Search found 411 matches

by jucor
Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon "eligible for return" cost
Replies: 29
Views: 1835

Re: Amazon "eligible for return" cost

:greedy Recently I bought a nearly $200 item I wasn’t satisfied with so I sent it back following Amazons procedure exactly. I had UPS confirmation that the item was delivered to their sorting facility, but I was never refunded. Not only that when I sought to find out I wasn’t offered any meaningful explanation, other than when/if we ever find it you’ll be refunded. We know how that’s going to go. That's one you should file a chargeback with your CC company over -- you will prevail if you have the tracking info. Unfortunately I used one of those Vanilla Visa gift cards that my wife received as a reward from one of her venders. They won’t do anything to help- I tried. I suspect Amazon knows purchases what were made with gift cards and that m...
by jucor
Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Amazon "eligible for return" cost
Replies: 29
Views: 1835

Re: Amazon "eligible for return" cost

Wanderingwheelz wrote: Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:23 am Recently I bought a nearly $200 item I wasn’t satisfied with so I sent it back following Amazons procedure exactly. I had UPS confirmation that the item was delivered to their sorting facility, but I was never refunded. Not only that when I sought to find out I wasn’t offered any meaningful explanation, other than when/if we ever find it you’ll be refunded. We know how that’s going to go.
That's one you should file a chargeback with your CC company over -- you will prevail if you have the tracking info.
by jucor
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure
Replies: 63
Views: 4720

Re: Drop Homeowner Ins- Self Insure

OP, have you done the obvious and shopped your policy with other companies?

Have there been a lot of losses in your area recently?
by jucor
Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Safe to Travel to Egypt in 2024?
Replies: 17
Views: 2262

Re: Safe to Travel to Egypt in 2024?

FWIW, security in Egypt is pretty good -- especially for tourists -- at times it is almost an oppressive presence. If you are going on a typical tour you have fairly little to worry about. You will have some risk, but then again you might have been in Boston, or Paris, or... at the wrong time. Go -- you'll enjoy it!
by jucor
Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:44 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: deposit on new car
Replies: 21
Views: 2590

Re: deposit on new car

Surprised nobody has state the obvious, don't buy a new car, waste of money. Need to read the bucket list of financial things to avoid, a new car is at the top of the list! While this might have been the case for a long time, at the moment it might not necessarily be true. Recent model used cars are selling for very close to new retail prices -- so are not really a good deal (10% less than new retail with 20-40k miles? Not a good deal). Older used cars might be OK, but safety features will be lacking, and YMMV on reliability. The OP does not mention why they want/need a new car. If theirs is in good shape and only 3-4 years old yes, keeping it is the wise move. If it is older and/or catastrophically damaged/failing, then a replacement is i...
by jucor
Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge
Replies: 34
Views: 4055

Re: Credit union refuses to remove fraudulent charge

KESP wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:12 am I saw on another thread you were reimbursed 30 minutes after the police visited their headquarters. Wow, good for you. This would not happen where I live. Glad you got that taken care of.
Astounding. The OP says that he is not local to NFCU, the credit union, but you are saying that his local police either traveled to the not-local HQ and/or got a different police dep't to do so and they were successful in getting the charge reversed?

OP, more details on this astoundingly unusual process and result, please!
by jucor
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ordering Citrus Fruit Online
Replies: 10
Views: 1219

Re: Ordering Citrus Fruit Online

Gardener wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:07 pm My user name should lend me an air of credibility:)

I use fastgrowingtrees.com

Pleased overall.

Of course you realize, citrus trees are difficult to grow outside of its native area. I live in the northeast and even with a greenhouse have not had success with growing anything citrus.

Best of luck.
I think the OP is looking for fruit ready to eat, not fruit in potentia -- aka trees... ;)
by jucor
Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Who looks after your home while you are away for travel?
Replies: 45
Views: 5559

Re: Who looks after your home while you are away for travel?

