So I got engaged and bought a house with my fiancee. We lived together for a couple of years but it did not go well and she moved out. So I'd like to keep the house but do that I'll need to get her off the mortgage and off the deed.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 22, 2013 -
20 answers
Huge jackpot lotteries in the USA, like Powerball and Mega Millions, offer the jackpot as either an annuity for the total amount of the prize, or a lump sum for a reduced amount. It seems that the vast majority of the winners pick the lump sum over the annuity. Which to me just makes no sense at all.
[more inside]
posted by spinifex23
on May 20, 2013 -
42 answers
My husband and I have been together for 9 years, married for the last 3. We met when I was 19, and him 21. Recently I have been feeling like I might want out. I still love him, but I am not sure that he is going to change in ways which I would prefer him to.
Should I tell him I want to separate or wait to see if things get better?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 19, 2013 -
35 answers
As an S-corp, am I legally obligated to present receipts or copies of receipts in the event of an audit?
[more inside]
posted by JJkiss
on May 17, 2013 -
12 answers
My best friend has $10,000 to invest and she wants to open up a business selling shoes for people with wide feet that are greater than the sizes that are usually available in stores (one of her friends has this as a great need) or an online store that sells adult toys.
Are any of these worthy endeavors for me and her to pursue? If not, what is the best way to make money with a $10,000 investment?
posted by antgly
on May 16, 2013 -
21 answers
I went back to school to get some certificates. During the two years since I finished, I have never received even one invoice for my education debt. I have not been contacted in any way. I can't even figure out who I owe money to. Am I going to be in trouble?
[more inside]
posted by matt_arnold
on May 16, 2013 -
25 answers
Here's what I'm wondering. I recently discovered that an old respected friend is studying to become a Dianetics Auditor. My friend had a rough patch a few years ago and ended up feeling happier after undergoing Dianetcs Auditing. Good for her, I say. All I know of the church makes it seem like a nonsensical cult-like place that takes your money, but she's happy.
[more inside]
posted by kinetic
on May 16, 2013 -
41 answers
I saw a post on tumblr, about why some larger bills have little stamps on them. The reason they gave is that drug dealers will stamp the bills to keep track of them. This makes absolutely no sense to me.
So question one is, does this sound accurate? Does anyone have any way of saying if this is or isn't true?
Question two, why the heck are these stamps on bills?
Here's a
picture of a purported drug dealer stamped bill.
posted by trogdole
on May 11, 2013 -
8 answers
I find this
comparison really confusing. I'm starting the job in August.
I'm an early 30s married woman who would like to become pregnant in the next year. The contract only lasts through the end of 2014. I do want to continue on working there, but I have no idea if additional grant money will become available at that time. Which plan would you choose? Or, failing that, which are the important factors to consider?
posted by anonymous
on May 8, 2013 -
4 answers
Many years ago I read an essay that was pretty critical of the way so much fantasy fiction could not build believable societies with plausible economic underpinnings. The author was fairly concise and snarky, arguing that (I'm paraphrasing here) she could suspend disbelief about dragons and magic, but that she couldn't slog her way through a book where not the least bit of thought had been given to how all these characters and their associates could make a living, grow or acquire food, and otherwise acquire money and engage in trade. I
think it was an essay by Joanna Russ in Fantasy & Science Fiction in the 70s, when she had a regular book review column there, but I could be conflating like mad.
posted by maudlin
on May 7, 2013 -
6 answers
I went on a long, long break form my creative career cause I was feeling burnt out due to some failures and now I can't seem to get back into it, possibly because I no longer have a financial incentive to do so. How can I fix this? Warning: Long, super privileged person problems.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 7, 2013 -
18 answers
Two people -- both in 40ish-- are talking about the possibility of moving in together. We are in a loving and serious long-term relationship. There has been an initial talk about how we might handle finances and we came to conclusion that there are many ways we could handle them. I read a few posts about how couples handle finances, but am looking for some more viewpoints/options for us to consider and discuss. Details inside.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 6, 2013 -
11 answers
Let's say hypothetically someone had $100,000 in cash and they wanted to convert it to some other item of equal value and store in a safe deposit box. What would the best item be? In the movies it tends to be some kind of certificate like bearer bonds, or precious metals, artwork, or jewelry. What choice is the most secure and likely to retain its value over time?
posted by averageamateur
on May 4, 2013 -
24 answers
I have a "Donate" button on my web site, but people are using it against me. Are there any seller/money recipient friendly money sites like Paypal?
[more inside]
posted by arniec
on May 3, 2013 -
10 answers
I do think that pretty soon everyone will have a 3D printer at home--but which one? I'm looking to invest in a company that makes and/or sells them, but I have never invested on my own before and have no idea how to choose the company that will be the right one. I realize that the stock market is all about speculation and uncertainty, but can someone point me in the right direction so I can at least make an informed decision? I don't have any real life friends who are investors, either, so I turn to your collective wisdom. Thank you!
posted by aimeedee
on Apr 29, 2013 -
18 answers
Our house is entirely plumbed in copper. Even the ginormous pipe that leaves the house to go out to the sewer.. whenever people see the maze of pipes in our basement, they comment on how valuable it is. But really? I mean, besides all the work of tearing it out and dealing with the weight, etc etc, how would a normal person like me turn it into money????
