What's under your lip/in your nose right now? - Part 2

[The Rebel]

Sorry about the insurance Hitt, it's a dirty game they play for sure. They know we have no choice and to pay out of pocket is impossible. I had a prescription that wasn't covered under my insurance that was going to cost me almost $400. I laughed and told them that I'll be fine without it. Blame the system.

Be careful out there mattress shopping. I found doing some research that walk in stores are charging up to 20% more than online stores plus a delivery/ disposal fee. And most online stores offer a white glove service for free that'll delivery your mattress, set it up, and remove your old one. Look around before you pull the trigger. I'm all about supporting local businesses but they have to at least be competitive.

 

[Waho]

Not sure if you're interested in a foam mattress, but this was my experience.

My wife and I got a new mattress a little over a year ago. Foam bed in a box mattress commercials intrigued me, so I did some research and went with a Sealy cocoon chill. We figured we'd test the risk free trial if we didn't like it.

We initially got the firm version that was way too stiff, and after a couple weeks called about an exchange for a soft version. Sealy overnighted the new mattress and set up a crew to come pick up the old one.

The only hassle was getting a hold of the logistics company to set up the pick up time. Calling in was an automated system to have them call you back, and they absolutely refused to call during times we were home despite having been told multiple times we're both gone after 2pm... The crew that eventually got scheduled were prompt and friendly, barely took all of 10 minutes.

The soft version is a bit firmer than our old "firm" spring mattress. The foam firm was probably a 9 out of 10 firmness, the firm spring was maybe a 5 and the soft foam is a 6. After sleeping on it for a year, my wife and I agree we can't go back to a spring mattress. It's very supportive, especially for side sleepers like us. Doesn't motion transfer and sleeps pretty cool with the "chill" cover. It also came with some sheets we love and some pillows we didn't care for. $700 for the queen was cheaper than our old Simmons that had multiple springs collapse after 4 years.

I feel you on the health insurance hitt. We haven't done the switching providers, but GM's initial contract offer had our premiums going up around $300 a month with wage increases of $30 a month. One of the biggest reasons we went on strike for sure.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[hittman]

Sorry about the insurance Hitt, it's a dirty game they play for sure. They know we have no choice and to pay out of pocket is impossible. I had a prescription that wasn't covered under my insurance that was going to cost me almost $400. I laughed and told them that I'll be fine without it. Blame the system.

Be careful out there mattress shopping. I found doing some research that walk in stores are charging up to 20% more than online stores plus a delivery/ disposal fee. And most online stores offer a white glove service for free that'll delivery your mattress, set it up, and remove your old one. Look around before you pull the trigger. I'm all about supporting local businesses but they have to at least be competitive.

Have you tried the GoodRX app? My wife uses it for some of her prescriptions and its considerably cheaper than using our insurance. I don't know how they do it without charging insurance but the app is free. You look up your medication and it gives you a list of the cheapest places to get it in your area. When you pick up, you show them the app.

 

[hittman]

Not sure if you're interested in a foam mattress, but this was my experience.

My wife and I got a new mattress a little over a year ago. Foam bed in a box mattress commercials intrigued me, so I did some research and went with a Sealy cocoon chill. We figured we'd test the risk free trial if we didn't like it.

We initially got the firm version that was way too stiff, and after a couple weeks called about an exchange for a soft version. Sealy overnighted the new mattress and set up a crew to come pick up the old one.

The only hassle was getting a hold of the logistics company to set up the pick up time. Calling in was an automated system to have them call you back, and they absolutely refused to call during times we were home despite having been told multiple times we're both gone after 2pm... The crew that eventually got scheduled were prompt and friendly, barely took all of 10 minutes.

The soft version is a bit firmer than our old "firm" spring mattress. The foam firm was probably a 9 out of 10 firmness, the firm spring was maybe a 5 and the soft foam is a 6. After sleeping on it for a year, my wife and I agree we can't go back to a spring mattress. It's very supportive, especially for side sleepers like us. Doesn't motion transfer and sleeps pretty cool with the "chill" cover. It also came with some sheets we love and some pillows we didn't care for. $700 for the queen was cheaper than our old Simmons that had multiple springs collapse after 4 years.

I feel you on the health insurance hitt. We haven't done the switching providers, but GM's initial contract offer had our premiums going up around $300 a month with wage increases of $30 a month. One of the biggest reasons we went on strike for sure.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

It's good that you can fight the offer given. Each time I'm just handed a piece of paper by my boss and it is what it is. Between the company car and my salary plus commission, I'd have a little bit of a hard time finding a comparable paying job. However, if the insurance was better, I could take a little bit of a pay cut.

 

[The Rebel]

I think we're leaning towards a hybrid mattress. It has layers of memory/ cooling foam on top of coils. Basically lets you sink in a little while still giving good support to these old bones. We tried out quite a few while I was on lunch today and the hybrids felt awesome. Our local mattress store is having their usual Columbus day sale so the prices aren't too bad. Probably head back after work and plop my money down.

