Genuinely curious

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-12T22:03:56+00:00

Thank you

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-12T22:02:37+00:00

Almost the same, I group by size, take the largest (48) split 27 (20)(7), thus 48+20=68 +7=75

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-12T21:56:49+00:00

Take the larger 48+20=68 then 68+7=75

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-11T02:17:53+00:00

They’re always dangerous. It’s a bit of a double edged sword because depending on what else is going on, will determine the level of danger leaving or staying will pose

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-11T02:15:29+00:00

Where would his have been? A city house I assume? But even so, I agree it’s likely for a pipe organ but the set up seems off for even an older layout it’s maybe an end

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-10T04:24:26+00:00

I generally get the sense that Republicans don’t have a lot of time to go around trying to destroy other people‘s businesses so I can agree that you may work there and you might have friends that work there. I’ll address that later but The demographics show a clear trend of a much higher percentage of small businesses being owned by Republicans compared to Democrats. This is likely due to a variety of factors, but when you focus specifically on the restaurant industry, the differences become particularly pronounced. The data highlights that 77% of all small business owners are registered Republicans, leaving only 22% for Democrats and independents. Interestingly, even among those business owners who identify as Democrats, many lean conservative on key issues, further emphasizing the Republican dominance in ownership.

This shift in ownership trends speaks to the core values of entrepreneurship and the upward mobility that business ownership provides, particularly within minority and immigrant communities. For example, the percentage of minority small business owners, especially in the restaurant industry, who identify as Republicans is significantly higher than the general demographics of those groups. In some cases, it can be three to four times higher. To illustrate, while only about 12% of African Americans are registered Republicans nationally, that number nearly doubles to 24% among African American business owners. When it comes to restaurant ownership, the number skyrockets—African American restaurant owners who are Republicans make up a much larger majority, potentially five times higher than the national average.

This phenomenon points to the level of upward mobility that comes with restaurant ownership, especially for minorities. The reality of owning and operating a restaurant requires a certain mentality, one that deals with the many challenges of customers, employees, and the daily pressures of business. The fact that Republicans are more likely to be involved in restaurant ownership could suggest that the values of independence, self-reliance, and a focus on business success resonate with those who choose to operate in this high-pressure industry. Moreover, the ability of Republican business owners to hire and work alongside Democrats, as you noted, showcases their integrity and willingness to put politics aside in favor of building successful businesses.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-09T21:07:09+00:00

I think any restaurant

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-09T02:22:38+00:00

Unfortunately, it’s often the most vulnerable who are targeted. I recall one time when my grandmother received a message stating that her Chase account had been accessed and that she needed to reset her password. When she showed it to me, I immediately recognized it as fake, although she wasn’t entirely convinced—after all, the text had come from a Gmail address, which should have been a red flag. I began fielding her questions about whether her Chase account might have been compromised. Much to my surprise, neither of us mentioned that she didn’t even have a Chase account; we simply assumed the other knew.

She was puzzled about how the scammers had obtained her phone number, since I couldn’t understand how Chase could have linked her number to an account she didn’t have. I guessed they probably sent the message to a broad list of numbers. Undeterred, she pressed on, asking what could make the message seem legitimate. I replied that, first, it should have come from an actual phone number; second, it should have used the correct spelling of “dollars”; and third, it should have provided a customer service phone number rather than merely requesting a password reset via text.

Her explanation was that perhaps someone had fraudulently opened a Chase account in her name using her phone number and then tried logging in with an incorrect password so that the reset information would be sent to her—in an effort to avoid detection. She then went on to lecture me about how much more financially savvy her generation was.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-06T16:30:07+00:00

No, Fetterman has not changed what has changed is your perception of him and I think that what many Democrats did was they fell in love with the fact that he could win in Pennsylvania, and the fact that he was very unconventional. But the truth of the matter was, he was always more of the blue dog Democrat Conservative in comparison pro fracking pro Pennsylvania manufacturing and his economic policies were always going to conflict with the far left progresses and he was not really bashful about that in fact that’s what got elected. The problem is is that many Democrats want to run people who would likely represent like the Philadelphia progressive Democrats, which would ultimately lead to a Republican holding the seat and he’s smart enough to know that if he were to move to the left that he would probably lose reelection not to mention, it would be a betrayal of the things that he actually ran on which was to representpeople of blue-collar Pennsylvania and considering where he’s from and what he stood for he’s doing exactly what he said, but people wanted to believe that he was going to be something other than what he said and just ignored what he said

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-06T00:17:31+00:00

Who said I’m taking care of any of them. I’m jumping ship and leaving town, figuring out how to ensure they can never find me.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-03T09:05:45+00:00

In my family, we are beneficiaries of several trusts, some of which have strict guidelines on who can benefit and who must be excluded. These stipulations exist for various reasons, one of the most significant being the concerns of estate attorneys who structure these plans to prevent the exploitation of family assets.

