Search found 1879 matches

by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 17, 2023 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 16, 2023 7:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 16, 2023 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13856

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

deleted
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quitting without 2 weeks notice or a new job
Replies: 116
Views: 13114

Re: Quitting without 2 weeks notice or a new job

Hi all. DW is in a very difficult situation we're trying to navigate. She's mid-career, and part of the senior leadership team of her department (not a department head, or C-level). She's been at her company for a little over 2.5 years. It's been a long, hard journey that in hindsight, was not as advertised and this company was not a good fit. Live and learn, that part is ok. We make wrong turns in our career, and she's been looking for a new job since the end of last year. However, the combination of new executive leadership about 6 months ago (including her department head) and a series of situations over the past few months events have made it debilitating (and I don't use that word lightly) for her to go to work each day. Without getti...
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:06 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insurance for EVs - really this expensive?
Replies: 73
Views: 8046

Re: Insurance for EVs - really this expensive?

We were almost ready to sign the papers for a 2022 Tesla M3 until I called my insurance agent and found out that insuring the Tesla is going to be a little over $1,000 more a year than we are currently paying for our ICE vehicle. I heard that Teslas were expensive to insure, but WOW! Do other EVs cost less to insure, or are they all going to be this bad? I think we are going to skip the EV for now; when we factor in the added cost for a home charger, the added cost of the car itself, the increased insurance, etc. it's going to cost us a heck of a lot more to switch to an EV. It’s probably not all EVs based on what I’ve read it’s the Teslas that are more expensive to repair. There is a reason the other manufacturers stick to standards and d...
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help! My employer's accounting practice put me in trouble!
Replies: 5
Views: 1608

Re: Help! My employer's accounting practice put me in trouble!

Makefile wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:28 pm Based on the use of the word "retire" perhaps you're eligible to do a catch-up 401(k) contribution, and if so did you already consider this in what the limit actually is?
Good question but Turbo tax uses your age to calculate 401k overages. The payroll system should have never let this happen.
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cash Back Credit Card for Online Shopping
Replies: 13
Views: 1354

Re: Cash Back Credit Card for Online Shopping

I don't imagine that it will classify Lowe's and Home Depot as "online shopping", even if you order online. It'll probably classify them as "Home Improvement" or similar, regardless of whether the charge is online or in-person. I second the recommendation for the Amazon Prime card from Chase. No limit 5% back at Amazon, and no annual fee (other than the Prime Membership) If Amazon only why not just the plain old store card through synchrony. There are other incentives that chase doesn’t have. Sometimes 10% back on certain items etc. Because then you're dealing with Synchrony instead of Chase. Well no kidding but what’s the downside? I had both and dumped chase because I saw no difference in service. In fact, I see it as...
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cash Back Credit Card for Online Shopping
Replies: 13
Views: 1354

Re: Cash Back Credit Card for Online Shopping

jpelder wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:50 am I don't imagine that it will classify Lowe's and Home Depot as "online shopping", even if you order online. It'll probably classify them as "Home Improvement" or similar, regardless of whether the charge is online or in-person.

I second the recommendation for the Amazon Prime card from Chase. No limit 5% back at Amazon, and no annual fee (other than the Prime Membership)
If Amazon only why not just the plain old store card through synchrony. There are other incentives that chase doesn’t have. Sometimes 10% back on certain items etc.
by wfrobinette
Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain
Replies: 41
Views: 5295

Re: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain

There are a lot of cases where you have to enter the pass code. 1. Your phone restarted. 2. Your face id failed to work because you are wearing a mask or the fingerprint reader fails (which happens often for me). 3. you hit a setting that requires a passcode. But in how many of those cases was it actually mandatory to use your phone at all? This is where this thread continuously goes off the rails. When was the last time your phone randomly rebooted? What system setting could you possibly be tinkering on your phone in a crowded bar at 1 a.m. that requires a passcode? I'll grant the mask or fingerprint thing but then it's pretty simple to show some discretion in typing in your code. We're getting down to pretty silly edge cases here to whic...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain
Replies: 41
Views: 5295

