Overheard at Work 2

[Imma]

Co-worker of mine was a manager (supervised a team of about 4-6 people). Built a custom house, then got a new job as a VP of a public utility in Ohio and moved his family. It sounded like a significant promotion, so I cannot blame him.

I like to ride my road bike out in the country. Fortunately for me I live only a few km from the edge of town so I can get out to the country easily. I have been riding the same routes for about 10 years now.

I can count at least 5 luxury country homes that I have watched get built, each taking 1-3 years to build, only to be sold a few years after construction is completed. Without fail these are luxury country mansions with triple or quad garages, every bedroom has an on-suite bathroom, and a kitchen that looks like it was designed for a photo shoot not for cooking. The one place had a double tall garage double wide, I never saw anything on the property that would justify the huge garage but you could fit some serious farm equipment in that garage.

I can't wrap my head around what must happen to a family for them to invest all the time and money that it takes to build these luxury mansions only to turn around and sell them a few years later.

It happened with the house my parents built. It was sold when it was about 15 years old. So the tiles/kitchen/colour scheme was slightly dated, it could do with a fresh coat of paint, new floors in some bedrooms and some repairs here and there. But generally a well built, good quality and fairly new home with a large landscaped garden in English cottage style. Maybe in need of 10k worth of cosmetic updating and small fixes.

Instead, the new owners completely stripped the house, built a large addition, moved nearly every internal wall, put in completely new landscaping, even took out the entire driveway and replaced it with a different material (who does that? Take out a perfectly good 20 meter long driveway in perfect condition because you want another colour of brick?) .

Renovations took 3 years and they're selling after 5. According to village gossip they are getting divorced. House prices have increased by 40% in that period but according to my back of a napkin math they're probably going to make a loss if they sell for the asking price, even though asking is 200k more than what they paid then. Who would have thought that a 3-year mid 6-figure renovation would impact your marriage?

They've also decorated the place in a really specific style so I just hope they're going to find a buyer who's into that or even more money will be wasted. As a mustachian, I just cannot imagine the thought process, the sheer scope of the waste. I would hesitate to replace a functional but ugly kitchen and look into painting instead, other people apparantly don't even mind almost demolishing a really new house.

[Just Joe]

I will say it seems easy to encounter people who put in all of the thought and work and decision-making that it takes to build new, then they move into the house for maybe fifteen months before they have to move again!

I see that from time to time too. Never understood that. I have a relative that did that. Went through great trouble to buy and renovate, or build new - and then about 18 months or so later they'd move on to another job. Crawling up the career and real estate ladder

I'm sure they made money on property each move but it was an all life consuming process to settle into a job, get the kids into school and get the house the way they liked it only to move on to the next job. They've continued to do that to this day. It is possible they've finally "landed". I'll let you know in about 3-5 years.

There is truly a point if done right, a person could be mortgage free. A sort of side hustle.

DW and I took a different approach trying to stay one place as long as possible to minimize disruption to our lives and those of our kids.  Each time we moved and renovated the empty house after we left. The disruption to our lives was shorter and we had a self-imposed deadline to get it on the market and sold ASAP. Fortunately our houses have always sold quickly once completed.

[Just Joe]

Co-worker of mine was a manager (supervised a team of about 4-6 people). Built a custom house, then got a new job as a VP of a public utility in Ohio and moved his family. It sounded like a significant promotion, so I cannot blame him.

I like to ride my road bike out in the country. Fortunately for me I live only a few km from the edge of town so I can get out to the country easily. I have been riding the same routes for about 10 years now.

I can count at least 5 luxury country homes that I have watched get built, each taking 1-3 years to build, only to be sold a few years after construction is completed. Without fail these are luxury country mansions with triple or quad garages, every bedroom has an on-suite bathroom, and a kitchen that looks like it was designed for a photo shoot not for cooking. The one place had a double tall garage double wide, I never saw anything on the property that would justify the huge garage but you could fit some serious farm equipment in that garage.

I can't wrap my head around what must happen to a family for them to invest all the time and money that it takes to build these luxury mansions only to turn around and sell them a few years later.

Divorces? Money-laundering? ;)

In our town there is a $1.6M home for sale. Very out of character for this town. I got nosey and did a reverse address lookup and then chased names on the internet. Multiple addresses in multiple states. Perhaps choose to be out of the limelight but very well to do. Business is in one state, properties are around the country.

