Search found 75 matches

by MrsO
Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Jersey shore or DE beach town for Empty Nesters??
Replies: 70
Views: 7469

Re: Jersey shore or DE beach town for Empty Nesters??

Lots of people retire to DE beaches because property taxes are extremely low, healthcare options are decent, and it’s a laid back, coastal lifestyle with plenty of outdoor activities. Traffic isn’t as bad as people say, and you learn to avoid peak travel times. The area seems to be more of a year-round location than the Jersey shore. If you take a walk on the beach in winter, you’ll usually see other people. At some beaches you’ll even see surfers in wet suits, braving the cold water. Rehoboth, Lewes, and Bethany are all great, it just depends what you prefer. With a few working years left, and with your healthy net worth, I might consider a weekend home that could potentially become your retirement home. We did something similar (in the sa...
by MrsO
Thu Jun 22, 2023 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Family vacation ideas (kids 3, 6yo)?
Replies: 38
Views: 3812

Re: Family vacation ideas (kids 3, 6yo)?

I’m in your area with slightly older kids. I agree with everyone here who said that a hotel pool is like gold! With kids that age, we had fun taking weekend trips to places a few hours away: Rehoboth Beach/Lewes, DE -- lots to do in the area, and the state park has something for everyone. Beaches, nature trails, bikes you can borrow for free (including trailers for kids), playground, and more. Skytop Lodge in the Poconos — a peaceful place with plenty of stuff for kids to do and good setting for grown ups to relax. Lots of activities on site if you want to stay busy. Spring Lake, NJ — a quiet spot at the beach with a cute town and a large park with a playground. Our kids also did great on longer road trips up and down the East Coast. Drivin...
by MrsO
Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best East coast beach town to live in
Replies: 93
Views: 12240

Re: Best East coast beach town to live in

I wrote a long response but it vanished, so I'll just summarize and say thanks for all the great suggestions! I intentionally left the criteria wide open because I wanted to hear a wide range of responses. It's valuable to hear about all of these different places that I've never heard of. It gives me lots of ideas for new places I'd like to check out. If I'm being more specific, I'd like to be in a place with year-round activities where I can be at the beach in 10-15 minutes and not too far from a city. I'd like it to be a place that has other fun weekend trips nearby. New England is a strong contender, but then I'd probably want a 2nd home in a warmer location (if finances and logistics permit). I haven't explored North and South Carolina ...
by MrsO
Fri Jun 09, 2023 12:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best East coast beach town to live in
Replies: 93
Views: 12240

Best East coast beach town to live in

Someday I’d like to move to a beach town, preferably on the East coast. I’ve done a lot of exploring but would love to hear recommendations for great places to live (not just visit).

It could be anywhere from Maine to Florida, including sleepy coastal towns, large cities, and islands. Ideally it would be pedestrian friendly, meaning there are areas where you can walk straight from the beach to shops and restaurants.

I’d like to keep the criteria wide open, so let’s not worry about schools, taxes, or extreme weather for now. This is all about quality of life and the ability to live near the ocean while still having plenty of other things to do.

Thanks in advance!
by MrsO
Wed May 03, 2023 8:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Treating children financially equal
Replies: 259
Views: 21629

Re: Treating children financially equal

There seems to be a common sentiment that people who have not been treated “equally” by parents feel entitled to their money. I would describe it differently. I think these siblings do not feel entitled to their parents’ money, and also don’t think that their siblings are entitled to it. So, if money is given to one sibling but not another, it sends a strange (and potentially hurtful) message to the child who is not on the receiving end. I’m specifically referring to financial assistance for adult children, not who got braces and whose education cost more. One adult kid has a medical need and the parents provide money only to that child? No problem. First kid buys a house and gets no help (and doesn’t want or expect any either), then the pa...
by MrsO
Fri Dec 30, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best way to save for college
Replies: 2
Views: 647

Best way to save for college

We have two kids who are (hopefully) college bound in 8 and 11 years, respectively. We would like to pay in full for their education expenses and are in the fortunate position where it shouldn’t be an issue. We have college funds mentally set aside in taxable accounts but I’m wondering if we should open 529 plans or if there is something else we should consider. I’ve always been hesitant about 529s because it locks the money into a specific use, in a specific timeframe. The money would need to be invested fairly conservatively (I think), vs. keeping money invested more broadly in taxable accounts and selling whatever makes most sense when the time comes. Pertinent info: - we are in the 32% tax bracket / 3.08% state - both spouse’s 401k and ...
by MrsO
Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:44 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wood Fireplace - Keep it or Get Rid of it?
Replies: 45
Views: 3951

Re: Wood Fireplace - Keep it or Get Rid of it?

