Search found 2500 matches

by englishgirl
Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New I bonds not worth it; consider selling old ones at next reset
Replies: 251
Views: 57159

Re: New I bonds not worth it; consider selling old ones at next reset

Well I, for one, will be jumping back in and buying some I bonds again. I haven't felt that they are worth buying at a 0.0% fixed rate (yes even with the crazy high inflation component) but at 0.4% now it becomes a better deal for me to keep some cash savings in again. Like others have said, it's more a CD substitute for me than a long term investment vehicle. I do have a good quantity of the old 2% fixed rate I bonds which have been earning nicely with the current interest rates so that's one reason that I didn't rush to buy six months ago.
by englishgirl
Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Soon-to-be married: file separately or jointly?
Replies: 44
Views: 2216

Re: Soon-to-be married: file separately or jointly?

OP, you can always increase your estimated taxes paid during the year so you don't end up owing and you can get a refund as a couple. I use Quickbooks Self Employed to track all my business income which I get from various sources, and it tells me how much to pay quarterly. You can always also just give your spouse money that is equivalent to the refund they would have had - I did that when we first got married and my spouse was very keen to keep getting his same refund. We've relaxed on that score now, but it was useful to do for marital harmony at the beginning.
by englishgirl
Sat Jan 08, 2022 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Close to 50? What’s Your Risk Tolerance?
Replies: 133
Views: 15078

Re: Close to 50? What’s Your Risk Tolerance?

I am early 50's and am at 60:40 and have been since shortly after I found the Bogleheads in about 2002 (back when we were Vanguard Diehards on Morningstar). No plans to change any time soon.

I am in Vanguard Lifestrategy Moderate Growth for the most part. The Target Date funds always seemed too aggressive early on and then swing to too conservative way too quickly so I decided to just set it and forget it with a static 60:40 mixture.
by englishgirl
Fri Jan 07, 2022 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: EV and Tesla owners: How important is the supercharger network?
Replies: 99
Views: 9102

Re: EV and Tesla owners: How important is the supercharger network?

I've had a Tesla since March 2019 and have been on precisely one long road trip in it. For that trip, the charging network was important. The rest of the time, not needed. But of course I probably would have done more trips if we hadn't been in a pandemic. My biggest issue on that trip was that my Airbnb didn't have charging and I had to go a couple of times to a public parking lot downtown that had free (slow) charging which would have been great except that the parking prices were more than the cost of paying for charging and people were just parked in the charging spots. Plus of course it was close to very expensive restaurants and museums so I just had to go and treat myself. One thing that I don't think anyone else has mentioned is the...
by englishgirl
Mon Dec 27, 2021 7:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Financial New Year's Resolutions?
Replies: 41
Views: 3967

Re: Financial New Year's Resolutions?

1. Max Roth IRA if possible.
2. ??? See what the year brings.
by englishgirl
Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard's new mobile app (formerly known as "Beacon")
Replies: 702
Views: 81751

Re: Vanguard's new mobile app (formerly known as "Beacon")

I had to log in to Vanguard's website to make my monthly SEP-IRA contribution (not a "feature" that is available yet on the new app), and hoo boy, is that a clunky and ugly website. I hadn't used it in forever because I was doing all I needed happily on the old app. The website looks like it hasn't been updated since 20009. The poor app rollout and loss of features, coupled with forcing me back onto a terrible website makes me concerned about Vanguard's decision making in general now. I had even downloaded Beacon to try it out (whhhyyyy did they offer two apps at the same time for a while?) and ended up deleting it fairly quickly because it had such reduced functionality. I just really don't understand why Vanguard went full steam...
by englishgirl
Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:40 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help with SEP IRA
Replies: 4
Views: 880

Re: Help with SEP IRA

I have a SEP IRA with Vanguard and it's been very easy. I do not make enough from my business to worry about hitting upper contribution limits, and I like with the SEP that all my contributions are employer contributions. As a self employed person, I don't take a salary so contributing from both a salary and from my business profits don't make sense for me. It all depends on how you are set up and how you pay yourself. If you do decide to do one, you should open it as a SEP, and not as a traditional IRA. https://investor.vanguard.com/small-business-retirement-plans/open-sep-simple-individual-401k I contribute to it the same way I contribute to my Roth IRA. I use the Vanguard app, and click contribute, then I have drop down options to select...
by englishgirl
Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone here CoastFIRE’d?
Replies: 182
Views: 34534

Re: Anyone here CoastFIRE’d?

