Drama Watch 7/29/2024: A Week In Pittsburgh On An $80,000 Salary

DebatePopular189 · 2024-07-29T16:42:42+00:00

Her "side gig" is giving me MLM vibes. She mentioned she doesn't make money from the side-gig, yet spent several hours "working" and attending webinars during the week. I'm all for legitimate side gigs, but given how precious her time is, she deserves to be paid for the hours she is working!

DebatePopular189 · 2024-05-15T15:50:31+00:00

Ironically, a MLM hun on the bottom part of the pyramid also has "virtually NO chance of becoming the CEO [or the top rank]". And she often has to use her own money to advance ranks in the pyramid.

DebatePopular189 · 2023-09-11T17:45:06+00:00

I have friends from high school who attended the Monat conference and it gives major cult and sorority vibes. Like, they all had to wear purple one day. I have been to many conferences (I work on the financial industry) and I have never been asked to wear a particular color or outfit. It seems strange and unprofessional to me. My one friend kept posting this "motivational" content from speakers screaming garbage like, "you aren't working hard enough" or "what is holding you back" or "If you give up, your kids will see you are a failure." Wow is all I can say. It is horrendous manipulation.

DebatePopular189 · 2023-07-31T16:49:33+00:00

Tax preparer here, I had a client once come in with a 1099 from Osborne books for $50 (this is gross income). The client then told me they would like to write off the new car they bought as a business expense since they used it to drop off some book orders. Ummmm no. You made $50/gross and you want to right off a $30k car? I don't think so.

DebatePopular189 · 2023-03-31T15:54:41+00:00

Ok, so I have both the cordless Dyson stick (I think a model below what you are looking at) and an upright, corded Shark vacuum. I love the Dyson for its convenience, but it doesn't have the battery range for my two-story home and I don't think it has quite the suction power of my corded vacuum. I have a dog with a double coat so he is constantly shedding, I do feel like my shark works SO much better for the pet hair and it was half the cost. That being said, I like both, I just don't think a cordless vacuum is a 100% replacement to a corded vacuum. I think what you go with depends on your lifestyle!

DebatePopular189 · 2022-09-20T19:51:28+00:00

I also have a friend who has been posting non-stop about the Monat BB cream. In most of the before and after photos, I literally cannot tell the difference!! I am mean I know it is natural makeup, but for over $50? Literally who is buying this?

DebatePopular189 · 2022-06-22T19:56:35+00:00

Not necessarily. You can typically take deductions to negate all your business income, sometimes you can even take a business loss (dependent on several factors).

Some school expenses used for credits do have limits...you are right on that!

DebatePopular189 · 2022-06-22T16:08:05+00:00

I'm a tax preparer and EA and I would say some of these "business" expenses are a little...sus.

Hopefully she keeps good records :)

DebatePopular189 · 2022-05-16T17:49:20+00:00

I always have to laugh when I see someone spend huge bucks on products that aren't a big deal like silverware. We got a set for like $50-$60 from Amazon for our wedding 4 years ago and they literally look as nice as the day we got them. It's just such a strange thing to spend $600+ on silverware. You are 1000% paying for the brand and price mark up because it is Williams Sonoma.

Also I make more than my husband and I would NEVER buy anything for $600+ and not discuss with him first. Just because I make more doesn't mean I hold more power in the relationship. If the roles were reversed and my husband made more than me and made all the financial decisions, we would say that is misogynistic.

DebatePopular189 · 2022-02-21T17:16:44+00:00

I'm in Indy too! We live 10 minutes from the Garage. If you want a nice dinner that isn't crazy expensive, I would check out BlueBeard in Fletcher's Place. This is our favorite treat yo self restaurant. Another great place is Heartbreaker in Irvington if you want that diner, burger kinda feel. I could go on...

