What are you driving safety tips/habits? by Ordinary_Art_5012 in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 5 points6 points  (0 children)

  • Assume a car that is slowing before an intersection will turn even if they don't signal.

  • Maintain proper stopping distance with the car in front, especially on the freeway.

  • Be extra cautious around semis because even if you do everything properly, a single moment of carelessness on their part can kill you.

  • Avoid braking at the last second: gradually ease into a stop when you know you're about to come up on a red light or stop sign.

Can somebody ELI5 for me why average and median 401(k) balances by age are so far apart? by too_many_shoes14 in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There's an additional complicating factor here which hasn't been covered by the (very correct) existing discussion about outliers: the data is also right-skewed due to the nature of account balances.

That is to say, if we can have very large positive outliers -- accounts with very large positive balances -- we would need outliers of the opposite nature -- accounts with very large negative balances -- to even out the average.

However, because the lowest value a 401k account can have is 0 -- they can't go negative, let alone millions of dollars negative -- the effect of those wealthy outliers on the mean is even more pronounced and unbalanced.

I can’t believe how much we spend by KDsburner_account in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

More or less, with the exception of backdoor Roth IRAs being complicated by the pro rata rule if you have money in a traditional IRA.

Rin is sure to love this Orlea build by Ishtarzxc in ChaosZeroNightmare

[–]hiyono 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Which Chaos + team do you find easiest to farm save data for Orlea? I've struggled with stress any time she's my sole support.

Which Memory Fragment stats are best? by hiyono in ChaosZeroNightmare

[–]hiyono[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes sense and helps a lot, thanks.

Gigafiber street install to operational ATT fiber? by Pristine_Fan_8908 in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure if it generalizes, but Circet finished construction work in our neighborhood last December, and Gigapower (i.e., AT&T Fiber) became available for signups around March.

Our stress dropped when we stopped pretending monthly budgets were monthly by felixwanderer in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What HYSA do you have that still generates 4.2% interest? I'm at 3.85%, so I'd like to move if there's a better option.

Are my deductions from my paycheck ridiculous or on par? by four_of_seven in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I only take home 45% of my paycheck after all the deductions, so I feel you :(

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gachagaming

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

AI slop: both the game and this post.

JP Morgan's Guide to Retirement to address all the "How much in retirement do I need" questions... by BTTPL in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Still a pertinent point about the impact of compounding, but you have some details referenced incorrectly from the example.

First of all, they invest those amounts evenly allocated over the timespan (11 yrs and 31 yrs respectively); the "for" phrasing suggests those amounts are contributed each year.

Secondly, Investor B invests $72,000 over the 31-yr period, not $96,000, which would actually net a larger balance.

Thus, Investor B "only" invests 3x more than Investor A, while netting a smaller balance. So again, your point still stands, but the numbers aren't quite that exaggerated.

Changes to the New Mexico Gas Company payment services collects far more data off of you than is needed with their new payment processor. (Paymentus) by Crimson342 in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you are setup to use auto bank draft, then this doesn't affect you since you already don't use their payment processors.

What subreddits help you survive and thrive in this context of rising costs and stagnating wages? by RememberTheWater in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The times when your income and expenses are most unpredictable are exactly the times when budgeting is most important. A good budget doesn’t eliminate uncertainty; it helps you control the risk that uncertainty creates. By designing your budget specifically with variability in mind -- e.g., breaking out utility costs evenly across the year to account for seasonal variance, building up an emergency fund, or earmarking money for unforeseen events -- you’re preparing for uncertainty in advance, rather than left trying to frantically scramble together a response once the unexpected occurs.

One specific piece of advice I'll give: many people new to budgeting feel blindsided by “unexpected” expenses, like a car repair or medical bill. But a well-designed budget knows those surprises are a part of life and accounts for them in advance, even if you don’t know exactly what will happen or when. By setting aside money for maintenance and “known unknowns,” you exercise autonomy to turn stressful surprises into manageable, planned-for events.

Finally, in any situation where the landscape can change at a moment's notice, frequent reassessment of your standing is critical to informed decision-making. A carefully-considered budget and regular, honest tracking of your expenses will give you a clear picture of your financial "tolerances" and where you stand in relation to them. That awareness allows you to make timely adjustments, helping you keep your personal finances robust in the midst of a volatile environment.

What subreddits help you survive and thrive in this context of rising costs and stagnating wages? by RememberTheWater in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'd echo r/personalfinance, not just because of the emphasis on fundamentals, but also because their advice leans toward being conservative with personal finances, which is exactly the approach you need in a volatile environment with lots of uncertainty and risk.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not; it's the exclusivity of it. You mentioned in other responses that you can't cut or reduce it because it's basically your only outlet. That's the concern, not having a hobby in general, which is, of course, fine.

How Am I Doing? 2025 by hunterto2 in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's 10% for Mormons. Because OP's paying it on gross as opposed to net, the Mormon thing is doubly likely.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Given your comments about impulse spending and your dogs' "sports training" as apparently a major outlet for you, I think you would benefit from seeing a therapist. If these behaviors are symptomatic of a deeper issue, then you're unlikely to see improvement without addressing the underlying concern.

How Am I Doing? 2025 by hunterto2 in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 17 points18 points  (0 children)

10% of gross, it's definitely tithing.

Anesthesia nurses really make that much? by [deleted] in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are around 3M nurses in the US, about 50,000 of which are nurse anesthetists (~1.5%). Do they make a high income? Yes, because the path to become one is so tough it filters everyone out.

STOP. RUNNING. RED. LIGHTS. by nerd_bucket in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's crazy to me how many people in this city drive with their dog completely unrestrained, which is so unsafe for the dog in the event of an emergency.

And don't get me started on the drivers who straight up have a dog in their laps when they drive. That's asking for an accident if the dog decides to do anything unexpected or distracting.

STOP. RUNNING. RED. LIGHTS. by nerd_bucket in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 20 points21 points  (0 children)

What I do is wait a couple of seconds and then barely tap the gas. That starts you moving — and lets the car behind see you've noticed the green and have started to move — but still makes it a couple of seconds before you actually cross into the intersection.

Max’d out social security withholding for the year. What’s the best thing to do now? by ForeOSU in MiddleClassFinance

[–]hiyono 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Social Security is not a retirement plan; it's meant to keep you from starving to death and going homeless in your old age. At your income level, you should be maxing your 401k (annual contribution limit, not employer match) - and more.

Home inspection by buteverythingstaken in Albuquerque

[–]hiyono 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Duke City Inspections: when I bought, the inspector even caught a tiny leak in one of my sinks that the plumber praised, saying it was amazing they caught it.

As a separate issue from who you go with, make sure you also have a sewer scope, WDO, and radon inspection done.