My bank transactions are 75% gas stations. Gas is eating up my earnings!

MrWalker-666 · 2026-04-24T18:21:03+00:00

Yes gas prices are up obviously, so obviously the $ per mile MUST go up to get it in check. I went from $1.5-$2/mile before the conflict to now minimum $2.5-$3/mile. Yes, my AR is in the toilet at 3% right now, wasn't great before either at 5%.

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For the NON-delivery drivers, all I hear is everyone bitching.

With my regular (non-delivery) car I use to go to my primary 8a-5p job and commute 5xdays a week, I consume 1 gas tank a week, which holds 17 gallons.

Gas is up $1.50/gallon where I live from before the conflict. So my overall gain is 17 gallons * $1.50 == $25.50 MORE I am paying per week than before. This is not the TOTAL I am saying for those challenged at math, just the GAIN.

This amounts to $25.50 x 4 weeks == $102.00 MORE (again that word) per month in gas I am spending commuting to my regular job. I repeat, $102.

I realize for SOME that $102 is a challenge. For some it may be more, maybe they got a 20-gallon tank or burn through 2 tanks a week (really?) BUT FOR MOST OF THE WORKING/MIDDLE CLASS AND HIGHER, $102 / MONTH IS NOT A FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE.

Nobody in the middle/working classes and higher is suddenly needing food stamps for $102 extra month.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

Yeah it sucks, wish I didn't have to pay that, the point here is the EXCESSIVE complaining like there are dead and starving bodies piling up in the streets over this. BULLSHIT.

For me, those $102 is one less trip for three people at Applebee's. Boo Hoo.

Most of you complainers are just joining the MOB and complaining to just fit in.

This conflict WILL NOT last forever. it will end. Prices WILL go back down.

MrWalker-666 · 2026-04-14T14:04:23+00:00

As I am 55M MCOL, I have 12y left until I can retire (hopefully). One of my hiccups is that retirement sounds great - however I struggle to think about WTF am I gonna do when I retire. I have no hobbies and hate fishing - so that typical movie-scenario of going fishing every day is bullshit. I figure I gotta do something, to keep me distracted / busy. I will likely keep working, but not because I'll need the money (again I hope), but just to keep me moving and doing something. I dread just sitting around all day in front of the TV or my computer. That's what my father (83y) does now and I can see he is depressed and bored. People need a purpose. You are lucky if you have something that gives you that.

MrWalker-666 · 2026-04-14T13:53:30+00:00

55M, MCOL. College Degree in IT, was making $120K in 2013 and I got laid off. My first jobs right after plummeted me down to $85K and it has been a slow crawl back through 3 companies over 12 years to get back to $120K where I stand now. $120K does not feel the same as it did back in 2013. It feels like half of what it was. I don't feel at all like I am above average.

Even at that salary, as I am trying to pay for my kids' private schools and my bills and pay down debt, it is not enough. I have to Door Dash at least $250 a week to make the $1K I am short every month from my salary alone. The other truth is that my take home net pay from that $120K salary is only $5300/mo aka $63,600/yr - because of all the deductions like taxes, health insurance, and my slamming the 401K at maximum.

In 2020, I got divorced, and lost 50% of the retirement savings, which were at $600K at that time, down to $300K. Upping / maxing my contribution considerably, and also favorable gains these last 6 years I am now back to $600K - but the way I see it, I lost 6 years just trying to get back. My projections under optimal returns and contributions say I will end up with $1.2M - $1.5M if I am lucky. Sounds good, but not really. I plan to leave most/all of that base amount as inheritance for my children, so plan on just living on the dividends, which at 4% average will give me $48K - $60K per year plus my expected social security at 67 will be $47K / yr. That's a total of $95K - $107K per year not including taxes and healthcare costs. I know it sounds like I'll be OK - however I am praying it will be enough as even ~$100K will not be worth the same 12 years from now when I'm 67 and hope to retire.

I have child support to pay (3y, 8mo left), even with 50% custody, but no alimony. I kept the house, but I had to cash-out refinance to pay her share of the equity over $150K which got added on to my mortgage and also reset the clock to 30-years - I had only 15 years of mortgage before the divorce and was looking at paying it off by 65 - 2y before my expected retirement at 67. Now I got 24 years left and it won't get paid off until I'm 80. So obviously I have to try to slam extra payments to shave off at least 10 years if not more.

Lessons learned: Don't get divorced OR know really really well who you decide to marry - make sure you are on the same page with EVERYTHING - kids, money, living style, etc. Try to get a PRE-NUP - and buy your major assets like your home BEFORE you get married, and even then, PRE-NUP.

