For Me It's Revolutionary (WaFd Bank)

[gimmethesimplelife]

I have for years been anti.banks and pro credit unions, so what I am about to type is a departure from normal for me. There is a bank in the Intermountain West called WaFd.

I found out that they have free checking and also a $6 month fee checking account with Identity Theft Insurance AND a fairly generous cell phone insurance benefit if you use use WaFd $6/mo checking account to pay your monthly cell phone bill.

Just with the cell phone insurance alone I am saving money on what I am paying for this coverage right now. And another perk is that they even have a branch in Nogales, AZ.

What do you'all make of this? I'm thinking of opening.a secondary checking account there. And not the free one gasp! Rob

[Alan]

Rob, is this actually you or have you turned over your account info here to spammers promoting a specific business?

FYI, if this post were made by a new member I'd delete the thread as spam and ban the account as it reads as an advertisement.

[happystuff]

If this isn't spam and truly is Rob.... ;)

Sounds like something to investigate further! I would wonder how they could do cell phone insurance and identity theft insurance for that low a price.

[jp1]

Rob, is this actually you or have you turned over your account info here to spammers promoting a specific business?

FYI, if this post were made by a new member I'd delete the thread as spam and ban the account as it reads as an advertisement.

I agree that it sounds like an ad. But it also sounds just like rob so if it’s hackers they have done a great job of impersonating him.

[gimmethesimplelife]

It's me. And I'm not plugging this bank. I'm posting because to me this truly is a departure from normal. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Rob, is this actually you or have you turned over your account info here to spammers promoting a specific business?

FYI, if this post were made by a new member I'd delete the thread as spam and ban the account as it reads as an advertisement.No, it's me, Rob. I only posted this as I never thought I'd consider being a customer of a for profit bank. If this is too much like an ad feel free to take it down. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

If this isn't spam and truly is Rob.... ;)

Sounds like something to investigate further! I would wonder how they could do cell phone insurance and identity theft insurance for that low a price.I wonder how they can price these perks at $6/mo. Instinctively I wonder if I sign up will that monthly fee suddenly start hiking? At the moment if I avail myself of this cell phone insurance I'm saving $6 a month plus the terms and conditions are better. But if fees double to $12 it's no great deal.

There is another reason too that I have posted this. I've been looking into credit cards with cell phone coverage - I'd much rather pick up this insurance through an option OTHER than a credit card. Rob

[iris lilies]

Rob, is this actually you or have you turned over your account info here to spammers promoting a specific business?

FYI, if this post were made by a new member I'd delete the thread as spam and ban the account as it reads as an advertisement.

gosh, buying real estate, getting married, running a landlord operation, holding down a semi-management job working big hours with no time for social warrior activities, accumulating $$$—geeze Alan, look where that leads us! Down the path of capitalist pigdom.

What is the world coming to.

[iris lilies]

I wonder how they can price these perks at $6/mo. Instinctively I wonder if I sign up will that monthly fee suddenly start hiking? At the moment if I avail myself of this cell phone insurance I'm saving $6 a month plus the terms and conditions are better. But if fees double to $12 it's no great deal.

There is another reason too that I have posted this. I've been looking into credit cards with cell phone coverage - I'd much rather pick up this insurance through an option OTHER than a credit card. Rob
Rob it is probably shitty insurance, and what is “identify theft” insurance anyway?

[jp1]

Depending on the company writing the policy it may be fine for what it is. Back at the mega corp I used to work at we gave it away to all of our regular cyber insureds for officers of their organization. I have no idea how many claims we got but since we were never told to charge for it I assume few. It actually might be of value to Rob because typically what it covers is the time it takes to call people, send emails, etc to shut down fake accounts that have been opened in the person's name and get the credit bureaus to correct their records as well. Presumably they can do it more efficiently since that's what they do all day, but any regular person with enough free time can do the same thing. If I recall correctly the average victim of identity theft spends something like 40 hours getting everything straightened out.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Rob it is probably shitty insurance, and what is “identify theft” insurance anyway?I've looked into it and it doesn't seem (expletive) to me. And the cell insurance is better than what I have right now. But as I said, I do worry the monthly fee may be a teaser going up not too far off. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

gosh, buying real estate, getting married, running a landlord operation, holding down a semi-management job working big hours with no time for social warrior activities, accumulating $$$—geeze Alan, look where that leads us! Down the path of capitalist pigdom.