I theoretically coast fired. I chose to move into a more rewarding but lower paid job. My plan was that I would just cover my expenses until early retirement and let my savings grow. Here's how that hasn't worked out: 1. It's damn hard to stop contributing to retirement accounts. So I kept contributing, although at a lower level. I put 10% of my income into my SEP-IRA and still contribute the maximum to my Roth IRA. Sometimes the Roth contribution has come from just moving savings from a taxable account, these days it is coming from income (mostly). 2. I initially went down to an income of $25k as I had figured I could live on that. But I was still drawing from savings for things like vacations and a new car. I had purposely packed my savin...
by englishgirl
Fri Aug 06, 2021 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hybrid or all electric small to medium sized SUV?
Replies: 48
Views: 5108

Re: Hybrid or all electric small to medium sized SUV?

Why do you feel the need to also have a hybrid ICE engine? There's no need for it. A Tesla or other all electric vehicle is simpler to maintain as it has only one type of engine/drivetrain/whatever you call it. While I don't have a Tesla Model Y, I have the Model 3 and it's been a magnificent upgrade from my old Prius.
by englishgirl
Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New LLC - do I need a business checking account
Replies: 14
Views: 1518

Re: New LLC - do I need a business checking account

Really all you need for tax purposes is some separation and some way of tracking what is a business income/expense and what is personal. It sounds like if PayPal is all your business income, then that's effectively giving you this separation. I would buck the general Boglehead advice trend here and say you're fine. The PayPal account is effectively functioning as a business checking account. Do you pay all your business expenses from the same PayPal account? If so, you're good. I think you can get a PayPal credit/debit card if you need to have some sort of physical credit/debit card once you start running up a few more expenses. Then that can be your business expense card. If you expand and start doing in person consults, or want to run cre...
by englishgirl
Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Do you have a "survival" retirement number?
Replies: 94
Views: 12811

Re: Do you have a "survival" retirement number?

Yes, I have calculated various retirement options. I think it's a valuable thought exercise, not that I would or did retire at that number. First there was my "coast FIRE" number where I decided I could stop contributing to my retirement accounts if necessary and could let them grow on their own while I just worked enough to cover my living expenses with a lower paid job. While I did switch to the lower paid job at that point, I never did stop contributing to my accounts, even if it was a fairly low amount some years. Then there's the "could I survive if I had to stop working right now" number. I find this important as a self-employed person who does not have a nice disability benefit from my employer. If, God forbid, I ...
by englishgirl
Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?
Replies: 44
Views: 6000

Re: Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp?

I hate Zelle, at least the way my bank does it. I have to identify the recipient by phone number or email address and then money goes into a black hole that may or may not appear with the recipient. Whenever I transfer money to my husband it's always a mess. He initially had trouble setting his account up and now I never know which email address or phone number I should use. I have tried downloading the Zelle app but it says there is no need to because it is included in the bank app. Ugh. There is no way for me to enter and save his info as being the right profile. I have a Venmo business profile, and also use it for personal transfers. So far so good. As a business recipient, it is marginally cheaper per transaction than accepting credit c...
by englishgirl
Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Multiple years of expenses in cash when starting retirement
Replies: 107
Views: 13203

