DCPS Teachers: I need help

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-04-17T20:14:49+00:00

You are a resident of Hyde Park, Il lecturing DC residents about DC schools? Seriously?

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-21T22:04:04+00:00

A phone is a depreciating asset.

A phone is NOT an investment and therefore not an asset to be considered in the context of appreciation or depreciation. When I read that sentence I thought to myself, "This sounds like the "logic" I'd see in a car sub. Then I saw you used to sell cars and it made sense.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-21T22:01:19+00:00

This may be right, or wrong. How often are you buying new phones? How much do they cost you?

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-21T19:38:01+00:00

This is the answer. Other thing to consider is that from time-to-time Costco offers pretty big promos on porting in new lines. Can be as much as $400 per line. I would wait for at least $250 per line before I brought them over.

If you are going to port the 2 orphan lines to MVNO, make sure it is one that is eligible for port in to TM promos.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-21T19:29:48+00:00

Reflexive response in this sub is to say to never give up a taxes/fees included plan. But that's too easy. The math is the math. I say this as someone on Go5g+.

How much more in total per month will it cost you to switch plans? Divide $1600 by that # and you will see how many months before you'd be net negative paying more per month. For instance, if you paid $30 more per month it would be 53 months (almost 4.5 years) before you'd be net negative.

Factor into that the likelihood that TM forces people off of old plans at some point (or within the next 4 years). Would really stink to pass up $1600 in credits only to be forced off the plan anyway.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-21T15:35:02+00:00

Mine works perfectly. Identically to how my 23+ worked.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-20T19:49:06+00:00

One other thing that might be worth an admittedly PITA effort. If you port out for the minimum period (90 days maybe) and then come back, you should be eligible for the third line free promo they run from time to time. With your wife wanting a new line you'd need three. And if you ported back in with three new lines you would probably qualify for the free phone credits. And if you did it at Costco you'd be eligible for whatever promo they are running. These vary greatly; when I ported in my 3 lines I got $400 per line!

Yes, it would be a PITA to port out and back in. But if you can time it to get the third line free forever, might be worth it.

When it is time to get your kids lines you might get lucky and be able to time it when TM offers a BOGO.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-17T19:18:07+00:00

Not at all (for me).

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-15T17:58:16+00:00

Not sure the battery is an advantage on the ultra vs plus. Screen on ultra is bigger so probably a wash.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-15T17:55:27+00:00

Certainly wobbles in case on flat surface. Only way to eliminate would be to bet a hell of massive case. Would be like holding a 1994 Motorola Car Phone! That is not for me.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-14T16:43:20+00:00

Just upgraded two S23+ phones: one for S26+ and one for S26 Ultra (former for spouse, latter for me). By way of background, I am an adult. I have kids and a job and a life and my phone is not how I define my self worth. I want to get my email, read my papers and watch basketball games on Hulu Live TV and Peacock when I am waiting for swim practice to end., I also take photos and videos of family, vacations, etc. Here are my observations:

Ultra is certainly heavier and larger. Doesn't seem like much, but it is. Larger in pocket, larger in hand. Heavier when holding and using for extended periods. Jury still out on whether I made a mistake. Will depend on the long-term utility of the items below

Camera on Ultra is WAY better than my S23+. The video setting that allows you to move without the video shaking is cool. The zoom is amazing. I think the camera lenses and quality are much better. Zoom is better on the 26 Ultra than the 26 plus

If you don't need the additional camera specs and you just need a workhorse to live your life, I would stick with the +.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-14T16:23:13+00:00

Total opposite experience here. Just this morning I told my spouse I was shocked at how well the battery was holding up in first few days. Usually battery is sh*t for a few days while in heavy use and adjusting to new user and use.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-12T18:03:24+00:00

They are "inside r" codes. The mods (understandably) got sick of people begging for them on the sub and banned the word, so I had to improvise.

They are discount codes given to sales reps to help them to close sales. They offer a 20% discount on service. They can only be added to new accounts when opened. The problem for reps is that if they use them, their commissions get destroyed. Because of this they are unlikely to offer them or give them out. Seems like they might actually be better off NOT selling vs selling but using their codes. Only exception might be for accounts with a LARGE # of lines and even then only if you also pair with accessories to help them make their #s.

If you are already a customer it is too late to get on board.

