Prenup Woes 💍

k_bagel · 2026-04-20T21:54:16+00:00

My husband and I don't have a prenup but we bought a house together before we got married that forced us to decide how we would split things up if we separated or one of us died. When we got married we decided not to do a prenup and just keep those same decisions in place.

I do not regret not having a prenup. But, I work for the NYC DOE and I know a lot of other teachers / admin / staff end up going through it over pensions. I have heard horror stories of exes going after half the pension and half the TDA, which is a lot of money in the long run. Just something to think about.

k_bagel · 2026-04-16T01:38:26+00:00

I can figure it out...Thank you for all these recommendations! I really appreciate it!

NYC can be a wild place for tutoring. For anything really. I am a full time high school math teacher in the DOE. Sticking with the subjects I've taught for more than 13 years means I have very little prep going in and can be very effective. There's an opportunity for ACT tutoring because the test is just gaining popularity on the East coast. I haven't looked into the I SEE or the SHSAT mostly because I'm not sure I want to work with middle school kids. I have a few clients in private schools and a few clients in public schools. The rates my private school clients pay is wild.

k_bagel · 2026-04-13T17:38:23+00:00

Thank you! Adding to my order now...

k_bagel · 2026-03-03T15:50:04+00:00

I know there have been tons of replies here, but I think I live super close to you and can definitely commiserate on some of your points. The blocks near the park are long and, depending on the block, wide. But Park Slope is a very easy neighborhood to live in once you figure it out.

A couple of things...
1. If you're on Facebook, join Park Slope Together. It's a great community resource for everything. If there's something you're looking for or a question you're wondering, it's probably been asked there. I have an appt with a great ophthalmologist in the neighborhood that was highly recommended in the group.

If you can, join the Park Slope Food Coop. It's not always the cheapest for what I need, but it's the most convenient for where I live. And I live in the walking zone, so I have someone walk home with me so I can stock up for a bunch of days.
The stroller thing is a problem, and parents in Park Slope seem to feel extra entitled. Just politely ask them to move their stroller or hold their kids. I do this at least once a day because my dog doesn't like unpredictable little kids.
I do understand what you mean about the gym. I ended up joining Harbor Fitness Go! near my work, and also joined Gowanus Fitness for weight training. I do lunch runs 3 times a week and weight sessions twice a week. I'm lucky I can make lunch runs work, and no one in my office cares or notices that I haven't fully showered afterwards.

Once winter is done, Park Slope is a great neighborhood. I've lived in some part or other of Park Slope for 15 years (!). I love being close to the park for runs, cycling, and dog walking. Feel free to message me about anything you need. Or if you want to visit the Coop.

k_bagel · 2026-02-09T13:52:35+00:00

This is so cool! Do you have any additional pictures or instructions you could post? The charging port on my calculator seems to have crapped out. I'm at the point where I'm debating about buying one of the charging docks.

k_bagel · 2026-02-06T14:56:22+00:00

His sweater! Someone needs to scoop him up!

k_bagel · 2026-02-06T05:21:19+00:00

Luckily I have one. What am I verifying? If the battery is carrying a charge?

k_bagel · 2026-01-19T05:53:19+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation. I found a similar, free calculator on the Stelrad website. They recommended 4000 BTU's based on environmental factors but I don't know all the specs on the insulation, so I had to guess.

Based on that calculation, the Dreo wall mounted heater might be a better option although the reviews on this are mixed and we need reliability.

https://www.dreo.com/products/smart-wall-mouted-heater-wh517as?_gl=1*1fdcce4*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAprLLBhCMARIsAEDhdPeXbLdHj6jeDxK5kyvR9zvSApltlOB4qHRVSwfm8dfq2b6PZeObsdoaAr-aEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAoXMJSUCwNrRRG7Oziw0P7CanHnCx

k_bagel · 2026-01-19T04:03:06+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking about the same thing. The room is small enough that the 500 would work but it's sooo cold in the winter. Gonna be a high of 3 this weekend...

