Overheard at Work

[FireZoneBlitz]

I received a promotion at work about a year ago. This year two of the people I manage bought new cars and both spent around 60-70k.

One of my other employees: wow did you see the new cars?

Me: Yes they are really nice.

Emp: So are you going to get a REALLY nice new car now?

Me: Why?  My Honda is 6 years old and only has 84k miles..

Emp:  Well you must be making more than them so you should be able to afford it

I just changed the subject.

[Making Cookies]

"You've had your car a long time. How many miles on it?"

300K

"Wow. Are you going to replace it soon?"

Nope.

"What are you going to do if it breaks? Its inevitable."

We'll fix it.

"???"

(of course we'll fix it unless the cost of repairs are ridiculous. I do my own wrenching most of the time. I don't worry about Blue Book value. I look at how long I can avoid a car payment within reason. A new car payment might be $400/month. So if I had to spend $500 on it - and it'll last several more years then I'm way ahead.

Other folks I've known use a different yard stick. The car is worth $1500 and the repair is $500 - ditch it and buy something new/newer.

[MgoSam]

Other folks I've known use a different yard stick. The car is worth $1500 and the repair is $500 - ditch it and buy something new/newer.

Yeah, I still don't understand that type of reasoning. It's one thing if you can buy a perfectly acceptable car for $1500, then it might be worthwhile, but otherwise I know my car and if it will be driveable for a while with a $500 repair, then I'm going to repair it.

[Kitsune]

Other folks I've known use a different yard stick. The car is worth $1500 and the repair is $500 - ditch it and buy something new/newer.

Yeah, I still don't understand that type of reasoning. It's one thing if you can buy a perfectly acceptable car for $1500, then it might be worthwhile, but otherwise I know my car and if it will be driveable for a while with a $500 repair, then I'm going to repair it.

Yeah, this. After 100k km, we've just had to make the first repairs on our Honda Fit (changing the break pads and an issue with the transmission) - cost 1k, and we're good to go for at least another year of uber-reliable gas-efficient car.

My colleagues are all "omg, repairs, time to get a new car!!" Like, whut. What I just put in this car would be equal to 2 months of their car payments. I'll make the repairs and then pocket the extra 10 months worth of car payments, yeah?

[Chris22]

Not exactly on topic of overheard at work, but still hilarious nonetheless (and I couldn't find another topic to fit this in), I was called by CIBC (my bank), offering me Imperial Service. I didn't apply to it, but apparently it's a service where they assign to me a Financial Advisor supposedly to help me prepare for my financial goals (but in reality, it's more to sell me CIBC products).

Even though I don't really want it, I'm terrible at saying "No" and since its a free service anyways, I just went ahead with our introductory phone call. We were discussing retirement when he said "With my help you can retire comfortably by 65. And some people want to retire early - even as early as 55 or 60!".

Good thing I was on the phone and not meeting him in person, as I couldn't stop laughing.

I didn't tell him my FIRE plans (plus I'm much more interested in FI than RE anyways). But the crazy thing is he knew my income (since my pay deposits to the bank), he knew my spending was about $700/month, and he knew I was investing like crazy. But still earliest I could retire (with his help too, mind you!) was at 55!

I'm putting 40% on him reading from a script, 40% thinking you are only saving to spend it (ex. house, boat, etc...), 19% that he is just wasting time talking to you since he gets paid regardless, and 1% that he was trolling you.

98% that he doesn't know or have access to your income and spending patterns beyond what you told him in the call.  Not like everyone who works at the bank can pull up anyone's account and just peruse. 

[mm1970]

Other folks I've known use a different yard stick. The car is worth $1500 and the repair is $500 - ditch it and buy something new/newer.

Yeah, I still don't understand that type of reasoning. It's one thing if you can buy a perfectly acceptable car for $1500, then it might be worthwhile, but otherwise I know my car and if it will be driveable for a while with a $500 repair, then I'm going to repair it.

Yeah, this. After 100k km, we've just had to make the first repairs on our Honda Fit (changing the break pads and an issue with the transmission) - cost 1k, and we're good to go for at least another year of uber-reliable gas-efficient car.

