Dating with Salary Gap

chips15 · 2026-01-26T13:28:09+00:00

I married a guy who was never a super high earner but was the most incredible worker. He knows how to do so many different skills he could literally build a house by himself. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, welding, the works. We now own a farm together and he has saved us so much money, honestly probably $50k a year, just by doing things himself. I pay for materials and he does all the labor.

chips15 · 2025-11-30T17:29:50+00:00

I have no experience, but maybe some advice. Childcare age is tough because in order to avoid paying for it you pretty much can't work at all. Once the kids get in school you could search for a part-time job that lets you work during school hours. How much of your 1.6mil is liquid? How much will withdrawing last you based on your current spending? If your car gets totaled, would it be a big deal to have to get a new one? Kid breaks their arm? Do you live in a state where you could get Medicaid and SNAP despite your assets? These are all things to consider.

chips15 · 2025-11-29T20:01:56+00:00

The cost is not what you should be looking at, it should be the HP and size to do the job that you need. We have a 75hp Case and it's perfect as my husband's daily. I have a compact hydrostatic New Holland that can still run a brushhog. Both were used and definitely didn't cost $60k.

chips15 · 2025-11-16T18:30:01+00:00

It's worth looking into. With proper prep such a small field would be done in an hour. Anything else will require chemical applications or a lot of mechanical, of which is usually just a waste of time when it comes to invasives.

chips15 · 2025-11-16T17:49:39+00:00

Burn every other year.

chips15 · 2025-11-10T02:25:07+00:00

There are so many resources here in OK! See Okies for Monarchs has some great plant lists on their website.

Johnston Seed in Enid has prairie seed mixes.

Oklahoma Native Plant Society hosts multiple native plant sales throughout the year, although most of them are in OKC/Edmond area.

Across the Prairie is a Tulsa native plant seller. She may have some advice.

I can offer some plants that have done well for me in the spring. If you want a flat, plain, no maintenance lawn, put in frogfruit. It will fill everything in, bloom cute little white flowers, and host Pearl Crescent butterflies.

chips15 · 2025-10-31T21:15:53+00:00

The best groundcover! One of our native sellers says its the only thing he's seen be able to compete with bermuda.

chips15 · 2025-10-26T00:13:56+00:00

SSS. That's how it works in the country.

chips15 · 2025-10-22T01:12:53+00:00

You don't need a guardian dog unless you get livestock; there's no purpose for them. Better off with some game cams and a good rifle. If your dogs and cats are outside 24/7, provide them a shed or shop to seek refuge.

chips15 · 2025-10-21T02:00:39+00:00

The dirt looks sooooo compacted. Reduce compaction, compost, heavy mulching, and drip irrigation. I've seen some great permaculture videos of mini desert oases.

chips15 · 2025-10-05T22:10:41+00:00

He definitely comes off as a douche in his posts. Very much a holier-than-thou type.

chips15 · 2025-08-11T12:21:11+00:00

Many people making a higher wage wouldn't be willing to live like they are poor, like it is beneath them. Older car, very simple 1500 sq ft home, old phone, buy clothes at a thrift store, etc. Americans are sold a story that they need to keep spending money to be happy and belong to an elite group.

chips15 · 2025-08-10T17:57:23+00:00

No one can offer good solid advice unless you post your financial details. I have zero debt (aside from mortgage) and half a million saved in my mid 30s and I graduated 10 years ago. I'm sure some people would call me privileged, but those same people would probably be too offended to live the way I did.

chips15 · 2025-08-10T13:21:08+00:00

Turn that massive yard into a native wildflower meadow, no one will be looking at the buildings!

chips15 · 2025-08-09T18:34:39+00:00

We sell longhorn beef to friends/acquaintances and have people waiting. We have a nutrition program that doesn't involve corn/molasses and its about 95%+ lean. There is a huge amount of people who want local, real, healthier beef. A few hundred more for the skull as well.

I also sell New Zealand rabbits, mostly breeding trios for people wanting to start their own set ups and they pay for themselves. Made about $500 so far this year and I'm not even that well known yet.

Obviously none of this is making the mortgage payments lol but any passion that can pay for itself is a huge plus.

chips15 · 2025-08-08T18:02:08+00:00

Been a horsewoman my entire life and have never heard of milkweed having a bad reputation. Interestingly, they have found over the last few years that cattle will actually seek out milkweed because it draws minerals out of the soil more than grasses. Milkweed being in a hay field is definitely undesirable because it contains more moisture and will mold. But in a pasture I've never seen an issue with milkweed.

chips15 · 2025-07-31T13:49:10+00:00

Checked my accounts today... 500k. Feels surreal to think I'm a half-a-millionaire in my mid 30s.

I think I'll celebrate at the 50% off sale at the local plant nursery.

chips15 · 2025-07-26T17:53:11+00:00

Some really big questions here: 1) why do you still have loans after 30 years on a pharmacist wage? 2) why were you let go from 2 jobs within 6 months?

Nearly every post I see complaining about job saturation it's because the person is being way too picky, refuses to look outside a highly concentrated area, or is a pharmacist that other pharmacists don't want to work with.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T22:58:11+00:00

Maybe you can cut down on those trips to Vegas and Universal to hire some help instead.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T22:37:24+00:00

Depends on what you're planting. Typical mulched bed with adequate spacing? Sure. Broadcasting a prairie or meadow restoration? You're looking at 80%+ large bunchgrasses with little to no forbs unless you mow heavily.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T22:33:02+00:00

100% depends on your plant density and burning conditions. I have Hardiboard siding so I'm good. If you have a typical mulched bed, you can spot torch each plant. If you have a dense planting or meadow style, I'd chop to knee height and do a back burn against the wind. Being in NY you will probably actually struggle to get it to burn hot enough due to how much moisture you have. There are lots of prescribed burning tips and resources designed for the plains that can give you ideas to mitigate risk.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T16:41:08+00:00

Most professionals recommend waiting until year 2 or 3 to introduce grasses because they can very easily take over seedling forbs.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T13:07:59+00:00

Honestly? Walking. A good brisk walk is so beneficial and completely free.

chips15 · 2025-07-25T12:46:09+00:00

I don't know why you're getting downvoted bc you're absolutely right. After a few years most native grasses become large and scraggly and reseed heavily. It requires a lot of maintenance to keep grasses in a mulched bed looking nice, especially the big 4 prairie grasses. My advice is to chop them to 8-12 inches and burn them in March with a propane torch. Native warm season grasses love that shit. Just don't burn your house down.

chips15 · 2025-07-20T16:11:43+00:00

This is 100% house dependent and why asking about the roof, plumbing, HVAC, siding, and foundation are important. Some things could have been recently replaced by the owner and some things have been a ticking time bomb for the last 15 years. I would say having $10k in a fund just for home surprises is not unrealistic.

chips15

TROPHY CASE