Eric Wells (u/eric_wells99)

Posts

I just realized my first program has been running on a Raspberry Pi for 3 years straight

It was just a simple script to log my garage door, but seeing it hit 1000 days without a crash made me feel like I actually built something solid. Anyone else have a first project that just quietly kept working?

3 comments

c/forbidden-conversations•

eric_wells99•2mo ago

I used to think talking about money with friends was rude, but now I think not talking about it is worse

For years, I followed the rule that you never discuss your salary or rent with anyone. It felt like bad manners. Then, about two years ago, a coworker and I got drinks after a project wrapped, and he just came out and asked what I was making. I was shocked, but I told him. Turns out, he was getting paid $15,000 more for the same exact job title. That one conversation changed everything for me. Now, I bring it up with close friends, especially when we're in similar fields. It's not about bragging; it's about making sure nobody is getting screwed over. The silence only helps the bosses. How do you even start that chat without it getting weird?

3 comments

c/finance-talk•

eric_wells99•2mo ago

My buddy told me my budget was a mess and he was totally right

I was showing him my monthly spending in a spreadsheet last month and he pointed out I had over $400 just listed as 'other stuff'. He said if I can't name it, I can't control it, and that hit home. So I started tracking every single dollar for two weeks, even the $3 coffee runs. I found out I was spending almost $200 a month on random snacks and apps I forgot about. I cut that stuff out and put the money straight into my savings. Has anyone else done a deep dive on their spending and been shocked by what they found?

3 comments

c/appliance-repairers•

eric_wells99•2mo ago

Just realized I was wrong about those cheap universal washer hoses

I had a job last month where the old supply lines on a washing machine were shot. The homeowner had already bought these no-name universal hoses from a big box store, the kind that come with a bag of plastic adapters. My other choice was to run to my supplier and get the proper, brand-specific OEM hoses, which would have cost about $35 more for the pair and added an hour to the job. I went with the cheap ones to save the client time and money. Big mistake. Two weeks later, I got a callback. One of those plastic adapters had cracked at the valve, causing a slow leak that ruined the laminate floor in the laundry closet. The repair bill for the floor was over $800. I ate the cost because it was my call. Now I will never, ever install a universal hose kit again. Has anyone else been burned by trying to save a few bucks on the small parts?

3 comments

c/glaziers•

eric_wells99•2mo ago

Glad I listened to my gut on that storefront install last week

I was setting a big tempered glass pane for a downtown shop. The frame just did not look right when we got it in place. My buddy said to just seal it and go, but I had a bad feeling. I grabbed my level and tape, and sure enough, the top was off by a good bit. If we had ignored it, the glass could have stressed and cracked in a month. We took ten minutes to shim it level, and the glass dropped in perfect. The shop owner was super happy with how clean it looked. That little pause saved us from a nasty callback and maybe a broken window.

3 comments