We have several neighbors who we trust who know our travel plans and keep their eyes open for us. Our next door neighbors have a key to our house (and we to theirs). We pay their teenage son to mow or shovel, etc. depending upon season when we're traveling. We either forward our mail to my in-laws or put it on hold, and the neighbors check to be sure nothing is delivered or that leaflets aren't on the door etc. -- they also come in one a week or so just to be sure nothing is amiss (esp. important in winter travel, a we're in a cold climate -- but I minimize possible catastrophic issues by turning off the water and draining the pipes).

This has worked well for about a decade now for trips of 4 to 6 weeks in duration.
by jucor
Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Insuring an heirloom engagement ring - seeking advice
Replies: 33
Views: 3166

Re: Insuring an heirloom engagement ring - seeking advice

I'd take it out and have it reappraised by a different reputable firm just to be sure you are correct in its value.

If your wife does decide to keep it out of the deposit box and wear it then yes, insurance might make sense.
by jucor
Fri Dec 01, 2023 7:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Sell in December or Wait until January
Replies: 23
Views: 2865

Re: Sell in December or Wait until January

OP, You might also want to seriously consider dialing back on your spending spree -- as it appears to not be sustainable unless you die sooner than you thought you might. Unless one or both of you has a terminal illness the medical scares you had a few years ago might not necessarily mean you are not long for this world. Some serious consideration of your realistic life expectancy and perhaps reducing your accelerated spending might be in order.
by jucor
Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:59 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Returning food to the grocery store
Replies: 143
Views: 25932

Re: Returning food to the grocery store

OP said that this special vegan, gluten-free pie was "just for them" and that 20% of it was consumed by the tasting, after OP said it was too sweet. I'd wonder about the "objectively" too sweet claim --- sweetness is VERY conditional upon taste. Store bought pies are always "too sweet" in my opinion -- but I have relatives who find anything that's less than 70% sugar to be not sweet enough. If OP is buying $27 pies I'm guessing this is not a material loss issue for them (if it is they should not be buying expensive pies!), and unless OP is a gluten-free glutton no more than 20% of that pie would have been consumed at the meal anyway, and old pie flavor (from leftovers) is a bigger gamble than alternative pie fl...
by jucor
Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:52 pm
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Portugal & the end of NHR
Replies: 27
Views: 8441

Re: Portugal & the end of NHR

I am a US citizen in my 30s, considering moving abroad. I'd like to better understand the tax implications of moving to Portugal. Some notes about me: •  US Citizenship , no other passports. • $1 million saved in 70% stocks, 30% bonds, 25% of which is in tax-advantaged accounts (Roth IRA, 401k). I expect to inherit some significant ($500k-1 million) amount of money from my parents when they pass away. No real estate, although this may change in the future. • No current employment , but in the future I expect realistically to make $50-100k no matter where I live. Conservatively, that puts me in the 24% income tax bracket in the US. I am considering moving to Portugal on the D7/D8 visa. Assuming I don't qualify for the NHR scheme, what does ...
by jucor
Sun Oct 29, 2023 2:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car totaled - Need new car suggestions!
Replies: 95
Views: 10148

Re: Car totaled - Need new car suggestions!

In the OP's 10/28 update he says Toyota dealer said 1 year wait on new Prius. My local dealer (Midwest USA) has 6 on the lot available for instant purchase, the next dealer (40 miles away) has 3, next one (50 miles away) has 4. Where are you? I suspect your dealer rep is ill-informed or less than motivated. Did you call to verify price and availability or just look on their website? My experience with this so far is it's not really available or if it is the price is unreasonably jacked up. No, as I'm not actually buying one -- but I know someone who works for one of those dealerships and he tells me they're fairly readily available in all but the lowest trim specs. No idea on price, but the OP said they were told it was a 1-year wait for a...
by jucor
Sun Oct 29, 2023 2:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are there important long-term benefits of parking a car in the garage?
Replies: 130
Views: 12897

Re: Are there important long-term benefits of parking a car in the garage?

hunoraut wrote: Sun Oct 29, 2023 1:55 pm If you have a BMW X5 and you dont want neighbors to see it
Presumably with the rare cloaking option so your neighbors can't see it when you drive to and from your house?

