Admin Please Close Thread.

[Jangles]

4.25 am and I am still wide awake, possibly because I drank a coffee at 8pm. This thread is keeping me company.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Is there some sort of DIS web award for "Best Thread of the Year"? Because I would say this is a front-runner for 2023.

There's no doubt that because of the title alone this thread should reach 1000 pages by 2025 or so...kind of as a running joke but also as a reference to churning butter apparently?

 

[john7994]

A “closed” thread and no one followed ”The Rule”?! Because of course the first post was deleted. What caused all the drama? Inquiring minds want to know.

*cough* post #68 *cough*

 

[StacyStrong]

Maybe not, depending on their housing situation.

At that salary in CA, take home after JUST taxes is about $15,000/month. Housing payments in the majority of the population centers in the state if you get a mortgage today can run over $7000/month. That's close to half. This doesn't take into account Healthcare expenses, retirement plan contributions, etc.

To be fully transparent, our take home salary is just under that amount and we CAN take vacations BUT only because:

1. Our housing costs are lower than typical market rates, at $3700/month for rent. Market rate is around $5000-6000 for the type of dwelling we live in (a 3bd/2bath condo).

2. We have basically free Healthcare. Our maximum out of pocket for the family, per year, is $1000.

3. A significant portion of our income is non taxable.

4. We have a defined pension plan, so don't max out retirement contributions.

5. Kids have special needs and not attending college.

If any or all of these things were different, we would not have enough for a yearly vacation. We haven't been on a big family trip since 2018.

7000 after taxes and

Maybe not, depending on their housing situation.

At that salary in CA, take home after JUST taxes is about $15,000/month. Housing payments in the majority of the population centers in the state if you get a mortgage today can run over $7000/month. That's close to half. This doesn't take into account Healthcare expenses, retirement plan contributions, etc.

To be fully transparent, our take home salary is just under that amount and we CAN take vacations BUT only because:

1. Our housing costs are lower than typical market rates, at $3700/month for rent. Market rate is around $5000-6000 for the type of dwelling we live in (a 3bd/2bath condo).

2. We have basically free Healthcare. Our maximum out of pocket for the family, per year, is $1000.

3. A significant portion of our income is non taxable.

4. We have a defined pension plan, so don't max out retirement contributions.

5. Kids have special needs and not attending college.

If any or all of these things were different, we would not have enough for a yearly vacation. We haven't been on a big family trip since 2018.

$7000 after housing costs and taxes is a lot of money and certainly not middle class. That’s more than I take home in a month

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

*cough* post #68 *cough*

Lol nah it was the one before that of mine. But really what got the drama going for the thread itself wasn't me myself but rather all the reporting the OP said they were doing to all kinds of posters for everything. That was when this thread derailed into what it is now. It's the strangest thread I've ever encountered for that reason, never seen that many people someone has been after like that.

BUT butter churners and meat grinders, yurts I think too must have skyrocketed on Google searches

 

[john7994]

Lol nah it was the one before that of mine. But really what got the drama going for the thread itself wasn't me myself but rather all the reporting the OP said they were doing to all kinds of posters for everything. That was when this thread derailed into what it is now. It's the strangest thread I've ever encountered for that reason, never seen that many people someone has been after like that

Wasn't trying to throw you under the bus ... but posts were deleted and its kinda where the wheels starting flying off the bus a bit ... it was a weird exchange of events for sure ...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Wasn't trying to throw you under the bus ... but posts were deleted and its kinda where the wheels starting flying off the bus a bit ... it was a weird exchange of events for sure ...

Oh no I didn't think you were throwing me under the bus. I think the feathers got ruffled back then but it became something else entirely shortly thereafter which ended up with so many posters affected. But hey we made it a different thread so that's where it is now

 

[Lumpy1106]

I quite enjoyed Post #70 considering where we are now.

I fall outside of the income bracket specified by the OP so ignore all if you choose, or don't, it does not matter, but sharing my secrets anyway - do what you will with that;

I personally ONLY fly to WDW on points - or at least as much as I possibly can. That has been a Jet Blue card but now that Jet Blue only flies out of LAX (BOO!!!), I am in the process of switching to a SWA card. We only go once a year, sometimes once every-other-year, and we just use the card for everyday purchases, that we then are RELIGEOUS about paying off every month - we NEVER carry a balance.
We bought DVC because we are a growing family of 5 and don't fit in a studio. That puts us a tick over $1000/year for MFs depending on dues.
We eat breakfast in the unit and pack a lunch to eat in the park. If we do eat in a restaurant, we usually make it a big meal like a late lunch or a brunch so we are skipping a meal - that saves us a bunch of money.

