The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVIII

[warpus]

I'm thinking chocolates.. and a note. Or something like that. To be delivered to some place where she either resides or works.

Oh man, valentine's day is hard. Thanks for the tips. Keep em coming

Is (potentially) 'upping the ante' a good idea with someone that you and your mates are planning to spend however long stuck in a tent or a bus with?

Good point, but she sort of slightly upped the ante a couple weeks ago, so now I think it'd be a nice gesture if I did the same - in a slightly playful yet meaningful manner. There is definitely a balance that needs to be kept here.

This valentine's day gift must be taken as "awww cute!" but also "I can't wait to go on an adventure with this guy!"

 

[Borachio]

Chocolate can be a mine-field. You should know for sure that she likes chocolate and likes to receive chocolate as a gift before sending it, imo.

 

[The_J]

I'm thinking chocolates.. and a note. Or something like that.

Next supermarket right here sells something like that.

 

[warpus]

Chocolate can be a mine-field. You should know for sure that she likes chocolate and likes to receive chocolate as a gift before sending it, imo.

Sarcasm? I'm sort of operating under the impression, and have been for a while, that chocolates are the safest possible gift to give to a girl, whether she's just a friend, romantic interest, or a friend with benefits, or your sister, or whoever.

Body part shaped chocolates - now we're talking!

 

[Borachio]

Well, maybe you're right. What do I know?

You're probably safe enough with any gift to a receptive recipient. Even if they don't want it, they'll appreciate a gift.

And with an unreceptive recipient, the reverse is likely true.

 

[madviking]

either give her some hiking gear (or the like) or don't give anything for valentimes.

 

[Zelig]

Any general thoughts on an appropriate way to split rent in this situation -

I'm moving to California for the summer and my wife will be there for at least 2 months of that time. I met a guy that's going to work at the same place this summer and he's looking for a roommate. I was thinking about renting a 2-bedroom place and my wife and I would take the larger bedroom and he'd have the other. Is it appropriate to split the rent 60/40 and utilities 66/33?

I'd take the bigger portion of rent and utilities since there will be me and my wife versus just him. I think asking for 40% of the rent from him instead of 33% is appropriate because he'd have just as much access to all the common areas as us so that justifies a bit more than just a straight third of the rent. While I'll take 2/3 of the utilities because we'll probably use that much of the electricity, water, etc.

Is this a reasonable split?

I've never had a roommate before so I have no idea.

I don't understand the bolded part. You and your wife are two people, there are three people total, fair split is 1/3 rent for each person.

But if you're doing the legwork and the lease is under your name, total rent is irrelevant. Look up what market rate is for single sublet rooms, charge him that.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Now I am from a different culture, but to me a Valentine's day present sounds a bit too unambiguous for the kind of hints-game you two appear to play. Unless you want that, naturally.
I would not sent something related to the trip, because before it gets more solid regarding both of yours intentions I don't think you want to mingle those two topics.
In terms of playful-ness something related to an inside-joke of yours maybe, or something you shared?

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

If any of the super smart financial peeps here could help out with this, that would be great.

My best friend just had a kid - congrats to them! - and wants to open some sort of financial account for the kid to use when they get to 18. I'm not sure what the best route for her to go is. Right now she has about $1000 to put towards it. I'm reasonably certain she'll be able to add more over the years. I've eliminated a 529 plan because she wants her kid to have the freedom to use it on more than education. A savings account - even with their pithy interest rates - is being considered just for ease of use. But would some sort of mutual funds make the most sense here?

 

[Zelig]

Assuming a 529 is like an RESP, not contributing for more flexibility seems like a terrible idea. Unless the kid never plans on post-secondary of any sort, it's extremely difficult to do better financially than an RESP - the kid can withdraw everything in a single year of partying, or correspondence study in Asia, or whatever.

And even if the kid dies, collapsing the plan and withdrawing the contributions is tax-free, only earned interest is taxed - so the parents can just take a vacation from work to travel for that year in order save on those taxes.

 

[Atticus]

I'm looking for a name of a song.
- Probably late 60s -70s, kind of progressive rock
- It starts with (probably) vibraphone playing three notes that repeat throughout the song (it's 4/4 time though)
- It has Jethro Tull-style flute solo
- There's lyrics "crawls out of magic carpet" or something like that,

 

[Cutlass]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEEzbFxEbB8

 

[Atticus]

Nope.

I already tried to google the words with no meaningful results.

 

[madviking]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yUN6CsuVPw

?

 

[Snerk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yUN6CsuVPw

?

Nailed it! I think.. Atticus?

 

[cybrxkhan]

Would it be correct/incorrect to say that reddit is like a politer/more mainstream version of 4 chan?

 

[Farm Boy]

I wouldn't mention either in polite company.

 

[Traitorfish]

Reddit is weird. Parts of it function really well, other parts are like visiting Hitler's clammy butt-crack. Unfortunately the latter tends to drown out the former.

 

[warpus]

Valentine's day plans altered, thanks again for all the input, I needed to see this thing from other perspectives.

Traitorfish, It's a matter of finding the gems that happen to correspond to your particular interests, but also knowing which communities are good for conversation and which aren't. I am subscribed to random stuff I don't mind seeing - but I only use certain subreddits for actual conversation. So it's a balancing act, and most of the starting subreddits you get when you sign up aren't really that great. But that's just my experience.

 

[Atticus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yUN6CsuVPw

?

Nailed it! I think.. Atticus?

Surprisingly no. The carpet thing isn't necessarily the name of the song, it's just one single line I remember.

Good job though, that is so close to my description that I'm probably going to take it.