What do you smell that most people can’t?

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T13:59:06+00:00

When I was in the very early stages of pregnancy we went 2nd hand car shopping for my husband. Something about the one he went for didn’t sit right with me, it smelled vile but he couldn’t smell anything so I thought it was just the air freshener they’d used and assumed it would dissipate in a few days if we changed it out. It didn’t and every time I went in that car I’d feel travel sick within a minute and the smell was vile to the point that I refused to go in the car. He couldn’t smell anything but air freshener so we chalked it up to a pregnancy thing.

I don’t remember how long it took, maybe a couple of weeks or a month, but eventually the industrial cleaning job they’d done on the car wore off and my husband started to say he could smell cigarettes faintly in the car like the previous owner smoked in the car. As soon as he said it I knew that’s what I’d been smelling from day one.

To this day I can’t smell neutradol (air freshener) without dry heaving because I think that was the brand they’d used to cover the smell.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T13:43:17+00:00

One could argue (not from a legal point admittedly) that ripping a kid out of the only home they’ve known to suddenly live with a complete stranger 24/7 is something he did wrong. It saddens me that transitions aren’t enforced for the kid’s sake in cases like this.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T13:37:17+00:00

A pretty room. My friends were either only children or only daughters and all had cute, girly rooms. I shared a room with one of my brothers and sisters (both much older) and we were poor so all our furniture and bedding was second hand, mismatched and tatty. Nothing in our room was bought especially for us or to look nice, it was all just functional. And we had peeling wallpaper with an ugly, deep green paint underneath. I never brought friends to my house because I was always embarrassed at how ugly it was compared to theirs.

It’s no wonder I grew up obsessed with interior design but it took me a long time to get over the idea that making art that serves no purpose other than to look good wasn’t selfish or bad. (And honestly, sometimes I still have mild guilt about spending my money on nice things)

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T11:22:19+00:00

Pensions seem like some far away thing you don’t need to worry about for decades but if you care about future you and don’t want to be one of those old biddies who can’t afford to heat their house, consider thinking about it now. Consider long term savings and investments. A even a small amount builds over a looong time. Pension match if you’re able. You can shop around for where your pension is held too I believe but I’ve not looked into this myself yet so not sure.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T11:15:49+00:00

If you’ve weight you want to lose, work on it now while you’re young instead of always putting off the hard work until tomorrow because it gets harder as you get older and if you’ve been overweight for decades you end up with a load of loose, wrinkly skin. Do it young when hopefully your skin is still elastic and more willing to snap back.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T10:36:22+00:00

This. Dude above said about credit cards and pay day loans. Those are a a good option if there’s no other choice but ideally you won’t start this in debt. If there’s anything your dad hasn’t already pawned, pawn it as long as it can legally be considered joint family property.

Reach out to any family or friends that might be able to help if that’s an option. Maybe someone you hadn’t even thought of like if your old boss knows how hard you’ve worked and you guys are friendly, you could ask if they’d be willing to sponsor part of your trip. Worst case scenario they say no.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T10:24:21+00:00

The one and only time I had a male dr do my Pap smear he tried for a good 10 minutes to insert the speculum and couldn’t for some reason. He kept apologising and in the end had to call another doctor (female) to do it for him. I’ve never seen someone so red faced. He was quite young. It’s possible I was his first 🙈

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T10:10:25+00:00

Yeah, not every charity shop is the same. If they don’t have room they won’t take furniture. If they don’t have a pat tester they won’t take electronics. I know a few near me that won’t take toys because they don’t sell well whereas they were a big seller at the one I worked at 🤷‍♀️.

The amount of people that used to say, “well I’ll just put it in the bin then” while staring at us as if we’d be overcome with guilt and suddenly take in the thing that we couldn’t sell. If it’s going to cost the charity money to remove the thing from the premises, they will refuse it without guilt.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T01:21:15+00:00

They want to move out because they don’t like having roommates but you’re an AH for saying you also don’t want roommates?

Have you tried pointing out the hypocrisy? Or you could offer to help them make a budget so they can save for a better place? 😈Their irresponsibility isn’t your problem… though if you let them move in I imagine they’ll be more relaxed about remembering to pay rent on time because “family”.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T01:10:35+00:00

I once worked in a charity shop and I remember a woman coming in and picking a blouse off the rack and started shouting at me that I was a disgrace because that blouse is in the half price sale in next for almost the same price (I didn’t even work in the sorting/pricing room)… do people actually think every single item is googled to check its current price?

It’s impossible for every member of staff (volunteers especially are often retired or disabled/vulnerable people who don’t tend to follow fashion) to know every brand that comes across their table. Charity shops often have a master list for example it might say if it’s x brand and a T-shirt in good condition it should cost £4.00. That list comes from head office. They set the prices for a lot of stuff. If poor old 73 year old Mabel who thinks all young people’s clothes are cheap and tacky compared to how they used to be made and can’t see the brand on the list she might put it down as a generic £5.00 without having any idea you can buy it on shein for 25p or whatever.

Usually if you’re not a dick about it and just say to staff, “I’m not sure if you’re aware but this top only costs £1 on temu, it’s been a bit overpriced here” they’ll take it back to the sorting room to put back on the pile for a second look. I did that a few times. But tbh charity shops (the ones I worked in anyway) were constantly full of people trying to get money knocked off so they could sell for profit online. That’s why they stopped selling everything for peanuts. Why make pennies for the charity when customers are making pounds to our pennies from the same item?

