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NJdad6

That is strange. Sounds more like fraud from the insurance company. Why would a criminal take out insurance in your name on your car?

NJdad6

Just realized the original post was 9 years ago. A more relevant question now should be granite or Quartz?

NJdad6

Granite or Quartz. Do not use Corian. It is outdated and will hurt resale value. New buyers will be considering the cost it would take to rip them out and replace with granite or Quartz.

NJdad6

Also -- I read that study referenced above... it is good but not necessarily helpful one particular thing I found incorrect was when comparing tuition costs it used 'public' cost around $19k / yr and 'private' cost around $26k / yr. (page 25) i think the difference in elite private vs. public is WA...

NJdad6

Late to the game and looks like you got some results. As you see the schools listed would be tough. Her SAT score is not high enough. Pitt will give significant merit but you will need 1500+ SAT. Penn State is notorious for not giving merit. Non flagship state schools or flagship schools not in the ...

NJdad6

Not that it makes much difference but there are only a few companies that make watch movements. Unless you are buying a very high-end Swiss watch or a Seiko, most of these other watches all use the same movement. Only thing different is the body, face and band. This means a relatively inexpensive wa...

NJdad6

Shinola Made in Detroit. More expensive than some on this list but cool, beautiful leather straps and distinctive without being gimmicky I believe these are assembled in the US with most parts made outside the US. Still a nice watch but when I looked into them a few years ago I thought they were ve...

NJdad6

Also the price of a chicken isn't necessarily connected to how well its treated or what is used to feed it. or...profitability. They aren't selling at $5 to make a profit (though covering some cost), they lure you into the deepest area of the warehouse to get you to buy other items. As one half of ...

NJdad6

My family does not care for the Costco chicken. I kind of agree. It is cheap but I find it rubbery, greasy and just not that good. The street tacos however are very good. The ones that come cold? Yes in a tray. Heat up the chicken and warm the tortillas. I add some chipotle hot sauce. Good, quick w...

NJdad6

My family does not care for the Costco chicken. I kind of agree. It is cheap but I find it rubbery, greasy and just not that good. The street tacos however are very good.

NJdad6

I eventually was able to get approval but it was one of those things that took way more effort than it should have. Even relatively senior managers didn’t want to get involved with anything related to T&E policy exceptions. I know our European teams refused to implement Amex even after the compa...

NJdad6

Another issue with Amex abroad is that there are very few locals with Amex cards. High end T&E locations take it for their US business and leisure travelers. Outside of major areas merchant may never come across an Amex card. A few years ago I was supposed to travel to a client location in Switz...

NJdad6

All the AMEX consumer charge cards (Green, Gold, Platinum) come with a variety of credits that minimize the annual fee. Green: $100 Lounge Buddy credit, $100 CLEAR credit. Gold: $120 dining credit, $120 Uber credit Platinum: $200 airline credit, $200 Uber credit, $100 Saks credit I think the Green ...

NJdad6

If you charged to your card dispute the transaction. I just did this. Sent a package to my son. Cost $20 to send. Tracking showed delivered to the porch at a certain time. My son a friends were on the porch before, during and after that time. There was no delivery. Mailman either delivered to wrong ...

NJdad6

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NJdad6

Costco sells the Samsung Q6 QLED for $899. Costco is a great place to but electronics, and Samsung makes a great tv. I just bought the Samsung Q8 which is over your price range but is beautiful. I’ve never had a roku tv ( but love the roku boxes). However, I believe in having a separate streaming b...

NJdad6

If looking for a sedan check out the Hyundai Sonata Limited or new Kia K5 EX. High safety scores, much higher than average reliability, loaded with tech, high quality luxury features and a 10yr/100k power train warranty. If you plan on keeping for many years depreciation is less of an issue. If look...

NJdad6

I am not an Attorney however my niece is finishing her 3rd year of law school in the spring. From what she has said (and I heard repeatedly from others) is if you cannot go to a top tier law school don’t go. Reputation is the MOST important thing. I’m sure others with more experience can provide add...

NJdad6

“7 years of college down the drain.” Many kids finish in 4 years. Some need more time for a number of reasons (posted above). Don’t think this is new. At my State school in the late 80s most of my friends/housemates took 5+ years. I was only 1 of 3 in my core group that graduated on time. Two failed...

