Frugal Living: Mar 5, 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 17 new messages in 11 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: 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 11:05 am
From: SMS

me@privacy.net wrote:
> SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> Of course you could do the same thing you're doing for Skype with a
>> phone on PagePlus, but it's more expensive to get a CDMA phone that will
>> support Skype.
>
> Yes.... that's an idea
>
> I'm kind of wanting to stay prepaid (no
> contract).....get lowest cost.... AND upgrade to a
> smart phone
>
> Hard to get all three at once but am trying.
>
> Are there any low cost smart phones that have wifi but
> work under PagePlus system?

Yes/No. Recently Verizon stopped a bunch of smart phones from working on
PagePlus. See
"http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/Smartphone_Ban_FAQ". Apparently
Verizon was extremely upset over the PagePlus plans that include data
(not unlimited data, but 20MB or 50MB of data). They see these as a
direct threat to their business model.

So you might be better off with your original plan of a GSM smart phone
on T-Mobile.

> The other reason Id like a wifi capable cell phone....
> is being able to check email and surf net while in
> between classes

One really nice thing about PagePlus, that you don't get with T-Mobile,
is that you have data connectivity via 3G, albeit at $1.20/MB, when you
really need it. T-Mobile does not (yet) offer data on their prepaid
plans. I've spent less than $10 on 3G data on PagePlus in two years, but
there have been times while walking or cycling that it was really useful
to have 3G data access to look stuff up. Of course with a WiFi device
you could find the nearest Starbucks or other hotspot, but sometimes
that's not very convenient.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: If you were me would you have a will ?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/0aa571729523508e?hl=en
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== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 11:45 am
From: "Rod Speed"

Aardvark wrote
> Ophelia wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote

>>>> Thanks for any advice.

>>> Even advice to shove your head up a dead bear's arse ?

>> OH come on!!! People like that chap come to uk.legal
>> expecting help and advice. That was uncalled for

> He was only trying to obtain clarification of
> a statement made by the previous poster.

> What's wrong with that?

> You're not afraid that the previous poster might actually
> try to follow that hypothetical advice, are you? Here in the
> UK it's very difficult to acquire bears, dead or otherwise,

Thats not true, plenty of teddy bears even on that soggy little island.

> and so if the advice was taken, hypothetical or otherwise,
> its implementation would be nigh on impossible.

Thats not true either, plenty of very large teddy bears and other very large dead bears.

> No ursine mammals were harmed in the writing of this post.

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:03 pm
From: Adrian

Bod <bodron57@tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

>> 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!

> Why? How can they justify that?

Because they charge money in return for performing their professional
services. It's what they do. It's why they exist.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:58 pm
From: tmclone

On Mar 4, 1:55 pm, "HEMI-Powered" <n...@none.gn> wrote:
> john mayfield added these comments in the current discussion du
> jour ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > 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 ......
>
> I know nothing about UK law but in the US, everything automatically
> goes to the spouse unless there is a pre-nup OR possessions and
> money are kept separate, then a will would apply. In many/most
> marriages, all assets are held jointly, so no probate is needed
> when one spouse dies. Children are another matter. Sometimes
> arguments break out.

There's no "automatically" about it, at least not in NY. For example,
if you have designated someone other than your spouse as a beneficiary
of a life insurance policy (although spouse must sign off on that),
that person receives the money when you die, will or no will.

If there is no will the estate goes through probate. All bets are off
if that happens.

Oh, and only in a few marriages are all assests held jointly. It's
extremely unusual for ALL assets to be held jointly. Maybe never-
worked-stay-at-home-wifies (are there still any of those?) would like
it that way, but those of us who have supported ourselves for our
entire lives actually have our own assets, in our own (not hubbie's)
name. Less than 50% of women who marry take their husbands' names
these days. Welcome to the 21st century.

