Search found 494 matches

by WS1
Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buy or lease a new car?
Replies: 105
Views: 10779

Re: Buy or lease a new car?

Y’all, it’s all just depreciation.
by WS1
Wed Jul 12, 2023 2:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Minivan for Sweaty Teens
Replies: 13
Views: 1585

Re: Minivan for Sweaty Teens

Mesh seat covers so the kids can dry off and not touch the upholstery
by WS1
Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pinot Noir on the lower end?
Replies: 96
Views: 10219

Re: Pinot Noir on the lower end?

I know enough about wine to ask questions but not have many answers.

I just switched to Gamay. It seemed easier to find wine I liked at the lower price bands. I know we all like to make fun of wine snobs and wine geeks, but these types of questions are really where they can shine.
by WS1
Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best East coast beach town to live in
Replies: 93
Views: 12071

Re: Best East coast beach town to live in

livesoft wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 4:50 pm North Shore of Long Island is on Long Island Sound which is saltwater and directly connected to the Atlantic Ocean. There are some nice private beaches very near/in highly walkable towns.
Even if you don’t live in a waterfront neighborhood with private beach access, I’d always heard the town/county/state/village beaches were nice too. No rideable waves but probably better for every other activity…unless you hate rocky beaches.
by WS1
Fri Jun 09, 2023 4:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best East coast beach town to live in
Replies: 93
Views: 12071

Re: Best East coast beach town to live in

muffins14 wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 2:54 pm New York City?

You can be at the beach from Brooklyn in 30-45 mins, or even live in queens in the rockaways and walk to the beach, or live in Manhattan and take the train to the beach in an hour.

Walkable, and plenty of other not-beach things to do.

Can go to rockaways beaches, Long beach, New Jersey beaches etc
+1
by WS1
Tue May 23, 2023 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Strategies for Permanently Reducing Speeding on Residential Streets
Replies: 139
Views: 13709

Re: Strategies for Permanently Reducing Speeding on Residential Streets

My street is one-way, narrow, lined with cars on one side, and has a 15mph speed limit, but since it's flat and arrow straight 25-35 feels comfortable. So I give the stink eye, casually step ever so slightly off the curb when cars approach, and put patio furniture in the street when all the kids are out playing. I really like the idea of collecting my own speed data and politely presenting to the city and then the world. Averages don't matter; this is all about the right tail. Even if only 10 cars/day exceed 40mph, it only takes one to kill or maim one of your neighbors. Full disclosure: I have the anger of Streetsblog, Strong Towns, Not Just Bikes, and The War on Cars flowing through my veins. I believe the ability to safely and comfortabl...
by WS1
Thu May 11, 2023 7:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Who should not invest in the market portfolio
Replies: 466
Views: 31517

Re: Who should not invest in the market portfolio

alex_686 wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 6:53 pm
WS1 wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 6:26 pm If it’s reasonable to discuss whether a tenured professor should have a different stock/bond split than a commercial real estate broker, why is it unreasonable to ask if people with different life circumstances should own different equities?
The standard answer is that a tenured professor’s human capital is bond like while the broker’s is equity like. The level of complexity here us low and can be handled here.

Your second statement is also correct. People should have a AA that fits their goals and that one can do much better than the generic total stock portfolio. But it is much more complex. I got the training to do it but I don’t have the time to handle the complexity of execution.
THIS IS THE CORRECT ANSWER
by WS1
Thu May 11, 2023 6:26 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Who should not invest in the market portfolio
Replies: 466
Views: 31517

Re: Who should not invest in the market portfolio

If it’s reasonable to discuss whether a tenured professor should have a different stock/bond split than a commercial real estate broker, why is it unreasonable to ask if people with different life circumstances should own different equities?
by WS1
Thu May 11, 2023 3:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Who should not invest in the market portfolio
Replies: 466
Views: 31517

Re: Ben Felix: Who Should NOT Invest in Total Market Index Funds?