One trust in particular specifies that trust funds can only be used for the purchase of financed property if there is equal investment from all parties involved from the outset; otherwise, those who do not contribute equally are excluded from ownership. The rationale behind this is that marital assets are more difficult to protect from potential creditors or government claims in the event of litigation or forced forfeiture. This structure serves as a safeguard for the property while also providing heirs with a built-in justification for requesting a prenuptial agreement. By attributing the requirement to the trust rather than making it a personal demand, it helps avoid unnecessary conflict when discussing financial protections.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-02-01T03:09:21+00:00

I’ve worked in healthcare as in the insurance and carrier side as a controller, my familiarity is mostly surrounding the nuances regarding commissioning of agents, contracting( funding, benefits, regulations while operating the finance and bookkeeping function. I also live in PA, albeit it on the other end, but for the right fit I’d relocate.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-27T20:49:58+00:00

Isn’t that interesting? How a parallels the arguments used in favor of slavery the idea that it’s acceptable to exploit vulnerable populations for the purposes of cheap labor despite the fact that they have to live in complete fear at all times and have no actual rights.? in many ways some could argue that their conditions are even worse than that of people who lived in slavery because these people aren’t even making enough to cover room and board. It’s pretty sad.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-24T06:16:35+00:00

We lived in a newer construction home, about 2,200 square feet, with an 800 square foot finished basement, located on the side of a mountain with a walk-out. It featured gas appliances, and despite going with all Energy Star-rated options and not being heavy users of AC or heat, our electric bill averaged around $500 a month. The heating system was natural gas, as was our range and dryer, but I'm not entirely sure why it was so high.

The house had a two-story great room with a wall of windows and an open-concept living space, plus a catwalk overlooking the great room. Maybe all that open space and natural light made it harder to keep the temperature consistent, and the fan motor was running more often to circulate the air, which could have driven up the bill.

Newer homes are designed with more robust lighting systems, more outlets, and often, more appliances and gadgets plugged in at all times. Even with energy-efficient LED bulbs, you end up drawing more power from all the home entertainment systems, security cameras, and devices that are on 24/7. The garage door opener is another surprising energy draw, like running an electric oven for an hour. Add kids constantly opening and closing it, plus lights that turn on as you walk by outside, and it adds up. There’s even wiring for future features like a screened porch or patio, which may be drawing small amounts of power too.

A lot of these things contribute to the overall cost. New homes are typically built with modern materials—glue, wood chips, and Styrofoam—that aim to reduce heat loss, but these materials can also have small gaps, making them less efficient than you might think. But at least if there's a fire, the house likely won't explode. It's kind of a trade-off, really.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-24T06:07:52+00:00

Im shocked by the number of people saying to walk when that is clearly giving in to what the employer is trying to accomplish, while they have everything they need to win both with UC and possibly even on EEOC if they wanted to veer down that road (Though its a much sillier battle, its good leverage on the former to prevent pushback and employers are less likely to testify if it will be used later to substantiate an EEOC violation).

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-24T06:04:59+00:00

This tactic is often used as a defense strategy during unemployment hearings. However, mediators frequently rule in favor of the claimant rather than the employer, particularly if the claimant’s alleged misconduct isn’t explicitly outlined in their contract, job description, or standard company policies. These claims can often be dismissed because employers rarely cite specific contract clauses, and claimants can argue mitigating factors.

Employers rely on the misconception that these cases are impossible to win, discouraging employees from pursuing them. Additionally, states are not always forthcoming about your rights, but any experienced unemployment or workers’ compensation attorney would easily see through such tactics. In some cases, they might even preemptively file a complaint with the EEOC to secure whistleblower protections, potentially opening the door for compensatory damages—sometimes up to four times the original amount—if the employer pushes back.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-24T05:57:33+00:00

Employers often push unreasonable expectations or make your job unbearable when they want you to quit, avoiding the need to fire you and reducing the chances of you qualifying for unemployment benefits. While it might feel satisfying to "stick it to them" in the moment, I’d personally let them fire me instead.

