Search found 529 matches

by wilpat
Mon Sep 26, 2016 8:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Low voltage electrical question
Replies: 13
Views: 1849

Re: Low voltage electrical question

You will be fine with 12 gauge wire. If you are adding only 18" of wire in the circuit you do not have to worry about voltage drop. The Ampacity (current carrying capacity) of 12 gauge is 20 amps and you will not be exceeding that.
by wilpat
Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Password security question for security experts
Replies: 42
Views: 6134

Re: Password security question for security experts

Use passwords like these


SFyK+C4%c4W?HjbXNV/T

d4i^DtX{[uwEd+\WLG5

Sk_]4\MxfY)[$JpitAs5

QGm#r/b@M(Vb$V8ce_mZ

2p8xtgmcv&WxQDaAuqd9

w^<wXBh3pd5%g4LZ_Tf

Faw+e4}S+7{SRvhVH??w

r[cxKi~kVV/=y+k!BftW
by wilpat
Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:40 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Uber driving for extra income in retirement.
Replies: 31
Views: 5109

Re: Uber driving for extra income in retirement.

I drive for Uber and enjoy it very much! It gets me out of the house and I meet new people which I like.
I only work a couple of hours a day and rarely after 5:00PM.
I am 76 years old and am in relatively good health.
by wilpat
Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Oregon
Replies: 43
Views: 5571

Re: Trip to Oregon

Take the jet boat trip up the Rogue River. Starts at Gold Beach.
by wilpat
Tue Nov 10, 2015 8:22 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: US Marine Corps' 240th Birthday [also, Armistice Day]
Replies: 25
Views: 3738

Re: US Marine Corps' 240th Birthday

Semper Fi
1957 - 1965
by wilpat
Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ant Control
Replies: 73
Views: 12080

Re: Ant Control

About 60 years ago my mother saw an ad somewhere (newspaper?) that said "Guaranteed to kill all insects". It cost about $2.00/ so she ordered one. It came and the package contained 2 little square blocks labeled A and B.

The instructions said "Place insect on block A and strike sharply with block B. We laughed about that for a long time!
by wilpat
Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Free Windows 10 Upgrade, Yes or No?
Replies: 533
Views: 99074

Re: Free Windows 10 Upgrade, Yes or No?

I did one of my computers a couple of weeks ago and the other two over the weekend. No significant problems.

Some minor situations with Edge where some sites won't work with Edge, but I can (and do) still use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome.

I do use Classic Shell and like it a lot. I started using that with Windows 7.
by wilpat
Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can you return food at a restaurant and not have to pay for it?
Replies: 46
Views: 22132

Re: Can you return food at a restaurant and not have to pay for it?

I was eating at a well known seafood restaurant many years ago with a couple of friends. When one of my friends order arrived he looked at it and it looked very bad -- green/black etc. He asked for the manager and when the manager came he said "If you will eat it I will pay for it" The manager said "Not Me!". He gave us whatever else we wanted and charged us for nothing!
by wilpat
Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage Company Advice - Jumbo Loan
Replies: 4
Views: 1646

Re: Mortgage Company Advice - Jumbo Loan

Pentagon Federal Credit Union
by wilpat
Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: lump sum divorce settlement
Replies: 31
Views: 6563

Re: lump sum divorce settlement

FWIW Lump sum alimony is not a taxable event.
by wilpat
Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Free Windows 10 Upgrade, Yes or No?
Replies: 533
Views: 99074

Re: Free Windows 10 Upgrade, Yes or No?

I started with Windows 3.0 and have upgraded each and every time a new version comes out. I have absolutely no regrets of doing that and will continue indefinitely!
by wilpat
Fri Apr 10, 2015 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax states "New York has no income tax"?
Replies: 18
Views: 2510

Re: TurboTax states "New York has no income tax"?

That just adds one more reason to why I don't use TurboTax!
by wilpat
Fri Apr 10, 2015 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you use your neighbor's son for yard service?
Replies: 33
Views: 5303

Re: Would you use your neighbor's son for yard service?

