Mustachian People Problems (just for fun)

[Sibley]

This one is entirely on me, and in retrospect its hilarious.

I've done 3 big projects on the house this year, totaling over $15k. All planned, budgeted for, etc. No issues there.

I've also done various smaller things, supplies for DIY, repairs, etc. Combo of repair/maintenance and improvements, but this is the smaller stuff. Also budgeted for, not necessarily planned (don't get to plan to have the faucet break!). No issues there. Total - around $5k. (old house, new owner, and previous owner didn't necessarily do all the maintenance. Plus, their landscaping was crap)

I use Quicken to track my expenses. A little earlier this year, I'd decided I didn't like how I was categorizing the house related stuff, so I changed it. Basically, I'd broken it into 5 categories, and I changed it so that they're now sub categories which roll up to 1.

Today, I was reviewing my expenses, and happened to somehow see a report that wasn't broken into the sub categories, but instead only showed the top level one. Scared the crap out of myself when I saw a category that was around $20k. Took a moment before I realized that it was just adding together the different house sections. Yes, I really do think about this stuff that way.

MPP: I changed categorizing and forgot that I did it, then scared the crap out of myself.

[Dollar Slice]

MPP: I changed categorizing and forgot that I did it, then scared the crap out of myself.

I feel your pain. Whenever I go to an ATM that I haven't been to before, Mint categorizes it as cash spending, instead of a cash transfer from my bank account to my pocket. I usually get $150-$200 at a time so I don't have to go to the bank that often. So then I get an alert that I've overspent my 'misc' spending category by $150+ and I freak out because I think my credit card got stolen.

[fuzzy math]

Everyday we are closer to the top :). 
And closer to the crash.
And closer to the recovery.
And closer to my death....

Very positive thinking there, @LorenVer!

My new MPP - suddenly this thread is making me imagine the Grim Reaper...

Don't fear the reaper. You just need more cowbell.

[Loren Ver]

Everyday we are closer to the top :). 
And closer to the crash.
And closer to the recovery.
And closer to my death....

Very positive thinking there, @LorenVer!

My new MPP - suddenly this thread is making me imagine the Grim Reaper...

Just providing my public service.  Perspective is very important.

LV

[gaja]

I'm trying to get to zero air travel for environmental reasons. But in December I've been invited to give a speech at a conference at the west coast of Norway, 500 km away. That's not very far away, except that it is on the other side of the mountains. By public transport it would take 9.5 hours on train, plus 2 hours on bus and ferry, each way. If I drive, it would be about 7.5 hours each way plus charging breaks (~1 hour). If snow storms close down the mountain passes, I can go by the coastal route, which is 2 hours longer. So no matter what, I will need at least one night at a hotel.

The MPP: I have enough PTO and FU funds to do this the way I want, so I won't ask permission from my boss or the conference hosts. But the hosts are supposed to cover my travel costs. Travelling by train or car will be more expensive than plane, especially since they also are supposed to cover per diem for food. With an electric car, I have no out of pocket expenses for fuel, and with a milage of 200 000 km the depreciation costs are neglible. Normally I would just ask to get reimbursed the equivalent of the cheapest transport costs. But this is a governmental agency, so their system won't let them deviate a lot from the norm. Should I just eat the travel costs and ask them to cover the hotel night instead?

[Linea_Norway]

I'm trying to get to zero air travel for environmental reasons. But in December I've been invited to give a speech at a conference at the west coast of Norway, 500 km away. That's not very far away, except that it is on the other side of the mountains. By public transport it would take 9.5 hours on train, plus 2 hours on bus and ferry, each way. If I drive, it would be about 7.5 hours each way plus charging breaks (~1 hour). If snow storms close down the mountain passes, I can go by the coastal route, which is 2 hours longer. So no matter what, I will need at least one night at a hotel.

The MPP: I have enough PTO and FU funds to do this the way I want, so I won't ask permission from my boss or the conference hosts. But the hosts are supposed to cover my travel costs. Travelling by train or car will be more expensive than plane, especially since they also are supposed to cover per diem for food. With an electric car, I have no out of pocket expenses for fuel, and with a milage of 200 000 km the depreciation costs are neglible. Normally I would just ask to get reimbursed the equivalent of the cheapest transport costs. But this is a governmental agency, so their system won't let them deviate a lot from the norm. Should I just eat the travel costs and ask them to cover the hotel night instead?

