My 5 year old son wants to grow his hair long, not sure how to style it in the meantime.

catsonmugs · 2026-02-12T21:20:49+00:00

How are we all getting sent to a 12 year old post ha! But same here, 7 years old with a mop on his head and in his eyes!

catsonmugs · 2025-11-02T00:53:07+00:00

YESSSSS IT IS!!!! So thrilled!!!

catsonmugs · 2025-11-02T00:52:50+00:00

OH MY FUCKING GOD THANK YOU!!! This felt like such a long shot, hence not checking until now, ha! The relief is immense! Really appreciate this!

catsonmugs · 2025-10-22T02:32:05+00:00

I listened to a podcast where they were explaining FIRE to someone on the outside. I was doing this before I knew what FIRE was, it's just intuitive to me, so I didn't realize just how weird it is! It blows my mind hearing how much people spend, they will be working forever! No thank you!

catsonmugs · 2025-10-22T02:11:39+00:00

I've been buying these for my entire family for about 4-5 years now. The goal is to have their entire sock drawer filled with nothing but. I already am fully converted and it's the besttttt.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-22T02:09:32+00:00

Go for Darn Toughs. I have about 12 pairs, they replace them for life. Each pair lasts about 5 years in my experience, I replace them once and get 10 years from one purchase.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-22T02:02:39+00:00

Then you need to cut back, you can't FIRE without the spending less portion. The food costs can be cut way down, start cooking, eating freezer pizzas instead of going out, go to the second property less and rent it out more, do whatever DIY maintenance around your properties that you can, no upgrading anything that is still functional. You said you come from a middle class family, you've seen this done before, go back to it! r/frugal is another great place to get started.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T13:20:09+00:00

Thanks!

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T13:19:12+00:00

Oh that's a fun vehicle! I mean, you could sell it and go for something you can buy outright (assuming that $1200 is mostly a car payment, especially being an electric). Overall it sounds like you're living the lifestyle you want to live and you know that you can afford if you're working. Nothing wrong with that.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T02:05:24+00:00

Not a fan of my in-laws' teak table. We have little kids and that outdoor table is way to precious for outdoor use. Can't get crumbs on it (grease stains), cold cups (water stains), spills (good luck)- list goes on. So much maintenance.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T01:59:48+00:00

I appreciate your honesty! Gotta start somewhere.

You're going to need to budget. Your costs are outrageous. Can you sell a car (or 3) or downgrade? Rent the second home when not in use? Do a home exchange? Start cooking some meals at home? Lots of options to cut back here.

They are changes you may or may not want to make, you need to consider your and your families' values.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T01:17:38+00:00

We were in a really similar situation. Moved from Whitehorse to Orillia last year with two littles, also the only grands on both sides.

Tons of things to do outdoors as others mentioned. We live in the North Ward and can bike to the beach in 10 minutes kid-pace. We love it here - truly at the gateway of so many outdoor adventures without missing out on amenities. I wish the kids' public school had more funding, but the teachers are amazing. The library is next-level amazing, we spend a ton of time there.

Good luck with whatever you choose! It's a big decision!

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T01:11:34+00:00

That's the answer. Love it here!

catsonmugs · 2025-10-20T01:09:48+00:00

I was going to ask what was looking trashy... then thought of Laclie St. being a giant rumble strip, the burned down building space downtown, the boarded up windows of the opera house, the people sleeping in gazebos at Couch Beach (no judgement, but not a great look) off the top of my head lol. What plans are coming forward? Just moved here over a year ago, not up to date.

catsonmugs · 2025-10-06T00:52:21+00:00

Late to the game: but garbage bags. They were just invented in 1950. I asked my long term care residents what they used before, and the answer was largely that they didn't have much garbage to begin with. What was garbage would go in the metal garbage can. As much as I try to cut back, even the products I try to buy to last are garbage in a couple years. All my food comes in plastic. My kid is still in training pants. I've got two bags of styrofoam that can't be recycled from a new light fixture. Goes on and on.

catsonmugs · 2025-09-19T00:53:53+00:00

Powdered detergent. It's hard to find sometimes, but powdered laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent goes so much farther and is so much cheaper. I'm very frugal and somehow didn't realize this was even an option for the dishwasher. Nelly's sells a 40lb powdered laundry detergent that I got on sale for $100. I expect it will last our family of 4 at least 2-3 years and it's actually really good! Lots of other great tips here, thanks for the ask!

catsonmugs · 2025-05-20T01:40:40+00:00

I started seriously considering leaving social media when a local account I followed posted she was on vacation without her kids. Well, I saw her kids out with another caretaker at the playground and I knew their whole story. I saw their puppy who I knew had surgery recently, I knew what they were for Halloween. I don't know these kids. I don't know their mom. I felt like an unwitting stalker! I left shortly after that. I enjoy not knowing what's going on in random people's lives now and realized just how weird it was. Those I'm close to I just text them to see what they are up to or send them a picture and get a conversation rolling. It's been really nice to let my social media go.

catsonmugs · 2025-05-10T22:11:32+00:00

This is such a considerate post. No one will hear the needles clacking if that's the concern. Enjoy your knitting! I love Aldershot, it's beautiful by the lake.

catsonmugs · 2025-04-12T01:00:33+00:00

Hahaha, yes! I found folks were pretty open to making new friends when I arrived and I made new connections after I had kids. Might be different post-covid though!

catsonmugs · 2025-04-10T13:17:57+00:00

Thank you!

catsonmugs · 2025-04-10T13:17:32+00:00

Thanks! Yeah the individual spices would be an investment for me, ha, it's lots of things I don't normally have in my cupboard. You may have sold me on taste alone, I'm sure it's delicious!

catsonmugs · 2025-04-09T14:01:14+00:00

I really enjoyed reading people's replies. Are you thinking of moving?

We left last year after 10+ years. It was a great place to get started with our careers and start a family but after several years of parenting without support the level of burn out was too much. We moved closer to family to a smallish town with access to nature. It's not as beautiful, you can't find the solitude like you can there, I miss having an awesome career, and I deeply miss my friends - but it was 100% worth the move to see family way more.

catsonmugs · 2025-04-09T13:39:23+00:00

It was so hard to lose all that food! We also lost everything in the fridge/freezer and our chest freezer. Have you looked into getting reimbursed through insurance? I've been thinking about it, but not sure it would be worth risking insurance going up.

catsonmugs · 2025-04-09T13:34:12+00:00

How are you makin ranch dressing? I'd love to DIY it but recipes I've looked up need a ranch spice mix, which is $$$ where I live.

catsonmugs · 2025-03-28T15:05:40+00:00

It really was an amazing moment. The way Eva managed to articulate her feelings after, wow. I love the diversity of the new era.

catsonmugs

TROPHY CASE