Search found 8506 matches

by lthenderson
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Basement remodel started without a permit
Replies: 29
Views: 3496

Re: Baement remodel started without a permit

jebmke wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:41 am Tell them no more money until permit applied.
+1 That would be my solution too.
by lthenderson
Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:02 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cleaning mold on water bottle gaskets
Replies: 25
Views: 2302

Re: Cleaning mold on water bottle gaskets

gavinsiu wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:06 am I could try soak it in some bleach but was worry that it would end up with bleach residue in the water.
To purify water for drinking, the EPA recommends you add 8 drops of 6% bleach or 6 drops of 8.25% bleach per one gallon of water. If the water is cloudy, colored or cold, double that amount, stir and let stand 30 minutes before consuming.

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-dr ... king-water
by lthenderson
Mon Feb 12, 2024 5:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New iPhone (upgrade from XR to 13 or maybe 14) anything I am overlooking?
Replies: 33
Views: 2972

Re: New iPhone (upgrade from XR to 13 or maybe 14) anything I am overlooking?

Calico wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:11 pm I compared the 13 and 14 and they don't seem remarkably different except that 13 is $100 less than the 14.
Have you checked with your cell plan provider? My youngest daughter just got a 13 for "free" from our provider. It is locked into a two year contract but we weren't planning on changing anyway.
by lthenderson
Mon Feb 12, 2024 5:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Another Wells Fargo Story. What to do?
Replies: 17
Views: 2890

Re: Another Wells Fargo Story. What to do?

Beleiber wrote: Sun Feb 11, 2024 7:09 pm Why would WF not notify customers in advance of such action?
Some thoughts as a long time customer. Often their notice is charging some sort of account maintenance fee on a monthly basis. I have one account that gets charged a $10 fee if it falls below a certain balance. There is nothing mailed, only that it will appear on the monthly statement.

Second, I suspect they require account activity because it is a special account, i.e. they are paying higher interest or something similar. I would ask them if you can just change it to a basic checking or savings account where there are many less such rules.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Birthday gift for kids at 13
Replies: 32
Views: 2617

Re: Birthday gift for kids at 13

I always ask my kids what they want. If they come back with "nothing", I'll try to spark something by picking an interest of theirs and asking if they want anything pertaining to that interest. I am always able to get some idea from this conversation.

If they continued to tell me they can't think of anything, I would be inclined to grant them their wish and just give them a card and go out to eat or something like that to celebrate. That might cause them to put more thought into it the following year.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tubs in new build cracked, do I have a case for replacement from builder?
Replies: 13
Views: 1265

Re: Tubs in new build cracked, do I have a case for replacement from builder?

The builder's own plumber has assessed both tubs and off-the record recommended a full replacement Do I have a reasonable case for total replacement? Obviously, the builder is going to want to press on with just repair. They already sent a third party out for inspection and repair scheduling. Since the builder's own plumber recommended replacement, I think you have a reasonable case. Has the builder said they were just going to repair it? I would of course document everything but would wait for a final decision, repair or replace, before doing anything. If they say they are going to repair it, I would probably decline until I had a chance to talk directly to the builder and his plumber all in one room. After that, if they still decline to ...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Spice My Chicken
Replies: 15
Views: 2349

Re: Spice My Chicken

We use a lot of sweet chili sauce for the sweet heat affect. Sadly the quality of sweet chili sauce varies drastically throughout brands and countries of origin so I suggest buying small bottles and taking notes until you find the one for you.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Time for a new roof and it’s the first one I’m replacing - help!
Replies: 20
Views: 2785

Re: Time for a new roof and it’s the first one I’m replacing - help!

Things I discuss with the roofing contractor before inking an agreement. 1. What is the warrantied life of the shingles. 2. What do they charged for rotten sheathing, rotten facia boards or anything else that can be found after the job is started. 3. What they flash with around vertical surfaces that intersect with the slope of your roof, if applicable. 4. What style do they shingle valleys, if applicable. A lot will just weave shingles, some will overlap one side and cut second side in a straight line and others will flash with copper and cut the intersecting planes just short of each other leaving some of that copper exposed. All three take different amounts of labor and materials to accomplish and have different appearances. 5. Are they ...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Costs Of Kids From BH Parents?
Replies: 59
Views: 5299

Re: Costs Of Kids From BH Parents?

