Mustachian People Problems (just for fun)

[Turtle]

I have one of the most petty problems ever and I feel that this is one of the few places I can express my annoyance without y'all judging me for being a monster. I'm getting married in a week and we're setting up the prenup which will be just a simple this is what I have, this is what you have, if we divorce that comes off the the top and everything else is split 50/50. My issue is that we have similar savings accounts but I have ten times as much in investments as him (hence the prenup). And the market is down. For the fifth straight day. With the lowest worst month since Covid started. It's the one time before retirement that it actually could make a difference to me how much is in that account and I'm down 30k from it's high.

Thanks. I need to get that off my chest.

Perhaps save detailed statements that show how many shares of each investment that you currently own, rather than going strictly by the current dollar value?  That could be useful if you are a buy and hold type of investor.

[Sibley]

I have one of the most petty problems ever and I feel that this is one of the few places I can express my annoyance without y'all judging me for being a monster. I'm getting married in a week and we're setting up the prenup which will be just a simple this is what I have, this is what you have, if we divorce that comes off the the top and everything else is split 50/50. My issue is that we have similar savings accounts but I have ten times as much in investments as him (hence the prenup). And the market is down. For the fifth straight day. With the lowest worst month since Covid started. It's the one time before retirement that it actually could make a difference to me how much is in that account and I'm down 30k from it's high.

Thanks. I need to get that off my chest.

Perhaps save detailed statements that show how many shares of each investment that you currently own, rather than going strictly by the current dollar value?  That could be useful if you are a buy and hold type of investor.

Or stop adding to that account and open a new one for going forward.

[a-scho]

I almost spent $10 at Starbucks today to get the equivalent of two free drinks worth of rewards. Would've been a good deal... but I just didn't feel like thinking so hard about what to buy to get exactly $10 worth.

I signed up for the Starbucks credit card that gives you 4500 points after you spend 500.00 on the card( anywhere, doesn't have to be at Starbucks). Plus you also get a free drink coupon emailed to you every month. So, my MPP is, "Dude!! I need to go to Starbucks and use my free handcrafted drink coupon before it expires!!" You can make it any size, so, yeah, I get the largest with added shots and specialty milk. They charge paying customers 10.25 for the drink I order, but I get it for freeeeeeee. I usually only drink about one 8oz coffee a day. So, I drink half of my venti and drink the rest the next day. Two days of Starbucks free ee eee. 4500 point could be used on 30 handcrafted drinks, but I choose 90 drip coffees instead. It makes my specialty drink more fun when I only get it once a month. The card has no annual fee the first year and then 49.00 after that. I've decided to keep the card active so I can get my monthly 10.25 drink for the out of pocket cost of 4.08.

[Plina]

I have one of the most petty problems ever and I feel that this is one of the few places I can express my annoyance without y'all judging me for being a monster. I'm getting married in a week and we're setting up the prenup which will be just a simple this is what I have, this is what you have, if we divorce that comes off the the top and everything else is split 50/50. My issue is that we have similar savings accounts but I have ten times as much in investments as him (hence the prenup). And the market is down. For the fifth straight day. With the lowest worst month since Covid started. It's the one time before retirement that it actually could make a difference to me how much is in that account and I'm down 30k from it's high.

Thanks. I need to get that off my chest.

Perhaps save detailed statements that show how many shares of each investment that you currently own, rather than going strictly by the current dollar value?  That could be useful if you are a buy and hold type of investor.

Or stop adding to that account and open a new one for going forward.

Why are you using the current value instead of content and their replacement on a specific account?

[AnotherEngineer]

Personal Capital and T Rowe Price didn't talk well to each other for a week and my 401(k) value would jump between $30k and $1M instead of the proper ~$200k. It really messed up the scale of the net worth chart and I had to wait 90 days for the blips to leave the default screen, though the erroneous values are still showing in PC.

[talltexan]

Add me to the chorus saying, "Shares, not market value".

[Reynold]

I have one of the most petty problems ever and I feel that this is one of the few places I can express my annoyance without y'all judging me for being a monster. I'm getting married in a week and we're setting up the prenup which will be just a simple this is what I have, this is what you have, if we divorce that comes off the the top and everything else is split 50/50. My issue is that we have similar savings accounts but I have ten times as much in investments as him (hence the prenup). And the market is down. For the fifth straight day. With the lowest worst month since Covid started. It's the one time before retirement that it actually could make a difference to me how much is in that account and I'm down 30k from it's high.

