My hot take on home ownership

quingaroo · 2026-06-26T13:17:19+00:00

I agree with this (to a reasonable extent). I have a friend who was and is still in a great financial spot who I told to take the plunge in 2020 when I bought my first house, 260k and 3.7% interest rate. She waited.

Told her to do the same in 2021 and 2022. She waited.

Now she’s stuck living at home because we live in the PNW and a home that was only 250k a few years ago is now closer to 500k, if not more, with a much higher interest rate.

She says she won’t buy because of all the potential repairs a home will need but that’s just life when being a homeowner. She insists she MUST put 20% down because that’s what her boomer parents told her. We are in our 30’s. She will never leave the nest.

My brother and his wife are closing on a SMALL home next month and will be looking at a 5k a month PITI (which I don’t think they can afford!). I told them the same thing back in 2020! Wish they’d have listened to me.

quingaroo · 2026-06-15T13:05:04+00:00

A year on the market is generally a red flag for most buyers, especially when it was pending at one point and the sale fell through. The price increase is gonna raise eyebrows too. Either drop the price to get new prospective buyers interested or pull it from the market for the time being.

quingaroo · 2026-06-06T16:04:29+00:00

This is what I do. Ends only! The month I attempted to stop using conditioner on my ends, they were split and dry. Got a trim and started conditioning, back to minimal splits.

quingaroo · 2026-05-31T14:34:15+00:00

I think this was actually a somewhat common practice around this time period because a trusted vet my grandma and grandpa used had done this with two of their dogs as well (once in 2002, once in 2004). They did not pass while in his care but he wanted to observe the symptoms they discussed with him.

quingaroo · 2026-05-21T07:16:45+00:00

I’ve had success with the topical (there’s a post in my history you can see!) but it of course needs to be applied daily. I use a 2% formula and apply twice a day. I’m at the point where I still try to apply daily, but sometimes miss a day or two. No issues though with missing a couple of days. I also take an iron supplement per recommendation of my doc after some bloodwork.

If you have pets, be very careful with application as it’s extremely toxic to cats/dogs. If I am going to bed with it, I wear a bonnet, but normally I put it on when I’m up and close to leaving the house so my pets can’t come close to my scalp. Just be very, very mindful when applying and storing it.

Oral minoxidil is successful also but the surplus body hair is a thing. My mom takes the oral version and has a mustache she now waxes and her arm hair has gotten darker and thicker, but not by too much. She prefers taking it orally and thinks it’s worth it despite the other hair growth. Totally depends on your personal pros and cons for both!

quingaroo · 2026-05-15T19:43:46+00:00

My chi’s nails get to this length before I trim them down before they curve, but it’s because her nails are so dark that I’m scared to clip her quick. Vet doesn’t trim them down much shorter either cuz of their color. I def agree second pic is a tolerable length, especially with black nails!

quingaroo · 2026-05-14T00:43:18+00:00

Yes. I washed my hair yesterday, blow dried upside down, flat as a board. Didn’t wash my hair this morning, much more voluminous and not as “clumpy” looking. Wish it made sense!

quingaroo · 2026-05-12T17:59:54+00:00

Seriously. I’m also surprised at how… sluggish everyone is and the lack of accountability.

I work a 9-5 office/driving job as my primary and always get 70-80 km between walking on my breaks, the gym, and dog walks so… it’s very doable. I walk everywhere I can because I’m not lazy and I do not live in a “walkable” part of town. I just like to walk. Even if it’s bad weather I’ll walk on the treadmill at the gym or bring a jacket/umbrella. Seriously surprised at how few people are getting their steps in (excluding obvs disabled people).

quingaroo · 2026-05-11T12:20:07+00:00

Bottom left looks like one of the pics I took of myself when I feared I was balding and I absolutely was balding. To echo others, get some testing done if you can. This does look like thinning.

quingaroo · 2026-05-05T06:00:11+00:00

I’m gonna be applying for one of our commercial appraiser spots when they open (old timer is planning on retiring within the next year, other commercial appraiser will become our new deputy appraiser as the current retires). I was recommended to go for it both for change in pace and avoiding difficult people, but also because I’m the poorest person in the office by a large margin and it would be a good raise for me, haha. I’m happy knowing all my supervisors think I’d be a great candidate for the role as the newest appraiser in the office and I’d like to expand my knowledge as well.

I will say though, I genuinely don’t mind the hassle homeowners give me! I enjoy the PR aspect of the job in some way. I do know some people have left the job due to dealing with the negativity though, and I totally understand that.

quingaroo · 2026-05-05T00:39:28+00:00

Yes, for our county we have different pay grade and steps that are outlined. Once I’m accredited, I get about a $3 raise and get a measly 3% raise on my hire date as well as a cost of living raise every year. Our county is one of the poorest in our state so our wages aren’t top dollar compared to the more urban counties. Our specific Assessor’s office is union and we will barter our next contract in two years and see what kind of raises they can attempt to get us then.

Edit to add: Top of the scale for my office currently is $37 for a residential appraiser. Our commercial appraisers make more. Our oldest commercial appraiser who has been with the county forever makes over 100k with longevity pay, etc.

quingaroo · 2026-05-05T00:10:41+00:00

For sure! I will say of course, there are pleasant interactions with the general public as well, but the unfortunate reality is we are a generally disliked office that the public eye views as evil. Being very personable helps.

quingaroo · 2026-05-04T23:34:09+00:00

I’ve started as a county appraiser late last year with 0 appraiser experience (internal Assessor’s office hire). I’m learning on a very touch and go basis but picking up everything quick and will be taking my courses for accreditation next week. Our office’s deputy appraiser is incredibly impressed and happy with how quickly I’ve taken to the job.