No idea. All I can do is speculate. I wonder about tax advantages mostly.

[Goldielocks]

FWIW, I have a relative that has built a few homes, new, from lot up, and moved on after 2-5 years.

Their logic:
1.  They have a life in trades and do all the plumbing, general contracting, and finishing work themselves. (Hire out basic construction, architectural, electrical, drywall to various sub trades).
2.  There is a tax on new homes sold as new.  If you are an owner/builder and live there for at least 2 years, and then sell, you do not charge the tax, and get a better price in your pocket.  The interest on the mortgage is your rent during that time.
3.  Plus, 2 years after construction, most of the homes around are already built and the area looks a lot more attractive to buyers who don't need to live though neighbor construction mess.
4.  Housing always* increases in value over time.

* according to my relative.   doh!  In actual fact, some areas, once built, have brand new developments agressively being sold adjacent, which keeps the resale prices depressed, but don't tell him that.

So,  think of it kind of like a long flip, or a business for him.

[LennStar]

FWIW, I have a relative that has built a few homes, new, from lot up, and moved on after 2-5 years.

Their logic:
1.  They have a life in trades and do all the plumbing, general contracting, and finishing work themselves. (Hire out basic construction, architectural, electrical, drywall to various sub trades).
2.  There is a tax on new homes sold as new.  If you are an owner/builder and live there for at least 2 years, and then sell, you do not charge the tax, and get a better price in your pocket.  The interest on the mortgage is your rent during that time.
3.  Plus, 2 years after construction, most of the homes around are already built and the area looks a lot more attractive to buyers who don't need to live though neighbor construction mess.
4.  Housing always* increases in value over time.

* according to my relative.   doh!  In actual fact, some areas, once built, have brand new developments agressively being sold adjacent, which keeps the resale prices depressed, but don't tell him that.

So,  think of it kind of like a long flip, or a business for him.

If you are a wandering fixer-upper, no words against it! That is great!
If you like that hand work und have fun doing it, and get a profit out of it, that is the best that can happen.
But generally the people are different to that ;)

[Michael in ABQ]

I was eating lunch yesterday and overheard two guys next to me talking. One was complaining that he'd spent $1,700 on two phones for his kids. One got the iPhone 11 and the other got the iPhone 11 Pro. They were talking about how their wives both wanted new phones as well.


Meanwhile I've been using my 5-year old phone because my new $400 phone broke a couple of months after I got it and I haven't been able to get it repaired yet since everything is closed. I did get about $150 towards the repair from extra insurance through my credit card - which should cover most of the estimate cost of replacing the LCD screen that broke (not the glass).

[talltexan]

I have to admit, having the newest phone right away is probably going to turn into how it used to be with cars.

[Just Joe]

New phones don't make that much sense to me. I'm an Android user. Will be a Linux phone user possibly the next time I need a phone.

If I go buy a brand new phone - it will be filled with the same apps as I have now. It'll have the same kind of background picture that I use now. Organized the same way.

My phone is three years old. It has a great camera. Not sluggish. Battery lasts for days depending on how I use it.

What is the newest version going to get me?

[Michael in ABQ]

I only bought a newer phone because several apps I used were no longer supported by the version of Android my old phone runs. I have to say the camera on the newer one was also a significant improvement. Plus I don't have to worry about constantly deleting old podcasts every time I download a new one because it has such limited space. Still, that was $400 - not $1,000.

[LennStar]

I was eating lunch yesterday and overheard two guys next to me talking. One was complaining that he'd spent $1,700 on two phones for his kids. One got the iPhone 11 and the other got the iPhone 11 Pro. They were talking about how their wives both wanted new phones as well.


Meanwhile I've been using my 5-year old phone because my new $400 phone broke a couple of months after I got it and I haven't been able to get it repaired yet since everything is closed. I did get about $150 towards the repair from extra insurance through my credit card - which should cover most of the estimate cost of replacing the LCD screen that broke (not the glass).

I have the fear that the battery on my phone is dying. I have used it more than usual, but it is still 1.5 times more loading this week than usual.
It's a 30€ phone from 2013. I don't want to have to replace it. I would probably need more time to transfer all the data than I am using it in a year.

[PDXTabs]

What is the newest version going to get me?

For me personally, not being broken. I tend to physically damage my phones. I do really like the Google devices, Nexus and now Pixel. I'm very happy with my Pixel 3a, and will probably replace it when they no longer provide security updates.

