Finances - Page 2

VacationGuy234 · 08-13-2012, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxrac

The antenna service is very terrible in our area and I hate local channels in my state, especially PBS isn't good as like one in NYC or LA.

I'm sticking with satellite TV as only option but I'm not charge to pay, though.

You might need an outside antenna or if you must buy basic cable. Still, you can watch a lot of stuff by just hooking your computer to your TV and paying only for internet.

soulchill · 08-13-2012, 10:10 AM

I'm investing in Jiro's Sunglasses. The future's so bright...

**Reba** · 08-13-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respectyoda

Move closer to society, Foxrac! It is better to have humans as friends instead of animals. Haha.

There's nothing wrong with rural life. One might say it's better to have contact with real life humans and animals and nature than to depend on virtual "friends."

**Jiro** · 08-13-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulchill

I'm investing in Jiro's Sunglasses. The future's so bright...

lol good one.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-13-2012, 01:39 PM

Yeah, the economy really sucks these days.

It's difficult to adjust our spendings when the costs are constantly changing.

Gas prices keep going up.

We're buying store brand foods and keeping an eye out for super sales/discounts in weekly ads.

**Reba** · 08-13-2012, 01:43 PM

Gas prices, grrrrr!

They had been going down all summer, until recently. Then, just when TCS had to drive to Michigan, they zoomed up. So, his trip will probably cost a couple hundred more dollars than we planned on.

Of course, it really cuts into his business profits, too.

So, back to square one. Bleh!

**Jiro** · 08-13-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Gas prices, grrrrr!

They had been going down all summer, until recently. Then, just when TCS had to drive to Michigan, they zoomed up. So, his trip will probably cost a couple hundred more dollars than we planned on.

Of course, it really cuts into his business profits, too.

So, back to square one. Bleh!

yep.....

I'm slightly concerned about my upcoming trip to Rochester and Toronto. If Plan A falters out (carpooling together with my friend's car since it's a gas sipper), then Plan B is taking my truck which is not what I'm thrilled about to because of gas cost. My truck gas expense is estimated to be about $300 for roundtrip. Plan C is taking my brother's car and gas cost is around $150-200 roundtrip but I don't really want to take it because I don't think it can handle a long trip. Plan D is my friends getting bus ticket ($49) to Rochester and I meet up with them there by motorcycle since roundtrip on bike is estimated at around $40.

**Reba** · 08-13-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

yep.....

I'm slightly concerned about my upcoming trip to Rochester and Toronto. If Plan A falters out (carpooling together with my friend's car since it's a gas sipper), then Plan B is taking my truck which is not what I'm thrilled about to because of gas cost. My truck gas expense is estimated to be about $300 for roundtrip. Plan C is taking my brother's car and gas cost is around $150-200 roundtrip but I don't really want to take it because I don't think it can handle a long trip. Plan D is my friends getting bus ticket ($49) to Rochester and I meet up with them there by motorcycle since roundtrip on bike is estimated at around $40.

TCS had to take his Jeep because:
1. His bike is still in the shop getting a new transmission.
2. It's a two-day trip, one way, and lots of rain.
3. He carries his camping gear in addition to his personal stuff because he camps along the way. If camping doesn't work out, he can sleep in the Jeep.

As you know, Jeeps have bad gas mileage numbers.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-13-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Gas prices, grrrrr!

They had been going down all summer, until recently. Then, just when TCS had to drive to Michigan, they zoomed up. So, his trip will probably cost a couple hundred more dollars than we planned on.

Of course, it really cuts into his business profits, too.

So, back to square one. Bleh!

My dad drives a Ford Excursion... with a HUGE gas tank.

He can never fill it up due to the $100 limit on credit card purchases at gas stations.

**Reba** · 08-13-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

My dad drives a Ford Excursion... with a HUGE gas tank.

He can never fill it up due to the $100 limit on credit card purchases at gas stations.

That must be annoying. I think TCS tries to keep his fill-ups to under $80 at a time with his work van. (He fills up more frequently, almost every working day.)

Our son-in-law has a Denali that we call "the bus," and it takes a lot of gas, too. It's not their only family car, so they get better mileage from their other vehicles.

respectyoda · 08-13-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

My dad drives a Ford Excursion... with a HUGE gas tank.

He can never fill it up due to the $100 limit on credit card purchases at gas stations.

I remember a congressman complained when the gas prices rose because he had to spend more money to fill up his Hummer!!!!

**Reba** · 08-14-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respectyoda

I remember a congressman complained when the gas prices rose because he had to spend more money to fill up his Hummer!!!!

Well, he probably didn't make a living with his Hummer. There are many people who need large vehicles to conduct their businesses and transport their families.

respectyoda · 08-14-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Well, he probably didn't make a living with his Hummer. There are many people who need large vehicles to conduct their businesses and transport their families.

He drives the Hummer to work. This is why many congressmen/women among civilians objected to his statement by saying that he can save fuel by driving a more fuel-efficient car.

**Reba** · 08-14-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respectyoda

He drives the Hummer to work. This is why many congressmen/women among civilians objected to his statement by saying that he can save fuel by driving a more fuel-efficient car.

