It’s a basic financing business model. They are betting that most people will not be responsible with a 36 month 0% interest loan and not pay off the debt by then end of the 36 months. Once that happens, the interest will shoot up to the 20% to 30% range.

Yes it is, also consider FNILX or any of the zero fee products

Discover has 5% cash back categories that change every quarter. One is Amazon, online shopping, restaurants, etc.

Hmm, maybe ill use the money to build a 3yr CD ladder. CD rates are about 5%

I used to have the same problem, here's what I do: break down after-tax pay into three categories- short term expenses/fun, medium term goals (new car, travel etc), and retirement. Decide percentages for each that make sense for your income and lifestyle. Right now I'm doing 50-25-25 respectively. That way you make sure your future goals are taken care of but you're also giving yourself permission to spend money on the present. Adjust those percentages until you're happy with the balance/results.

This life doesn't come with an expiration date. It can all go away at any moment.

Don't live with regret. Grab it by the nads.

Unless you are dreaming of a nice golf cart ride to the Winn-Dixie twice a day. You won't spend it on cool shit when you get old. live

3% cash back?! I'm using the wrong credit cards... 😳

He promised me babies "when we had more money in the bank' 'better health insurance' 'fixed up the house to be safe for a baby' and a half dozen other valid sounding excuses. Once I realized he was trying to run my clock out, I thought I was 'too old' to start over. (I wasn't). Then the crash of 08 hit. Took me another 10 years to climb out of that financially. I was okay being the breadwinner. The dealbreaker was when I was given a chance to adopt a newborn and he blocked the homestudy. Done. Took me two more years but I was done the day he refused the homestudy. I walked away and never looked back.

If you have other debts with higher rates it makes sense to refinance and reduce your rate.

They’re legit. They make money in a myriad of different ways but they’re not screwing people over (at least not from what I’ve heard and personal experience).

It’s just a different way to pay for something. In contrast, you could often get 1-3% back if you bought it with a credit card (and assuming you had the cash to pay it off without accruing interest) so it isn’t always a better deal.

that's why I asked if they hated each other.

why did you wait 20+ years for him to get his shit together? This situation can work if both people are rowing in the same direction. just sayin

Thank you!

Do you think FXAIX is a good contender to VTSAX? Is there a reason to stay with mutual funds or should I venture into ETFs? I want to be as passive and set it and forget it as possible.

I don’t have a 401k unfortunately

Yes and it will definitely hurt your score but if you’re already broke it may not matter.

So it may be different in your state, but I owned my house before my ex and I got together. I paid every payment from my own account, and we never co-mingled money in it.

My lawyer (correctly) advised me that he was not entitled to anything I owned before we got together, but if we had mixed money he would have been entitled to half the increased equity.

However, since the house was purchased before they got together and your stepmom only owns half, best case scenario, at least in my state, would be the increased value of 1/2 of the house, and only if they co-mingled money. Since Dad paid rent to Stepgrandma, I don't think that is the case. It establishes a tenant/landlord relationship.

If there is a second mortgage on the house, it is most likely in both stepmom and stepgrandmas name. Dad isn't entitled to any of Step Gma's wealth.

Definitely meet with a lawyer, find out Dads rights. If you don't like that lawyer, interview another. I think SMom probably had her ducks in a row before the split. Good luck.

Doesn't sound dumb at all.

Only thing is at Fidelity (and many other such as Schwab) they'll charge you a fee around 50-75 to buy 3rd party mutual funds.

Therefore what you should do in the retirement accounts is buy a Fidelity mutual fund such as FSKAX. It's a total market fund just like VTSAX but you won't pay the fees (it's like saying McDonalds vs Burger King, sure you might light the Burger King logo better but at the end of the day it's cheap found with approx. the same nutrition)

In fact I would argue the Fidelity fund is better since the expense ratio on that particular fund is less than half of Vanguard's.

I think the main thing is planning and setting goals. Maybe contribute more to IRA instead of taxable. Does your employer have a 401k match? If so you should take advantage of the free money.

You may be interested in our regional index.

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Indeed, I will definitely give the dealer to match a credit union rate first… I’ll likely just buy the car first and refinance it later… just seems Easter and faster this way as I want to get the car soon…

Pick a safe amount per month to treat yourself. 50, 100, 200 whatever works for your income and budget.

Eat out, buy hobby stuff, something new to replace something worn.

Save for a nice vacation too or something.

If someone is unsure about their goals and wants to keep their options open, then yes, that would be considered a savings goal.

>how does the rest of your comment make any sense?

Very well, once you understand it.

Thank you. Yes, I do believe that’s what I’m planning to do is refinance once I have the car. Unless somehow the dealer can give me a really competitive rate…

i tried one but it seemed more like a scam than anything? i'll try again. thank you.

what do you mean by settle? are you able to negotiate with collections agencies? how will that impact my credit score? thank you for your response.

>I mean, after 25 years, this nest egg was built together. Just because she had the banger job doesn't mean he contributed any less....

Pffft. In the 20+ years my ex and I were together, he worked low value under the table jobs or no job at all. "We" did not build any nest egg 'together'. -I- worked my arse off 60-80 hours a week to keep heat, food and the house from going into foreclosure. He in no way deserved half, and he didn't get it either.

Ok if literally any theoretical future spending goal is covered under that, how does the rest of your comment make any sense?

I say spending money for the sake of spending it is unhealthy. I'm positive we could sell everything and quit and live off the proceeds. We definitely have hit your bullet points. I spend, but just slower than the average bear. Frankly I find the spending habits of most to be obscene.