Average value for the last quarter, instead of end of day value the day you sign the prenup? 

[rantk81]

MPP (or humblebrag?) of the day for me... Been thinking about FIRE for a while and feel I've either been very close, or OMY'ing for a couple years now...  Then today I get a promotion at work with a lot more golden-handcuff-style compensation in the form of RSUs and increased salary, in addition to a one time cash bonus, that as a gross amount, is equal to about my living expenses for 3/4 of a year...

[markbike528CBX]

MPP (or humblebrag?) of the day for me... Been thinking about FIRE for a while and feel I've either been very close, or OMY'ing for a couple years now...  Then today I get a promotion at work with a lot more golden-handcuff-style compensation in the form of RSUs and increased salary, in addition to a one time cash bonus, that as a gross amount, is equal to about my living expenses for 3/4 of a year...

Take the money( cash bonus) and RUN.  Don't take my word for it, ask @Omy how they feel about FIREing.  The rest is only a handcuff if you let it be.

[parkerk]

MPP (or humblebrag?) of the day for me... Been thinking about FIRE for a while and feel I've either been very close, or OMY'ing for a couple years now...  Then today I get a promotion at work with a lot more golden-handcuff-style compensation in the form of RSUs and increased salary, in addition to a one time cash bonus, that as a gross amount, is equal to about my living expenses for 3/4 of a year...

Take the money( cash bonus) and RUN.  Don't take my word for it, ask @Omy how they feel about FIREing.  The rest is only a handcuff if you let it be.

Yes, this! Eventually no amount of money will be able to compare to your freedom - make a plan that doesn't include the handcuff-y things they're offering and stick to it when your time comes up!

[Taran Wanderer]

I’m thinking about a different job. Similar money, perhaps more in flush years. More control, more focus, less organizational politics. Anyway, I ran some numbers on there scenarios:

1. Keep working and saving like we do now.
2. Work differently/less and save zero.
3. DW keeps working but I stop and we draw some money from the stash.

MPP:  in all three scenarios, we end up with a stash that continues to grow, just not as obscenely high in 2 and 3 compared to number 1. So now I’m back to questioning whether to work at all. MPPs are so difficult…

[FireLane]

My MPP: Since the market is down, I wanted to do some tax loss harvesting. But I can't - I don't have any losses to harvest!

My shares are down from all-time highs, but they're still above what they were when I bought them.

[markbike528CBX]

My MPP: Since the market is down, I wanted to do some tax loss harvesting. But I can't - I don't have any losses to harvest!

My shares are down from all-time highs, but they're still above what they were when I bought them.

Same here, I stopped purchases about 2014, and now my balances are about 3x what they were then.

I _do_ have some losses in single stock buys, but I keep those since:
 a) they remind me of the stupidity of stock picking,
 b)I don't want to lock in the loss, because, you never know :-), they might go up 20x to bring me back to breakeven
 c) I might need those losses in the future.

[markbike528CBX]

MPP/maybehumblebrag/Public Service Announcement:  Two years $0 federal tax, and OMG.... this year $35 to the feds...AAAAAgh :-)

PSA:  Go Curry Cracker  Never Pay Taxes Again https://www.gocurrycracker.com/never-pay-taxes-again/   
         https://evergreensmallbusiness.com/why-you-dont-need-to-worry-about-taxes-in-retirement/   ---  TL:Dr   RELAX!

[Blackeagle]

Recently, on a very cold morning, I go out to my car for a trip to the bank to deposit a check only to find that my battery is very dead.  The car won’t start.  I decided the check can wait; I’m not interested in messing with jumper cables in sub-freezing temperatures.  This morning, in much warmer weather, I jumped the car and drove to the bank.  Once the battery got charged up it’s running just fine.  I figure it was just discharged (plus the cold weather) rather than a bad battery.

How is this a mustachian people problem?  The last time I drove anywhere was four weeks ago.  Clearly, I need to use my car more. :-D

[Taran Wanderer]

Check your battery’s age. If it’s more than 5 years old, it’s probably time to replace it.  I managed to stretch one my batteries to 12 years old, but then after jumping it a few times, I replaced the battery. Not long after, I got to replace the alternator, too. That was a lot more expensive than the battery. Did the old battery stress the alternator to death? I don’t know, but my approach now is to change the battery every 5 years and avoid the headaches.

