One of the first books I sold when I started in the publishing biz...1976, was a book called Sybil. Here is the synopsis;
I have been lying in my pretense of them. In 1973, Flora Rheta Schreiber published Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities. The book sold 6 million copies and, in 1976, was made into a TV movie.
So far, JMonroe and JMonroe1 have exposed us to 2 separate and very different personalities, I wonder if he can top Sybil?
"I have multiple personality disorder" said JMonroe being frank.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
If we can get jmonroe and his siblings to surpass Sybil, we can write a million copy best seller....and sell movie rights. Then he can have a big party and grill some wieners for us on the barbee.
Very nice deck and great workmanship. BTW, the flooring does not look treated, is this by design or an exotic material other than wood?
Looking at it from the Burgh it looks like classic #1 (almost knot-free) pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine deck boards that have not been stained yet. This grade of wood costs more but is well worth it in the end. I've used this wood for 3 of my own decks and I'm not the least bit sorry I sprung for this grade of deck material.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
I hate decking that needs to be restained on a regular basis. Something to be said for imitation stuff. Hopefully my next place does not need any decking. Much rather have a patio.
If we can get jmonroe and his siblings to surpass Sybil, we can write a million copy best seller....and sell movie rights. Then he can have a big party and grill some wieners for us on the barbee.
If you remember, I gave you the chance to get me a publisher and have exclusive sales rights for my million word book but you refused, so, no weiners for you. :@
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
I hate decking that needs to be restained on a regular basis. Something to be said for imitation stuff. Hopefully my next place does not need any decking. Much rather have a patio.
When I lived in my first house, the back yard was one step down from the kitchen and dining room so in the mid 70's I poured a 12 by 20 foot concrete patio. Never had to do any maintenance. Concrete is the way to go if you have the right lot. I don't think pressure treated wood even existed in the mid 70's but even if it did I wouldn't have used it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis Ultimate just like jmonroe's. '18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
Thank-you all for your kind words. As @jmonroe1 pointed out, the deck flooring is made of southern, yellow, pine. It has not yet been treated or stained because it is still “wet.” Most likely I will have it stained or treated this Spring.
The railings and spindles (anything White) is a product called Azec. It is recycled plastic that is very durable and virtually maintenance free.
Amazing though. The permits, drawings, & various other things required by the city of Stamford cost 1/3 of the price of the deck.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Does the wood need a treatment to be slip resistant? When I was a kid, we had a house with a big deck, and it would be like ice in the right amount of damp and cold. My dad would apply a stain that kind of had a fine grit to it, and it wouln't be slick. He didn't seem to like that maintenance.
There's fraud in every system, cheating is almost a form of human nature. Does the bad negate the good? In my opinion, no. The American safety net is already pretty threadbare compared to most of the developed world. Trickling down.
While there are many people who truly are in need of this assistance there is also a lot of fraud and a lot of people gaming the system. There are people out there that are poor by choice, the know how to maximize benefits like WIC, Section 8 housing, and the like and know how much they can earn not to jepodize those benefits and maximize their tax refund with EIC. Once they earned that amount they stop working. I see this all the time.
You hit the pension jackpot though, right? So maybe it all evens out
In my area anyway, there's no way a normal person would get the same ROI (other than maybe the lucky generations who were able to dabble in real estate) as the contributions of public sector pension collectors.
Up here in socialist Canada that sort of thing has become generally accepted. We have "employment insurance" here like a lot of places do. In seasonal things like fishing and forestry it is a given that those folks will work in-season and then collect EI in the off-season. Nobody seems to care that maybe they could look for another job for those times. Some do of course, but work for cash under the table so there is no record of it.
I don't particularly care now but when I was still working I paid into that system every payday for 32 years and never once collected a dime from it. Seems less than fair.
Does the wood need a treatment to be slip resistant? When I was a kid, we had a house with a big deck, and it would be like ice in the right amount of damp and cold. My dad would apply a stain that kind of had a fine grit to it, and it wouln't be slick. He didn't seem to like that maintenance.
It will get treated most likely in the spring. I’ll have to ask the painter to see if they have a slip resistant stain.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Does the wood need a treatment to be slip resistant? When I was a kid, we had a house with a big deck, and it would be like ice in the right amount of damp and cold. My dad would apply a stain that kind of had a fine grit to it, and it wouln't be slick. He didn't seem to like that maintenance.
