lizzgeorge

I just got new countertops in my condo, and the guys who installed them refused to reconnect my plumbing (i.e. install the new faucets) because they aren't certified plumbers. I was not aware this service was not included, and now I have to hire my own plumber--or install the faucets myself.

The pipes and everything are already there; I'm tempted to try to do this myself. On the other hand, I'd have to buy some supplies and it would probably take me an entire frustrating Saturday to figure it out (or would it??). So I'm willing to hire someone to just get it done, but what's a reasonable price? One guy quoted me $275 ($150 for kitchen and $125 for bath).

...you were comfortable financially? I'm not talking super-rich, but say you had a good job and were doing all the right things--maxing a Roth IRA, getting your 401k match, paying a little extra on the fixed rate mortgage each month, had 12 months emergency fund, etc. Assuming no kids to worry about, what would you devote your extra resources and energy to? Would you focus on building wealth and piling up even more money? If so, how (real estate investing, business start-up, etc)? If not, what would you do?

I just read an article on Yahoo! Finance's "Experts" page that summarized findings of a recent survey of American teenagers. One point was that the "gender gap" is thriving. Teenage males expect to earn upwards of $174,000, while teenage females expect to earn less than $114,000 a year. Two thirds of the teens (both genders) also said that they believe women generally earn less than men.

I disagree with the author about the root of these findings. I don't think that young women expect or believe they'll earn less than young men if they take the same jobs and work just as hard. I think that women are (unconsciously perhaps) less ambitious than young men. Women don't seem to expect or plan to spend much time in the workforce, to support a family, or even to support their own desired lifestyles--and their salary expectations reflect that. Which may be why many of my smart, female, finance-major friends took low paying jobs in HR and event planning.

What do you think?

I just read an article on Yahoo! Finance's "Experts" page that summarized findings of a recent survey of American teenagers. One point was that the "gender gap" is thriving. Teenage males expect to earn upwards of $174,000, while teenage females expect to earn less than $114,000 a year. Two thirds of the teens (both genders) also said that they believe women generally earn less than men.

I disagree with the author about the root of these findings. I don't think that young women expect or believe they'll earn less than young men if they take the same jobs and work just as hard. I think that women are (unconsciously perhaps) less ambitious than young men. Women don't seem to expect or plan to spend much time in the workforce, to support a family, or even to support their own desired lifestyles--and their salary expectations reflect that. Which may be why many of my smart, female, finance-major friends took low paying jobs in HR and event planning.

What do you think?

I live in Dallas, TX. I'm wondering what you think is a typical/reasonable amount to spend on a wedding these days (not including honeymoon, rehearsal dinner)?

Many of you advocate living debt free and paying cash for everything. So do I. I paid cash for my car and have no debt other than a mortgage (which I even pay a little extra on each month, though not at the expense of retirement and other savings).

But I qualified for that mortgage--at a great rate, right out of college, with no work history--largely because of my great credit score. Which I got by having credit cards. I use them only for big purchases and always pay them off, but I established a credit history and earned cash rewards in the meantime.

Like it or not, your credit score is the #1 thing any lender will consider. You are fooling yourselves if you thing it will be easy to get a mortgage with no credit--and you'll pay way higher closing costs/fees in addition to a higher rate if you manage to find a manual underwriter who will. Also, employers and even apartments now regularly check the credit of applicants.

Why try to fight the system?

What happens if you are put on probation for a DWI (and you have no other record) and you violate your probation by failing the breathalizer test that was put in your car? What is the judge likely to do?

What is the likely outcome if someone violates his/her probation for a misdemeaner DWI? This person has no other criminal record besides the DWI. The violation is the result of failing the breathalizer test required to start his/her car (put in place as part of probation).

The Wall Street Journal reported today (2/13/07) that Bank of America has rolled out a program in Los Angeles county offering credit cards to those without social security numbers or credit histories. They hope to go national with the program this year.

In recent years, banks across the country have been offering checking accounts and even mortgages to undocumented immigrants, most of whom are Hispanic. Is this a good idea? What do you think will be the long-term effects?