My colleagues are all "omg, repairs, time to get a new car!!" Like, whut. What I just put in this car would be equal to 2 months of their car payments. I'll make the repairs and then pocket the extra 10 months worth of car payments, yeah?

For the second time, a coworker noticed (and laughed at) my hubcaps. 

I've got a 10 year old car, we've lost some hubcaps.  We've replaced all 4 with cheapos.  Well, a month ago spouse was driving it and heard a funny noise.  One fell off, somewhere on the highway. Looks and realizes that there are two missing.

Can't find replacements that are the same (at this point, we've gone through 6 already...the original 4, and two of the second set).

Only finds one set in a store locally that is cheap and the right size.  So he moves the old two to the passenger side and the new two to the driver's side, and keeps the spares in the shed.

Coworker "WTF is up with your wheels?"  I give him the saga.  "Why don't you put the matching set on??"  Um, cuz I don't care?

[arebelspy]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

[Greenway52]

Not exactly on topic of overheard at work, but still hilarious nonetheless (and I couldn't find another topic to fit this in), I was called by CIBC (my bank), offering me Imperial Service. I didn't apply to it, but apparently it's a service where they assign to me a Financial Advisor supposedly to help me prepare for my financial goals (but in reality, it's more to sell me CIBC products).

Even though I don't really want it, I'm terrible at saying "No" and since its a free service anyways, I just went ahead with our introductory phone call. We were discussing retirement when he said "With my help you can retire comfortably by 65. And some people want to retire early - even as early as 55 or 60!".

Good thing I was on the phone and not meeting him in person, as I couldn't stop laughing.

I didn't tell him my FIRE plans (plus I'm much more interested in FI than RE anyways). But the crazy thing is he knew my income (since my pay deposits to the bank), he knew my spending was about $700/month, and he knew I was investing like crazy. But still earliest I could retire (with his help too, mind you!) was at 55!

I'm putting 40% on him reading from a script, 40% thinking you are only saving to spend it (ex. house, boat, etc...), 19% that he is just wasting time talking to you since he gets paid regardless, and 1% that he was trolling you.

98% that he doesn't know or have access to your income and spending patterns beyond what you told him in the call.  Not like everyone who works at the bank can pull up anyone's account and just peruse.

@kayvent: Yeah, I think you're right about the percentages. I'm hoping the 1% trolling is the case, but I doubt it.

@Chris22: Oh, he knew how much I make. He even referenced the company I work for. And when I asked how he knew the company, he said that he can see the transactions on my account. I get paid bi-weekly. So when he sees that on a bi-weekly basis the same company deposits the same amount into my account, it's pretty easy to assume that's the company I work for. If he can see the money coming in, he can see the money going out. But somehow he couldn't put two and two together and figure out I don't need to wait until 55 to retire. Or like kayvent said, he probably thinks I'm just saving up to buy something.

[Greenway52]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

I don't need him. But he called me while I was at work. Initially I wanted to refuse, but just to end the conversation quicker so that I can get back to work, I agreed to the half an hour phone call later. It's free so there's no harm. I'm kind of glad that I had the call with him though ... not because I learned anything, but because of all the funny moments during that call. Besides the retirement issue I mentioned before, we also talked about investments. The conversation went something like this:

Financial Advisor: So how much do you currently pay in fees for your index funds?
Me: The MER of my index fund is 0.05%
Financial Advisor & Me: [laughs awkwardly]
Me [thinking to myself]: Yeah, you're not going to get a better deal for me than that.

As a side note, the ultra low cost ETFs are relatively new in Canada, unlike in the States. Until Vanguard came to Canada, BlackRock for instance was charging about 0.15% for it's MER on broad market ETFs. So a lot of Canadian FAs aren't used to hearing about MERs of 0.05%.

[nnls]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

[TexasStash]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

Math is hard.

[gimp]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

Yeah... hubcaps are mostly there because old steelies looked like shit; if you're cool with them looking like shit, then there's not a lot of need for hubcaps. Technically it kinda slightly helps keep shit out of your brakes and salt out of your wheel, but not much.