It will get treated most likely in the spring. I’ll have to ask the painter to see if they have a slip resistant stain.
Bradd, I always used Cabot’s stain on my deck. The contractor used treated Douglas Fir boards - but he stained the entire 2x6 before screwing each plank to the joist. Each joist was also pre-stained as were the 6x6 end supports. Over a 10 year period, I never had to replace a board due to rot - only boards I ever had to replace (3) were because they split.
Thank-you all for your kind words. As @jmonroe1 pointed out, the deck flooring is made of southern, yellow, pine. It has not yet been treated or stained because it is still “wet.” Most likely I will have it stained or treated this Spring.
The railings and spindles (anything White) is a product called Azec. It is recycled plastic that is very durable and virtually maintenance free.
Amazing though. The permits, drawings, & various other things required by the city of Stamford cost 1/3 of the price of the deck.
You hit the pension jackpot though, right? So maybe it all evens out
In my area anyway, there's no way a normal person would get the same ROI (other than maybe the lucky generations who were able to dabble in real estate) as the contributions of public sector pension collectors.
If by "jackpot" you mean paying 19% of every paycheck into the pension fund then I guess so.
The plan is 100% funded BTW so no flaky ROI numbers here.
I have long felt that upon retirement or reaching age 65 or whatever that the fed govt here should look at a person's EI history and refund part of their contributions if they never made a claim.
Real estate gain is just one component. I'm thinking one of the big hits down the road to retirement savings regardless of type is that interest rates have been held artificially low. Bonds and compounding interest are a key aspect of pension/retirement savings, not just stocks. This has helped stocks for now, but as all that personal and corporate leverage gets hit with rising rates down the road something will have to give. Meanwhile, the fixed portion of an individual's retirement portfolio has suffered from very low interest rates for a long time. If you look back, current retirees enjoyed generally stronger fixed investment returns.
Would a private sector worker be able to attain the same return? I put away roughly that same amount, and I don't expect to be able to retire at around 60 with a high percentage of my highest salaried years for the rest of my life. Funded, partially with subsidies?
Everyone who doesn't work under the table pays into an unemployment insurance system here, too. Many people will never use it. Some people abuse it. Some will be saved by it when the need arises. IMO, the good outweighs the bad, and such systems are required if a society is to call itself developed.
If by "jackpot" you mean paying 19% of every paycheck into the pension fund then I guess so.
The plan is 100% funded BTW so no flaky ROI numbers here.
I have long felt that upon retirement or reaching age 65 or whatever that the fed govt here should look at a person's EI history and refund part of their contributions if they never made a claim.
Would a private sector worker be able to attain the same return? I put away roughly that same amount, and I don't expect to be able to retire at around 60 with a high percentage of my highest salaried years for the rest of my life. Funded, partially with subsidies?
Not to my knowledge. The employer contributed a matching amount like most pensions plans require. Ours is stable and from the annual reports seems well managed; however the teacher's plan here is a separate one and it has been floundering for years because of under-contributions by members and poor administration that allows far too generous payouts. That one has been bailed out a couple of times and now requires another.
The EI system here needs reform of some sort. One thing that has been floated is a maximum lifetime cap on payments received from it, to reduce the systemic nature of certain professions sucking it dry.
Thank-you all for your kind words. As @jmonroe1 pointed out, the deck flooring is made of southern, yellow, pine. It has not yet been treated or stained because it is still “wet.” Most likely I will have it stained or treated this Spring.
The railings and spindles (anything White) is a product called Azec. It is recycled plastic that is very durable and virtually maintenance free.
Amazing though. The permits, drawings, & various other things required by the city of Stamford cost 1/3 of the price of the deck.
We are going to repuild our deck in a year or so; we are going to replace the Trex flooring and railings with newr Trex(or other composite) items.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Thank-you all for your kind words. As @jmonroe1 pointed out, the deck flooring is made of southern, yellow, pine. It has not yet been treated or stained because it is still “wet.” Most likely I will have it stained or treated this Spring.
The railings and spindles (anything White) is a product called Azec. It is recycled plastic that is very durable and virtually maintenance free.
Amazing though. The permits, drawings, & various other things required by the city of Stamford cost 1/3 of the price of the deck.
