Iwritecode

My wife, daughter and another friend are going to the Linkin Park concert next Wednesday at the UC. A friend of my is driving them in and since I'll already be here, I'm just going to me them after I get out of work. So my friend and I need something to do while the other 3 are at the concert. Is there anything fairly close?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 20, 2011 -> 02:07 PM) Oh, so you mean you used it just for wearing around? That's interesting, didn't think of that. When they first starting eating actual food (instead of milk), those little ones we found to be... less than sufficient. Yep. It saved having to change shirts every hour or so. Of course then they get old enough to start pulling them off and it doesn't matter anyway.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 20, 2011 -> 01:25 PM) --Lots of bibs, for when they start baby food and solid foods. You will go through them quickly, and I recommend the hazmat suit type things that have sleeves and a little pocket built in. The tiny little cloth ones are nearly useless. We found that the little cloth ones work well when they are teething. Helps to keep some of the drooling off their clothes. Also lots and lots of blankets.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 18, 2011 -> 11:08 AM) I don't think I know a single song from any of those CD's. I recognized 3 or 4 of the artists and might be able to name 4 or 5 songs.

Anyone know when the new Illinois state tax of 5% takes affect? I've heard that it's retro-active to Jan 1 and I've also heard not until July 1.

My wife and I decided a long time ago that when our kids are grown and out on their own (we'll be in our mid-40's by then) we are going to get a corvette. Just haven't decided on a year yet. She wants one from the 60s or 70s style. I'd honestly be happy with any of them.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 14, 2011 -> 08:08 AM) If I understand what he means, I think he's saying he claims zero on the withholding so that the IRS pulls more out during the year and he gets a larger return when he files. That's exactly it. I understand that it's essentially a "free loan" to the government but we are really bad at saving money. This way it's outta sight outta mind. If we put it into a savings account or something we'd be way too tempted to spend it.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:18 AM) I have a 100 mile round-trip work drive every day so I drive cars into the ground. I managed to get 200K+ miles out of my 2000 Saturn and nearly 200K miles out of a Corolla before that, but I just bought y very first new car last month — a 2010 Prius. I really like it and it's nice to only have to gas up around once a week rather than every other day. I would love an all-electric vehicle, but I need something that can do better than 100 or so miles on a single charge. I'm the same way but my commute is closer to 180 round trip. I've got a 2003 Grand Prix that I just had to replace the engine in. I'm hoping it'll last until the end of this year at least. I want a mid-size car that will give me 30-35 MPG that I can still afford to pay off in about 3 years.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:25 AM) It's probably in the "Total amount you earn". The Republicans agreed to this tax cut, so the less you make, the more you're paying in taxes. If your making $50k per year, your taxes should go marginally downwards, while if your wife is making $25 k a year, her taxes should go marginally upwards. When you file a joint return, that will somehow even itself out. That's what I figure. We have 3 kids and claim 0 so we get a lot back anyway.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:20 AM) If you're making under about $35 k per year, you're going to pay more in taxes this year than last, and the lower the number, the more your taxes will go up. OK, that's what happened. I make more and my wife makes less. What's the reason for that? EDIT: read your next post. Got it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:12 AM) LOL, and did you tell them, "duh!"? Did they say stock and bond FUNDS, or stocks and bonds DIRECTLY? I am starting to think you mght work for some sort of financial firm, that either provides investments already to the public or has weird restrictions on these things for employees. I don't know. I'll have to ask. It's a little hard to explain but I work as a contract programmer. The company that actually pays me is run by a bunch of accountants. The guy that I actually deal with from the company is not one so some information may be getting lost in translation. QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:12 AM) Federal income taxes should stay materially the same in 2011 for nearly everyone. But, maybe your income went up? Or maybe the company realized they were under-withholding and bumped it up for 2011? I thought they should have stayed the same too. I'm only going by what the online calculator said. I haven't gotten an actual paycheck yet. Not til next week.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:03 AM) You're kidding. I've never heard of that. I mean, I've heard of stock purchase plans (which obviously have only one choice), and partnership shares in a single entity... but a 401k where you can't decide which funds to buy into? Did they at least tell you what they plan to put the money in? I was told stocks and bonds. I guess I could find out exact details but I can't change it. On a semi-related note: Does anyone know how they figure out how much to take out of your check for federal taxes? I found a payroll calculator online that was very accurate for me last year when trying to estimate out my checks. When I put in the numbers for 2011 it says that I should be getting about $30 more this year. They are taking more out in federal taxes but less for social security. When I checked my wife's check it says she'll actually be getting $7 less. Again they are taking less out of SS but a lot more out of federal taxes.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 07:47 AM) I assume its a cascading thing, right? Like 20% vested each year? Or is it zero vesting all the way to six years then 100% (which would surprise me)? Keep in mind that even if the match is a long way off from vesting, just the tax savings alone and the chance of some vesting amount is worth it. Yes. After 2 years is 20%, 3 is 40%, etc... QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 07:47 AM) I think that's a misunderstanding, I have never heard of anyone with a 401k that they couldn't control what they were investing in. No misunderstanding. I literally have no control over how my money gets invested. I just give it to them and they invest it how they like. Then I get it back when I retire or leave the company (depending on my vesting status of course). That's why I'm hesitant about it. I hate to lose the 3% match though.

