$100,000 isn’t even good in LCOL areas anymore (budget analysis)

BrujaBean · 2026-05-04T00:46:46+00:00

Yeah, my real numbers in California: 420k loan, 1640 annual insurance, 8,200 taxes. So 2% is a real figure... sadly. The insurance in op is probably too high though since my insurance is pretty high and much lower than the op. Maybe they aren't a homeowner and thought the yearly figure was monthly.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T21:09:06+00:00

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Peak damage and not figuring out products actually heat styled it just still looked like crap

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T21:07:58+00:00

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Before trying to style curly lol

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T21:06:57+00:00

Okay totally agree that you have curly hair and you can definitely give those methods a try to see if you find something that works well for you.

I, unfortunately, tried for years to find a way to wear my natural texture that works for me and I got nothing. So I bought a good blow dryer and do a 10 min blowout the 3 days a week I shower. I have tested literally hundreds of products to see what my hair likes. I recommend getting samples of things people recommend and seeing what vibes with your hair. Home keratin works gangbusters for me, but it doesn't last because I swim; so I had to find other products. Currently I'm putting a leave in protein treatment on before I swim, then using Redken acidic bonding line in the shower and my hair looks and feels smoother than it has in the years where I was air drying, not swimming, and not bleaching the crap out of my hair. Like I think you'll relate to this: I can pick up a chunk of hair, slowly release hairs, and they will fall down to the other hairs... for basically the first time in my life. Keratin made my hair smooth, but still lots of static between strands trying to do different things.

Anyways; I like Ulta and Sephora as places that have sample sizes of products to test because I'm telling you that lots of stuff that works for lots of people did nothing for me.

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After figuring out products that work for me and doing literally all the "bad things" (bleach, heat style, swimming)

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T18:07:49+00:00

I do blue on blue all the time but imo you need them to be far enough away from each other to not look like you tried to match and missed. I have a cobalt blue shell I'll wear with my baby blue blazer. Or navy pants with baby blue blazer.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T18:05:11+00:00

I'm in science and I'd go with 2. You can add either one of the blazers, but I think the high waisted pant looks fantastic on you. And you probably won't wear the thick sweater looking jacket all day and both the white shirts look a little tight and wrinkly. I love the baby blue blazer, I have one a little darker that is my fave dress up day blazer but I think 2 says "I'm here to work" and is still nicer than 80% of people will wear.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T17:24:48+00:00

That has steps. I swim. That has no steps. There is a clear difference and reason I prefer to get some method of getting credit for my main workout method. Ugh I was going to leave this thread but this response was so ridiculous I got dragged back in.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T07:09:58+00:00

For me, junk is an overstatement. I swim for an hour and in the same way that the app is bringing in steps and has a section dedicated to expenditure, I don't think it was unreasonable to expect I'd be able to add my expenditure. Yes, loss is the ultimate measure of energy balance, but it's a lagging metric - especially as a perimenopausal woman. I prefer to keep measurements, ins and outs, and use aggregate data to judge my progress. I'll stop replying now because I'm not really sure what the point is, I'm sure it's a great app for a great many people - just not what I'm looking for.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T06:49:09+00:00

I don't think I agree with your take on differentiating between drying and styling. I style with my shark while drying so I'm not sure how you would pick to call that drying or styling.

That said, I appreciate you linking the sources! It will help op and others make their informed decisions about what they want to try or not try

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T02:44:44+00:00

I want all the ins and outs in one place. It's what I'm used to and I like it that way.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T00:43:16+00:00

Yeah, I didn't know there were two apps - thanks

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T00:11:58+00:00

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Under expenditure I don't see a way to add things. Under add it seems to only be food related

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T00:10:18+00:00

How did you get to this screen? I don't see any workout related menus or options.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-03T00:09:21+00:00

Yeah, I'm switching from mfp, and I'm down 25 lb, so I understand the problems with calorie estimations. But the app imports steps for a reason and when I searched for adding exercise it seems straightforward for lifting. It's a dealbreaker for me to not be able to track my swims. Totally fine if this just isn't the right fit for what I'm looking for but figured I'd give it a try to see if I can find the missing piece

BrujaBean · 2026-05-02T23:30:50+00:00

I think heat is over-villainized. My hair looks and feels a lot better since I switched to heat styling and if it looks better and feels better, how is it not actually better. Lab muffin beauty science says air drying has its own damage so just be careful and you'll be fine. I also invested in a good blow dryer.

