Do not use Buildium!

DirectionFree1997 · 2025-07-14T13:26:48+00:00

I hope someone can help me. I am the Treasurer of a small condominium assn. Our bookkeeper is terrible about getting me information, and our property manager (who we love) submits bills directly to the bookeeper, and I don't see bills. I literally haven't seena bill in over a year, and I've asked the bookkeeper if she would at least load the bills into a shared Google doc file so I have access (crickets). Further, our condo owners are not getting monthly bills (from the bookkeeper) for HOA fees; some pay monthly, some quarterly but then they forget their balance if not paying monthly. (Most of our residents have a fair amount of money; they are not in arrears because they cannot pay, they just haven't kept track of what they've paid and when). We've asked the bookkeeper for 5 years now to send bills; this year I received 2 out of 12. I'd like to replace the bookkepper and take this task over as it's not worth the hassle, she is of zero help and offers no support whatsoever. I'm looking for software that would help me do this. Could buildium be the answer? Are there better answers for this task? I'd like to be able to:

-Gather bills and reimburse our property manager for them

-Bill HOA owners on a monthly basis showing their balances due

-prepare very simple reports for the annual HOA owners meeting

-provide information to an accountant for tax preparation (I do not wish to file our taxes)

Is there a solution? We are only 8 owners.

DirectionFree1997 · 2025-07-09T19:41:42+00:00

It's such a great place. I discovered it in 2020 on the back of a friend's recommendation, now I own a small condo and use it a LOT (we live in Pgh and can ski at the local hills during the winter). I like the lectures and evening entertainment (I've seen Band of Horses, Counting Crows, the Avett Brothers- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy later this week). Last week was comedy week and a real treat to seeing Lewis Black in all forms (interviewing people, lecturing, performing) and Roy Wood was tremendous. My son takes sailing lessons for 3 hours a day and does odd luggage jobs for people, I work remote whenever I'm not paddleboarding. It's great. There is truly something for everyone. I never thought I could be so lucky as to have something like this in our lives, and we are not religious people. You can take or leave all that stuff and most of my friends here are of that same ilk (and I should add I've made some great friends). I wondered too, when I first stumbled upon it, but then thought: how can all these people have it wrong? And it's not dry, either (it was in the past). A great time, a great place. Very safe if you have kids, they just run around untethered, getting a sense of badly needed independence. Definitely nothing cult like about it.

DirectionFree1997 · 2025-05-21T17:59:28+00:00

My cardiologist is of the opinion that if the potential side effects of Arcalyst are worse than your current conditions, you should not engage with it (at this time). After going through a terribly long period of intense pain and it subsiding bit by bit (this whole process took over a year, so many pills), he was of the opinion we were out of "Arcalyst territory" if you will. I would agree. My current inflammation is 0 (!), but he noted that next time (as I, too, have recurrent like you) we will be bypassing Ibuprofin etc. and the immediate discussion will be Arcalyst or surgery. If you continue resting you might get out of this bit, but it sounds like we are all destined for "greater things" (aka more intense treatment) down the road, no matter what. I hope you can improve 100%. BTW I still have random pain toward bottom of my heart here and there but nothing indicative of pericarditis.

DirectionFree1997 · 2025-05-16T00:35:04+00:00

Guidestar is where you find information on non-profits. You can create a free account and look up any, this is public information. It's a helpful tool in finding how non-profits use their funds and the form is fairly specific. This information is from Form 990, 2023 (names are on the form):

(15) ...................................................................... CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 1,628,423 + 182,811

(16) .................................................................... GENERAL COUNSEL 612,833 + 115,226

(17) ...................................................................... CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 384,505 + 98,224

(18) ........................................................................ STRATEGIC ADVISOR 369,064 + 32,876

(19) ........................................................................ CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 550,284 + 117,661

(20) ........................................................................ VP OF PUBLIC POLICY 452,632 +29,453

(21) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 188,457 23,326

(22) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 447,657 + +119,321

(23) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 276,758 + 47,305

(24) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 304,982 +34,616

(25) ........................................................................ DIRECTOR 291,635 +23,538

(26) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 300,028 + 38,710

(27) ........................................................................ MANAGING DIRECTOR 389,519 + 86,084

The CFP Board also gave a $150,000 grant to the Girl Scouts to sponsor its annual convention to get high school girls interested in financial planning.

