Search found 302 matches

by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Jan 27, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Selling house after 33 year; realtor distrust
Replies: 86
Views: 9942

Re: Selling house after 33 year; realtor distrust

Realtor commissions are a hard pill to swallow. I've been involved in one FSBO transaction and several Realtor transactions. I did much more second guessing with the FSBO transaction. I have had the good fortune of hiring Realtors who served me well. Each one I worked with was responsive, hustled, and provided ample assistance and assurances throughout the process. Best of luck with your due diligence and hiring a Realtor you are happy with. It sounds like the close family member who is a real estate lawyer is added pressure as opposed to helpful. That is an entirely different and personal situation to navigate, and I wish you the best there as well.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experience with Frontier Airlines
Replies: 42
Views: 4445

Re: Experience with Frontier Airlines

Frontier is great because you don't subsidize everyone else's over packing. I travel with a personal item for no extra charge. My personal item is a backpack. I always measure it pre flight to ensure it is within Frontier's parameters. Occasionally, as you're boarding, the gate agent will make everyone shove their personal items in a bin to prevent shenanigans. When I flew with my ex we each took a personal item and shared a checked suitcase. I recommend buying a luggage scale.

Another nice thing about Frontier is that they let you put personal items in the overhead bins whereas other airlines make me shove my backpack under the seat in front of me.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Guest sleeping options
Replies: 39
Views: 5694

Re: Guest sleeping options

I have guests sleep in my room, and I use my camping mattress.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Dec 26, 2023 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything special to see in Denver?
Replies: 33
Views: 3949

Re: Anything special to see in Denver?

I echo some of the other commenters to skip Denver. It has the trappings of a big city, but nothing you can't find in other big cities.

As another commenter mentioned - RMNP has two-tier timed entry. Bear Lake is the highlight of the park. It is a one of a kind place, but you can cover it in a day. You can simply walk the loops around Bear and Nymph Lakes or you can tackle a 7-10 mile moderate difficulty hike. If you cannot access the Bear Lake area then you'd be better off exploring Colorado's western slope instead of RMNP.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Aug 26, 2023 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Mayo Clinic Question
Replies: 40
Views: 6789

Re: Mayo Clinic Question

Perhaps this story is the exception, but here goes. My ex had an absolutely devastating experience at Mayo. She had been dealing with chronic pain for years. After much troubleshooting and dealing with practitioners from myriad disciplines, she was very excited and hopeful to experience Mayo's promise of integrated care where the specialists worked with and collaborated with each other and the generalists. I'm not sure if the promise is explicit but this is the level of service she was led to expect. I had an image in my mind of the doctors huddling together and game planning for her. The Scottsdale location was convenient as we lived in Tempe at the time. Lo and behold, visiting her general doc and specialist was akin to visiting to any tw...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sun Jul 23, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Home gym suggestions: cardio and weights?
Replies: 70
Views: 5893

Re: Home gym suggestions: cardio and weights?

I love my home gym! I feel like a pull up bar/power tower is essential, and it was the first piece of equipment I had. Pre-divorce, I mounted a bar to the basement ceiling with pipes and threaded elbows. Maybe you can mount a bar somewhere else in your house and run up there to crank out your pull ups? My current setup is in the second bedroom of my apartment. The ceiling is tall enough for a power tower, and I mounted my my pull up bar vertically where I utilize it for resistance bands. I also have a bench, an olympic barbell set, an EZ bar, adjustable dumbbells, and an aerobic step. My dumbbells are the kind you screw plates onto. I have three sets of these dumbbells which makes it less of a pain. For cardio I use a spin bike in my apartm...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Jul 17, 2023 10:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I rent an office instead of using home office
Replies: 36
Views: 3085

Re: Should I rent an office instead of using home office

Sounds like you're curious, so I recommend trying it. If you shop around you might be able to find an office for more lenient lease terms.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Jun 13, 2023 10:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is Your Hot Water Recirculating Pump Worth It?
Replies: 49
Views: 3466

Re: Is Your Hot Water Recirculating Pump Worth It?

