I'm glad to know M&M bribery is magical past the potty training stage. I swear I tried everything to potty train my dc, but when I finally gave in to M&M bribery it was easy peasy. I will have to remember this when we have tough attitude days.

I hear Duolingo is just as good, but not sure if they offer those languages.

I'd like to derail a moment and ask what insurance company doesn't raise rates after a claim and/or multiple claims that OP and another poster mentioned? We use a large company with a good reputation. We had our rates raised for one roof claim. On top of that, everybody's rates went up because there were so many claims after one storm a few years ago. 2 of my neighbors had different policies that got cancelled after 2 claims (different companies). I'd like to know about this secret company that doesn't operate that way......

Thanks, I was not sure. ETA: With that, I understand that the OP's neighbor wasn't responsible for the 1/2 that fell on the garage if it was otherwise a stable tree before the storm, but the neighbor was (as I suspected) obligated to remove the 1/2 of the damaged part of the tree that needed held up by the rope since it was obviously unstable after the storm. If the neighbor wasn't proactive to remove it, then if the other half fell on the neighbor's house, the neighbor or his insurance company would be responsible to pay for the 2nd claim, right? That would mean, the neighbor's cost to remove the tree saved a possible deductible payment and higher insurance costs due to a likely claim by being responsible before the remaining part of the tree caused more damage to OPs house.

Also, I am not sure if it was your neighbor's tree that fell on your garage, is it clear that a claim needs to be made on your insurance coverage or your neighbor's? I thought if something on my property caused damage to another's property that I would be responsible. Insurance experts, please weigh in. I remember as a child an awning piece flying off our porch covering and got stuck into a tree during a bad wind storm. My parents were outside during the storm frantically trying to get it down before it flew and hit the neighbor's car. My parents did not have homeowner's insurance *gasp* and were afraid they would have to pay damage to the car in the neighbor's drive if the awning piece flew into the neighbor's yard.

It is still not your financial responsibility. It is kind to want to help, but it isn't common for neighbors to hand over $500 (if you are thinking of paying 1/2) to another neighbor because their tree was about to fall no matter whose house it fell on. If you help out, it should be as a 100% GIFT to your neighbor, not as something you feel responsible to do because of the situation. If I have a neighbor who is having a hardship, I will likely help with money or time if able, but out of generosity not out of a sense of obligation. Paying anything is very generous and there is nothing wrong with doing so, as long as you know and they know you are doing so out of the goodness of your heart, not because the gift has anything to do with you feeling responsible for your house being built in the path where the tree might fall. Frankly, I don't and likely will never have $500 to give friendly neighbors for their lawn maintenance upkeep responsibilities. It is sad they they don't have $1000 to spare, but if 1/2 the tree fell on their house instead of yours they still would have been in the same boat with needing to remove the standing portion of the tree. Even if your house wasn't In the picture. BTW: the insurance agent was rude to tell you what insurance should have covered for your neighbor and say a different story when he found out he was that neighbor's agent. Example to try to put it in perspective: if you were parked at a redlight and someone hit you from behind, would you offer to pay 1/2 their insurance deductible just because your car happened to be stopped in their path and they did not have money to cover it? If so, that is fine and kind hearted, but it is clear that you would not be responsible to pay anything.

I would not pay over market rate (KBB or NADA, whatever the insurance companies use). If you total the car the day after you buy it, the insurance company isn't going to give you $5K over market rate because it is a desirable vehicle. ETA: also, highway miles vs. in city driving makes a huge difference in the wear and tear if you are just going by mileage alone. And never trust the dealer's story on previous owner. I've heard some good ones, and it is always to make me feel emotionally secure about the purchase. A reputable mechanic check is what I trust before I trust the story behind what a dealer says about a previous owner.

My son found out about Santa about 9 and told his younger sister a few days later, We were glad when it was over. My son didn't understand that the shoeboxes that are sent out by Operation Christmas Child was the ONLY present the kids in poorer countries receive. He heartbrokenly asked why wouldn't they receive the same type gifts Santa sent him. My son not understanding why all kids weren't spoiled by Santa like him was a good chance to bring it out. He was slightly disappointed, but got over it quickly. My younger one didn't care either way. One thing we did was tell them the story of St. Nicolas shortly after, that he was a giving man helping people. I did like being the Tooth Fairy. They both quickly realized the tooth fairy was made up after my daughter lost her next tooth. Then she demanded her teeth back (which I didn't save)! We still play Santa and the Tooth Fairy for fun even though they know it is pretend. My daughter still hasn't figured out how I *know* which day her tooth will come out since she gets a packet of Orbit gum for each lost tooth and I don't leave the house to buy a pack on the day the tooth falls out. She STILL doesn't realize I have a stash of different flavored packages of Orbit gum hidden away in my husband's underwear drawer (somewhere I know the kids will ever look for hidden treasures.). One time she lost a tooth when we were away at camp and I had to bum a pack of Trident from someone. Last tooth she lost, she left her dad and I the sweetest note under her pillow with the tooth thanking us for the tooth fairy gift.

Actually I read your other post and started the lessons 2 days ago. I learned a lot from the little I've listened to so far. Thank you for sharing.

