Mustachian People Problems (just for fun)

[LennStar]

I was reshuffling finances last night, and the amounts I wanted to invest exceeded my daily card spending limits. It was a very large sum, not long ago I'd have laughed at the idea of  being able to casually transfer these amounts of money. Had to split up my transactions over a few days to get around the rule.

lol I know htat feeling. Had a mediocre big amount transferred to a brokar account a month ago, had to up 2 limits just to allow for that. And of course each time you need a SMS PIN. Together with logging and the actual transfer and setting the limits down again that made 6 SMS.

Also by now my savings fluctuate way more every day than I earn that day. Sometimes I feel a bit unease, sometimes I can only laugh about it.
The "fluctuates by weekly amount" is not far, it sometimes happens already, and I guess when it is the monthly income I can go half-FIRE and it will still feel strange to see that change lol.

[secondcor521]

Also by now my savings fluctuate way more every day than I earn that day. Sometimes I feel a bit unease, sometimes I can only laugh about it.
The "fluctuates by weekly amount" is not far, it sometimes happens already, and I guess when it is the monthly income I can go half-FIRE and it will still feel strange to see that change lol.

"Up a car, down a car"
"Up a house, down a house"
(Not sure what comes after that.)

[Alternatepriorities]

Also by now my savings fluctuate way more every day than I earn that day. Sometimes I feel a bit unease, sometimes I can only laugh about it.
The "fluctuates by weekly amount" is not far, it sometimes happens already, and I guess when it is the monthly income I can go half-FIRE and it will still feel strange to see that change lol.

"Up a car, down a car"
"Up a house, down a house"
(Not sure what comes after that.)

We were down a house in march, and now were up a house and a Tesla since the bottom. And that's with passive investing...

[Plina]

I was reshuffling finances last night, and the amounts I wanted to invest exceeded my daily card spending limits. It was a very large sum, not long ago I'd have laughed at the idea of  being able to casually transfer these amounts of money. Had to split up my transactions over a few days to get around the rule.

lol I know htat feeling. Had a mediocre big amount transferred to a brokar account a month ago, had to up 2 limits just to allow for that. And of course each time you need a SMS PIN. Together with logging and the actual transfer and setting the limits down again that made 6 SMS.

Also by now my savings fluctuate way more every day than I earn that day. Sometimes I feel a bit unease, sometimes I can only laugh about it.
The "fluctuates by weekly amount" is not far, it sometimes happens already, and I guess when it is the monthly income I can go half-FIRE and it will still feel strange to see that change lol.

I had the same problem last month with transfers and it took a while to realize I hit the transfer limit and had to do it differently.

I have noticed this year that some months I have bigger networth increases than my montly salary.

[Sandi_k]

We were down a house in march, and now were up a house and a Tesla since the bottom. And that's with passive investing...

I don't know how far down we were in March-May. When it took such a big slide, I simply opened the spreadsheet, made a tab for March, and decided that I was not capturing the losses. In fact, I decided not to look until the DJIA was back above 26k, as that was the level in ~ October 2019, and it seemed silly to me to be perfectly fine in October, and perfectly panicked in March over the same account value.

Once the DJIA passed 26k, I started tracking again. So in Feb, we were at $675k, and on May 4th, we were at $674k.  Pretty amazing recovery!

I am now using this same trick for rebalancing. I have my "brackets", but still feel the itch to DO SOMETHING. So I decided that the AA was a little too aggressive, now that I am sub-five years to retirement. So I moved a bit more into cash, TIPS and GNMAE funds. We now have enough in that bucket to get us through the first five years of retirement. At that time, DH files for SS and the house is paid off.

So now - the gyrations do not matter. We have a 5 year bucket, and that's now in place. Everything else is gravy.

