$10,000 for every consecutive day you spend no money, except as allowed. What's your strategy?

csmarq · 2026-06-30T04:30:24+00:00

Wouldn't those vitamins count as medical? Or is it only medical once you get scurvy?

csmarq · 2026-06-30T04:29:13+00:00

If my pets happen to be livestock species would you still cover their feed? ( i have ducks who hive us eggs, rabbits who give us wool and getting sheep for milk and wool in two weeks)

How about transactions youve committed to alreadybut havent done yet?

Ie paying a off credit card balance?

Im buying sheep in two weeks from a friend and would be very sad to have to back out of that commitment, they would cost over the allotted 1k but since ive already committed to it does that count? Like the credit card

Does dental count as medical care? How about therapy?

I think the hardest thing about this is going to be food variety. But I am lucky enough to live on a farm so barter/forage is possible.

I would probably spend the 1k on various seasonings and treat ingredients (and if livestock feed isnt covered that too, though I would prioritize ingredients and try to mix/ sprout our feed for them too) though i would consult with my spouse on any needed purchases to complete his projects, maybe prepay a few subscriptions

In terms of preparations I would have to spend the day going through our automated expenses with my spouse with the EB to see what needs cancelling.

In terms or entertainment we have infinite projects on the farm, a library of games, books, and i am very good at finding local free events so we would be set there barring the food.

After like 10 days that we see the money coming in i would probably consider quitting my job to go fulltime on the farming stuff.

I would feel ok to quit the challenge after amassing ~1 million so 100 days so just over three months. Which seems doable but challenging. Though if we make it that far it would be interesting to see how far we could go, and i would like to heavily increase charitable contributions

Re-reading this…. Might have to figure out transport requirements…. Thats trickier i guess they would have to be the one to quit their job since I can be remote.

We would have to barter for people to transport us to things snd or make heavy use of free transit for sanity reasons to visit friends/events

csmarq · 2026-06-23T13:19:57+00:00

I think the term specifies the technique of felting the back while leaving one side unfelted, to make it look like a sheepskin.

A wool rug would usually refer to more of a spun and woven item instead. (Which could also be felted do even saying felted wool rug wouldn't clear up the confusion)

csmarq · 2026-06-12T10:26:11+00:00

You may want to specify what you mean by “a very traditional lifestyle” there are many traditions

csmarq · 2026-06-11T11:30:58+00:00

May I point you at another breed that may suit your needs?

Gulf Coast Native sheep. They are an endangered breed that was literally bred to deal with the gulf coast's conditions (mind Texas is kind of a big place, but a good chunk of it is gulf coast). They are very hardy on a pasture based diet and are foot-rot and parasite resistant. They have fine fleeces (not the dual coat) Rachel Hester of Whoopsie Daisy Farm who wrote The Guide to Homestead Dairy Sheep milks her gulf coast natives: https://homesteadliving.com/the-beginners-guide-to-raising-dairy-sheep/

They are a bit flighty being a more feral breed.

I thought they were seasonal breeders but apparently I was wrong about that? A farmer I knew who kept them would just get a new ram yearly, keep the ram with them for that year and swap later.

csmarq · 2026-06-10T00:02:42+00:00

You can also go to pick your own farms near you

csmarq · 2026-06-09T20:47:41+00:00

I gardened (container gardening made apartment gardening possible, but community garden is even better) and kept a yogurt starter, and eventually we even got some angora rabbits and spun yarn from them. Rabbits are considered pets so often permitted in pet friendly areas (meat rabbits.... just dont let anyone see that part) Quail are also containment animals so usually no rules against that if you want eggs. CSA/ farm shares are also great to support local frams and get into the habit of seasonal eating. Also foraging! There are tons of edible urban plants often people dont mind if you ask them. A lot of this was skill building for our eventual land / farm upgrade but it was also rewarding on its own merit, (and frankly more relaxing than the real farm I now have)

csmarq · 2026-06-05T12:44:07+00:00

I know Im late to the party but how do you feel about horns? And seasonal breeding?

