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Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

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61–70 of 205 posts

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#61

Honestly a good espresso machine. Obviously it's not the best of the best, I'm not a coffee snob/expert, but spending $800 on a mid-tier breville espresso machine is miles ahead of the $100 espresso machine I tried a couple years ago. It's just so much more convenient to be able to make a decent tasting hot or iced latte at home vs. going to get one. Maybe some day I will really get into espresso and get $3000 machin…

100%.

If you are even vaguely into fixing things, a degree of patience will save you a lot of money.

I’ve got an addiction to Mazzer grinders. Second hand they are cheap and the more beat up the better as it reduces the price and they are basically bulletproof. I pull them down, respray and add any parts I want.

Ex cafe equipment is cheaper as people don’t want large grinders. The Super Jolly hits a good spot between size, quality and price.

I like the Major and Robur - air cooled too. Overheating with 6-8 coffee a day will never happen, but the ventilation slots look so good!

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#62
post #43

This was technically the end of 2021, but I got a new gaming/workstation desktop. I have an RTX 3080 which I can make AI images with, as well as learn more about deep learning since I have a GPU handy. It also has 16 cores that come in very handy for compiling programs, I don't have to wait anymore. Along with that, I bought an LG OLED 48 inch TV that I use as a monitor, the screen space is amazing. Along with that,…

> Did you know that you can save ~$62,000 per year per company you work for, tax free (or deferred)? Do you happen to have a link or pointers?

From the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/one-participant-401k-pl...

"""

The business owner wears two hats in a 401(k) plan: employee and employer. Contributions can be made to the plan in both capacities. The owner can contribute both:

    Elective deferrals up to 100% of compensation (“earned income” in the case of a self-employed individual) up to the annual contribution limit:
        $22,500 in 2023 ($20,500 in 2022; $19,500 in 2020 and 2021), or $30,000 in 2023 ($27,000 in 2022; $26,000 in 2020 and 2021) if age 50 or over; plus
    Employer nonelective contributions up to:
        25% of compensation as defined by the plan, or
        for self-employed individuals, see discussion below
If you’ve exceeded the limit for elective deferrals in your 401(k) plan, find out how to correct this mistake.

Total contributions to a participant’s account, not counting catch-up contributions for those age 50 and over, cannot exceed $66,000 for 2023 ($61,000 for 2022; $58,000 for 2021; $57,000 for 2020).

Example: Ben, age 51, earned $50,000 in W-2 wages from his S Corporation in 2020. He deferred $19,500 in regular elective deferrals plus $6,500 in catch-up contributions to the 401(k) plan. His business contributed 25% of his compensation to the plan, $12,500. Total contributions to the plan for 2020 were $38,500. This is the maximum that can be contributed to the plan for Ben for 2019.

A business owner who is also employed by a second company and participating in its 401(k) plan should bear in mind that his limits on elective deferrals are by person, not by plan. He must consider the limit for all elective deferrals he makes during a year.

"""

Per company means that if you contract for one company (with your own LLC) and work W2 for another (or work 2 W2s), you get ~22k total for employee contributions, but ~40k per each company you work for, ie 2 * 40k = 80k, therefore you can make 80k + 22k = 102k entirely into your 401k accounts. However, since it's a max of 25% per plan of each income, you'd have to be making very high six figures for it to get to such a maximum.

If you have your own LLC, you can set up a solo 401k easily, but for an employer, it's much harder as they must support mega backdoor Roth IRAs, ie allowing you to add your own after-tax money as part of their employer contribution.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#63

This was technically the end of 2021, but I got a new gaming/workstation desktop. I have an RTX 3080 which I can make AI images with, as well as learn more about deep learning since I have a GPU handy. It also has 16 cores that come in very handy for compiling programs, I don't have to wait anymore. Along with that, I bought an LG OLED 48 inch TV that I use as a monitor, the screen space is amazing. Along with that,…

mind expanding more on "per company you work for". w2 employment?

I posted here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34279921

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#64
post #21

This was technically the end of 2021, but I got a new gaming/workstation desktop. I have an RTX 3080 which I can make AI images with, as well as learn more about deep learning since I have a GPU handy. It also has 16 cores that come in very handy for compiling programs, I don't have to wait anymore. Along with that, I bought an LG OLED 48 inch TV that I use as a monitor, the screen space is amazing. Along with that,…

This is only true if your plan supports deferrals, right? Had after-tax deferrals available through a Fidelity plan at an employer once, it was great being able to roll that over into an IRA. Hopefully I'll have it again soon - it's an underrated perk for sure.

Correct, the employer and plan must support after-tax contributions, ie a mega backdoor Roth IRA. I posted more here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34279921

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#65
post #28

The Steam Deck 512GB. It gave me a realistic pathway to replay classic games I love, while bringing AAA titles to a playable state on the go. As someone who travels pretty regularly both for work and personally, having a portable way to play games like Cyberpunk 2077, Stray, etc. as well as run emulators for Skies of Arcadia, Chrono Trigger, et al was a huge step up. The ergonomics are great, it gets fair battery lif…

Plus one on Deck. Fantastic product even though I was skeptical from the start. I’ve finished multiple games on it while on vacation that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#66
post #57

This was technically the end of 2021, but I got a new gaming/workstation desktop. I have an RTX 3080 which I can make AI images with, as well as learn more about deep learning since I have a GPU handy. It also has 16 cores that come in very handy for compiling programs, I don't have to wait anymore. Along with that, I bought an LG OLED 48 inch TV that I use as a monitor, the screen space is amazing. Along with that,…

You have my attention. Can you please give more details about tax savings?

See my sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34279921

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#67
I'm not the only person saying this: getting an espresso machine was the biggest QoL improvement from one purchase I've ever had. Although you do have to enjoy and be excited about manually making espresso. For me I specifically wanted to go through the process (grinding, tamping, etc) since being able to vary the result, pick the coffee, etc is part of the enjoyment, so a machine that uses Nespresso pods or the like was never a consideration.

You don't have to spend a lot of money really, but it is recommended to get a standalone grinder rather than a grinder+espresso combo because it means you can upgrade/replace the parts separately. Also most of your budget should go to the grinder, not the espresso machine, since that's the part where money gets quick returns on quality.

I bought a Gaggia Classic Pro machine (~425$), which is perfectly adequate if not the most attractive one, and a Sette 270wi grinder (~450$). They have been completely successful so I have no intention of upgrading.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#68
post #29
post #9

An AXS wireless derailleur for my mountain bike. A $600 outlay to get rid of a cable doesn’t make too much sense on its face, but I wasn’t prepared for how much it improved shifting performance.

But now your bike doesn’t work if it s not charged?

You only need to charge it at most every few months. It's not really a big concern.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been afraid to move on from my 2015 MBP for the reasons you stated. Good to hear they’re getting back on track

While the 2016-2019 MBPs were a step back, the Apple Silicon MBPs are better than the 2015s in virtually every way.

It must be the influence of losing Jony Ive who strove for minimalism. While I'd like a world where we could only use USB-C for everything, the reality is that this is not the case in the vast majority of areas.

Re: Ask HN: What $500-2500 product improved your 2022

#70

My Miele canister vacuum. I appreciate engineering perfection even in disciplines that are not my own and this is it. There’s an inexplicable joy in using a tool that flawlessly executes its job.

We also bought a Miele canister vacuum in 2022. We moved to a larger apartment, so I thought we should have something better suited to the job. It is fantastic and vacuuming is a joy. So much nicer than the terribly heavy Dyson we have with laser and whatnot (though the Dyson is ok for quick kitchen vacuuming).
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