Recent content by CRLLS

I have done some cheap steaks in a make-shift sous-vide cooker. I have a digital temperature controller bought off Amazon. I plug a crock pot into it. using a zip-lock bag, I expel the air in the crock pot as I submerge the bag. I cook at 137 deg for a couple of hours, depending on the cut. I...

All I can say, with a small bit of experience in a similar type equities investment, if YOU don't understand the contract that you sign, then it is a bad investment, period. Investments, including guarantees, should be understood. The more complicated things are (count the number of pages in the...

I have no input on laser printers. I have been strictly ink jet, if you don't count my first ribbon style text printer. I have had HP, Epson and Canon ink jet printers. My current printer is a Canon TR8620A AIO and I have to say, it does everything I ask it to do. I buy generic ink at ~$30 for 3...

My State Farm Homeowner's bill was just received. I was quite disappointed seeing a 23% increase from last year. It is still less than 1/2 of the area's average policy cost so I just bit a bullet and paid it. I still hate myself a little bit when I do that.

It is now after the start date. If I understand it correctly, the most you can lose for CPSM is the fee, 0.69% plus the 1.22% (before the protection starts). That is almost 2% with a max possible of 8.45% minus the 0.69%

I think that you are both. You can teach the kids, but you cannot learn it for them. I have seen 2 kids in the same family end up with totally different levels of financial responsibility. I have friends whose children inherited a fair amount of money from their grandparents. One ended up...

I live in Illinois and get the same thing. I did a google on the problem. Some say it is due to the seller not having a presence (tax ID) here, or a bad shipping address. Well, the seller and delivery are by Amazon and they deliver here at least weekly, if not more. I checked and other corded...

"Returning you now..." won't get you off the hook that easily. Wouldn't that be like putting an air dam and splitter on a Chevy Chevette? It would sound great though.

When I hit 25x of my expenses, my stress level dropped immensely. Work was no longer a necessity, and I actually began to enjoy it again. I continued to work. When MC re-org'ed and my job was eliminated, I was let go. All that planning and LBYM allowed me to take that with little to no stress...

The question I would ask you is, is 20% of your investments considered fluff money? How would you react if the company filed bankruptcy and you last that 20%? Would you still be able to live your retirement the same? Would you continually kick yourself afterwards for making a bad choice? In...

^ Agreed 110%

I have seen this in a sibling-inherited business that was going through some short-term financial difficulties. The 2 non-working siblings decided they would vote out the one working one, the president and manager, when he refused to put his personal home up as collateral for a business loan. Of...

The way I understand it, I consider an HSA to be a blend between an IRA and Roth IRA. Contributions are made with pretax (or tax deductible) dollars, eliminating any income taxes at the time of contributions. When used for medical payments, the money is not taxed upon withdrawal/payment. Once...

Being under the $18,000 limit per year, you probably won't even have to report that $2700. In the sales agreement, maybe include something like "the seller has the right to farm and or rent the land for farming free of charge for a maximum of 10 years, ending on mm/dd/yyyy, or upon the...

I think that Cathy has it right about it being considered a gift if ever there was an income/estate tax audit. It might get a bit messy on the seller's part though. Him renting property he doesn't own for income and at the same time, being the recipient of the same amount as a gift from you. Do...