverage?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2254
Auto Insurance -Drop Full Coverage?
Just wondering if there is a rule-of-thumb for dropping car insurance from full coverage to liability only? I've got an older Subaru Outback with 140,000 miles. The car has been fantastic and runs and drives great. Planning to drive it "into the ground." Full coverage with $1000 deductible...
- Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:52 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Electric Car (Nissan Leaf) for a teen driver?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 4836
Re: Electric Car (Nissan Leaf) for a teen driver?
a good friend of mine is engineering director of a municipality in the colorado front range. The city owns and operates a small fleet (3-4) Nissan Leaf's which the city staff take out to projects, run errands, attend meetings. My buddy said they are great and he's really impressed with them. He's a ...
- Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:45 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: After financial independence, do you lose motivation for work?
- Replies: 170
- Views: 17750
Re: After financial independence, do you lose motivation for work?
yes, I've lost motivation to work as many hours. I work part time, hourly, for our consulting firm now. I take on less projects, but those projects get more of my attention, focus and passion. It's great because I can take on the projects that i want now. it's not really fair to my wife though, as s...
- Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Negotiating used car - Toyota Highlander
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3199
Re: Negotiating used car - Toyota Highlander
I have been getting that same result from multiple dealers. I have followed up with a phone call and visited the dealer. They didn't offer quite enough for my trade and refused to budge on the price from what was listed online. The price "on the lot" window sticker was about $2,000 more. ...
- Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Negotiating used car - Toyota Highlander
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3199
Re: Negotiating used car - Toyota Highlander
i have a 2005 Nissan Quest, like you. I kinda wish it would fall apart, but it simply won't. it has nearly 270,000 miles and purrs like a kitten. It simply will. not. die. bought it fall of '07. my 17 years old son has been driving for the past year, so it's starting to age a bit... ok; back to the ...
- Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Drive it till it dies. It died.
- Replies: 54
- Views: 7749
Re: Drive it till it dies. It died.
i would have it fixed at an independent shop, keep the paperwork of the repair and then sell on Craigslist. I didn't realize the Nissan CVT had a poor reputation; GTK. I have a '05 Nissan Quest (3.5) minivan which has 265,000 miles (and counting). Best vehicle I've ever owned. 17 year old son is dri...
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 10:02 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3020
Re: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
This is not what you asked, but if your goal is to hold enough bonds in taxable to cover early retirement expenses just from the dividends, you will likely work longer than necessary to build this up. You'll probably need over 50x expenses in tax-exempt bonds in your taxable account. If you held th...
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:50 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3020
Re: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
Well, that makes it easy. All the bonds you hold in taxable should be tax-exempt bonds. This rules out Total Bond Market. In my mind, it also rules out the international bond fund, but if you feel it is important to hold and don't have another place to put it...so be it. :happy -Am I holding a larg...
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:36 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: What's your weighted average expense ratio?
- Replies: 65
- Views: 5332
Re: What's your weighted average expense ratio?
in my taxable account i'm at 0.067.
that's because nearly 50% in Vanguard Total Stock index admiral with ER of 0.04
that's because nearly 50% in Vanguard Total Stock index admiral with ER of 0.04

- Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L- great deal or not?
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2887
Re: Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L- great deal or not?
750 miles on a tank? sign me up.
hard to go wrong with a Honda, Toyota or Nissan.
hard to go wrong with a Honda, Toyota or Nissan.
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3020
Re: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
39.6% federal tax bracket
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:14 pm
- Forum: US Chapters
- Topic: North Dakota [Bogleheads Chapter?]
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1416
Re: North Dakota
I'd certainly be interested in attending a get together in North Dakota. Wife and I live & work in Bismarck, but get down to Fargo every other week.
just send me a PM.

just send me a PM.