I really prefer the look of pretty much all newer car wheels - they visible side is single-piece with just a center cap over the axle nut; lug nuts poke through between spokes. No more hubcaps.

[Making Cookies]

Yeah, I prefer the cop car steelies. Axle cap, maybe a stainless beauty ring. Maybe chrome lug nuts. Lasts forever.

[mrcheese]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

Math is hard.

I had a friend call me just recently to have a whine about how broke they are (make over 100k) and how they just had a car accident (at-fault) and their beloved beat up old ute has been written off. This vehicle was only worth about 2k on a good day, even after they spent over 3k on it last year getting a new motor put in it (by a proper mechanic) and they have been spending ~2.5k every year having it comprehensively insured. It was a >20 year old garden variety hilux...

Third party property damage insurance (for if you ever are in an at-fault accident) can be had here for well under $300 per year - I know because that's what I pay.

[kayvent]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

Math is hard.

I guess they need 10 lights on when they are in the same room?

[GuitarStv]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

Math is hard.

I guess they need 10 lights on when they are in the same room?

THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

[Making Cookies]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

[TexasRunner]

So its kinda sad but kinda funny...

Two years ago my coworker had one pit bull.  He moved about a year ago into a country house (out of the city) and decided to start a goat farm (another hilarious story for another time).  He buys a female pit bull for 300$ to breed with the male to make pups to "protect the goats"...  He can't keep his original pit bull in the same fence as the goats or it will kill them (duh).

They breed and he gets three puppies.  Six months ago, the male gets out and kills a goat- one missed day of work and one bullet later that dog is put down.  Yesterday, the "puppies" (now thirty pounds or more) get out and kill another goat.  He is now pondering how to get rid of all four remaining pit bulls without putting them all down...

Total cost:  1 day of work (130$+/-), 2 Goats (150$), 1 Female Pit Bull (300$), Goat feed for two goats he never sold (60$ +/-), 680$ in vet fees and shots...  1320$ for an 'investment' that ALL of us in this shared office told him was a bad idea and wouldn't work.

[By the River]

When I first graduated college, I worked for the electric company and found out that people would complain to me, a low-level FNG, about their electricity bills.  I then rented an apartment which had utilities provided.  Most of my neighbors would have the sliding glass doors open with AC on full-blast and I never had to hear about the cost of electricity.   

[onlykelsey]

So its kinda sad but kinda funny...

Two years ago my coworker had one pit bull.  He moved about a year ago into a country house (out of the city) and decided to start a goat farm (another hilarious story for another time).  He buys a female pit bull for 300$ to breed with the male to make pups to "protect the goats"...  He can't keep his original pit bull in the same fence as the goats or it will kill them (duh).

They breed and he gets three puppies.  Six months ago, the male gets out and kills a goat- one missed day of work and one bullet later that dog is put down.  Yesterday, the "puppies" (now thirty pounds or more) get out and kill another goat.  He is now pondering how to get rid of all four remaining pit bulls without putting them all down...

Total cost:  1 day of work (130$+/-), 2 Goats (150$), 1 Female Pit Bull (300$), Goat feed for two goats he never sold (60$ +/-), 680$ in vet fees and shots...  1320$ for an 'investment' that ALL of us in this shared office told him was a bad idea and wouldn't work.

Ooof.  What did he want the pit bull to protect the goats from?

I have a giant airedale that was bred to protect sheep from coyotes and to dissuade mountain lions, but he's got a good 10 inches on pit bulls.

[mm1970]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

heck if I know...hold back the rusting of the wheels?

[TexasRunner]

Ooof.  What did he want the pit bull to protect the goats from?

I have a giant airedale that was bred to protect sheep from coyotes and to dissuade mountain lions, but he's got a good 10 inches on pit bulls.

Coyotes.  We all told him to get a donkey (which would have been 400$ TOPS) and he said he didn't have the funds...  But he bought a 300$ dog.

[Psychstache]

So its kinda sad but kinda funny...

Two years ago my coworker had one pit bull.  He moved about a year ago into a country house (out of the city) and decided to start a goat farm (another hilarious story for another time).  He buys a female pit bull for 300$ to breed with the male to make pups to "protect the goats"...  He can't keep his original pit bull in the same fence as the goats or it will kill them (duh).

