Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

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vnatale
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by vnatale » Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:44 am

Libertarian666 wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 7:16 am
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 7:10 am
Libertarian666 wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:44 am
vnatale wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:29 pm
Mark Leavy wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:03 pm
WiseOne wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:34 am
Hot and muggy here in NYC today. I went outside for a walk early this morning, before it got too hot. Heading out of town for a day trip tomorrow.

I was checking out cars on the walk too, as I'm considering buying one. Between the endless lockdowns/remote work and the breakdown of public transportation not to mention the prospect of a new 80s style crime wave, having an escape pod is feeling more and more like a necessity. Anyone got particular recommendations in the compact hatchback or subcompact SUV category?
I bought this beauty in LA about 3 weeks ago when it looked like I wouldn't be flying for awhile. 2005 mini cooper, stick shift. $5K and another $5K to bring her up to speed. Hatchback. Crazy fun to drive. New South Dakota plates should arrive in another week or so. I'm in Des Moines now. Super hot and muggy - but a delightful town. Reminds of Portland OR 20 years ago.

ROCI.jpeg
A man after my own heart!

In December 2013 I bought my 2004 Honda Accord for $3,350 and then immediately spent $1,000 on it.

It had 123,000 miles on it then.

Now it has 153,000.

I filled up the tank with gas mid-March and I still have half a tank left.

When I brought it to my mechanic to look at just prior to buying it, his final words were, "Good car. It'll last 10 years for you."

6+ years later due to so little driving I do these days (100 miles a week prior to self-isolation in mid-March) it may now exceed those 10 years.

One problem is that I still have studded snow tires on the car.

Am driving so little that I've not been sufficiently motivated to leave the house for a scheduled appointment and be gone for probably 1.5 hours. I resist scheduled anythings.

Vinny
Wow, you guys don't keep cars very long, do you? O0

We have three vehicles.
1995 Dodge Dakota pickup, 105k miles (mostly just used for rural stuff like hay bales). Bought used in 1998.
2001 Nissan Maxima GXE, 215k miles. Bought new in 2001.
And the "new car": 2008 Acura TL-S, 125k miles. Bought new in 2008.

The only reason we will buy another car anytime soon is for better safety features like blind spot notifications and adaptive cruise control.
That will happen sooner than later if my project is financially successful; otherwise, given the low mileage we put on the cars, even that isn't a big priority.
I buy my cars old and used and do keep them until they can go no longer. My four car purchases.

1991 - 1984 Honda Accord with about 140,000 miles. Drove it to the junkyard with 248,000 miles in 2005. Engine was still perfect, not burning a drop of oil but being a New England car for over 21 years it was falling apart everywhere due to rust. Therefore stopped using car when it was 21 years old.

1997 - 1986 Honda Accord with 65,000 miles. Stopped using this one in 2007 as it was requiring $2,000 in repairs at that point. Disappointing that I only had until about 180,000 miles. Again stopped using this one when it was 21 years old.

2007 - 1995 Honda Accord with 142,000 miles. Sold that one in 2013 for $800 when it had about 185,000 miles. Stopped using this one when it was still only a baby. Only 18 years old!

2013 - 2004 Honda Accord with 123,000 and now 153,000 and counting. Now 16 years old.

I'm sure no one would ever guess what total price I paid for all four vehicles. Hint: A lot less than what people pay for just one new vehicle!

Vinny
I like new cars because I don't have to worry about how the previous owner abused them. But your approach works if you don't mind the possibility of spending more time at the repair shop.
With my latest car, I've spent little time there over the past 6+ years. Sometimes none a year. And, while I'm there I'm reading and listening to music so not the end of the world.

My approach has also resulted in a much bigger investment portfolio because that is where all the car purchase savings go.

Also fits with my bargain hunting / maximum value personality.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by vnatale » Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:46 am

Smith1776 wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 7:56 am
I bought some books today. ^-^ ^-^ ^-^



books.png
I've read many different versions of the middle one.

Just checked. Own six different editions / versions of it. Earliest one is from 1973.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by vnatale » Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:48 am

WiseOne wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:36 am
Interesting to see people's auto fleet and thanks for recommendations! I asked mainly because I have completely ignored the car market since 1998, which is when I last bought a car (VW Golf). After I moved to NYC it was parked at my mom's house in NJ, and used by her & visitors as an extra car. I got rid of it several years ago. It was a nice little car though...did great on the drive from CA to NY.