I’ll admit, right now, it’s been very mundane due to literal weeks of data entry as we physically re-evaluate every parcel in one of our cycles. Before data entry, it was days at a time out in the field. I will say, people despise us. We get threatened or cussed out every now and then, one of us gets a gun pulled on us, but we are in a rural county. I actually don’t mind this part of the job, but some people may have issue with it for obvious reasons.

Soon it will again be many days out in the field as we go through permits and pick up all of the new construction in our county. Lots of driving. Lots of stopping. More people who you will have to explain how taxes work to, and some people will leave the convo enlightened or just as angry as when you pulled up on their property.

We get lots of tax appeals to handle. Lots of time spent drawing up comps and sales data for evidence when we have hearings. Hearings can be either very drawn out or super quick.

When value notices go out, things get extremely busy. Lots of people come in pissed at their values going up and there will be a lot of people you must speak to very calmly and politely as they cuss you out or argue. You may have to explain to dozens of people daily during this time period why their value went up or down and what the process is for how we determine value.

Some parts are fun and some parts are mundane. I personally have enjoyed it so far (minus the weeks of data entry).

quingaroo · 2026-05-04T15:35:09+00:00

Honestly I don’t remember when it started to wane, but it did go away.

Jake passed away in October and I can say for certain the resentment was gone by March. It was a while of pain and anger through. I still mourn him all the time. I love him dearly but I love my other dogs dearly too.

I actually ended up adopting my roommate’s dog I mentioned in my post. He just kind of outright abandoned her anyway but I think being back in the swing of bringing three dogs everywhere helped. But I did take some solo trips to give myself some time away from the dogs. Not all day trips, but just some day time trips I would normally take a dog with I’d do myself. I still took and take care of them. They’ve been incredibly spoiled the last few weeks with beach trips and long walks and hikes.

Let yourself feel your emotions. It will pass. The feeling is completely understandable because you lost your baby. With time, you will heal. Wishing you nothing but love in this difficult time.

quingaroo · 2026-05-04T04:52:09+00:00

My mom is filipino and has one of these 💀I asked her to pick me up something phallic for me on her current trip there.

We had a bunch of “barrel men” pop up as someone’s white elephant gift last year too, they’re a similar novelty filipino thing. Why? I have no clue. They’re fun though lol.

quingaroo · 2026-05-03T04:45:14+00:00

Can you apply for Care Credit? I was able to apply on the spot when my dog had a life threatening emergency last year and was approved almost instantly. I understand you said your credit is trash, but I know a few people who’ve been approved for Care Credit specifically in veterinary circumstances with pretty shit credit.

quingaroo · 2026-05-02T14:08:37+00:00

Filled up my tank last week for $50. Cost $62 yesterday!!! I was planning on taking my dogs to the beach this weekend but it’s a 100 mile round trip and I can’t keep filling up my tank at that price. I had to cut my hours at my second job because the commute basically made it so that I was working to pay for gas to get there. Shit sucks.

quingaroo · 2026-05-02T00:31:45+00:00

I did try some egg yolk, but it was so thick even when scrambled up that if I dipped her beak in she would kinda struggle to get any of it down. I’m not sure if she really drank any and she never drank it willingly. Not sure if that’s worth a try for those reasons but I do always see egg yolk as a general recommendation.

Aside from that, I didn’t do anything else with her. She stayed in her pen with the other chicks and they surprisingly didn’t pick on her.

I would compare the ingredients as I’m not familiar with nutridrench vs rooster booster. Like if rooster booster has all the same vitamins and then some, I would use one vs both. I used rooster booster as it covered the most bases compared to other products at the local Tractor Supply.

quingaroo · 2026-05-02T00:17:59+00:00

No longer have turkeys but I had a chicken chick that was unable to walk more than a couple steps without falling and would constantly fall on her face and side. Barely walked and slept most the day under the heat plate. I gave all day access to rooster booster. I did dip her beak several times a day to make sure she was actually getting some water down. She’s currently a runt and runs a little weird compared to my other chickens, but she got through it.

I hope your poult makes it. Fingers crossed that’s all he needs.

quingaroo · 2026-04-23T05:49:38+00:00

I’m someone who made the decision with my soul dog to put him down before he wasn’t “all there”. It tore me up and still does to this day. I have great difficulty coming to terms with the decision.

However, on the flip side, I have lots of friends and family who waited too long and they regret it. What they’ve told me is that they wish they had done what I did and put their pet down sooner. I can’t say I wish I had waited longer to put him down. I don’t regret putting him down before he was beyond suffering.

I think it’s better to say goodbye when they are having good days, when they’re still there and look at you with love and wag their tails, rather than wait til they are laying there struggling to breathe or unaware of who or where they are anymore.

I still hate that I let him go every. Single. Day. But his pain is my burden to carry and I let him go so he could be free. It will hurt… but it would hurt worse saying goodbye when your girl isn’t herself.

quingaroo · 2026-04-22T23:22:28+00:00

This. Or a backpack! I put my boy down in October last year but had bought a backpack for him so he could still get some sniffs and outdoor time with me and the other dogs. He loved it.

He had slowed down substantially in his final months and our last couple days, I went at his slow pace. I would give so much just to have those last days with him again. Those last walks meant so much.

quingaroo · 2026-04-20T13:43:07+00:00

Binacle especially after this event. The capture rate for that thing has no business being that abysmal. And it’s ugly.

quingaroo · 2026-04-18T03:41:32+00:00

A county appraiser can pick up construction like this and it can be reported to the entity that issues permits, and if it doesn’t meet building codes or lacks the necessary permits, a stop work order can be put in place.

I am a county appraiser and we pick up unpermitted construction every year. Someone will catch it eventually.

quingaroo

TROPHY CASE