[Not that I want to; I just ponder these things sometimes.]
posted by Tandem Affinity
on Apr 27, 2013 -
15 answers
I grew up in a lower-middle-class family. Through a combination of hard work, opportunity and luck, I find myself in my 30's with a very decent net worth. It's enough to allow me to feel very secure about retirement, job/career changes, health issues, supporting family, etc. and this security is probably the most important aspect of money to me. For me, money means security, safety, freedom. I maintain a very middle-class lifestyle, continue to work full-time and save at a reasonable rate.
I've started to realize how much this factors into my thinking about long term relationships, especially marriage (and its attendant family joining) and financial co-mingling, and am looking for some perspectives on positive ways of managing these kinds of issues.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 27, 2013 -
21 answers
I'd like a resource, be it a website, blog, book, etc. for learning about money, such as explaining inflation, compound interest, types of savings accounts, etc. I'm basically trying to learn how money works. Thanks. :)
posted by Cybria
on Apr 22, 2013 -
7 answers
I travel on a semi-regular basis and would like to become a better traveler, both in terms of trip planning and packing/unpacking/repacking. If you travel frequently, how do you do it? How can I up my game?
[more inside]
posted by kat518
on Apr 22, 2013 -
25 answers
So, I just found out about
SmartyPig, which offers a 1% APR. I've been using INGDirect (now Capitol One360) as my primary savings account for years, and while I've been generally happy with them, they only offer 0.75% APR. Are there downsides I'm not seeing to switching over to SmartyPig? Have you had excellent/terrible experiences with either of them that would lead you to recommend or vehemently oppose their use?
I'm not sure if it makes any difference, but my checking account is with BBVACompass, who's the bank behind SmartyPig.
Any insight would be much appreciated!
posted by csox
on Apr 19, 2013 -
9 answers
Some time after my second niece was born, I started sticking a couple of bucks a month into a savings account I set up for each girl. I've been plugging along for years, and now they are 9 and 12, and I have about $600 for each of them. I'd like to figure out a better way to save/invest the money than what I've been doing so far.
[more inside]
posted by Neely O'Hara
on Apr 18, 2013 -
10 answers
Single retiree is selling a big paid-off house and asked me and huzzeh for help deciding whether or not it makes sense to rent an apartment or buy a condo. What questions should we consider to help make this decision?
[more inside]
posted by elizeh
on Apr 18, 2013 -
17 answers
I realize that 70K is a lot for most people, but how much is it if I were a single mom with one child living in/near a large city? I have always had the belief that I should be able to support myself and my child, should anything (divorce) happen.
I face a choice now between starting a career I am passionate about (helping others) but will probably pay a steady 70K for the rest of my life. The other alternative is to stay in my boring, high paying job (100K by my 30's) that lets me enjoy the nights and weekends but does not make me feel satisfied or that I am contributing to society. I already volunteer on the side, and still desire a meaningful job.
I obviously want to go with my heart and pursue my passion, but I am in my mid 20's and cannot even imagine what my income requirements / priorities will be in my mid 30's when I will hopefully have a kid and a mortgage.
posted by puertosurf
on Apr 17, 2013 -
54 answers
LondonCommerceFilter: Business trip to London (from US) coming up, and I've got a free initial jetlag day that I'd like to spend shopping-- preferably for cool, unique,
not-too-expensive, suitable-for-gifting items I'd be unlikely to find in the US. I'm specially interested in women's accessories (scarves, jewelry); toys and games; (travel-friendly) foods; tchotchkes; and used/antique books. Any must-visit shops?
[more inside]
posted by gallusgallus
on Apr 15, 2013 -
23 answers
So, I'm with this guy, and we hope to spend the rest of our lives together. I'm a Millennial saver* and he's a Gen X spender. He has a middle class income (around 40k), and I make half of that. When it comes to our arguments, it may also be of relevance that he's a human and I'm more of a Vulcan. How do we reconcile our opposing viewpoints about finances, trust, and gadgets?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 11, 2013 -
60 answers
I want to save up money for a goal I want to meet in 2 years time. I don't trust myself to save the money I need to achieve the goal. I would like to open up a bank account that will only allow deposits for 2 years. Then after 2 years I will be allowed access to the money I've deposited. Are there banks that allow such accounts?
posted by Birchpear
on Apr 10, 2013 -
9 answers
I recently inherited enough money that will allow me to not work again. I still want to do things - volunteer, help others, keep busy, etc. How do I explain this to others and answer questions that people ask?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 10, 2013 -
54 answers
I'm a law student in Ontario, just about done 2 years out of 3. I absolutely hate the academic aspect of it, and I'm pretty miserable. I didn't particularly enjoy the practice experiences I've had either, at 3 different legal-aid type clinics working as a student in family law, criminal law, and landlord/tenant matters.
