Search found 1551 matches

by tooluser
Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

I saw this charred cabbage with miso in a YouTube video (recipe https://www.haydenquinn.com.au/sharing-blog/charred-cabbage-with-miso-butter). I never buy cabbage as I don't like coleslaw and generally find cabbage unpleasant. I have to say, it was extremely delicious. It was also simple. Instead of chopping/combining everything I put it all in a mini food processor (except the cabbage obviously). It is nice to be able to add a new veggie we never eat into our rotation. Bookmarked; that looks good. My family has a European red cabbage recipe that has a lot of sweet things in it - sugar, grated apple, and red currant jelly. The secret to making it delicious instead of "sweet but boring" is to scorch the cabbage in the pot with som...
by tooluser
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors
Replies: 143
Views: 10470

Re: Those complimentary dinners for retirees by investment advisors

hnd wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:06 am ...walleye fishing the detroit river...
I've done this and it was awesome! About 4 hours on the water and we caught the limit for the boat. Plenty of good eating later at home; they are tasty fish.

I knew someone who would attend free financial dinners, and rated them a success so long as he learned something new no matter how small, which happened about half the time for him. The last I heard he was still investing on his own.
by tooluser
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:28 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11152
Views: 2086061

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Far and Away

1992 film on TCM, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. A love story wrapped around Irish folks immigrating to the USA after the Civil War. It used some of the most advanced cinematography and sound equipment of its day, and on that level it is wonderful. Fun and charming as you let yourself be danced along by the plot. Much like The Ninth Gate (with Johnny Depp), the last 10 seconds of the film ruin it entirely. :P
by tooluser
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Bought my first bottle of Marmite and had some spread thin on buttered toast.

Decided I liked it and did this next:
https://www.nigella.com/recipes/spaghetti-with-marmite
It was also pretty good. Emphasis on *plenty* of parmesan cheese; I did not use enough at first.
by tooluser
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11152
Views: 2086061

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Brian's Song 1971 made-for-TV movie that was so popular it got re-released in theaters (where it did not do well). Quite watchable even if you're not a sports fan. A touching, true story of two NFL players in the 1960s, unlikely comrades, helping each other through their careers and medical issues. Starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Awarded several Emmys, and a Grammy for the main theme song "The Hands of Time". On TCM. :annoyed Growing up, my older siblings were in the school orchestra. I remember hearing the theme song again and again and again as they practiced. The Thomas Crown Affair 1968 film starring Steve McQueen as a very wealthy man who executes a clever bank robbery to assuage his boredom. Faye Dunaway is the i...
by tooluser
Wed Mar 20, 2024 9:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11152
Views: 2086061

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Love Story 1970 love story flick nominated for several Academy Awards, on TCM. Adjusted for inflation, it's one of the highest grossing films of all time (according to Wikipedia). I put off watching this for many years, thinking I would not like it. And I was right. This film seemed to have set up many annoying stereotypes for the ensuing decades. The characters are all unlikable. The dialogue is stiff and awful. Despite the high earnings and several nominations, it won only one Academy Award for the best film score, which is deserved only on the basis of the one sad theme song that replays again and again throughout the movie. Romantic comedies are a lot more enjoyable. On the plus side, the timeline jumps around like Pulp Fiction. If only...
by tooluser
Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:40 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Any investors from the 1981 - 1984 time period here???
Replies: 36
Views: 4422

Re: Any investors from the 1981 - 1984 time period here???

Not responsive to the OP, but since the time frame is right: I recently rediscovered an old investment folder in my files. It contains correspondence regarding my very first investment. At Christmas 1981 I was 16 years old and my father gifted me 5 shares of SJP (St Joseph Light & Power Company, a small utility in Missouri). The company itself eventually succumbed to the utility merger-mania of the 1990s-2000s, and I eventually sold all the stock in the fifth or sixth merger partner as I started converting to a Bogleheads philosophy. What is most remarkable is that as a new stockholder with only 5 shares, the Treasurer of the company sent - along with the stock certificate - a hand-typed and signed letter on company letterhead welcoming...
by tooluser
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

bertilak wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:25 am
tooluser wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:39 pm Having moved from a 1-story house with no basement to a 2-story with basement, I have found it extremely useful to have a rudimentary toolkit on each level. It saves a lot of effort.
I instead moved to a one-level house!

