Frugal Living: misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 topics

Thursday, March 4, 2010

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Join the"Global Information Network"& learn how to make $100K in 90
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http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/68b93063477889fc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Mar 3 2010 11:35 pm
From: Vastcom Publishing

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: ¤¤¤ 2010 Prada handbags get low price wholesale (http://www.rijing-
trade.com) <paypal payment>
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/68144c6cf186bf8e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 1:08 am
From: "www.fjrjtrade.com"

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: walking boots-- which are good?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/52b4735386145e8e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 1:17 am
From: Peter Clinch

bobharvey wrote:

> I need to wear Wellies to go into my garden at the moment. I wish I
> had waders.

Ours is more microspikes territory at the moment, not snow but permafrost.

> I can only plant things that have snorkels.

I just CBA to get the power drill out to dig the holes...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

==============================================================================
TOPIC: LV GUCCI Umbrella Bedsheet Cheap Wholesale from www.vipchinatrade.com
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4b4c78b236797aca?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 1:26 am
From: wendy

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: AAA question
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/b5c2145bd5879a2b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 4:57 am
From: Al

On Mar 3, 11:21 pm, "Clincher" <x...@xx.xx> wrote:
> "Clincher" <x...@xx.xx> wrote in message news:...
>
> > "VFW" <george...@toast.net> wrote in message
> >news:georgeswk-BE8660.21573302032010@news.toast.net...
> >>I was thinking of getting a car towed but why not join AAA and get the
> >> tow partially paid for/ But the question is, do they insist on a period
> >> of time before you may take advantage of that service?
>
> > For the same reason you can't buy insurance for a burning building.
>
> Damn. Somehow my mind slipped in a "Why" before "do they insist" in the OP's
> question. Never mind, then.

You were reading logically and inserted the "why." VFW is essentially
looking for a way to steal money. AAA knows this sort of thing goes on
and the extra cost is socialized among all purchasers, but it's still
theft.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Dumb T Mobile prepaid question
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/c0e5478775d0861f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 6:05 am
From: Vic Smith

On Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:00:49 -0800, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>me@privacy.net wrote:
>> SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Yes, you misunderstood. What "Gold" buys you is that even the lowest
>>> cost refill is good for a full year.
>>
>> Crap!
>>
>> So I must buy $100 refill cards to get lowest rate of
>> 10 cents/min?
>>
>> <sigh> I thought so but please confirm again
>
>This is true. You must buy the $100 card. Or cut your losses now, and
>switch to PagePlus, a Verizon MVNO where the _most_ expensive minutes
>are 10 cents, and minutes go as low as 4 cents. Much better coverage
>too. But a yearly minimum of $30 ($10 every 120 days), rather than the
>T-Mobile minimum of $10 a year (for "Gold").

Ilogical crap without knowing usage.
First, look at the big picture in terms of coverage..
California coverage means NOTHING to those not using the phone in
California.
So where you use your phone is what determines the coverage you need.
I've been using T-Mobile prepaid since it started maybe 6 years ago,
and have never had trouble with coverage between Illinois and Florida.
If you don't intend to go where some joker pimping a particular
company says there is better coverage, but want to brag about coverage
in places you never go to, or are insecure enough to think "I *might*
go there sometime, and what cell phone coverage will I have?" then
price doesn't matter anyway. Same goes if you use your phone for
business travel - you pay for coverage.
And get a sat phone too, in case you go sailing in the middle of the
Atlantic.
Easiest way to determine if the coverage you want is provided by a
cell company is not to look at a coverage map, but simply ask other
people who go where you go. Nearly everybody has a cell phone now.
Ask at least 3-5 people using a particular service, because some will
just lie - people often lie because their ego tells them that what
they have is the best, regardless of reality.
Other people like to complain, so they'll tell you all about no
coverage or dropped calls.
You end up with a reasonable version of the truth.
Secondly - and this is what fools many people - for those who don't
use a cell phone heavily, cost per minute is meaningless.
Prepaid plans are for light users. For those people just cut to the
chase and see what yearly cost is.
Here's some real examples.
******
Wife's T-Mobile prepaid.
She uses the phone maybe every other day to call from the road or
store, and yaks with the kids when we are on vacation.
It's our goto phone when we're together on the road.
There is no roaming charge - any time, any where.
No texting, just call and talk when you want to.
Year 1 - $100 for 1200 minutes (some kind of special deal)
Year 2 - $100 for 1000 minutes, bringing it to up to about 1600
minutes because you keep unused minutes.
Years 3-6 - $50 a year.
I just looked at her account, due for renewal in August to keep the
minutes, and she has 634 minutes left.
Think about it. That's 10 1/2 hours of yakking left.
So it'll be $50 bucks in August for another year.
Adds up to maybe $70 a year so far, and going down.
******
My T-Mobile prepaid.
Year 1 - $100 for 1000 minutes.
Year 2 - $10.
Year 3 - $10.
I looked and I have 793 minutes left.
Just did the re-up last month, and saw how the $10 minutes are more
expensive. Did I buy a larger amount to save money on cost per
minute? Heck no. I'm basically keeping minutes from 3 years ago
alive. We take this phone with us on vacation to use minutes.
I hardly ever use it, but like having it when I'm out of the house
since it's hard to find a pay phone nowadays.
Adds up to $40 a year so far, and going down.
******
Son's U.S. Cellular.
I did the on-line pay for him until recently, so know a little about
it. He uses texting, and some fancy stuff I don't know about or care
about. He never complained about coverage from Illinois to eastern
Tennessee, but roaming charges are real expensive.
I make him take my T-Mobile prepaid phone when goes with his
girlfriend to Tennessee to visit her family. A lot cheaper.
He was paying an average of about $100 a month for about 4 years.
That's 5 grand if you think of it that way. I do.
I think they tied him in with 2 year contracts.
I recall he uses about 600 minutes per month.
I was on his case about that all the time, and when it was time to
renew he squeezed them for a plan that's costing him about $50 a month
that suits him.