Clearly explain your expectations to him and his parents. Then hire him!
by wilpat
Thu Apr 09, 2015 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Planning Washington DC Sightseeing
Replies: 58
Views: 16339

Re: Planning Washington DC Sightseeing

The Smithsonian would be my recommendation. I have been there many many times and still am very impressed whenever I go back!
by wilpat
Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Year round storage container for CDs in car
Replies: 14
Views: 1730

Re: Year round storage container for CDs in car

I remember very clearly when those funny looking 45 records (small with big holes) came out. Would have been late 1940's!
by wilpat
Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Which brokers do hassle-free Roth cnvrsn recharacterizations
Replies: 68
Views: 10770

Re: Which brokers do hassle-free Roth cnvrsn recharacterizat

I have done it with Vanguard twice with no problems at all.
by wilpat
Tue Mar 31, 2015 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Boglehead Jeep owners? ("real Jeep's")
Replies: 51
Views: 10588

Re: Boglehead Jeep owners? ("real Jeep's")

My Dad bought a WW II army Jeep in 1945 for $100.00. It was brand new -- the wheels were in the back seat and it was still covered in cosmoline!
It had no key, just an on-off switch. 4 cylinder engine with about 45 horsepower.

We used it for about 10 years before it was worn out.

My Dad let me drive it down the alley behind our house in 1948 when I was 8 years old. I got the brake and gas pedals mixed up and ran it into a tree (no serious damage)! Boy! was my Mom mad!! Not at me, but at my Dad.
by wilpat
Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Recurring utility bills - How do you pay?
Replies: 43
Views: 5913

Re: Recurring bills - How do you pay?

Watty wrote:Other, the bank where my checking account is at has online bill paying that I use to manually pay my bills each month.
I do the same and it causes me no problems!
by wilpat
Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do you still use currency or have you gone all-plastic?
Replies: 47
Views: 11157

Re: Do you still use currency or have you gone all-plastic?

I pay for my haircuts with cash and my wife writes a check for her hair care. Everything else is done either by debit card or credit card. If it is less than $10.00 I usually use a debit card all others are credit.

I make an entry on my excel spread sheets for each expenditure as soon as I get home from spending it. I pay all monthly expenses (gas, electric, internet etc.) either by credit card or direct transfer via internet. I probably spend about 10 minutes a day making all of the entries.
by wilpat
Thu Mar 05, 2015 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: H&R Block Computer Glitch
Replies: 7
Views: 2217

Re: H&R Block Computer Glitch

I have used H&R Block for many years with no problems. I, however, do not import anything. I enter the figures manually, which takes about 15 seconds per 1099 or whatever.
by wilpat
Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Retiree Poll: Satisfaction with retirement
Replies: 53
Views: 6968

Re: Retiree Poll: Satisfaction with retirement

I worked for 58 years and have been retired about 2 1/2 years and much much preferred working! One of my ex-wives said one time that "work is your vocation and your avocation" -- that may be why I have so many ex-wives out there! :happy
by wilpat
Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do I learn to like sushi?
Replies: 80
Views: 25597

Re: How do I learn to like sushi?

I tried sushi one time and they didn't even cook it! :happy
by wilpat
Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How does one increase their typing speed and accuracy?
Replies: 70
Views: 12360

Re: How does one increase their typing speed and accuracy?

I took typing for 2 semesters (4 quarters) in high school. I got "C's" in those classes. Every other class I took from 1st grade through EE I got "A's". I am now 75 years old and still don't type worth sour owl sh*t!
by wilpat
Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should you tip when picking up takeout food?
Replies: 290
Views: 50169

Re: Should you tip when picking up takeout food?

I Always leave a tip of about 10% (rounded to the nearest dollar.)
by wilpat
Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buying a home in SF Bay Area [Dumbo]
Replies: 79
Views: 17277

Re: Buying a home in SF Bay Area

My uncle bought a house in Millbrae in 1950 for $5,500. His heirs sold it in 2013 for $1,300,000. Meaningless info, but thought it was interesting.
by wilpat
Tue Feb 24, 2015 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What age do you guys plan to retire?
Replies: 143
Views: 25101

Re: What age do you guys plan to retire?