CAsage wrote: Fri Aug 19, 2022 10:59 am I'd rip it out in a New York minute. We got rid of our monstrosity in the last remodel, and it opened up design, furniture and entertainment options (that big screen TV) that were precluded with all that wall space locked down.
Can I ask how much it cost to remove the fireplace? We’re planning a remodel and have a 2nd fireplace that we’ve never used, and it’s really limiting our layout options. We’ll probably keep it since it seems blasphemous to remove a fireplace from an old home, but I’m trying to do a cost-benefit analysis. Thanks!
by MrsO
Mon Jul 11, 2022 3:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Received mystery package - what would you do?
Replies: 9
Views: 1943

Re: Received mystery package - what would you do?

Ah, “Amazon Brushing” - that would actually make some sense! Although in this case the package wasn’t from Amazon. It was delivered by FedEx and there is a sticker on the package that says “889 Return to Shipper / Relabel Reason: Tendered Without a Barcode”. But there is actually a barcode on the package, so perhaps FedEx could shed some light. I’m not sure I’ll spend much more time trying to solve this, though. I just wanted to make sure nothing nefarious was happening but, overall, I like the idea of donating the shipment and calling it a day.
by MrsO
Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Received mystery package - what would you do?
Replies: 9
Views: 1943

Received mystery package - what would you do?

Well this is strange. A large package addressed to my spouse was sent to our old address. The new homeowner let us know and we picked it up. The outside of the box indicated that it was a specialty kitchen device that we didn’t order (which retails above $100), however we had a few recent birthdays in our household and our immediate thought was that it was a gift. We checked with a few relatives to see if they sent it, and the answer was no. So we opened the large box and within it are 6 boxes - in other words, 6 specialty kitchen devices that would retail for over $600 total. Each of the 6 boxes was addressed to different unknown people in different states. I’ve heard that there are scams where random packages are sent to random addresses,...
by MrsO
Thu Jun 09, 2022 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Two houses or one?
Replies: 16
Views: 2825

Re: Two houses or one?

A lot depends on the distance between the houses as well as your stage in life. If you’ve never owned a house before, definitely don’t start with two houses. If you’re planning to start a family, you may want to hold off on a second house until family life stabilizes. We bought a second home a few years ago and absolutely love it. Our primary home is older and requires a good amount of maintenance, but our second house is newer and doesn’t need much upkeep (yet). We go most weekends and there aren’t many chores to do, so we can clear our minds and relax. At our primary house, there is always something I feel like I should be doing. In the end, beyond the financial part, it’s really a personal choice. A lot depends on how you like to spend y...
by MrsO
Mon Jun 06, 2022 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying condo, lawyer suggesting POA
Replies: 20
Views: 1788

Re: Buying condo, lawyer suggesting POA

Just speaking from personal experience, we closed on an out-of-state home purchase with a POA. We only did it because it was at the height of Covid shutdowns, and it was really our only option. But it was fantastic! Easiest real estate closing I’ve ever been a part of, by far.
by MrsO
Fri Jun 03, 2022 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations
Replies: 57
Views: 4740

Re: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations

I appreciate the additional suggestions! So far I’ve purchased a Thermopen and silicone grill mats, which we don’t have and I’m sure will be useful.

I decided against doing anything smoker-related since I remembered that there are some wood smoking chips that have been sitting in a cabinet (unused) for several years now, so apparently that’s not much of an interest.

Now I’m looking at sous vide machines, which my spouse has mentioned a few times in passing. If anyone has a specific model to recommend, I’d love to hear about it!

I also like the suggestion of a gift certificate for fancy meat. I’m still on the fence about that, since the recipient is someone who only buys steak if it’s on sale. Which I can appreciate :beer
by MrsO
Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Diamond earrings for wife, Costco v. Blue Nile v. ___?
Replies: 42
Views: 6966

Re: Diamond earrings for wife, Costco v. Blue Nile v. ___?