Here's the bottom line.
Prepaid is for light users.
Light users should figure yearly cost, not cost per-minute.
T-Moblile is very frugal for light users.
Paying more for coverage at Squaw Valley if you don't go to Squaw
valley is a complete waste of money.
Signing up for a contracted monthly plan when you can do the same
thing cheaper every year with a prepaid plan is a total waste of
money.
Coverage isn't rocket science. Ask around about it.
Almost everybody can clue you in on that.
One other thing - renewing once per year is 3 times better than
renewing 3 times a year. Less chance of losing your accumulated
minutes because you forgot to renew in time.
One more thing, that most probably aren't aware of, and will fit a
segment of cell users.
T-Mobile has 2 prepaid plans, one is Pay as You Go, which I use and
described above.
I just noticed they have another plan called Pay per Day.
Seems you have to sign on to an account to get to this description, so
don't click unless you have an account.
https://support.my.t-mobile.com/doc/tm23610.xml#5

From reading this, it looks like you can get unlimited non-prime-time
minutes for $30 a month *if* you're calling another T-Mobile plan
phone. Looks real good for inveterate yakkers and lovers who talk a
lot after 7 PM..
Basically it costs $1 for each day you use the phone.
Here's what it says about minute charges.

"When am I charged the $0.10 per minute charge with my T-Mobile
Prepaid Pay By The Day rate plan?

You will be charged $0.10 for any domestic calls to or from numbers
that are not other T-Mobile customers between the hours of 7:00 a.m.
and 6:59 p.m."

--Vic

==============================================================================
TOPIC: If you were me would you have a will ?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/0aa571729523508e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:20 am
From: "john mayfield"

I keep hearing that I should write a will. I'm 65 years old , living in a
small terraced house in North London (u.k.) together with wife 61 years old
and son 29 years old.

The house is worth about just under 300K which is below the inheritence
threshold and is owned jointly (tenants in common) with my wife. My total
savings are small.

When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to my son
that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.

I guess thats a fairly common kind of family situation, without any
additional complications; so I thought it would be fairly easy to get advice
on how to write a will.

On google I can get up to 7 million returns on my searches, but everyone
I've looked at wants to make money out giving any advice. With plenty of 'a
bad will is worse than no will' kind of suggestions, thrown in.

Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to someone
like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?

The nearest I have got so far to creating one is a bit of information I
picked up, which says I can just write out roughly as follow:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will 'dated' .........by 'john........' of 'address'......

I revoke all earlier wills and Codicils.

I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son
.......

I give my Estate and Possesions to my wife ............

If she does not survive me I give my Estate and possisions to my son ......

Signed by ............. John 'my name'

In our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the presence of
each other.

Witness 1. signature......., full name ...... address......occupation......

Witness 2. signature......., full name ...... address......occupation......

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is this really all I need to do? In fact in my situation do I really even
need to do this? Thanks for any advice.

