Some things are actually getting better

[pacergal]

Cell phones and easy internet access have been game changers since I was a kid several decades ago :-0
Still remember staying close to home waiting for "that phone call" for job interviews!
No message machines even then.

Life is good.

 

[omni550]

I order kitchen doors online and they ship exactly what I order to my garage and have never missed a size to the 1/32". And in perfect, sanded condition, ready to finish. Pretty impressive imo.

I'm intrigued, as this might be a solution for my peeling thermafoil doors. Would you be willing to share your source, Surewhitey?

omni

 

[aja8888]

I walk my check to the local gov't office. The surcharge for online payment is kinda lame IMO.

What's a check?

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Car Insurance Got better for me.

last Friday I took my 2020 VW Tiguan SEL (Not Top of the line) in for a Service, while I was there, they told me it was worth a lot of cashish. So I was curious and went to the sales department and asked what I could get for it. There was 18months left on a 39 month lease. They said $32,500 after the lease buyout. My current lease was $400 a month NO Money down other than the first month lease payment (That is normal).

Well to cut a long story short, I came home with a Brand New Top of the Line 2022 VW Tiguan SEL R-LINE with a plethora of dealer installed options all included for basically the same lease payment for another 39 months. They said I had so much equity which was why they could do it, even though the car was ~ $15k more MSRP than mine was and current money factors (Interest Rates) were a lot higher. I am not sure how they did it, as my criterion was it had to be the same (or VERY close) as my current monthly lease payment, same mileage allowance etc., with all services included till the end of the lease (Normally only 2 years with VW). That was all.

I only ever lease my daily drivers and have done so for the lease 25 years so this was a good thing for me as it added 18 months at no extra cost to me.

And added benefit is my insurance rate went down by $100 per 6 months for the new car vs the 2 year old car. I cannot work that one out either.

 

[Chuckanut]

For all the inflation going on, I have not seen that with most computing components and accessories. Prices for a lot of things continue to trend down. Prices have gone up for things that have a lot more function.

Alas, prices have gone up quite a bit for GnG - Gas and Groceries. Thus, most of us get a reminder about twice a week how bad inflation is.

 

[6miths]

My golf game has gotten a lot better after 2 hip implants and 12 years off golf.

This must be common as my golf game improved dramatically when I stopped playing too.
But seriously, glad you are back enjoying the game and the hips are doing well Happy 4th!

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Alas, prices have gone up quite a bit for GnG - Gas and Groceries. Thus, most of us get a reminder about twice a week how bad inflation is.

You say that but honestly our grocery bills are about the same give or take for 2 people. We eat very well, but do shop sales and do not include beer and wine in our grocery bills.

 

[6miths]

The other day I was in a little funk and realized that I was, once again, watching too much cable news. So many bad things happening, and so many hours to rehash the same stories. I thought it might be helpful for me just sit quietly for a few minutes and think about and acknowledge some things in this world that have improved how I live. One thing I really like is how automobile insurance (at least my USAA) is handled in this internet age. Two days ago I acquired an automobile, sat down at the iMac and logged in to USAA. I clicked "Add a vehicle and clicked a few boxes." The whole process took about 6 minutes with no human interaction required. Today I sold a different vehicle, and once again logged in to USAA, clicked on "Remove a vehicle." Done in about 5 minutes. So easy. Do people still drive to a brick-mortar office occupied by an insurance agent?
Feel free to chime in with something you noticed getting better.

Does USAA let you go in and check what it would cost to insure different vehicles when you are shopping. I still wind up e-mailing my agent during this process and feel like I am being a total pain. This would be a nice feature. And I know that they are just entering info on their computer to get the quotes.

 

[skipro33]

The evening news seems to really try to ruin ones day or so it seems. To perk me up, I watch young people on youtube and am restored in the faith that mankind may still have some hope in this world.
Here's a 13 year-old violin player I especially enjoy watching:
Did I mention she's from Ukraine?

WARNING:
Once you've seen one of her videos, you'll want to keep watching others. Pace yourself!

O.K., but just one more:

Two more. But that's all...

 

[aja8888]

This must be common as my golf game improved dramatically when I stopped playing too.
But seriously, glad you are back enjoying the game and the hips are doing well Happy 4th!

Thanks! 12 years off caused me to start all over and form new bad habits, but it appears they are not as bad as the previous bad habits! And the replacement hips are wonderful!

