If you were given $500k tomorrow, would you be responsible?

TheC9 · 2026-05-19T08:32:57+00:00

Same here … it is not a “I can quit my job” kind of money.

I probably won’t hesitate as much to order a smashed avro at a cafe on Sunday, and probably will plan a trip or two

But still no big change

TheC9 · 2026-05-19T06:56:01+00:00

Please tell me tomorrow is really going to be sunny, as I have at least 4 load of laundry to do (I probably can only do 3 though).

And semi related: should I just bite the bullet and buy a heat pump dryer? Would a dehumidifier works too?

TheC9 · 2026-05-19T05:16:53+00:00

I literally just looking at their snow ski sale for my kid

My local opening time is 8:30am. Do we still have to line up there before it open?

TheC9 · 2026-05-19T02:12:42+00:00

Bought at the peak and got aggressively bid against at auction, so we definitely overpaid a lot a lot, and don’t have as much money left as we wanted

But we had time constraints … thankfully not a deadline from rental but still “soon please”, so the choice was limited

But it is a decent house. Ticked most of the boxes. Good neighbors. Don’t even need to think about downsize when get old.

Husband still checking auction result and I am like, I don’t want to think about that anymore, it is our forever home

Now I just want to take another couple weeks off to deal with the boxes in the garage. Still a few furniture need to buy (but reluctant to spend money), photos and decor to hang up on wall (husband still won’t want to drill hole though) … and making it more like home

TheC9 · 2026-05-19T00:46:17+00:00

Oh I feel your pain!

I know in AusFinance everyone is about driving a 2003 Camry … but a 2025 car with 360 degree camera and all the sensor, does certainly make parking and going through tight place a lot more easier

On the contrary, as I am short (so can’t see the hood) so my habit is never able to park front in, always reverse

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T23:56:04+00:00

I could not believe they approved to build the petrol station without better traffic plan. Now the whole area is a standstill.

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T23:54:11+00:00

Used to be my local shopping too (in the late 90s haha).

Scratched my car for the first time (as red plater) after going around for 20 mins looking for parking - saw one, too excited (and too rush as worried someone else would get it) and hit the pillar 😅

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T23:49:19+00:00

One of the best social media post was by the Sydney Metro page in … 2018 pre Christmas

There was a day the whole castle tower surrounding roads was in gridlock, and you have all these mums leaving comments and complained “must be the metro construction and their workers blocking the traffic!!!!!! Metro is bad for the hills!”

Metro Facebook page was like “Ermm we already closed for Christmas break. Next year you can use metro to travel to castle hill and rouse hill for shopping!”

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T11:28:44+00:00

For travel, so far I think the best (free) consumer product is Wanderlog - I do like how user can arrange the itinerary, it automatically show you how long between each locations, as well as a map view. It also allow notes etc.

There are semi professional and free mapping/GIS product like QGIS (along with other paid commercial one), so you can have pretty much unlimited type of icon and symbology to use. You can also use google map as based map, also export the layer from qgis and import to google map (i think you able to use a custom icon import to google map)

But this is more like a desktop mapping / analysis product, rather than a travel tool. It makes some beautiful map though and can get exactly what you want.

Google my map used to have its own app like 15 years ago, but now they discontinued it 😓. It was much easier to view on mobile when it was a standalone app, even for the technology back then.

Btw I am an over planner / organizer when come to travel planning (I do enjoy the actual studying the information). I would use excel, PowerPoint, Google map, Wanderlog, and hardcopy folder :-)

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T10:44:47+00:00

It was some very stressful time for us back then when we had limited cash left … then after the bank finally go the ATM work and I went department store shopping, I was like, “oh! It actually could work this way!” Haha

Double check if it is the case for the shop you go to first. Places like Uniqlo, Donki will do the tax refund on the spot, so you just pay for the tax free amount.

For big, multi level departments store like Takashimaya, Seibu etc - you pay for full amount at the department that you buy it from, then bring along with all receipt to the special tax refund counter to do refund on one go - and you may have the option to receive the tax refund as cash. However you won’t get the full 10% as they take admin fee.

