POLL: Did your project budget increase due to COVID-19?
Emily H
3 years ago
Yes, reduced commuting costs
Yes, reduced entertainment costs (dining out, concerts, cinema, etc.)
Yes, reduced travel costs (flights, accommodation etc.)
Yes, reduced spending on shopping (clothes, food, tech, etc.)
Yes, reduced spending on health/beauty treatments (hairdresser, massages, etc)
Yes, reduced childcare costs (nanny/daycare fees, private schools, tutors, etc.)
Other (please tell us in the comments below!)
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Comments (36)
Robbin Capers
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Post Your Utility Cost Increases
Comments (39)Utilites went up 35 percent here where I am. I am on the budget plan billing. I DO understand exactly what that is. Yes, I know it is not going to save me any money but the reason I chose it is because I have all my monthly bills automatically deducted from my checking account. This way the monthly deductions are always the same and I don't have to scramble every month to move money from one account to another to make sure there is enough to cover a bill that is going to fluctuate from $30 to $180 depending on what month it is. It's not that I don't have the money for the big bills when they rol in, it's just less of a headache to do it this way. I can just put the same amount of money in my "utility" checking account every month and forget about it. I like the budget billing for another reason. This way they always get paid on time, ie; the payments do not ever get "lost in the mail" and incur late payment fees. I don't know if our US postal service is screwed up or if companies just say "Oh, we didn't get your payment on time." so they can charge late fees and interest. I mail things on time and every once and a while some payment seems to get delayed in the mail. I have to take the company's word for it that they didn't get it by the due date. Grrrr. Credit card companies seem to be notorious for this tactic. By using automatic deduction, I solved that problem AND I am saving all those 39 cent stamps I used to use when mailing them. Frugal. There is another "budget" type plan offered in my area. It is a plan where you lock in your RATE. There is a lot of fine print that would negate just about ANY actual saving. Like for instance if your USAGE goes up you get kicked off the plan and pay a penalty. This may be done to prevent abuse of the plan, but since the last few seasons we have had *record breaking* warmer winters I was SURE we were due for a long cold snap come one of the next winters, and of course everybody's usage would go up giving them the excuse to penalize everyone. As cynic pointed out too, the rates were not all that good anyway - about 20 percent MORE....See MoreCOVID-19 disruption
Comments (46)Here in Wisconsin, visits to state parks and forests have increased significantly since last March. It wasn't all good, as the DNR had to briefly close some facilities due to people leaving their trash around. Come on people! Still, my hope is there will be a renewed (and sustained) interest in getting back to nature. Every January several of our friends get together and have a "Living Room Adventure," where we show pictures and talk about the places we visited the past year. Due to Covid, it was done via Zoom last month. Normally these annual get togethers center around far away places some of us have visited. This year the theme was overwhelmingly centered on places closer to home...in some cases our back yard or local woods. I see this as a positive. :)...See MoreAre you satisfied with how your state is managing Covid-19 response?
Comments (48)As someone who deals with facts on a daily basis in addition to the skill of evaluating the validity of research data (I teach science), the idea that data and facts cannot be objectively verified I find puzzling. As I mentioned, we use facts all the time to make decisions, for example, we check the weather before going somewhere to determine how to dress. Weather predictions are made based on facts, measurements and data. But, since weather is a system that is highly variable (many data points and facts affect the system) there is always going to be some level of uncertainty in your predictions. Meteorologists factor that into their weather reports, and usually give a range of predictions, such as 20% chance of rain. That is not zero, btw, so I always carry a collapsible umbrella in my car. But we don't assume that a meteorologist has some hidden political agenda, nor do we necessarily question the need for weather forecasting, particularly those of us in outdoor professions who depend on reliable weather data to make critical decisions. I have no reason to doubt that the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, one of the most respected and admired research centers in the world, would not be working diligently to present the best and most valid data available. Also, since science thrives on constant questioning and examination, they would not rest until more and more "truth" could be determined. I know science constantly refines ideas, I'm comfortable with evolving advice based on the results of more and more information being investigated and newer data coming in. That's why medical advice evolves over time and what was once standard advice, (like taking vit. E protects against heart disease, for example, which has evolved to it being a minor preventative factor if at all, not trumping genetics, and having no benefit in clinical