In the summer I can understand that driving would be a valid alternative. In the winter it is more more risky than flying: the road could be slippery, short daylight and the chance for the road over the mountain being closed. Driving 500 kms on wintery road, not all motorway, is a bit of a long drive for 1 driver. I support you if you choose fly.
About your host covering your costs, often those systems require to see your actual plane ticket and maybe even a flown ticket. It is perhaps difficult to charge this if you haven't flown. And it seems wrong for me to let them cover for a journey over more days than necessary.
Is there an option of driving together with another person and so have lower driving costs to invoice?
I think it is difficult to keep you environmental standards in every aspect of your life, including work travel. As you say, often you don't have the time to choose the best environmental option. If you choose to fly, you could buy climate quotes for your flight. You could also ask the host specifically if you may take the better environmental choice, the electric car. If this is a conference related environmental issues, they might accept it. Otherwise I would fly.

[Fomerly known as something]

I finally got around to getting a Medallion signature to move my original IRA from my bank invested in Vanguard funds over to Vanguard itself.  My MPP, I was getting close to being a Voyager select with what was in there at the most recent market top, this move will firmly put me over the standard.  This feels like cheating somehow. 

[Just Joe]

After googling KBB values and Carmax and autotrader and... FB is convinced I am in the market for a new car. At first they figured I must just need a new version of what I sold, but now they are throwing everything at me.

All the more reason to get uBlock Origin / EFF Badger / EFF HTTPS into all of your browsers. White list the webpages whose advertising you want to support.

[LennStar]

After googling KBB values and Carmax and autotrader and... FB is convinced I am in the market for a new car. At first they figured I must just need a new version of what I sold, but now they are throwing everything at me.

All the more reason to get uBlock Origin / EFF Badger / EFF HTTPS into all of your browsers. White list the webpages whose advertising you want to support.

Actually that result is the only reason why you should NOT try to prevent tracking. Let them waste the money on useless ads! Mabye they get it eventually.
Maybe. 
But generally: Block, block, block!

[Hedge_87]

I finally got around to getting a Medallion signature to move my original IRA from my bank invested in Vanguard funds over to Vanguard itself.  My MPP, I was getting close to being a Voyager select with what was in there at the most recent market top, this move will firmly put me over the standard.  This feels like cheating somehow.

I have an old IRA I've been trying to move but need a stupid Medallion signature. They are hard to find.

[CptCool]

I finally got around to getting a Medallion signature to move my original IRA from my bank invested in Vanguard funds over to Vanguard itself.  My MPP, I was getting close to being a Voyager select with what was in there at the most recent market top, this move will firmly put me over the standard.  This feels like cheating somehow.

I have an old IRA I've been trying to move but need a stupid Medallion signature. They are hard to find.

Pretty much any bank will give you a medallion signature if you have an account there

[Rural]

I finally got around to getting a Medallion signature to move my original IRA from my bank invested in Vanguard funds over to Vanguard itself.  My MPP, I was getting close to being a Voyager select with what was in there at the most recent market top, this move will firmly put me over the standard.  This feels like cheating somehow.

I have an old IRA I've been trying to move but need a stupid Medallion signature. They are hard to find.

Pretty much any bank will give you a medallion signature if you have an account there

Not as much anymore as they used to. It should still be possible, but it is getting harder to find.

[Fomerly known as something]

I finally got around to getting a Medallion signature to move my original IRA from my bank invested in Vanguard funds over to Vanguard itself.  My MPP, I was getting close to being a Voyager select with what was in there at the most recent market top, this move will firmly put me over the standard.  This feels like cheating somehow.

I have an old IRA I've been trying to move but need a stupid Medallion signature. They are hard to find.

Pretty much any bank will give you a medallion signature if you have an account there

Not as much anymore as they used to. It should still be possible, but it is getting harder to find.

Turns out my old credit union, the savings account from High School/college that my parents set up for me and I never bothered to close does Medallion signatures. 

[Kitsunegari]

My bread recipe didn't work, because the dough didn't raise, because apparently 17°C is not the "room temperature" they expected. Dammit.

[Dollar Slice]

My bread recipe didn't work, because the dough didn't raise, because apparently 17°C is not the "room temperature" they expected. Dammit.

Bread will still rise at those temperatures, just a bit slower. I always do mine in the refrigerator overnight, so 17C is not a big deal. If it didn't rise at all your yeast may need replacing...

[pdxmonkey]

Slow rise should develop more flavor. How fast dough rises involved several factors including temperature. If your recipe only mentions time and not raise until doubled or some other measure who know what temperature was assumed. It probably differs depending on the original email the recipe w was written in. Were hearing or a/c common on that era? Was the type of bread typically made in winter, summer or year round, etc.

[Dicey]

My bread recipe didn't work, because the dough didn't raise, because apparently 17°C is not the "room temperature" they expected. Dammit.

