Search found 411 matches
- 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...
- 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
That's one you should file a chargeback with your CC company over -- you will prevail if you have the tracking info.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.
- 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?
Have there been a lot of losses in your area recently?
- 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!
- 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...
- 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
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!
- 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
I think the OP is looking for fruit ready to eat, not fruit in potentia -- aka trees...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.
- 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.
This has worked well for about a decade now for trips of 4 to 6 weeks in duration.
- 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.
If your wife does decide to keep it out of the deposit box and wear it then yes, insurance might make sense.
- 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.
- 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...
- 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 ...
- 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...
- 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?
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
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.
- 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!
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!
- 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.
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.
- 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
Seriously? Where is one going to exchange gold coins at a good rate and safely while traveling? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
- 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.
If that looks too complicated find someone who knows what they're doing and hire them for the project.
- 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
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"
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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
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...
- 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.
- 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
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.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…
There are lots of very nice large nylon tents that will work great -- especially if the budget is up to $1500
- 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
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.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…
There are lots of very nice large nylon tents that will work great -- especially if the budget is up to $1500
- 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.
If you are really concerned about privacy you might consider asking the mods to delete this thread.
Good luck.
- 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...
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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 $$ are we talking about?
The issue with selling gift cards online is that from all reports there's lots of fraud and issues.
What sort of $$ are we talking about?
The issue with selling gift cards online is that from all reports there's lots of fraud and issues.
- 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...
- 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...
- 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.
Yes, I'd ask for it to be resealed if they did not do so.
- 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.
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.
- 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 pmMakes me feel like I rent my house from the property taxing districtexodusNH wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 9:17 amBy 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.)FoolMeOnce wrote: ↑Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:46 amIt locks in part of the monthly payment - taxes and insurance can still increase.
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...
- 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.
At this point it is not worth wasting time trying to answer, IMHO
At this point it is not worth wasting time trying to answer, IMHO
- 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.
- 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...
- 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...
- 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.
- 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
This analogy only works if your La-Z-boy recliner does not actually recline past a few inches and does not lift your legs.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.
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.
- 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.
- 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...
- 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...
- 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?
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.