Overheard on Facebook

[Goldielocks]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

[Zikoris]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

I'm probably a bit cold-hearted on this one, but if I was dating someone and they decided to move to the sticks, I would see that as their problem/choice, not mine, and they could deal with the consequences from that. I would also seriously question the judgment of someone who chose to move there without a license and/or car - it seems like such a terrible idea that I would really want to understand their reasoning, since "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag for me in dating.

[DS]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

I'm probably a bit cold-hearted on this one, but if I was dating someone and they decided to move to the sticks, I would see that as their problem/choice, not mine, and they could deal with the consequences from that. I would also seriously question the judgment of someone who chose to move there without a license and/or car - it seems like such a terrible idea that I would really want to understand their reasoning, since "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag for me in dating.

For this example, would need specifics on "transit sucks." May be true here, but a common thing to hear when transit is perfectly fine for someone who understands it and is willing to take it.

[Zikoris]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

I'm probably a bit cold-hearted on this one, but if I was dating someone and they decided to move to the sticks, I would see that as their problem/choice, not mine, and they could deal with the consequences from that. I would also seriously question the judgment of someone who chose to move there without a license and/or car - it seems like such a terrible idea that I would really want to understand their reasoning, since "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag for me in dating.

For this example, would need specifics on "transit sucks." May be true here, but a common thing to hear when transit is perfectly fine for someone who understands it and is willing to take it.

Me and Goldielocks live in the same area and I can guarantee transit to Aldergrove is horrible. To get to Vancouver fro Aldergrove you have to pass completely through the cities of Langley, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, and finally Vancouver, all of which are large. It's about an hour by bus to get to the metro system, and another 40 minutes to get to downtown Vancouver from there, longer if you're going somewhere else in Vancouver. So you'd be looking at, very likely, two hours each way. Even driving takes at least an hour each way. It suuuuucks big time.

[dragoncar]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

I'm probably a bit cold-hearted on this one, but if I was dating someone and they decided to move to the sticks, I would see that as their problem/choice, not mine, and they could deal with the consequences from that. I would also seriously question the judgment of someone who chose to move there without a license and/or car - it seems like such a terrible idea that I would really want to understand their reasoning, since "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag for me in dating.

Yeah these kids sound like teenagers who do not typically decide where their family moves to

[Dave1442397]

This just popped up on my FB feed from a casual acquaintance. OMFG.

[RWD]

This just popped up on my FB feed from a casual acquaintance. OMFG.

Wow.  I don't think "needless to say" means what they think it means...

[RecoveringCarClown]

Based on their website, that appears to be a $50k truck?  O.o

[dragoncar]

Based on their website, that appears to be a $50k truck?  O.o

That he owes $60k on? I know they said they “eliminate” $10k of negative equity but I’m pretty sure that’s a bald faced lie.  Likely they merely transfer the negative equity to the new car.  If it’s true, then it’s actually a pretty good deal

[Goldielocks]

People used to try to convince me and my partner that we should get drivers licenses - they've stopped now that we're in our 30s. The reasons they would come up with were always pretty funny - it usually centered around "but what if there's an emergency?", but nobody has ever been able to lay out a plausible emergency scenario that could only be solved by one of us being licensed to operate a vehicle.

Our reasoning is pretty similar to the teen's - we choose to live in walkable areas and have absolutely no need for a car. We also both get horribly carsick and hate being in cars, the drivers here are all insane and texting, and we have no desire to add a money pit to our lifestyle. I'm 32 as of today, and I can honestly say there has not even once been an instance yet where I've thought "Man, I wish I had a drivers license".

Hah!  DD is the same way.   But her BF just moved out to Aldergrove (to live with relative) and also does not have a license (or even a learners). He has no access to a car.   Transit sucks for them.   I have a car (uninsured) that i told her she could pay for insurance and use to get around, if she wanted, but needs to get a DL first.   She has failed the in car test 4 times now (would not practice) and has pretty much stopped trying.

She does see the advantages, to her, personally, but not enough to actually trigger setting a time to take the next exam.

I'm probably a bit cold-hearted on this one, but if I was dating someone and they decided to move to the sticks, I would see that as their problem/choice, not mine, and they could deal with the consequences from that. I would also seriously question the judgment of someone who chose to move there without a license and/or car - it seems like such a terrible idea that I would really want to understand their reasoning, since "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag for me in dating.

