Search found 1119 matches

by pondering
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:06 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New fee for Vanguard mutual [and brokerage accounts - July 2023 updates]
Replies: 2094
Views: 215563

Re: New fee for Vanguard mutual [and brokerage accounts - July 2023 updates]

I transferred:

Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares in the amount of $46,190.34 (100%)*
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares in the amount of $47,051.96 (100%)*

to

Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares

to reduce my annual fee from $75 to $25

Thanks for making me aware of this new fee.
by pondering
Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What's your primary credit card?
Replies: 117
Views: 10239

Re: What's your primary credit card?

SmileyFace wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:06 am I had the Citi 2% back card but had issues with it so switched to Fidelity 2% back which has been great.
We use the Amazon card at Whole Foods and Amazon for 5% back.
We still have the Citicard and the Chase Amazon


We also use the 3% back at Sam’s Club card plus the 5% off for gas
by pondering
Tue Feb 27, 2024 3:12 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New fee for Vanguard mutual [and brokerage accounts - July 2023 updates]
Replies: 2094
Views: 215563

Re: New fee for Vanguard mutual [and brokerage accounts - July 2023 updates]

I want to thank the people here for raising my awareness of this fee.

I have funds at Vanguard. I think I'll transfer 2 over to Fidelity and just keep the one account paper only.

How often do you check your accounts? Maybe it is worth it to check accounts more frequently instead of relying on paper statements.
by pondering
Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Household going carbon neutral
Replies: 42
Views: 2917

Re: Household going carbon neutral

I would be worried about ventilation in a very sealed house.
by pondering
Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Truebill
Replies: 3
Views: 1016

Re: Truebill

Did your rate go back up? Did you use Truebill to negotiate anything else since?
by pondering
Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How would you burn down a Limited Use FSA?
Replies: 18
Views: 2177

Re: How would you burn down a Limited Use FSA?

Half way into the year, how is it going?
by pondering
Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon Echo Skills/Uses
Replies: 49
Views: 3464

Re: Amazon Echo Skills/Uses

Here are the top 3 things:

I use it as a timer.
I use it to turn on and off lights
I'll play music on it.
by pondering
Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard asks for employer/income during account transition
Replies: 51
Views: 8943

Re: Vanguard asks for employer/income during account transition

How many people here have gotten calls from Vanguard? What was the frequency?
by pondering
Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does TV Commercials, Online Ads and Telemarketing Affect Your Consumption Choices?
Replies: 73
Views: 4982

Re: Does TV Commercials, Online Ads and Telemarketing Affect Your Consumption Choices?

I engage with a LOT of ads on Facebook.

I notice a fair number of ads essentially are targeted at me after I purchase something.

I find ads in general as a helpful way to connect with people selling the same type of good to generate a conversational starting point
by pondering
Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drawbacks to using rack server unit as desktop computer?
Replies: 30
Views: 5174

Re: Drawbacks to using rack server unit as desktop computer?

Did anyone try one of these for the past few years and calculate how they worked out?
by pondering
Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My company denies academic tuition assistance request
Replies: 35
Views: 3589

Re: My company denies academic tuition assistance request

How does an MBA help you with your current role at the company?
by pondering
Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Baillie Gifford Investments
Replies: 7
Views: 1193

Re: Baillie Gifford Investments

I think this podcast will be of interest: https://ritholtz.com/2020/12/mib-tom-sl ... e-gifford/
by pondering
Sun Jan 10, 2021 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Job Application Advice for Non-Profit
Replies: 8
Views: 954

Re: Job Application Advice for Non-Profit

Did you continue in your work at a non-profit or did you find other opportunities?
by pondering
Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips to stick to a weight loss diet?
Replies: 415
Views: 38319

Re: Tips to stick to a weight loss diet?

Eat lots of micronutrients
by pondering
Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or T-Mobile
Replies: 48
Views: 3818

Re: Verizon or T-Mobile

We frequently break the screens.

Insurance companies also provide guidance when times are stressful.
by pondering
Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or T-Mobile
Replies: 48
Views: 3818

Re: Verizon or T-Mobile

I now have my 3 T-Mobile phones. I'm cleaning out my old Verizon phones and sending them back.

What kind of insurance do you recommend that I take out on the phones?
by pondering
Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Account Theft - Any Protection?
Replies: 12
Views: 7290

Re: Account Theft - Any Protection?

Is anyone pushing for read only access to financial accounts via the web, where all transactions need to be in writing either by mail or in person?

How would I get involved in such an effort?
by pondering
Sat Dec 12, 2020 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or T-Mobile
Replies: 48
Views: 3818

Re: Verizon or T-Mobile

I went with T Mobile
by pondering
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or T-Mobile
Replies: 48
Views: 3818

Re: Verizon or T-Mobile

I live in Bethel Park, PA

We typically travel 2 weeks out of the year.
by pondering
Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon or T-Mobile
Replies: 48
Views: 3818

Verizon or T-Mobile

I’m thinking about getting new cell phone service and am trying to choose between Verizon and T-Mobile.