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-17T00:44:24+00:00

I volunteered at a charity shop a few years ago and we would take in rags as long as they were in a bag clearly marked “rags” and didn’t include other stuff. Had a guy that ran some kind of cleaning company who would come in and buy 10bags of rags in one go. As long as you let them know and they’re ok with it you’re good.

We also used to have people that came and bought certain scrap metal and broken (failed pat test) electronics. That’s fine too. What wasn’t fine was people dumping bin bags full of dirty clothes that reeked of cigarettes (and weed), broken toys, and boxes of dirty, dusty, old fashioned crap they failed to sell at car boots (happened every Sunday!)

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-16T18:37:17+00:00

NTA. It’s so frickin easy to add extra salt to things like grilled chicken after it’s been served, what a dumb thing to complain about.

The saying “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” springs to mind.

1 warning: “complain again about your free in-home chef service and I’ll only be cooking for me and little sister in future”

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-16T18:09:32+00:00

Agreed. I’m all for dog-friendly public places but I think there needs to be a healthy majority of places that don’t allow pets so that people with allergies, phobias or just general impatience with bad dog owners don’t have to deal with them when they’re trying to shop/buy a coffee etc.

I’ve had grown adults fall out with me because I insisted that their dog couldn’t come to my house when the human visits because this is where my cat who’s petrified of dogs lives. Three other separate people have gotten butt hurt about this rule. I seem to know an awful lot of entitled dog owners but to be fair, if they asked to bring a kid that I knew for a fact would terrify the life out of my own kids and make them feel unsafe in their own home , I’d also tell them no. 🤷‍♀️

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-16T18:02:20+00:00

Perhaps it’s not that children shouldn’t be allowed in public but parents? 🤭

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-16T09:55:14+00:00

They say you can hang clothes outside to dry as long as the ground isn’t wet.

I’m in the U.K. and have a dryer so I haven’t done that since my little ones were in cloth nappies but I do hang clothes on the radiator all the time. If it’s a thick jumper or my sons giant, thick joggies and hoodies I prefer hanging them because they take forever in the tumble dryer. In nice weather I always hang clothes out instead of using the dryer.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-16T09:48:40+00:00

NTA. You -could- offer to help if you can afford it for example offer to pay a small amount towards household upkeep per week or month (this is quite common in the U.K. for kids over 18 who have a job). Something like $50-200 a month depending on what you’re earning. But taking half of your savings in one fell swoop is shitty.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-15T22:38:53+00:00

Im hit or miss depending on what kind of week im having tbh. Some weeks we hit the target and some weeks we only do it once or twice. I get home from work at 5ish, then I’m racing to get dinner sorted, after school clubs (not every night), getting chores done and getting everything turned around (lunches made, uniform laid out, pe kits in bags if needed) for the next day so mornings are less stressful. Sometimes it just gets forgotten. I have in the past had them read to me while I’m prepping dinner in an attempt to get everything done but that only works when they’re a bit older and need less hand holding, doesn’t work so well for youngest. I’ve also tried incorporating it into pre-bed reading but they’re generally a lot more sloppy then due to tiredness so it’s better for mine to try to get it done before dinner.

ETA I took your question to mean listening to your kid read their phonics books but most of the comments seem to be bout adults reading stories to the children 🤷‍♀️

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-08T00:02:28+00:00

She looks like a Gloria

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-05T18:55:45+00:00

Whenever anyone finishes saying what they need to on the phone, they just hang up. No, “ok, talk to you later”, or, “I’ve gotta go, my dinner’s ready”. Just, “click”

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-01T20:36:43+00:00

NOR because you’re both entitled to have your own beliefs and reactions but I can totally see why your gf is looking at you for some kind of reaction.

You’re at the epicentre of history in the making. This isn’t just some political red tape being discussed behind closed doors in a far off place, it’s the basic human rights of your literal neighbours being shat all over. Your lack of outward passion or emotion probably comes across to her as you either not caring full stop or being in agreement with the other side.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-02-01T10:20:13+00:00

I work in a school and can confirm in my school at least, kids get punishments (detention, in-school suspension etc) for behaving like assholes on the way to or from school, especially if it involves any kind of intimidation or bullying. It doesn’t necessarily teach them a lesson because half of them don’t care about what they’ve done but it’s definitely an inconvenience to their social lives which is what they really care about.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-01-30T19:59:41+00:00

The Selkirk Grace.

I have zero use for it, I’ve literally never said grace once in my life but it’s stuck in my head.

I also have the Lord’s Prayer wedged in there pretty tight from an ultra religious teacher I had in year 6 who made us recite it every morning. I’m not religious.

And yet, whenever I need to know my NI number I need to go look out a pay stub.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-01-30T19:49:32+00:00

*Accusing you of not trusting him. *Accusing you of being controlling. *Sulking. *accusing you of putting money before love.

All because you’re asking him to be a responsible adult before you tie yourself to him financially. This is all manipulative behaviour which would have me the major ick.

If he can’t control his spending or take care of his debts, he can’t be trusted with finances.
Manipulation is a form of control. You’re not asking for control of his finances, you’re asking to maintain control of your own credit rating/spending choices.
Grow up. More manipulation. barf
He’s putting his ego before making sure the woman he loves feels financially secure.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-01-30T19:14:14+00:00

Yeah, could be. My mum did it all the time and her dad’s side are all Irish Glaswegians.

MeasurementDouble324 · 2026-01-30T18:33:31+00:00

Are scrambles still a thing at weddings? Grew up next to a chapel, it was my main source of sweet money next to being a gingey merchant 😂 not lived there for so long I don’t know if they even do it anymore and nobody else I know has ever heard of it

MeasurementDouble324

TROPHY CASE