Edited: sorry my post was too long and I had time to go back and delete. My short answer to the novel I posted before is...I would look for a job if and when the furnace needed replaced or another incident that would cause more debt. If I worked, my 1st choice in your situation would be to keep 2-3 kids who could take the school bus to and from your house for before or after school care. That would keep me in the home and the kids would have instant playmates. My 2nd choice would be a Saturday job.

Go to the library?

I'm not an AoPs user, but I have looked at it closely. I would see if she can easily ace the pre test without any help. The website states that the student should be able to complete this independently before starting that level. ETA: I considered this for my strong math student (5th grader), but he needed too much help from me to work through the pre test problems. I will consider it for his 6th grade year only if the pre test is a breeze for him. I think 7th-8th grade is more standard/common for pre algebra (emphasizing that there are lots of variances among students-like said above, there is no normal). My son thrives on math problems and I am 99% sure he will enter a math based carrier field. My younger child will likely not reach pre-algebra stage until around 8th grade unless she suddenly transforms into a math geek.

Peppermint oil sachets in the bathroom can be used to dissolve odors. Homemade hand scrub with aloe gel, coarse salt, and unscented baby oil is nice. Do you want non spa ideas that are useful as well? If so, read on. Lavender or cedar wood sachets are good for closets or drawers. One year I made wool yarn balls for clothes dryer use. I gave everyone 3 each in a basket with other practical things. Everyone raved about them, even a year or two after I gifted them. I am thinking about making more for those same people this year. The static clean benefit lasted only a few months for the ones I kept, but 3 years later I still use the same ones in the dryer. They still help with wrinkles and drying time.

A theory only.....I think she is needing cash quickly, thought about any desperate way to get cash, remembered she paid for something she never received 3 years ago, and thinks out of the goodness of your heart you will refund the money since she never received the item. She probably wasn't an expecting, "come get it by x date if you still want it" after 3 years..she was expecting "I sold it to someone else and forgot to refund your money" response. The "come pick it" response shocked her. So she waited thinking surely by now you would have donated so thought if she contacted you again you might say "I donated it now, but since you never received it will give you the money back." You not offering to refund the money has threw her plan for loop. She really wants her money back, but knows she will get flack if she asks for it. Just a theory. Another theory, she is crazy.

Many kids around here spend their entire summer going to camps instead of regular daycare. I am not against my children getting these treat foods for a week at grandma's and a week at camp here and there. I am even all for a Friday night pizza night or Saturday afternoon hot dog grill here and there. But I feel for the kids who go from camp to camp all summer and only get hot dogs, nuggets, pizzas, burgers, fries, chips, and punch for lunch all the time. Growing up, I lived on hot pockets, pizza bite rolls, grilled cheese, Jack-in-the-box tacos, and kool aid in the summer. I am alive to tell about, but am certain itwasn't good for my health. ETA: forgot to add in potted meat or Bologna on wonder white bread as a regular in my childhood summer mealtime rotation.

I keep cut up chicken or shredded pork, black beans, and shredded cheese in the fridge for tortilla wraps or nachos. I also keep baby carrots, rice cakes, fresh fruit, sliced cucumbers, lettuce or spinach (the kind that is pre washed and ready to eat), grape tomatoes, cheese sticks, nuts, PB, and smoothie ingredients stocked. If we don't have leftovers from the previous night's dinner, lunch can usually be made quickly with these things. Once every couple weeks, lunch is a hot dog or pizza on our Costco shopping trip.

Give it to me? .....Or used as a sweetener for just about anything works. Specifically oatmeal, yogurt, mixed in cereal, homemade granola, or cookies.

The day camp my son did once had chicken nuggets, pizza, burgers, and the like each of the 5 days. Along with an overpriced snack bar with Gatorade, soda, candy, and chips. A sports camp

Khan Academy videos might fit the bill.

I am so jealous of those of you who were taught alternate number base systems. Trying to explain this clearly is tough, but here's a shot: When 1st researching it, I was confused on why the conversions from base 10 to another number base were seemingly randomly figured by using one higher power of the new base number in the columns from right to left. It took a bit for my brain to catch on that in our base 10 system (from right to left) the one's column is 10 to the 0 power, the 10s column is 10 to the 1st power, the hundreds column is 10 to the 2nd power, and so on. So, duh, in a base 5 numeric system the ones place would be 5 to the 0 power, the tens place would change from 10 to 5 to the 1st power, the hundreds place would change to 5 to the 2nd power, and so on. I made close to 30 on my math ACT eons ago and I have never fully understood place value in this way until today! All As in math my entire life. I showed this to my 10 yo earlier tonight just because I thought he would find it interesting. After demonstrating the concept on paper and showing him a couple videos, he asked to work some problems right then. It was well past his bedtime so I said not now, but it would come up in his math lessons soon. Then he asked if I could please let him do some base conversions for his math assignment tomorrow.