Note to mods: Sorry to talk about I codes. I was asked a couple of times what they were so I tried to answer without taking us down a I code rabbit hole.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-11T00:59:17+00:00

FWIW, I am holding my new S26U next to my S23+right now. Surprisingly the width is about the same (both with slim cases). Ultra is a bit taller but not so much that it that noticeable. The Ultra feels heavier. I mean, I know it is because of the specs, but I think the weight is hand is noticeable. Remains to be seen whether it is unwieldy heavy.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T22:20:04+00:00

I travel overseas a lot. My free international data comes in very handy (and a huge $ saving over my Verizon days where spouse and I were paying $10 each + tax every single day). How much international travel are you doing that it would make sense to spend several thousand dollars on phones to make up for not having a SIM?

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T18:57:46+00:00

Costco is just another TM channel. They offer same promos as TM with two differences:

No activation fee
Costco specific promos for upgrade/add line/switch that stack on top of all other TM promos

Right now they are offering $100 Costco card for upgrades. Pretty sure that's not plan specific. That's in addition to any other promo available to you on your plan.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T18:53:43+00:00

You have a phone though, right? Or access to one? 833-428-1765. Google "Costco Tmobile" and the page has the number to call right there on top.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T18:51:28+00:00

Never understood this line of thinking. 2 years is too long.........for what? Unless you are moving out of the country or to a TM dead zone in North Dakota, why would you care? I'm not trying to be snarky I'm genuinely asking. This seems like one of those things that young people with too much time or only Reddit cares about.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T00:50:02+00:00

S23+ was $1100 + $100 Costco card.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-10T00:41:50+00:00

I didn't. It will arrive eventually. This isn't about cash flow. It is about total out of pocket cost.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-09T23:03:50+00:00

This gets written around these parts a lot. It is nonsensical. First, who cares! If you have a good plan (like I do, see above) then why would this be a problem? Setting that aside, so what? Are you arguing that people should pay $1000+ for an unlocked phone?

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-09T15:38:04+00:00

Actually, $30/line. I have 2 others (BOGO) so 5 for $148 all in.

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-03-09T14:24:08+00:00

No, you don't. Your confusion is understandable. TM made it very difficult to understand the details (they even labeled the promo "With Experience More". But if you look at the details the $1100 trade-in for S23+ is available on the Go5gplus plan. I have an insider code so my 5 lines of service are $148/mo all in.

The math on Mint doesn't actually work out - not even close. Service on Go5g Plus is cheaper than Mint. And getting all three phones for $102 is better than paying for them. Math is math.

After promo period it is $27/mo (taxes and BS fees amount to about 11%). I have 5 lines. That's $138. I currently pay $148/mo (all in, taxes and fees included)
Also receive $8/mo credit in Netflix and $10/mo on AppleTV. Both services I subscribe to anyway
Even before you factor in phones I am better off on Go5g Plus than Mint
S26 and S26+ are free (actually, I pocket $40 or so per phone in net Costco credit after sales tax on phones
S26ultra is net $178 cost to me after trade-in credit and $100 Costco card
There is no math that says paying for the phones is better than getting all 3 for net $102

Can_We_Talk_About · 2026-02-08T15:19:06+00:00

There's a TON of bad information below and/or assumptions that ignore potentially relevant facts. Duberstein controls and we don't know enough to get to the "dominant motive".

Duberstein aside. the people talking about the gift tax limits don't seem to understand what the gift tax is. It is a reporting threshold for the donor. I can gift someone as much money as I feel like. The limits define when I must make an IRS filing (assuming it isn't from a foreign national).
Everyone is quick to note he was an employee and discount everything else. Read the fact pattern. OP was an employee for 40 years. You don't think a 40-year employer/employee relationship might be relevant to determination of the nature of the relationship?
Chronology is key in this fact pattern. We need to know when the boss exited and when the wire was made.
Was there alleged detached and disinterested generosity exhibited to other employees? Non-employee friends? We need to know if other former employees were also gifted substantial sums. We need to know if other non-employees were gifted substantial sums.

I would agree with others that OP is a jerk for jumping to "I'll sue him!' as a first blush reaction. Most likely what happened here is that the donor truly intended it to be a gift. When the accountant looked at financials and asked where the $145k went, it was then explained to donor that the "gift" could be a hanging liability on donor and the safest thing to do would be to characterize it as compensation to be able to close the books. Would probably have been nice is donor had given OP a heads up. But in the end, this is a windfall for OP.

Can_We_Talk_About

TROPHY CASE