Search found 58 matches

by Dougiefresh
Thu Nov 02, 2023 7:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?
Replies: 179
Views: 23499

Re: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?

Attic Fan? It was installed per the manufacturer’s directions. I’m not sure if it really works to lower the temperature. Just moves the air around and raises my electric bill. Anybody have a different experience? How can I tell if it’s effective? Sure, eventually the suns goes down and it gets cooler out. The best system is a properly sized passive ridge vent with the correct soffitts to create a stack effect for heat removal. Active fans just pull conditioned air into an unconditioned space which then is backfilled with unconditioned air from outside... My attic is insulated. Is it air tight? No. I have gables, or maybe what you described as ridge vents, on opposing sides of the house. And the fan is set up beside one of the vents to pull...
by Dougiefresh
Wed Nov 01, 2023 11:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?
Replies: 179
Views: 23499

Re: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?

Attic Fan? It was installed per the manufacturer’s directions.
I’m not sure if it really works to lower the temperature. Just moves the air around and raises my electric bill.
Anybody have a different experience? How can I tell if it’s effective? Sure, eventually the suns goes down and it gets cooler out.
by Dougiefresh
Thu Oct 26, 2023 1:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Structured Notes
Replies: 13
Views: 1712

Re: Structured Notes

Thanks
by Dougiefresh
Mon Oct 23, 2023 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Structured Notes
Replies: 13
Views: 1712

Structured Notes

My Fidelity Advisor has introduced me to a third party affiliate that sells Structured Notes. For a significant investment they offer 9- 11 % interest (after .75 management fee) .The notes are issued by “too big to fail” banks and offer a guaranteed return of principal ( not including interest). I’m certain that there’s some people in the Boglehead community who are familiar with these types of investments, and am curious as to how they feel about them. How would you rate the degree of risk in this type of holding?
The minimum is pretty high (500k) and I wonder if I could purchase in lower amounts from other companies.
Thanks
by Dougiefresh
Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Bolt EV owner looking for an L2 home charger
Replies: 21
Views: 1812

Re: New Bolt EV owner looking for an L2 home charger

Clipper Creek (now owned by Enphase) has a number of basic chargers. Very solid. I have the Amazing EVSE, which is one of their sub brands. It’s compact. You can mount it outdoors, and I believe it’s UL certified. Comes with 3 year warranty. Reasonably priced and you can probably find one used on eBay.
by Dougiefresh
Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best EV for around $50k, or RAV4 Prime???
Replies: 133
Views: 17699

Re: Best EV for around $50k?

I would look into the 2023 Niro E, which is going to be showing up in dealerships any day now. Kia has made some major upgrades to this car. It should come in right around your target price. This car is a bit “under the radar”. Consumer Reports rates the 2022 model as one of the best in class. Makes for a great daily driver. It’s a bit smaller ( maybe by about 6 inches in length) than some of the cars you’re looking at. The 2023 got a boost in dimensions, both interior and exterior. It’s far from an “econo” car. Nice interior, good space in front and back seats, the cargo area is acceptable, and the outside body is looking much sexier. For sure it’s bigger than the Bolt EUV . In reading your post, you mentioned that you have a small parking...
by Dougiefresh
Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Southern California - Where's the best place to buy furniture?
Replies: 37
Views: 4401

Re: Southern California - Where's the best place to buy furniture?

Facebook Marketplace as well. You can get great deals on used furniture.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor
Replies: 18
Views: 1928

Re: Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor

Thanks BH's
I knew that i could count on you!
by Dougiefresh
Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor
Replies: 18
Views: 1928

Re: Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor

Done that. Sometimes locals or those who don't review on line have input.
by Dougiefresh
Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor
Replies: 18
Views: 1928

Three Day Weekend in Ann Arbor

Hey BH’s
Will be visiting UM in mid January. Just the two of us.
Need some ideas:
How to get from Detroit Airport and is it easy to get around in Ann Arbor? Do we need to rent a car or is public transportation a viable option?
Where to stay? Nothing terribly lavish, still, we like our comfort.
Where to eat?
Things to do? We’re going to see some college hockey, so the evenings are spoken for.
Thanks
by Dougiefresh
Fri May 14, 2021 12:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hotels/Inn Midweek Getaway to Central Coast CA Recommendations
Replies: 4
Views: 668

