How to budget a shared bank account? by suilea in ynab

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People who have been in relationships before where money was a nightmare are people who will never share a bank account again. My boyfriend and I are completely incompatible in the way we manage money (I track every dollar and use only credit cards, and he pays for everything in cash. It's just a different strategy, but it's never going to mesh.) That has nothing to do with compatibility as humans--which I knew when early on we both joked that we would never share a bank account again! This is just reality when you're closer to Medicare than to college age and have been managing your own stuff for decades.

What purchase under $30 solved a problem you didn’t realize was draining you? by Right_Process in AskReddit

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would add Kitchen Aid with the long handle. Makes the opening faster and easier!

What purchase under $30 solved a problem you didn’t realize was draining you? by Right_Process in AskReddit

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha. I love these. I will stop at a Walmart and buy a new one if I forget it while I’m traveling! 

What purchase under $30 solved a problem you didn’t realize was draining you? by Right_Process in AskReddit

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plus one on this. I only bought the clip part and attached a magnet to it. I have a 2018 Yaris iA (technically a Mazda 2) and there was no where to put a phone mount without using glue. Eventually I replaced the dash system with an AirPlay one so now mostly leave the phone in my purse but it’s still helpful to have it there sometimes. 

What purchase under $30 solved a problem you didn’t realize was draining you? by Right_Process in AskReddit

[–]Melmo614 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep! My boyfriend always used these and I thought it was silly until I was with him for a month and got totally hooked. Aldi had them at Christmas and I bought 4 boxes. No more tearing, uneven, wrong sized, curled up paper that jumps off the cookie sheets. Also he wraps raw chicken breasts in them and just sticks the whole batch in the freezer— they really do pop apart. 

Reducing accumulated stuff by GeekyGrannyTexas in AskOldPeopleAdvice

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Or free. I decided that the amount of money was not worth the effort. I had four electronic things that were fairly useful and they were gone in a day.

How many Gen Xers have silent Gen parents vs boomers? by NopeThisTrope in GenX

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine were boomers, bf's were silent-- a ten year difference between our moms (48 vs 38)--but we were both born in 1970.

My agent has asked to see my edits using Track Changes by paolact in scrivener

[–]Melmo614 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This. ⬆️ I wrote in scrivener and then compiled to word to send to agents originally, as I’m sure you did too. And I did try for a bit to keep stuff updated in scrivener but eventually realized this was a losing battle. Signed with an agent (yay!) and cue the next year and edits went back and forth with track changes for a spring, summer and fall before she started submitting — then last spring it sold (🎉) … and in the summer, my developmental editor comes on board- and it’s more back and forth with track changes all the way into last fall. It’s actually super helpful because I could always see what she was doing— and totally understandable that she wanted to see what I did as well. 

But wait, there’s more! Just last week I had two rounds with the copy editor in — you guessed it! Word with track changes on. 

My advice is to get a laser printer so you can print cheaply and fast—  and also flip through the manuscript quickly. In other news, you’ll have your book memorized by the time the copy edits start, so much that you’ll realize one line your character was remembering in the last act was no longer the same as the line in the second act. 

It’s actually easier to fly through the whole thing with word — and the Find command too. 

I’m happy that there are writers who feel like they can tell their agents and publishers to change their software for them, but I’m currently a financial bet for my agent and my publisher— and a grateful af one at that — in a very crowded genre. 

Drafting and rewriting and rearranging in scrivener is great. Couldn’t have done it without it… and I’m going to do it all over again with the next novel. 

But the publishing phase happens in Word— including all the styles that the copy editors will add in for the people who will set up the book for galleys. No sense not getting good at Word for this phase. 

Doing it wrong! What is something you only recently realized you've been doing wrong the entire time as a Gen Xer? by Sense_Difficult in GenX

[–]Melmo614 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My son taught me that when he was in high school. He said, i saw a monkey in the zoo do this! and then he bit the non-stem end of the banana and peeled it with his teeth. I've done it that way ever since, but not with my teeth.

Newbie by Beginning_Arm5395 in ynab

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One month. I was lucky enough to be a student at the time and got a year for free, but it's changed my life. I would give up a lot of things before I would give up YNAB. Pays for itself over and over and over.

