Search found 131 matches

by d18lover
Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HMO vs. PPO Cost Analysis
Replies: 2
Views: 524

HMO vs. PPO Cost Analysis

The HMO plan we've had since 2008 has gradually increased in price, which has me considering other options. I currently pay 20% of the premium for whichever plan I choose through my governmental employer. My family consists of five people in total. The HMO used to be the much cheaper option for premiums, but now it breaks down like this: HMO: Biweekly premium: $275 Deductible: $125 for an individual, $250 for a family Coinsurance: None Out-of-Pocket Maximum: $2,000 for an individual, $4,000 for a family Copay for almost everything is $20, except for the ER, which is $200 unless admitted. Other considerations: The HMO plan is widely known for being a bit more stringent with approvals, referrals, and authorizations. We've had very few issues,...
by d18lover
Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financially Prudent / Practical to Fix Cosmetic Car Damage?
Replies: 17
Views: 2259

Re: Financially Prudent / Practical to Fix Cosmetic Car Damage?

Thank you all for the replies.

This van is otherwise still in great shape, but it's going to look like it's been to war and back inside after all the kids and their associated bodily fluids.

I was wondering if there was any danger in it harming the vehicle overall, or a safety concern. Since it's not on a bumper or other safety area,

I think I'll just live with the dent and scratches.
by d18lover
Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financially Prudent / Practical to Fix Cosmetic Car Damage?
Replies: 17
Views: 2259

Financially Prudent / Practical to Fix Cosmetic Car Damage?

We have a 2018 Honda Odyssey which we own outright and plan to drive into the ground.

In 2020, we hit a pole, which put a softball size dent and numerous scratches on two panels on the front right side of the car, above the wheel.

This in no way affects the drivability of the car, and I'm not concerned about resale. I'd be without the van for at least a few days (ouch) and out about $1200 (eek) to get the damage repaired. We have some extra money in the budget, and this has been a concern of mine for a while.

Would you get this fixed or let it go? We live in a very wintery state, if that matters.
by d18lover
Sat May 13, 2023 2:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

Wwwdotcom wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 11:17 pm
GreendaleCC wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 7:06 pm Is “Market Manager” the actual title for what *sounds like* a Technical Instructor / Customer Success Manager role?
Those all seem like the same job title in a small firm. At the end of the day, the TI needs to be making sales.
It's essentially traveling to states that partner with the firm to provide hands on instruction on the product. Each state tailors the product to their needs, it provides data or can become their primary interface if needed. During the non travel time, the role would likely be remote support.

It's not so much selling as it is education.
by d18lover
Sat May 13, 2023 2:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

I’m glad you mentioned it was a nonprofit entity because at first I was puzzled by ex-Googlers not offering equity. Have you reviewed their Form 990s? Do you know who has invested in them and their mission? Is “Market Manager” the actual title for what *sounds like* a Technical Instructor / Customer Success Manager role? That is th list of funders on their website. The Form 990 was interesting to lookup. They started as an all volunteer organization in 2019 and then in 2020 converted into the non profit. I can't find anything newer than that. Arnold Ventures Ballmer Group Bia-Echo Foundation Blue Meridian Partners Breyer Labs Bureau of Justice Assistance Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation Charles Ko...
by d18lover
Fri May 05, 2023 7:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

I'm a 15+ year government employee in a non-tech field. I've been in management for about five years, with no progression in my future. I love tech, but have never had an affinity for programming or numbers. I have a four year degree in social work, mostly unrelated to my field. My salary is $95,000 with annual raises in the 1% range. No pension but retiree healthcare premiums are covered at 90%. I have top shelf benefits. You have a state job with no pension? Most states did away with pensions in the 90s. Huh? What am I missing? "Each of the 50 US states has at least one retirement system for its employees." [4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_employee_pension_plans_in_the_United_States Multiple tiers. That Wikipedia page is...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

Godot wrote: Thu May 04, 2023 4:26 pm
d18lover wrote: Thu May 04, 2023 1:04 pm I'm a 15+ year government employee in a non-tech field. I've been in management for about five years, with no progression in my future. I love tech, but have never had an affinity for programming or numbers. I have a four year degree in social work, mostly unrelated to my field.

