If you sell a house and don't buy another one, don't you have to pay something like capitals gains tax? How would that be smart? I drive a beater! It is worth about $250 with a full tank of gas. If I spend too much time driving it, I end up with ferocious back spasms, and then end up paying either a chiropractor or massage therapist. The hour commute deserves a comfortable car if you can manage the cost, and time spent in pain and doctors fees are also a cost! We recently had to do a HELOC to do some major bathroom repairs. (No mortgage, under $5K other debt) If we had spent $50 ten years ago, it wouldn't have needed $500 five years ago (which we put off) and then turned into $5,000. The bathroom was close to non-functional and creating water damage. It was way beyond our abilities to DIY. Saving up for these repairs would have taken YEARS and we likely would have tripled the cost due to continuing damage. Since we might sell within a few years, we opted for the "middle of the cheapest" fixtures... not the high end, but not the Walmart cheapest. It looks nice, and I'm confident we'll get back what we paid for the repairs. I mentioned our car... while I fully understand the wisdom of not having a car loan and I understand the loss of value "as soon as you drive it off the lot" I think of a car as a tool, not an investment. I mean, FOOD loses its value as soon as we take a bite, but we still need to eat, even knowing how our food money will end up literally being flushed down the toilet LOL! So back to cars: If a paid-for beater causes actual pain to its driver and passengers, and needs an average of $200/month in repairs- varying from $50 to $500. You can't plan for those, it you CAN plan on a $200 payment (dare I say lease?) on a car that is unlikely to need a $500 repair on top of the monthly payment. And bonus! You have a car that doesn't spend 1/8 days/month at the mechanics, leaving you stuck with no car. (Yes, I've done the math and checked our records for the averages :( ) and my DH also has a 1hr commute, via toll roads, so for me to drive him when we have one car would take four hours out of my day, cost $15 total in tolls, about $15 in gas, cause the kids to quit or lose their jobs since I can't get them there if I'm driving for four hours when they need the car... and NOBODY is giving us their "hoopty" with the flapping vinyl top (does he still use that story?) to drive until we save up for a car. You can't save money for a car if you've already cut everything out and are spending grocery money on major repairs! Ahem... sorry for the rant. Scarlett, I feel your pain. I'm on your side. Log out of that forum!

Call every dang day and ask about cancellations EVERY DANG DAY There are many things I dislike about the hospitals/providers on our current insurance plan, but they DO have a limited number of same-day appointments reserved, even for specialists. But you have to call as soon as the office opens... I hope she can be seen soon!

Oh my gosh, ADORABLE! Violet is a sweet name, but I LOVE Genevieve. If we had a fourth girl it would like have been Genevieve.

I was 47 when SweetChild quit a MASSIVELY involved group at the beginning of her senior year. Of the "friends" of mine, really only one I'm still in touch with, another I'm glad to see when we do but he's a single dad and so don't make plans to get together- his child also quit the organization. Others I (mostly) enjoy a chat with if I run into them somewhere, but I don't miss them. Her friends, she is still very close with one, occasionally in contact with a few others outside of another group they were all involved in, and the vast majority of the rest- she does not miss, but has a nice time if she's out and runs into them. And this organization was literally our life for four years. It had more to do with no longer being a good fit, or a positive experience, or worth the commitment, not just because I got old, LOL! Dang it, when she could finally drive herself to all of the 3-4 weekly events she quit. No regrets. The few true worthwhile friends are still friends, and it's actually more fun to get together just for fun and just us rather than in bits and scraps around the group events. Somehow, people magically stepped up to do all of the work that DH, DD, & I did, and the group continued on...

Welcome to PA! In general, the school districts don't have accurate information about homeschooling, and would be the last place I'd look for information. Continuing homeschoolers file by Aug 1 annually, but first-time homeschoolers would file when you begin, so you have a bit of time to get your paperwork together. Remember, affidavit only asks for age, not grade of the child. School district receives your paperwork, they do not "approve" anything. You also do not need to provide copies of your diploma or degrees Affidavit https://phea.net/the-pa-home-education-affidavit/ Objectives https://phea.net/pa-home-education-objectives/ In the spring (before June 30) https://phea.net/pa-home-education-portfolios/ https://phea.net/pa-home-education-evaluations/ Grades 3/5/8 https://phea.net/the-pa-home-education-testing-requirements/ The law: https://phea.net/pahomeeducationlaw/ It looks overwhelming, but it's more of an annoyance than a hindrance. Know the law and get information from several sources. Many people make it more complicated than it is...

