[Cause]

have been reviewing my finances with the end of the year, my job loss and tax season all coming together.

The budgeting software I used closed shop the start of 2024 and was taken over by a different company who replaced it with a rather terrible piece of software.

I’m kicking myself for not acting sooner. I automate my savings and so while I certainly made smart investments. 30% of my income went into retirement accounts and I got my companies full 4% match. My rent, groceries, subscriptions etc seem to have spoken for 40% of my income. Now the part that I’m annoyed with myself for is I can’t tell exactly how much of the 30% remaining went to things like clothes, vacations, etc and what I saved. If I spent the full 30% I’d be shocked and angry with myself but it’s not clear that I saved any money from this pool either. I had a lot of work travel expenses for my job (meals, hotels, flights etc) so my credit card balances and bank balances swings wildly with a lot of activity that makes it hard to track in hindsight if my money was growing or shrinking at any given time.

Good budgeting software is worth its weight in gold! I wish I had acted sooner

This post has been edited by Cause: 08 February 2026 - 04:31 AM

[Tsundoku]

Nothing major, but I found a hole in the top left back of my Looking For Group "You all saw it, that orphanage attacked me!" t-shirt.
There's a newer version (not sure if it's sold since the comic ended a couple of years ago) but I don't like the design as much.

I've only had it for 10 or so years, can't remember. Just no durability in clothes these days.

Reminds me of when my Order of the Stick Xykon "I think I just had an Evilgasm" t-shirt died. Haven't found a way to replace it either since it appears they no longer sell it. Maybe if I emailed the webcomic?

I has a sad.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 13 February 2026 - 09:10 AM

[Tiste Simeon]

My old boss died. Bit weird to say but this is the wonderful lady who gave me a new job (the one I still have) which got me out of my last job, which was a truly awful one. She was kind and considerate and gave me so many opportunities. She had cancer for a long time and was just getting on with it, not letting anything get to get but eventually the treatments stopped working so well and she was forced into an early retirement because of it. She had another 18 months before it caught up to her.

While it's not exactly sudden or unexpected it is still very sad.

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 14 February 2026 - 01:28 PM

[worry]

Condolences, Tiste.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 February 2026 - 10:28 AM, said:

My old boss died. Bit weird to say yh but this is the wonderful lady who gave me a new job (the one I still have) which got me out of my last job, which was a truly awful one. She was kind and considerate and gave me so many opportunities. She had cancer for a long time and was just getting on with it, not letting anything get to get but eventually the treatments stopped working so well and she was forced into an early retirement because of it. She had another 18 months before it caught up to her.

While it's not exactly sudden or unexpected it is still very sad.

Do you believe she's in heaven?

If so, why would it be sad? Because her relatives will miss her?

[Tiste Simeon]

Azath Vitr (D, on 14 February 2026 - 01:06 PM, said:

If so, why would it be sad? Because her relatives will miss her?

Because I know it's hard for you to understand but us humans have these things called emotions. She was a good person and only in her late 50s. It's sad any time someone dies of cancer because cancer sucks. Sorry you don't see that.

[Slow Ben]

That sucks. Sorry Tiste.

[amphibian]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 February 2026 - 10:28 AM, said:

My old boss died. Bit weird to say but this is the wonderful lady who gave me a new job (the one I still have) which got me out of my last job, which was a truly awful one. She was kind and considerate and gave me so many opportunities. She had cancer for a long time and was just getting on with it, not letting anything get to get but eventually the treatments stopped working so well and she was forced into an early retirement because of it. She had another 18 months before it caught up to her.

While it's not exactly sudden or unexpected it is still very sad.

I'm sorry for your loss and for her loved ones. I'm glad she decided to give you a job and all the support, which you've made full advantage of. I hope there's peace as you mourn.

Azathz now is not the time for that.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 February 2026 - 01:30 PM, said:

Azath Vitr (D, on 14 February 2026 - 01:06 PM, said:

If so, why would it be sad? Because her relatives will miss her?

Because I know it's hard for you to understand but us humans have these things called emotions. She was a good person and only in her late 50s. It's sad any time someone dies of cancer because cancer sucks. Sorry you don't see that.

The suffering from cancer sucks (at least until the opioids kick in). But the death itself, and her going to heaven, seem like good reasons to be happy. She's no longer suffering, and not only that, but she's in heaven. I've read many great poems and prose arguments in English Christian traditions that make exactly that argument, though of course I won't presume to know the specifics of your faith on this matter; but I am genuinely curious. And of course it's a natural reaction for most humans, which is partly why faith leaders have had to tell people to be happy about it; and faith in heaven does seem to give both rational and emotional justification to let go of your sorrow and learn to be happy instead.

