Need advice re visit from friend
joaniepoanie
8 years ago
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8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice re debit card use from someone using Quicken
Comments (11)In talking to a young couple regarding how to develop a good money management system, I suggested that a good way to start is to keep track of every expenditure, to assist in evaluation. I suggested that they set up a page, probably in a loose-leaf binder, to deal with their cash operation, with date, description, and three (possibly 4) columns, with one for individual expenses, (possibly a second to add several expenditures). One column for cash income as withdrawn from bank account, or other source, etc., and a column at the right for keeping track of balance. It's important to check amount in wallet against recorded balance on hand frequently at the start, as often there appears to be more cash reported in record book than wallet ... as one (or more) expenditures had not been entered. I was informed that they didn't do much cash business, but dealt extensively with debit card. I was going to suggest later that they set up several columns to the right, to break out the expenditures into the various types, with a column for each. How to deal with the debit card transactions? I thought that it might be wise to enter each transaction, either as it happens (which I thought preferable), or as they get their monthly report from the bank relating to date and description, but not into the cash columns, as it was directly paid from the bank. To record each transaction only in the columns related to category. But - many pay bills also by cheque and by credit card. The reason for the cash columns is to ensure that every transaction is accounted for, but this is not an issue with the debit card transactions, for they show up totally in the bank report. Then when the bank report comes in, ensure that each transaction that you made is entered, and checked with the bank report, entering any that hadn't been earlier. That way, each of those two types of expenditure shows on the detailed page. I suggested that they keep a report of their bank account transactions on the back of last month's record, on the page to the left. The cheque register would show the various expenditures during the month on the full financial report of expenditures and would be entered either as they were written, or, I thought preferably, after the cash transactions for the month (possibly including the debit card activities, as well), had been finished. Then, one gets a report from one's credit card transactions and each transaction would be entered in the various relevant categories. As many report that Quicken is easy to use, and quite comprehensive, I'm quite sure that it'll have an easy way to deal with the debit card transactions. ole joyful...See MoreNeed advice from plumbers re:water filters
Comments (5)I'm not a plumber, but I am an engineer. I've mostly worked in dirty water since school, but I did mostly clean water then. THMs are trihalomethanes, and they are a class of chemicals called disinfection byproducts. Basically, any chemical that's added to disinfect drinking water reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in the water (think the dissolved remnants of stuff like leaves, algae) to yield tiny tiny concentrations of these chemicals. The main thing that affects how much THMs form is the time the water sits in the pipe and storage tanks between the plant and the point of use. The last I paid attention to it, we know that THMs in massive quantities are carcinogenic in the lab. The rules your utility follows are an attempt to extrapolate from what we know to protect the public against exposure to tiny amounts over a long time. FWIW, my recollection is that the prime exposure path is actually via steam inhaled in the shower. The good news is that a carbon filter is a great way to remove the residual disinfectant (chlorine or chloramines), THMs, and other organic chemicals (VOCs- volatile organic compounds). And it takes care of the main complaint that leads to getting a filter in the first place- that the water doesn't taste good. I'm not a big RO proponent for home use. Unless you have someone who's immunocompromised or have a lot of dissolved solids (due to softening or from being in a coastal area that has saltwater intrusion), I think it's overkill. And it's expensive, has expensive consumables, and wastes a lot of water to produce a little. There are always exceptions, but that's my general feeling. Your faucet should be fine if you get a carbon filter. The problem with RO is that it makes the water more likely to dissolve metals it comes in contact with. Water that's just carbon filtered is still buffered to prevent this. I don't think there's a problem with going generic. The issue with the proprietary systems is that they lock you into their replacement cartridges and those are usually at a premium. You can get housings and filters much more cheaply. One tradeoff that comes to mind is that the proprietary setups may have an easier arrangement to replace filters. Otherwise, you have to be a bit of a plumber yourself to put together the housings, valves, fittings, etc. The simplest setup would be a single filter. This is like what’s in most fridge and point of use filters. There are combination cartridges that remove lead, cysts (tiny pathogen eggs that are very hard to kill) and have carbon for chlorine, THMs, VOCs. A step up would be a multistage system that adds a sediment filter and maybe a second stage of carbon. This is what we have in the water coolers at my office, which run on tap water instead of jugs. As for the pool, the color problem after the tornadoes is a bit of a stumper. Probably not something that’s going to happen often. And I don’t know if a simple sediment filter would take care of it. Otherwise, there’s a whole ‘nother set of chemistry going on in your pool, and frankly I wouldn’t worry about filtering what you fill the pool with unless it looks bad. Not to mention that a carbon filter that sits around unused tends to have some of the stuff it’s collected re-dissolve into the water sitting there. Last but not least, how well any of this works is dependent on how good a job of maintenance you do. Timely filter replacement is critical. Either based on a conservative time schedule or testing the filtered water for chlorine breakthrough. A buddy who does water treatment for Coke’s bottlers reminded me lately that it’s also a good idea to flush the system with unfiltered tap water when you replace filters. This puts some chlorinated water through so that you kill anything that’s grown in the housing and tube/pipes. Not something I logistically can do with my fridge filter but a very good idea. McMaster Carr (industrial supply house) has always been a good reference to get an idea of cost, but Amazon also seems to carry most everything these days too. I’d look there and look at some of the pre-built systems to decide what works best for you....See MoreFriend seems to never want to drive to visit me
Comments (6)Thirties are a hard time.. usually new husbands and babies or young kids take much time away from friends. I don't know what her family situation is, but when I was in my early thirties, I didn't have much time for friends that lived 10 minutes away, much less could I even imagine taking a day off to drive an hour to go shopping. Even if she doesn't have kids, sometimes work obligations or gatherings with the in-laws take over many weekends. You say when you drive in, you're generally coming in town to visit your family... but, honestly, how many times would you drive that far and come in just to visit her? Have you driven in just to see her? Have you guys considered meeting for lunch or dinner half way? That sounds like a plan to me... I don't necessarily think that the friendship isn't special to her; I just think there are times in our lives when we aren't able to invest as much time as we like with all our friends. Some years are better than others. Friends don't need to physically see each other all that much. Keep in touch by phone. And one more thing, it may not seem fair but I have noticed usually the friend or family member that moves away does come back to visit more... I mean, that's home, you're coming back to see many people. So don't keep tabs; it's not really fair. I mean, you may come in town 5 times a year..for a reunion, a funeral, a wedding shower, your mom's b-day, a niece's baptism, etc.... but that doesn't mean your friend should have to visit you five times a year. Get the point; you moved away, not her. And, she doesn't like to drive so you will probably be seeing her on her home turf way more often....See MoreA visit from Forum Friends
Comments (27)We don't seem to get together as much as we used to, John, and I miss my friends. Sherry/sheshebop also stopped a couple of weeks ago, she's moved since her husband passed away. She only spent one night, because Elery and I had to leave for Tennessee, his BIL passed away from cancer the day Sherry arrived. So, she spent the night and the next morning she started north for Nancy/wizardnm and we started south. I was sorry to cut that visit short. Annie...See More
Funkyart
8 years agoeld6161
8 years ago
debrak_2008
8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoFunkyart
8 years agoUser
8 years agojoaniepoanie
8 years agoUser
8 years agoeld6161
8 years agobusybee3
8 years ago
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years agojoaniepoanie
8 years ago
Elraes Miller
8 years agoUser
8 years ago
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