^^
Another vote for Whiteflash. I bought diamond studs there because it was one of the vendors that let me select the individual diamonds and provided online images that I could view. It was a smooth process, and I’ve referred a few other people who had similarly positive experiences.
by MrsO
Sun May 29, 2022 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations
Replies: 57
Views: 4740

Re: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations

DarkNyte wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 8:38 pm Do you know the type and size of the Weber grill?
It’s a Weber Genesis… I’m guessing the 325. I like the idea of smoking stuff on it!
by MrsO
Sat May 28, 2022 8:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations
Replies: 57
Views: 4740

Re: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will definitely pick a thing or two from this list. Most of these ideas would never have occurred to me.

As additional info, this is for my spouse, who enjoys grilling but definitely doesn’t do it as a hobby. The budget is flexible and I can check our house to see what equipment is already there (which I think is limited to nice grilling utensils and maybe a digital thermometer).

Off to research all of the ideas provided here!
by MrsO
Fri May 27, 2022 5:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations
Replies: 57
Views: 4740

Grilling / cooking gadget recommendations

Hi everyone, I’m looking for gift suggestions for someone who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen or on the grill, especially when it comes to meat. As a lifelong vegetarian, I’m not very knowledgeable about this topic. :happy

The recipient already has a nice Weber grill and the basic accessories. What would you add to make grilling/cooking meat even better?

I was thinking of something like a grill smoker box. A sous vide cooker crossed my mind, although it’s not related to grilling. After that, I’m pretty much out of ideas. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
by MrsO
Sun May 15, 2022 2:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Older Women Lifting Weights
Replies: 203
Views: 27814

Re: Older Women Lifting Weights

Thanks for reviving this thread! I’ve been a runner for a few decades and repetitive stress injuries are starting to catch up with me. I’m looking for a lower impact, yet effective, form of exercise and am curious to try strength training.

What equipment would the knowledgeable folks here recommend starting out with? I’m not ready to commit to any major equipment (nor do I have the space for it), although I already own some dumbbells. What else is important for a beginner to have? Many thanks!
by MrsO
Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best way to get to NYC with kids
Replies: 32
Views: 2650

Re: Best way to get to NYC with kids

Thanks for all the tips! Since we can easily drive to 30th Street Station and park there, or walk to the Regional Rail from our house, Amtrak is looking like the best option for this trip. I didn’t realize that tickets start at $18 on weekdays - that’s a steal. I’d love to take the Staten Island Ferry sometime though! It’s funny to hear all the negativity about driving into the city. When I was in college, I thought nothing of jumping in my car and driving the couple of hours into Manhattan. I never had a bit of trouble driving or parking, no matter what part of the city I was visiting. But all these comments have me thinking that I must have been nuts :) I’ve read every post here and have filed away all of your great information for our tr...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 03, 2022 6:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best way to get to NYC with kids
Replies: 32
Views: 2650

Best way to get to NYC with kids

My kids are 9 and 6 and have never been to NYC. I’d like to take them but am wondering the best way to get a family of 4 into the city. We’re a few hours south of NYC, and one option is to take Amtrak from 30th St Station to Penn Station. But I wonder, would it be better to drive most of the way there and park at a NJ Transit station for the last leg of the trip? If so, which station? Driving all the way to NYC is another option, but I imagine that parking would be a pain. Any other options I’m not considering? The main goals are to minimize travel time, cost, and walking distance since the kids will get tired enough walking around the city. We don’t have an agenda yet for what to do in the city, and haven’t decided yet whether it will be a...
by MrsO
Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricky work situation - advice needed
Replies: 42
Views: 5014

Re: Tricky work situation - advice needed

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. The main issue, as I see it, is having to work for someone you had a previous work-related conflict with, that somehow became personal due to this person’s comments. It can be painful to see a person’s true colors, especially if you now have to report to that person and know what they’re capable of (e.g. vindictive behavior). Going to HR seems like a nuclear option that could easily backfire on spouse and label spouse as a troublemaker. I imagine that boss and boss’s boss would be notified if there was any contact with HR and the situation would escalate. I appreciate the sentiment that it’s exhausting dealing with biased attitudes like this, and it slowly chips away at you over time. So true. Finding ...
by MrsO
Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tricky work situation - advice needed
Replies: 42
Views: 5014