FWIW, it's my belief that for many if not most BMW owners being seen in the BMW by neighbors is a huge part of the reason they bought or leased one in the first place :twisted:
by jucor
Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Car totaled - Need new car suggestions!
Replies: 95
Views: 10148

Re: Car totaled - Need new car suggestions!

In the OP's 10/28 update he says Toyota dealer said 1 year wait on new Prius. My local dealer (Midwest USA) has 6 on the lot available for instant purchase, the next dealer (40 miles away) has 3, next one (50 miles away) has 4. Where are you? I suspect your dealer rep is ill-informed or less than motivated.
by jucor
Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: wine preservation/decanting?
Replies: 15
Views: 1513

Re: wine preservation/decanting?

LaurenRose wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:56 am We had a great event yesterday, but now have 5 great wines with at least a half bottle leftover. I have "re-corked" them and they are...horrors, in the fridge.

Might be too late to save these, but for the future - I believe it's the exposure to oxygen that kills the flavor, so is there a way to decant leftover wine into smaller bottles or bags and then vac seal or is that nuts?

Look for the product called Vacu-vin -- a small manual pump and stoppers for the bottles -- it works great for "resealing" wine.
by jucor
Mon Oct 16, 2023 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with monthly saving and saved money?
Replies: 40
Views: 4372

Re: What to do with monthly saving and saved money?

dips wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 1:00 pm I corrected those fields.
I am in WA, federal tax would be 22% (that's what I see, when I searched my salary CTC online)
$1,15,000 is cash, sitting in CDs.
$1,32,000 is my salary CTC.
Emergency funds is separate from $115k CD.
This is not a standard way to notate funds.

Do you have $115,000 in cash or $1,115,000?
I'm assuming it is $115,000, as you note your salary the same way, and if you made $1,320,000 per year in salary you'd likely not have the same questions. :)
by jucor
Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [New] CA tax hike next year for high earners
Replies: 101
Views: 10246

Re: Huge CA tax hike next year for high earners

Clearly the OP and others in the same situation should up stakes and move to South Dakota or a similar low-tax paradise...


Of course you might not like the weather, scenery, lack of cultural attractions, or far lower pay scales for most jobs, but hey, your taxes will be low! :oops:
by jucor
Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Have You Ever Purchased a High-End (or at least expensive) Art Replica (Las Meninas)?
Replies: 10
Views: 1013

Re: Have You Ever Purchased a High-End (or at least expensive) Art Replica (Las Meninas)?

I've not purchased such -- but have an early 1900's inherited equivalent. It's pretty to look at, but has near zero value, according to the appraiser I had evaluate it.

I'd only make such a purchase fully secure in the knowledge that I was buying something that has essentially no resale value. If you're ok with that, go for it!

In your case I'd also be prepared for sub-par quality, given you won't be able to examine it prior to purchase.
by jucor
Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Cash sources during travel
Replies: 43
Views: 4317

Re: Cash sources during travel

cadzan wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 6:19 pm Carry a couple 1/10 oz gold coins in your change. Mix in a few foreign coins that are brass colored.. No one will notice and you'll be good.
Seriously? Where is one going to exchange gold coins at a good rate and safely while traveling? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
by jucor
Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do I install a pane of glass into an opening in the wall ?
Replies: 23
Views: 3361

Re: How do I install a pane of glass into an opening in the wall ?

You are really looking for a window -- either one you build from all of the component parts or have made to fit and installed for you. Here's a guide: https://www.thespruce.com/diy-window-frame-6544762

If that looks too complicated find someone who knows what they're doing and hire them for the project.
by jucor
Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips for finding and buying a high mileage car
Replies: 36
Views: 3566

Re: Tips for finding and buying a high mileage car

Leesbro63 wrote: Wed Sep 20, 2023 8:33 am
livesoft wrote: Wed Sep 20, 2023 8:02 am Check the obituaries and buy from the heirs. Contact funeral homes, too.
Do you REALLY think that funeral home personnel will get involved in matching up buyers/sellers for their deceased's cars?

