Overheard on Facebook

[Proud Foot]

The price match thing is weird with Walmart these days.  The price check thing on the app has to be used with Walmart Pay.  Which I don't mind because I'd pay for everything with my phone if I could.  But I haven't found a way to submit receipts using the online ordering yet.

Its been several months since I last used the Walmart Grocery Pickup but there used to be a code on the receipt of the grocery app to use to submit for the savings catcher.

[kimmarg]

Huh, I'd never heard of amber alerts. Having googled them, yes, I would be really pissed off if it overrode DND on my phone. DND would be on when I would not be in a position to do anything (eg. In my bedroom in the middle of the night) and I would presumably get it when I woke up.

I would love an emergency text alert system for floods or terrorist attacks that DID override DND, though. I don't think k we have anything like that over here.

Interesting. In the US you can do exactly this. In fact my phone has two settings one for Amber Alerts and one for "emergency Alerts" which includes Flash Floods, Tornados, Tsunamis, Civil emergency, shelter in place etc.

So for anyone in the US just turn off Amber alerts!

[JAYSLOL]

Stupid can overcome all preventative measures.

This should be embroidered on a pillow.

And the other side of the pillow should say "warning: do not place pillow in front of nose or mouth"

[mm1970]

What the fuck is anyone going to do about the tragedy from their bedroom in the middle of the night?

Um... realise they saw something critical 4 hours earlier and call the police before some shitbag has the opportunity to move, abuse or kill a child??? Do you also bitch and moan if the fire department uses sirens while attending your neighbour's house fire while you're trying to watch the news??? After all, what are you meant to do about said fire?

Actually, people complain about fire alarms all the time.  I lived across the street from a fire station and they had a policy to not turn on the sirens  at night (unless necessary) within 2 blocks of the fire hall.  That way they spread out the "wake people up at night" factor...  people would be impacted only 1/3 of the time, because they would drive in different directions depending on the call.

I think the challenge with the Amber Alert is -- multiple calls in the night, not just one...and..   Sent out to 4 million people, overriding DND, not to just 1000 people (example) in the target area.  This could lead to Amber alerts several times a week or more in major areas, if they don't fine tune their settings.

I hate this kind of selfish take on life. If you want the benefits of living in a herd, there are certain prices to pay, and this is one of them. Someone fighting for their life over-rules your convenience EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I see this most often in hospital waiting rooms, some twit with a cut needing a few stitches whining because they were first.... meanwhile an infant needs resus. I just tell them now - sorry, arsehole, we're trying to save the inconvenient life of a two year old out the back, fucking two year olds, you know how it is.

Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

[geekette]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

[Miss Piggy]

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

Well, now you know. Better late than never, I guess.  ;)

[bluebelle]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

For anyone else that HAS to know what S.O.B. means in this context = Shortness of Breath....I had gone with S Obstructed Breathing and couldn't get the S.....And well, I HAD to know.

[Just Joe]

Thank you!

[Apples]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

For anyone else that HAS to know what S.O.B. means in this context = Shortness of Breath....I had gone with S Obstructed Breathing and couldn't get the S.....And well, I HAD to know.

Hah!  I read S.O.B., went and googled it, and then came back to this thread and read your post.  I should have just stayed here!

[bluebelle]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

For anyone else that HAS to know what S.O.B. means in this context = Shortness of Breath....I had gone with S Obstructed Breathing and couldn't get the S.....And well, I HAD to know.

Hah!  I read S.O.B., went and googled it, and then came back to this thread and read your post.  I should have just stayed here!

I'm glad I could provide a public service.....for all of the downfalls of social media, access to the world's knowledge at my fingertips, brightens my day.....maybe I should change my screen name to curious george....

[TheGrimSqueaker]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

For anyone else that HAS to know what S.O.B. means in this context = Shortness of Breath....I had gone with S Obstructed Breathing and couldn't get the S.....And well, I HAD to know.

Hah!  I read S.O.B., went and googled it, and then came back to this thread and read your post.  I should have just stayed here!

I'm glad I could provide a public service.....for all of the downfalls of social media, access to the world's knowledge at my fingertips, brightens my day.....maybe I should change my screen name to curious george....

I should change mine to S. O. B.

[Just Joe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAYhQsQhSY

And my brain keeps thinking about this song...