Yeah these kids sound like teenagers who do not typically decide where their family moves to

Nailed it.   BF graduated HS last June, and his dad is moving out of province so he has to move in with his mom or, you know, pay for his own way. 

 I haven't tried flatly framing the idea "seriously question the judgment of someone.... such a terrible idea ... "bad life decision making" is a pretty big red flag in dating...   to her yet.  Something about caution about driving one's daughter directly into the situation you are trying to warn her off of....

The BF saw this coming since last May and did NOTHING to help himself out of it, and I even sat him down and described three options that were open to him to do something different...  oh, well.     He just started his first job, so we will see. 

[Dave1442397]

Based on their website, that appears to be a $50k truck?  O.o

That he owes $60k on? I know they said they “eliminate” $10k of negative equity but I’m pretty sure that’s a bald faced lie.  Likely they merely transfer the negative equity to the new car.  If it’s true, then it’s actually a pretty good deal

Yes, it's certainly just a transfer of negative equity, so the guy owes maybe $60k at this point. I hope he likes his truck.

[I'm a red panda]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

[I'm a red panda]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

Ooh the G6 Forge looks nice. I have the G4 Play. It's great. It's 2 years old now and still doing fine.  I assume you get 2 years out of a phone, and I'd certainly rather get it out of a sub $100 phone than a $500+ one.

[ysette9]

I just booted up my new iPhone 8 that I got because my employer gave it to me for free. I had previously planned on using my iPhone 6 until screen and battery replacements were no longer sufficient to keep it going. I have to say, I wouldn’t buy this new phone myself but I am enjoying all of its fancy fancy. :) Here is hoping the phone will take me to FIRE!

[HamsterStache]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

Ooh the G6 Forge looks nice. I have the G4 Play. It's great. It's 2 years old now and still doing fine.  I assume you get 2 years out of a phone, and I'd certainly rather get it out of a sub $100 phone than a $500+ one.

The G6 has been great. My old phone was a Coolpad Canvas that I bought for $39. It lasted me about a year but I did drop it a bunch of times, so I'm not terribly angry at it. Problem was the speaker went out on it so I couldn't hear when I got any type of communication, so it had to go.

Previous to that I had a HTC for about 3 years. I plan on keeping this one for at least two.

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

[zolotiyeruki]

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

I'm curious--what constitutes "obsolete" for you?

The depreciation argument traditionally used in the context of cars applies equally well to flagship cell phones...

[HamsterStache]

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

I'm curious--what constitutes "obsolete" for you?

The depreciation argument traditionally used in the context of cars applies equally well to flagship cell phones...

All but literally unusable. I would argue there is a big difference between cell phones and cars - an old car may not have the bells and whistles a new one does, but it still drives you and probably keeps the temperature semi-comfortable and plays music for you. It just might not brake itself or have its own entertainment system. Our phones got to the point where they were not supported by current technology - constantly ran out of space, could not browse certain websites or use modern apps etc, became extremely slow to use due to trying to process modern technology. Any car will drive on any road in virtually the same way. Also, I take a lot of photos, and having the high quality camera is important to me as well. I don't care about the monetary value depreciating, only the usability.

[Dave1442397]

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

I'm curious--what constitutes "obsolete" for you?

The depreciation argument traditionally used in the context of cars applies equally well to flagship cell phones...

All but literally unusable. I would argue there is a big difference between cell phones and cars - an old car may not have the bells and whistles a new one does, but it still drives you and probably keeps the temperature semi-comfortable and plays music for you. It just might not brake itself or have its own entertainment system. Our phones got to the point where they were not supported by current technology - constantly ran out of space, could not browse certain websites or use modern apps etc, became extremely slow to use due to trying to process modern technology. Any car will drive on any road in virtually the same way. Also, I take a lot of photos, and having the high quality camera is important to me as well. I don't care about the monetary value depreciating, only the usability.

Yeah, I found the same thing with iPads. I have an original iPad that I gave up on a few years ago. It got to the point where you couldn't even open Safari for more than a few seconds before it crashed, and most of the apps wouldn't update any more. I replaced it with a Chromebook.

[Rural]

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

I'm curious--what constitutes "obsolete" for you?

The depreciation argument traditionally used in the context of cars applies equally well to flagship cell phones...

