Ordered two $5 McD's value meals & it's only $10.79 for both

[orange808]

Stay gold - as you ahve.

I will.

How are you earning interest on the 20% down you paid? (When did you get a friend?)

Capital stores your money by definition. Appreciation depends on the market. Of course, a person can't live inside the investments you're suggesting--and nobody rents at a loss. You're still paying borrowing costs + upkeep + profit for anything you rent--unless your landlord is thick. That's what sets a rental market. If I see that house prices went up, I will ratchet up the rent when the lease comes up for renewal. Doesn't matter if I'm paying off a note, that's market value.

Chicago is the 3rd largest city in America, a great place to live by many metrics with tons of jobs, and it is awful to invest in real estate. The state itself (and even moreso the city) are hamstrung by their constitution and the labor unions. They have no way to pay off their massive fucking debts except one -- property tax. And it goes up invariably ever 3 years to make up for lack of a progressive state income ta and other failed taxes (sugar tax, for example), thereby keeping the price of homes low (but not the total cost). To quote an old colleague, "You can't make shit off of real estate here, while my shit for brains brother in law doubled his money in the suburbs of Arizona accidentally".

Is that so? We've discussed Chicago before. I disliked the city and I would never choose to live there--even at significantly reduced prices. I hated Chicago.

So, we disagree.

That doesn't even touch on loads of other factors out of ones control - neighborhoods are cyclical. Many have gone from the the best in the city to absolute shit holes. Some faster than others. Upkeep / appliances is most definitely not free -- a cost you are devoid of if renting. If you are hit on hard times, and you are house poor, you could very easily be forced to sell at a shitty price (or even foreclose). You can sell portions of liquid equity - not portions of a house.

Neighborhoods are cyclical, but people keep living in them. Given that renting out a property is an option and Airbnb exists, your statement made me smile.

I'm not saying buying a home is a bad idea or even a bad investment. But it is an investment and no investment is ever a silver bullet. It can easily take away from opportunity costs of other investments.

Yep.

Everywhere if you a big enough chunk of your money goes to food (and you pointed out, other costs of living).

Learn to cook. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I haven't been to McDonald's for at least 7 years. There isn't one that is convenient to go to, but even if there was, I still wouldn't go because they removed a lot of items from the Japanese menu about 8 or 9 years ago and there wasn't much of a selection the last time I went. It's still probably better than the six trillion kebab restaurants in Tokyo that are all located right next to busy streets and have their meat outside, probably getting contaminated by pollution and shit from all of the cars that drive by only a few meters away.

I actually should put my argument above with an asterisk. I went to a McDonald's twice on my last trip to Tokyo as I had to find a place to work at ridiculous hours since sleeping beauty (my gf) wakes up if a pin drops. I did wind up getting an Egg McMuffin WITHOUT fucking sausage which is not on the menu anymore. To make it an even more fun experience, the guy at the register was a southeast Asian with less than stellar Japanese. The manager had to get involved to leave the sausage off. That is the one extremely noticeable thing about Tokyo: 20 years ago a gaijin would never serve a gaijin outside of a gaijin bar. Welcome to the future! Anyway it's basically the same food but the experience is always better than a US McD's.

Back in 2000, if you went to a Japanese McD's joint and scanned the menu, on the menu was a listing for "A Smile." To the far right of this peculiar menu item was the price listed for one with just one word, "Free." Is it still listed on the menu nowadays?

Yes, I noticed the experience and service was much better at a Japanese McD's compared to one stateside indeed. Another thing was you could spend an extra 200 or 300 yen more to "Super Size" your combo meal but it wasn't much, portion-wise, if you actually did so (compared to "Super Sizing" a combo meal in the USA for just paying a mere 39 cents or 79 cents more, you'd really did get a lot more food, portion-wise, back in 2000). Eventually, McD's discontinued the "Super Size" a combo meal deal program.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Steven]

I haven't been to McDonald's for at least 7 years. There isn't one that is convenient to go to, but even if there was, I still wouldn't go because they removed a lot of items from the Japanese menu about 8 or 9 years ago and there wasn't much of a selection the last time I went. It's still probably better than the six trillion kebab restaurants in Tokyo that are all located right next to busy streets and have their meat outside, probably getting contaminated by pollution and shit from all of the cars that drive by only a few meters away.

