Search found 92 matches

by Poor Rod
Sat Feb 03, 2024 1:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..
Replies: 56
Views: 9764

Re: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..

There is a bit of radio silence from OPM during this initial period. I don't think that you get a breakout of the initial payment, even if you do have access to the website. I believe that the full accounting came when they sent the little booklet when everything was final. Hopefully the OP understood the general guidance to have sufficient funds available to tide him over for a few months. It's early in the process, take a deep breath and know that it will get sorted out, and that the interim payments have started so there is signs of progress.

In my case, despite my best efforts at trying to estimate my supplement pay, the actual amount turned out to be a bit higher than my most optimistic estimate. I hope the OP gets a similar surprise.
by Poor Rod
Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..
Replies: 56
Views: 9764

Re: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..

The interim payment will not include any of the supplement, which is why it might be quite a bit less than expected. Once your retirement package is finalized, you'll get a final accounting any any funds that are owed to you, including the supplement.

I retired in mid-April 2023, and it took OPM only 37 days to finalize my retirement. Others from my agency retired on 31 Dec and it took several months for them. Don't know if that's just luck or if something else causes that.
by Poor Rod
Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My mom has basically no cash - need a plan
Replies: 68
Views: 11397

Re: My mom has basically no cash - need a plan

The driving is a risk if she does not have adequate liability insurance (relative to the big asset of home equity). Perhaps you could have her try something like Uber, or any public ride services for seniors. The savings from car maintenance, registration, insurance, and gas costs might offset the Uber costs, but eliminating the risk of a car accident is probably worth considering.
by Poor Rod
Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 3% fee when getting euros from my US debit card - Normal?
Replies: 18
Views: 1171

Re: 3% fee when getting euros from my US debit card - Normal?

It depends on the bank. As I found out earlier this year, Bank of America charges a 3% fee, Ally bank does not.
by Poor Rod
Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bill Pay - any issues with using two different banks for paying the same bill?
Replies: 7
Views: 835

Re: Bill Pay - any issues with using two different banks for paying the same bill?

Yeah, I can see how I am needlessly complicating this, but I suppose any issue would likely be on the part of the payee. I think I will abandon this idea, though I may call the utilities just to see if their receiving department would have any issues with this.

No autopay or eBills, I always review the statements before I push the payments.
by Poor Rod
Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bill Pay - any issues with using two different banks for paying the same bill?
Replies: 7
Views: 835

Bill Pay - any issues with using two different banks for paying the same bill?

So I have been using my Bank of America checking account to pay bills for several years. The bills are paid using their Bill Pay feature, with me pushing the payments from the bank to the payee, the funds are never pulled by the payee. Since I have now retired, my direct deposit now goes to Ally bank. Since the funds come from the TSP, I cannot split the deposit between two banks, so I transfer funds from Ally to BoA. These transfers are automated once per month. No issues, it works fine. I can also set up bill pay to pay these same bills using my Ally account. I don't see any real benefit to doing this, but I now wonder, does it matter to the payee which bank pays the bill (again, either would be a push from the bank to the payee)? For ins...
by Poor Rod
Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banks with no foreign transaction fees and ATM refunds (that aren’t Schwab or Fidelity)?
Replies: 43
Views: 4407

Re: Banks with no foreign transaction fees and ATM refunds (that aren’t Schwab or Fidelity)?

frugalor wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:12 pm
Lastrun wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 3:21 pm
Also, BofA has a list of partner banks. https://locators.bankofamerica.com/international.html

In my experience with two of these banks on the list, no fees ever even coded. I am a basic $100K preferred rewards person.
BoA charges 3% according to the site
Ah, thanks, I didn't see that. That explains nearly all of the difference between what Ally charged vs what BoA charged. I won't use the BoA debit card in the future.
by Poor Rod
Thu Nov 02, 2023 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Banks with no foreign transaction fees and ATM refunds (that aren’t Schwab or Fidelity)?
Replies: 43
Views: 4407

Re: Banks with no foreign transaction fees and ATM refunds (that aren’t Schwab or Fidelity)?

