Recent content by tulak

For Amsterdam, they have someone at the beginning of the custom line to redirect you to a quicker line if your flight is leaving soon. It was nice to see that, since I have a shorter layover for an upcoming trip in July and I’m skeptical we’ll make it in the regular line.

Ran my first 5k today. I’ve never been much of a runner, but have started to enjoy it. Even after a short run I feel great. This might become a new hobby.

This is why you want to have multiple layers of security. Even if I gave you my Vanguard account password, you couldn’t login.

Another fan of Brother B&W laser printer. I’ve had mine for years and it’s worked great.

What happens if the company goes under/bankruptcy within 5 years? You’ve lost both your money and visa? I’m assuming the visa is for residency and not citizenship? If so, how long and what are the requirements for citizenship, or permanent residency that allows you to get back your investment...

I check often for upgrade offers, since you can find a great deal. I recently got a $500 upgrade from main cabin economy to business for a long-haul flight to Europe. I had a short flight in Europe where the airline offered me to bid for business class. It was over a 100 euro min for a less...

I’m migrating from Google Sheets to Apple’s Numbers. Mostly because I’m trying to get away from Google and I’m already in Apple’s ecosystem. I use an iPad a lot and Numbers works much better there than Google Sheets (same for iPhone). If I wasn’t tied to Apple, I’d likely try Open Office.

I use Moneydance and a spreadsheet for investment tracking. Moneydance is for account reconciliation and cash flow tracking. I also avoid online solutions.

More progress from SpaceX. Hopefully it goes smoothly. https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/05/private-astronauts-to-fly-highest-mission-since-apollo-make-groundbreaking-eva/

I buy cars that are not flashy and serve my needs. The last car was a minivan, which worked great with a family. I drove that car for 17 years (bought new) and only sold it because it was leaking water into the driver’s side and I couldn’t figure out how. I ended up buying a new Subaru...

A minimum tip is usually included by default for larger groups. Definitely something to be aware of to avoid double-tipping. In my area it’s usually 6 or more and the tip (service charge) amount is written on the menu. I wouldn’t feel obligated to add anything more, nor do I think it’s expected.

It makes me wonder if they’re seeing a large number of accounts leaving? This might push me to consolidate some accounts.

I agree with Audrey on this point, most banks will give you a worst rate than using a credit card. In some cases, you also have to be aware of the spread, which can be fairly large. But glad you found a better deal. As always, this is a good thing to check for yourself, keeping in mind that...

I opened a Wise account (formerly Travel Wise), not for travel purposes, but for personal reasons. I briefly compared their rate to Visa’s exchange rate and the Wise rate was better. Wise offers a debit card that you could use specifically for travel. It might be a better deal, but it could...

I have an annual yoga membership. Last year it was $1200, but they increased to $1350. I bike regularly on a bike that I bought over 12 years ago (30-40 mile rides on average, with an occasional century). Ongoing costs for that is low. And then there’s skiing. Gear is many years old now, but...