[UCGal]

I think there’s some truth to the fees adding up.

We had $46 for electrical use on our last bill – but only $28 of that was for electricity – the rest was bond charges, transmission, and the $24.92 “distribution” charge. Electricity was only 61% of the “total electrical costs” on the bill.

Does anyone know if those fees go away if you DO put on panels. Lets say your electrical use is 10% because you’ve got solar panels.. Do all the fees get reduced by 10%.
(You don’t want to put on more panels than you consumption because then you’re just subsidizing SDG&E… so you size slightly less than your usage.)

[UCGal]

I think there’s some truth to the fees adding up.

We had $46 for electrical use on our last bill – but only $28 of that was for electricity – the rest was bond charges, transmission, and the $24.92 “distribution” charge. Electricity was only 61% of the “total electrical costs” on the bill.

Does anyone know if those fees go away if you DO put on panels. Lets say your electrical use is 10% because you’ve got solar panels.. Do all the fees get reduced by 10%.
(You don’t want to put on more panels than you consumption because then you’re just subsidizing SDG&E… so you size slightly less than your usage.)

[UCGal]

I think there’s some truth to the fees adding up.

We had $46 for electrical use on our last bill – but only $28 of that was for electricity – the rest was bond charges, transmission, and the $24.92 “distribution” charge. Electricity was only 61% of the “total electrical costs” on the bill.

Does anyone know if those fees go away if you DO put on panels. Lets say your electrical use is 10% because you’ve got solar panels.. Do all the fees get reduced by 10%.
(You don’t want to put on more panels than you consumption because then you’re just subsidizing SDG&E… so you size slightly less than your usage.)

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]I watch the number of people that pay for groceries with credit cards and locally that number is about 6 out of 10. Not debit cards, credit cards.

For far too many years, people equated wealth with credit and the two have nothing to do with each other. The people really getting squeezed are those that relied on having access to all that credit and now it’s being taken away.[/quote]

Add me to the chorus of people who pay for groceries with the credit card (costco amex) and get the cash back. I pay the bill in full every month, don’t carry a balance.

I agree with your statement about people getting confused between available credit and wealth. To me, wealth is having lots of large assets that are owned outright… not mortgaged. If you’re making payments on all of your stuff (house, cars, boats, etc.) you might not be as wealthy as you look.

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]I watch the number of people that pay for groceries with credit cards and locally that number is about 6 out of 10. Not debit cards, credit cards.

For far too many years, people equated wealth with credit and the two have nothing to do with each other. The people really getting squeezed are those that relied on having access to all that credit and now it’s being taken away.[/quote]

Add me to the chorus of people who pay for groceries with the credit card (costco amex) and get the cash back. I pay the bill in full every month, don’t carry a balance.

I agree with your statement about people getting confused between available credit and wealth. To me, wealth is having lots of large assets that are owned outright… not mortgaged. If you’re making payments on all of your stuff (house, cars, boats, etc.) you might not be as wealthy as you look.

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]I watch the number of people that pay for groceries with credit cards and locally that number is about 6 out of 10. Not debit cards, credit cards.

For far too many years, people equated wealth with credit and the two have nothing to do with each other. The people really getting squeezed are those that relied on having access to all that credit and now it’s being taken away.[/quote]

Add me to the chorus of people who pay for groceries with the credit card (costco amex) and get the cash back. I pay the bill in full every month, don’t carry a balance.

I agree with your statement about people getting confused between available credit and wealth. To me, wealth is having lots of large assets that are owned outright… not mortgaged. If you’re making payments on all of your stuff (house, cars, boats, etc.) you might not be as wealthy as you look.

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]I watch the number of people that pay for groceries with credit cards and locally that number is about 6 out of 10. Not debit cards, credit cards.

For far too many years, people equated wealth with credit and the two have nothing to do with each other. The people really getting squeezed are those that relied on having access to all that credit and now it’s being taken away.[/quote]

Add me to the chorus of people who pay for groceries with the credit card (costco amex) and get the cash back. I pay the bill in full every month, don’t carry a balance.

I agree with your statement about people getting confused between available credit and wealth. To me, wealth is having lots of large assets that are owned outright… not mortgaged. If you’re making payments on all of your stuff (house, cars, boats, etc.) you might not be as wealthy as you look.

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]I watch the number of people that pay for groceries with credit cards and locally that number is about 6 out of 10. Not debit cards, credit cards.

For far too many years, people equated wealth with credit and the two have nothing to do with each other. The people really getting squeezed are those that relied on having access to all that credit and now it’s being taken away.[/quote]

Add me to the chorus of people who pay for groceries with the credit card (costco amex) and get the cash back. I pay the bill in full every month, don’t carry a balance.

