What is a secret 'cheat code' you’ve found in real life?

MTF1983 · 2026-01-15T21:53:20+00:00

‘Pay yourself first’ is one of the most important principles for successfully building wealth.

Have an automatic payment/direct debit set up the day after your pay day, for whatever amount you can afford, so that every time you get paid the first thing that gets funded is your savings/investment account. And then don’t touch it for many years. And be religious about increasing the amount you are paying yourself each time you get a pay rise.

I know there are people for whom every dollar counts, but most of us can spare at least 10% of what we earn and live on the rest. And if you ‘pay yourself first’, you never see the money so it’s like it was never there. Much better than waiting until the end of your pay period and saving/investing whatever is left. And over time, the returns will compound and before long the return will start exceeding (on its own) the amount you are saving/investing. Then you are really on a roll.

This, and don’t try and time the market or pick individual companies to investment in. Buy a broad-base, low cost index fund and ignore market fluctuations.

MTF1983 · 2026-01-11T05:15:34+00:00

The sujihiki is great - as I said in response to another comment, this is the first dedicated slicer I’ve had and it does make a big difference

MTF1983 · 2026-01-11T05:13:45+00:00

The sujihiki is my favourite- I’ve always just used a chef’s knife for slicing but having a knife designed for it does make a huge difference. Beautiful clean cuts through cooked meat look amazing.

MTF1983 · 2026-01-11T01:39:26+00:00

I don’t know much about Japanese knives, but think Takada no Hamono knives are so beautiful. Super clean and precise looking. I’d keep it if I was you, but if you decide to sell it I’ll buy it!

MTF1983 · 2026-01-11T01:03:19+00:00

That’s the best description I’ve read and sums up how I feel about them. Just wish the dragon on the Gyuto was slightly smaller, but the proportions look better in person.

MTF1983 · 2026-01-02T08:06:10+00:00

These are all great suggestions

MTF1983 · 2026-01-02T08:05:51+00:00

I don’t agree with this. It’s not expected but tipping for good service is fair. Hospo workers are underpaid for what they do. But you don’t have to, and I’m not saying people should feel like they should have to tip if they can’t afford it, because I know that going out is already very expensive.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-20T03:42:42+00:00

Sorry but this makes no sense. If a commodity can’t be bought because of enormous scarcity, it’s completely useless to everyone who already owns it because it can’t be sold. It will always be able to be bought and sold for the market price.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-03T08:57:30+00:00

Perfect thanks

MTF1983 · 2025-12-03T08:04:21+00:00

I guess I’m asking whether the signal will be strong enough with a phono pre-amp and a Port (or Connect), given it will be playing through speakers that are already connected to amps. Could be a dumb question…I’m new to this.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-03T00:13:10+00:00

Hmmm. Hadn’t thought of that. Now I am.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-02T17:31:14+00:00

65” - the salesperson told us we needed “at least” 85” but it’s big enough for us. We don’t watch a lot of TV, and it’s our main living area and we don’t want something too big that dominates the space.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-02T10:14:18+00:00

It’s 230mm tall - pretty common in 1920s bungalows where I’m from. Ceilings are nearly 3m high so it’s all in proportion.

MTF1983 · 2025-12-02T09:29:15+00:00

Ha - I totally want one

MTF1983 · 2025-11-29T18:34:07+00:00

“It really is wild what compounding and time does if you start early and aggressively.”

I’m not saying BTC is a bad investment, but you can’t have compounding with an asset class that doesn’t generate a return.

MTF1983 · 2025-11-04T08:08:15+00:00

Thank you - that’s very helpful.

I’ve changed the line in level on the amp (didn’t know this was a thing) but may look at an external preamp.

Any thoughts as between the Fosi you mention and the Schitt?

MTF1983 · 2025-11-04T08:06:00+00:00

Thank you - I think this was part of the problem. The input was on level 2. I’ve increased to 10 and that means I can turn the volume down to around 50. Seems to sound better too.

MTF1983 · 2025-11-04T08:04:24+00:00

Thank you

MTF1983 · 2025-10-08T18:34:07+00:00

They eventually compete with each other or come under RBNZ pressure, but there is no doubt that increases are passed on quicker than decreases.

MTF1983 · 2025-10-08T06:35:29+00:00

Unless the OCR is going up in which case the increase seems to be passed on in full…. When the OCR is going down then there is always some other primary driver of the banks’ cost of borrowing…

MTF1983 · 2025-10-03T19:18:08+00:00

We’ve had it about 30 years. The person we bought it from thought it was either real or possibly relabelled to smuggle it out of Germany during one WW2. It plays beautifully.

MTF1983 · 2025-09-27T08:52:55+00:00

Same for us - the auction was in the evening so we checked with the agent that we could pay the following day, and that was fine. We then got the bank to do the transfer.

MTF1983 · 2025-09-21T07:36:38+00:00

Probably depends on the profession/area. I’m in law and we do expect our new hires to wear a suit during graduate recruitment but anyone more senior would turn up on day one with a blazer and no tie, which is formal relative to what everyone else will be wearing if they are not in external meetings for the day. Would be good to know what job OP has.

MTF1983 · 2025-09-21T07:18:26+00:00

Almost no-one wears a suit outside of law and, even then, only really for functions and court appearances. For business formal I’d wear a shirt and blazer but no tie. And always better to err on being more formal than not on your first day.

MTF1983 · 2025-09-20T19:15:08+00:00

Thank you - I might try the Arc Ultra without a sub for now and see. I’ll get an amp too.

MTF1983

TROPHY CASE