I actually should put my argument above with an asterisk. I went to a McDonald's twice on my last trip to Tokyo as I had to find a place to work at ridiculous hours since sleeping beauty (my gf) wakes up if a pin drops. I did wind up getting an Egg McMuffin WITHOUT fucking sausage which is not on the menu anymore. To make it an even more fun experience, the guy at the register was a southeast Asian with less than stellar Japanese. The manager had to get involved to leave the sausage off. That is the one extremely noticeable thing about Tokyo: 20 years ago a gaijin would never serve a gaijin outside of a gaijin bar. Welcome to the future!

There are a lot of foreigners working in convenience stores and restaurants now. Sometimes both the Yoshinoya and the CoCoIchi closest to my house are staffed entirely by foreigners, as well as the 7-11 by my house and the Lawson by my office. When I was a student I went to the Lawson by my school and the foreigner working there gave me chopsticks for my Calorie Mates. That was weird, but at least I got some free chopsticks to take home just in case.

They made a new Calorie Mate recently, too: vanilla. Naturally, it has chocolate in it because why not. I think it's the best one now! Anything is better than that awful potato flavour monstrosity they had 10 years ago, now fortunately discontinued, but I have a feeling that these things are not that much better for your body than typical fast food in any case.

[GaijinPunch]

Capital stores your money by definition.

Stores it yes -- it can very well be a lower value when you get it back. Lower against inflation far easier but even lower than what you put in in extreme cases.

Appreciation depends on the market. Of course, a person can't live inside the investments you're suggesting--and nobody rents at a loss. You're still paying borrowing costs + upkeep + profit for anything you rent--unless your landlord is thick. That's what sets a rental market. If I see that house prices went up, I will ratchet up the rent when the lease comes up for renewal. Doesn't matter if I'm paying off a note, that's market value.

Market value is what people will pay - not what renters want to get. Sometimes people have to rent at a loss -- especially after all the taxes and fees. The entire mortgage is not a write off. My 1BR in SF is renting for 55% of what it peaked at precovid. The owners bought the building in 2015 or so. You think that's not a loss?

Is that so? We've discussed Chicago before. I disliked the city and I would never choose to live there--even at significantly reduced prices. I hated Chicago.
So, we disagree.

Okay, cool. But I wasn't using that as an example of a place that I like -- I simply lived there and know the real estate market somewhat. It's great that you hated it. (I thought Honolulu was a balls city to live in but apparently I'm nuts). However, enough people to make it the third largest metropolitan area in the cuntry do like it, so, it seems to be a fair example.

Neighborhoods are cyclical, but people keep living in them. Given that renting out a property is an option and Airbnb exists, your statement made me smile.

I'm glad I triggered your yearly smile. But, again, you've over simplified greatly. People living in neighborhoods only means the houses are worth more than zero. Plenty of them lose value. I've lived in them.

[GaijinPunch]

Back in 2000, if you went to a Japanese McD's joint and scanned the menu, on the menu was a listing for "A Smile." To the far right of this peculiar menu item was the price listed for one with just one word, "Free." Is it still listed on the menu nowadays?

At one point it was listed as 0 Yen.

Yes, I noticed the experience and service was much better at a Japanese McD's compared to one stateside indeed. Another thing was you could spend an extra 200 or 300 yen more to "Super Size" your combo meal but it wasn't much, portion-wise, if you actually did so (compared to "Super Sizing" a combo meal in the USA for just paying a mere 39 cents or 79 cents more, you'd really did get a lot more food, portion-wise, back in 2000). Eventually, McD's discontinued the "Super Size" a combo meal deal program.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

The biggest irk at Japanese McDonald's is ordering gigantic fries and then ordering a catchup (which I admittedly don't like but I need something on them) and then they ask "is one okay?" And you're like, "no, I"ll take a handful".