[DeedlesSci]

My DH got a raise in the fall, so we decided to max his 457b (government employee). As a community college teacher, he only works and gets paid during 10 months of the year (he would rather not work summers and retire a few years later than work year round... can't say I wouldn't do the same). We tried to change the withholding online, but it was rejected for exceeding the maximum they can take out each month. We had to do special withholding paperwork so that they would take out $1950 per month. Now, anytime the max withholdings increase, we will have to redo that paperwork. Plus, we haven't maxed out his 403b quite yet, and I anticipate that being much the same issue.

[bmjohnson35]

Had to replace the small ty-wrap on the busted zipper of my favorite old jacket.  The small pull tab broke off around 5 yrs ago. I should be good for another 5 or so.

[dragoncar]

Up an island, down a country

[Alternatepriorities]

Up an island, down a country

Elon, is that you?

[Dicey]

Had to replace the small ty-wrap on the busted zipper of my favorite old jacket.  The small pull tab broke off around 5 yrs ago. I should be good for another 5 or so.

How did you do that? I have a favorite jacket that could use that repair.

[markbike528CBX]

Had to replace the small ty-wrap on the busted zipper of my favorite old jacket.  The small pull tab broke off around 5 yrs ago. I should be good for another 5 or so.

How did you do that? I have a favorite jacket that could use that repair.

Run the ty-wrap through the old pull tab hole on the slider.  Don't cinch the ty-wrap tight, just leave a loop.    Fixed several jacket zippers this way.

[turketron]

My company is merging into another company at the end of the year. New company uses a different bank for the HSA than the current company. My current HSA account charges a $2/month fee no matter the balance. New bank waives the monthly fee once the balance is over $500. Yay! New bank also does not let you have investments in the HSA....boo!
Why can't they use the same bank DH's work uses? No monthly fee once you reach $3k and lets you invest

I discovered last year that my HSA (mine's through healthequity, not sure if this is universal) has no obligation to keep your funds with the HSA even while I'm still employed at my company. They didn't charge a fee for transferring out and you only had to leave a minimum of $25 in the account, so I opened a Fidelity HSA and periodically transfer the bulk of my HSA over a few times a year.

[frugalnacho]

FYI you are not required to use the HSA account your employer provides.  You are free to use any provider you want, and you are free to transfer any money out of your company sponsored plan and move it to whoever you like at any time.  My HSA is at fidelity. No fees whatsoever, and you can invest the full balance in index funds with 0 ER.

You do have to make the initial contribution via payroll into your company's plan if you want to avoid paying FICA tax (it's deducted from your check before FICA is calculated).   Otherwise you'll have to pay the FICA tax if you make contributions on your own. But then you can transfer it anywhere you want. 

Just be aware that some HSA accounts will charge a fee to transfer money out, so you'll want to know that so you can calculate if it's worth it, and strategically do larger lump sum moves instead of every single pay period.

[Dicey]

Had to replace the small ty-wrap on the busted zipper of my favorite old jacket.  The small pull tab broke off around 5 yrs ago. I should be good for another 5 or so.

How did you do that? I have a favorite jacket that could use that repair.

Run the ty-wrap through the old pull tab hole on the slider.  Don't cinch the ty-wrap tight, just leave a loop.    Fixed several jacket zippers this way.

Lol, in my part of the world, we call them Zip Ties. And thanks to google, I now know you can buy a "ty-wrap" gun, to cut the ends off perfectly smoothly.

Because I didn't know the term, I thought you meant something else. I'm having trouble with the plastic coating at the bottom of the zipper wearing out. Technically, the Heat Seal Patch is failing at the Pin, due to the action of the zipper pull. Here's a diagram. If anyone knows how to fix this problem, I'm all ears.

[Taran Wanderer]

A safety pin will temporarily fix the one on the left, and a needle and thread will make a more permanent fix.  (Ask me how I know...)

A failure of the heat seal patch at the pin is another issue.  Maybe use the safety pin idea to temporarily trial a half-zip pullover conversion?