I've installed a couple of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-Hot-W ... /100426993

It's always a happy surprise when I visit my parents and the hot water comes on instantly. Then I realize, "Hey that's MY handiwork!"
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Jun 10, 2023 2:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Condo HOA Requirements
Replies: 13
Views: 1926

Re: Condo HOA Requirements

It's unfortunate things got confrontational. In the end it does sound like the president is offering transparency and your reserve fund is healthy. These are two good signs.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Wed Jun 07, 2023 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should I appeal property tax?
Replies: 48
Views: 4892

Re: Should I appeal property tax?

At the very least, you can do a minimal effort appeal. Just cite some recently sold homes near you or quote the Zestimate. I did this once and was successful. I don't see how the appeal will negatively affect resale. I applaud you for wanting to contribute to schools. However, you can also do this as charitable contributions.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sun Jun 04, 2023 6:55 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Change - Architecture or Construction Management
Replies: 32
Views: 2963

Re: Career Change - Architecture or Construction Management

Very exciting! What are your goals if you pursue construction management? With your professional experience and four home remodels under your belt somebody will be happy to take a chance on you - no degree required. Many people in construction still frown upon education and will be inspired by your self made background. However, If you want to run massive projects for huge companies then you'll probably need a degree. Word of warning is that the massive companies may start you out doing mind numbing paperwork 60+ hours/week. Also note that the "smaller" jobs can become quite large and very interesting and complex.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon May 08, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Relationship ended: Buy her out or sell the property?
Replies: 82
Views: 10697

Re: Relationship ended: Buy her out or sell the property?

Consider your partner's contribution to housekeeping, yardwork, maintenance, improvements, beautification, and hiring contractors. Consider your partner's contribution to monthly expenses like utilities, HOA (if applicable), and property taxes. Perhaps there are expenses, chores, and talents I am forgetting. Do you want to assume 100% of these burdens? How much (if anything) you can save by moving or downsizing? I wish you the best going forward.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri May 05, 2023 11:21 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can I afford to move?
Replies: 39
Views: 3698

Re: Can I afford to move?

Many places will offer increased social opportunities without such a huge COL jump. Friendships are strange. Your Bay area friends may be perfect for occasional visits but not weekly hangouts. Maybe they'll marry and have kids and drift apart.

Let's also talk about dating: I'm not sure of your sex/orientation, but if you're a straight man moving to the Bay area then you can bank some of that dating budget for the next 30 years or so: https://www.states101.com/gender-ratios ... sco-county
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Apr 28, 2023 1:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Our realtor is firing us
Replies: 224
Views: 30690

Re: Our realtor is firing us

Good riddance. This person seems like a terrible Realtor and a bad friend. From what I gather, she failed to set expectations by saying she "liked" looking at houses. Then (I presume) she did not attempt to dissuade you from writing an offer significantly above asking price. And what about the first offer you backed out of? Perhaps the due diligence was something a competent Realtor would have observed before you wrote an offer. I can't help but wonder if you left something on the table when you sold your house. Thank goodness you have an opportunity to find better representation for your next huge purchase. Regarding the contract, I agree w/ those who suggest terminating the contract and moving on. If I were in your shoes and the...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Mar 04, 2023 1:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bucket List: Travel to Top 10 Sunsets
Replies: 58
Views: 4912

Re: Bucket List: Travel to Top 10 Sunsets

I've seen sunsets from many beautiful places. However, some of the prettiest were right in the middle of Phoenix. The desert colors, dust, and pollution come together dramatically and beautifully that time of day.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you enjoy non-algorithmic music? App recommendations?
Replies: 16
Views: 1709

Do you enjoy non-algorithmic music? App recommendations?

On Saturday, I re-discovered the joy of FM music when I streamed from the local jazz station. Yes, I know that's not technically not "FM", but hopefully you get my gist. When I downloaded the jazz station's app, I also found an app called Jazz Radio which has 57 unique jazz channels! It is multitudes more enjoyable than streaming jazz on YouTube Music.

Do you have a favorite non-algorithmic streaming app? What makes it great? Is there an option to listen without ads?
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Feb 16, 2023 10:41 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: camera for Grand Canyon raft trip
Replies: 84
Views: 7214

Re: camera for Grand Canyon raft trip

You all are putting me to shame. I took a few disposable waterproof cameras!
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Southwest USA Trip Should I do?
Replies: 27
Views: 2790

Re: Which Southwest USA Trip Should I do?