We are going to repuild our deck in a year or so; we are going to replace the Trex flooring and railings with newr Trex(or other composite) items.
Trex is just one brand who has been around for a while. If I didn't do pressure treated flooring, they also suggested I use Azec for that too.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
You hit the pension jackpot though, right? So maybe it all evens out
In my area anyway, there's no way a normal person would get the same ROI (other than maybe the lucky generations who were able to dabble in real estate) as the contributions of public sector pension collectors.
If by "jackpot" you mean paying 19% of every paycheck into the pension fund then I guess so.
Tax levels here in the USA are often higher in actuality than what people believe. As a self-employed contractor, I pay 5.6% social security, plus another 5.6% (the part your employer usually pays), plus 2.6% for medicare. That's 15.2% BEFORE you even get into FICA (income tax). I hold back 36% of every dollar earned and send it to the government quarterly.
I wouldn't mind living in a country with higher taxation who actually does more for it's citizens (Canada, for example).
All in all, though, I'm happy with where I'm at, and how I'm doing. I could be a heck of a lot worse off.
Taxes between places is really hard to compare because as you noted the gov return varies. Also there are the allowable write-offs, inflection points where rate changes kick in, etc. Scandinavians have some of the higher taxes, yet are some of the happiest citizens.
I'm thinking one of the big hits down the road to retirement savings regardless of type is that interest rates have been held artificially low. Bonds and compounding interest are a key aspect of pension/retirement savings, not just stocks. This has helped stocks for now, but as all that personal and corporate leverage gets hit with rising rates down the road something will have to give. Meanwhile, the fixed portion of an individual's retirement portfolio has suffered from very low interest rates for a long time. If you look back, current retirees enjoyed generally stronger fixed investment returns.
The interest rates were held artificially low for political purposes cause it made the interest overhead on the debt load lower than if interest rates had risen naturally. Also spending the QE monies went directly into the pockets of the friends in the stock market and banking industry.
Now that rates are being allowed to adjust and we aren't dumping QE monies out of tax funds, the increase in tax collections from the greatly improved economy will help the interest rates give returns for people and retirement systems wanting dependable income without risking monies in the stock and other markets to as great a degree. The low interest rates hurt older and retired people most.
And that matching amount is the subsidy. I suspect it is more than the typical 401K casino match in the states. The way it operates in Murka makes for a definite two class system in terms of retirement benefits, where private sector workers could never dream of the payouts (or medical coverage) enjoyed by the public sector. I can't wait to see what happens to social security in another 25 or so years when my demographic counterparts and I will be eligible. They'll probably bump up the age to 70-75 and lower benefits. We'll probably still have the same backwards medical care scheme then, too.
Perhaps professions with higher claims rates should pay a higher premium - someone in natural resource extraction would pay more than an accountant, etc.
Not to my knowledge. The employer contributed a matching amount like most pensions plans require. Ours is stable and from the annual reports seems well managed; however the teacher's plan here is a separate one and it has been floundering for years because of under-contributions by members and poor administration that allows far too generous payouts. That one has been bailed out a couple of times and now requires another.
The EI system here needs reform of some sort. One thing that has been floated is a maximum lifetime cap on payments received from it, to reduce the systemic nature of certain professions sucking it dry.
I can’t remember where I originally posted about Batteries Plus, it was either here or CCBA, but the crowd is about the same, so …
Quick recap, I purchased my 2016 Town and Country used, and only received one key fob. Earlier this week, I dropped that key fob, from waist height, onto concrete, and the remote functions stopped working. I can open the door with the emergency key, and the fob still starts the car, so it is driveable.
I looked around, and the best deal I could find for a new key fob was Batteries Plus. $180 all in, including sales tax, so I did the deal, they charged my credit card immediately, sent me an email saying they would let me know when I pick up my key fob and have it programmed.
This morning, two days later, I get an email saying that the local store has “declined” my order. WTH?? I called the local store, they do not answer the phone, so I leave a voice mail. That was about 4 hours ago, and they haven’t called back. I have called Amex and contested the charge, gone on Yelp and gave them a really really negative review. In the meantime, I have been calling around. One locksmith (the one recommended by Angie’s List) quoted $280. When I told him that was more than the dealer, he replied, “We charge more for the convenience.” Yeah, right, goodbye.’