Tricky work situation - advice needed

Asking for my spouse :wink: Spouse has a new boss. Spouse and boss have a long history professionally but have gotten to know each other personally over time. They had a pretty strong conflict once, during which new boss (prior to becoming boss) made discriminatory comments about a protected class my spouse is part of. (The comments were general, not directed toward my spouse.) Spouse and boss parted ways negatively after this, so to speak. But now boss will be responsible for performance reviews of spouse moving forward and spouse fears she will retaliate. This is at a megacorp. What to do? - suck it up, work hard, and hope for the best - find a new job - enlist HR (probably a terrible move!) - other? Moral of the story: make sure to avoid...
by MrsO
Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Weekend in Philly
Replies: 15
Views: 1674

Re: Weekend in Philly

The Philadelphia Art Museum and the Barnes Foundation have free admission this Sunday since it’s the first Sunday of the month. Both museums offer kids’ art activities that my kids enjoyed at that age (not sure if they are still doing it these days).

The Please Touch Museum is great but is outside of center city. If you’re headed out that way, Smith Memorial Playground would be a hit with the kids.

Enjoy your weekend!
by MrsO
Wed Jun 02, 2021 1:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Return to Work - How is your company dealing with it?
Replies: 593
Views: 84636

Re: Return to Work - How is your company dealing with it?

The megacorp I work for says that, pre-pandemic, they trusted their people to work when and where it made sense for them. Nothing about that changes moving forward. :sharebeer
by MrsO
Wed Apr 14, 2021 2:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Acura TLX or RDX owners?
Replies: 27
Views: 2672

Re: Any Acura TLX or RDX owners?

We have a 2017 RDX and a 2018 TLX. We’ve had Acuras for years and have found them to be comfortable and reliable. They are both great cars, but it depends on your needs and if you prefer to drive a sedan or an SUV. Personally I’ve gotten used to driving the RDX and really don’t like being so low to the ground when driving the TLX. But that’s just me. One thing I will say is that I cannot stand the gear shift in the newer models I’ve driven as loaners. It’s almost bad enough that it would prevent me from getting a new Acura! It’s a shame, because otherwise we’ve found that Acuras check all the boxes that are important to us. And we are like you - prefer to buy practical cars and then keep them for years. The Acura is a bit of a splurge, but ...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle
Replies: 75
Views: 8139

Re: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle

I've got over a decade of offroading experience. OP, I'm happy to answer as many questions as you'd like as this is a hobby of mine. Let me ask a few questions. 1. Do you sense that you would ever like rock crawling? 2. Do you sense that you this might become a hobby that you would enjoy more and more? 3. Do you value having extra capability so you are more likely to always be able to drive home without calling for an extraction? Honestly I don’t know a thing about rock crawling! I think I once saw a video of a Land Rover demonstration, which was fascinating and so amazing to see what was possible. But I’m a super cautious person and would probably be petrified, if it’s what I imagine. Heck, even being a passenger on windy roads in Sedona ...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle
Replies: 75
Views: 8139

Re: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle

I have never gotten into 4 wheel driving but one thing I have picked up over the years is that there is actually a lot to learn about how to actually drive off road right and how to get yourself out of trouble when(not if) something happens and you get stuck. I could not agree more. I’ll never forget the time we set off with a baby in tow for an afternoon at an extremely remote beach we’d been to many times before. We drove several miles along the ocean, basically to the end of the universe. We unpacked our beach gear and enjoyed a few blissful minutes until I heard the unmistakable hissssssssss of a leaking tire. Oh no! Certainly there was no AAA to tow us back to safety. Cell phone reception was spotty. We tried making it back to a real ...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle
Replies: 75
Views: 8139

Re: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle

TomatoTomahto wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2021 12:26 pm CyberTruck. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cP0onHJ-E3I
Yes, my husband keeps joking that he wants a CyberTruck. Except I know he’s not joking at all!
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle
Replies: 75
Views: 8139

Re: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle

Thanks for all the great info! Can’t beat this site for wise advice on any topic under the sun. There are lots of options here that I hadn’t considered, including some smaller pickup trucks. Jeep seems to be the favorite of many, and might be the easiest choice, although I’m overwhelmed by all the different models and configurations. We’ve rented Wranglers on trips to Hawaii and I wasn’t overly impressed, plus as noted above it may not be the best car for road trips. But every time I see one on the road I think of how fun it looks! I’ve wondered if a Grand Cherokee would be a good balance since it’s a more comfortable SUV with four wheel drive, so I may look into that as well. Mercedes, Lexus, and Land Rover all look like amazing trucks but...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best 4 wheel drive vehicle
Replies: 75
Views: 8139

