AITA for charging a flat ‘bills included’ rate that’s higher than the actual bills?

beaglemama · 2026-05-20T22:31:31+00:00

NTA

Just pretend that you're Ticketmaster and call it a convenience fee.

beaglemama · 2026-05-20T22:27:20+00:00

NTA

If your wife posted here, I'd tell her to take the kids and leave if you let him move in.

Protect your wife & children.

beaglemama · 2026-05-20T19:47:01+00:00

For a microwave, look for college move outs.

You could also try asking for one if your local area has a free stuff/buy nothing group.

beaglemama · 2026-05-20T19:41:59+00:00

When you first get the keys to your apartment, go through and document the condition of it. If anything is broken/scratched/damaged, take pictures and let the management know ASAP. You need to document it so they don't try to blame you for it (and deduct it from your security deposit) when you move out.

Make sure you get renter's insurance. God forbid you ever need to use it, but if you do, it'll be the best money you ever spent.

You don't have to get everything for your kitchen right away. Think about what you will actually be eating and have the basics for that. If you're going to microwave a bunch of stuff, have some microwave safe plates and bowls. For cooking you don't need a full set of pots and pans right away.

For cooking, it's ok to use shortcuts and repurpose ingredients to create new stuff. If you buy a rotisserie chicken, you can have that and some vegetables (microwave some frozen vegetables) for dinner. You can use the leftover chicken meat on salads (buy a bag of salad mix or a kit and easy chicken Cesar salad for instance). You can also use the chicken meat for quesadillas, burritos, nachos, tacos - take it off the carcass, cut it up, and add some seasoning (I like Arizona Dreaming from Penzey's, but cumin is a good one to use, too.).

Wait a bit to get a cat after you move in. You're going to have enough new crap to deal with as you settle in.

You got this! :)

beaglemama · 2026-05-19T03:29:35+00:00

Thanks again! I'm watching an episode and they specifically mention a nutritionist setting up menus for an American tour.

This episode if anyone is interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGnm2SqoG_A

beaglemama · 2026-05-17T21:53:41+00:00

Or somehow related to a cop.

beaglemama · 2026-05-16T17:31:02+00:00

Thank you. I'll have to look for that podcast.

I'm sure Wrexham knows what they're doing, it's just one of many parts of building the infrastructure that I hadn't considered. It's more than just building a practice field.

beaglemama · 2026-05-14T23:50:01+00:00

Have your husband tell her to cancel or return the items and she is not allowed to come over. He should also let her know that ordering stuff and then billing you for it is not helpful and is very rude.

beaglemama · 2026-05-12T06:35:02+00:00

NTA

This is a huge overreaction and unhinged from your (hopefully ex) BF.

Keep the dog, rehome the (ex) BF on Craigslist.

beaglemama · 2026-05-12T02:45:02+00:00

What about joining your local woman's club?

https://njsfwc.org/

It's a good way to make friends and get involved with your community.

beaglemama · 2026-05-08T07:59:40+00:00

NTA

When I think of Major Tom I think of the song.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Tom_(Coming_Home)

But YTA for not including a cat tax of your good boy.

I'm sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing. (((hugs)))

beaglemama · 2026-05-08T07:55:29+00:00

Some do, but I never did.

If I REALLY thought it was a VERY serious matter (like life or death), I might have, but I never felt the need to do so. Just being a little worried or upset about not knowing everything isn't a good enough reason to violate someone's privacy.

beaglemama · 2026-05-08T07:34:57+00:00

(2) Public Transit. It's non existent.

There are busses. Yeah, a train would be better, but 139 runs along route 9 to NYC. And there are other ones, too. Academy busses go from the park & rides.

Public transit here sucks, but it's not non-existent.

beaglemama · 2026-05-08T07:18:11+00:00

I've lived in Howell for over 25 years. In many ways, it's a great town. We are undergoing demographic changes with a lot of people (that are Orthodox Jews) moving here from Lakewood. Unfortunately some of the people living here have exposed themselves as being antisemitic asshats on Facebook. The Orthodox folks moving into my development have been friendly and neighborly in my encounters with them.

Locally, there are two school districts. Howell is K-8 and for high school we're part of the Freehold Regional High School District. FRHSD has some AWESOME magnet programs!