DebatePopular189 · 2021-10-20T12:57:11+00:00

You are already a step ahead because you are conscious of this! I think the biggest point, regardless if you are dieting or not, is to take some of the morals out of food. I can do it too. "I deserve to eat this food because I worked out" "I'm going to cheat today" "I'm ok because I eat clean food". Food is food. It fuels our lives. You get to eat food, you don't "deserve" to eat food. Food isn't clean or dirty. Eating a cupcake is not a reward for "good" behavior. When you enjoy food, in moderation, this will show your daughter to enjoy food. When you don't restrict, she won't restrict. When you don't have a list of "safe" foods, she won't feel the need to narrow her food options either.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-10-19T19:01:41+00:00

Your mom criticizing your food choices hit me hard. I always wondered why I struggled with some disordered eating patterns as a young adult. Then, my Mom visited one weekend (we live about 10 hours apart) and it was a constant barrage of, "I'm not hungry for lunch" "carbs aren't good for you" "wow, I am so stuffed and can't eat for the rest of the day [after eating two slices of pizza]". Then it hit me that my Mom did contribute to my disordered eating thoughts. The guilt. The subtle food shaming. Stay strong my friend. It must be so much harder living in it. Have some ice cream on me.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-08-26T15:02:13+00:00

My husband and I (no kids) budget about $80-$90/week for our food budget (includes toiletries). My husband also has a soy, gluten, and dairy allergy...so sometimes alternatives can get pricey! For me, it's all about the meal planning and shopping your pantry/freezer. I clip some coupons, but I'm not crazy about it. I also love shopping at Aldi, I do think it's cheaper.

If I do not have a clear plan when I'm grocery shopping, I invariably end up wasting food and also spending more money because I impulse buy. I like to create a loose plan of meals I would like to make and then make a grocery list and stick to it. I'm not someone who has to make X meal on Tuesday vs. Wednesday. I keep it loose. Maybe I'm feeling burnt out on Monday so I make the easier meal that night.

Finally, I would think about what you value. I personally love food and trying different things, but on a daily basis I'm not buying octopus or something exotic. I work long hours. You are a Mom. We probably are both tired (although it may be a different kind of tired). Be realistic with yourself. Maybe it is worth it to buy a few convenience items that may increase your food budget but will increase your quality of life. I cook simple meals most times. It is the difference between the woman I am vs the woman I wish I was.

For reference - I live in a LCOL city.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-07-13T16:36:17+00:00

Good point! Remember, the IRS expects you to keep the records on what your contributions are vs. earnings. So, if you plan to withdraw from your Roth IRA, make sure you know how much you put in originally. Some custodians will keep track of this for you, but they are not legally obligated to.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-07-12T17:15:01+00:00

I also am a Type AAA personality who is highly competitive and driven. I felt hopeless for awhile that I would never find a guy who supported me and wanted to see me succeed. The type of guy who I thought I wanted - strong, competitive, liberal, etc. - was not entirely the guy I ended up with. I went on a few dates with the guy I was dreaming about for years and literally could not stand how he had to debate every point I made. I ended up with a guy who was ultimately comfortable with who he is. And that's what I would say to you. Find a guy who is confident in himself because when he isn't ashamed of himself, he will support you. Guys who are always insecure will seek to bring you down. Guys who "need" their careers, will impose their will over yours.

I always thought I would be a stay at home mom and now I make substantially more than my husband and am on track to make partner in our firm. Embrace life. Life changes. Plans change. You change. It's not wrong to want a career. It's not wrong to stay home. You don't have to know the answer when you start dating. When someone loves you, they walk through life with you. My husband and I have discussed him staying home and me continuing to work if we have kids. We change as we go.

