Posts by lonetiger52

Excellent segment. Even though they didn't really break any new ground regarding the media, it’s the same old story—things haven't actually improved one bit, whether we're talking about the pre-Clinton-model era or everything following it...

Which bank offers the cheapest online banking fees? And more importantly, where can I actually get a standard paper list of codes instead of being forced to use those clunky hardware tokens or some complicated mobile app thing?

I’ve been using the old-school PIN/TAN system for years while living abroad, and honestly, it’s worked perfectly fine for me.

Joseph Watson3 said:Well, look at that—even a pricier placebo works better than the cheap stuff: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/he...cebo.html?_r=1

So, how can we act surprised when an expensive branded ice cream actually tastes better? 😁

But here's the reality: over in Germany, they have Consumer Reports to test food quality and everything else, and their private labels from Aldi and Lidl often score higher than the big brands. The rest is just marketing—something people swallow whole, especially in places like America, where people would probably even buy premium branded trash bags just so the neighbors could see them.

There were some shady bits there too, but hey, after a few little scandals, they cleaned things up. Honestly, though, I find myself trusting the reports in USA Today or something you'd see on a major TV network more.😉

But all in all, products from Aldi and Lidl are very high quality and frequently beat out some of the famous brands.

Generally speaking, most people here in Germany shop at Aldi and Lidl. First off, you know exactly where everything is, and secondly, everything you buy is actually worth the money.

It's not like shopping at a Walmart in Chicago, for instance. You pick up some "Vian" cheese spread because it’s the cheapest option, and once you open it, you realize exactly why it was so cheap—it's so thin you can barely even spread it.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been tinkering away over the last few days putting together a desktop for my mom, but I’m still hunting for the right graphics card to round things out.

Here’s the deal: I need something PCI Express. Ideally a GeForce card with its own dedicated VRAM—none of that TurboCache nonsense. I want actual Scared Memory. It shouldn't require an extra power connector from the PSU; just draw everything straight from the slot. Also, it needs active cooling and decent, standard dimensions, because the case isn't exactly massive.

The machine is mostly for browsing the web, though when I come over to visit, she might play a game or two. Nothing heavy like Crysis or Hitman (or whatever those titles are called these days).

Oh, and please, let it have a reasonable price tag. I'm not looking for the absolute cheapest bottom-of-the-barrel cards you find at a flea market, but nothing crazy either.

The specs are:

Processor: AMD Athlon64 X2 6000 AM2
CPU-Cooler: Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 GT
Motherboard: ECS 8100VM-M3, AM2+, mATX
RAM: 4096MB-KIT G-Skill PC8000/1000,CL 5
Hard Drive: Samsung HD322HJ, 320GB, 16MB
DVD-RW: LG GH22NS40/NS30 bare schwarz SATA II
Case & PSU: Compucase 6C11BS schwarz 400W HEC-400TP-2WX

Thanks in advance!

Gregory Williams7 said:A customer is only as right as the money they spend. For those measly $2.25, he would have been kicked out of the store long ago.

He is simply frustrated and looking for someone to pick a fight with for no reason. If he had actually paid full price for that bread, $3333 maybe they would have apologized or compensated him. As it stands, they would just throw him out onto the street and ban him from ever returning.

Actually, quite the opposite. It doesn't matter at all how much you paid for something. As a Customer, I expect my money back regardless of whether the item cost five cents or $1.75. Provided, of course, there’s a legitimate reason for the complaint.

brightnomad22 said:It’s a rare thing when the Customer is actually right, but in this particular instance, I think we can all agree the Customer is just being a total moron who hasn't the slightest clue what they actually want... though, at the end of the day, isn't it just important that they have something to grumble about?

Look, in this specific scenario, it’s probably a good thing the bread was moldy. At least you found something tangible there. If you find a bug in the loaf, fine. But claiming it's "unsalted"? That's ridiculous. Maybe someone else finds it too salty... honestly, who can please everyone?
The Customer is being an idiot. Personally, I wouldn't even bother arguing with someone like that; let them call whoever they want. You just have to ignore people like that entirely.

