Lifestyle

Retirement Planning: A cFIREsim Review

cFIREsim

It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. In fact, the sooner you start planning the better. But, when retirement age feels light years away, it can be hard to be motivated to do so. Not to mention, how do you know how much you should contribute to a retirement fund? What will be best for you when you don’t have a current retirement budget? The internet is full of helpful retirement tools to assist, such as cFIREsim, which just might have the answers you need.

What is cFIREsim?

cFIREsim is a free web-based tool that stands for Crowdsourced Financial Independence and Early Retirement (FIRE) Simulator. It uses data from the last 146 years to simulate how your portfolio would stand the test of time. According to the cFIREsim website, it “uses historical stock/bond/gold/inflation data from 1871 to present, and calculates how your portfolio would have fared throughout history.”

To use the simulator, you will fill in few responses regarding your current retirement plan. From there, it mimics your financial future based on how well your portfolio did throughout some of the toughest times in history. Using this tool, you’ll be able to see whether or not you’re account will survive based on how much you want to take out during retirement. Once you’ve put in your information, you’ll be directed to a color-coded interactive graph, which will show your portfolio compared over time.

cfireism graph

cFIREsim Pros

There are no frills with cFIREsim; upon entering the site, you can immediately start entering your information. There is no copy to navigate through to get to the simulator. The entire site is essentially the simulation.

If unsure where to start, you’ll be able to reference the cFIREsim FAQ and tutorial, but you can start with the most basic information. This includes the year you plan to retire, the year you plan to live until,  your current retirement information, and how much you’d like to live off of per year. Thus, to get an idea of what your retirement will look like, you only need basic information to start. Although the more details you enter, the better idea you’ll have.

One of the biggest pros of cFIREsim is the fact that you do not have to create any kind of account to participate nor do you have to pay anything. The tool is completely free to for users.

cFIREsim Cons

Even though the site allows you to immediately get started with your retirement simulation, the fact that there is no introduction to the page makes it a little confusing. The layout can feel overwhelming if you did not read the tutorial first or know what type of information you should enter. The graph can also seem overwhelming, but it is simply showing you how well your retirement would have done back through 1871.

Accuracy can also be an issue due to the fact that taxes are not incorporated into the simulation as well as inflation rates calculated yearly. In addition, the forms do not appear to be updated, and their tutorial could also provide more details explaining the varying capabilities of cFIREsim, as there are quite a few beyond the basic retirement planner, the site claims.

Overall, when used as just a tool to provide an idea of how to plan for your future retirement, it can be useful.

What are your thoughts of cFIREsim? 

Can You Buy LuLaRoe Online?

buy lularoe online

LuLaRoe emerged as a direct selling company in 2014. Within a short period of time, it quickly grew and developed a strong fan-base among both sellers and non-sellers alike. Despite their recent bad press, they still continue to rock the social media world and maintain sales. Women are still signing up to be what the company has titled a LuLaRoe Fashion Consultant, and new styles are added monthly. But, with e-commerce more popular than ever, the option to buy online can make or break retailers. So, can you buy LuLaRoe online?

How LuLaRoe Works

For those of you who may still be unfamiliar with the process, LuLaRoe is a direct selling company that earned popularity originally through their leggings. One of the their taglines, “where fashion meets comfort,” resonates with so many women, both in the professional world and in their personal lives. The company was initially designed as a way for the stay-at-home mom to make an income while still raising her family. Not just that, but what truly sets this multi-level marketing (MLM) company apart from others is that each seller receives different patterns and styles, making it somewhat easier for multiple women in the same area to distribute the product. However, whether or not you can really make a living selling LuLaRoe is still up for debate, but it appears to all come down to the individual selling.

Typically, those who do decide to sell are encouraged to turn to social media, which is undeniably a beneficial way to sell online. Most start Facebook groups, as advised by their LuLaRoe “upline” or coach (someone doing well in the company and is able to coach others on how to be successful while also making more money from their sales). To become a consultant, you pay roughly $4,000 to $6,000 to begin, which goes toward your first kit or inventory. You start making your money back the minute you start selling.