What is the world coming to.IL, you know what? I genuinely hope we meet someday. I wonder what our takes would be on each other in person ITRL? Rob

[sweetana3]

My take is that any person with control of their accounts and knowledge does not need it. It is insurance based on fear, like specialty cancer insurance.

Lock down your accounts, check your free credit reports, keep control of credit cards, do not give our SSNs or personal information, etc. and you have done a lot. Keep strong passwords on computers and change them.

Here is a good article. https://www.consumerreports.org/money/No-longer-trust-LifeLock/

[LDAHL]

I am inclined to agree with sweetana3, and would probably also recommend firebreaks in my system by minimizing autopay exposure or links between accounts wherever possible.

I do welcome and applaud Rob’s entry into the bourgeoisie. Well done. Glad to have you aboard.

[jp1]

In addition to sweetana's advice I would strongly recommend putting security freezes at the big three credit bureaus. This article is out of date insofar as they are now free in all 50 states, but is a good FAQ about them. And also a cautionary tale about what could happen if you don't do this. Admittedly none of us are the world's top journalist on the topic of hacking and data breaches so we aren't likely to be targeted the way Brian was, but it's still a good idea.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/06/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-embrace-the-security-freeze/

[gimmethesimplelife]

In addition to sweetana's advice I would strongly recommend putting security freezes at the big three credit bureaus. This article is out of date insofar as they are now free in all 50 states, but is a good FAQ about them. And also a cautionary tale about what could happen if you don't do this. Admittedly none of us are the world's top journalist on the topic of hacking and data breaches so we aren't likely to be targeted the way Brian was, but it's still a good idea.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/06/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-embrace-the-security-freeze/HI jp1. I actually am frozen with the three main credit bureaus. So why do I want this insurance? I have dealt with identity theft twice - once my info was breached and once SO's was. Maybe I'm being a bit paranoid but it was no fun rectifying things either time and I don't wish to ever deal with this again.
The cell insurance was more practical - my reason here for wanting this is that the plan is cheaper and more comprehensive than what I have now. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

I am inclined to agree with sweetana3, and would probably also recommend firebreaks in my system by minimizing autopay exposure or links between accounts wherever possible.

I do welcome and applaud Rob’s entry into the bourgeoisie. Well done. Glad to have you aboard.Seriously, have I entered the bourgeoisie? I'm still the same Rob, just with less time but more money. And even I'll admit that I am no longer poor - this does not mean I've done any 180's in socioeconomic beliefs and convictions. But yeah, it's a true gift not to live in constant fear of economic vulnerability, I'll admit that much. Rob

[LDAHL]

Seriously, have I entered the bourgeoisie? I'm still the same Rob, just with less time but more money. And even I'll admit that I am no longer poor - this does not mean I've done any 180's in socioeconomic beliefs and convictions. But yeah, it's a true gift not to live in constant fear of economic vulnerability, I'll admit that much. Rob

I don’t know, you’re checking a lot of bourgeois boxes. There may be golf clubs in your future.

The beauty of capitalism is that your beliefs and convictions are irrelevant as long as the checks clear. Let the poverty is purity crowd say what they like.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I don’t know, you’re checking a lot of bourgeois boxes. There may be golf clubs in your future.

The beauty of capitalism is that your beliefs and convictions are irrelevant as long as the checks clear. Let the poverty is purity crowd say what they like.Golf clubs? No can do on multiple levels. It would.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Golf clubs? No can do on multiple levels. It would.be inappropriate. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

I know you are the same rob.

Besides what does any of it mean, that you can't experience economic precarity, like unless you are the top 20% at least, and have a pretty good chance of staying there, you will experience economic precarity at some point. But there are degrees, there is worrying about losing your job, and there is worrying about medical care, and there is worrying about whether you will eat next week or keep a roof over your head, and they aren't always the same. My bf was talking about a feeling of precarity, and does he mean he doesn't earn enough to live or that he's poor? No, not at all the case, he meant he feels stuck in a dysfunctional (it really is) job situation without a lot of other jobs options that pay enough to survive on. But that's not poverty but it's things not feeling very secure.

[Alan]

Golf clubs? No can do on multiple levels. It would.


be inappropriate. Rob
Why would golf be inappropriate? Is it a perceived class thing?