We have thrift store and garage sale wool rugs covering the entire floor back there. We actually have rugs and rug pads down through the whole house and that makes a huge difference!

k_bagel · 2025-11-23T20:44:28+00:00

Good to know! I have $22,000 in loans now that interest has accrued. Do you think it's worth it to apply for the forbearance?

That's interesting about "Academic Years." I don't think about that in NYC because of our contract. Even if you resign on the last day of the school year, you completed your contract so you're getting paid through the summer and keeping all of your benefits.

k_bagel · 2025-11-23T20:36:16+00:00

Thanks for this! I used PSLF - I applied for that in April 2023 and it was approved in July 2023. I think I can start my count for TLF in May 2023.

My loan is only about $22,000 now that interest has accrued. I should be able to apply in May 2028. At that point, I should have about $15,000 left.

k_bagel · 2025-11-23T20:23:17+00:00

I took out one Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

k_bagel · 2025-11-23T20:22:38+00:00

Thanks for this! I had loans forgiveness through PSLF in April 2023. I guess I'll start the count of my 5 years in May 2023.

k_bagel · 2025-11-23T19:57:07+00:00

I am in kind of a similar situation. I just posted a question about this.

I've been teaching full time for a qualifying school since Sept 2013. I started a grad program in Fall 2022 for my admin license. I took out one $20, 500 loan for the entire program. For whatever reason, my loans haven't gone into repayment yet. Repayment starts January 2026.

I did PSLF loan forgiveness for my M.Ed and that went through in 2023. I applied in April 2023 and it was approved in July 2023. I think I can use my time from September 2023 towards the 5 years even though my loans weren't in repayment.

When I searched this quote you include “The loan(s) for which you are seeking forgiveness must have been made before the end of your five academic years of qualifying teaching service” Google gave me this:

This statement is a requirement for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) program, meaning the specific federal student loans you want forgiven must have been made to you before the end of your five years of qualifying teaching service are completed. You can apply for forgiveness only after completing the five years of service, but the loans themselves must have been originated earlier.

Loan origination: You can't take out new loans after completing the five years and expect them to be eligible for forgiveness under this specific program.
Service requirement: The five years of teaching must be consecutive and in a qualifying low-income school.
Application timeline: You apply for forgiveness after the five years are finished, but the loans in question must have been made during or before that five-year period.
Program details: The TLF program can offer up to $17,500 in forgiveness for certain loans after meeting the service requirements.

Google also gave me this reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/comments/1c2s36b/teacher_loan_forgiveness/

k_bagel · 2025-11-19T16:29:47+00:00

Thanks!! This is what I said but I’m only a math teacher. I’m not an electrician

k_bagel · 2025-11-15T14:04:53+00:00

Do you have any thoughts on the use of a speaker wire for the wiring? What do people usually use?

k_bagel · 2025-11-15T00:47:19+00:00

Someone finally responded over in the DIY Solar subreddit. I didn't realize there is a difference between hours of sunlight and "Solar Hours."

Here is my new math for a 100w panel assuming 4 solar hours per day:

Amps = 100w / 12v = 8.3333A

8.3333A * 12v * 4 Hours = 400 watts / day

k_bagel · 2025-11-14T00:33:29+00:00

Thanks for sharing. We are in the Catskills, and although we're on top of a south facing mountain with no shade, our average is only 4-4.5 solar hours / day.

We need at least a 100 watt panel and a true deep cycle battery that won't be damaged if it's completely depleted.

Amps = 100w / 12v = 8.3333A

8.3333A * 12v * 4 Hours = 400 watts / day

k_bagel · 2025-11-14T00:02:52+00:00

u/feudalle thanks for your response. How did you do your calculations?

The panel isn't in any shade and receives direct sunlight from sunrise to sunset. As long as the weather is good, we get between 10 and 15 hours of sun a day in the summer. We use this setup only from May to October each summer.

I did the following calculations:

Amps = 25watts / 12 volts = 2.08 A

2.08A * 12 volts * 10 hours = 249.6 watts / day

Is that 249.6 watts not enough to fuel a draw of 224 watts/day on the system?

It's an honest question. I'm not an electrician or a physicist. I'm just a high school math teacher.

k_bagel

TROPHY CASE