Re: Multiple years of expenses in cash when starting retirement

My cash cushion has grown over the years, and I will be looking to reduce it somewhat closer to retirement. I am self employed, and therefore don't have sick or vacation pay, so my emergency fund/cash stash grew so I could pay myself some sick pay and take a vacation without worrying. Or to cover times when the business wasn't bringing in a lot. As the business did better, I started saving in a business savings account to cover things like that, so I kind of duplicated it in another account so there's more of a business emergency fund in addition to the personal emergency fund. Then I realized that instead of spending money on disability insurance (which is very expensive for an individual), I could put that money aside and self fund a kind...
by englishgirl
Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to make strong coffee equivalent to Starbucks for cheaper?
Replies: 149
Views: 20346

Re: How to make strong coffee equivalent to Starbucks for cheaper?

If anyone's an Aldi shopper, the Fair Trade single origin coffee they sell under the Barissimo "brand" is great (according to my simple tastes). I always get the Colombian one. It helped me kick the Starbucks habit.
by englishgirl
Tue Mar 30, 2021 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to prove PPP Loan used for payroll? Sole Proprietor
Replies: 29
Views: 3152

Re: How to prove PPP Loan used for payroll? Sole Proprietor

... 2. Your wife should write a check on the business account to herself weekly or monthly for, at most, a pro rata amount on the loan (e.g., if monthly, 2/5th of the loan). Write "owner compensation" on the check. ... Checks? Who writes checks these days? I do have separate business and personal bank accounts, and to pay myself I just transfer an amount from one account to another. At my bank I can add a memo to the transfer, so I could write something like "personal disbursement" on it. It's going to appear in a bank statement, so I don't see a need to have some physical piece of paper in addition to that. To the OP: Supposedly the PPP loans are going to require much less proof than they used to to show that you fulfi...
by englishgirl
Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Live on a lake in Florida?
Replies: 40
Views: 7907

Re: Live on a lake in Florida?

We live on a "lake" although it looks more like a river as it snakes through the community. The reason there are so many of them is for water control as they're mostly retention ponds. At this time of the year the water level is very low but once the rainy season starts it'll fill up in about 3 weeks. Pro: less flooding (hopefully). After a really big tropical storm the water level looks scarily high but the banks are sloped enough that there is a very large carrying capacity. If we didn't have that capacity I think we'd be inundated with water. Most of the houses here have the sprinklers running off the lake water, so that means we're not spending money on treated water just to apply it to the grass. It looks nice. Cons: rats and...
by englishgirl
Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: COVID habits you will keep...?
Replies: 95
Views: 5638

Re: COVID habits you will keep...?

I hope to continue working out at home. I feel like I've got a good routine going, between outside walks or bike rides, yoga from YouTube and kettlebell exercises. I may go back to yoga classes every now and then just for the community aspect, but I won't be going as often (read: spending as much money) as I used to. And I don't miss the gym at all.
by englishgirl
Sun Jan 03, 2021 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Roth IRA, SEP IRA - portfolio help requested]
Replies: 21
Views: 1126

Re: [Roth IRA, SEP IRA - portfolio help requested]

I don't really understand why you want to contribute as much as possible to a Roth. You're at a relatively low income - do you expect to be in a much higher income in retirement so that paying the tax now vs later will be a big deal? Or do you want to avoid RMDs or something else? Can you afford to contribute the max $19.5k to a 401k (whether Roth or traditional) and the max to an IRA on a salary of around $50k? I mean, a retirement savings rate of about 50% is admirable but hard to do. And especially can you afford to contribute the max to a Roth 401k which is going to cost you more now than a traditional 401k would? I have both a SEP IRA and a Roth IRA, and I contribute the max to both. Which is not very much because my business doesn't b...
by englishgirl
Thu Dec 31, 2020 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: bogleheads on Reddit
Replies: 69
Views: 14540

Re: bogleheads on Reddit

I spend way too much of my time on Reddit. But I hadn't even come across a Bogleheads subreddit before. Typically I am on /r/financialindependence if I want a finance-focused sub. But I suppose I should check out the Bogleheads there.
by englishgirl
Wed Dec 30, 2020 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?
Replies: 251
Views: 26905

Re: So what kind of raise did you guys get for 2021?

