Search found 1393 matches

by dziuniek
Mon Sep 20, 2021 10:20 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: NTSX tax loss Harvest pair?
Replies: 6
Views: 1416

Re: NTSX tax loss Harvest pair?

Maybe VOO and TMF.
by dziuniek
Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reliable cars?
Replies: 66
Views: 6475

Re: Reliable cars?

I have looked at consumer reports and the scotty kilmer mechanic videos from youtube. Both say a Toyota Camry is a solid choice for a car. However, I would like to hear what cars you have experience with and would recommend as being pretty reliable. If you could share the model year and how many miles you have or had on it that would be great. I plan on getting a bit more life out of my car but am curious about what to buy next. OP, what's your timeframe for reliability? It's a big difference between 0-6 years, 0-10 years, 0-20 years, 0-30 years, 0-40 years (I have a 26 year old Camry, that I suspect, unfortunately, will go for another 10-15+ years, which is a big problem if you keep cars until they die, and tire of them). Just sold my 21 ...
by dziuniek
Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:58 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Hedge Fund CIO: The 60:40 Portfolio Is Forever Broken, What Happens Now
Replies: 15
Views: 2965

Re: Hedge Fund CIO: The 60:40 Portfolio Is Forever Broken, What Happens Now

Even if we accept that bonds will stink for quite a bit...

I still don't see better or easier alternatives for the 40% of that* portfolio than bonds.
by dziuniek
Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:47 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why are leveraged funds (2x/3x) so expensive?
Replies: 78
Views: 7928

Re: Why are leveraged funds (2x/3x) so expensive?

For 3X ETFs, SEC said no new 3X ETFs can be created. So there will be no new competition atleast for now.

Doesn't seem that expensive when you look at alternatives like margin.
by dziuniek
Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what amount would you cap a 529 for an only child (2-years old)?
Replies: 67
Views: 8448

Re: At what amount would you cap a 529 for an only child (2-years old)?

Kiddos:

Age 6: $ 27.0k
Age 3: $ 19.5k

Adding $50/ week / kiddo.

I figure it will get us somewhere between 50%-100% of the cost and the remainder we'll either cashflow or student loans it is.

Current public flagship is almost $ 18k / year in tuition only.
by dziuniek
Thu Sep 16, 2021 9:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do provider "rebates" on smart phones provide real value?
Replies: 23
Views: 2382

Re: Do provider "rebates" on smart phones provide real value?

what can a new high end smart phone do other than take better photos? i'm using my mom's 3 year old LG smartphone she gave me (her boyfriend bought her a new one last year) and pay $10 a month (total) for unlimited text/calls and 1gb of data (which i don't come close to using because I'm mostly on wifi). That sounds like a good value to me. I really don't understand people paying $1000 for a smartphone unless you're going to shoot a movie on it or something. But to each his/her own i suppose. I'd be grateful if you could keep to the original topic and not start the usual Boglehead rant about "how my 5 year old phone works just as well..." Please feel free to start another thread on your own topic. I can frugal with the best of yo...
by dziuniek
Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:05 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Does One Come to Terms on a Very Large Toy Purchase (140K Toy)?
Replies: 162
Views: 13698

Re: How Does One Come to Terms on a Very Large Toy Purchase (140K Toy)?

If your rent expense is an indication of your overall spending, maybe it's time to splurge a bit. :twisted:

As a thought excercise, I tried to guess what amount fo money I would need to spend $140k on a car. Probably several M, but that's me!
by dziuniek
Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:51 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

Smallcap is great and all, but have you seen midcap? https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio?s=y&timePeriod=4&startYear=1985&firstMonth=1&endYear=2021&lastMonth=12&calendarAligned=true&includeYTD=false&initialAmount=10000&annualOperation=0&annualAdjustment=0&inflationAdjusted=true&annualPercentage=0.0&frequency=4&rebalanceType=1&absoluteDeviation=5.0&relativeDeviation=25.0&leverageType=0&leverageRatio=0.0&debtAmount=0&debtInterest=0.0&maintenanceMargin=25.0&leveragedBenchmark=false&reinvestDividends=true&showYield=false&showFactors=false&factorModel=3&portfolioNames=false&portfolioName1=Portfolio+1&portfolioNam...
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Grill and garbage can cleaning services.] Are they worth it?
Replies: 85
Views: 7917

Re: Strange Homeowner's Splurges? Are they worth it?