Bank of America with preferred rewards diamond tier ($1 million at merril edge) Also, BofA has a list of partner banks. https://locators.bankofamerica.com/international.html In my experience with two of these banks on the list, no fees ever even coded. I am a basic $100K preferred rewards person. Last summer I withdrew 600 Euros each at ATMs, once with my BofA debit card at their partner bank BNP Paribas in France, and once with my Ally bank debit card at OTPbanka in Croatia. BNP Paribus didn't charge an ATM fee; OTPbanka did but Ally refunded it. However, BofA gave a much worse exchange rate. Even after I corrected for the very minor differences in the published exchange rates for each day, BofA made $29.80 in the exchange rate arbitrage,...
by Poor Rod
Thu Nov 02, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How much of your finance do you disclose to your family trustee
Replies: 16
Views: 1977

Re: How much of your finance do you disclose to your family trustee

Is the non-spouse family member a co-Trustee while you are alive or are they a Successor Trustee if you become incapacitated or die? Is this an individual RLT or a joint trust with a competent living spouse? Death doesn’t concern me as much as incapacitation. If I was single and had a RLT, I would want a co-Trustee (or, less ideally, a successor trustee) to be familiar with my financial picture while I was alive and to be recognized by the Trust custodian. If they have to step in unexpectedly due to my incapacitation, I would want the transition to be as smooth and quick as possible. A successor trustee will need to get recognized by the Trust custodian which may take time or have roadblocks. This would be a non-spouse family member. Assum...
by Poor Rod
Mon Oct 30, 2023 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?
Replies: 83
Views: 10041

Re: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?

1moreyr wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2023 9:50 am OP, sincerely, It's MYOB...... I honestly would be completely Pi$$ed off if my son's wife brought this up. Even in understanding the intent, it's my money to do with as I want until I am dead. Just as it will be theirs when i am gone.

I might agree with this point of view, but in this case the in-laws were the ones who started the conversation:

"They have told my husband and his two siblings that they have created a living trust and that the three siblings are the ongoing trustees when they die."

Being a trustee is a serious obligation, and asking reasonable and thoughtful questions shouldn't piss off the in-laws. Asking how the trust works would be a responsible question for the trustee to ask.
by Poor Rod
Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mail in passport renewal
Replies: 80
Views: 11301

Re: Mail in passport renewal

One more tidbit. I had entered my email address for updates on my application status. I never received a single update. So that part of the process is broken.
by Poor Rod
Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:22 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help - Can Marcus Lock Our Savings Account Willy-nilly?
Replies: 44
Views: 6264

Re: Help - Can Marcus Lock Our Savings Account Willy-nilly?

Thanks all for your helpful replies, and to FiveK and arcticpineapplecorp for taking the time to look through the DAA to find the applicable clause! The rep I spoke to did state that they had issues with Fidelity being a brokerage and not a bank. I linked the accounts from within Fidelity and pulled the money from Fidelity for both Marcus accounts. I have a clearer head about what I am up against and what I need to do now. Will update on the outcome. Than you all! It seems petty, but I can understand why they might restrict linked accounts to a savings account. A checking account might not have such restrictions (and would be pretty useless if it did). It might be that you need to open a checking account at Marcus, and transfer from the ch...
by Poor Rod
Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:47 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..
Replies: 56
Views: 9764

Re: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..

Our HR rep has my retirement package on her desk; I tentatively told her Dec 30 this year, back in August and she told me to send the package signed with no date and call when I want to put a date on it.. I'm currently at 34 years combined service (10 military, and 24 fed) as an SCE 1811, with high-three of 150K.. This puts me at 49% of high three with my 2000-ish hrs of sick leave, and works out to to a pension of 87K Gross between FERS annuity and supplement and then 73K Net (after FEHB, taxes and Life Ins deductions) which leaves me $17K/YR / $1400/mo short of what I bring home now, without tapping TSP. I have 440 hrs of annual I've been saving up to sell back as well.. And yet, I'm nervous and waffling daily! :? :shock: I'll be 52 next...
by Poor Rod
Sat Oct 28, 2023 7:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..
Replies: 56
Views: 9764

Re: FERS Retirement...Have done everything right (I think) and still nervous..

