I’ve read over 50 books since the start of the year. I only buy a book after I’ve read it 2-3 times. How? Sign up at your local library! (And keep signing up wherever you can get proof of residence; I’ve managed to collect 4 library cards.) And then find whatever system they have for borrowing e-books (mine work well with Libby). I’ve found that I almost never lack for books. A kindle or e-reader could be a good investment to limit screen time; you can download library e books onto them auite often.

Browsing the physical library is more fun than browsing online for books. Just pick the covers you like, check if the summary sounds fun, and give it a shot. Never feel guilty if you don’t read a book you checked out or put a hold on. Sometimes it just doesn’t sound as good two days later.

This happened in 2023… So a year ago now. This is what happens when California gets a wet year.

“a protest against Dutch subsidies and tax breaks to companies linked to fossil fuel industries”

We can do all the activities you mention with a much lower impact. And fighting climate change allows many farmers in developing countries to actually survive. (Think of the problems with cocoa harvests failing or with Mongolian herders losing herds three years in a row instead of once a decade.)

Yes. It’s always a good question to ask yourself:

Would you rather be effective or be right?

Thanks. I’ve been very angry out of a feeling of complete helplessness. I’m reading a book about data bias in relation to gender (invisible women) and it’s hitting a lot of sore points that come up being in an office that’s 10% female… There’s four of us.

Hehehehehe sounds like satire as you point this out to how often the opposite happens

Hey! I’m part of a trend!

Keeping it under 10-12k total. Biggest splurges so far are 1.5k custom tailored three piece suit and 1.6k for photographer to cover the entire day without hour limits. Food will be about half the total cost.

But grocery store flowers, digital invites, thrifted dress, basic rings, picnic area ceremony and restaurant rehearsal. No DJ. No alcohol. No florist.

1. A house is not an asset if it’s the one place you can live cost-free in retirement.
2. We all pay into the system with our taxes - including someone who earned enough to afford a home. Why should anyone not benefit from the taxes they paid?
3. Anyone can be sick and in long-term care as they age, including ourselves. As we age, we may not be able to keep working. Those costs add up fast in our healthcare system. And we don’t get to make those choices up front for ourselves or our families. The bills come months if not years later. No one says what you owe until it’s too late. Why should anyone pay a cost they weren’t told would be coming?

I can’t argue that the way the US provides many services based off wealth is fair - I believe we should have a universal system that we all benefit from. Why should someone making less than me get better services than me because my job offers worse insurance than they get? We should all benefit.

But, if the choice is that no one benefits or that of our current system. I’ll choose our current system. Because I don’t know if I’ll be the one on the other side 40 years from now.

Wait really?? That makes so much more sense 🤣

I’m dying now because that’s literally what I thought when my extended family says it.

What part of California?

Not quite an idiom but term of endearment: petit chou in French is little cabbage but is often used for young kids…

Sorry for the formatting

1. Do you expect her to ever pay you back? Does it impact your friendship? If she’s been unable to pay you back previously, then I would be careful about including the amount she owes you in your budget. It might be best to simply let it go or let it be a happy surprise if she does ever pay you back.

2a. If this is a lease - by my understanding, you don’t own the car in any way and never will. It’s simply a monthly payment on its own and at the end of the lease you return the car? So I would just set a monthly category. 2b. If you mean it’s a loan and eventually you’ll own the car, then I would create a loan category and find out the terms (interest, minimum payment, ability/consequences to pay off early) and do exactly what you are thinking.

3. For the portion she owes you, I’d simply create yet another category if you do want to track it.

Final bit of wisdom, friends/family and owing money is never a great way to keep a relationship healthy. Most people with the ability to pay a loan back have many options to go to banks and credit unions. If they’re asking friends/family, I would expect either they’re struggling financially (not to discount circumstances where they are unable to interact with the financial system… Language, age, citizenship, etc.). Don’t loan money - just gift it. If you aren’t comfortable with that set boundaries and say no. You deserve better.

Agreed.

Proposals should never be a surprise in any case!

I’m sorry for the hate :( It sounds like you’re feeding her the proper diet and I appreciate the info. (And taking her to the vet and keeping her inside which is so much more than most of the people I’ve encountered know how to do!!) My bun refuses to come inside even when it’s hot out. I have to chase her off the balcony every few hours to cool down.

Nom nom! I love baguettes more anyway!

Yay, welcome! I’m looking forward to many more photos 😁

Oh my God! I know what the bunny toy budget is going to get spent on this month!!!

She doesn’t! She just flops out there until I make her come back in.

It was a very structured community with a lot of acronyms and rather intimidating.