studies as a treatment, in fact in might be a detriment and is no longer supported by the American Heart Association). I not only have confidence in the public health researchers at the University of Michigan and my alma mater Michigan State, for example, I feel blessed beyond compare that I live in a state where such institutions can exist and thrive. I feel the same way about the Johns Hopkins Center, their web site is a marvel of useful and helpful information. As well as the many professional groups I belong to that share "truths" amongst members so we can develop strategies to meet all kinds of situations arising out of real data coming out of the real world. For example, the spotted lanternfly is similar to this covid-19 virus in that it has the potential to decimate dozens of economic fruit crops. No one is questioning the validity or political agendas of folks reporting on its spread, nor on ideas for mitigation and control. That's the irony to me, I live in a state known for having more colleges than just about any other state, (we are number 9 for number of colleges) and yet folks want to refuse the good advice one can find here for FREE! Folks from all over the world come here to convene with some of the best brains on the planet! When it was just "their loss" I was fine with it. Now, when it is my own close family at risk and myself, not satisfied! I have also noted, that in my rural area, there is a movement to not only flaunt social distancing recommendations and rules, but also other laws regarding social conduct. For example, two weekends ago a gang of three wheelers rode up and down the streets in my neighborhood for quite a while, knowing full well that ORVs are not allowed on public roads. It was totally annoying because we were outside trying to enjoy the beauty and peace of our yard. It's happening on a regular basis now, folks going out and engaging in socially disruptive behavior, I guess either hoping to draw folks into conflicts or hoping no one will come out to stop them from the local neighborhood. My friend's husband is a policeman, and this is totally adding to their stress unnecessarily since they are not only having to police serious crimes, but respond to the health crisis as well. So they do not need to deal with things like folks setting off firecrackers, etc.which are totally avoidable. Regarding the three wheelers, eventually they got bored and moved on, but such things are happening on a regular basis in my neighborhood, gangs of trucks and motorcyclists driving around revving their motors, etc. And I'm not talking about groups gathering for socially distancing parties, which we had up the street from us. That was very clear what was going on as the cars all had "Happy Birthday" balloons decorating them. There are several cases of church communities being ravaged by the virus here in MI and some folks have lost MULTIPLE family members. We stopped going to church before it was cancelled, and we intend to keep on participating virtually. The biggest issue for me is how to continue to support local feeding efforts which our church was heavily involved in as volunteers. I am having to remind myself to regularly donate to the food pantry now online with money instead of food, and also not forget to regularly tithe at church....See MoreHelp! DELAY AFTER DELAY on Lowe's kitchen - Final payment due on CC!
Comments (10)Well, here we sit again....cabinets delayed another week. Have e-mailed Lowe's store manager on 2 weeks ago, again 3 days later re-forwarded the e-mail saying I thought he may have missed it over the 4th holiday and then again one week ago. ZERO RESPONSE. Z-E-R-O! Can't believe how unprofessional this is! I get it people are busy but to just not respond to a customer who has spent $30,000 in your store! And my contract said all work would be done by early April! It is now mid-July and this part of the installation MAYBE will be complete next week, then after countertops are installed (another company) there has to be more measuring for some decorative panels that they suggested we don't measure for until after countertops are in. After a call to Lowe's corporate in which they "escalate" the situation and said the store manager will get this "Urgent Customer Care" email and he must respond within 24 hours....still NO response! UNBELIEVABLE! So have put in another call to Customer Service and now they escalate to the District Manager and I am supposed to hear from him within 24 hours. And by the way, Lowe's Credit Card (Synchrony) said that it just takes a call from a Store Manager and they can push this final payment out and extend the promo (6 months same as cash) on out beyond the original 6 months. I have pretty much done EVERYTHING else myself since I placed the order with no communication from their "install manager" or kitchen designer. I communicate with the installer directly now since the install manager also can't seem to return a phone call or place or follow up on the incorrect orders that keep getting placed. I communicate directly with Schuler (their Customer Service has been phenomenal!) to correct orders that are placed incorrectly---even after going over it several times and putting it in e-mails. Cabinets ordered the wrong size by and inch (at least 5 times), finished ends ordered on the wrong side of the cabinet, etc. Hopefully there is a district manager who can straighten this out and get these people to get this project finished!...See MoreRaymond Baker
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