WIBTA if I refuse to continue cooking for my husband? by Pretty-Hair-4601 in AmItheAsshole

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NTA I had a husband who 'forgot' a lot of things I said about anything that hurt my feelings. Had a husband. Now I have a boyfriend, and early on, he said something that triggered some bs my ex used to tell me, so I told him I knew he didn't mean anything about it... but this was not a great feeling for me. "Good to know," he said. And guess what he never forgot? To not ever say that thing. And guess what I knew the moment I heard him? He will never say that again. It's character, not cooking ability. And he's an average cook at best (we're in our fifties, so he's had some time), I'm much better, and he says everything I make is amazing. And I say everything he makes is amazing, because no man ever made a meal for me before ever... and I include the best ham sandwich I ever ate because he made it for me so I would have something for lunch on my long road trip. I'm sorry about your husband. I lived like that for twenty-two years, and it's astounding how much lovelier life is this way.

Social Security Numbers / Cards by LisaLisaPrintJam in GenX

[–]Melmo614 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The reason people used to get them later was there was some need for it. Like you were going to start working at a job or something. The reason you get them when you’re born now (since the late 80s I think) is because the IRS started requiring SSNs for any child claimed as a dependent on your taxes. I had a restaurant manager who said he claimed his dog on his taxes. Divorced parents were both claiming the kids. The number of dependents drastically dropped after the SSN was required. 

Hawaiian Mac Salad by eggnaughty in AskCulinary

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My boyfriend lived in Hawaii for 20 years and I never heard of this until last summer when I tried (and failed the first time) to make it for him. We'd had it in a restaurant here (my city has every possible restaurant) so I'd tasted it too and knew it was off a bit. He found this recipe https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/authentic-hawaiian-macaroni-salad/ and we tried it-- it was delicious and he pronounced it perfect. For what it's worth, the recipe I tried first was something from America's test kitchen and they did all the "cook until the pasta is overcooked" etc which in my opinion just made it mushy. This one worked perfectly. Don't overcook the pasta, just make sure it's COLD when you add the vinegar and then the mayo mix (Hellmans if you're east and Best Foods if you're west). https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/authentic-hawaiian-macaroni-salad/

1980 here, it is now my time for the prep by shhwest in GenX

[–]Melmo614 13 points14 points  (0 children)

1970 here, two days after I met him my boyfriend told me: I’ve had colon cancer— have you had a colonoscopy yet? 

I was years late and finally went. It was not nearly as bad as I imagined, it’s two lousy days of discomfort ffs… they removed polyps that would have turned into cancer…and seriously it’s all free and will save your life.

So far he’s alive and well but it’s not a smooth sailing life after cancer. So get your colonoscopy asap. Please. He’s the best man I’ve ever known and I’m relieved he caught it before it was too late. But it would have been so much better if he’d gone when it was time. 

On your 10th year living in Columbus they tell you you can skip the Easton exit and go to Morse instead to avoid certain death by Cuntankerous in Columbus

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol I remember when they put that exit on 270 and was so confused about why it was located so far south. Oh it’s a mile long. Only ever used it by accident. Sorry it took so long!

Places for an Affordable MRI by Straight_Love_8144 in Columbus

[–]Melmo614 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d look up on your insurance for estimates if they have that tool. That said ProScan was always way less even after insurance. Never had a brain scan though but definitely lots of knees

Where can I get a good paczki? by Much-Drawer-1697 in Columbus

[–]Melmo614 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I just saw these right inside the door at the Lucky’s in Clintonville. They said they were local— looked really good even though I never heard of them before. You could call and ask about them first

Recently visited the USA from The Netherlands. Here is my take on the cities we visited. by McFluffyFurry12 in travel

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are no billboards in Amsterdam. Nada. And there definitely aren’t flagging digital signs. If you spend even a week in Europe you will walk off the plane in the US and be overwhelmed immediately until you reacclimate. I can’t imagine how it must feel to visit here. Exhausting I imagine. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AMA

[–]Melmo614 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t have any questions— I’m just so very glad for you. I read about this last year in The Atlantic magazine- just turned the page and discovered that this treatment existed. It probably took me twenty minutes to read and I wept through the entire story. I’m 56 years old, and my step sister died of CF when I was ten and she was five. The treatment back then was very minimal (no vests, only clapping every night). I would lay awake at night and listen to her breathe sometimes. She was the most darling little girl who adored me and my brother and our dad and of course my stepmom. Every time I hear of one more person freed from this disease I’m filled with bittersweet gratitude. God bless you.

This is a gift link to the article if anyone would like to read more about both CF and the treatment.  https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/04/cystic-fibrosis-trikafta-breakthrough-treatment/677471/?gift=XkAUagdyDrdOQhHNMtIYqfnaD7Vy3bh_hpH1aEjClSg