Re: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain

I was literally going to post about this WSJ article too! I am planning on moving to a new password manager but I’m having trouble finding one that allows you to turn off syncing of passwords to cloud/other devices. Any recommendations? Again, I just want the passwords saved locally. I tried NordPass but I don’t think you can turn off sync. Thinking of Dashlane, as PC world says you need to pay to sync to other devices (but does it sync to the cloud)? Yes, I currently have Apple Keychain saving passwords locally without sync (just disabled iCloud access for it), but this whole ‘keys to the kingdom’ thing via a 6 digit passcode is ridiculous. Apple needs to wake the heck up. Umm apple has been awake for years. Go change your passcode to a c...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: New Employment Offer with Relocation
Replies: 106
Views: 10527

Re: New Employment Offer with Relocation

Hi all! :sharebeer I'm currently working at a global multicorp in the automotive industry as an engineer. So obviously, I'm living in Detroit. I interviewed with a smaller, but more dedicated company based in Charlotte. I'll be joining as the first person in a whole new 'department' of engineering as they are looking to expand, and potentially for me to have direct reports. I'm keen on the move and the new company. My current base+bonus is around $150k. I get $7000/year for a MBA scholarship that I started not too long ago. There's going to be relocation involved as they do not allow remote work. I'm going to lose about $15k in 401k that didn't get vested. Work/life balance will be worse Cost of living seems to be pretty much a wash Climat...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 7:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain
Replies: 41
Views: 5295

Re: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain

Say this recently about how hackers get into your account by stealing your phone. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wsj+iphone+theft To summiarize the attack. 1. Attacker observes you enter your pin by looking over your shoulder. 2. Attacker steals your phone. 3. Attacker unlocks your phone using your pin. 4. Attacker changes your password. 5. Attacker signs you out of your devices to lock you out and removes find my device. 6. Attacker sets up recovery key to prevent you from recovering. 7. Attacker use icloud to access your financial accounts. I think the big issue is that Apple allows you to change your password with just a pin instead of requiring the user to re-enter the old password. I was thinking of ways of mitigating th...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain
Replies: 41
Views: 5295

Re: One reason to use a separate password manager than icloud Keychain

I was literally going to post about this WSJ article too! I am planning on moving to a new password manager but I’m having trouble finding one that allows you to turn off syncing of passwords to cloud/other devices. Any recommendations? Again, I just want the passwords saved locally. I tried NordPass but I don’t think you can turn off sync. Thinking of Dashlane, as PC world says you need to pay to sync to other devices (but does it sync to the cloud)? Yes, I currently have Apple Keychain saving passwords locally without sync (just disabled iCloud access for it), but this whole ‘keys to the kingdom’ thing via a 6 digit passcode is ridiculous. Apple needs to wake the heck up. Umm apple has been awake for years. Go change your passcode to a c...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Reporting of Stock Options: Revived Thread for 2023
Replies: 24
Views: 2431

Re: Tax Reporting of Stock Options

Sounds to me like the proceeds of the sale were already taxed as ordinary income. So don't make the same mistake I did years ago and assume you don't have to do anything else. If things still work the way they did back then, the brokerage transaction was reported to the IRS and needs to be accounted for with a schedule C (if memory serves me right) showing no gain on the transaction. I got a shocking letter from the IRS when I failed to do this, informing me I owed them about $25k. Didn't have to pay it but it took me a while to figure it out and submit the schedule C. This also happened to me. Find that 1099-b. Turbo tax handles this easily. I don't do the interview thing. So can you tell me exactly what Turbotax did? I cannot. I do the w...
by wfrobinette
Thu Mar 09, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Big Island and Kuaui in one trip
Replies: 30
Views: 2845

Re: Big Island and Kuaui in one trip

Hi, I am planning to cover Big Island and Kauai in one trip. Has anyone done this before? If yes, can you help me in covering the major places. I am planning 4 days for each island during December. Not much into hiking but small hikes are okay as have kids of age 12-14. If anyone has similar itinerary, would be great. I’ve been to both islands multiple time though it’s been about 15 years since I’ve been back. Kauai is my favorite by far. It can’t be seen in 3 days unless you do a whirlwind in and out. But it can be done. If you strategically plan and stay in Lihue. Head to the south and west one day to the east and north another and back in one direction for the 3rd day. Excuse the spelling Barking sands Poipu Waimea canyon The Napali coa...
by wfrobinette
Wed Mar 08, 2023 8:13 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax Reporting of Stock Options: Revived Thread for 2023
Replies: 24
Views: 2431

Re: Tax Reporting of Stock Options

howard71 wrote: Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:03 am Sounds to me like the proceeds of the sale were already taxed as ordinary income.

