We had that happen a couple of years ago. IRS counts the time from when the brokerage wrote the first check. But the experiences both you and I have had of lost checks indicate why it’s very important to track them. My husband and I have had two go “missing”—even though I go to the post office to mail them. We photocopy the checks before mailing, add letters indicating our desire for an acknowledgement, and follow-up if acknowledgements don’t arrive within a month.
And you really believe that can’t happen with a newer heater? You should know by now, things don’t break down to accommodate our schedules. You might save yourself from one issue while another occurs. We left our vacation house on Friday after calling the power company to report a tree that uprooted and was hanging over our power line! Houses are just a never ending source of adventures!
I have a hot water heater 1000 miles away from my home. It is about 27 years old but is only used about 4 months a year, We’ll replace it when it breaks down; not because it’s old. Going with average life of appliances is a waste of money. I’ve had a dishwasher go after 3 years, but not the other kitchen appliances bought at the same time. My washer died after 6 years; matching dryer is going strong three years later. Think about what an average is— just a mathematical construct.
My property tax funds garbage collection, street maintenance, and police and fire protection. It also pays for schools which are at the bottom of the ranking of all public schools in the state, while the school board focuses on renaming schools. The city has a police force whose members have no body cameras — one of the few in the Midwest in this situation. Also last year, the city put in operation an entire fleet of electric buses, but didn’t budget for electricity costs. Just a few examples.
I’d find all that spending very boring. I’m willing to spend for nice trips— right now. I’m trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger on business class seats to Greece in the spring. We have a vacation home and a rental apartment near our granddaughter’s family. We do what seems interesting— and also the unglamorous stuff like ongoing home maintenance. I expect our pensions and long term care insurance will cover time in The Home. But I’d be VERY uncomfortable running through our investments and other savings. Nobody knows what the future will bring, and while our kids protest the idea of inheritance, I feel more comfortable knowing they’ll have one.
For a 2000 sq ft house on a 45OO sq ft lot, I’ll be lucky if my taxes are $20,000 this year. I won’t know until just before Christmas! Ho! Ho! While this is still affordable for us, I do have great sympathy for many of the folks for whom I do taxes at Goodwill. I do see older people, with very modest means, who are being taxed out of very modest homes. These people could never have imagined paying outrageous taxes on little 800 sq ft homes— and couldn’t have planned for the tax. I also do Homestead Credit when prepping their tax— at most it’s about $2400 — and usually less. The city is the state capital and home to the UW flagship campus, but there is also substantial business, most notably in insurance, biotech, and AI. Epic Sysrems, the developer of My Chart and other health care software, is also present.
Two things: 1) when I Google breast cancer survival rates US v UK, AI indicates the US average is 90.2% v 86 in the UK so that’s 4.2%. My guess is the numbers are averages across demographics and stages in both counties. 2) is this because if taxation or health care system? I’d argue the two are interconnected. Screening doesn’t start until age 50 in the UK —probably
because the finances of the UK national health can’t support 40 as in the US.
Taxes also pay for some screening in the US — think Medicaid. Early screening is associated with higher survival rates. As a person who was diagnosed very early and did survive, I am more than willing to pay taxes to assure others have the same benefit. Incidentally, early detection also accounts for disparities in other common cancerd such as colon, lung, etc. As for advanced treatment, I think where care is obtained definitely matters. That’s why I continue to live in a city with property taxes that are considerably higher than those even in NJ.
check out breast cancer survival rates in the US vs UK— they’re higher in the US. That’s because screening starts earlier and there is easier access to new pricey treatments here. Given your family situation, you should be concerned about that. Me too — I was diagnosed at age 47 — three years earlier than the first screening would have occurred in the UK. I’ve since lived cancer free for over 30 years. I’ll pay for that!!
Comments
We had that happen a couple of years ago. IRS counts the time from when the brokerage wrote the first check. But the experiences both you and I have had of lost checks indicate why it’s very important to track them. My husband and I have had two go “missing”—even though I go to the post office to mail them. We photocopy the checks before mailing, add letters indicating our desire for an acknowledgement, and follow-up if acknowledgements don’t arrive within a month.
