What is your financial Achilles' heel?

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsbcal Is it going to work on 6 months between cleanings.

Yes , It cleaned my soap scum that had been building for eons .

[MrLoco]

Poker

[Winemaker]

Fresh, ripe vitis vinifera grapes from California. Was able to snag about 750# quality cab sauv, petite syrah, and sangiovese. However, I am looking for some different varieties of local apple juice/cider for my yeasties to consume!

[Amethyst]

Glad to hear that some CA grapes survived the wildfires. I wonder if the mature (25-80 years old) vines are tough enough to get through the fires and go back to producing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemaker Fresh, ripe vitis vinifera grapes from California. Was able to snag about 750# quality cab sauv, petite syrah, and sangiovese. However, I am looking for some different varieties of local apple juice/cider for my yeasties to consume!

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ready Anything made by Apple. Otherwise, not much really.

getting our 8 Plus today! We do not consider this an Achilles heal. Just a good device choice.

[Lsbcal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan getting our 8 Plus today! We do not consider this an Achilles heal. Just a good device choice.

I've been looking at this too. Comparing it to Pixel 2 XL which is similar sized. Google is well ahead in it's voice recognition which makes me hesitate on the iPhone 8 Plus. But I read that the Google Assistant can be loaded onto the iPhone 8. I guess the Google software (like Google Maps) is available on the iPhone so not really an issue.

On my iPad, I notice some voice recognition problems but am unclear if this is partly a microphone issue that is maybe better on an iPhone. To me, voice recognition is really key as typing on a tiny keyboard is a pain (maybe not for teenagers).

During the recent fires in our area, the smartphone was our only communication source (web and TV were out). This is a really important point that I would urge others to think about. And remember to buy a car phone charger and test it. And remember to upload some critical docs to the cloud storage.

[rodi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by USGrant1962 Health insurance.

This sums it up for me. I worry about the hyper inflation of health care costs... Seems like premiums going up 25%/year is unsustainable... But what are you going to do?

[seabourne]

ditto on healthcare. Pulling the plug next year at age 39, married no kids, but the 25 year uncertainty in healthcare is possibly the biggest wildcard, only rivaled by potential large investment swings.

[Winemaker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst Glad to hear that some CA grapes survived the wildfires. I wonder if the mature (25-80 years old) vines are tough enough to get through the fires and go back to producing.

The biggest threat to these old or ancient vines is the marketplace. Hundreds of acres of old vine zinfandel and other varieties are getting pulled up because of the thirst for Cabernet Sauvignon, which can command prices of $6000/ton, whereas the other varieties may only price at $2,000/ton.

Do you want 20 cent divvy or a 60 cent? It's a shame but money talks.

I do have a 30 gallon barrel of OVZ in storage, aging quite nicely.

[RenoJay]

Mine is losing income and j*bs in the past by needing to speak my mind. My unwillingness to suck up is my financial Achilles.

[youbet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarieIG Do you have a financial Achilles' heel? For example, I had thought that I was pretty resistant to pleas for money from certain relatives. No, I won't co-sign a loan, no I'm not buying that, you want it you buy it yourself. (I'm not talking about normal expenses when raising a family, and would have kicked in if my or DH's parents needed support - they were good parents and not spendthrifts). I am the financial hardnose in the family. I reign in DH who has a soft heart and would empty his bank account buying gifts (not necessities) for grown kiddos and me. Oldest son (an adult) got me though. A call from the vet's office, DGD (grand dog) ate a beer can, not enough money to cover the surgery, put the surgery on parents' card or dog dies. Not to mention the $ we spent (unsuccessfully) trying to save our sweet kitty this month, but I can't regret that. So, do you have a financial Achilles' heel?

I'm a softie in lots of areas but helping folks who are in financial need due to over-spending on pets is not one of them. After decades of critters around the house, we're now happily FIRE'd and pet-free.

I understand the love and attachment. But I don't understand voluntarily creating the obligation if you can't afford it.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RenoJay Mine is losing income and j*bs in the past by needing to speak my mind. My unwillingness to suck up is my financial Achilles.

