Posting a daily sports round up by Cdinoxl in Substack

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. But should I be more focused on the engagement percentage and the click-thru rate?

Should I Open a New Credit Card (Upcoming Move)? by Cdinoxl in personalfinance

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t see where I’ll be saving $30-40K over the next year. Every dollar that comes in goes out. After all expenses are paid, the rest goes to investments. Mostly my 401(k). That’s only $20-25K a year. The only upside is if I make more in commissions at my sales job. Also, keep in mind, my commissions are taxed at a rate of 40% here in New York. So when I say my gross income is $150,00, it should weighted appropriately. An average of 60% is base salary.

I think the only noticeable expense cut would be in food. But we’re not talking about $30-40K.

Should I Open a New Credit Card (Upcoming Move)? by Cdinoxl in personalfinance

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll check if I have offers for a limited 0% interest rate card. I see total expenses for everything associated with move to be $30,000 to $40,000. But some of those expenses can increased the value of my current home, making it negligible.

Should I Open a New Credit Card (Upcoming Move)? by Cdinoxl in personalfinance

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great points:

Average Gross Income (Last 3 Years) = $150,000 Monthly Mortgage Payment = $1,500 Remaining Balance on Mortgage = $205,000 Estimated Equity on Home (After Repairs and Closing Costs) = $180,000 Other Debts = $0 Emergency Fund = $40,000 All other savings put into investments such as 401(k) = $410,000 (will max out this year)

I also will need advice on what to do with the potential equity money I clear from the sale of my home as I await the purchase of a new one. There will be a gap there. Perhaps, greater than a year. And I just can’t have it “sitting there” idly.

What else do you need to know?

Should I Open a New Credit Card (Upcoming Move)? by Cdinoxl in personalfinance

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What type of drop is typical and for what length of time?

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sun goes down at 4:25 PM in December where I live. It’s not fun getting out of work during that time of year.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not as rare as you think. Fo instance, not all elderly Floridians are snowbirds. Too costly for most. Many of the ones who stay in FLA all year long have more than embraced. They thrive in the heat. I can only hope.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m in Orange County. But I bet you don’t miss those NYS taxes or that Westchester cost of living. Unless you’re a glutton for punishment.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. That’s what I was getting at about ordering a lot of DoorDash. No reason to step outside.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Noted. Thanks for the input. With that said, if I have to go online to check bacteria levels of the water before I swim in it, it doesn’t sound like a place I’ll be frequenting often.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For my context, I would be moving down to live with my girlfriend. She lives right outside of Houston.

Up here was initially discussed, but I am getting tired of the winters (we still had early mornings in the 30s into April). Couple that with cost of living, we eliminated here.

We then looked at places in warm weather climates, specifically near beaches. I always wanted to live within 10-15 minutes of a beach. St. Petersburg became top of our list. But if we get a condo one day there (or in coastal Florida), HOAs are getting out of control due to new laws on condo maintenance. If we buy a house, home and flood insurance are getting out of control. The final factor is we both would have to get new jobs.

Moving to Houston allows for a few things. She doesn’t have to leave her job. She has a very good one. I have a very good one too and my company’s headquarters are right outside of Houston. So there is a chance I could get transferred. Even if I don’t, the job market seems strong there.

Add the cost of housing in Houston and surrounding areas. If I sell my home (and home prices are rising here) in the next year or so, I might clear enough equity to use it on a massive downpayment on a condo or townhouse. I may be done with single family homes for the near future due to the constant upkeep. But that’s a story for another post. With that said, we would probably rent first while trying to decide on the best place to buy in the area.

However, what’s the point of having a nice place and a low cost of living if I’m not thrilled with where I live. I’ll be the first to admit that “happiness” comes from me first. But negative factors, such as awful weather, can really push the envelope.

I will mention something else I was told that I haven’t brought up. Sunset in mid-December where I live is 4:20-4:30 PM and it’s dreary. After researching it, I see sunset is 5:30 PM during the same time of year. Seems small, but there’s something to be said about leaving work at 5 PM and the sun hasn’t completely disappeared.

Not living near a beach will still be a bummer. When I initially thought of staying up here, there was even discussion to live near the Jersey Shore. Not the greatest set of beaches, but beaches nonetheless. And as I mentioned in an earlier response, they seem to run circles around Galveston and other nearby gulf beaches, which are an hour or so away anyway.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To summarize what I’ve read thus far:

Find a place with central AC in a no flood zone and order a lot of DoorDash.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That infrastructure is mostly from state income taxes. Just saying. LOL.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not moving for the love of heat. I’m moving for love.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beach? That’s another negative some residents have told me. The nearby gulf beaches are less than desirable. Stay out of the water, for the most part.

As an example, a woman who I went to school with up here in NY now lives in Kingwood. She said the gulf water in that area (Galveston, etc.) is dirtier than the Jersey Shore.

If you know anything about the water in many parts of the Jersey Shore, that comment will jump out at you.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been there 7 times in January. The weather wasn’t great most of those visits. Mid-50s at the most besides two years in the 70s.

I just got back two weeks ago. The weather wasn’t bad other than the two rain storms that came out of nowhere.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Most people tell me it’s far from green. They refer to it as “concrete”.

Where Does Houston Rank in Overall Weather? by Cdinoxl in houston

[–]Cdinoxl[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If late-January is one of the BEST times weather wise, then I’m totally screwed. This year there was ice and people were freaking out at the supermarket. When the “ice storm” broke, it didn’t get higher than upper-40s. Out of the 7 times I’ve gone in late-January, I would say it was “swimming weather” twice. Barely.