js007

Some stocks have a decent dividend, if you're willing to invest for the long term and can handle the inevitable ups and downs of the market. Take a look at some of the utility or phone stocks. ED, PEG, T, VRZ, etc. Even Microsoft and Apple pay dividends these days. Any of these would beat what you get at the bank. There's just the risk of your capital. Right now the markets are so crazy I don't know what's going to happen. So don't take anything I say as "advice."

I never have been much of a person to stick to any kind of budget. But I'm about to move back to Thailand or somewhere in SE Asia and, perhaps a budget would be a good idea. When in Thailand, I seemed to spend as much as 150,000 baht a month. The US dollar is a little higher now, so that's not as much, for me, as it was a few years ago. In any event, the 150,000 figure was based on staying in guest houses or hotels, eating out every meal, and otherwise just doing whatever I wanted to do. Maybe this time I'll rent a condo. That's save some money. And I've cut back on my alcohol consumption, so that's another savings. All things considered, it's nice to know that I could live on next to nothing, if I had to. I'm hoping it never comes to that, but then again, I'm 65. I think I can make it through the next 20 years or so, assuming the nuts don't blow up the world by then.

Sometime, you just never know. I've seen some last minute deals that were almost unbelievable. I guess it helps if you're flexible and can leave anytime.

Take a look at some of the Fitbit models.

That, I don't see as a problem. The people who own the condos should be able to make as much money as possible. I realize rents are out of control in some cities, but why penalize the condo owners?

The same thing is happening with hotels and Air B&B. I haven't followed it too closely, but I think that NYC is cracking down on the Air B&B places. I guess the hotels can't stand the competition and we can all guess who has the most political power.

Just the other day I saw an article in the news stating that Thailand had its own car service and that Uber was banned. If I see it again I'll post it. This isn't the exact article I saw, but similar: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-thailand-idUSKBN16E17R

In my experience, the driver may skip the toll booths to save money unless the passenger offers to pay the tolls. And as I recall, the tolls aren't all that much, in any event.

I think I have, once upon a time. Maybe 10 years ago. I don't remember any problems. More recently, I usually check Agoda.

Even if the garnish a person's wages, they can only take so much. And for a person with a low paying job, that might not be much at all. In case anyone is interested, from 15 USC 1673 prev | next (a) Maximum allowable garnishment Except as provided in subsection ( and in section 1675 of this title, the maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subjected to garnishment may not exceed (1) 25 per centum of his disposable earnings for that week, or (2) the amount by which his disposable earnings for that week exceed thirty times the Federal minimum hourly wage prescribed by section 206(a)(1) of title 29 in effect at the time the earnings are payable, whichever is less. In the case of earnings for any pay period other than a week, the Secretary of Labor shall by regulation prescribe a multiple of the Federal minimum hourly wage equivalent in effect to that set forth in paragraph (2). ( Exceptions (1) The restrictions of subsection (a) do not apply in the case of (A) any order for the support of any person issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or in accordance with an administrative procedure, which is established by State law, which affords substantial due process, and which is subject to judicial review. ( any order of any court of the United States having jurisdiction over cases under chapter 13 of title 11. © any debt due for any State or Federal tax. (2) The maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subject to garnishment to enforce any order for the support of any person shall not exceed (A) where such individual is supporting his spouse or dependent child (other than a spouse or child with respect to whose support such order is used), 50 per centum of such individuals disposable earnings for that week; and ( where such individual is not supporting such a spouse or dependent child described in clause (A), 60 per centum of such individuals disposable earnings for that week; except that, with respect to the disposable earnings of any individual for any workweek, the 50 per centum specified in clause (A) shall be deemed to be 55 per centum and the 60 per centum specified in clause ( shall be deemed to be 65 per centum, if and to the extent that such earnings are subject to garnishment to enforce a support order with respect to a period which is prior to the twelve-week period which ends with the beginning of such workweek. © Execution or enforcement of garnishment order or process prohibited No court of the United States or any State, and no State (or officer or agency thereof), may make, execute, or enforce any order or process in violation of this section. (Pub. L. 90321, title III, § 303, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 9530, title V, § 501(e)(1)(3), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 161, 162; Pub. L. 95598, title III, § 312(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2676.)

Sure, they usually prosecute people like that, but the chances of the SSA recovering the money are probably about zero.

They don't have your DNA. He was just kidding. Anyway, despite all the safeguards, they sometimes make payments for years after someone dies. Just recently I read a news story about some family that just buried grandma in the back yard when she died and kept spending the money that came in every month. That went on for a long time.

I wonder if they have Uber in Phuket? The taxi mafia/tuk tuk mafia down there doesn't like competition.

If it gets to be too popular, it'll probably be just a matter of time before the taxi drivers go nuts.

I think funeral directors in the US are required to report deaths to the SSA. Perhaps also any doctor who signs a death certificate? So usually, SSA is informed. Maybe they have more trouble when people die overseas.

I've never gotten a survey letter, only the yearly tax form. I'm in the states, though, and have only been collecting social security for the past three years.

It's sad, what the world has come to. My prior mindset was that I didn't really care if they searched me or not. I had nothing to hide. They could look at my computer. They could look at my phone. They never did, but if they wanted to, I wouldn't have complained. However, the more I read about this issue the more I get pissed. Why should I give up my entire digital/online presence to some guy, just because I'm crossing a border? So, the answer is to leave ll your information somewhere on the cloud and never cross the border with a phone or computer? Phones can be cheap enough. Ditto for Chromebook computers. Buy them when you arrive in Thailand and throw them away before you leave. For what it's worth, I've never been searched when returning to the US. I've seen it happen to other people, though. Bu why make it easy for them? I guess the whole issue is more important now than it used to be in the days before we had computers. Still, the border officers have always had an exemption, of sorts, from the 4th Amendment. In law school, my criminal procedure professor was the Harvard professor who wrote the casebook. He told a story about how they were giving him a hard time at the border one time when he was coming back into the country. And there was nothing he could do or say to stop them. Nothing. So it they want to be jerks, they get to be jerks. Do most of you guys use a VPN? I suppose I should set one up. One more thing: if you're a US citizen, I don't thenk they have an absolute right to your passwords. They can ask, but you can say no.

I'm almost sure that's possible. Both companies have web sites. I'd double check with the companies, just to make sure.

I've come in at that time of the morning, but I don't recall any major issues. Lots of immigration officers were on duty, so the wait there wasn't so bad. The only problem I had was that I got to my hotel very very very early. I didn't want to wait until the normal check-in time, so I paid 600 baht to check in early. I was dead tired and just wanted to sleep.

I wonder how people with warrants get into Thailand in the first place. You would think their passports would somehow be flagged.

Maybe a good rule of thumb would be to never buy any real estate that doesn't already exist. Otherwise, you run the risk of someone running off with your deposit.

I never did have much luck keeping all the viruses, worms, and malware off my PCs. And the day I found a key logger on my PC was the last straw. I went out and bought a Macintosh. I've used those ever since. But the funny thing is, I hardy use my laptop much anymore, except when I travel. When I'm at home I use either my iMac at my desk, or, if I'm elsewhere in the house, I use one of the iPads. Those things are great and weigh next to nothing. Next time I travel I might ditch my laptop altogether. Anyway, another option to consider might be a Chromebook. I guess you need Wi-Fi to use them, but the price is right.

That has to be safer than some crazy taxi ride.

Obama at Five Guys:

Five Guys is OK, but once every few months is enough. When I lived and worked in Virginia, there was one about two blocks away from my office. I'd go once in a while.