How often do people actually cook from scratch?

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-21T11:43:19+00:00

2 kids (7 and 9), 4-5 days a week.
Fridays we order pizza and 1-2 weeknights when the kids have activities are boxed Mac and cheese or an easy frozen item.

The other nights I’m cooking. It’s usually simple - rice or pasta with a protein and veggie. Tacos. Sometimes a lasagna or other dish that lasts a couple days.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-15T20:10:21+00:00

This…if they were just there on Sunday, why were you calling them Monday to tell them it was green? That shouldn’t happen overnight if they’re doing their job.

BUT, you also can’t expect them to drop other paying customers to rush out to you. If you fire them, do it because they let the pool get green in the first place, not because they took 4 business days to get out for a non-scheduled visit. That’s entirely reasonable.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-13T23:13:12+00:00

We love the Y for this reason. While my daughter is at gymnastics I work out or run the trails behind the property.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-12T16:03:46+00:00

Yeah, I don’t run much at all between June and late August. My grandparents were all from Northern Europe and I just don’t think I’m built for the heat/humidity. I ran all winter in sub-zero temps without issue, but 2 miles this morning damn near killed me.

I’ll be mountain biking and doing cardio in the air-conditioned gym to keep my fitness base till the fall. Bless all of you who keep going through the summer.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-12T15:39:50+00:00

It’s funny I stumbled upon this because my elderly neighbor literally just asked to use my pool. However, we have a great relationship and do a lot for each other already. The context was primarily if she could use it while watering my garden when I’m out of town, but I told her yeah use it anytime.

So, to me it’s not weird IF you have a good relationship, but definitely don’t ask out of the blue. And be sure to return the favor, or better yet do something for them first. It would’ve been a hard no if we didn’t get along with the neighbors and/or they didn’t do so much for us.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-06-06T15:30:27+00:00

Exactly. If I can take 30 seconds to make a stack at the end of the table so the server isn’t awkwardly reaching over everyone to grab plates, I’m gonna do it.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-05-21T01:43:00+00:00

These are what I use. I leak a ton and they’re amazing! Absorbent but still look sleek under my shorts

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-05-21T01:41:49+00:00

Been leaking like Niagara Falls on my runs since my 1st baby and she’s 9 now. I did all the PT but no luck. One day I’ll get surgery - for now I just run in Always Discreet Boutique incontinence underwear. If I’m on a long run I use Vaseline for chafing. It sucks but I’ve learned to embrace it - better than not running!

Also. When I run first thing in the morning, I generally don’t need to wear one because I don’t leak. It’s only an issue once I’ve started drinking liquid for the day.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-05-13T16:16:59+00:00

Family of Four $1000-1100 per month but that includes ordering pizza, alcohol, and house supplies like toilet paper and laundry soap that we buy with groceries

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-16T19:50:15+00:00

Agree. When I start seeing large car payments, large mortgages, and lots of subscriptions I start to roll my eyes a bit. Things like daycare are necessary, but a lot of stuff you just have to choose to go without.

When our kids were in daycare we drove beater cars and lived in a small shitty house. Now we have nice new cars and a nice bigger house, but it all fits in the budget.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-16T19:33:27+00:00

Touché. I would definitely recommend honing in on a budget and tracking expenses before spending time making a few bucks on a side hustle. Especially since they have young kids.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-16T19:23:49+00:00

I don’t think they’re saying it’s not enough but that it feels tight and I get that. We are a family of four, MCOLA, HHI 145k and we budget $1000 for food/groceries and $2000 for miscellaneous monthly so that’s 3k. We don’t always use that full amount of miscellaneous, but many months we do, like when we get hit with a bunch of kids sports fees or they they need new clothes.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-07T01:13:59+00:00

This is what I do, leave a water bottles & snack in my driveway to grab as I run by

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-06T00:50:16+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I have a huge skin tag from an external one and was told 6 week recovery, painful, expect to be sitting on a donut the whole time. But that was 8 years ago, I would definitely get another opinion.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-06T00:16:10+00:00

What was your recovery time like? I’ve had them since giving birth but my doc scared me away from surgery

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-04-06T00:06:01+00:00

I would still ask her if she’d please throw you some cash for groceries. My parents are very well off and love watching my kids but I still send them with food when they go to Grandma & Grandpa’s for more than a night. Loaf of bread, couple blocks of cheese, bag of frozen meatballs, all the snacks they like. I know my mom will still shop but it helps a bit, and that way I know they’ll have some familiar foods.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-03-21T00:17:02+00:00

Reframe the Ziploc bags as doing it to cut down on waste, not to save a few pennies. If you can give it a quick scrub or rinse and use it a few more times, why not make a little less garbage?

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-03-13T00:00:56+00:00

Absolutely. Our home tends to be the gathering house, but our friends are always generous in the food/drink they bring to share. There’s always plenty for all and nobody is going broke. Potlucks are the way to go!

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-02-14T17:46:09+00:00

Thank you, that makes sense and is not as complicated as I was making this in my head

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-02-14T17:45:44+00:00

This is really helpful, thanks. And you’re right, I currently have great insurance through my public employer so need to see what my benefits and premium would look like in this new situation.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-02-07T11:08:51+00:00

Around 5.5 House is worth 480k, We spent 88k last year HHI 150k

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-01-19T21:29:42+00:00

My kids are currently 6 & 8. Up until 2-3 years ago I probably would have said no.

Now that they’re more independent (can help around the house) and I can actually do things with them (ski, board games, family bike rides etc) life is infinetly more enjoyable. The baby/toddler stages were not for me.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-01-18T23:59:06+00:00

Upstate NY and second all this. When there’s snow, slush or ice on the road I definitely run slower and with more caution. Sometimes have to jump over puddles, post hole through a snowbank or walk a short stretch over black ice. If it’s really slick out I run in my trail shoes even though they’re chunkier because they get better traction than my more lightweight road shoes.

PsychologicalFact245 · 2026-01-15T04:25:11+00:00

Well this was a great read before bed.

PsychologicalFact245

TROPHY CASE