You out on strike Waho? I didn't know if your plant was affected. I don't envy you making ends meet using the strike fund. Hope you guys get back to work soon on favorable terms.

I have heard of Goodrx and used it for this one but it didn't help much. Rarely do I have a script that isn't covered by our insurance. The wife is an RN so we use her insurance which is darn good and cheaper than mine. Only happens when I go to a dermatologist. I guess they think that skin aliments are not serious enough to cover the meds. No biggie, I can live with it...

 

[Waho]

I think we're leaning towards a hybrid mattress. It has layers of memory/ cooling foam on top of coils. Basically lets you sink in a little while still giving good support to these old bones. We tried out quite a few while I was on lunch today and the hybrids felt awesome. Our local mattress store is having their usual Columbus day sale so the prices aren't too bad. Probably head back after work and plop my money down.

You out on strike Waho? I didn't know if your plant was affected. I don't envy you making ends meet using the strike fund. Hope you guys get back to work soon on favorable terms.

I have heard of Goodrx and used it for this one but it didn't help much. Rarely do I have a script that isn't covered by our insurance. The wife is an RN so we use her insurance which is darn good and cheaper than mine. Only happens when I go to a dermatologist. I guess they think that skin aliments are not serious enough to cover the meds. No biggie, I can live with it...

My Mom bought a hybrid a few months ago after decades on a water bed. She needed something with an adjustable frame to help with her acid reflux and seems to like it quite a lot.

Yep, I've been out on the picket lines a few times a week even though local 598 is one of if not the largest so we're only assigned 1 4 hour shift per week. I squirreled away 2 months worth of wages so I'm still enjoying the impromptu "vacation" when I can. I feel for my "temporary" coworkers still under the boot who couldn't put anything away.

We're not going hungry at least, the community and local businesses are constantly dropping off more than we can eat so we've been taking stuff home just so it doesn't end up in the trash. Even my neighbor (GM retiree) bought 2 extra steaks last weekend and invited my wife and I over. Being in Flint it really feels like the whole city is with us out there.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[rothenbj]

I've been wondering how you've been doing Waho. Glad you were prepared. I heard or read something today that sounded like there might be some kind of breakthrough coming, hopefully.

You young guys make me feel good, well better. lol I don't even think about picking up a bowling ball these days. I did feel 75% better today and I figure by the end of the weekend I should be back to being as good as I was before the stacking.

About the time you guys get to retirement age one of these Liberals will have pushed Medicare for all through and that will be interesting how they handle all the seniors on fixed incomes as the rates go out of control. The reason medical costs are somewhat reasonable for us is that we paid into medicare for decades. You still need to buy insurance on top of Medicare unless you want to go bankrupt due to the 20% Medicare doesn't cover.

 

[Burnie]

Well I have been looking and I do Not see any sites having the Thunder Raspberry back in stock. Really sucks when there is a Snus that you like, and it goes away. I have not been using it as long as some of you, but what are they thinking taking away good snus that people like. I have decided to start reducing my intake of the Thunder Raspberry to make it last a little longer in the hopes it will come back, but no high hopes. With my reduced usage, I have about a years worth left, glad I stocked up. I think they are trying to replace it with "Thunder XTREME Red Strong Portion Snus", which to me Sucks. I am going to be using a little more Nick & Johnny Americana in place of the Thunder Raspberry, and it is still in stock everywhere, I hope it does not go away also.

 

[hittman]

I didn’t like the thunder red either. It’s nothing like the raspberry. The jakobsen melon isn’t bad though. I could probably switch to that if I had to.

 

[rothenbj]

Nicoticket came out with a limited run of what they call The First Amendment. Just by the name I was curious so I ordered some. They say it's naturally flavored Orange and extracted tobacco. I can't say I taste the Orange but I really like the flavor.

 

[hittman]

Nicoticket came out with a limited run of what they call The First Amendment. Just by the name I was curious so I ordered some. They say it's naturally flavored Orange and extracted tobacco. I can't say I taste the Orange but I really like the flavor.

I hadn’t seen that yet. I’ll have to check it out.

 

[hittman]

That’s a little pricey. I mix my own for about 2 cents a ml or so. However, I don’t make my own NETs.

 

[hittman]

We got an insurance rebate on our checks today. Our health insurance is taken out after taxes so from what I read, our rebate shouldn’t have been taxed since it was paid with money that had already been taxed. However, my boss had payroll add it to our weekly check and it was taxed. I confronted him about it and he made some excuses and said that it didn’t really matter since we would get it back at the end of the year on our tax return. I don’t think that’s true.

 

[Waho]

That sucks Hitt.

We pay our Union dues after taxes, so I assumed strike pay would be untaxed. But of course not, government has to double dip on that too.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[hittman]

That does suck! I don’t understand why your strike pay is taxed.

 

[rothenbj]

Doesn't sound like either should be taxes but most of all yours Hitt. It was a rebate on paid insurance that was paid with after tax money. I can't remember what info is generally on pay slips, heck, I barely looked at them when I was earning a paycheck. I think there has to be a category for untaxed/miscellaneous payments. I know we got paid our business expense payments in our paychecks so there had to be a category that doesn't affect income.

