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I live in a booming area in Texas. Tax assessment increases are capped at 10% per year, and most people I know have hit the cap repeatedly year after year. It's pretty universally accepted at this point that the value on the tax rolls has nothing to do with the market value of your house. Any buyer ...

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I also use Google Flights to screen airfare schedule and routing options. It's amazing how much variation there can be based on small schedule changes. That will also give you a good idea of the dates/times/routes to check through the bundler.

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What are you planning on him using the money for? Your anticipated horizon will determine in what funds you should invest, and it's not clear whether you are looking to use the funds while he is still a minor, or perhaps supplement the college savings, maybe for a house downpayment, or something els...

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livesoft wrote: ↑Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:24 pm Those lights linked by Toons look great. I may get me some. Thx!

I've had the same ones for about 2 years. They've been reliable, easily portable, super-bright, and I'm a fan.

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I map out a plan with overall goals, intermediate goals, and short term goals. Then I execute it and record my performance for each. The easiest way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time - so I plan out the necessary bites. By always having something actionable in front of me that is achievable, ...

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If your timeline is 12 months, the "best" way is the one that you're comfortable with since it's not like you will be investing the funds otherwise in anything likely to earn you a big return (or at least you shouldn't be taking that kind of risk in the short term). When I paid off the sec...

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I have, and there really is no reference point for it. For the most part it lacks any human scale, making it incredibly hard to describe sufficiently. It's one of those things you just have to do in order to understand. I think you will have a great time aboard Le Boreal . Pack less than you think y...

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Um, are you planning on selling the first house when you buy the second? That's how most people fund their down payment for a new residence. As far as paying off the house, the alternative is that if you want that money to go toward your down payment on a new home in 3 years, you need to keep it in ...

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I include it, but since it's an illiquid asset with significant transaction costs, I have not "marked to market" as it has appreciated. For my purposes that's enough.

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I don't get that feeling when I spend money on myself, but I keep getting surprised when someone asks for a donation to something that I think is worthy and my first thought isn't "can I afford to give something" but "how much do I need to make the check for." It's a bit humbling...

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Of course, right after I did thatthat, we had the huge run-up in the market. There has not been a huge run-up in the market, so you still have an excellent chance to get back in if you do it today. That said, if your investment choices leave you prone to bailing, you may want to dial back the risk ...

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Travel. I like to see how far I can get from my front door, and what the world looks like from there.

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I would leave the money in the account and invest it in something other than a money market fund. The big advantage that those funds have is the tax shelter offered by being in a qualified account. Once you lose that tax-advantaged space, you don't get it back. Without knowing more about your financ...

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I really hate to make the suggestion because I don't mean to imply anything negative by it, but have you looked at GPS locators people use for their pets? They're lightweight and look like they would clip to a belt loop, purse strap, or shoe lace fairly easily. There are quite a few on Amazon with ...

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I use Crabtree & Evelyn's ultra-moisturizing hand therapy. Thick lotion but not greasy or slimy. I don't know if they make it not perfumed, but I'm usually pretty fragrance-sensitive and the verbena doesn't knock me out.

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I really hate to make the suggestion because I don't mean to imply anything negative by it, but have you looked at GPS locators people use for their pets? They're lightweight and look like they would clip to a belt loop, purse strap, or shoe lace fairly easily. There are quite a few on Amazon with l...

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However this is not a service I could use, for example, while Mrs. letsgobobby was home alone with the kids. I wouldn't want her having to interact with the mechanic the way I needed to. She would prefer a more traditional service regardless of the cost. Why not? Because she doesn't have the same k...

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I have no knowledge or experience with this, but I would start by looking at the instructions for the Form 1040 published by the Internal Revenue Service. It walks through what you have to report and where, and directs you to the other forms required. Then I would track down the instructions for tho...

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I'm pretty sure both you and the IRS have other, more important things to worry about. +1. While having to pay taxes is a certainty in life, that doesn't mean everything you do in life has to be related to taxes. +2. It's not a reported transaction, and it wouldn't show up on your financial records...

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Most of the Uber cars I've ridden in have been in much better condition than the taxis I've taken. The drivers tend to be very professional - I have only ever had one that was questionable in that regard (about the time he started cursing the border patrol guard, I thought he might be a bit crazy). ...

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I spend less than $100 a year. That's for shoes and batteries for my electronics. How much do you run/what shoes are you using? Mine seem to last only about 400-450 miles before they start leaving me achy which means I spend at least $600 each year buying the last year's model shoes on sale. Or may...

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1) This year I spent $2,961, including two destination marathons with airfare, 3 marathon entries, training group fees of about $300, shoes, clothes, a new Garmin, and trips to the sports medicine therapist. It's not a cheap sport, no matter what folks say. 2) Partly because it's the coolest part of...

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We likely will be upgrading our fridge this month. Lowes and Best Buy will both haul away our existing fridge for $15. I'm tempted to do that because it's easy, but I was wondering if anyone knows of other (easy) ways to get rid of a fridge. The old one still works, but it's showing signs it's goin...

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My wife and I didn't share this news with anyone except for her parents - we have a very strong relationship with them (in my case, for over 30 years) and trust them with this kind of information, and it has not led to any issues in our relationship. And I think we shared it here too. :happy Other ...