Seriously, don't use a phone without up-to-date software from the vendor. You are asking for trouble, in my professional opinion.

[SunnyDays]

What is the newest version going to get me?

Bragging rights.

[Sibley]

What is the newest version going to get me?

For me personally, not being broken. I tend to physically damage my phones. I do really like the Google devices, Nexus and now Pixel. I'm very happy with my Pixel 3a, and will probably replace it when they no longer provide security updates.

Seriously, don't use a phone without up-to-date software from the vendor. You are asking for trouble, in my professional opinion.

Um, you know they make heavy duty phone cases, right?

[Rural]

But yes, the concept of a "used house" is very bizarre. What's next, complaining about "used land"?!

Don't even get started on used water and used air... I told someone once the O2 they breathe was exhaled by a tree. They didn't believe me.

There is some probability that your last drink of water contained some H20 molecules peed by a frightened baby dinosaur when it saw a T-Rex coming at it.

(dimensional analysis, make-the-units-cancel problem from freshman year college chemistry class).

Husband teaching freshman chem wants to know if you remember anything more about that problem.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

But yes, the concept of a "used house" is very bizarre. What's next, complaining about "used land"?!

Don't even get started on used water and used air... I told someone once the O2 they breathe was exhaled by a tree. They didn't believe me.

There is some probability that your last drink of water contained some H20 molecules peed by a frightened baby dinosaur when it saw a T-Rex coming at it.

(dimensional analysis, make-the-units-cancel problem from freshman year college chemistry class).

Husband teaching freshman chem wants to know if you remember anything more about that problem.

Wait... did dinos pee? Birds don't pee.

[markbike528CBX]

But yes, the concept of a "used house" is very bizarre. What's next, complaining about "used land"?!

Don't even get started on used water and used air... I told someone once the O2 they breathe was exhaled by a tree. They didn't believe me.

There is some probability that your last drink of water contained some H20 molecules peed by a frightened baby dinosaur when it saw a T-Rex coming at it.

(dimensional analysis, make-the-units-cancel problem from freshman year college chemistry class).

Husband teaching freshman chem wants to know if you remember anything more about that problem.

I vaguely remember ~ 30 gallons of pee ( or fright induced excreta of some sort) divided into the total volume of earth water.   There were some intermediate steps that I've forgotten now.


A mole of "beverage " cans dumped on earth makes a thick (hundreds of miles) layer.  Hand wave away compression.   Beverage is code for beer, depending on the  need for verbal correctness.
Requires V=4/3 Pi r³

Randal Monroe (xkcd, what-if) has done a mole of moles.
https://what-if.xkcd.com/4/

Edit, added V in equation and xckd link

[Travis]

But yes, the concept of a "used house" is very bizarre. What's next, complaining about "used land"?!

Don't even get started on used water and used air... I told someone once the O2 they breathe was exhaled by a tree. They didn't believe me.

There is some probability that your last drink of water contained some H20 molecules peed by a frightened baby dinosaur when it saw a T-Rex coming at it.

(dimensional analysis, make-the-units-cancel problem from freshman year college chemistry class).

Husband teaching freshman chem wants to know if you remember anything more about that problem.

I vaguely remember ~ 30 gallons of pee ( or fright induced excreta of some sort) divided into the total volume of earth water.   There were some intermediate steps that I've forgotten now.


A mole of "beverage " cans dumped on earth makes a thick (hundreds of miles) layer.  Hand wave away compression.   Beverage is code for beer, depending on the  need for verbal correctness.
Requires V=4/3 Pi r³

Randal Monroe (xkcd, what-if) has done a mole of moles.
https://what-if.xkcd.com/4/

Edit, added V in equation and xckd link

Mom, they're doing chemistry in the 'I suck at financial math' section!

[techwiz]

While waiting for a meeting to start a couple of co-workers were discussing the problems with camp grounds being closed and the problems with the provincial parks camps closing their shower facilities. The conversation switched to planning on buying cottages as their preferred solution to ensure they have a safe place for their holidays. Wow the prices for what they are looking for were more than I would buy a permanent home for.  I understand their frustration on not getting out and enjoying their vacation ,but I don't think they are thinking all the financial impacts of owning a second home for only a couple of weeks of holidays.