[Threshkin]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

ROTFL!  Love it.

I seriously damaged my fingers in a woodworking accident once.  I was sitting in the ER waiting room with my hand wrapped in a bloody towel.  They called another man who was also bleeding but not as bad.  He looked at me and said "You go first"  I was very grateful.

Another time my (now ex) DW was in getting a CAT scan for what turned out to be a severe liver infection.  Just as she was about to be scanned a car accident victim arrived and jumped the queue. They had a major displaced skull fracture.  Again I was very grateful.  It was appropriate rescheduling.

Too many people have an innapropriate sense of entitlement and believe that they are more important than anyone else.  This is just not true in trauma situations.

note: Both I and my ex recovered.  I don't know about the accident victim.  It looked pretty grim.

[JAYSLOL]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

[ixtap]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

[Miss Piggy]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

It's a PITA to re-hem jeans in a way that makes them still look like a jeans hem. It's not as easy as it sounds.

[JAYSLOL]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

I'm not going to alter brand new jeans, then they won't be brand new and I'd be lucky to sell them at all.  Plus, it's Facebook marketplace, a dozen people will say they will buy something and then back out before someone finally shows up, I don't want to alter something for someone who may or may not actually show up and pay. 

[Dicey]

<snip>
Ha ha yes.  I was in the waiting room at urgent care late-ish one night.  It was a really long wait. I  was 6 months pregnant.  An elderly  man came in with chest pains.  At some point, the nice lady next to me grumbled that "you obviously should be seen soon!  They are making you wait so long!"  I held up my finger "I have a splinter stuck under my fingernail.  I can wait."

Similarly, my husband was taken right in at the ER past people waiting a long time...because of chest pains (he was fine).

I took my DH to the ER - Christmas eve, and he was apparently quite allergic to my parents' old dog.  Asthma to the point his fingernail beds were turning blue.  Walked in, mentioned he was having a hard time breathing, and the receptionist hollered "We have an S.O.B. out here!" and the response was immediate. 

I was a bit taken aback because I thought all this time he was such a nice guy ;-).

I had a similar experience once. I went to my primary doctor after experiencing heart palpitations for nearly a week. She wouldn't give me a referral to a cardiologist, she insisted I go to the ER, which kind of pissed me off, so I walked across the street to the hospital. As I approached the ER, a car raced up to the door, and a young man got out, ran around the car, and opened the door for an older woman, who seemed to be in distress. I stepped aside so she go through the ER doors ahead of me. I checked in after her, then sat in the waiting room. I was surprised to be called in quickly, ahead of every one else. I asked the triage nurse why I'd been called in first and she said it was because my problem involved the heart. I then asked about the other woman who seemed to be in such distress. She smiled, leaned over and whispered, "Drama does not equal trauma."

[Fomerly known as something]

Speaking of doctors and health care.  I use to amuse myself by telling either a new primary care physician or an ER doctor about my last EKG at age 25 or whatever.  They started to freak out because it's not normal for someone young to get an EKG.  Unless they are in a job like Law Enforcement where everybody gets an EKG of course.  I guess now I'll refer to last years stress test.  (At age 40 the technician let the intern run me as her first ever EKG)

[ducky19]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

I'm not going to alter brand new jeans, then they won't be brand new and I'd be lucky to sell them at all.  Plus, it's Facebook marketplace, a dozen people will say they will buy something and then back out before someone finally shows up, I don't want to alter something for someone who may or may not actually show up and pay.

What is the waist size on your jeans? I wear a 36, would be interested if that's what they are! ;)

[Sugaree]

I ran across this gem this morning.



This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable). 

[I'm a red panda]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

It's a PITA to re-hem jeans in a way that makes them still look like a jeans hem. It's not as easy as it sounds.

This is like the ONLY alteration I'm willing to do.  But I wouldn't do it to sell stuff on facebook.
(Way easier than hemming a trouser that needs a high/low hem for men's shoes.)

[jinga nation]

I ran across this gem this morning.

<snippedtosavedearreadersvaluablebandwidth>

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

I stopped reading at "Most Alabam...". But just to verify that it would be stupid, I had to read it. Because if it's on them internets it must be gospel truths.

[Alfred J Quack]

I ran across this gem this morning.

snippety snip

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

OK, so my salary is about 3500 gross per month (just above mean for a family), assume I make 4k per month to make a reasonable comparrison. My "usage" is the same, tax is localised.