KSOC wrote: Sat Jan 28, 2023 5:08 pm Check your moon phases and go after full moon. The western areas you mentioned have a beautiful night sky full of stars, including the Milky Way!
True. However, seeing the desert formations under the light of a full moon is equally beautiful and awe inspiring!
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Jan 28, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which Southwest USA Trip Should I do?
Replies: 27
Views: 2790

Re: Which Southwest USA Trip Should I do?

I am familiar with most of the places on both of your itineraries. In several of the days I feel like you're overly ambitious but both itineraries seem doable for the most part. I'll just offer a couple suggestions to trim so you can have more time in what I think are preferred locations.

Itinerary 1: Spend the night in Flagstaff or the GC rather than Sedona. Although beautiful, Sedona does not warrant so much time at the expense of your other destinations. I do recommend taking the scenic route through Jerome on your way to Sedona.
Itinerary 2: You said you are city slickers. Therefore, you won't miss much by skipping downtown Denver.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sat Jan 28, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 27 inch or 32 inch monitors
Replies: 54
Views: 3448

Re: 27 inch or 32 inch monitors

I do AutoCAD work. I use a 27" monitor oriented vertically and a 35" curved monitor. This is a great setup for me.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Oct 10, 2022 1:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2 days in London-best museums/restaurants/pubs
Replies: 35
Views: 2689

Re: 2 days in London-best museums/restaurants/pubs

London is amazing. I'd spend a lot of time walking around and soaking up all the humanity.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Jul 19, 2022 9:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy grocery bags from?
Replies: 83
Views: 8650

Re: Where to buy grocery bags from?

My city also has a plastic bag ban. Grocers are required to charge $0.10 for paper bags. I buy the paper bags and reuse them. They last a long time and I still have some from before the new law went into effect. I think it's a better value than buying reusable bags for $1 that you have to wash and eventually wear out. Stores like Sprouts, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods have better paper bags than the large grocery chains.

I do like the box idea that some commenters use.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Jul 12, 2022 6:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best roadside assistance?
Replies: 49
Views: 6909

Re: Best roadside assistance?

I do not have roadside assistance. I have had two breakdowns in 10-15 years. Each time I called a tow truck company and they towed the car to my mechanic. Each tow cost less than one year of AAA membership.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Jun 28, 2022 9:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Managing honey-do lists and other lists
Replies: 53
Views: 5728

Re: Managing honey-do lists and other lists

Weekly marriage meetings worked great for keeping us on the same page. I learned about it on the Art of Manliness podcast. Each meeting is formatted into four parts: 1) appreciation, 2) chores (including to-dos/finances), 3) Plan for good times (dreaming), and 4) problems and challenges. We made sure to end with more appreciation to go out on a high note.

Here's a link with a write up. The podcast is at the bottom of the article.

https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/f ... e-meeting/
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 6 gallon bucket of golf balls
Replies: 31
Views: 3027

Re: 6 gallon bucket of golf balls

My MIL collected stray golf balls as well. She painted them red and green and made some cool Christmas crafts.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue May 31, 2022 6:16 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a house back 2 years later
Replies: 46
Views: 6573

Re: Buying a house back 2 years later

I just want to congratulate you. From what I gather, you sold the house in question two years ago. Then you bought and sold a lemon of a custom build that galawdawg mentioned. Now you're in a position to re-buy this house in today's market with CASH! Wow. I have a hard replacing shirts that quickly.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu May 19, 2022 1:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Critique my summer Hawaii vacation plan (plus camera?).
Replies: 51
Views: 5283

Re: Critique my summer Hawaii vacation plan (plus camera?).

#11 Road to Hana - My wife and I drove to the Garden of Eden which is 1/3 of the way to Hana. She did the entire drive to Hana on a previous trip and said the road begins to feel tedious after a while. I understood what she meant and was happy to turn back after visiting the garden. I highly recommend the Garden of Eden. It offers beautiful views and whimsical delights for the kids. Heck, being there made me feel like a kid!
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon May 16, 2022 9:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Credit or debit card for a teen at camp, what is easiest?
Replies: 19
Views: 1893

Re: Credit or debit card for a teen at camp, what is easiest?