My salary is $95,000 with annual raises in the 1% range. No pension but retiree healthcare premiums are covered at 90%. I have top shelf benefits.
You have a state job with no pension?
Most states did away with pensions in the 90s.
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 7:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

Have you done a recent job search that gives you an idea of the demand for your skillset and typical range of compensation? If you got let go from the startup, how long do you think it would take you to find a new job? Outside of where I work now, there is absolutely no demand for my skillset. Imagine a Child Protective Services Foster Care Administrator. What would you do if you got laid off? This opportunity presented is unique and strange to me. I make $95,000 a year for the state. If my department disappeared or got rid of me, I would be looking at $14-$20 hour jobs in sales, etc. I am good at what I do, but it's not in demand anywhere but where I do it. My industry is only provided at the government level. I'm not an engineer, program...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 4:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

I'm a 15+ year government employee in a non-tech field. I've been in management for about five years, with no progression in my future. I love tech, but have never had an affinity for programming or numbers. I have a four year degree in social work, mostly unrelated to my field. My salary is $95,000 with annual raises in the 1% range. No pension but retiree healthcare premiums are covered at 90%. I have top shelf benefits. Most of my career, I have thought there's really nowhere else for me to work unless I went to a different state and joined their similar department.Pros of my job: My department has never had a layoff (ever). Zero travel. COVID sent us all working remote five days, then a hybrid schedule where I average 1 office day per ...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 4:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

TLDR: This is a startup, though. Am I crazy for giving up my comfortable boring job for a 30% raise? I can't go back if it doesn't work out. I am so out of the loop, I have really only done government work. What should I consider? I am a sole breadwinner for a family of five. I took a start-up job at age 55 after retiring from the Federal workforce and have full pension, no dependents, no debt. I started to discuss the pros and cons of new job and then realized you are the sole breadwinner for a family of five . Full stop. Start-ups are risky. I was in a meeting when a prospective investor asked our CEO how much cash our company had, and my boss's response was "I think we can make payroll this month". Unless you have skills that ...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

delamer wrote: Thu May 04, 2023 3:04 pm I’m probably too cynical, but a 25% to 40% travel estimate would translate to me to expect 33% to 60% travel.

Going from a government job with a fair amount of seniority to a startup is a huge risk for someone who is the sole sutpport of four other people.
Yes, the stability and security of the government job is the most/only appealing aspect. It's about as recession proof an industry as there is. We end up with furlough days and other fiscal concessions during lean times, but there has never been a layoff.

The startup seems very successful already. It's a nonprofit. They partner with state agencies like mine around the country and so far have seven states on the roster, but yes, the thought of risk really weighs on me.
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

Work travel is different from personal travel. One week a quarter probably isn't too bad but 4 trips per quarter will impact your personal life noticeably. However, it does provide a way to explore other career paths which can be hard to find. You don't give any other financial info which would help inform the risk. Sole bread winner for 5 gives me pause but if you have a strong financial cushion it might be ok. How do you feel about your work in general? Maybe a bit boring but reliable? How old are your children? I would lean more towards "boring" work as long as it's not draining and focus your energy on time with family. If you do take the position have some contingency plans if it doesn't work out (either the fit or the succe...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 1:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Re: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

Do you want to travel seems like the biggest question here. To me that is a lot of travel. I would need a lot more than 22% salary increase to possibly be traveling 40% of the time, if the company grows and they require more travel what do you say then? +1 Travel played a big role in turning down an offer from a competitor (>50% raise) and also a factor in why I accepted a lateral move (which limited upward mobility) with my current employer. My wife travels ~4-6 days a month and she hates it, does everything she can to get out of it. The raise and upward mobility would have to be WAY more than 30% for me to travel that much, but I'm not OP. That's kind of my thought process is potential upswing. I have no career path now. It's very politi...
by d18lover
Thu May 04, 2023 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech
Replies: 45
Views: 3939