There are a lot of foreigners working in convenience stores and restaurants now. Sometimes both the Yoshinoya and the CoCoIchi closest to my house are staffed entirely by foreigners, as well as the 7-11 by my house and the Lawson by my office. When I was a student I went to the Lawson by my school and the foreigner working there gave me chopsticks for my Calorie Mates. That was weird, but at least I got some free chopsticks to take home just in case.

It's quite noticeable -- especially when you generally only go back every 6 months or so, or of course have a 2 year gap from Covid. I was a huge fan of Marugame Udon before it was cool (eg, actually came to California!) and they seem to be embracing foreign labor. So good on them. It's funny (?) though... after all this time, I've still had like only 5 female taxi drivers.

[vol.2]

They deserve it, too! Health care is expensive in Burgerland. I would also bet real money that working a fast food joint during a meal rush is harder than most of the jobs anyone here has. I'd strongly consider combat again before subjecting myself to that.

Yes they do. Those McDonald's workers are some of the most toiling, hardest working people in the country and they deserve a living wage for the sweat they are putting into filling all the pie holes.

The biggest irk at Japanese McDonald's is ordering gigantic fries and then ordering a catchup (which I admittedly don't like but I need something on them) and then they ask "is one okay?" And you're like, "no, I"ll take a handful".

Omg. I know I hated that. Having to do those extra interactions at a service counter in Japan is the worst. Sometimes they get sassy af too. Try asking for honey at a McDonalds in Japan; they all have it, but none of them know it's there. I use honey on my fries, and every single time, I had to be "no, it's there, check under the counter."

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Even at the American McD's drive-throughs, if you want your favorite condiments with your food order, you gotta request them, otherwise no condiments will be included whatsoever. True story.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[vol.2]

Even at the American McD's drive-throughs, if you want your favorite condiments with your food order, you gotta request them, otherwise no condiments will be included whatsoever. True story.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

That's true, but in the US, they tend to give you "some" ketchup, like at least a few packages. In Japan, if you ask for Ketchup, they literally give you one single packet and look at you like you're putting them out for it.

[Lander]

More than ten bucks for two five buck meals? It's a steal!
You burgerlanders with your crazy tax obfuscation

Here in the UK, you can explicitly request condiments with your fast food, and still end up without them 90% of the time!
Things are perhaps better if you live in the city and have a local branch with high throughput, but the ones out in the boonies are almost universally depressing no-fucks-left-to-give situations.
Please enjoy double topper-buns around your burger, because the staff are too zombified to go and find the bottom half.

[Koa Zo]

In Japan, if you ask for Ketchup, they literally give you one single packet and look at you like you're putting them out for it.

It's generally the opposite in the US.
On the rare occasion I get a Jr Cheeseburger Deluxe and Jr fries at a Wendy's, I ask for 2 ketchups (half of one on the burger; as it already has mayo and ketchup, and 1.5 packet for my fries).
Almost always Im given a heaping handful, or as you said "some".
Like "what am I going to do with 10 packets of ketchup?? One for each fry?"
I even stop them, "No, just two." which invariably short-circuits and confuses them, then they toss them all in the bag anyway and say something like "here's some extra."

[PC Engine Fan X!]

More than ten bucks for two five buck meals? It's a steal!
You burgerlanders with your crazy tax obfuscation

Here in the UK, you can explicitly request condiments with your fast food, and still end up without them 90% of the time!
Things are perhaps better if you live in the city and have a local branch with high throughput, but the ones out in the boonies are almost universally depressing no-fucks-left-to-give situations.
Please enjoy double topper-buns around your burger, because the staff are too zombified to go and find the bottom half.

So they serve "half-assed" burgers out in the boonies? Lol, cracks me up.

I've noticed with the McChicken sandwiches served stateside, mayo is only applied to the top-side of the bottom bun whereas with the bottom-side top bun portion, it has no mayo whatsoever leaving it a "bit too dry to chow down" -- the remedy is to apply some more mayo to the bottom-side top bun usually does the trick in this instance.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Yeah, they added in the five dollar deal and took out the good deals in the app. Used to be able to get buy on get one quarter pounders and Big Macs which I think is a way better deal.