My parents gifted me a Visa GC for my most recent birthday. It was declined when I attempted to use it. I called the number on the back of the card and they said the card was voided due to suspected fraudulent activity. Maybe because I live in a different state than my parents? Visa replaced my card and acted like they were doing me a favor by waiving the replacement fee.

Due to my experience I would avoid the Visa GC.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:55 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tools to keep vs sell?
Replies: 16
Views: 2206

Re: Tools to keep vs sell?

Giving up tools is hard. I only do it when I move. In my most recent move I pared my collection down to what I could fit in a tool bag + toolbox. The only power tool I kept was the drill/screwdriver. I've occasionally replaced tools left behind because it's hard to predict the future. Overall the good feeling I get from having fewer things and more space far outweighs my slight disgruntlement at having to "re-buy" a tool.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Apr 11, 2022 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Kitchen Oven Dilemma
Replies: 27
Views: 2141

Re: Kitchen Oven Dilemma

Do you mean the stovetop glass? If so, then you can call appliance stores to see if you can get a replacement glass top.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Mar 15, 2022 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Denver vs Cincinnati
Replies: 160
Views: 13019

Re: Denver vs Cincinnati

I live north of Denver. I enjoy the weather. Summers are hot but still pleasant. Winter brings a unique sort of beauty. Day to day, Colorado is a fantastic place. That said, I will point out a couple of my frustrations about the area: -People rave about recreation opportunities, but traffic and crowds are a deterrence. I no longer visit Rocky Mountain National Park due to crowds. They do timed entry so I don't have the option to go on a whim. -Camping is difficult due to the crowds. If I leave work early on a Friday I don't even bother looking for a site until I'm more than three hours out. -It feels isolated. In Cincinnati, you can drive south to escape the cold for a weekend. However, everything within an 8 hour drive from Denver is still...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Mar 14, 2022 6:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Reason to Keep Backup Smartphone?
Replies: 42
Views: 3315

Re: Any Reason to Keep Backup Smartphone?

shunkman wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:51 pm
JBTX wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:38 pm
runner3081 wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:24 pm I use an old phone as a dedicated GPS. No data or plan needed.
GPS doesn’t work unless you have wifi or data.
Not true. There are many apps that allow the GPS to function without wifi or cell phone data.
Like what? I'm curious.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Airbnb vs. Hotel
Replies: 90
Views: 9824

Re: Airbnb vs. Hotel

It's location and trip length dependent. Locations where we prefer Airbnb/VRBO: Myrtle beach because hotel options are limited and not that great. Hawaii because hotels are resorts, and I'm not a fan of resorts. Pros and cons: Most of the cons are minor while the handful of pros carry a lot of weight especially during longer stays. CONS to Airbnbs: -Booking is time consuming due to vetting hosts and choosing the best location. -Not great for shorter because fees make the cost too high for one or two nights. -Towels smell mildewy. -Weak toilets and wonky shower heads. -Coffee: Something to pack and plan for that you don't need to consider when booking a hotel. -One of our Airbnbs was adjacent to a unit with a barking dog. Our host was respon...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Mar 08, 2022 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer
Replies: 62
Views: 5375

Re: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer

livesoft wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 11:44 am
FeesR-BullNotBullish wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:33 am
livesoft wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 8:23 am In Flagstaff, if you want to hike up to the tallest point in Arizona, then I think it is well worth popping up to the top of Humphreys Peak (elevation 12,637 ft) just to say you climbed walked up a mountain.
You're nuts! I love Humphreys, but it's a rigorous hike with the danger of possible hail storms. You must have summited quite a few mountains to refer to Humphreys as "popping up"!
Well, at least I did not need to be rescued https://ktar.com/story/4934013/new-york ... -in-a-row/ TWICE!
If at first you don't succeed....

