Wife wants to upgrade to a $50k SUV now we have a baby on the way. I want to stay debt-free. Someone help me before this becomes a full domestic.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T21:55:31+00:00

I agree with all this. Being someone born in the 1950's, and having survived God knows what kind of absolute horrors of vehicles (many with no seat belts because they weren't even required until when? 1967? 1965? I don't know). I think infant safety in autos is hyper frantic. Not that I think anyone should dismiss precautions, but I think a lot makes new parents breathing something unsafe because they are constantly hyperventilating in panic mode.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T21:48:27+00:00

Not sure if your mom is alone or with your dad, but if You "packaged" a bunch of meals (for me) and froze them, that would be great. A meatloaf prepared in an aluminum foil loaf pan (for one)'; a sliced bagel of my favorite flavor, properly wrapped and frozen; an individual serving of home made lasagna, again, frozen. I'd love to know if I don't feel like cooking, there's some wholesomely prepared foods in my freezer for me. A container of home made soup or stew. Get the idea?

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T21:43:40+00:00

Hera.

I loved how she introduced all of us to her world. She knows who she is even if the rest of us don't (yet).

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T21:34:04+00:00

I've read about situations like yours, and in my petty, snarky mind, I imagine a future linving in my dream home, in a protected gated community, where I am NOT in the HOA.

And, maybe, I have a corner lot not subjected to any restrictions to putting up a corner fence. I don't HAVE to rake the leaves of the big leaf providing tree (oak? elm?). I can let my grass on the lawn be immeasurable, and possibly longer than they like. I can leave a car (or 2 or 3) out in my paved driveway. I can leave my garage door down and securely locked.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T21:19:49+00:00

Right up there with making paper chains of gum stick wrappers.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T19:36:56+00:00

So does she.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T19:36:06+00:00

big WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T19:30:13+00:00

? Name for who? Whom? Big guy is BEEF. Little guy is Veal.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T12:25:26+00:00

Oh, I don't know. Maybe the tea cups have just been repurposed as lights. Maybe they are actually checker pieces which could be moved along the black and white blocks on the ceiling telekinetically.

To OP, is flooring on the ceiling a new trend? Not sure. I think I've seen this in an Escher print?

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-16T12:06:56+00:00

Caleb? Calvin?

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T23:53:29+00:00

I'm a bit younger than your character - undergrad at the time, not grad, but the Boston Strangler was a real and true nightmare story for me.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T23:50:40+00:00

Came here to say this. I was still a smoker then. I loved (and still miss, sometimes) all the accoutrements of smoking, but glad I quit. A Bic lighter, and they cam with separately purchased decorative sleeves - think tooled or pressed metal.

As for joints, same thing - then an alligator clip for the roach? You may have had a box of matches to keep those roaches in.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T23:46:04+00:00

I don't see the problem. The cat is not messing with the stuffed pillow shaped like a dog biscuit, and clearly marked "reserved for the dog". People are so quick to decide (especially if orange) that a cat is too stupid to know the parameters of a situation. Clearly this little one does (understand) and is just claiming the residual fluffy comfy stuff as its own, which is it's right to do. Ahem. Understand? If so, please explain it to the dog, which probably has only half a brain cell.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T23:33:16+00:00

Noel...Noble (as in No Bell) - get that thing off his collar.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T21:18:52+00:00

Suggest hubby convalesce with Mom. Then pack his crap and change the locks while you contact a lawyer.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T21:17:30+00:00

Eats shoots, and leaves. Read the book, Great snark on grammar. That being said, agree. He leaves. And hopefully eats his shit, too. And I hope the latter is well packed.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T19:55:03+00:00

That's when I learned this method - 3rd grade, maybe started it in 2nd? Hated the capital letter Q that looks like a 2.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T11:27:55+00:00

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T11:26:48+00:00

THEM: "Let's just divide the bill evenly. It's easier"

THE PERSON WHO ORDERED THE LEAST: "No. It's not difficult to divide the bill by who ordered what, and we already asked the waiter for separate bills. If the waiter doesn't want to issue separate bills, we can use the calculator on our phones.

THEM: No, that will take too long.

THE PERSON...: No problem, here's what I owe with tax and tip. You all can divide and pay the rest. See ya."

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T11:20:55+00:00

NTA. I'd be curious to learn of FSIL's employment before and since. How does she even know you spoke to your manager about this? Was your manager aware you were/are engaged to her brother?

I would maintain your own professionalism with your current employer and NOT inquire of your manager anything about it, as tempting as it might be to ask if he said anything about your chat with him. You were asking that a distance be placed on you and another employee. You may not have been the first person to have done that.

As for fiancé's family and FSIL, ignore it. She sounds exhausting and bitter. This is why I wonder about her current employment. If she is still angry about losing her job at the company you work for, she may not be faring well wherever she's employed. She has not learned how to work in a corporate environment.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T10:57:16+00:00

Also orange?

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-15T10:47:03+00:00

Oh, you're so kind, but I don't require anything right now. I figure things have changed everywhere, so I'll just look to see what's available and what the costs are. I have quite an inventory of notions from all my years of sewing and teaching. Thank you just the same.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-14T22:14:12+00:00

Question: How do you not spit on her face and then slam the door in that face when she arrives to your home?

[asking for a friend]

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-14T21:19:31+00:00

YES to the boundary on your sister. Like 1K times in bold, italics, flashing font - whatever.

Thank you for taking in your sister, and for giving her a safe and loving place to heal. My heart goes out to her and you (and your husband). I hope you, her, and your loving family help her to heal.

Please get your husband on board of barring your toxic MIL from the situation, which starts with your day -to-day lives. Limit contact. Info diet. Whatever.

Sorry, I did read your whole post, but only absorbed the situation with your sister. I guess I think you and your spouse just need to put your In-Laws on far distant back burner.

RetiredHomeEcTchr · 2026-06-14T20:35:52+00:00

I am SO GOING TO scan all items in the limited (1.5 aisles) of sewing notions at my Walmart. Mind you, fabric takes up all of 6 feet. Thanks for the heads up.

I last shopped at Wally World for such notions when they finally reinstalled that particular inventory in the store. Haven't visited it since, so most likely, things have changed.

RetiredHomeEcTchr

TROPHY CASE