That was 17 years ago, back when I could take the stairs two steps at a time. I decided I didn't want to even though I could and, thinking ahead, I planned on being in the new house for many years. I'm glad I did (think ahead) otherwise I'd be moving again.
I totally understand and I had to think that same decision through before I bought. I'm good with moving and downsizing considerably in the future, if circumstances dictate. Most homes cost >>$100, so we're probably off topic at this point.
by tooluser
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:23 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

3 universal remotes for my TV so I had one every place I could sit. Roughly $10ish each and worth every penny so far! I pick up multimeters at estate sales, usually $5 or so. One in the kitchen, one in the toolkit, one in the car. Great to have for checking batteries, alternator output, household current. (Of course, don't use them unless you take appropriate precautions.) This idea of multiple duplicates in useful locations has a lot of merit. I first learned of this technique from my eye doctor when I finally needed reading glasses. "They're cheap. Put a pair everywhere. You'll be a lot happier." Having moved from a 1-story house with no basement to a 2-story with basement, I have found it extremely useful to have a rudimentary...
by tooluser
Fri Mar 08, 2024 9:03 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard's outlook on Retirement Readiness
Replies: 15
Views: 3398

Re: Vanguard's outlook on Retirement Readiness

What the heck is going on in that study that they limit the generations' ages as follows? Early Millennials Age 37-41 Generation X Age 49-53 Baby Boomers Age 61-65 This implies that they didn't include any data for people in the huge and significant gap years between Vanguard's odd categories. There are 15 years included in the study range, and 21 years not included. I am in one of those gaps. It's somewhat logical to interpolate between the categories, but there's no mention of that, or how to do it. No guarantee that the statistics hold for those people in the gaps, especially given that the gap years outnumber the data years. A very odd choice. Perhaps they were just lazy, but I can't help but feel that some choice was in play to make th...
by tooluser
Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

3 universal remotes for my TV so I had one every place I could sit. Roughly $10ish each and worth every penny so far! I pick up multimeters at estate sales, usually $5 or so. One in the kitchen, one in the toolkit, one in the car. Great to have for checking batteries, alternator output, household current. (Of course, don't use them unless you take appropriate precautions.) This idea of multiple duplicates in useful locations has a lot of merit. I first learned of this technique from my eye doctor when I finally needed reading glasses. "They're cheap. Put a pair everywhere. You'll be a lot happier." Having moved from a 1-story house with no basement to a 2-story with basement, I have found it extremely useful to have a rudimentary...
by tooluser
Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11152
Views: 2086061

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Battleground (1949, on TCM)

A small troop from the 101st Airborne works their way through the WWII Battle of the Bulge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleground_(film)

A good amount of action, historical fact, and (now) tropey WWII activity. Much like Casablanaca did for Film Noir, movies like this one established the cinematic tropes we all know today. Additionally it is much more gritty and down than most combat movies made during the war. A more realistic propaganda, perhaps, still inspiring. Includes some actual film footage from the war.

It has some big stars before they were big, including young Ricardo Montalban and "Jim" Arness, as well as several character actors you have undoubtedly seen before.
by tooluser
Thu Feb 29, 2024 9:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Turned up the heat a bit because it was too cold inside. I'm frugal, not cheap.
Locally it was 73 degF outside 24 hours ago, but 23 degF outside when I turned the heat up. March came a little early this year.
by tooluser
Fri Feb 23, 2024 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11152
Views: 2086061

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

A double-feature of French horror/thrillers on Tubi: High Tension (2003) Evolution (2015) Very different movies, both very watchable but with somewhat unsatisfying endings. High Tension has a young woman trying to save her friend from a serial killer/kidnapper. Very American in its style. Good buildup and chase scenes. Evolution is more of a creepy slow burn. An isolated island is inhabited by a group of boys, their rather odd mothers, and a medical staff, who are doing something that is never fully explained, although you can probably piece together a story in your mind. Both movies were subtitled in English. Evolution has sparse dialogue and the subtitles do not get in the way. High Tension appears to have an English-dubbed version called...
by tooluser
Sun Feb 18, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

ResearchMed wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 9:40 pm
tooluser wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:05 pm Not quite cooking: I finally tried overnight oats. I put this off for quite a while because I figured they would be some sort of raw oat overly-chewy horse-feed kind of thing. Much to my pleasant surprise they soften up wonderfully overnight in the fridge, and they are now a breakfast staple (just not every day).