Career Shift - Startup - Gov to Tech

I'm a 15+ year government employee in a non-tech field. I've been in management for about five years, with no progression in my future. I love tech, but have never had an affinity for programming or numbers. I have a four year degree in social work, mostly unrelated to my field. My salary is $95,000 with annual raises in the 1% range. No pension but retiree healthcare premiums are covered at 90%. I have top shelf benefits. Most of my career, I have thought there's really nowhere else for me to work unless I went to a different state and joined their similar department.Pros of my job: My department has never had a layoff (ever). Zero travel. COVID sent us all working remote five days, then a hybrid schedule where I average 1 office day per w...
by d18lover
Fri Dec 02, 2022 11:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: House wired for CAT5, what do I do?
Replies: 56
Views: 16520

Re: House wired for CAT5, what do I do?

The more things you can hardwire, the better.

I am very proud that in my apartment, which is not wired, the only items that are on WiFi are the things that absolutely have to be.

This frees up the airwaves for those things. Very few if any connection troubles.

Even where I have to use a Mesh node, in the bedroom, everything in the bedroom is wired to that node via a dumb switch. We never buffer. We never have issues.
by d18lover
Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.
Replies: 8
Views: 713

Re: Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.

PaunchyPirate wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:10 am Honestly, which such heavy usage, I think this decision comes down to math. You should probably create a spreadsheet that looks back at ALL of last year's costs (from each individual EOB) and create a model that lets you estimate next year's total costs for all 3 of your possible plans. Coinsurance/copays and deductible considerations can add up quickly.
Yes, I am trying to figure out what exactly the coinsurance amounts would be but this is not exactly transparent with our service providers. They need more information to give me the information I want. Difficult to project.
by d18lover
Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.
Replies: 8
Views: 713

Re: Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.

toddthebod wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:01 am
If that isn't a typo, and you are actually averaging multiple office visits each week, assume you will reach the out-of-pocket max for the PPO plans. That brings your annual cost for your PPO to $8,584, and to the HDHP plan to $8,841. You could max out your HSA in order to pay your out-of-pocket costs for the HDHP plan with pre-tax dollars which would bring the total annual cost very close to that of the HMO.
Yes, we have our kids in speech/OT/PT and not to mention an ongoing medical issue that requires a lot of monitoring.

So you are saying it kind of seems like a wash?
by d18lover
Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.
Replies: 8
Views: 713

Help Choosing a health care plan..HMO rate went way up.

14 years with the same government agency and I've been on the cheapest HMO plan for all of them. Not that it matters, but my share of the premium was $0 when I hired in. Healthcare coverage for my family of five. The biweekly premium is about to increase another $100 and it has me reconsidering plans. It's now significantly (strangely) more expensive, on the surface, than our "gold plated" plan that I have always avoided. There are three options to consider. We actively use our healthcare. I would say we average about 2-3 office visits per week between our kids with special needs. Mostly behavioral stuff like speech, OT, PT and currently no copay for those in network services. The trickiest part for me is understanding coinsurance...
by d18lover
Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HP Instant Ink - Worth It?
Replies: 34
Views: 3000

Re: HP Instant Ink - Worth It?

I have had a subscription to this service for several years. It cost $11.99 plus tax for 300 pages a month. Ink cartridges rarely need to be replaced. In last 4 years, I have replaced about one black cartridge a year and color cartridges every 2 years. I can probably save a little money by canceling the service and buying my own cartridges, possibly even 3rd party ones. However, I am not sure the savings would be that significant. Also, I have read about people who had problems with HP after doing this. HP would lock their printer or other tactics to make it hard for them. Has anyone dropped this service? If so, what was your experience and cost savings. Thanks, John Had what you had, got a cheap Brother laser printer instead. The toner ca...
by d18lover
Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?
Replies: 32
Views: 3179

Re: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?

