Post Your Wins

[scfr]

Another cooking win: I cooked up a big batch of steel cut oats and used a muffin pan to freeze individual portions, then stored the portions in a freezer bag. Now I just have to grab a portion out of the freezer, heat it up in the microwave, then add toppings (fruit & nuts for me) for a really quick, easy hot breakfast.

I shared these with my mom & brother and they both loved them, so I've started making for them and delivering when I visit.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Is that a shed or a studio? How big is it? Looks great!

It is 12 x 16 ft. And it is a studio basically without the bathroom. It's a man cave. I'm gonna have a hard time dragging him out of this house ever. It was a lot more expensive than you would think. But i think a lot of it is because it's a lot bigger than what $25k would have cost to pay those companies to build it for us. I think most of those were 10x10 or 10x12 unfinished. This is about 2x size and finished completely. I mean he did sort of go overboard and I did not have to buy him a kegerator, beverage fridge, nor put in speakers in ceiling and tv.

[cypher1]

Here is shed interior

Is that a shed or a studio? How big is it? Looks great!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Here is shed interior

[Thrif-t]

I guess mine isn't so bad, I have higher internet because we are working/schooling from home and my son plays PS4 in his spare time. I also still have a home phone I can't seem to part with. I do have the 10 streaming channels, then all the basic free ones.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Sometimes though the Roku TV does buffer during prime time when the network is busy and everyone in the neighborhood is online.

[QuarterMillionMan]

1) I'm not sure how fast in technical terms but I think half the speed of the $45 internet rate today which I see advertised on Spectrum's website. Although I can watch Roku on TV, stream Youtube videos, and check email or other searches on separate devices all at the same time without any of it "buffering."
2) It's been about 4 years since I've seen the $45 internet rate and I expect anyday Spectrum could cancel my $19 rate and switch me to the new $45 rate. I take it day by day and everyday I'm on it I'm grateful for it. Also, I have my own modem/router and upgrade every couple of years to the fastest model available which I think helps with the speeds.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

How fast is the internet? How long are you grandfathered in?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Spectrum TV for $26 is "choose any 10 channels" for $26 a month. Internet is a grandfather price for $19 a month. The $17.73 rebate is a one-time COVID related sports shutdown rebate. This month's total of $40 a month increases to $60 in March next month.

[Thrif-t]

TV $26, internet $19 (w/COVID limited sports one-time rebate of $17), for $40 a month.

How'd you do that?? I have spectrum but way more than that!!

[QuarterMillionMan]

TV $26, internet $19 (w/COVID limited sports one-time rebate of $17), for $40 a month.

[kork13]

I was chatting with my father tonight, and a few finance topics came up -- he knows I'm a finance nerd, so he'll bounce thoughts/questions off of me periodically. Tonight, the topics included his impending retirement in May (just submitted his retirement paperwork last week!), real estate, taxes/RMDs, spending/budgeting, etc.... At one point, he mentioned that he's recently become one of the roughly 75,000 TSP millionaires in federal service. I don't know exact net worth figures for him, but I know he owns a ~$360k rental home & his ~$150k current home outright, plus some non-retirement savings/investments. So he's probably worth somewhere between $1.5M-$1.7M.

Not necessarily a win for me personally, but I do consider it good news for my brothers & I. It's reassuring to know that he's set up to be financially secure in retirement, between a ~$4k/mo federal pension, plus his RE/investment assets, and eventually (planning for age 70) he'll get a reasonably healthy SS check. Call me cynical/selfish, but I don't want him/his needs to become an overwhelming burden on my brothers & I as he ages. I view his financial security as a significant gift to us as his kids.

Honestly, the only concern I've got for him financially is his relatively new (3rd) wife that my brothers & I frankly don't trust/like a whole lot... She's nice enough & big-hearted, but 100% stereotypical bubble-head Cali-girl, if you can imagine one of those in their 60's. Anyway, he mentioned that she's very much the "spend it when you've got it" type, so he's planning to just manage their money & give her an 'allowance' after they're both retired. Not necessarily the best scenario (financially or relationship-wise), but my brothers & I have decided not to butt in with her as long as he's happy & not getting wildly taken advantage of.

[skives]

Legal online sports betting, poker and casino games went live in my state a few weeks back. My wife and I were able to sign up for early offers and came away with over $600 in profits.

[jenn_jenn]

LivingAlmostLarge, that is an impressive shed! Kudos to your husband.

Our win was using points to cover our $600 flights back home to California next month. We started saving all of our points starting in 2019 for our honeymoon that never happened due to corona. We’ve been sitting on lotssss of points so we figured we’re safe to start redeeming some of them.

[Thrif-t]

I wanted to give a true brag as well...My DH built his own office shed bar in the backyard. No humble brag but serious shout out that I'm impressed he deserves kudos. This is also why we couldn't park in the garage till now.

That is so cool!! I'd love a man shed in my backyard to store my husband and son. Too bad neither of them have any building skills :-(.