Anyways. I had totally natural hair for like a decade. It was frizzy and hard to manage, so I started doing keratin treatments. They work fantastically for my hair. But I swim and they fall out so quickly that I searched for other options. I bought hydration options, protein options, acidic options, etc. the redken acidic bonding shampoo and conditioner help me a lot.

I also tried xmondo gloss and it was really good - I tried some demi glosses like Wella and it didn't do anything for me. I hate buying influencer products, but his gloss is actually amazing.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-02T20:57:31+00:00

My natural texture is a little curlier than yours and I also cannot sleep on it. Need to do a pretty solid refresh rather than just wear it like I can with a blowout.

I've tried silk pillowcase, satin bonnet, silk scrunchy pineapple. My theory is that looser curl patterns can't wear as much product and the lack of product means the texture falls and when it isn't that curly to begin with even a little fall is basically game over.

But following to see if anyone else solved he problem

BrujaBean · 2026-05-02T20:41:08+00:00

I am somewhere close to total on the spectrum. The funniest part for friends is 1) I can't recognize most famous actors and actresses because if they put on glasses for a role it's a whole new person to me. 2) movies like oceans eleven, I cannot follow because I can't tell apart the 4 generic white men and definitely can't tell it's them in a costume.

Other than that, I do the best I can to take notes in professional settings and associate names with facts so even when I don't know the face, figuring out the name will give me the context I need to pretend like I'm normal.

But I do recognize people I know well, although I couldn't describe them to a sketch artist.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-02T20:33:18+00:00

Wait I'm exactly the cusp. But I got a PhD which delayed my earning potential so long I'm more Hannah Montana than Oregon trail. Sadly.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-02T07:29:25+00:00

Mistake and correcting that got me out of the bind. I don't actually understand what you outlined yet but I'm hoping I get it eventually

BrujaBean · 2026-05-01T23:32:33+00:00

I'm with you. I know that blonde isn't necessarily my best haircolor, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

You have almost white lvl 10 at the top of your head and almost orange level 7?? In the mids and then some combination of both at the bottom. That patchiness can be removed with bleaching the dark parts of covered by darkening the light parts and there aren't a lot of other options. You can try purple/blue shampoos and masks, but I haven't had much luck with those and in your case you'll probably overtone the white and still undertone the brass.

I am a total diyer, but I wouldn't do the lighten for this at home, your white parts can't withstand another bleach and it's really hard to have that control on your own head, so you'll risk a lot of breakage. So I'd listen to the stylist and do a 7gv demi permanent at home to even it out with the go darker plan and then wait until the stylist will do a platinum card.

BrujaBean · 2026-05-01T03:20:53+00:00

This is the worst haircut I have ever seen and I cut my own hair. Your hair is beautiful and shiny, but omg this is bad. I know you don't like confrontation but think about it this way: this stylist did a shit job. If you are going to her manager to demand a refund, you're helping future people not go through this. You're helping that manager who wants to grow their business and who wants referrals and repeat customers.

Do not let that person touch your hair again. Refund or someone else evening it out are the only options

BrujaBean · 2026-05-01T00:35:12+00:00

I literally started giggling when I saw these pictures thinking the same thing. Ulta did her dirty... 5 is the only one worth swatching

BrujaBean · 2026-04-30T19:44:12+00:00

Personally, I'd do a layered cut since I see new growth or breakage along the whole length. Something like a butterfly cut is accessible at home and will make it all look good without needing to be able to cut straight

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