Apathizer wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:34 pm
WS1 wrote: Thu May 11, 2023 2:31 pm Cautiously optimistic
Er, care to elaborate? An ambiguous two word adverb-adjective statement isn't really saying anything.
That this thread will be a good discussion rather than a food fight full of unhelpful things like “why do you think you’re better than average” or “sorry bud, this isn’t lake wobegon”

I’ve listened to almost every Rational Reminder, and I’m really enjoying the slow unpacking of who should own what.
by WS1
Sun Apr 30, 2023 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best travel/walking shoes
Replies: 54
Views: 6501

Re: Best travel/walking shoes

The real answer is whatever Chris Arnade says. The man’s job is walking
https://walkingtheworld.substack.com/
by WS1
Wed Apr 05, 2023 10:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A week in Manhattan! Suggestions?
Replies: 24
Views: 2696

Re: A week in Manhattan! Suggestions?

Highline
Urban Hawker Food Hall (it's all vendors from Singapore)
Eat in Koreatown
Observation deck at One Vanderbilt
by WS1
Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?
Replies: 68
Views: 7849

Re: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?

jucor wrote: Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:20 pm Seek out a local roaster and try out what they have. We have several in our town who do a good job and are priced in the $9 to $12/pound range.
:shock:
by WS1
Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2023 Rav4 Prime SE - $3500 over MSRP
Replies: 67
Views: 9609

Re: 2023 Rav4 Prime SE - $3500 over MSRP

They hybrid is more environmentally friendly in most cases anyway vs. the prime, especially if more of your driving is highway than local. It uses a much smaller battery with less rare earth metals, which also weighs a lot less. This allows the electric motor to assist at lower speeds and stop and go and the gas motor to do most of the work at higher speeds. With the plug in, if you’re driving in electric only mode, that is not optimal at Highway speeds. Also, once you run out of electric power, you’re dragging a lot of dead weight, so on longer trips your efficiency will be lower than a traditional hybrid. If most of your driving is local, the plug in would be more efficient, but if you’re doing longer trips and highway driving a traditio...
by WS1
Fri Jan 06, 2023 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$
Replies: 59
Views: 8974

Re: Premium Italian Dried Pasta $$$

Big fan and it’s ‘merican

https://www.sfoglini.com/
by WS1
Fri Jan 06, 2023 6:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best lightweight Puffer Jacket - for Wall Street office
Replies: 101
Views: 13107

Re: Best lightweight Puffer Jacket - for Wall Street office

Helly Hansen or some other european brand that makes long coats geared toward city dwellers that walk ride/transit. Think insulated/waterproof-breathable but not looking like you’re going hiking.

If my thighs aren’t covered I’m cold
by WS1
Sat Nov 19, 2022 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are Kona coffee beans really worth $40/pound?
Replies: 22
Views: 2171

Re: Are Kona coffee beans really worth $40/pound?

It's a tourist gimmick. The beans the folks over on r/coffee are talking about cost less than that with shipping. I don't doubt there are great coffees grown in Kona, but just like a micro cap stock you can't just grab any old one and assume it'll work out.
by WS1
Mon Nov 14, 2022 8:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quasi affordable Wedding Venue in NYC Area
Replies: 14
Views: 1431

Re: Quasi affordable Wedding Venue in NYC Area

Parkinglotracer wrote: Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:03 pm
WS1 wrote: Sun Nov 13, 2022 9:41 am How far from Manhattan are you thinking? I chuckle as I write this because every “local” wedding i attend is so far away I end up staying in a hotel anyway.
That is a good question - Within an hour train ride of Manhattan seems about right at this point in their search. Thanks !
I don't have a recommendation but I know there are websites like AirBnb that people use for raw event space. Thinking beyond the standard wedding venue/catering hall is easy in the NYC metro.
by WS1
Sun Nov 13, 2022 9:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Quasi affordable Wedding Venue in NYC Area
Replies: 14
Views: 1431

Re: Quasi affordable Wedding Venue in NYC Area

How far from Manhattan are you thinking? I chuckle as I write this because every “local” wedding i attend is so far away I end up staying in a hotel anyway.
by WS1
Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chai tea bags
Replies: 63
Views: 5785

Re: Chai tea bags

This place is good
https://www.serendipitea.com/srch.html?Search=masala

Over the years i’ve found making masal chai from scratch so much more satisfying because all the ingredients need to steep for more time than the tea leaves.
by WS1
Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do with excess solar production?
Replies: 49
Views: 5077

Re: What to do with excess solar production?