Agreeing 1million%

SweetChild is starting school in September. She is only interested in doing makeup and skin care, and so is not going for her full cosmetologist license. Also not wanting to do a twomyear or four year degree. VoTech in high school would not have been paid for anyway... plus it would have been the full program, taking three years going part-time on the school district's schedule, which might barely have been worth it but doesn't matter for us now either. Going full time, it is a 10-week program to complete the required 300 hours, then there is the licensure exam. She'll be finished before Christmas. She will then start a 2-semester, 18 credit entrepreneurship certificate program at the community college. She's good... she has been stopped at Ulta and asked who did her makeup and what palettes she's wearing. She has done Prom and stage makeup for friends, including the lead (Beauty) for a neighboring school district. It soothes her, and makes her happy, the same as doing art and painting. Her MUA Instagram got over 100 followers in three days. My career advice (I've had my cosmetology license for 30 years) is to take business classes! At the very least, personal finance. I have watched some of the most talented people go broke because they didn't have the business skills. Aim to work or open a salon in neighborhoods that can support expensive services, as business will be more steady. She can always travel to other locations for various services. Make friends with photographers to do makeup for Seniors and weddings. Show a lot of variety in your portfolio- older ladies, little girls (think flower girls/wedding parties) and men! Oh, the transformation of waxing that half-inch connecting a unibrow! A specific esthetician program is going to give better training in those areas. Many cosmetologists do makeup or nails, but what little training we got in our general program was basically just how to pass that portion of the state board exam. Good? It can have very flexible hours. It's awesome to make money doing what you love. You often get to see people at their happiest moments- senior portraits, weddings, proms. Bad? Some clients are jerks, pervs, or weirdos. Most often work on commission, which means no appointments = no money. You need to be available at times people typically need the services- Holidays, weekends, summers. Some salon owners are either uneducated or shady in their business practices, most common for me was insisting I was an independent contractor (so they could save on taxes) but expecting me to behave like an employee (so they got a free receptionist etc.). Know the laws!

One of mine had a boyfriend at 13, he was about six months older. About 95% of their time together was at our house- eating, watching movies, playing video games. We have a small 1-floor ranch style house, finished basement. The area at the bottom of the steps had a couch, tv, video games. It is visible from the kitchen, no door. There wasn't always room for everyone in the upstairs living room, especially if another sister had friends/BF over at the same time. So because the basement couch is visible from the kitchen, they were allowed to hang out there too, knowing at anytime there could be a small parade through to the garage, laundry room, storage area ;) The boyfriend at 13 was very different from the sisters boyfriend at 16. honestly, two 13yos playing video games is so much less nerve-wracking than two 17yos driving an hour away to a picnic/swimming area that has no cell service

Peelu, Auromere, Weleda are brands I've seen in my local health food store that have mint-free toothpastes. Trader Joe's has a fennel/propolis/myrrh toothpaste that might have mint but the fennel is very strong so I'm not sure... don't have it right now or I'd check.

My girls are all adult-sized now, so they just have current season clothes in their rooms, and off-season things in 18gallon Rubbermaid totes in the basement. Bulky winter things and boots have separate bins, since those items are mostly shared When they were younger (I have all girls) I had current size/season in their rooms, and then, in labeled 18gallon Rubbermaid totes in the basement: Diamond NEXT (for clothes to grow into) Diamond WINTER/SUMMER (Whichever wasn't in her room at the time) Diamond OUTGROWN (5yr gap to next child, too much for single bin) SweetChild NEXT (what will likely fit her soon) SweetChild WINTER/SUMMER BabyBaby NEXT (only a 2-yr gap, not worth an extra OUTGROWN bin, esp since SweetChild was rough on clothes LOL) BabyBaby WINTER/SUMMER SHOES - all sizes and seasons, since they rarely wore the same shoe sizes as sisters did at a particular clothing size COATS and other winter gear, usually hats/scarves/gloves got their own tote This prevented the problem of sorting by size... there was a year when Diamond had the following jeans sizes in several brands that all fit her perfectly: girls 12, 14, 14+, 16, Juniors 00, 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, Misses 2, 4. And there was a pair of 8s she couldn't get over her flat butt O.o

