MG what do you think is a better option? What is the fine print that concerns you?

Seattle, huh? Have you read The Really Big One thread? :-\ I did. Luckily I'm East of I-5, so I at least have a chance! But you need to get what's called "slow bolt" cilantro so you can get more out of it before it flowers. I picked up a packet from Seeds of Change at Home Depot: http://w...

Herbs such as basil and cilantro also have lots of flavor. Man, my cilantro (not grown hydroponically) bolted pretty much right out of the gate here in the PacNW. Perhaps user error, but c'mon, it's Seattle....it doesn't get *that* hot. My lettuce appears to be feeding some population of insects, b...

Thanks for posting the link, MG. Good to be able to go read what folks were thinking while the forum was down...

Agree with MG that text looks a bit blurry. And of those themes linked, the second seems a good balance IMO. Here's an article on how to configure to open links in new tabs: https://www.phpbb.com/support/docs/en/3.0/kb/article/links-opening-new-windows/ Again, appreciate all the effort Craig. Don't ...

Thanks for all the effort, Craig!

At least, if I'm reading this right, the average investor beat inflation?

[quote=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one]Kenneth Murphy, who directs FEMA’s Region X, the division responsible for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, says, “Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.” [/quote] Sure am glad I live...

Ad Orientem wrote: So if your local non USD currency sees a sudden spike in inflation, gold may not react in the violent way that it does when the Dollar is weak.

If measured in USD, sure.  But in local currency you should.  And presumably local currency is what one is most concerned with?

Many folks here seem focused on the cost to the company (rightly so), but as someone choosing to be childless, I struggle with paid leave policies as I don't get extra paid "vacation".  It's a benefit that only mothers and fathers get, and the rest of us actually have to work 48 weeks a ye...

In a year that I can make regular contributions, it feels weird to buy assets and then think about selling them so soon. And, if I contribute too much too often, I feel I may "dilute" the mix so that one asset doesn't really have a chance to rise to that 35% band. This has been in my mind...

A restaurant near us has olive oil we've really enjoyed with bread.  When I asked, the server shared it's Corto, from California.

No clue if the olives/oil comes from the company mentioned in the initial article, but it's very tasty, and you can find it on Amazon.

The future is starting took more and more like Existenz than Star Trek .  :( Wow, I didn't realize that was a well known movie.  My college friends were really into it (watched it a number of times with them), but certainly didn't expect to see it brought up on a personal finance forum 15 years lat...

Yes and no.

Yes because my current PP investments are doing well.  No because I have more money I'd like to move into the PP, but not thrilled about doing it at near-highs for the assets :/

(clearly I'll never be happy)

Not very active here, but thought I'd chime in given the # of UIUC grads.

University of Illinois, BS Computer Science, 2000.

If the context is how your savings and investments are holding up/growing, then I agree with you. However, money supply (regulated by the Fed, US banks, and perhaps one could argue the US treasury based on their borrowing) is undoubtedly an input into this equation. Supply of goods is one factor.  S...

Wouldn't inflation be where a lot of different parties all decide individually that they are going to be raising their prices due to other prices being raised? This would constrast negative savings rate where a few organizations (i.e. Federal Government, or Big Banks), start imposing it on everyone...

What would you all do if that were to happen here?  I'd start by socking savings at home, then into gold coins and US savings bonds, assuming the latter are still around.  Then I'd pay off mortgages and other debt for myself and family.  The last thing I'd want to do is leave money in the bank and ...

I recently opened a new 5-yr CD at Barclay's so have no alternatives to convince you of.  Curious to hear other suggestions as well (but you're not alone at Barclays!)

The way I look at it is simple: if you are most afraid of Chinese hackers and the like making your funds disappear, go physical. If you are more afraid of a burglar busting down your door, putting a shotgun to your head and demanding your gold and cash, go paper. And if you wish to diversify your r...

But if today's yield of 30-year treasuries were, say, 1%, a $1000 bond would get you $1348 after 30 years (compounded, i.e., reinvested).  So, at most, you could gain 35% on your investment if yields went to zero.  That's not a lot of upside potential.  (But lots of downside risk if rates were to i...

Fred wrote:

drumminj wrote: How is storing gold in a safe deposit box at a bank keeping it outside the banking system?  What am I missing here?

My sarcasm

My bad -- didn't see the invisible smiley!

Fred wrote: I keep all my gold in a safety deposit box at the bank (to store it outside the banking system as recommended here)

How is storing gold in a safe deposit box at a bank keeping it outside the banking system?  What am I missing here?

Wow. Now I know where to 'shelter' if there's a tornado.  I just need to figure out how to open it from the inside!

I did a lot of research a while back when looking for a decent gun safe and settled on an AmSec BF, as it provides both burglary + fire protection.