Bread will still rise at those temperatures, just a bit slower. I always do mine in the refrigerator overnight, so 17C is not a big deal. If it didn't rise at all your yeast may need replacing...

Ha! I immediately thought of you and your (in)famous Parker House Rolls, @Dollar Slice!

[Dollar Slice]

Ha! I immediately thought of you and your (in)famous Parker House Rolls, @Dollar Slice!

My reputation is both a blessing and a curse! ;-)

[Hirondelle]

Slow rise should develop more flavor. How fast dough rises involved several factors including temperature. If your recipe only mentions time and not raise until doubled or some other measure who know what temperature was assumed. It probably differs depending on the original email the recipe w was written in. Were hearing or a/c common on that era? Was the type of bread typically made in winter, summer or year round, etc.

So true! I once tried imitating a recipe from an Indonesian friend. Well.. I learnt that rising 40 min in Dutch winter doesn't work as well as in Indonesian tropical weather :p

[Roadrunner53]

When I let pizza dough rise, I put it in a tall bowl lightly sprayed with Pam. Then add the dough to the bowl. I typically preheat the oven just a few minutes. Just to create a warm atmosphere then turn off the oven. I take out a flour sack towel and run it under very warm water and squeeze it out and fold it to double thickness and cover the top of the bowl. Put bowl in the oven for an hour or two. Typically it rises to double size.

[Ynari]

SO and I switched jobs around the same time - significant pay bump!

Our old jobs paid biweekly, with an offset schedule, so we got a paycheck every week. Our new jobs pay us monthly within 2 days of each other. It makes it hard to feel wealthier! We only get to budget once a month now, instead of having something to play with every week. Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

[RWD]

Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

[Ynari]

Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

This is PERFECT. Had to go look up the what if? it's from. Very glad it's all digital, at least.

[ixtap]

SO and I switched jobs around the same time - significant pay bump!

Our old jobs paid biweekly, with an offset schedule, so we got a paycheck every week. Our new jobs pay us monthly within 2 days of each other. It makes it hard to feel wealthier! We only get to budget once a month now, instead of having something to play with every week. Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

Our money just follows The Plan. So boring.

[Linea_Norway]

DH received a new bank card to replace his older. So he checked that it worked and then cut up his old card in many small pieces, so that the number wasn't readable. Yesterday I was ordering a new phone. Everyone this bank  lets ut choose a cashback area for the credit card. I could find out what I had chosen this month (I should find a system for this). DH had not made his choice yet. So he chose 5% on electronics, so that we could pay the phone with his card. But it turned out that he only had 2 debet cards left in his wallet and had chopped up his credit card. We only needed the number of the card, but we didn't have that anymore. DH had to order e whole new card for 15$.
I used my credit card, where I had probably chosen 3% on online purchases.

[LennStar]

Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

This is PERFECT. Had to go look up the what if? it's from. Very glad it's all digital, at least.

Looks like XKCD although I cannot remember this one.

[markbike528CBX]

If you click on the pic, the URL is https://what-if.xkcd.com/118/ .
it is a what-if  (Physical Salary ),not xkcd.

[Imma]

SO and I switched jobs around the same time - significant pay bump!

Our old jobs paid biweekly, with an offset schedule, so we got a paycheck every week. Our new jobs pay us monthly within 2 days of each other. It makes it hard to feel wealthier! We only get to budget once a month now, instead of having something to play with every week. Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

I totally feel your pain. I switched jobs last month and went from monthly to weekly payment. All my bills + transfers to savings and investments were automatic so I cancelled a lot of them. I'm transferring savings + investments manually now until I've found the most convenient new bill paying routine.

[Zikoris]

Mustachian Problem: I can't do my annual detailed grocery tracking anymore, because the main place I shop at these days doesn't do normal itemized receipts. I used to spend one month every year saving all my grocery receipts and then categorizing everything and doing a nice report with pie charts and everything.

This place seems to divide everything in the store into four categories: Chinese, English, Produce, and Tofu. There might be one for meat as well, but I'm a vegan so I don't buy that. So the receipts say "Chinese - 2.99" or whatever, but not what the item is. You could probably puzzle your receipt out with some sleuthing and a good memory, but it's more work than I'm willing to do. At least I still have my total amounts at month end.

[Steeze]

SO and I switched jobs around the same time - significant pay bump!

Our old jobs paid biweekly, with an offset schedule, so we got a paycheck every week. Our new jobs pay us monthly within 2 days of each other. It makes it hard to feel wealthier! We only get to budget once a month now, instead of having something to play with every week. Having all this money makes budgeting less fun...

