Search found 72 matches

by shariq1989
Sun Feb 27, 2022 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What watch do you wear on a daily basis, or are you wearing today?
Replies: 382
Views: 33441

Re: What watch do you wear on a daily basis, or are you wearing today?

Bought a refurbished Garmin Vivoactive 3 from GPSNation.com about two years ago. I wear it every day and it's still going strong.
by shariq1989
Thu Nov 19, 2020 7:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is the best money you have spent on professional development?
Replies: 16
Views: 2095

Re: What is the best money you have spent on professional development?

quadog wrote: Wed Nov 18, 2020 7:32 pm I took a chance and went back to school to get my masters degree in my late 30s. It opened some doors. In the abstract, it’s provided upwards of 1500% return over the past 7 years. I had no way of knowing this when I started the program.
I am about to complete my masters. Can you share more about how you made the degree "work for you"? I hear mixed reviews about how much a masters degree returned on investment. I surely have learned a lot over the course of the program and am a better engineer because of it.
by shariq1989
Wed Nov 18, 2020 11:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is the best money you have spent on professional development?
Replies: 16
Views: 2095

What is the best money you have spent on professional development?

As an engineering (software) professional in my early 30's, what is the best bang for my buck money I can spend to improve myself? Work more efficiently? I came across this discussion on the Hacker News forum and wanted to get the Boglehead take on this. I don't want this to be limited to software or engineering, I believe that secrets to success can transcend industries and occupations.
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Products That Are Worth It To You
Replies: 368
Views: 65420

Re: Premium Products That Are Worth It To You

I for for quality for things I use every day Running Shoes (I buy high-end Asics for the fit) Pretty much any cycling gear Knives (leatherman multi-tools and kitchen knives) tires (always buy the best michelins Costco has available) Vacuum cleaner (Dyson) iPhone 5 Weber Grill (I use it nearly daily here in TX for grilling and coffee roasting) Briefcase and wallet (I'm fussy about these) Most power tools. I usually buy contractor grade Costco sirloin burger patties Sorry to revive this thread from the dead :D Curious to hear your recommendations for a company that makes wallets and uses premium, high quality leather, that would last for decades. :sharebeer Saddleback Leather Yes! I just purchased a front ID wallet recently. I love it!
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU make coffee?
Replies: 342
Views: 30268

Re: How do YOU make coffee?

Cold brew in a toddy
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:31 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Examples of Low Tech Improving Your Life
Replies: 216
Views: 23360

Re: Examples of Low Tech Improving Your Life

I spend 90% of my waking time in front of a screen but any time outside with my kids or inside building legos is bliss!
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anybody here go all-Linux for personal computing?
Replies: 117
Views: 11729

Re: Anybody here go all-Linux for personal computing?

Moved to pop os from windows recently. Can't imagine going back!
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What video games are you currently playing?
Replies: 529
Views: 88220

Re: What video games are you currently playing?

Sports guy - Fifa 21, Madden 21
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is it really Worth it to brown bag your lunch at work?
Replies: 328
Views: 33561

Re: Is it really Worth it to brown bag your lunch at work?

100%. And we cook great meals at home so leftovers are generally delicious.
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Boglehead Beer
Replies: 1071
Views: 204127

Re: Re:

:sharebeer My personal top secret two beers: * Yuengling - light, tasty, often the cheapest beer in the store. Not a lot to it, but an unoffensive refreshing summer brew. Go figure. * Killian's Red - Often belittled just for being a Coors product, actually has good flavor, and again -- readily available and cheap. :sharebeer ... 2 great choices at very reasonable prices.. Another favorite at great savings is Rolling Rock... I purchased a 30 pack of canned RR this week at $18.99. Just $.63 / can! Iconic name and taste .. for years brewed locally in glass lined tanks in Latrobe, Pa. This cheap, but tasty offering, allows me to splurge on all of the great fresh brewed craft beers at so many local and distant breweries.. Its’s a great time for...
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you doing for haircuts due to coronavirus shutdown?
Replies: 258
Views: 27351

Re: What are you doing for haircuts due to coronavirus shutdown?

shaving my head completely every couple weeks
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625570

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Deciding to be intentional about looking for stuff on Craigslist or offer up before looking on Amazon has saved us money
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Purchase of 2018?
Replies: 265
Views: 28749

Re: Favorite Purchase of 2018?