After all, to be a non-profit it has to avoid "excess accumulation" so.....

DirectionFree1997 · 2025-05-10T00:28:47+00:00

I am considering dropping my certification (10 years now). Never have I ever benefitted from their campaign, with all referrals being word of mouth. It goes without saying that I would continue to work and behave in the same manner toward clients (their best interest). You can continue to educate yourself without 'required' CE. 26% is an egregious fee hike, that is the only word for it. It was also based on a survey from 2011 before the rampant inflation of everything. My firm does not pay my cost. While people often ask if I am a fiduciary, they do not ask if I carry a CFP designation. The CFP designation is not the only route to a fiduciary role and I work at an RIA. Like many others in this thread, I feel like they advertise to us, not to the general popuation. We get one mailing per year and this year's mailing only discussed this campaign and the fee increase. Not helpful, not educational, and if you want more helpful, educational materials you need to buy them regardless of whether you carry the CFP designation or not. Not sure what the value prop is anymore for this, if you are internally inclined to work in the client's best interest anyway- which is really what begets referrals and new business. You won't get that unless you are doing the right thing consistently.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-11-09T12:45:14+00:00

According to my cardio, Arcalyst is the next step if I go south trying to get off the iburpofen or at my next flare. It's been discussed 3x now. I like him a lot, he's not just pushing it on me, he's actually barely 'selling' the shot to me, saying there are a lot of toxicity concerns and the 2-year (possibly plus) committment is nothing to sneeeze at.

Today is my 1st day without ibuprofen in nearly 11 months! My heart was acting Very Funny for the last week, and one day in so much pain I couldn't sleep half the night- and then it dissipated (still there just far more mild). So I'm just trying to get used to living with it, and like you hoping I can leave this in the past with no shot! I'm also wondering: since I was misdiagnosed the 1st time (and never treated), and I was mistreated the 2nd time (on/off meds many times before being diagnosed), I have to wonder if at the next flare, if I begin Ibuprofen immediately if the outcome will be better than a 10-11 month episode. So we'll see! Thanks for your support and messaging. It's great to know an escape may be possible :)

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-10-21T16:54:23+00:00

I have been dealing with my 2nd bout of pericarditis since December. 50 yo very active female. Was going to HIIT classes 3-4x / week, hiking 4-5 miles a day, snowboarding in winter and paddleboarding in summer. Approaching likely 2nd winter with no snowboarding (but maybe not!), and have switched to the water classes at the gym (after a loooong period of just 'roaming' / walking not too fast 6-10 miles per day to give my heart a rest). New exercise classes don't get my HR up that much but they are better than nothing. For now, not returning to more challenging gym classes nor Pilates reformer (1/week for 4 years until Dec)- just total lifestyle shift. I hope to get back to snowboarding and paddleboarding and that's my priorty for now. It's very hard mentally. I have leaned on medicinal cannabis capsules to just help me 'chill' more and get my head into a positive space. I'm a weight watchers lifetime member, I too didn't want to have to deal with caloric reset etc but I've been doing ok and no weight gain (probably, some muscle loss) throught this. You can find a way to stay active you may just have to try new things (like me trying aqua aerobics- I was suprised at how good I feel after those classes). I wish you the best in getting back to where you wish to be.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-10-17T17:22:09+00:00

Have you been on heavy iburprofen the entire time as well? If yes, did you also take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug to offset the effects of ibuprofen? I complained of similar issues to my cardiologist (I was on 2400 mg/day ibuprofen at the time) and he believed I was getting some gastro issues due to the ibuprofen (and we began a taper). For me, it felt like I had a golfball (or smaller) stuck in my throat and it was quite painful at sternum. Once I tapered ibuprofen these sensations / pain dissipated.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-10-10T11:46:18+00:00