Steel cut oats, or ?

Thanks.

RM
Rolled, both standard grocery store old-fashioned oats and somewhat thicker organic glyphosphate-free oats from Costco. No difference I can detect in taste or texture. I suspect the steel cut oats will present more of a challenge.
by tooluser
Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Not quite cooking: I finally tried overnight oats. I put this off for quite a while because I figured they would be some sort of raw oat overly-chewy horse-feed kind of thing. Much to my pleasant surprise they soften up wonderfully overnight in the fridge, and they are now a breakfast staple (just not every day).
by tooluser
Thu Feb 15, 2024 12:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What inferior good do you love?
Replies: 232
Views: 25965

Re: What inferior good do you love?

City chicken!

(Though to be fair I can live without it. I haven't had any since my grandmother made it when I was a kid.)
by tooluser
Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:27 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Taxes- how to document tax exempt interest
Replies: 11
Views: 1417

Re: Taxes- how to document tax exempt interest

I have a spreadsheet that I save with each tax return, showing US Treasury interest. state specific interest, and foreign taxes, where applicable for that tax year. I also download and save the supporting documentation from the brokerage (summaries of federal, state-specific, and foreign percentages for each fund). I believe that is sufficient documentation to satisfy any tax authority. And it helps me remember to look for it all and how the numbers get added, what values TurboTax will ask for - the reporting varies in format by brokerage.
by tooluser
Mon Feb 12, 2024 8:47 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Educate me on VUSXX
Replies: 7
Views: 1133

Re: Educate me on VUSXX

I just did this kind of thing myself. Multiply (your state income tax rate) times (the percent of VUSXX holdings not subject to state income tax in your state) times (dollar amount held in VUSXX) times (current yield of VUSXX) to get an approximation of how much you will save in taxes over a year's time. Any of those numbers could vary during the year, so it's just an estimate based on current data. Example: 2.9% x 80% x $100,000 x 5.29% = $122.73 (i.e 2.9% of 80% of the 5.29% earnings on $100,000) So it's not that big a savings at the low ND tax rate. However, that amount might be a nice dinner out somewhere or a small kitchen appliance that you could purchase with the savings, versus the state tax on something like VMFXX, for expending mi...
by tooluser
Sat Feb 10, 2024 9:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Shopped at a local hardware store and received an unexpected "Friends and Family" discount of 20% off everything. Totally unexpected and therefore very pleasing, though possibly not really frugal due to the surprise factor. But I guess I'll shop there again.
by tooluser
Sat Feb 10, 2024 9:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Any Tajin users out there? I recently bought Tajin for the first time at Aldi's, and I'm wondering if it's a counterfeit. I wrote Tajin to find out. The label on the bottle is different than the label at the Tajin website. The ingredients list citric acid before dehydrated lime, and I cannot find that label or ingredient online. Perhaps they updated the recipe recently. It just tastes very sour, with no hint of chili or salt. I would not buy it again, it did nothing to improve an apple or a banana. There are multiple versions of the sauce so which did you buy? It's a spice blend. I bought the regular. It has a non-GMO label on it that is not shown on their website. Based on the other reply upthread, I guess it's real. And apparently not to...
by tooluser
Tue Feb 06, 2024 3:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best < $100 purchase?
Replies: 299
Views: 56507

Re: Best < $100 purchase?

FellsGuy wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 8:38 pm Cosco 4 in 1 handtruck typically $99.00 at Costco in the store but much more expensive online, this has saved me so many times moving heavy or bulky items with ease.

https://www.costco.com/cosco-4-in-1-con ... 19325.html
Saw this for $99.99 in-store today. I don't need one so I didn't buy one, but it definitely made me recall this topic.
by tooluser
Thu Feb 01, 2024 9:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Love my job, told re-lo for RTO or no advancement [Return To Office]
Replies: 128
Views: 9927

Re: Love my job, told re-lo for RTO or no advancement

Ask for an exception to the policy. I think your argument that your group is highly distributed anyway is a good one.
by tooluser
Mon Jan 29, 2024 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: California Real Estate Qs
Replies: 27
Views: 1846