[RetiredAt63]

While waiting for a meeting to start a couple of co-workers were discussing the problems with camp grounds being closed and the problems with the provincial parks camps closing their shower facilities. The conversation switched to planning on buying cottages as their preferred solution to ensure they have a safe place for their holidays. Wow the prices for what they are looking for were more than I would buy a permanent home for.  I understand their frustration on not getting out and enjoying their vacation ,but I don't think they are thinking all the financial impacts of owning a second home for only a couple of weeks of holidays.

It's not just a couple of weeks of vacation.  It's long May weekend to open up, Thanksgiving weekend to close/winterize, and every weekend in between to be sure everything is OK and "get your money's worthless worth".  In other words, they would be making a huge financial AND TIME commitment.

Signed, former cottage owner       ;-)

[Just Joe]

I only bought a newer phone because several apps I used were no longer supported by the version of Android my old phone runs. I have to say the camera on the newer one was also a significant improvement. Plus I don't have to worry about constantly deleting old podcasts every time I download a new one because it has such limited space. Still, that was $400 - not $1,000.

That makes sense. Sorry if I seemed harsh. I was venting. Heard from several people (two coworkers) in a single week buying new phones just because... One just needs a new $15 battery.

[Scotts]

I only bought a newer phone because several apps I used were no longer supported by the version of Android my old phone runs. I have to say the camera on the newer one was also a significant improvement. Plus I don't have to worry about constantly deleting old podcasts every time I download a new one because it has such limited space. Still, that was $400 - not $1,000.

That makes sense. Sorry if I seemed harsh. I was venting. Heard from several people (two coworkers) in a single week buying new phones just because... One just needs a new $15 battery.

Unfortunately it not just a $15 battery. Almost all modern phones are sealed such that the batteries aren't user replaceable. I recently had the battery replaced in my original Pixel phone and it was between $60 `~ $70. And they said it could have been more as sometimes the screen will break during the process, something my research beforehand confirmed. It's also aged out of updates from Google and for that reason alone I'll probably replace it sometime in the future.

[dragoncar]

I only bought a newer phone because several apps I used were no longer supported by the version of Android my old phone runs. I have to say the camera on the newer one was also a significant improvement. Plus I don't have to worry about constantly deleting old podcasts every time I download a new one because it has such limited space. Still, that was $400 - not $1,000.

That makes sense. Sorry if I seemed harsh. I was venting. Heard from several people (two coworkers) in a single week buying new phones just because... One just needs a new $15 battery.

Unfortunately it not just a $15 battery. Almost all modern phones are sealed such that the batteries aren't user replaceable. I recently had the battery replaced in my original Pixel phone and it was between $60 `~ $70. And they said it could have been more as sometimes the screen will break during the process, something my research beforehand confirmed. It's also aged out of updates from Google and for that reason alone I'll probably replace it sometime in the future.

Nah you can get the battery and disassembly kit for like $30 max

[Michael in ABQ]

I only bought a newer phone because several apps I used were no longer supported by the version of Android my old phone runs. I have to say the camera on the newer one was also a significant improvement. Plus I don't have to worry about constantly deleting old podcasts every time I download a new one because it has such limited space. Still, that was $400 - not $1,000.

That makes sense. Sorry if I seemed harsh. I was venting. Heard from several people (two coworkers) in a single week buying new phones just because... One just needs a new $15 battery.

Unfortunately it not just a $15 battery. Almost all modern phones are sealed such that the batteries aren't user replaceable. I recently had the battery replaced in my original Pixel phone and it was between $60 `~ $70. And they said it could have been more as sometimes the screen will break during the process, something my research beforehand confirmed. It's also aged out of updates from Google and for that reason alone I'll probably replace it sometime in the future.

Gotta love that planned obsolescence.

[Sugaree]

I held onto my S5 for the longest time (and replaced with refurb'd models twice) because it was the last model that didn't require a special tool and a glue pack to change the battery in.  I moved up to an S8 last year when I found an Active model on Backmarket for a decent price.  I'm happy with it so far, but it hasn't been that long, so we'll see what kind of battery life I get out of it. 

[horsepoor]

Nah you can get the battery and disassembly kit for like $30 max

I changed the battery on my old MotoX last year.  Bought the kit, spent an hour just removing the back, only to find the kit had the incorrect little tiny star drive screw driver included.  Went to a couple cell phone stores looking for one.  A nice guy at the cell phone repair place let me sit in his shop and use his screw driver to spend another hour getting the battery out.  He said that phone was an easy battery swap compared to most.