Re: Hotels/Inn Midweek Getaway to Central Coast CA Recommendations

Thanks for the suggestions. Interested in areas between San Luis Obispo to the north and Ojai to the south.
I should correct myself, I meant to say Jacuzzi, rather than hot tub.
by Dougiefresh
Thu May 13, 2021 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hotels/Inn Midweek Getaway to Central Coast CA Recommendations
Replies: 4
Views: 668

Hotels/Inn Midweek Getaway to Central Coast CA Recommendations

Looking for a nice place with some character. Our only required amenity is that they have a hot tub. We travel Bogleheads style: looking for a good value, but stay classy.
by Dougiefresh
Tue Apr 20, 2021 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do you buy coffee beans?
Replies: 200
Views: 22437

Re: Where do you buy coffee beans?

I'm really enjoying Mt Comfort Peruvian coffee from Costco. Nice clean taste, true medium roast. Reminds me of Eight o' Clock Columbian Peaks. This coffee goes for about $5 a lb. I think it's as good as the $16 a lb. gourmet stuff.
by Dougiefresh
Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gardening 2021
Replies: 138
Views: 17956

Re: Gardening 2021

Zone 10B

Heirloom tomatoes are planted. Gold Nugget is blossoming!
Escarole, swiss chard, radicchio and butter lettuce are thriving.
Gonna work on my herbs this season: Basil, parsley, and thyme. Sage and rosemary are doing fine.
by Dougiefresh
Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: walking shoes with wide toes?
Replies: 50
Views: 6919

Re: walking shoes with wide toes?

Altra is available at Nordstrom Rack. Kind of a weird looking shoe, but it felt very comfortable.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hyundai Kona EV experiences and lease opinions?
Replies: 12
Views: 2009

Re: Hyundai Kona EV experiences and lease opinions?

Understand that Chevy has some great deals (lease or purchase) on the Bolt. Check the Costco site for details.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Mar 05, 2021 5:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anyone buy a car using Costco Auto?
Replies: 28
Views: 6441

Re: Anyone buy a car using Costco Auto?

We recently purchased a used car through the Costco program. They have a couple of different flavors; one for purchasing certified used cars, the other for non certified used cars. We opted for a higher mileage Prius (65K lease return) that had been in an accident (repaired per the carfax report). The listed pricing was lower because of these factors. The dealership was selling it as a certified car as well. Costco's program states that for a certified car the pricing will be $750-$500 less than the advertised price. We negotiated an additional $250 off that. Buying used cars can be a crapshoot. We felt more comfortable knowing that with the additional warranty, which comes with the certified program, that we would be limiting our exposure....
by Dougiefresh
Thu Mar 04, 2021 11:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Produce Delivery Services
Replies: 11
Views: 782

Re: Produce Delivery Services

I have tried Imperfect Foods, off and on, for a year or so. I was drawn to the concept of buying less than Grade A meat and produce. Part for economic reasons, and part for social responsibility reasons. Long story short, the quality and pricing was inconsistent. But what really upset me was the shorting of items on the orders. I would have to contact them after each delivery with a list of what wasn't in the shipment. They were very good about crediting me, still, it became such a hassle.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New vs. Used car shopping
Replies: 22
Views: 2833

Re: New vs. Used car shopping

I have a 2013 Leaf. Its has a working range of about 60 miles. Great for local driving. This car is bulletproof. I 've replaced tires, air filter and windshield wipers.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New vs. Used car shopping
Replies: 22
Views: 2833

Re: New vs. Used car shopping

Going through this exercise right now. Looking for a 2018 or 2019 Subaru Crosstrek with the Eyesight safety feature. Used prices are anywhere from 16K to 22K depending on condition. Still this seems to be at least 20% off new pricing. Still under warranty. Why not?
by Dougiefresh
Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What are you listening to now
Replies: 5833
Views: 591227