(Why would you have McDonalds as 'payees'? Payees for what?) I input every receipt daily and then reconcile with my online banking biweekly. I've never bought into auto-syncing with any institutions, not sure I would want that. So if I went to McDonalds, I have to enter it on my ledger for my Costco Visa. If I went to the one in Toledo, I would enter McDonalds Toledo. It became a hassle, I realized, to track 10 different McDonalds to see what I might have spent there in a year. Now it's just all McDonalds. I don't use software (just Excel) so not sure if it's 100% applicable, but my question is: why track even to that level (McDonald's vs. BK) of detail? I use my year-end credit card statements to divide purchases into about a dozen catego...
by d18lover
Sun Jul 17, 2022 6:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?
Replies: 32
Views: 3179

Re: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?

(Why would you have McDonalds as 'payees'? Payees for what?) I input every receipt daily and then reconcile with my online banking biweekly. I've never bought into auto-syncing with any institutions, not sure I would want that. So if I went to McDonalds, I have to enter it on my ledger for my Costco Visa. If I went to the one in Toledo, I would enter McDonalds Toledo. It became a hassle, I realized, to track 10 different McDonalds to see what I might have spent there in a year. Now it's just all McDonalds. I must say, you're very detailed. Seems like a lot of work for little benefit. Not to be critical, but why bother with that level of granularity? I'm assuming you can afford coffee or a burger without a thought but if that's not the case...
by d18lover
Sun Jul 17, 2022 5:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?
Replies: 32
Views: 3179

Re: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?

Caliscotsman wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 5:04 pm

(Why would you have McDonalds as 'payees'? Payees for what?)
I input every receipt daily and then reconcile with my online banking biweekly. I've never bought into auto-syncing with any institutions, not sure I would want that.

So if I went to McDonalds, I have to enter it on my ledger for my Costco Visa. If I went to the one in Toledo, I would enter McDonalds Toledo. It became a hassle, I realized, to track 10 different McDonalds to see what I might have spent there in a year. Now it's just all McDonalds.
by d18lover
Sun Jul 17, 2022 4:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?
Replies: 32
Views: 3179

Does anyone ever start a new Personal Finance digital file?

I started my personal finance software file in October of 2008, so we are about 14 years together. Banktivity for Mac (basically their version of Quicken). It's my longest relationship, seeing as I have been married 10 years. I've had so much change since then, I was just a recent college graduate making $12.50 an hour. I am reluctant to let go.....but I am just not sure what good the legacy data is doing me. I have increased strains on load times and computer RAM, but it's honesty not bad. There are payees in there that I'll obviously never use again. I am thinking of making it a point to close out and archive that file and start another at the end of this year. I've changed a lot of the ways I run it now to streamline. For example, I used...
by d18lover
Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Re: Should I be able to afford real estate?

I don’t know where you’re located, but there are many State, Federal, and University administration jobs that pay similarly well, but may have better health benefits, child care, or flexibility regarding your children’s care needs. In other words, get a position where you’re not topped out with better benefits and flexibility, and then worry about a house. Just a thought. I'd relocate if it was a step up, but I'm not sure that a bachelors degree and criminal justice background are desired. I'm inside of a prison system right now. I have interesting experience, and leadership experience, but does that resume land 6+ figures anywhere in the country? I've had interviews within my own department for positions that pay up to $119,000 and everyw...
by d18lover
Tue Jun 21, 2022 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Re: Should I be able to afford real estate?

