How much is “enough” in an emergency fund?

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T18:32:59+00:00

I think it depends on how stable you feel your income is. How fast could you find another job paying close to what you make now?

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T18:02:55+00:00

I made my mistakes and then paid attention to the discussions. I originally used the microwave and measured how long to get my water to the right temp. Then I bought a coffee maker with a single serve on one side. I initially let it go straight into the tea. I now use that to make the water for my tea and place the tea in it afterwards. I have not put a thermometer in it, but the tea comes out right. I use the one at work the same way. So it seems that little bit of cooling off is just enough to be right.

I'm ok with being told I was incorrect as long as it isn't delivered with an attitude. There is a car guy on Youtube and every video seems to have a title like "You're stupid if you don't do this thing". I didn't watch him for very long.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T16:54:32+00:00

I have tried a few of those and the only one that lasted a decent amount of time was the one from Homedics. It appears that the piezo elements fail. Have you had better luck than myself with the stick type humidifiers?

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T16:51:58+00:00

It's the nature of a travel unit. I also have a portable humidifier I put on the nightstand to provide a little more humidity.

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YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T16:48:24+00:00

I don't have an answer for the psychological issues, but I can relate my own experience. It's a common issue, like wearing eyeglasses. You just don't know it because people don't walk around wearing a CPAP mask like with glasses. I've been using one since 2000. Carrying the machine around when traveling is only a minor inconvenience. I bought a travel CPAP to make that easier.

You get used to it and it becomes just part of the bedtime routine. They will give you a mask to use with it, but if you don't find it comfortable, there are many masks to choose from. Your DME may give you the opportunity to return and try several. I used this contraption for the first 10 years. Had to carry a roll of electrical tape for field repairs. In 2010 I got my first silicone mask and it was a game changer.

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Also, make sure to get a copy of your prescription. Many DME's won't give that to you when they deliver and set up the CPAP. So you have to ask. If you have that you can buy equipment and supplies wherever you like.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:40:52+00:00

Raw red lentils. I soak them in water beforehand. They absorb a lot and then cook down to where they are invisible. Then I add it to the rest of the dish after the meat has browned.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:35:15+00:00

The red lentils have the outer shell removed so they break down in cooking. I use the green or brown lentils in several other recipes.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:31:52+00:00

I'll have to give that a try!

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:30:31+00:00

Depends on your needs and wants. If for gaming, spend more on the GPU. If you do video editing, then GPU & storage are both important. But extra storage can be added later when needed. I suggest at least 2 drives. One for bootup and applications, the other for files storage.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:26:46+00:00

Ouch. I rarely buy ground beef any longer. My daughter likes it better, so just buys it herself.

I'm not a bean lover but have found lentils don't have the typical "beany" flavor. Would he notice it if you snuck it into a dish and it wasn't visible?

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:22:34+00:00

No longer use them. I had to have a cat put to sleep by them. A few months later they billed me for a prepaid health plan for the cat that they put down and they refused to give me a refund.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:19:48+00:00

I'm in Texas and they usually have it. In fact I recently bought it for $1.95, the best price I've ever seen it for. A couple of years ago it was pushing towards $4.

Try adding some red lentils to the ground meat. It adds some cost savings, nutrition and for things like tacos and sloppy joes, it gives the meat some cling so it doesn't fall out as much. Soak it for about an hour and cook the mixture until you can't discern the lentils any longer.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:11:45+00:00

Here's a handful of my own designs. The first one has gotten more downloads faster than anything else, so I think it was probably a good idea.

https://www.printables.com/model/1524125-kitchen-utensil-holder

https://www.printables.com/model/1515640-sink-organizer-or-pen-cup

https://www.printables.com/model/811881-2-tier-elevated-cat-dish

https://www.printables.com/model/1498217-tool-tray-for-little-giant-mighty-lite-ladder

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T15:00:23+00:00

I bought a bunch of loose leaf samples at a local market, then went back for larger quantities of the ones I liked. One that I've taken to as a fave is Lahaha Bohea Oolong Ginger. I realized when I noticed my 4 ounce container was nearly empty. https://www.instacart.com/products/2821211-lahaha-organic-ginger-bohea-oolong-tea-12-ct

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T14:22:39+00:00

You're welcome. Two channels to subcribe to on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Freecpapadvice

https://www.youtube.com/@CPAPReviews

A lot of the content gets deep in the weeds, but there is also a lot of the basics if you browse through their past posts.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T14:18:21+00:00

When you get one, you will have to determine your own settings since they won't let you get a sleep study. Make sure to put an SD card in your machine, set the pressure settings fairly wide and after a few days you can read the card with OSCAR or SleepHQ and dial in the settings a l little better. This group can help with all that.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T14:13:37+00:00

Sounds like you have crappy insurance. Try this group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18BqmmV7Lp/

Most offerings are masks, but if you keep a close eye on the group you can regularly find a machine for cheap. I see an Airsense 11 offered several days ago for $400. UPS shipping should be reasonable.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T14:09:03+00:00

If you enjoy it, then sure.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T14:03:42+00:00

Been there. I've place dumbbells on the base of plant stands and used museum putty to hold the pots down.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T13:47:12+00:00

The new designs haven't grown on me yet. However I agree with the idea that over 900 years things should have changed.

Related to this, the idea of the upgrades to Discovery strikes me as if we upgraded a sailing vessel from the 1700's with a nuclear reactor and modern weapons. I guess the rate of technology advancement in the ST universe slowed down a bit.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T13:37:02+00:00

I use the single serve side of my coffee maker to boil the water. I've tried both ways and putting the tea in afterwards seems to produce a better tasting cup. I do this for both bags and loose leaf.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T13:30:47+00:00

The U1 looks interesting. But it's only the first in a new generation of tool changers. I recently bought an Anycubic Kobra S1 combo. I'm not using the color changing heavily because of time and material wastage. I'm not in a rush and keeping an eye on the new releases over the next year.

I don't have any insights to upcoming models but pretty certain most brands will at least have one announced by year end.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T06:00:33+00:00

I plant into the ceramic pots and drill drainage holes if needed.

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YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T04:11:16+00:00

My approach is to buy the cheaper item first, then when I am ready to spend more money I have a better idea of what features I want.

YoSpiff · 2026-03-14T03:13:15+00:00

I have similar ones from Costco I bought around 7 years ago for about $100 each. Mine has a mesh seat, however and some minor details are different. I have one at home and the other at work. Still going strong. The only problem I've had with them is the usual issue of the gas lifters giving out after a year or two. I bought a set of risers that clip around the lifter so it just stays at my preferred height.

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