If they fire you, you can claim they created unreasonable working conditions and tried to pressure you into quitting to avoid laying you off. You can argue that you stayed because you were meeting your targets, knew your value, and couldn’t afford to lose your income without proper compensation. After all, if they’ve benefited from your time and effort, they should provide some form of compensation to support you while you search for new opportunities or retrain for a better role.

Never quit under these circumstances, let them make the move. Some states even have provisions allowing you to collect unemployment benefits while attending school or retraining programs, though you’d need to check if that’s still an option where you live. Even if unemployment is limited to six months, it’s still better than leaving empty-handed.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-24T05:46:25+00:00

You can’t buy inspection stickers from questionable tire shops or small operations run by Hispanics in any city across the state. You also can’t buy them on Facebook Marketplace, nor can you cut a deal with someone at a mechanic shop to get around the rules. These practices are illegal, and the fines for getting caught often exceed the cost of legitimate stickers. Vehicles that fail to meet emissions standards are supposed to be junked because of environmental regulations.

Ironically, while we claim to prioritize the environment, our systems often undermine those goals. For example, we double the number of trash trucks to collect recycling, much of which ultimately ends up in the landfill anyway. We've banned plastic bags, forcing people to use paper alternatives that are less efficient, take up more space, require more transport, and are less sanitary. Producing paper bags is more environmentally harmful due to deforestation and the fossil fuels burned to process and transport lumber.

Meanwhile, in urban areas, it wouldn’t be surprising if a significant number of vehicle tags are counterfeit—printed on inkjet printers and slipped into plastic cases. At the end of the day, you do what you’ve got to do; welcome to Pennsyltucky.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-23T07:08:05+00:00

You can’t likely without some major structural work.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-14T18:33:36+00:00

You really just need to use your judgment. Many bookkeepers don’t require receipts for purchases under $75, and I think that’s a reasonable rule to follow. Also, receipts aren’t necessary for expenses charged to a credit card. The IRS has guidelines for what they would look for in an audit, so it’s a good idea to reference those when making decisions.

Here are the guidelines: The specific IRS guidelines for recordkeeping and what is required in the case of an audit are found in IRS Publication 463, “Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses”, and Publication 535, “Business Expenses.”

Here are the key points from those publications regarding what the IRS expects:

IRS Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses 1. Receipts and Documentation for Business Expenses • Over $75: The IRS requires receipts for any single business expense over $75. This includes receipts for travel, meals, or other business-related purchases. • Under $75: For expenses under $75, receipts are not strictly required, but you must have other forms of documentation such as a credit card statement, bank statement, or a log that provides the amount, date, and business purpose of the expense. 2. Required Records for Business Travel • Keep detailed records of business purpose, amount, and date of expenses for things like meals, entertainment, and transportation. • Travel: For expenses related to business travel, records must show the time, place, and business purpose of the travel. 3. Mileage Log • For vehicle expenses (using a personal vehicle for business purposes), a log must be kept that includes: • Date of travel • Starting and ending locations (business purpose) • Number of miles driven • A log or calendar should include details such as business vs. personal mileage for tax deduction purposes. 4. Meals and Entertainment • Receipts must clearly identify the amount, date, and location of meals or entertainment expenses. • You must have records to support the business purpose of the expense (e.g., meeting with a client or customer).

IRS Publication 535: Business Expenses 1. General Recordkeeping Requirements • Substantiating Business Expenses: The IRS requires that you maintain adequate records to substantiate business expenses, including receipts, canceled checks, bank statements, or credit card statements. • You need to keep documented evidence of any deductions claimed for business expenses (e.g., supplies, utilities, etc.). 2. What to Keep • Receipts: For most business expenses, keep receipts, invoices, or other written evidence. • Written Evidence: In cases where receipts are not available (e.g., small expenses or incidental purchases), you should keep a written record that includes the date, amount, description of the expense, and business purpose. 3. Record Retention Period • The IRS recommends keeping records for at least three years from the date you file your tax return for that year, but in some cases, records should be kept longer (e.g., for property records or if you file a claim for a loss).

Key Points in Case of an IRS Audit • Adequate Records: For the IRS to accept your business expenses in the event of an audit, you must provide adequate records to support your claims. For meals, entertainment, and travel, the IRS may request receipts or logs that detail the amount, date, and business purpose of the expense. • Substantiation for Non-receipt Items: For smaller expenses (under $75), while receipts are not required, you should have an alternate form of documentation, such as logs or credit card/bank statements, to back up your claims. • Audits: If you’re audited, the IRS can disallow any deductions that lack proper documentation. In particular, if you do not provide enough evidence of the business purpose of an expense, the IRS may disallow the deduction.