Well, perhaps the idea is to get a list of funerals and then the OP could show up at the cemetery entrance as the funeral enters with a sign that says "Sorry for your loss -- I buy older cars" :oops:
by jucor
Wed Jul 19, 2023 3:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: [Out-of-network blood test claims denied by insurance carrier]
Replies: 52
Views: 3824

Re: Wellness clinic pushing blood work in order to sell supplements

Front desk staff know little to nothing about the insurance industry. They're uneducated people making $15/hr to check people in. The little known secret that we should all be mindful of is that doctors are paid by HOW MUCH service they provide you, with little to no consideration of whether the patient actually needs it. They will always sell you more services. Has anyone on this board ever been told by an orthopedic surgeon whether or not they actually need surgery? Highly doubtful. Not really on topic for this thread, but yes, I have had an orthopedic surgeon tell me I needed surgery, and that he advised against surgery (same surgeon, two different issues at different times). I'm not sure why you are lumping in a comment about poorly tr...
by jucor
Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renovation cost too high?
Replies: 32
Views: 2807

Re: Renovation cost too high?

thanks for all the replies! my math .. reno: 700k reno budget + approx 175k interest remaining on mortgage if paid at current rate = 875k total cost buy/sell: 2.2M new house + 175k transaction fees + approx 375k interest remaining on 6.75% mortgage if paid at current rate - 700k reno budget - 775k equity in current house if sold @ 1.55M = 1.275M total cost i certainly heed the advice of those who have have lived through a renovation .. but with that spread, you could just rent another place for a year and still come out hundreds of thousands ahead, no? and another factor making the buy/sell scenario more complicated is inventory remains very low, and our kids are already in elementary school and we'd prefer not to change their elementary d...
by jucor
Tue Jul 04, 2023 6:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I hit a parked car on my vacation in Ireland. What to do?
Replies: 40
Views: 7899

Re: I hit a parked car on my vacation in Ireland. What to do?

<snip> HOWEVER, I am worried about the woman who owns the car I hit. I've been in touch with her by email -- I left my contact information on her windscreen. Well after the accident I looked at the envelope my keys came in, and there was a checklist of information I should collect if I was in an accident. If there were two cars involved in the accident, I should provide the other owner's contact information, registration, and insurance information. I asked her by email if she would provide any of this, and she declined. She understandably doesn't want this affecting her insurance, and doesn't want to get them involved at all. To date, Budget has not reached out to her. She's kind of stressing about this, and of course I'm feeling quite gui...
by jucor
Sat Apr 08, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: android car play and apple carplay
Replies: 9
Views: 786

Re: android car play and apple carplay

tc101 wrote: Sat Apr 08, 2023 11:35 am I might look at an almost new, slightly used 2021 or 2022 camry at carmax. So would all of those with apple carplay work with my android phone?
They should -- and it is easy to find out. The Apple Carplay and Android Auto options should be on a menu on the infotainment system. You can bring a usb cable and plug your phone into the head unit -- it should be recognized by Android Auto if it is there -- that's what I do with renal cars... :)
by jucor
Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy a bicycle (with training wheels)?
Replies: 35
Views: 1951

Re: Where to buy a bicycle (with training wheels)?

If you are looking for something that will last more than a summer then go to a bicycle shop, not a big box store -- the big boxes sell disposable bikes. Trek and several others have kids bikes that can grow with your kid (highly adjustable) which might warrant looking into.
by jucor
Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent
Replies: 29
Views: 2232

Re: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent

quantAndHold wrote: Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:13 am The 70’s called, and wants their tent back.

Seriously, the reason canvas tents are hard to find is because newer materials make much better tents. Lighter, dry faster, less maintenance, store smaller…
About the only advantages canvas has is if someone is choosing a tent which will stay up for months at a time -- in which case canvas is far more UV resistant than any nylon or poly I know of -- but that's a really rare use case.

