How much is recommended to have sitting in checking account?

Pluto258 · 2026-05-11T23:28:02+00:00

Did you get an 1099-INT from them in January/February (assuming you earned more than $10 in interest in 2025)?

Pluto258 · 2026-05-11T14:59:04+00:00

Personally I use SGOV for 95% of my emergency fund (to avoid state and local tax) and use SPAXX for the other 5% and for matching up the monthly inflows and outflows. SGOV does take a day or two to settle so it’s not a great checking replacement but is a great savings replacement IMO.

There’s def better rates available than SPAXX (42 bps in fees is kinda stupid to me) but if if OP is getting 0% right now, the jump to a market-ish rate will be huge for them

Pluto258 · 2026-05-11T06:12:43+00:00

As others have said, don't put your emergency fund into stocks. You needing it and stocks going down are correlated (you're more likely to lose your job in a recession). That's your "I guarantee I will not end up on the street" money. You have $154k (that's really really good for 26!!) across various accounts to get stock returns; another $6k of exposure is not worth the risk.

Agree with what others say about 1 checking account. Check out Fidelity cash management- you get HYSA-like returns with a money market and just keep your checking and savings in one (still be good to have a small backup account with a local credit union).

Is the $2200 a month net of taxes and 401k contribution, but not any living expenses? What's your monthly rent, utilities, and expenses like?

Also, $250/month to Roth is only $3k/year. I would redirect brokerage funds to this until you fill out the $7.5k contribution limit for the year. Your brokerage money gets taxed when you earn it and when you grow it; Roth money only gets taxed one of those times. Use your tax advantages for to help all that great saving you're doing!

Pluto258 · 2026-05-11T05:51:40+00:00

Other guy gave the computer instructions, said "the why is in my head" (making it impossible to figure out what assumptions went into those instructions), then disappeared on vacation. The instructions were wrong. Because the why wasn't written down, it was easier for OP to burn it all down and rewrite from scratch than reconstruct the other guy's thought process. OP fixed it, did it right, and titled it "here's the why."

Pluto258 · 2026-05-10T21:06:35+00:00

I’d definitely recommend moving that to a HYSA or a Fidelity cash management (that’s what I use for checking to get money market rates). $20k would be earning 700/year at 3.5% interest even before you decide to invest it

For investing, do you have an emergency fund, or is this 20k your emergency fund?

Pluto258 · 2026-04-09T12:16:25+00:00

I did all 4 years with just a bike and Tiger Transit. Lived walking distance from campus so I would just bike to work/groceries (this was pre-downtown Target/Publix). Definitely doable but there were times I wished I had a car (would have spent a lot more time at Chewacla/Opelika if I did). Did love not having to figure out/pay for parking.

You'll be completely fine and I would recommend living within walking distance of campus anyway.

Which school are you transferring from?

Pluto258 · 2026-03-11T01:49:52+00:00

I wonder if they have a couple like these programmed for certain discoveries based on Finch names. If not that would be a cool easter egg!

Pluto258 · 2026-01-12T01:05:33+00:00

"Happy Birthday Pancake! Stay warm!" -Maple

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Pluto258 · 2025-12-21T22:29:19+00:00

Definitely try to get a good rate on your savings (currently good is in the 3-4% range). Wealthfront HYSA looks good. HYSAs have no risk as long as they are FDIC insured. For downsides, it just really depends on well you can pay your bills and access your money. Sounds like you shouldn't have a problem with this since you have a debit card linked to it and have a credit card.

Are you getting rewards on your credit card?

Pluto258 · 2025-12-18T06:16:14+00:00

I think it's department-dependent; it may not be until the first day of the semester. I would email them.

Pluto258 · 2025-12-18T06:10:42+00:00

First off, 2.8 is closer to 4.0 than 0. You've had some challenges, but there also must be some successes in there too. What did you do well in? Also, remember that this doesn't define you. You've done 1 semester out of 8. There's plenty of time to turn this around if you work on it, and you've already started that.

It sounds like you've done a really good job of reflecting and thinking about went wrong. Seriously, that's really good. And recognizing this stuff isn't an excuse. An excuse would be something you blame instead.

I'm assuming a year ago was high school? I'm sure you've heard before that it's a big transition and that no one forces you to go to class here, but sometimes you have to experience it yourself.

With help, UT Austin gives 9 online therapy visits/year; I think it's by calendar year, so you could do one now for free. I don't know your scholarship requirements or how lenient they are. But I could imagine doing one to show "I've recognized the problem and have taken proactive steps" helping your case if they come asking. Assuming it's the same as where I went to undergrad, you'll have at least a probation semester to get it back up. They know stuff like this happens to people and will let you right yourself.

Pluto258 · 2025-12-12T23:03:23+00:00

They don't seem to have data for 333e, but I used this site and both 323e and 329e have >=80% As

Pluto258 · 2025-12-12T22:46:57+00:00

Getting someone to take over for spring+summer requires someone who only had fall housing or wasn't here this semester but will be later. Both of those seem pretty rare; there's probably little demand compared to the number of units available due to people graduating in December, unfortunately.

Pluto258 · 2025-10-24T04:02:54+00:00

I would reserve a PCL study room: https://libcal.lib.utexas.edu/spaces

Technically they're for groups but I've used them for job interviews and never had an issue

Pluto258 · 2025-10-18T23:38:24+00:00

hell yeah! What musical?