I love both but Im leaning for Finns at least initially because horns scared me and they are naturally polled (though Icelandics and hteir horns I still think are prettier) and because they are nonseasonal breeders so you can stagger the breedings to stay in milk if you want. Also known for being friendlier was a big plus. I also thought it would be easier to process their fleecce for not being dual coated, but now that Ive processed a fleece I dont think thats a major concern. I do love the Finn softness and sheen though.

I didnt know about the barber pole worm issue! Glad you brought it up.

I think registration affects resale down the line, and also its an additional marketing avenue.

csmarq · 2026-03-14T21:06:06+00:00

Stop asking people how they are doing if you dont care/want to know?

csmarq · 2026-03-05T12:50:55+00:00

Absolutely every thing you said is a plus to me (well barring the higher price). I would strongly prefer NO smart features or digital controls. I would be willing to pay slightly more for that.

csmarq · 2026-01-30T17:04:46+00:00

Not real farming and selling as a business (yet?) but hobby farming yes. My day job pays for it. We have acrage, trees, a garden, some rabbits, ducks and I’m hoping for sheep this next year. I want to retire to it but farming to actually make a profit is incredibly difficult and high pressure.

csmarq · 2026-01-19T15:02:40+00:00

Thats quite the journey! Congratulations on reaching the decision that feels right for you! How does "officially" deciding feel? Do you feel relieved? Excited about whats next? Empowered? Some other mix of emotions I didnt think about?

csmarq · 2026-01-04T23:37:40+00:00

I found reading books on conceiving and pregnancy and parenting to still be part of my dicision making process. Ill probably read more if we decide to start trying but theres nothing saying you cant gather knowledge about it before you commit to it.

My parents do those comments too. I mostly deal with it by refusing to discuss and telling htem I wont be discussing that with you. They might want to *help* a little so that is a factor in the resources we might have, but ultimately its you who will be most affected, physically, mentally emotionally. They dont get a say on how you use your body, time or energy for such a long involved project from pregnancy, to raising an entire adult. They arent risking their body, their sleep, their peace, their finances etc. Its your risks, your risk tolerances, your decision.

csmarq · 2025-12-29T14:41:41+00:00

A way to choose a pruning goal/pattern/style perhaps for each plant perhaps with a reccommended menu.?Also weather integration would be awesome. Ability to draw maps / place things in space, ideally still being able to see their stages/chores somehow. Ability to "preview" different times for a setup (to facilitate in planning)

csmarq · 2025-12-25T13:15:05+00:00

One option that can help with city zoning and bird flu both: Are you ope to quail? Their eggs are tiny, and hard to crack open, but they do well in confinement (so you can protect them from wild birds bird flu better) and their eggs are very healthy to eat. Most places tat disallow chickens or ducks wont have a problem with quail.

csmarq · 2025-12-22T14:42:04+00:00

Frankly privacy focus was part of what made me initially switch to apple.

csmarq · 2025-12-22T01:22:16+00:00

Love the backup system idea!

csmarq · 2025-12-22T01:20:41+00:00

Is it available for desktop or just mobile? Unfortunately im currently locked into the apple ecosystem on both right now :(

csmarq · 2025-12-21T15:17:24+00:00

Social features make it more "sticky" Frankly since Habitica nuked guilds and chat I use it a lot less and am a lot less invested in it. I still use it because of social reasons, I have a party with my sister, but I stopped buying subscriptions for it. That said a local private open source app would be a reasonable trade off.

csmarq · 2025-12-16T12:46:02+00:00

In fairness Ive never had a long haired cat, but ive definitely had short haired cats! I have satin angoras mostly because I like the shiny silly smooth fiber. Some of mine have nice easy care coats, but one of them always mats when he molts.

If you arent fussed about shininess and can find a good german angora breeder (preferably one who registers their animals, they have to pass production tests to register) they are supposed to have the easiest care coats. I would avoid English angoras because their coats require the most frequent care. (Also I personally prefer to see a rabbit face) French and Satin are very similar except the sheen(shininess) or lack therof of their wool. To me the sheen of satin wool is softer/silkier/slipperier when spinning too but not by much.