New styles and designs come out regularly each season, consistently creating buzz and the FOMO (“fear of missing out”) effect. As accessibility to products consumers desire increases through online shopping, one has to wonder if LuLaRoe is available to purchase through the web rather than a person. Is it possible to buy LuLaRoe online?

Can You Buy LuLaRoe Online?

Technically, no, you can’t buy LuLaRoe online. This is not to say, though, that there aren’t ways around that.

Consultants sell the clothes directly, and the website does not have an option to purchase with an online store. In fact, sellers must sell from their home and are not permitted to have a brick-and-mortar site. They can, however, sell from what are known as “pop-ups” or events where the product is available to the attendees.

Regardless, you do not have to live in the same area as a consultant in order to buy items from her. Many take payments via PayPal and will ship the clothes to you, much like you would arrange with any retailer’s website. Sites like Ebay is another option to buy LuLaRoe online, but some do tack on shipping prices and you should keep in mind that these items may be used.

So, even though you cannot place orders through the LuLaRoe website, you can still purchase the clothes through different sellers online with a debit or credit card and still have the items shipped to your house.

Are you a fan of LuLaRoe? Have you ever bought any of their clothes online? Share your experience with us in the comments below. 

 

PC: Hiram Robles

How Many Miles Can You Go Over Your Oil Change?

how many miles can you go over your oil change

The upkeep of a vehicle can really add up, between paying for car insurance, filling it with gas, and maintenance costs such as your yearly inspection. Part of these expenses includes an oil change, which traditionally has been recommended to change every 3,000 miles. But, is this really necessary? How many miles can you go over your oil change, and is there a way to save money on this?

The Evolution of an Oil Change

At one point in time, changing your oil every 3,000 miles (or three months, whichever came first) was valid to avoid issues with your engine. Over the years, though, this has gone from being a standard course of action to take for your vehicle to simply a myth due to how refined oil is now. In actuality, doing so means you’re likely throwing unnecessary money down the drain, regardless if it is only $30 here or there. It is steadily becoming more well-known among drivers that it’s OK to let your car go past the 3,000-mile mark before getting another oil change, more often than not.

However, many mechanics and chains continue to slap the sticker on your car reminding you of the traditional 3,000  mile or three-month oil change. Why is this? Some, like Tony Blezien of LeasePlan, may argue it is a marketing tactic as a way to make more money, using the past fear that not changing your oil that often will ruin your engine, as shared in this 2009 Boston.com article by Dave Copeland.

If we no longer have to worry about meeting that 3,000-mile deadline, then how long can we go without changing our oil?

So, how many miles can you go over your oil change?

There’s a debate as to whether or not our cars are actually assets or not, but nevertheless, they are still an important part of our lives. We want to ensure their longevity while also keeping more money in our pockets. But, one thing is certain across the board: modern-day cars can accumulate more miles before needing another oil change. The new average recommended mileage is roughly 7,500, according to Edmunds.com, a website dedicated to cars. Additionally, some vehicles can go as far as 10,000 miles before needing an oil change, Brad Tuttle reported in this 2009 Time article.

Despite this increase, one still needs to keep in mind that oil changes are not a one-size-fits-all task. Not only does make and model play a role, but your typical driving conditions as well, Edmunds’ Senior Consumer Advice Editor Ronald Montoya states.  With all these varying factors, what is the best way to tell our car needs an oil change? If your vehicle does not have an alert light for oil change notifications, then follow your owner’s manual, Montoya advises. Yeah, you know that book that comes with the purchase of your car that usually sits in your dashboard pocket until an emergency happens…yeah, that.

Not all mechanics will steer you wrong or try to empty your wallet for their benefit. Just remember to do a little research on your car, know what kind of oil it needs, and check your oil every couple months just to be safe. And don’t forget to review that owner’s manual. It does exist for a reason.

What are your thoughts on the 3,000-mile oil change recommendation? Weigh in on the comments below.