TheTimeLord wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:05 am The VOO shares I purchased on Christmas Eve of 2018.
True boglehead
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?
Replies: 1800
Views: 180181

Re: Coronavirus (Consumer Issues) How you are preparing?

I thought absentee and mail in are the same thing. Are they not?
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Car Maintenance Do You Do?
Replies: 165
Views: 11997

Re: What Car Maintenance Do You Do?

replacing cabin filters
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Products that last forever
Replies: 288
Views: 29960

Re: Products that last forever

Saddleback Leather goods, cast iron pans
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Costco worth the $120 membership?
Replies: 267
Views: 25727

Re: Is Costco worth the $120 membership?

totally. we live by the produce and meat aisles. Monthly sales are huge.
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Books that changed your life]
Replies: 577
Views: 73147

Re: Books that changed your life

Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Hobby" Money: Planes, cars, boats etc...
Replies: 114
Views: 10288

Re: "Hobby" Money: Planes, cars, boats etc...

any favorite bike brands here for someone who doesn't bike at all but would like to start on something cheaper and reliable
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
Replies: 766
Views: 150960

Re: Good Modern Science Fiction

placeholder wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:24 am I get lots of my e-books from the public library.
using libby?
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trader Joe's Fans - good value?
Replies: 164
Views: 30019

Re: Trader Joe's Fans - good value?

I love the chocolate bars
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gardening 2020
Replies: 227
Views: 22363

Re: Gardening 2020

Moving from CO to NC, it might sound like an excuse but I'm excited to be able to grow stuff for once!
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do you buy coffee beans?
Replies: 200
Views: 22416

Re: Where do you buy coffee beans?

Costco
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New smoker recommendation?
Replies: 103
Views: 9884

Re: New smoker recommendation?

I have heard great things about the kamado joe and big green egg
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111048

Re: So what are you cooking

Mushroom tofu stir fry
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which diet soda pop do you enjoy?
Replies: 234
Views: 18592

Re: Which diet soda pop do you enjoy?

I wish pakola was available in diet :(
by shariq1989
Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is your favorite consumer product?
Replies: 339
Views: 77675

Re: What is your favorite consumer product?

Orient watches
by shariq1989
Mon Oct 19, 2020 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Running Linux vs Other OS?
Replies: 173
Views: 16344

Re: Running Linux vs Other OS?

I have been hearing great things about Pop OS. My co-workers who use it say that it *just works seemlessly*, which is really my main requirement for an operating system.

https://pop.system76.com/
by shariq1989
Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Whats best website for homeowners insurance
Replies: 37
Views: 7448

Re: Whats best website for homeowners insurance

Lemonade (www.lemonade.com) seems to be popular and growing fast. Part of this is due to their ability to quote insurance and, process & pay out claims fast.
by shariq1989
Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What video games are you currently playing?
Replies: 529
Views: 88220

Re: What video games are you currently playing?

FIFA 20, Madden 20, Battlefield V
by shariq1989
Sat Jan 18, 2020 5:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5832
Views: 590359

Re: What are you listening to now

Clark Howard's podcast
by shariq1989
Sat Dec 21, 2019 11:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College for average kids
Replies: 126
Views: 16866

Re: College for average kids

I was a 2.5-3.0 student through grade school. A stint as a sailor and 6 years after high school, I graduated from a small state school with a 3.4 GPA in Computer Science. Currently, I am half way through a Master's degree from an Ivy League program with a 3.8 GPA and employed in software development. There is hope for us "less smart" ones. I just had to take time away from school and mature. Not as accomplished as you. I was a terrible student, reasonably smart but subject to draft (Vietnam era). Zero interest in college. My dad was a Master Mariner and got a job based in Singapore. Mom and Dad insisted I relocate with them from US to SGP. Almost immediately Dad had me aboard US flagged Merchant tanker ( not his) under contract t...
by shariq1989
Fri Nov 22, 2019 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best car/car value ever!
Replies: 59
Views: 6369

Re: Best car/car value ever!