Best 4 wheel drive vehicle

First I’ll start by saying that this is not a very boglehead purchase :| We’re thinking of getting a 4x4 vehicle, primarily so we can drive off-road on sand for surf casting and exploring. (In other words, 4 wheel drive is a must and AWD will not cut it). We’re a family of 4, with kids in car seats a for little while longer. Most of our driving is either very short distances in town or 2+ hour road trips. I could see a pickup truck being useful for throwing bikes/kayaks in the back, or the occasional need to transport large items, but it’s not necessary. I was thinking of some sort of Jeep, mainly because it seems like the obvious choice. In general I have zero interest in vehicles beyond reliability and fuel efficiency. Option 1: get an ol...
by MrsO
Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career advice for high schooler with HFA & difficulty with math
Replies: 65
Views: 7539

Re: Career advice for high schooler with HFA & difficulty with math

While this doesn’t help with selecting a career path, it may be reassuring to know that some major companies have programs specifically designed for hiring and supporting people on the autism spectrum:
https://daivergent.com/blog/companies-t ... tic-adults

A google search for “autism at work” will uncover companies with similar programs outside of the tech industry. Some of these companies offer college internships, which may be a good way to explore potential careers and gain experience.

Best of luck to you!
by MrsO
Sat Mar 21, 2020 7:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Online shopping during the current crisis
Replies: 18
Views: 1774

Online shopping during the current crisis

Are you still shopping online for non-critical items during the current crisis?

Right before all this started, I had planned to do a lot of shopping online at large retailers — in this case, to furnish a new house. Now I wonder if, ethically, I should hold off so that workers and systems can focus on critical needs. On the other hand, companies (and employees) still need to make money.

I may feel differently if I were shopping at small retailers who could really use the support right now.

Have the recent headlines affected your online shopping habits?
by MrsO
Mon Apr 01, 2019 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I do a backdoor Roth for 2018?
Replies: 4
Views: 368

Re: Can I do a backdoor Roth for 2018?

Thanks so much for the thorough response, retiredjg. You clarified the part that was fuzzy for me - that I can’t have a traditional IRA balance at the time of *conversion* which I understand is different from the IRA contribution.

I’ve made backdoor Roth contributions in previous years so I’ve been through form 8608 a few times. But apparently not enough times for the process to be crystal clear to me, so I appreciate your input! :sharebeer
by MrsO
Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:08 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Can I do a backdoor Roth for 2018?
Replies: 4
Views: 368

Can I do a backdoor Roth for 2018?

At the end of 2018 I terminated a solo 401k plan and moved the money to a rollover IRA. Then in the first quarter of 2019 I transferred all of the money from the rollover IRA to my employer-sponsored 401k. Here is the sequence of events: - December 18, 2018: direct rollover from solo 401k to rollover IRA - March 30, 2018: transferred money from rollover IRA to employer 401k (the transaction was complete on this date) The balance of the rollover IRA is now $0 and I have no other money in traditional IRA. But, for a short period in 2018 and 2019 I had funds in a rollover IRA. Can I make still make an IRA contribution for 2018 and convert it to a Roth by the end of the year? Or does this mean I can only do a backdoor Roth contribution for 2019?
by MrsO
Mon Mar 11, 2019 3:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Unbalanced UTMA gift accounts for 2 kids
Replies: 7
Views: 484

Re: Unbalanced UTMA gift accounts for 2 kids

We had a similar situation, so my husband and I made a gift to our younger child’s UTMA to even things up.
by MrsO
Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Park college savings in a vacation home?
Replies: 29
Views: 2278

Re: Park college savings in a vacation home?

Thanks to all for the interesting and varied perspectives. I can see now that I’m conflating two ideas that should be kept separate. College savings are the #1 priority. So then it becomes a question of, can we afford a second home once college is accounted for... and do we even want one. A small beach house/condo sounds great now, but it could just be a “life stage” thing — we do travel with the kids to an extent, but it always feels like a bit of a hassle and makes a vacation home seem easy in comparison. (Says me, who has never had to deal with an emergency home repair two hours away, in the middle of the work week, which I’m sure is inevitable.) My takeaway is that I should keep dreaming, and possibly save some pennies (beyond college s...
by MrsO
Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:43 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Park college savings in a vacation home?
Replies: 29
Views: 2278

Park college savings in a vacation home?