Gecko10x wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 10:27 am IMO, kids cost whatever you want them to or allow them to.
+1000 Plus, alternative cheaper routes don't necessarily mean inadequate.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turbo Tax on line asking me to upload our 1099-B
Replies: 20
Views: 1624

Re: Turbo Tax on line asking me to upload our 1099-B

Parkinglotracer wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:25 am Would turbo tax still ask for my 1099-B if I typed in the specific trade details of my stock sales or does it ask for me to upload the 1099-B because I chose to enter only the category totals?
I just entered category totals and wasn't asked to submit my 1099-B. FWIW - I used TurboTax Deluxe download.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Replies: 13
Views: 1860

Re: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

I do expect to retire soon (but have yet to set a date). I don't have any immediate need or plans to tap a line of credit so this would just be something to have in place for some potential emergency. I guess in my opinion, being able to retire means you have enough assets to cover emergencies and so don't need things like HELOCs. I mean after all, if an emergency happens in retirement that causes you to need a large loan, how are you going to pay it back without enough assets in your portfolio? To another point, my HELOC could only be utilized for ten years. After the 10 years, it was essentially closed and any loans moved to traditional loan vehicles. If you want to continue you it for another ten years, you must start the process again ...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should the bank pay interested on a refund lost in mail?
Replies: 14
Views: 1249

Re: Should the bank pay interested on a refund lost in mail?

stk35 wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:38 pm Shouldn't they add an interest accrued for this year?
Not unless you notified them soon after it became apparent it was lost. If you didn't notify them, how is it their fault? For all they knew, it was sitting in a desk drawer in your home uncashed.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds
Replies: 37
Views: 3597

Re: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds

We used powdered Tide on our front loader Maytag. When we used the pods we had bad smell/mold issues. I do think they leave a residue. Using less powder and switching to powder fixed those issues. Front loaders are notorious for leaving behind soap residue. The load capacity of the drum is determined by the amount of dry clothes that can be forced into the drum. In my designing and testing days, we used chunks of 2x4's to tamp the clothes in place because the bigger the rated load, the better the machines sold over those advertising smaller load sizes. I would guess the average consumer actually loads them about 25% of actual capacity. This creates problems when soap amounts are created for a certain capacity. It also allows the clothes to...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calling All Bicycle Tourists
Replies: 21
Views: 2149

Re: Calling All Bicycle Tourists

Raybo wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:52 pm First, are you aware of the Adventure Cycling Association (adventurecycling.org)? They have created several US cross-country routes. I have ridden some of these and they are always well thought out and their route maps provide both good directions and lots of useful information.
+1 My parents rode across the U.S. five times (4 west to east and 1 north to south) using Adventure Cycling routes and maps.
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 1:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Decaf K Cups
Replies: 31
Views: 2590

Re: Decaf K Cups

My wife also has several reusable stainless steel k-cups and just used her normal decaf products from tea to coffee. I suggest buying more than one reusable cup as inevitably, you don't discover the previous used one until you go to insert the freshly made k-cup. Not having to wash the k-cup first before filling cuts the total brewing time by half.
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Online bank vs brick and mortar (considering Fidelity)
Replies: 20
Views: 1739

Re: Online bank vs brick and mortar (considering Fidelity)

can you share with me your observed pros and cons of such a move? Some things that I have seen that give me pause from going to online banking only. 1. I have used brick and mortar banks to conduct large financial in person transactions to reduce risk. 2. I have had checks written to me that I couldn't deposit via app because the writing wasn't legible or amount too large. Only a trip to a brick and mortar bank was able to get them deposited. 3. As mentioned above, brick and mortar provides other services that I use such as safety deposit boxes, buying foreign currency, getting specific denominations of cash that are crisp for gifts, obtaining cashier's checks, etc. 4. The thought of all my money in one place seems risky, especially in the...
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Getting rid of emergency fund, budgeting for yearly expenses, and handling larger "surprise" expenses?
Replies: 18
Views: 1834

Re: Getting rid of emergency fund, budgeting for yearly expenses, and handling larger "surprise" expenses?

So I guess I'm wondering if I should keep a $50k emergency fund and keep putting additional money aside for these expenses, or consider that $50k my bucket for emergencies and these yearly bills where I just top it up as it dips below $50k when I pay one of these big bills. For me, my emergency fund isn't necessarily a fixed amount. I have a checking account and basic savings account. Between the two of them there is enough to pay all bills, field a few big ticket items that might crop up or use as a way to pay expenses in a true emergency. It dips and grows during the year as things happen. The only limit I have is when I think there is too much in these accounts and then I transfer the excess into my brokerage account. I have never had a...
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?
Replies: 115
Views: 10662

Re: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?

