Search found 304 matches

by ol_pops
Wed May 21, 2014 7:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Seeking a pre paid mobil plan for a visit to the UK
Replies: 12
Views: 2670

Re: Seeking a pre paid mobil plan for a visit to the UK

I have an unlocked quad-band phone and have traveled in the UK. I bought a Vodaphone SIM card at the grocery store for 10 pounds (I think) and purchased so many minutes right there at the register. Need more - pop into a store and ask for a top-up of your account. You pay the register - they give you a receipt with the magic number on it. Use your phone to enter that number and you're back in business.
by ol_pops
Thu May 15, 2014 12:20 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads
Replies: 91
Views: 52188

Re: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads

Just a post to keep this mtg notice visible for late comers.
by ol_pops
Sun May 11, 2014 6:27 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads
Replies: 91
Views: 52188

Re: Master Thread for Austin Texas area Bogleheads

I plan to be there.
by ol_pops
Sun Apr 06, 2014 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: RMD question
Replies: 8
Views: 1001

Re: RMD question

Thanks !
by ol_pops
Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: RMD question
Replies: 8
Views: 1001

Re: RMD question

So she only needs to start the yearly RMDs in 2016? She doesn't need to take 2 RMDs in 2016?
by ol_pops
Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: RMD question
Replies: 8
Views: 1001

RMD question

My wife will turn 70 next year in December. I've looked thru pub 590 and there is nothing I can see about
prorating the first year's distribution. It looks like she has to take the full 2015 distribution by Dec.
Right?
I'm reluctant to wait until 70 1/2 because she would have to take 2 distributions then.
I turn 70 in March so I'll take the full year's too. I'm also filing for SS when I turn 70 so it
looks like a big tax hit anyway I slice it.
by ol_pops
Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:23 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting August 31st
Replies: 3
Views: 1119

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting August 31st

OK. I just saw this post and am confused. Saturday August 31st?
Ooo.. I really missed it. I used to be on a distro list.
by ol_pops
Sat Sep 28, 2013 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 18 Months Till Retirement, Need Suggestions
Replies: 49
Views: 7088

Re: 18 Months Till Retirement, Need Suggestions

Keep reading here (posts, wiki, etc). Now you know what you have but the next question is what should you have?
Only you can answer that so keep reading and digging. Another side of the equation is to focus on expenses.
A fixed amount with less expenses means more money for beer. Downsize the 10 bedroom house?
Don't watch all those sports cable packages anymore, etc, etc.
by ol_pops
Sat Sep 28, 2013 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 18 Months Till Retirement, Need Suggestions
Replies: 49
Views: 7088

Re: 18 Months Till Retirement, Need Suggestions

You can go to a financial planner but you can do it yourself easily. Use an EXCEL spreadsheet with 3 tabs: tab 1) A list of your assets (the money that you have) tab 2) A retirement budget. Make it minimal - you may have excess money to spend on fun tab 3) Where the money will come from for that budget. Pension? Savings (don't take too much out). SS? PS: both my wife and I were FRA so she claimed her own (half of what half of mine would have been) and I claimed spousal benefits on her's (half of what she gets). I will claim my own at 70 (ouch - not that far away). It's best to go to the SS office to do this sort of thing. Also, add your RMD's to your future income. Try a simple online calculator (firecalc.com). I found that a financial advi...
by ol_pops
Wed Sep 04, 2013 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Mechanics of Starting Social Security
Replies: 75
Views: 9235

Re: The Mechanics of Starting Social Security

If it was just him, an online application is dead simple. I did it and no birth certificate required. BUT, for his wife to get spousal benefits, I recommend a trip to the SS office. (take a book...)
by ol_pops
Wed Sep 04, 2013 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: The Mechanics of Starting Social Security
Replies: 75
Views: 9235

Re: The Mechanics of Starting Social Security

SS does not consider him to be fully 66 until his birthdate the next month.
by ol_pops
Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What activities to enroll my daughter in -pls help me decide
Replies: 17
Views: 2577

Re: What activities to enroll my daughter in -pls help me de

Both of my daughters were full time swimmers. It was a huge committment for them and for us. The joke was that we saw all of Florida, Colorado, and Texas from the parking lot of the swimming pool. BUT, I can't say enough good things about physical exhaustion as a moderator of teenage behavior.
by ol_pops
Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: RMDs not far away for me
Replies: 38
Views: 4324

RMDs not far away for me

I looked at the Vanguard site and it was vague about how it distributed RMDs.
Does it calculate the amount and then take equally from all accounts?
Does it take them relative to the size of the account -vs- ovealll accounts?
Can I direct them to take it from only one or two accounts?

I could do it all myself too.
by ol_pops
Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyone regret saving too much and not spending when younger?
Replies: 79
Views: 14558

Re: Anyone regret saving too much and not spending when youn

Nope.
Current age = 68.

You will need more than you think !
by ol_pops
Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Door to door annoyances--easy way to stop?
Replies: 60
Views: 6499

Re: Door to door annoyances--easy way to stop?