[bae]

I think the cell phone insurance and the identity theft protection are silly overpriced nonsense.


I always go for the free accounts, sorry. I dislike entangling marketing deals that require me to purchase things or use the account for certain things. I try to simplify my life.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Why would golf be inappropriate? Is it a perceived class thing?

I took golf as P.E requirement at the community college. :laff:

I guess you can spend some money on it though, but mostly you need to have some decent public gold courses around, but it's not free.

[LDAHL]

be inappropriate. Rob

Wasn’t there a time when you would have said that about being a landlord, or other elements of wicked American capitalism?

[gimmethesimplelife]

Wasn’t there a time when you would have said that about being a landlord, or other elements of wicked American capitalism?How can I explain this? Some - but not all - of the people directly responsible for the lower quality of life in the US vs. other developed nations? Some of these people play golf. It would not only be an affectation for me to appear on a golf course - it would also be a direct insult towards much I've learned from life. Another reason - though not as compelling as the prior - Austrians play soccer and only the very top of the food chain plays golf. Rob

[catherine]

How can I explain this? Some - but not all - of the people directly responsible for the lower quality of life in the US vs. other developed nations? Some of these people play golf. It would not only be an affectation for me to appear on a golf course - it would also be a direct insult towards much I've learned from life. Another reason - though not as compelling as the prior - Austrians play soccer and only the very top of the food chain plays golf. Rob

Well, my DH, son of a coal miner and department store clerk, not only played golf but he taught all of my children how to play, and play well. My oldest son was a PGA teaching pro in VT and also in AZ. I'm quite sure during those years we were still in the crapper for the most part. But DH had a good friend who managed a golf course and he and the kids were able to play very reasonably. It was wonderful. (Wonderful because he took the kids and I got to stay home for 6 hours of solitude).

If golf doesn't float your boat, that's fine. I get that. And yes, it does require a certain discretionary income to be able to afford to play frequently. But you don't have to join a tony country club to play. There are a lot of regular Joe's and Jane's out there on semi-private and public links. It's not exactly like polo or yachting.

[bae]

My uncle is a lifelong golfer. His father was a coal miner in Kentucky until they escaped, moved to Ohio, and became hillbillies.

His children also have golfed since childhood.

Our local high school has a golf team that practices on our very very rough rural course, and golf scholarships have helped fund quite a few impoverished kids' educations here.

I myself only golf if the course has windmills.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/40/9a/a5/409aa50477a59bfe079218f6f391b057--putt-putt-miniature-golf.jpg

[Alan]

I'm not a golfer per se but I have been known to embarrass myself with the sheer number of strokes and lost balls my game requires. It's still a fun game and I enjoy myself on that rare occasion I play. When I do play its always with regular working class duffers who enjoy the competition and comradery. Considering it a symbol of oppression seems awfully strange to me.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I was curious what a public golf course would run one. Seems like $20. I don't know, maybe it adds up quickly. I don't tend to pay for entertainment most of the time beyond a restaurant, or a drink at a coffee shop, or some books, so I'm a bad person to ask about entertainment costs. I don't even have an entertainment budget really. But it doesn't seem unreasonable, considering what many people pay for entertainment. If one lives where there are no public golf courses, well sucks to be them if they like to play golf I guess. I have gone minature golfing ocassionally.

[iris lilies]

Seriously, have I entered the bourgeoisie? I'm still the same Rob, just with less time but more money. And even I'll admit that I am no longer poor - this does not mean I've done any 180's in socioeconomic beliefs and convictions. But yeah, it's a true gift not to live in constant fear of economic vulnerability, I'll admit that much. Rob

If you’ve had to track down results of identity theft, and this identity insurance saves he that time, I guess it’s worth it. I just wonder how well they do it.

I do not know what “cell phone insurance” does.

[jp1]

I'm not a golfer per se but I have been known to embarrass myself with the sheer number of strokes and lost balls my game requires.

Back when I first met SO he worked for a chain of country clubs and had to play occasionally at work. He describes his skill level similarly. The last time he did he bought 15 golf balls for the occasion. Shortly after that he got hired by the hotel company he currently works for and hasn’t played since because he was never that into it. Before we moved from NJ to CA he suggested I give the remaining 10 balls to my boss, an avid golfer. Her comment was ‘he must not be very good if he thought he needed that many balls…’. (Being direct and honest was part of her charm.). 😜

[iris lilies]

How can I explain this? Some - but not all - of the people directly responsible for the lower quality of life in the US vs. other developed nations? Some of these people play golf…Rob

…and some of them eat avacados.