According to this one article below, the median salary for a lawyer is $135,000 and that isn't educational background dependent. I would be inclined to go with the more prestigious and expensive school.

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-j ... yer/salary
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice needed re: bizarre accident/insurance/repair issue
Replies: 1
Views: 884

Re: Advice needed re: bizarre accident/insurance/repair issue

flyfishers83 wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:51 pm Basically looking for resources to force some sort of resolution.
I don't often recommend this, but in your case, I think a lawyer is probably necessary to force a resolution if you don't get anywhere with the insurance company.
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Budget-Friendly Venue Ideas for Young Kids' Birthday Parties
Replies: 28
Views: 7721

Re: Budget-Friendly Venue Ideas for Young Kids' Birthday Parties

Hello, My child is turning 3 soon, and I am brand new to the whole endeavor of inviting her entire daycare class (15 kids!) to her party I am avoiding anything at my own house, because I don't think I can contain or provide for too many kids plus their parents. I'm a bit confused. Why would going to a park or other public venue make it easier to contain all those kids? To me it adds an extra level of difficulty because you are in a strange environment and now have to escort young kids to bathrooms, drinking fountains, etc. typically out of sight from where your festivities are occurring. If you can't provide for the kids in a home setting, I'm assuming they will still need all the same providing for no matter where you go. You could cater ...
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which college?
Replies: 54
Views: 5964

Re: Which college?

roadking2615 wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:12 pm I've been helping my son though his college admissions journey this past year...He's basically boiled it down to two schools:
If both colleges are acceptable to you, your job is done. Let your son decide.
by lthenderson
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style
Replies: 64
Views: 7185

Re: Paying for A Car Boglehead Style

scot wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:39 pm Due to a stable gov job I keep my emergency fund very minimal and drop every additional dollar into my brokerage account each month and buy VTI (Total Stock Market Index).

With a car purchase looming I don't have any cash available to make the purchase.
In my opinion, if you can't replace a car without a loan, and losing a vehicle at an inopportune time in your life would be a hardship, your emergency fund isn't nearly big enough, stable job or not.
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Removing Adhesive From A Wall
Replies: 13
Views: 987

Re: Removing Adhesive From A Wall

LifeIsGood wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 2:26 pm The adhesive is the double sided padded strip type. I’ve scraped as much as possible and tried Goo Gone, Awesome Cleaner and acetone with poor results. The acetone was the best of the bunch but still left a significant amount of adhesive behind. Suggestions are welcome.
Those chemicals work best when in direct contact with the adhesive. Not clear if you applied it to the "padded strip" side or if they were in contact with the adhesive directly.

How much are you removing? If one spot, I would just sand it with a sander until gone, fix any gouges or rough spots with drywall compound, prime and paint. If you have a lot, such as an entire room, you would probably be money ahead to just tear out the drywall and replace.
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Unemployment filing with expected payouts
Replies: 3
Views: 301

Re: Unemployment filing with expected payouts

KlangFool wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 4:14 pm The answer is highly dependent which state are you in.
+1

I have lived in two states where the severance payout was treated as monthly salary to get number of months of equivocal employment. So if your severance was equal to three times your monthly salary, only after three months could you apply for unemployment.

I've always found it best to stop in or call the local unemployment office. They will provide you with the best information and timeline for doing every step.
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Anyway to get equity from my home without selling?
Replies: 25
Views: 2079

Re: Anyway to get equity from my home without selling?

Has anyone tried Easy Knock? Besides lots of complaints that rent fees are often more than the original mortgage payments that you are already unable to meet, sounds like a reputable company! There are being sued by several states for false and misleading practices. In a news release last Tuesday, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced that she had entered into a settlement with EasyKnock for what her office alleged was deceptive practices that stripped consumers of their home equity. Campbell’s office claims that EasyKnock “engaged in an unfair and deceptive equity-skimming scheme that involved purchasing the homes of cash-strapped consumers at bargain-basement prices and then renting them back to the consumers, at times for unfai...
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Looking for advice to save for home addition/renovation
Replies: 29
Views: 2376

Re: Looking for advice to save for home addition/renovation

With $693,000 of debt and wanting to add another $500,000 to that for nearly $1.2 million of debt and only $210,00 of cash and no mention of other assets, my advice would be to wait on the home improvement project and pay off debts for now.
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Kindle scribe users? (primarily for books)
Replies: 5
Views: 844