The new battery did jack for the phone's performance or battery life (and I'd removed all the apps and whatever else I could think of to help it work better), so I ended up buying a Pixel3 a couple months later.

[ysette9]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

[Gronnie]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

[dragoncar]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

[Monerexia]

"Why do you work so late?!" (Clueless coworkers who are bouncy-kneed at 4:15 waiting for 4:29 so they leave a minute early, peel rubber out of the parking lot and go buy something.) I finish up at around 9:45pm five days/week and work about nine hours every Sat and Sun as well--4:15 is about lunchtime for me...

[SwordGuy]

"Why do you work so late?!" (Clueless coworkers who are bouncy-kneed at 4:15 waiting for 4:29 so they leave a minute early, peel rubber out of the parking lot and go buy something.) I finish up at around 9:45pm five days/week and work about nine hours every Sat and Sun as well--4:15 is about lunchtime for me...

That's funny.    How do you know they aren't rushing home to kiss their spouse instead of going shopping? 

Because if you aren't being paid extra for all those extra hours, they aren't the clueless one in this scenario...

And even if you are, that's a crazy amount of extra work to take on unless it's for sheer survival or for a very limited period of time.

[Monerexia]

"Why do you work so late?!" (Clueless coworkers who are bouncy-kneed at 4:15 waiting for 4:29 so they leave a minute early, peel rubber out of the parking lot and go buy something.) I finish up at around 9:45pm five days/week and work about nine hours every Sat and Sun as well--4:15 is about lunchtime for me...

That's funny.    How do you know they aren't rushing home to kiss their spouse instead of going shopping? 

Because if you aren't being paid extra for all those extra hours, they aren't the clueless one in this scenario...

And even if you are, that's a crazy amount of extra work to take on unless it's for sheer survival or for a very limited period of time.

Yes they have their priorities but they prioritize bizarre things like “time with family” or other scams. And yes those are the same nonsense lines they have tried on me for years which I use my ninja vision to see right through. Everybody will try to hypnotize you and make you mediocre and “balanced” like them—watch out!

Edit: And yes, went from ~70K to low 200s by cancelling nights and weekends several years ago.

[dragoncar]

Edit: And yes, went from ~70K to low 200s by cancelling nights and weekends several years ago.

Have you tried switching to Verizon?

[Gronnie]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

That will not make it have anywhere near the same water resistance rating.

[Monerexia]

Edit: And yes, went from ~70K to low 200s by cancelling nights and weekends several years ago.

Have you tried switching to Verizon?

Ha! Yep those prices were outrageous alright. Funny phone story though, my flaky family members who borrowed $2500 from me in an "emergency" wanted to use Venmo to pay me back, and when I told them that I use a VOIP that venmo can't verify and it's not an option, they proceeded to lecture me on how "cheap" I am with my phone plan. My friend if that ain't rich dunno what is.

[TomTX]

FWIW, I have a relative that has built a few homes, new, from lot up, and moved on after 2-5 years.

Their logic:
1.  They have a life in trades and do all the plumbing, general contracting, and finishing work themselves. (Hire out basic construction, architectural, electrical, drywall to various sub trades).

Since trades work often has "lumpy" or variable demand (ie, time between jobs) - this seems like an excellent way to stay busy in a profitable way. No work today? Well, let's install those cabinets at home!

[ExitViaTheCashRamp]

Have a surprising coincidence for my home, it was built in 1899.. the same year my paternal grandfather was born.

[dragoncar]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

That will not make it have anywhere near the same water resistance rating.

Why not?  That’s what Apple does and they warranty their work

[ysette9]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

At this stage it isn’t showering but baby drool. He manages to get his hands on the phone and everything goes into the pie hole. Sigh.

[MrTurtle]

Ha! Yep those prices were outrageous alright. Funny phone story though, my flaky family members who borrowed $2500 from me in an "emergency" wanted to use Venmo to pay me back, and when I told them that I use a VOIP that venmo can't verify and it's not an option, they proceeded to lecture me on how "cheap" I am with my phone plan. My friend if that ain't rich dunno what is.

I've got nothing to add but I want you to know this post made me smile. 

[AMandM]

Ha! Yep those prices were outrageous alright. Funny phone story though, my flaky family members who borrowed $2500 from me in an "emergency" wanted to use Venmo to pay me back, and when I told them that I use a VOIP that venmo can't verify and it's not an option, they proceeded to lecture me on how "cheap" I am with my phone plan. My friend if that ain't rich dunno what is.