Salary 1k per week: 23% tax (first 8k per year (about) is tax-free, after that it's bracketed where I average at 23%) = 230
Groceries (assuming food only, so no Coca Cola etc): 9% tax = 18 (in reality, anything not meat or vegetable is 21% VAT)
Gas (VAT and other taxes): 63% = 249,48 (assuming 1 gallon = 4 liters, at 1.65 per liter petrol current price for 2 cars)

So, most heavily taxed country? Don't make me cringe! And I know that several scandinavian countries are taxed a lot heavier than we are. Norway too I believe, @Linda_Norway?

But my car is also taxed seperately, just for sitting still on the road (weight-bracketed, I have a small 1200kg mid-class) so another 50 per month (times 2 if you have 2 cars, of course). We also pay 21% VAT on elektric, water and other utilities. My house, property and sewer usage is also taxed. They want to tax the overproduction of my solar panels too.

The list, of course, goes on...

[Sugaree]

I ran across this gem this morning.

<snippedtosavedearreadersvaluablebandwidth>

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

I stopped reading at "Most Alabam...". But just to verify that it would be stupid, I had to read it. Because if it's on them internets it must be gospel truths.

I promise that we aren't all that stupid.

[Sugaree]

I ran across this gem this morning.

snippety snip

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

OK, so my salary is about 3500 gross per month (just above mean for a family), assume I make 4k per month to make a reasonable comparrison. My "usage" is the same, tax is localised.

Salary 1k per week: 23% tax (first 8k per year (about) is tax-free, after that it's bracketed where I average at 23%) = 230
Groceries (assuming food only, so no Coca Cola etc): 9% tax = 18 (in reality, anything not meat or vegetable is 21% VAT)
Gas (VAT and other taxes): 63% = 249,48 (assuming 1 gallon = 4 liters, at 1.65 per liter petrol current price for 2 cars)

So, most heavily taxed country? Don't make me cringe! And I know that several scandinavian countries are taxed a lot heavier than we are. Norway too I believe, @Linda_Norway?

But my car is also taxed seperately, just for sitting still on the road (weight-bracketed, I have a small 1200kg mid-class) so another 50 per month (times 2 if you have 2 cars, of course). We also pay 21% VAT on elektric, water and other utilities. My house, property and sewer usage is also taxed. They want to tax the overproduction of my solar panels too.

The list, of course, goes on...

Do you feel like you get a decent return on your tax dollars though?  Alabama is about to institute a 10 cent per gallon tax on gas to "fix the infrastructure."  In reality, I imagine that very little of that money will actually go to fix our crumbling roads and bridges.

[RWD]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

[Sugaree]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

I didn't get past the $200/week for groceries for a family of 4.

[RWD]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

I didn't get past the $200/week for groceries for a family of 4.

Yeah, that seemed excessive too.

[penguintroopers]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

I didn't get past the $200/week for groceries for a family of 4.

Yeah, that seemed excessive too.

I too got stuck on how on earth they chugged 30 gallons of gas in a week. I use about 9 gallons a week by myself, but I drive MORE than the American average (granted, its in a prius).

I shrugged past the groceries as $800/mo for a family of 4 in some of my circles would be seen as average to frugal. We get looks like we have three heads if we ever mention our food spending (Hubs had the mistake of sharing at work one day).

Also, this example doesn't seem to compare marginal vs effective tax rate (which would likely decrease the taxed amount?).

[Sugaree]

Also, this example doesn't seem to compare marginal vs effective tax rate (which would likely decrease the taxed amount?).

Exactly.  To start with this would be 12%, not 22%.  And a family that is parents and two kids (as you'd expect from a family of four with two cars) making $52k a year filing MFJ would immediately get the standard deduction for $24k, reducing their taxable income down to $28k.  Tax on that for MFJ is $2982 for the year, or $57.35 per week.  But once you apply the child tax credits for each child the tax liability will come down to zero or below (I'm unclear in which order the refundable vs. non-refundable portions of the CTC are applied). 

[Alfred J Quack]

I ran across this gem this morning.

snippety snip

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

OK, so my salary is about 3500 gross per month (just above mean for a family), assume I make 4k per month to make a reasonable comparrison. My "usage" is the same, tax is localised.

