We got ours cleaned out a few years ago. Mainly because Dad was worried about fire hazards from dust in the vents. Also it felt like the air quality improved a bit, but maybe that was just our imaginations. I say go for it, never know until you try right?
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Yes, it helped me a ton. BUT the previous owners had cats and I have a cat allergy, lol.
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I keep meaning to schedule it. Mainly so we can live with years of our own filth instead of other people’s
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Oh look, a money question.
Can anyone explain like I’m 5, the process of withdrawing money from a Roth? As in, using Roth as sort of a secondary e-fund that you can pull contributions from in case of emergency?
And also how long it takes to get the money accessible?
Bonus points if you’ve done this with Vanguard.
Contemplating moving a chunk of my e-fund into my Roth but the process of getting it back out is a thing I don’t understand, which makes me hesitate.
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I’ve done this with Vanguard. On their end, it’s very easy. You just request to sell shares and have the funds deposited in your bank account. The tax part is a bit trickier, but doable. You will need to document that you had contributions (over the years) in excess of the amount withdrawn. This is documented on Form 5498 each year. If you’ve always had the money at Vanguard, you should be able to download that form for every year and thus have documentation. If you made the contributions elsewhere and then transferred to Vanguard later, then you’ll need to track down that form with the original company. When you file taxes, you’ll need to file an extra form (don’t remember the number just now) that shows you took Roth contributions and how much your total contributions have been. That way you won’t be taxed on that.
Hint: if you use Turbotax or something similar, the program may not catch this and you’ll need to make sure that you’re not being taxed on the withdrawal. I was able to catch and fix it before submission, but I was watching for it.
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Just looked and it’s Form 8606.
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This is helpful! I’ve only had Vanguard for around 5 years, and, now that you mention it, I do remember this being the impediment to me taking out ALL my contributions. Because I kept poor records back when I funded my Roth with a previous bank.
Is there any length of time that I have to let the funds sit in there? Like, let’s say that I max my Roth for the year right now. So, my contribution was in January 2022. Can I take that contribution out in a few months if I need it? Because, that paper trail would be easy. I’m not wanting to touch anything else in there unless it is an extreme emergency, just thinking about shifting some of my current liquid e-fund, that’s just in a savings acount.
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Yes, you can take the contributions out at any time. You don’t actually have to show which contributions you’re taking out (from what year). Just that you’ve contributed more than you’re removing. So, if you had the documents for the last several years and that amount was enough to cover your withdrawal, you’re good.
ETA: I should add that documenting your total contributions might be a good idea in the long run if you ever anticipate needing them documented for future withdrawals before age 59.5. The IRS keeps track because the form 8606 shows your total contributions, how much you’ve withdrawn and what you have left.
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Woohoo! I found them, and they go back to 2016, as they should as that’s when I switched to Vanguard. Thank you.
I’m totally unsure of how to go about getting my records from Fifth Third which is where I had the IRA before. Like, I don’t even have an account number any more. I contributed MANY years ago and then just let it sit. Problem for another day, I guess. My goal is to not touch what’s in there already, but just be able to draw on what I put in there going forward.
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I’m looking for a recommendation for a website or free app (accessible by both Android and Apple users) that can be easily used by a group of friends to list out the essentials and track who is bringing what shared supplies (food/beverages/cookware/Covid tests/masks/cleaning supplies/etc) for a multi-night getaway with friends.
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Not sure if there’s something specific for that purpose but you could make a shared Google doc or spreadsheet, give everyone edit access, and let people sign up for the items by putting their names next to what they’re supplying?
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Spreadsheet on the phone is not my favorite.
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Doc with items listed as bullet points is how I’d do it, then have people sign up with their names in bold after each item.
I know there’s a bunch of cross platform shopping list apps but I have no experience with any of them myself.
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I was hoping there was a solution that meant I didn’t need to do any work or thinking of lists etc. and that someone has used an app/site that it is already proven great for this purpose.
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I might end up doing that if I can’t find something else. That does sound better than a spreadsheet on a phone 
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My landlord has confirmed they will replace the broken oven with a new one. Yay!
But they have asked me what type I’d like, as follows:
- Electrical Conventional Oven/Grill
- Multifunctional Oven/Grill
- Oven/Grill
And I have no idea. I want to learn to cook, but as we’ve just established in the Snackuary thread, right now I have the approximate cooking age of a twelve year old. That said, I’d want something which could grow with me, if that makes sense.
Would anyone have a modicum of time and be able to suggest what overall type would be best/easiest for a newbie? Or, even, given extra time and expertise, suggest which one from the website below might be good so I can ask them for that one? They genuinely all look the same to me.
This is the website they’ve said they’ll use to buy it. And I’m guessing the budget will be small. £300 to absolute max £400, possibly less. I’ve filtered for ‘in stock’ and ‘built in eye-level’ as that’s what the existing space is:
https://ao.com/l/electric_double_ovens-built_in-in_stock/1-9-270/42-46-48/
Thanks in advance! And no worries if no time…
Oh! Edit to add: The old one was a double fan oven below, smaller oven on top, with a built in grill. The small top oven was the one I used most often, as I’m just one person.
Or, I could just say to them to buy whichever is the most energy efficient type, because at my level of skill, the niceties might not make that much difference.
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What do you use most? A cooktop or the oven? Some people never bake, so the oven features don’t matter much. Others rarely use the cooktop.
Do you have a microwave or other appliances you use a lot?
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I have:
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Slow Cooker
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Rice cooker with steaming section on top - I like rice, and hear steamed veggies are good for you
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Steaming saucepan, 2 ordinary non-stick pans, couple of steel pans, and a wok
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Hob - which I am guessing is what you’ve called the cooktop? This is separate, runs on gas, and is not being replaced.
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A microwave - which I was given for Christmas by someone else. A second foodie friend in the US says microwaving isn’t great, but I was glad of it for sure over the holiday
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The broken oven - which is across the kitchen, built into a vertical cabinet and electric.
I used to grill quite a bit back in the day as it’s healthier than frying. I don’t have a gallbladder, so very much have to watch my intake of fat. I have baked a couple of times, but mostly stuff that’s prepared for quick baking, rarely from scratch, except I used to make crumble back in the day. My folks used to use the larger fan oven for Christmas day, but I last used it to dry out a papier mâché dragon head. As you do… lol
Am just now realising that a lot of the cooking terms you all have are different from ours. I have no idea what broiling is, for example. We Brits roast, grill, bake and boil. That’s pretty much it (I think?).
Does that help a bit? Sorry all if tmi… I can’t work out sometimes what’s important info, and what isn’t, so it’s tough to be succinct.
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Just found this page, which has some info on it too, if you scroll down. Seems like what we had before was a multi-function oven. I never understood why the top oven and grill controls were on the same dial. And I don’t think my folks did either. This page might explain why:
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Sorry, sorry, think I have answered my own question. Seems like the existing oven is a Multi-function oven, and I think it’s probably best I just go for something similar.
Thanks for being prepared to wade in…
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