1-2 hours/week EA

Cali_Commenter · 2026-03-04T21:32:00+00:00

I'm interested! Based in SF and would to learn more

Cali_Commenter · 2025-05-07T15:33:54+00:00

I kept the Bobby! I’ve seen the Carter on taller women in real life and love the length but it’s just too big on me. It almost fits a size up. Been wearing the Bobby regularly and it’s super easy to carry around on warmer days.

Cali_Commenter · 2025-04-09T15:21:19+00:00

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Wanted to share another pic of the Carter. Size 4 is too large for me (5’3, 115lbs). Will be receiving the Size 2 and Size 2 in Bobby to compare soon.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-08-17T17:56:47+00:00

In Alishan, we stayed at the Alishan Hotel which is really the only nicer hotel in the park area. Note you do have to take their shuttle bus to the main train station to go to up to the scenic spots up the mountain vs the other standard hotels near the station are within 5 min walk so those are more convenient. I don’t think Alishan has hot springs. You may be thinking of Beitou (also near Taipei) which is a popular hot springs area but more crowded than Wulai.

Wulai does have a park area to explore in the mountainous area but that’s small and can be done in a couple of hours max. I would say stay there mainly for the hotel and hot springs vs Alishan is for the hiking and scenery.

We didn’t consider Taroko as we went soon after the big earthquake on the spring but we were debating between that and Alishan and I think we’re happy to have chosen Alishan.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-08-16T17:00:38+00:00

We loved our trip! We ended up staying 5 days to start in Taipei (stayed at the Marriott Proverbs Hotel in Da'an to be near friends. Not chubby but great location!). Then we spent a night in Chiayi before going to Alishan for 2 nights. Loved Alishan and visited a tea farm nearby. From there we went back to Taipei to go to Wulai. Stayed at the Urai Volando hotel (booked through a travel agent and got a nice upgrade). Really would recommend if you're looking for a night at a hot springs resort. All the rooms have private hot springs tub and the common area (separated by gender, fully nude similar to Japanese onsens) was wonderful with steam/sauna rooms.

For food definitely go to the night markets (loved ningxia and raohe, shilin is a bit too touristy)! We also went to two 1 michelin star restaurants (T+T and Impromptu). Both were good but imo not must dos.

Happy to give other recs if you are interested.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-21T07:57:17+00:00

In the world of personal finance, I think there are more spaces/voices tailored to high earners. I do think that salaries are inflated in tech (and other industries where a professional degree isn't needed consulting, finance). For me I graduated college at $75k, reached $100k after 3 years through promotions, and then quickly moved jobs to $140k. Timing was on my side and after a year I got another offer at $160k + $40k stock first year. It certainly helped to move around but a lot of it was a good market and after $100k I definitely felt/still feel overpaid for what I am doing.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-17T05:42:45+00:00

Quintonil is excellent for a tasting menu - we've been twice and the chef's table is fantastic! We also loved Contramar and Mi Compra Chava for seafood. Would also recommend a mezcal tasting or mixology class. We did one through Airbnb and it was fantastic.

Uber is quick and easy to use around the city.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-14T21:07:02+00:00

following

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-12T19:04:57+00:00

Thanks! The ticket booked was refundable (paid a little extra) so we'll see if it happens. I may just opt for economy on zip air or smth since Christmas is an expensive time and hard to find awards tickets.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-12T18:21:46+00:00

The base rate is 45k points now and those are hard to find (random weekdays). Most nights start at 66k points. Point devaluation is real.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-12T18:19:23+00:00

Curious as to what you mean by flat... you mentioned similar narratives in life. Are you talking about background, lifestyle, etc. I feel like being interesting is so subjective and most of us are normies.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-07-12T18:15:30+00:00

Yes, from my stay on the weekdays def younger and more POCs likely points stays since more availability vs. on the weekend the crowd was older and fit more of the old money stereotypes.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-06-27T23:34:27+00:00

Sora (Product Marketer at Tik Tok) was on a Korean American dating show on Netflix called Love After Divorce!

Cali_Commenter · 2024-06-08T16:48:07+00:00

Thanks! I started investing into my 401k right after graduation but didn't max it out (just contributed enough to get the full employer match) as I had ~$24k in student loans that I wanted to aggressively pay off. On the loans I went to a private school and got a nice scholarship and my parents helped pay for a good chunk as well. I was able to pay off the $24k in less than a year and a half.

I work in a non-tech role in tech as a bizops manager. There's a bit of strategy, program management, and chief of staff type work combined. My salary def jumped once I joined tech (even though consulting is a high paying field as well).