Wow, thank you for sharing.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer
Replies: 62
Views: 5375

Re: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer

livesoft wrote: Fri Mar 04, 2022 8:23 am In Flagstaff, if you want to hike up to the tallest point in Arizona, then I think it is well worth popping up to the top of Humphreys Peak (elevation 12,637 ft) just to say you climbed walked up a mountain.
You're nuts! I love Humphreys, but it's a rigorous hike with the danger of possible hail storms. You must have summited quite a few mountains to refer to Humphreys as "popping up"!
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer
Replies: 62
Views: 5375

Re: Arizona National Park Vacation in Summer

You're wise to prepare, but no need to worry about heat and elevation. Wear a hat and sunscreen and aim do your activity in the morning. If you find yourself out in the middle of the afternoon, the novelty of the experience can make the heat bearable. Regarding elevation, your body will let you know when to let up if you feel winded. Do you drink? The alcohol hits you harder, so it's best to have fewer drinks. It's a personal choice, but I prefer hotels/motels/motor lodges over AirBnB and VRBO due to increased flexibility and ease of booking. Good places to eat are hard to come by in Sedona. So many restaurants are overpriced for what you get. Search for an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. Consider a night in Flagstaff. I know it's ni...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Feb 21, 2022 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU cook your steak?
Replies: 149
Views: 15768

Re: How do YOU cook your steak?

I prefer ribeyes. . . a few minutes on each side and then I start cutting into it to check for doneness . Oof. Why not just buy an inexpensive digital food thermometer to avoid this sacrilege? Or learn how to judge doneness by feel , using your palm as a "cheat sheet", and completely eliminate the need to pierce the meat at all. Know what? I'm going to challenge myself to become more of an intuitive cook. I already realize a thermometer is preferable to cutting (see above). Now I'll try this method using the thermometer as a backup until I no longer need it. Before long I'll be cooking by sight! I remember an experience at a nice seafood restaurant in Hawaii. On my way to the restroom, I caught a glimpse of the grill with at leas...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Feb 21, 2022 8:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU cook your steak?
Replies: 149
Views: 15768

Re: How do YOU cook your steak?

Erwin007 wrote: Sun Feb 20, 2022 10:55 pm
FeesR-BullNotBullish wrote: Sun Feb 20, 2022 9:15 pm I prefer ribeyes. . . a few minutes on each side and then I start cutting into it to check for doneness.
Oof. Why not just buy an inexpensive digital food thermometer to avoid this sacrilege?
It honestly never occurred to me. I use the thermometer for things I cook inside but never thought to take it outside the house. This actually will make things even easier as I no longer need to bring fork and knife to the grill.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Sun Feb 20, 2022 9:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do YOU cook your steak?
Replies: 149
Views: 15768

Re: How do YOU cook your steak?

I prefer ribeyes. I put some kosher salt on the steak and throw it on my cheap gas grill when the inaccurate thermometer hits 350-450. I give it a few minutes on each side and then I start cutting into it to check for doneness. I like medium rare.

That said, the best steak I had was at a friend's house who did the sous vide thing. But honestly, my method makes great steak and it's so. darn. easy.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Started consulting … getting stiffed by previous employer
Replies: 28
Views: 3964

Re: Started consulting … getting stiffed by previous employer

Unfortunately this is a hazard of contracting. I think we learn how to prevent these lags from happening or we just don't work for slow paying clients. But it is a learning process. You did well to have signed agreements in place. You did right to stop working. Perhaps you could have stopped work a month or two sooner, but there's nothing you can do about that now. I've had to stop work a couple times as well. I got paid pretty quickly after because my customer didn't want to stall the project. Going forward, you can either wait out their process, look into legal action, or let it go. I totally get that it burns especially after having served them for so long. I wish you luck finding peace with this issue.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Mon Jan 03, 2022 11:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bogleheads-like forum for health care?
Replies: 8
Views: 1315

Re: Bogleheads-like forum for health care?

This forum is a good starting place if your questions are about the consumer experience and not the patient experience. If you are concerned whether a specific question is within the guidelines, message the mods prior to posting.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Homes with no printer - minimalism
Replies: 141
Views: 11420

Re: Homes with no printer - minimalism

It wasn't until I ditched the printer that I realized how rarely I truly needed it. Record keeping: I do much less of it now. I used to cling to so many physical papers that I didn't need! Most of the record-keeping I still do is now digital. Tax documents, bank records and receipts are on my computer and in the cloud. Product manuals and medical info are online. Most important business transactions can be accessed without a physical record.

