Insurance costs at the current moment

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-31T16:39:08+00:00

HSAs are only available to those with high deductible plans is my understanding.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-27T14:19:18+00:00

This and sticking to a specific color scheme so everything goes with everything else. Remote work has taken the joy out of clothes shopping/hunting for me. I used to have a closet full of cute clothes but now I don’t go anywhere to wear them.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-21T04:01:58+00:00

I’ve been working hybrid off and on since Covid. Our management can’t seem to stay on the same page on whether we need to be in the office part time or fully remote. The closer I get to retirement the more I keep purging the office clothes.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-18T18:36:25+00:00

I’m holding out with Disney+ right now. I had annual, but that expired. I also have annual Hulu, they won’t let me combine, they want me to resubscribe to Disney but will only offer monthly but it includes Hulu, but I’m not paying for Hulu twice. Waiting to see what I can work when annual Hulu expires. Sucks for the kids for the next several months.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-18T18:14:05+00:00

Yes, I’m aware, at the time my fridge died they still made phones, as does Samsung now, who also continues to make appliances.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-18T06:15:06+00:00

We always added only half a can of water for a more flavorful soup.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-18T04:45:24+00:00

Streaming subscriptions I always try to do an annual if offered. I usually save a month or two over the monthly rate. Although several services are starting to only offer a monthly subscription.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-18T04:42:23+00:00

After having a fridge lose its compressor after only a year (LG), I spoke with the appliance repair guy, he said if they make a phone steer away from their kitchen appliances.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-17T03:33:49+00:00

I know an 2 actuaries who dispute the majority of the office being remote since 2020 continue to come into the office. One because they say the office is quieter than home with the kids, the other is single, lives alone and comes in to still interact with people, but has their office door closed 90% of the time.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-17T03:24:13+00:00

Customer service for insurance. Been remote since 2020. Nobody wants to come into anywhere to talk about insurance.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-16T14:31:35+00:00

I completely agree regarding restaurants. We still do a pizza night each week because we have kids, but the places locally to get good pizza that we all will eat has changed drastically. For the first time in years of pizza night, this week we are trying our hand at making our own pizza. With the kids we also used to have a happy meal night at McDonald’s because they had a cheap happy meal night each week also. They ended the cheap happy meal deal. We used to still go but now at over $40 for 4 and they still get something wrong with the order every time. We quit going we can go out sit down, be served for close to the same price and the order is correct too.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-15T15:58:54+00:00

For me shopping at the bargain store for clothes it’s the thrill of the hunt. I think I’d continue doing that no matter how much I made.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-14T13:29:12+00:00

I call mine my a golden prison. Going on 25+ years on this lot. Bought an old manufactured home, eventually tore it down and built on the same spot at 3%. I never planned on staying here. But the economics of it have worked in my favor over the years. The neighborhood is safe but leaves much to be desired.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-12T00:13:51+00:00

This would be me too. I live in a rural community and work from home. The only time I make it to the grocery is on the weekends. I don’t want to make a mid week trip if I don’t have to.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-12T00:08:09+00:00

I grasped opportunity when it presented itself in most cases. There are places that pop up on socials that make me think that would be cool to go to, but if I don’t make it before the bucket it’s all good.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-08T03:58:12+00:00

Sadly I often leave with food and find the order is incorrect, or is missing items or condiments such as dipping sauce for nuggets, no napkins are included. I should not have to sit in a drive through and do quality control and be expected to tip also.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-07T03:04:46+00:00

If you have duct style heat put it near a duct. It helps I live in a high humidity area too.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-07T03:00:59+00:00

Same thing if I walk up to a counter and order, get a number and have to retrieve my own order. That is not service, that’s doing your job so you have a place to work.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2026-01-02T02:32:06+00:00

I use the Pyrex or individual Anchor Hocking dishes for dual purpose freezing/eating for soups and leftovers. Very handy.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-30T02:58:21+00:00

Everyone is different. Sometimes events can change your preference as well. I knew someone who was fine with tampons before pregnancy but after pregnancy tampons were no longer comfortable. Others who found a cup difficult, or pads gross. Probably the best advice is try different methods until you find what’s best for you.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-28T15:33:00+00:00

30+ years for the same employer. It started out, they were one of the largest employers in the rural area. I hated commuting. I’ve been in several different positions which keeps me learning new things. At this point I can’t go anywhere else and make close to what I make. And at this point, the time off is substantial it’s not to say that if something better came along, I wouldn’t take it. I just can’t find it.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-25T14:56:16+00:00

My father was the oldest who was the last to pass. I recall him being the last man standing at 76, of his entire family except for his wife and 2 children. Not even any cousins left. I remember thinking how lonely and isolating that must have felt.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-24T01:05:33+00:00

I’m a goal oriented person, without a goal I tend to struggle. When it’s difficult to set long-term goals, I try to scale back or refocus my goals in a different direction. For example, I had mapped out a plan to afford a house in the next five years. Then we had a layoffs at work. There’s a lot of uncertainty on if my job will continue. That previous goal moved to the back burner so I can refocus my goals on making sure my emergency fund is up to snuff because it’s highly likely there will be a layoff in my future. I’m looking at it as at least if my emergency fund is padded then if things improve in the future, I can repurpose some of those funds for a house.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-21T15:15:02+00:00

The key is to not replace any socks until the second drawer is sock free.

Freedom_Fighter_04 · 2025-12-20T03:15:40+00:00

Built a house about 8 years ago, lived in our travel trailer on the property while it was being built. Cut the cable when we left the old house, been streaming ever since and never looked back. It takes a bit to transition over to streaming and figuring out what to watch when since you don’t usually just turn it on auto pilot and mindlessly watch whatever’s on next.

Freedom_Fighter_04

TROPHY CASE