So glad I live somewhere with plain, boring, good ole-fashion net metering.
by WS1
Wed Sep 21, 2022 12:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?
Replies: 124
Views: 15190

Re: Credit Card "Churning" for Bonuses --- Can't You Just Run Out of Decent Cards to Get?

IMO it's still worth it. The bonuses are not as large as the once were and they are tightening down restrictions, but with inflation so high the ability to float your debt with 0% APR is great. With our most recent card, the bonus was only $300 (after spending $1k in first 90 days), but also 5% cash back on gas for the first year and 15-months of 0% APR on purchases. That's certainly worth it to me for almost zero effort. Yep. Currently owe 60k at 0% and generally owe at least 10k at 0%. 60k is a peak for me, so far. My reptile brain wants to pay it off, but the less scaly part of my brain says to add a zero on the end. Another benefit of business cards is that they usually don't report balances to bureaus. So you could really crank on it ...
by WS1
Mon Sep 05, 2022 4:11 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Residential Real Estate: "Superstar" City vs. Country Returns, 1870-2018
Replies: 30
Views: 3448

Re: Residential Real Estate: "Superstar" City vs. Country Returns, 1870-2018

Over time, these new or renovated homes suffer from physical deprecation, and require periodic capital improvements to maintain them. Additionally, there are holding costs such as taxes and insurance to consider. Not considering these issues creates flaws in the data. Not sure if you actually read the paper or not, but the rental income yields used in this study were all NET of operating costs — including maintenance and management costs, property taxes, cost of vacancies, bad debt write-off, and the like. From the paper (my bold): We again follow Jorda et al. (2019) and use benchmarks calculated from realized net operating income yields of real estate investors. These were provided by MSCI that collect data from a variety of real estate i...
by WS1
Sat Aug 27, 2022 8:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: From an apartment to a house -- what makes a single family house in the suburbs functional?
Replies: 53
Views: 4927

Re: From an apartment to a house -- what makes a single family house in the suburbs functional?

We live in a walkable suburban small town. From my door I can safely walk miles and miles through leafy residential areas, wooded parks, and busy business districts, daylight or at night and in any weather, without worrying about vehicle traffic. I wouldn’t trade that for another garage bay, bedroom or bathroom, etc. Walkability may not matter to you… but my point is - think of what really matters to you, not what matters to others. +10 And think of all the hours you won’t have to spend driving your kids various activities and friends homes as soon as they are old enough to ride bikes around town. A compact, walkable community also makes it much easier for the schools to run good after school bus routes for the kids doing sports and clubs....
by WS1
Sat Jul 30, 2022 3:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Reviving an old dream: learning to fly? Has anyone done it on the side?
Replies: 57
Views: 5402

Re: Reviving an old dream: learning to fly? Has anyone done it on the side?

Do it. Quitting the first time and then not restarting when I had the chance is (one of) my biggest regret.

If budget/location are conducive I’d also look at a glider license or hang/paragliding.
by WS1
Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mortgage application : Disclose what assets ?
Replies: 10
Views: 1123

Re: Mortgage application : Disclose what assets ?

Got my first mortgage last year and was told by lender to show the funds I intend to bring to closing. It’s like with the police or government- never volunteer any information
by WS1
Wed Jun 08, 2022 7:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Whole House Fan - Is this a bad idea if you have seasonal allergies.
Replies: 8
Views: 1084

Re: Whole House Fan - Is this a bad idea if you have seasonal allergies.

Unless your allergies are under control I don’t see how this won’t make them worse. I assume you’d be bring fresh air in at a faster rate than any residential air purifier could remove the pollen?

Then again, I decided to start allergy shots at age 40 because my pollen allergies were driving me nuts. Maybe I’m not the best advisor on this.
by WS1
Sun Jun 05, 2022 10:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple Watch to Reduce Screen Time?
Replies: 16
Views: 2135

Re: Apple Watch to Reduce Screen Time?