Salary 1k per week: 23% tax (first 8k per year (about) is tax-free, after that it's bracketed where I average at 23%) = 230
Groceries (assuming food only, so no Coca Cola etc): 9% tax = 18 (in reality, anything not meat or vegetable is 21% VAT)
Gas (VAT and other taxes): 63% = 249,48 (assuming 1 gallon = 4 liters, at 1.65 per liter petrol current price for 2 cars)

So, most heavily taxed country? Don't make me cringe! And I know that several scandinavian countries are taxed a lot heavier than we are. Norway too I believe, @Linda_Norway?

But my car is also taxed seperately, just for sitting still on the road (weight-bracketed, I have a small 1200kg mid-class) so another 50 per month (times 2 if you have 2 cars, of course). We also pay 21% VAT on elektric, water and other utilities. My house, property and sewer usage is also taxed. They want to tax the overproduction of my solar panels too.

The list, of course, goes on...

Do you feel like you get a decent return on your tax dollars though?  Alabama is about to institute a 10 cent per gallon tax on gas to "fix the infrastructure."  In reality, I imagine that very little of that money will actually go to fix our crumbling roads and bridges.

Lets just say that I had a hospital and other medical bill of around 200k the last 5 years due to various causes (appendectomy, run over by a motor bike, son with downsyndrome and all related medical checks and some not so related, other son with severe speech problems etc.). Annual healthcare cost is around 2500 with free healthcare for the kids until their 18th birthday.

Also, we have, just about, the smoothest roads in Europe ;)

[BlueHouse]

I love love love that kind of ice. They actually have one at work next to the sparkling water dispenser. I joked at orientation that the best perk of joining this company is sparkling water on tap. I’m so spoiled.

I would quit.  I can't stand people chewing ice near me and if a company provided something that drove half the people crazy, I just would have to leave!

[jinga nation]

I ran across this gem this morning.

<snippedtosavedearreadersvaluablebandwidth>

This makes the tax geek in me cringe.  I did enjoy pointing out how this hypothetical family would likely get more back in refundable CTCs than they paid in ($52k/year MFJ - $24k standard deduction = $28k taxable income  --> $2982 tax plus two CTCs that are at least partially refundable).

I stopped reading at "Most Alabam...". But just to verify that it would be stupid, I had to read it. Because if it's on them internets it must be gospel truths.

I promise that we aren't all that stupid.

Every population has statistical outliers. Anomalies. Fake data points. :-p

[horsepoor]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

Even if I drove my V-10 F-250 everywhere, I wouldn't run through that much gas.  WTF.

I also like how this doesn't differentiate between federal and state, it's just DA' GUBMINT!

[JAYSLOL]

I'm trying to sell some brand new Levi's on Facebook marketplace, I had 2 pair that were 30 length and 2 pair that were 34 length.  The 30s sold right away, and like 6 more people wrote but were only interested in the 30s, and were super disappointed I only had the 34s left.  I'm selling them for ~1/4 of retail price and they still have all the stickers on them, it amazes me no one is willing or able to shorten the 34s to the right size themselves to get a great deal...

And yet you haven't done it to sell them, either.

I'm not going to alter brand new jeans, then they won't be brand new and I'd be lucky to sell them at all.  Plus, it's Facebook marketplace, a dozen people will say they will buy something and then back out before someone finally shows up, I don't want to alter something for someone who may or may not actually show up and pay.

What is the waist size on your jeans? I wear a 36, would be interested if that's what they are! ;)

Yeah, actually those were 36, but I sold them shortly after posting my little rant lol.  A month ago I went to a liquidation place that was having a clothing sale and bought a bunch of really good clothes for pennies on the dollar (brand new Levi's jeans, brand new Helly Hansen fleece etc) and figured I would clean them out of all the Levi's, I got 5 pairs for myself, 3 for a relative and 17 extra pairs to resell, I only started posting them at the beginning of march and have sold 11 of the 17 and am well into the black :)

[mustachepungoeshere]

An acquaintance bragged that she has decided to do the frugal thing and take her daughter to the US rather than drop $7000 on a 16th birthday party.

Experience over gifts? Absolutely.

$7000 for a teen birthday party? Hell no.