I came across this last night reading ahead in my child's math curriculum. I had no idea what the lesson was talking about. I have since watched several videos and looked at several websites. I finally understand it. However, I don't remember learning this in school. I have a vague memory of being briefly told about binary numbers, possibly in a bare bones high school computer programming class. I was an honors student and took math through trig in high school. I went to a lower performing public school in a mid sized city. My major didn't require math beyond college algebra. My husband did not learn this in small town, USA public school in a different state. His college math was mostly geometry based. He 1st heard about base 10 conversion when I got stumped on it last night. Is this taught in regular public schools? Did my husband and I just sleep through class that day? Did we school in the dark ages? I plan to teach it to my children because I find it fascinating and it is in the lessons, but is it necessary to be taught? If it is taught regularly in school, when is it taught. One video I watched that explained the concept so well was made by a middle school math teacher. Besides computer programming, when is it necessary to convert a number from base 10 to something like base 7 or base 14? There's this whole new concept of hexadecimal numbers I just learned about. I feel cheated out of a full math education! If you know all about this, when did you learn it? When have you used it IRL? When I teach my kids about it, what can I tell them about why they need to know how to do these conversions beyond "because mom thinks it is neat!"?

Changing my entire answer because I reread OP and don't see where the lady is asking for them free, just that she liked the low price advertised. I would have just apologized for leaving the ad up (I would have probably forgotten if there was no response for a while) and that they are no longer for sale. Since you already told her you are keeping them, I would just apologize. If you want to offer the one for sale at original or discounted price that is a duplicate that is up to you. I would be hesitant to give them away to a stranger who gives a sad money story because there is no way of knowing if it is true. I would give to someone IRL that I knew truly needed the materials or just because. I received many things for free, but I never asked for them. I have given away free curriculum books, but no one has ever asked me for free books.

I would just take all of February off the school calendar and not worry about making up the days. Especially for elementary aged. The February blues are real in the homeschool and public school world for many kids who follow a typical school schedule. I've seen firsthand that kids in school just drag through February. High School would be an exception since it takes the full school year to go through a credit's worth of material.

I have to pay medicines OOP and save about $20/month at Costco for one prescription. That alone is more than twice as much savings as the membership cost, Walmart is the next cheapest on this med. Eyeglasses, also paid OOP, were cheaper at Costco than Walmart for the same lens type. Gas is usually 5-10cents cheaper/gallon, but that is only worth it if I am there anyway when I get gas. There is one on our side of town, but if there wasn't the gas savings wouldn't be enough to matter. I also saved about $50-$100 with a rebate on a set of 4 tires at Costco compared to other area places with tire rebates at the time. However, I think you have to keep the membership long term to keep the free rotation, balance and road service that came with the tires. I get the 2% back membership. I get back around $80 on the Costco Plus membership/year. I think the annual plus membership is around $110. I can only spend that "cash back" in the store, so it isn't exactly like cash back unless one is going to buy stuff there anyway. At Christmas, we save $5-$10 on area attractions coupons that cost more if you pay at the door. We only buy these if it is something we would do regardless of the coupon. My main grocery savings compared to area stores are 1 lb packages of organic spinach or lettuce, bananas, rotesserie chickens for $5 that are decent sizes, whole pineapple, 10lb package of organic carrots, organic eggs, Udi's bread, and coconut oil. These are things that cost a lot more at area grocery stores. Aldi's works great for smaller portions of similar things. I noticed name brand things like coke, cereal, and pre-prepared things do not usually offer as much savings compared to sales or coupons at regular grocery stores. Diapers and wipes were considerably cheaper at Costco way back when I had 2 children in diapers at once. Not sure if it is still a savings. If Costco wasn't nearby and I didn't have to pay meds or glasses OOP, the savings may be not worth the membership fee.

I just circle the dates we do school on a one page July-December calendar and another January-June calendar worksheet the umbrella school provides. I have to submit this 2x/year. I started out writing down each thing we did in each subject for each day of school. I QUICKLY dropped that. Now I just write out the resources we are using at the 1st of the year (this gets turned into the umbrella school), write a start date for each thing, do the next lesson or chapter that comes up in those resources each day we do that subject, and write in the complete date when it is completed. This helps me not to fret or have to change any dates up if we unexpectedly miss lessons here and there. I also keep a list of books read. I may write the start date and the completion date on this list in the rare event I am in somewhat of a type A personality mode, lol. Usually, I just write down the book title and author after it is read. I turn this list into the umbrella school at the end of the year with my attendance and grade reports. At this stage, I just estimate grades (A for great work, B for satisfactory work, and I haven't had to do a C or D yet.) When they reach 7th grade I plan to come up with an accurate grading system. For my kids' reference, I have a chart posted on their wall with a loose structure of the school days' expectations. It has 1. Chores. (with an assignment for each day of the week) 2. Independent work (with indents that say handwriting, reading lesson, math worksheet, spelling lesson, etc...) 3. Group work (with indents that say things like history, science, poetry, art, read aloud, etc...) 4. or 5. Practice piano or one on one lessons with mom (they rotate the order) 6.writing assignment My oldest also has a sheet that says what book to read for reading time each day of the week (Mondays-Bible, Tuesdays-a biography, Wednesday-a lit book, etc....). He just looks at it and reads where he left off. I assign about 20 minutes to this if I think he won't know where to stop.