Blow That Dough - 2022

[NW-Bound]

I never thought about but I did cancel our Xfinity service at the lake house. In a very un BTD move I brought in many of these ancient artifacts called books. However when I explained this to our 10 year old he simply said " that's OK I've got unlimited data on my iphone"

Up at my high-country boondocks home, I got 2 boxes of old Reader Digest condensed books that someone donated to the local library. They are from the 50s, my age! Apparently, some local geezers who owned and kept these books recently croaked.

It's a treasure find for me, and I have been reading them whenever I spend time up there. It was a very interesting read, for example travel articles written in the 50s.

 

[aja8888]

You had me at 66 degrees!

66 degrees around here is Winter!

 

[oldphd]

I wonder if I will have any, I have 30 yr old daughter just graduated from dental school and wants to build her career. She married and got a 9 year old step son that is now 12. I'm proud that she pushed her hubby to get custody, she turned the boy around from bad grades and missing lots of school to only one day from perfect attendance and all As and one B. I know there many days she wishes she didn't take on that project, but the boy is in a much better place now. I'm not sure kids are high on her agenda, no matter how much encouragement Mom throws her way. I also have an unmarried 28 yr old son, he's looking, but so far has had a failed engagement. But maybe it will come.

A few posts on whether folks might have grandkids, and thinking it looks like no, there's always hope, here's my story...

We have 2 sons in their mid-late 30s. Both married for over 10 years.

DS #2 has one child, who is about 7 1/2. Love to spoil him! They live in a HCOL location, expensive and tiny house, so do not want more kids from an affordability standpoint, have taken action to remove possibility of any further kids.

DS#1 and his wife have been trying to get pregnant for several years. Fertility docs, couldn't find anything wrong, stopped short of in vitro, had discussed adoption, etc. When his wife hit 40 a couple of years ago I mentally wrote off the possibility of them succeeding since fertility rates drop with age. What happened? You guessed it... recently found out they are expecting around Christmas!

I had written things off to the point that when we redid our wills (new state) earlier this year, I set things up in a way that did not consider the possibility, despite the lawyer saying are you sure??!?! Perhaps that is what made things happen... will need to redo the wills, good problem to have.

 

[Koolau]

^^^^^^^^

Congratulations!

 

[corn18]

Is it possible to adopt grandkids?

 

[TheWizard]

Bought news tires for truck, jokingly said might as well bought a new truck, ouch

I've got 73,000 miles on my original F150 tires, so it's getting close to time to get a new set.
I'm thinking Goodrich K02s would be good...

 

[Calico]

I never thought about but I did cancel our Xfinity service at the lake house. In a very un BTD move I brought in many of these ancient artifacts called books. However when I explained this to our 10 year old he simply said " that's OK I've got unlimited data on my iphone"

There ya go!

I doubt the children even recognized what the artifacts were!

 

[audreyh1]

This boat is very livable. Queen size master bed, 2 bathrooms (full, sink, head and shower) 2 refrigerators, stove and oven, microwave, 3 TV's, stereo, heat and air conditioning.

But you do have to pay slip rent -

Wow, a covered slip!!

That will help keep the boat clean.

 

[f35phixer]

Is it possible to adopt grandkids?

Will you pay for their college? good lord oldest entering 12th, oneWONDERFUL thing she said other day was thinking about was naval academy!!! Biggest smile on my face, sweetie make sure to be fighter pilot, F35’s are bedazzled.

So you heard we got our first woman Blue Angle pilot thought? I’m very pleased….

 

[RobbieB]

Wow, a covered slip!!

That will help keep the boat clean.

Yeah, common in the Delta. But I needed to reduce the mast a bit to fit the entrance. Didn't want to be featured on you tube as a "qualified captain"

Yeah, the roof is nice, don't see them much in Bay area marinas. Good thing too here as the roof not only shields the rain, but also the mean central valley sun. I used to go to Alameda and open the boat as soon as I entered to vent the heat. Here the inside of the boat may be cooler than the outside.

 

[street]

I've got 73,000 miles on my original F150 tires, so it's getting close to time to get a new set.
I'm thinking Goodrich K02s would be good...

I would say you got very penny out of those tires. That is pretty good to get that kind of miles on tires. Here gravel and high-country roads are tough on tires and the hauling that is done. I can get in that 40K miles but that is it.

 

[googily]

You had me at 66 degrees!

After spending almost my entire life suffering through the heat and humidity of mid Atlantic summers, these cool evenings and mornings pretty much make me want to cry.

 

[skyking1]

After spending almost my entire life suffering through the heat and humidity of mid Atlantic summers, these cool evenings and mornings pretty much make me want to cry.

It was 88 here today and where the new property is at, a perfect 70. I can put on long sleeves if I need to

 

[doneat54]

Went to a VW dealer yesterday and sold them our 2017 VW Tiguan with 26k miles on it for $19k. We had it 16 months and had driven it 20k of those miles.

We paid $16k for it last year.


Went to a Benz Dealer 80 miles from home today, test drove a 2021 C300 and bought it on the spot. It gets delivered Monday.

DW retired last week. We plan on leaving New England (winters) right after the holidays and just road tripping through southern states. This Benz will be nice for that.

 

[Ronstar]

I've got 73,000 miles on my original F150 tires, so it's getting close to time to get a new set.
I'm thinking Goodrich K02s would be good...

Yes KO2s would be good. I’ve had KO2s on my F150 for 18 months. Great in the snow.