Relax and retire. You have a COLAed pension, you will be fine. You can always say one more year and the numbers will be this..... At 57 your done anyway, so we are not talking like you will be there much more until you are mandatory. I heard the go-to guy for retiring 1811s is https://www.barfieldfinancial.com/ . I think if you look in his article database you will feel better. Go and have fun, and thanks in advance for paying all that Fed tax on your lump sum leave :happy I'm not sure about this but I thought COLA were not applied to the Federal Pension until after you turn 62. So if you retired at 60, you'd get no COLA the first couple of years. I could easily be wrong! Different rules for special positions like law enforcement. These po...
by Poor Rod
Sat Oct 28, 2023 5:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mail in passport renewal
Replies: 80
Views: 11301

Re: Mail in passport renewal

Poor Rod wrote: Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:24 pm I mailed my passport in for renewal (non-expedited) on 08 Sept so I will be able to add a new data point in a couple of months if all goes well.
I received my passport today, so that's seven weeks for a non-expedited renewal. Not bad.
by Poor Rod
Fri Oct 27, 2023 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?
Replies: 83
Views: 10041

Re: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?

If possible, schedule a meeting with the estate lawyer that drew up the trust and your in-laws (and the other siblings if possible) for the purpose of everyone understanding how the trust works. My parents amended their trust once, and then later had a restatement of the amended trust (what the difference is I couldn't tell you). I was present during the meeting for the last, and it was helpful to me. The trust created four beneficiary trusts (one for me, and one for each of my siblings). In my case I am both the trustee and the beneficiary of my trust, but if I wasn't the trustee, then whoever was the trustee would have a fiduciary obligation to to follow the terms of the trust. One of these terms would allow a larger distribution of funds...
by Poor Rod
Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?
Replies: 83
Views: 10041

Re: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?

I'm considering asking them if they would consider changing the trust so that, instead of my husband being a 1/3 beneficiary, they skip him (us) and plug in my two children instead. My kids are 28 and 30, hard workers and both gainfully employed, but like a lot of young people these days, currently have no hope of buying a house. I'm not a lawyer, but there's a chance the trust may already be drafted in a way that works as you want. If the designation of the trust beneficiaries is "per stirpes" and your husband disclaims his inheritance then my understanding (and again IANAL) is that the inheritance then goes to his immediate descendants. I noticed you wrote "my kids" and not "our kids" so if the children are ...
by Poor Rod
Fri Oct 27, 2023 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?
Replies: 83
Views: 10041

Re: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?

cchrissyy wrote: Fri Oct 27, 2023 12:39 pm it is possible their trust is already written such that if your husband disclaims his share will flow to his children.

or it is possible if he disclaims it flows to the siblings.

this would be a question for the current lawyer, and honestly, i would not raise it until the parents had passed.

i would focus on my own estate plan and gifts while living.
Once the parents pass away, the trust is irrevocable. The time to address any issues is now. The OP should know what the trust says now while changes are still possible.
by Poor Rod
Fri Oct 27, 2023 12:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?
Replies: 83
Views: 10041

Re: Should I ask my in-laws to change their trust?

In addition to perhaps adding your children as beneficiaries, do you have a current copy of their trust? Knowing what it currently says would be useful. Hopefully the terms are useful and not overly restricted.

Additionally, it's useful if one or perhaps all of the siblings are added as co-trustees now, while the parents are still alive. As well as having an inventory of all the assets held in the trust. It's a bit of a pain to be added as co-trustees to bank and brokerage accounts, but it makes things easier when they pass or become incapable of handling their affairs. Power of attorney is useful, but it ends on their death, so already being a co-trustee makes handling the estate a little more seamless.
by Poor Rod
Fri Oct 27, 2023 9:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?
Replies: 179
Views: 23489

Re: Any Home Upgrades You Regret Installing?

Wanderingwheelz wrote: Fri Oct 27, 2023 7:11 am
Edit to add: I regret keeping the fish pond that came with our house. It was cool for awhile and I even bought a couple of fish to add to it, but for probably the last 7 or 8 years I’ve been saddled with one koi that requires me to maintain the entire pond. As soon as he’s gone I’m going to tear the whole thing out. I made the mistake once in checking on koi life expectancy…
Take a photograph and put that fish on Craigslist. People will buy koi, according to a friend who used to have several of them.
by Poor Rod
Thu Oct 26, 2023 12:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: PGE - Should we get one panel with two meter sockets or two panels with one meter socket?
Replies: 5
Views: 1030

Re: PGE - Should we get one panel with two meter sockets or two panels with one meter socket?

