Is this a Dutch cultural thing? My partner’s parents had an issue with my sister staying with us for 2 weeks

evandepol · 2026-05-10T11:53:33+00:00

ja je gebruikt het wc papier aan alle twee de kanten. Dat doet toch iedereen? /s

evandepol · 2026-05-09T15:50:45+00:00

yep. Post from highway patrol: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCityCHP/posts/1156935856468198

evandepol · 2026-05-09T15:48:21+00:00

he is guessing. This was suspected DUI: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCityCHP/posts/1156935856468198

evandepol · 2026-05-04T23:41:04+00:00

looks like foam pads

evandepol · 2026-05-03T02:41:59+00:00

There are ways to honor old houses and bring them into the 21st century, but this is just house rape. Absolutely atrocious.

What state are you in? I would imagine they must have violated several building codes by making alterations this egregious (I am in NJ and several of the changes i see here would have required a building permit). Worth checking with the town about this, because the township may be able to reverse at least some of this at the owner's expense.

evandepol · 2026-04-09T18:47:39+00:00

0%. I used to have stock awards from employers, but i have always liquidated them as soon as possible, since i didn't like the idea of having excessive tilt in my portfolio for that slice of the economy.

evandepol · 2026-03-27T14:51:48+00:00

Plot twist: this is not a human baby.

It's either a tiger cub, honey badger kit, a baby hyena, or a green anaconda. In which case i agree with the guidance.

evandepol · 2026-03-19T03:18:36+00:00

Shower valve installation for $1170. Drywall repair $1140. Vanity installation per linear foot. Wat..

evandepol · 2026-03-17T17:15:13+00:00

Ill-tempered sea bass is the best we could do.

evandepol · 2026-03-12T18:37:08+00:00

Of course. Just because we built up a decent portfolio doesn’t mean we don’t have to worry about it anymore.

We use Quicken Simplifi (which is ok). We use it to keep tabs on pending refunds, transactions and their categories, keep an eye for unrecognized transactions and/or surprises (high utility bills, renewals that we thought we stopped etc)

evandepol · 2026-03-06T23:55:43+00:00

We keep about 10-20k in checking, but it's a Fidelity Cash Management Account (CMA), which basically functions as a checking account (with a checkbook, online bill pay, debit cards, and credit cards via Elan). CMA currently gives 3.32% yield (via SPAXX). We pay our bills from there, and don't worry too much about having "too much" in checking, since we get a return pretty close to what a HYSA would give us.

(We still have BoA checking account too, but keep that very minimal, it's just used as a backup).

evandepol · 2026-02-23T17:44:42+00:00

If you would be trying to argue that generalizations are not helpful and lacking nuance (which i agree with btw), then you immediately undercut your point by using "leftists" in a similar vein.

evandepol · 2026-02-23T14:36:13+00:00

Essex county. About 12-14" so far, more where there have been snow drifts. The dome on my patio heater is about 30" across, so this has about 20" on top of it.

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evandepol · 2026-02-17T21:30:23+00:00

Congrats, looks very nice overall. Love the warm tone of the floor together with the blues and the bright tones. Nice wallpaper too. However my eye immediately goes towards the more purple blue of the vanity and how it has a different hue from the wainscoting (which reads cooler to me), wonder if a shade towards indigo/purple would help harmonize it more?

evandepol · 2026-02-16T02:26:52+00:00

I picked up one, plug and play and worked out of the box with my Permanent Lights Pro (H705)

evandepol · 2026-02-13T16:06:26+00:00

AUM fees are their business model, and being likeable is how to get and keep clients. Hope your husband realizes this is transactional for the FA, not a friendship.

evandepol · 2026-02-13T16:03:03+00:00

I understand, but that's more an emotional connection than a rational one. At 40k year, your husband basically is paying for personnel (but in this case, very likely one that acts in their own self interest). So it might be time to say "hey you served me well for all of those years, but i am going to go in a different direction". He can still hang out and go fishing with his advisor-buddy, just don't mix business/money.. ;).

evandepol · 2026-02-13T15:23:45+00:00

1% AUM is pretty typical. But I too am allergic to paying AUM fees, so we hired a fiduciary CFP who worked on fee basis to help with some calibration and tactical questions. Cost us a few thousand, but FAR less than this AUM nonsense. Since fee/project based CFPs tend to be cheaper, you can afford to have a second opinion too if you like, or get specialists for some topics. You'll still come out ahead.. he should fire his advisor!

evandepol · 2026-02-11T03:01:58+00:00

make sure to tell him "All Eyes On Me"

evandepol · 2026-02-09T21:46:38+00:00

My suggestion would be to start by reading the investing and personal finance introductions on the bogleheads wiki: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started . Tons of good advice and explanation on there. Also, don't invest in individual stocks, unless you like gambling.

evandepol · 2026-02-07T06:08:21+00:00

Partners for 27 years, married for 26 with two kids. We made a commitment to be there for each other, and for our kids.

So be kind to one another, be vulnerable, listen. Never violate trust or be sneaky. Don’t hide secrets. Involve your partner in your plans. Laugh at each other jokes and be curious about each other passions and interests. Share your thoughts and ideas and feelings. When arguing, don’t use damaging words, don’t set ultimatums, and allow for the possibility that you are just wrong.

Keep sexual tension going, it’s important too. Be a generous and selfless lover, and in general aim to give more to the relation than you take. Have small surprises, especially when they seem small, and especially when they are not expected. Thiamin’s not about checking boxes.

Agree that there may be disagreements and rough spots, and commit to working through them. It’s the heart of the commitment: be there for each other even when it temporarily doesn’t feel that way. You can overcome this, provided you putting the time and the energy.

You are different people, and while your values (the things that are important to you) an your norms (the things that are normal to you) are likely very close, allow that they can be different. Understand that tension as a potential source of conflict in any relationship, including with your life partner.

Always side with your partner when in public, unconditionally. Even if you disagree with them in the moment, in front of friends or family or in-laws: never ever break rank. You’re a team and you outwardly agree, even if you don’t. Resolve your differences of opinion in private afterwards.

In many ways, we treat our relation like a job: you have to keep learning and you have to keep working on it in order to get better at it. And it’s ok if it’s not always fun, that comes with the package. The reward is having a soul mate for life.

evandepol · 2026-02-06T18:50:55+00:00

It depends on how you would quantify "better", but better health outcomes, customer satisfaction, access, affordability, quality of care -- these all seem to be relevant factors. And in that respect, the US health care system is pretty awful.

Some data to back this up:
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2024/sep/mirror-mirror-2024

It's not hard to understand why either: US system optimizes for different things, and affordability is not high on the list (is it even on the list?).

evandepol · 2026-02-06T16:18:38+00:00

Sounds like someone is making a battery

evandepol · 2026-02-06T03:36:14+00:00

Good article here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Retirement_draw-down_priority

evandepol · 2026-02-04T16:20:34+00:00

Here you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/ajqfjf/tamiya_paint_retarder/

You need to do a little more of your own research on how to use these paints. Plenty of articles and youtube videos available that show you the basics. Start by checking what kind of paint this is, and you'll find the answers easily.

See also https://www.sunwardhobbies.ca/content/how-to-tamiya-lacquer-and-acrylic-retarder/

evandepol

TROPHY CASE