Re: Any Kindle scribe users? (primarily for books)

I don't use note taking or the stylus so went with the paperwhite version. It is easily read any place I have been too and has a battery that for me, lasts for a week at a time before charging. I also like the smaller size so I can hold and turn pages using one hand. For me, this trade off is well worth the bigger screen of the scribe.
by lthenderson
Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds
Replies: 37
Views: 3597

Re: Laundry Detergent Pods Suds

The amount of suds was overwhelming to where I had to use a paper towel to remove them. ... What could be causing this and is there a way to "dilute" the concentration of the pods? Almost always overlooked, soft water can be causing this and the way to dilute is to use less soap. For over a decade, I designed and tested clothes washing machines and driers. The number one complaint that we received was that there were too many suds (meaning clothes weren't being efficiently washed compounded by the fact that the majority of machines are way underloaded) or the machines didn't completely get the clothes clean. The solution was always that the customer was nearly always using too much soap, especially when their machine was plumbed ...
by lthenderson
Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:07 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2023 HR Block Iowa State return is a flawed work in progress
Replies: 7
Views: 1094

Re: 2023 HR Block Iowa State return is a flawed work in progress

lthenderson wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:58 pm Just wanted to add that TurboTax Iowa forms are also all messed up too. I gave up on them for now and will check back in a week or so to see if they have been updated. There were a lot of things that I normally always input that weren't even asked this year when it comes to deductions.
Just wanted to note that at least with TurboTax, the latest Iowa state update has fixed everything.
by lthenderson
Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:51 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Funeral gift (card with money, flower, plant, etc.)?
Replies: 9
Views: 1145

Re: Funeral gift (card with money, flower, plant, etc.)?

silverskates wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:43 am My uncle passed away, and I am trying to figure out funeral etiquette when it comes to giving a gift of some sort.
I'm sure this could very well be regional but nearly all the funerals I have attended in the last decade request that if you want to give money, the family would prefer a donation to XYZ charitable institution. It generally is stated at the bottom of the obituary but sometimes a discreet call to a family member will get this information.

When my mom died in 2018, well over a thousand dollars were given to a charity that meant something for her and her name is now on a plaque at their headquarters.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2899

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

For a misfiring van that otherwise runs, I would seek a second opinion. My next option with your finances would be option 3. 125,000 miles for an Odyssey or Sienna is just getting started. I’ve owned both.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: basement storage techniques
Replies: 29
Views: 2705

Re: basement storage techniques

familythriftmd wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 1:59 pm What do you posters like to do to improve storage in the basement to get things off the floor?
If you want to maximize space, eliminate sagging shelves, easy to disassemble and move if needed and have shelving that will be around after you aren’t. I have four of them that are 15 years old now nearly identical to these.

https://www.menards.com/main/storage-or ... -12652.htm
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Equipment for online video like utube
Replies: 7
Views: 671

Re: Equipment for online video like utube

4nursebee wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:51 am What equipment is needed to move up from an iphone in order to compose better video products?
As someone who consumes a fair amount of YouTube videos daily, my advice would be pay attention to sound and lighting versus the camera/phone for better videos. The ones that look the best generally have good sound gathering devices pinned to their shirts and adequate lighting reflecting onto the faces. Way to many don't.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: a question about manila folders
Replies: 19
Views: 1729

Re: a question about manila folders

Twenty five years ago or so we bought a vintage 4 drawer oak library style file cabinet at a yard sale. It is an impressive piece of furniture, but it unfortunately allows us to keep a lot of stuff that we really don’t need to. It replaced a cheap two drawer metal file cabinet. Our library file cabinet is similar to this, but we only paid a couple hundred dollars for it. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1507339144/antique-oak-wood-file-cabinet-library?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_-home_and_living-domestic_high&utm_custom1=_k_f2efb998741e163d4eafdc2481c40127_k_&utm_content=bing_412373112_1307319623531595_81707540095177_pla-4585307091743510:aud-805670572:pla-4585307091743510_m_...
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Microwave venting or over the range hood vent?
Replies: 16
Views: 1994

Re: Microwave venting or over the range hood vent?