I don’t know where you’re located, but there are many State, Federal, and University administration jobs that pay similarly well, but may have better health benefits, child care, or flexibility regarding your children’s care needs. In other words, get a position where you’re not topped out with better benefits and flexibility, and then worry about a house. Just a thought. I'd relocate if it was a step up, but I'm not sure that a bachelors degree and criminal justice background are desired. I'm inside of a prison system right now. I have interesting experience, and leadership experience, but does that resume land 6+ figures anywhere in the country? I've had interviews within my own department for positions that pay up to $119,000 and everyw...
by d18lover
Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Re: Should I be able to afford real estate?

To buy now would wipe us out entirely and we'd be spending an extra $1000/month on housing, not to mention maintenance and repairs. I feel like we'd be perpetually behind under that budget or worried about things like "can we afford fruit/a pizza this week?" for the first time. Then don't do it. But DO create an investment and spending plan that accounts for every dollar you make, rather than just "try to save that 3rd check for a rainy day the other 2 months". It's your money, own it. No reason to even contemplate not being able to buy fruit or a pizza in your situation. I think you're just being smart about it all. Current schools, medical care and a non-working spouse have value to you. They'd have a lot of value to ...
by d18lover
Tue Jun 21, 2022 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Re: Should I be able to afford real estate?

No I don't think you can afford a $350k house at your income and with a household of 5. You are sure there is nothing under $350k? What area of the country? I did a 30 minute radius on Zillow, which encompasses everything from the border of our major city out to the "boonies." The cheapest 3 bedroom is $275,000 right now. There are some 2 bedroom houses for $220k. To move into the city border directly would at least triple our car insurance and I'd be paying city income tax. Those houses are in the $150k range and are plentiful for sale for a reason. It's extremely poor in terms of schools and quality of living. Urban food desert situation, everyone has to drive out to the suburbs to shop. You couldn't give those houses away a fe...
by d18lover
Tue Jun 21, 2022 2:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Re: Should I be able to afford real estate?

You could find a way but you don't need to. You should not feel badly about renting for life. Other things are more important. Also, it's fine to buy with less than 20% down the first time as long as you keep PITI around 25%. We also had a lot of medical issues that needed to be addressed with our kids. My spouse stayed home and we were fortunate to be able to do that. I applaud your and your spouse's commitment to giving your children a loving home. That's a lot of work. We didn't save much for a good 6-7 years. I'd be able to give better advice if you provided more details. What's your current portfolio? How much are you saving annually? You have three kids, two with special needs, so living in the school district you want to live in and...
by d18lover
Tue Jun 21, 2022 12:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I be able to afford real estate?
Replies: 45
Views: 4495

Should I be able to afford real estate?

If I have to defend or deflect against one more well-meaning relative about our housing arrangement, I might lose my mind! I am looking for grains of truth in their criticism and have come here to ask for an honest assessment: Married (10 years) 40 year old couple with 3 kids under 9. One is level 1 and one is level 3 autistic, middle child is neuro-typical. I have a managerial job, reached my pay cap a year ago. $90,100 annual income with insurance. No growth, just COLA. Biggest downside is the 1 hour commute, but hybrid WFH schedule now. My spouse is full time with the kids and we have no family assistance. We are a happy family and I think we do pretty well all things considered; however, every time I visit with my father-in-law, he has ...
by d18lover
Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:21 am
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 i

"Not sure why people find this so hard to believe that there ARE some of us that actually like working in office and have made many friends of coworkers and enjoy the socialization." If the company dissolved tomorrow and paid you each 2 million dollars, you and these "friends" would continue to drive to each other and share the same roof during the day? Rotate houses? How would you maintain these friendships? I just don't buy these kind of arguments. You have to be friends or at least should be cordial to make it work, at work, but I really don't think most people have formed that many true office friendships. Some I have seen outwardly express a desire to get back at it, but privately, they are doing that to "show ...
by d18lover
Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
Replies: 23
Views: 1845

Re: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options

JoeRetire wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:24 am
d18lover wrote: Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:21 am Is it wrong of me to expect some kind of concession for this?
Concession? I'd be surprised if you got that. You can always ask.

