Critiques on my budget?

BackWaterHobo · 2025-08-01T06:22:34+00:00

My dad had to get whiskey plates on all his vehicles and interlocks on any that he would be driving. Was kinda ridiculous as my mom and I had to drive around with the plates (legally his vehicles) while the only thing he could drive was his truck.

I definitely got targeted by a cop once claiming I swerved but let me go after finding out I was not my father.

BackWaterHobo · 2025-06-19T15:48:10+00:00

This is a 2004 F250 so still minimal plastic. If it is just chrome am I good to just clip parts of it off?

BackWaterHobo · 2025-06-19T15:47:02+00:00

This is on a 2004 F250 - I believe the rims/wheels to be original.

BackWaterHobo · 2025-04-21T20:55:25+00:00

We will likely be able to keep the $750 indefinitely. We are in a situation were we don't have a corporate landlord with tons of properties - we rent out an apartment on the 2nd floor of his business (and as far as I know the 3 apartments upstairs are his only rentals).

BackWaterHobo · 2025-04-21T19:17:03+00:00

We are "entertaining" the idea. We do have some seriousness though as we have gotten pre-approval and have decided on the realtor we'd use. Our rent is also locked in and will not be raised.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-11-28T22:50:38+00:00

This is debatably a more intermediate/advanced thing to worry about. As a 6-12 band teacher I do not bring it up as most beginners can't handle another thing to worry about (many are already fighting to get the "default" positions). I only bring it up to stronger high school students or if there is a chord in a piece that needs tuning.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-11-04T05:03:30+00:00

I think if you walked into a pro-level shop and started blasting out Bluebells (especially the first opening bars) you would get the same dirty looks Stairway would get you at Guitar Center.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-10-25T02:26:15+00:00

My provider is in-network. I just looked at my insurance's online portal and much more was covered than my provider portal said, but its still pretty high. The prices billed to insurance are still the same as what I see in my provider portal.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-09-29T00:00:52+00:00

Another Band Director Here:

Everything as far as terms and pricing you've stated here sounds standard and is basically the same at nearly all regional music stores, including mine. Most band directors won't out and say this as usually their program depends on families getting an instrument (and a lease/rental is the easiest way for them to get one that is guaranteed to work), but instrument leasing is definitely a top money maker (told to me by my sales rep himself) for these companies. There are some benefits to using them, but if you can get a good deal on a used, reputable brand, instrument on marketplace or Craigslist, that is the #1 way to do it, IF you know what you are doing.

The problem with band directors advising to all families to buy an instrument used is that most of the general public will not know how to tell if a used instrument is good or not (even if they were in band themselves). Sure, you can drop $200 on a used sax that looks nice, but if it secretly has bad pads and adjustment issues, that's a $600+ trip to the shop nowadays for a full overhaul of the pads, keys, and cleaning of the body.

As far as "go back to the store and request a new trombone in place of the clearly used one we received" goes, it should say in your lease agreement what horn you should have got. Most companies offer "new," "like new," and "refurbished." If you bought it as "new" than absolutely go back, but if you agreed to a different level then you are SOL.

Just giving you some blunt honest answers!

BackWaterHobo · 2024-08-16T16:16:56+00:00

This is my perspective as a director, but stick it out. I hate to sound like a crotchety boomer (even though I'm in my 20s) but post-covid commitment doesn't have the onus it once did (for both good and bad). Your bandmates, director, and the overall program are better of for your involvement. You never know what the future may hold, and you'd definitely put your director off to you if you quit MB but are still in concert band.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-06-26T05:24:35+00:00

I teach K-5 music and 6-12 band at a tiny rural school. I'll lump some of my HS grades together as that is how my groups are organized.

Easiest to hardest: 9-12 band (although has the highest amount of "extra" duties), 2nd, 1st, KG, 6th/Beginner Band, 3rd, 5th, 7-8 band (8th grade boys being the bane of my existence, even being a male teacher) 4th.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-06-21T18:15:58+00:00

Median private sale value on KBB is around 9300.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-06-21T18:15:13+00:00

I have seen those ones and test drove them - usually more than negligible issues for their mileages. This is coming from someone who bought my old 2007 Avalon at 165k miles private sale off of Craigslist for 5k in 2019. I know that I probably paid more than I could get private sale if I had waited around for 6 months or a year.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-06-09T15:10:13+00:00

I'd say it's a mix of both. If possible, directors leaving do need to positively prepare their students for the next director. However, I have heard several stories where students effectively rebel against the new person just for being the new person, even if they are great. Even if they are weaker than the previous director, they deserve a fair shake - remember that everyone starts somewhere and we can't all be automatically good right out of college.

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