I have had to get thousands of dollars worth of work done on my Ford sedan at 100k. Brake pads, front rotors, tires, shocks, struts. Just manufacturer recommended work.

Is this not the case for Toyotas and Honda's?
by shariq1989
Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Deal finding websites
Replies: 10
Views: 1373

Re: Deal finding websites

Slickdeals, Camelcamelcamel (for Amazon)
by shariq1989
Thu Oct 31, 2019 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: If I save $65,000 a year for the next 25 years
Replies: 34
Views: 5100

Re: If I save $65,000 a year for the next 25 years

Need more details.. expenses, debt, networth, etc...
by shariq1989
Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: what was your worst major purchase? mine is a 2019 mazda3
Replies: 182
Views: 21483

Re: what was your worst major purchase? mine is a 2019 mazda3

This has been a fun thread to read (and I feel really bad for StopToThink). For me, the answer has got to be my first undergraduate degree. I started school in 2001, studying Computer Science. Got partway through my sophomore year and hit a wall - I could not handle the material. Took some time off from school to work and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Decided to switch from CS to IT. Did that for exactly one semester to know that was really not what I wanted to do. Took more generals before deciding to switch to Business Management. Finally graduated in 2008, after seven years. Got a job making $9.50/hour and never used that degree one little bit. It wasn't even the financial cost of the degree that was the real killer - tha...
by shariq1989
Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone familiar with driving from Disneyland area to Tucson, Az?
Replies: 39
Views: 3141

Re: Anyone familiar with driving from Disneyland area to Tucson, Az?

I live in LA. Unless you are adamant about LA, I'd spend the time in San Diego...much more pleasant. The beaches in San Diego and Orange County are much nicer too. I'd suggest San Clemente as the northernmost target. San Diego has the zoo, and a wild animal park that's incredible: See https://www.sdzsafaripark.org/ Also Balboa Park is really neat, and has a neat auto museum (although a 1 yr old and a 3 year old might be bored, they can play outside while your wife lets you do the museum :) ) If you decide not to go into Los Angeles, try to fly into John Wayne Airport in Orange County from STL; its a great airport, Disneyland is in Orange County, and you'll avoid a ton of traffic trying to get there from LAX (although Orange County has traf...
by shariq1989
Mon May 13, 2019 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does vision insurance cover online eyeglass purchase?
Replies: 7
Views: 1054

Re: Does vision insurance cover online eyeglass purchase?

I have insurance with Davis vision through my megacorp. They will cover $100 on any eyeglasses pair, online or not. I have been reimbursed successfully when buying from EyeBuyDirect and Warby Parker
by shariq1989
Wed Mar 27, 2019 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Transferring land from parent to child
Replies: 14
Views: 1903

Re: Transferring land from parent to child

ohai wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2019 12:00 pm
Stormbringer wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:42 pm One day, unexpectedly, a deed showed up in the mail. My 75 year-old father-in-law gave us some land. We don't really want it, but it's been in the family since the 1800's, and now we're paying $1,000 a year in taxes on it. If we sell, we have to pay capital gains on it, because our tax basis is zero. Argh!

Trying to find some other family member to give it to.
If you sell it, you'd still get the proceeds after tax, right? Why would you rather give it away?
Exactly what I was thinking. If it was left in your hands, you should still earn some money after the sale.
by shariq1989
Tue Mar 19, 2019 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College for average kids
Replies: 126
Views: 16866

Re: College for average kids

I was a 2.5-3.0 student through grade school. A stint as a sailor and 6 years after high school, I graduated from a small state school with a 3.4 GPA in Computer Science. Currently, I am half way through a Master's degree from an Ivy League program with a 3.8 GPA and employed in software development. There is hope for us "less smart" ones. I just had to take time away from school and mature.
by shariq1989
Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fantastic Resort Recommendations???
Replies: 39
Views: 5854

Re: Fantastic Resort Recommendations???

We find the AAA Five Diamond Resort list to be very reliable. Both the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and the Hyatt Ziva in Cancun have been amazing.

Here is a link: https://publicaffairsresources.aaa.biz/ ... Hotels.pdf