== 2 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:29 am
From: Bert Hyman

In news:hmoj4s$uf8$1@news.eternal-september.org "john mayfield"
<mayfield258@mail.invalid> wrote:

> When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to my
> son that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.
> ...
>
> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to
> someone like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?

Around here, there are laws which prescribe what happens to property
when someone dies without a will; it's almost certainly the case where
you live.

Since you have some specific ideas about how you want your assets
distributed, you might investigate what your local laws say, and if they
don't match your wishes, you'll need a will of some sort.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

== 3 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:34 am
From: "Mrcheerful"

john mayfield wrote:
> I keep hearing that I should write a will. I'm 65 years old , living
> in a small terraced house in North London (u.k.) together with wife
> 61 years old and son 29 years old.
>
> The house is worth about just under 300K which is below the
> inheritence threshold and is owned jointly (tenants in common) with
> my wife. My total savings are small.
>
> When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to
> my son that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.
>
> I guess thats a fairly common kind of family situation, without any
> additional complications; so I thought it would be fairly easy to get
> advice on how to write a will.
>
> On google I can get up to 7 million returns on my searches, but
> everyone I've looked at wants to make money out giving any advice. With
> plenty of 'a bad will is worse than no will' kind of
> suggestions, thrown in.
> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to
> someone like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?
>
> The nearest I have got so far to creating one is a bit of information
> I picked up, which says I can just write out roughly as follow:
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This will 'dated' .........by 'john........' of 'address'......
>
> I revoke all earlier wills and Codicils.
>
> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my
> son .......
>
> I give my Estate and Possesions to my wife ............
>
> If she does not survive me I give my Estate and possisions to my son
> ......
> Signed by ............. John 'my name'
>
> In our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the
> presence of each other.
>
> Witness 1. signature......., full name ......
> address......occupation......
> Witness 2. signature......., full name ......
> address......occupation......
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Is this really all I need to do? In fact in my situation do I really
> even need to do this? Thanks for any advice.

for the pittance that you will be charged (about 75 quid) it is best to have
you and your wife's wills made up professionally, they will think of aspects
that you would not think of in a million years. and it will speed
everything up when you go.

== 4 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:34 am
From: richard

On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:20:53 -0000, john mayfield wrote:

> I keep hearing that I should write a will. I'm 65 years old , living in a
> small terraced house in North London (u.k.) together with wife 61 years old
> and son 29 years old.
>
> The house is worth about just under 300K which is below the inheritence
> threshold and is owned jointly (tenants in common) with my wife. My total
> savings are small.
>
> When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to my son
> that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.
>
> I guess thats a fairly common kind of family situation, without any
> additional complications; so I thought it would be fairly easy to get advice
> on how to write a will.
>
> On google I can get up to 7 million returns on my searches, but everyone
> I've looked at wants to make money out giving any advice. With plenty of 'a
> bad will is worse than no will' kind of suggestions, thrown in.
>
> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to someone
> like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?
>
> The nearest I have got so far to creating one is a bit of information I
> picked up, which says I can just write out roughly as follow:
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This will 'dated' .........by 'john........' of 'address'......
>
> I revoke all earlier wills and Codicils.
>
> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son
> .......
>
> I give my Estate and Possesions to my wife ............
>
> If she does not survive me I give my Estate and possisions to my son ......
>
> Signed by ............. John 'my name'
>
> In our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the presence of
> each other.
>
> Witness 1. signature......., full name ...... address......occupation......
>
> Witness 2. signature......., full name ...... address......occupation......
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Is this really all I need to do? In fact in my situation do I really even
> need to do this? Thanks for any advice.

Here in the states, the will is basically a directive for the probate
court. Without one, the court then has to figure out who gets what.

What you should do is, spend a little time in the local library and see how
wills are written. Also find out how the law treats estates when no will is
present. In many cases, the estate is given to the surviving spouse
automatically, then to any heirs.

You may also be able to find "kits" for the UK at a local book store.

Unless what you find on the internet is from a bona fide legal firm, I
wouldn't do business with them.

== 5 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:35 am
From: Aardvark

On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:53 +0000, john mayfield wrote:

> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son

I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed executors.
Conflict of interest and all that.

HTH

--
"I can tell you how to become a millionaire in as much time as it takes
a woman to have a baby. One catch: the nine-month plan ends in a funeral."
Ice-T

== 6 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:38 am
From: "John Turner"

"john mayfield" wrote

> I keep hearing that I should write a will.

It cost me just �70.00 to have a solictor draw up a (fairly complex) will
for me.

I think that's good value for money & if you can get a similar deal I'm sure
it would be money well spent.