[Goldielocks]

A safety pin will temporarily fix the one on the left, and a needle and thread will make a more permanent fix.  (Ask me how I know...)

A failure of the heat seal patch at the pin is another issue.  Maybe use the safety pin idea to temporarily trial a half-zip pullover conversion?

Well,  I put a staple and then sew the one on the left.

For the right...  I have created a mock separating zipper from a coil zipper by reinforcing the bottom "pull" using seam grip (aka diluted shoe goo) to stiffen it.  It's a bit like plastic dipping the end of the zipper.  You need to use a dropper to get it on the right spots. 
It is quite fragile of a fix and needs a snap at the bottom to eliminate a lot of pulling on the zipper ends.

[RetiredAt63]

A safety pin will temporarily fix the one on the left, and a needle and thread will make a more permanent fix.  (Ask me how I know...)

A failure of the heat seal patch at the pin is another issue.  Maybe use the safety pin idea to temporarily trial a half-zip pullover conversion?

Well,  I put a staple and then sew the one on the left.

For the right...  I have created a mock separating zipper from a coil zipper by reinforcing the bottom "pull" using seam grip (aka diluted shoe goo) to stiffen it.  It's a bit like plastic dipping the end of the zipper.  You need to use a dropper to get it on the right spots. 
It is quite fragile of a fix and needs a snap at the bottom to eliminate a lot of pulling on the zipper ends.

Which is why good coats/jackets have an overlap and snaps, to take pressure off the zipper end.  Cheap coats just have the zipper.

[DeniseNJ]

Had to replace the small ty-wrap on the busted zipper of my favorite old jacket.  The small pull tab broke off around 5 yrs ago. I should be good for another 5 or so.

If you just need a pull tab use a favorite key chain. Just run a tiny key chain loop thing through the hole and attach a key chain. You could also use a strong decorative string and attach key chain to that.

I found that zipping and unzipping jeans zippers was hard on my nails and polish so I got these and love them.
https://www.amazon.com/DYZD-Durable-Extension-Backpacks-Handbags/dp/B06XT52XHX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=zipper+pull+tab&qid=1607090159&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySFBXUjA0VE81TElPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDgxNDUwMjJGNTQzVFIwTzgyOCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTAzNzQ0WExGWktKSkZDV1cmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Ooh, I see so many others too.  Not free but a few bucks for a nice neat fix.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=zipper+pull+tab&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

[DeniseNJ]

Dicey
Wow, they sell new pins to attach to your heat seal and tape--I never knew so much about zippers!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=zipper+pin+heat+seal+repair&ref=nb_sb_noss

If your tape is frayed then you can reinforce it with fabric tape then squeeze on a new pin.

[SwordGuy]

Found some good personal finance percentile ranking calculators at www.shnugi.com.

The Debt calculator didn't handle my debt very well after I paid my mid-month bills.

My total debt is -1389.      Yep, the people I owe money too actually owe money to me.   (Home insurance was pre-paid for a year but I sold the home before the year is up, so they owe me.)   

[PhrugalPhan]

Not sure if this is a MPP or just a first world problem but... I got delivered a very nice space heater today.  So what's the problem?  I ordered a top end gaming chair and this is what was delivered.  I'm not a gamer but I have been working from home since March and it looks like I may be doing this for a long time going forward, so I ordered this chair to at least enjoy my time at home on the computer.  They put a shipping label that said 60 lbs. onto this package that weighed 8. 

I'll live until this gets straightened out, but.... really guys???

[SwordGuy]

Not sure if this is a MPP or just a first world problem but... I got delivered a very nice space heater today.  So what's the problem?  I ordered a top end gaming chair and this is what was delivered.  I'm not a gamer but I have been working from home since March and it looks like I may be doing this for a long time going forward, so I ordered this chair to at least enjoy my time at home on the computer.  They put a shipping label that said 60 lbs. onto this package that weighed 8. 

