Stuck between a gas powered trimmer and a battery one, I made my pick last spring

I run a small tree service outside of Boise, and last spring I had to choose between a new Stihl gas trimmer and an Echo battery model. The gas one costs about $350 new, but the battery setup was $400 with two batteries and a charger. I went battery because I'm tired of dealing with mixed fuel and carburetor cleanings on my crew's old equipment. First week using it, I cleared a half mile of fence line on a single charge, which surprised me. But then I hit a thick patch of blackberry vines and the battery died after 45 minutes. I swapped to the spare and finished the job, but it was tight. Now I'm wondering if the gas guys have the same issue with heavy brush or if I just picked the wrong tool for that specific task.

Wasted $60 on a coding course that was all hype

I bought a Python bootcamp on Udemy last week for 60 bucks because the reviews said it was perfect for beginners. Turned out the instructor rushed through every concept and expected you to already know half the stuff. I spent more time Googling basic terms than actually learning from the videos. Has anyone found a cheap course that actually starts from zero without skipping steps?

Hit 10,000 sheets hung without a single callback and nobody cares

Ditch the PVA for paste. Took me 6 months to try it.

I spent two years using PVA for everything, spine linings and all. Finally switched to wheat paste for the joints last fall after a guy at a binder's meetup in Austin told me I was making my books too stiff. Has anyone else noticed a difference in how the book opens up after the change?

Bank told me I'd save $200/month but my broker kept it real

Last month I sat down with a bank loan officer at Wells Fargo in Dallas who swore their refi rates would cut my mortgage by $200 a month. I ran the numbers later with my broker, and he pointed out the bank was hiding a 2% origination fee and a prepayment penalty that would have cost me more in the long run. The bank guy just smiled and pushed papers, while the broker took 20 minutes to explain the fine print. Has anyone else caught a bank hiding fees like that during a rate quote?

That new coolant hose I bought failed after just 2 months

Picked up a silicone hose from an online shop back in March to replace a cracked one on my old F-150. It split right down the middle last Tuesday, dumping antifreeze all over the driveway. Has anyone else had these aftermarket hoses fall apart way faster than the stock rubber ones?

Hit 10,000 steps every day for a month. Totally changed how I think about walking.

Started just to see if I could. First week was brutal. Feet hurt. Kept forgetting. By week three it was automatic. Now I take the long way everywhere. The real surprise? My back pain went away. Didn't expect that. Anyone else notice weird benefits from a simple number goal?

Just realized I used to hide every single mistake from my broker, now I text him a photo immediately. Changed after a $5k oversight on a Phoenix listing.

Had to pick between a cheap part and a full rebuild on a 90s Trek 930

Customer brought in a '94 Trek 930 with a stripped bottom bracket. I could either try to force a cheap replacement cartridge in there for about $30, or do a full frame repair with a threadless BB for over $200. I went with the repair, and it took me a full afternoon to chase the threads and install a Wheels Mfg BB. It's solid now, but I'm curious if anyone has a faster fix for these old aluminum frames that doesn't risk making it worse.

My curling iron basically exploded during a client's updo on Friday

I was doing a bridesmaid's hair for a wedding in Charlotte, and halfway through a curl, the barrel just popped off the handle. Hot pieces went everywhere, and my client jumped out of the chair. I had to finish the style with my backup iron, but it threw off my whole timing. Has anyone else had a tool totally fail mid-service, and what's your go-to backup plan?