I'm aware of the garage options in my neighborhood, but $400/month on top of insurance is not too appetizing. My coop has a private driveway where I can park for free during the day, and overnight for $20/night (garages charge $30 and expect a tip on top of that). As a friend pointed out, I'm already paying for that amenity (via relatively high property taxes) so might as well use it. The idea is that it's a backup if I can't find street parking.

Vinny, you are definitely a Honda Accord fan! And I'm with you on the buying used plan, that's what I'm going for. I'll add one more criteria to my list though: I don't want a high theft rate car, given my expectations that crime will continue to increase unchecked, plus that makes them expensive to insure. Hondas and Toyotas tend to be attractive targets. Most of the cars I saw on the street were Subarus, which have a reputation for frequent breakdowns last I was aware - is that still the case? They are described as being on the costly side for repairs on repairman.com.
I might think an older Honda Accord might not be as an attractive a target?

I'd look at Craigslist and look for an older one but with low mileage. Although for a Honda, up to 145,000 could be considered low mileage.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:51 am

vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:46 am

I've read many different versions of the middle one.

Just checked. Own six different editions / versions of it. Earliest one is from 1973.

Vinny
I have always wondered how much the original 1973 edition differs from later editions. I have the 10th and 11th editions. I've actually read the 12th from the library, but liked it enough that I've finally decided to nab it. ;D

I am most excited for the factor book!
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by vnatale » Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:54 am

Smith1776 wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:51 am
vnatale wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 10:46 am

I've read many different versions of the middle one.

Just checked. Own six different editions / versions of it. Earliest one is from 1973.

Vinny
I have always wondered how much the original 1973 edition differs from later editions. I have the 10th and 11th editions. I've actually read the 12th from the library, but liked it enough that I've finally decided to nab it. ;D

I am most excited for the factor book!
They definitely undergo significant revisions with each new addition.

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by dualstow » Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:06 am

WiseOne wrote:
Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:36 am
...
Subarus, which have a reputation for frequent breakdowns last I was aware - is that still the case? They are described as being on the costly side for repairs on repairman.com.
autorepaircompare.com?

repairpal?
RIP Marcello Gandini
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:04 pm

I've posted many times in the forum that Browne wrote (somewhere) that the highest target allocation for any of the four assets should be 35% and 20% correspondingly on the low end. However, it's been such a long time since I've seen or read it that I was starting to think I just imagined it. Well, for posterity, I found it again lol!

book.png
book.png (795.62 KiB) Viewed 5282 times
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:48 pm

Seen today at my local bullion dealer. Apparently I can get a new dong for pretty cheap!

B364C18C-67BF-477B-8ED9-AE11FA7E5D48.jpeg
B364C18C-67BF-477B-8ED9-AE11FA7E5D48.jpeg (572.83 KiB) Viewed 5237 times
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by drumminj » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:34 pm

Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:48 pm
Seen today at my local bullion dealer. Apparently I can get a new dong for pretty cheap!
Are you suggesting that's what's been holding your dating life back? >:D
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:43 pm

drumminj wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:34 pm
Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:48 pm
Seen today at my local bullion dealer. Apparently I can get a new dong for pretty cheap!
Are you suggesting that's what's been holding your dating life back? >:D
Why else do you think I was looking up prices??? O0
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:50 pm

I wonder if the price scales with length. Or maybe it’s circumference.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:37 am

I converted a friend over to the PP earlier today and helped them through their initial setup and purchase of the 4 asset classes. I set her up with a more or less vanilla PP rather than one of my convoluted Goldsmith PP variations.

The only deviation from the canonical strategy was her insistence on investing in an ESG stock fund rather than the total market. All told, she invested a fairly significant chunk of her net worth -- some $26,000.

