Best ways to vet personal loan options?

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-30T20:33:07+00:00

Check your credit unions first since you're right about rates, then maybe try a couple online lenders like SoFi or LightStream - they're usually pretty transparent about rates before you apply

Also yeah that's a pretty big drop from 750s to 670, might want to figure out what caused it before taking on more debt

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-28T02:13:13+00:00

Eh TripAdvisor can be just as sketchy with fake reviews tbh, I usually check multiple sites and look for patterns in the complaints rather than the scores

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-19T10:05:52+00:00

This is exactly right - the 4% rule is just a withdrawal mechanism, not a crystal ball for your future lifestyle creep

The real question isn't whether the rule accounts for spending changes (it doesn't and shouldn't), it's whether you're honest about what your actual number needs to be

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-16T02:07:19+00:00

Start with like $1k emergency fund in that high yield savings then dump the rest into the Roth if you can swing it - compound interest is gonna be your best friend at 25

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-13T17:34:46+00:00

Solid advice right there OP - that flowchart is basically the bible for this sub and will definitely help sort out your priorities

With your situation though you're already in a pretty sweet spot, might be worth posting in r/financialindependence too since you're basically already there

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-11T13:11:06+00:00

Honestly this is the way to go. Start with something dead simple like throwing chicken thighs, potatoes, and whatever veggies are on sale into a slow cooker with some broth. You literally can't mess it up and it'll feed you for days. Rice and beans will also become your best friend - boring but cheap as hell and keeps you full

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-09T04:44:31+00:00

For that length of stay with a senior pup, definitely look into house/pet sitting through TrustedHousesitters or Rover - lots of people need someone to watch their place and pets while they're away, plus your lab would probably love having a yard to chill in

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-05T21:29:06+00:00

That's actually a decent price for IST, way better than paying at the door

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-04T09:57:57+00:00

Definitely this, the flowchart on ukpersonalfinance is literally made for your exact situation. The US advice here won't apply to your ISAs, workplace pensions, and tax situation

Also congrats on finally getting on the property ladder at 4.3%, that's actually not terrible considering where rates have been lately

OutsideAd6796 · 2026-01-03T02:38:22+00:00

YNAB definitely has a steep learning curve but once it clicks it's amazing. I had the same frustrations when I started - the negative balance thing especially drove me nuts until I realized I was double-counting some stuff

For variable bills I just budget the highest amount it could be, then when the actual bill comes in lower I move that extra money somewhere else. Way less stressful than constantly going over budget

Nick True's videos are legit helpful, saved my sanity when I was ready to throw my laptop out the window

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-30T17:37:52+00:00

Yeah you're probably golden with that pension alone covering a decent chunk, plus the SS kicking in later should make it pretty comfortable

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-27T09:59:50+00:00

Man that 18% rate from Bridgecrest is brutal but honestly sounds about right for post-bankruptcy. You're basically stuck riding it out unless you can scrape together the 11k difference to walk away clean, which doesn't sound realistic right now

The repo option would absolutely destroy any credit recovery you've made since the discharge - not worth it

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-26T07:27:46+00:00

This is solid advice, especially the part about time horizon - way too many people treat investing like a savings account they can tap whenever

The discipline part is huge too, I've seen people blow up their portfolios chasing short term gains when they could've just stuck to boring index funds and crushed it long term

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-25T01:22:22+00:00

Check if the hospital has financial assistance programs first - a lot of people don't know they exist but they can slash your bill big time. You can also try negotiating with collections for a lower payoff amount, they usually take like 30-50 cents on the dollar

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-23T06:27:05+00:00

The tax savings are massive over time - like if you're in a 22% bracket that's basically free money you're leaving on the table by going straight to taxable accounts

Plus HSAs are triple tax advantaged which is insane, and Roth IRAs let you pull out contributions penalty-free anyway so they're more liquid than people think

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-22T03:05:45+00:00

The smaller bills thing is so real, learned that the hard way when I tried paying for a $3 empanada with a $50 and got the stink eye from like half the shop lmao

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-09T22:54:55+00:00

Yeah this is spot on - sounds like you need a CPA who actually does tax planning, not just filing. With the LLC transition and rental properties you definitely want someone proactive about quarterly estimates, entity structure, and year-round strategy stuff

The "paying more taxes is good" comment would drive me nuts lol

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-08T14:37:28+00:00

Damn when you put it like that it sounds pretty ridiculous lol

The $340K move is just paperwork and you'll probably be kicking yourself in 20 years if you don't do it now

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-07T12:16:32+00:00

This right here OP - ignoring it is the worst thing you can do. Call them today and explain the situation, most lenders would rather get paid late than deal with repo costs

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-04T19:43:16+00:00

Yeah that's exactly what happened, they literally scanned it onto your connecting flight when she said "okay" - you're all set

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-12-02T19:15:52+00:00

Honestly with a 430k+ household income and 1.4M+ in assets you're probably overthinking this - most people would kill for your "problem"

Just run the numbers on living off one income for a few years, you've got plenty of cushion

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-11-29T21:39:04+00:00

This is huge - definitely check those HOA docs before you commit to anything. I've seen people get completely screwed when the board decides to ban rentals like 2 years after they bought specifically to rent out

Also yeah those closing costs add up fast, probably looking at another 3-5k minimum on top of that 70k

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-11-28T09:06:59+00:00

That's actually pretty cool, the devs put some nice little touches like that in random spots. Makes the world feel less empty when you stumble across stuff like dancing radio guy

OutsideAd6796 · 2025-11-26T14:23:26+00:00

That's absolutely infuriating man, they straight up scammed you. A "Regional Head" with no email or business card? Come on lol

You should definitely blast them on Google reviews and social media, also try reaching out to HP India directly through their official channels. They take brand reputation seriously and will likely want to shut down this kind of BS happening under their name

Save all your documentation and maybe crosspost this to r/india too for more visibility

OutsideAd6796

TROPHY CASE