I had no idea washing garbage cans was a thing??? We bag all trash before it goes into the can, so the can never gets appreciably dirty. Bags available at any grocery store in the same isle as ziplocks and paper towels :mrgreen: Lots of people (at least in our neighborhood) will throw their dog poop bags into whatever trash can happens to be near them. Just because all your trash is in a bag doesn't mean everything that goes into your trash can is bagged. What a paradise. There are a number of people in our neighborhood who just let their dog poop in yards and don't clean it up without a second thought. I'd give anything for them to bag it and put it in my garbage. Yesterday a lady a few houses down let her dog poop in our yard right in fr...
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 80-100k boat purchase??
Replies: 154
Views: 17284

Re: 50-60k boat purchase??

mrspock wrote: Fri Jul 05, 2019 11:11 pm Worst. Idea. Ever. Instead, join HedgeFundie's Adventure (search for thread), invest it, and buy a Yacht like the rest of us in about 20 years.
+1, first to lambo wins.
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:28 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 1.3M at 30 - what would you do?
Replies: 158
Views: 28148

Re: 1.3M at 30 - what would you do?

bottles and models
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 7M NW, suggestions mind shift and planning for next phase of life
Replies: 56
Views: 15707

Re: 7M NW, suggestions mind shift and planning for next phase of life

Throw a cool mil into Hedgefundie's Excellent Adventure portfolio :twisted:
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:39 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

Smallcap is great and all, but have you seen midcap? https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio?s=y&timePeriod=4&startYear=1985&firstMonth=1&endYear=2021&lastMonth=12&calendarAligned=true&includeYTD=false&initialAmount=10000&annualOperation=0&annualAdjustment=0&inflationAdjusted=true&annualPercentage=0.0&frequency=4&rebalanceType=1&absoluteDeviation=5.0&relativeDeviation=25.0&leverageType=0&leverageRatio=0.0&debtAmount=0&debtInterest=0.0&maintenanceMargin=25.0&leveragedBenchmark=false&reinvestDividends=true&showYield=false&showFactors=false&factorModel=3&portfolioNames=false&portfolioName1=Portfolio+1&portfolioNam...
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: should daughter negotiate first job offer?
Replies: 109
Views: 8881

Re: should daughter negotiate first job offer?

I ask, every single time too.

You can ask politely and 99% of the time your worst case scenario is -"no, that's all we can do".

The upside outweighs the risk here, I think.
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:15 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

If one had them set at 10,15,20 %.... How many times in March 2020 would one rebalance? (aka throw money into the fire?) Why do you say "throw money into the fire"? Isn't this the whole point? Were you not delighted that TMF took off to ~$40, enabling you to buy UPRO down to $20.63 on March 18? Even if it rebalanced several times on the way down (say using a 5% band instead of a 15% band) each one of those transactions is still a good one. Sure, one single optimal rebalance on a specific date may be easy to see in retrospect, but at the time, every rebalance trigger that fires should make you happy, regardless of the actual % band. You're selling one thing high and buying the other thing low. What am I missing? /FIRE55 You're not...
by dziuniek
Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

rchmx1 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:38 am
dziuniek wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:54 am If I used rebalancing bands in HFEA, I would probably use pretty wide bands....

If one had them set at 10,15,20 %.... How many times in March 2020 would one rebalance? (aka throw money into the fire?)
As UPRO went from ~$80 to ~$20, quite a few times, I'd guess. Though with what we know now, each of those would have been a fantastic purchase.
Sure, with hindsight. Wider bands would've been better. Also... with hindsight :twisted:
by dziuniek
Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:54 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

If I used rebalancing bands in HFEA, I would probably use pretty wide bands....

