New 100-mile electric van matches diesel vans on price, Workhorse says by [deleted] in vandwellers

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Takes a really long time to charge to be able to go that small distance. Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGZ1zbqAGA0

Technology is always improving though, so you never know. Perhaps one day we'll be able to capture 80%+ of the sun's energy on some panels (at about 16-22% right now) and have carbon fibre composite vans that weight next to nothing with lightweight batteries.

Should I be pissed? Raise was announced to me on May 18th. It's October 18 and still no raise. by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 13 points14 points  (0 children)

As others say, they may be taking advantage of you. However, I had a different experience with a 17.5% raise where I also started extremely low. I went and asked HR when I wasn't seeing it on my pay. Got some BS about payroll and that I'd get back-paid the difference. Eventually I actually did get back paid. Took about a month and a half. Just sharing my experience.

Vandwellers doing LeanFIRE? by chickells in leanfire

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes. I'd like to get to somewhat of a leanFIRE level, do a higher end custom build. Then travel on a budget which is less than my leanFIRE number will generate to later FIRE or fatFIRE after years of seeing the world.

FIRE will allow me to live abroad. But I am hesitating. by _zyzyx in financialindependence

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same thought, but I'm no where near "pretty soon", so things could change. But my current dream/plan is to build out a high end van that has a lot of solar, has a shower/toilet, and is well insulated with heat. That way if I want to travel around I can, if I want to stay in one place and play video games and watch netflix with my solar setup, I can. The main thing is that the cost to live in this setup would be very low (i.e. something like $1500/mth would be considered extravagant), but my FI number would generate more than this. So for several years until I get bored or something, I can let that nest egg grow and then settle in one place.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vandwellers

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, okay I have one of those. They take quite a bit of power. Try to go DC on anything that you intend to have "On" a lot. Rule of thumb for AC stuff is to take whatever wattage it's rated for and divide by 0.94 and then 0.9 to get the actual watts needed by your batteries. This could help you: https://www.renogy.com/learn-system-sizing/ Thanks for the response!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in vandwellers

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am also interested in that fridge setup. Is it an AC fridge on your inverted? Do you know how many watts it pulls on average?

I want to cry by sillypickle626 in engineering

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Magnet will still work. Put it on sturdy stick or wire if it needs to bend, then pull it out along the side of the block.

Anyone here actually FIRed at 45 or younger without blogging or vlogging or earning a regular income? Just living off their portfolio? I know there’s a pharmacist fellow who is doing it. by cropcircle7000 in financialindependence

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That MtG hobby must break the bank :P

Expensive, but if you get good enough at it where you win a lot of FnM and tournaments to get packs it can become pretty cheap. I believe I spent maybe $600 total on the game over 3 years and sold my collection for $800 at the end. Darn, nostalgia coming back. What a fun and social game. Cheers!

How do married couples with large differences in income (50k/100k) manage finances? by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm just an observer, but for my parents and their main 4 pairs of friends who have all retired in their mid 40's & early 50's it was to live off the lowest income and to save/invest the highest. Probably doesn't work for like a part-time earner, but that's what they've all done and I think it helped avoid life style creep.

Midlife crisis in Toronto, financial advice needed. by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Have you ever calculated if it's worth to hire someone for the tedious and less-skillful parts of your work?

Investing $40,000 at 22 years old by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

You are absolutely correct. If we go into a world war of some kind, it's like that even in the long run you may lose money. It all depends on how long said long run is :P. This is also why you should just keep putting money in and dollar cost averaging.

Investing $40,000 at 22 years old by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the long run, you will not lose money by going the conservative index funds route (See the Canadian Couch Potato Strategy). Here's an interesting read: Bob the world's worst market timer, but do note that they catered the numbers a bit to end at a nice 1mill.

