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>Adulting: It’s a term that some see as derogatory, and that some use to describe positive actions such as holding a steady “real” job, getting a mortgage, paying off a car, or doing anything else that less mature individuals aren’t quite yet ready for. Today’s adulting topic is an important one: personal finance. You’re finally earning some real money, and you’ve gotten past the impulse to blow it all. What to do? Here are some ideas to help you make the best financial decisions possible, whether you’re 18 or 25.
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>Debt:
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>Understand that there’s good and bad debt, and that it all has to be paid off, somehow. Inevitably, you’re going to end up paying more than the amount you borrowed, thanks to a little something called interest.
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> Credit Cards: Credit card companies go after college students and other young adults like starving piranhas chasing down a swimmer, so you probably have some credit card debt, which also goes by the name unsecured debt. Most people have it; the key is to keep it from getting out of control to the point where you’re making huge payments that mostly cover interest. So take a look at all the credit cards that you have and determine which ones cost you most to own and use. Look at the interest rate as well as any fees you incur, and figure out how much you’re paying just for the so-called privilege of having unsecured debt. If you have a 24% APR on your credit card, it’s costing you $240 per $1000! Not good. You have to repay the principal (money you spent) PLUS the interest and the APR. It can easily spiral out of control, so catch it now, while it’s small, and you’ll have far more money to spend on things that matter in the long run.
> Car Payments: If you’re paying on a car loan, it’s likely that your APR is somewhere in the double digits, but not nearly so high as that associated with the average credit card. If your APR is 11 percent, then you’re going to be paying $110 per $1,000. Not great, but less costly in the long run than unsecured credit card debt.
> Student Loans: Student loans are pretty much a fact of life, and in most cases, they come with small interest payments. If your student loan has a 3.2% APR, you’re paying $32 per $1,000 in interest. Not too bad.
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>Bottom line: If you’re putting extra money toward your debts in an effort to get rid of them, it’s best to go after the ones with large interest rates before you focus on the ones with smaller associated costs. Credit cards, car payments, and student loans all help you to establish a good credit rating, and keeping your costs low will help you make the most of your money.
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>Taxes:
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>Takes are a fact of life. If you’ve had a job for a while now, then you know what it’s like to open up your paycheck and see just how much came out for income tax. Know what your tax bracket is, and be aware of any special deductions that you can make. Taxes are something to plan for, but part of savvy taxpaying is to look for ways to reduce the amount you hand over to the government by taking steps to make a smaller portion of your income taxable. That’s an entire topic in itself; for in-depth advice, seek a local tax professional who can analyze your unique situation and make suggestions for reducing your tax load.
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>Investing:
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>Investing isn’t just for your mom and dad. It’s for everyone. It takes a while to reap the rewards, but starting now, at your current age, puts you in a better position than starting next year or five years from now. With the right plan, $10,000 you set aside this year can turn into $100,000 by the time you reach age 65. But you have to keep the money in there. Of course there will be years when you may lose part of your savings. Don’t let this stop you from investing! There will also be years when your money will grow rapidly. Invest early, invest often, and don’t neglect your retirement simply because it is so far away.
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>Also, make sure you read Read Tim Hale's Smarter Investing - at least a 25% of the book addresses the risk vs reward of index and managed funds. I wish I had read it sooner.
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>Now that you have basic insight into the big three personal finance topics, here are some additional tips for making your money go as far as it possibly can, now and into the future.
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>Repaying Student Loans:
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>You have to repay student loans unless you can get them forgiven. There are a few strategies to consider, depending on your student loan debt load. Any student loan amounts that are forgiven may be taxable, so know the potential implications before you sign on the dotted line.
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> Repay Student Loans According to Schedule: If you own $30,000, then your payment is probably close to $300 / month. It’s not awful, but it is a little more than the average car payment. If you own $100,000 in student loan debt, then your monthly payments are probably closer to $1,000 monthly – in other words, about the same as a home mortgage, but with nothing tangible to show for it (beyond your spiffy new education, that is.) Paying your loans back on schedule means that you pay the minimum amount on the loan. Only do this if your student loan has an interest rate of 4% or less, unless you’re simply not able to make larger payments. If you have higher interest loans, consider refinancing them to get a lower rate. As long as you have good credit and a decent income, you should be able to qualify.
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> Check into a Reduced Payment Plan: If your income is low in comparison to your student loan debt load, then you may be able to qualify for a reduced payment plan such as IBR (income based repayment) or PAYE (pay as you earn). You’ll spend a longer amount of time repaying your student loan this way, and you may end up paying more than you would if you repaid according to schedule.
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> Drowning in Student Loan Debt? Consider Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): This program lets you make minimal payments to your student loan while you spend ten years working in public service, and then your unpaid balance is generously forgiven.
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>Investing for retirement:
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>You’re young now, but someday you’ll reach retirement age. Investing now means you will be able to relax and enjoy your golden years without the stress that comes with financial worries.
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> Take advantage of 401k benefits: If your employer offers 401k benefits, be sure to hop on board. Not only is this a nice little investment, it also has the potential to help with your current tax burden. Most employers add 3% of your salary if you contribute 6%, and this basically amounts to free money. If you retire after age 59.5, you can withdraw the money without paying a penalty, and if you switch jobs, you may be able to take the money with you.