So? Ya gonna avoid avacados?

This is a ridiculous idea.

But to get back to topic— i’m still skeptical that the theft insurance would actually save you much time, but if it really did save you oodles of time in closing accounts and etc., it might be worth it.

I don’t understand what “cell phone insurance quote is. Does that mean insurance for a loss or damage to the physical phone?

[Alan]

I'm not a golfer per se but I have been known to embarrass myself with the sheer number of strokes and lost balls my game requires.


Back when I first met SO he worked for a chain of country clubs and had to play occasionally at work. He describes his skill level similarly.

Your SO and I must have similar traits, H.G. Wells once remarked something to the effect of "The uglier a man's legs are, the better he plays golf. It's almost a law."

[jp1]

Your SO and I must have similar traits, H.G. Wells once remarked something to the effect of "The uglier a man's legs are, the better he plays golf. It's almost a law."

I don't recall mentioning it, but yes, SO has good looking legs... But seriously (well, slightly more seriously) your HG Wells quote sent me looking for pictures of golfers to confirm or dispute the veracity of his statement so I have now learned that golf is one of the few warm weather sports where the players wear long pants. I guess I'll have to just wonder whether Wells was correct or not.

[LDAHL]

How can I explain this? Some - but not all - of the people directly responsible for the lower quality of life in the US vs. other developed nations? Some of these people play golf. It would not only be an affectation for me to appear on a golf course - it would also be a direct insult towards much I've learned from life. Another reason - though not as compelling as the prior - Austrians play soccer and only the very top of the food chain plays golf. Rob

I hear Obama has a thirteen handicap.

[bae]

Your SO and I must have similar traits, H.G. Wells once remarked something to the effect of "The uglier a man's legs are, the better he plays golf. It's almost a law."

Don't they wear those atrocious colored plaid/patchwork pants?

[Alan]

Don't they wear those atrocious colored plaid/patchwork pants?
I'm not sure how golfers dressed in Mr Wells' time, but casual, oncd in every great while, married golfers such as I would not be allowed in public in those pants.

[rosarugosa]

DH worked at Brooks Brothers for many years, and National Lampoon once did a spoof on Brooks Brothers, causing us to ever after refer to those pants as "Jackass Pants."

[happystuff]

I've played miniature golf but that's it. I used to want to at least try 9 holes, but never have. The desire has since left.

[LDAHL]

Golf is a sport that rewards the bourgeois virtues. Adherence to proper form. Studiousness. Self control. Planning. Attention to detail. Practice. Your primary opponent is yourself.

It is hardly surprising that a sport requiring such a degree of discipline and self-mastery would be losing popularity and even mocked in this infantilized culture of ours.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Another issue I have with golfing - given the worst drought in 1200 years is taking place throughout the West - golf courses use lots of water to keep them green in the arid West. Given this drought - how appropriate is it for golf courses to be getting water? Rob

[LDAHL]

Given this drought, how appropriate is it for people to live in deserts at all?

[catherine]

Another issue I have with golfing - given the worst drought in 1200 years is taking place throughout the West - golf courses use lots of water to keep them green in the arid West. Given this drought - how appropriate is it for golf courses to be getting water? Rob

I'm with you on that one. Golfing is not an environmentally-friendly sport at all. All that turf management is a huge natural resource suck, and I don't want to know about the amount of herbicides and pesticides used.

You win that point.

The only point I might say that in some cases it keeps land from developers. That golf course I mentioned in my previous post--the owner died a couple of years ago and his son just sold it and soon that beautiful hilltop land will be covered in new houses.

[iris lilies]

Another issue I have with golfing - given the worst drought in 1200 years is taking place throughout the West - golf courses use lots of water to keep them green in the arid West. Given this drought - how appropriate is it for golf courses to be getting water? Rob
Wow, you are really reaching, aren’t you?

It is about as appropriate as it is for your own giant carbuncle of a water sucking city and all of the agricultural endeavors in your state to exist in the middle of the DESERT.

[iris lilies]

Welllll, if you golfers would simply play in The Auld Country where golf originated, you wouldnt be consuming so much water. Which is not to say Scotland doesn’t irrigate its courses, but it’s far less often.