Re: What are you listening to now

Whistling in the Dark from Blue Umbrella Album- Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_jYXJw05R8
by Dougiefresh
Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Above Range Microwave Install-Need Expert Advice
Replies: 26
Views: 3351

Re: Above Range Microwave Install-Need Expert Advice

Recommend that you check your local building codes as well. Can be a fire hazard is microwave is too close to the stove. But be sure that everybody can reach it safely!
by Dougiefresh
Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Washing machine decision/feedback - GE GFW850SSNWW vs. LG WM4000HWA
Replies: 32
Views: 7755

Re: Washing machine decision/feedback - GE GFW850SSNWW vs. LG WM4000HWA

We've had LG stacking front load machines for about 6 years. Know that LG washing machines require some routine practices that you may not have had to do in the past, such as the keeping the door open to air it out, and draining the machine periodically to get rid of excess water which collects. It's not a big deal, but still, you should be aware. We've only had one minor service call to date. If I had one bit of advice, I'd suggest you review the features of the model you are thinking of purchasing and consider whether you're going to use, for example, the steam clean function or the LG app. Maybe you will, if so, all the more power to you. It might be worth downgrading to the next LG model with less features...something to think about. Ma...
by Dougiefresh
Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Buy a used car or brand new
Replies: 73
Views: 5693

Re: Buy a used car or brand new

Putting finances aside...if you buy used, make sure that the car is equipped with safety features such as blind spot warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear hazard detection and warning (for backing up) and of course a good rear view camera. Some used cars in the 3 year old range don’t have these features as standard equipment. Could save your life!
by Dougiefresh
Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Golf clubs
Replies: 25
Views: 2427

Re: Golf clubs

For a lot of years (too many to admit) I played with a miniature golf course style putter. I recently upgraded to a Ben Sayers model and whoa... that made a huge difference. I think I've dropped my score by at least 6 strokes. Maybe it's just in my head. Still I'll take it!
I'm in the process of selectively upgrading my woods as well. Love my new (used) Callaway Rogue X 5 hybrid and Taylormade Rescue.
by Dougiefresh
Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277377

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

I was told by the LC Broker rep that they offer a one time free float, executable within 15 days of closing. To be eligible, the rate need only drop 1/8 of a point. Burden is on you to identify and communicate to LC.
by Dougiefresh
Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Does anyone have a dishwasher they recommend?
Replies: 161
Views: 14620

Re: Does anyone have a dishwasher they recommend?

Bosch. 5 years - no issues. Does the job. Love the top rack for silverware. Use the delay button and program so you take advantage of low utility rates.
by Dougiefresh
Thu Nov 05, 2020 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277377

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

KB8KB24 wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:19 pm
Dougiefresh wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 11:58 am Just locked with LC refinance at 2.5%; Loan Amount 260K; Lender Rebate leaves total cost @ $489.
To Presto987:Your input was very helpful. Much appreciated.
Be very careful with them. I am 90 days in and still in underwriting. I would use their rate to lock in with someone else.
I will. Thanks for the advice. The broker I'm working with said that it would be at least 60 days. Maybe I should call Better. Seeing a lot of positive reviews on the message board.
Asking...So basically now that I have a locked in rate with LC, I should look for a lower rate/ better deal, or I suppose the same deal, but with a company that would close the loan earlier?
by Dougiefresh
Thu Nov 05, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277377

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

Just locked with LC refinance at 2.5%; Loan Amount 260K; Lender Rebate leaves total cost @ $489.
To Presto987:Your input was very helpful. Much appreciated.
by Dougiefresh
Mon Nov 02, 2020 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Refinance Mega Thread
Replies: 12862
Views: 1277377

Re: Refinance Mega Thread

Hello friends, i am in California and going to be doing refinancing soon. from all the discussions, i made this final list to go after: a) That is a great list of lenders. I wouldn't add any. b) Step 1: Figure out what your best offer is. Some tips below: Loan Cabin - Start by checking out the website calculator, which tells you the lowest no-points rate. You'd get some lender credits with that rate, but the site doesn't show how much. Assuming the website rate looks favorable, I would apply to LC immediately when you are ready, and hopefully they get back to you soon, as their upfront pricing will probably be the best. IM - Check out the advertised rates on their site and whether you meet the conditions to qualify. If you don't meet the c...
by Dougiefresh
Fri Oct 23, 2020 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: printable costco shopping list
Replies: 8
Views: 1171

