Recent Posts

1

Off Topic / Re: Your Non-Compete Was Just Voided

« Last post by LennStar on Today at 01:04:48 AM »

In many European countries, garden leave could be a year or two.  For some of our German employees, it was *until retirement age.*

But that is only for VIP workers or for the latter I think a company agreement for e.g. miners. They negotiated such a thing so that mines could close down on the easiest schedule without people leaving 5 years earlier and missing workers, and the workers got to be sure they don't have to look for other work, regardless of the real closing date or who get's fired first during the process.

It is not unusual (at least in big companies) though to have people who quitted to not have to work until their normal quitting date has arrived. (we don't have a fixed 2 week notice period, and again depending on company agreement with a union it can be up to half a year notice time for people who are e.g 30 years in the company - including an additional payment of several month)

2

Off Topic / Re: What TV series do you like?

« Last post by jade on Today at 12:22:50 AM »

I've had a very big few days and my reward was the final episode of Happy Valley series 3. It was perfection!

What a great reward! It's very good, isn't it?!

3

Share Your Badassity / Re: Upgrade Schmupgrade

« Last post by Zikoris on April 25, 2024, 11:44:17 PM »

It's honestly hard to think of things we HAVE upgraded. I'm also very much an opposite-sort where the "upgrade" would actually be a downgrade for me, as I greatly prefer my old reliable stuff. I suppose my Kobo upgrade in 2021 so I could read library ebooks would be my one example of a real upgrade. My boyfriend upgrades Playstations when a new one comes out.

Probably the most noticeable things I never "upgraded" from have been my flip phone and my studio apartment. Both are just perfect for me, but very glaringly strange decisions to other people. I've also never upgraded to a television larger than 30 inches (I think big tvs are really ugly and encourage braindead lifestyles). Most of my clothing is also pretty old - I have a lot of pieces that predate our relationship, and we're celebrating our 15 year anniversary this summer. I also obviously never made the jump/upgrade to a car lifestyle, never got my license or anything.

4

Welcome and General Discussion / Re: 2025 Fire Cohort

« Last post by oneday on April 25, 2024, 11:38:44 PM »

It's official. I announced my departure to my team yesterday. The CEO will probably put out the general announcement within the next few weeks. In my role, since I interface with many people in the company, they tend to announce departures at least a year in advance. Now that it's been formally announced, there's no turning back. June 2025 is my confirmed departure date.

Congrats, how exciting!

5

Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?

« Last post by CrankAddict on April 25, 2024, 11:31:30 PM »

Just don't forget to file your 5500 form as you close your employer plan!

On my radar, and the Vanguard rep mentioned it too.  Thank you though!

6

Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?

« Last post by seattlecyclone on April 25, 2024, 10:58:44 PM »

Just don't forget to file your 5500 form as you close your employer plan!

7

Investor Alley / Re: Closing company, can I convert 401k?

« Last post by seattlecyclone on April 25, 2024, 10:57:55 PM »

Thanks for the report! I had been putting it off for fear that I'd need to acquire a half dozen medallion signature guarantees or some nonsense like that.

8

Ask a Mustachian / Re: Is buying a house 1 year in advance crazy?

« Last post by Log on April 25, 2024, 10:32:48 PM »

If your stash is already at 25x spending and you're planning to continue working regardless, what is financially optimal no longer needs to be a deciding factor in your decision making (congrats, you won!) That's an awesome freedom to have.

Buying ahead of time so you can settle right into your long-term home upon return, without needing to bridge the gap with a short-term rental, sounds pretty nice. Moving internationally with kids already sounds stressful. Needing to move again a couple months later sounds extra stressful. Why not make it easier on yourself? 🤷🏼‍♂️

9

Off Topic / Re: Ukraine

« Last post by Radagast on April 25, 2024, 10:16:26 PM »

Then China cut off the supply of N95 masks to the U.S. during a pandemic.

To be fair, on this one there was likely no nefarious intent and they actually had domestic demand that outstripped their manufacturing capacity. And if the US cared about things like this, they'd try and keep manufacturing of them in the US. Don't try = don't care.

10

Off Topic / Re: Ukraine

« Last post by Radagast on April 25, 2024, 10:08:16 PM »

How Ukraine is faring at any given time over the past two years in one graph:

If anyone is looking for a recommendation, I recommend Phillips OBrien. Basically he mirrors my thoughts on most things Russo-Ukraine war, but far more knowledgeably. Was a better follow before paywalling himself, but still free substack posts on weekends.

My typical rant:
Biden: a good steady hand with the allies and domestic policy, against belligerent nations will generally get it wrong, as demonstrated August 2022 - August 2023 in Ukraine (also see Iraq, Afghanistan). His administration willing falls for Russian hybrid and information operations, despite it being their job to see through them.
US Republicans: I've seen media label R's voting against defending freedom "conservatives" but I think that is the wrong label. Golden age R conservatives Eisenhower through Reagan said (rightly at the time) "the US is the best and strongest country in the world, so we should continue doing the things that got us here." Many modern R's do not favor continuing to do things that make the US successful, and so are no longer conservative. Interestingly, they are also neither liberal nor progressive. Basically many R's are now just anti-American.
Europe: after 20 years of US nagging, 4 years of Trump, and three years of a direct Russian invasion of ... Europe, Europe will still not have the capacity to defend itself against an obviously belligerent country that has 1/3 its population and like 1/6 its economy. Just wow.
US Congress: You realize the aid package you just passed was for the last 7 months right? You should start working on the package for the next 7 months now so it can be passed in the next few weeks. After 7 months of nothing you need to double down you losers.