That leaves our biggest expense - the tickets. We buy those FAR in advance (bought in early NOV for my upcoming June trip to avoid the price bump that happened around that time), and always buy with Disney gift cards bought with a Target red card. We do the same with DVC MFs and ALL expenses inside the parks. We charge it to the MBs and pay off, with Target-bought Disney GCs, the night before we check out at the concierge.

There you go. Gonna speak for us "high income" West Coasters here; just because we make more than you in other states does not mean we are "rich". It would blow your mind how much things cost here, it certainly does me, on a daily basis. You really don't get used to it. Just one post complaining about $3 gas in other states as we pay > $5 is enough reminder for me just how badly we get rooked here. What difference does it make anyway? I defy anyone to be more frugal than what I have described above. It's not a competition, but if you do, FANTASTIC for you! If not, well, I hope that works for you too - it does not matter to me.

Edit to add;
Does that make me a "churner" or a "grinder"? I don't have the attachment for my Mix-Master if there is such a thing...

 

[MsChristy12]

I was intrigued by the "title" of this thread so I clicked on it....but thread isn't closed? Anything goes now? I'm seeing butter churners, meat grinders, kitchenaid, toaster over.....this is some serious interesting Disney thread!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am in the process of switching to a SWA card.

If you ever need any help, have questions about SWA including CC info make sure to join this thread if you haven't already (just skip to the end)

https://www.disboards.com/threads/post-all-sw-questions-concerns-etc-here.2500174/

 

[Lumpy1106]

Thanks! We jumped on the "free companion ticket" deal we heard about watching a "Kara and Nate" video on YouTube. DD is headed to school out-of-state next year so I'm sure we'll put it to good use.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Thanks! We jumped on the "free companion ticket" deal we heard about watching a "Kara and Nate" video on YouTube. DD is headed to school out-of-state next year so I'm sure we'll put it to good use.

We used a limited time promotional companion pass to do a quick inexpensive trip to Puerto Rico at the end of January, turns out we enjoyed Puerto Rico a lot more than we anticipated. We bought some coffee at a coffee farm we did a tour at and drink it on the weekends til it runs out. But yeah it's easy IMO to put it to good use

 

[DCLMP]

I can't imagine you've save a lot of money with your own butter churner--cream is expensive. I do want to get myself one of those butter keepers that you keep on the counter, so your butter's always soft.

Do they make a meat grinder attachment for a Kitchenaid? They must...

It's pretty easy to make butter. Just beat the cream to death and add some salt. My kitchen aid does not grind meat.

 

[DCLMP]

I'm going to be weirdo here, but I will absolutely go into some debt to spend what time I have on this planet spending fun time with family. I've seen too many "in memorium" posts on my employer's internal employee intranet site... Either people who retired less than 5 years ago or the poor people that literally died in harness. Heck with that.

I don't do debt, but I forfeited a lot of savings to travel. My neighbor just died unexpectedly at age 64. He was going to retire next year,

I think you need to save a certain amount, have some kind of emergency fund, and then just enjoy life within your means.

The whole "I'm going to retire when I'm 50 mantras" may work out for some people, but for others, it doesn't. Even if it does there is no guarantee you're going to be healthy when you get to retirement age. Everything in moderation is what I live by.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks! We jumped on the "free companion ticket" deal we heard about watching a "Kara and Nate" video on YouTube. DD is headed to school out-of-state next year so I'm sure we'll put it to good use.

Ooohhh! I love companion tickets! Are they still offering this?
Actually, I would go back to flying on SWA if they didn't remove all the non stop flights from Philly to just about every airport in FL. We used to have several to choose from going to MCO, FLL, TPA, etc. Now, it's a rare thing. Maybe one on Saturdays.
We fly American these days and got their cc for a huge chunk of bonus miles and 1st bag free per person sharing a reservation with me. AF waived for the first year. We tried the Chase Sapphire Preferred several years ago, just for the points but fell in love with how versatile the points are.
We don't fit into the OP's limits for income and we paid off our mortgage during covid, after paying off a ridonculous amount of debt before that, over many years, just by being frugal and paying close attention to where our money goes. I will never go into debt again unless something catastrophic happens. I guess I really have no right to even post here. Darn it. Now my sarcasm will get me reported. Sigh...

