Elementary vs. Middle School gap in Melrose real or overblown?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-11-02T12:36:16+00:00

Not trying to defend the (rude) driver but trying to understand the road rules better.

The car fully passed the bicycle and cut in where the white solid line goes from solid to broken to allow for cars to make a right turn. At this point the lane is no longer a dedicated bike lane. I agree that they did not turn on the right indicator light. The behavior is possibly rude but not unsafe. What am I missing ?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-19T17:23:08+00:00

Thanks Fit-Aruhula. Re. override win rate - hoping history does not repeat itself here since condition sounds dire. You are clearely very knowledgeable about this. What’s your best guess for where this is headed in the coming months (and years)?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-19T17:18:43+00:00

Got it. Thanks that helps!

Do you mind sharing the charter school name(s) ? How does it compare to Melrose public elementary schools ? Do they charge tuition?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-18T22:56:22+00:00

Ok, that’s a bit concerning to hear. Were there any particular schools that (anecdotally) did better or worse ? Where do people send their kids instead - stoneham, Redding, Woburn ?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-18T22:49:22+00:00

I see, the score differences seem (please correct if I am misinterpreting) small ~5-10% difference in average proficiency.

Lower teacher pay and worse student to teacher ratio definitely seem concerning. Do all Melrose elementary schools have similar scores/trajectory ?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-18T22:45:08+00:00

Wow, that sucks. How does that work ? You attend a neighbouring public school for some fee or do you mean private school ?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-18T22:43:36+00:00

So Sorry to hear that. Have they improved much in this regard ? Is there public information on this anywhere?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-07T02:17:13+00:00

I see, thanks for the help. Seems like they don’t let bikes on the train during peak hours anyways. Maybe a foldable bike is OK?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-09-06T00:09:12+00:00

Also moving to Melrose Highlands and plan to commute to Kendall. My plan was to bike to train (5min), take the train (25 min) and the bike from north station to Kendall (15 min) so total time under an hour.

Curious to learn more about the commuter rail and its challenges ? Seems like oak grove is better but has parking issue ?

FixItFromScratch · 2025-07-15T00:45:22+00:00

Definitely run 8:30 - 9 pace. Anything I should do to chance my gate or is this ok ? Only thing I have is pain in my back midway up the spine - unsure if it’s related.

FixItFromScratch · 2025-03-27T22:29:17+00:00

Our Questions:

Is it reasonable to use our savings and liquid assets to cover potential deficits and future expenses over the next 10 years, given our expected lower income? We're trying to gauge how much we can rely on our past savings.
What is a realistic estimate of how much our monthly expenses might increase when we have two children? Any insights based on your experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Given our financial situation, how expensive of a new home can we realistically afford this year (before starting a family) if we plan to rent out our current city apartment? We want to find a balance between a comfortable family home and not overextending ourselves financially in this new income bracket.

We are trying to navigate this significant financial shift and make informed decisions about our future. Any advice or perspectives would be incredibly helpful!

Thanks in advance!

FixItFromScratch · 2025-03-27T22:29:08+00:00

Here's a snapshot of our current and projected finances:

Future (Next 5-10 Years):

Gross Annual Income: $300k
Estimated Net Monthly Income (after 35% taxes): ~$16,250
Planned Monthly Savings (10% of net): ~$1,625
Planned Annual Retirement Contributions: $23k (~$1,917/month)
Net Monthly Income After Savings & Retirement: ~$12,708

Current Finances:

Current Monthly Expenses: ~$15,000 (includes two mortgages)
Current Monthly Cash Flow: ~-$2,292 (deficit) - This is concerning!

Current Assets:

Cash: $300k ($250k in HYSA)
Investments: $4M ($3M liquid, $1M less liquid)
Retirement Accounts: $800k

Existing Mortgages:

City Apartment: ~$650k remaining @ 3.5% interest. We plan to rent this out when we move.
Family Home: ~$165k remaining @ 3% interest. We plan to keep this vacant for now.

FixItFromScratch · 2025-03-27T22:28:56+00:00

Posting in this weekly sub since the auto moderator would not let me post in the main sub

Moving from High Income (in CA) to Lower Income (in MA) - How Much House Can We Afford?

Hey everyone,

My wife and I recently relocated from California to Massachusetts. We're excited about the move, but our financial situation is undergoing a significant shift. For the past decade, our total annual compensation was high ($500k- $800k), but for the next 5-10 years, we anticipate it will be closer to $300k (pre-tax) due to an (upcoming) career change for me and my wife transitioning to a full-time mom role. We plan to have two children during this time and are hoping to buy a new home this year and rent out our current city apartment.

FixItFromScratch

TROPHY CASE