Can anyone point us in the right direction for quality OTR vents? Will we suffer putting the microwave on a shared circuit instead of its own circuit as it is? Thanks I've only had one OTR hood but it has worked extremely well the four years since I installed it. I'm sure there are probably other brands out there just as good but I don't regret a single penny I paid for this one. https://zephyronline.com/product/venezia-wall-mount-range-hood/ It does 700 CFM max though I have only rarely had it up that high. For most cooking, we keep it at level one or two which does a good job and is quiet enough that you can still listen to the radio or have a normal conversation without raising your voice. I also like the removable and dishwasher safe f...
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dropping term life?
Replies: 46
Views: 4277

Re: Dropping term life?

I'm paying mine until it expires in another five years and don't plan on renewing. Like someone said above, I don't need the money nor will I miss the four years of premiums I still have yet to pay. Should my wife get lucky and get to collect, I hope she does something frivolous with that money.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: a question about manila folders
Replies: 19
Views: 1729

Re: a question about manila folders

anoop wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:07 am I have hanging file boxes for my taxes.
Are you doing taxes for a corporation? All my tax information for a single year fits in one single hanging file. I then have seven such hanging files for previous years. Beyond those, they get shredded so my taxes take up about 2 inches of my entire drawer.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mechanical Protection Plans - anyone ever benefit from them?
Replies: 16
Views: 1485

Re: Mechanical Protection Plans - anyone ever benefit from them?

runningshoes wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 6:45 pm It's easy to see a $2k - $3k bill for a damaged bumper with all the sensors and cameras in them today.
+1 I lightly tapped a deer last fall in my wife's new car. I looked at the damage and thought it MIGHT be $400 for some clips and a replacement for a bent bracket because there wasn't even a scratch on the bumper itself. $3000 later I was able to drive it home from the shop. There were two bumper sensors, a bumper camera and the main engine ECU module all had to be replaced, along with the clips and bent bumper bracket.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 5:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: a question about manila folders
Replies: 19
Views: 1729

Re: a question about manila folders

I use hanging folders in a drawer that is about as large as that one box in your picture. I don't understand the need for six of them as shown in the last picture. Nearly everything anymore is digital only so I don't need to have a paper copy anymore. Of the things I do file, it is mostly receipts and I shred 95% of those after a year when they are mostly worthless to me. I've been using the same drawer for 30 years now.
by lthenderson
Fri Feb 02, 2024 4:51 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I submit claim to home insurance?
Replies: 39
Views: 3880

Re: Should I submit claim to home insurance?

I've probably sought advice from my captive agents (I think I have had five through all my moves) a dozen times over the years and not one has ever opened a claim before I asked them too. 0 out of 12 certainly isn't "often" from my perspective. But as stated above, different insurance companies might produce different results than I'm seeing. If in doubt, I would ask up front about their policies for submitting claims without client permission. You've asked whether you should file 12 claims? Or is it 12 calls about 5 claims? Are these all homeowners insurance? Auto insurance is different because most states have dollar thresholds for a chargeable claim. 12 claim inquiries over 30 years. Of those, only four of those actually becam...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Children unprepared to manage our trust after our deaths.
Replies: 67
Views: 7954

Re: Children unprepared to manage our trust after our deaths.

I proposed a family meeting to be held in November, 2022 and sent everyone a text (in July, 2022) saying there was no problem, but I wanted them to attend this important meeting when we would all be together for Thanksgiving. As a couple others have suggested above, unless "family meetings" are regular occurrences throughout your kids life, this was probably the wrong approach. I too would have been more open saying we are planning our estate succession and want them to be involved. I honestly don't think you have to do all of them at one single time. My parents certainly never had a meeting to discuss their trust with both of us at one time until we were much older with children of our own and happened to both be visiting one Ch...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures
Replies: 129
Views: 24663

Re: Best & Worst "Mid-Life Crisis" expenditures

I'm not much of a consumer nor do I believe a "mid-life crisis" is anything more than a ploy to get consumers to make large ticket purchases. I have purchased nothing special to blame on a mid-life crisis.

What I have done is verified my retirement financial savings plans are on track and spent the excess as I have seen fit. But I've been doing that for over three decades now so it is hardly a crisis.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I submit claim to home insurance?
Replies: 39
Views: 3880

Re: Should I submit claim to home insurance?

It is safer to do this only if it is an independent agent. Captive agents will often open a claim if they are asked a question about whether or not to open a claim. My agent is a captive agent, only selling one company's insurance, and this is absolutely not true. I didn't say that they "always" open a claim. I said that they "often" open a claim. I've probably sought advice from my captive agents (I think I have had five through all my moves) a dozen times over the years and not one has ever opened a claim before I asked them too. 0 out of 12 certainly isn't "often" from my perspective. But as stated above, different insurance companies might produce different results than I'm seeing. If in doubt, I would ask...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Grass seed methods, timing, etc.
Replies: 35
Views: 2732

Re: Grass seed methods, timing, etc.

psteinx wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 1:28 pm Generally, it doesn't germinate at all.

