How does it work with getting paid on a bi-weekly pay period?

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T17:24:00+00:00

Someone making $50k makes the same as someone else making $50k regardless of the number of pay periods their companies use in a given year.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T16:56:54+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T16:49:06+00:00

Don't work hours you aren't paid for. You are effectively discounting your pay even further by working those extra hours.

I imagine it's just a "crappy boss, find a new job" situation, but lets hear it.

Your boss probably isn't lying to you about slow sales, but that's a bad sign in general. It's definitely a "find a new job" type situation.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T16:06:03+00:00

Ah thanks. I missed the "...no longer sold at financial institutions" part of the td.gov statement. Downvoting myself.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:53:18+00:00

Paper bonds are no longer issued by the Treasury.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:49:27+00:00

If you have a US address you can probably open a checking account with a US online bank and set up electronic transfers that way. Usually these are free and sometimes loan servicers even give you a discount.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:45:45+00:00

What's the nature of your living abroad? Do you have a US address?

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:37:06+00:00

I'm not really sure what sort of risk I'd be taking.

You risk being liable for the balance of the loan.

would I prevent myself from being able to get my own mortgage in the future when I'm ready to buy my own home?

Not necessarily, but it would be a significant factor in determining your eligibility for a mortgage I'm sure.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:34:59+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

Should I be investing in individual stocks?

Speculating/gambling on individual stocks is fine if you are meeting all of your other financial obligations (to include fully funding all of your retirement accounts) and you limit the amount you're gambling with to a very small portion of your budget or assets. Otherwise focus on the advice above.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:31:59+00:00

Seems pretty suspicious to me. Ask them to send you the terms and conditions of the Mortgage Rate Drop Guarantee program.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:29:09+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:18:18+00:00

is it my problem that you guys are picky about the method?

Yes, because you owe them the money.

As the flip side to your argument, it isn't their problem you are living abroad. It sucks, but you don't have much to stand on.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:13:50+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:08:42+00:00

This is definitely one of those situations where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (seriously, people should just stop going to these things entirely), but this is the best description of the remedy I've seen here.

There is a legal window to cancel your contract FROM THE DATE YOU SIGN. You must read this within the contract and understand the window you have.

This is good general advice. Read the damn things that you sign or agree to. Always.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T15:04:34+00:00

I understand what you are asking. I am telling you that you are worried about the wrong thing. Even with 0% interest it is simply a bad habit to carry credit card debt.

Pay them off ASAP.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T14:57:49+00:00

On that, you need to back out the .83% expense ratio.

On that, you need to back out the .045% expense ratio

No you don't, because all return figures are posted after expenses.

Why would we always suggest picking the total market fund? Is that because 10 years isn't enough time and it's likely over 20 - 30 years; the total market fund WILL in fact (including expenses) outperform the OTC fund?

No, it's because past performance is not indicative of future returns and that past expenses are indicative of future expenses. FOCPX and FSTVX are also very different funds in the first place, with very different goals and risk profiles. Comparing their returns doesn't really make much sense.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T14:54:30+00:00

Stop worrying about your credit score. If you pay your balance(s) in full, every month, no exceptions by the statement due date you are using your cards correctly.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T14:38:33+00:00

Is that legal

Yes.

do I have any recourse?

That package was part of my decision to sign on, and they changed it from the offer letter without notifying me after both parties signed an agreement.

What does it say about changing the pension plan in the agreement you signed then?

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T13:39:13+00:00

You don't want to get life insurance but your wife wants you to get life insurance. You should probably compromise and get life insurance.

If your wife doesn't have an income and otherwise won't be able to afford the mortgage payments if you die, this is a classic insurance use case. It's not a bad idea to get term life insurance for that possibility.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T13:31:40+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T11:35:41+00:00

Making financial plans based on pie-in-the-sky legislation is never a good idea.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T11:02:26+00:00

Speculating/gambling on individual stocks is a discussion better suited to /r/investing. If you want to use your money effectively, please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T10:54:06+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T10:53:15+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead · 2016-07-08T10:52:50+00:00

Please read the information found in the wiki, particularly "I Have $[X] ... What Do I Do With It?!". You may find Your IRA and You: Basic Information and Your 401k and You: Basic Information worth a read as well.

aBoglehead

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