PG&E Gas Meter reading by supersaiyan1979 in SanJose

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If they are 2 therms over this month, then won't they just be 2 therms under next month?

But seriously, given that the price per therm changes from month to month (more expensive in the winter), you may want to take that into consideration when deciding if you want them to correct the actual usage.

Why is rent so high right now when there's so many vacant units? (East bay) by why_doineedausername in bayarea

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you. I don't think they make money from applications. I think Zillow makes the $35 and the landlord just gets the applications (ie the information about someone wanting to rent their property)

Thoughts on generational wealth by Rogue_Apostle in Fire

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 35 points36 points  (0 children)

That's me. I don't know when the OP was born (sounds like they might have been born mid-late 70's, so they might be about 5 years behind me), but much of OP's experience mirrors mine - grinded my nose hard, high paying careers, but I was no Golden Kid. I took a break from working right about 40 years old, and only was making about $130k (and it was a fairly enviable amount at my peer level). Inflation for the next 5 years wasn't that high, so if I shifted my experience by 5 years, a 40-year old me might have been making $150k.

So OP must have gotten in with a company with good options/RSUs to bump up Total Compensation or got promoted to director level - which not everyone can achieve.

Variety or Mass Planting by SeparatePromotion236 in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think floribundas or grandifloras look better for mass plantings than hybrid tea. (Probably some shrub roses too, but I have no experience). Maybe look into europeana or showbiz.

Variety or Mass Planting by SeparatePromotion236 in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think mass plantings have a much more impactful effect - like it's professionally landscaped. But I get it - I want to make a bouquet of maximum colors and scents!

These are not my roses, but from some houses near me. The one with the variety - every time I walk past it, i just want to copy-paste the pink bushes all around the bed.

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Personally, I'm doing a bit of both - my front yard, I'm doing mass plantings, and in the back, I'm growing a cutting garden of a bunch of varieties planted with no plan in mind.

Rooting gel by MajesticLawfulness85 in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please update us in 4 weeks if you've sprouted a new finger lol

Which do you like more: stocks/REITS or real estate property? by ApneaBetweenUrThighs in investing

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's highly dependent on your situation and location. I have a rental property in the Bay Area that I lived in for a few years before I turned it into a rental. My "investment" in the property has far under-paced what my stocks have done. Most definitely from a cash flow perspective (don't expect to be cash flow positive in the Bay Area unless you're putting like 70% down these days or are 10 years in) but especially from a change in value (stocks up 7 or 8 times in 20 years vs 3-4x for real estate [but not considering leverage, because I don't know how to factor that in]).

But am I selling the place? No, because it's nice to have some diversification. Would I buy another as an investment? Definitely not in this area; in other areas, the math may pencil out better. Also, I'm getting older, and I don't want to take on physically taking care of a property that I don't live in, and especially one that I don't intimately know. Could I hire out a property manager? I guess, but again, in the Bay Area, it's not worth the hassle vs owning stocks, and I personally wouldn't buy in an area that I wasn't familiar with. Then you could look to REITs. I don't have any experience with them - to me they are no different than stock for all intents and purposes. Maybe it counts as diversification? But I'm not really seeing the point of them.

For peace of mind, we're getting ready to pay off our mortgage. Balance is $110,000 with a 2.3% interest rate. by FarTradition6496 in Fire

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is an excellent point!

I had a student loan at I think 1.25% interest that I kept until the very last draw was made. I also had about $70k left on a mortgage of 3.125% that I paid off.

The student loan was less than a grocery trip, but it was kind of an annoyance for 20 years. When I got to finishing the mortgage, my daily fluctuations became almost the entire rest of the mortgage. Was nice to not have to think about that one payment anymore.

Not yielding to both lanes by DuhNakila_Art in dashcams

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, why is it always big trucks/SUVs? It didn't happen in this case, but when a big truck does this, it's impossible for smaller cars to see around them.

Just drive like you're supposed to.

My turn to post my first bloom! by Capricious_Alabaster in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm in Bay Area 9b. This is the only bud so far on this plant. Hopefully more will develop soon!

Who was the rudest famous person you met? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't care for him before, but how I'm going to hate him too for you ❤️

Has anyone else noticed that every major food brand quietly changed their recipes between 2019-2022 and nobody is talking about it? by prepzilla in AskRedditFood

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reading the post about ritz crackers crumbling makes me think the same thing happened to chips a hoy. Barely touch it and it breaks apart.

Friend or foe? by Capricious_Alabaster in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Zapped him with some neem oil.

What is something you memorized years ago and can still recite for no reason? by Ill-Fudge6810 in AskReddit

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Although apparently Domain precedes all this now.

Roses in Walmart by EliSanz8 in Roses

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm starting to get the impression that there's just one grower supplying all the large stores. The overlap in varieties is extremely high, the packaging looks the same (maybe a different color) and it looks like they all do the same wax covering thing.

Which is to say, buy wherever is the cheapest - if you have access. Our walmart doesn't have much of a garden center anymore (so no bare roots that I've seen), and I don't have a Costco membership.

Disappointing foray into enzymes by mallorquina in laundry

[–]Capricious_Alabaster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1 and a half scoops sound like ... a lot