As an aside it might make some sense to leave everything to your wife
(assuming she outlives you) as there is no tax liability on transfers
between married couples, and for her to make a small (and possibly annual)
settlement with your son.

Of course if she dies before you then everything will go to your son, and
you ought to specify that in a will.

John.

== 7 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:45 am
From: "John Turner"

"Aardvark" wrote

> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed executors.

They most definitely can be appointed as executors, and they are on my will
and were on my late father's.

John.

== 8 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:01 am
From: Aardvark

On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:45:23 +0000, John Turner wrote:

> "Aardvark" wrote
>
>> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed
>> executors.
>
> They most definitely can be appointed as executors, and they are on my
> will and were on my late father's.
>
> John.

Okley-dokley. I'll take your word for it, strange as it seems to me.

--
"I can tell you how to become a millionaire in as much time as it takes
a woman to have a baby. One catch: the nine-month plan ends in a funeral."
Ice-T

== 9 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:11 am
From: "The Todal"

"john mayfield" <mayfield258@mail.invalid> wrote in message
news:hmoj4s$uf8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>

>
> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to someone
> like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?

Predictably, everyone tells you that you should have your will drawn up by a
solicitor, that this will cost you hardly anything and that it will be money
well spent.

I'd say, do it yourself. There are will-making kits available from WH Smith.
The draft you prepared (and you quoted in your post) seems fine. It does
save your beneficiaries and executors time and trouble and probably money,
to have a will that they can take to probate instead of having to apply the
intestacy rules.

Those who have complex bequests to make and huge estates that require
careful tax planning, probably ought to go to a solicitor to have their
complex wills drawn up.

== 10 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:11 am
From: "Martin"

"john mayfield" <mayfield258@mail.invalid> wrote in message
news:hmoj4s$uf8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> I keep hearing that I should write a will. I'm 65 years old , living in a
> small terraced house in North London (u.k.) together with wife 61 years
> old
> and son 29 years old.
>
> The house is worth about just under 300K which is below the inheritence
> threshold and is owned jointly (tenants in common) with my wife. My total
> savings are small.
>
> When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to my son
> that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.
>
> I guess thats a fairly common kind of family situation, without any
> additional complications; so I thought it would be fairly easy to get
> advice
> on how to write a will.
>
> On google I can get up to 7 million returns on my searches, but everyone
> I've looked at wants to make money out giving any advice. With plenty of
> 'a
> bad will is worse than no will' kind of suggestions, thrown in.
>
> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to someone
> like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?
>
> The nearest I have got so far to creating one is a bit of information I
> picked up, which says I can just write out roughly as follow:
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This will 'dated' .........by 'john........' of 'address'......
>
> I revoke all earlier wills and Codicils.
>
> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son
> .......
>
> I give my Estate and Possesions to my wife ............
>
> If she does not survive me I give my Estate and possisions to my son
> ......
>
> Signed by ............. John 'my name'
>
> In our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the presence of
> each other.
>
> Witness 1. signature......., full name ......
> address......occupation......
>
> Witness 2. signature......., full name ......
> address......occupation......
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Is this really all I need to do? In fact in my situation do I really even
> need to do this? Thanks for any advice.
>

Yes - you should make and sign a will a.s.a.p.

Given your simple wishes, a will is very straightforward, and what you've
drafted above is almost all you need. Clarity and simplicity are the key
things. Lawyers often seem to charge to obfuscate.

I would suggest....

1. Name one executor & trustee, then add "if s/he is unable or unwilling
to act, I appoint [ the other one ] to act in his/her place.

2. Add a bit about any funeral preferences, unless you've dealt with this
elsewhere.

3. Insert "... not survive me by 30 days [ say ] I give the whole of my
estate to ..." [ omit "possessions" here, and in the previous sentence ]

4. Add "signed on the ... [ date ] by ... immediately before your
signature. (No need for a date at the start.)

5. Ensure neither witness (nor their close family) is a beneficiary or an
executor.

6. Although each witness must see you sign (and usually sees each other
sign) there is no need for them to see the contents of the will - so cover
that bit up if you prefer.

7. Put it somewhere safe and make sure the executors know where to find
it, when needed.

8. Do the same for your wife's will (inverse, obviously)

9. If in any doubt, you can buy a "DIY Will" book for a tenner or so.
Such books usually cover probate, too, so buy it anyway, for when your
executor needs it.

Sounds like you're well below the IHT threshold (and which I doubt will
reduce after the election).