What is your experience with either carrier?
by pondering
Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which iPhone should I get?
Replies: 65
Views: 6166

Re: Which iPhone should I get?

A couple of questions:

Is there any difference in phone reception? I use Verizon and there is a dead spot on the bottom of my street with my iPhone 8+

Do you buy any accidental damage plans?
by pondering
Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is investopedia a good source?
Replies: 12
Views: 2262

Re: Is investopedia a good source?

JoMoney wrote: Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:10 pm It is a source... :wink:
Sometimes Investopedia explains things in a good succinct and understandable way, sometimes it's missing important details, sometimes it has errors.
Usually best to have multiple sources.
I'm basically looking for a link to information to show what I know about a topic in comment thread without having to write it up.
by pondering
Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is investopedia a good source?
Replies: 12
Views: 2262

Is investopedia a good source?

I was googling a tax issue and the top link was an investopedia article.

I wonder what bogleheads think of that source of financial information? Should I just look up our wiki first?
by pondering
Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you backup?
Replies: 80
Views: 6125

Re: How often do you backup?

HawkeyePierce wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:40 pm My backups run continuously. A local Time Machine backup to a NAS and a remote backup to Backblaze.

I never have to think about it.
My day job is being a entry level DBA for a decade. Your time to backup is very short. Your time to restore might not be in all cases.
by pondering
Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you backup?
Replies: 80
Views: 6125

Re: How often do you backup?

backup wikis: Sterbal's Sundry Studies, SQL Server, Sterbal Family Recipies, Robert's Wiki What does all this mean? Not sure of your OS - I have Windows and now simply use native Windows backup. Years ago I used to use 3rd party software. Backups are running daily (just new/diff). Call me old-fashion but I do NOT trust cloud backups. (I had some files mangled in OneDrive; and when my daughter's laptop went out-to-lunch her OneDrive hadn't sync'd properly and she lost some files. I also have privacy concerns which are likely unfounded). I use wikis to share and store information. One is running on the desktop computer I have at home. The other 3 are on a free service provider. I create and download a copy of the 3 wikis. The free site has m...
by pondering
Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How often do you backup?
Replies: 80
Views: 6125

How often do you backup?

I have been creating a checklist for monthly backup and maintenance on my computer that includes this step:

backup wikis: Sterbal's Sundry Studies, SQL Server, Sterbal Family Recipies, Robert's Wiki

The wiki backup is taking 10-20 minutes. Everything else takes just a few minutes. My goal is to do this every month.

What kind of plans do you have to backup your electronic material? How often do you back things up?
by pondering
Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?
Replies: 111
Views: 11832

Re: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?

Just fill the garage with stuff and park in front of it.
by pondering
Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Checking out of HOTEL APPLE
Replies: 88
Views: 10259

Re: Checking out of HOTEL APPLE

Photosync moved 20,000+ photos from my iPhone to my Windows desktop
by pondering
Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: I just bought a Peloton - Love it!
Replies: 148
Views: 17327

Re: I just bought a Peloton - Love it!

I wish people would post what they paid
by pondering
Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Investing in real estate - what is your opinion?
Replies: 53
Views: 6823

Re: Investing in real estate - what is your opinion?

What questions would you add to this list?

How many properties have you seen in the same market?
What are the important attributes of the neighborhood?
Is there someone who can manage the property?
Does the rent cover the repairs, vacancies and property management costs in addition to the mortgage, taxes and insurance?
How are the schools in the area?
by pondering
Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Investing in real estate - what is your opinion?
Replies: 53
Views: 6823

Re: Investing in real estate - what is your opinion?

tomtoms wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2020 6:36 pm How many properties are you planning to buy? If it is just one property then I don’t think it is worth the hassle.

I recommend:

- see 50-100 properties before buying
- study the neighborhood and know how much rent you are going to get
- find a competent and honest property manager
- I prefer properties that cash flow (rent pays for all expenses including repairs, vacancies, property manager)
- I prefer single family homes with decent schools

Real estate investing is a bit of an exclusive club. A lot of money on the line. You have to know your risk tolerance and more importantly, you need to have a plan in mind for unexpected things.
Would you consider a 3D tour a reasonable visit?
by pondering
Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: MVNO on Verizon network...moving away from Ting
Replies: 54
Views: 6598

Re: MVNO on Verizon network...moving away from Ting

LadyGeek wrote: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:43 am ^^^ This thread is now in the Personal Consumer Issues forum (cellphone network).

