u/WitnessEntire

I have and love a 12 mini. Battery health is 77 percent but its performance is generally fine for my day to day. I’m going on a two week trip and was worried about battery health during my trip (I’ve had issues in the past with the mini and the teeny battery). I am going to use an eSIM when I travel.

I had planned to switch to the 17 base during our states tax free weekend (today). So I ordered the 17 yesterday and am picking it up today. Apparently they are waiving the $40
Activation fee from Verizon so it apparently will connect to Verizon once I power it on.

Yesterday I randomly changed my settings from bright mode to dark mode and holy cow my phone is working so much better. It’s not heating up despite it being hot AF out and feels faster and less laggy.

I’m wondering now whether to wait to activate my 17. The 12 is fine. I am wondering if I can activate the 17 for my trip only and keep the 12 on my Verizon line until it dies/stops being supported.

Thoughts?

I’ve been eyeing a top that’s been final sale fir months. It’s not selling, and why would it? It’s fitted so you’ve got to get the size right. I have the matching bottom.

Chatted with them and brought up all these points. Asked to to ship to my local store and waive final sale. Nope.

Money saved I guess.

We are traveling to Europe next month for two weeks. Last year we put eSIMs on paid off phones. For some reason, Verizon didn’t notice the eSIM on one of the phones and charged us $12 per day. The other phone was fine. So it wasn’t user error. They did give us a partial refund.

This year we just got a “free” iPhone 17 but got to stay in our plan (welcome). A rep told me that we could upgrade to a different plan for two weeks that gives international data and then downgrade back to our old plan when we get back. I feel like I need to take detailed notes of my convo and take names if we choose that option.

For our other line, I have a fully paid off 12 mini. I was thinking to buy an iPhone 17 from Apple right before the trip and put the eSIM on that and leave my original phone at home so I don’t deal with any Verizon “accidents.”

The best part of the e Sim is that you do not get any spam texts at all!

Does that sound like a solid plan? Am I missing anything?

We’re in Paris for three days in late August (I know). It’s a short stop in between two destinations. Our budget is 250 euro per night and we want a hotel, not an Air BNB or apartment , and two rooms (two adults and two teens). Very central locations near the Seine are not in our budget. We’d like our hotel to have some character and style.

Found what looks like a very pretty hotel in our price range right next to metro stop Pernety (line 12) in Montparnasse. Excellent reviews. I don’t know that area very well but from what I can tell it looks fine.

We are also considering hotels on the 13 and 20th - found a very affordable hotel in the 13 that’s not as charming as the one we found in the 14.

Thoughts?? Does it really matter? What we like about the Montparnasse hotel is its proximity to the metro.

Hello!

We will be in Paris the last week of August. I just got Fodors 2026 and one of their recommendations was Hotel La Manufacture in the 13e, near the Quartier Latin. I was able to book a family room for an incredible price. It’s by the Place D’Italie and near the Piscine Josephine Baker, which we were hoping to visit. It seems like we could walk to Notre Dame from the area but it’s also well connected by metro.

Originally we had booked a hotel in the 20e which seemed like a nice neighborhood-y vibe but it seems like the 13e might be closer to central Paris. I’d also be saving about 200 euros.

Anything I’m missing?

Hello!

We are a family of four who will be visiting Paris in late August. We will be arriving by train on Thursday to the Gare du Lyon and departing from
CDG on Sunday.

Currently we are looking at two hotels for three nights.

Originally we booked Hotel PiaPia in the 20th. It’s near the Bois de Vincennes and Metro Line 1. Rue de Maraichers. Total is 766 euros. I like that we are getting two connected room and it’s near Line 1. Reviews are good.

I was browsing around and came across a similar deal (two connecting rooms) in the 19th at hotel Atlas. Brand new hotel with excellent reviews. You get breakfast included. Near Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Metro line 2. Rue de Atlas. Total with tax is 860 Euros.

What does the sub think? Our goal is to wander around. My partner and kids do not like planned itineraries. I heard eastern Paris has a nice, neighborhood feel.

Update- found a third choice. La Manufacture at 8 rue Phillips de champagne on the 13e near Place D’Italie. Family room is 570 euros for three nights. Seems more centrally located. Not as new. There’s got to be a catch! But it was highly rated in Fodors Paris 2026?

Hi all. I’m a Luddite with an old old phone. An iPhone 12 mini that I love but that it’s on its last leg. Is it true I can probably get a new phone for free? I bought my phone from Apple. I’ve been under contract with Verizon since 2006. I’ve been reading that they might give me a new phone if I agree to stay three more years. We have four lines on our contract; the other three all have new phones that we got by adding lines.

Currently play about $150/ mo for unlimited for all four lines.

Work in a toxic place with a horrible CEO but thought my first line boss always had my back.

Had a meeting on a project I’m working on with some people who resist giving me the info I need to do the project.

My boss seemed to side with them as they cut me off when I tried to talk. One of the people said nasty, passive aggressive things to me. Instead of supporting me, my boss contradicted me in public. At one point I turned to my computer and I cried while I was in the meeting. No one saw me cry - because the way the place was set up it looked like I was just typing. We are working on documents.

At one point the guy, who is the CEO’s buddy, told said something that was flat out wrong but affected the scope of what we were doing. I gently tried to correct him. He doubled down. I gave him the benefit of the doubt but it affected my confidence. I gave up and just did what they told me.

Went back to my office and found the document that showed that guy was flat out wrong and I was correct.

I don’t care about the guy, but I was really disappointed in my boss. What happened to praise in public, criticize in private. She also told them the project was “low stakes.” That was insulting. The guy said he would only do work like mine if he got paid 4x what we make.

I can’t leave my job right now but I cried all the way home and I’m crying now. I cant believe my boss would treat me that way.

How do I show my boss that I’m angry professionally? Grey rock? Younger me would’ve spoke my mind. Older me knows that’s not the way.

In area Asian markets.

Struck out at H Mart in Cambridge and Reliable in Somerville

Just saw something I’d love to try but they won’t waive final sale. For an item that comes in xxs xs s etc but the model is wearing sz 2. So I can’t even guess what size she’s wearing.

Saved me $100

But rooting for minny!!!!

Gobert and Conley. Rando coach. Tortured fan base. Never tanked.

My year pass expires in June. Last Christmas the studio offered four month and eight months deals that were better than my yearly pass so I don’t want to do yearly again.

In March I bought a four month pass that was the same as my yearly rate. I’m going in vacation at the end of the summer so I decided to start my new pass in September

I’m trying to figure out what to do for the summer. I love F45 but don’t want to pay the monthly rate. Class pass is outrageous.

I’m wondering to ask the studio to give me my old monthly rate for June July and August. Has anyone tried anything like that with their studio?

Hopefully this isn’t a basic question.

I’m looking to buy train tickets from Annecy to Paris on Aug 27 for two adults and two teens (12 and 15). This will be our only long distance train trip in France. I am looking at 268 euros nonstop, inOUI.

Am I correct that there are no discounts for teens unless we buy a discount card? The carte advantage seems not useful since we are taking just one trip and our kids are over 12. It looks like the French don’t give a discount to teens? Or maybe because it’s the inOUI?

It looks like I can get a refund up to 7 days in advance.