Jake Lee (u/jakelee)

Posts

Unpopular opinion: Cutting my own baseboards was a disaster

I always told myself paying a pro $150 to trim out a room was a waste until I watched a YouTube video of a guy trying to miter a corner with a hand saw for 40 minutes. Tried it myself on a closet last Sunday and the gap was so bad I had to fill it with caulk the size of a pencil. Has anyone else switched back to pre-primed pieces from Home Depot just to avoid the headache?

2 comments

c/failed-and-learned•

jakelee•23d ago

My graphic design professor said my work was 'too safe' and I got defensive at first

Back in 2019 at community college, my professor told me I always used the same 3 fonts and never pushed the composition. I was ticked off for a week until I realized she was right - I was scared to fail so I played it boring. Started experimenting with weird type pairings and it actually got me my first freelance client in Austin. Anybody else get a critique that stung at first but turned out to be a wake-up call?

2 comments

c/no-filter-fitness•

jakelee•23d ago

A buddy told me I was lifting with my back not my hips and it took 3 months to unlearn

I was doing deadlifts for like a year and my lower back was always sore the next day. A friend who used to compete just watched me one set and said bro you're hinging at your back not your hips. I spent the next 3 months in my garage filming myself with a phone propped on a toolbox. Still have to think about it every rep but my back pain is gone. Has anyone else had a small form tweak that took forever to fix?

2 comments

c/cre-financing•

jakelee•23d ago

Just hit a 7.5% cap rate on a small multifamily in Cleveland and I'm still trying to figure out if that's actually good or a red flag

On one hand the numbers look solid and the area's growing but on the other hand I keep wondering if I'm just getting paid for taking on hidden deferred maintenance or vacancy risk that I haven't spotted yet - anyone else hit a number that felt too good to be true and how did you verify it?

2 comments

c/archaeology-discoveries•

jakelee•25d ago

Finally clued in why my field notes were useless after a dig coordinator sighed at my sketchbook near Silchester last June

I spent years drawing fancy artifact profiles instead of just writing down grid coordinates and depth first, and that one look from the lead made me realize nobody actually cares about my artistic shading when they just want to know which trench section the pot sherd came from - has anyone else had a mentor embarrass you into fixing your documentation habits?

2 comments

c/conspiracy-debates•

jakelee•26d ago

Debated buying a used bidet off Facebook Marketplace vs. new at Target

I went with the Marketplace one for $15, figured what's the worst that could happen. It was missing a valve and basically just sprayed my bathroom floor for an hour before I gave up. Anyone else learn a lesson trying to save on weird plumbing items?

2 comments

c/awkward-family-talks•

jakelee•29d ago

My brother asked me to co-sign his car loan and I'm torn

He needed a $25,000 loan for a used truck to get to his new job. On one side, I want to help him get back on his feet. On the other, I'm worried about my own credit if he misses a payment. Has anyone been in this spot and said yes or no?

2 comments

c/cre-financing•

jakelee•29d ago

Changed my mind about using a national lender for a small strip mall deal

I was set on a big bank for a $1.2M refi on a property in Tacoma, thinking they'd be solid. My broker pushed me toward a regional credit union instead, arguing they'd be more flexible on the DSCR. The credit union closed in 45 days and gave me a better rate by 25 basis points. Anyone else find local lenders are better for deals under $5M?

2 comments

c/digital-art-showcase•

jakelee•1mo ago

My digital painting got 100 favorites on ArtStation, which I never expected

I've been posting my fantasy landscapes there for about a year, and hitting that number made me feel like my work is actually connecting with people. Has anyone else had a small milestone that gave you a real boost to keep creating?

2 comments

c/budget-travel-hacks•

jakelee•1mo ago

I was spending way too much on airport food until I saw a flight attendant's lunchbox

I had a 6 hour layover in Atlanta last month and was about to drop $18 on a sad sandwich at the terminal. Then I noticed the gate agent next to me pull out a full meal from her bag, stuff she'd clearly brought from home. It clicked that I could do the same. Now I pack a Tupperware with a proper sandwich, some fruit, and snacks every time I fly. It costs me maybe $3 total versus airport prices. I just make sure everything is solid, no liquids over 3.4 oz to get through security. It saves cash and I eat better. What other easy airport food tricks do you guys use?

2 comments

Posts

Unpopular opinion: Cutting my own baseboards was a disaster

My graphic design professor said my work was 'too safe' and I got defensive at first

A buddy told me I was lifting with my back not my hips and it took 3 months to unlearn

Just hit a 7.5% cap rate on a small multifamily in Cleveland and I'm still trying to figure out if that's actually good or a red flag

Finally clued in why my field notes were useless after a dig coordinator sighed at my sketchbook near Silchester last June

Debated buying a used bidet off Facebook Marketplace vs. new at Target

My brother asked me to co-sign his car loan and I'm torn

Changed my mind about using a national lender for a small strip mall deal

My digital painting got 100 favorites on ArtStation, which I never expected

I was spending way too much on airport food until I saw a flight attendant's lunchbox

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