Ahhhhh the story of my life! We also do not have a microwave. It is helpful to have two or more crockpots, especially the smaller sized ones. Cost ranges from $8-$20 https://www.target.com/p/proctor-silex-1-5-qt-slow-cooker/-/A-12982549?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Appliances+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Appliances&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=t&location=9006108&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5vixkMbD1QIVBYezCh0yxQ_nEAQYBiABEgIqOPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Small crockpots are nice for keeping just one person's food warm, or separate side dishes, such as mashed potatoes. Also, plan at least one day of a cold dinner, such as green salad with chicken tenders or other cold meat. I don't know how old your kids are, but two of mine drive themselves and will often "call ahead" to request their meal be heated up so they can eat when they get home. That's important when it takes 20mins to heat up in the oven and they don't finish work until 10pm and need to eat. LOL and if the rest of us gobbled up all the food I can warn them to pick something up :D Anyway, for ideas, common meals here are: Mac n cheese Tacos or enchiladas Pizza- preferred way for leftovers is cold/room temp Salads with cheese and meat, usually chicken "Picky Platter" cheese cubes, pepperoni, raw veggies, crackers, popcorn, olives Chicken with some kind of sauce, and either rice or mashed potatoes Sandwiches

No idea where to buy them, but I remember them being used on shower curtain rods to cover the ugly metal and/or match the decor colors

My former neighbor was like this. Husband and wife both worked full time, three kids. One day I was in her kitchen after dinner, and I saw her throw half a pan of lasagna away... I asked if it was burnt or what was wrong with it, she said her husband won't eat leftovers. GOOD GAWSH LASAGNA IS BETTER THE SECOND AND THIRD DAYS! Leftovers are a way of life in my house. Either intentional extras cooked, or just typical random leftovers for lunches or snacks. We really can't afford to throw food away. I guess if my husband/family refused to eat leftovers I'd at least cook smaller quantities of food, like the neighbor should just make half pans of lasagna.

I'm not sure if you're asking about charging for a pet you already agreed to watch, or for future/other pets. If it's this current situation, I wouldn't suddenly ask for money, but I would expect to be reimbursed for any additional expenses My girls pet sit a schnauzer in our home, and generally get $20/day If they had to travel to take care of the dog in its home, minimum $30/day for one trip and an hour of walking/play, more if it was 30+mins travel, or several trips or a longer stay.

I skimmed the article, and agree with much of it... BUT... For the most part, kids can only do things with other kids if other kids are available. In the 80s, I could literally walk out my front door and there would be a dozen kids play kickball. The curb in front of my house was first base. 15 years ago when Diamond was about age 7, there was not a child to be found for blocks... and we live in the same house I grew up in! So the only way for sports and interaction was traveling to organized teams or dance classes. So now, if BabyBaby (15) were to go to the roller rink, we'd have to travel back in time because they've all been torn down. The mall has a youth policy that during certain hours anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by someone 21+ close by. There are no video game arcades. Places where kids should be able to just hangout actively discourage teens from doing so. So unless every kid simultaneously gives up theirn phone AND free/cheap/accessible places to hang out magically appear, then what can they (realistically) do? And I don't know for certain that smart phones have ruined my kids. One especially, the one with a wider circle of aquaintences, is often GLAD to not be a part of things when she's seems them posting about dumb stuff they do, rather than unhappy to not be included. I don't know what the answer is, or if it can be fixed. I think there are some great things about the phones, and some unfortunate things. It has made it easier for me to say "yes" to many activities and adventures because we can stay in touch. I was raised my a master worrier, and fear would often prevent me from permitting many harmless activities.

I would get them, and I would pay whatever I had to to be sure they were "good" in terms of fit and focus... which is a big deal to me because we have very little "extra" money. DD's vision is actually pretty good, but she needs her glasses. Technically, she doesn't need them to drive, but she always wears them (or contacts). Without the glasses, her eyes get tired from struggling to focus. She also has prescription reading glasses, and when she doesn't wear them, her eyes hurt.

No access to fresh potatoes. Also, no clue as to the difference between scraping and peeling? I use a paring knife to peel potatoes, and I remove at least 1mm of skin/potato. I peel because scrubbing with a brush and non-toxic soap takes forever, splatters mud all over me and my kitchen, and never really feels clean. So I peel, rinse, and cook.

Doesn't matter who the "boss" is at anyone's house... you are still the parent("boss") of your own children. Are all of the ADULTS required to do the exact same thing together all of the time, too? Like do the men and women all cook and clean up together? Does every adult have to play cards or watch golf onnTV? If one has a beer, do you all have to have a beer? If one is gluten-free, is everyone forbidden from eating cake? If one adult wants to eat a steak, do they make the vegan eat a steak? I have a fun tip that might stop the forced-inclusion in its tracks. Let's take the example of pool dragons or whatever the game was... the older kids are having a great time. Looks like fun, little kid wants to join so his mom throws a fit that he has to be included. "For the safety of the little kid" make it required that that child's own actual parent be responsible for actively helping her child participate. Like the "arms reach" rule many public pools have for non-swimmers? Mom can't chat in her lounge chair and hope an older sibling will help him swim. She has to GET OFF HER BUTT, get her butt wet, and help her own child her own self. I'd bet actual money that the minute parents have to actively help their child be included, they'll come up with new rules and ways to keep their children entertained that don't require so much of their time and attention. NOT saying the parents of the younger kids are uninvolved or uncaring... just that they are likely unaware of the legitimate needs and desires of the older children. Especially when it changes and "slightly older little kids" turn into "older big kids" And also, be proactive... ask your older kids what would be fun to do with little kids for a limited time, and what they would really enjoy doing with the bigger kids only for a time, and what might be a super-enticing activity for little kids to do while big kids are doing big kid stuff. Have some ideas ready to go so it has a good chance of being well received as a fun plan, rather than "mean selfish big kids wanting to exclude little kids"