>If your employer offers a Roth 401k option, you’ll pay taxes on the money you contribute, but you’ll be exempt when it comes time to withdraw.
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> Don’t invest all in one place: Diversify your investments so that you’ll continue earning in case one part of the market crumbles.
> Consider an IRA: An IRA is like a do-it-yourself 401k. you set up your account with a company that offers IRAs, and give them an annual amount (up to $5500 / year as of this writing) to invest on your behalf. You can open an IRA whether your employer offers 401k benefits or not. If you think that you might have to tap into your retirement fund before it matures, then consider a Roth IRA since you can raid it anytime without paying penalties or taxes.
> Don’t go it alone: Choose an investment company to help you maximize your potential earnings. Online management fees cost less, and the benefits of having help with money management are many.
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>Other Personal Finance Considerations:
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>You’ll be faced with many money-related decisions throughout your early adulthood. Here are some other topics to keep in mind as you work your way through the personal finance maze:
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>* Health Insurance: Your parents may be able to keep you on their health insurance plan until you reach age 26, however, if you have a job that comes with employer-provided insurance, be sure to go for it. Be cognizant of how much you’ll need to spend on co-pays and routine costs. If possible, consider opening a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA). This will allow you to deduct contributions for medical expenses you need to pay out-of-pocket. As of this writing, you can contribute up to $3350 / year to your HAS. Some employers contribute to their employees’ HSAs. If your employer or parents aren’t offering health insurance, then you’ll need to purchase an individual plan on your own. Be sure to compare all the costs and benefits of the plans that are available to you.
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>I have seen a few posts about people who don't have flood insurance, or any insurance on this subreddit (I hope its appropriate to post here) and I wanted to help you help yourself prepping to go back in to your home. I work remodeling homes, and commercial buildings and have a few tips for when you go back in your house to save a few thousand dollars.
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>First thing is first, you need to expect total losses on a couple items; carpet and padding is gone, 100% don't bother keeping it. Drywall and plaster that have been submerged are also toast. Furniture may be salvageable, but if it has cloth or padding, assume its a loss. If it isn't REALLY expensive (custom, antique, or all sealed wood) its probably done for. These 3 things can cause health issues if not taken care of immediately. For your families sake, please don't hesitate to throw them away. Its all replaceable, your health is not.
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>I'll preface this with the fact that I have never worked with FEMA, but only insurance companies. My knowledge and experience comes from working with them and if you have more information than I do, please add.
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>How to prep your house:
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>The VERY FIRST thing you do, is go to your main breaker panel, and make sure the electricity is shut off in the room you will be working. The odds of you getting shocked are negligable, but Murphy is always lurking. Once you have the breaker switched to the off position of that room you can begin the demo process.
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>Unscrew the plates on the electrical outlets, and cable jacks. This will take a flat head screwdriver. Save these in a plastic ziplock bag to put back on later.
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>If you have baseboard, and want to try to keep it (personally I'd just chuck it myself usually) you will need a razor knife. You will need one anyways so if you don't have one, purchase one. I'd recommend this one off amazon, but you can find simple razors for a couple bucks. The problem with cheeps, is they break easy, and you'll need the knife for your carpet too. Anyways, cut where the baseboard meets the wall, as there will be a paint layer and/or caulking there to seal it. Then use the flat head to pry the baseboard back. If you are trying to salvage the baseboard, be gentle and take your time. If you aren't trying to salvage it, bust it up and take out some anger on it.
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>Next is your drywall. Here is a drywall saw I recommend. Go 6-8 inches above the waterline and punch it through the drywall (you can use your hand, but a hammer doesn't hurt as much) and cut it all. Rip out everything below your cut and throw it away. Then pull out any insulation in the walls, as they are soaked and compromised as well. This will help prevent mold growing in the walls.
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>Leave any and all plumbing or electrical work exactly how it is.
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>Next comes carpet. The carpet is only held on by tack strips (thin wooden pieces, with little nails in them) along the edges. Pull up the edges and the rest comes easy. Since the carpet is soaked, its going to be extremely heavy. This is why I would purchase the better razor knife, and cut the carpet in to pieces to haul it outside. By leaving the carpet until last, this will help your clean up from the dry wall, baseboard, and insulation immensely. The padding underneath will usually be stapled, or glued down, just rip it out.
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>Turn the breakers back on, and put some fans in there if you have them. The more air movement the better. Obviously a lot of people won't be able to afford industrial style fans, but here is one for 40 bucks. If you can spare it, it will make a huge difference. The bigger the better, if you have the cash.
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>I would leave cabinets where they are, and dry them out as quickly as possible. They will probably be replaced too, but once they are dry they pose no health risk, and you will probably still be using them to hold stuff until a contractor can replace them.
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>These few things will save you thousand of dollars later on, and more importantly will keep your chances of being sick way down. In the insurance world(again I've never worked with FEMA), you get money for demolition, so you can pocket a good chunk of that, if not all of it depending on the contractors needs, and scope of work.
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>I'd recommend getting a multi-tool as well, but they aren't necessary. They are just helpful. Here is what I use.
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>I wish I could be there to help everyone out, and I hope this helps in some way. I'm praying for you all / sending good vibes and cash to you, but I hope this helps you out even more. Good luck, and if there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to contact me.