We have two kids under 6 and have a healthy amount in taxable accounts mentally earmarked for their college expenses. For a long time I’ve wondered if we should take a chunk of that money and pay cash for a vacation house less than 2 hours away. It would be something we could enjoy as a family instead of just looking at the money sitting in the bank. The plan would be to sell it when the kids reach college age if money is needed, although there’s a good chance we’ll rebuild our savings in the meantime or will be able to cash flow college. Some stats: Taxable savings (aka college/second home fund): 600k Retirement accounts: 1.2 million (maxed out annually) Primary residence value: 700k (360k left on mortgage at 3.5%) Household income: 300k/y...
by MrsO
Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Forgot to file form 5500EZ for 2016 year
Replies: 21
Views: 3362

Re: Forgot to file form 5500EZ for 2016 year

I went through a simlar issue this year after accidentally missing the deadline and filing form 5500EZ a full year late. I called the IRS for guidance and was instructed to write a letter to explain the circumstances and to request an abatement of the penalty. I specifically inquired about the program that allows first-time late filers to pay $500 and was told that it was not the route I should take, and to write the letter instead. So as a first step I suggest that you call the IRS and see what they say. The representative I spoke with was helpful and not scary :D Within a few weeks of sending the letter I received a written response that the penalty was waived. I hope the same happens for you!
by MrsO
Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help me with Visual Design Salary Information
Replies: 9
Views: 1398

Re: Help me with Visual Design Salary Information

Another fellow designer here :beer I'm in a smaller east coast city and see designer salaries that range from $80-110k. Contract gigs tend to be higher -- $50-70/hr, which translates to around $100-$140k per year (but may not offer benefits or paid time off). I've observed that compensation is highest for jobs that involve information architecture, user experience, mobile, and/or a higher level of front end development. These numbers are based on job offers I've received, peers I've talked to, and recruiters/hiring managers I'm friendly with who have been open about what various companies pay. I've been surprised to learn that smaller agencies sometimes offer better compensation than some large companies! Overall, to demand the highest comp...
by MrsO
Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Children and large cash gifts
Replies: 26
Views: 3259

Re: Children and large cash gifts

Thanks for your thoughts so far. I hear what many people are saying about a trust, but I'm not sure if that would be a practical idea because 1) I can't imagine that this will be an annual gift, and 2) my grandparents might not be the only generous relatives gifting money. First world problem, I know! Perhaps some more details about our particular situation would help: - We have not set up a 529 plan. For college, we have ~$300k currently tied up in real estate and mentally earmarked for college expenses. We plan to sell the real estate this year, invest the proceeds, and we feel confident that it will be enough to cover college expenses in 18+ years. I'm somewhat wary of 529 plans. Are they really that great? I don't like the idea of locki...
by MrsO
Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Children and large cash gifts
Replies: 26
Views: 3259

Children and large cash gifts

I have found and read several threads about savings accounts for children, but I have a question that's a bit more specific. What is the best way to handle relatives gifting large amounts of money to young children? I just learned that my grandparents plan to gift my soon-to-be-born child with $14k. It's likely that other substantial cash gifts will be given by other relatives in the future. What is the best way to set this money aside, and is there a way to prevent the child from gaining access to the money until sometime in their 20s or 30s? Since my husband and I have already planned for college expenses, and since the money is intended for the child and not us, I hesitate to put it into a 529 plan. Still, I'm open to hearing why that mi...
by MrsO
Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Contracting pay rate
Replies: 17
Views: 2592

Re: Contracting pay rate

I would start by figuring out your current hourly rate as a salaried employee. Say you make $100k/yr, and there are 2,080 hours in a year (40hrs/week * 52 weeks in a year). But, say as an employee you are paid for 7 holidays + 10 vacation days, so you actually make $100k for working 1,944 hours per year. That means your current hourly rate is around $51.44/hr not counting benefits. Next I would calculate how much it would cost to get private health insurance (despite the fact that you are currently covered by your wife). Say health insurance costs $12,000/yr. Assume that as a contractor you will be paid for working 1,944 hrs/yr since you will not be paid for holidays or vacation time. $12,000/1,944=$6.17. Now we are at $57.61/hr. Also add i...
by MrsO
Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a house to raise a family in (things to consider)
Replies: 22
Views: 3461

Buying a house to raise a family in (things to consider)