How much of a concession do you feel is appropriate?
I was given 1/2 month rent off when we lost use of our master shower for 1/2 month waiting for the repair. This was on their behalf without a request. I thought it would be appropriate for them to offer something similar for however long until they can fix the toilet.
by d18lover
Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options
Replies: 23
Views: 1845

Landlord - Emergency Maintenance Only / Options

We rent a nice apartment in a nice neighborhood. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, very quiet, and roomy enough for our family of 5 to be pretty comfortable. Large complex, approximately 150 units. Rent is market rate for what we get and increasing as everything else goes up. We sign 12 month leases to get the best rate available. We have been tenants at this complex for 7 years and never been late on a payment or complained. At the end of 2021, we received an e-mail that due to COVID/staffing they will do only emergency maintenance repairs through January 2022, deferring all other requests until February. They followed up with a 2nd e-mail suspending maintenance until at least March unless emergency. In January, our master bedroom toilet broke, ...
by d18lover
Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Path to UHNW
Replies: 202
Views: 25157

Re: Path to UHNW

It's not what you know, it's who you know. Or who you're born to. I am middle aged and feel bad for those just entering the work force, those I am hiring. We pay decent money for our field. Most of my staff starting out, all require a college degree, have to work two jobs for at least a few years. They defer families, have multiple roommates, and basically just get by. This is not in a HCOL area. The only hope some of them have is their families are well-off enough to subsidize the American dream. Retired parents reduce the cost of child care for many. Assistance with housing downpayment, or sometimes the parents retire off to warm weather/condo and let the kids take the house. Otherwise the market is just too expensive. Someone above poste...
by d18lover
Wed Oct 06, 2021 11:14 am
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?

Government middle manager checking in again.

We went back 1 set day per week starting after Labor Day. The administration said they missed "getting to know us" and our "smiling faces."

I have not hardly seen 1 other soul on my office days. Everyone clams up in their office with the door shut. There is no purpose to be there. My day doesn't coincide with the day any of my staff chose. Not sure what our building rent is, I think around $30,000/month. Great use of taxpayer dollars.
by d18lover
Sat Oct 02, 2021 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs
Replies: 15
Views: 1825

Re: One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs

Same boat as you, and also a fellow autism mom. I would NOT risk it and get rid of my second car, especially if you have no other way of getting your kids to ABA/ ST / OT on a regular basis, aside from driving them there. I tried the local free county transportation for the disabled and it was a horror story! Uber-ing is uber expensive, esp if your kids get daily ABA and your one car ends up in a body (like mine has, at this very moment). If you get in-home ABA/ ST / OT, I'd be more likely to consider selling my second car. If you ever decide that homeschool is not for you - I tried this for 2 years and gave up - you would absolutely need the reassurance of a second car for those body shop days unless their schools are walkable distance or...
by d18lover
Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs
Replies: 15
Views: 1825

Re: One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs

an_asker wrote: Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:29 pm My suggestion, based on the data you provided, is to sell the car. I you need another one down the road, you can always purchase "notFord" :-)
I hear horror stories from people in the market for cars, pricing and negotiating is all out of whack, no?
by d18lover
Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs
Replies: 15
Views: 1825

One Car Family - Worth it? Anxiety about the what-ifs

We have a paid off 2018 Honda Odyssey as our main family of 5 hauler. We live in the suburbs, no mass transit or biking options. I bought a 2019 Escape AWD about 2.5 years ago on a low interest loan for an 80 mile/day capable commuter. COVID happened, full time WFH..... As of last month, I'm required to commute only once a week for the foreseeable future. My Ford has been mostly sitting. My wife homeschools and takes our kids to speech/OT/ABA appointments during the week, all on my work-from-home days. I had been thinking about selling the Ford, but assumed it wasn't worthwhile, probably lost its value. I owe $16,000 and could pay it off with cash. To be honest, the car has been rather disappointing. My first and last Ford for a while. 3 ti...
by d18lover
Tue Sep 07, 2021 5:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pistol safe recommendation
Replies: 32
Views: 5280