All but literally unusable. I would argue there is a big difference between cell phones and cars - an old car may not have the bells and whistles a new one does, but it still drives you and probably keeps the temperature semi-comfortable and plays music for you. It just might not brake itself or have its own entertainment system. Our phones got to the point where they were not supported by current technology - constantly ran out of space, could not browse certain websites or use modern apps etc, became extremely slow to use due to trying to process modern technology. Any car will drive on any road in virtually the same way. Also, I take a lot of photos, and having the high quality camera is important to me as well. I don't care about the monetary value depreciating, only the usability.

Yeah, I found the same thing with iPads. I have an original iPad that I gave up on a few years ago. It got to the point where you couldn't even open Safari for more than a few seconds before it crashed, and most of the apps wouldn't update any more. I replaced it with a Chromebook.

Huh, that must depend very much on the individual device. I have an original iPad that's still going strong, no issues with Safari. I don't update its apps anymore, that's true - mostly use email, web and Kindle on it.

[geekette]

We also have an original iPad from 5/2010, and it has problems with "busy" web pages.  Text stuff is fine, but many newer web pages will crash it.

It's mostly used for podcasts and very basic browsing, plus it has a small monthly amount of free T-Mobile cellular data for life, so it's handy if our internet goes out. 

[Glenstache]

Phones are the one thing DW and I have really splurged on for ourselves - yes our new iphoneX's were obscenely expensive, the most unmustachian of any of our purchases, but I plan on making them last far longer than your average American would. Our last phones were Iphone 4S's which we coaxed along for nearly six years before giving in and upgrading. For the amount we use them, it's worth it to us, and buying at the top means it will be that much longer before they are completely obsolete.

I'm curious--what constitutes "obsolete" for you?

The depreciation argument traditionally used in the context of cars applies equally well to flagship cell phones...

When I need a new phone, I generally apply the 2 generation rule and get something 2 models behind the thing that came out 2 months ago. I usually get them for $150 and they last for several years before I do something terrible to them. Friends who are phone geeks still seem to ooh and ahh over them, which still strikes me a bit weird.

[OtherJen]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

Ooh the G6 Forge looks nice. I have the G4 Play. It's great. It's 2 years old now and still doing fine.  I assume you get 2 years out of a phone, and I'd certainly rather get it out of a sub $100 phone than a $500+ one.

The G6 has been great.

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

[Cherry Lane]

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

I didn't know this about the end of security updates.  My Nexus 5 is definitely showing its age recently with degraded performance, but I'm not ready to give it up yet.  Now I think I'll need to.

[zolotiyeruki]

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

I didn't know this about the end of security updates.  My Nexus 5 is definitely showing its age recently with degraded performance, but I'm not ready to give it up yet.  Now I think I'll need to.

FWIW,  a lot of phones have aftermarket support after the manufacturer EOLs them. If you're feeling adventurous and are very good at precisely following instructions, you can install an up -to-date version of Android on older phones.

[OtherJen]

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

I didn't know this about the end of security updates.  My Nexus 5 is definitely showing its age recently with degraded performance, but I'm not ready to give it up yet.  Now I think I'll need to.

FWIW,  a lot of phones have aftermarket support after the manufacturer EOLs them. If you're feeling adventurous and are very good at precisely following instructions, you can install an up -to-date version of Android on older phones.

I’m not sure I’m up for it—I’m not tech-savvy/adventurous and need the phone to work with no issues. Husband, OTOH, loves to tinker with gadgets: builds his own computers, has no qualms about pulling apart an appliance for repairs after watching a YouTube video. He may have fun with this. Thanks for the suggestion. These were our first Android phones, so we’re still learning.

[zolotiyeruki]

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

I didn't know this about the end of security updates.  My Nexus 5 is definitely showing its age recently with degraded performance, but I'm not ready to give it up yet.  Now I think I'll need to.

FWIW,  a lot of phones have aftermarket support after the manufacturer EOLs them. If you're feeling adventurous and are very good at precisely following instructions, you can install an up -to-date version of Android on older phones.

I’m not sure I’m up for it—I’m not tech-savvy/adventurous and need the phone to work with no issues. Husband, OTOH, loves to tinker with gadgets: builds his own computers, has no qualms about pulling apart an appliance for repairs after watching a YouTube video. He may have fun with this. Thanks for the suggestion. These were our first Android phones, so we’re still learning.

