Recent Posts

71

Ask a Mustachian / Re: Reverse DCA on Employer Stock

« Last post by reeshau on Today at 12:45:06 PM »

Well, just do it immediately, then.  Get closure from that chapter of your life, and this decision that hangs over you enough that you asked for a second opinion about it.  Or, tie it to some non-market thing: 1/4 every Wednesday.  Of half every other Friday.  Not too often, and not something that keeps you thinking about the price.

One other factor: it's earnings season.  Will they report earnings in the next 28 days?  It's of course your call, but you might want to finish before then, or sell 1/2  before and 1/2 after.

72

Investor Alley / Re: Is Tesla a good investment?

« Last post by GuitarStv on Today at 12:40:21 PM »

more on their new, cheaper products:

I like that it's more practical and understated than the cybertruck.

73

Off Topic / Re: OP Is the Only One Who Doesn't See It

« Last post by merula on Today at 12:38:18 PM »

I feel like the most depressing part of that is that the dude doubled down on his stance TWICE.

We are not that far removed from women being fired for being pregnant legally. It's truly ridiculous.

74

Investor Alley / Re: Is Tesla a good investment?

« Last post by ChpBstrd on Today at 12:36:40 PM »

more on their new, cheaper products:

75

Share Your Badassity / Re: Upgrade Schmupgrade

« Last post by Sandi_k on Today at 12:28:08 PM »

Ah, so many things....

- My DH - we've been married 26 years, and together for much longer. He's foundational. ;)

- Another poster noted towels - we still have towels and glassware and a blender that we got as wedding gifts.

- Furniture.

  - We bought the bedroom set with wedding gift money; when we renovate the master bedroom after I retire, we'll upgrade to a king-sized mattress. But by that time, probably 30 years with that set.

  -  Dining room furniture: purchased in 2000, after rocking a Sears Outlet dining room table and chairs since 1987. No plans to ever upgrade the DRm table or buffet; they're gorgeous. The 6 chairs I bought one per paycheck in 1994-95. They are still holding up well, and are Italian, so we love them.

  -  Sofas: we bought inexpensive Scandinavian Design sofas in 2012, after the previous sofa had served us since 1994. So 18 years. The current sofas will not last us 18 years; the frame on the sofa has been broken twice, and repaired twice. It now has uncomfortable humps and valleys, but I am picky about size, scale, comfort, depth and height. We hate overly deep or low sofas, so we may need to build one at a local direct-to-you sofa factories that will customize.

  - Bookcases (2003) and coffee tables (1995): bought from Ikea.

  - TV: Bought in 2008.

The key for us was to thoughtfully purchase something we loved, over years. And to never succumb to the Ikea --> Pottery Barn --> Ethan Allen upgrade path.

76

Throw Down the Gauntlet / Re: Continued: Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter! PART 2

« Last post by MaybeBabyMustache on Today at 12:19:08 PM »

I finally had enough for another Buy Nothing post, so got that listed & have takers for almost everything So far, out of the house we have:
-A really nice old school globe
-A workout tshirt from Costco, that I think came back with us when we sold our vacation house, and I never wear
-A newish tshirt that I bought last spring but is too big. I'm sad to give it up, because I could actually really use a navy tshirt, but this is never going to fit right.
-DH's ski gloves, as he replaced them
-Iron on velcro patches
-A work laptop bag

Total out of the house in 2024 = 360/500

77

Share Your Badassity / Re: Upgrade Schmupgrade

« Last post by LifeHappens on Today at 12:16:23 PM »

As tempted as I am to upgrade my blender, I have stuck with my 10 year old magic bullet. We're down to 3 regular size cups and the tiny cup, but the motor keeps humming along. Until that burns out, I will resist the pull of higher power.

78

Mustachianism Around the Web / Re: Young Canadians think retiring at 65 is an outdated concept

« Last post by Sandi_k on Today at 12:15:22 PM »

LOL, @GuitarStv - sorry for being pedantic, but I have a few grammar things that make me twitch. That is one of them. My other one is when folks want to add emphasis to "unique" - as in "it is *very* unique."

Dammit - it's a binary quality - either it IS, or it ISN'T unique. It can't be more or less unique.

Ahem. Sorry. And thanks for being good-natured about it. ;)

<3 <3 <3

LOL, you are my people, @Dicey !!

79

Off Topic / Re: Electric Cars: Can they finally become popular in the United States?

« Last post by GuitarStv on Today at 12:14:00 PM »

I'm not convinced touchscreens are here to stay. Maybe? We'll see what the consumer reaction is in 10+ years when you can't get a replacement touchscreen.

I don't think it will take that long.  Tesla says they were only mean to last 5-6 years.  And cost $1,500 to replace.

I've talked to car salesman.  They have told me that many customers don't even look under the hood.  I think many who purchase products these days do not think of repair.  Touch screens, being on phones are ubiquitous.  I would also think that these same customers may think nothing of upgrading a telephone every few years.  In fact, I think you could tell these customers that the touch screen has a life of only 5-6 years and they wouldn't consider it important.

This mental mindset and design philosophy is a good example of why EVs are very unlikely to solve the climate problem.  A touchscreen might be fewer parts than a couple simple switches/knobs but it's a lot more environmentally damaging to build and lasts a fraction of the time.

Except that the batteries in EV's are over 90% reusable and the gasoline used in ICE cars is 0% renewable.  This is enough to tip the balance way in favor of EV's when it comes to long term environmental impact. 

That's not even factoring in massively reduced emissions which of course also heavily favor EV's. 

No matter which angle you look at it, ICE cars are worse for the environment.  By a lot.

Yeah, I'm not arguing for burning gas - it sucks.  I'm arguing against the idea that we can consume our way out of the problem by simply buying different similar stuff.  The problem is more the personal automobile rather than the type of engine it uses.

80

Antimustachian Wall of Shame and Comedy / Re: Overheard at Work 2

« Last post by Sandi_k on Today at 12:10:39 PM »

... we can't replace it with anything that even vaguely meets our requirements: doesn't get WORSE mileage, has a pop top that we can stand up in, is comfy for sleeping.

@jeninco - we bought a lightly-used Ford E350 cargo van for our jetski towing and camping weekends (which we've been doing since 2003). We started with an older van, which didn't have an airbag for me. After 5 years of that, DH started agitating for a "van improvement project" to add a raised top so he could stand up in it.

I told him we weren't spending that kind of money on a nearly-10-year old van if I didn't get an airbag, so we sold that van (getting a very nice sale price, because we care for our stuff!), and then turned around and got a 2 year old E350 that had better towing capacity, and dual airbags.

We then did some very judicious improvements: a Fiberine top, insulation, window shades, and a ledge over the front seats for storage. The Fiberine top got two large sliding windows installed. We raided the junk yard for pop-out windows for the rear windows (no longer standard, due to concerns of CO2 poisoning when driving, and we only ever open them while camping).

We bought a camping fridge that is good for a 3-4 day camp when you add ice, and a backup camera that gives you a view while backing up to the jetski trailer in the rearview mirror.

All in, including the van, the labor for the Fiberine top and interior upgrades, was about $25k. And several years later, when we moved to a house on the water, that van has the towing capacity for a boat and trailer.

We found a lot of help on the DIY forum for Sportsmobiles; folks pay $150k for crazy van-built upgrades, but the DIY route can be very cost effective, with a little help from a conversion van or body shop if you want a tall top.

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/