 

[explanade]

Went to a VW dealer yesterday and sold them our 2017 VW Tiguan with 26k miles on it for $19k. We had it 16 months and had driven it 20k of those miles.

We paid $16k for it last year.


Went to a Benz Dealer 80 miles from home today, test drove a 2021 C300 and bought it on the spot. It gets delivered Monday.

DW retired last week. We plan on leaving New England (winters) right after the holidays and just road tripping through southern states. This Benz will be nice for that.

But did you have to pay over sticker for the new Benz?

Because while used car values are great for sellers these days, so are new cars.

Seller's market for both.

 

[RobbieB]

Have fun in the new Benz! Yeah great road car.

 

[street]

Went to a VW dealer yesterday and sold them our 2017 VW Tiguan with 26k miles on it for $19k. We had it 16 months and had driven it 20k of those miles.

We paid $16k for it last year.


Went to a Benz Dealer 80 miles from home today, test drove a 2021 C300 and bought it on the spot. It gets delivered Monday.

DW retired last week. We plan on leaving New England (winters) right after the holidays and just road tripping through southern states. This Benz will be nice for that.

Looks too nice to drive!! A new car is always very exciting, and I bet it will be a great road car.
Congratulation!!

 

[Koolau]

Sad! Now that I can buy just about any car I want, I just want a "good driver" that get's decent mileage. Oh, well. I live vicariously through the folks here. Thanks to all who are Blowing That Dough!

 

[Souschef]

I understand completely about a new car. When DW's 1998 Caddy died (Damn Northstar engine), she bought a candy apple red Mazda SUV. She loves the car, but there was a quantum leap in technology for her.

 

[doneat54]

But did you have to pay over sticker for the new Benz?

Because while used car values are great for sellers these days, so are new cars.

Seller's market for both.

We got a good price. It is a 2021 with 11k miles. It was one of the dealership's loaner cars. I had been shopping this model for a while and knew what the used price ranges were. This dealer had seven 2021s with between 10 and 14k miles on them. The one we bought had all the techy goodies we wanted and still is warranted until 2026 with unlimited miles. It was a very nice dealership experience. I have never bought a brand new car and never will.



We have a very well optioned Jeep Grand Cherokee also, but it is just too big of a vehicle to take cross country with just the two of us and the dog and doesn't get the best gas mileage. The Benz will get 35+ MPG if you drive it sanely. I pull a flatbed trailer with the Jeep to move stuff, live in New England (winters) and we think we may get another RV trailer next year... all reasons to keep it.


Will post some pics of the interior when it gets delivered next week. It is a 4Matic all wheel drive also....

 

[aja8888]

We got a good price. It is a 2021 with 11k miles. It was one of the dealership's loaner cars. I had been shopping this model for a while and knew what the used price ranges were. This dealer had seven 2021s with between 10 and 14k miles on them. The one we bought had all the techy goodies we wanted and still is warranted until 2026 with unlimited miles. It was a very nice dealership experience. I have never bought a brand new car and never will.



We have a very well optioned Jeep Grand Cherokee also, but it is just too big of a vehicle to take cross country with just the two of us and the dog and doesn't get the best gas mileage. The Benz will get 35+ MPG if you drive it sanely. I pull a flatbed trailer with the Jeep to move stuff, live in New England (winters) and we think we may get another RV trailer next year... all reasons to keep it.


Will post some pics of the interior when it gets delivered next week. It is a 4Matic all wheel drive also....

I doubt that 35 MPG will be easily obtained as the EPA ESTIMATE for this MB is 23 city, 33 highway. Also, EPA does not have any data from actual users yet. With 4matic it will be tough to get that high. Premium fuel costs too! But a very nice ride.

My neighbor has had several MB's and currently has a 2022 GLE 350 4matic SUV and the best he can get is around 22 on the highway. It's EPA estimate is 26 highway. Much different vehicle than yours though.

But nice way to BTD!

 

[Koolau]

I doubt that 35 MPG will be easily obtained as the EPA ESTIMATE for this MB is 23 city, 33 highway. Also, EPA does not have any data from actual users yet. With 4matic it will be tough to get that high. Premium fuel costs too! But a very nice ride.

My neighbor has had several MB's and currently has a 2022 GLE 350 4matic SUV and the best he can get is around 22 on the highway. It's EPA estimate is 26 highway. Much different vehicle than yours though.

But nice way to BTD!

Yeah, never heard of a Benz getting 35 though I suppose it's possible. It would probably take active management (not cruise control) to get that mileage. I can increase my Buick mileage by 2 to 4 mpg by carefully managing speed and especially load (anticipating hills, turning AC on and off, etc.) YMMV

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Yeah, never heard of a Benz getting 35 though I suppose it's possible.

My 350D (Diesel) got between 42 and 46 on the highway and 38 in town. But diesels are now in the USA's rear-view mirror ....... Sad days.

 

[Koolau]

My 350D (Diesel) got between 42 and 46 on the highway and 38 in town. But diesels are now in the USA's rear-view mirror ....... Sad days.

Ah, yes, Benz diesels. Had a buddy at w*rk that bought (IIRC) a 10 year old MB diesel ('74??.) On extreme cold days, he would simply leave his diesel idling in the parking lot. In those days, with diesel running 35 cent/gallon, it might have cost him 50 cents to come back to his warm car and drive off while everyone else was trying to start their cars and scrape the windows. Heady time! YMMV