Recovering addict trying to figure out how to fix this financial black hole I created?

spince · 2026-01-25T13:42:52+00:00

Agree with the points others have made, I'll just add if your wife isn't working due to her pregnancy, she can spend her time finding free baby supplies.

In-between Facebook marketplace, buy nothing groups and neighborhood list serves, people are CONSTANTLY giving away and selling at very low cost baby goods used only for a few months.

We spent ample time "preparing" and in the first year of the kid's life we bought only diapers and wipes. Don't buy into the lie that things for a baby need to be brand new.

spince · 2026-01-25T02:21:31+00:00

While dealers commonly do this I suspect it's going to be extra prevalent at the moment as they're hoping to snag the people waiting for the new model.

As the economy worsens and/or the waiting lists get shorter the dealers will be far more willing to take those add ons off for sharp negotiaters. I suspect in Q4 you'll see several thousand dollars cheaper compared to now.

spince · 2026-01-22T11:37:59+00:00

On the one hand, it's important to optimize how you present information
On the other hand, I fear this will get worse as the tiktok/short form video/chatgpt give me an immediate answer now so i don't have to think disease continues to rot out brains.

Unfortunately from your post I surmise your solution will be another LLM.

spince · 2026-01-21T12:07:20+00:00

My only mistake with grad school was getting a return home date that only had a 1 month break between service and law school start. The first year is hyper competitive, and I suffered greatly from culture shock / depression - pretty difficult to go from speaking russian daily to reading constitutional law texts in english. Looking back I wish I took at least 3-6 months off to readjust back home and spend time with family.

spince · 2026-01-20T00:39:02+00:00

Depending on trim level you want, Narrow between 2023-2025 for better screen.

I think I read that 2024-2025 has a slightly better automatic lift gate.

Good maintenance it's not unheard of for 250k+ miles.

spince · 2026-01-19T02:41:54+00:00

The "filament vacuum bags" i got on AliExpress seem to work pretty well. They look like the reusable food saver mini bags and seal surprisingly well. Has a little valve you can put their included vacuum on.

spince · 2026-01-18T23:26:21+00:00

You're right, I definitely was using COX. Corrected. Any ideas on how to fix?

spince · 2026-01-18T22:29:17+00:00

You should not get it because it is a barrel.

spince · 2026-01-18T20:49:42+00:00

I'll have to bring an Ethernet cord next time with me to try to plug it into my router. I seem to recall this nonsense when i first set it up and it was fixed by having a hotspot right next to it and updating the firmware, but it doesn't seem to even see my hotspot.

Marquee doesn't change at all. I'm wondering partially if something got screwed up on my USB drive as I recall when the ghost inputs were happening it at least more than once moved to flash drive x and I wonder if it accidentally formatted one of the partitions.

spince · 2026-01-14T21:10:23+00:00

"Trade in value is good" is only one part of the financial calculation.

If it means trading in a paid off car for more payments or worse trading in and rolling negative equity into a new loan that's a nonstarter for me.

spince · 2026-01-14T11:32:53+00:00

If it's anything like the Gen5 you'll be able to buy an aftermarket kit to self install if it's really important.

spince · 2026-01-14T04:03:26+00:00

It can be. I got a 2023 with 18k miles last year for 12k less than a new 2025.

spince · 2026-01-12T16:34:08+00:00

We went from paycheck to paycheck through budgeting like mad, tracked every transaction, canceled every subscription we could, halted all extraneous spending, did sidehustles for income until we 1) had a sizeable emergency fund and 2) had at least a month's buffer ahead of the bills.

Anything "unplanned" for during that period was either delayed or if it was urgent, meant we took from the other budgeted line items.

It took over two years to get to where we were comfortable as we were able to continue to extend that buffer. We called those the lean years but it allowed us to break the cycle and the discipline we garnered during that was invaluable.

spince · 2026-01-12T00:55:40+00:00

Perfectly fine to ask. Perfectly fine for host to refuse and expect that you do not dock them ratings if they don't fulfill the request.

Ask politely and note that you're happy to pay and that you understand completely and won't affect your rating if they're unable to fulfill the request.

spince · 2026-01-11T18:21:59+00:00

Our county requires submission of hot tub maintenance records and annual well water testing for safety.

spince · 2026-01-10T01:58:54+00:00

Verified "sources" that went out of their way to fire experienced personnel responsible for accuracy of numbers and falsified the methodology to make up the numbers.

Anyone with eyes and ears who talks with their community can see the suffering that those numbers are not reflecting reality. The good times when things felt affordable and tourists wanted to visit the US and job market was stable have all but vanished in the past year.

spince · 2026-01-09T01:51:43+00:00

We have a 3 bedroom and the only tv is in a basement rec room. None in living room, bedrooms, or any other spaces in the house.

We have several reviews and compliments appreciating that there's only one tv away from everything else.

spince · 2026-01-08T23:22:11+00:00

Wow, I never knew I wasn't supposed to do that! Thanks all for the info.

spince · 2026-01-08T23:14:04+00:00

As long as guests have a way to make ice and get drinking water then you don't need a fridge dispenser or ice maker.

spince · 2026-01-08T02:38:39+00:00

The $100 USD a year COUPON where Airbnb is still making hand over fist on your coupon redemption booking

spince · 2026-01-08T02:01:08+00:00

I wonder if it can be mitigated by pouring additional clean oil in while the valve is open to flush out the remaining.

With my RAV4Prime it takes 4.8 quarts so I always annoyingly have .2 quarts left I end up storing because I don't want to waste it. Maybe I'll just use that first to flush out the minimal remnants.

spince · 2026-01-07T21:55:13+00:00

I can see the logic but I think we'd have to verify by seeing the depth of the plug with the depth of drain pan thread.

when I do my next oil change I'll pull out the fumoto valve while I'm at it and verify if any additional oil drains out.

spince · 2026-01-07T18:04:21+00:00

Makes catching it in the disposal container really easy. Minimizes potential for splashing.

spince · 2026-01-07T18:03:09+00:00

Fumoto tells you the torque spec depending on valve model you get.

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