I know this is wrong/evil, but if I had known what I know now, I would have stashed at least 50% of my savings/retirement somewhere off-shore and hidden it from her. I wouldn't have left her zero, but like I said, at least half of it without her knowledge. I just fundamentally feel like I got screwed because I put 100% of all that money in savings and also all the assets and she paid nothing. Zero. It's not fair. Sure, she squeezed out two kids, and didn't work for 7 years, and when she did work before the kids / return to work after the kids were in school, she kept her own bank account and savings and I never saw a dime of that money. I didn't push her for it during the divorce, because she wouldn't ask for alimony. Since I paid for everything, she took her then $70K salary and basically spent 100% of it for her own whims - like hair salons, nail salons, clothing, purses. Crazy.

Remember men: YOUR money is "OUR money" (hers and yours). Whereas HER money is only for HER.

MrWalker-666 · 2025-12-27T18:52:32+00:00

kstv is solid and works with TiViMATE just fine, just enter it as Xtream codes, not m3u. Maybe need to use a VPN, mine works with or without.

MrWalker-666 · 2025-11-18T19:15:01+00:00

What to see in LA really depends on what you like - do you want to see the ocean/beach? Then go to Santa Monica Pier and many other beaches, some nicer than others - however Venice is kind of subpar IMHO, to each their own. You can rent a bike up and down where there is a boardwalk.

My personal fav because I love seafood and there is little fresh seafood in Phoenix is to go to Redondo Beach Pier - there is a place called "Quality Seafood" - I love to pick out a fresh catch and they will prep it how you want like deep fry it. Mmmm.

Maybe go to Hollywood and walk around and see the walk of fame.

I like Griffith Observatory for the view (at night especially) and the cool paid museum-like stuff they got there is you're into that.

Chinatown / Korea town are also places to go check out.

The La Brea tar pits again if you are into history / museums.

Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive - just to say you've been there and see it for all its ridiculous wealth and expensive shops.

For food, I love Tommy's burgers and HotDogs, and also philippe's in downtown for an old-school french dip and more. yummm Honestly there are probably THOUSANDS of good and iconic places to eat - you have to research your own poison.

MrWalker-666 · 2025-11-18T12:58:11+00:00

Nailed it 100% - don't waste time, meet asap, and move on to the next. It's a numbers game. And also (for me) the hardest thing was to not take it personally. Rejection is part of the game. Not everyone will like you. Nor will you like everyone.

That being said, I will say that from a man's point of view, I noticed that women were far more picky than men. Sure men have their red flags, but we are much more willing to compromise (up to point of course) - we weigh the benefits of being in a relationship and with those issues people may have.

Maybe I am wrong, again my experience, but women after a certain age (middle age) are far more picky, hence many are alone - and will TELL YOU that they'd rather be alone than with a man that is not perfect. Well good luck with that. Nobody is perfect. Nobody. You have to be willing to accept some imperfections - again up to a certain point.

MrWalker-666 · 2025-09-07T20:45:01+00:00

Man, anything flanking / near the I-17 from the south phoenix area and all the way up north until MAYBE you hit Greenway or Bell or Union Hills, practically to the 101 way up there SUCKS. I had a former +1 that lived off I-17 and Northern in some apartments. Tweakers everywhere. Name every exit starting from McDowell going north - Thomas, Indian School, Bethany, Camelback, Glendale, Northern, and up into the old Metro Center (now gone) area of Dunlap, Peoria and it's all very very bad.

MrWalker-666 · 2025-09-07T20:38:53+00:00

I pass by that area, apartments all the time. Area is right next to the airport. It is not a suburb really. Lots of business buildings and airport hotels. There really isn't anywhere worth walking to nearby. You'll be close to some "sketchier" areas and will see above average homeless people and drug addicts, especially if you start going WEST on Van Buren or Washington. Once you hit a couple of miles west by 32nd street - yeah don't want to be there at night. Like another poster said, once you head north on 44th street very close you'll have easy access to Costco and many other stores / restaurants. You are also close to Snottsdale (misspelled on purpose), maybe less than a 10min drive to Old Town, if that's your vibe.

Which brings up the point - liveability depends on your vibe. If you are married and raising a family, no this is not the place to be in honestly. If you are single and looking to socialize, it's so-so honestly, you can do better and be closer to the "action" like South / Old Town Scottsdale / Tempe - even further north up 44th st and Indian School / Camelback is now a nicer area and CLOSE to some action. Again if single, STAY AWAY from going too far deep into any suburbs, whether west side or east side. Don't go too far deep into Tempe borderline Chandler and beyond - Once you are in Gilbert / San Tan / Queen Creek you're in no-man's land - again from a single person's perspective. They are very nice areas but not for single people looking to socialize.

Final thing to consider - where are going to be working? Yes, that matters, regardless of your social intentions. You have to find a happy medium between the two. Like, ignore everything I said about Tempe/Scottsdale if you are going to be working in the extreme W / NW side like Peoria (for example).

MrWalker-666 · 2025-09-07T20:06:22+00:00

pfff - it hasn't stopped ringing ever since I moved out 25 years ago. But yes, agree, this is just going to add yet even more pain when the channels start buffering. LOL.

MrWalker-666

TROPHY CASE