The perhaps more serious environmental hazard I think for golf courses and that sort of thing is the chemicals.


Here in the Midwest we don’t irrigate huge crops. We rely on mother
nature dor the rains. But the chemicals used in big Ag, oy.

[jp1]

Given this drought, how appropriate is it for people to live in deserts at all?

In California is the better question is how appropriate is it to grow water thirsty crops like almonds. We’d have plenty of water here for regular people were it not for a handful of farmers choosing to grow nut trees with subsidized water. They wouldn’t do it if they had to pay $.015/gallon of water like I do.

[Alan]

Another issue I have with golfing - given the worst drought in 1200 years is taking place throughout the West - golf courses use lots of water to keep them green in the arid West. Given this drought - how appropriate is it for golf courses to be getting water? Rob
I've always lived in areas where rivers and streams abound and a healthy amount of rain falls each year. Maintaining golf courses isn't a big deal. I think it's not the occasional drought that harms areas such as yours, it's the mass of people using up the area's resources at an unsustainable rate. Golf courses aren't the problem.

[catherine]

Welllll, if you golfers would simply play in The Auld Country where golf originated, you wouldnt be consuming so much water. Which is not to say Scotland doesn’t irrigate its courses, but it’s far less often.



I was going to say that. The golf courses in Scotland are a lot less manicured than they are here.

[iris lilies]

I've always lived in areas where rivers and streams abound and a healthy amount of rain falls each year. Maintaining golf courses isn't a big deal. I think it's not the occasional drought that harms areas such as yours, it's the mass of people using up the area's resources at an unsustainable rate. Golf courses aren't the problem.

It’s been a while on the Internet since I’ve seen such a example of pot and kettle.

[jp1]

In California urban/suburban water usage varies widely. Bay Area counties’ usage per capita range from 60-100 gallons/day/person. Palm Springs uses 736/person. That difference is mainly because golf courses and pools.

For reference, according to our last water bill we use 78/day for two people who aren’t making any particular effort to be water frugal. That’s all indoor usage because the county has a separate system of recycled water for outdoor things like lawns.

[iris lilies]

We have unmetered water, one of the perks of gardeneing in our city. So, I do ‘t know how much water we use.

That said, I haven't watered my flower garden for 2+ years. Iris dont need it and lilies, well, they get what they get fron Mother Nature.

The spoiled baby gardeners at our community garden expect the complex irrigation system there to do most of their work. A couple of years ago when we had to replace the entire system I floated the idea “golly why don’t we stop providing water systems and just let people water from various strategically placed hoses like every other community garden in the city? “

But no, the babies want other people to do their work for them. So we have irrigation on a timed schedule and we have water meisters who monitor the system, yet that’s not unusual to drive by the community garden while it’s raining and see the irrigation systems going.

I am really cranky these days about my neighborhood. Can you tell ha ha?

[bae]

Over the past 15 years, we've gotten our ~1200 members in our village's water user's association to ~2500 gallons/month down from an initial ~5000 gallons/month with "simple" conservation measures. This is per-membership, not per-person. A membership covers "a residential unit", which is a term of art, but which you can conceptualize as "an average residential household".

[LDAHL]

This thread has certainly meandered like a creek. It has made me grateful I live somewhere that won’t be rationing water anytime soon. And that has set legal barriers in place against transporting water outside our natural watersheds.

[iris lilies]

This thread has certainly meandered like a creek. It has made me grateful I live somewhere that won’t be rationing water anytime soon. And that has set legal barriers in place against transporting water outside our natural watersheds.
I am moving from one river city to another. But the water to population ratio is mega times higher in tiny Hermann than in St. louis.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Given this drought, how appropriate is it for people to live in deserts at all?Fair point. At a minimum, how bright is it to move to the arid West these days? Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

I did open that account today. It felt so strange - the bank is not all that far from me but it's like another world. Marble floors, nice wall art, just ritzy. We'll see how this goes. Rob

[iris lilies]

I did open that account today. It felt so strange - the bank is not all that far from me but it's like another world. Marble floors, nice wall art, just ritzy. We'll see how this goes. Rob

I chose my last bank soley on architecture. All bank programs seem pretty much the same to me, so I rewarded the turn of the century building with my business because the other buildings were new and uninteresting. One of them was downright hideous with its undersized windows and it just bugged me. It bugs me every time I drive by it.

