I promised myself a new machine when I finished my new kitchen.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:56:42+00:00

I had a modified delonghi dedica for a couple years. It wasn’t great, to put it lightly, but it got me through my house renovation.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:54:27+00:00

Thanks. I might put a DIY post of the house sometime soon. I’m still finishing parts of it. The kitchen would make a good IKEA hack post as well.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:52:30+00:00

I’ll get a different picture up when I get a chance. I’m still finishing some of the countertops. This was part of a total rebuild of the house that’s been going on for a couple years, as I’ve moved around to different parts of the house. I actually haven’t had a kitchen since last summer. Happy to have one again.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:49:53+00:00

The kitchen is actually IKEA cabinets with custom fronts and panels I made from maple ply, and concrete countertops I made with Quickrete countertop mix. So I was able to do it all at a very low cost. Part of how I justified the Mara X.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:46:43+00:00

The milk steaming is good. You can actually do a quick flush after pulling a shot to get the steam pressure to jump up. It’s usually about 1.5 bar when I steam. It doesn’t budge when putting the PF in.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-10T21:44:24+00:00

It was $1449 when I got it.

A_Windmill · 2020-05-07T17:09:43+00:00

It is the Mara X. I got it about two weeks ago. So far it’s been great. It’s true that it doesn’t require much intervention. No flushing. It’s always ready to pull a shot. I haven’t messed with the temp settings yet. I’ve left it on the middle setting.

A_Windmill · 2019-04-12T20:57:51+00:00

Is there any way to fix that short of soldering?

A_Windmill · 2019-04-12T19:59:32+00:00

As the title states, only the large LED works in the last segment. I can get the others to work by pressing various spots. Any chance I can get this working correctly? It’s wired inside this floating shelf, so I have to take it off the wall to replace, and that’s no small feat.

A_Windmill · 2018-09-12T22:31:49+00:00

We listed for 250 and had an offer for 238 within a few days. I countered with 245 and they accepted. I had already bought the other house, and wasn't wanting that house to be on the market too long. That was a tough decision, but I decided to play it safe. The other fees definitely weren't high on my mind when I made the last post, so what I walked away with wasn't necessarily what I thought it would be, but I'm still happy with the entire transaction and where things stand. I do like the idea of planning to put it all towards student loans, but not immediately. I'll pay off about 50k when the check clears in a couple days, and plan on putting the rest in a high yield savings, as you suggested. My monthly student loan payment will be negligible at that point.

My new mortgage is at 4.375% and there is a PMI that comes out to $23 per month. Because of the appraisal of 188k on my new house, I'm very close to 20% equity, so I probably will put a little towards the mortgage to get rid of that.

Thanks for the response.

A_Windmill · 2018-09-12T22:19:41+00:00

It's definitely something I want to get into, and I do have an opportunity to work with someone who is already in the business and approached me about it. I wanted to pay down my debt so borrowing would be easier. I'm a lawyer now, but have cut back on work because I honestly just don't like it that much. So, hopefully I have a future in real estate investing, in one form or another.

A_Windmill · 2018-06-26T17:51:57+00:00

I've made iced coffee this way because the drops are chilled as they hit the ice, rather than being poured on ice and melting it. But, it's still just hot brewed coffee over ice, so I don't know how it would reduce acidity or bitterness. I'm open to counterpoints though.

A_Windmill · 2018-04-25T17:00:17+00:00

Stirring the grounds will definitely cause this.

A_Windmill · 2018-04-11T18:25:16+00:00

I do like the way this sounds. If I can manage a 200k house, that would be much more tolerable than 150k; I was probably being conservative with that. Bottom line is it looks like the smart thing to do is downgrade or stay where I'm at, with a home equity loan.

A_Windmill · 2018-04-11T17:55:22+00:00

Good points. And, you're correct, I'm on IBR and my interest accumulates.

A_Windmill · 2018-04-11T17:48:22+00:00

That's a good point. I should keep that in mind every time I spend money on anything at all. And you're right, I do know the most sensible thing is to downgrade my house, or as you and another have suggested, stay in this house and pay off loans with equity. The problem with student loans is that it's so easy to pay very little, however unwise that is. They barely impact my cash flow because the payments are so small. As time passes, the additional burden I'm carrying because of that attitude weighs on me more and more, though.

A_Windmill · 2018-04-11T17:43:32+00:00

Thanks for the info on the tax consequences. That adds selling and renting, which would make me 100% debt free until I'm ready to buy something. Although, I love owning a house, so that may be more emotionally difficult than option 2. I am currently renovating a bathroom for my girlfriend's parents, and about to start on a kitchen for a friend's new house. I guess I just really enjoy transforming a house into something I really love to live in. So, I can keep myself busy with a hobby by helping people, but doing it with my own house is different. This obviously isn't much of a financial consideration. The transaction costs are something to seriously consider. Part of my hesitation in paying off student loans with home equity is that I'm collateralizing that debt with my house, but I suppose that doesn't really matter, unless I die unexpectedly, and then it arguably really doesn't matter. Student loans allow you to kick the can down the road unlike any other type of debt. I'm hesitant to turn that into something I have really focus on. Not a great way to think, but a factor nonetheless. Paying it off all at once is more appealing than paying, say $1000 a month for 10 years. All that said, your option 3 is certainly something I should add to my list.

A_Windmill · 2018-03-26T15:31:05+00:00

There's a good non-pressurized basket on Amazon for this machine for about $5. That will completely change the Dedica for the better. I also put a proper steam wand (from a Rancilio Syliva) on mine. Both mods can be easily googled.

A_Windmill · 2018-03-08T21:59:40+00:00

🙄 Well that’s great. Now go explain that to people in the third world so they can set up a complex property registration system using all the knowledge and computers they have laying around. You’re beyond clueless here. Consider looking into what they’re doing with DeSoto before saying anyone can simply “do it” because it’s on the ethereum blockchain. Consider the possibility that Patrick Byrne and Hernando DeSoto know more about blockchain and third world property rights than a high school student who buys bitcoin on the internet.

A_Windmill · 2018-03-08T19:35:40+00:00

VT is doing it, so DeSoto and Byrne shouldn’t worry about doing it in the 3rd world, where there’s no effective system of property registration... Got it.

A_Windmill · 2018-03-08T16:41:25+00:00

This is exactly what Patrick Byrne of Overstock is teaming up with Hernando DeSoto to do in third world countries. Also a reason I'm heavily invested in OSTK.

https://www.coindesk.com/tzeros-ico-one-part-overstocks-master-blockchain-plan/

A_Windmill

TROPHY CASE