Finally found a locksmith who was willing to do the job for $195, all in, if I could come to them and pay cash. Except they can’t do it today, booked up, call back on Monday.
Any young people out there looking for a lucrative income without 4 or more years of college, I can definitely recommend locksmithing.
And that matching amount is the subsidy. I suspect it is more than the typical 401K casino match in the states. The way it operates in Murka makes for a definite two class system in terms of retirement benefits, where private sector workers could never dream of the payouts (or medical coverage) enjoyed by the public sector. I can't wait to see what happens to social security in another 25 or so years when my demographic counterparts and I will be eligible. They'll probably bump up the age to 70-75 and lower benefits. We'll probably still have the same backwards medical care scheme then, too.
You sound bitter.
Employer matching is hardly a "subsidy". It is a benefit like dental care or vacation time or any other employee benefit. I can tell you that for the first part of may career I certainly didn't see it that way. "Why is all this money deducted every paycheck from my take-home?" was a typical complaint. That was particularly hard to swallow in the early years when you were just getting started and money was tight. It's hard to appreciate the value of a retirement pension when you are in your 20s. The argument that was made to me back then was that it was a trade-off - I could make a lot more in the private sector, but the pension and benefits were usually not as good and job security wasn't great. I know lots of people who left government jobs for the private sector pot of gold. It's simply a choice one needs to make.
Now you may have a valid gripe against companies in the private sector no longer offering pension plans as was once typical for larger operations. And it is also true that mismanagement of a lot of pension plans both public and private caused a lot of problems. But let's be clear - when you look at the way investment funds have grown over the last 20-30 years, even with the periodic corrections in the market, a decently-managed pension plan should have no difficulty being sustainable long-term.
Now you may have a valid gripe against companies in the private sector no longer offering pension plans as was once typical for larger operations. And it is also true that mismanagement of a lot of pension plans both public and private caused a lot of problems. But let's be clear - when you look at the way investment funds have grown over the last 20-30 years, even with the periodic corrections in the market, a decently-managed pension plan should have no difficulty being sustainable long-term.
Agreed. When I take office On January 1, 2019 the state will take 5% of my salary, "match" it with 4% and stick it into a pension fund. I can't opt out, and believe me I wish I could; I'd make more money long term investing that 5% myself...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
If it were not for my pension, I could never have retired at age 65. IIRC, when I was in Illinois, 8-1/2% of every penny I earned went toward my pension. I always worked a 221 day contract (full time including June, July and August) as a teacher and principal. I worked in a year-round school district. Unfortunately, even though i paid 8.5% into the pension throughout the year, I only got credit for a 9 month contract. So I contributed many, many thousands of dollars more to the state pension fund that 95% of the teachers in the state - but only got credit for a regular school year.
And that matching amount is the subsidy. I suspect it is more than the typical 401K casino match in the states. The way it operates in Murka makes for a definite two class system in terms of retirement benefits, where private sector workers could never dream of the payouts (or medical coverage) enjoyed by the public sector. I can't wait to see what happens to social security in another 25 or so years when my demographic counterparts and I will be eligible. They'll probably bump up the age to 70-75 and lower benefits. We'll probably still have the same backwards medical care scheme then, too.
You sound bitter.
Employer matching is hardly a "subsidy". It is a benefit like dental care or vacation time or any other employee benefit. I can tell you that for the first part of may career I certainly didn't see it that way. "Why is all this money deducted every paycheck from my take-home?" was a typical complaint. That was particularly hard to swallow in the early years when you were just getting started and money was tight. It's hard to appreciate the value of a retirement pension when you are in your 20s. The argument that was made to me back then was that it was a trade-off - I could make a lot more in the private sector, but the pension and benefits were usually not as good and job security wasn't great. I know lots of people who left government jobs for the private sector pot of gold. It's simply a choice one needs to make.
Now you may have a valid gripe against companies in the private sector no longer offering pension plans as was once typical for larger operations. And it is also true that mismanagement of a lot of pension plans both public and private caused a lot of problems. But let's be clear - when you look at the way investment funds have grown over the last 20-30 years, even with the periodic corrections in the market, a decently-managed pension plan should have no difficulty being sustainable long-term.
I worked for a private college and we had employer matching too, as do many non-profits. You only get as large a match as you are able to put in, and in our early years that was not very much!
