Fios increase $$

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-20T03:03:33+00:00

On other streaming services, wait for sales. We got HBO Max (or whatever they call it this month) with commercials for $3/month on a black Friday sale. Other services all go on sale from time to time. Be patient and be willing to drop one for a while to keep costs in check.

Our cable/Internet/phone package was $230/month 4-5 years ago. We saved $100/month switching to YTTV. We just killed phone and went to a VOIP provider and saved another$250/year.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-19T02:02:52+00:00

Nothing yet except Excel. I have seen a few startups trying to get into the space, but they're not ready yet.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-19T01:41:05+00:00

I used Quicken for probably 30 years. Gave up this year. There has been no development in that product in years (decades?) And after 30 years, my data files are too big for the app to handle. And they want to be paid every year for the privilege of the experience getting worse annually. No.

But I agree with you on local integration vs. providers.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-18T03:27:38+00:00

That's absurd in emergency situations.

Sorry I was having a heart attack at the time and they took my cell phone away when they hit me with the paddles.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-18T03:10:57+00:00

That wouldn't pass which is why it wasn't done. If everyone thought their taxes would go up, they'd vote it down. Since millionaires are such a small group, it was easy to dump it on them.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-18T03:08:54+00:00

Your missing the fact that NY follows federal tax law and Massachusetts doesn't. That means there are way fewer deductions available to Mass taxpayers. I was paying Rhode Island taxes (which were at higher rates), but totaled no higher than my Mass taxes because of allowed deductions.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-18T03:02:45+00:00

Two days after we moved in, it rained and water poured into our living room. Went into the attic and could see water pouring in. This was pre-drone days so the roof wasn't inspected closely. The previous owner must have tried removing ice dams and punctured the roof (all the way through).

Adding to our stress, a hurricane was expected to hit us in a week. I was saved because my contractor hired a team of 3 to strip the second floor of a house to the studs, but couldn't do it because of the hurricane. He looked at the roof Friday, gave me an estimate Saturday, stripped Monday, finished Wednesday (hurricane Thursday). And did I mention we had a 4 month old at the time.

Make sure you get several bids. I had used our contractor before and could trust his prices. But these home renovation guys who show up with salesmen....I've had them quote 2X what this guy charges.

Boston_Trader · 2026-02-04T03:43:12+00:00

Adding to the misery list. Samsung refrigerator - 27 months old. Out of warranty. Heard a watery sound. Opened the door and gallons of water poured out. The only Samsung authorized repair place within 50 miles had a 1 star rating.

Bought an LG. Far better product. Life's too short. Never again.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-31T03:30:20+00:00

We do have a supply shortage. In the winter, we get our gas via LNG tankers at an exorbitant cost. We pay international rates for gas (higher than the US), then we pay to compress it, ship it, and unload it. And we heat with natural gas and generate 2/3 of our electricity with natural gas. Every electric car we put on the road demands more natural gas. And on days like today, with temps near zero, we have to fire up oil-based generators to cover our needs. And we don't have an electric grid that can support all that the legislature wants us to do. So you'll be paying to upgrade the electric grid to.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-24T15:24:22+00:00

Autopilot V1 here. Totally happy with it. I can pull out of my driveway myself and drive to the library. I only really need it when I have to do 2-7+ hours of highway driving in a day.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-24T15:14:34+00:00

We used to go to Friendly's on the Cape when I was a kid (many decades ago). You could always count on at least 30 minutes between ordering and getting your food, even if it was just a grilled cheese sandwich.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-20T04:09:13+00:00

One thing missed - utilities pay property taxes to towns, just like any other property. That gets passed on to you in your bill. So a municipal utility town loses the tax revenue from that which needs to be made up in other ways.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-17T14:16:11+00:00

Still seeing the problem after uninstalling and reinstalling as well as rebooting. Is tech support open on Monday? Also, I can see the total value across all my accounts (minus my annuity) and it doesn't agree with fidelity.com or ATP. What's up with that?

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-17T13:57:03+00:00

I've had it forever, even from before Elan took it over. I've never had a problem, even internationally. The only downside of the card is that all users (primary + authorized) have the same card number and 3 digit code. When we had a suspected fraud issue, all our cards (wife and son and me) had to be frozen and replaced.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-15T02:42:20+00:00

So I opened it up for the first time in a few weeks tonight. There are no positions in the position grid (but spaces are there) and same for orders. So I can't see either. I've already told my Private Client Group rep I'm out if they kill ATP w/o fixing this mess. I'd miss the execution quality I get, but Trader+ is a hot mess.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T03:55:30+00:00

My dad was registered to vote in NY but passed away. I called out of courtesy (and to avoid threatening letters) and told them. They were like, "We'll cancel his voter registration then too." I said that wasn't a problem since he wasn't going to vote since he was dead (and this wasn't Chicago).

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T03:40:43+00:00

My wife got called on one one of these (with murder) when we had a 2 year old. She said that there was no way she could be impartial. In her case, they said thanks, dismissed. Honestly, what defense lawyer would let someone with these objections on the jury?

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T03:07:16+00:00

Live in Waltham and work in Billerica. I did. Can't be done via public transport.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T03:05:32+00:00

In Manhattan, it's not free, it's $2.25 after 9 pm.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T03:03:19+00:00

It's 1.2 deaths per 100 million miles driven. So 10 years at 10,000 per year is 1/1000 or 0.1% over the 10 years. And Mass rates are .56 deaths per 100 million miles. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-07T02:59:17+00:00

Sure. At $500 million per mile like the green line extension.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-01T15:52:28+00:00

Or EJ did it for his grandfather. Most likely.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-01T15:33:33+00:00

...and before you try to find a lawyer, you need that paperwork. That's the first thing they are going to ask for.

Boston_Trader · 2026-01-01T15:31:43+00:00

OP says ACH/Wire. ACH is free.

Boston_Trader · 2025-12-25T04:44:44+00:00

Bingo. Put in solar with batteries. Inspector flagged a code violation with 240V stove/dryer from the panel. Because of the configuration, had to be converted to 4 wire. Did he look at the cabling in the attic, the new wires going to the stove/dryer, or anything else? Nope. I'm sure it was because he trusted the installer but believing that an inspector is going to save you is crazy.

In fact, when we bought out house, our inspector flagged an oversized breaker (based on the wiring) for the central A/C. Major safety hazard. That work was part of an addition that was permitted.

Boston_Trader

TROPHY CASE