I retired at 73 and am now 75. I retired due to health problems. If I could I would still be working -- not just for the money, but I really enjoyed working.
I started working in the telephone business at age 14 (summers/weekends/holidays etc. during high school and then full time) 30 years at the telephone Company and 29 years either manufacturing equipment for them or providing services to them.
In my total 59 years of work I cannot think of a dozen days that I did not look forward to getting to work.
by wilpat
Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much was your Tax Refund (or amount DUE)
Replies: 110
Views: 14021

Re: How much was your Tax Refund (or amount DUE)

$0.00 Fed, $0.00 State. In 1980 I wrote the Feds a check for $279,000 and was much happier doing that than $0.00 this year!
by wilpat
Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A Special Message From Social Security
Replies: 68
Views: 12994

Re: A Special Message From Social Security

I logged into my account and under "replacement Documents" is a copy of my 2014 year end statement. There is also a form 703 available there, which is to determine whether or not you must file your SSI distribution.

I also already received a hard copy in the mail.
by wilpat
Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Is it worth getting an] AARP [membership]?
Replies: 58
Views: 21650

Re: How many have a membership in AARP?

Canceled AARP and I am now with AMAC.
by wilpat
Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Food of the Fifties
Replies: 216
Views: 25200

Re: Food of the Fifties

Kidney stew, Grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Ham Hocks and cabbage, Country fried steak and gravy (still my favorite today) Grilled tuna sandwiches, Prune pudding with dumplings, Spam and eggs. My memory has run out!!
by wilpat
Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much was your Tax Refund (or amount DUE)
Replies: 110
Views: 14021

Re: How much was your Tax Refund (or amount DUE)

$0.00 Federal and $0.00 State!
by wilpat
Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:29 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Worth Upgrading to LED Lighting?
Replies: 70
Views: 12093

Re: Worth Upgrading to LED Lighting?

Unless you have pets or small children, that amount of mercury is not a big risk-- you are going to tidy the stuff up, not inhale it. We used to chase balls of mercury around the lab table in high school chemistry.
It takes several hundred CFL's to have the same mercury content as a baby thermometer!
by wilpat
Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Alternatives to Radio Shack?
Replies: 47
Views: 41885

Re: Alternatives to Radio Shack?

Best Buy
by wilpat
Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: pay IRS with credit card?
Replies: 19
Views: 2607

Re: pay IRS with credit card?

How much is the transfer fee for the 0% advance?
by wilpat
Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can doctors charge more than co-pay?
Replies: 55
Views: 32334

Re: Can doctors charge more than co-pay?

I have said many times -- "No sane person will ever understand medical insurance"
by wilpat
Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Scottsdale, AZ - what to do?
Replies: 42
Views: 17231

Re: Scottsdale, AZ - what to do?

If you have never been to the Grand Canyon you should go there. It is really one of the Great Wonders of the world!
It is a long drive, but worth the time.
by wilpat
Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Purchasing a] wife's purse
Replies: 44
Views: 6682

Re: wife's purse

I bought my wife a coach purse many years ago. It took her about 2 minutes to decide to return it! Her comment was "You should never waste money like that!"
by wilpat
Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend a clickless mouse
Replies: 33
Views: 5157

Re: Recommend a clickless mouse

I use this mouse and it is noiseless.

Explorer Touch Mouse Model 1090
by wilpat
Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Time to stop driving for 85 yo MIL
Replies: 89
Views: 10449

Re: Time to stop driving for 85 yo MIL

It is my opinion that each person's (regardless of gender or age) driving ability should be verified periodically. Many states require renewal of your license at different intervals depending on age. The older you are the shorter the interval. I also think that interval is too long in some states. Some people are very capable of driving well at an advanced age where some shouldn't be driving at age 40! Many years ago when I lived in Florida an old man hit and killed two young girls and kept driving after he hit them, because he didn't know that he had hit them. His eyesight was impaired and his wife usually rode with him and helped with observing the road etc. while he was driving. She was not with him this day. The point of the story is th...
by wilpat
Sun Jan 18, 2015 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRA Conversion RMD Question
Replies: 9
Views: 1078

Re: IRA Conversion RMD Question

Let me explain it a little more clearly (hopefully).
My RMD for 2015 is about $1,000.00. (Based on the December 31st 2014 amount in the IRA).
I converted $5,000.00 to a Roth last week.
I had intended to do the RMD late in the year for the whole $1,000.00.
It seems that I must now recharacterize the $5000.00 and then take the $1,000.00 RMD.
I will then be able to convert the $5000.00 from the IRA to the Roth.