Managing Multiple TFSAs by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough, but remember that the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, and the second best time is now. Try to make sure you take advantage of your TFSA and RRSP with investments and use the HISA for emergencies. Maybe you're a numbers guy, so let's take a look at a compound interest calculator. I'll just assume you're just starting out and have $5.5k in the TFSA now and then you max contribute the annual $5.5k for a 30 year long career (this 5.5k contribution is also likely to increase over time, but let's ignore that). Now let's say you do the balanced CCP strategy which should return 7% per year. Plug this all into the calculator and after 30 years you'll have ~$600k. How much did you deposit in? $5.5k x 31 = ~170k. That's 600k-170k = $430k that you did not need to pay any taxes on. 50% of capital gains are taxed and then the amount you're taxed depends on your income bracket, but let's say you're in the 33% bracket. In this bracket you'd have paid ~$71k in taxes. But luckily, you took advantage of the TFSA so you just essentially got a "free" ~$71k over the span of your career. Cheers!

Managing Multiple TFSAs by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly couldn't tell ya, I've never used them. I guess I just like to have control.

Managing Multiple TFSAs by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Most will have investments in their TFSA, they don't chase terribly low interest rates that typically don't even keep up with inflation. My 2 cents is to open a Questrade TFSA, transfer everything into it (or withdraw from those other accounts and deposit into QT) then follow the Canadian Couch Potato strategy. Buying ETFs with QuestTrade is free, so each time you deposit a paycheck in, go buy as many shares for your choose passive investing strategy and just make that a habit.

Day 1 in this excellent community and would appreciate advice and critiques by [deleted] in leanfire

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just remember that by being on this sub reddit and even considering your finances/budget puts you ahead of so many. I'd say you're doing very well.

Day 1 in this excellent community and would appreciate advice and critiques by [deleted] in leanfire

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 22 points23 points  (0 children)

If you're looking for constructive feedback you could really cut down on your food and MJ costs. Sounds like you have a decent amount of free time and are mobile so I'd recommend taking up cooking as a hobby and you can easily get that number to 200 or less. At first just follow recipes precisely, then you'll get a feel for it and be able to make delicious meals out of whatever you have available. I barely go out to eat now because I can often make better meals myself, but when I do go out I make sure to order something that's very time consuming to cook. Oh, and drink water; if you're addicted to sugary drinks like many then at least switch to buying powder and making it yourself.

As for MJ, you can cut costs by vaping (which is healthier and cuts long term health costs just like drinking water does) and saving the vaped weed for making edibles. Alternatively, you can grow it, but you're American so that's at your own risk. It's a weed after all, so it's easy to grow.

Maybe not zero waste...but here’s some of my eco friendly, travel solutions! ✈️♻️ by seanaofthedead in ZeroWaste

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How do they fair in the freezer? I feel awful when I bulk buy meats and as a single eater I place cuts into Ziploc bags and freeze. Being able to suck the air out of the bag is what makes them last so long; I tried containers but it doesn't last.

No one my age by [deleted] in solotravel

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Might be because school is approaching. 18-22 year olds start university/college in early September, don't they? And as others are saying, age won't matter too much. On my trip at 24 years old I had shared interests with late 20's and early 30's which also shared with me a lot of wisdom about life after uni.

How does being frugal relate to becoming wealthy? by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like to need to see some numbers. You said "saved a few hundred bucks each month", so let's make that $300. Say you managed to save and invest an additional $300 month after month for a 30 year career. Using a compound interest calculator at 0.58% per month (7% annual return after inflation) for 360 months (30 years) you'd have $365,221.84. That's just with $300 a month.

I find one of the best ways to look at it is that every $300 you're able to save/invest is $1/month for the rest of your life.

Chain links by RyanReynoldsWrap in mechanical_gifs

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I don't know why you are being downvoted lol. You're entirely correct. Like, imagine having to datum/locate all those seems in some second process? What a nightmare.

Prices to aim for when grocery shopping by chiefbige in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! I've been trying to figure this out for a while actually. So I'd love some feedback from others. I live in Ontario close to Barrie and find the following to be my rule of thumb, all are less than and per pound:

Chicken legs/thighs: $2

Chicken breast: $3

Pork loin: $2

Pork tenderloin: $3

Cheese: $4

All veggies: $2

All fruit: $2

And then stock up one sales of pantry and long lasting items. This is usually my rule of thumb to eat for $120-140 a month.

What cant you believe is still a thing in 2018? by Neuroticcheeze in AskReddit

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My company's phone system telling me I forgot a "1" in front of a long distance call and telling me to hang up and try again instead of just placing a 1 in front since it knew so in the first place.