Spouse got a 1.5% "adjustment" due to changes in the state's minimum wage. He is not on minimum wage, but I guess the company shuffles everyone on the lower end of the scale so that they all still have the same gap between them. Their raises are usually calculated in July but they didn't get anything last July as business was still down then and the company was uncertain about the future. Me, I'm self-employed so who knows. I think I earned more in 2020 than in 2019 (just). My biz was down but not hugely and yet the unemployment pay I claimed in March-May should bump my total up slightly year-on-year. I am hoping for 2021 to involve no unemployment, no sickness and generally good earnings but if I've learned anything this year it'...
by englishgirl
Mon Dec 28, 2020 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attn: All Floridians & Arizonans! [Where to Retire in FL/AZ]
Replies: 73
Views: 7489

Re: Attn: All Floridians & Arizonans! [Where to Retire in FL/AZ]

I guess I'm so used to the humidity in FL that I can't bear to be anywhere dry now. My skin feels like it is cracking when I'm somewhere without humidity. I mean, sure, there are body lotions but there's always that spot in the middle of your back that is hard to reach.

OP: this is not a decision you can make without traveling. Take 2 years and spend a winter in each state, moving around to different locations in each state.
by englishgirl
Tue Dec 08, 2020 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What should a 23 year old consider before purchasing a Tesla?
Replies: 264
Views: 19020

Re: What should a 23 year old consider before purchasing a Tesla?

I have one and I love it. The insurance rates are sky high though because it is an unknown. My rates feel like they are insuring me as a 23-year old male who likes driving dangerously when I am actually a middle aged woman who drives like a grandma. I dread to think what you would be charged as an actual young driver. I would definitely make sure you have somewhere reliable to charge it. If I didn't have a charger in the garage I could plug into every night, it would be a bit tedious to have to go and find charging. I did a road trip where I stayed in an Air B&B for a week with no charging option overnight and having to go to a commercial parking garage to charge was annoying and expensive. The actual road trip there and back was no pro...
by englishgirl
Tue Dec 01, 2020 5:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you getting your s/o for the holidays?
Replies: 123
Views: 11351

Re: What are you getting your s/o for the holidays?

The plan is a book and pajamas. The book I should manage, the pajamas, well, that involves wandering around a bunch of stores trying to meet his exact requirements so it may not happen.
by englishgirl
Sun Oct 18, 2020 5:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anybody here trying Coast FIRE?
Replies: 326
Views: 36726

Re: Anybody here trying Coast FIRE?

I am coast FIRE. I downshifted to a much lower stress job. I did it part time from age 44 to build up a client base, then went full time by quitting the well paid but stressful job at 49. My plan was to work kind of part time just covering my expenses but letting my retirement savings grow until retiring at 60-62. Of course, just working part time turned out to be difficult and I ended back at full time again but it turned out that I enjoyed working when it wasn't a soul-sucking depressive time waster. I have kept saving a little bit into my retirement accounts (when the original plan was to truly coast and not save anything at all) and it turns out I could now retire completely at 52, which is 10 years ahead of schedule. Well, if I retired...
by englishgirl
Tue Oct 13, 2020 7:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: IPhone SE has been around a little while now, so what's the verdict?
Replies: 46
Views: 4680

Re: IPhone SE has been around a little while now, so what's the verdict?

I upgraded from the SE1 to the SE2020 on the day it was released this spring. It's been awesome so far, although I have some bluetooth connection issues with two things (my Fitbit and my car). However, it is fast and reliable at connecting to running credit cards through a wireless Square reader which was my biggest issue before. Given that the Square connection is now so reliable, I am tempted to think the car and Fitbit connection problems are due to the car and Fitbit devices themselves and not the phone, but I can't be certain.