[Blackeagle]

Check your battery’s age. If it’s more than 5 years old, it’s probably time to replace it.

Good thought.  In this case, it’s a new battery.  Replaced last November.  Possible I got a dud, but my guess is it’s just lack of driving and cold (for Kansas City) weather.

[RWD]

Check your battery’s age. If it’s more than 5 years old, it’s probably time to replace it.

Good thought.  In this case, it’s a new battery.  Replaced last November.  Possible I got a dud, but my guess is it’s just lack of driving and cold (for Kansas City) weather.

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

[eyesonthehorizon]

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

Thanks for the reminder these exist. I had a much longer gap between drives recently resulting in a jumpstart & recovering health aside I don’t foresee much more driving than I’ve been doing. If not for the pandemic (the impossibility of hiring a covid-attentive driver where I live) I’d probably just sell the car.

[Dave1442397]

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

Thanks for the reminder these exist. I had a much longer gap between drives recently resulting in a jumpstart & recovering health aside I don’t foresee much more driving than I’ve been doing. If not for the pandemic (the impossibility of hiring a covid-attentive driver where I live) I’d probably just sell the car.

I bought this Noco Genius 5 on Amazon last year - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8KJH44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My battery also died, but it wasn't staying charged. I checked, and it was exactly five years old. I put a new battery in and bought the battery tender to keep it in good condition. I've only put 49 miles on the car this year, and last time I got gas was Thanksgiving, when we used my car to drive to my Mother-in-law's place.

[talltexan]

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

Thanks for the reminder these exist. I had a much longer gap between drives recently resulting in a jumpstart & recovering health aside I don’t foresee much more driving than I’ve been doing. If not for the pandemic (the impossibility of hiring a covid-attentive driver where I live) I’d probably just sell the car.

I bought this Noco Genius 5 on Amazon last year - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8KJH44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My battery also died, but it wasn't staying charged. I checked, and it was exactly five years old. I put a new battery in and bought the battery tender to keep it in good condition. I've only put 49 miles on the car this year, and last time I got gas was Thanksgiving, when we used my car to drive to my Mother-in-law's place.

As little as you buy gas, did you fill up only a portion of the tank?

[GuitarStv]

Recently, on a very cold morning, I go out to my car for a trip to the bank to deposit a check only to find that my battery is very dead.  The car won’t start.  I decided the check can wait; I’m not interested in messing with jumper cables in sub-freezing temperatures.  This morning, in much warmer weather, I jumped the car and drove to the bank.  Once the battery got charged up it’s running just fine.  I figure it was just discharged (plus the cold weather) rather than a bad battery.

How is this a mustachian people problem?  The last time I drove anywhere was four weeks ago.  Clearly, I need to use my car more. :-D

My battery went dead early on during the pandemic when I didn't drive anywhere for several months.  Now I make sure to run the car for 10 - 15 minutes every couple weeks.

Also worth remembering . . . gas will go bad.  If you're leaving the same gas in your tank for more than three or four months you need to add some fuel stabilizer to prevent the gas from changing into varnish and gumming up your engine.

[MissNancyPryor]

Big fan of the NOCO Boost here, too.  I gave one to my daughters so they never have to ask for a jump.  I have used mine a couple times and it has completely paid for itself.   

For daily use I have a battery tender since I drive so little, that has been a very big help. 

[MissNancyPryor]

I never answer telemarketing calls but recently I am responsible for about 60 people trying to join an athletic league so I have to pick up the phone.  I got a call from a brokerage asking me to let them manage my wealth, all the yadda yadda about how they are just totes awesome and can make a real difference for me.  I listened, bemused. 

I declined and told him I self-manage and have done very well.  He assured me I could do so much better.  I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

He ended it by saying if I knew anyone who wanted their awesome help to please refer them.  Sure.

Fielding calls from people who want to nick some of my money?  MPP.     