Now with the Union paid strike benefits, I found this on a quick search-

"
It depends. The following is from www.irs.gov

4.76.14.3.5.1 (08-30-2010)
Strike Fund Benefits and Lockout Benefits

1. Strike fund benefits may be wages subject to FICA, FUTA, and federal income tax withholding if the labor organization directs the members' activity. (Rev. Rul. 75-475, 1975-2 C.B. 406)
   
   
2. Strike fund benefits may be compensation to the member, but not subject to FICA, FUTA, and federal income tax withholding, if the payment is in accordance with the union's constitution and not as remuneration for services performed by an employee for his employer. (Rev. Rul. 68-424, 1968-2 C.B. 419) and 26 USCS §3401), distinguished as in Gregory v. United States, 637 F.Supp. 624)"
   
   You tell me.
   
   I've had icemaker issues again but I really don't know what's going on. I replaced the water inlet valve 3 1/2 years ago so when it died I figured it had to be the icemaker. I did have a water block in the feeding tube but even after thawing still no ice.
   
   Ordered a new ice maker for $150 but still no ice sao maybe it wasn't the unit that caused the issue but it didn't seem to be working right anyway. I made sure thew new unit was doing everything it should by loading it with water by hand, worked great.
   
   I'm thinking the inlet valve died again but I can't find anything that shows what resistance I should be seeing. It read 190 on the ice side and 247 on the ice maker side. However, I checked the water flow at the water side and I was getting a cup full in 12 seconds and 6 seconds/cup at the source.
   
   
   

 

[hittman]

Doesn't sound like either should be taxes but most of all yours Hitt. It was a rebate on paid insurance that was paid with after tax money. I can't remember what info is generally on pay slips, heck, I barely looked at them when I was earning a paycheck. I think there has to be a category for untaxed/miscellaneous payments. I know we got paid our business expense payments in our paychecks so there had to be a category that doesn't affect income.

Now with the Union paid strike benefits, I found this on a quick search-

"
It depends. The following is from www.irs.gov

4.76.14.3.5.1 (08-30-2010)
Strike Fund Benefits and Lockout Benefits

1. Strike fund benefits may be wages subject to FICA, FUTA, and federal income tax withholding if the labor organization directs the members' activity. (Rev. Rul. 75-475, 1975-2 C.B. 406)
   
   
2. Strike fund benefits may be compensation to the member, but not subject to FICA, FUTA, and federal income tax withholding, if the payment is in accordance with the union's constitution and not as remuneration for services performed by an employee for his employer. (Rev. Rul. 68-424, 1968-2 C.B. 419) and 26 USCS §3401), distinguished as in Gregory v. United States, 637 F.Supp. 624)"
   
   You tell me.
   
   I've had icemaker issues again but I really don't know what's going on. I replaced the water inlet valve 3 1/2 years ago so when it died I figured it had to be the icemaker. I did have a water block in the feeding tube but even after thawing still no ice.
   
   Ordered a new ice maker for $150 but still no ice sao maybe it wasn't the unit that caused the issue but it didn't seem to be working right anyway. I made sure thew new unit was doing everything it should by loading it with water by hand, worked great.
   
   I'm thinking the inlet valve died again but I can't find anything that shows what resistance I should be seeing. It read 190 on the ice side and 247 on the ice maker side. However, I checked the water flow at the water side and I was getting a cup full in 12 seconds and 6 seconds/cup at the source.
   
   
   

I argued with my boss who is a lawyer. He never said that taxing it was the right thing to do. Just that it’s the only way he knew to do it. He wouldn’t admit he was wrong and I knew I was getting no where with him so finally gave up. What triggered me to argue with him was that one of the other employees walked up to me ...... off that he taxed it the minute I got to work. Instead of talking to him himself, he knew I would do it.

As far as the ice maker goes, I know very little. We have a fridge with the ice maker in the door and the auger motor quit working a couple weeks ago. It still makes ice but won’t dispense it out the door. I’m not sure if it’s the motor or something else and don’t want to just start throwing parts at it so I’ll probably end up calling a repair guy.

 

[rothenbj]

LOL, my 22 year old fridge still does that but maybe because I rarely use it. I just pull the ice out of the holder. I do use it if I want crushed ice though. I have two 20 oz Contigo water bottles that I load up with ice and then fill with water and use all day. I must load them with the equivalent of a tray's worth of ice each and they're filled all day long, thus the importance of a steady supply of ice.

I think I saw the auger motor when I was trying to solve my issue. It was like $125 if that's the issue.

 

[hittman]

I called one repair place that had good reviews and they said their minimum repair is $150 or they’ll come and do an estimate for $75. I’ll probably have them come in a week or two. I’ll see how long it takes my wife to get tired of opening the freezer to get ice.

 

[rothenbj]

Hey, hey hey, good news!

FDA grants first-ever modified risk orders to eight smokeless tobacco products