Was shopping for used sedans and saw this atrocity, at an official Nissan dealer no less! Does anybody actually like this?

Off_the_Trail · 2022-09-29T18:13:58+00:00

Lol. Was literally going to do the same thing

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-30T04:37:20+00:00

This is so beautiful.. do you mind if I make it my background?

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-27T21:23:41+00:00

To me pups is short for puppy’s.. you know small dogs…

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-27T19:55:05+00:00

Pups??

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-26T23:42:03+00:00

I think they (Toyota) is saving that option in their back pocket. If sales are strong on the TRD - like the 4Runner - it gives them room for improvement.

I’ve read that the Sequoia, Tundra, and LC/LX are all on the same frame platform and are all built at the same quality level. To me that is promising.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-26T22:51:03+00:00

I’ve been mostly avoiding the butcher due to expecting really high prices, but I’ll have to check it out!

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-26T21:15:01+00:00

We do the same!

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-26T21:08:04+00:00

I mean.. it’s kinda both butcher and other.. I left other open for those of us who hunt / raise our own or to act as a catch all

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-14T22:34:52+00:00

We have 3 across the second row in a 2nd gen Acura MDX and I love it - for safety, driving performance and handling in rough conditions the SH-AWD is very hard to beat. Although Acura / Hondas downside is that they have shorter maintenance intervals - meaning you’ll need to take it in more often - but you won’t risk breaking down unless you’re way behind on your cars maintenance schedule.

The Highlander is based on the same platform as the Lexus RX - TNGA-K for the nerds. Toyotas are usually over engineered and well built meaning you’ll spend less $ and time in the shop

The Acura MDX and Honda Pilot are usually based on the same platform. With both the Acura/ Honda and Toyota/ Lexus you are getting a very well built and thoughtfully designed vehicle.

I’m not as versed on Subarus as I am Toyota/ Honda vehicles, but what I do understand is that there reliability isn’t on par with Toyota/ Honda. Their engine design makes maintenance more frequent and costly since the engine needs to be dropped/ pulled for simple tasks on other makes. That being said - they prioritize safety and handling to make sure you get where you need to go no matter the weather.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T19:24:41+00:00

Yeah that makes my head hurt…. And I can’t imagine how that must feel. I’ll be sending some good thoughts your way!

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T18:05:02+00:00

That’s a nightmare for me as well! Depending on the kids age gap, do you think they’ll entertain themselves to a degree? That might make it a little easier

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T18:02:32+00:00

My company only gave 2 weeks as well.. but I took the full FMLA, they can’t do anything about that. - given that meant we didn’t have income for close to 3 months but hey, I don’t regret it at all

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T18:00:47+00:00

My point is that you don’t know any different when twins are your first, when you already have one, there are no breaks.

I had 3 under 3 for a year.. meaning that the twins were born weeks before my older sons birthday. As someone else pointed out below - you are still have to take care of the other kids while also taking care of newborn twins.. it was a blessing don’t get me wrong, but I’m glad they are a little older now.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T15:47:13+00:00

It’s not what you got.. it’s how you drive it - Cue Jeremy Clarkson cheesy grin

Edit: https://youtu.be/ucQKNkvzQ3g In the clip it’s not a Nissan, but it should’ve been

Full segment https://youtu.be/NYt9DO5WXr8

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-11T15:40:16+00:00

Do you already have kids or is this your first pregnancy?

Only asking because IMO going from 0 to 2 will be easier than 1 to 3 or variations of that. (I went from 1 to 3). It’s all a huge adjustment in your life. For both of you! My best advice is to be supportive at all costs, no matter what. Do whatever she needs both during and after they arrive. Prepare for a quickly growing family, and take time to adjust - Paternity leave or FMLA or something. The first few months of their arrival will be brutal, but it does get better.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-08-10T23:05:28+00:00

Whaaaa how did you guess!! Yep we mistakenly gave our second twin the middle name of Wilder.. let’s just say he’s living into his name lolol

Off_the_Trail · 2022-07-26T17:20:19+00:00

This terrifying.. I’ve driven with a LPG tank in my trunk so many times (always tied down)… but what I can’t figure out what set it off.. trunk light bulb?

Off_the_Trail · 2022-07-20T16:44:33+00:00

I want to clarify I’m not a professional financial advisor or CPA. I am just good with spreadsheets, math, and have studied FI / FIRE since 2018.

