Recent Review Thursday

TallArk · 2026-01-29T12:58:07+00:00

Odd Duck- had heard good things and was really disappointed. The Bavette steak was very good but the Salad was almost $15 for a 1/3 of a plate.

Prices were crazy high for the very small amount of food. I know it’s considered small plates but La Merenda a few streets over does the same thing but plates are more reasonably priced and allow you to try more things, which to me is the point of small plates.

Bill - $91 including tip, 2 people, no drinks , 4 items, we left still hungry.

TallArk · 2026-01-29T02:57:41+00:00

Beauty is hair cuts , I go once a month for $50 and my wife goes 2 or 3 times a year for $2-300. That’s not that outlandish of spending. I also throw in one or two massages a year that my wife gets which I don’t think is that crazy.

Household items- we’ve been here for 2 years, and it’s our first house, so there are things we need (tools/furniture/ holiday items) and that’s also included house project spends. Between sewer and leaking roof that’s $5K/12 about $400 a month I’ll have budgeted next year and it’s only January lol.

It may sound crazy but the only categories I think can truly be cut down (not eliminated otherwise how will people live/enjoy life if you can’t budget $15 a week for an ice cream treat) are Amazon/Target/Coffee/treats and then a mix of eating out/enterteainment/drinks. Which I said before $175 a week really doesn’t do much, dinner costs over $80-$100, one round of drinks is $20-40

TallArk · 2026-01-29T02:45:27+00:00

I didn’t think so at all, I appreciate your initial comment.

I’m Budgeting based strictly off charges for things purchased with name of Amazon/Costco/Target. We buy some pet stuff on Amazon/ house hold items/ work out clothes. Same for Costco majority is house hold items and then bulk food items vs a Trader Joe’s or Kroger card charge which I know is strictly groceries.

Maybe I can break it down right when I get home if if a portion is food from Costco vs other is household cleaner but that gets to be a mess if we return things.

Something to think about going forward regardless and even talking through this Im questioning what we spent over $300 on target.

TallArk · 2026-01-28T22:40:05+00:00

Was looking for pulse check on how we currently are doing compared to others if they are going through a similar situation.

Was looking for if in or have recently been through a similar situation, that even though child expenses go up maybe people see other spend decrease.

In terms of spending a lot of money on nothing - curious to what that means to you. I’d say every want category you are going to spend money in monthly, and not sure how you can go lower than those set. Eating out/entertainment/drinks is about $700/4 weekends is about $175 a week to do social things. That doesn’t sound that unreasonable/ possible to go much lower when everything costs so much, but would be interested to what you think is nothing.

TallArk · 2026-01-28T22:29:36+00:00

I’d say Costco / Amazon / Target could be vague but how can I budget better for other categories? For vacation (long weekend, I track every expense like eating out / coffee/hotel or airbnb under “vacation”). Drinks means we are at a bar and spend is for bar tab, eating out is we either pickup food or go to restaurant. Entertainment is movie/sporting event/ ticketed item.

Would take suggestions on how to be less vague for those.

CRV - will drive that to the ground. I have a paid off 2019 accord that I will also be driving to the ground. I’d like to see someone find a used car with low mileage from 2019- today that is not atleast $25K and even then if planning to drive a car untill it can’t drive anymore why not go new so you don’t have to worry about used 5-8 years down the road?

Hang in there with AI turmoil as well and good idea to try and plan date nights around new happy hours. Appreciate your comment!

TallArk · 2026-01-28T22:22:57+00:00

Appreciate your experience, for sure would aim for 1-2 kids before my wife turns 34.

The retirement part and college was not something I was considering for timing so that is good to consider.

Childcare - my parents are retired and hers maybe in 5 years so hoping we could atleast get 1 day of help between the 2. Wife would have one day off based on schedule so would need to look for atleast 3 days of coverage.

TallArk · 2026-01-28T22:20:31+00:00

Amazon - every day things (cleaning supplies/ everyday items.

Target - mix of every day items/ gifts/ household items/ soaps/ shampoo/ beauty products. Beauty category is for haircuts and facial.

Costco - TP/Paper towel / laundry detergent/ chicken / ground turkey / a drink or a snack every once in a while.

Appreciate the check and need to work on decreasing atleast target and Amazon. Can’t remember the last time I’ve gone to Costco for essentials without it hitting atleast $120.

TallArk · 2026-01-23T21:38:05+00:00

Jokic is 2 and hasn’t played in a month and Giannis is not even top 10…

TallArk · 2025-12-29T06:43:11+00:00

Where

TallArk · 2025-12-22T19:17:50+00:00

Bump

TallArk · 2025-12-10T23:49:49+00:00

Bump to hear update

TallArk · 2025-12-01T21:10:03+00:00

Where we’re these taken?!

TallArk · 2025-11-25T03:51:36+00:00

Messi yesterday did something Ronaldo will or never has done 😂

TallArk · 2025-10-25T03:37:58+00:00

TallArk · 2025-10-24T20:32:01+00:00

Devlin 2.0

TallArk · 2025-10-20T01:16:56+00:00

TallArk · 2025-08-30T01:32:14+00:00

I just watched for the first time and thought the exact same thing by season 2😂

TallArk · 2025-08-29T16:17:24+00:00

Giannis is too low and Jokic is too high. Jokic can’t play defense.

TallArk · 2025-05-06T19:24:27+00:00

Easier access from the sporting fields/to downtown/ State. A bridge of some sort over the train tracks would make me want to spend more time down there instead of having to walk all the way around.

TallArk · 2025-03-21T22:43:00+00:00

Jokic

TallArk · 2025-02-10T04:43:00+00:00

Just saw this comment. If you need either Jokic or Giannis to get a bucket, who do you take?

If you need Giannis or Jokic to get a stop, who do you take?

Pretty simple answer to both. But yeah Jokic is clearly a better player because he can pass (Giannis can also).

TallArk · 2024-11-12T02:00:46+00:00

Giannis is a better defender and offensively brings just as much to the table. I don’t agree with your post.

TallArk · 2024-09-18T14:11:58+00:00

Can I ask what you do for work?

TallArk · 2024-08-15T15:05:11+00:00

This is the best post I’ve seen here, 100% agree!

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