I'll live until this gets straightened out, but.... really guys???

Sounds like you just got scammed.   

[Alternatepriorities]

Years ago I developed a technique for refilling my travel toothpaste tube from a larger tube. The savings are slight but it only takes a minute and prevents another tube in the trash. DW rolls her eyes a bit but always let’s me refill her tube. MPP: Tonight we discovered that we’ve accumulated a dozen or so unopened travel sized free sample tubes because it takes us so long to actually wear a tube out.

[Dicey]

Years ago I developed a technique for refilling my travel toothpaste tube from a larger tube. The savings are slight but it only takes a minute and prevents another tube in the trash. DW rolls her eyes a bit but always let’s me refill her tube. MPP: Tonight we discovered that we’ve accumulated a dozen or so unopened travel sized free sample tubes because it takes us so long to actually wear a tube out.

Oooh, please share!

[Roadrunner53]

When I got my flu shot this year at the VNA it was a drive thru situation where the nurse came to the car, we filled out our paperwork and then got a shot. However, have you ever wrestled a sweat shirt to expose your arm while in back of a steering wheel? I am trying to come up with a solution for next years drive by flu shot or even possibly drive by Covid vaccine. I was thinking of installing a zipper on  the upper arm of the sleeve. Or maybe removing the long sleeve entirely and installing a velcro break away shirt sleeve. Much harder to put the sleeve back on in the car though. Any thoughts on this. It is usually mid October and weather is cool or cold that day so not a fan of short sleeves. Even if I wore a jacket and a short sleeve, I would be wrestling to get the jacket off.

It would be kind of weird to just cut a hole in the upper arm area of the sweatshirt. Hahaha, paint a bullseye on my arm.

[PMG]

Wear something with a big neck that can pull down to reveal upper arm. Add a scarf on top for warmth.

[anotherAlias]

When I got my flu shot this year at the VNA it was a drive thru situation where the nurse came to the car, we filled out our paperwork and then got a shot. However, have you ever wrestled a sweat shirt to expose your arm while in back of a steering wheel? I am trying to come up with a solution for next years drive by flu shot or even possibly drive by Covid vaccine. I was thinking of installing a zipper on  the upper arm of the sleeve. Or maybe removing the long sleeve entirely and installing a velcro break away shirt sleeve. Much harder to put the sleeve back on in the car though. Any thoughts on this. It is usually mid October and weather is cool or cold that day so not a fan of short sleeves. Even if I wore a jacket and a short sleeve, I would be wrestling to get the jacket off.

It would be kind of weird to just cut a hole in the upper arm area of the sweatshirt. Hahaha, paint a bullseye on my arm.

Why not wear a zippered fleece and just slide the shoulder down to expose the upper arm?

Edited because where and wear are not the same

[zolotiyeruki]

Years ago I developed a technique for refilling my travel toothpaste tube from a larger tube. The savings are slight but it only takes a minute and prevents another tube in the trash. DW rolls her eyes a bit but always let’s me refill her tube. MPP: Tonight we discovered that we’ve accumulated a dozen or so unopened travel sized free sample tubes because it takes us so long to actually wear a tube out.

Oooh, please share!

I've done this a bunch.  I remove the caps off both tubes, press the two tubes together nose-to-nose, and gently squeeze the larger tube.  As long as you maintain the pressure between the two nozzles (to keep them sealed to each other), it's a mess-free process, and only takes a few seconds.

[Adventine]

Please educate me why there is a need to transfer toothpaste from one tube to another?

Why not just use the original tube and replace with a fresh one as necessary?

Signed,
Someone who cuts open toothpaste tubes to scrape out every bit of toothpaste from the inside

[zolotiyeruki]

Please educate me why there is a need to transfer toothpaste from one tube to another? /quote]It's about being able to use the small tube (better when traveling) without paying the premium for the smaller tube.