P.S. Since when was bread supposed to be salty?? I don't think I've ever noticed that in my life.🤷

Arthur Morgan3 said:Bill Gates

This is a painfully true story that honestly makes me sick.

My wife, our little kid, and I bring home a total of $4500 a month; my mortgage payment is $2333, utilities are $500, and childcare and essentials run about $233 monthly. That leaves me with $1433 to actually live on.

I've never once been in the red—I still have that student checking account that doesn't even allow overdrafts, and God willing, I won't need it.

This mortgage is killing me; if I could pay it all off tomorrow, I would, but it’s just not happening.

Now, look at my sister—she lives in the condo my parents bought; she’s single, her salary is $2000, plus utilities $333 and food for her birds.

And just look at her overdraft status now: $5000, with two unplanned loans of $5,000 and $7,000.

I’m talking skiing trips, summer vacations, buying new shoes every single month—sometimes two pairs—closets full of clothes, yet somehow there's nothing to wear. It just keeps happening.

Honestly, I can't wrap my head around it; it's a lifestyle I despise and find completely foreign. Who do you think is the smarter one, me or her? Everyone tells me it's her, because she’s "enjoying the finer things in life." The bank loves handing out money, but they love collecting more than they give.

I should emphasize that my family isn't starving, nor are we dirty, nor are we walking around barefoot or naked. We just try to live within our means.

Sometimes I'll eat potato salad two days in a row, sometimes it's chicken, sometimes pork, sometimes a simple rice dish—but I live without being in the red.

Reading your post, I can't shake the feeling that you're actually just jealous of your sister.

The truth is, she earns less, sure, and she might have some $5000 debt, but at least she actually lives her life.
She doesn't have kids or pets to worry about; if things get tight, she can just eat toast and call it a day.

You don't have that luxury. You've buried yourself in dangerous high-interest loans, and you're left with $1333, which isn't much to show for it. What can you even do with that money? Nothing. You can't even afford a simple movie night with the family, a nice dinner out with your wife, or a little weekend road trip. You can scrape by now because the kid is small, but just wait. Once they grow up and start wanting designer clothes and stuff, you won't have a dime

Sure, you'll eventually leave this apartment to your child, but we're talking fifty years down the line. Do you really think this place will still be worth anything? Or do you think your kid won't be able to build their own life and find their own roof over their head by then?

Look at the big picture here. Forget the apartment if it means spending your entire life counting every single dollar before you dare spend it.
You say you aren't hungry, you aren't starving, you aren't living in rags. Is that really all there is to life? Just surviving?

David Scott9 said:Look, inheriting stuff isn't all gold bars and beachfront property; you’re basically signing up for the debts too. If you get declared the heir during those legal proceedings, you're on the hook for everything they owed, though luckily it's capped at whatever value the estate actually holds.

unless, of course, you formally renounce the inheritance

Melissa Wilson38 said:So, how does one actually go about opening an overseas foreign currency account?!

From what I understand, you generally need to be physically residing in that country just to get a checking account set up.

That’s certainly the case in Germany; you need a residence permit and a local address on file.

At least, that's how it works for Non-EU citizens.

P.S. Does anyone know how things work regarding opening a standard checking account at Chase, Wells Fargo, or similar institutions for foreign nationals who don't have a permanent residence in the US?
Honestly, whenever you visit the US, it’s much easier to just handle everything with a credit card anyway.

I’ve dealt with banks over in Germany, and honestly, it feels pretty much the same as what you’re dealing with back home.

My advice? Definitely bring Euros with you and just hit up a currency exchange booth once you arrive!!!!

Trying to pull cash out of ATMs using a Maestro card is a massive waste of money. First off, they hit you with those annoying transaction fees, and second, the exchange rate they use to convert your dollars into Euros is absolutely terrible.

Now, if you’re the type who hates lugging around a wad of cash, there is a middle ground. You could use a Visa or Mastercard credit card that allows for Worldwide withdrawals without charging extra fees at the ATM.

But even then, the only thing left to worry about is that lousy exchange rate during the conversion process.