QUOTE (MuckFinnesota @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 06:24 PM) What is everyone's thoughts on the White Sox Ozzie 13 game package? From my family's experience, it was not worth it. Even though we got the games we wanted, most of the "good games" were in the upper deck. More importantly, what would you guys pay for section 158 row 12 seats against the Cubs, purchased for $76.00? My friend and his buddy are thinking that they will get $150 to $200 each for those seats...I said that if they included the parking pass they would be lucky to get $115 or $120. EDIT: This is a Monday game. I bought it one year. I ended up going to 3 or 4 games myself including 1 Cubs game and sold the rest. I was hoping to make some money off the tickets I sold but I don't think I did.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 03:39 PM) Right, that free money makes it very hard to beat. Check into vesting, though, if you don't plan on staying at that job for a while. Some companies put the money into your account and you invest as you see fit, but it's not really yours until x amount of time. 6 years to 100% vested.

So I'm starting to get some information from my new job about our 401K plan. There is a 3% match (pre-tax only) but I basically have no control over it other than how much I put in it. I'm told that the people that handle it are "very conservative". I'm trying to decide if I should take this or do something on my own. I don't know much about this stuff myself but I have a good friend who is a financial adviser that will help me if I go on my own. I also have some money from my previous employer that I need to roll into something.

I read the first 5 in the stickied thread and didn't recognize a single artist.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 10, 2011 -> 03:01 PM) My wife and I have never traded in a car. They have all either fallen apart, or been totaled in accidents. Same here. The second time I hit a deer but the car was already paid off. The insurance company actually gave me more for it than I expected.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 07:40 AM) My comment was a little off that tangent. Not discussing the relative value between two vehicles, but the value of keeping a car for a couple extra years and putting that money in retirement savings, or instead of spending $35k, spending $20k and putting that money into retirement. Some people would rather drive the nicer, newer vehicle. Others would rather be retired earlier. $15k in the bank when you are 30 adds a nice chunk of cash to your retirement. Probably enough to retire a couple years sooner. I've always bought used and from private owners if possible. I've never spent more than $8K on a car. So I guess put me into the "drive an older car for longer and retire sooner" category.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 5, 2011 -> 09:37 AM) Yet he'd still be about 30 percent of the player Frank was in his heyday. Not to take anything away from either one because I like them both but Frank was never really a "homerun" guy. He was more of a AVG and OBP guy for the most part. Konerko has only had a BA over .300 3 times in his career. Frank's career BA is .301. FWIW... Paulie has averaged about 32.5 homeruns per season in a Sox uni. Frank averaged 29.8.

I'm so far behind on my games. I just got Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption (Undead Nightmare), GTA: Liberty City Stories and NBA Jam for Christmas.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 3, 2011 -> 07:05 AM) When I was on company car plans I had to buy new. We couldn't drive cars 4 years or older. The past ten years I have not had that situation and have been buying used and paying cash, which is really nice. I figured I would always be going that route until I needed a tow vehicle for a RV. That will be a full size pick up and that used market is scary and without any super values. I have a minimum of six months before I buy so I am hoping for a major market change. It kind of hurts that I really want the Dodge or Ford. FWIW, I picked up a 1993 GMC Suburban as a tow vehicle about 5 years ago and I've never had any problems with it. They really last a long time. I've gotten my money out of it and then some.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Dec 29, 2010 -> 12:04 PM) It can be instant and it's already here. Two Words Clean Diesel (TDI) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharged_Direct_Injection My wife and I each have a TDI car. (She's got the Audi A3 and I've got the VW Jetta) Both have averaged between 37-40mpg since we got them. That includes driving in the winter here in Chicago (horrible mpg) and highway driving (where we get 40-42mpg consistently) Does it end fossil fuel usage? Of course not. Can it significantly slow down its usage and need. Absolutely. Does that extra mileage make up for the extra 20-30 cents/gallon you have to pay for diesel fuel compared to regular unleaded?

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Dec 28, 2010 -> 09:32 PM) Wow! Hardcore Pawn might be the worst show I have ever seen. Agreed. It's like they took the worst parts of Pawn Stars and American Chopper and put them together in one show.

TGIF! Well, at least for me this is Friday. Get Thursday and Friday off this week and next week as well. Only thing that sucks is I don't get paid for those 4 days. Gonna be a really small paycheck in a couple weeks.