This was one of my motivations for getting an apple watch last year. I’m never one of those people enmeshed in multiple conversations, meaning even less of a reason to have my phone within reach, but I need physical separation from screens otherwise the itch arises.

The watch allows me to leave my phone on the opposite side of the house and be comfortable knowing I won’t miss any incoming communication that I want to see in real time.
by WS1
Wed Jun 01, 2022 6:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: high paying blue-collar careers
Replies: 59
Views: 6387

Re: high paying blue-collar careers

I would love to see some nuance brought by those with some personal or 2nd hand experience.

Does one need to be a successful small business operator to earn these impressive salaries?

Do you need to work holidays and blizzards?

Can you actually take days off or will your customers “die”

My point is that I’ve had conversations like this before and it always manages to end with the high paid trades person has about as much autonomy as a junior investment banker or overworked doctor.
by WS1
Tue May 31, 2022 8:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much should I contribute to a 529 plan?
Replies: 46
Views: 4426

Re: How much should I contribute to a 529 plan?

Normchad wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 8:27 pm
jackholloway wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 8:25 pm
WS1 wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 8:21 pm What if you hate your kids? Better park the money somewhere else just in case.
Take the money back out with a modest 10% penalty and regular income taxes on earnings? Wait until you die and pass it on?
If you hate your kids, ignore the 529 and help them sign up for the loans.
You win. that’s good
by WS1
Tue May 31, 2022 8:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How much should I contribute to a 529 plan?
Replies: 46
Views: 4426

Re: How much should I contribute to a 529 plan?

What if you hate your kids? Better park the money somewhere else just in case.
by WS1
Sun May 29, 2022 1:56 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I'm Confused about Reverse Repo & Money Supply
Replies: 28
Views: 3433

Re: I'm Confused about Reverse Repo & Money Supply

There’s a few old episodes of the Odd Lots podcast with Zoltan Poszar that are really helpful with weird financial plumbing questions.
by WS1
Thu May 26, 2022 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: cancun pesos
Replies: 30
Views: 3397

Re: cancun pesos

Considering how conservative many on this site are I’m surprised everyone isn’t saying to leave the U.S. with a couple hundred in small bills. The thought of parachuting in to another country and just assuming all my debit and credit cards would work flawlessly always terrified me.

For reference I’m one of the lunatic aggressive people with a 95% LTV mortgage and a mostly stock portfolio.
by WS1
Mon May 09, 2022 8:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sun hoodies for hiking?
Replies: 52
Views: 6205

Re: Sun hoodies for hiking?

ondarvr wrote: Mon May 09, 2022 3:17 pm Typical cotton shirts have very poor SPF/UPF rating, so while they can be comfortable, they don't offer great UV protection.

Some sun hoodies can have an uncomfortable feel, but I have some that are great, and breath very good. Venting and mesh in the right places helps. Fishing shirts are more common and tend to be lower in price than hiking shirts.
Long sleeve Hanes Beefy T has been my workhorse beach shirt since I saw this a few years ago.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/ma ... /index.htm
by WS1
Sun Apr 17, 2022 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PMI question
Replies: 6
Views: 503

Re: PMI question

Too many moving pieces. Just give her the cash if she’s halfway decent with money.
by WS1
Sun Apr 17, 2022 8:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need recommendation on Hybrid vs BEV(Fully electric) vehicle
Replies: 32
Views: 3473

Re: Need recommendation on Hybrid vs BEV(Fully electric) vehicle

We bought the compromise vehicle, a 2022 RAV4 Prime: 40 miles on electric, then operates as a gas hybrid. Day to day we're almost totally electric, and when we do trips that might be a few hundred miles in a day, we just use it as a hybrid. The electric cars are great, though, if you can deal with charging them on long trips; when you're just at home, you may only have to plug it in a couple of times a week. There are a lot of youtube videos about the Kia EV 6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (I think the Hyundai is similar mechanically, but more roomy), including people getting them and going on long trips. Is full electric until the battery is empty the least energy intensive way to run the vehicle? I just assumed toyota would have cooked up some...
by WS1
Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Honda and GM EV partnership
Replies: 17
Views: 1641