They breed and he gets three puppies.  Six months ago, the male gets out and kills a goat- one missed day of work and one bullet later that dog is put down.  Yesterday, the "puppies" (now thirty pounds or more) get out and kill another goat.  He is now pondering how to get rid of all four remaining pit bulls without putting them all down...

Total cost:  1 day of work (130$+/-), 2 Goats (150$), 1 Female Pit Bull (300$), Goat feed for two goats he never sold (60$ +/-), 680$ in vet fees and shots...  1320$ for an 'investment' that ALL of us in this shared office told him was a bad idea and wouldn't work.

Ooof.  What did he want the pit bull to protect the goats from?

I have a giant airedale that was bred to protect sheep from coyotes and to dissuade mountain lions, but he's got a good 10 inches on pit bulls.

Gaurd llamas are where it's at. No mountain lion or bobcat is gonna mess with your goats while the guard Llama is on duty.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[onlykelsey]

Ooof.  What did he want the pit bull to protect the goats from?

I have a giant airedale that was bred to protect sheep from coyotes and to dissuade mountain lions, but he's got a good 10 inches on pit bulls.

Coyotes.  We all told him to get a donkey (which would have been 400$ TOPS) and he said he didn't have the funds...  But he bought a 300$ dog.

Donkeys are badass.  They don't patrol the edges like guard dogs, but they will mess you up if you get close.  I guess you also probably have to expect higher vet bills, etc.

[9-Volt]

THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

I LOL'ed

[cerat0n1a]

Gaurd llamas are where it's at. No mountain lion or bobcat is gonna mess with your goats while the guard Llama is on duty.

No dangerous wild animals here in Britain, but I've seen a few places using llamas/alpacas to guard sheep, chickens and/or goats from dogs.

[Threshkin]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

[jinga nation]

No dangerous wild animals here in Britain, but I've seen a few places using llamas/alpacas to guard sheep, chickens and/or goats from dogs.

<OT>
Bollocks, mate. You've got chavs and asbos. And there's more gang-bangers in some of yer cities. Technically those are urban wild animals.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Scally
</OT>

[mtn]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

Horribly innefficient/undersized AC, or horrible insulation? I did live in a place that we had to tape the edges of the windows AND put cardboard with reflective paper in them, and run the AC at full blast 24/7 so that the upstairs would be in the high 70's by midnight. That one was insane. We didn't care that much since the landlord was paying utilities, but it still was annoying. And trying to tell him that a new AC unit (hell, even just a couple of window units in the bedrooms) would save him money in the long run was useless.

Also the only place I've lived that I had to use the heat as early as October--but at least the furnace was sufficient.

[Making Cookies]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

heck if I know...hold back the rusting of the wheels?

Just another trim item that the car company can use to separate the basic cars from the fancy cars. Really became a big deal in the 40s and 50s. Remember that in the mid-30 people still had spoke wheels on some of the cars and a tiny little hubcap to keep the mud off of the lugnuts and hopefully out of the wheel bearings (there is a cap there but sometimes they come loose). See 1935 Ford Cabriolet for example.

[Making Cookies]

Donkeys are badass.  They don't patrol the edges like guard dogs, but they will mess you up if you get close.  I guess you also probably have to expect higher vet bills, etc.

And they live longer than a dog.

[Chris22]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

I keep my house at a temp that would give MMMers fits.  68-70 all year around.  Bump up to 75 if we go away.  I have a small house and a highly efficient brand new HVAC system.  My July electric bill was $124.  Whoopty shit.  If it was $400 I'd do something different.  For $124 I'm keeping it exactly as I like it. 

[RetiredAt63]

Donkeys are badass.  They don't patrol the edges like guard dogs, but they will mess you up if you get close.  I guess you also probably have to expect higher vet bills, etc.

And they live longer than a dog.

And you can compost their manure for the garden.