You can get our attention sooner by reporting the post. One of the reasons is "Wrong forum". Thanks to the member who did just that.
will do. Although my posts are more likely to be reported :)

The managers here do an amazing job!
by pondering
Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best searches for Prime Day deals
Replies: 11
Views: 2740

Re: Best searches for Prime Day deals

I'm planning on using the drive for my local copy of my backblaze backup. My 500 GB C: and 2 TB H: drives are SSD.
by pondering
Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best searches for Prime Day deals
Replies: 11
Views: 2740

Re: Best searches for Prime Day deals

I wound up purchasing

WD 12TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBWLG0120HBK-NESN

for 176.54

Order Summary
Items: $217.99
Shipping & handling: $0.00
Whole Foods Credit: -$10.00
Deal of the Day: -$43.00
Total before tax: $164.99
Estimated tax to be collected: $11.55
Total: $176.54

I had a $25 gift card for part of the payment
by pondering
Mon Oct 12, 2020 4:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best searches for Prime Day deals
Replies: 11
Views: 2740

Re: Best searches for Prime Day deals

anon_investor wrote: Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:31 pm
Maybe check out slickdeals.net
Thanks!
by pondering
Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best searches for Prime Day deals
Replies: 11
Views: 2740

Best searches for Prime Day deals

I'm hoping to purchase a 10 TB external hard drive from one of the many stores that are promoting prime day deals.

Is there a search process that helps find the best deals? Are there sites that track the Prime day deals effectively?
by pondering
Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Marketers think I'm elderly. I'm not.
Replies: 47
Views: 5281

Re: Marketers think I'm elderly. I'm not.

Pomegranate wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:49 am
I typically take the pictures of the most ‘mismatched’ ads and lough with friends. IG keeps trying to sell me 50k+ watches (I don’t use any), Youtube advises me on second stroke (luckily didn’t have the first one), getting same ‘free cremation’ scum, FB shows me makeup add and ‘rent some heavy industrial equipment’ at the same time :mrgreen:
Summing up - I think AI era is too far way keeping in mind modern state of algorithms :sharebeer
I’ve tried to train the algorithms to show me ads on topics I’m interested in with some success.
by pondering
Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Marketers think I'm elderly. I'm not.
Replies: 47
Views: 5281

Re: Marketers think I'm elderly. I'm not.

My Dad, who died in 2001 is still got mail from AARP until last year.
by pondering
Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home Inventory App
Replies: 6
Views: 918

Re: Home Inventory App

Are you trying to track everything or just the insurable items?
by pondering
Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:31 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Listing Mess-Up
Replies: 36
Views: 4385

Re: Home Listing Mess-Up

I think open houses are fairly helpful in getting people informed about home values.

Calling people nosy for that seems a bit much.
by pondering
Fri Sep 25, 2020 9:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Listing Mess-Up
Replies: 36
Views: 4385

Re: Home Listing Mess-Up

Just curious if you looked up recent sales on Zillow in the area.

Have the prices been going up down or sideways?
by pondering
Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar - after 1 year the results are in.
Replies: 64
Views: 8267

Re: Solar - after 1 year the results are in.

I assume a large challenge in Hawaii of solar is the densely populated area of Honolulu.
by pondering
Tue Sep 22, 2020 10:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar - after 1 year the results are in.
Replies: 64
Views: 8267

Re: Solar - after 1 year the results are in.

Thanks for sharing your story. I noticed that the solar companies never calculate the Opportunity Cost of all the $$ they want you to pluck down. Every time I do the math the payoff is well over a decade and that is BEFORE I calculate in the Opportunity cost of the big money I would be putting down. Our Electricity costs are relatively low - others may do well with solar - with us - it just doesn't economically make sense. So the years to payback calculation assumes a discount rate of 0%. Given where government bond yields are, for a risk-free investment, that's probably not a bad return. If you run =XIRR() on the cash flows, including the outflow of investment, you will get a pa return from the investment.* Internal Rate of Return is just...
by pondering
Sun Sep 20, 2020 7:22 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Chris Hogan's Facebook Group restrictions
Replies: 52
Views: 4472

Re: Chris Hogan's Facebook Group restrictions

Sometimes the censorship is part of the stated group rules and sometimes it is part of the group norms.

I manage a few Facebook groups and I think this kind of action is normal when people assemble, online and off.
by pondering
Wed Sep 09, 2020 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Verizon FIOS - tell me what to expect please
Replies: 30
Views: 3236

Re: Verizon FIOS - tell me what to expect please

Decent service. Support can be a challenge. Please get a mesh network, and I've never been able to get mine to work fully, so I'd buy theirs.
by pondering
Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excel newbie table question
Replies: 8
Views: 1020

Re: Excel newbie table question

I typically sort on the column. If I want separate sheets I create them.