Does this seem to be correct?
by wilpat
Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRA Conversion RMD Question
Replies: 9
Views: 1078

IRA Conversion RMD Question

If I convert some amount from an IRA to a Roth does that amount count as part of my RMD requirement?
by wilpat
Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was your costliest investment mistake?
Replies: 162
Views: 38333

Re: What was your costliest investment mistake?

wilpat wrote:
mister_sparkle wrote:
wilpat wrote:In the .com crash in the early 60's I lost a little over $800,000. I owned a company that manufactured equipment for them and I paid all my bills on time, but toward the end they did not pay me for what I had shipped to them. I could cry and whine over it, but life is more important than that .
Early '60s? .com crash? Tell me more. 8-)
Read this.

http://www.stockpickssystem.com/2000-st ... ket-crash/
MY ERROR I meant early 2000's! I was only off by 40 some years! :happy
by wilpat
Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:38 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was your costliest investment mistake?
Replies: 162
Views: 38333

Re: What was your costliest investment mistake?

mister_sparkle wrote:
wilpat wrote:In the .com crash in the early 60's I lost a little over $800,000. I owned a company that manufactured equipment for them and I paid all my bills on time, but toward the end they did not pay me for what I had shipped to them. I could cry and whine over it, but life is more important than that .
Early '60s? .com crash? Tell me more. 8-)
Read this.

http://www.stockpickssystem.com/2000-st ... ket-crash/
by wilpat
Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What was your costliest investment mistake?
Replies: 162
Views: 38333

Re: What was your costliest investment mistake?

In the .com crash in the early 60's I lost a little over $800,000. I owned a company that manufactured equipment for them and I paid all my bills on time, but toward the end they did not pay me for what I had shipped to them. I could cry and whine over it, but life is more important than that .
by wilpat
Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommendations for Family Trip to San Diego
Replies: 16
Views: 2476

Re: Recommendations for Family Trip to San Diego

The only time I was in San Diego for any length of time was at a place called MCRD in 1957. Can't recommend it as a place to visit!
by wilpat
Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:33 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Facebook is Outrageous
Replies: 78
Views: 13902

Re: Facebook is Outrageous

When I was a youngster what we used, for the same purpose as Google Search is used today, was called "Encyclopedia Americana" (or Britannica or whatever!

I know, without a doubt, that Google has at least a million times as much info as the encyclopedias did in their day and you can access the info in seconds as opposed to hours as we did then! :wink: :D
by wilpat
Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Appalachian Trail thru-hike in retirement?
Replies: 78
Views: 13964

Re: Appalachian Trail thru-hike in retirement?

Look here. It shows some forums about the Appalachian Trail.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=ap ... kers+forum
by wilpat
Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:35 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you determine your withdrawal rate?
Replies: 13
Views: 2083

Re: How do you determine your withdrawal rate?

I retired a few years ago and my method was to make a budget and follow it as best as I can.
I budgeted my retirement income (SS and Retirement income) on an annual basis. I use 1.5% COL for SS and my retirement is income fixed. I then budgeted my expenses with inflation of 3.1%. I then sum the expense and income and budget for (withdrawal from or deposit to) my retirement account. I have a 5% annual growth budgeted for the retirement account.

This budget is annual and is projected out until I reach age 101.
I have my personal expense budget prepared daily for 5 years out and annually for 27 years out. I enter income and expenses daily.
Being retired I have plenty of time to do all that stuff! All budgets etc. are done in Excel.
by wilpat
Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Relocating to Florida - Need some advice
Replies: 36
Views: 5473

Re: Relocating to Florida - Need some advice

I strongly recommend the West Coast! The East Coast, in my opinion, is just displaced Northeast.