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:59 pm
From: tmclone

On Mar 4, 12:32 pm, "Ophelia" <Ophe...@Elsinore.me.uk> wrote:

>
> >> Thanks for any advice.
>
> > Even advice to shove your head up a dead bear's arse ?
>
> OH come on!!! People like that chap come to uk.legal expecting help and
> advice. That was uncalled for:(
>

That was Rod Speed. It's a troll. Just killfile it and move along like
the rest of us have done. :)

==============================================================================
TOPIC: home energy tax credit
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/9a9c93b7bf6716bd?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:53 pm
From: Ohioguy

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Feb 27, 5:58 am, Ohioguy <n...@none.net> wrote:
>> I've just had all of the windows in our new place replaced with
>> Energy Star rated windows, and also had 2 doors replaced with Energy
>> Star rated ones. I'm going to peel all of the Energy Star stickers and
>> ratings stickers off of them and keep them in a folder as proof.
>
> Do you have anything that looks like a sales receipt? If I were the
> IRS, I'd require that rather than anonymous stickers that could
> have been pulled from someone else's windows.
>
>> This year, I can't get anything out of this because it isn't a
>> refundable tax credit - it just decreases what you owe.
>>
>> For 2010, however, I'm wondering how I might best put this tax credit
>> to work. Obviously, it is designed to balance out a tax owed, so I'm
>> wondering if there is something (useful, fun, whatever) I could do in
>> order to "owe" taxes this year, and balance those owed taxes out using
>> the energy tax credit.
>>
>> The only thing I can think of so far is perhaps transferring some of
>> my wife's retirement funds over to a Roth IRA. Doing so triggers an
>> immediate tax liability, since about 60% of her retirement funds are
>> still in a taxable account.
>>
>> Anybody have any other ideas? Thanks!
>
> So, did you buy these windows in 2010, or 2009?

2010. Yes, there is a receipt of sorts, but just says total cost.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: our family's share of the federal budget
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/965fa9eb9ba7210f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:55 pm
From: Ohioguy

ChairMan wrote:
> In news:hmma8g$dig$1@news.eternal-september.org,
> Bob F <bobnospam@gmail.com>spewed forth:
>> The Henchman wrote:
>>
>>> Of course Americans elected that idiot leader in 2008 of theirs
>> If you think he is an "idiot" what did you think of the one before
>> him?
>
> he was 1/10th the idiot obammy is
>
>
Just think of them as "Dumb and Dumber", and I'll leave it up to you to
decide who is who.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: annual credit report
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/01af494990c9ff67?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 2:58 pm
From: Tennessee Tony

h wrote:
> "Annie Woughman" <anniewoughman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Z1cjn.2713$ao7.2012@newsfe21.iad...
>>
>> "SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
>> news:4b8c400c$0$1653$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>> Annie Woughman wrote:
>
>> That is kind of over-kill. $7.95 would be easier and cheaper. Our house
>> is paid off so we don't need a mortgage. I'm not too worried about the
>> credit score. For several years I had a Providian credit card that told
>> me my credit score every month. It was always in the 800's. I was really
>> bummed when Chase bought them out and they discontinued that service. I
>> do the free annual credit report just to make sure nothing creeps up on
>> us--like accounts we didn't open. Hubby and I check ours six months
>> apart.
>
> Shrug. I've been in the same house for 25 years and expect to die here. I
> couldn't care less about my credit score since the last time I checked it,
> in 2007, it was 805. I don't anticipate buying anything on credit ever
> again, other than monthly credit card stuff paid in full each month, so I
> locked down my credit application stuff with all three agencies years ago. I
> just don't care.

I checked mine a few months ago and the score is 280. My house is paid
for, I pay my 3 credit card balances each month, and even before paying
I'm no where near my credit limit. I did find a 4th credit card that I
had never used and closed the account. Will that help or hinder my
score? I've also heard that carrying a balance on a CC now and then,
paying some interest can raise your score. Any truth to that?