There are lots of very nice large nylon tents that will work great -- especially if the budget is up to $1500
by jucor
Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent
Replies: 29
Views: 2232

Re: Need recommendations for Canvas camping tent

quantAndHold wrote: Mon Feb 27, 2023 10:13 am The 70’s called, and wants their tent back.

Seriously, the reason canvas tents are hard to find is because newer materials make much better tents. Lighter, dry faster, less maintenance, store smaller…
About the only advantages canvas has is if someone is choosing a tent which will stay up for months at a time -- in which case canvas is far more UV resistant than any nylon or poly I know of -- but that's a really rare use case.

There are lots of very nice large nylon tents that will work great -- especially if the budget is up to $1500
by jucor
Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choosing my next academic job and location
Replies: 64
Views: 6912

Re: Choosing my next academic job and location

Listing your discipline and the list of universities at which you've interviewed while saying you created a new account for privacy is interesting. Clearly someone who really cared could easily figure out who you are -- finalists for positions in public academia are public information, so a new account will not hide your identity. It will perhaps limit information about what you've posted here previously, but still reveals a lot about you, your financial situation, and your personality/ego -- all of which might or might not reflect positively upon you.

If you are really concerned about privacy you might consider asking the mods to delete this thread.

Good luck.
by jucor
Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have the Cash. Should I purchase/finance my car
Replies: 64
Views: 6853

Re: Have the Cash. Should I purchase/finance my car

You write "Interest rates being what they are" but don't tell us what rates you've been offered by the used car dealer, your bank or CU. That can vary widely. It the rate you are being offered (by them or by a bank or CU) is less than you can make in a high return saving account, then of course you should finance. If the financed price is substantially lower than the cash price, then finance (and be sure there is no prepayment penalty, then pay it off after a month or so). If, as is typical for used car dealers, the rate is high, then pay cash. It's not that hard of a decision. BTW -- at 34 saying you are finished with investing seems a bit premature. Savings alone are likely to underperform inflation, and you've got a long way to...
by jucor
Fri Feb 17, 2023 8:34 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Post-car crash rental coverage
Replies: 5
Views: 1002

Re: Post-car crash rental coverage

If as described accident was not your fault -- the at fault party should pay for a rental. What does your State Farm agent say? SF won't pay if you don't have coverage, but your agent knows if/who/how it all should work, and answering questions like that is why you have an agent! :)
by jucor
Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?
Replies: 68
Views: 7963

Re: Best coffee for ~$10 / lb?

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.
by jucor
Mon Jan 02, 2023 5:09 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sale of main house - with indefinite final settlement date
Replies: 6
Views: 754

Re: Sale of main house - with indefinite final settlement date

Consult with a local lawyer.

Consider possibilities of things going sideways (fire, destruction of property, buyers going bust, unpaid taxes, etc.) that might happen in the intervening time (which itself is undefined -- unless they are in the end stages of terminal illness -- a few years might be 3 or might end up being 10).

They have benefited greatly from appreciation. They might want to think about just paying the requisite taxes and considering themselves lucky and done instead of possibly dealing with all sorts of scenarios as one of them slides towards death.
by jucor
Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to sell gift cards?
Replies: 10
Views: 1397

Re: Where to sell gift cards?

Do you know anyone in the area where the stores are located? If so, perhaps sell at a discount or give to them. Do you ever go to that area? If so, use them to stock up on a visit?

What sort of $$ are we talking about?

The issue with selling gift cards online is that from all reports there's lots of fraud and issues.
by jucor
Thu Dec 29, 2022 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Renting out Part of Home and Tax Deductions
Replies: 48
Views: 3714

Re: Renting out Part of Home and Tax Deductions

$35k/yr in interest suggests a $650-700k loan, with a payment per month in the $3800 to $4300 range. That does not include your property taxes (you say he is likely to pay $15k+), insurance, utilities, etc. His per month outflow on this home is likely to be $5500-$6500+ You say your son is getting "help" from you for the down payment. Loan, or gift? If gift it must be documented or lender will not consider it -- if loan, he likely will not qualify even with "help." Think long and hard before trying to claim a loan is actually a gift. If, in addition to the "help" in buying this place he needs to rent a room to afford payments he really should not be buying this house -- he cannot afford it. How much is a one or...
by jucor
Thu Dec 29, 2022 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: help with water leak in ceiling
Replies: 19
Views: 2096