The Nexus 5 is one of the best-supported phones in the aftermarket world.  instructions

[OtherJen]

Yay, this is encouraging! My Nexus 5 is slowing down and isn’t going to get security updates after next month (important because I occasionally deal with client emails/info and some financial stuff). We use Project Fi and are planning to buy new Moto G6 phones for Christmas (cheapest compatible phones). Glad to know that they’re a good value.

I didn't know this about the end of security updates.  My Nexus 5 is definitely showing its age recently with degraded performance, but I'm not ready to give it up yet.  Now I think I'll need to.

FWIW,  a lot of phones have aftermarket support after the manufacturer EOLs them. If you're feeling adventurous and are very good at precisely following instructions, you can install an up -to-date version of Android on older phones.

I’m not sure I’m up for it—I’m not tech-savvy/adventurous and need the phone to work with no issues. Husband, OTOH, loves to tinker with gadgets: builds his own computers, has no qualms about pulling apart an appliance for repairs after watching a YouTube video. He may have fun with this. Thanks for the suggestion. These were our first Android phones, so we’re still learning.

The Nexus 5 is one of the best-supported phones in the aftermarket world.  instructions

Thanks! Everything on that page is a foreign language to me, but I think I’ll pass it to Husband and let him have fun with it. If he can get his phone up and running, maybe I’ll let him take a crack at mine. As long as it doesn’t affect the Project Fi service, we’d be fine with it. (And as long as it doesn’t send the phones into bootloop; both our phones are replacements from Google after the original ones bootlooped.)

[Sugaree]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

[DS]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

[marty998]

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

The S&P 500 thanks her for this moment of consumerism.

[Sugaree]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

Ooh the G6 Forge looks nice. I have the G4 Play. It's great. It's 2 years old now and still doing fine.  I assume you get 2 years out of a phone, and I'd certainly rather get it out of a sub $100 phone than a $500+ one.

The G6 has been great. My old phone was a Coolpad Canvas that I bought for $39. It lasted me about a year but I did drop it a bunch of times, so I'm not terribly angry at it. Problem was the speaker went out on it so I couldn't hear when I got any type of communication, so it had to go.

Previous to that I had a HTC for about 3 years. I plan on keeping this one for at least two.

I'm going to have to look into these options.  I think my refurbed second-hand Galaxy is about to give up the ghost.  I usually go for a used two gen old Galaxy from Glyde, but have heard good things about the Motos.

[limeandpepper]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

I don't really meal plan and probably buy what may seem like a random assortment of foods to some* and I still don't understand how people can buy so many groceries yet end up with so little food, but apparently it's not uncommon. There's a British show I like to watch called "Eat Well for Less" that tackles this type of problem and I find it very entertaining.

*This is what I do because I tend to buy whatever's cheap or delicious, and figure out what to make with them later - which I find very easy to do, you'd be surprised at how many things can go together. As long as I've got stuff lying around there's usually something I can make with them. For example my dinner tonight was gochujang kimchi pasta, something that could conceivably be seen on the menu of a cute fusion cafe. People just need to cook more so they develop good intuition about which flavours might go together, so they can then feel confident about mixing and matching in order to use up their haphazard groceries.

[Kitsune]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

I don't really meal plan and probably buy what may seem like a random assortment of foods to some* and I still don't understand how people can buy so many groceries yet end up with so little food, but apparently it's not uncommon. There's a British show I like to watch called "Eat Well for Less" that tackles this type of problem and I find it very entertaining.

*This is what I do because I tend to buy whatever's cheap or delicious, and figure out what to make with them later - which I find very easy to do, you'd be surprised at how many things can go together. As long as I've got stuff lying around there's usually something I can make with them. For example my dinner tonight was gochujang kimchi pasta, something that could conceivably be seen on the menu of a cute fusion cafe. People just need to cook more so they develop good intuition about which flavours might go together, so they can then feel confident about mixing and matching in order to use up their haphazard groceries.

I'm going to look up that show, it sounds like good low-key watching.

And with fairly decent cooking skills, throwing together meals becomes something you don't need a recipe for, and you alter based on what's on hand. A decently stocked pantry helps, obviously, but (random example from this week), 'oh, I need dill for this sauce I was going to make to put on tuna cakes but fresh dill is 3$' isn't an invitation to shrug and spend 3$, it's an invitation to say 'guess that sauce is going to be closer to tzatziki' and add some dried mint and oregano and not spend. But if you don't have a fairly broad kitchen knowledge, it's hard.