It still amazes me that tiny Hermann has three banks.My hometown exactly the same size has just one.

[catherine]

I used to choose banks for location--My personal and business bank accounts were established in 1993 at a bank I could walk to when I was working, but the last time I could walk to that bank was 1996. However, it's still my bank--and they don't even have any branch locations in my state. Thank God for online banking.

However, I have established accounts at online-only banks. I have a savings/investment online account, and I just established a new debit card account at a "green" bank that only invests in clean industries and works with reforestation partners around the world. Plus I get cash back and bank fees are charged at cost. It's a new bank, so if it works out I'll maybe divert more funds to it for savings as well.

[Teacher Terry]

There’s high quality Astro turf made for golfers. They should switch to that. When I had the house I bought Astro turf made for dogs and 10 years later it looked like new. It came from a company in Arizona that mainly sold to golf courses, apartment and condo complexes, etc.

[catherine]

There’s high quality Astro turf made for golfers. They should switch to that. When I had the house I bought Astro turf made for dogs and 10 years later it looked like new. It came from a company in Arizona that mainly sold to golf courses, apartment and condo complexes, etc.

Terry, that might help with reduction of water resources, but astro turf on a golf course? Really? Carpet over 150 acres of beautiful land with plastic? I am not familiar with the microbiome of desert soil, but I can't imagine astroturf is a good solution from an environmental standpoint.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I used to choose banks for location--My personal and business bank accounts were established in 1993 at a bank I could walk to when I was working, but the last time I could walk to that bank was 1996. However, it's still my bank--and they don't even have any branch locations in my state. Thank God for online banking.

However, I have established accounts at online-only banks. I have a savings/investment online account, and I just established a new debit card account at a "green" bank that only invests in clean industries and works with reforestation partners around the world. Plus I get cash back and bank fees are charged at cost. It's a new bank, so if it works out I'll maybe divert more funds to it for savings as well.If your new bank starts with an A - I like this particular bank very much - but I as l also like having branches. This bank doesn't . Rob

[catherine]

If your new bank starts with an A - I like this particular bank very much - but I as l also like having branches. This bank doesn't . Rob

Yes, I think we're thinking of the same bank. I'm glad to get the endorsement.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Terry, that might help with reduction of water resources, but astro turf on a golf course? Really? Carpet over 150 acres of beautiful land with plastic? I am not familiar with the microbiome of desert soil, but I can't imagine astroturf is a good solution from an environmental standpoint.

+1. Astroturf most of the time can't be better.

if I associated golf with all those negative things (donald trump, the habits of upper middle class conformists, or whatever), rather than a largely harmless past time, then I would hate golf too.

But I just see it as a mostly harmless past time and there are public golf courses so it's not entirely inaccessible, but it's not free. But the water use point is legit I guess. And there is a difference between rather unnecessary water use like golf, and gee you live somewhere so you are guilty for living as you use water. >8) Yea and you are guilty of driving because you go to the supermarket even if there is zero public transit (not true here that it's absolute zero, but true some places) and biking would get you killed or you can't physically bicycle. It's on that level.

[Teacher Terry]

Catherine, I have no clue which is the best choice when faced with a severe drought. I know we saved 10 years of watering and our buyers were thrilled. If you buy cheap stuff it fades and wears out. We bought expensive turf thinking we would live there forever. The best choice is native plants that don’t need much water. We had Noki the big guy who needed a yard he could chase a ball in and play. He loved outside and spent much time enjoying the yard. Without him I would have made a different choice.

[catherine]

Catherine, I have no clue which is the best choice when faced with a severe drought. I know we saved 10 years of watering and our buyers were thrilled. If you buy cheap stuff it fades and wears out. We bought expensive turf thinking we would live there forever. The best choice is native plants that don’t need much water. We had Noki the big guy who needed a yard he could chase a ball in and play. He loved outside and spent much time enjoying the yard. Without him I would have made a different choice.

I understand the appeal for a residential yard like yours--but golf courses are a whole other thing because of the size. I also question whether the experience of golfing (chipping, putting, etc.) would be different on astroturf. I'm not a golfer so I would have no idea, but I'm sure many golfers would object to it.