Here in Texas ,I've heard that a diagonal purple line on the sidewalk is the "last millenia" equivalent
of "No Solicitors". Back then, folks could not read so that was used. Don't know what to do about
folks that can read but refuse to do so.
by ol_pops
Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help Me Replace my NetGear Wireless Router
Replies: 36
Views: 5170

Re: Help Me Replace my NetGear Wireless Router

At least try this:
Power everything off and leave it off for 5 minutes.
Power on the cable modem - let it set for 5 minutes.
Power on the wireless router after that time has passed.
See what happens.
by ol_pops
Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good with money but careless/unaware with other assets?
Replies: 2
Views: 866

Good with money but careless/unaware with other assets?

Slashdot reports:
Do you have a Motorola smartphone? Watch out:

"Ben Lincoln was hooking up to Microsoft ActiveSync at work when he 'made an interesting discovery about the Android phone (a Motorola Droid X2) which [he] was using at the time: it was silently sending a considerable amount of sensitive information to Motorola, and to compound the problem, a great deal of it was over an unencrypted HTTP channel.' He found that photos, passwords, and even data about his home screen config were being sent regularly to Motorola's servers. He has screenshots showing much of the data transmission."

More data:
http://www.beneaththewaves.net/Projects ... ening.html
by ol_pops
Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help create a Financial Presentation: Calling all Bogleheads
Replies: 134
Views: 32652

Re: Help create a Financial Presentation: Calling all Bogleh

How 'bout this:

1) It's about you, your money, and your life. What's not to like?

2) Saving money for retirement is buying your freedom on the installment plan.
by ol_pops
Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:14 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Scott Burns at Austin Bogleheads
Replies: 12
Views: 2800

Re: Scott Burns at Austin Bogleheads

I have gotten the invitations in the past but missed this one.
I suspect you have my old email address (nwatkins@bga.com) which is now gone.
My new email address is: nwatkins1@austin.rr.com
TIA
by ol_pops
Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:10 pm
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: bogleheads.org attacked - some accounts hijacked
Replies: 107
Views: 21277

Re: bogleheads.org attacked - some accounts hijacked

Old joke:
Use "invalid" as your password. That way, when you misstype it, you will be prompted: "Your password is invalid"
by ol_pops
Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good, cheap phone to send & receive SMS
Replies: 14
Views: 1871

Re: Good, cheap phone to send & receive MMS

This site always has some unlocked phones: http://www.icemonkey.com/
by ol_pops
Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Converting some IRA dollars to ROTH
Replies: 3
Views: 678

Converting some IRA dollars to ROTH

The 2012 15% tax bracket is $70,700. I would like to convert some regular IRA dollars to ROTH but I have a question. Is that $70,700
my Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or my Taxable Income?
by ol_pops
Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:40 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Merry Christmas to All
Replies: 22
Views: 1938

Merry Christmas

Or perhaps:
Happy Christmahanukwanzivus !
Christmas
Hanuckkah
Kwanzaa
Festivus (for the rest of us)

This forum has provided me with excellent advice and comfort. Comfort that there are still rational
and nice folks in the world. Meanwhile, this classic is just too good not to post:

http://heavensgates.us/50s/whitechristmas/
by ol_pops
Thu Nov 29, 2012 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: File & Suspend Timing for Social Security
Replies: 4
Views: 1052

Re: File & Suspend Timing for Social Security

Been there and done that. I recommend a visit to the local SS office to do it. You can do it online but "they" can get confused.
One point: when your wife files for spousal benefits, she will get a new Medicare card with a new number.
It will be your number with a "-B" at the end.
by ol_pops
Sun Nov 18, 2012 9:08 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting
Replies: 8
Views: 1227

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting

Yes indeed. I will be there.
by ol_pops
Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Medical Spanish Immersion Abroad
Replies: 13
Views: 1982

Re: Medical Spanish Immersion Abroad

In the meantime, you could try this: http://learner.org/resources/series75.html
by ol_pops
Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: To leave the computer on or off?
Replies: 48
Views: 4514

Re: To leave the computer on or off?

I leave my XP deskside on all the time, I run a number of grid projects so the cycles are always used.
I still reboot it morning and evening - XP gets goofy after a while. Plus I let it cool down.
If you want you can do it too. Go here to download the BOINC manager (Berkley Open Infrastructure for Network computing.
BOINC is the manager and then you can attach to any of the projects or more than one.
http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/

Image

[image link fixed by admin LadyGeek]
by ol_pops
Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Half of wife's SSI benefit.... is it smart?
Replies: 8
Views: 2630

Re: Half of wife's SSI benefit.... is it smart?

I'm doing it too. Wife is FRA and claimed on her earnings. I'm FRA and claimed spousal benefits on hers. Mine continues to grow until 70
NOTE:
To do this, go to the SSA office. Don't try it online - I did and they/I got it hosed up. It's OK now after 3 trips to the SSA office.
Note:
If you do this, you will get a NEW Medicare card with a NEW number. Her number with a B1 suffix. Just be prepared
for some confusion over that.
by ol_pops
Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SS question - Is there...
Replies: 2
Views: 532

SS question - Is there...