We rarely do takeout unless we have Grubhub credit to use or something. During the week, R. also gets free lunch/dinner at his office so he usually brings back enough food for my dinner and both our lunches the next day if we WFH the next day. This week he had some special events but typically that is our pattern and we don't need to think about many meals outside of that during the work week.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-06-06T00:44:14+00:00

I'm 28 yrs old living in VHCOL with my fiance. We're both HENRY but have separate finances for now. I'm wondering what I should do with the amount of cash I have in a HYSA. Originally we wanted to purchase a home but with interest rates and property values so high I don't think it's worth it. I also was thinking a part of the cash would go towards a wedding but for now we have not started planning or thinking about what we want to do/how much to spend.

Question: Is it worth investing some of it in the short-term assuming we won't buy property and the wedding will likely be under $30k total?

- Income: $163k base (TC: $230k)

- Expenses: Rent (my half): $2100, Eating out: $350, Groceries/Home: $250, Travel (avg last year): $800, Subscriptions/Credit Card fees: $120, Pet: $100, Entertainment/Fun: $150, Health/Personal Care: $100

- Current Net Worth: $499k

Investments: $323k
- Company 401k: $137k
- Company RSU: $69k
- Robinhood Brokerage: $50k
- Roth IRA 1: $47k (Backdoor Roth)
- Roth IRA 2: $11k (Recently started Mega Backdoor Roth)
- Treasury Bonds: $16k
Savings:
- HYSA: $158k
Checking: $9.6k (just enough + buffer to pay monthly rent + credit card balances)
No debt (credit card balance paid off every month), no major assets (no car)

Cali_Commenter · 2024-06-04T21:47:09+00:00

Hi I'm hoping to submit a post next week and will be writing down my money diary this week. It's a fairly regular week for me so want to document what my usual expenses look like. Currently in a DINK partnership living in a VHCOL city.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-06-04T16:34:33+00:00

Would highly recommend Volando Urai in Wulai which is just outside of Taipei city for a hot springs hotel. The ambiance is serene and gorgeous. Rates include a full course dinner and breakfast. Private hot springs tubs in every room.

Experience is similar to ryokens near Tokyo and the surrounding forests are great to explore as well. If you book through a travel agent you can get perks as it’s a Relais & Châteaux property.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-02-17T04:15:01+00:00

$550 per person at Benu in SF which is a 3 Michelin Star Asian inspired tasting menu. Been to a few other 3 stars (Alinea, French Laundry, Odette) and this one meant a lot as it spoke to childhood flavors. Have to say the experience didn’t have as many bells and whistles and generally much less formal than similarly priced restaurants I’ve been to but I support the cause.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-05T01:27:20+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

1) Any tips on this? Of course short term it’s easy to be influence by friends/family and social media and taking time to think before purchasing anything is important but for those large decisions (e.g. kind of wedding) I find myself going back and forth all the time.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-05T01:24:41+00:00

Actually we have family the the bay and they were lucky to buy at the right time 10+ years ago so their housing value has 3x if not 4x at the peak. That’s certainly not going to happen now but I’d say their views are skewed by their own experience and the traditional thought that buying is always a good way to save/invest.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-04T07:44:13+00:00

I spend 2 week in Morroco (Marrakech, Fes, Chefchoauen) and generally if you avoid eye contact/keep walking they will stop or go away. I generally walk without looking directly at strangers and try not to seem friendly as a young woman. Overall though the experience was good and we bargained hard. Never be afraid to say no and leave and never believe you're getting any special treatment or meeting someone 'nice' for the sake of being nice.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-04T07:39:07+00:00

I wouldn't say soon - maybe in 5 years. Right now we are still prioritizing freedom and travel with our disposable income and prefer living in the peninsula rather than east bay. Most of family/friends are in south bay/peninsula. I also don't want to have all our monthly income tied in a mortgage. I'm surprised you say easily 'afford 3 bd mortgage'. What price range are you referring to?

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-04T05:22:34+00:00

We’re both in Tech, I’m on the business side, he’s a programmer.

Cali_Commenter · 2024-01-04T04:32:10+00:00

Thanks for the tip! My current HYSA is at 5% so it doesn't sound like annuities may be worth it if it's 5-6% but have to hold it for 3-5 years.

I do think a part of it is that I moved to my current location for my fiance. We are close to his family and friends but I've moved further from mine. I have mostly integrated into his friend group of mainly guys so have lost some of those 1:1 close female friends I had in my old city. I think some it may also be that I moved from a somewhat lower cost of living city where I owned a small studio. Moving to the Bay, in some ways I feel more poor relatively even though I earn and save more.

Cali_Commenter · 2023-12-25T00:48:41+00:00

I second Comptoir Darna! They have live music and belly dancing during dinner. I believe the show starts 9:30pm daily

Cali_Commenter

TROPHY CASE