[I'm a red panda]

An acquaintance bragged that she has decided to do the frugal thing and take her daughter to the US rather than drop $7000 on a 16th birthday party.

Experience over gifts? Absolutely.

$7000 for a teen birthday party? Hell no.

1) OMG that's insane.

2) Unless flights TO here cost a lot less than flights from here to Oz (we so badly want to go but can't stomach that cost); I have a hard time believing this is a "Frugal" option.  The kind of person who drops $7000 on a birthday party is not going to have a US holiday for less than that... I doubt she's going to be staying at $80/night hotels...

[Just Joe]

I wonder if that parent will supply the teen with a car and how much they'll spend...

[jinga nation]

An acquaintance bragged that she has decided to do the frugal thing and take her daughter to the US rather than drop $7000 on a 16th birthday party.

Experience over gifts? Absolutely.

$7000 for a teen birthday party? Hell no.

1) OMG that's insane.

2) Unless flights TO here cost a lot less than flights from here to Oz (we so badly want to go but can't stomach that cost); I have a hard time believing this is a "Frugal" option.  The kind of person who drops $7000 on a birthday party is not going to have a US holiday for less than that... I doubt she's going to be staying at $80/night hotels...

A quick search shows plane tickets from Orlando to Sydney just over USD 1000. I'm guessing the mom realized that for AUD 7k she and daughter could fly to Disney World and have a grand time and not deal with a house full of 16yos. Frugal on the mind maybe, def not on the wallet. But if you believe the claptrap of "once if your life you must visit the Swamp Rat"... great deal. Best. Deal. Ever.

[HamsterStache]

$7000 for a teen birthday party? Hell no.

I've been to a sweet 16 and a bar mitzvah that each had to be budgeted far over that, (not including gifts like a BMW for the 16 y/o). I don't know how much renting out an entire nightclub two blocks from time square for a whole Saturday evening runs you, but that can't be cheap.

[Dave1442397]

$7000 for a teen birthday party? Hell no.

I've been to a sweet 16 and a bar mitzvah that each had to be budgeted far over that, (not including gifts like a BMW for the 16 y/o). I don't know how much renting out an entire nightclub two blocks from time square for a whole Saturday evening runs you, but that can't be cheap.

A co-worker had been complaining that she couldn't afford to replace her old minivan, and then told us that she had given her twins the option of having a bar mitzvah party or going on a family cruise. She said either option was going to cost $20,000. They picked the cruise.

I wanted to say, "Why don't you have a cheap bar mitzvah party and buy yourself a new (used) minivan?". 

We might have spent $100 on a party for my daughter when she was 13. She invited all her friends over, we set up back yard party games, had burgers, hot dogs, etc, and an ice cream buffet for dessert. The kids loved it, and I feel like I saved $19,900 :)

[letsdoit]

i'm gonna teach my son to say with attitude,
'if someone says the word budget again, i am gonna POP!'
like they do on those reality TV shows about spoiled kids

[Mississippi Mudstache]

I ran across this gem this morning.

30 gallons of gas a week? That's 47k miles of driving per year at 30 mpg! Their "family cars" must be Ford F-350s...

I didn't get past the $200/week for groceries for a family of 4.

I was also about to point out that groceries are tax exempt in most states, but it looks like Alabama is one of the few states that charges full sales tax on them.

[dragoncar]

Maybe an economist can explain to me.. if you remove taxes on groceries does the price of groceries just go up by the amount of the tax?  I suppose that’s not the case with EVs, but it must also depend on how free the market is (opportunity for seller collusion)

[merula]

Maybe an economist can explain to me.. if you remove taxes on groceries does the price of groceries just go up by the amount of the tax?  I suppose that’s not the case with EVs, but it must also depend on how free the market is (opportunity for seller collusion)

Ooo! OOO! I love demand curves!



This is from a blog talking about adding a cigarette tax, but the principles apply to any good, you just have to reverse the movement of the arrows (instead of going from supply to supply+tax, we're going from supply+tax to supply).

Under the economic principle of rational actors, buyers are adjusting their purchases of groceries because of the tax. People who would buy a gallon of milk when it's $2.50, but not when it's $3 are currently not buying milk. If we removed the taxes, those buyers would buy milk. This is shown by the difference in quantity purchased between "supply+tax" and "supply".

