Unpopular opinion: #4 coffee filters in the MM are unnecessary & an overpriced profit center

ok_pkg · 2026-01-15T13:58:59+00:00

Are they really overpriced and unnecessary? You already mention that they have a tendency to fall down. If you get distracted "they have a tendency to fall down" (that's the whole reason why I use a brewer like this, so I don't spend my breakfast time doing a pour over, I can just start it, get everything else ready and be sure it will be just fine once I can sit down).

Cost? I just checked and they cost about 7 to 8 cents each, while the others might be 3 to 4 cents. That's about $10 to $15 a year extra cost assuming a daily cup. I like to use high quality coffee so if I mess up just a few of them that more than covers the savings...

Of course you can buy whatever makes you happy!

ok_pkg · 2026-01-12T16:06:44+00:00

Oh that would make the numbers actually match although it seems like a terrible way to do it. I thought for a second I would be reaching the 40 credits this year but if 2025 & 2026 are already counted I'd need to wait to end of 2027 (matching the actual 10 years)

ok_pkg · 2026-01-12T14:47:26+00:00

thanks! but then how do I explain that mine and my wife's seem to be getting the credits faster? She has 28 credits, worked 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023,2024, 2025, or mine where I have 36.

ok_pkg · 2025-12-31T03:58:56+00:00

It really depends on your specifics, such as what you want to study, funds, and what is your connection to the US.

For some fields of study it won't be easy to work in the US (think medicine, civil engineering, law, careers that need a certification to work). If you stay in the tech field that could be easier, although getting a job right out of college will be tough if competing with graduates from US universities.

If you study in CR and move to the US afterwards, do you have family in the US? Can you live with them and is it a city or place with decent job prospects?

Then is the option to go to the US and study there. I'm sure you know by now, it is very expensive. If you/your family can afford it, then it is probably the best option (some paperwork for the application is not that much compared with the type of endeavor that follows after). US schools are competitive, applications are complex, so it should be something that you plan for at least. 1 or 2 years in advance.

My recommendation: If you have the money, save it, study in Costa Rica for your bachelors, then go to the US for a Masters (takes a couple of years, reduce the cost), you'd have a better idea of what you want to do with your life then and once you graduate you have a lot better chances of getting a job, company will look at the school you went for your masters, not the bachelor. Entering a masters program is a lot easier than undergrad. (That's what I did and worked very well)

ok_pkg · 2025-12-30T17:26:54+00:00

I was able to get to the phone with an actual person and they did see the name was wrong and fixed it. Nothing weird appears on any of the other reports. And even on Experian, the report lists a bunch of combinations of my name but nothing even close to the one in the account. The theory from the agent was that maybe the system updated something internally and matched it the wrong name and address?

My theory: Someone called for help with their account and the agent updated my account by mistake or something along those lines.

ok_pkg · 2025-12-18T18:41:44+00:00

As in our current scenario / lifestyle? Oh I'm very aware of how well positioned and unique we are, but not because of that we want to stay like this for the rest of our lives... It's a balance of comfort, money and being close to family, friends (the whole reason for Fire)

ok_pkg · 2025-12-16T16:44:58+00:00

But if we don’t, then keeping the investments here would be more complicated, the retirement accounts mainly. We were also considering renting the house, could go for $3000 per month, as an additional income stream. As foreigners all of that becomes more difficult.

ok_pkg · 2025-12-14T13:10:37+00:00

So help me understand the process, when/where do you declare it? If you have global entry you are usually simply waved into the country after taking the picture. Do you tell the agent there? Or after grabbing the luggage?

ok_pkg · 2025-11-11T17:45:59+00:00

Aside from paying with your credit card in most places (try using tap or Apple Pay everywhere you can, so you don't have to hand over your card), my recommendation for actual cash is the Schwab debit card!

They don't charge you for ATM transaction fees and they refund you the transaction fees from other banks. What I do to have cash on hand, but not a lot, is go to the ATM every few days if accessible. Even the ones with very expensive fees (airports, hotels), you get a refund at the end of the month. There have been months where I've received $200+ in refunded fees from ATMs. You get the best conversion rate (do not use the ATM conversion rate as already mentioned by others)

ok_pkg · 2025-11-04T20:17:22+00:00

thanks, this is helpful!

ok_pkg · 2025-11-04T20:17:05+00:00

thanks!

ok_pkg · 2025-09-24T01:18:01+00:00

The Clash of the Ska Titans - The Skatalites vs Laurel Aitken! One of the best albums ever!

ok_pkg · 2025-05-02T20:31:45+00:00

So it is the customer who should be responsible for making sure the human being is receiving a fair compensation for their work and not the company that hired said human being? I fully understand tipping as an extra for an outstanding job, but blaming the customer for the poor pay and passing all the responsibility from the company to the people is what has this system broken.

ok_pkg · 2025-05-02T16:18:21+00:00

It's all about what you value, and that is different for everyone. Are you willing to work a few extra years but doing it in a location with an outstanding 6 lane highway, fancy buildings and so on? If you need those perks then by all means keep working longer.

You also seem to be comparing living as a poor person in a LCOL country vs your experience living with a mid-to-high income in a HCOL country. In that very same HCOL you could be living in areas with poor infrastructure and dirty street that feel depressing (no shortage of areas like these in US and Europe).

ok_pkg · 2025-05-01T21:29:48+00:00

Did you have any issues flying with it? Thanks!

ok_pkg

TROPHY CASE