- Wed Nov 15, 2017 1:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3020
Which Bonds for Taxable Account?
In my taxable account, I'm holding about 30% bonds. I'm holding the following (4) bond funds which make up the 30% allocation: 29% (VMLUX); Vanguard, Tax exempt, short term, Admiral 29% (VWIUX); Vanguard, Tax exempt, intermedia term, Admiral 29% (VWLUX); Vanguard, Tax exempt, long term, Admiral 13% ...
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:18 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Another Backdoor Roth thread...
- Replies: 5
- Views: 880
Another Backdoor Roth thread...
new to forum here and kinda getting addicted to reading all the great threads. sorry if this has already been covered, but I'm trying to wrap my brain around the Backdoor Roth process/taxes/mechanics. wife and I (both of us are 40) are in 39.6% tax bracket she maxes out her work 401K @ $54,000 per y...
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:01 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: what pickup truck
- Replies: 65
- Views: 7706
Re: what pickup truck
i own a wakeboard boat and read themalibucrew.com forum a bit.
I've found the ski and wakeboard crowd are awfully passionate about their pulling rigs (mostly 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups).
might be worth checking out.
http://www.themalibucrew.com/index.php? ... -tow-rigs/
I've found the ski and wakeboard crowd are awfully passionate about their pulling rigs (mostly 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups).
might be worth checking out.
http://www.themalibucrew.com/index.php? ... -tow-rigs/
- Wed Nov 08, 2017 6:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Coffee
- Replies: 51
- Views: 5416
Re: Coffee
+1...thought I was the only one!ruralavalon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:39 pm
I prefer only regular black coffee, nothing fancy, not even sugar or cream, and only a little in the way of an occasional snack.
they give me a strange look when i order "Straight" black coffee!
- Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: DIY vs work extra and pay a pro
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3882
Re: DIY vs work extra and pay a pro
I'll perform as much DIY stuff as my marriage will allow. with kids getting older, I've found they have a lot of activities which occupy my evening and weekends which makes it tougher to fit it all in. Don't underestimate the ability to bid, negotiate and seek out qualified people to perform constru...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:51 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1792
Re: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
I didn't say tax efficient bonds - I just said bonds. I either didn't know (or likely missed) that you were using tax efficient bonds, such as munis. Most bogleheads are using a total bond fund or treasury fund which isn't tax efficient, so they put them into tax efficient accounts. The vanguard li...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:44 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1792
Re: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
No, my portfolio is sitting around 75% stock, 25% bonds when I look at my Roth IRA, 401K IRA and taxable investment accounts. The 75/25 does NOT include my current employer 401K or my spouse current employer 401K. I'm holding most of my tax exempt bonds (short/intermediate/long) & some internat...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 5:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1792
Re: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
In a taxable account it's better to rebalance by new contributions to avoid unnecessary income tax liability. Inside tax-advantaged accounts just exchange between funds. sounds like a plan; I'd rather leave my Vanguard 401K and Roth IRA alone and just tweak my new contributions to even out my AA a ...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:42 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1792
Re: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
In a taxable account it's better to rebalance by new contributions to avoid unnecessary income tax liability. Inside tax-advantaged accounts just exchange between funds. sounds like a plan; I'd rather leave my Vanguard 401K and Roth IRA alone and just tweak my new contributions to even out my AA a ...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:58 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1792
Portfolio Rebalance -Just buy more bonds?
In my taxable investment accounts, the stocks have grown considerably the past two year. Our AA is out of wack and I need to sell stocks and buy more bonds. Should I just buy all bonds for a few months to get things back into alignment? If I sell off or "transfer" stocks for bonds, I'll ge...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:35 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Outback Vs Forester Vs CR-V ??
- Replies: 58
- Views: 9352
Re: Outback Vs Forester Vs CR-V ??
I'd test drive anything you are interested in and pay particular attention to the seats and how they fit you. We test drove both Forester and Outback in 2015 models and thought the seat bottoms were way too short front to back providing very little thigh support and not very comfortable - that was ...
- Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Outback Vs Forester Vs CR-V ??
- Replies: 58
- Views: 9352
Re: Outback Vs Forester Vs CR-V ??
just a quick note on personal experience about Subarus. there are a ton of Subaru's up here in North Dakota. Very popular with rural route mail drivers as a great balance of MPG, durability, AWD and the ability to handle year after year of gravel road, icy conditions and extreme temperature variatio...
- Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:46 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2843
Re: 40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
@krow36 & rural: thanks so much for the insight and more importantly your time! yes, sent rural a PM with a few more comments and specific questions. My wife and I have just recently dove into the world/work of mrmoneymustache, extreme early retirement, optimal daily finance podcast, optimal dai...
- Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:22 am
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2843
Re: 40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
@krow; yes, my wife is maxing her company 401K, as am I. I work as an hourly (part time) employee for the same company I used to work for full time (engineering/architectural consulting). My wife is in medicine and her monthly "benefit" for health insurance (family of 5) is $1400 & she...
- Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:15 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: 40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2843
40 year old couple; Portfolio Critique
I read this forum a little here and there, but wanted to get some opinions on my investments, etc. 40 year old couple; 3 kids. emergency fund of about 1 year. Husband employer 401K; $22,000 Vanguard S&P 500 Stock (100%) Wife employer 401K; $375,000 Vanguard S&P 500 Stock (75%) Dodge and Cox ...
- Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset Allocation Help -Thoughts?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 509
Re: Asset Allocation Help -Thoughts?
thanks for the insight. I will add further detail to my post in the near future.
I just (finally) read through the intro page for posting on forum.
Sorry for not giving more detail straight out the gate!
I just (finally) read through the intro page for posting on forum.
Sorry for not giving more detail straight out the gate!
- Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Asset Allocation Help -Thoughts?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 509
Asset Allocation Help -Thoughts?
I've had money in Vanguard for about 3 years. Wife and I are 36 years old; 3 kids; 4, 10, 13. wife and I both professionals. We have emergency fund set up. Both have Roth and regular 401K (@ company & maxed out). Both of us are "owner/partners" in our respective businesses, medical &am...