On the production side, if we assume sellers are only making $2 per gallon of milk, so the same number of producers are willing to sell at $2 with and without tax. This is shown by the vertical line at 400 quantity in the graph between supply and supply+tax.

Without the tax, the price and quantity would equalize at the market rate. People who are willing to buy milk at $3 and can now get it at $2.50 have a "demand surplus". Sellers who are willing to sell at $2 but can sell at $2.50 have a supply surplus. Those groups are economically better off than they were with the tax. This is represented by the sum of the areas in green, red and blue.

The government is worse off economically because it doesn't have the revenue that resulted from the demand and supply surpluses (areas in red and green).

Overall, the economy is better off by the area in blue without tax, the "dead weight loss". However, if we're talking about the cigarette example, we need to weigh the economic loss against the public policy gain of lower rates of smoking.

[TexasRunner]

Overall, the economy is better off by the area in blue without tax, the "dead weight loss". However, if we're talking about the cigarette example, we need to weigh the economic loss against the public policy gain of lower rates of smoking.

Great post!  I think the main things is that groceries (and food in general) has a minimum mandatory purchase for each person, ergo the traditional laws of economics go out the window...  People have to eat something...  In reality it isn't 'more demand' vs 'more expense' in as much as purchase XX vs YY.  IE purchase groceries vs takeout, etc.

Overall, I would say people buying groceries typically leads to people eating somewhat healthier foods (Texas doesn't tax-exclude pre-made items), and as such it makes sense to push people towards those options as public policy.

Also is the theory (or sentiment) that people shouldn't have to pay taxes to merely exist / survive.  Obviously this isn't fully implemented in society but it does factor into the 'should we tax food' equation.

[Threshkin]

Big Snip

Do you feel like you get a decent return on your tax dollars though?  Alabama is about to institute a 10 cent per gallon tax on gas to "fix the infrastructure."  In reality, I imagine that very little of that money will actually go to fix our crumbling roads and bridges.

This is a common technique for getting tax increases passed.  It is all about the marketing. 
Another common lie is "for the children"  i.e. tax increases supposedly for education where the money never seems to get to the promised recipients. 

Politicians, can't trust any of them except for one thing.  That they will F you over.

[zolotiyeruki]

This is a common technique for getting tax increases passed.  It is all about the marketing. 
Another common lie is "for the children"  i.e. tax increases supposedly for education where the money never seems to get to the promised recipients. 

Yup, on all levels, too.  Our elections next month will include a referendum on increasing the property tax rate for the schools.  The school district is facing a shortfall caused by 1) the state not paying money it has promised, and 2) debt service because the school district borrowed $450 million about 12 years ago during the housing boom to build new (and fancy!) schools.  The past two years, they've made cuts and increased fees, but IMO there's still a  lot of fat that can be cut without impacting .  There aren't any easy, big targets, but there doesn't seem to be any effort to chase down the myriad small expenses that could add up to some serious money.  Simple things like "turn off the lights in the schools at night" or even "turn off the lights during the day when the school is filled with natural light from the sky lights."

It has taken them until the third straight year of cuts before they started taking a harder look at some of the perks enjoyed by the administration, like generous cell phone plans.

[Threshkin]

This is a common technique for getting tax increases passed.  It is all about the marketing. 
Another common lie is "for the children"  i.e. tax increases supposedly for education where the money never seems to get to the promised recipients. 

Yup, on all levels, too.  Our elections next month will include a referendum on increasing the property tax rate for the schools.  The school district is facing a shortfall caused by 1) the state not paying money it has promised, and 2) debt service because the school district borrowed $450 million about 12 years ago during the housing boom to build new (and fancy!) schools.  The past two years, they've made cuts and increased fees, but IMO there's still a  lot of fat that can be cut without impacting .  There aren't any easy, big targets, but there doesn't seem to be any effort to chase down the myriad small expenses that could add up to some serious money.  Simple things like "turn off the lights in the schools at night" or even "turn off the lights during the day when the school is filled with natural light from the sky lights."

It has taken them until the third straight year of cuts before they started taking a harder look at some of the perks enjoyed by the administration, like generous cell phone plans.

A few year back we legalized rec pot.  The sales pitch was that it would "end our school funding issues forever".  Nope.  The new revenue was earmarked for schools but wound up being spent on admin and admin raises, not in the classrooms as promised.