Re: help with water leak in ceiling

Yesterday I noticed that there were two water stain marks in my kitchen ceiling. Right above the kitchen is a full bath, but I don't see any obvious sign of water leak in the faucets/pipes/tub/toilet. There were no stain marks at Thanksgiving, but otherwise I can't pin point a more precise time frame. The two stain marks were about 9"x13" ovals. I used pencil to mark the two stain marks, and today I noticed that they have been a bit bigger, say to about 9.5" x 13". The plumber I worked with in the past is completely booked; eventually I found someone who will come over on Thursday. He suggested that he might need to cut out a piece of the ceiling to find the source of the leak. I have never dealt with this sort of issue...
by jucor
Fri Dec 16, 2022 12:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What is this "gray" stuff around the duct joints?
Replies: 10
Views: 2347

Re: What is this "gray" stuff around the duct joints?

Mastic. It seals the joints. This indicates the the original HVAC installer likely did a good job on the installation.

Yes, I'd ask for it to be resealed if they did not do so.
by jucor
Mon Oct 17, 2022 6:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best bike touring locations?
Replies: 25
Views: 2706

Re: Best bike touring locations?

The Kystriksveien coastal route in north central Norway is spectacular in summer.

Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan is a lovely to cycle tour -- it has 20% of Japan's land mass, 5% of its population, lots of great sea and mountain scenery.
by jucor
Tue Oct 11, 2022 2:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Is buying a home the only way to hedge against rising rents?
Replies: 45
Views: 4545

Re: Is buying a home the only way to hedge against rising rents?

goodenyou wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:56 pm
exodusNH wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 9:17 am
FoolMeOnce wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:46 am
tcrez wrote: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:58 am
However I understand buying locks the monthly payment in while renting can rocket due to a lot of factors.
It locks in part of the monthly payment - taxes and insurance can still increase.
By the time I retire, my property taxes and insurance will be more than my current mortgage payment. Currently, they're at about 67% of my mortgage. (Note, my mortgage is only P+I. T+I are paid separately.)
Makes me feel like I rent my house from the property taxing district

You could always lower that cost by moving to an area with low values and low taxes and low services -- who, after all, REALLY needs good schools, decent roads, parks, fire protection, ambulance services, police, food inspections... :twisted: :shock:
by jucor
Sun Oct 02, 2022 10:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Has anyone else had this happen? [hospital put lien on deceased person's estate]
Replies: 66
Views: 7982

Re: Has anyone else had this happen? [hospital put lien on deceased person's estate]

OP has one post on the forums -- this one -- and has not come back to answer any of the questions posed. :annoyed

At this point it is not worth wasting time trying to answer, IMHO
by jucor
Wed Aug 31, 2022 8:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Water heater questions
Replies: 31
Views: 2980

Re: Water heater questions

I'd really question the claim that Rheem water heaters die prematurely compared to the brands you mention. Why was your plumber called? Was there a problem with the water heater, or was he there for another job? Have you ever replaced the anode rods? Drained the water? If so, you might get 12-15 years plus on your heater -- if not, you will likely get more than 7 unless your local water conditions are bad. Rheem is not really any better or worse overall than the other brands you mention. I would not be replacing a 7-year-old water heater without at least pulling the anode rods and looking at them.
by jucor
Tue Aug 23, 2022 6:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Protecting my bequest to sister from spouse's long term care expenses
Replies: 19
Views: 2539

Re: Protecting my bequest to sister from spouse's long term care expenses

I'm puzzled by this -- what makes you so certain that her husband will need such long term care and she won't? Is he considerably older and/or in poor health? I'm also wondering if you've spoken to your sister about this -- I know in our case DW and I would each want to spend down what we have prior to Medicaid if/when either or both of us need LTC (here's hoping it does not happen) as we've seen considerable difference in level of care for folks with only Medicaid as opposed to other funding, and we both agree that when the time comes we'd rather spend all we can to make the other's or both) final days better -- and in most states there's a living exemption -- in our state the house would still be occupied by the surviving spouse until dea...
by jucor
Wed Aug 10, 2022 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Newly immigrated wife not allowed to bank at Ally and denied by Bank of America
Replies: 53
Views: 4579

