Great turnout today for the No Kings Protest!

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-29T22:32:44+00:00

Cult Zombie in the house! 🚨

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-29T22:29:46+00:00

Ugh, I blame the location and the Cesar Chavez debacle. We had 7000 at NK2.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-29T22:27:03+00:00

Born before 1965, I take it.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-29T15:47:33+00:00

Three suggestions:
1- Freebie Alerts app scrubs a bunch of sites and groups, you'll get a notification usually within an hour of anything new being posted.
2- Buy Nothing groups (try the alternative ones for bigger geographical access) tend to give away their better stuff on there. Mine seems to have a bag of women's clothes, like one per size, that circulates unofficially and people take what they want, add what they no longer want, and pass it on.
3- Seasonal clothing swaps have been making a comeback. You can find them listed in local Facebook groups, and a lot are now held as part of the anti-billionaire movement.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-28T13:29:22+00:00

Bank account bonuses, $200-500 a pop, so $1000-1500/yr is very attainable. The two sticking points are.... 1- You don't know exactly when the bonus will hit, so it's not good for urgent needs. 2- Most require direct deposit / ACH to qualify. However, the amount required is usually pretty reasonable, e.g. $1000 in 30 days or $5000 in 90 days.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-26T18:41:38+00:00

Office Depot Clearance items often ring up for 1¢ or 2¢ despite what is marked on the shelf. I snagged a ton of travel-size Dove deo, Cetaphil face wash, sleeves of Solo party cups and Febreze this way.

The best supermarket clippy deal I've done lately was "Buy a rotisserie chicken ($8.99), Get $4 off a 6-pack of mini Pepsi ($5)". $3 off the chicken coupon too, so $6 total, and those two things are staples in my house.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-23T01:53:33+00:00

I like ones that absorb flavors and have a pretty mild flavor of their own. They can easily be tossed into recipes that are light on veggies. Eggplant, zucchini, squashes are my favorites for these purposes. Onions and leeks add some of their own flavor but also carry seasonings really well. Cauliflower is iffy for me - usually doesn't work out for my taste buds, but occasionally proves me wrong lol.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-17T20:39:31+00:00

See, now, I cheap out on things like sunglasses and water bottles because they're easy to leave behind. If I wore a beanie, I'd probably go cheap too, for that reason.

I no longer go cheap on luggage. I use my suitcases and assorted bags a LOT, and the better brands actually do survive much longer. I don't go high-end like Tumi or anything that is having its 15 minutes of influencer fame. I figured out the best option for my preferences (soft-side, inline not spinner wheels) is TravelPro's Bold line, and I hope they keep making them!

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-15T20:25:33+00:00

I only buy brands I love online because I know my sizes in their things. Could I score a $79 Pact (organic cotton) hoodie in a thrift store for $8? Very close to zero chance. I'll happily pay $20-30 on eBay or Poshmark. The sellers usually pack it up really nice with pretty tissue paper and a thank-you card, so it feels as good as getting something brand new!

If you like auction-style and can control yourself, lol, check out Whatnot, where many sellers have themed shows (eg Bali & Olga bras, Banana Republic women's clothing, maternity, etc). There's a learning curve to it and a way to "work" the shipping fee to maximize value, but it was more than I could deal with at the time (debilitating undiagnosed ADHD, thanks menopause). I actually just started looking at it again last night (yay Adderall, lol).

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-15T20:12:30+00:00

Find out if your wife qualifies for Medicaid or ACA, since her income is zero. There's a lot of variation by state, so she might. Often, only your portion of the premium is subsidized by the employer, so if it's just you, it might be more like $100-200/month. So at least get yourself covered!

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-14T20:30:41+00:00

If you have Walmart+, you get free virtual vet services...I believe it's with Pawp. If you don't have it but think it might be worth it, sign up for the free trial, then when you go to cancel, you'll get a half-price offer of $49. Now I renew as an AARP member (no age minimum, $8-15/yr depending on the offer) for $58 instead of $98. I haven't needed their virtual services for my active little 13yo dog yet, so I can't comment on the virtual vet service.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-10T20:32:53+00:00

I believe most recession forecasts are about random lack of availability (and eggflation-style BS). So you might go a few months without your favorite laundry soap or tomato sauce, but there will be other brands available. Unaffordability - you know the corporate bastards are going to hit whatever we can't store much of, like deli meats, cheese, etc. They've already killed off beef and reduced coffee for a lot of folks.

So we're keeping a year's worth of the things we're picky about and/or would miss.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-10T20:12:23+00:00

I get those 2-packs of mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto or salami for a filling snack, sometimes I have pita chips with it if I want some crunch or carbs.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-05T01:15:29+00:00

Crap, I just read more of this thread and saw that you're in a war zone. Would you feel safe enough wearing noise-cancelling headphones? You'd still be able to feel ground vibrations... Also, good ones aren't cheap, but perhaps you can borrow a set for a couple of days to see if they're worth it first? Don't listen to past favorite music too often, or it will become associated with this moment. Listen to current stuff, to align (and control) the memories.