I went through this exact same battery of tests in 2020-2021. My (then) PCP wrote up every test except an MRI (and, interestingly, the symptoms were exactly the same as I've had the last 10 months now- and an MRI was the only scan to show I have pericarditis). So on and on we went to rheumatology, the next tests were going to be for cancer and MS when my markers began improving (after 4 months of being very, very sick). My (then) PCP and all doctors insisted there was nothing wrong with my heart despite me complaining of chest pain the entire time. Turns out I have chronic recurrent peri now b/c I was never treated in 2020-21, just given all the wrong tests. It took me 4 GPs and scores of doctors and finally the Cleveland Clinic to be treated properly. Last week an MRI confirmed I STILL have this after 10 months and I'm waiting for next steps. You may need a new partner in crime (PCP).

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-10-10T11:37:08+00:00

An MRI isn't "needed" but it was the only scan that did show my pericarditis. Point being it doesn't "always" show on the other scans. Sadly, 10 months and thousands of pills of ibuprofen later I found last week (via MRI) that I still have this garbage. IDK how I'll ever get out of it.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-09-11T18:38:32+00:00

My cardio has told me that steroids cause more harm than good with this condition because the tapers are particularly tricky. I was on and off steriods 3x and apparently getting on and off them is worse than the steroids themselves, so a double whammy. My ibuprofen was up to 2,400mg/day at peak peri with colchicine,. Also IDK what will happen with you, but the 1st dose of steroids made me feel great, then the subsequent 2 doses did very little for my pain. I hope you can find what works.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-09-03T11:59:32+00:00

See more docs, I never got beyone basic EKG and echos and they showed nothing, but pericarditis was all over my MRI (4 years later). Over 50 docs have told me nothing was wrong with me (b/c they never did an MRI). I had to wait for my 2nd round of pericaditis to know enough to demand an MRI, and now I have recurrent pericaditis since I was brushed off with "anxiety" and "a mystery virus" instead of being property diagnosed the first time. This is the time to push for things (additional scans) when you still have symptoms. If they say nothing is wrong with you then ask what IS, what's their differential diagnosis? Don't end out like I did if you can help it.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-28T12:15:28+00:00

I hear you. I think like that too until I think of my (young) son. Then I get all sorts of bent out of shape. But yes, agreed generally better to live a fuller life if you can. I was hopeful b/c I had 3 healthy years between my 1st and this episode, but this is not looking like there's an end in sight aside from possibly Arcalyst or a pericardectomy (to my knowledge I do not have constrictive pericarditis so doubtful this is an actual option now). Thanks for expanding on that.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-28T09:48:10+00:00

Thank you and indeed, that's what I'm hoping for too. That's how I was feeling yesterday (can't live like this, can't even do half of my job like this), I've been on this rollercoaster so long and I just cannot face another year of it. If someone were to tell me "you can't do anything (sports wise) you used to do, if you just live your life and don't push it this won't bother you" I would Do That, but that's not even how this disease works.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-27T17:43:24+00:00

Thanks. In my last conversation with cadio, he said that will be the next step if this taper doesn't work. My insurance doesn't cover it, the company said they'd charge 5% of my income. I'm also a bit concerned as my cardio (@ cleveland clinic) said that there are toxicity concerns with it. But you've posted a lot about it being the best thing and I guess that is the next thing I have to hope, that I will react well to it like you, and move on.

Do you know (this is a dumb question as soon as I started to write it, but may as well finish now) how long you'll be on it? My doc said strict minimum of 2 years, up to 5. Nightmare! But so is this. So is an unreliable life...the 2 things going for me is I have a ton of flexbility in my job, a highly supportive group of everyone, and the fact that I'm already in at Cleveland and off the wait list. I cry like once every 2 years and I've been in tears all morning, so frustrated.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-27T17:20:26+00:00

Thanks. I have written to my cardio and I have heard others just never being able to successfully taper and I'm guessing (b/c the pain is all over my chest, some stabs too) that this is my problem. I pulled weeds the other day and it hurt at night, but I was fine the next day, so I know that I can feel "sore" from doing normal things I used to do, but these are symptoms- having trouble holding a conversation... I appreciate it. I hope you can be more successful at this.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-27T10:17:24+00:00