I have invested a lot of money into pursuing this law degree. Should I be giving serious thought to finding something else to do with my life as soon as I graduate, or should I stick it out and work my hardest to try to get a paying job in the legal profession, in the hopes that I will be able to pay off my student loan debt?
[more inside]
posted by spicytunaroll
on Apr 9, 2013 -
14 answers
Hi Everybody,
I'm new here. I'm trying to identify my next steps in life and am looking high and low for options, ideas and answers. I'm still working, but have also taken on more than a couple volunteer roles to try out a different industries. I found MetaFilter a few months ago and tho I haven't posted much, I've been reading and I thought it would be a good idea to put it to you. I want to apologize in advance for any newbie mistakes. And say thanks in advance for taking a minute to read this. Here goes.
[more inside]
posted by round_four
on Apr 9, 2013 -
14 answers
I work for Company A and have an offer from Company B. How do I properly negotiate a raise with Company A?
[more inside]
posted by st starseed
on Apr 7, 2013 -
22 answers
I have been getting started with Vanguard, but spoke with an investment adviser today, and it all just seemed so much easier. I've spent hours trying to figure out what kinds of accounts to open, which offer tax deductions, what kind of investments to make, etc. It seems really tempting to just let someone handle this all for me, but I feel like I've never heard from people who are satisfied doing it that way. Countless articles I have read on the subject always make it sounds like someone is a sucker for paying higher management fees.
[more inside]
posted by imabanana
on Apr 5, 2013 -
11 answers
Asking for a friend. YANHL. A couple has divorced, wife has a local civil service pension and husband a federal civilian pension. The judge ruled they would split each pension 50/50, instead of letting them keep their own. She has sent her court order to his pension board and has received acknowledgement. She has been unable to get any answers from the pension board about what happens now. He has left federal service but has not retired.
Does she have to wait until he retires to start receiving her monthly checks from the federal system? Can she start getting them when he reaches retirement age even if he's not retired? Who can she contact that will answer her questions? Would CC'ing her Senators/Rep on her emails help or hurt? Thanks.
posted by 1066
on Apr 4, 2013 -
6 answers
Is investing half my income into silver a pretty good way to go for my future?
[more inside]
posted by JJkiss
on Apr 3, 2013 -
63 answers
I am a "mature" student, studying at a university part time while working full time. I just learned that I qualify for a Stafford loan of about $7400. I don't need the loan to pay for classes because of my work income, but it occurred to me that I could take the loan, use it to pay off credit card debt I carry at a rate of interest more than 5 points higher than the Stafford loan rate, and then pay the Stafford loan off early. Essentially, debt consolidation using this federal loan. My questions: is this kosher? Is it wise? What I might not be thinknig about.
posted by anonymous
on Mar 28, 2013 -
13 answers
I am aggressively saving money so that I can quit my job and start a new life. How should I be investing this money if I need it back in 2-5 years?
[more inside]
posted by Nickel
on Mar 28, 2013 -
6 answers
What would you expect to pay a lawyer for a suite of estate planning/healthcare documents that are more or less standard forms (i.e., no complicated trusts, just everything going to the other spouse)? I'm in Boston, but data points from comparably priced areas are welcome. Also, are there documents I'm forgetting in the list inside?
[more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock
on Mar 28, 2013 -
9 answers
My main squeeze is moving in! Our finances are starting to be a little more comingled and I'm looking for the best, healthiest way to start having a regular "money check-in" as part of our new life together. He is on board with this. How do we structure the conversation? Is there a sample agenda? Do we make it a date night? Help, please.
[more inside]
posted by amoeba
on Mar 26, 2013 -
12 answers
Banking question: how to reclaim a joint account I had previously separated myself from?
[more inside]
posted by ninjew
on Mar 26, 2013 -
4 answers
I am an expat and currently overseas (Dubai), and I want to open an IRA, how do I go about doing that? Is it even possible or do I have to actually be present there?
[more inside]
posted by convex
on Mar 24, 2013 -
5 answers
Is it worth thousands of dollars to fix an inground pool? I've own my home in northern Delaware for less than a year. One of the reasons I bought this house was it had a pool. I bought the house when it was in foreclosure, so I knew there would be many repairs to do to the house, pool included. The inground pool is about 30ft by 10ft by about 7ft deep. Estimates to repair the pool liner and large filter are in the neighborhood of 5-6k.
[more inside]
posted by meshoppe
on Mar 21, 2013 -
21 answers
I am freaking out right now because I just got two letters from collections agencies. I should have paid the bills. I know that. I just … didn’t. And I know I’m terrible with money and want to change that, but when I think about money and the giant hole of student debt that I’m in I feel like, what’s the fucking point, and I become overwhelmed with hopelessness and I shut down.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 18, 2013 -
15 answers
Looking for lifehacks to help me thrive in a stressful high-pressure job working 50+ hours a week long-term. I am special, find out why..
[more inside]
posted by f3l1x
on Mar 18, 2013 -
21 answers