Re: California Real Estate Qs

I sold a house in Los Angeles last year and bought one later in the Detroit area. The biggest difference I saw in the process was the required seller disclosure statement. In California it's about 32 pages long and extremely comprehensive. It is onerous on the seller, but as a buyer in Michigan I would have loved that; Michigan's form is less than two pages. I highly recommend scrutinizing the disclosure form and questioning -- at least to yourself -- whether you can live with any particular item as disclosed or less good than disclosed, and whether you need to check whether the seller has been honest in their disclosures. Not necessarily to spoil the sale, but so you have reasonably anticipated what you might be getting into or what inspec...
by tooluser
Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Any Tajin users out there? I recently bought Tajin for the first time at Aldi's, and I'm wondering if it's a counterfeit. I wrote Tajin to find out. The label on the bottle is different than the label at the Tajin website. The ingredients list citric acid before dehydrated lime, and I cannot find that label or ingredient online. Perhaps they updated the recipe recently. It just tastes very sour, with no hint of chili or salt. I would not buy it again, it did nothing to improve an apple or a banana. There are multiple versions of the sauce so which did you buy? It's a spice blend. I bought the regular. It has a non-GMO label on it that is not shown on their website. Based on the other reply upthread, I guess it's real. And apparently not to...
by tooluser
Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Any Tajin users out there? I recently bought Tajin for the first time at Aldi's, and I'm wondering if it's a counterfeit. I wrote Tajin to find out. The label on the bottle is different than the label at the Tajin website. The ingredients list citric acid before dehydrated lime, and I cannot find that label or ingredient online. Perhaps they updated the recipe recently. It just tastes very sour, with no hint of chili or salt. I would not buy it again, it did nothing to improve an apple or a banana.
by tooluser
Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Made popcorn at home and only had one unpopped kernel!
by tooluser
Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:05 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂
Replies: 429
Views: 43349

Re: 🎁 🎉Happy 100th Birthday to Taylor Larimore 🎊🎂

Simplicity is key: Happy Birthday!
by tooluser
Fri Jan 19, 2024 8:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

I shoveled my own snow using a snow shovel.
by tooluser
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are car washes necessary?
Replies: 116
Views: 12802

Re: Are car washes necessary?

Patient: Which teeth should I brush?
Dentist: Just the ones you want to keep.

Birds, mud, crud, salt - I wouldn't want to leave any of those on for too long. I joined the local car wash's monthly "club" and got my car washed about 6 times a month last year. It still looks great. About $8 a wash including tip, for everything but the top-end wax. I did find that autumn leaves collecting on top, even just for a couple of days, left stains on the roof a couple of times that I had to remove by hand using a cleaner wax.
by tooluser
Mon Jan 15, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

A gourmet feast as we enjoy below-zero overnight temperatures here. Roast rack of lamb, taco broccoli, and baked potato.

I have never gone wrong with a rack of lamb from Costco. Season as you like, follow the directions on the sealed package, and you end up with a browned yet moist and tender poem on the plate.

Taco broccoli was invented this evening. Any standard roast broccoli recipe with taco seasoning as the spices. A surprisingly good combination.
by tooluser
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: oil change frequency
Replies: 37
Views: 4594

Re: oil change frequency

Additionally: if 0W-20 oil was not used, then replacements should be after 5,000 miles or 6 months. That's an interesting addition I hadn't noticed before; I wonder how common that is? In the maintenance guide it's in it's own text box with a colored background for emphasis. It shows up at 15k, 25k, 35k, etc. but these are all right after the 10k, 20k, 30k etc. normally scheduled oil changes, so I am deducing the 5k interval. I looked in the owner's manual to get a clue: "Engine oil selection Except for Puerto Rico Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20 SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good starting in cold weather. If SAE 0W-20 is not available, SAE 5W-20 oil may be used. However, it must be replaced with SAE 0W-20 at...
by tooluser
Mon Jan 15, 2024 8:43 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: oil change frequency
Replies: 37
Views: 4594

Re: oil change frequency

I follow the owner's manual, which for my Toyota says to perform maintenance every 5,000 miles or 6 months (whichever comes first). But..."Replace engine oil and oil filter" appears only at 10,000 miles or 12 months (whichever comes first) for normal service.

