c/decision-debate-room

My brother told me to buy the cheap house paint and I regret it

He said the expensive stuff was a scam and to just get the $20 gallon from the hardware store. I painted my whole living room with it six months ago. Now it's already peeling near the windows and looks terrible. I have to scrape it all off and start over, which will cost way more in time and new paint. Has anyone else had a paint job fail that fast and what brand did you switch to?

Thinking about buying a used skid steer for my landscaping jobs

I found a 2012 model for $15,000 that seems to run okay, but it would be a huge chunk of my savings. The pro is I could take on bigger projects, but the con is the repair costs if it breaks down. Has anyone here bought used equipment and had it work out well?

Vent: My main work laptop's hinge snapped clean off yesterday.

It's a Dell XPS 13 I've had for about 4 years, and now the screen just flops back. I'm stuck deciding whether to pay for a costly repair or just replace the whole machine. Anyone dealt with a major laptop hinge failure and what did you end up doing?

Thinking about selling my old car to a friend for way under its value

I have a 2012 Honda Civic with 85,000 miles that runs great. My friend needs a car and can only pay about $2,000. Everyone says I should sell it online for at least double that, but I keep thinking about how he helped me move last year. The moment that tipped me off I was wrong was when I saw a similar car listed for $4,500 and my first thought was 'that's a fair price' instead of 'that's what my friend needs'. Has anyone else sold a car to a friend for less and not regretted it later?

Overheard a landscaper tell his crew 'the clean cut is the cheap cut'

He was talking about pruning a big oak tree, saying a proper cut now saves on disease treatment and storm damage later. It made me think I should pay more upfront for a certified arborist to trim my backyard maple, even though it's double the quote from the guy with just a truck. Has anyone else gone with the more expensive pro and been glad they did?

I mean, idk, but noticing more folks my age buying homes way out of town and I'm split on following them.

Setting my freelance rates higher felt risky, but it worked out

I kept my prices low for a long time, afraid of scaring off clients. I finally compared my work to others and picked a new number for a recent job. The client said yes right away, which was a huge relief. It showed me that valuing my own time was the right move.

My efficiency award has me debating the night shift supervisor position.

The pay bump is tempting, but I'm concerned about missing daytime events.

After getting lost in a foreign market, I'm stuck on whether to plan my next vacation at all.

Those unexpected street food finds and local tips have me wondering if I should just pick a flight and figure it out when I land.

My switch to Photoshop over Procreate has me second-guessing my whole drawing process

I’ve been drawing on my iPad with Procreate for years, it just felt natural. But a client needed files in a specific format so I forced myself to learn Photoshop on the tablet. Now I’m way faster with layers and edits for client work, which is a huge pro. The con is that it feels stiff and not as fun for my own personal stuff, like the joy of drawing is gone. I can’t decide if I should stick with Photoshop for everything to get even faster, or keep using both and just deal with switching apps. It sounds small but it’s messing with how I think about making art for money versus for me.

Cable company wants a whole weekday for an install, is this normal now?

My new place needs internet, and the provider says I have to be home from 8am to 5pm for the technician to maybe show up. This feels like they're making their scheduling problem my entire day's problem. Do I just suck it up and wait, or is there a real reason to fight for a tighter window?

Struggling with the ethics of a found phone during a tough spot

I found a smartphone left on a bench in the park. Most folks say you should always return lost things, no matter what. But my own phone was dead, and I had a big family call coming up. I thought about using it just once, which goes against what everyone thinks. Now I'm stuck on if my need made it okay to even consider.

TIL my pet parrot has a talent for unlocking windows

He let himself out yesterday and I found him on the neighbor's antenna. Now I'm debating cage upgrades or trust exercises.

Used to think the online bill dispute thing was better than paper forms. After my third failed attempt with the city's new system, I'm not so sure.

A steady paycheck is tempting me away from my art studio dreams

I always said I'd never take a regular job so I could focus on my painting. Then my old boss called with a manager position that pays way more. Seeing my savings shrink each month has me really thinking about saying yes. But will a desk job kill my creative spark for good? Anyone else trade passion for stability and how did it go?

Can we talk about picking between cheap flights with terrible layovers or just paying more

I found a crazy good price on a flight to Japan but it has three long stops and gets in at 2 AM. Part of me says save the money for fun stuff there, but the other part thinks I'll be a wreck and ruin the first day. Would you take the budget nightmare trip or spend more for a direct flight?

Serious question, I accidentally liked my ex's old photo and now I'm stuck.

Be careful with late-night scrolling, folks. I was on social media and double-tapped a picture from two years ago by mistake. Now I have to choose between unliking it or leaving it there. Unliking it might look suspicious, but leaving it could send the wrong message. I need to make a call soon to avoid drama. What are the pros and cons of each move?

After years of saying no, I'm considering fostering a cat

I worried about the commitment (and the mess, let's be real), but helping an animal feels right, so what are the cons I'm missing?

Rant: Solar panels seem like a no-brainer for the planet, but my wallet is screaming no.

My power bill is crazy high, and I want to cut my carbon footprint by switching to solar. The upfront cost is huge, and I'm not sure if the long-term savings will ever happen. Is shelling out for solar panels a smart move for both the environment and my bank account, or am I about to waste a ton of cash?

PSA: The rush on smart home stuff is making me choose between old and new at my store

Suddenly, EVERYONE at my hardware place wants gadgets instead of basic tools. I have to decide if I shift our whole shelf setup or risk losing these new customers. Is it better to chase the trend or stay true to what we know?

My shift to drinking only water during work hours

It cleared my head, but now I miss my afternoon tea. Should I stick with water or add tea back?

Rant: My training error ruined a client's progress and I might quit

I worked with a guy for six months to build strength after surgery. I got cocky and added too much weight too fast, which led to a strain. He stopped seeing me and posted a bad review online. Now I'm stuck deciding if I should close my solo practice or push through the backlash. Closing means no more stress but I lose my income. Pushing through means facing criticism daily while trying to rebuild. Honestly, which option sucks less here?