Following your recommendations on cooking and learning, there's a book called Salt Fat Acid Heat that breaks down the component seasonings of dishes and cooking techniques in a really smart way, and has these fantastic charts of different base flavors and techniques depending on culture (I learned to cook from my mom, for example, which was all traditional French food, so I start everything with onions/garlic/carrots/celery, and then reach for thyme and bay leaves instinctively. Someone with a background in Chinese food would reach for garlic/ginger/chili and wouldn't even think of thyme or celery as an option) - I found it broke down component pieces in a way I had instinctively grasped but not actually understood, and that in turn made it easier to switch flavor profiles with the same ingredients. Skill acquisition!

[OtherJen]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

I don't really meal plan and probably buy what may seem like a random assortment of foods to some* and I still don't understand how people can buy so many groceries yet end up with so little food, but apparently it's not uncommon. There's a British show I like to watch called "Eat Well for Less" that tackles this type of problem and I find it very entertaining.

*This is what I do because I tend to buy whatever's cheap or delicious, and figure out what to make with them later - which I find very easy to do, you'd be surprised at how many things can go together. As long as I've got stuff lying around there's usually something I can make with them. For example my dinner tonight was gochujang kimchi pasta, something that could conceivably be seen on the menu of a cute fusion cafe. People just need to cook more so they develop good intuition about which flavours might go together, so they can then feel confident about mixing and matching in order to use up their haphazard groceries.

I'm going to look up that show, it sounds like good low-key watching.

And with fairly decent cooking skills, throwing together meals becomes something you don't need a recipe for, and you alter based on what's on hand. A decently stocked pantry helps, obviously, but (random example from this week), 'oh, I need dill for this sauce I was going to make to put on tuna cakes but fresh dill is 3$' isn't an invitation to shrug and spend 3$, it's an invitation to say 'guess that sauce is going to be closer to tzatziki' and add some dried mint and oregano and not spend. But if you don't have a fairly broad kitchen knowledge, it's hard.

Following your recommendations on cooking and learning, there's a book called Salt Fat Acid Heat that breaks down the component seasonings of dishes and cooking techniques in a really smart way, and has these fantastic charts of different base flavors and techniques depending on culture (I learned to cook from my mom, for example, which was all traditional French food, so I start everything with onions/garlic/carrots/celery, and then reach for thyme and bay leaves instinctively. Someone with a background in Chinese food would reach for garlic/ginger/chili and wouldn't even think of thyme or celery as an option) - I found it broke down component pieces in a way I had instinctively grasped but not actually understood, and that in turn made it easier to switch flavor profiles with the same ingredients. Skill acquisition!

There's a new show on Netflix titled "Salt Fat Acid Heat." I'm guessing it's related and probably worth watching.

[Sugaree]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

I don't really meal plan and probably buy what may seem like a random assortment of foods to some* and I still don't understand how people can buy so many groceries yet end up with so little food, but apparently it's not uncommon. There's a British show I like to watch called "Eat Well for Less" that tackles this type of problem and I find it very entertaining.

*This is what I do because I tend to buy whatever's cheap or delicious, and figure out what to make with them later - which I find very easy to do, you'd be surprised at how many things can go together. As long as I've got stuff lying around there's usually something I can make with them. For example my dinner tonight was gochujang kimchi pasta, something that could conceivably be seen on the menu of a cute fusion cafe. People just need to cook more so they develop good intuition about which flavours might go together, so they can then feel confident about mixing and matching in order to use up their haphazard groceries.

I do meal plan, but I try to do so that I'm using the same things for several meals.  I use an app that organizes my recipes and generates a shopping list based on what meals I have planned for that week or two.

[FindingFI]

I mean, is meal planning really that hard?

Spoiler: show

I saw this! I don't understand why you wouldn't just end up back in the grocery store instead of the drive-thru???

I don't really meal plan and probably buy what may seem like a random assortment of foods to some* and I still don't understand how people can buy so many groceries yet end up with so little food, but apparently it's not uncommon. There's a British show I like to watch called "Eat Well for Less" that tackles this type of problem and I find it very entertaining.

*This is what I do because I tend to buy whatever's cheap or delicious, and figure out what to make with them later - which I find very easy to do, you'd be surprised at how many things can go together. As long as I've got stuff lying around there's usually something I can make with them. For example my dinner tonight was gochujang kimchi pasta, something that could conceivably be seen on the menu of a cute fusion cafe. People just need to cook more so they develop good intuition about which flavours might go together, so they can then feel confident about mixing and matching in order to use up their haphazard groceries.