If one had them set at 10,15,20 %.... How many times in March 2020 would one rebalance? (aka throw money into the fire?)
by dziuniek
Tue Sep 14, 2021 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 529: high cost funds, kid isn't seeking education
Replies: 15
Views: 2389

Re: 529: high cost funds, kid isn't seeking education

Some of us are late bloomers, like me.

Highschool gpa maybe 2.3-2.5... failed 3 quarters of Algebra II.... passed q4 with an A-... anyways.

Now a bachelors in accounting from top 25 public university....

MS in Accounting

+

MBA.

Ya never know! ;)
by dziuniek
Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:28 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is COMPLETE retirement overrated?
Replies: 121
Views: 13680

Re: Is COMPLETE retirement overrated?

If you can make $60k / hour of work per day / year... sign me up for 12 hr shifts please.
I'll be retired so quick I'll never need a part-time gig.
by dziuniek
Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:17 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is COMPLETE retirement overrated?
Replies: 121
Views: 13680

Re: Is COMPLETE retirement overrated?

This sounds like an awful idea. I can just imagine me spending my $1M that took me 25yrs to build, a save and invest into a Subway then 1yr later someone opens a Chipotle next door and all of a sudden I get no business and have to close my franchise. I’ll have no time left to rebuild my $1M. Agree. Try it with a gas station, tank springs a leak, you are on the hook for hundreds of thousands in repairs, fines and loss of income. You know the saying about lighting money on fire? Go open a gas station and watch how fast your capital dries up should any of a few things happen that involves the EPA. Oh the EPA... and let's not forget the accompanying state agencies + town throwing the book at you as well. A friend fo mine bought an old factory/...
by dziuniek
Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Subaru Forester burning engine oil
Replies: 44
Views: 7267

Re: Subaru Forester burning engine oil

Had the 2013 Outback, CVT went at 40k-ish miles - replaced under warranty.
We traded it in at almost 100k but yes, towards the end I couldn't go between oil changes without adding oil.

Originally the oil changes were supposed to be every 8k miles I believe which later chagned to every 6k miles... - my subbie couldn't handle even that.

As much as we liked the car overall, no more subbies for us.
by dziuniek
Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:01 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: REITS (VGSLX) revisited again as inflation hedge in IRA
Replies: 26
Views: 3861

Re: REITS (VGSLX) revisited again as inflation hedge in IRA

You could also buy financials for inflation protection, maybe.
by dziuniek
Sun Sep 12, 2021 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: At what amount would you cap a 529 for an only child (2-years old)?
Replies: 67
Views: 8448

Re: At what amount would you cap a 529 for an only child (2-years old)?

I never reached it, but I would cap it at the annual state deduction max if one is available.
I believe CT is $ 10k/ yr.

But either way, 80k seems nuts for a 2 yr old. :)

If you keep going though, you could fund the kiddo's private k-12 maybe, if that's your intent.
by dziuniek
Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: REITS (VGSLX) revisited again as inflation hedge in IRA
Replies: 26
Views: 3861

Re: REITS (VGSLX) revisited again as inflation hedge in IRA

I also would replace the stock piece of the portfolio if you're going to tilt into REITS.

For the bond side, you could replace some total bond / treasuries with TIPS if you want.
by dziuniek
Sun Sep 12, 2021 8:01 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Sell! Sell! Sell! In the news... All the time
Replies: 45
Views: 6932

Re: Sell! Sell! Sell! In the news... All the time

Not concerned until the Boglehead old guard starts posting about plan B.
by dziuniek
Sun Sep 12, 2021 7:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [700k over 2 bank accounts. Is it safe?]
Replies: 52
Views: 4760

Re: Money safe in Banks?

As opposed to where? :twisted:
by dziuniek
Sat Sep 11, 2021 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Was not converting to Roth a good idea?
Replies: 188
Views: 16283

Re: Was not converting to Roth a good idea?