NJdad6

I think they’ve come a long ways but I don’t think they have the best SUV lineup. However they are becoming very competitive with Japanese brands. I’d still steer toward Lexus if I were looking at a luxury crossover. I’m still skeptical of the long-term reliability of Kia/Hyundai not to mention the...

NJdad6

Honestly, Hyundai/Kia have the best overall SUV lineup going from subcompact to luxury. 10 years ago, it would be hard to imagine that all their cars would be tops or near tops of the class. It will take another 10 years to get over the brand stigma, I think. I think they’ve come a long ways but I ...

NJdad6

for a *midsize* - Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander will both be 200k with nothing but oilchange cars. Toyota has a hybrid Hylander but the extra cost is steep for a minor fuel economy gain. Pilot is an average reliability vehicle. There will be additional expenses like timing belt, water pump, etc. M...

NJdad6

Honestly, Hyundai/Kia have the best overall SUV lineup going from subcompact to luxury. 10 years ago, it would be hard to imagine that all their cars would be tops or near tops of the class. It will take another 10 years to get over the brand stigma, I think. I think they’ve come a long ways but I ...

NJdad6

Honestly, Hyundai/Kia have the best overall SUV lineup going from subcompact to luxury. 10 years ago, it would be hard to imagine that all their cars would be tops or near tops of the class. It will take another 10 years to get over the brand stigma, I think. Agree. 100% need to include Hyundai/Kia...

NJdad6

First of all, I agree with DIY test prep, but the kid has to be motivated and needs some help from a somewhat knowledgeable adult. I did it with my kid, a few tests we did together, untimed, discussing answers as we went. We also did LOTS of timed tests and graded/discussed them. She went from a 26...

NJdad6

I had transitions once. They aren't as good as dedicated sunglasses in strong light. They do not work in a car -- or at least the technology that was available when I had them didn't work in cars. I didn't buy them again when my prescription changed. Same. Useless in a car or anyplace where they do...

NJdad6

Agree. Stay out of Neptune and Asbury Park. Belmar is close by and a great beach community with a nice downtown. Some good restaurants and places to hang out once we are done with COVID. Edit: Asbury Park is getting better and along the water is a great place to visit but I would not recommend livin...

NJdad6

Harry’s has a single blade on the top to trim those tight spots. Works well for me.

BTW-have been using Harry’s for about 5 years. Very happy with the product and price compared to the other brands.

NJdad6

The towns can pay for those things if they want them. The problem is that towns are forced to subsidize Newark’s schools on top of their own. That’s a costly proposition. My town gets zero state aid and keeps their budget flat if you normalize out the ever increasing burden of the Abbott districts....

NJdad6

op https://money.com/best-places-to-retire-2020/ 8. Bridgewater, New Jersey Dawn Wilde, The Breeze Population: 45,000 Population 50-plus: 43.7% Days of sunshine a year: 205 Median home price: $390,000 Bridgewater Township in New Jersey has changed plenty since the stars-and-stripes flew above it fo...

NJdad6

I paid up for an expensive private undergrad for my kids in the 90s when costs were less unreasonable than they are today. It was probably only double or 2.5x the then-modest cost of the flagship state U then. It worked out. DS1 wanted a career in banking and finance. The big international banks on...

NJdad6

If you will be using the knives to prepare food versus being decorative on your kitchen counter, I'd go the individual knife route. A typical 3 knife set is: 8-in. chef's knife 5-in. serrated utility knife (I have no idea how one sharpens this or if it needs sharpening) 3-in. paring knife I'd go wi...

NJdad6

Thanks for the additional comments. The "unexpected" in my title is because, 16 years ago, I never expected to be even entertaining spending so much on college. As the product of state schools (and frankly a very mediocre student) I expected my kids to be the same and thought I would save...

NJdad6

Goldendoodles are known to be neurotic or have other behavioral issues. This needs to be countered early on in the developmental stage. Keep it with its mother and littler mates for as long as possible. Create strong boundaries from the start. Puppy socialization is very important, so have it meet ...