Re: Pistol safe recommendation

Law enforcement here. With most safes, generally choose 2: Easy access Inexpensive Hard to hack I know of enough gun ownership gone wrong, or seemingly normal families where someone flies off the handle, where I would always lean toward as secure as possible. Had those guns been unavailable, I don't know if the outcome would have been different, though. Certain kitchen knives can be more lethal than a poorly aimed gun. Unfortunately, more secure would make it harder to access in a hurry, but that's probably worth the trade off. It's all based on your personal comfort level. I would want it to be hidden, fully secure, and known only to myself and my wife if I kept a firearm in the home. I would keep it locked inside the safe and also disasse...
by d18lover
Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How often do you get new glasses?
Replies: 45
Views: 3753

Re: How often do you get new glasses?

About every 2-4 years, each of us. Even if there is little or no change to the prescription, lenses get scratched after 3+ years of frequent use. And it's nice to try a new look with new frames. One of us has a prescription that is pretty severe. We both have vision insurance, group plans that are slightly subsidized. There are many discount plans available to the public. Ask your optometrist/optician what discount plans they participate in. Are contact lenses an option for you? You would likely still want to have a pair of eye glasses as back up, but as a back up, maybe they can be replaced less often. Contact lenses might be cheaper than prescription eyeglasses. The daily disposables are very expensive, but not the 30-day ones. Don't kno...
by d18lover
Fri Jul 30, 2021 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How often do you get new glasses?
Replies: 45
Views: 3753

Re: How often do you get new glasses?

rage_phish wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 9:15 am Did I always have terrible vision Insurnace or is it normal for your coverage to not come close to covering a single pair of glasses?


Glasses always cost hundred of dollars out of pocket even after Insurnace.
Yes, for me it almost feels like a small coupon.

I don't pay toward my premium at work, though, so I will say it's better than nothing.
by d18lover
Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How often do you get new glasses?
Replies: 45
Views: 3753

How often do you get new glasses?

For the four-eyed among us: Though I get a regular eye exam checkup, my glasses Rx has been stable for years now. It's pretty expensive for me to get a new set of frames & lenses because my Rx is very strong and I have to use the highest index lenses to get them thin. I have tried places like Costco and mail order, but they ended up being thicker plastic, heavier, and I can't get them adjusted right. I really prefer a place like Lenscrafters, though I will have to spend between $600-$1000, depending on if I get a new set of sunglasses as well. I just got hit in the face with a toy (thanks 2 year old) and have a 1cm scratch on the right side lens. The glasses are only about 18 months old. I kept my last pair for almost 48 months, but at ...
by d18lover
Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!
Replies: 1358
Views: 141770

Re: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!

Marseille07 wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:11 pm Does anyone know why 5400 RPM is more expensive than 7200 RPM? This is a newegg example but same thing on Amazon: https://www.newegg.com/red-wd120efax-12 ... 6822234374

I prefer 5400 RPM because the spinrate doesn't matter for my use case & I heard it is more quiet. 5400 RPM used to be cheaper, I don't understand why it is more expensive now.
Everything is out of wack with supply lines, it's so hard to figure out good/fair pricing in things.

That is an awful lot of HDD space, what are you storing? We take scores of 4k video and pics of our family and haven't even maxed out 2tb.
by d18lover
Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..
Replies: 12
Views: 984

Re: Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..

suemarkp wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:20 am Our Edward Jones guy said the same thing about my 401k, probably trying to get me to move it to him. I compare the total return based on fund value to the same index with dividends reinvested using portfolio visualizer. The returns are the same. So my company isnt stealing the dividend, it just gets buried in the fund price increase.
Interesting. I was trying to find a good way to respond, this should just about cover it. I had never heard of the CIT thing.
by d18lover
Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..
Replies: 12
Views: 984

Re: Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..

fposte wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:39 am Do you have a 401k or a 457b? What specific funds are you holding? A lot of funds don't have capital gains distributions in the first place, and some don't have dividends either.
We have both. It's a governmental agency we have a 457 and a 401k, I use both.