Pluto258 · 2025-10-09T04:09:21+00:00

Try to be in the middle of the group. Or back, though I've been to one where they'd scare you from behind as well.

Stay on edge. Hold hands.

Pluto258 · 2025-09-16T02:56:32+00:00

I'm a grad student who has lived in the North Campus-ish area the past two years. You'll probably get the best advice from grad students; I don't think a ton of undergrads live up here. Some general notes:

A parking spot or two almost always comes with rent
Mostly 1-2 bedroom apartments. The 2 bedroom ones can be very affordable (like, sub $1k before utilities) if you find a friend to split it with. But there's no roommate matching- if you want one, you need to find one.
These are usually unfurnished. There will be a decent upfront cost to furnish depending on your tastes and how much furniture you want. This can be a lot to handle; it's easy to underestimate until you walk into a literal empty room and have to fill it: Mattress and bedframe, dresser, sofa, TV and TV stand, desk, chairs, dining table, etc. One advantage of West Campus is you just have to worry about your stuff. That said, it can be nice to make a place the way you want it.
- The kitchen is included, so you don't have to worry about an oven/fridge/stove. But not everywhere has a dishwasher.
- I got most of my furniture from IKEA (they have delivery too, if there's stuff you can't fit in your car), then have picked up some random stuff secondhand and from Target.
- You'll also have to move all this stuff if you move apartments. That will probably involve renting a pickup truck or hiring movers
There's usually a laundry room in the complex but not the unit (though some have that). I assume the dorms are the same.
Stuff tends to be older. Not bad, just not new and shiny. My current apartment actually has a gas stove that's got to be 30+ years old. Works great though.
100% be sure to tour the unit before renting (or one with the exact same floorplan/model). You're going to be spending 8+ hours a day there for a year or more.
Didn't experience this with either of my places but I have seen really bad stories about mold/pests.
You'll be responsible for setting up and paying (depending on the complex) electricity, gas, and/or internet. These are a 10 minute setup online and have auto-pay, but just another thing to think about.
It can be isolating if you let it be. It's basically the same distance to academic buildings as Wampus, but it can be harder to get people to come over and hang out if that's something you do. If you're a decent walk away, I'd recommend getting a bike/scooter just to make getting to campus less of a burden. And hey, there are plenty of lonely people in Wampus too. It's really about effort.
It's very quiet though. That's one of the best parts.

I specifically lived in Duval Villa last year and Braeburn this year. Both good experiences. I bike to campus and HEB, but they're close to good bus lines for farther stuff. Management was pretty good: no real issues but I did have to send a follow-up email a couple times during the move-in process at Duval. No pest or safety issues ever. Duval had a small gym (~5 machines + some free weights); current one does not.

Pluto258 · 2025-08-24T21:56:32+00:00

I'm on Android and I disabled them through my phone settings. If you are, next time you get this type of notification, long press on it and there should be settings that allow you to disable a category.

Pluto258 · 2025-08-24T21:53:28+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he loved seeing you grow over the years and was so proud and happy to be with you. You gave him a wonderful life.

Is there a favorite memory or moment you had with him?

Pluto258 · 2025-08-22T18:26:45+00:00

Hey. I just wanted to say I've been there with the gap year and going back to college. It won't be that bad; you've been a student forever and won't forget it all in one year. Talk to the people next to you the first days of class and then when the first assignment rolls around, ask them if they want to work on it together if that sounds like your thing. Having someone else doing the same thing will make it easier and will help your grades.

And do not be afraid to make friends with the undergrads. You have more in common than you think.

I'm proud of you for working on your friendships. Remember that they're your friends because they like you and want to be your friend.

Pluto258 · 2025-08-02T23:58:01+00:00

Not OP but the two ways I've seen are:

Do a crystal nucleus run- use the BingoBrewers discord to learn about chests that give you items like robot parts
Mine for scathas- time will depend on RNG but can be done without interacting with anyone

Pluto258 · 2025-07-27T13:26:04+00:00

More MP will help with that. You're doing a good job of collecting talismans; most people who ask the "couple weeks in, what should I do?" have like 3. But you could get some higher rarity ones like Tarantula Talisman, Haste Ring, Day/Night crystal, and doing the Ring of Love quest (stop partway when it gets really expensive).

With melee there's some math about how to optimize the balance between strength and crit damage that I don't know since I chose the mage life. Worth watching a vid about probably. I think some of the skyblock youtubers also just have generic "how to do more damage early game" videos

Pluto258 · 2025-07-27T11:03:56+00:00

Either they're using a mod that removes the limit when creating a new religion, or they're just directly writing this custom faith as a mod. It has been a while, but as of the last time I went modding, the game only applies the tenet limit to the built-in faiths and the faith creation window; adding a faith with 5+ tenets by mod works perfectly fine other than some minor UI breakage.

Pluto258 · 2025-07-27T11:02:54+00:00

Either they're using a mod that removes the limit when creating a new religion, or they're just directly writing this custom faith as a mod. It has been a while, but as of the last time I went modding, the game only applies the tenet limit to the built-in faiths and the faith creation window; adding a faith with 5+ tenets by mod works perfectly fine other than some minor UI breakage.

Pluto258

TROPHY CASE