[Dollar Slice]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

[dragoncar]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I don’t want your TV package that’s how the CIA gets their antennas into your brain

[Dicey]

I never answer telemarketing calls but recently I am responsible for about 60 people trying to join an athletic league so I have to pick up the phone.  I got a call from a brokerage asking me to let them manage my wealth, all the yadda yadda about how they are just totes awesome and can make a real difference for me.  I listened, bemused. 

I declined and told him I self-manage and have done very well.  He assured me I could do so much better.  I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

He ended it by saying if I knew anyone who wanted their awesome help to please refer them.  Sure.

Fielding calls from people who want to nick some of my money?  MPP.

Amen to that! I get calls from people who want to buy my house(s). My answer varies, but it's mostly along the lines of, "If you worked hard to buy and fix up a house , would you sell it to someone just so they could make a profit re-selling it? They never have an answer, but one day a nice sounding young woman said, "No, I don't think I would." I hope she succeeds in life beyond her wildest imaginings.

[Dave1442397]

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

Thanks for the reminder these exist. I had a much longer gap between drives recently resulting in a jumpstart & recovering health aside I don’t foresee much more driving than I’ve been doing. If not for the pandemic (the impossibility of hiring a covid-attentive driver where I live) I’d probably just sell the car.

I bought this Noco Genius 5 on Amazon last year - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8KJH44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My battery also died, but it wasn't staying charged. I checked, and it was exactly five years old. I put a new battery in and bought the battery tender to keep it in good condition. I've only put 49 miles on the car this year, and last time I got gas was Thanksgiving, when we used my car to drive to my Mother-in-law's place.

As little as you buy gas, did you fill up only a portion of the tank?

I always just fill it up. I usually don't let it get below a quarter full.

[Plina]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I had someone trying to sell me three for the price of two: Internet, tv and IP-phone a couple of years ago. When I told them that I had not a tv or had used a regular phone for years, they quickly came to the conclusion it was not something for me. But the lack of a tv baffles a lot of people.

[GreenSheep]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I had someone trying to sell me three for the price of two: Internet, tv and IP-phone a couple of years ago. When I told them that I had not a tv or had used a regular phone for years, they quickly came to the conclusion it was not something for me. But the lack of a tv baffles a lot of people.

Yep, similar experience here about 15 years ago when I was setting up internet and didn't want the internet/cable package due to not owning a tv. These days, I'm surprised there are still people who watch "regular" tv with commercials. Once in a while, someone refers to a commercial in conversation, and I always have no idea what they're talking about. Don't they know there are ways to watch almost anything without commercials?!

[Plina]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I had someone trying to sell me three for the price of two: Internet, tv and IP-phone a couple of years ago. When I told them that I had not a tv or had used a regular phone for years, they quickly came to the conclusion it was not something for me. But the lack of a tv baffles a lot of people.

Yep, similar experience here about 15 years ago when I was setting up internet and didn't want the internet/cable package due to not owning a tv. These days, I'm surprised there are still people who watch "regular" tv with commercials. Once in a while, someone refers to a commercial in conversation, and I always have no idea what they're talking about. Don't they know there are ways to watch almost anything without commercials?!

My parents and grandparent watch regular tv so I would guess it is a generational thing. I can’t even find something to watch on demand. I just got 3 months of free Apple TV and it was like meh. I finally found a nature program to watch while exercising but after those three months are over it is goodbye to Apple TV. Last time, I got a free offer I could not remember my Apple id password so I figured it was to much hassle to change it to bother.

The interesting thing is that I don’t even ”see” the tvs in the hotelroom anymore. Somebody mentioned the tv in their room once and I had a hard time to remember if there was a tv in my room.

[fuzzy math]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I had someone trying to sell me three for the price of two: Internet, tv and IP-phone a couple of years ago. When I told them that I had not a tv or had used a regular phone for years, they quickly came to the conclusion it was not something for me. But the lack of a tv baffles a lot of people.

Yep, similar experience here about 15 years ago when I was setting up internet and didn't want the internet/cable package due to not owning a tv. These days, I'm surprised there are still people who watch "regular" tv with commercials. Once in a while, someone refers to a commercial in conversation, and I always have no idea what they're talking about. Don't they know there are ways to watch almost anything without commercials?!

My parents and grandparent watch regular tv so I would guess it is a generational thing. I can’t even find something to watch on demand. I just got 3 months of free Apple TV and it was like meh. I finally found a nature program to watch while exercising but after those three months are over it is goodbye to Apple TV. Last time, I got a free offer I could not remember my Apple id password so I figured it was to much hassle to change it to bother.