I like to think that all the episodes of Chopped have paid off in learning how to create a meal from basically any assortment of ingredients.  (Or it could be a justifcation for watching tv...) My grocery lists tend to be whatever meats and produce are on sale, and then meals are created from those.  Recipes are more like guidelines once you have a basic understanding of what is going on with flavors and ingredients. Most of the time it comes out good to great. Every now and again its just ok, but rarely is it inedible to the point of take-out.

[Megma]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

What I really would like to know is why someone is selling an almost new 1,000 phone on craigslist for $700? Is it:
1) the phone is stolen
2) they bought it when they couldn't really afford it and now need the money to pay for something like...food, electricity, rent.
3) they are an employee of Apple or a phone company that gives them a crazy discount and they are flipping it for more than they paid - I hope it's this one.

A friend of mine's father worked for Sprint and used to get iphones for $100-150 under the employee purchase plan, she'd have them unlocked and flip them for much more when she traveled to central Asia where her husband's family lives.

They also sold some GoPros and other spendy electronics not readily available and crazy spendy where his family lives. They'd buy them in the US at Target when they were doing something like offering a $50 gift card with purchase (usually a black Friday deal), take them along and while they were visiting her husband would sell them easily on their equivalent of Craigslist for at least what they paid or slightly more and they'd pocket the gift card. If it didn't sell, they could always return them when they came back but they always sold it so far as I know.

[Alfred J Quack]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

What I really would like to know is why someone is selling an almost new 1,000 phone on craigslist for $700? Is it:
1) the phone is stolen
2) they bought it when they couldn't really afford it and now need the money to pay for something like...food, electricity, rent.
3) they are an employee of Apple or a phone company that gives them a crazy discount and they are flipping it for more than they paid - I hope it's this one.

The iPhone X is now a year old, and for some that is enough to swap it for the most recent version.

I also saw a lot of ads years ago for sealed new phones because the owner renewed his subscription and got a "free phone" along with it. Appearently they did not figure that 90% of the subscription cost was for the phone. Some even though they could get the actual new value as it was listed on the Apple/Samsung site.

For myself, I generally buy a year old model (Nexus/Pixel)rather than the newest available. Still gets updates for a while but not the enormous cost. DW doesn't like it but all my previous phones remain in the family as hand-me-downs and we've never had a defective one which means I have 6 years worth of phones running in our family (and my SIL) :D

[Barbaebigode]

Not overheard on facebook, but on whatsapp. The richer branch of my wife's family was discussing going to Orlando and staying on rented houses, ups and downs and previous experiences. One cousin mentioned that she hired a maid once every two days when she went there. "why?" everybody asked, since stuff doesn't really get dirty that fast. Because she thought OPERATING the dishwasher was an annoying task...

[Megma]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

What I really would like to know is why someone is selling an almost new 1,000 phone on craigslist for $700? Is it:
1) the phone is stolen
2) they bought it when they couldn't really afford it and now need the money to pay for something like...food, electricity, rent.
3) they are an employee of Apple or a phone company that gives them a crazy discount and they are flipping it for more than they paid - I hope it's this one.

The iPhone X is now a year old, and for some that is enough to swap it for the most recent version.

I also saw a lot of ads years ago for sealed new phones because the owner renewed his subscription and got a "free phone" along with it. Appearently they did not figure that 90% of the subscription cost was for the phone. Some even though they could get the actual new value as it was listed on the Apple/Samsung site.

For myself, I generally buy a year old model (Nexus/Pixel)rather than the newest available. Still gets updates for a while but not the enormous cost. DW doesn't like it but all my previous phones remain in the family as hand-me-downs and we've never had a defective one which means I have 6 years worth of phones running in our family (and my SIL) :D

There's a new version? Isn't X the latest one? Is there like x+ now?

[Megma]

In case you'd like to spend $2,500 on a life sized pirate, this is for sale in our local Facebook swap group. All of the comments so far are about how ridiculous the price is.

[Alfred J Quack]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

I splurged on a Moto G6 Forge ($79) at Best Buy last month. My older $40 phone's speakers were shot.

I saw my coworker counting $100 bills on his desk and asked, "Rent money?". To which he replied, "Nah, I'm  buying an Apple X from Craiglist."