As far as everything else, given that I was limping along with my old SE1 for a while, clearly I am not the best judge of performance.
by englishgirl
Wed Jul 15, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which household items have made your life easier/more convenient/happier?
Replies: 82
Views: 8647

Re: Which household items have made your life easier/more convenient/happier?

Whatever you think is going to make the biggest difference in your new home is what you should look for. When we were searching for our current home, my big thing was the master bathroom - I wanted double sinks and a separate shower and bathtub in the master bath. So I didn't have to share a sink with my lovely husband, and I didn't have to go to the guest bathroom to have a bubble bath. I got them, and they are what first popped into my mind on reading your post. My husband doesn't care at all about any of those items. But he was really focused on finding a house with a double garage and off-street parking for our 2 cars, so I'm sure that'd be somewhere on his list. Other than that: a/c, washer & dryer, dishwasher, toaster oven that is...
by englishgirl
Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:25 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Are you comfortable with your emergency fund arrangements?
Replies: 44
Views: 4397

Re: Are you comfortable with your emergency fund arrangements?

I have a very well stocked emergency fund, so that's fine. I think my planning was OK. I have some in cash in a HY savings account and some in savings bonds. What I didn't expect was the emotional ups and downs of having financial aid dangled in front of me. I'm self employed so when I was first considering stopping work (before I was prevented from working), I thought I'd be living off my emergency fund. Which was fine to a point. But then there was going to be help, as self employed people were going to be able to claim unemployment benefits, and small business were going to get given $10k. Awesome. I thought I wouldn't have to touch the emergency fund after all. I'd be just sitting at home having a nice relaxing time. Then there came the...
by englishgirl
Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Buying I-bonds now for EF but able to redeem within 1st year?
Replies: 10
Views: 1110

Re: Buying I-bonds now for EF but able to redeem within 1st year?

If you are furloughed, you would be able to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance. So that might lessen the need to redeem I bonds.

My personal view is always that if I am in doubt, I will do half of what I was originally planning. Thus, if you were going to transfer a year's worth of EF to I bonds, now instead just transfer 6 months worth. If in 6 months time all is still looking good, you could transfer more at that point (although I do appreciate that the fixed rate may have tanked by then but you could always push it to November to see what the rates do at that point).
by englishgirl
Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to "show" payroll as sole proprietor
Replies: 9
Views: 1110

Re: How to "show" payroll as sole proprietor

You will need to enter the 1099 if you're filing taxes, the same way you'd enter a W2. So, that's your income right there.
by englishgirl
Tue Mar 24, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone hit pause on their 401k or monthly IRA contributions?
Replies: 32
Views: 2226

Re: Has anyone hit pause on their 401k or monthly IRA contributions?

I have a SEP-IRA that I normally contribute 10% of profits to every month, and then bump it up prior to tax filing season to 15-20%. [The rule is that self employed people can contribute up to 20% of profit.] I am not quite sure what to do about March's contribution (that I would normally make at the beginning of April once I know what my monthly profit was). I do have a profit in March, thankfully, as I was able to work the first two weeks of the month. But it looks like I will not be working in April (or working very little) so that'll be a loss. I may pause it, but I'm inclined to put 5% of March's profit in as I don't want to not buy at discounted stock prices. Then again, I don't like not having income so feel I should hoard cash. My e...
by englishgirl
Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: SEP IRA - Advice on Providers & Investing?
Replies: 10
Views: 877

Re: SEP IRA - Advice on Providers & Investing?

I have a SEP IRA with Vanguard. I like it just fine but honestly didn't compare to other brokers or anything, as I already had my Roth IRA with Vanguard. I rolled my 401k into it when I finally quit my old day job, so I'm not sure why someone would say the Vanguard SEP IRA doesn't allow rollovers. I like the simplicity and flexibility, and so far have not been making enough money to have the "problem" of wanting more contribution space to make a solo 401k worth it. I assume that as my business continues to grow I could switch to a different account, but...meh. So far so good. Generally I put about 10% of each months profit in to the SEP as the year goes along, then at some point in early spring as I'm figuring out the taxes and ye...
by englishgirl
Tue Jan 15, 2019 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are You Dumping Netflix?
Replies: 218
Views: 22815

Re: Are You Dumping Netflix?