RJC wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 2:24 pm
MrJedi wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 2:22 pm
RJC wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 2:21 pm
Gabelli2020 wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:04 am I’m 65, and made a similar decision. 3.5 million in my IRA, 1.2 in my wife’s. No available cash to pay the conversion. Withdrawal at 72 should be about 200 K for me ( about 22% bracket) . Did not make sense
How does one accumulate 3.5M in an IRA? Isn't the max contribution 6k a year?
401k rollovers. Or hitting a big stock in your IRA if that's your thing.
Gotcha, thanks.
Or look up Peter Thiel --- he's got $5B in his ROTH IRA, haha.
by dziuniek
Thu Sep 09, 2021 5:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to ship perfume to Australia?
Replies: 8
Views: 2652

Re: How to ship perfume to Australia?

runner3081 wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:00 am
dziuniek wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:02 am This is off-topic but I recently shipped vitamins/aspirin to Poland - onyl because wife's grampa claims they're better.
I made the mistake of writing out what's in the package contents at the post office.

Believe me, next time - I'm writing candy.

On the other end, all sorts of a s-show ensued.
Phone call with the office of minister or health and such. LOL.

It's crazy times.
Illegal behavior shouldn't be discussed here.
I have not done anything illegal, ha!
Expressed frustration though, yes I did :)
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to ship perfume to Australia?
Replies: 8
Views: 2652

Re: How to ship perfume to Australia?

This is off-topic but I recently shipped vitamins/aspirin to Poland - onyl because wife's grampa claims they're better.
I made the mistake of writing out what's in the package contents at the post office.

Believe me, next time - I'm writing candy.

On the other end, all sorts of a s-show ensued.
Phone call with the office of minister or health and such. LOL.

It's crazy times.
by dziuniek
Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tesla Solar - Experience and Worth It?
Replies: 47
Views: 6297

Re: Tesla Solar - Experience and Worth It?

Tesla solar panel system here. Mine work pretty well - but were turned off for almost 2 months while something on the roof was getting fixed! That being said, TSLA sent me a check to make up for that lost time.... which was more than my both bills combined in that time... so that's a win. Overall still pretty happy. 8.16 kw system, no powerwalls as they're still too expensive for my liking. 2k sq ft house. After Fed+CT tax credits = about $10,300. Feb bill $ 80 March bill $10 April bill $10 May bill $10 June $45 - panels no worko well July $88 - panels no worko well / turned off sometime in this month August $122 - panels turned on towards end of the month TSL make up check $750 or so September - based on current production and estiamted us...
by dziuniek
Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2013 BMW X3, repair at 90,000
Replies: 68
Views: 8364

Re: 2013 BMW X3, repair at 90,000

So you got an error code.... but does it drive fine?
by dziuniek
Mon Aug 30, 2021 1:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Breaking "Poor" Mentality
Replies: 86
Views: 11470

Re: Breaking "Poor" Mentality

Save a set % that works for you and spend the rest.
That's my budget. :twisted:
by dziuniek
Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New form of market timing? No really...
Replies: 30
Views: 3292

Re: New form of market timing? No really...

Why not get daily data SP for the last decade or two and check?
It's probably just noise.

It could just as easily be -0.5%.
by dziuniek
Sun Aug 22, 2021 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What's With The Expensive Real Estate in Undesirable Areas?
Replies: 70
Views: 7835

Re: What's With The Expensive Real Estate in Undesirable Areas?

[Edit: By "Undesirable Area" I don't mean some crappy town like [(removed) --admin LadyGeek] . I mean an undesirable area in a decent town that one would consider retiring to. Maybe an area that is too far to commute from, or one with mediocre schools etc. This post is part observation part question. Observation: Having lived in CA, NY and Europe I understand why real estate can be expensive due to simple supply and demand. Access to high quality schools, jobs etc are reasons why home prices can go northwards of $500K . There are only a finite number of homes within commuting distance of London, there are only a small number of homes that feed into that Magnet school in NY etc. But in my searches for retirement homes I've been tr...
by dziuniek
Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Teen Driver: File Auto Claim or NOT
Replies: 56
Views: 4625

Re: Teen Driver: File Auto Claim or NOT

I liked the 'how is gonna pay for it'?