I counted $700.
WTF????

What I really would like to know is why someone is selling an almost new 1,000 phone on craigslist for $700? Is it:
1) the phone is stolen
2) they bought it when they couldn't really afford it and now need the money to pay for something like...food, electricity, rent.
3) they are an employee of Apple or a phone company that gives them a crazy discount and they are flipping it for more than they paid - I hope it's this one.

The iPhone X is now a year old, and for some that is enough to swap it for the most recent version.

I also saw a lot of ads years ago for sealed new phones because the owner renewed his subscription and got a "free phone" along with it. Appearently they did not figure that 90% of the subscription cost was for the phone. Some even though they could get the actual new value as it was listed on the Apple/Samsung site.

For myself, I generally buy a year old model (Nexus/Pixel)rather than the newest available. Still gets updates for a while but not the enormous cost. DW doesn't like it but all my previous phones remain in the family as hand-me-downs and we've never had a defective one which means I have 6 years worth of phones running in our family (and my SIL) :D

There's a new version? Isn't X the latest one? Is there like x+ now?

XS and XS max are the newer model, if I recall correctly. Basically the.same.phone but with world-shocking improvements like dual sim capability and no free charger included :P

[geekette]

XS and XS max are the newer model, if I recall correctly. Basically the.same.phone but with world-shocking improvements like dual sim capability and no free charger included :P

Yes, it comes with a charger (and dual SIM, better water resistance, next gen processor, etc.)  Seriously, where do people come up with this stuff?

Historically, the "S" version is never a big change.  They discontinued the X and now have the Xs with some improvements for the same price as the X last year.  If people want to fall all over themselves for it, so be it.  If you're an investor in index funds, you've got Apple stock, so enjoy.

[limeandpepper]

I'm going to look up that show, it sounds like good low-key watching.

And with fairly decent cooking skills, throwing together meals becomes something you don't need a recipe for, and you alter based on what's on hand. A decently stocked pantry helps, obviously, but (random example from this week), 'oh, I need dill for this sauce I was going to make to put on tuna cakes but fresh dill is 3$' isn't an invitation to shrug and spend 3$, it's an invitation to say 'guess that sauce is going to be closer to tzatziki' and add some dried mint and oregano and not spend. But if you don't have a fairly broad kitchen knowledge, it's hard.

Following your recommendations on cooking and learning, there's a book called Salt Fat Acid Heat that breaks down the component seasonings of dishes and cooking techniques in a really smart way, and has these fantastic charts of different base flavors and techniques depending on culture (I learned to cook from my mom, for example, which was all traditional French food, so I start everything with onions/garlic/carrots/celery, and then reach for thyme and bay leaves instinctively. Someone with a background in Chinese food would reach for garlic/ginger/chili and wouldn't even think of thyme or celery as an option) - I found it broke down component pieces in a way I had instinctively grasped but not actually understood, and that in turn made it easier to switch flavor profiles with the same ingredients. Skill acquisition!

Salt Fat Acid Heat seems interesting, the concept seems to me like kinda the reverse of Ruhlman's Ratio, which talks about basic main ingredient components that make up certain things, then leaves it up to you to play with the flavours.

I like to think that all the episodes of Chopped have paid off in learning how to create a meal from basically any assortment of ingredients.  (Or it could be a justifcation for watching tv...) My grocery lists tend to be whatever meats and produce are on sale, and then meals are created from those.  Recipes are more like guidelines once you have a basic understanding of what is going on with flavors and ingredients. Most of the time it comes out good to great. Every now and again its just ok, but rarely is it inedible to the point of take-out.

Chopped is a fun show! Sounds like we have similar shopping and cooking habits. :)

[Kitsune]

A friend posted something to FB along the lines of 'my bank is offering me a line of credit with these fees, looks ok, anything I should watch out for' and the comments are EXPLODING in a horror show of 50something-year-olds who lack basic financial literacy.

Highlights include:
- 'never get credit, if you have money you'll spend it all!!!!!' (... knowing this guy and his finances pretty well? Untrue, and kind of insulting)
- The slightly less incendiary 'available money always gets spent' (for YOU, but ok, congrats for knowing your pitfalls I guess)
- 'If they offer you that it'll cost money regardless there are always fees!!' (he asked about those, the fees are upfront, read the paperwork...)
- 'credit is nonsense I've never used it and I'm doing fine!' (dude, you're still living with your parents. Try getting a mortgage with no credit, lemme know how that goes... oh, wait, guess you figured out a way around that one...)
- 'governments should regulate this!!' (... it is regulated??)