Part of my issue is that I don't have an irrigation system and am rather lazy about using manually operated sprinklers. I do try to do it some with new seed down, but probably not enough. Maybe 3-5x/week (for 2-3 weeks) rather than 2x/day that some are advocating.
My bet would be they aren't getting enough soil contact and thus dry out more quickly than your watering pattern. I would definitely use straw to help maintain the moisture longer so you don't have to be so diligent about watering.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?
Replies: 38
Views: 3843

Re: Bedroom air circulation - jumper duct?

psteinx wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:49 pm They generally keep BR doors closed. Our upstairs is carpeted, and there is only a thin gap under a closed door for the air to move through.

Basically, you cut a vent in the bedroom, near the door, then another vent in the hallway outside the door, and connect them with a short length of insulated, flexible ducting.
For me, the easiest, cheapest and probably most aesthetical solution would be to just cut off the bottom of each door to make more of a gap. I usually shoot for 1" of gap. Ideally, the number of square inches of gap should equal the number of square inches of the air return opening in your master bedroom.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on leak into basement drywall
Replies: 28
Views: 2706

Re: Advice on leak into basement drywall

I would guess 90% of all leaks from decks are caused by insufficient or wrongly installed flashing. If I ask the person coming in to check if the flashing is correctly installed, would they be able to assess it? or is it not something many are knowledgeable about? Thank you! Yes. It is quite simple to check. On top of the deck surface outside, there should be some sort of metal that is tucked up behind the lowest piece of siding and extends out onto your deck surface a little bit, perhaps around an inch. There should be no gap between the end of this piece of metal and the surface of the deck. Beneath the deck on the outside, there should be a piece of metal between the ledger board (the board that is bolted to the side of your house) and ...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AirBnB price fluctuations
Replies: 14
Views: 2291

Re: AirBnB price fluctuations

I don't have an answer but when purchasing tickets that vary in price by time of day or day to day, I always do my initial investigations using one browser and then actually make the purchase with a different browser at a later time so that cookies can't be tracked to identify me as a repeat potential customer.
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 8:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Estate planning Help Late 40's with 3 kids
Replies: 12
Views: 1460

Re: Estate planning Help Late 40's with 3 kids

I'll start by saying I'm not a lawyer like those above and don't have a large working knowledge of estate law. But I'm in a very similar situation as you only somewhere between the federal estate tax limits and the amounts you are forecasting. I am also down to one surviving parent. When my mother died, half of my parents assets were placed in a trust in my mom's name for my brother and I. While alive, my dad can use trust proceeds to support himself but the trust is to be maintained until his death. Currently, we are working on/struggling with the best options for passing on my father's half of the estate in the most estate tax efficient manner since it will exceed the current federal limits even with the portability gathered from my mom's...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 8:24 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I submit claim to home insurance?
Replies: 39
Views: 3880

Re: Should I submit claim to home insurance?

Do you have an agent or broker? You can ask their opinion without making a formal inquiry. That's one of the benefits of having someone you can call personally rather than go into some call center. But there is a way to know, or at least have a better idea than you do asking on here. Call up your agent and pose the question to them. It is safer to do this only if it is an independent agent. Captive agents will often open a claim if they are asked a question about whether or not to open a claim. My agent is a captive agent, only selling one company's insurance, and this is absolutely not true. I agree with you, but I bet it depends on the experience of the agent in question. Mine has been a State Farm agent for 20+ years and is one ~400 in ...
by lthenderson
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:28 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?
Replies: 36
Views: 5016

Re: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?

I'll echo those who say it WILL be late, not if. In all my years of riding, I think the closest I've been to being on time was 1 hour late. The worst was about 10 hours late. I've never stayed in one of their rooms but have generally found their observation and dining cars always packed (and noisy), especially if you want to sit down as a group of four. I have always taken lots of food onboard with me and just relax in my seat and watch the scenery go by that way in a more quieter setting. It shouldn't have shocked me but it did the first time I rode Amtrak long distance. People walk up and down the aisles constantly, all hours of the day, unlike what I was expecting. I guess I thought it would be more like airlines and just be occasionally...