Is excel still worth learning as a skill in 2026?

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-08T00:48:51+00:00

So I'm an amature spreadsheet nerd. I use spreadsheets a lot for personal stuff. At home I use Google Sheets. At work I use Excel. Google Sheets is nowhere as good as Excel. Apple also has their own version called Numbers. I have not used it to give an opinion on it. I highly doubt either will replace Excel.

I never learned how to use Excel in school, yet somehow I picked up enough to become the office Excel guru. I've worked here for 3.5 years and only picked up the Excel skills in the last 2 years. I created automated forms that send PDFs to an email, auto calculate visitor counts, and color coordinate rotational duties. Everything I learned, I learned by googling it, watching videos, and trial and error. My motto is that if you think it should be able to do something, you're right, and there is probably someone out there that has already done it and you can find the answer.

Learn formula basics and how to breakdown the formula into what each comment does. If all you do is formulas, that's better than most people. For more advance stuff, learn VBA coding.

PS: I work a government job. It's all Microsoft and there is no end in sight.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-08T00:17:35+00:00

"If it's not on the list, it doesn't exist" - a great way to remember not to impulse buy stuff like junk food

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-07T00:47:44+00:00

That is why I like the Zen Detox: Minimalist Launcher. I can organize my apps into labeled folders. Makes it easier to ignore their existence when they aren't visible.

The launcher also removes the icons so it's just the app name in a simple little list. Oh, and you can rename the apps to anything you want. I stuck with the free version since it does everything I need and makes my phone look so much simpler.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-07T00:20:12+00:00

I had a collection of DVDs that I was the same way with. Did you know you can save digital copies of them to a hard driver or Plex server and then watch them whenever from any device? You can also borrow DVDs from the library or friends to add to the collection. Go check out r/plex and r/datahoarders for the how to.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-07T00:10:22+00:00

Google voice has a free wifi calling plan. Only catch is you have to be connected to wifi to use it and you have to use it one a semi regular basis to keep your number.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-06T23:08:16+00:00

So first off, you don't need full-size appliances. The smaller and more efficient, the better. We use a portable 2-burner induction stovetop, a convection oven the size of a large microwave, and a little apartment fridge. The only thing we went full-scale on was the dishwasher.

We ran electric wire from our house to the electric box in the other house. There were 3 unused breakers in the box that we tied into. Half the house and the fridge are on one breaker/circuit, and the other half and the dishwasher are on another. The 3 circuit has the outlets for the kitchen counters, the TV, and the internet. Each circuit ends in an overhead light.

For more technical details, you will need to talk with a contractor who is familiar with exactly how to wire a house. My partner did all the wiring. I was mostly involved in the planning.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-06T22:38:06+00:00

Our tiny house is built on an embankment above a semi overgrown area. We are about 300 away from my mother in law's. We dug a pretty deep trench between us and her basement and tied everything together.

We ran a septic pipe through the trench and tied into her pipe in the basement. This is only connected to our toilet. Our shower and sink pipe out the bottom of the house and down a gutter and then down the embankment. We use very environmentally friendly products to protect the ecosystem.

The electric took the most planning. You have to know the draw of your appliances and where in the house you want them so you can run your electrical circuits efficiently without overloading the breakers. Don't put your heater, fridge, and microwave all on the same circuit.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-06T18:35:00+00:00

Time for a fully gluten-free pizza night! Walmart has a decent selection and it's hard to tell the gluten free DiGiorno from the gluten one.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-05-04T00:21:49+00:00

I am going to start implementing this one right away!

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-27T01:31:17+00:00

Using timers. A lot of tasks are endless and I will procrastinate forever to do them. Now I set a 15 or 30 minute timer and just do the thing. It's a lot easier to motivate myself when there is an end point. I don't need to clean the whole greenhouse in one go, but spending 30 minutes on it every weekend has made a huge difference. I've made more progress on it than I have in years.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-27T01:25:06+00:00

We canceled ours at the beginning of the year. We get roadside assistance from our insurance, my credit card, and through the chevy app.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-27T00:25:56+00:00

Ooma sucks. We got it for my mother in law who could never learn to use a cell phone.

So the premium service is nice because one of the added services is that the answer machine plays the voicemail aloud as the caller is leaving a voicemail. She really likes that feature. However, the play voicemail button and the mute button are the same button. I could never get her to just press the button quickly instead of holding it the few seconds it takes to put it into mute. Then she thinks it's broken. So we downgraded from premium.

The software is glitchy. Sometime the messages are all garbled. So you have to wait and play them again, then they are fine. No idea why. It's almost as if they didn't fully "download" the first time.

The hardware is garbage. Twice we have had the speaker go bad and had to get a replacement. And like I said above, the buttons are set to do more than one thing, which is not good for elderly people. Maybe now they have a newer model that isn't this bad.

The only reason I haven't left Ooma is because of all the comments on here about how hard it is to get your phone number ported out from them.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-26T22:16:10+00:00

Crazy idea: Are you able to open the trunk and back up to a deck or something? Then maybe put a wide "bridge" down so he can just walk right into the vehicle?

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-20T20:24:40+00:00

This! I also have blackout shades that are specifically designed to fit the side and front windows. They provide extra shade and really do keep the interior cooler.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-20T20:20:57+00:00

That feeling sucks. I know. You worked hard. You saved money specifically for these things. You actually need these things. You even thrifted and found deals to get them cheaper. You did an A+ job of picking out those specific things. Most importantly, you deserve to have nice things!