Re: Newly immigrated wife not allowed to bank at Ally and denied by Bank of America

If you are near a major university see if they have a credit union that's open to outsiders (as many are these days) -- in my experience university-affiliated credit unions are very used to opening accounts for non-resident aliens with visas -- they do so for foreign students every year -- at a major university the numbers will be in the 100s or higher each year...
by jucor
Fri Jun 24, 2022 4:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Duty free wine in European airport with connection in US
Replies: 25
Views: 3289

Re: Duty free wine in European airport with connection in US

I cannot really address your question as to permissibility of transferring your duty-free wine to your checked bags before making a U.S. connection, but unless you have a very good system for padding and packing them securely there's no way I'd do that -- heavy glass bottles jostling around in a suitcase being thrown and dropped by typical baggage handlers? WAY too great a chance for breakage and wine-soaked suitcase. No fun at all.
by jucor
Thu Apr 28, 2022 5:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Sleeping on a train
Replies: 53
Views: 6240

Re: Sleeping on a train

ClevrChico wrote: Sun Apr 24, 2022 2:01 pm Sleeping in coach is like sleeping in a la-Z-Boy recliner. If you're traveling alone, you might have a stranger next to you.
This analogy only works if your La-Z-boy recliner does not actually recline past a few inches and does not lift your legs.

Train seats are a LOT better than coach airline seats, but they still are far less than optimal for sleeping-- if they WERE like a La-Z-boy they'd be a lot better.

As the OP is considering a roomette his sleeping experience will be far better. I've actually slept better on trains than in most places -- something about the motion that makes me nod off.
by jucor
Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 2021 Refund Times
Replies: 297
Views: 30388

Re: Has ANYONE got their refund?

Yes, about 2 1/2 weeks after I filed electronically.
by jucor
Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is it financially bad to live entire life in first house purchased?
Replies: 124
Views: 14968

Re: Is it financially bad to live entire life in first house purchased?

Do you have heirs who want your property? If not, buying your house is a complete waste. It's like saving money and never spending it. As I said previously, the idea of an investment is to sell something for more than you paid. If you never sell you never reap the benefits of owning. I see a few benefits of owning: -- control over costs: taxes will go up gradually, but you won't have to pay higher rent if the neighborhood becomes more valuable -- often neighborhoods with more owner-occupied properties are more stable, people are committed to where they are, there is less moving in and out -- if you buy a house you can easily afford, in 10 or 15 years you own it free and clear, taxes and maintenance are your costs -- if you've got more inve...
by jucor
Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Upgrades worth doing to "future proof" home?
Replies: 159
Views: 18894

Re: Upgrades worth doing to "future proof" home?

<snip> So far what I'm leaning this direction: <snip> 4) update our electric panel to 200a and consider just doing it unpermitted so as to not have to deal with relocating the gas meter or moving the electric panel to a completely different location and going through all that additional headache <snip> I've read through the whole thread and am surprised no one else has mentioned this -- if your insurance company is saying they are going to drop you due to an unsafe panel do you really think they are going to be happy with an un-permitted replacement job? Even if you somehow got it past them or another company, you are putting yourself at serious risk down the road -- imagine trying to explain your choice of going without a permit if a clai...
by jucor
Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: When do you drop full coverage on older cars?
Replies: 82
Views: 7068

Re: When do you drop full coverage on older cars?

KlangFool wrote: Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:58 am OP,

The answer is never if you are rich enough.

The coverage on my cars is needed to keep my umbrella/personal liability insurance.

KlangFool
Your umbrella policy requires full coverage on your automobile(s)? Mine has moderately high auto liability requirements, but they do not care about comprehensive/collision -- just liability.