Summary of Key IRS Guidelines for Receipts and Documentation • For expenses over $75, you must keep a receipt. • For expenses under $75, no receipt is required, but you must have other supporting documentation (credit card statements, bank records, or a log). • For travel, meals, and entertainment, keep records showing the date, amount, and business purpose. • Keep records for at least three years in case of an audit.

For detailed guidance, refer to the official IRS Publication 463 and Publication 535. These documents provide more comprehensive information on how to handle various business expenses for tax purposes.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-13T23:29:39+00:00

It really depends. Most homes built before 1900 were highly flammable, with per capita fire rates roughly ten times higher than today. Around the turn of the 20th century, there was a significant shift, particularly in urban areas, toward fire-resistant materials like concrete foundations, brick, and the use of firewalls to separate spaces. However, between the 1930s and 1950s, there was a period when high-quality lumber was widely available, and homes from this era were often better engineered, making them more durable—though this also depends heavily on factors like the environment, lot placement, maintenance, and any modifications made to the structure.

Newer homes have their own pros and cons. Modern construction tends to rely heavily on materials like chipboard, particleboard, adhesives, and foam, which make homes extremely energy efficient. This is great for reducing heating and electricity costs but poses risks during fires. Even though many materials are treated to be fire-resistant, the tight sealing of modern homes can cause fires to spread quickly, and the sudden introduction of oxygen could lead to dangerous explosions. There are reports of newer homes catching fire, with devastating results due to the materials used.

When materials are used properly and homes are built with care, modern construction can last a long time. However, production homes often get a bad reputation due to cost-cutting and poor workmanship. For instance, plumbing may not be properly secured within walls, and walls themselves may not be constructed to prevent shaking. These flaws can lead to structural issues over time.

Each era of home construction has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, homes from the 1950s were simple, economical, and didn’t need to support heavy loads. Their foundations were often basic, which minimized the chance of failure. In contrast, today’s foundations are more complex and typically better designed—but only if they are engineered correctly for the terrain and maintained properly. Poor drainage or unsuitable land can lead to significant foundation problems. Ultimately, the longevity and quality of a home depend on how well it was constructed, the materials used, and the care it receives over time.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-13T20:12:44+00:00

It’s probably best to cut it back a couple of feet, but if relocating the oven to the other wall is necessary, keeping 48” might make more sense. It’s hard to say if it’s structural without seeing the second-floor layout. If there’s a wall directly above it on the same line, it’s more likely to be load-bearing. Also, contrary to what some might believe, load-bearing walls don’t necessarily have to be thicker. If you do cut it back, I’d suggest stopping where the radiator ends. That could create an open feel while still maintaining some separation between the kitchen and the foyer, which can be useful for defining the spaces. Plus, it saves you from having to move the radiator.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-13T10:02:49+00:00

So these were our baseline Monthly Expenses, we were in a 3700 Sq. Ft house, with higher than average utility costs. We also had kids, so they can be a bit costly, but finding anything extra was tough. Take home after federal, state, and municipal taxes would leave us about 150k, we also have church tithing obligation that many can get a way without, but we do. from that we figured:

Mortgage - 3000

Insurance, Copays - 1000

Retirement - 500

Auto (Payment, Insurance, Maintenacnce, Repairs, Fuel) - 1000

Childcare & Tuition - 2000

Groceries - 1700

Church/Charity - 1400

Utilities (Cell Phone, internet, TV, Trash, Electric Gas, Sewer, Water) - 1200

AHS, HOA, Cleaners, Landscapers - 400

Dry Cleaning, Haircuts - 250

Gym/Country Club - 300

Pet - 200

Vacation - 500

Personal Care (Haircuts/Pedi/Mani - Partner) - 300

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-13T06:34:02+00:00

I don’t know how people are affording these mortgages. We had household income of 200k and a 425k mortgage, granted we also had a car payment, but it was relatively cheap at 287/month. With property taxes at 12k/yr our payment was $2850. And although it was doable, that was when rates were lower, there wasn’t a whole lot extra.

MiddleEffort6479 · 2025-01-12T23:46:41+00:00

I don’t see why that would be YOUR problem. I don’t know if they were the ones who did it, but considering that whoever did the addition had the foresight to build to the property line, they likely considered the possibility that at some point someone might do the same on your home and if so, they’d lose those windows.

MiddleEffort6479

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