Re: Honda and GM EV partnership

Apathizer wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:34 am It would be much more effective to consume less, and structure more areas so personal vehicles are unnecessary, but I know that's unrealistic, so this is better than nothing. A little anyway.
I guess I'll see you on urban planning twitter.
by WS1
Wed Mar 23, 2022 8:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tonal Home Gym
Replies: 81
Views: 8986

Re: Tonal Home Gym

The most interesting aspect to me is that the resistance is provided my electric motors. This allows the weight to vary based on where you are in the range of motion. This is the modern replication of the H.I.T / Arthur Jones / Nautilus / Super Slow / Body by Science weight lifting. This means the real price comparison should be to one of those style fitness studios as opposed to buying a bar and some bumper plates.
by WS1
Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:50 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "Modern Capital is Weirder Than You Think"
Replies: 17
Views: 3417

Re: "Modern Capital is Weirder Than You Think"

Economics is weirder than you think. There's a lot of Eco-Fiction out there, make for fun fantasy stories, but that's about it. As Bruenig writes, “Index funds are basically an extremely unequal version” of this proposition. Today, Vanguard owns virtually the entire corporate sector and inequitably distributes the wealth it generates to its predominantly rich clientele. It's a perversion of the word "equity" to imagine the distribution of the up-side should somehow not be weighted by those bearing the risks of the down-side. But that's a popular view in the critical-theory influenced group, to imagine a fantasy land where everybody equally shares the up-side ignoring all the real risks, sacrifice, and responsibilities of those wh...
by WS1
Sun Mar 13, 2022 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Financing a Solar + Roof Replacement
Replies: 14
Views: 1330

Re: Financing a Solar + Roof Replacement

StewedCarrot wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:01 pm Fellow Bogleheads,

I'm combining a full reroofing with small solar install in large part to have the 26% tax credit applied to both. My gross cost will be ~$30K and I plan to use a HELOC through PENFED CU, currently at 3.75%.

Does anyone out there know of a lower-cost solar or home-improvement type loan?

Also, I could pay by selling from the brokerage account, but that doesn't feel right with the market correction and relatively cheap HELOC. Am I missing anything on this?
I’m in the middle of this. What type of financing is your solar company offering? I had the following

#1 - 15yrs at 1%
#2 - 10yr at 1% or 10% discount for cash
by WS1
Thu Mar 10, 2022 7:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cost of whole house heat pump
Replies: 99
Views: 8269

Re: Cost of whole house heat pump

The Electrify Everything facebook group is a great resource.
by WS1
Tue Mar 08, 2022 9:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Skydiving, have you ever been?
Replies: 83
Views: 5304

Re: Skydiving, have you ever been?

Life on the ground is waste. Go skydving, then do a tandem hang glide and/or paragliding.
by WS1
Sun Feb 20, 2022 8:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to stop flood of mail from charities?
Replies: 55
Views: 7113

Re: How to stop flood of mail from charities?

westie wrote: Sat Feb 19, 2022 9:04 pm Give anonymously.
The 3rd best level of tzedakah.
by WS1
Sun Feb 20, 2022 8:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Chase 1099-int for savings bonds
Replies: 25
Views: 3597

Re: Chase 1099-int for savings bonds

Same thing here. Guess it’s worth the extra 5 minute drive to the credit union
by WS1
Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Uses for net metering credit
Replies: 8
Views: 710

Re: Uses for net metering credit

Induction stove
by WS1
Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Frozen Dairy Dessert vs Ice Cream
Replies: 32
Views: 3822

Re: Frozen Dairy Dessert vs Ice Cream

tigermilk wrote: Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:00 am If it isn't Jeni's or homemade it doesn't get eaten in my home. I have become an ice cream snob. Will never find me around "frozen dairy dessert". Plain nasty.
This is more of a flex than the usual “I’m 60 with a $5,000,000 portfolio. Can I stop working 72 hours per week” posts.