Re: printable costco shopping list

I made a simple spreadsheet that lists the most common items we buy at Costco and what aisle they are in. I have been using this for about a year and most of the items have not moved in that time (such as pasta in aisle 317 and laundry detergent in aisle 311). And most importantly, toilet paper is always in aisle 338 at the back of the store. On the other hand, I have seen things like nachos move several times in the past year." Our family uses "Our Groceries https://www.ourgroceries.com/your-lists/. It's an app which keeps a list of your grocery items. So for example, when I go shopping I can view all of the items we need to purchase at Trader Joes. You can sort by the stores that you shop at. You create the descriptions (which ...
by Dougiefresh
Wed Oct 21, 2020 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do you buy coffee beans?
Replies: 200
Views: 22437

Re: Where do you buy coffee beans?

I'm on it.
by Dougiefresh
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do you buy coffee beans?
Replies: 200
Views: 22437

Re: Where do you buy coffee beans?

IMO for the money, pound for pound, the best coffee is Eight o' Clock Columbian Peaks. It's very consistent and has a winey, slightly tangy taste- which I love. For $6 a lb, the savings over $15 lb coffee buys me an extra round of golf a month. I have tried a lot of different varieties and blends of coffee over the years. Some are quite tasty, but they go in and out of stock, and the pricing is generally high.
by Dougiefresh
Sun Oct 18, 2020 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I get a ping pong table?
Replies: 75
Views: 5464

Re: Should I get a ping pong table?

We have a ping pong table which is stored in our garage. It folds up and rolls out easily when we want to play in our backyard. We purchased it about 15 years ago. It's been a great acquisition. We love to play with our kids, and they play with their friends as well. I think it's underrated as a physical activity. You can work up a sweat playing, and the heart rate picks up. Playing loosens up my neck and tunes my eye hand coordination.
Nothing like a competitive game of ping pong.
by Dougiefresh
Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Recommend a mattress?
Replies: 70
Views: 10910

Re: Recommend a mattress?

We purchased King Koil, the extended life series; specifically the Beckett model. We got it from Sit n Sleep, but it's also available through Macy's online. The mattress contains about 35% latex, which I prefer. Also the warranty is better than most of the manufacturers. It was great to be able to cross shop the mattress, and I used Sit n Sleep because they will always beat the price for like items. I think that by and large the mattress business is sketchy, especially when the manufacturers rename same spec models. This protects the retailers because then they aren't really competing against each other on price. We were lucky to see the identical model being sold by two well known retailers. Armed with this, I was able to negotiate on pric...
by Dougiefresh
Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: "Nice" furniture recommendations
Replies: 135
Views: 26470

Re: "Nice" furniture recommendations

Re Room and Board: Maybe I'm an outlier here, but not terribly pleased with them. We purchased several items for our living room approximately 3 years ago. The foam cushions on the sofa need to be replaced. The material is fine, but the cushions have lost their firmness. R & B will replace just the cushions for $200 each. That's $400 for the sofa (WOW!!). The area rug we purchased has started to come apart where the edges are hemmed. I contacted the store and they have been pretty much useless. BTW this is with normal use, two adults, average weight watching TV for a couple of hours a night. I do like their furniture style and appreciate that the bulk of their furniture is made in the U.S. I would love to recommend, but my experience ha...
by Dougiefresh
Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you have a pension, how do you view it?
Replies: 203
Views: 18456

Re: If you have a pension, how do you view it?

