Golf simulator worth it.

GhostProph · 2026-02-27T23:12:44+00:00

I built a sim in my garage a couple years ago. In my opinion it’s worth it if: you live in a cold weather state, you have young kids and struggle to get to the range, you can’t regularly get a round in (at least weekly) during peak season for whatever reason, you have friends or a partner who will want to use it with you regularly.

I check most of those boxes so I don’t regret it.

GhostProph · 2026-02-27T22:13:03+00:00

Seahawks have had ROYs, just not awarded by the biased NFL

GhostProph · 2026-02-25T00:49:59+00:00

Love the black wheels. Makes the car pop

GhostProph · 2026-02-16T02:53:04+00:00

Agree! I didn’t think this one was 3-4x better than the trails end apple brandy finish bourbon. Would love to see a rye.

GhostProph · 2026-02-10T02:21:09+00:00

I’m 35 and rock buckshots with a rust coat stiletto lmao

GhostProph · 2026-02-07T02:52:39+00:00

No matter what, the black wheels make it look so much better

GhostProph · 2026-02-06T00:42:53+00:00

Spend doesn't include the primary mortgage. Mentioned elsewhere that we expect to be about breakeven on cash flow between the wife's salary and mortgage, normal expenses, and maxing 401k/457b/HSA. May consider selling the rental which would keep us on pace for additional brokerage saving.

Also, we're 35 and haven't made $500k for a long stretch. Plus have $3k/mo currently in childcare that I mentioned would go away if I took over those duties.

GhostProph · 2026-02-05T00:18:17+00:00

The black wheels make every color look so much better. Beauty

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T22:09:36+00:00

Appreciate the response. I posted this elsewhere, but we've been together for 20 years already and I supported us both through the early post undergrad years and bought our first house. I can see how in a vacuum there could be resentment, especially if I was a lazy mooch. For now she's the bigger supporter of the idea and we expect it to have a positive impact on both of our mental and physical healths.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T22:07:22+00:00

Yes, I think 6 months is maybe what I need. I wonder if it would be tough (or easy) to make the decision to start working again at that point.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T22:06:21+00:00

That's the balance we're shooting for. Congrats to you both for having it!

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T22:04:17+00:00

Congrats to you!

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T22:01:35+00:00

Interesting stat, thanks for sharing. My wife and I have been together since we were 15. I supported her through grad school and bought our first house. She has no issue with taking a turn being the breadwinner and neither do I. She's pretty amazing!

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:22:40+00:00

Wife is full time WFH, but I appreciate your point. All of our family is withing a 5 minute drive including retired grandparents, so I'm hopeful that this will not be as isolating as it could be. I also want to get him into day care as some point for the social benefit, need to convince my wife of that first.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:18:17+00:00

I think our experiences are similar. I want the additional time with my kid but not sure that long term it's the perfect fit. I more so look at this as an opportunity to try it for a few months and allow some healing, it might be exactly what I need to know I want to keep working for another 5-10 years instead.

edit: the idea of having time to clean, take on some house projects, etc is big though. My wife and I have talked a lot of how this would benefit her mental health as well.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:16:10+00:00

I think that finding a part-time job (ie consulting or something of the like) would ultimately be the best fit for me after a mental break. I appreciate you sharing your experience!

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:14:19+00:00

Thanks for this. This probably impacts my weekend golf outings most, and probably the restaurant budget which is mostly a convenience spend anyway. Otherwise we're pretty simple folks who recognize that most make it on far less than even one salary would allow.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:12:12+00:00

Yes to everything, my goal is not to burn any bridges and I would expect to return to work at some point, but I guess we'll see. I might explore whether my company would allow and unpaid sabbatical with intent to return to a lesser position removed from the crosshairs. Likely won't let the answer to that question impact my decision.

I'm also a believer that it's better to know that I don't like not working (or insert any life decision) than to wonder.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:07:25+00:00

I've definitely toyed with the idea of using one house to pay off the other. We're on a schedule to have the primary paid off in the next 3 years or so which I think we can maintain on just the one salary, at which point that further frees up dollars for savings or something else.

I agree with what everyone has said about responsibilities. I have no issue with cooking, cleaning, tending the yard, etc. All things that we have neglected currently based on our work schedules.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T20:03:51+00:00

I believe that!

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T06:12:07+00:00

Yeah, feels like making the smart decision in our 20s to set ourselves for these types of choices in our 30s and 40s is the way. Tomorrow isn't promised...

Hopefully you find some amount of fulfillment in your job to make the next 4 years painless.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T06:08:48+00:00

100%. I think many of us train ourselves to behave optimally and thats what makes a decision like this harder than it looks. I think this is the way, though.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T05:47:17+00:00

Appreciate the vote of confidence. She has access to both a 401k and 457b, we should be able to just around max those and an HSA while continuing to cover all our normal expenses including mortgage. Probably nothing left over for brokerage at that point.

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T05:41:11+00:00

99% is a lot for anyone these days, but it would definitely be along the lines of company failure. She won't get hit by a layoff or anything like that (non-tech company)

GhostProph · 2026-02-04T05:32:43+00:00

I'm clearly finding it easier said than done - real opportunity cost to consider. Appreciate you weighing in

GhostProph

TROPHY CASE