Recently started SS. Filled out form W-4V for taxes. Medicare is being deducted.
Is there:
A website where I can see all this data (similar to a wage statement when I was working)?
All I see is a deposit for $x in my account.
by ol_pops
Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Ed Slott
Replies: 20
Views: 4257

Re: Ed Slott

I like Edd Slott. A bit of a salesman but what he says is correct IF you can afford to do it.
As I understand it, the life insurance is to pay the taxes due at death.
It will be interesting to see if the estate tax reverts to $1M at the end of this year.
by ol_pops
Sat May 19, 2012 4:33 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19
Replies: 23
Views: 3667

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19

Thanks Bryan for arranging this ! It was great.
by ol_pops
Sat May 19, 2012 1:08 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Total newbie help
Replies: 9
Views: 1186

Re: Total newbie help

All good advice ! Don't be overwhelmed at the varied posts on this forum. If we all followed the Boglehead Way, this would be a boring forum with nothing to talk about. So my advice is to peruse but ignore most of the posts here. Later, if ever, you may have
more questions that can be answered here - but not now. Just like that old infomercial said: "Set it and forget it".
by ol_pops
Sat May 19, 2012 10:10 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19
Replies: 23
Views: 3667

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19

Crumbs...! It seems like every time I have something like this to go to, my wife schedules something too. It must be bad karma or something... Anyway, in case I don't get to attend, here's my intro to get the ball rolling. 1) age 67 and retired with a pension 2) my wife retired in January - also FRA but no pension 3) Applied for SS for my wife in Feb on her earnings alone. (Her's is very close to 1/2 of my FRA amount.) 4) I applied for spousal benefits on her earnings and left mine to grow. 5) This is working. We have more income from the 2 SS's than we did when she was working. She was saving most of her's in 401K and IRA's. 6) I will wait until age 70 to apply for my SS benefits. Of course, RMD's kick in then too. This means too much cash...
by ol_pops
Fri May 18, 2012 3:14 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19
Replies: 23
Views: 3667

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19

It's mostly us folks sitting around a bit shy about talking about ourselves, our money, our goals, our methods, etc. No agenda usually.
More of a first coffee date....
by ol_pops
Wed May 02, 2012 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: yarq! (yet another refi question)
Replies: 6
Views: 1051

Re: yarq! (yet another refi question)

Not a direct answer but it looks to me like you are a unix sysadmin. Yes?
by ol_pops
Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 1st Day of Retirement
Replies: 44
Views: 5392

Re: 1st Day of Retirement

On my first day, my wife instructed me to take the truck to the garden shop and get a load of compost (not mulch). Shoveling that reminded me of work....!
by ol_pops
Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:30 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19
Replies: 23
Views: 3667

Re: Austin Chapter Meeting - Saturday May 19

I'll be there !
by ol_pops
Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best non-ipod mp3 device
Replies: 17
Views: 2367

Re: Best non-ipod mp3 device

I have a Sansa Fuze and love it. I watch videos on it too. It comes with a video converter to put them on the device.
by ol_pops
Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: linux on an old PC
Replies: 27
Views: 3916

Here's a Linux for ya

http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/u-s- ... -20110722/

[caveat]
It may not work with old(er) hardware.
[/caveat]
by ol_pops
Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: social security
Replies: 3
Views: 1057

easy

That's easy to estimate. Go to the website ssa.gov and use their online calculator. Use zero for all future earnings. See what you get.
by ol_pops
Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Decent (Cheap) Phone for International Travel?
Replies: 19
Views: 5190

shop

This is a UK store but you may be able to order one from here.
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go
by ol_pops
Sun Aug 21, 2011 10:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 12 Hour Plane Ride - Help me Find a Book!
Replies: 52
Views: 7737

Book

Amazing book and an easy read.
"Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman" an autobiography (of sorts) by Richard Feynman. Nobel laureat in physics. But not to worry. His topics include "how to pick up Las Vegas showgirls", "playing the bongos", "cracking all the safes at the Los Alamos Manhatten project". It is a real hoot.
by ol_pops
Thu Aug 18, 2011 7:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2012 COLA for Social Security recipients looks probable
Replies: 20
Views: 5865

COLA question

I'm not presently taking SS but I am FRA. If there is a COLA, will my future base amount change too?
by ol_pops
Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard- Cost basis changes coming soon to mutual funds
Replies: 11
Views: 2579

Do it

OK. Do it. Let us know how it works out for you.
by ol_pops
Sun Jul 17, 2011 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 403069

Richard Feynman

"Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman"
(Adventures of a curious character)
by ol_pops
Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: social security question re my parents
Replies: 15
Views: 2935

do nothing

They don't need to do anything. When they claim, their newer ages will be factored in. "File and Suspend" is for more complicated arrangements...
by ol_pops
Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wi-Fi–Hacking Neighbor From Hell Sentenced to 18 Years
Replies: 36
Views: 5010

Encryption

Make sure it's encrypted. The stronger the better. Check your Wi-Fi manual.
by ol_pops
Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:59 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Dilbert on economic forecasting:)
Replies: 23
Views: 3676

Dilbert

I heard that Scott Adams' most asked question was: Do you work at my company?"
I think he worked at GE.