I withhold most of my pension for estimated taxes. Easy Pizy.
by Dougiefresh
Wed Sep 30, 2020 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Talk me into buying a Tesla Model Y
Replies: 93
Views: 9849

Re: Talk me into buying a Tesla Model Y

I would wait a few months. There are a number of new models (SUV's/CUV's) coming out which may be worth looking into. These come to mind:
VW ID 4
Nissan Arriya
Volvo XC -40
Ford Mustang
by Dougiefresh
Wed Sep 30, 2020 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gardening 2020
Replies: 227
Views: 22377

Re: Gardening 2020

Not sure what happened to my tomato plants, but leaves started turning brown/dying early. The dying continued up the plants. Because of this. all the tomatoes fell off before becoming fully ripe. Still canned over 24 quarts but not as tasty as previous years. The rot did not affect the Roma plants as much as the other species. My medium hot peppers had a good yield. But I prefer the hot Hungarians and will go back to those next year. My cucumbers did excellent. Gave most away as I do not know if you can freeze or can them. Some of those I gave them to returned them as pickles. If one could get sick from eating too many cucumbers, that would have been me in early/mid summer. :) Same thing happened to my tomatoes. I had a decent season thoug...
by Dougiefresh
Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What expenditures improved your happiness/quality of life?
Replies: 234
Views: 45542

Re: What expenditures improved your happiness/quality of life?

We purchased lounge chairs, dining table and string lights for the backyard patio. And then I started a planter garden for herbs and tomatoes. I've lived in So Cal for over 30 years and now I get around to doing this? I am such a dummy! Oh well... as they say, "Better late than never".
by Dougiefresh
Thu Aug 27, 2020 1:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Summer internship in LA - live without a car, possible?
Replies: 20
Views: 1949

Re: Summer internship in LA - live without a car, possible?

Going carless should be doable. If your son wants to explore the surrounding areas (like San Diego , Santa Barbara, etc) he should look into renting a car.
by Dougiefresh
Mon Aug 24, 2020 6:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard BBQ - easy
Replies: 42
Views: 4507

Re: Backyard BBQ - easy

If you go with the Weber Spirit Below the burners there are two metal removable “food debris”pans at the bottom. One is large, rectangular and sloped, and has a hole that feeds grease into the other smaller and squared pan. I line the large pan with aluminum foil and punch out the hole area that feeds into the smaller pan. For the smaller pan, I place a disposable foil pan (like you might get take-out food in) so that it sits in the permanent pan, kind of like a liner.
Makes clean up much easier.
BTW IMO Weber is the best.
by Dougiefresh
Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Products that last forever
Replies: 288
Views: 29980

Re: Products that last forever

Tilly Hats
by Dougiefresh
Mon Aug 10, 2020 11:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New refrigerator
Replies: 36
Views: 3461

Re: New refrigerator

I've had a GE side by side with external ice and water for about 5 years now. It's been OK. My biggest complaint is with the shelving in the freezer compartment. The racks and shelves keep caving in. Some cold spots in the refrig side as well. My sister in law purchased a Whirlpool Gold at about the same time and she hasn't had any problems. Stay far away from Samsung.
by Dougiefresh
Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: chicken marinade recipes
Replies: 48
Views: 5681

Re: chicken marinade recipes

Strayshot wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:09 pm https://www.modernhoney.com/the-best-ch ... de-recipe/

Best chicken marinade ever. I use it for tenderloins and grill them, perfect!
I approve this message!
by Dougiefresh
Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Coffee Experts - Help with an online coffee order
Replies: 44
Views: 4663

Re: Coffee Experts - Help with an online coffee order

I buy Eight O'Clock Whole Bean Columbian Peaks from Amazon Prime. Medium Roast with a bit of a bright taste. Good every day cup. And the price is right, around $12 for 40 ounces. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003G ... UTF8&psc=1
by Dougiefresh
Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Broken Onkyo Audio Receiver Under Warranty. What Recourse do I Have?
Replies: 18
Views: 1605

Re: Broken Onkyo Audio Receiver Under Warranty. What Recourse do I Have?

Dear Respondents: Thanks for all of your ideas. Sound bar sounds interesting or suppose I could go with an entertainment system - think it's called surround sound?.
Sound quality is a concern though. I don't like the idea of giving up my beloved Boston Acoustics speakers. They are 40 years old. Maybe time for a change out?
I'll check into the Yamaha brand as well.