[mtn]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

I keep my house at a temp that would give MMMers fits.  68-70 all year around.  Bump up to 75 if we go away.  I have a small house and a highly efficient brand new HVAC system.  My July electric bill was $124.  Whoopty shit.  If it was $400 I'd do something different.  For $124 I'm keeping it exactly as I like it.

Out of curiosity, why do you bump it only to 75 when you go away?

(I have a programmable one--we're at 68-74 for the time that we're at home, then it goes to 82 until an hour before we get home when I have it set to kick in again. When we're gone, I have it set to be at 82 except for twice a day when it runs to keep the humidity low)

[Aeowulf]

If the temp goes above 77 outside, the AC is on at 75. If it hits 100, it feels hotter somehow so we turn it down to 74. Any cooler and it just feels cold. My May bill was $70 and my June bill was $85. Not too bad. We don't use heat or AC between 55-77 temps, and our bill in the Spring and Fall is about the price of a tank of gas.

[Making Cookies]

We run the thermostat at about 78 when we are there but right about the time we go to bed, I had the thermostat set to cool the house down to 75. Nice going to bed in a cool house, the outside temps are low enough at that point that the system gets the job done easily and then the system stays off until mid-morning the next day I believe.

Four warm bodies plus a trio of citters and our electric bill is about $90 a month in the mid-south with day time temps in the low 90s. Electric water heater too.

[Chris22]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

I keep my house at a temp that would give MMMers fits.  68-70 all year around.  Bump up to 75 if we go away.  I have a small house and a highly efficient brand new HVAC system.  My July electric bill was $124.  Whoopty shit.  If it was $400 I'd do something different.  For $124 I'm keeping it exactly as I like it.

Out of curiosity, why do you bump it only to 75 when you go away?

Because I don't want it to take forever to cool off when I get home (usually at night) and want to crawl into bed. 

One thing I didn't mention is that I have a tri-level house.  The top floor has the bedrooms, and it's usually 3-5 degrees warmer than the main floor, which is a few degrees warmer than the "basement" level that is half underground.  I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

[Proud Foot]

Because I don't want it to take forever to cool off when I get home (usually at night) and want to crawl into bed. 

One thing I didn't mention is that I have a tri-level house.  The top floor has the bedrooms, and it's usually 3-5 degrees warmer than the main floor, which is a few degrees warmer than the "basement" level that is half underground.  I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

I am with you on not wanting it to take forever to cool off.  I recently changed ours to 75 during the day because of how long it would take to cool the air down from the 80 it had been set on.  I would rather the AC run for 20 minutes sporadically throughout the day than 2 hours straight to cool the house down.

[GuitarStv]

I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

FWIW, I also find it much easier to get to sleep when there's a heavy feeling blanket on top of me, but really didn't want to waste all that energy in the summer.  I got a cheap heavy rope net and spread it out over the sheets.  Under the sheet it feels like you're sleeping under a big comforter, but it traps almost no heat at all.

[kayvent]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

I assume in winter they turn the thermostat up to 100? To this day I am still freaked out by people who will have their homes frigid in the summer but will have it boiling in the winter.

[zolotiyeruki]

Maybe they like to air condition the room while the patio doors are open?

My neighbor is very nice overall but they like to keep their house COLD.  68 is their normal setting during the summer.  When they are gone on vacation for a week or more they turn the thermostat all the way up to 70.  The AC is running almost constantly, even late into the evening when it is cool outside.

They told me they do this because their house is "like and igloo cooler"  If it heats up it is difficult to cool back down so they just keep it cold all the time.  I mentioned that I rarely use the AC, only turning it on when the house gets over 84.  They just shook their heads.

At least they do keep their doors, windows and blinds closed.

I assume in winter they turn the thermostat up to 100? To this day I am still freaked out by people who will have their homes frigid in the summer but will have it boiling in the winter.

A few years ago I was living in Houston and we took a trip to visit family in Utah.  It was November, so still quite warm in Houston, but already cold in the Rockies.  Our relatives were going to college at the time.  When we walked into one of the buildings, it must have been 80 degrees, even though it was about 40 outside.  Back in Houston, our office building was set at 60-62.  IOW, it was cooler indoors in Houston in warm weather, and hotter indoors in Utah in cold weather.