The interesting thing is that I don’t even ”see” the tvs in the hotelroom anymore. Somebody mentioned the tv in their room once and I had a hard time to remember if there was a tv in my room.

Is it Tiny World? My whole family loves it. Lots of dung beetles!

[RetiredAt63]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

I had a similar issue with cable TV upsellers trying to get me to move from just internet to an internet and TV package. I had to explain in about five different ways that I don't want TV service because I don't WANT it. As in, I don't LIKE television and do not wish to watch it. No, I don't have a TV. No, I don't use streaming services. No, not even on a laptop. Or a tablet. Or a phone. Seriously. Then they would just be totally stumped, because I genuinely did not want to watch television but was too polite to hang up on them and they had no idea how to end the call.

I had someone trying to sell me three for the price of two: Internet, tv and IP-phone a couple of years ago. When I told them that I had not a tv or had used a regular phone for years, they quickly came to the conclusion it was not something for me. But the lack of a tv baffles a lot of people.

Yep, similar experience here about 15 years ago when I was setting up internet and didn't want the internet/cable package due to not owning a tv. These days, I'm surprised there are still people who watch "regular" tv with commercials. Once in a while, someone refers to a commercial in conversation, and I always have no idea what they're talking about. Don't they know there are ways to watch almost anything without commercials?!

My parents and grandparent watch regular tv so I would guess it is a generational thing. I can’t even find something to watch on demand. I just got 3 months of free Apple TV and it was like meh. I finally found a nature program to watch while exercising but after those three months are over it is goodbye to Apple TV. Last time, I got a free offer I could not remember my Apple id password so I figured it was to much hassle to change it to bother.

The interesting thing is that I don’t even ”see” the tvs in the hotelroom anymore. Somebody mentioned the tv in their room once and I had a hard time to remember if there was a tv in my room.

Not necessarily a generational thing.  I haven't had any kind of TV service for 13 years now.  My "TV" watching is hooking up my laptop to the TV.  I haven't done that in 3 years (it has been moved 3 times since I last used it), I am not sure it still works.

But yes, we grew up watching TV so it is perhaps more ingrained.

[LennStar]

We in socialist Germany have a communist-financed public broadcasting (means no ads in the evening and during daylight only very short breaks between shows, just enough to go to the toilet). I watch something from that 2 or 3 times a week, mostly documentation (well, and now the 15 minutes on Ukraine daily).

Private TV? I am not sure if I watched soemthing this year, I don't think so.
There is just nothing worth is 99% of the days, and that 1% I think "boah, that will be all over with ads, forget it".

[Siebrie]

I told him I retired at 50.  He stopped talking for a moment cuz this answer was not in the script, yo. 

My cousin once had a call from the government, because he was randomly picked to contribute details to government statistics. He made more money, but also did more housework and childcare, and it was his wife who had the longer commute and had a company car, not him. Did not compute!

[eyesonthehorizon]

If you want the battery to last you'll need to avoid letting it deeply discharge. Consider getting a battery maintainer if it's going to sit for long periods at a time.

Thanks for the reminder these exist. I had a much longer gap between drives recently resulting in a jumpstart & recovering health aside I don’t foresee much more driving than I’ve been doing. If not for the pandemic (the impossibility of hiring a covid-attentive driver where I live) I’d probably just sell the car.

I bought this Noco Genius 5 on Amazon last year - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W8KJH44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My battery also died, but it wasn't staying charged. I checked, and it was exactly five years old. I put a new battery in and bought the battery tender to keep it in good condition. I've only put 49 miles on the car this year, and last time I got gas was Thanksgiving, when we used my car to drive to my Mother-in-law's place.

As little as you buy gas, did you fill up only a portion of the tank?

I always just fill it up. I usually don't let it get below a quarter full.

Any gearheads know if it's better to burn old (as in many months old) gas & then refuel, or gas up with the old gas still in the tank & hope whatever solvents are in the fresh gas ameliorate the condition of the old gas?

I took my car out after we jumped it a couple times to recharge the battery but my MPP is that between having loaded up on supplies ahead of Omicron, & avoiding nonproductive, needless exposure to maskless crowds, I literally couldn't think of anywhere productive to go. Driving around without a purpose felt awful.