Obviously, with two meters you can bill the ADU separately from the main house. Is the ADU planned for income rental, or use by family and friends while visiting? This should probably drive your decision.

The question is how Pacific gas handles this. Are you paying for one electric service or two? Does the utility have the ability to handle both meters with one account, or are two accounts required?

If you plan on renting the ADU, do you want the tenants to get their own account, or have utilities included in the rent?
by Poor Rod
Tue Oct 24, 2023 10:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Loan suggestions [Applied for a HELOC]
Replies: 10
Views: 1253

Re: Loan suggestions

Do you have any quotes for the work you want done? If you have an idea of the amount of funds you need, you could then explore what loan terms (loan duration, interest rate, etc.) are available to you and decide what works for you. Is this the home you live in? Will you be selling anytime soon?
by Poor Rod
Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Another should i repair my car thread
Replies: 30
Views: 1985

Re: Another should i repair my car thread

Another vote to repair. I have a 2008 CRV with 250k miles that is still running great. The K24 engine in the CRV is a good and reliable engine, but with the VTEC valve train you really shouldn't try to go too long between oil changes. The only engine issue I have had was a bad ignition coil at about 220k miles. I also expect to have this car go at least 20 years or more.
by Poor Rod
Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Multi Stage Gas Furnace with Single Stage AC
Replies: 9
Views: 995

Re: Multi Stage Gas Furnace with Single Stage AC

I don't think it will help with humidity, as the single stage AC compressor isn't going to work well with the lower airflow. When in cooling mode, the system should be using the higher fan speed. The lower fan speeds would be used during heating only.

If you can, getting a new variable speed compressor to go with the new furnace would be best (and will likely be a higher SEER), but I also think that scrapping a six year old system is a bit wasteful. If the humidity is just a minor problem, can you use a stand alone dehumidifier?
by Poor Rod
Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mail in passport renewal
Replies: 80
Views: 11301

Re: Mail in passport renewal

I mailed my passport in for renewal (non-expedited) on 08 Sept so I will be able to add a new data point in a couple of months if all goes well.
by Poor Rod
Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: PLEASE Help With My Financial Situation and Questions
Replies: 68
Views: 7368

Re: PLEASE Help With My Financial Situation and Questions

Good evening! Both my wife and I slated to receive defined pensions. In addition, should I pass before my wife she will receive 100% of my benefit and vice versa. I assume that you are both under FERS. The maximum survivor benefit you can elect is 50%, not 100%. And that will cost you 10% of your retirement benefit. One reason to elect the survivor benefit is to allow the survivor to remain on FEHB, but if both you and your wife qualify for FEHB in retirement based on your service, that reason goes away. I recently retired from Federal service at age 56, and my regret is that I did not contribute to the Roth TSP. While you plan on retiring by age 63, how many years of service will you have at that age? If you will be eligible at your MRA (...
by Poor Rod
Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my personal situation sound?
Replies: 50
Views: 4157

Re: Is my personal situation sound?

Stock has a cost basis of $40 per share, now worth $110, so there seems to be some growth.
It was a 'perk' at an employer - gifted shares. I plan to work to see it off; but, I also have to then pay tax on the gains, obviously.
At the very least, consider using the 5% dividend to invest in a diversified mutual fund rather than continuing to buy more company stock.
by Poor Rod
Mon Sep 04, 2023 11:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my personal situation sound?
Replies: 50
Views: 4157

Re: Is my personal situation sound?