Tony

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 3:06 pm
From: "h"

"Tennessee Tony" <tennessee.tony@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7vas5hFq2U1@mid.individual.net...
>h wrote:
>> "Annie Woughman" <anniewoughman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:Z1cjn.2713$ao7.2012@newsfe21.iad...
>>>
>>> "SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:4b8c400c$0$1653$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>>> Annie Woughman wrote:
>>
>>> That is kind of over-kill. $7.95 would be easier and cheaper. Our
>>> house is paid off so we don't need a mortgage. I'm not too worried
>>> about the credit score. For several years I had a Providian credit card
>>> that told me my credit score every month. It was always in the 800's.
>>> I was really bummed when Chase bought them out and they discontinued
>>> that service. I do the free annual credit report just to make sure
>>> nothing creeps up on us--like accounts we didn't open. Hubby and I
>>> check ours six months apart.
>>
>> Shrug. I've been in the same house for 25 years and expect to die here. I
>> couldn't care less about my credit score since the last time I checked
>> it, in 2007, it was 805. I don't anticipate buying anything on credit
>> ever again, other than monthly credit card stuff paid in full each month,
>> so I locked down my credit application stuff with all three agencies
>> years ago. I just don't care.
>
> I checked mine a few months ago and the score is 280. My house is paid
> for, I pay my 3 credit card balances each month, and even before paying
> I'm no where near my credit limit. I did find a 4th credit card that I
> had never used and closed the account. Will that help or hinder my score?
> I've also heard that carrying a balance on a CC now and then, paying some
> interest can raise your score. Any truth to that?
>

Is 280 even possible? Doubt it.

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 3:14 pm
From: SMS

Tennessee Tony wrote:

> I checked mine a few months ago and the score is 280.

That must be from Experian, because the worst possible score from
Equifax is 300, and the worse from TransUnion is 336. Experian can go
down to 150.

You must have had a bankruptcy to get that poor of a score.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Silver Certificates , what are they "worth"
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/fbb23ab177fa4f94?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 4:14 pm
From: "terrable"

"VFW" <georgeswk@toast.net> wrote in message
news:georgeswk-2F833E.21472403032010@news.toast.net...
> Someone tried to sell me a dollar "Silver Certificate" insisting they
> are worth more than a dollar. You can no longer trade them for silver.
> what would one be worth. What, they were last printed in 1934?
> --
> Money; What a Concept !

Last series for the $1 Silver Certificate was 1957B printed in 1964.

Redemption in silver ended in 1968.

Unless it is in excellent condition it is not worth more than $1.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Delivered unsafe item damaged me
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/3012e11d0875cc7d?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 5:38 pm
From: sf

On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:29:26 -0000, "john hamilton"
<bluestarx@mail.invalid> wrote:

> Last friday I took delivery at home of pressed steel kitchen gas hob from a
> well known national department store.
>
> After taking the top of the packaging off it, it then had to be lifted out.
> There was nothing to get hold of apart from the gas tap knobs, but I did not
> want to pull it out using these.
>
> So I put my fingers underneath and lifted, but then received three deep cuts
> along the back of three fingers.
>
> Being pressed steel the edges were razor sharp because thats how metal is if
> its been stamped and not finished off along the sheared edge with a file.
>
> This is annoying because this situation is likely to happen time and time
> again to other people. Because how I lifted it out is probably the way
> everybody else would try to lift it out.
>
> How can I be sure of getting the manufacturers to act to stop this happening
> again. The company is an Italian one, but I purchased it from a U.K. store.
>
We pay extra to have it carried into the house and unpacked. Now you
know why.

> My collegue suggests I should request £100 to be sent to a charity, since
> having to pay money might make them actually make them take notice and then
> carry out the extra work on these units to stop this repeatedly happening.
>
> Thanks for any advice on how best to get them to make a charitable
> contribution.

That's too silly to take seriously.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

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

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 5:39 pm
From: sf

On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:21:31 -0800, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

> aesthete8 wrote:
> > 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.

I don't understand why people recommend that product. It's just as
salty as bullion cubes.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 6:38 pm
From: SMS

sf wrote:
> On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:21:31 -0800, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> aesthete8 wrote:
>>> 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.
>
> I don't understand why people recommend that product. It's just as
> salty as bullion cubes.