Yes there are rare instances where I wished I had that physical document but it's a small price to pay for simplifying.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Nov 18, 2021 2:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gift idea for relative after knee surgery?
Replies: 27
Views: 2784

Re: Gift idea for relative after knee surgery?

Services can be nice. These will require coordination with her. Some ideas:
  • Have a stylist come to her home.
  • Have a restaurant meal delivered.
  • Prepare and deliver a home cooked meal (if feasible)
  • Hire a house cleaner or landscaper for her
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:10 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Products that last forever
Replies: 288
Views: 29979

Re: Products that last forever

Kirby vacuum. Unfortunately my wife and cleaning girl complain about its heft. I finally caved and ordered a plastic Shark vacuum an hour ago. It's a melancholy feeling to replace such a durable product with one that's easier to use.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me plan an April vacation
Replies: 25
Views: 1658

Re: Help me plan an April vacation

I have an affinity for Northern New Mexico. There is ample scenery and hiking within 1 to 2 hours of the Albuquerque Airport. There are few enough people which makes it easier to find uncrowded natural areas. The nature there isn't as dramatic as Yosemite and RMNP but still very beautiful. Arizona is also a good option. However it can take longer to get to the less crowded nature/hiking spots. Colorado is obviously beautiful, but I hesitate to recommend even with great weather because everything feels so crowded unless you get west of the Rockies. Any recommendations specifically in Arizona? We could fly to Phoenix. I'd kind of like to visit Sedona, but it is a pricier option than we're looking for. I usually defaulted to Flagstaff when I ...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Thu Nov 04, 2021 1:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Help me plan an April vacation
Replies: 25
Views: 1658

Re: Help me plan an April vacation

I have an affinity for Northern New Mexico. There is ample scenery and hiking within 1 to 2 hours of the Albuquerque Airport. There are few enough people which makes it easier to find uncrowded natural areas. The nature there isn't as dramatic as Yosemite and RMNP but still very beautiful.

Arizona is also a good option. However it can take longer to get to the less crowded nature/hiking spots.

Colorado is obviously beautiful, but I hesitate to recommend even with great weather because everything feels so crowded unless you get west of the Rockies.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:39 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Less common one-person S-corp deductions
Replies: 68
Views: 4843

Re: Less common one-person S-corp deductions

Laundry! You need to buy (and expense) some swag with your company logo. Then you can deduct a few bucks per week or month for laundry expenses. I forget the exact allowance.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Tue Sep 07, 2021 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bedbugs at hotel. How would you handle?
Replies: 60
Views: 7175

Re: Bedbugs at hotel. How would you handle?

My gf was pretty upset and wanted the room to be comped. Just FYI, if you book a hotel through a third party like Expedia then that makes it extremely difficult for a hotel do do something like give you a complementary night because there was a problem. Perhaps, but it can be done. My wife and I had an issue where there was a water leak from the room above in the middle of the night. The hotel moved us to an available room and volunteered to comp our one night stay. We received a call from the booking company the next day to confirm. Our place was not high end either. OP - Yes I think it's fair to use the video as leverage for a refund. At this point I'd push for a full refund due to the way they jerked your girlfriend around. Or just post...
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Sep 03, 2021 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: HVAC Hard Start "Upgrade"??
Replies: 11
Views: 1552

Re: HVAC Hard Start "Upgrade"??

If I recall, I had a hard start unit installed in an old house when my air conditioner went out. It was a band aid patch at the discretion of my warranty company. I would not install a hard start unit in a working air conditioner. It's a potentially good investment if your a/c fails and it buys you a few months to shop around for a new unit as opposed to making that big decision under duress.
by FeesR-BullNotBullish
Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should you tip when picking up takeout food?
Replies: 290
Views: 50570

Re: Should you tip when picking up takeout food?

Prior to the pandemic I tipped anywhere from a couple bucks to 10% on takeout. When i finally picked up restaurant food for the first time during the pandemic, I think I tipped 50%. It was just devastating for that industry. Now, I'll tip around 25-33% percent unless the self checkout thing offers 20% max (Yes I know I can do custom, but it's easier to tap and go). I wish we didn't have to play this "tipping game", but the reality is that I have the luxury to enjoy restaurant food while many restaurant employees are one bad break away from severe hardship.