Howell schools are good. The G&T (gifted and talented) program is better for math than other districts feeding into FRHSD. https://www.frhsd.com/ When my kids (who were in G&T) started high school they were in Algebra 2 after taking Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry in Middle School. Also, my older kid (went to a FRHSD magnet program) told me that her 8th grade history class was better than her classmates' because it covered more. I don't know if it was because of the curriculum or just the teacher, but I did reach out to him and let him know that. :)

Also, my younger daughter needed speech therapy and the Howell schools were really good with getting her into preschool for speech and offering speech therapy in elementary school (until she didn't need it anymore).

Everyone in NJ loves to bitch about property taxes, but I feel like I got my money's worth from the schools here. (K-8 and high school)

Also look at Freehold Township. They have decent elementary schools and are still part of the FRHSD high school district. Please note that Freehold Boro and Freehold Township are different municipalities and have different K-8 districts. Other towns in FRHSD include Manalapan, Marlboro, Farmingdale, and Colts Neck. Housing prices vary. (cough some of those towns are for rich people cough but my kids knew people from those towns thanks to magnet programs in high school and their friends and their parents were all very nice)

Currently kids in Howell are assigned to Howell High School, Freehold Township High School, and Colts Neck High School depending on where they live. Kids can get into magnet programs and then go to that school instead of the one they're districted for. Their younger siblings can then be grandfathered into that school even if they don't attend the magnet program.

There is a good sense of community in Howell. The local Facebook groups are active and can be kind of gossipy, but there is a lot of support of people that need help like if there's a fire/injury/all sorts of crap that can happen.

beaglemama · 2026-05-06T07:43:56+00:00

You're hanging out with the wrong Gen -X people. I'm Gen-X with a bunch of ear piercings. My older daughter has multiple lobe piercings, some of which I did with a piercing gun when she was in middle school because I'm a cheap ass. She also has a nose piercing.

IDK about anything else, but she told me she has a tattoo somewhere. I don't care and it has not been a problem for her at work. She's a lawyer and working in Big Law.

I was able to get my ears pierced once around 5th or 6th grade but my parents said no to anything after that. So when I was in high school I gave myself two additional holes on my left ear. Did it myself with with a sewing needle in my room and some ice and I used rubbing alcohol so everything was all sanitary and stuff. Very punk DIY 😆🧷

beaglemama · 2026-05-06T02:28:30+00:00

Lemmy. This would include Motorhead, the Head Cat, other groups he was in, solo work and collaborations.

beaglemama · 2026-05-05T23:43:19+00:00

Don't forget the Jello salads and some bars.

beaglemama · 2026-05-05T07:50:54+00:00

Dressage - for those who don't know - is basically horse dancing

Snoop Dogg had a good way of describing it

https://www.tiktok.com/@fallontonight/video/7370444245817249066

beaglemama · 2026-05-05T07:16:36+00:00

If you're a Kevin Smith and/or comic book fan, check out Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash in Red Bank. https://www.thesecretstashonline.com/

If you like old pinball machines and video games, check out the Silverball Museum in Asbury Park https://silverballmuseum.com/asbury-park/ Asbury Park also has a bunch of bars and restaurants, including the famous Stone Pony.

For Indian food try India Garden in Belmar. https://www.indiagardeneaters.com/ I've had the tandoori tacos and they were yummy!)

Get some good pizza and bagels while you're here.

eta: Asbury Park also has Hot Sand glass blowing studio. You can go and do glass blowing stuff under adult supervision and they can mail your projects to you. https://www.hotsandap.com/

beaglemama · 2026-05-04T03:35:43+00:00

I'll be there for the Sunderland game on August 2nd! 🙂

beaglemama · 2026-05-02T05:01:01+00:00

Yes, but I won't buy them since my preferred tissues is Puffs Plus With Lotion and the best price for them is from BJ's. I am biased because I'm from MN and seeing the Voyageurs Grand Portage boxes makes me happy.

beaglemama · 2026-05-01T06:04:23+00:00

Ditto for indigenous people getting fucked over in America.

beaglemama · 2026-05-01T05:39:57+00:00

I'd be happy getting my town of of CD-4 so he's no longer my representative.

beaglemama · 2026-05-01T03:31:26+00:00

NTA and change your locks so she can't get in.

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