[ApatheticNoMore]

There are probably benefits to all that grass that there aren't to astroturf as well, I mean I know grass bad in an arid climate and all, native plants, trees, cactus, plants from dryer climates etc. good. But short of native plant golf courses which I don't think are really a thing (?), it probably provides some air cleaning and air cooling benefits (but that's water evaporation and bad yea but pleasant) in the immediate area, some more life in the soil than under astroturf.

[catherine]

There are probably benefits to all that grass that there aren't to astroturf as well, I mean I know grass bad in an arid climate and all, native plants, trees, cactus, plants from dryer climates etc. good. But short of native plant golf courses which I don't think are really a thing (?), it probably provides some air cleaning and air cooling benefits (but that's water evaporation and bad yea but pleasant) in the immediate area, some more life in the soil than under astroturf.

Yes--that's what I was referring to--rather than killing every living thing under the soil.. but if they put grass that has to be maintained as a monoculture and fastidiously groomed, they're going to kill a lot of stuff with herbicides and pesticides, so who knows, maybe astroturf IS better for the environment.

[razz]

Having golfed and enjoyed when the highest number of strokes recorded for each hole was 10 per DH's kind decree, it was the fun.
Didn't golf get its start on the rough turf in Scotland. Someone told me that his dream was to play good golf on the originally rough surfaces in Scotland. The manicured grounds of today are for pampered pets not real golfers.:devil:

[jp1]

The problem with golf course turf goes far beyond the water usage. All that perfectly consistent, weed free grass doesn’t just magically happen. Large quantities of chemicals are involved.

[pinkytoe]

I know of several golf courses in HOA neighborhoods (one here) that were the reason for folks buying their house there in the first place. Fast forward, they have been closed as they don't have the funds to keep them going. Developers swooped in and built more houses.

[gimmethesimplelife]

…and some of them eat avacados.

So? Ya gonna avoid avacados?

This is a ridiculous idea.

But to get back to topic— i’m still skeptical that the theft insurance would actually save you much time, but if it really did save you oodles of time in closing accounts and etc., it might be worth it.

I don’t understand what “cell phone insurance quote is. Does that mean insurance for a loss or damage to the physical phone?It typically covers damage and theft but not loss. Different policies have different deductibles and coverage caps. There is also usually a limit of 2 claims a year, with different coverage amounts with different policies.

Supposedly marketing research focus groups have stated that participants overwhelming appreciated (a fairly low cost to the bank) cell phone insurance coverage on credit cards. Now this bank I opened an account at offers really good cell insurance, and you don't need to apply for a credit card through them to get it. Supposedly offering this at very low cost builds loyalty for the bank's brand. Rob

[jp1]

Do you often damage your phone? Generally I am of the mindset that insurance should only be purchased for potential catastrophes, not for something I can afford out of pocket. That’s also why I tend to opt for the highest deductible available. The one exception I make to that rule is dental insurance, but only because the premium is subsidized by my employer to a level that makes it a logical purchase.

[rosarugosa]

JP: I was thinking the same. My phone only cost $200, so I would never consider insuring something at that price point. Even if I had a thousand-dollar phone, well if I needed to insure it, then I don't think I should be spending that much on a phone. We insure our house, our cars (up to a point) and our bodies.

[iris lilies]

Do you often damage your phone? Generally I am of the mindset that insurance should only be purchased for potential catastrophes, not for something I can afford out of pocket. That’s also why I tend to opt for the highest deductible available. The one exception I make to that rule is dental insurance, but only because the premium is subsidized by my employer to a level that makes it a logical purchase.

yes. Glad you said it.

[catherine]

I have cell phone coverage on my cell phone carrier's plan.

We have a family plan with 5 people on it, but I have done my own risk analysis and only pay for the people's phones who I think are most likely to lose or break their phones. My personal cell phone insurance is for the best case money can buy, because I truly believe the cases make a difference between a fall that results in a cracked case and one that doesn't.

I also subscribe to Jp's/IL's philosophy regarding dental insurance. I don't carry that, either for the same reasons.

[LDAHL]

Do you often damage your phone? Generally I am of the mindset that insurance should only be purchased for potential catastrophes, not for something I can afford out of pocket. That’s also why I tend to opt for the highest deductible available. The one exception I make to that rule is dental insurance, but only because the premium is subsidized by my employer to a level that makes it a logical purchase.

That makes a lot of sense. We define “catastrophe” as a loss over three months of gross income, and keep a liquid risk reserve to cover lesser disasters.