Some people call it sucking up, others might call it being a team player, depends. I also had a reputation for speaking my mind, but always with respect and from managements perspective. Otherwise it’s just complaining. Didn’t hurt my career.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsbcal I've been looking at this too. Comparing it to Pixel 2 XL which is similar sized. Google is well ahead in it's voice recognition which makes me hesitate on the iPhone 8 Plus. But I read that the Google Assistant can be loaded onto the iPhone 8. I guess the Google software (like Google Maps) is available on the iPhone so not really an issue. On my iPad, I notice some voice recognition problems but am unclear if this is partly a microphone issue that is maybe better on an iPhone. To me, voice recognition is really key as typing on a tiny keyboard is a pain (maybe not for teenagers). During the recent fires in our area, the smartphone was our only communication source (web and TV were out). This is a really important point that I would urge others to think about. And remember to buy a car phone charger and test it. And remember to upload some critical docs to the cloud storage.

Yes I think there is not much to choose anymore. I have a good friend who is an Android bigot and was going on about all the things he could with Google Maps. I said that we had all that function on iPhone with Google.

Paying attention to what is stored in the cloud is crucial.

[jollystomper]

Healthcare it is for me as well. While I would get slightly subsided premiums from Megacorp when I retire, it will still be our largest and most unpredictable budget item.

[Amethyst]

wow, that is too bad. When we stayed at a winery in Tuscany, the owners (who were no kids themselves) told us that their grandparents had put in the oldest vines which, at 80 years old, were producing some of the best wine on the farm (sangiovese was their specialty). They said that while you can get decent wine from 3-5-year old vines, it really takes 25 years for the vines to get going. It made an impression on me (obviously). They also said the very old vines are not quite as productive in terms of quantity, so I guess that would be additional incentive to pull up old vines to make more room for quantity producers....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemaker The biggest threat to these old or ancient vines is the marketplace. Hundreds of acres of old vine zinfandel and other varieties are getting pulled up because of the thirst for Cabernet Sauvignon, which can command prices of $6000/ton, whereas the other varieties may only price at $2,000/ton. Do you want 20 cent divvy or a 60 cent? It's a shame but money talks. I do have a 30 gallon barrel of OVZ in storage, aging quite nicely.

[Nightcap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ready Anything made by Apple. Otherwise, not much really.

+1

[flintnational]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Buying old cars, fixing them up and selling them for less than I have in them. Sounds foolish, but it keeps me occupied and out of the bars.

I am looking for a 61-65 IH Scout. Can you buy one fix it up and sell it to me? Sounds like we would both enjoy the transaction.

Seriously, I understand. I fish on the coast. I think my per pound cost for the catch is probably around $75 per pound. Fixing up cars might be a cheaper hobby.

FN

[cbo111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quacker moemg: i read your post this afternoon, got right up and prepared a spray bottle with your special recipe (yeah/yeah, i need to get a life)...but, you are so right....IT WORKS!!! How i made it to wayyyy the far side of half a century old without knowing about this amazing Dawn/vinegar magic is beyond me - thanks so much for sharing, this is BIG!

I use the dawn/vinegar spray for weeds on my long paver walkways. I can spray in the morning and see the weeds melting by the end of the day. Much better for the environment than Roundup.

[kumquat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danmar Some people call it sucking up, others might call it being a team player, depends. I also had a reputation for speaking my mind, but always with respect and from managements perspective. Otherwise it’s just complaining. Didn’t hurt my career.

I have a similar experience. One VP i reported to wanted "yes men", I didn't qualify. I remember one day getting supreme sh!t from my VP for saying something he didn't agree with to the CEO. Later, the CEO told everyone how nice it was to have honest peons. My career slowed a bit. A year or so later, said VP was 'out' and the new guy (not me) was singing my praises for (among other things) honesty and being able to translate "geek talk to English".

\EDit to add:

To get back on topic, I spend too much on tools, old British cars and grandchildren. But, WTF, I can afford all three.

[Moemg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbo111 I use the dawn/vinegar spray for weeds on my long paver walkways. I can spray in the morning and see the weeds melting by the end of the day. Much better for the environment than Roundup.

Thanks , Our paver weeds drive us nuts !