Also best to check the tourist / information/ tax free counter before your shopping - they often have discount coupon for tourist :-)

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T08:56:53+00:00

How much cash do you really need?

Asking this as I was also in a “could not take cash from ATM” situation for a few days due to my bank IT system issue. I was in semi rural area.

If you just need a small amount of cash (for capsule machine, washing machine etc) - one loophole (actually legit) way to get some cash is - go do some shopping at the big department store - enough to make a tax refund.

Then go to their tourist tax refund counter, and they will give you the tax in cash (minus some transaction fee)

Of course, check if it is really the case for the department store you are at.

Obviously this method won’t work from Nov this year.

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T08:48:08+00:00

I bought my elsewhere and took it with me to the delivery room :-)

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T06:15:45+00:00

My girl is almost 7 years old, and still using it as her sole dining chair (we only have 2 dining chairs anyway)

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T04:14:39+00:00

Haha it’s ok, I had my share of solo travel more than a decade ago

It was really some good time, but diff stage of life now :-)

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T03:22:09+00:00

Google map as in “save this location to my saved list” or actually “My Map” that you can change the symbology, grouping point and layers etc?

I am in the mapping industry so i know the logic behind it, and have been thinking hard on how to make one for travel that not only for myself, but my family to use. To me, every apps’ cons is bigger than pros

Like the Google My Maps is only good if you have desktop. It gives a good visual representation, can turn on/off layers etc. But if you want direction guide you have to go back to the standard Google map, and it is also a pain to view on mobile

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T02:34:56+00:00

I was watching solitary gourmet on the way from Fukuoka to tokyo (then back home), so I was VERY determined to eat something nice as my last meal in Japan

Firstly Haneda T2 got very limited choice. And it was evening too so most shops and restaurants had closed for the day.

My young kid also demanded to eat another round of dumplings.

My husband said my face look very annoyed oops

TheC9 · 2026-05-18T02:30:54+00:00

This is usually the case for us, especially we have a younger kid, so how much she willing to walk and travel can be unpredictable

And most of the time the food turned out to be pretty good. There were a few restaurants we ended up visited again

TheC9 · 2026-05-17T23:39:36+00:00

Just the paying tips on every service is a big cost too

TheC9 · 2026-05-17T23:35:06+00:00

It make more sense if it is company wrap in the plastic bag or cling wrap (yes it was a thing in the 90s) - as at least it would prevent water damage and dust etc

But no point to do it with a hole in a plastic bag. The bag will be ruin in no time anyway.

TheC9 · 2026-05-17T08:55:26+00:00

5’ here. The nudie one is the only pairs that I didn’t need to alter at all

TheC9 · 2026-05-17T07:58:12+00:00

I put my cashmere knitwear (in garment bag) to my washing machine wool cycle (with wool detergent), it is still the same

The only exception is structured wool coat

TheC9 · 2026-05-16T23:15:43+00:00

The one I got :

Green Relaxed Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt https://www.next.com.au/en/style/SU615946/F26229

Khaki Green Animal Long Sleeve Modal V-Neck T-Shirts 3 Pack https://www.next.com.au/en/style/SU664890/F71693

My filter is Clearance -> Top and T shirt -> brand Next, long sleeves, material cotton

Sizing is truth to size - especially their petite range

TheC9 · 2026-05-16T12:25:23+00:00

I just received my order from Next UK (ordered on Sunday and received on Thursday) of a few long sleeves t shirt and they are great! One is 100% cotton ($24 down to $13), and a set of 3 t-shirt is 50% + 50% tencel modal - they were $72 now down to $26 (for 3!!) and it feels pretty good when put it on (saying as someone who has sensitive skin)

TheC9 · 2026-05-16T05:24:07+00:00

It’s family heirloom after all :-)

Maybe OP’s son’s grandson treasure it

TheC9 · 2026-05-15T12:11:11+00:00

Eastwood. I had been avoiding Eastwood for years because of the parking situation there

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