[Teacher Terry]

I use the Otterbox case as do my kids. It’s designed so that the case hits the floor and not the screen.

[jp1]

That makes a lot of sense. We define “catastrophe” as a loss over three months of gross income, and keep a liquid risk reserve to cover lesser disasters.

I had not come up with a specific number but that sounds about right. When we originally moved in to our house I didn't buy earthquake insurance since we're only responsible for what's inside our walls, not the walls themselves. But at the renewal this year my State Farm agent explained that most condo associations' earthquake coverage includes a deductible that's 20% of the building value which is split among each member of the HOA. I looked it up in our HOA docs and she was right. In our case the HOA has earthquake coverage for half the limit of the property insurance, about $13.5 million for earthquake.) 1/46 of that is almost $57,000. Yes, we could afford to pay that, but the $800/year for insurance that will cover that seemed prudent.

[iris lilies]

We have earthquake coverage here, it is not price pd separately, but it is cheap for us although I have heard they dont offer it anymore for St. louis.

[razz]

How many earthquakes does Missouri experience? California is far more vulnerable, isn't it?

[Alan]

How many earthquakes does Missouri experience? California is far more vulnerable, isn't it?
Google New Madrid fault.

[iris lilies]

Google New Madrid fault.

yes, in the
new Madrid fault where a major earthquake took place around, was it 1817? From memory.

The brick houses here will crumble like sand.

[Alan]

yes, in the
new Madrid fault where a major earthquake took place around, was it 1817? From memory.

The brick houses here will crumble like sand.
I think it was most famously active in 1811 and 1812. Those events changed the course of the Mississippi river and created the Land Between the Lakes area in Kentucky and Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. Those quakes created damage in 7 surrounding states and could be felt in parts of New England, and the fault continues to create approximately 200 minor quakes per year. I grew up about 30 miles from the epicenter of the worst quakes produced in the 19th century.

[razz]

Was not aware of that at all. The surprising things one learns here.

[JaneV2.0]

I rode out the 6.8 Nisqually earthquake in 2001 in a brick building. I comforted myself with the fantasy that it was a newer brick building, and I probably wouldn't die like Giles Corey :D, which turned out to be true. As far as I know, all the area's brick buildings survived, though some of their decorative elements were dislodged.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Do you often damage your phone? Generally I am of the mindset that insurance should only be purchased for potential catastrophes, not for something I can afford out of pocket. That’s also why I tend to opt for the highest deductible available. The one exception I make to that rule is dental insurance, but only because the premium is subsidized by my employer to a level that makes it a logical purchase.I dropped my first LG Stylo and it was a pain to replace it. I've also dropped and ruined a less expensive flip phone. And a strangely enough I use my smartphone in multiple ways - it's something I have become used to having available. Insuring it seems a no Brainer to me - at least my mid range phone. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

gosh, buying real estate, getting married, running a landlord operation, holding down a semi-management job working big hours with no time for social warrior activities, accumulating $$$—geeze Alan, look where that leads us! Down the path of capitalist pigdom.

What is the world coming to.I thought you approved of my being off Medicaid and EBT? I thought you approved of my working and being entirely self sufficient with my bills? Am I misreading you here, IL? Rob

[ToomuchStuff]

Google New Madrid fault.

I remember the discussion in History class, around the time Mount St. Helen's blew up. They said the NM fault was overdue, and the last big one it had, caused the river to flow backwards. Then they mentioned the fear that if the big one hit here, it could cause Yellowstone to erupt.
Never figured out if he was serious, or trying to get kids attention.

[Teacher Terry]

GMSL, IL is just having fun teasing you:)).

[jp1]

I remember the discussion in History class, around the time Mount St. Helen's blew up. They said the NM fault was overdue, and the last big one it had, caused the river to flow backwards. Then they mentioned the fear that if the big one hit here, it could cause Yellowstone to erupt.
Never figured out if he was serious, or trying to get kids attention.

He was probably quite serious. Just as the guy who did a presentation at a risk management conference I attended 6 or 8 years ago in Portland was quite serious about the Cascadia subduction zone earthquake that will eventually hit the western half of Washington/Oregon. It's likely to be as destructive as the 1964 Alaska earthquake but in a MUCH more populous part of the world. But we don't know whether it will happen tomorrow or 200 years from now. Personally I started counting down the minutes until my plane was due to take off and return me to the safety of California.