My husband and I are planning to buy a house and start a family in the near future. In a few threads here, posters have commented that their housing needs changed over time, and that what originally appealed to them in a house was no longer desirable. For those who have been there, done that, what advice would you give? What would you look for in a house that you may spend the next 10-20 years in? For example: ...you can avoid a lot of home-buying mistakes if you wait until AFTER you have kids to buy. (Wall-to-wall carpet starts looking a lot better than beautiful hardwood, for example!) More importantly, from a personal finance standpoint, would you stretch a little to buy a home that you can grow into (assuming that all savings vehicles c...
by MrsO
Fri May 13, 2011 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is anyone thinking of getting a Google Chromebook?
Replies: 27
Views: 3690

I got one of these (for free!) as part of the pilot program and have been using it for the past 5 months. I must say, I love it, and it meets my needs about 95% of the time when it comes to personal use.

Having (non-confidential) information stored in the cloud is a plus for me, since I can access Google Docs from any location. However, there is that 5% of the time when I want to do something else -- access files I have stored on my hard drive, download pictures from my camera, view a file type not supported by the web browser, etc. And that 5% of the time is kind of annoying.

Overall, it's a great little machine, but not robust enough to completely replace a regular computer.
by MrsO
Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home office deduction
Replies: 23
Views: 4226

Home office deduction

Hi all, It's tax time, and I am thinking about taking the home office deduction, but the whole thing makes me nervous. I have run an LLC from my home for the last 6 years and believe that I qualify after reading publication 587. In fact, I think I have qualified for the past several years, but I always hesitated because I thought it would complicate matters when the time comes to sell my home. Not only that, I worried that it would trigger an audit. Based on my understanding, if I use X% of the square footage of my house exclusively as an office, I should be able to deduct X% of my mortgage interest and associated expenses (e.g. utilities). Is there any more to it than that? I wonder if the more knowledgeable folks out there would mind spel...
by MrsO
Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Take a new job?
Replies: 48
Views: 5206

I've been following your story and just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! You should be really proud of yourself. Not only have you been recognized as a valued team member, you also took a calculated risk and it paid off. Best of luck in your new position!
by MrsO
Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Career advice Sought for future Graphic Designer
Replies: 15
Views: 2301

Do you think the Liberal Arts route is better on balance? Like going to get an MBA later versus first getting an undergrad degree from Wharton . . . . My professional opinion is that a liberal arts route is NOT better on balance in terms of building a career in this field. The most important thing is to have some sort of related credential(s) and, more importantly, internship experience and a strong portfolio. However, many job listings require a degree, so not having one could harm someone's chances of getting their foot in the door. Can you give examples of the programs that your daughter is considering? My personal opinion is that a liberal arts school is a great way to explore interests. My career goals were shaped by the various class...
by MrsO
Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Career advice Sought for future Graphic Designer
Replies: 15
Views: 2301

I'm a graphic designer. Well, specifically I'm a user interface designer, so my work is entirely web based. I'm sure my father shared many of your concerns when sending me off to an expensive school to pursue an art degree. Luckily it seems to have paid off. As many have noted, there are many branches of design. Print design tends to pay much less than web design, but web work requires some technical knowledge. Digital design seems to be in high demand now and there are a lot of branches within that field -- web design, mobile applications, usability, multimedia, information architecture, SEO, marketing, to name a few. I agree with your hesitation about an art-only education. When I was in your daughter's shoes, I opted to go to the best li...
by MrsO
Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity 2% cash back-stopped auto rewards credit??
Replies: 15
Views: 3731

One time I noticed that I hadn't received an automatic cash back payment from FIA card services for a few months. When I called to inquire, I was told that a payment is only made if over $50 has accrued. Could it be that you haven't accrued that amount yet?

I just checked and it showed automatic payments into my Fidelity account on 12/01/10 and previously on 10/01/10. It does seem that the system is still in place, but you could give them a call to verify.
by MrsO
Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Project Management Professional Certification?
Replies: 18
Views: 3167

I have noticed that Project Managers at my company with PMP (and similar) certifications tend to be more highly regarded. You mentioned that you have temporarily moved away from project management and want to get back to it. The certification may help you stand out when applying for future jobs. It always seemed to me that PMP certification could help put someone on the management track faster and cheaper than, say, an MBA. It seems mostly useful as a credential, and not for the actual knowledge it provides (based on what I've been told by the small number of PMPs I know personally). There may be other certifications that are specific to your industry that could be even more helpful. Hopefully someone with a PMP certification will respond.