Caveats: Replace both at 5000 miles or 6 months for driving on dirt roads or dusty roads, driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, heavy vehicle loading, repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F / 0°C, or extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use.

Additionally: if 0W-20 oil was not used, then replacements should be after 5,000 miles or 6 months.
by tooluser
Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

Beensabu wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2024 5:14 pm Finally mastered zucchini fries in the air fryer.

Quarter two zucchinis. Cut each quarter into 3-4 strips. Toss with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese.

Bake in single layer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Then air fry at 350 degrees for another 8-10 minutes.
These might be good. Every time I've had them at a restaurant they were basically just deep-fried water.
by tooluser
Sat Jan 06, 2024 12:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength
Replies: 49
Views: 8025

Re: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength

Since we're posting jar openers as well, here's my fav:
https://www.amazon.com/Brix-Original-Ar ... 07J6HSPWV/

It requires very little effort to use. Instead of trying to apply great amounts of torque to the lid, it releases pressure from the jar by slightly separating the side of the lid from the mouth of the jar. You hear a small hiss of pressure release, and then the lid is very easy to unscrew normally, while preserving the ability to reseal the lid.
by tooluser
Fri Jan 05, 2024 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength
Replies: 49
Views: 8025

Re: Devices to Increase Hand-Grip Strength

Pretty entertaining:

Pro Climber Breaks World Record At Grip Strength Competition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMJPSp7xrN4

Be aware that he does drop several F-bombs in the video.
by tooluser
Wed Dec 20, 2023 6:27 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

... The bid: $800 to clean up the droppings and fix the hole in the wall. $1100 to put mesh and another material under the overhang of the building (about 25 linear feet) which he said was possible access points for rodents in the walls. ... Am I being overly frugal? I was in sticker shock after the bid. The ick factor is real. That bid does sound high to me. In L.A. in 2019 I had a 3-bedroom house inspected, entrance paths closed, and traps laid and serviced for 2 weeks for $810. It would have been a bit less if I had gone with a less well known company. Cleaning out blown-in attic insulation, disinfecting the attic, and refilling the insulation cost quite a bit more ($5k). It was roof rats, which were attracted not by food, but by simply...
by tooluser
Fri Dec 15, 2023 8:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attention Walmart Shoppers
Replies: 81
Views: 12235

Re: Attention Walmart Shoppers

Magnetic towel bar that I put on the refrigerator. About $10.
by tooluser
Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

vnatale wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 6:05 pm
tooluser wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2023 2:09 pm Jumped the curb to get out of the Taco Bell drive-thru without ordering anything. It had already taken too long to get to the order point and I couldn't back up.
Is it any faster if you go inside to order?

I've been to Taco Bell many times. Do the drive-thru if taking with me. Obviously, go inside if I am eating it there.
I actually tried going inside first - not open to inside dining. I think they were short-staffed.
by tooluser
Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Improving cooking skills
Replies: 49
Views: 5070

Re: Improving cooking skills

I always print out a new recipe. After cooking and eating it, if it was good I make notes on the page as to anything I did differently or ought to try next time, and then file it away to make again. So over time I have created a big folder full of good recipes. Perhaps that just provides the illusion of improved skills, but sometimes it is real.

Example: I made Alton Brown's meat loaf recipe. It has finely diced vegetables in it, which he used a food processor for, but I don't have one so I used a knife. It tasted great, but next time I will saute and cool the vegetables before adding to the other ingredients, so they are softer in the final product.
by tooluser
Sat Dec 09, 2023 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

Jumped the curb to get out of the Taco Bell drive-thru without ordering anything. It had already taken too long to get to the order point and I couldn't back up.
by tooluser
Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cross country move.....
Replies: 45
Views: 5462

Re: Cross country move.....