In other news, don't watch the movie The Nun that just became available on Netflix. It's part of the series called The Conjuring, which I am a huge fan of. This one was a massive letdown though.
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Hal » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:42 am

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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:47 am

Hal wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:42 am
Under house-arrest for another 6 weeks - Bugger

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2020/0 ... melbourne/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPYmtEQiG18
Were those ads actually banned? ???
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Hal » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:53 am

Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:47 am
Hal wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:42 am
Under house-arrest for another 6 weeks - Bugger

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2020/0 ... melbourne/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPYmtEQiG18
Were those ads actually banned? ???
They were aired in Australia but they wanted to ban them in New Zealand....
Don't know if they did in the end
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:54 am

After more than three years of membership on this forum I still can’t shake the regret of not naming myself either “SmallTex” or “LargeTex”.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:00 am

MangoMan wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:58 am
Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:50 pm
I wonder if the price scales with length. Or maybe it’s circumference.
Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:54 am
After more than three years of membership on this forum I still can’t shake the regret of not naming myself either “Small Tex” or “Large Tex”.
Size doesn't matter dontcha know. O0

You do seem rather obsessed with this issue.....
Better make it LargeTex so that everyone knows!! LOL. 8) ;D
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Hal » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:30 am

Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:00 am
MangoMan wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:58 am
Smith1776 wrote:
Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:50 pm
I wonder if the price scales with length. Or maybe it’s circumference.
Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:54 am
After more than three years of membership on this forum I still can’t shake the regret of not naming myself either “Small Tex” or “Large Tex”.
Size doesn't matter dontcha know. O0

You do seem rather obsessed with this issue.....
Better make it LargeTex so that everyone knows!! LOL. 8) ;D
A big Donga is very important in Australia.

Quote: "My dearly beloved loves a big donga. She said I could have a big donga. So that's what we've got," he said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-24/ ... ty/8141834
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Libertarian666 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:36 am

Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:37 am
I converted a friend over to the PP earlier today and helped them through their initial setup and purchase of the 4 asset classes. I set her up with a more or less vanilla PP rather than one of my convoluted Goldsmith PP variations.

The only deviation from the canonical strategy was her insistence on investing in an ESG stock fund rather than the total market. All told, she invested a fairly significant chunk of her net worth -- some $26,000.

In other news, don't watch the movie The Nun that just became available on Netflix. It's part of the series called The Conjuring, which I am a huge fan of. This one was a massive letdown though.
Congratulations on your PP conversion! I'm sure she will be less agitated from watching the news.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:22 pm

Libertarian666 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:36 am
Congratulations on your PP conversion! I'm sure she will be less agitated from watching the news.
Yeah, as blue_ruin would put it, I'm hoping she can now experience a certain amount of equanimity in regards to her investments.

Unfortunately, in her previous investing/speculation adventures she lost quite a bit of cash through cryptocurrency scams.
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Libertarian666 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:27 pm

Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:22 pm
Libertarian666 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:36 am
Congratulations on your PP conversion! I'm sure she will be less agitated from watching the news.
Yeah, as blue_ruin would put it, I'm hoping she can now experience a certain amount of equanimity in regards to her investments.

Unfortunately, in her previous investing/speculation adventures she lost quite a bit of cash through cryptocurrency scams.
But I thought Bitcoin was the new gold? O0
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by bedraggled » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:12 pm

"Big Tex?" "LittleTex?"

"Is nothing sacred?" A moustache on the Mona Lisa would be less scandalous!
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:29 pm

bedraggled wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:12 pm
"Big Tex?" "LittleTex?"

"Is nothing sacred?" A moustache on the Mona Lisa would be less scandalous!
We're taking about Jordan Peterson in that other thread, and he's all about hierarchies. So how about this?

BigTex == Harry Browne
MediumTex == MediumTex
LittleTex == some lowly regular forum member like myself

;D O0
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by vnatale » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:34 pm

Smith1776 wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:29 pm
bedraggled wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:12 pm
"Big Tex?" "LittleTex?"

"Is nothing sacred?" A moustache on the Mona Lisa would be less scandalous!
We're taking about Jordan Peterson in that other thread, and he's all about hierarchies. So how about this?

BigTex == Harry Browne
MediumTex == MediumTex
LittleTex == some lowly regular forum member like myself

;D O0
Seems right to me!

Vinny
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

Post by Smith1776 » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:40 pm

vnatale wrote:
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:34 pm

Seems right to me!

Vinny
We're ALL LittleTexs at heart on this forum. ^-^
I still find the James Rickards portfolio fascinating.
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