[lemanfan]

Any gearheads know if it's better to burn old (as in many months old) gas & then refuel, or gas up with the old gas still in the tank & hope whatever solvents are in the fresh gas ameliorate the condition of the old gas?

This might be a good question for @RWD, but my take is:

If we're talking months and not years, and if we're talking gasoline (as opposed to diesel), I would say - just fill up and go if you're planning to use it within a reasonable timeframe.  If it's more of a constant condition of almost never using then consider a fuel stabilizer.  If you really don't trust the gas in the tank, then empty the tank in another way than driving and discard responsibly of the old gas.

A couple of perhaps relevant examples from my neck of the woods:

My only car is a "summer only" car that I park at end of October each year, and start again in the beginning of April.  I always fill up the tank before this winter break and I've never had any problems with the fuel. A full tank reduces the risk of water consdensation when sitting still - at least that's my thinking. (Gasoline, not diesel).

A friend has an old enthusiast summer car (Triumph Spitfire from 1972) that is normally parked during the winters.  One summer it never got going because of other repairs and when he finally got it on the road after sixteen months of sitting still with a full tank of regular gas it still was starting and running OK but fuel consumption was significantly higher (30-50%) for the first tank.  Once he got fresh gas in the car it went down to normal consumption. (Again, gasoline, not diesel)

And... on an old family farm there was an old diesel tractor used for hauling lumber in the forest.  Once that tractor sat for a few years before a family member tried to start it with the (at least) three year old diesel fuel in it.  Modern diesel fuel in my neck of the wood is not that stable, to many bio-additives to use in that way.  It turns into some sticky jello-like substance so after that start attempt we had to empty the tank and also clean out all fuel lines in the engine etc... but after cleaning and with fresh diesel it started fine again. This example is perhaps not applicable for you - neither the same diesel where you live, nor as long time sitting idle I hope. This is more of a lesson for those who have e.g. a diesel fueled power generator for emergency use... don't use regular truck diesel if you live in a place like I do.  Buy the good, stable stuff even if it's more expensive.

[RWD]

Any gearheads know if it's better to burn old (as in many months old) gas & then refuel, or gas up with the old gas still in the tank & hope whatever solvents are in the fresh gas ameliorate the condition of the old gas?

This might be a good question for @RWD, but my take is:

If we're talking months and not years, and if we're talking gasoline (as opposed to diesel), I would say - just fill up and go if you're planning to use it within a reasonable timeframe.  If it's more of a constant condition of almost never using then consider a fuel stabilizer.  If you really don't trust the gas in the tank, then empty the tank in another way than driving and discard responsibly of the old gas.

If it seems to run fine with the old gas I personally would run it down to at least roughly a 1/4 tank before re-filling. Shouldn't matter too much though.

Also, consider getting an EV. ;)

[eyesonthehorizon]

Any gearheads know if it's better to burn old (as in many months old) gas & then refuel, or gas up with the old gas still in the tank & hope whatever solvents are in the fresh gas ameliorate the condition of the old gas?

This might be a good question for @RWD, but my take is:

If we're talking months and not years, and if we're talking gasoline (as opposed to diesel), I would say - just fill up and go if you're planning to use it within a reasonable timeframe.  If it's more of a constant condition of almost never using then consider a fuel stabilizer.  If you really don't trust the gas in the tank, then empty the tank in another way than driving and discard responsibly of the old gas.

If it seems to run fine with the old gas I personally would run it down to at least roughly a 1/4 tank before re-filling. Shouldn't matter too much though.

Also, consider getting an EV. ;)

Many thanks all!! I’m depleting most the remaining tank & refueling, then; to my relief after the jump it runs as if I never stopped commuting. I already expected this to be my last gas vehicle but apartments where I am have no accommodations for electric.

I can usually keep it above 40mpg even for its indelicate size, at least. It’s fancier than I needed but seemed a too-good-to-pass-up, low-mileage, sold-by-owner, pristine late-model opportunity right when my last car, which had been roughed up by the prior owner, was failing, & I was willing to pay a little more than beater money for extra years of reliability. Half a decade on I could sell it for 120% of what I paid, but I’m not in a position to switch yet - guess that’s another great MPP to have....