Post: Time to QCD
Link to comment from October 12, 2026
And you really believe that can’t happen with a newer heater? You should know by now, things don’t break down to accommodate our schedules. You might save yourself from one issue while another occurs. We left our vacation house on Friday after calling the power company to report a tree that uprooted and was hanging over our power line! Houses are just a never ending source of adventures!
Post: Laundered
Link to comment from October 4, 2026
I have a hot water heater 1000 miles away from my home. It is about 27 years old but is only used about 4 months a year, We’ll replace it when it breaks down; not because it’s old. Going with average life of appliances is a waste of money. I’ve had a dishwasher go after 3 years, but not the other kitchen appliances bought at the same time. My washer died after 6 years; matching dryer is going strong three years later. Think about what an average is— just a mathematical construct.
Post: Laundered
Link to comment from October 3, 2026
My property tax funds garbage collection, street maintenance, and police and fire protection. It also pays for schools which are at the bottom of the ranking of all public schools in the state, while the school board focuses on renaming schools. The city has a police force whose members have no body cameras — one of the few in the Midwest in this situation. Also last year, the city put in operation an entire fleet of electric buses, but didn’t budget for electricity costs. Just a few examples.
Post: What I think about taxes- all kinds of taxes
Link to comment from September 23, 2026
Absolutely is a state tax— I think in the middle of the pack as state rates go. Also city and county sales taxes.
Post: What I think about taxes- all kinds of taxes
Link to comment from September 23, 2026
I’d find all that spending very boring. I’m willing to spend for nice trips— right now. I’m trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger on business class seats to Greece in the spring. We have a vacation home and a rental apartment near our granddaughter’s family. We do what seems interesting— and also the unglamorous stuff like ongoing home maintenance. I expect our pensions and long term care insurance will cover time in The Home. But I’d be VERY uncomfortable running through our investments and other savings. Nobody knows what the future will bring, and while our kids protest the idea of inheritance, I feel more comfortable knowing they’ll have one.
Post: Anyone For S.K.I.ing?
Link to comment from September 22, 2026
For a 2000 sq ft house on a 45OO sq ft lot, I’ll be lucky if my taxes are $20,000 this year. I won’t know until just before Christmas! Ho! Ho! While this is still affordable for us, I do have great sympathy for many of the folks for whom I do taxes at Goodwill. I do see older people, with very modest means, who are being taxed out of very modest homes. These people could never have imagined paying outrageous taxes on little 800 sq ft homes— and couldn’t have planned for the tax. I also do Homestead Credit when prepping their tax— at most it’s about $2400 — and usually less. The city is the state capital and home to the UW flagship campus, but there is also substantial business, most notably in insurance, biotech, and AI. Epic Sysrems, the developer of My Chart and other health care software, is also present.
Post: What I think about taxes- all kinds of taxes
Link to comment from September 21, 2026
Two things: 1) when I Google breast cancer survival rates US v UK, AI indicates the US average is 90.2% v 86 in the UK so that’s 4.2%. My guess is the numbers are averages across demographics and stages in both counties. 2) is this because if taxation or health care system? I’d argue the two are interconnected. Screening doesn’t start until age 50 in the UK —probably because the finances of the UK national health can’t support 40 as in the US. Taxes also pay for some screening in the US — think Medicaid. Early screening is associated with higher survival rates. As a person who was diagnosed very early and did survive, I am more than willing to pay taxes to assure others have the same benefit. Incidentally, early detection also accounts for disparities in other common cancerd such as colon, lung, etc. As for advanced treatment, I think where care is obtained definitely matters. That’s why I continue to live in a city with property taxes that are considerably higher than those even in NJ.
Post: What I think about taxes- all kinds of taxes
Link to comment from September 21, 2026
check out breast cancer survival rates in the US vs UK— they’re higher in the US. That’s because screening starts earlier and there is easier access to new pricey treatments here. Given your family situation, you should be concerned about that. Me too — I was diagnosed at age 47 — three years earlier than the first screening would have occurred in the UK. I’ve since lived cancer free for over 30 years. I’ll pay for that!!
Post: What I think about taxes- all kinds of taxes
Link to comment from September 21, 2026
Interesting—the kitchen hasn’t gotten any mentions.
Post: My Favorite Room
Link to comment from September 17, 2026