I don't understand what you feel that way. I've captured as much as I can by looking back at the last 9-months. Unless I'm woefully missing something, what I outlined is accurate. *confused* Not trying to be argumentative, I just don't follow what you are saying. Consider that looking back only nine months may not be sufficient to capture all of your expenses. Also, your numbers are close but don't add up completely, and ignoring this blind spot isn't a good idea. I started tracking my spending for ten years before I retired, and used the last four years of expenses to determine my retirement income goal. I had a good handle on knowing my expenses. You have time to start doing the same, it's not that hard or time consuming, but by doing it...
by Poor Rod
Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:11 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my personal situation sound?
Replies: 50
Views: 4157

Re: Is my personal situation sound?

One other thing to think about is what your cost basis is for that $555k of stock. If you have considerable long term capital gains, you might be able to take advantage of 0% capital gains tax if you can manage a year or two of low income when you stop working. That's something to consider years from now, but if the stock does well, you'll have the happy problem of large long term capital gains and the possibility of taking advantage of the 0% rate.

(I see others have posted about whether to keep the stock or not. If you do still have it in ten years you can deal with the taxes on it then if you sell)
by Poor Rod
Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is my personal situation sound?
Replies: 50
Views: 4157

Re: Is my personal situation sound?

With about ten years until your planned retirement, I would start trying to model your anticipated income streams available when you do retire. Do you have any pensions? Do you plan on being able to access your 401k early using the rule of 55, or can you hold off until age 59-1/2? You should have plenty available in your taxable accounts to delay touching your 401k, so consider if using those low income years to do Roth conversions is right for you or not. Knowing your actual expenses is a great start, once you know that you can start to determine where your needed retirement income is going to come from. It looks like you are in great shape. If you can create a reasonable plan for your retirement income it will give you high confidence in ...
by Poor Rod
Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Wire Transfer
Replies: 6
Views: 949

Re: Wire Transfer

Yes, you should be able to log into your Vanguard account and add your bank for transfers. It may take a few days for verification, but after that you should be able to have Vanguard pull funds from your bank with an ACH (Automated Clearing House) transaction. You can also transfer the other way, from Vanguard to your bank. ACH transfers take one or two business days. If you haven't done this before, note that the funds will be withdrawn from you bank, and won't be posted in the other account for a day or two. This is normal but it can be unsettling the first time until you understand that's the way it works. Even now I usually transfer a small amount for new bank ACH transfers before I transfer larger amounts. Never had a problem, but it's...
by Poor Rod
Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?
Replies: 140
Views: 16297

Re: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?

Oh man, Namibia is on my list. That looks like fun, thanks for sharing.
by Poor Rod
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?
Replies: 140
Views: 16297

Re: If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow morning, where would it be?

I'd wake up on a small ship off the Croatian coast, sailing out of Dubrovnik en route to Split. We've done Split to Dubrovnik and I'd go back and do the whole thing again in a heartbeat, but maybe in reverse. Stop in early afternoon off the gorgeous Croatian coast for a swim while the crew makes lunch, enjoy amazing white wine on the deck as the ship continues on. Overnight in a different and beautiful small port city. Evening meals out in town, sleep on the boat in port, then sail in the morning to the next destination. End in Split and visit Diocletian's Palace and enjoy more fresh seafood! I agree, as I did this just a month ago and wish I never left. The swimming was great, and I recall thinking to myself "You know, this is here a...
by Poor Rod
Sat Jul 29, 2023 10:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Strasbourg ideas
Replies: 22
Views: 1859

Re: Strasbourg ideas

The Tomi Ungerer museum is worth a look if you have an interest in graphic art. I grew up reading one of his children's books. Not too expensive, I spent about an hour or so there.

https://en.musees.strasbourg.eu/museum-tomi-ungerer

Taking the tourist boat ride on the river was nice as well. And enjoy the food!
by Poor Rod
Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Music Subscription - which do you prefer?
Replies: 58
Views: 5733

Re: Music Subscription - which do you prefer?

I suggest that you look at Napster (used to be Rhapsody). For some reason this service is often overlooked by reviews of music services, but it works fine. It includes high quality streams and downloads (lossless CD quality). And they offer a 30 day free trial, so it's worth trying out.

$10.99 per month, but if you pay annually they give you two months free, bring the cost to $9.16 per month.
by Poor Rod
Thu Jul 27, 2023 11:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I retire in 5 years (please say yes)?
Replies: 48
Views: 7597

Re: Can I retire in 5 years (please say yes)?