THIS, y'all. This is why I support financial education classes in schools. These are people old enough to parent today's teenagers/20-year-olds. THIS is the financial education the next generation is getting at home, god help us all.

[Sugaree]

It's funny that you mention that.  I found a series of cartoons last night on Youtube that is supposed to teach financial literacy to kids.  I think it's Malaysian because they refer to the ringet instead of the dollar.  My kid seemed to like it and it seems to have solid lessons on how money works. 

[merula]

A friend posted something to FB along the lines of 'my bank is offering me a line of credit with these fees, looks ok, anything I should watch out for' and the comments are EXPLODING in a horror show of 50something-year-olds who lack basic financial literacy.

Highlights include:
- 'never get credit, if you have money you'll spend it all!!!!!' (... knowing this guy and his finances pretty well? Untrue, and kind of insulting)
- The slightly less incendiary 'available money always gets spent' (for YOU, but ok, congrats for knowing your pitfalls I guess)
- 'If they offer you that it'll cost money regardless there are always fees!!' (he asked about those, the fees are upfront, read the paperwork...)
- 'credit is nonsense I've never used it and I'm doing fine!' (dude, you're still living with your parents. Try getting a mortgage with no credit, lemme know how that goes... oh, wait, guess you figured out a way around that one...)
- 'governments should regulate this!!' (... it is regulated??)


THIS, y'all. This is why I support financial education classes in schools. These are people old enough to parent today's teenagers/20-year-olds. THIS is the financial education the next generation is getting at home, god help us all.

I don't think it's a schooling issue. I'm a thirty-something, and I was taught the prevailing "rules" for financial success in high school: how to balance a checkbook, save 10% of what you earn, buy stocks low and sell high.

I actually have A LOT of sympathy for Boomers as a whole regarding financial literacy. The prevailing rules that held when they were young, what would have worked for their parents, are not at all true today. Get a good job and stay for the pension. A college degree opens up better jobs, no matter what you major in. Manufacturing is steady work. Don't worry too much about healthcare and college costs, because those aren't large expenses.

These are the things that worked for my grandparents, so it's what they taught their children, my parents. But as the world changed in the 70s and 80s, my parents had to learn how to navigate this new world on their own. Their parents couldn't help them. They were in a worse spot than Xers or Millennials because at least those generations knew to expect a changing financial landscape.

[dcheesi]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

Galaxy J7 --done :)  It is a little more expensive than your Moto, but much cheaper than any recent Galaxy S# model, and it's exactly the same Samsung interface.

Of course, I suspect if you suggest that, she'll move the goal-posts again and say iPhone only...

[kms]

Yes, it comes with a charger (and dual SIM, better water resistance, next gen processor, etc.)  Seriously, where do people come up with this stuff?

I think people come up with this stuff because it's in and hip and trendy to talk smack about Apple these days. People need to make themselves feel better, and to reinforce their decisions they grab on to every bit of bad news without ever questioning it. I forgot what this phenomenon is called but there's a psychological explanation for it. It could also be an adult version of the telephone game. In this particular instance it's possible that somebody heard or read somewhere that the "Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter" was no longer included (which is true), and because they had no idea what a "Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter" was they simply interpreted that as charger and started spreading the news in order to make themselves feel better because their just-as-expensive Galaxy Note came with a charger.

[Sugaree]

A friend posted "My phone is dying and I desperately need a new one- anyone have something to sell? I'll pay."

Lots of people posting used Iphones for around $400.

I said "I got my Moto at Walmart for $50 new. It doesn't have an internal compass but otherwise works identically to the expensive phones I've had."

She replied and tells me she needs an apple or galaxy only.

Galaxy J7 --done :)  It is a little more expensive than your Moto, but much cheaper than any recent Galaxy S# model, and it's exactly the same Samsung interface.

Of course, I suspect if you suggest that, she'll move the goal-posts again and say iPhone only...

You like the J7?  I suspect I'm going to have to have a new one sooner rather than later.  It's starting to give off an inordinate amount of heat and the battery isn't holding a charge nearly as long as it should.  I was thinking about replacing it with another refurbed two or three generation old Galaxy S when the time comes.  There's an S6 Active for ~$100 that I've been looking at.