[Adventine]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

[Trifle]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

[ixtap]

Our dentist gives us a travel tube of toothpaste, a small thing of floss and a toothbrush that my husband likes with every visit.

[Alternatepriorities]

Years ago I developed a technique for refilling my travel toothpaste tube from a larger tube. The savings are slight but it only takes a minute and prevents another tube in the trash. DW rolls her eyes a bit but always let’s me refill her tube. MPP: Tonight we discovered that we’ve accumulated a dozen or so unopened travel sized free sample tubes because it takes us so long to actually wear a tube out.

Oooh, please share!

I've done this a bunch.  I remove the caps off both tubes, press the two tubes together nose-to-nose, and gently squeeze the larger tube.  As long as you maintain the pressure between the two nozzles (to keep them sealed to each other), it's a mess-free process, and only takes a few seconds.

Exactly. The trick is to hold the small tube in a way the doesn’t prevent it from expanding as the toothpaste enters but is also secure enough to keep it from slipping. I’ve given some thought to building a special cap the screw both tubes into but it’s never been enough of an issue to make it worthwhile.

[Alternatepriorities]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

Yeah. I usually try to fly with only the smallest possible carry on. 

[Alternatepriorities]

Please educate me why there is a need to transfer toothpaste from one tube to another?

Why not just use the original tube and replace with a fresh one as necessary?

Signed,
Someone who cuts open toothpaste tubes to scrape out every bit of toothpaste from the inside

I have done with before as well :) I’ve also used a rolling pin to completely flatten the tube which is nearly as effective and a bit less messy.

[Adventine]

Makes sense now! I tend to use a lot of toothpaste so I always have it in my check-in luggage, not my carry-on.

My parents also flatten out toothpaste tubes with the blunt end of a comb, then roll up the empty part and secure it with a binder clip for good measure.

[ixtap]

DH has to start going to the office once in awhile because one of the colleagues who was in the rotation to be physically present is equally mustachian and one of his roommates works in healthcare and has been exposed to COVID. We only have one roommate, who works from home and is generally at least as cautious as us.

[dragoncar]

Please educate me why there is a need to transfer toothpaste from one tube to another?

Why not just use the original tube and replace with a fresh one as necessary?

Signed,
Someone who cuts open toothpaste tubes to scrape out every bit of toothpaste from the inside

I have done with before as well :) I’ve also used a rolling pin to completely flatten the tube which is nearly as effective and a bit less messy.

I do use the handle of my toothbrush to flatten the tube

[LennStar]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

[Zikoris]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

[Adventine]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

Yeah, this kind of hassle is why I keep all the toiletries in the check-in luggage. But for someone travelling light, what a headache.

[zolotiyeruki]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

Clearly, someone was more interested in compliance than actual safety.

[sui generis]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

I have a friend that would take 2 of the zip lock bags full of small liquids. In the security line, they would just put one zip lock bag in their very first basket and the other in the very last one and because we all have to take nearly everything off and out of our luggage the 2 zip lock bags were separated by quite a few baskets and could easily look like they belong to 2 separate people since nobody really pays attention. I never had the guts to try it but since it's all security theater anyway I very much supported the effort.

[Plina]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

Clearly, someone was more interested in compliance than actual safety.

I saw a woman that was caught in security with what probably was a 5 liter ziplock bag, with normal size tolietries. Her partner had already passed the security so they both had to backtrack and go to check in the stuff. The line was probably a 20-30 minute wait. Makes you wonder, how her reasoning went when she packad that bag.

I had to throw a facial cleaner one that was in a to big package. The amount was less that the 100 ml and I knew that I might have to throw it away. I had managed to travel with it several times previously. The woman in security seemed a bit surprised by my acceptance of throwing it away but why make a fuss when you know you are wrong.

I am basically always traveling with only a carry on bag these days. With a soap bar and a schampoo bar the restraints in liquids are no longer a problem.