How did he get the car in the first place? LOL

Get a job duh. :sharebeer

Spendca summer working a crap job to pay it back, duh.
by dziuniek
Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why is pc so slow
Replies: 86
Views: 6684

Re: Why is pc so slow

f you've got a desktop with a hard disk an SSD will be an easy improvement. A 1TB SSD runs about $100 and generally comes with a software download that can copy the entire existing HD to the SSD. Then you just replace the HD with the SSD. The HDD is 100% the problem. And your system is 100% compatible with an SSD. Sure a clean install of Windows will help, too, but even just cloning the HDD over to an SSD will result in a dramatic increase in responsiveness. My 2 TB HDD has almost 1 TB used. 2 TB SSD? Is it worth it to upgrade components at this age or just get new PC? I'm assuming you can have both HDD and SSD? Nope. Get a smaller SDD for the windows drive and programs and move all your other files to the HDD. Think photos, movies, music,...
by dziuniek
Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why is pc so slow
Replies: 86
Views: 6684

Re: Why is pc so slow

I'm getting really frustrated with my desktop. At times it seems so slow. It tends to be slower for some amount of time after restarting. Browsers take a while to open, etc. It is an hp pavilion 5-6 years old, i7 and 12mg RAM. Plenty of hard drive space (HDD). I don't think an SSD is compatible. Windows 10. I occasionally clean it with CCleaner, and run malwarebytes and hitman pro. Only anti-virus is windows. I also run carbonite which may be a bit of drag. I occasionally look at startup programs and take anything I don't need in startup out of startup. I also have a laptop, probably more than 5 years old, AMD chip (i5 equivalent I think) and it runs so slow it is barely even usable. Upgraded to windows 10. It always seems like after a few...
by dziuniek
Mon Aug 02, 2021 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Now have access to a 457 plan - help me understand
Replies: 22
Views: 2411

Re: Now have access to a 457 plan - help me understand

1. Yes

2, 3, 4:

My 457b is just there, I can roll it over to a rollover IRA when I am finished working.
You shouldn't be forced to withdraw from this plan - you should be able to roll it over, is all.
Check with your HR - that seems wonky.

5. Yes - after separation from the employer. Quit, retire, fired, etc.

6. Better than taxable.
by dziuniek
Thu Jul 29, 2021 9:00 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey
Replies: 14360
Views: 1989758

Re: HEDGEFUNDIE's excellent adventure Part II: The next journey

I'd say my biggest fear about the growing popularity of HFEA and similar strategies is regulation risk. We just had the SEC threatening to shut down 2x and 3x leveraged ETFs last Fall, and it seems we were lucky to get away with a mere ban on the creation of new 3x leveraged ETFs. Who knows what will happen in the midst of a drawdown after one too many investors jumps ship at the bottom? While the rule allows existing funds with multiples of 3x or -3x to continue to operate, we disagree with the rule’s prohibition of the introduction of new geared funds with these multiples. We believe this provision is not in investors’ best interest because it limits innovation, choice, and competition. Source: https://www.proshares.com/news/sec_regulati...
by dziuniek
Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Really how many times your annual spending?
Replies: 110
Views: 15309

Re: Really how many times your annual spending?

The amount of years you're planning to live.
by dziuniek
Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the average savings rates for bogleheads?
Replies: 343
Views: 41331

Re: What is the average savings rates for bogleheads?

2018 - 17%
2019 - 19%ish
2020 - over 20% :twisted:
2021 - on track for 20%
2022 - planning for kiddo 3, so probably a 10% year.