So don't make the same mistake I did years ago and assume you don't have to do anything else. If things still work the way they did back then, the brokerage transaction was reported to the IRS and needs to be accounted for with a schedule C (if memory serves me right) showing no gain on the transaction.

I got a shocking letter from the IRS when I failed to do this, informing me I owed them about $25k. Didn't have to pay it but it took me a while to figure it out and submit the schedule C.
This also happened to me. Find that 1099-b.

Turbo tax handles this easily.
by wfrobinette
Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Accounts keep switching to paperless
Replies: 49
Views: 5051

Re: Accounts keep switching to paperless

gavinsiu wrote: Mon Mar 06, 2023 9:11 pm My mom's credit card and bank accounts keeps switching to paperless. The problem is when that happens, she can't figure out how to pay the bills because there is no envelope to mail the check. My thought is that the banks and credit card display a popup asking the user to change to paperless. I was wondering if there is a good solution other than autopay, which she doesn't want to do.
Switch to a credit union. They are generally much better to deal with if you need service.
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can you lock an iphone with hardware security key? [iPhone security discussion]
Replies: 138
Views: 9338

Re: Can you lock an iphone with hardware security key?

TravelforFun wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 4:36 pm
mrmass wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 3:53 pm I think the shortest timeout is 15 seconds. Perp graps phone, runs, is 15 seconds enough or not? Do you feel lucky? :mrgreen:
Perp can keep the phone alive by tapping, scrolling, opening and closing apps, etc. Or first thing they do is changing settings.

TravelforFun
Lol! The perp is running away for 15 seconds or more! Seriously where do you people come up with irrational fears? The person stealing a phone is looking to sell it asap for cash. They are not looking to steal it and spend hours hunting through content in the hopes of finding a needle in a haystack!
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can you lock an iphone with hardware security key? [iPhone security discussion]
Replies: 138
Views: 9338

Re: Can you lock an iphone with hardware security key?

HawkeyePierce wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 3:37 pm Use a long passcode and a short timeout to lock the phone after a few seconds of inactivity. Problem solved.
4 digits is plenty with the number attempts and the processing increase in time for wrong answers. Most people stealing phones anticipate wiping and starting over anyway.
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 8:15 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: High school choice dilemma
Replies: 78
Views: 5423

Re: High school choice dilemma

Dear BHs: I realize that there is no ideal answer to this question but I would like to hear from folks who might have gone through this exercise and how best to address this dilemma. Our child in middle school has been assigned to attend a high school that is considered not so educationally challenging and competitive. They give importance to sports though. It is not a bad school but just that they are crowded and are known more for sports. The originally intended school which he was supposed to go to is couple of notches higher and more competitive in education and music (not as much in sports). He is an above average kid - think like top of the class achiever. One of the most important thing for him and us is to make sure he continues to...
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 7:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frugal Tip: Black Tea vs Coffee -- we save around $600 per year this way.
Replies: 248
Views: 22287

Re: Frugal Tip: Black Tea vs Coffee -- we save around $600 per year this way.

Cheez-It Guy wrote: Sat Feb 25, 2023 7:50 pm I save even more money than substituting tea for coffee by simply drinking tap water. I don't require stimulants to get through a day.
Good for you! Some of us enjoy a cup or two of coffee! To each their own I guess.
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frugal Tip: Black Tea vs Coffee -- we save around $600 per year this way.
Replies: 248
Views: 22287

Re: Frugal Tip: Black Tea vs Coffee -- we save around $600 per year this way.