[sonofsven]

I had to drive on the freeway to a big city, I passed THREE empty Brute garbage cans on the shoulder but I couldn't pull over, no room and a semi right behind me.
THREE! I've gotten lots of free garbage cans over the years this way.

[Taran Wanderer]

I miscalculated my 401k withholding at the old job and hit the annual max before I left, so I will miss out on the company match at the new job. Oops.

[dhc]

I miscalculated my 401k withholding at the old job and hit the annual max before I left, so I will miss out on the company match at the new job. Oops.

Been there, done that. Hope the new job turns out rewarding enough you soon forget all about it!

[zolotiyeruki]

I miscalculated my 401k withholding at the old job and hit the annual max before I left, so I will miss out on the company match at the new job. Oops.

Before you get too down, can you sign up for the new employer's 401k, get the match, and then ask your old employer to refund your now-excess contributions?  I ran into a similar issue last year, which didn't come to light until after the new year, and that's how we're handling it.

[Freedomin5]

We are currently on Day 25 of what was supposed to be a 4-day lockdown in Shanghai. The government and my company keeps sending us food packages. Our MPP is that we waste so little food and use up all parts of what is sent to us, that we can't keep up with the food that is appearing at our door, and now we are stressed out about wasting all the fresh veggies.

As a corollary, we are actually eating better under lockdown than we were before, because my company keeps sending me expensive expat foods (like steak and bakery bread and organic milk), whereas we would never purchase these overpriced items for ourselves.

[SwordGuy]

We are currently on Day 25 of what was supposed to be a 4-day lockdown in Shanghai. The government and my company keeps sending us food packages. Our MPP is that we waste so little food and use up all parts of what is sent to us, that we can't keep up with the food that is appearing at our door, and now we are stressed out about wasting all the fresh veggies.

As a corollary, we are actually eating better under lockdown than we were before, because my company keeps sending me expensive expat foods (like steak and bakery bread and organic milk), whereas we would never purchase these overpriced items for ourselves.

Why not make the food available to your neighbors, who might not be so lucky?

[Freedomin5]

We are currently on Day 25 of what was supposed to be a 4-day lockdown in Shanghai. The government and my company keeps sending us food packages. Our MPP is that we waste so little food and use up all parts of what is sent to us, that we can't keep up with the food that is appearing at our door, and now we are stressed out about wasting all the fresh veggies.

As a corollary, we are actually eating better under lockdown than we were before, because my company keeps sending me expensive expat foods (like steak and bakery bread and organic milk), whereas we would never purchase these overpriced items for ourselves.

Why not make the food available to your neighbors, who might not be so lucky?

Our neighbors all got the same government boxes with the same veggies -- mostly Chinese veggies that many of our expat neighbors don't eat -- our neighbors are offering their veggies for free on the residents group chat. We did donate many of our extra veggies to the compound's guards and to my company's guards.

And the neighbors who don't live in my compound? Well, we are all locked down. We can't leave our compounds. There's no way to get veggies to others who live in other compounds who may need it more.

[trashtalk]

Can’t wear reusable cloth menstrual pads attached with snaps and then go ride a bike. Yow painful.

[ixtap]

Can’t wear reusable cloth menstrual pads attached with snaps and then go ride a bike. Yow painful.

I can't wear any pad on a bike, so I can only imagine snaps making that 10 times worse.

[jinga nation]

Kid's swim goggles straps broke. (Kid loaned her spare pair to another kid (11 yo) who forgot, but that kid has head much bigger than my kid, and didn't adjust straps, breaking them, and returned without apology.)
Speedo doesn't have spare Oggle straps in stock. Independent shops and websites don't have it. Neither does Amazon or eBay, etc. Don't want to buy more pairs of good quality goggles.
Managed to re-use the remaining strap, but there's no more slack for adjusting. Kid says it is snug and fine.
Had to commend kid for sharing, but also had to remind that coach expects everyone to bring their own and no sharing, to teach equipment responsibility. And kid has learned to gauge if the item being shared fits the recipient.
Meanwhile have to research if any 3rd-party products will suffice. Argh, the joys of parenting and fixing broken stuff.

[oneday]

I finally got the brain space to learn all about tax loss harvesting, but have no losses to harvest.