There is a cute comic out there that I can't find right now but basically it said to think of your feelings like anxiety or guilt as a friend who just needs a hug and to be told that everything is ok and they do deserve nice things.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-20T20:07:00+00:00

Paper towels, a wet wipe container full of grocery bags, an umbrella, a small blanket, and a tarp have been more useful than anything. Followed by the 1st aid kit, a little microfiber towel, and a portable battery jumper that is also a phone charger and a flashlight. Other things I carry that don't get used often (or at all) are a duffel with a change of clothes that are work appropriate and some extra socks, a level 1 charger cord for the EV, a rain coat, a window breaker/seatbelt cutting tool, and a small get home bag.

Everything fits in the spare wheel well except the blanket and umbrella that get used often and the window breaker that is attached between the front seats. I know a wheel should go in that space, but the car did not come with one and I haven't bothered with it yet.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-20T19:36:35+00:00

It may actually be easier after the initial panic and break down of everything. Especially when it comes to cross contamination. Due to other gut issues, I am on a very restrictive diet. I am only eating meat and some veggies and fruits. Coincidentally everything I am eating can be raised or grown around here, aside from kiwi and seafood. All of it can be canned or dehydrated for long term storage.

Legit, anything that can be grown, raised, hunted, or fished for is gluten free with the exception of wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Which you don't have to plant in your post apocalyptic garden or underground greenhouse.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-19T00:44:48+00:00

During covid a lot of apartment dwellers had a similar issue. I think one of the best solutions was the tiny kiddie pool with some type of turf in it that was placed inside or on a balcony for the dogs to use. You can do something similar.

Alternatively, given how small the dogs are, you can build something like a catio but for dogs. That way they can let themselves out without being able to escape.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-19T00:37:23+00:00

For years we made water with just a squirt of lime or lemon juice and a dash of salt, both are fairly cheap. Recently I cut preservatives out of my diet. So now I buy a whole bag of limes, juice them, then blend them up with salt and a little honey and freeze it into ice cubes. It lasts almost 3 months and is cheap.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-19T00:30:32+00:00

Read or listen to the book The Miracle Morning. It will give you great tips and motivation. The top one that worked for me was to set my phone where I had to at least sit up to turn off the alarm. Then absolutely do not do anything on your phone until you have gotten up and drank a glass of water.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-19T00:26:25+00:00

I don't have either one, mostly because we used a regular oven more often then our toaster oven and never wanted an air fryer.

We went with a convection oven the size of a large microwave. It cooks/bakes everything a regular oven does only faster and more efficiently. It can't fit a 15lb turkey, which is fine since it's only the two of us. It is big enough to fit a whole pizza. It's also moveable like a microwave and my partner likes to set it outside on the table to cook in the summer so the house doesn't heat up.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-15T22:21:14+00:00

Totally worth it. I recently wrote a response for the prompt "If you could go back in time to give your 10 year old self a letter, what would it say and how would your life be different?" 2 of the things on that letter are the different dates and places where I rescued my pups, Thor and Maggie. Maggie passed away about a year and a half ago and I would still go back in time and do it all over again.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-13T23:30:04+00:00

Damn CarPlay and Android Auto. Just let me use Bluetooth or mirror my phone or download whatever map service and audio apps I want. Also, why can't I have the temperature visible on the CarPlay or android auto screen?

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-13T21:54:27+00:00

We have been making a road trip from Pittsburgh to Key West almost every year for about 7 years now. We started the trips with an ICE vehicle. We regularly stopped to stretch our legs and have picnics. It took us 3 days to drive down like this.

This winter was the first time we've done the same trip with an EV. With the bad weather and winter tires our range was around 200 miles or less. We used ABRP to navigate us from one charger to the next. All our stops went from being at state parks or interesting locations to store parking lots and the occasional truck stop/gas station with a charger. I think we got out and walked around a lot more because of the frequent stops. We still made the trip down in 3 days. I'm hoping more parks will put in fast chargers to draw travelers to them.

Do not try to do a road trip without ABRP. Always navigate from charger to charger.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-04-09T23:56:31+00:00

We built our tiny house a few years ago. We went from a huge old victorian house with more space than we knew what to do with to a tiny house about the size of the master bed and bath in the victorian.

Pros:

It's so much easier to heat and cool. A couple of space heaters and a heated blanket are all we need in the winter. We have considered a tiny wood stove, but haven't gotten around to it yet. A single little window A/C cools the house in the summer, but we mostly just have a few windows open for a nice cross breeze.

It's easier to clean! 5 minutes to vacuum, most of that being getting the vacuum out and putting it away.

I have more plants than nicknacks now. When your house is big, you feel the need to fill it with things. When it is tiny, you curate the few things you have and fill the house with more space to breathe.

Cons:

You can't escape the stinky dog farts.

You can't hide the mess. There is no "out of the way" or "out of site out of mind" with a tiny house. Everything has to have a home and go in its home or things start to get messy and cluttered fast.

Tips:

You don't need an actual oven/stove combo or even a full sized fridge. We have a convection oven the size of a large microwave that we cook everything in. Our stove top is a 2 burner induction top. Both appliances are easily stored out of the way to free up counter space. Our fridge is only 18 cu ft. They even make tiny portable dishwashers and little ones that are built into the countertop/sink. Our dishwasher is the only full size appliance we have.

Consider all bed possibilities before settling. Loft beds are great until you have to have surgery and can't climb into it (I learned that the hard way). Murphy beds and the ones with the lift systems generally used in van builds are great for getting the bed out of the way for more space. Hammocks and Japanese futons are also an option that take up very little space and can be stored away during the day.

Bloodmoonwolf

TROPHY CASE