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I told my parents who were proud of me. I have quietly told a few close friends over the past couple years when it has been relevant to the discussion. Oh, and I told one random stranger in the Denver airport while we were making small talk the day I paid it off. I would never, never make a public a...

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36, ~$75K per year.

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Mine reminds me that I have chosen anonymity in this forum and I shouldn't screw that up.

Also, I like Magritte. And periodically think to myself "who is that masked manzana?" and chuckle a little at my weird little joke.

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I use 0.75% real return in planning because when I calculate the net present value of what I will need to retire, and then feed that number into FireCalc for my expected length of retirement, it fails in 0 historical cycles. This is actually true up to about 1% real, but I'd rather err on the side o...

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I mow my own. Self-propelled mower, small yards, and it takes about 45 minutes to mow & edge every week in the summer and every 2 weeks spring and fall. I find it oddly satisfying, and it's probably my most gratifying chore.

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Another point to make about high RMDs is their interaction with social security. RMDs and social security hit around the same time year 70 if you put them both off, and the high RMDs can trigger higher taxability of social security, while that higher taxable income means even more taxes paid off th...

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https://investor.vanguard.com/ira/excess-contribution

I'd read through this first.

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Well then, let's celebrate!

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I would submit that the trust part makes your intentions a little more involved than "uncomplicated." I haven't used the products you mention, but in my area a decent will can be had for between $200-$500. I found that a reasonable price for peace of mind that it was done correctly for the...

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Hello you well-traveled and good-lookin' Bogleheads. I need your advice, and thank you in advance. I'm planning a trip to Bolivia where my arriving flight on American was going to land about 6:00 a.m. and I was going to catch a Boliviana de Aviacion flight out 2 hours later at 8:00 a.m. If I miss th...

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I haven't been to Africa with G Adventures, but the trips I have done with them have been great. Their customer service representatives are also fantastic, so if you have questions about your trip itinerary before you book, I wouldn't hesitate to give them a call. (The wait times are a little long, ...

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g$$ wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2017 2:33 pm Nobody mentioned market timer? I loved that thread.

A different approach to asset allocation.

Definitely. I would love to split an order of pumpkin pancakes and hear about his wild and wooly adventuresome youth!

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Meg77 and VictoriaF and a few other LadyBogles whose screen names I cannot recall off the top of my head. Nothing against the guys, and there are many I'd like to thank / meet, but I find women who are outspoken, can speak finance, who have their act together, etc. very inspirational. And a bit rar...

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I don't need to value my time, I just need to know if it is more or less valuable than the cost of the alternatives. For example, I enjoy mowing the lawn, so the question is whether the $30 I'd pay a service to do it is more or less expensive than the half hour it takes me to mow. Turns out, it isn'...

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W.L. Weller is my preference, but it's gotten so hard to find and the last time I ordered it in a bar in Chicago, they'd never heard of it. Hmmph. Maker's Mark will do and is my backup order, but truth be told I enjoy most bourbon. Having lower standards is handy when it comes time to economize. :beer

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If you really want to look at it from a savings rate perspective, this article from the Journal of Financial Planning is about 10 years old but gives a pretty good idea for how to do it right: http://www.fiscalisadvisory.com/assets/pdfs/NationalSavingsGuidelines.pdf . It's not perfect, but pretty so...

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Congratulations! Difficult job well done!

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When you withdraw basis or earnings from the Roth, none of it will be taxed. From the after tax 401k, earnings will be taxed as ordinary income. In addition, the 401k will be subject to RMDs, while the Roth IRA does not have RMDs. This. If you leave the after tax contributions in the 401(k), then t...

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I often see people in here who leave very frugal lives. I am wondering what sort of post retirement activities fit into these austere personal budgets 1. Just because someone lives frugally during their working years does not mean that they intend to do so indefinitely. I'm on track to retire early...

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In case of flood/another hurricane, I would probably use my drybag backpack for this purpose since I already own it and it's easy to carry. I've got this one https://www.amazon.com/DryCASE-Waterproof-Backpack-Masonboro-BP-35/dp/B00A2ZQN5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504650658&sr=8-1&keywords...

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I would recommending going with an entry level dslr and a prime lens. For example - you can get a canon rebel t6 and a 50mm prime 1.8 lens for ~$600. Else you could get an iPhone 7 plus and get the same effect as they have two cameras The best camera is the one that you have handy. It doesn't matte...

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Well done.

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Goldrush wrote:Someone here had a similar problem about a year ago.

viewtopic.php?t=190127

D'oh!

Thank you so much for doing the archives search that I should have started with. It was very helpful, and I will try to remember to start there next time.

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What user name?

(The question I keep asking when I have to log in)

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Hello shipmates, looking for your advice and input. This year I elected to receive $5,000 of my tax refund in I Bonds and the remainder in cash. I dutifully filled out the Form 8888 and filed it with my return. Weeks went by, and I finally got the direct deposit for the cash portion and shortly ther...

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I have used Travel Visa Pro twice, once for China and once for Brazil. I did it to save the required trips to the consulates and it was quick and relatively inexpensive. Can you tell me the exact name of the website. I checked them out on yelp, too. Began the process on Saturday, and my credit card...

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