No IHT when estate goes to spouse. And double allowance upon 2nd death.

HTH

--
Martin

== 11 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:18 am
From: richard

On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 16:01:25 +0000 (UTC), Aardvark wrote:

> On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:45:23 +0000, John Turner wrote:
>
>> "Aardvark" wrote
>>
>>> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed
>>> executors.
>>
>> They most definitely can be appointed as executors, and they are on my
>> will and were on my late father's.
>>
>> John.
>
> Okley-dokley. I'll take your word for it, strange as it seems to me.

That would, of course, be in compliance with local jurisdiction laws.
I think it is more of tradition that an executor not be an heir.

== 12 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:35 am
From: "tim...."

"Aardvark" <aardvark@youllnever.know> wrote in message
news:hmok04$mj6$2@news.eternal-september.org...
> On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:53 +0000, john mayfield wrote:
>
>> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son
>
> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed executors.
> Conflict of interest and all that.

It's perfectly legal, and quite normal for the major beneficiary to be
appointed executor,.

tim

== 13 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:43 am
From: "Ret."

Mrcheerful wrote:
> john mayfield wrote:
>> I keep hearing that I should write a will. I'm 65 years old , living
>> in a small terraced house in North London (u.k.) together with wife
>> 61 years old and son 29 years old.
>>
>> The house is worth about just under 300K which is below the
>> inheritence threshold and is owned jointly (tenants in common) with
>> my wife. My total savings are small.
>>
>> When I die I would wish to leave it all the wife, and any amount to
>> my son that enables him not to pay any inheritance tax.
>>
>> I guess thats a fairly common kind of family situation, without any
>> additional complications; so I thought it would be fairly easy to get
>> advice on how to write a will.
>>
>> On google I can get up to 7 million returns on my searches, but
>> everyone I've looked at wants to make money out giving any advice.
>> With plenty of 'a bad will is worse than no will' kind of
>> suggestions, thrown in.
>> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to
>> someone like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?
>>
>> The nearest I have got so far to creating one is a bit of information
>> I picked up, which says I can just write out roughly as follow:
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> This will 'dated' .........by 'john........' of 'address'......
>>
>> I revoke all earlier wills and Codicils.
>>
>> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my
>> son .......
>>
>> I give my Estate and Possesions to my wife ............
>>
>> If she does not survive me I give my Estate and possisions to my son
>> ......
>> Signed by ............. John 'my name'
>>
>> In our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the
>> presence of each other.
>>
>> Witness 1. signature......., full name ......
>> address......occupation......
>> Witness 2. signature......., full name ......
>> address......occupation......
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Is this really all I need to do? In fact in my situation do I really
>> even need to do this? Thanks for any advice.
>
> for the pittance that you will be charged (about 75 quid) it is best
> to have you and your wife's wills made up professionally, they will
> think of aspects that you would not think of in a million years. and
> it will speed everything up when you go.

I wrote wills for my father and for my mother-in-law. They both sped through
probate without a single problem. I have also written wills for myself and
my wife and for my children.

For people with simple affairs, wills are straightforward and easy to
prepare. £75 for drawing one up (often simply adding personal details to a
ready-prepared template) is outrageous.

Kev

== 14 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:45 am
From: "Ret."

tim.... wrote:
> "Aardvark" <aardvark@youllnever.know> wrote in message
> news:hmok04$mj6$2@news.eternal-september.org...
>> On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:53 +0000, john mayfield wrote:
>>
>>> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my
>>> son
>>
>> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed
>> executors. Conflict of interest and all that.
>
> It's perfectly legal, and quite normal for the major beneficiary to be
> appointed executor,.

Indeed. The thing *not* to do is appoint your bank or solicitor to be an
executor. If you do - then they end up being the biggest beneficiary of the
will!

Kev

== 15 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:46 am
From: "Ret."

The Todal wrote:
> "john mayfield" <mayfield258@mail.invalid> wrote in message
> news:hmoj4s$uf8$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>
>>
>> Is the advice that you *should* make a will really applicable to
>> someone like myself? What would be any advantages to having a will?
>
> Predictably, everyone tells you that you should have your will drawn
> up by a solicitor, that this will cost you hardly anything and that
> it will be money well spent.
>
> I'd say, do it yourself. There are will-making kits available from WH
> Smith. The draft you prepared (and you quoted in your post) seems
> fine. It does save your beneficiaries and executors time and trouble
> and probably money, to have a will that they can take to probate
> instead of having to apply the intestacy rules.
>
> Those who have complex bequests to make and huge estates that require
> careful tax planning, probably ought to go to a solicitor to have
> their complex wills drawn up.