NJdad6

We did the same and got a doodle puppy this summer. Very similar aged kids. Dogs are great. Puppies are not. My BTDT: - Watch the Zak George series of YouTube videos with your kids starting today. He has a series with a puppy named Inertia. It will really help set expectations with training and esp...

NJdad6

Golden doodles are quite large dogs! I suggest considering a Boston terrier or French bulldog. They make great pets and love children. We have two Boston Terriers and our daughter has a French bulldog. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world! There are mini goldens that are about 20-30lbs. ...

NJdad6

The first month you may feel like the dog is an intruder in your home and regret the decision. Acknowledge the thoughts, but DO NOT RETURN the dog! Hire a professional trainer (not Petsmart classes) and it will improve the lives of both you and the dog long term. After the first few weeks, you and ...

NJdad6

Goldendoodles are known to be neurotic or have other behavioral issues. This needs to be countered early on in the developmental stage. Keep it with its mother and littler mates for as long as possible. Create strong boundaries from the start. Puppy socialization is very important, so have it meet ...

NJdad6

Any make will be fine. They will most likely have a full warranty and even included service for 2-3 years. Also the sedans/SUVs should also have high safety scores. Reliability really only matters if you are buying used or planning to keep for a long time. At that budget and timeframe get whatever y...

NJdad6

I canceled long ago and never looked back. I still occasionally buy from Amazon, but much less than before. Their prices are much higher than your local Walmart or Costco. I think it depends. Some items are cheaper elsewhere if you can find them. I like Amazon due to the simplicity, competitive pri...

NJdad6

After some additional deliberation we are adding a Naples day trip from Rome and a Cinque Terre day trip from Florence. That seems like sketchy deliberation. For Naples, it’s at least two hours on the train each way, so closer to six hours of round-trip travel. What are you planning to see in Naple...

NJdad6

Not going to comment on new/used, 3 cars/2 cars, etc.. But, Get a van. Not an SUV. once you get past the "vans are so uncool/swore I'd never drive a minivan/etc." they're so dad gum handy. kids can ingress/egress on their own, sliding doors don't ding other cars, they really are HUGE insi...

NJdad6

Sounds like a great trip. Did something similar in 2019. A great day trip was a visit to Pompeii. My kids are older but wanted to see it after learning about it in history and Latin classes. I am glad we did it, one of the highlights of the trip. There are a few options but we did a high speed train...

NJdad6

For those of us in a cold climate, heated mattress pad. Never crawl into a cold bed again. Runner up. Gas fireplace. Also remote start for the car, heated seats and steering wheel. My next splurge will be a villa in Cabo. Your post made me laugh. 20 years ago we bought a car that had heated seats. ...

NJdad6

I am going to say something that I am sure will get a lot of negative responses. Luxury cars are not about just about the brand. For example, a low end/low price luxury brand vehicle is really no more luxurious than a loaded Honda, Toyota, Kia, etc. Still lots of cheap plastic, etc. In fact some of ...

NJdad6

Just a tip, storing it upside down before opening makes stirring much easier. TJ's had just peanuts with or without salt. Costco's Kirkland brand has peanuts and salt. Both require some stirring, but only the first time (well, in my experience, perhaps because I store it in the fridge after opening...

NJdad6

Back when I used to drink, the Glenmorangie was the daily, it is really quite good. Glenlivet could substitute if needed for a daily. The special occasions called for either a Talisker or Lagavulin. American whiskey/bourbon/etc is plain crap in comparison. If price is a major concern, go with Crown...

NJdad6

I've seen comments about other spirits on this site, but it has been a long time since I've seen any on scotch. We have one drink on most evenings and I have taken a liking to The Dimple Pinch 15 year-old neat. Have been comparing it with Johnnie Walker Black 12 year-old, also neat, and settled on ...

NJdad6

Overall tax burden is the issue. According to different sources, here is where Mass is ranked nationally: 22nd (https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494/) 22nd (https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/t054-s001-all-50-states-ranked-for-taxes-2019/index.html) 20th (htt...

NJdad6

Where the OP lives, Mass, is a middle of the road tax state I would disagree, "Taxachusetts" has some pretty harsh taxes for certain people. The Estate Tax is especially burdensome, up to 16%, and the ENTIRE estate starts getting taxed if you're only $1 over $1 million. Overall tax burden...

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