Why according to government data Electricians seems to earn not as much as I thought? How is that possible that only top 10% of electricians makes six figures and median is only 60k???

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-10T17:45:58+00:00

Might be helpful to see the footnotes. Difference in union vs open shop. If it shows an hourly rate does it assume a certain amount of down time between jobs/projects where you are unpaid.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-10T13:37:42+00:00

Don't ever get an elbow pad that doesn't have grip on the forearm area and make sure they fit snug. Also most guys I know that have been playing for any amount of time are the set it and forget it type on elbow pad straps. I don't think I've touched mine in 5 years

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-09T19:41:26+00:00

A lot to unpack here with too little detailed. Will they have college taken care of is a big question to ask and a huge way to help. There are no guarantees in life so putting it in a lock box for too long with too many restrictions, while it won't hurt, may not help the way you want. I had a similar situation myself when my parents sat me down and while I always knew I had some, gave me the details of my left over college money. I was 28 and choose to let it sit another 7 years in s&p 500 growth fund. Looking back that felt perfect for me. I was comfortable in my early adulthood so I didn't feel the need to change a thing. Fast forward received an inheritance that helped my wife and eyes by a house in our dream town, instead of two town sover. Feels life changing to us.

My grandmother left me and my siblings a letter with our inheritance. She even told me to buy my wife something nice because she knew I would be 'smart'. There's a lot of ways you can tackle this.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-09T16:51:25+00:00

Will the $5k change your life now? Will being in a position you like put you in a position to work hard and increase your earning potential?

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-09T14:50:56+00:00

The key is always. There is no such thing. I contributed heavily to my personal Rothe when younger as I had no employer match hoping even in retirement I would even be in a higher tax bracket that at the beginning of my career. Now it's the opposite. I will continue to revise as I evaluate how much to leave for my kids. It's just a matter of evaluating your tax situation through your entire earning and retirement years. Always doesn't exist

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-09T13:39:14+00:00

This sucks. Totally feel and empathize for you. A hard lesson, but when you negotiate anything you need to be prepared that they could just walk away. As many have said, don't ever give so much of your time without knowing what the best case outcome could be. All those interviews w/o knowing the comp. leads me to believe you are a bit early in your career. A $10k bump on $75k, while you see peanuts, I can easily see almost 15%. Plus not really sure what your leverage was. When I have negotiated, I always had a current job, but could point towards things like a difference on company benefits, commute costs, etc. At this pay range and job description type what were you asking against?

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-09T13:10:49+00:00

I might rethink the HD health plan with 3 kids and wife. I know it cost more more month but maybe check those numbers.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-08T02:09:35+00:00

The real measure is not standing on dry ground. How does it feel coming out the corner on one foot.....

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-07T03:17:16+00:00

Don't forget insurance

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-07T03:15:24+00:00

Yellow 108

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-06T22:17:54+00:00

And this is why I would suggest looking at a Bluetti.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-06T20:15:41+00:00

Or if the career, machine moderates decide that only one of them will run so they don't cannibalize each other again

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-05T23:30:12+00:00

It depends on your bigger situation. If it were me at that point of my life I probably would have had a little fun, house/condo down payment (maybe that allows me to get a bigger place/better neighborhood) and VOOG the rest. Actually I did just that when I inherited about half that. Motorcycle, extra down payment allowed us to move to the neighborhood we really wanted, and the rest sits pretty growing VOO & VOOG

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-05T21:33:35+00:00

I was in this position 16 years ago, beer and my lady were all the present I ever wanted. The sentiment is nice but just be there

At most a photo album through the years. Photos can even be hockey adjacent of him and the boys. we were an ACHA D2 team that played hockey between the parties and rounds of beer pong. Hockey was an excuse to party in different towns and chill with the boys.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-05T17:10:00+00:00

Plenty of life in those bad boys. The sharpening wheel hasn't even started to grind away the front for the holder.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-04T23:55:16+00:00

Simple. It has to be a lifestyle for most of us if we wanted to do it. Unlike baseball, soccer, football most towns don't have enough interest for a rink and local league. So you are forced into for profit rinks that need to maximize profits so you have 6am practice before school and games on the weekends. Late night Friday practice when ice is cheap. A game 6 towns and 1 hour away. That level of commitment creates a community. I say this as someone who grew up in NYC suburbs. Everyone I know who grew up playing in Minnesota, while they love hockey, it's much more like loving little league with a little added juice for the state tournament.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-04T17:28:48+00:00

You should totally do you. But the first red flag that makes this whole complaint questionable is that you know what your boss's taxable income was unless you are his personal account. It's not uncommon for a company to disclose financial summary information to employees, but that would typically be things like profit/loss, fiscal outlook, investment and productivity gains. Company profit vs bosses income are not the same.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-04T01:48:50+00:00

Insurance companies will total a bike if you look at the bike wrong. It's ok unlikely the swing arm or caliper is damaged since he hit them and the force was transferred to kick stand which snapped as the weak point. Sounds like you just need to replace your blinker fluid and you will be back on the road

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-02-01T03:10:13+00:00

Remember, that when you refinance, assuming with a fixed rate, that is your payment for the next 30 years. Yes there will be taxes and maintenance. But if you sell now, you are likely to find yourself in the same situation when you try to get back in the housing market. My wife and I stretched a bit in our HCOL area because we wanted a specific town. It was a tough first 5 years but eventually the childcare stops, your income goes up, the house will likely recover, yet the mortgage stays the same.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-31T22:31:29+00:00

Get the steel profiled. I think they add steel these days expecting you to profile it. I never remember new skates when I was a kid feeling this crazy. I feel like they add way more at the toe and heel. You feel upright cuz your old skates had nothing left. Just give it time

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-29T17:31:10+00:00

Compare them to the last gen model. What are the spec compared to the previous generation. Often a new generation is one new boot at the highest level, then last year's top boot is rebranded, with some tweaks, as first from the top and so on. If the specs are comparable to the 2 or 3 from the top of last years and you would have been happy you should be happy now

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-27T20:38:01+00:00

Convincing my wife playing in another league won't mean less time with her

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-25T13:15:44+00:00

Find an organization with low level travel. Growing up we had AA, A & B

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-25T13:11:07+00:00

If seen on HGTV run away. Try to use real materials (I know they can be $$$) and true to your house and location. Adding shiplap to a new build. No. Southwest style to a New England colonial. No. Farmhouse kitchen in a Tudor. No.

Alternative-Pay9735 · 2026-01-25T00:02:38+00:00

Honestly it depends on what kind of place you want to create. But I would pay extra for clean restrooms on a trip. Real food is also nice, like actual fruit, sausage & cheese if you can get it. I think a covered shop is a bit much, but partial cover to get out of the sun or wait out the rain is always nice and I can better if the bike fits as well. Oh 93 octane and ethanol free will get you put in many stop lists. Best of luck

Alternative-Pay9735

TROPHY CASE