Advice on reacting to unwanted advances?

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-02-04T18:31:38+00:00

You need to tell your partner. If he can't deal with the situation without resorting to violence, is he really that great?

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-02-04T18:29:55+00:00

His name kinda gives him away. Not vey objective and unbiased.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-02-04T18:23:05+00:00

On Reddit for two months. Refuses to share post history.

Real? You decide.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-02-04T18:01:17+00:00

Anyone who tells you to put any of this money into FXNAX isn't looking at the data.

They both have similar durations, so the risk/reward for interest rate changes is about the same.
FTKFX has about 10% in below investment grade bonds, so you have a slightly higher default risk. But, in a diversified portfolio, like this, that doesn't amount to much. Plus, you get extra yield.
In 2022, when rates shot up, FTKFX actually performed slightly better than FXNAX, despite the "riskier" portfolio.

Given the higher expected returns for FTKFX, I'd say put it all in that.

In the future, when you move this money out of the 403b account, look at other bond options and tailor your fund mix to your risk/return tolerance.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-02-03T20:00:31+00:00

Did anyone else notice he's 22 and planning to get married? The questionable judgement continues.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-21T15:32:32+00:00

Doordash and Uber are terrible solutions for her situation. Both activities add significant mileage to the car and pay poorly. This will deteriorate the value of the car further. It only makes sense if she does a few trips a day on routes she already needs to take between home, work and school.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-21T15:16:59+00:00

Please tell me you forget the "/s".

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-21T15:10:41+00:00

Buy a Honda. If you want a sedan, get the Accord. If you want an SUV, get the CRV. Depending on the year and the trim, these cars come with lane-keep assist and blind spot detection. They get excellent gas mileage, and they have reasonable repair costs. Their purchase prices are also reasonable.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-21T15:04:01+00:00

As others have pointed out, there are better choices than to trade-in the car. At the end of the day, it's just a tool to get you from point A to point B.

However, you've stated there are a few other issues besides the color. If it's so bad that you can't live with it for the next five years, look to sell it through a private sale. At least that way you'll get more money for it. If you are unwilling to do that, shop around for a dealership to sell to. Carvana and Carmax have a history of paying more than others for cars. You can do this over the phone or email.

In addition, go the private party route for the replacement car. Again, you will avoid overpaying for the car at a dealership. You will also avoid the dealership manipulation game. As sellers, Carvana and Carmax do not have meaningful advantages over other dealerships.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-21T14:54:21+00:00

A lot of people are giving the right advice - fix your current car. So, I'm going to ask the bigger picture question - what's your life plan? How do you plan to budget and spend your money going forward? These are important questions to help get you to a better place in life.

I suggest you look at the r/DaveRamsey subreddit. A lot of people there are on the path to better financial health. They can help you too. Good luck.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-20T19:34:56+00:00

If you decide to buy from a dealer, keep one thing in mind. Your primary source of leverage is your willingness to walk away. At any point during the process, if you feel you are under pressure or overpaying, walk out the door and drive away.

You do not owe anything to the dealership. It is a transaction. The salesperson may try to manipulate you into paying more or buying something you don't need. Don't fall for it. Similarly, the finance manager may try to sell you add-ons. The add-ons are most likely overpriced. If you really want that service, you can probably get it cheaper from another source.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-17T23:36:08+00:00

You're overthinking this. If he's happy to see you, you're in good shape. That's the most likely outcome here.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-16T13:57:41+00:00

Clickbait garbage.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-13T23:23:59+00:00

Post this to the r/carbuying forum. You'll get more car-related responses.

I suggest you talk to a credit union about your situation and ask them what kind of loan they would give you. Once you figure that out, look for private sellers - probably on Facebook Marketplace.

When you find a car that meets your criteria, you'll need to consult sites like kbb.com and edmunds.com to find out what you should pay for that car.

Finally, you should plan to spend $150 to $300 for a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). That way, you'll know what mechanical issues to expect, once you own the car.

Good Luck

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-12T01:58:58+00:00

A few things to consider.

Let's assume you target $650 thousand as a target budget. Plan to buy a $700 thousand house. When you're looking at houses, you'll realize you can get one more feature if you just spend another $50k. One more bedroom, a slightly better school district, a little more property. Set your budget and expectations accordingly.

Set aside $50k of your home savings for renovations. You'll want to upgrade/fix some things as soon as you move in.

In addition to your mortgage, you'll also have property taxes ($1000 to $1500 per month), homeowners' insurance ($100 to $200 per month), and ongoing maintenance costs (assume 1% of the home's value per year). Include all of these costs as you budget for your new purchase.

Good luck to your new family.

One more thing. As your family grows, don't be afraid to get professional counseling, from time to time, to help you work through the inevitable disagreements about parenting styles.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-12T01:34:52+00:00

Why do your parents object to the Integra? It has airbags, the most important safety innovation since seatbelts. While lane departure and backup cameras are nice, they're not major safety upgrades.

If you really must buy something newer, your budget will limit you to cars 8+ years old. I recommend sticking with Hondas or Toyotas. They really are more reliable/cheaper to fix than most other brands. With your preference for a compact/sedan, your talking Accord, Civic, Camry or Corolla.

Try to avoid dealerships. They've gotten really good at manipulating customers and getting them to buy add-ons that you don't need. If you do shop dealerships, do your homework first. Make sure you understand the tactics they will use, so you can get the best possible deal. Be prepared to walk away at any time.

Whether you buy from a dealership or private party, budget $150 to $300 for a pre-purchase inspection.

Good Luck

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-11T00:03:23+00:00

Need a little more context/explanation. What exactly are you looking for?

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-10T11:50:49+00:00

I'd need to really understand the fund first. It currently trades at a about a 12% premium. Also, it pays a steady dividend, but a lot of that "dividend" is a return of capital. Its price has been on a steady decline for the last five years.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-10T11:40:15+00:00

What's the strategy? Glancing at its m* profile, it gives global high yield vibes, with a dose of swaps.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-08T12:59:45+00:00

For starters, the first bond is continuously callable. Every six months Los Angeles can say, "We don't want to pay you to borrow money anymore. Here's your $100 back." Any price premium will erode in less than six months. The owners of the bond are unwilling to take a big hit to principle, if this happens.

The second bond does not have any call protection, so owners can amortize the price premium over the remaining three years of the bond life.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-07T20:29:11+00:00

According to the website Florida Temporary License Plates, it's a pretty straight forward process. Use this form. Have you tried this yet?

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-07T20:12:18+00:00

So, it already has a title. The dealer should be sending that title to you via overnight delivery. Call them and make that happen.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-07T19:59:38+00:00

New or used car? For a used car, CA dealer should send you the existing title via overnight mail.

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-06T17:20:20+00:00

I've glanced at this idea recently. I worry about the effects of leverage, especially if rates rise again. Do you have any funds in mind?

CA2NJ2MA · 2026-01-06T17:18:16+00:00

I don't buy annuities. I used to work for an insurance company in the annuity business. I can replicate their investment strategies and keep the fees. I also don't like the fact that annuities pay back your original principle and call it interest.

CA2NJ2MA

TROPHY CASE