I’ve used a (LibreOffice) spreadsheet for the past 10 years to track everything I spend–yes, every single thing–it’s not that hard at all. Keep the receipt or make a note of it to enter when you get home. Mine is set up like this:

One tab for each year. Rows are transactions and columns are categories (after the date, payment type, and payee/description), so one transaction row could have amounts entered in multiple columns.

I use only about a dozen broad categories like Food, Utilities (I see no point in separating out each specific utility), Household supplies, Car, Entertainment, etc. Also sales tax and donations columns. Basically whatever you might want to see totals for. Start simple and general, and you can always add another column or two later if needed. Row totals in the final column, column totals at the top.

I also have tabs for: Credit card charges–for reconciling with the bill (and then record the payment on the yearly tab in the appropriate categories); Medical expenses–categories are type Rx/Tx/Ins and how paid HSA/Chkg Acct/Credit card; And finally a Notes tab for entering more detailed info about any unusual/extra costs like auto/house repairs or major purchases.

You could add Budgeting on another tab with budgeted amounts vs actual amounts (grabbed by using formulas pointing to the year tabs), but I don’t need that because my spending and expenses are pretty simple and consistent.

Most people would just put water in the mug (ceramic/microwave-safe of course) that they’re going to make the tea in and microwave it until it boils or bubbles just short of a rolling boil, which takes 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the microwave’s power–you’d learn the time yours takes and set the timer for that. At that point I don’t see the difference between that vs. if you poured it into the cup from the kettle. Either way you now have a cup full of boiling-hot water to steep your tea in. No, it won’t spill over if you don’t fill it all the way up to the brim.

Oh, now I see! You don’t understand that a microwave can boil water, you think it can only warm it up a little. Thank you for clearing up my confusion.

Have some class!

Whenever I hear Europeans accuse Americans of being arrogant, I can only laugh. Feeling superior about something like how you boil water is hilarious.

I use an electric kettle but remember that in the US outlets are 120V, so they take a lot longer to heat water than in countries with 240.

So the microwave isn’t much less efficient than the electric kettle, mainly because some of the energy is heating the mug/container. The least efficient is a stovetop kettle on an electric stove.

But I’m curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave? Is it related to power consumption, or is there some other reason?

They’re proud to do it.

Evergreen

Call it the 'Murca! Party and you’ll get the entire maga contingent.

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he said.

Yes, because Musk is the first person that comes to mind whenever “actually cares about the people” is mentioned. 🤮

Isn’t that the time most people would think of testing it on themselves?

Yeah I use the hottest running water and also scrub it with soap to get as much as possible off.

I’ve also used a hair dryer to heat the bites up but you have to be careful not to hold it too close to the skin and burn yourself. I’m very reactive to bug bites and I seem to get a million bites within seconds of going outside.

I’m one of those who gave my bread maker away. The problem was when I was making bread with it, it was so good I’d quickly eat it all up and kept gaining weight, so I stopped using it.

I’ve tried (electrical tape) that but found it is gummy and leaves a sticky mess.

Ooh, good idea! I hate all those lights.

+1 for the Aeropress!

I’m an old lady but I also happen to use linux! You don’t have to be a tech neckbeard for that, just dislike Windows.

Murkowski’s reluctant “yes” vote underlines the fractures within the GOP over the bill’s $3.3 trillion price tag and its sweeping policy changes.

No, no it does not. What it underlines is the sure and certain collaboration and capitulation of the GOP to whatever the hell trump wants, guaranteed. Any whining and complaining about the harm the bill will do is strictly performative, nothing but the clapping flippers of barking seals that will ultimately do exactly what they’ve been told.

Was the U.S. space race a triumph of science — or a moral compromise rooted in Operation Paperclip?

“It looks like you’re trying to launch a spacecraft. Would you like help?”

When your muscles feel tight or tense, or a bit achy, you’ll automatically feel like stretching them.

Dairy, but not eggs. Sufferers can still eat chicken and fish.

I wonder if the tick bomb babies are less likely to transmit anything because they probably haven’t fed on anything yet? I would think they’d have to feed on a mammal to get the compound into their saliva.