 

[Which Roger]

Following the news is getting better, at least for me. For the past couple months, I've ignored the "news" web sites that have a lot of spin and bias and now go to newsnationnow.com, which just covers the important stories in a balanced way and pretty much ignores the little things that are reported by others as news but are really just designed to get us riled up.

 

[target2019]

What's a check?

It's a printed piece of paper that's free. I fill it out, go to town, and meet the nice folks in town government. Personal delivery of that check also means I get to stop at McD's for a fish filet (or two). Sometimes I go completley insane and pick up two $6 Acme hoagies for dinner. Then I drive home, and feeling a great sense of accomplishment, I reward myself with a nap in the recliner.

One small piece of paper enables a great day.

 

[travelover]

I have been using Wet-and-Forget for years and love it. I assumed it was just snake oil at first. I always stock up when Costco has it on sale. I have recommended it to several people.

Here in the PNW it is a must for the roof or the moss will take over.

 

[Chuckanut]

You say that but honestly our grocery bills are about the same give or take for 2 people. We eat very well, but do shop sales and do not include beer and wine in our grocery bills.

There is no doubt in my mind that my grocery bill is up quite a bit. I tend to buy a lot of basics - meat, dairy, fruits, veggies and they are all higher. I don't know... maybe Twinkies have held the line on price increases.

Gas and Groceries. "GnG, baby!" may be this year's version of "It's the economy, stupid!"

 

[aja8888]

Today I paid $2.52 for a dozen extra large eggs at Walmart. Last time I bought the same it was $3.32. What gives?

 

[Dtail]

Use a broker for car/umbrella/home insurance. Works out well.

 

[REWahoo]

Today I paid $2.52 for a dozen extra large eggs at Walmart. Last time I bought the same it was $3.32. What gives?

Chickens.

 

[Walt34]

Anything electronic. Better, cheaper, faster, not to mention stuff that was pure science fiction when I was growing up, like GPS.

As I've mentioned in other posts a hobby of mine is radio control model airplanes. What there was when I was first aware of it was vacuum tube and so expensive that only "rich people" could afford it. We were definitely not rich. Now one can put a TV camera and transmitter on an R/C model for the price of a meal-for-two at McDonald's. Almost the same price puts a GPS navigation system on it with a RTH (return-to-home) button. That stuff didn't exist at any price when I started in the hobby.

The quality and safety of cars. I remember when getting a car to go 100k miles was more the exception than the rule. Now people are disappointed if it won't go twice that without major expense. And if you're unfortunate enough to get into a serious crash you have a better chance of surviving than ever before. I've seen people walk away from crashes that when I first started working would surely have been fatal.

 

[Fermion]

Is the violin girl faked? She is always playing with a speaker in the background. I couldn't tell from the comments.

 

[aja8888]

Chickens.

Yeah, those chicks must have had a bunch of laying going on and the eggs just kept coming!

 

[MC Rider]

This must be common as my golf game improved dramatically when I stopped playing too.
But seriously, glad you are back enjoying the game and the hips are doing well Happy 4th!

I haven't golfed in 30+ years. My game ought to be really good.
That, or deceased.

 

[cbo111]

Does USAA let you go in and check what it would cost to insure different vehicles when you are shopping. I still wind up e-mailing my agent during this process and feel like I am being a total pain. This would be a nice feature. And I know that they are just entering info on their computer to get the quotes.

Yes, USAA does have that feature so you can see what a potential vehicle might cost to insure. There is also a handy button to click on that gives recommendations on how to reduce your total insurance cost.

 

[travelover]

Cancer treatment has really come a long way. Not that long ago it was nearly always fatal and often quickly.

 

[RobbieB]

Seedless Watermelon. Not really, but so small you just eat them.

 

[Time2]

+1000
Those new electronic keys are the best! I can even use my iPhone!
The only downside is if you lose one, they are so expensive to replace.

I don't even have an electronic key, just a key with the chip inside. When I bought a used 2009, they only had one key. I went to get one and it was over $200 for the key and to have it programed! I watched a of couple Youtube videos and found I could I could cleanly open the top of the key and remove the chip, then epoxy the chip inside the dash on the ignition assembly. Now the door key also works in the ignition, So I had a couple more Door keys made for Maybe $6. Worked fine for about 3 years now.