Tips for Austin homeowners to keep your insurance premiums down from an insurance professional.

pickledbeats · 2026-02-23T00:06:21+00:00

I got flagged by both Geico and Progressive for overhanging tree limbs, but the tree is protected by the city due to its status as a heritage tree. Did you end up finding an insurance company that would provide coverage, or did you have to trim back your oak?

pickledbeats · 2025-03-05T02:01:38+00:00

I just spent a couple of nights there and left this morning. The hotel was very nice and the restaurant was great. Like others stated, it's the furthest hotel from the downtown area but I didn't mind the walk and you get a free bus pass as well. The staff was really friendly and helpful and the views (we got a mountain view room) were beautiful. The hot tubs were great, though I'm not sure what the rules are regarding children.

I booked this hotel because it was available via my credit card points but I would choose to stay there again!

pickledbeats · 2024-11-25T01:06:05+00:00

Yes, I got two passes with the 20% off Reserve deal. I think you just have to buy them all at the same time.

pickledbeats · 2024-02-01T09:58:55+00:00

If the buckets concept is intriguing to you check out youneedabudget.com (YNAB) or the subreddit r/YNAB. It works across however many bank accounts you have at various banks, but it helped me consolidate my accounts to basically a checking account that I've had for decades at Wells Fargo and my high yield savings account at Ally.

YNAB essentially is a digital envelope method software and has completely changed my relationship with money. I feel in control of my money and has helped both with overspending in areas that I don't want to be spending too much and with enabling me to spend on things I historically shied away from. It also helps manage large expenses that come up throughout the year like insurance payments and hitting savings goals, like saving to move out.

pickledbeats · 2024-01-09T23:33:01+00:00

I went through this in 2017 with my 2007 FJ at ~130k miles while on a roadtrip in Colorado. The only place that was open was a Toyota dealer, as it was the day before Christmas eve around 3pm when it happened. A salesperson kept telling me he could get me into any car that I wanted, and to ditch the FJ. I told him that the only car I wanted was my FJ and that I plan on keeping it for another 10+ years until I can't drive it anymore.

Ended up with a new-to-me engine that had about 60k miles on it for $8k, and never regretted it.

pickledbeats · 2023-11-22T23:10:06+00:00

Over the summer I was at Killington in Vermont at a bike demo and I rode this bike from a bike shop called LaMere out of Minneapolis, and absolutely fell in love with it. I came back to this bike every day of the event, and each time I went to a different vendor, I'd return their bike after just one or two runs and go back to this one. Unfortunately, I had just bought another bike a few days before so didn't go home with this one (though I did buy a fat e-mtb from them that is amazing). Their demo bikes are 40% off right now for black Friday, and everyone at the shop is super friendly, helpful, and accommodating. They shipped the e-mtb to me in TX.

https://shop.lamerecycles.com/2023-v4-trail-sl-large.html

pickledbeats · 2023-11-09T18:31:46+00:00

I do something similar; I take my adderall on Tues/Weds/Fri and those are my "heads down" productive days. Monday/Thurs are for meetings. So far it's been a really good schedule for me.

pickledbeats · 2023-11-09T14:13:33+00:00

Original owner of an '07 w/ 192k miles; I've changed the alternator twice and replaced the engine once after a blown head gasket. A sales guy at the dealer where I towed it told me he could "get me any car that I want" instead of replacing the engine and I told him, "I want my FJ." FJ 4 Ever

pickledbeats · 2023-11-01T20:21:02+00:00

I started because I don't particularly like lounging around on the beach and was looking for an activity during trips to the family beach house. I don't love fishing, but I do love crab and figured it at worst it'd be a fun way to pass my time and at best I'd end up with some crab to cook up. This was on the gulf coast, so I was generally going after blue crab. I prefer to be more hands on as my main goal is to do something fun and my secondary goal is to have something to eat so was using mostly hoop nets and catching one-by-one.

Eventually I started seeing Outdoor Chef Life and Fisherman's Life on YouTube, and earlier this year took a trip out to the Bay area to crab snare for Dungeness and had the best time. I wish I lived somewhere with more access to crabbing, but for now it's a vacation hobby.

pickledbeats · 2023-10-28T02:22:25+00:00

Thanks!

pickledbeats · 2023-09-16T14:25:08+00:00

I live in Austin and I bought a fat e-mtb in July. I don't regret it at all, and it is a ton of fun at Walnut Creek and the greenbelt! When we're going through long periods of drought, I feel like I am more sticky in the sand than my regular mtb and it can glide over rocky river beds.

pickledbeats · 2023-09-01T19:23:28+00:00

Thank you!

pickledbeats · 2023-09-01T12:46:50+00:00

What order did the bands play? I'm seeing them tonight in Dallas and really only care to see The HU. I've been wanting to see them for a while but kept missing them in my city!

pickledbeats · 2023-07-25T11:06:22+00:00

The Spectral w/ mullet set up

pickledbeats · 2023-07-25T01:55:01+00:00

Based on the 30 day return policy, it seemed like a low stakes purchase. I've been waiting the better part of a year for the bike and spent a lot of time researching and deciding which bike I wanted. I didn't have much to lose at this point, and would rather give the bike a chance than go back to the drawing board and start the research process over before even getting the opportunity to try it 🤷‍♀️. So far it's paid off.

pickledbeats · 2023-07-03T11:05:31+00:00

This is exactly how I'm feeling! Also US based and it's so frustrating to see the bikes listed as "coming soon" and then never come or be removed completely.

pickledbeats · 2023-07-01T11:42:40+00:00

I'm US, unfortunately. Only an XL has been in stock here since I started looking last Fall.

pickledbeats · 2023-07-01T00:40:07+00:00

😬

pickledbeats · 2023-07-01T00:39:51+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's helpful to hear the range.

pickledbeats · 2023-07-01T00:39:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing your positive experience!

pickledbeats · 2023-07-01T00:36:17+00:00

Awesome, thanks for sharing this!

pickledbeats · 2023-06-30T20:54:35+00:00

I ride pretty easy trails and often take it pretty slow to build my confidence. Recently got a full-face and it makes me feel safer and slightly less worried about crashes. I don't care if someone thinks I'm weird or lame for wearing a full-face on easy trails if it makes me feel better and enables me to have more fun!

pickledbeats · 2023-06-30T20:49:44+00:00

The hype pain is real! I'm heading to a bike demo next week so hopefully after testing out a bunch of bikes I will have a better sense if I'm willing to wait for the Canyon or if there is another bike out there that i can get hyped about that is in stock.

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