I also believe the employer max is capped by tax law, just like the individual's contributions. Why can't they just do what they want? I think beyond the max cap it becomes taxable to the employee.
No more bitter than those (of similar demographics around here) complaining about people getting things for free in terms of the social safety net. You and others definitely sound "bitter" about that. Everyone gets something for free, in their own way. That was kind of my point. It might relate to glass houses or something like that
IMO, if there is a benefit not remotely attainable by other investors/savers, one supported by another party, it is subsidized. If a fund is not solvent with member contributions, it is subsidized by the someone (the employer, or in more base terms, public funds). I can't think that public sector pensions, which generally provide benefits far better than those available to private sector workers who would make the same contribution, aren't subsidized. How much harder is it for a 25 year old public sector worker saving, vs a private sector worker? When I was 25 and still starting out, I couldn't afford to save as much as I do now, and job security was much less.
Maybe it was different in prior generations. I think now, public sector is often 90% of the pay (at the very worst) with 100% of real-time benefits, 200% of the job security (especially after 5-10 years) and 300% of future benefits. This isn't going to end well. In my anecdotal experience, I have no public sector friends who are starving to support a future pension.
Employer matching is hardly a "subsidy". It is a benefit like dental care or vacation time or any other employee benefit. I can tell you that for the first part of may career I certainly didn't see it that way. "Why is all this money deducted every paycheck from my take-home?" was a typical complaint. That was particularly hard to swallow in the early years when you were just getting started and money was tight. It's hard to appreciate the value of a retirement pension when you are in your 20s. The argument that was made to me back then was that it was a trade-off - I could make a lot more in the private sector, but the pension and benefits were usually not as good and job security wasn't great. I know lots of people who left government jobs for the private sector pot of gold. It's simply a choice one needs to make.
Now you may have a valid gripe against companies in the private sector no longer offering pension plans as was once typical for larger operations. And it is also true that mismanagement of a lot of pension plans both public and private caused a lot of problems. But let's be clear - when you look at the way investment funds have grown over the last 20-30 years, even with the periodic corrections in the market, a decently-managed pension plan should have no difficulty being sustainable long-term.
Another factor is the rising increase in executive compensation ratio compared to the worker's pay. I hope Mr. Fintail also notices the executives are well taken care of in companies while the workers who actually do the jobs as compensated without defined pension plans when possible and are told they can contribute to 401k plans as their retirement plans, sometimes with a setup to match may 3-5% of their pay if the employee contributes appropriate amounts.
The same executive pay ratios compared to the workers in the same company have gone higher and higher since I started noticing in the 70s when I started investing. That excess compensation could be used to improve workers pension security.
My wife is claustrophobic about MRI's. She had been having the "open" type which doens't have resolution that's as good as the tube kind. Ortho doctor said their new office has the largest in the area. I think the diameter of the tube is almost larger than the distance between the "buns" on the open MRI. With 5mg valium she was able to do this one. Plus she covers her eyes with a light towel or washcloth. So I'll share another of the roadside signs.
That place with the signs would be great to commute past every day, hoping to see their newest quip on life.
@nyccarguy,
You need a nice piece of bluestone about 24 by 30 inches at the bottom of the stairs.
It makes a nice landing spot.
Thanks! I’ll look into that. The big problem with my beautiful back yard is the extremely high water tables. Dig down not that far and it is just all clay that literally never dries. It gets very wet back there after even a mild storm. I had the contractor’s landscaper put grey stones underneath the deck because the grass was going to die anyway. I was thinking of having it done towards the driveway too. Thoughts?
@nyccarguy, My back yard is very similar in that we have a high water table, too. Difference is, my house has a true walkout basement. This picture will provide some perspective with snow.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
I just got a new iPhone 8 Plus last month but got it at a very good price from "OfferUp", an app where folks near me sell stuff they want to get rid of. I've bought a few items on there with excellent results so I went for the new 8 Plus also. Works great and just got a Samsung Fast Charger because it has the new Qi technology. Great battery life and a home button. Finally wiped clean my 6s Plus yesterday, the one with the newer battery, and will either sell it on the same website, try a phone store/pawn shop or just give it to the wife if she wants to change from her Android smartphone which doesn't have much storage. Another reason I upgraded was to get more storage, had 32 gigs but wanted 64, which I now have. So I'm set for another couple of years. Have no problem getting a year old unit and paying a fraction of the price for brand new. Works for me.