I totally feel your pain. I switched jobs last month and went from monthly to weekly payment. All my bills + transfers to savings and investments were automatic so I cancelled a lot of them. I'm transferring savings + investments manually now until I've found the most convenient new bill paying routine.

DW just got a new job, starts in a couple weeks. Her current job has an offset pay schedule to mine and it has been great getting to update the spreadsheets every week... fingers crossed the new job is the same, waiting two whole weeks for new income will get boring. Heart goes out to the once per month paycheck folk.

[NoVa]

I had a high quality plastic spork. It broke today, snapped in half after only about 20 years of use. Now I have to find a replacement. :)

[Roadrunner53]

I had a high quality plastic spork. It broke today, snapped in half after only about 20 years of use. Now I have to find a replacement. :)

Buy a metal one, it will last the rest of your life:

https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Peak-SCT-004-Titanium-Spork/dp/B000AR2N76/ref=asc_df_B000AR2N76/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid={creative}&hvpos={adposition}&hvnetw=o&hvrand={random}&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl={devicemodel}&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482455124439&psc=1

[GuitarStv]

I had a high quality plastic spork. It broke today, snapped in half after only about 20 years of use. Now I have to find a replacement. :)

Might I suggest an ultralight titanium spoon/fork for under 3$?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/TiTo-Outdoor-Camping-Picnic-Spoon-Fork-pure-titanium-Spoon-Fork-Ultralight-Tableware-Fork-Spoon-Durable-2/32776708020.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.3.3f463017NAVVFc&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_5735015_317_10548_5734915_10696_10924_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10139_10920_10921_10307_10922_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_5735215_321_322_10103_5735115-5735015,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=f473df7c-b0f3-4b47-b01d-bbc56e17f867-0&algo_pvid=f473df7c-b0f3-4b47-b01d-bbc56e17f867

:P

[HipGnosis]

Mustachian Problem: I can't do my annual detailed grocery tracking anymore, because the main place I shop at these days doesn't do normal itemized receipts. I used to spend one month every year saving all my grocery receipts and then categorizing everything and doing a nice report with pie charts and everything.

This place seems to divide everything in the store into four categories: Chinese, English, Produce, and Tofu. There might be one for meat as well, but I'm a vegan so I don't buy that. So the receipts say "Chinese - 2.99" or whatever, but not what the item is. You could probably puzzle your receipt out with some sleuthing and a good memory, but it's more work than I'm willing to do. At least I still have my total amounts at month end.

I totally relate.  I've got an Amazon credit card, which gives me 5% back on Amazon purchases.   It frustrates me that the bill/statement only has purchase/order amounts and not a list of items purchased.

[Bracken_Joy]

Mustachian Problem: I can't do my annual detailed grocery tracking anymore, because the main place I shop at these days doesn't do normal itemized receipts. I used to spend one month every year saving all my grocery receipts and then categorizing everything and doing a nice report with pie charts and everything.

This place seems to divide everything in the store into four categories: Chinese, English, Produce, and Tofu. There might be one for meat as well, but I'm a vegan so I don't buy that. So the receipts say "Chinese - 2.99" or whatever, but not what the item is. You could probably puzzle your receipt out with some sleuthing and a good memory, but it's more work than I'm willing to do. At least I still have my total amounts at month end.

I totally relate.  I've got an Amazon credit card, which gives me 5% back on Amazon purchases.   It frustrates me that the bill/statement only has purchase/order amounts and not a list of items purchased.

But amazon keeps a record of all your orders. You can look them all up any time =)

[I'm a red panda]

Mustachian Problem: I can't do my annual detailed grocery tracking anymore, because the main place I shop at these days doesn't do normal itemized receipts. I used to spend one month every year saving all my grocery receipts and then categorizing everything and doing a nice report with pie charts and everything.

This place seems to divide everything in the store into four categories: Chinese, English, Produce, and Tofu. There might be one for meat as well, but I'm a vegan so I don't buy that. So the receipts say "Chinese - 2.99" or whatever, but not what the item is. You could probably puzzle your receipt out with some sleuthing and a good memory, but it's more work than I'm willing to do. At least I still have my total amounts at month end.

I totally relate.  I've got an Amazon credit card, which gives me 5% back on Amazon purchases.   It frustrates me that the bill/statement only has purchase/order amounts and not a list of items purchased.

But amazon keeps a record of all your orders. You can look them all up any time =)

You can pull some awesome spreadsheets from amazon.