I agree with your statement about people getting confused between available credit and wealth. To me, wealth is having lots of large assets that are owned outright… not mortgaged. If you’re making payments on all of your stuff (house, cars, boats, etc.) you might not be as wealthy as you look.

[UCGal]

I see Capital One has been mentioned. I have a dormant account that I used for an Italy trip. So far they haven’t canceled it on me despite not having used it since we got back from the trip. I can attest to the no fees for currency exchange.

Something to consider with your ATM and credit cards before you travel – call and let them know you will be going to Europe – nothing is worse than the loss department suspecting fraud and putting a hold on your account. If you let them know you’ll be going to Europe, they put a note in the file so it doesn’t set off flags. I did that on my card, but my husband didn’t… Sure enough – his card got flagged. When we got home and got it straightened out, they had flagged it for unusual activity (Italy based transactions).

Better safe than sorry.

[UCGal]

I see Capital One has been mentioned. I have a dormant account that I used for an Italy trip. So far they haven’t canceled it on me despite not having used it since we got back from the trip. I can attest to the no fees for currency exchange.

Something to consider with your ATM and credit cards before you travel – call and let them know you will be going to Europe – nothing is worse than the loss department suspecting fraud and putting a hold on your account. If you let them know you’ll be going to Europe, they put a note in the file so it doesn’t set off flags. I did that on my card, but my husband didn’t… Sure enough – his card got flagged. When we got home and got it straightened out, they had flagged it for unusual activity (Italy based transactions).

Better safe than sorry.

[UCGal]

I see Capital One has been mentioned. I have a dormant account that I used for an Italy trip. So far they haven’t canceled it on me despite not having used it since we got back from the trip. I can attest to the no fees for currency exchange.

Something to consider with your ATM and credit cards before you travel – call and let them know you will be going to Europe – nothing is worse than the loss department suspecting fraud and putting a hold on your account. If you let them know you’ll be going to Europe, they put a note in the file so it doesn’t set off flags. I did that on my card, but my husband didn’t… Sure enough – his card got flagged. When we got home and got it straightened out, they had flagged it for unusual activity (Italy based transactions).

Better safe than sorry.

[UCGal]

I see Capital One has been mentioned. I have a dormant account that I used for an Italy trip. So far they haven’t canceled it on me despite not having used it since we got back from the trip. I can attest to the no fees for currency exchange.

Something to consider with your ATM and credit cards before you travel – call and let them know you will be going to Europe – nothing is worse than the loss department suspecting fraud and putting a hold on your account. If you let them know you’ll be going to Europe, they put a note in the file so it doesn’t set off flags. I did that on my card, but my husband didn’t… Sure enough – his card got flagged. When we got home and got it straightened out, they had flagged it for unusual activity (Italy based transactions).

Better safe than sorry.

[UCGal]

I see Capital One has been mentioned. I have a dormant account that I used for an Italy trip. So far they haven’t canceled it on me despite not having used it since we got back from the trip. I can attest to the no fees for currency exchange.

Something to consider with your ATM and credit cards before you travel – call and let them know you will be going to Europe – nothing is worse than the loss department suspecting fraud and putting a hold on your account. If you let them know you’ll be going to Europe, they put a note in the file so it doesn’t set off flags. I did that on my card, but my husband didn’t… Sure enough – his card got flagged. When we got home and got it straightened out, they had flagged it for unusual activity (Italy based transactions).

Better safe than sorry.

[UCGal]

I notice you mentioned that you’ll have lower costs buying than your current rent.

Are you looking to own long term… In other words, is this a shelter decision?

Or are you looking at this purchase as an investment… where ROI is the bottom line.

I’m in the minority on this board, I think, since I tend to look at home purchases in terms of affordability of shelter. I don’t look at owning a house strictly in investment terms. It would be silly to do that if you don’t have plans to sell in the forseeable future.

If your plan is to buy, live there, and hold it for the long term… and this house meets your needs and you can afford it. Go for it.

But, if this is a stepping stone home… with plans to buy bigger/better in the future, or if you think the odds are decent you’ll be relocating in the future, don’t buy now… the prices will be coming down and you’ll lose money on the deal.

[UCGal]

I notice you mentioned that you’ll have lower costs buying than your current rent.

Are you looking to own long term… In other words, is this a shelter decision?

Or are you looking at this purchase as an investment… where ROI is the bottom line.

I’m in the minority on this board, I think, since I tend to look at home purchases in terms of affordability of shelter. I don’t look at owning a house strictly in investment terms. It would be silly to do that if you don’t have plans to sell in the forseeable future.

If your plan is to buy, live there, and hold it for the long term… and this house meets your needs and you can afford it. Go for it.

But, if this is a stepping stone home… with plans to buy bigger/better in the future, or if you think the odds are decent you’ll be relocating in the future, don’t buy now… the prices will be coming down and you’ll lose money on the deal.

[Author]

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