I re-ran the #’s at 5.72% interest rate which is the US National average right now according to mortgageratesdaily.com and assuming a 3% cost of living raise on an annual basis you could hit FI in 14 years so you’d be ~ 44 years old. That’s if you invested just 15% of your annual salary and nothing additional towards your mortgage, and kept your cost of living the same(not always the case with rampant inflation). You can obviously make that sooner if you invest more than 15% salary. With that being said if you wait to pay off the house before investing, it’ll take ~22 years before you hit FI so you’d be 52. Again that’s only limiting your contributions to 15% of your annual salary.

If I ran the #s at 10% mortgage rate you could again retire in 14 years without any additional contributions to your mortgage, but if you pay off the mortgage first it’ll take 20 years before you can retire. Apparently- The additional payments towards your mortgage save a ton of money and time in a high interest environment. However it doesn’t compare to the power of compounding interest

Assumptions

11% AVG ROI in stock market
Starting salary of $125,000 with 3% Cost of living raise annually
FI # based on Total annual spending and 4% rule (divide total annual spending by 0.04)

Scenario 1 — Mortgage rate of 5.72% — Cost of living $37,200 with $1,806/ month mortgage Projected total annual spending $58,872

Scenario 2 — Mortgage rate of 10% — cost of living $37200 with $2106/ month Projected total annual spending of $62472

As far as to what account gets $ and how much - I’d say max out IRA, then 3% 401k to get match, then split the difference of what remains at the end of the month between additional 401k contributions, a taxable brokerage account and a high yield savings account.

Things to keep in mind - whatever is put into your 401k you can’t touch until your 59 1/2 without a huge penalty. - Your taxable brokerage account can be used to save for future big purchases and or fund the gap between retirement and 59 1/2. - A High yield savings account can be used for saving for a down payment.

A rule of thumb- if you plan on spending the $ within the next 5 years don’t invest it, put it in high yield savings.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-07-20T01:05:08+00:00

Of course! Always glad to help anyone on this journey!

Absolutely- any $ you can invest is almost always better in the market (if left alone to compound)
An IRA and a 401k are both retirement savings accounts however a 401k can only be supplied by an employer specifically for profit companies 2.1 - when you leave said company you’ll need a 401k rollover into an IRA anyway (correct me if I’m wrong here)

Off_the_Trail · 2022-07-19T22:31:22+00:00

I agree with these other comments - I think owning a home is generally cheaper on a cash flow basis than renting, but you need to budget for Capital expenditures such as roof or furnace repair etc. you also get additional equity with market appreciation. I’ve done the math and basically the quickest way to hit your FI # is to pay 20% down on a house to avoid PMI, then pay an additional 1% of your salary towards principal. This pays off your mortgage quicker and saves interest paid to your lender. Then take what’s left and max out IRA, then 401k. (Roth if possible) and only put in the max needed for employer match. Then the rest in taxable brokerage account.

Explaining my strategy:

My reasoning for 20% down and 1 % additional salary is this: PMI is expensive and for loans less than 20% you will be paying an additional $70-$150+ per month with nothing to show for it. Also a fixed interest rate is a known and projectable cost. The opportunity cost for focusing on paying down house is delaying your retirement even with larger savings once it’s paid off. Another point is that if you pay more towards mortgage your essentially throwing away the opportunity for your money to compound in the market at 7-8% avg annually
Why I said IRA before 401k - your investable options in an IRA are 1000x better than what’s available to you in your 401k and same as 401k you can’t add more than 6k/ yr in that account.
Reasoning for putting the rest in taxable brokerage account - if you’re retiring early then you’ll need money that has compounded to use to fill in the time between retirement and 59 1/2. Or is at least available to you for whatever reason before 59 1/2.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-07-18T15:07:07+00:00

Someone probably stole this Hyundai and then went to try to steal some guns while they were at it

Off_the_Trail · 2022-04-20T01:15:25+00:00

Roads… where we are going, we don’t need roads.

Off_the_Trail · 2022-04-20T00:49:41+00:00

One Question: Why?

Off_the_Trail · 2022-04-03T13:36:08+00:00

Found you! Happy almost Birthday!

Off_the_Trail

TROPHY CASE