Of course I don't believe in heaven myself, but I can imagine it. It would certainly be wonderful if it were true.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 14 February 2026 - 01:48 PM

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Sorry to hear that Tiste - for what it's worth, I had a similar thing about a decade ago; incredible Irish woman who taught me so much about work, life, and balance - she was the best mentor I ever had, but also one of the best friends I ever had. Died in her 40s from cancer, leaving behind young kids. She was such a great woman that our work laid on two coaches to take people to the funeral, because there were that many people booking days off to go. To this day, we still all talk about some of the things she taught us and pass them on to new starters, and the culture she set in the office is one we all try and keep going. Your friend might be gone, but the things that made her special and the impact she had on you will always stick with you, and through you (and the others she touched), the good in her will live on and pay forward.

(Shows how out of touch I am, incidentally -for some reason I thought you were a copper!)

[Tsundoku]

Thelomen Toblerone, on 14 February 2026 - 11:05 PM, said:

(Shows how out of touch I am, incidentally -for some reason I thought you were a copper!)

Cultural aversion.

[Tiste Simeon]

Tsundoku, on 15 February 2026 - 08:25 AM, said:

Thelomen Toblerone, on 14 February 2026 - 11:05 PM, said:

(Shows how out of touch I am, incidentally -for some reason I thought you were a copper!)

Cultural aversion.

Yes I think it's a little suspicious that he finds out I'm no longer a rozzer and he suddenly realises reappears 😂

Thank you all (except Azath)

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tiste Simeon, on 15 February 2026 - 10:30 AM, said:

Thank you all (except Azath)

Well I'm sorry that I didn't communicate more tactfully and effectively. I'm not questioning the sincerity of your faith, and I hope you can find comfort in the fact that she's no longer suffering and in your belief that she's experiencing bliss in heaven.

[Tiste Simeon]

Azath Vitr (D, on 15 February 2026 - 12:09 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 15 February 2026 - 10:30 AM, said:

Thank you all (except Azath)

Well I'm sorry that I didn't communicate more tactfully and effectively. I'm not questioning the sincerity of your faith, and I hope you can find comfort in the fact that she's no longer suffering and in your belief that she's experiencing bliss in heaven.

It's ok man, just maybe read the room before asking why someone is sad at the death of someone they respected... My own thoughts on heaven and really that relevant to missing someone.

Let's draw a line under it and move on.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 February 2026 - 10:28 AM, said:

My old boss died. Bit weird to say but this is the wonderful lady who gave me a new job (the one I still have) which got me out of my last job, which was a truly awful one. She was kind and considerate and gave me so many opportunities. She had cancer for a long time and was just getting on with it, not letting anything get to get but eventually the treatments stopped working so well and she was forced into an early retirement because of it. She had another 18 months before it caught up to her.

While it's not exactly sudden or unexpected it is still very sad.

Condolences to you and her loved ones Tiste. 50s is no age.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 16 February 2026 - 09:45 AM

[Slow Ben]

Robert Duvall has passed. This one hurts.

“By god Woodrow it’s been one hell of a party”

[QuickTidal]

Got sick halfway through vacation with what we now think is Noro (wife feeling pukey today now that we are home)...initially thought food poisoning but the nausea has lingered with me for a few days now as my gut is clearly out of whack and that and my wife now ill leads me to believing it's viral. I LOATHE the fact that one particle of bacteria in a resort setting can doom you. Honestly, travellers diarrhea is easier to deal with...I'm not an Emetophobe (wife is), but I really really hate puking more than anything else.

And I've already bloody well had it this winter over xmas....ugh. I'm on the mend, but now I have to take care of the missus and hope the kids stay clear of it.

Silver lining, no one had it over the travel day or the flight....which would have been terrible...much easier to deal with at home.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 18 February 2026 - 01:13 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Convergence of egregious (yet I suspect all-too-standard (locally, at least, under the new regime)) incompetences/lazinesses with predictions of frigid drizzle (through which I'll be carrying large heavy packages while trying to keep my mask's filters from getting wet).

[Maark Abbott]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 February 2026 - 10:28 AM, said:

My old boss died. Bit weird to say but this is the wonderful lady who gave me a new job (the one I still have) which got me out of my last job, which was a truly awful one. She was kind and considerate and gave me so many opportunities. She had cancer for a long time and was just getting on with it, not letting anything get to get but eventually the treatments stopped working so well and she was forced into an early retirement because of it. She had another 18 months before it caught up to her.

While it's not exactly sudden or unexpected it is still very sad.

Sorry for your loss man. Cancer is a twat.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Slow Ben, on 16 February 2026 - 07:24 PM, said:

Robert Duvall has passed. This one hurts.

"By god Woodrow it's been one hell of a party"

He was in one of my favourite films which nobody ever seems to have heard of - Secondhand Lions - and he was absolutely perfect in it.