@nyccarguy,
My back yard is very similar in that we have a high water table, too.
Difference is, my house has a true walkout basement.
This picture will provide some perspective with snow.
How do you deal with the back yard that turns into a swamp? Does anything work or Do I just have to deal with it?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I just got a new iPhone 8 Plus last month but got it at a very good price from "OfferUp", an app where folks near me sell stuff they want to get rid of. I've bought a few items on there with excellent results so I went for the new 8 Plus also. Works great and just got a Samsung Fast Charger because it has the new Qi technology. Great battery life and a home button. Finally wiped clean my 6s Plus yesterday, the one with the newer battery, and will either sell it on the same website, try a phone store/pawn shop or just give it to the wife if she wants to change from her Android smartphone which doesn't have much storage. Another reason I upgraded was to get more storage, had 32 gigs but wanted 64, which I now have. So I'm set for another couple of years. Have no problem getting a year old unit and paying a fraction of the price for brand new. Works for me.
The Driving Fool
My 6s is 3 years old. Has the 64 gig storage already. Hanging onto it until it has problems. Spouse has the 7 (had a 4 for YEARS!), so until that’s paid off next year I won’t even think of getting a newer one. Our problem is our MacBook which is ancient. They are still kinda pricey so we are hoping it hangs in there, especially with a kid’s wedding coming up next year.
@nyccarguy, I just wait for the yard to dry out before I mow it. Do remove the snow on the deck away from the house every storm. May not clear the whole deck, but don't want to risk it getting overloaded. Composite material decks still need to be power washed a time or tow per year, although not painted/stained.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
My MacBook Pro is from 2013 but works well, so keeping it. My Dell desktop died a couple years back but see no need for another since I've also got an Apple Mini tablet. Luckily, I pay cash for my smartphones as it's just easier. Got the 6s on eBay and the 8 Plus from a neighborhood app. The young lady was selling a bunch of brand new iPhones, 8's and 8 Pluses. Decided I wanted the Plus again, met up near my work place. She put my sim card in the new one and I was up and running. Moved the contacts and with help from Apple, got the iTunes account moved also. Now just need to sell the older phone and be done with it. Unless that it, the wife doesn't mind an older unit in brand new condition. Always had a screen protector and a case, so we shall see!!
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If we can get jmonroe and his siblings to surpass Sybil, we can write a million copy best seller....and sell movie rights.
Then he can have a big party and grill some wieners for us on the barbee.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Then he can have a big party and grill some wieners for us on the barbee.
If you remember, I gave you the chance to get me a publisher and have exclusive sales rights for my million word book but you refused, so, no weiners for you. :@
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
jmonroe
'18 Legacy Limited with 3.6R (Mrs. j's)
The railings and spindles (anything White) is a product called Azec. It is recycled plastic that is very durable and virtually maintenance free.
Amazing though. The permits, drawings, & various other things required by the city of Stamford cost 1/3 of the price of the deck.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
In my area anyway, there's no way a normal person would get the same ROI (other than maybe the lucky generations who were able to dabble in real estate) as the contributions of public sector pension collectors.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
The plan is 100% funded BTW so no flaky ROI numbers here.
I have long felt that upon retirement or reaching age 65 or whatever that the fed govt here should look at a person's EI history and refund part of their contributions if they never made a claim.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Everyone who doesn't work under the table pays into an unemployment insurance system here, too. Many people will never use it. Some people abuse it. Some will be saved by it when the need arises. IMO, the good outweighs the bad, and such systems are required if a society is to call itself developed.
The EI system here needs reform of some sort. One thing that has been floated is a maximum lifetime cap on payments received from it, to reduce the systemic nature of certain professions sucking it dry.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I wouldn't mind living in a country with higher taxation who actually does more for it's citizens (Canada, for example).
All in all, though, I'm happy with where I'm at, and how I'm doing. I could be a heck of a lot worse off.
Now that rates are being allowed to adjust and we aren't dumping QE monies out of tax funds, the increase in tax collections from the greatly improved economy will help the interest rates give returns for people and retirement systems wanting dependable income without risking monies in the stock and other markets to as great a degree. The low interest rates hurt older and retired people most.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Perhaps professions with higher claims rates should pay a higher premium - someone in natural resource extraction would pay more than an accountant, etc.