If I worked in DC, I probably wouldn't want to drive at all. The traffic there is atrocious.

respectyoda · 08-14-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

If I worked in DC, I probably wouldn't want to drive at all. The traffic there is atrocious.

When I lived in DC, I didn't have a car as I preferred to either take the shuttle bus or the subway.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-14-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

That must be annoying. I think TCS tries to keep his fill-ups to under $80 at a time with his work van. (He fills up more frequently, almost every working day.)

Our son-in-law has a Denali that we call "the bus," and it takes a lot of gas, too. It's not their only family car, so they get better mileage from their other vehicles.

Ouch!

One way I save money is using GasBuddy app to tell me where the cheapest gas it. It's not 100% accurate, but is close.

I also go to places where I can get discount on gas. Walmart offers 3 cents off if you use a Walmart gift card. The same goes for Kroger and Tom Thumb.

Kroger and Tom Thumb offer more off per gallon depending on how much you spend at the store. One good way to earn extra points it to buy gift cards from the store for places you plan on going to. For instance, if you're planning on going to Red Lobster or Outback for dinner... stop by Kroger and see if they have gift cards for those restaurants. They usually have them in $25 gift cards. Since you bought it at Kroger, you get points added to your Kroger card. When you have enough points within a month, you can get 10 cents up to 2 dollars off a gallon!

***VamPyroX*** · 08-14-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respectyoda

I remember a congressman complained when the gas prices rose because he had to spend more money to fill up his Hummer!!!!

I remember a guy at RIT who had a Hummer... the Hummer, not H2 or H3. He had to spend $80. Yikes!

**Reba** · 08-14-2012, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Ouch!

One way I save money is using GasBuddy app to tell me where the cheapest gas it. It's not 100% accurate, but is close.

Our gas stations here are pretty consistent with their pricing; we know which ones are the hight priced ones, and which ones are the lower priced ones.

Quote:

I also go to places where I can get discount on gas. Walmart offers 3 cents off if you use a Walmart gift card. The same goes for Kroger and Tom Thumb.

Kroger and Tom Thumb offer more off per gallon depending on how much you spend at the store. One good way to earn extra points it to buy gift cards from the store for places you plan on going to. For instance, if you're planning on going to Red Lobster or Outback for dinner... stop by Kroger and see if they have gift cards for those restaurants. They usually have them in $25 gift cards. Since you bought it at Kroger, you get points added to your Kroger card. When you have enough points within a month, you can get 10 cents up to 2 dollars off a gallon!

Cool! We don't have Krogers here anymore, and I've never seen a Tom Thumb.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-15-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Our gas stations here are pretty consistent with their pricing; we know which ones are the hight priced ones, and which ones are the lower priced ones.

Cool! We don't have Krogers here anymore, and I've never seen a Tom Thumb.

Kroger and Tom Thumb go under other names depending on location.

Tom Thumb is owned by Safeway. Tom Thumb also goes by Randall's, Flagship, Simon David, and Safeway.

Kroger also goes by Dillons, Ralphs, QFC, and Fred Meyer.

Perhaps, you've seen those?

**Reba** · 08-15-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Kroger and Tom Thumb go under other names depending on location.

Tom Thumb is owned by Safeway. Tom Thumb also goes by Randall's, Flagship, Simon David, and Safeway.

Kroger also goes by Dillons, Ralphs, QFC, and Fred Meyer.

Perhaps, you've seen those?

Not in our area.

CrazyPaul · 08-18-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VacationGuy234

You might need an outside antenna or if you must buy basic cable. Still, you can watch a lot of stuff by just hooking your computer to your TV and paying only for internet.

What about CC?

My son doesn't have a TV in his bedroom so he watches TV shows with no commercials on his PC monitor via internet. I asked him if those shows have CC. He said no.

That's why FCC made a law effective in 2013 regarding TV shows via internet to include CC as long as those shows are captioned on TV via OTA or cable/satellite services.

BTW, please don't mind my correction - outdoor, not outside.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-20-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPaul

What about CC?

My son doesn't have a TV in his bedroom so he watches TV shows with no commercials on his PC monitor via internet. I asked him if those shows have CC. He said no.

That's why FCC made a law effective in 2013 regarding TV shows via internet to include CC as long as those shows are captioned on TV via OTA or cable/satellite services.

BTW, please don't mind my correction - outdoor, not outside.

Yes, CC is required... but you have to have the equipment capable of enabling the CC.

Some computers can enable CC. Some computers can't.

What is he using to watch videos on his computer?

CrazyPaul · 08-21-2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Yes, CC is required... but you have to have the equipment capable of enabling the CC.

Some computers can enable CC. Some computers can't.

What is he using to watch videos on his computer?

I told him about what you said. He said what kind of computer doesn't matter and CC doesn't come with downloaded TV shows via internet currently. Period. However, he said there are subtitles available for most of them. You also have to download subtitles from opensubtitles.org but not all of subtitles are captioning background sound. Subtitles are made by people in the community, not companies. So it's not the same as CC which are made by companies.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-21-2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPaul

I told him about what you said. He said what kind of computer doesn't matter and CC doesn't come with downloaded TV shows via internet currently. Period. However, he said there are subtitles available for most of them. You also have to download subtitles from opensubtitles.org but not all of subtitles are captioning background sound. Subtitles are made by people in the community, not companies. So it's not the same as CC which are made by companies.