It depends what use you make of it. I finally signed up for Netflix a few months ago after resisting it for so long. It is more than worth my $8 a month, which I guess will now be $9 a month. So, no, I won't be dumping them. After many years of streaming I can't seem to get back to watching programmed TV and I'm bored of YouTube. We don't have many free streaming services available to us right now, and I can only read for so many hours without going cross eyed. I would talk to my husband but he's enrolled in some college courses and is otherwise engaged. I am making a lot of use of it, so it is still worth it to me. I've tried Hulu and Prime video before and like Netflix best right now - I limit myself to one membership at a time to keep co...
by englishgirl
Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What financial instution do you use for cash?
Replies: 14
Views: 1609

Re: What financial instution do you use for cash?

My thoughts are: you clearly know more than me, and all that information about 72t withdrawals is intimidating. So, yeah. But, given that I like simplicity as well, I'll take a crack at this. I use Capital One. I have some money in their 360 money market fund (minimum $10k) which is currently earning 2%. I've also got some stashed in a CD that I opened last month at a rate of 2.7% for one year. They are at 3.1% for a 3 year CD but in a rising rate environment (maybe??) I wasn't sure I wanted to tie my money up for that long. I use their checking account and like getting a small amount of interest on that. I have used them for a number of years and no complaints really. Except for some reason I can't see the CD in mint but that's a minor gri...
by englishgirl
Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Your ideal home size
Replies: 130
Views: 11096

Re: Your ideal home size

1000-1400 sq feet ish with a garage in addition.

We (a couple, no kids) ideally would like a 2-bedroom 2-bathroom home. We currently have a 1672 sq ft 3-bedroom 2-bathroom with a double garage so one room is wasted and is basically the cats' playroom. We don't have a basement and don't need one. But currently the laundry facilities are in the garage - I'd prefer a small laundry room.
by englishgirl
Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: [Considering the Vanguard LifeStrategy Fund]
Replies: 66
Views: 9493

Re: [Considering the Vanguard LifeStrategy Fund]

There's nothing wrong with having your money in a single Lifestrategy fund that suits your desired asset allocation. There is no need to complicate things further.

I have my IRAs 100% in Lifestrategy Moderate Growth. I am seriously considering rolling my old 401k into Lifestrategy Moderate Growth shortly too. I have come to this decision after trying to be more complicated and "sophisticated" in my earlier years of investing. Actually, simplicity can be very sophisticated.
by englishgirl
Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Self Employed 48years old and nothing saved for retirement
Replies: 41
Views: 6911

Re: Self Employed 48years old and nothing saved for retirement

In addition to a Roth IRA, you can be saving in an employment-based account. Instead of a company 401k, you have the option of opening an individual 401k, a SIMPLE IRA or a SEP-IRA. Which one is best for you depends on a number of factors, including how much money you are making and how you are organized and pay yourself. Most here will tell you that an individual 401k is best, and yes, if you are bringing in a large amount of income it would be, but personally as someone who doesn't earn big money, enjoys simplicity, and pays myself distributions from an LLC rather than a salary, I decided that a SEP-IRA was a good choice for me. Try to read up on all the different accounts and if you have an accountant, maybe check in with them for a reco...
by englishgirl
Tue Jun 19, 2018 2:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Capital One 360 ACH limits
Replies: 63
Views: 27048