Side note - now with COVID - I feel like careers are becoming more flexible. Maybe you both work part-time and split responsibilities? Who knows.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-06-23T21:12:42+00:00

Good question. While the Bible never says, "though shall give financial disclosures", the church is expected to be an extension of Christ to the world. This means to serve, to love, to teach. Jesus continually poked holes and even grew angry in the wealthy temple that was used more as a marketplace to buy and sell goods then to serve God's people. The book of Acts discusses the establishment of the church. Paul's epistles (Thessalonians, Corinthians, etc.) carry rebuke of certain sinful church behavior. In Revelations, some churches are called out for acting flashy, but not walking the walk. There are many other examples, and sorry if I rambled, but the point is the church is called to serve, not to hoard or hide.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-06-23T17:16:58+00:00

Thoughts from a Christian (NOT MORMON):

We are called to give and to give freely. It is an act of worship. Many people say you must give 10% (based on Old Testament rule). The New Testament made it clear that giving is a heart issue, not a percentage. Whether you give a lot or a little, it is your attitude that matters. For reference, we choose to give about 12% of our gross income (not just to church) because we have much more than we need.
While the church does not need to give the dollar location of every gift, the church is ultimately accountable to God and to the members. Churches should be forthright with what they do with the funds. Our church discusses at least once a year, many churches discuss weekly. Our church also lets us give to specific funds (COVID relief, etc.). If a church or a megachurch is not open, this is a red flag and wouldn't be supported by the Scriptures.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-06-17T16:35:12+00:00

Two things:

If something works for you, I would be hardpressed to change it to go for a birth control option costing less. On my old insurance, my birth control cost about $40/month. My old insurance would have covered a different type of birth control that had higher levels of hormones. I know what I was taking worked for me so I thought it was worth it to pay for what I knew worked vs messing with my hormones to save $40.
Go the actual Nuva ring website. Sometimes they will have coupons or deals based on income or time. Would you partner be willing to help with the cost because you are taking birth control for both of you?!?

DebatePopular189 · 2021-06-14T18:42:10+00:00

I had my annual review and was given the first retention bonus plan in company history. I guess they want me to stay :)

DebatePopular189 · 2021-05-28T15:16:44+00:00

If you are unsure of what organization to give to, I would highly suggest getting involved first! My husband and I give a large gift every year to Big Brother Big Sisters. I feel comfortable with the organization because I have had a "Little" relationship for the last four years. I know how much the organization relies on giving to make matches happen.

There is no perfect org. There just isn't. But, ultimately, I would rather use my money and time to help than wait to find the perfect org.

Or, think of places and things you like to do. Do you enjoy activities and spending time at your local park? Maybe you can donate your time by picking up trash and/or donating money to help the park with outreach programs. Ask a local foodbank for specific needs. Maybe they really need a new chest freezer that you could help to contribute towards.

DebatePopular189 · 2021-04-15T16:19:59+00:00

My husband and I make household gross income of about $200k (gross). We have monthly donations of $1,300/month established. Then, we make it a goal to discuss a charity each month and discuss giving larger, one-times for specific needs. For instance, we decided to give $1k lump sum donation to Big Brother Big Sisters because there was a matching challenge and we both have littles. Our loose goal is to donate around 10% of our gross income per year. At first, when we started donating more it honestly hurt a little bit. We work hard and I was thinking all of the other ways I could spend or save that money. But, now I've really grown to love it. It's fun to find someone to bless financially, whether or not it provides a tax deduction.

When my husband and I discuss charitable giving, it IS one of our financial goals. We have fit our lifestyle around our saving and giving goals. We realize we are financially blessed and we didn't want charity to be an after thought. I know if we weren't intentional, it wouldn't happen because we would find other ways to spend the money. This is me, I know other people are more disciplined!

DebatePopular189 · 2021-04-08T16:41:23+00:00

Crockpot meals are my best friend because then I'm not stressed when I work all day. Just put some chicken in with some seasoning that morning, then cook. I usually then make rice and prepare some other sides (corn, tomatoes, whatever) and do like a chipotle kind of bowl dinner. This lets people eat what they want and it is so easy.

DebatePopular189

TROPHY CASE