I have used S&P and a bond fund, but recently switched to a Target date fund. They are all just "State Street" funds. State Street Bond Market Index, for example.
by d18lover
Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..
Replies: 12
Views: 984

Employer 401k/457 does not pay dividend or capital gain distributions..

A discussion group for my employer, including some retirees, brought to light that our 401k plan does not pay out the dividend or capital gain contributions to the account. Is this something I should be concerned about during accumulation phase? I am going to quote the post with some edit for formatting: "I’d flip your 401K to an IRA as soon as you retire. Enlist a good financial planner to help you pick a fund model. The company and Voya is screwing you silly cheating you out of dividend and capital gain distributions along with added administrative fees. The company is screwing plan participants silly. When you earn dividends or capital gains they adjust the share price instead of giving you the additional shares. Therefore when you ...
by d18lover
Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best Day of the Week for a Meeting?
Replies: 12
Views: 902

Re: Best Day of the Week for a Meeting?

I rotate for my staff. Everyone has their own schedules and requirements, so doing one at the same time might be an undue burden on 1 or 2 staff members. I tend to host 1 meeting per month. I avoid Friday afternoons, for sure.
by d18lover
Thu Jul 01, 2021 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CX-5 upgrade
Replies: 39
Views: 4128

Re: CX-5 upgrade

I should clarify, I am not replacing the 2019 cx-5, I am replacing a 15 year old second car, but I’d rather buy something a little bit nicer than a cx-5. My biggest problem I have with Mazda is the ADAS, they don’t have keep in lane technology while most other manufacturers have it. It’s where it makes little adjustments on the steering wheel to keep you in lane. All Mazda does is buzz when you are crossing over the lane without using the signal. Another thing I don’t like with Mazda is that the infotainment screen is not a touchscreen. Sometimes using the stupid knob is more distracting than just touching the screen. https://www.mazda.com/en/innovation/technology/safety/active_safety/las/ "The system allows drivers to choose between ...
by d18lover
Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:37 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which 7 seater SUV?
Replies: 89
Views: 14023

Re: Which 7 seater SUV?

The new Expedition is very nice, but you'll be waiting in line to get it.
by d18lover
Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: CX-5 upgrade
Replies: 39
Views: 4128

Re: CX-5 upgrade

My wife replaced a CX-5 with a Honda CRV. Better electronics and safety features. Slightly better build too. And we did the opposite with better results on the CX5 - although we kept the CRV. I'm a Mazda guy and have owned a few, my wife has had a few Hondas. I think as recent as 2019 model years, the driver assist and safety features of the Honda work much better. I can't speak to 2020 and 2021. This is mostly referring to the lane keep and radar cruise, but their entire driver assist setup is just more intuitive on the Honda. I feel like they're the Apple of cars. As to the original OP, you're not going to find an overall "better" crossover than a decked out CX-5 turbo. You can spend a lot more money and get something more flas...
by d18lover
Sun Jun 27, 2021 9:19 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Housing price prediction for 2021
Replies: 55
Views: 7167

Re: Housing price prediction for 2021

For what it's worth.... Don't get priced out. We are already priced out. It's a horrible feeling and it's hugely detrimental to our overall financial outlook. 3 young kids and stuck in a 2 bedroom apartment. We followed everything they recommend and waited until we were debt free and had a 20% down payment, so as to not end up house poor. I finally had a house on contract when COVID-19 started and I went on a 1 day per week temp furlough at work where my income was reduced but overall increased by federal unemployment monies. They pulled my mortgage despite every effort I made. Since that time, prices and competition increased exponentially. Now our only options are in a sketchy area with poor schools, and we have been outbid there and/or l...