Re: New Capital One 360 ACH limits

So nobody knows what the per-transaction limit is? Did you try what I suggested above (repeated here)? On their website, I clicked on TRANSFER. When the TRANSFER screen comes up, it states an amount that is available for the transfer. For example, at this time, I have about $10,000 in checking and $11,000 in MMF. When I click on TRANSFER for checking, it says $10,000 available for transfer. When I click on TRANSFER for MMF, it says $11,000 available. Presumably, these are my transfer limits i.e. I am not currently limited beyond my account balances. No, I did not. Generally, transfer is the term that they use for transferring from one Cap One 360 account to another, or I guess to a linked external account if you have them (I do not). I onl...
by englishgirl
Tue Jun 19, 2018 10:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Capital One 360 ACH limits
Replies: 63
Views: 27048

Re: New Capital One 360 ACH limits

So nobody knows what the per-transaction limit is? And it seems like they haven't really set one but will vary it depending on the day? I don't like the thought of that. I'd rather know. However, I don't think a million a day limit is going to put a crimp in my style any time soon. I did run up against the previous per-transaction limit, which was $250,000 (for me, anyway). I paid cash for our current house, and had to transfer about $253k on closing day. After speaking with a couple of representatives who weren't very helpful, suggesting I needed to order cashier's checks (but it was too late at that point to have them sent to me by mail as of course I couldn't go and get one printed in a branch), finally on the third call I got through to...
by englishgirl
Thu May 31, 2018 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Instant pot pressure cooker
Replies: 50
Views: 8760

Re: Instant pot pressure cooker

Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't like it? We received one as a wedding gift. It was NOT on the registry, but the person who gave it to us decided that we would like it. They also got a large one and there are just two of us, so it is not the perfect size for us. We eat mostly vegetarian + fish, so don't get any advantages of cooking meat in it (people seem to love slow cooked meat). There seems to be a long warm up period and then a long cool down period if you don't want to do a quick release of the steam. So, even though technically for something like rice the cooking time is shorter than on the stove, by the time you've gone through the warm up and cool down, it can take longer than just regular cooking. So while we used it as a rice ...
by englishgirl
Tue May 22, 2018 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Florida Living
Replies: 49
Views: 10725

Re: Florida Living

West Palm Beach is not a bad option considering what you are looking for.
by englishgirl
Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Living in Jupiter FL?
Replies: 9
Views: 2211

Re: Living in Jupiter FL?

I lived there for a while, and still live in the same county. It is a nice place, yes, the housing costs a bit more, but you also have decent schools and supposedly nicer neighbors. But paying $1k a month property tax for a modest house seems crazy. Perhaps our idea of modest houses are not the same. I just looked up my old house there. Realtor says it has an estimated value of $389k (ouch!). The appraised value is $295k (was last sold mid 2016 for $340k). If you are going to make FL your permanent residence, then you would claim a homestead exemption on your property. With that exemption, the last tax bill was $5.4k approx. If you pay your property tax in November, you get a 4% discount, bringing the amount actually payable to $5.2k. While...
by englishgirl
Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What are the jobs with the best medical insurance?
Replies: 51
Views: 5539

Re: What are the jobs with the best medical insurance?

We have medical insurance through one of the large medical laboratory testing companies. Good benefits and free lab tests (as long as you are not getting a test done at the competition). They also throw in a free physical every year. The con is that they offer "discounts" based on the results of the physical if you are a non-smoker and not obese (if obese you can be in a doctor supervised weight loss plan or losing 10% of body weight a year). So it is effectively a mandatory physical and you'll be penalized (sorry, not offered the discount) if you smoke/are obese.
by englishgirl
Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Do People Without Computer Access Prepare and File Their Taxes?
Replies: 94
Views: 12131

Re: How Do People Without Computer Access Prepare and File Their Taxes?

If you have a smart phone, you can do it on there. I just searched, and Turbo Tax has an app. I would use that if I didn't have a laptop. My laptop, incidentally, is a Chromebook that cost me $220 a bit over 3 years ago and is still going strong, so it's not as if you HAVE to buy an expensive computer. I do not use a printer at home, as Turbo Tax stores all my forms online for me.