[GreenSheep]

I had to throw a facial cleaner one that was in a to big package. The amount was less that the 100 ml and I knew that I might have to throw it away. I had managed to travel with it several times previously. The woman in security seemed a bit surprised by my acceptance of throwing it away but way make a fuss when you know you are wrong.

I am basically always traveling with only a carry on bag these days. With a soap bar and a schampoo bar the restraints in liquids are no longer a problem.

Haha, that reminds me of the London security agent who seemed disappointed that I didn't make a fuss over throwing away my slightly-too-large bottle of contact lens solution. It was almost like she wanted me to make a scene, as if that would enhance her power trip.

Totally agree... solid shampoo and conditioner FTW.

What I find particularly amusing is that if they really thought someone had an explosive material, they'd be putting it in some kind of sealed container and very gingerly carrying it away to be disposed of safely. But instead, where do they have everyone dump their liquids? Oh, just right there in a trash can in the middle of the security area with hundreds of people around it.

[sui generis]

Got a coupon in the mail to get $20 off a purchase of $100 or more at Target.  Great!  I haven't been in a long time and had a decent list of things that I could pick up there, including some Christmas decorations to try to cheer us up while we won't be traveling to visit our families like usual this year.  Problem: my total came to $52.  Even being non-mustachian with the holiday decor, I've just lost the taste for shopping.  I mean, even for things I sort of need, like new socks and underwear.  Hopefully I'll be more enthusiastic about shopping when the situation gets more desperate.

[dragoncar]

Next time someone asks me to throw away my facial cleanser I’m going to start aggressively cleaning my face in the Middle of the airport

One time I accidentally left a huge bottle of baby ass cream (this is the technical name) in our diaper bag and convinced the agent it was “medicated” but I think she just felt bad about sending the baby on a plane without his ass cream and didn’t want the huge scene it would cause when I started using it liberally

[sherr]

Clearly, someone was more interested in compliance than actual safety.

This is literally the entire point of the TSA: to make people feel safe enough to fly in a post 9/11 world. Depending on the year, the TSA has an 80ish to 95% failure rate in audits. It is security theater.

Well, I guess it's not fair to claim it's the entire point. It's also a massive federal jobs program.

[Sugaree]

Hmm, I never considered the regular toothpaste tube to be much of hassle to bring when travelling, but I see your point!

A 'regular' sized toothpaste tube is too big for airline travel -- TSA limit is 3.4 ounces

LOL I remembered the illogical stuff around it. Like "you can't bring Stuff size A, but 3 of size B (half of A) is totally okay". Because there is no way a terroirist might use the content of more than one package or even go - gasp! - for multi-component explosives.

I think it took then 2 years to change that one?

Or that you can't bring Liquids in - except you have bought it at the airport. Because nobody would replace the content, right?

I've gotten shit a few times because the ziploc bag my 100 mL bottles were in was the wrong size. I a normal clear ziploc bags like you get at the grocery store and have like two or three little things in it at most (toothpaste, conditioner, and hand cream), and about 1/3 of the time someone tells me I'm doing something wrong. Aegh.

I have a friend that would take 2 of the zip lock bags full of small liquids. In the security line, they would just put one zip lock bag in their very first basket and the other in the very last one and because we all have to take nearly everything off and out of our luggage the 2 zip lock bags were separated by quite a few baskets and could easily look like they belong to 2 separate people since nobody really pays attention. I never had the guts to try it but since it's all security theater anyway I very much supported the effort.

Security theater indeed.  A couple of years back, my husband used an old backpack as a carry-on.  This thing had a gazillion pockets in it and he missed one when he was emptying it out.  It turns out that there was not one, but two, knives in that pocket (I have not the slightest clue why).  This fact wasn't discovered until the second airport.  One of the biggest and busiest airports in the world missed two knives, including a big ass hunting knife (it was legit big enough that I became concerned that I was going to have to bail him out of jail on my way home).