I am the oldest of six cousins on one side, don't know the cousins on the other. DH is the youngest of 9 on one side, and maybe 20 on the other. Our three girls are the only grandchildren on both sides, so no cousins or current experience for them. In my small group, my same-age cousin was either visiting alone, or not present with the youngers, so I either had a same-age cousin to fight with (were BFFs now) or ended up babysitting the babies. Zero fun for me. DH mostly played by himself, the oldest were way older, many grown and married while he was in elementary school. Lumping cousins together due to their place in the family tree would have made zero sense. For me, "no exclusions" would mean that anyone who is interested AND CAPABLE of playing gets to play. So if the older kids want to go for a bike ride, but the 2yo can't ride a bike, he can't go. It isn't fair to "exclude" the older kids from an activity they are interested in because some of the cousins can't or don't want to do it. What if a group of the cousins wants to sit and giggle and polish their toenails and put on glittery makeup and braid their hair? Would you make everyone do that activity or forbid it? What would happen if, for example, the group went to a zoo as a fun trip. My local zoo has a kids playground area. It is designed for preschool and very young elementary ages, with older kids either not allowed or discouraged from playing (long time ago for me, can't remember) so... would the big kids be forced to stand around and watch the littlest, or would the littles not be allowed to use the playground? Why? That rule probably made more sense when the oldest kids were younger and the others were babies or not born yet. But older kids should have opportunities for age-appropriate activities. When the oldest stop attending due to work or school or hatred/loss of interest... then the younger kids will be doing the activities the older kids wanted to do when they were thatbage but couldn't because there were stil youngers around. So the older kids get stuck in a time warp where they are perpetual little kids based in that they're allowed to do. (Sorry, I hope that made sense... no coffee yet today!) I do believe that for some things it should be all-ages, such as movies suited to the youngest, BUT oldest children should be allowed to opt out if they really cannot deal with a baby movie.

You have just described about 75 of my possessions and 99% of my clutter problems! My favorite is a China cabinet. It was "too good for Goodwill" but not good enough for anyone else to take it. It wouldn't be so funny if the same people insisting we take is china cabinet had actually given us china for wedding gifts instead of towels. ;) Seriously, though- I do display stuff in it, and always take Prom pictures in front of it, and the relatives like to see that on Facebook.

Ryka. They have a wider front and regular heel, they only make shoes for women. Order from the Ryka website, QVC, and I've even seen them in DSW and Famous Footwear. Sign up for emails and you'll get $10 off your first $50 order. http://www.ryka.com/en-US/Content/AboutUs.aspx They are the only sneakers I can wear. They last pretty well. I have no problem buying $0.99 clothes at the thrift store, but I can't go cheap or used with shoes, neither can my girls. LOL most of the time their shoes cost more than their entire outfit combined. (and that's just with $25-$50 shoes, no expensive designers for us)

This is the most awesome thing I have read in a very long time! Story of my life, walking on surprise eggs.

I would not be hesitant to send my child knowing the suggested cost, especially if you add the note suggested above by Farrar. I'd would feel horrible if I found out later that none of the expenses were covered and the leaders were not paid AND losing money by paying for things themself. Knowing what I could pay, and that other people were paying as they are able, would be fine with me to participate and contribute at whatever level I was able.

I generally don't grade every bit of work, just tests and major writing assignments. We've always done things differently than how they might experience things I college, for several reasons: They might not go to college Every college, or class in the same college, does things a little differently (some count attendance, some don't care, for example) High school isn't college. <--- That is my biggest reason. To prepare them for college means, to me, to learn the necessary material in high school. If "college style" of "Take the test, get the grade you get, move on" is all i do but they haven't mastered the material, what have they gained? Let them take the time to learn what they need to learn as long as possible. Of course have discussions about how in many college classes they won't have so many extra chances or time or support, but let high school be high school, and let homeschool be what your student needs.

DH uses this. He probably needs something more, because running out of minutes sneaks up in him sometimes Ahh yes, we couldn't use 2G stuff here anymore