I agree 100%. Simple wills for those with simple financial affairs are
simplicity itself to draw up - and they are just as valid as those prepared
by solicitors and will-writers.

Kev

== 16 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:46 am
From: Bod

On 04/03/2010 16:45, Ret. wrote:
> tim.... wrote:
>> "Aardvark" <aardvark@youllnever.know> wrote in message
>> news:hmok04$mj6$2@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:53 +0000, john mayfield wrote:
>>>
>>>> I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my
>>>> son
>>>
>>> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed
>>> executors. Conflict of interest and all that.
>>
>> It's perfectly legal, and quite normal for the major beneficiary to be
>> appointed executor,.
>
> Indeed. The thing *not* to do is appoint your bank or solicitor to be an
> executor. If you do - then they end up being the biggest beneficiary of
> the will!
>
> Kev
>
>

Why? How can they justify that?

Bod

== 17 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:46 am
From: tmclone

On Mar 4, 10:35 am, Aardvark <aardv...@youllnever.know> wrote:
> On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:53 +0000, john mayfield wrote:
> > I appoint as my executor and trustees my wife 'name'........ and my son
>
> I'm not so sure that beneficiaries of a will can be appointed executors.
> Conflict of interest and all that.
>
Of course they can (I'm in the USA). My mother was the executor for my
father's estate in NC and I am the designated executor for hers in NY,
when the time comes. I was elected because I'm local and my siblings
are not.
Since you have to provide documentation of all assets and their
disposition to all beneficiaries as well as the gubmint (taxes),
"conflict of interest" is irrelevant. If you fail to discharge your
duties as executor you could be
successfully sued by the other beneficiaries. Unless the estate is
huge and/or very complicated the executor just has a ton of paperwork
to sign and file. Having a lawyer or other paid person acting as
executor is expensive and unnecessary for most estates. That said,
every adult should have a will. Period. It will save tons of time and
money. Otherwise your estate will have to pay attorney fees and have
an extended probate period.

== 18 of 18 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 8:52 am
From: Aardvark

On Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:46:51 +0000, Bod wrote:

>> Indeed. The thing *not* to do is appoint your bank or solicitor to be
>> an executor. If you do - then they end up being the biggest beneficiary
>> of the will!
>>
>> Kev
> >
> >
> >
> Why? How can they justify that?

The same way banks and solicitors justify everything they do.

--
"I can tell you how to become a millionaire in as much time as it takes
a woman to have a baby. One catch: the nine-month plan ends in a funeral."
Ice-T

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Soup bouillion cubes
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/b57b09cbb01b6494?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 7:30 am
From: "john mayfield"

"aesthete8" <artsy6@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7cd199df-d0f6-4f79-8bde-8814c22cf7c8@u19g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 21, 6:05 pm, John...@BadISP.org wrote:
> SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> >aesthete8wrote:
> >> Any recommendations?
>
> >Try "Better than Bouillon."
>
> >"http://www.superiortouch.com/retail/products/better-than-bouillon"
>
> >We get their organic product at Costco in 16 ounce jars. I don't
> >remember the price, I think it's around $10 though.
>
> Only if you like sweet soup. Of course if you're making a soup or dish
> that's supposed to be sweet go right ahead. Americans generally ruin a
> whole lot of products with their penchant for sweetness (boosts the
> food industry profits).
>
> Examples: bread, ham, soups, and worst of all, Heinz Baked Beans.
> Actually any baked beans. Try the UK, Canadian, or Australian
> versions, most often by the same manufacturer.
>
> Of course Americans are so used to the inappropriate use of sweeteners
> they actually like these adulterated products. I remember one episode
> of America's Test Kitchen where the dish called for bread. The head
> honcho made a big effort to get non-sweet bread but his assistants
> (women of a certain age) actually said they preferred Wonder bread. I
> suppose it depends on what you had as a child.

Interesting observation about sweetness.

For a couple of years, I didn't eat ice cream because it was really
expensive where I lived.

Then when I moved, ice cream was cheaper so I began eating it.

At first, I was surprised by how sweet it was.

But I must have gotten used to it after awhile because I began putting
more sugar into my coffee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

when i was a child they used to say, 'sugar is something that makes things
taste bitter'.

tea with milk is naturally sweet because milk contains suger. start adding
extra sugar to your tea and after a little while the tea and milk tastes
bitter without that extra sugar. you know the moral of this story !

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 topics - digest

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