Quick recap, I purchased my 2016 Town and Country used, and only received one key fob. Earlier this week, I dropped that key fob, from waist height, onto concrete, and the remote functions stopped working. I can open the door with the emergency key, and the fob still starts the car, so it is driveable.
I looked around, and the best deal I could find for a new key fob was Batteries Plus. $180 all in, including sales tax, so I did the deal, they charged my credit card immediately, sent me an email saying they would let me know when I pick up my key fob and have it programmed.
This morning, two days later, I get an email saying that the local store has “declined” my order. WTH?? I called the local store, they do not answer the phone, so I leave a voice mail. That was about 4 hours ago, and they haven’t called back. I have called Amex and contested the charge, gone on Yelp and gave them a really really negative review. In the meantime, I have been calling around. One locksmith (the one recommended by Angie’s List) quoted $280. When I told him that was more than the dealer, he replied, “We charge more for the convenience.” Yeah, right, goodbye.’
Finally found a locksmith who was willing to do the job for $195, all in, if I could come to them and pay cash. Except they can’t do it today, booked up, call back on Monday.
Any young people out there looking for a lucrative income without 4 or more years of college, I can definitely recommend locksmithing.
Employer matching is hardly a "subsidy". It is a benefit like dental care or vacation time or any other employee benefit. I can tell you that for the first part of may career I certainly didn't see it that way. "Why is all this money deducted every paycheck from my take-home?" was a typical complaint. That was particularly hard to swallow in the early years when you were just getting started and money was tight. It's hard to appreciate the value of a retirement pension when you are in your 20s. The argument that was made to me back then was that it was a trade-off - I could make a lot more in the private sector, but the pension and benefits were usually not as good and job security wasn't great. I know lots of people who left government jobs for the private sector pot of gold. It's simply a choice one needs to make.
Now you may have a valid gripe against companies in the private sector no longer offering pension plans as was once typical for larger operations. And it is also true that mismanagement of a lot of pension plans both public and private caused a lot of problems. But let's be clear - when you look at the way investment funds have grown over the last 20-30 years, even with the periodic corrections in the market, a decently-managed pension plan should have no difficulty being sustainable long-term.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
IMO, if there is a benefit not remotely attainable by other investors/savers, one supported by another party, it is subsidized. If a fund is not solvent with member contributions, it is subsidized by the someone (the employer, or in more base terms, public funds). I can't think that public sector pensions, which generally provide benefits far better than those available to private sector workers who would make the same contribution, aren't subsidized. How much harder is it for a 25 year old public sector worker saving, vs a private sector worker? When I was 25 and still starting out, I couldn't afford to save as much as I do now, and job security was much less.
Maybe it was different in prior generations. I think now, public sector is often 90% of the pay (at the very worst) with 100% of real-time benefits, 200% of the job security (especially after 5-10 years) and 300% of future benefits. This isn't going to end well. In my anecdotal experience, I have no public sector friends who are starving to support a future pension.
The same executive pay ratios compared to the workers in the same company have gone higher and higher since I started noticing in the 70s when I started investing. That excess compensation could be used to improve workers pension security.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That place with the signs would be great to commute past every day, hoping to see their newest quip on life.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You need a nice piece of bluestone about 24 by 30 inches at the bottom of the stairs.
It makes a nice landing spot.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
My back yard is very similar in that we have a high water table, too.
Difference is, my house has a true walkout basement.
This picture will provide some perspective with snow.
Finally wiped clean my 6s Plus yesterday, the one with the newer battery, and will either sell it on the same website, try a phone store/pawn shop or just give it to the wife if she wants to change from her Android smartphone which doesn't have much storage.
Another reason I upgraded was to get more storage, had 32 gigs but wanted 64, which I now have. So I'm set for another couple of years. Have no problem getting a year old unit and paying a fraction of the price for brand new. Works for me.
The Driving Fool
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I just wait for the yard to dry out before I mow it.
Do remove the snow on the deck away from the house every storm.
May not clear the whole deck, but don't want to risk it getting overloaded.
Composite material decks still need to be power washed a time or tow per year, although not painted/stained.
Now just need to sell the older phone and be done with it. Unless that it, the wife doesn't mind an older unit in brand new condition. Always had a screen protector and a case, so we shall see!!
The Driving Fool