For people without the means to obtain a smart phone or computer, there are free tax filing services for low income folks, as already mentioned. My husband volunteered at VITA a few years ago doing tax prep for people.
by englishgirl
Tue Jan 09, 2018 3:53 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Forgot to make my $5500 contribution for 2018
Replies: 36
Views: 6383

Re: Forgot to make my $5500 contribution for 2018

I have never had the spare change lying around to be able to make my Roth IRA contribution all in one go on January 2nd, and this year is no exception. How long do you plan to have the money invested for? Over a 40 or 50 year time period, those few extra days will not make much difference,
by englishgirl
Wed Dec 06, 2017 2:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Friend buys a lot of stuff because he want's to reduce his tax liability. Is this thinking flawed?
Replies: 47
Views: 5816

Re: Friend buys a lot of stuff because he want's to reduce his tax liability. Is this thinking flawed?

If he's not making a profit consistently, then doesn't he risk the IRS regarding his business as a "hobby" and then he would not be able to deduct any losses beyond the business/hobby income. See: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/is-your-hobby-a-for-profit-endeavor His thinking is messed up. I mean, I buy stuff for my business, and yay, I get to write off those expenses. But I hope to be able to sell the inventory, and get annoyed if I have to bring it home when it has expired and either try to use it up myself or discard it. It can easily get to the point where there is too much stuff for me to be able to get through it. Anything that ends up in the garbage is a complete waste of money and resources. It is much better if I limit my s...
by englishgirl
Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How old are you and how much do you save for retirement a year
Replies: 244
Views: 42785

Re: How old are you and how much do you save for retirement a year

Alright, coming in to represent the lower end...

Nearly 50. This year between 401k and SEP-IRA I am going to manage about $13k, plus $5500 into Roth IRA. My spouse has saved $5500 into Roth IRA and $0 into 401k. Between us we got maybe $2350 from our employers into our 401k's as well.

Next year, I'll only have the SEP-IRA . Maybe it'll be $3k into that and $6500 into the Roth IRA. We'll see. Hopefully another $5500 into spouse's Roth IRA and who knows into his 401k. Maybe $1000.
by englishgirl
Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Budgeting with significant other
Replies: 26
Views: 3206

Re: Budgeting with significant other

We have totally separate accounts and are married. We separately cover some expenses, as in I handle some bills and he handles others. We then alternate groceries and other day-to-day spending. I'd like to at least have a joint account for things like groceries, but he hasn't wanted to give up control of a lot of his salary. I don't entirely blame him as he is very strict with budgeting and I spend more than him. So...ehhh. I'm sure we'll keep revisiting and discussing the situation as life keeps changing.
by englishgirl
Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:47 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Why Did You Choose Your Username and Avatar?
Replies: 377
Views: 19660

Re: To Avatar or not to Avatar . . how did you choose or not choose?

Avatars are just easier to see and remember when you are skimming through a long post. It is easier to spot regular posters - there may or may not be certain times when I might just skim down and read what certain people have posted without necessarily digesting what everyone else has said. Similarly, if I can spot myself easily I can skim down to when I last took part in the conversation and read from there.

Mine is Miffy. She has a special place in my heart from when I was a kid.
by englishgirl
Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Data Use on Smartphones
Replies: 37
Views: 3704

Re: Data Use on Smartphones

Remember that to use cellular data, you would have to be doing your checking of email, etc, when not located somewhere with wifi. There are many days when I don't use any of my data plan data, despite heavy smartphone usage, because most of my usual locations (work, home, various cafes, supermarkets) all have free wifi. My husband doesn't have any data on his plan, and he gets by fine without it. Having said that, I go somewhere regularly on Fridays that doesn't have wifi, and I sit there for half an hour checking my phone. I have had usages of 78.9MB, 34.4MB and 6.4MB on the last few Fridays. Why the difference? No idea. Maybe I was watching more videos on the higher usage days. My biggest drivers of cellular data usage according to my pho...