[crazy jane]

Let's get back to talking about butter chicken. Thanks to the poster who mentioned the NY Times recipe. I made it the other day and it was one of the most delicious things I have ever cooked.

[johndoe]

(for a two month period) ... $47

Holy cow! How? !

[dragoncar]

Whoopty.  Shit.

When I first graduated college, I worked for the electric company and found out that people would complain to me, a low-level FNG, about their electricity bills.  I then rented an apartment which had utilities provided.  Most of my neighbors would have the sliding glass doors open with AC on full-blast and I never had to hear about the cost of electricity.   

I've been to a hotel that had a sensor on the patio door.  When you opened the door, the AC turned off.  I guess it makes more sense now.

I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

FWIW, I also find it much easier to get to sleep when there's a heavy feeling blanket on top of me, but really didn't want to waste all that energy in the summer.  I got a cheap heavy rope net and spread it out over the sheets.  Under the sheet it feels like you're sleeping under a big comforter, but it traps almost no heat at all.

That's some creative thinking -- I'd love to see a photo of you snuggled up under your rope net.   Send it to Decor Magazine -- maybe it'll be a new maritime trend!

[1967mama]

I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

FWIW, I also find it much easier to get to sleep when there's a heavy feeling blanket on top of me, but really didn't want to waste all that energy in the summer.  I got a cheap heavy rope net and spread it out over the sheets.  Under the sheet it feels like you're sleeping under a big comforter, but it traps almost no heat at all.

Thanks for this FANTASTIC idea! I have a child with a sensory processing disorder who loves the weight of blankets but sweats bullets in summer -- brilliant!

[PMG]

I like to be under blankets when I sleep, so I need to keep it a little cooler than ideal on the other levels to keep it comfy on the bedroom level.

FWIW, I also find it much easier to get to sleep when there's a heavy feeling blanket on top of me, but really didn't want to waste all that energy in the summer.  I got a cheap heavy rope net and spread it out over the sheets.  Under the sheet it feels like you're sleeping under a big comforter, but it traps almost no heat at all.

Thanks for this FANTASTIC idea! I have a child with a sensory processing disorder who loves the weight of blankets but sweats bullets in summer -- brilliant!

Caution! Depending on the child's age strangling may be a risk. I wonder if the net could be sewn between two sheets to be safer for young children? 

I've also seen DIY weighted blankets sewn with chambers filled with fish gravel (so they are washable) but those can get expensive and perhaps over warm as well.

[1967mama]

Good tips PMG! The child I'm referring to is 11 years old.

[nnls]

(for a two month period) ... $47

Holy cow! How? !

I dont know. West australian power might be cheaper? Also i don't use my aircon almost ever.

I also work away so i am only home half the time. So that would help (the work collegue and her partner also work away... so home as much as i am)

I dont know what else to say. I only have a small house. I dont feel like i do anything that amazing to keep it low.

[billy]

Friend at work just complained about having an electricity bill of over $500 (for a two month period) when I mentioned that hers was literally more than 10x mine ($47 for the same period) she countered with "but yes, you are single, we have two people in the house so of course we use more"

Math is hard.

I guess they need 10 lights on when they are in the same room?

THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

I just saw the new Star Trek beyond yesterday and at night I watched STNG (we are on season five) :)
Can't wait for the new Star Trek show coming from our friendly neighbors above.

[dignam]

What do you even need them for in the first place?

Yeah... hubcaps are mostly there because old steelies looked like shit; if you're cool with them looking like shit, then there's not a lot of need for hubcaps. Technically it kinda slightly helps keep shit out of your brakes and salt out of your wheel, but not much.

I really prefer the look of pretty much all newer car wheels - they visible side is single-piece with just a center cap over the axle nut; lug nuts poke through between spokes. No more hubcaps.

This.  I despise hubcaps and think they look so cheap.  If I ever own a car with them I will just take them off and run the black steel rims.  In fact in the winter I switch to my winter wheels which are plain black steel rims with snow tires.  Keeps my fancy summer rims looking nice (and no excuse really to buy an SUV since the snow tires do a really good job).