Ours just varies a lot - life happens. The lowest we've gone is 10% and 25% was probably the highest.
by dziuniek
Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy, Borrow, Die: How Rich Americans Live Off Their Paper Wealth
Replies: 177
Views: 32848

Re: Buy, Borrow, Die: How Rich Americans Live Off Their Paper Wealth

LFKB wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:35 am
McGowan wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:51 am Lenders always get in over their skis eventually as they get more aggressive in courting these loans. It's part of the lending DNA to have a battle between the lenders who get a bonus on new business and the credit people who don't and are more cautious.
We are talking about max 65% LTV loans taken by mostly sophisticated investors that are collateralized against high quality stocks and bonds. We’re not talking about strippers using 95% LTVs to buy third homes in Florida like we were in 07.
I like the movie reference, but I don't see why a stripper can't be more sophisticated than a doc in these matters. :sharebeer
by dziuniek
Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Why the Difference in Analysis Between Mortgage Payoff and Student Loan Payoff?
Replies: 35
Views: 2720

Re: Why the Difference in Analysis Between Mortgage Payoff and Student Loan Payoff?

In order of my most hated loans:

I know student loans are number 1.
And the mortgage loan doesn't come close to number 1.

You can always sell your property and not have mortgage debt anymore.
You can sell your diploma on ebay but $5, but it doesn't make the student loans disappear magically.
by dziuniek
Sun Jul 11, 2021 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar
Replies: 13
Views: 1875

Re: Solar

Also in CT, but this year has been cloudy and rainy as heck so far, so probably won't have an issue this year at all. I don't think electric vehicles are super ready yet, but once they are, maybe consider one? (that would easily offset all of the extra electricity?) I am also in CT. 36 panels on the roof and a plug in hybrid in the driveway. electric vehicles are definitely ready and great to drive. So my kWh goes into my "tank" and I use it to drive for months without buying gas at $3 per gallon. Bought the PHEV used and got a great deal. I have posted my numbers in other posts and wont repeat them here. Very happy with my decision. Monthly electric bill is $9.62, monthly gasoline bill is $0, and annually receive a $60 to $100 c...
by dziuniek
Sun Jul 11, 2021 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Just went from 100/0 to 80/20 Asset Allocation
Replies: 76
Views: 10197

Re: Just went from 100/0 to 80/20 Asset Allocation

Whether that's aggressive or conservative would depends on years left to retirement or the amount of money you have / times annual expenses, or both.
by dziuniek
Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar
Replies: 13
Views: 1875

Re: Solar

Please make sure your system is properly sized. Mine is very oversized as determined after less than two years, and is costing me lost value of electricity. My utility here in Connecticut does net metering, but any banked kWh hours are cashed-out at the March billing cycle. The cost per kWh here in CT is about 24c to 26c (varying cost for some of the components of the kWh price from month to month). The cash-out rate has been about 2.5c! :oops: In March 2020 (partial year, panels installed in August 2019), I cashed-out 651 banked kWh, losing $145 in value because of the outrageously low cash-out rate, and in March 2021, I cashed-out 1,365 banked kWh, losing $295 in value. This lost value of electricity generated by the panels adds to the p...
by dziuniek
Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Solar
Replies: 13
Views: 1875

Re: Solar

Go on Tesla's wesbite and price it out.
I paid exactly what the online tool said I would.

They were also the least expensive. Give it a shot.
by dziuniek
Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Vacation ideas?]
Replies: 8
Views: 1590

Re: Loosening the purse strings - YOLO

Unpopular opinion, but Connecticut!

2 hours to NYC and Boston, over a month, you could easily visit both (train w/ bar car is my preferred way).

Beaches are okay, but the water isn't that cold for New England.
Plenty of good eats across the state.


And that about wraps it up, lol. :sharebeer
by dziuniek
Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:10 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do you ban someone from paying your tuition?
Replies: 65
Views: 6612

Re: How do you ban someone from paying your tuition?

This seems really silly.

I would cash out the 529 and buy a lambo for myself instead. Problem solved.

I also find it funny that the uncle is somehow involved in this.