I've got nothing to add but I want you to know this post made me smile.

It's fascinating how many people don't see the connection between not spending money and accumulating wealth. I think that for them "being rich" equals "spending a lot" and no thought goes into the source/cause of being rich.

[Gronnie]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

That will not make it have anywhere near the same water resistance rating.

Why not?  That’s what Apple does and they warranty their work

Maybe you are right about battery. For the screen they use a special machine.

[dragoncar]

I am an iPhone person and my husband usually replaces my battery once in es h phone I have before I replace it. That extends its life by at least a year. You can buy kits with the battery and the tools you need to replace it and then follow iFixIt instructions online.

That said, I have now finally moved to a waterproof model and I am not sure how well the waterproofing will survive a battery replacement.

It won't.

It will if you replace the "display adhesive" aka double sided tape.  It's usually included in the kits but can be had separately for an inflated price.  Even so, the total cost is way less than paying Apple or buying a new phone.

Or you could just stop showering with your phone

That will not make it have anywhere near the same water resistance rating.

Why not?  That’s what Apple does and they warranty their work

Maybe you are right about battery. For the screen they use a special machine.

Could't find anything about a waterproofing machine.  Do tell.

[Dicey]

"Why do you work so late?!" (Clueless coworkers who are bouncy-kneed at 4:15 waiting for 4:29 so they leave a minute early, peel rubber out of the parking lot and go buy something.) I finish up at around 9:45pm five days/week and work about nine hours every Sat and Sun as well--4:15 is about lunchtime for me...

Careful...I've heard that working a metric crapton of hours can lead to...monerexia.

[martyconlonontherun]

What is the newest version going to get me?

For me personally, not being broken. I tend to physically damage my phones. I do really like the Google devices, Nexus and now Pixel. I'm very happy with my Pixel 3a, and will probably replace it when they no longer provide security updates.

Seriously, don't use a phone without up-to-date software from the vendor. You are asking for trouble, in my professional opinion.

Yup. Got a Pixel 3a and really like it.

Honestly, I'm warping Mustachians views here but Phones and TVs are two of the best purchases I've made. I've added a 50-55inch tv every 2-3 years for ~$250/piece so now I have 3 in different rooms (one outside, one living room, and one in the guest bedroom so the MIL can watch in bed). The amount of value I get from them is just insane for the per use cost. Same with a new phone every 2 years (~$400) to ensure a phone with a pretty solid camera, plenty of storage and updated software. For ~.50 a day for something I use this much is great value. Add in my bluetooth headphones for $25 bucks. No regrets and I'm a pretty cheap person. There are easier ways to save that money spent on things I use. I get some people dont value that and are ok with a six year-old phone but I travel and want to take a ton of pictures and have a long battery life. Phones are also a thing where you dont think there is much difference until you go back to your old phone. The speed, displays, etc are noticeable once you have that hedonistic adaptation.


Now if you are talking $2k tvs, that is another scenario.

[Feivel2000]

Same with a new phone every 2 years (~$400) to ensure a phone with a pretty solid camera, plenty of storage and updated software. For ~.50 a day for something I use this much is great value.

I think the rule is, buy only what you need and what you can afford. For me it is the same with phones. I bought a Galaxy S7 in 2017 and this year a Note 9. Both not current flagships, but way ahead of any 6 year old/shirty cheap phone.
When I travel, I don't have a camera with me, so that's a big deal.

Spending 1000 bucks every year on a new iPhone? No thank you.

[bloodaxe]

What is the newest version going to get me?

For me personally, not being broken. I tend to physically damage my phones. I do really like the Google devices, Nexus and now Pixel. I'm very happy with my Pixel 3a, and will probably replace it when they no longer provide security updates.

Seriously, don't use a phone without up-to-date software from the vendor. You are asking for trouble, in my professional opinion.

Yup. Got a Pixel 3a and really like it.

Honestly, I'm warping Mustachians views here but Phones and TVs are two of the best purchases I've made. I've added a 50-55inch tv every 2-3 years for ~$250/piece so now I have 3 in different rooms (one outside, one living room, and one in the guest bedroom so the MIL can watch in bed). The amount of value I get from them is just insane for the per use cost. Same with a new phone every 2 years (~$400) to ensure a phone with a pretty solid camera, plenty of storage and updated software. For ~.50 a day for something I use this much is great value. Add in my bluetooth headphones for $25 bucks. No regrets and I'm a pretty cheap person. There are easier ways to save that money spent on things I use. I get some people dont value that and are ok with a six year-old phone but I travel and want to take a ton of pictures and have a long battery life. Phones are also a thing where you dont think there is much difference until you go back to your old phone. The speed, displays, etc are noticeable once you have that hedonistic adaptation.