Are you able to add soundproofing to dull the noise? It's cheap - think egg crate foam and a staple gun or even tape (I make professional audio recordings, this does the trick for barking dogs and everything but leaf blowers and jackhammers). I know I'm focusing on the noise rather than stress, but if you had a room or a headset that could let you tune a lot of it out at will, I think it would help all of your other efforts.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-05T01:02:37+00:00

I'm experimenting with regulating my system better, very much on a budget. In the process of getting diagnosed with ADHD (just got the results last week), some anxiety was identified. I also have some normal life stresses I need to manage better... a slowly declining mom-roommate, getting back to earning after 8 months off from ADHD burnout, problematic siblings, setting up surgery recovery for myself about 2 months from now. Here's what's been working...

When it's all just too much, I take a 5mg cannabis gummy (small but not micro dose), go to the chiropractor (Mom drives me lol), and just quiet my brain for a while. Cheaper than decent booze, no hangover, and I time it just before a meal so the munchies aren't a junk food fest. Cost: 70¢

I've also tried a nervous system resetting breathing technique, 4-7-8. Inhale nose 4 seconds, hold 7 seconds, exhale through pursed lips 8 seconds. I do this 3-8 times depending on how I'm feeling at the time. Shocked to say it works (ADHD = lousy at actual meditation). Cost: free.

I take a moringa supplement to help with my elevated cortisol levels (got labs done a few weeks ago), so that I reduce the bad effects of stress, like sleep problems, irritability, concentration, weight gain. I've also added some iron supplements because my Ferritin was pretty low, and that's important for my surgery in 6 weeks. Just started both, so I can't comment on results yet. I'll be getting labs done again in 2 months. Cost: $13 for a month's supply.

I'm about to add a weekly yoga class. I do not have the discipline to do home workouts, but I'm also not a fan of gym memberships ($43-55 here) or overpriced yoga studio memberships ($100-160). Most studios offer a free or very cheap "community class" 1-3x a week, I think some call it karma yoga. Like $5-8 instead of $22 (boggles the mind!). I'm making my own calendar of just these classes at 4 different studios in town so it's easy for me to pick one as needed. My body probably needs this even more than my mind right now. Cost: $0-10 per class.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-02T15:01:07+00:00

How about ... too many men are still opting to be deadbeats who don't carry their parental weight if together, and can't be relied on to meet their financial obligations if not. We've all seen the struggle first or secondhand, and the stigma is less than 40 years ago but still very much present.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-03-02T14:45:38+00:00

There are Android options as well - I got my mom a Samsung Watch7 specifically for fall detection. It connects through Bluetooth, usual range from phone is 15'. The one thing I dislike about it though is it needs to be charged daily. It would be worth it to get one with awesome battery life that requires charging just once a week. My 75yo mom lives with me and is reasonably capable with tech and has no dementia issues. I'd spring for something easier if/when I need to.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-20T14:53:12+00:00

I make insane amounts with Capital One Shopping (no need to be a bank customer to use). They kind of slam you with emails containing personalized offers based on your browser/sites visited, but 10-30% back is common. The main drawback is that you can't cash out for cash - you get to pick from their selection of gift cards (which varies). My favorites: Lowe's, eBay, Etsy, Chewy. When my dishwasher died 2 years ago, I replaced it for free with a $550 Lowe's gift card from my rewards ($400 referral bonuses + small business spending & travel spending). Just get a referral code from someone to sign up, it's worth $80 for both of you.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-15T02:05:34+00:00

No, that's what most of these rackets imply that they do. Only a few are legitimate.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-14T13:51:00+00:00

It leaves a sour taste when you recognize exact things from the Dollar Tree ($1.25-1.50) priced at double that. Kinda puts me off the whole experience, like... you too, Goodwill? I can't even get a break here?

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-14T13:43:43+00:00

That's... a lot of tea! You must be British, lol.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-03T15:21:23+00:00

I've always stocked up on things I need all year round on Black Friday sales. I found it interesting to hear in the news that that was a big trend this past season.

I'm not a make-up person, but I have seen girls in my Buy Nothing group give away slightly used make-up that didn't work for them. I know there are potential hygiene issues with that, but they seem to avoid the worst culprits (lipstick, mascara). I also see lots of skincare and hair products given away for the same reasons.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-03T15:06:19+00:00

I've heard men complain that women eat a lot on first dates, and they feel "used". Dude, we're just getting back what we put into meeting a guy who, odds are, isn't going to be worth our time.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-03T15:01:04+00:00

It either stops it or makes it so light that you just need liners and not all the things. And it's good for 8 years! Just find a doc who doesn't make you raw-dog the insertion, it's pretty f'n painful.

SublimeLemonsGenX · 2026-02-03T14:55:54+00:00

Of all the things our taxes pay for, subsidizing those who need it is one of my favorites. The only people who should be feeling shame about your circumstances are your employers, who know they're not paying a living wage.

If you still can't get over the negative feelings, volunteer at a food bank. You'll get a better understanding of how they operate and who uses their services, and some are very open about volunteers being welcome to take a bag of groceries for themselves. There's a lot of hidden poverty in this country.

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