PowderDay9 wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 10:27 pm With those high incomes, do you have a taxable account? Maybe you should consider retiring sooner. You're obviously more than good to retire in 5 years.
With five years left to your planned retirement, you certainly can execute your plan. However, your parents are in their early 80s, and it seems that spending time time with them is important to you. I would continue with your plan, but also formulate a different backup plan of retiring even earlier if their health starts to go south. You have plenty of assets, so even retiring now or in the next year or two is easily possible. What's the point of winning the money game (which you already have done) if you can't share your time with those you love now?
by Poor Rod
Tue Jul 25, 2023 12:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: ATM or Credit Card(s) for 2024 International Travel?
Replies: 71
Views: 5390

Re: US to Italy Debit card for ATM recommendations

Not Italy, but I just got back from a month in France and Croatia, and had no problems with my Ally Bank debit card. No foreign transaction fee and Ally reimbursed the ATM fees. I also used my Bank of America debit card once but Ally gave be a better exchange rate.
by Poor Rod
Sun Jul 23, 2023 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fraud on my Auto Insurance Account?
Replies: 3
Views: 671

Re: Fraud on my Auto Insurance Account?

I would guess that while checking your driving record, someone transposed some digits of your drivers license. Or something like that. Somehow this other individual is now associated with your account. Is there a way you could check that all the personal information on your account is correct?
by Poor Rod
Sun Jul 23, 2023 9:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?
Replies: 38
Views: 2787

Re: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?

I don't know why you are so concerned with the tight spacing. It's pipe, you can always offset the riser from the manifold with a elbow or two and some pipe. The PVB needs to be after the white valve, but it doesn't need to be physically close to the white valve, you could actually put it to right of the manifold and just pipe it back to the manifold riser.
by Poor Rod
Fri Jul 21, 2023 2:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?
Replies: 38
Views: 2787

Re: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?

The PVB you linked to is good.

For the union, use: https://www.homedepot.com/p/B-K-3-4-in- ... /100211318

To transition from the female theads on the shut off valve, the PVB, and the union, use these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-3-4- ... /100404042

Everything else can be solvent glued PVC pipe and fittings.

I'll try to post a photo of my PVB to show how I installed drain valves. It's simple as well, just a couple of PVC tees and two hose bibs.
by Poor Rod
Fri Jul 21, 2023 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?
Replies: 38
Views: 2787

Re: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?

It doesn't have to be a Febco, but I would stick with either Febco or Zurn/Wilkins for the PVB, as these are brass. There are cheaper plastic devices available. Going to a 3/4" size will be a bit cheaper. I have 1" piping since I have a sprinkler system and don't want too much of a pressure drop, but if you will only have drip systems, a 3/4" PVB will be fine.

Note that a PVB will have two test ports on it. If it doesn't, it's probably an atmospheric vacuum breaker which will not meet code for this application.

Using a union fitting would allow you to disconnect and reconnect the water line easily.
by Poor Rod
Fri Jul 21, 2023 12:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?
Replies: 38
Views: 2787

Re: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?

No, you can install the backflow after the shut off valve with the white handle, and then reconnect to the manifold. Looks like a pretty easy project.
by Poor Rod
Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Intl. airline ticket prices... why so expensive / strategies for finding discounts?
Replies: 67
Views: 8221

Re: Intl. airline ticket prices... why so expensive / strategies for finding discounts?

Regarding business or first class tickets, I thought that one of the perks was that these tickets could be rebooked at the last minute with no penalty. Thus, if you are on business and for some reason you needed to stay an extra day or two, it wasn't a big problem. Is this still the case, or was I misunderstanding this all along?
by Poor Rod
Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?
Replies: 38
Views: 2787

Re: Rainbird Valve Repair or Discard?

Note that the Pressure Vaccuum Breaker needs to be installed above ground, a minimum of 12 inches higher than the highest sprinkler or drip head. I installed drain valves on both sides of my Pressure Vaccuum Breaker so it can be fully drained in winter. While not super expensive (about $125 for a 1" PVB valve), drain valves are cheaper to install than replacing a frozen PVB
by Poor Rod
Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying Off Mortgage Early - Any Additional Considerations?
Replies: 22
Views: 3037

Re: Paying Off Mortgage Early - Any Additional Considerations?