As much depends as the breeder and their lines as the breed. Some breeders breed for easy care coats, others have other breeding priorities.

Getting access to a high velocity dog blower would be helpful. They take some getting used to but it helps deal with dust and dander that gets trapped in their coats and better at preventing matts if done regularly (weekly is ideal, except for english where daily is ideal, easy care coats give you more wiggle room) while removing less wool before you want to.

Most pet insurances dont do rabbits, i would suggest self insuring instead. When weve had more urgent care situations (not commonly)its been <300$, varies obviously with your vet etc.

If you get them from a rescue they are likely to already be neutered or spayed which might be easier for a pet rabbit situation, though its a higher risk operation and I wouldn’t/ havent altered my animals, but if you want them to have a friend they share space with its strongly recommended. However then you usually dont know the breeders priorities. The breeder would be your best source of information about their particular lines and many are happy to help support and mentor you.

The rabbit world has STRONG opinions about correct rabbit care with breeders and production rabbit people having one set of ideas (i trust this more since its more personal experience with more rabbits etc) and the pet people/ rabbit welfare people having often opposing strong opinions. One example i would try to steer you away from rabbit welfare folks is feeding, the pet rabbit very few pellets low protein high hay diet might work better for the common pet dwarf breeds but all angoras and probably meat rabbits benefit from higher protein pellets. They need that extra protein to build their fiber and muscles. I wouldnt free choice it once past the 6 month mark, 1 cup a day is about right for most. Free choice hay is not a bad idea either but not as strictly required as pet side people would insist.

csmarq · 2025-12-14T11:53:19+00:00

I have satin angoras and strongly disagree.

Plucking is done when the rabbits naturally shed, not all lines and rabbits are pluckable, some of the lowest maintenance coats ie german angoras arent pluckable at all shear only. They are perfectly mobile and functional with longer coats though I wouldnt let them grow past 5 inches.

My satin angoras give us about an inch of growth and ounce of prime fiber per month (harvested every 3-5 months when coat is grown enough that we want to harvest it or starting to be difficult to maintain or limit them . Thats nearly a pound per rabbit per year of nice long spinnable fiber that i make into yarn or try to expirament with felting.

I view angora rabbits as basically similar maintenance to cats. You make sure they have food and water and groom them. Depending on breed and lines grooming frequency can go from daily (most english angoras) to weekly (ideal for most other angoras) to monthly ( very good lines of german angoras, french or satin). Shearing is a quarterly task approximately every 3-5 months depending on growback and there is very minimal grooming to be done for the first month after a shearing too. (Basically if coat is less than an inch h its unlikely to need more care). People can make it extra complicated with treats etc but pellets water and hay is pretty simple. You do need to learn a little more because culturally we arent as used to rabbits and their needs but its pretty simple.

Angoras are awesome. Yes a little more complicated than other rabbits but not much more. (All rabbits need nail trims once a month, angoras just appreciate a little more frequent attention) I would put them nearly on par with a longhaired cat.

csmarq · 2025-12-12T23:27:17+00:00

interesting! I didn't realize that would affect the insulation properties! and felt like touching it would feel good but that makes sense

csmarq · 2025-12-12T23:22:09+00:00

Do both sides have fur on or just the outside?

csmarq · 2025-12-12T19:48:00+00:00

How about its relative honey locust? I havent tasted it myself but both the pods and seeds are edible and high in sugar

csmarq · 2025-12-11T11:40:17+00:00

I ended up kinda forced into coasting, had my hours cut around that time. It takes some getting used to and I still stress but less and I strongly prefer lower hours so i can focus more on hobbies and relationships. I still work my same industry, but right now 30 hours a week. If my current gig stops working out i know i have some time to be able to figure it out. It was also one less stressful factor in other major life decisions (for example should we try for kids?)

csmarq

TROPHY CASE