[letsdoit]

I had a high quality plastic spork. It broke today, snapped in half after only about 20 years of use. Now I have to find a replacement. :)

Buy a metal one, it will last the rest of your life:

https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Peak-SCT-004-Titanium-Spork/dp/B000AR2N76/ref=asc_df_B000AR2N76/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid={creative}&hvpos={adposition}&hvnetw=o&hvrand={random}&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl={devicemodel}&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482455124439&psc=1

my MIL broke two of my camping forks in 6 months. 
oh, first world problems

[NoVa]

I have put a titanium spork on my Amazon Wishlist.

[Money Badger]

Come on NoVa…   Hit Add to Cart...   Put a spork in it!   (ta-da-dum! ;)

[pdxmonkey]

https://www.amazon.com/Light-my-Fire-Titanium-Spork/dp/B001E7S5BO
This one is also not bad. I think I'd try the cheap one from China if I didn't need one quickly. It's very similar, but a couple grams lighter.

[TomTX]

https://www.amazon.com/Light-my-Fire-Titanium-Spork/dp/B001E7S5BO
This one is also not bad. I think I'd try the cheap one from China if I didn't need one quickly. It's very similar, but a couple grams lighter.

The plastic version was more like $3 @ REI, weighs less and I have used it for years in my travel bag. Shows no wear. Hand wash on the road, then dishwasher at home.

[Sugaree]

When it would be easier to just pretend you're as cash-strapped as everyone else....but you just can't pull it off.

[TomTX]

When it would be easier to just pretend you're as cash-strapped as everyone else....but you just can't pull it off.

I am cash strapped - it's just allocated, rather than spent on consumerist junk.

[SquashingDebt]

My MPP today:  explaining how rolling over a 401k into an IRA works to a coworker near retirement age, then having to bite my tongue after he cut off my explanation of index funds and said that he has some industries and companies he wants to invest in.

[Loren Ver]

MPP

The plan is to retire at the end of March 2019, unfortunately after many years of good service, my work pants are giving up on me in non- repairable ways.  I do not want to buy more work pants for 4 months of work, as I wont really need them after working stops. 

Loren

[BudgetSlasher]

When it would be easier to just pretend you're as cash-strapped as everyone else....but you just can't pull it off.

I am cash strapped - it's just allocated, rather than spent on consumerist junk.

I hear you. I get grief for being "cash-strapped" (perhaps a little more than co-workers) because we are DINKs and I limit my spending. I tolerate the ribbing from the co-worker who spends more than I do, but his side hustle is a commercial real estate rental LLC with ~2 million in holdings (mostly rented), but the co-worker who makes ~60k has a mortgage, CC debt, and student loan debt and has spent ~10k on new release dvd/blu-ray movies . . . it s a little harder to stomach.

And that grief is even without them knowing we are debt free, own our home, have a good amount of savings/investments, and a higher (maybe not by MMM) savings rate.

Another MP problem, having to fake a personal interest in student loan forgiveness programs (because they are part of your age range of co-workers plans), remembering not to complain when you pay property taxes in full (because your coworkers pay it monthly as part of their mortgage, PITI), or any number of other issues that would be relevant is a weaker financial situation. All to fly under the radar.

[Mesmoiselle]

Today I learned 401k max increases next year to 19k.

I have no one in my life that feels the same amount of excitement from that as I seemed to get.

Husband GETS it, but he doesn't FEEL it.

Additionally, we contributed so much to savings vehicles that we qualify for the 50% saver's credit tier.
1. This feels like cheating.
2. We don't get the full 2k Because we didn't pay that much in the first place.

[TomTX]

Additionally, we contributed so much to savings vehicles that we qualify for the 50% saver's credit tier.
1. This feels like cheating.
2. We don't get the full 2k Because we didn't pay that much in the first place.

Don't feel bad about #2. I am reasonably certain it is impossible to get the full $2k when MFJ.

[Trifele]

MPP

The plan is to retire at the end of March 2019, unfortunately after many years of good service, my work pants are giving up on me in non- repairable ways.  I do not want to buy more work pants for 4 months of work, as I wont really need them after working stops. 

Loren

I feel you @Loren Ver.  I have only about a month to go before FIRE and I am nursing my work clothes along carefully.  Oh man are some of my clothes showing their age . . .  but it makes absolutely no sense to replace anything.

[Loren Ver]

MPP

The plan is to retire at the end of March 2019, unfortunately after many years of good service, my work pants are giving up on me in non- repairable ways.  I do not want to buy more work pants for 4 months of work, as I wont really need them after working stops. 

Loren

I feel you @Loren Ver.  I have only about a month to go before FIRE and I am nursing my work clothes along carefully.  Oh man are some of my clothes showing their age . . .  but it makes absolutely no sense to replace anything.

Oh, the lives we live :D.