Yeah. Some subtitles don't have good timing (film is compressed poorly causing film to be 1% faster or 1% slower) or they were made for different versions of movies (director's cut, extended editions, dubbed versions, etc). I remember downloading subtitles for some videos I downloaded. I noticed subtitles for one movie would get behind 1 second after 5 minutes of movie time. For another movie, the subtitles ended up being way off because I was watching a dubbed version. Dubbed movies are usually cut tremendously compared to un-dubbed foreign films.

CrazyPaul · 08-21-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Yeah. Some subtitles don't have good timing (film is compressed poorly causing film to be 1% faster or 1% slower) or they were made for different versions of movies (director's cut, extended editions, dubbed versions, etc). I remember downloading subtitles for some videos I downloaded. I noticed subtitles for one movie would get behind 1 second after 5 minutes of movie time. For another movie, the subtitles ended up being way off because I was watching a dubbed version. Dubbed movies are usually cut tremendously compared to un-dubbed foreign films.

XBMC has subtitles offset adjustment. I don't know about other media players. Another way is to download other subtitles that's uploaded by a different person. It sometimes works better than others.

For more info, subtitles offset - Google Search

Jane B. · 08-21-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Kroger and Tom Thumb go under other names depending on location.

Tom Thumb is owned by Safeway. Tom Thumb also goes by Randall's, Flagship, Simon David, and Safeway.

Kroger also goes by Dillons, Ralphs, QFC, and Fred Meyer.

Perhaps, you've seen those?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

Not in our area.

Nor in mine. We at one time had Kroger and if you go 30-35 miles or so away there is one.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-21-2012, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyPaul

XBMC has subtitles offset adjustment. I don't know about other media players. Another way is to download other subtitles that's uploaded by a different person. It sometimes works better than others.

For more info, subtitles offset - Google Search

I've used several other video players that allowed me to adjust the subtitles.

Anyways, back to the topic...

Gas is now $3.62 around here in Texas! Argh!

BornMellow · 08-28-2012, 09:14 PM

Wish I could save that 10% into my bank savings. Reality is taxes, raising costs, medical expenses is curtailing my ability to do savings.

Sometimes I do truly wonder if its just better for me to throw in the towel and get on SSDI and not worry about, medical insurance, gas, food, car, car insurance. I did the math the other day, it costs me 8.50 roundtrip a day for commute alone in gas. And biking is not an option. This area does not have safe paths for bike riders or I would be riding my bike.

***VamPyroX*** · 08-29-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BornMellow

Wish I could save that 10% into my bank savings. Reality is taxes, raising costs, medical expenses is curtailing my ability to do savings.

Sometimes I do truly wonder if its just better for me to throw in the towel and get on SSDI and not worry about, medical insurance, gas, food, car, car insurance. I did the math the other day, it costs me 8.50 roundtrip a day for commute alone in gas. And biking is not an option. This area does not have safe paths for bike riders or I would be riding my bike.

I know the feeling. Gas prices are still going up. It's now $3.65 a gallon where I am.

I drive around as part of my job and my employer has been putting off with increasing the per-mile pay because they're "investigating" what they can increase the pay to.

**Jiro** · 08-29-2012, 11:45 AM

rising gas cost? time to get a motorcycle/scooter!

or a bus pass....

08-13-2012, 10:10 AM	#32 (permalink)
soulchill Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 613	I'm investing in Jiro's Sunglasses. The future's so bright... A Nihilist likes this.

08-13-2012, 01:39 PM	#35 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 40.18, 58.41 Posts: 34,193	Yeah, the economy really sucks these days. It's difficult to adjust our spendings when the costs are constantly changing. Gas prices keep going up. We're buying store brand foods and keeping an eye out for super sales/discounts in weekly ads. __________________ Check out my city... C L I C K H E R E! (If you've already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

08-29-2012, 11:45 AM	#60 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 61,221	rising gas cost? time to get a motorcycle/scooter! or a bus pass.... __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

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08-13-2012, 01:43 PM	#36 (permalink)
Reba Granny Terp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 39,526	Gas prices, grrrrr! They had been going down all summer, until recently. Then, just when TCS had to drive to Michigan, they zoomed up. So, his trip will probably cost a couple hundred more dollars than we planned on. Of course, it really cuts into his business profits, too. So, back to square one. Bleh!

08-28-2012, 09:14 PM	#58 (permalink)
BornMellow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 85	Wish I could save that 10% into my bank savings. Reality is taxes, raising costs, medical expenses is curtailing my ability to do savings. Sometimes I do truly wonder if its just better for me to throw in the towel and get on SSDI and not worry about, medical insurance, gas, food, car, car insurance. I did the math the other day, it costs me 8.50 roundtrip a day for commute alone in gas. And biking is not an option. This area does not have safe paths for bike riders or I would be riding my bike.