If your mortgage had a requirement for a low deductible or certain coverages on the insurance policy, you might consider changing it if your cash reserve can absorb a higher deductible and risk. That might save some money on the premiums.

Also, you might be able to set up auto pay for the insurance. One less check to write.
by Poor Rod
Tue Jul 18, 2023 7:23 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Federal job to wrap up career?
Replies: 14
Views: 2345

Re: Federal job to wrap up career?

The health insurance benefit is appealing but the number of years of service for eligibility is steep except for retirees at 62, at which point, we are looking at coverage from 62 to 65, or a maximum of 3 year benefit till Medicare, which is something but not worth the hustle. (I don't understand its value after Medicare.) True, it is a bigger benefit for those retiring in their 50s, but even for the case you mention, three years before Medicare, that is three years that someone with FEHB doesn't need to deal with either coverage though COBRA (expensive) or ACA (managing income to maintain subsidy levels). I see a lot of conversations about ACA plans, and while I appreciate how useful ACA is for many people, I will admit that I don't know ...
by Poor Rod
Tue Jul 18, 2023 12:46 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Federal job to wrap up career?
Replies: 14
Views: 2345

Re: Federal job to wrap up career?

Unless I like the federal job, I'm probably looking at 5-10 years only, and I don't know if contributing to an alternate retirement system for so little time makes sense? Well, assuming that you will be getting a decent retirement package from your corporate work, any Federal retirement will just be icing on the cake. Since your corporate work included contributing to SS, I don't think you have to worry about the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, affecting your SS benefits. Your Federal job will be under FERS, which also has you paying into SS. As mentioned, the ability to carry FEHB benefits (including spouse coverage) into retirement is the big draw to taking the Federal job. But I think that in order to get that benefit, you need ...
by Poor Rod
Fri Jul 14, 2023 5:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is your biggest financial regret?
Replies: 51
Views: 4070

Re: What is your biggest financial regret?

This may sound silly, but when I was about 12 years old, I had saved up $20 that I had planned to use at an arcade (pinball and video games) when my parents took me to a nearby city. I walked in, played a few games with the quarters I had, and when I went to the change machine to get more quarters, I reached in my pocket and my $20 bill was gone! It must have fallen out of my pocket at some point. I was absolutely devastated. My day was done (my parents didn't approve of wasting money on the arcade, so I didn't dare ask them for money). Now my portfolio is enough for a comfortable retirement, but thinking back to that day still breaks my heart just a little. $20 was a big deal to me at the time. Of course I've had much bigger losses since t...
by Poor Rod
Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Who is right? Me or the wife? (Business class tickets)
Replies: 193
Views: 17969

Re: Who is right? Me or the wife? (Business class tickets)

michaeljc70 wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:10 am Can you just get business on the long (Chicago to Munich) flight?
Not a bad idea.

My wife and I also have a vacation planned this summer in Croatia. And we found that finding a decent flight from DFW to Zagreb was limited when we tried to book it as a single ticket. We have the luxury of time so rather than book the ticket as a single trip, we chose to fly DFW to Paris, spend a day (or two) in Paris, and then take a short flight from Paris to Zagreb. By disconnecting the flights, we had many more choices since we were no longer dealing with a single airline. We're doing something similar on the flight home.

Getting the wife on board to spend some time in Paris wasn't hard.
by Poor Rod
Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Ally Bank - Bad Experience...
Replies: 90
Views: 12021

Re: Ally Bank - Bad Experience...

Then I call back, wait on hold for 25 min because someone doesn't know what to do, then she hangs up on me. Then they ask me for a bank statement just to get my wire across - I send it in - only to find that now the fraud department is calling me leaving a mumbling message.... "Hey. this is meshes with eksheh please call back on reference 1532442334." I honestly didn't know if this was a telemarketer or not. I just experienced the same sort of call when I sent a wire last week. I submitted the wire request in the early morning, and mid morning I received a call from Ally. They left a message with a reference number, and when I called they wanted to verify some of the information. I had made a similar wire the previous week and th...