 

[MsChristy12]

I quite enjoyed Post #70 considering where we are now.

There you go. Gonna speak for us "high income" West Coasters here; just because we make more than you in other states does not mean we are "rich". It would blow your mind how much things cost here, it certainly does me, on a daily basis. You really don't get used to it. Just one post complaining about $3 gas in other states as we pay > $5 is enough reminder for me just how badly we get rooked here. What difference does it make anyway? I defy anyone to be more frugal than what I have described above. It's not a competition, but if you do, FANTASTIC for you! If not, well, I hope that works for you too - it does not matter to me.

Edit to add;
Does that make me a "churner" or a "grinder"? I don't have the attachment for my Mix-Master if there is such a thing...

Awwwh man I went to #70 and it's gone....I missed out!

$3 gas?!??!! I just filled up at Costco couple days ago and it is well over $4! We would be so happy if we see the number 3....even 3.95....LOL!
Thank you for speaking out for the west coasters. I certainly feel like we are below middle-class sometimes even though we aren't, because of how much things costs around here. I had a discussion with my cousin recently about cocktails prices on Disney cruise (we went on the Wish last month and it was our first Disney cruise). Their drink prices blew our minds! They are around $10-13 per cocktail, and that's almost cheaper than the restaurants/bars around here! Their Drink of the Day? Ranges from $5.50 - $7.50!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the receipt on the first day. I thought it was missing a "1" somewhere! LOL! I can't even find that during happy hour around here unless I go to a dive bar!! Anyways, I said because of the lower drink prices, I felt like it was hurting less when we were on vacation because we are so used to that type of pricing on a daily basis. Then she said, "yeah hurts less for a week or two but it just hurts more all the time, everyday!" And the truth always hurts!! Sorry if I went !! Oh wait...is there even a topic anymore here? haha!

 

[MsChristy12]

We don't fit into the OP's limits for income and we paid off our mortgage during covid, after paying off a ridonculous amount of debt before that, over many years, just by being frugal and paying close attention to where our money goes. I will never go into debt again unless something catastrophic happens. I guess I really have no right to even post here. Darn it. Now my sarcasm will get me reported. Sigh...

LOL! We don't either....but let's see how long or how far this will go for?! Shoot we might all get reported!
Even though we also don't fit into the OP's bracket....but we do feel like peasants sometimes living in an expensive city!!

 

[barkley]

Oh no I didn't think you were throwing me under the bus. I think the feathers got ruffled back then but it became something else entirely shortly thereafter which ended up with so many posters affected. But hey we made it a different thread so that's where it is now

i have honestly, never in my years on the dis, ever encountered anyone trying to restrict people from posting on a thread in this manner let alone resorting to threatening to report them for infractions.

 

[barkley]

It would blow your mind how much things cost here, it certainly does me, on a daily basis. You really don't get used to it

i believe it-and i think if you're raised with it you don't know the difference so it's an even bigger smack in the face if you relocate somewhere else and see how different the costs are! when we left california it was like entering a time machine-i was encountering prices i hadn't seen in decades. i remember the first time i went to have dry cleaning done-an item that routinely ran me $50 or more was less than $15 men's shirts were cleaned and pressed for 99 cents each (and to this day can still be gotten done for less than $3 i use more in utilities but pay less than i did in the 90's...the list goes on and on. yes, the identical jobs (civil service) that dh and i had in california pay better than they do in our current state but it in no way, shape or form makes up for the higher cost of living there (let alone the taxation).

 

[QueenIsabella]

yes they do-well worth it.

never heard of a butter keeper but my brother's stove has some kind of setting on it marked 'soften' for butter.

They had a butter keeper by Carla Hall on QVC the other day. It's a ceramic crock that holds butter and water. You keep it on your counter.

https://www.qvc.com/catalog/search.html?keyword=butter+keeper

(Mods please delete if this isn't allowed--I don't want to get reported!)

They do make the attachment for the Kitchenaid and I considered it. BUT I was able to get a really good meat grinder stacking sale/coupons for much less. And I can keep the meat apart from the baking stuff. I also never let my food touch when younger so maybe that comes in to play.

A meat grinder attachment would go on the front, like a spiralizer or pasta maker--using the motor, not the bowl. That might not help your separation issues. I've heard of shredding cooked chicken in the bowl, but have never done it.