Last month I completed my move from a 3-bedroom house in Los Angeles to a house in the Detroit metropolitan area of Michigan. As a benchmark that may be useful to others, here were my costs and a few comments: Los Angeles to Detroit-area, Feb 2023 - Nov 2023, 5 U-Boxes were used Packing Supplies $650.00 I did not skimp here; it paid off with only two broken items, both cheap plastic things. Moving Help Packing $500.00 4 hours of packing help. Moving Help Loading $1,543.95 U-Box Rental $4,677.75 Price for 9 months. $103.95/month/box. Includes insurance, which is optional. U-Box Transportation $6,514.75 $1302.95 per box, approx. 2500 miles distance. Moving Help Unloading $1,430.95 Total Cost $15,317.40 Cost of mover tips and 5 padlocks not in...
by tooluser
Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:45 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program"
Replies: 2
Views: 573

Re: "You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program"

Anybody else encountering this issue? Yesterday I received two emails from State Street Global Advisors, in combination with the the names of two of my brokerages at which I hold SSGA funds, stating "You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program". The emails appear legit. Text is below. But I click on the link in either one to "Participate in the Program" and I get an error message that "This site can't be reached". Presuming this is legit, how do I actually get to make my opinion known? ----- You’re receiving this notification from State Street Global Advisors about one or more of your fund holdings managed by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. State Street Global Advisors is pr...
by tooluser
Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:27 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: "You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program"
Replies: 2
Views: 573

"You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program"

Anybody else encountering this issue? Yesterday I received two emails from State Street Global Advisors, in combination with the the names of two of my brokerages at which I hold SSGA funds, stating "You’re Invited to Participate in State Street Global Advisors’ Proxy Voting Program". The emails appear legit. Text is below. But I click on the link in either one to "Participate in the Program" and I get an error message that "This site can't be reached". Presuming this is legit, how do I actually get to make my opinion known? ----- You’re receiving this notification from State Street Global Advisors about one or more of your fund holdings managed by SSGA Funds Management, Inc. State Street Global Advisors is pro...
by tooluser
Tue Nov 28, 2023 4:42 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4535
Views: 625904

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

rockstar wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 8:56 am No giving Tuesday for me. Bah humbug.
Ditto. I plan all my giving at the beginning of the year and then feel free to say "no" thereafter. I do leave some unallocated funds for new situations that I might feel charitable towards.

Today I bought some weatherstripping for the old windows in my new (to me) house.
It has been been colder and I can feel the drafts, i.e. :moneybag flying out the windows :( .
by tooluser
Fri Nov 24, 2023 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Returning food to the grocery store
Replies: 143
Views: 25994

Re: Returning food to the grocery store

For grocery returns and complaints I have a loose cost threshold of about $5 where it's worth complaining about or returning. Otherwise I just move on, hopefully wiser in the future.

I returned a small beef roast one time that turned out to be about 50% cartilage, but cut so one could not see it. I cooked it up and found out the sordid truth. I did not initially try to get my money back, but I did submit a complaint online so at least maybe they would be more careful in the future. I received a call back from the store manager, who refunded to me the price of that roast and provided a new one at no charge. The new one did not have that problem. As a result, I thought highly of that chain forever after.
by tooluser
Wed Nov 22, 2023 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: WeatherTech floor mats
Replies: 50
Views: 5490

Re: WeatherTech floor mats

My experience with a WeatherTech competitor: I moved to a wetter climate and ordered front and rear Husky Liners X-Act Fit floor mats for my 2017 car in late August. Estimated shipping date was mid-Sept. Having contacted them a few times when the shipping dates passed, with ever-later ship dates, and receiving nothing on the promised timeline, I cancelled my order on 31 Oct. I received my front floor mats on 01 Nov, despite their online order status website showing no shipping had occurred. I contacted them a few days later to inquire about the second half of my order. I was told they would ship in 4 weeks. Today, 3 weeks after my cancellation, I received a response indicating they would cancel the second half of my order per my earlier req...
by tooluser
Wed Nov 22, 2023 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: So what are you cooking
Replies: 972
Views: 111130

Re: So what are you cooking

I moved into a new house a few weeks ago. I have been making stable old favorites to get used to the new layout. Particularly the stove top and oven, which are electric instead of the gas I had for 20 years. The new range is a sealed cooktop with halogen lamps, and a regular electric oven.

I found the oven to be 25 degF too hot, so I recalibrated it downward (it pays to read the manual). The burners have their own personalities too.

So mostly meat-veg-starch several different ways, and a couple of frozen pizzas (good test for the oven calibration). I'll be roasting some Brussels sprouts tonight for the first time. Making a couple of easy Thanksgiving dishes tomorrow to take elsewhere.