I know this won't apply to many here, because I know people won't want to give up coffee -- I was the same. But I recently learned that you can get 100 bags of black tea from Walmart for $2.12 -- Great Value Brand. That's 2 cents per 12 oz mug of tea. For coffee we were buying the cheapest instant coffee we could find: Great Value instant coffee. Right now I see it for $4.92 for 12 oz. According to the package it contains 70 teaspoons of coffee. We put 2 level teaspoons of coffee in each 12 oz mug. $4.92 / 35 two teaspoon servings is 14 cents per mug. I don't know about you but we couldn't drink coffee without heavy cream. We put 2 tbsp of heavy cream in each mug. Heavy cream is now $5 per quart (used to be $3 per quart 18 months ago). The...
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reverse Osmosis vs. Bottled Water: Which is Healthier?
Replies: 82
Views: 7339

Re: Reverse Osmosis vs. Bottled Water: Which is Healthier?

Coca-cola, Culligan et. al. have really convinced us that regular tap water is like drinking pure poison. I wouldn't waste money on that nonsense over a plain old Brita filter pitcher or maybe a water softener if you don't like hard water. Buy a water test kit off Amazon (DON'T let the Culligan man test it unless you want to be misled into thinking you're going to die) and see for yourself. I always thought my drinking water was bad news but in fact it's way above average. Just use a Brita (basically just a charcoal filter) to remove the chlorine for taste and enjoy. The better move is to read your municipalities water quality report and see what else is that water. Municipal water contains all sorts of other things that some don’t want to...
by wfrobinette
Sun Feb 26, 2023 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: please help me get started with TV streaming
Replies: 152
Views: 18243

Re: please help me get started with TV streaming

Silk McCue wrote: Mon Feb 13, 2023 1:58 pm
wfrobinette wrote: Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:53 pm
Unless they made improvements their DVR for series' is the worst I have ever seen. NO option to only keep new shows and skip older reruns.
Not really a big deal as they group them by season.

Cheers
sure it is when you have to remember what you have watched. And some of the longer running shows like dateline don’t get grouped that way.
by wfrobinette
Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: please help me get started with TV streaming
Replies: 152
Views: 18243

Re: please help me get started with TV streaming

pizzy wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 12:58 pm
bhluckyusaguy wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:48 am I opted for YouTube TV. It has local news, PBS and HGTV and sports. Check their website for the stations in your area. It also allows you save tv shows to the cloud/account DVR.
I still have to use the cable company for internet - so that YouTube TV can play. Saved a lot of money with the switch.
However, now that I'm retired, I don't look at a lot TV anymore but DW does her share. I am going to look at the SuperBowl though - DW too (Fly-Eagles-Fly) :beer
E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!
Cry Eagles Cry!
by wfrobinette
Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: please help me get started with TV streaming
Replies: 152
Views: 18243

Re: please help me get started with TV streaming

bhluckyusaguy wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:48 am I opted for YouTube TV. It has local news, PBS and HGTV and sports. Check their website for the stations in your area. It also allows you save tv shows to the cloud/account DVR.
I still have to use the cable company for internet - so that YouTube TV can play. Saved a lot of money with the switch.
However, now that I'm retired, I don't look at a lot TV anymore but DW does her share. I am going to look at the SuperBowl though - DW too (Fly-Eagles-Fly) :beer
Unless they made improvements their DVR for series' is the worst I have ever seen. NO option to only keep new shows and skip older reruns.
by wfrobinette
Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: send in driver's license photo for new Capital One credit card
Replies: 57
Views: 54102

Re: send in driver's license photo for new Capital One credit card

PatrickA5 wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:18 pm Yes, we had to send in a copy of DWs drivers license for a Walmart credit card. I was able to actually get the card without providing it, but the 2nd time I tried to log in online, it wouldn't let me go any further without the DL. This is the only CC (out of many) that has ever demanded it.
It's becoming very common practice when opening new accounts. FInance regs require companies to know exactly who they are doing business with. KYC. Plus the DL will prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened. To all of those that say they'll refuse. Good luck because they just cancel your account.