Latest quandrees
17 quandreesShould I move out?
I’m entering my late 20s and live in the Bay Area. Moving out should be an easy call, but I’m not sure it’s worth it. My job isn’t especially lucrative, and the cost of living here is brutal. Staying home lets me save, but I feel like I should be on my own by now.
Who pays for the dent in Lena’s car?
I borrowed Lena’s car to help my brother move. When I brought it back, she found a dent on the rear bumper. I’m 100% sure it was already there. I remember thinking, “she should really get that fixed.” Now she wants $600 from me.
That dent was not there. I wash my car every Sunday, and I would have noticed. He moved a whole couch with it; of course something got dinged. The shop quoted $900 and I’m only asking for $600. I’m being generous.
Is rental insurance worth it?
I recently took a road trip with friends and booked the rental car online without insurance. At the counter, the employee did the whole last-minute pitch and even offered a discount. I was on the fence until my friend told me about the time they were hit in a rental. Do you buy it?
My husband’s pranks are getting out of control!
Easter landed on April Fool’s Day this year. My husband celebrates April Fool’s as much as Easter, and he pulls pranks at my expense in front of the whole family. I’ve always brushed it off as good old-fashioned fun, but it’s starting to get on my last nerve.
The thermostat war: 66° or 70°?
Our apartment sits at 66° all winter because my roommate refuses to turn up the heat. I’m wearing a coat indoors. We split utilities evenly, so I should get an equal say in how warm it is.
Every extra degree adds about 3% to the bill, and Sam is barely home. 66° is perfectly normal. That’s what sweaters are for. I’m not paying more so Sam can walk around in shorts in January.
Would you live in Alaska (for money)?
Alaska pays its permanent residents a yearly dividend just for living there. An extra couple of thousand a year sounds great, but… it’s Alaska. Beautiful, sure, but long dark winters. Would the money be enough for you?
Cats or dogs?
The biggest question that has daunted mankind since we started taming animal-kind. I’m a cat person through and through: independent, clean, and they don’t need a walk at 6 a.m. Dog people, make your case.
Does my sister owe me for Mom’s 70th birthday dinner?
I booked a beautiful dinner for Mom’s 70th and paid $480. I asked in our group text and my sister replied “sounds great!” Now she says she never agreed to split the bill.
“Sounds great” meant the idea sounded great! She picked a $150-a-person steakhouse without asking anyone. I would have happily split somewhere I could actually afford. You don’t get to choose the restaurant and then send me half the check.
My friends are always asking me for advice…
I love my friends, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I feel like their counselor rather than their friend. We go out and have fun, and somehow the night always turns into me helping someone sort out their problems. How do I get some balance back?
Should I invest some money in cryptocurrency?
I normally don’t have much left over after my monthly needs, but I’ve finally saved a little. Everyone around me is talking about crypto. Is it a smart place to put some of it, or should I stick with something boring?
Whose lemons are they, anyway?
Branches from my neighbor’s lemon tree hang way over my fence, so I picked the lemons on my side. The next morning there was an angry note on my door calling it theft.
I’ve cared for that tree for fifteen years. He didn’t pick a few lemons; he picked forty and sold lemonade at the farmers market. Overhanging or not, that’s my fruit.
Should I stay in a commune?
I love traveling, but I’ve mostly stuck to Asia, where everything is cheap: you can get a meal for $3 and a private room for not much more. Now I’m planning a longer trip and wondering about staying in communes along the way. Has anyone done it?
Is seafood sustainable, or is it a con?
After watching a documentary about the fishing industry, I’m second-guessing the “sustainable” labels on seafood. Are they meaningful, or is it marketing? Should I keep eating fish?
Our anniversary: May 3rd or May 10th?
We met on May 3rd at Rob’s barbecue and talked for four hours. Everyone there will tell you it was obvious. He insists our anniversary is May 10th, which was just our first “official” date.
Talking at a party isn’t an anniversary. On May 10th I asked her out and she said yes. That’s the day “us” started. Otherwise every long conversation I’ve had is an anniversary.
Is it normal for teens to stay in their room?
Do I miss the days when they were young. So easy to please, happy for just about anything, always curious. Now my teenager spends almost every waking hour at home in their room. Is this a phase, or should I be worried?
Remodel the kitchen or the bathroom?
We finally have some budget for a remodel, but only enough to do one room properly. The kitchen is where we spend our time, but the bathroom is honestly in worse shape. Which would you do first?
Does getting a doctorate really matter?
I’m weighing whether to go back for a doctorate. It’s years of time and a lot of money. Will it actually change my career, or is experience worth more?