Recent content by Kerfuffle

I personally spread our credit card activities over 4 different cards and will continue to do so, because why give up free money? I can't seem to do any more than 4 without getting totally confused about what to use where though. I love the amazon card, but I ONLY charge WF and Amazon purchases...

I tell my husband that every time I log one of our transactions - it's always best to be the banker, whether a decentralized one or not. Fees are where the real money is, heh.

The FI world is one tailored for spoiled kids for sure, it's one of the things that bothers me most about the movement. Is FI on the backs (and wallets) of well-meaning relatives and friends really FI? FWIW, I can't imagine my folks ever doing anything on that list for me, and yet still I know...

I once left a negative review for a Doxie scanner, and one of their marketing reps sent a nasty handwritten letter to my house! Intense! This was many years ago. These days though, reviews aren't to be trusted. I have a friend who does fake five star reviews - the manufacturers work with an...

FWIW, the whole security issue is one of the reasons I no longer consider my phone to be a thing I own. I view it as a thing I rent. We get whatever great deal the provider is offering when the security updates stop, and pay their monthly fee. Right now we're under a BOGO deal with Verizon - got...

I feel that when someone asks something like this on a forum, they are asking for personal opinions. They are plenty capable of doing their own google search to see if the experts think it's an issue. You ask on a forum for others perspectives, not for others to go do your research for you. :)

If you have none of those things and NO apps that can access those things, I'd agree it's super low risk. If you don't use your phone for two-factor authentication or have authenticator apps installed, probably also super low risk. The OP mentioned they use their phones for banking. To me...

Well, I personally love it when people ignore potential security issues. The whole low hanging fruit thing. :) It's like when I go travel or even go out to the store and see people with their purses open and phones sticking out of their back pockets. Thank you for making it less likely that a...

I wouldn't use a phone that is no longer getting security updates. Especially if you do banking. And for sure not if you do any sort of two factor authentication with it which most people do nowadays. That's not a future regret I want to deal with - I am happy to replace tech to try to stay...

Yes, they love prescribing OTC drugs for sure. Anything that doesn't cost them money is the best. I feel so disgusted when I think back at the substandard care I've gotten over the years, and my husband and I are excited to get away from them. We keep mentioning to each other how we will soon be...

Kaiser is great if you are good with the lowest cost treatment, don't need to see specialists, and if you're someone who fits their mold exactly and don't require personalized medicine. Be ready to self advocate fiercely. I am leaving Kaiser this year for these reasons. I've said it before and...

I keep sinking funds in savings specifically for things I'll want to buy down the road (like cars), and I keep those separate from our general savings bucket. I don't have to worry about any of the home improvement items you mention because we have decided to be lifelong renters. It's steady on...

So far this year, we average $11,707 per month, including taxes and health insurance and necessary living expenses, excluding savings and entertainment, etc. Taxes are by far the largest part of that.

I buy a new computer every 3 to 5 years. To answer your question though, so long as the old computer is working, I'd say it's fine to keep using up until the day the manufacturer stops supporting it and issuing security updates. That holds especially true for phones too. No reason to openly...

We are in the same position. Our 2019 car has just 8,000 miles on it. We asked our dealer who said to at least make sure you change the oil annually.