Now if you are talking $2k tvs, that is another scenario.

TV and phone are probably some of the worst purchases I made.

In college, I had a flip phone and no TV. Would read and take walks outside frequently.

Now, I find myself scrolling on my phone or watching TV instead of reading or walking outside.

[mm1970]

What is the newest version going to get me?

For me personally, not being broken. I tend to physically damage my phones. I do really like the Google devices, Nexus and now Pixel. I'm very happy with my Pixel 3a, and will probably replace it when they no longer provide security updates.

Seriously, don't use a phone without up-to-date software from the vendor. You are asking for trouble, in my professional opinion.

Yup. Got a Pixel 3a and really like it.

Honestly, I'm warping Mustachians views here but Phones and TVs are two of the best purchases I've made. I've added a 50-55inch tv every 2-3 years for ~$250/piece so now I have 3 in different rooms (one outside, one living room, and one in the guest bedroom so the MIL can watch in bed). The amount of value I get from them is just insane for the per use cost. Same with a new phone every 2 years (~$400) to ensure a phone with a pretty solid camera, plenty of storage and updated software. For ~.50 a day for something I use this much is great value. Add in my bluetooth headphones for $25 bucks. No regrets and I'm a pretty cheap person. There are easier ways to save that money spent on things I use. I get some people dont value that and are ok with a six year-old phone but I travel and want to take a ton of pictures and have a long battery life. Phones are also a thing where you dont think there is much difference until you go back to your old phone. The speed, displays, etc are noticeable once you have that hedonistic adaptation.


Now if you are talking $2k tvs, that is another scenario.

My pixel 3A was a good purchase (the Nexus died...cracked/broken screen). 

We actually paid $150-200 for a crappy TV when COVID hit, and I'm using it as a monitor.  It's not awesome (it's 720?  Should have spent $50 more.)  It had to be shipped back and replaced because it broke.  However, it's been great to have a monitor AND the use of the TV is good also.  When it was the rainy season and someone was doing "school" in the living room, I could use it to work out during the day.

[SpareChange]

Coworker. Late fifties. Great guy. Terrible with money, but he knows it. Bought a brand new fancy truck about 3 years ago. Told me the interest rate was 12%. Used it for his 40 minute commute. His wife drove a minicooper bought used. Fast forward to last year. Trades in his 2 year old truck for another brand new truck. Payments are over $600/mon. Also trades in his wife's minicooper, which was about to be paid off, for a brand new car (forget which model). Between payments, gas, and insurance alone, he's got to be shelling out over $1,000/mon just on the truck for basic transportation. Damn.

I posted that two years ago. The saga continues. He just traded in THAT truck for a new 4x4 F250 with crewcab. Payment only $871/mon. Damn....

[TheFrenchCat]

Coworker. Late fifties. Great guy. Terrible with money, but he knows it. Bought a brand new fancy truck about 3 years ago. Told me the interest rate was 12%. Used it for his 40 minute commute. His wife drove a minicooper bought used. Fast forward to last year. Trades in his 2 year old truck for another brand new truck. Payments are over $600/mon. Also trades in his wife's minicooper, which was about to be paid off, for a brand new car (forget which model). Between payments, gas, and insurance alone, he's got to be shelling out over $1,000/mon just on the truck for basic transportation. Damn.

I posted that two years ago. The saga continues. He just traded in THAT truck for a new 4x4 F250 with crewcab. Payment only $871/mon. Damn....

Oh wow.  Does he ever plan to retire?  Spending that much on cars makes me feel anxious by proxy.  I can't imagine actually doing it.

[SpareChange]

Oh wow.  Does he ever plan to retire?  Spending that much on cars makes me feel anxious by proxy.  I can't imagine actually doing it.

He would like to, as he's always complaining about work, but it's hard to see how. He turns 60 this month or next. Still has a mortgage. The truck isn't needed for work or business purposes. He wants to pull an RV with it for vacations...occasionally. He cashed out his 80k 403b in 2017 when switching jobs. I believe he was paying off the IRS for back taxes even before that. He'd be the first to admit he just sucks with money.