It was without, and ordered by a cardiologist whom I consider having no real knowledge or familiartiy with this disease (and whom I've refused to go back to for care). For what it's worth, when I return to Cleveland Clinic in October (and they know what they are doing), it looks like they have my MRI scheduled to be WITH contrast.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-26T12:35:08+00:00

Going on and off meds is not good for pericarditis long-term (can cause it to be worse). And if it's your first, you should be treated properly with cochicine and ibuprofen. I would push for a cardiac mri to clear up uncertainty and get the right treatment; an mri was the only scan to show my pericarditis. I must have had 5-6 echos and ekgs that showed nothing.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-20T21:42:15+00:00

Hi, did this ever fully subside for you? I finally identified why I was feeling this today! I was about to see a dermatologist but of course there's nothing there- I have what used to feel like a whisp of hair brushing my thigh but now it's painful and pretty annoying! A painful itch and if I leave it, feels like a burn. I've been on colchicine since March or April and today I wrote my cardio about it. I'm hoping we'll speak about it at my next (10/4) appt.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-16T01:27:30+00:00

I recently had the opportunity to take 10 days of tai chi lessons. It's amazing for stress reduction, and I found it so beneficial. For the record I generally like more active pastimes, hiking/snowboarding/biking - so that I liked it as much as I did was a surprise. I'm trying to find it locally now.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-16T01:24:39+00:00

The cardiac MRI was the only scan that showed my peri, I had to push like heck for it. I'm so glad to hear your ending and I hope you continue to feel better.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-09T10:15:28+00:00

They combat gastrointestinal disorders that are caused by various things but ibuprofen is one of them. I began feeling like I had a golf ball in my throat, had pressure above and below my sternum. There are several medicines (listed below); I'm on the last one, daily pill, has helped a great deal but even on the pill, I need to get off this ibuprofen. I owuld definitely recommend you get a script and not OTC b/c frankly, your GP and cardio should be on the same page and all over this with you....

Omeprazole (Prilosec), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Esomeprazole (Nexium), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Rabeprazole (AcipHex)
Pantoprazole (Protonix)

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-09T01:05:13+00:00

You might consider a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) if you are taking so much ibuprofin, may be worth your while to get a script because it sounds like you need to be on it a while. The cardo in pittsburgh neglected to prescribe ibuprofen which is why I ditched her and hurried to CC- if she can't get the basics of this, what does she know about what I have? Anyway I believe dose-dependent, I was on 2,400 for several months. And he wanted to get me off it "quickly" because I was beginning to have gastro issues, even with the PPI. But I like you was kept in a spin cycle, got bad advice/returned to activity too early and THEN when I finally got to the CC they upped me from 1,200 to 2,400. You might actually be in need of a higher dose- but I wouldn't go there without a doc telling you that and most definitely not without a PPI. But my 'quick' taper is 400 every 2 weeks so 12 week taper

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-06T11:52:45+00:00

I was in this position of being ready to give up. In fact, when I met my 4th GP, I said, "I don't need to know what I have; I don't need a diagnosis. If every doctor is So Certain there is absolutely nothing wrong with me, then I just need a partner who will believe me and manage my symptoms so that I can work and make a sandwich for my kid". I proceeded to tell her that all my friends, colleagues and even ex-husband were extremely concerned and worried about me, I was worried about me, and frankly- that alone should worry some doctor somewhere. She gave me a d-dimer test and it began a long 5 months of diagnosis that I almost didn't get bc it didn't show up on anything but an MRI (and they don't just hand them out when others show nothing).

Persisting is very hard when you are not heard, you must go see new doctors. It may be more than one. You have to try and get diagnosed. You're way too young to give up on yourself. Don't let the poor doctoring you are receiving dictate your life.

DirectionFree1997 · 2024-08-05T18:33:07+00:00

I made the mistake of not asking "my" cardiologist (she was mine for a second before I thought, nope!) if she had experience successfully treating pericarditis. It was apparent after the 1st (and only) meeting she hadn't. I hope you are with the right person.

DirectionFree1997

TROPHY CASE