It has _far_ less salt than bullion cubes. No comparison.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: how much did I pay for our house? (for tax purposes)
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/ce1376c8da9beb50?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 5:51 pm
From: sf

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:32:28 -0500, Ohioguy <none@none.net> wrote:

> We just bought a HUD owned home at auction. There are many different
> numbers on the papers I look at in the paperwork, but I'm not sure which
> to use for tax purposes.
>
> For example, the total "bid" we made was $60k, but the papers show
> that of that HUD paid $2k themselves in "closing costs", and another
> roughly $4k went to the real estate agent as a commission. So that
> means that the seller of the home got only about $54k from us.
>
> Even if you include the commission to the realtor, we really only
> paid $58k, since HUD paid $2k.
>
> Not sure if I have to include the commission paid to the realtor
> and/or the $2k in closing costs that HUD paid itself. Would like to put
> a number down less than the full $60k, but not sure if I can. The FHA
> guy at closing said that we could use $54k for tax purposes, since that
> is what we actually paid HUD for the property, but I'm wondering if the
> local city tax folks would really allow that. Our closing papers show
> $60k as what we offered, and make no mention of the $2k HUD paid in
> closing. The $4k commission is only mentioned on other papers.
>

Use the H&R Block Tax Software (I am not associated with the firm in
any way). It will help you with your questions. If you decide to buy
the program, it will be a tax deduction on next year's form.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Best Skype handset?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/b86d632e2a6b959c?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 6:19 pm
From: sf

On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:28:33 -0500, Rick
<rick0.merrill@gmail.com.lessspam> wrote:

> me@privacy.net wrote:
> > "Rod Speed"<rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >>> I want to start using Skype for calls from home and
> >>> hotspots and use prepaid cell only when out of hotspots.
> >>
> >> I use voip instead.
> >
> > Skype is voip..... no?
>
> Yes.
>
> Check RadioShack for a headset with mic and headphones.
>

Rick is looking for a USB phone.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: CB Radio or cell phone?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/03b323177d688519?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Mar 4 2010 6:29 pm
From: sf

On Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:24 -0500, Ohioguy <none@none.net> wrote:

> We are moving in a couple of weeks, and my wife will have a roughly
> ~22 minute commute, instead of riding the bus. She is worried about
> having car trouble, and says she would like to get a cell phone so that
> she could get a tow truck in an emergency. I guess I don't worry about
> that much, because I always replace the tires & such a lot more often
> than needed - just so I don't have to worry about blowouts & such much.
>
> I had never considered getting a cell phone - when I see people
> constantly answering them in the stores, and airing their private
> conversations, I find myself visualizing little people on leashes.
> Plus, I don't like the idea of another recurring monthly fee. (why I
> don't have cable TV, for instance)
>
> The best deal I've been able to find on a cell phone is a tracphone.
> I actually have one, a Nokia 2600, that I got marked down to $8 at a
> local Kmart. I figured I would use it as a gift for somebody
> eventually, or use it when we took a cross country vacation temporarily
> - something along those lines.
>
> Anyway, I see that Target has a "double minutes for life" card for
> $25, and there are 400 minute, 1 year cards available for it for $100.
> Plus, there are lots of bonus codes out there. Looks like I could get
> 800+ minutes a year for the emergency phone, for $100 a year.
>
> On the other hand, we could get a modern CB radio. It would probably
> be a one time $150 expense, but would have no recurring fees. However,
> I am not certain that something like that would work in the case of a
> breakdown.
>
> Anyone know - would a CB radio work in a pinch to get a tow truck out
> if your car breaks down? I remember playing with a handheld one about
> 10 years ago, but am not sure if they can be depended on in emergencies.
> However, I figured I should look into it, since my wife says she just
> wants the ability to get a tow if the car breaks down. I have no idea
> if CB still has an "emergency" channel, though. If so, I don't know if
> it is regularly monitored.
>
> Anyone have experience with this?
> Thanks!

CBs were all the rage 20 or 30 years ago, but I don't know any regular
citizen who uses one today. What you need to find out (with whatever
cell phone provider you decide on) is if you have uninterrupted cell
service along your wife's route. The maps may say you're covered, but
there are often spots that are not covered due to the terrain or
buildings blocking your signal. It can be in terms of miles in the
country or just a few blocks in the city. Ask your friends about
their experiences.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

==============================================================================

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Frugal Living

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Friday, March 5, 2010

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 17 new messages in 11 topics - digest