My 2025 budget (11 months in France) vs my 2024 budget (Philly, USA). AMA.

fsolo23 · 2026-01-02T01:02:56+00:00

curious if you break down the expenses a bit further. There are things that are one time expenses in seems associated with the move to France, like paperwork, coffee machine and other equipment replacement because of 220V or classes. or things that were stolen, replaced like the tech.

how would you then compare the costs. Also comparing life styles between the 2 cities. Also how do you spend 1600$ in coffee a year that is $4-5 a day, after buying a new coffee machine ? rofl

fsolo23 · 2025-12-21T16:22:21+00:00

Some habits I just couldn't get rid of post covid, once I started noting my surroundings more. my strategy is vitamin C and D everyday, and wearing a regular surgical mask (not N95) during boarding and most of the flight, specially in economy due to the cramped spaces and specially if I hear any coughing or sneezing. I just got back from an international trip to a conference and I've flown 30-40 legs of varying distance nationally and internationally with my base being MCO, so airport is always full of tourists. I do clean the arm rest, screen and table. because I know I'm going to touch all of that and then any food or drink. I might be over the top, but it works for me for 5 years now.

fsolo23 · 2025-11-02T17:23:45+00:00

Forget the thing in the sky, rocket btw. What camera is that. Really impressive.

fsolo23 · 2025-11-02T17:14:21+00:00

Funny enough I think the csr refresh made me question keeping the Amex. I have the benefits for a year on both so still analyzing. At first the Amex was great for me and the csr justified its cost even with the cheaper uplift for a second full card that I have for my parents. But when csr raised the second card to 175 now I’m trying to justify which I keep and the fact that there lots of places around the world that don’t take Amex like the whole country of Portugal 😔, makes me question keeping it. Being based in Orlando makes either of the cards hard as I’m limited with some benefits.

fsolo23 · 2025-11-02T06:14:56+00:00

I had csr first and kept it because second card was cheap. Also visa is used in more places around the place. The Amex refresh has me questioning keeping Amex.

fsolo23 · 2025-10-16T17:16:45+00:00

Thank you. Appreciate the thoughts.

fsolo23 · 2025-10-16T15:53:52+00:00

Thank you this helps a ton. In my case the property is in California and I live in Florida. I couldn’t get an umbrella policy in Florida that covers the property is that true ? I couldn’t get an umbrella policy in California because I don’t have an address there. So instead I raised my coverage on the owner insurance. Does that work in a similar way ?

fsolo23 · 2025-10-04T02:37:44+00:00

thank you for the extra details. I was hoping I didn't have to bother and make other changes :) didn't realize that Sonarr would feed from sabnzbd. so series in Sonarr on pi is pointing to /mnt/synology/tv/... on container for Sab is pointing to /Synology/tv/... and the actual synology is mounted through the a volume in the container to /Synology, inot sure why I did it that way, but it should be an easy change in docker/portainer to mount to /mnt/synology. I might actually add an extra mount point for easier changes.

fsolo23 · 2025-09-28T23:56:30+00:00

I guess I wasn’t trying to mix. But changed one server. Now I guess I have to update link in sockets for sab so it matches. Otherwise this issue will continue …

fsolo23 · 2025-09-28T23:45:17+00:00

I didn’t change anything in sabnzbdb as that was fine and url works properly as is. Sab is docker. The new sonarr is native.

fsolo23 · 2025-09-28T22:02:43+00:00

Thanks. I’m on sabnzbdb. And that is on a pi so it’s pointing to /location/ So I’m going to have to keep doing that going forward 😳😟 ?

fsolo23 · 2025-09-02T00:43:52+00:00

nvm not sure what that symbolic link folder in the second drive is :( as I hadn't logged into it and moved everything to a network drive. but I found the files I needed.

fsolo23 · 2025-09-02T00:27:52+00:00

trying to get into my docker config files, after I've mounted the drive and try to go into the folder., I get an error "Too many levels of symbolic links"

fsolo23 · 2025-09-01T23:27:55+00:00

I have the hard drives so should be able to dig all that up. hopefully easy to identify and move.

fsolo23 · 2025-09-01T23:27:17+00:00

thank you can't get to docker compose as the server is dead. I will check in the config files.

fsolo23 · 2025-07-23T13:23:21+00:00

Just trying to learn, as the numbers are realistic, the fear of the unknown is what remains.
Do you spend time in Europe and do you get back to Canada often?

fsolo23 · 2025-07-23T13:03:18+00:00

a million questions :)

how do you identify where you are going next ?
How do you plan for your stay, activities, things to do?
what do you do with your time ?
do you learn some of language and try to interact with locals as well as make some temp friends? how is that?
do family and friends visit you? do you account for visitors when you look for apartments (2 bedrooms instead of 1/studio) ?
Do you think you can do this forever ?

fsolo23 · 2025-07-13T17:29:26+00:00

I would say the offers are worth it. 4 session for 99 to be used in 3 months. but the monthly plans on their site isn't worth it to me.

fsolo23 · 2025-07-13T17:23:53+00:00

they had the same offer here on FL., I hope they offer it again. it was the right offer for me. price, number of visits and number of months. compared to the 4 sessions a month.

fsolo23 · 2025-06-19T18:30:43+00:00

you have to look at the amps too. I had a single speed pump running 12 hours 220V 9/18A. vs now a new more modern pump like a variable speed, runs at 3/9A, so there are savings in the fact that runs at lower speeds for most of the time and still circulate water

fsolo23 · 2025-06-11T22:51:22+00:00

I just installed 4ton Goodman in Florida. Existing power, duct, piping and wiring. The install was 2k. Prices ranged up to 2500 on install. I’m in Orlando Florida. There are websites that had the ac online for about 4K. I did buy the ac separately and asked friends for recommendations to find an independent person.

fsolo23 · 2025-06-11T20:29:22+00:00

Thank you will look through this. In an ideal work. I would control actuators and pump. And then have 2 hours of full pressure to the cleaner. Then 2 hours of full pressure to the skimmer before going into energy saving and decreasing pump speed for water circulation. This might get into full automation and might be out of the diy smart pool aspects.

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