If you're interested in reading more on the subject, check out Ha Joon Chang's work in Kicking Away the Ladder, for which he won the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.

> My issue wasn't that it was antisemitic.

How is it antisemitic ? There is more than one person in here that thinks this.



> It's that it's political

It looks like an interesting and witty social survey of academic or general interest.

Possibly inspired by the book (not that I have read it)

> Mods at a place like /r/undelete should be ....

This stinks of a pathetic witchhunt based on a lack of comprehension skills. There is a "Conflict of interest" argument regarding the moderation of /r/politics but this thread, at best, just seems like a misunderstanding.

If you want to read about some interesting fuckery during this period in South America, and other 3rd world countries, read The World Was Going Our Way https://www.amazon.com/World-Was-Going-Our-Way/dp/0465003133
this is the follow up to The SWord and the Shield, another great book.

Yea?! How does this break their politics rule? It's not like he's been active in politics within the past 8 years, as the rule states. I mean, to count for that, he'd have to have written a book on who to vote for in an election, or maybe been outspoken for and/or a particular candidate (perhaps he'd have to do it for two people mentioned by name to be banned by the rule in order to count,) or I guess being outspoken about the occupy movement.

I TOTALLY can't figure out how he is political in any regard, especially in relation to the rules. It's so hard to figure out if it breaks the rules! I wish someone would come explain it to us, because it's clearly beyond our powers to be able to figure it out on our own.

Or because books like [this exist] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/099982032X)

It's not that surprising. If you look at the Pew Research reference (footnote, p14) to the book, the statistic is "17% of Americans were members of a congregation." That's a big difference to being atheist or agnostic. There would be a lot of Christians not members of a single congregation, as well as many Deists since this was towards the end of the Rationalist Movement. Furthermore, Evangelicalism -- largely a reaction to all this anti-church sentiment -- did not even start until the 18th century. They came to the US because they were small minority groups.

Without looking at the statistics that Finke and Stark are talking about, it's really hard to say how they got their numbers. Is it including slaves in the South? That would really throw off the count.

Google Archipelago

Here is a book for you to read partner. It'll give you something to think about.

I have a better suggestion. Read the actual book, "Curveball." It should be common knowledge by now, but Powell knew the evidence was flimsy. That's why he refused to make the UN speech unless CIA director Tenet was sitting right behind him while he did it--Powell wasn't going to be a fall guy.

This is the message I just sent to the admins

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I remember when /u/Spez came back and did his big AMA, one of the big questions was about moderators abusing power. Then /u/Spez just did another AMA and the two biggest questions were in regard to moderators being abusive.

https://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/4megfw/ama_about_my_darkest_secrets/d3uu949

Now we have a huge mass shooting. And the mods at /r/news are silencing discussion and conversation about it. It's absurd.

I actually woke up, 830 CT, checked Reddit, saw nothing out of the ordinary, started cooking breakfast. My girlfriend woke up, checked CNN and told me about the shooting. I re-opened the Reddit app and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled. Went to /r/News finally and saw that nuked thread. Went to /r/all and of all the god damn subs on Reddit, it's /r/the_donald leading the charge in reporting news.

Is this what you imagined Reddit to be? I certainly never thought it would come to this. For the last 5 years, I've always come to Reddit when events like this happen, because Reddit gave me the best perspective. Locals, professionals, lay people who are smart as hell: all gathered together, bringing their knowledge to bear on a situation. Reddit embodies one of the key lessons in the book Superforcasting—groups are smarter than individuals. Reddit live threads and megathreads have been amazing. /r/news and /r/worldnews have been, in the past, places that left mainstream media in the dust.

But today was an ugly day. Today was Reddit at its worst. Corrupted.

I hope you all take this seriously and send a message that moderation like this won't be tolerated. I recommend you remove every single one of the /r/news and /r/worldnews mods. Start fresh. That may take more work, but it's the healthiest choice you can make. Mods like this are legitimately a cancer. If you leave them alone, they will fester and continue to wreak havoc on the body "in toto".

Whether you all like it or not, Reddit has become a political tool. It's become a business tool. It's become a marketing tool. You've created something amazing that helps shape the world. But it's also shaped by the world. And, just like a gun, there are people who would use Reddit in evil ways. It's time to stop ignoring the issues with moderators and moderation. People with selfish interests have, overtime, worked their way into key moderation positions in reddit. Mod abuse is real. And mod abuse is something that will wreck your site, that will leave Reddit a hollow shell of what it began is, what it was, and what it could have been.

Please, do something. You're our only hope.