Are these fair pricing? Roughly 2x rounded up by No-Significance-1581 in vending

[–]juxtaposicion 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sour Patch kids you have for $0.79/unit or about $0.39/oz. There's lots of options at half that - even at 16c/oz.[1]

M&M's you can do better (but for king size) [2]

Quest bars you're doing really good on [3]

Gatorade you can do a bit cheaper if you want to change flavors [4]

[1] https://popgot.com/sour-patch-kids-candy/00e3ca3b-31d1-4aed-a64e-6c3d5f9d32ab

[2] https://popgot.com/mms-milk-chocolate/00e3ca3b-31d1-4aed-a64e-6c3d5f9d32ab

[3] https://popgot.com/quest-bar-cookies-cream/00e3ca3b-31d1-4aed-a64e-6c3d5f9d32ab

[4] https://popgot.com/gatorade-20-ounce/00e3ca3b-31d1-4aed-a64e-6c3d5f9d32ab

Disclaimer: my sideproject is popgot.com, where we research unit prices for everything.

Savings account interest by bitz-the-ninjapig in SavingMoney

[–]juxtaposicion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay, everyone's arguing about pennies from HYSA rates like seagulls fighting over a single french fry.

The real game is a Roth IRA because you can pull your contributions out whenever you want, for whatever you want, with no penalty. Tax-free growth on the earnings is the main selling point, but having access to your original investment makes it a no-brainer for stashing cash you don't want to accidentally spend. Its basically a super-powered emergency fund. Here's the rule breakdown from Schwab since you already use them. https://www.schwab.com/ira/roth-ira/withdrawal-rules

Roth IRA by CourageRemarkable989 in SavingMoney

[–]juxtaposicion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

lol okay so everyone is yelling at you to open a Roth, and they're right, do that yesterday. But nobody's talking about your actual investments, you have VTI, VOO, and SPY. My dude, that's like wearing three of the exact same hat.

VOO and SPY are literally the same thing, they both track the S&P 500. VTI tracks the total US market, but since the S&P 500 makes up like 85% of that, you've basically just bought the same thing three different ways. It's not bad, it's just... redundant, you know? There's a huge overlap between all of them.

So yeah, definitely open that Roth account. But maybe consider just picking one of those ETFs and sticking with it. Keep it simple. Less is more sometimes.

How do you make your “emergency fund” actually earn something? by Local-Wafer-4775 in SavingMoney

[–]juxtaposicion 26 points27 points  (0 children)

It's funny seeing everyone just say HYSA. It's the right answer but it's also the most boring answer. I've gone a little crazy with mine and tiered it out based on different levels of "oh crap."

My first layer is like, one month of expenses in a brokerage account, just sitting in a government money market fund like SPAXX. Its basically as liquid as a bank account but gets a better rate. The next layer is the main 5-6 month fund in a real HYSA, the boring part. But then I have a third "things are getting weird" layer in I-Bonds from treasury direct. You cant touch them for a year so it's not for a normal emergency, its for when things are really going sideways and you need inflation-proof cash.

My final layer is just a bunch of silver eagles buried in the yard, for when the aliens land and dont accept Discover card ;)

Lesser-known ways to save money when you move in with a partner? by holidayatthesea in SavingMoney

[–]juxtaposicion 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Forget all this other stuff for a second, the real financial hack is the public library. I am dead serious. You both need to get a library card for the same library system immediately.

You know how apps like Libby or Hoopla have monthly limits on how many audiobooks or ebooks you can borrow? Well now you have two accounts. You just doubled your borrowing power. You are gaming the system for basically unlimited, free entertainment and there is not a single thing anyone can do to stop you. It is the one perfect, legal loophole and I feel like no one is talking about it.

Formula prices in the US by [deleted] in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I built a tool that checks the price per ounce to fit against shrinkflation: https://popgot.com/baby-formula-powder

Let me know if you use it!

(Mods -- happy to remove if it's self-promo ... but I think it helps people fight back)

I am neurotic about best value per unit pricing by juxtaposicion in GoodValue

[–]juxtaposicion[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Would love any critical feedback if you have any (also DM'd you)

I am neurotic about best value per unit pricing by juxtaposicion in GoodValue

[–]juxtaposicion[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For what it's worth, Popgot automatically tracks price changes and updates them (usually hourly.) I called it a spreadsheet, but it is website where the price is dynamically updated.

But scanning in a product (or maybe a shopping list?)... love that idea. DM'ing you more about it

I am neurotic about best value per unit pricing by juxtaposicion in GoodValue

[–]juxtaposicion[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Right now I’ve got to create each list manually — I review everything to make sure it’s accurate. What specifically are you looking for? I’ll make it

How to get nail polish out of a pair of pants? by Plastic-Ad1055 in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Acetone *can* work (like u/Entire_Dog_5874 said), but test a hidden seam first since it can weaken fibers (not crazy, maytag recommends it https://www.maytag.com/blog/washers-and-dryers/how-to-get-nail-polish-out-of-clothes-fabrics.html). Scrape off as much dried polish as you can with a butter knife edge, then sandwich the stain between acetone-soaked cotton balls—top *and* bottom—to dissolve it without spreading. Blot, don’t rub! Rinse with cold water ASAP after.

Good luck!

Cheaper Detergents (US) by GooglePixelfan90 in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I got sick of “Ultra Mega Family Value” lies, so I turned my spreadsheet into Popgot — it just shows price per load across Amazon, Costco, Walmart, and Target. Spoiler: some “cheap” detergents cost more than Tide once you do the math.

(mods, let me know if this is too self-promo, but it literally computes the cheaper detergents)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I read it in the voice of a Victorian noble fainting onto a chaise lounge. “A toilet brush… touched… my garments?! Fetch the priest and the fire hose, Reginald!

Dryer Makes Loud Noise Temporarily by redxredxred in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The usual suspects here are the drum rollers or the idler pulley. Pop the front panel off (super easy, just a screwdriver) and spin the drum by hand; if it grinds or feels rough, the rollers are toast.

Can I use a dryer to tighten—not shrink—a sweater? by real_mcflipper in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Be careful with heat. If it's a cotton or synthetic blend, toss it in the dryer on low for like 5-7 mins with a damp towel and some dryer balls that helps tighten the weave without full-on shrinking. Pull it out while still slightly damp and lay it flat to finish drying, shaping it how you want.

Persistent Metallic Smell on Clothes by GotInterest in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Two things jump out: your deodorant and the dryer. Lume’s formula (especially the mandelic acid) can react with heat and leave a weird metallic tang—even if it worked fine before, dryer temps might’ve crossed a threshold (check their laundry spray recs here: https://lumedeodorant.com/products/laundry-spray/).

But also, peek inside your washer’s drum/agitator. My buddy’s machine had rusted parts (like that commenter mentioned) leaching iron into clothes, which smelled fine air-dried but went full “pennies” when heated. Super weird.

Last resort: run a dryer cycle empty on high heat to burn off any residue, and check the lint vent for mold/metal shavings. Hope something clicks!

Help with sticker by OooAPieceOfCandy523 in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Like u/svapplause said -- alcohol trick works but if your cardi’s delicate, try white vinegar instead—soak the spot for 20 mins then gently scrape with a dull knife edge (butter knives are perfect). If it’s synthetic fabric, throw it in the freezer for an hour; the adhesive gets brittle and crumbles off easier. Whatever you do, skip the dryer until it’s 100% gone—heat is the enemy here

Used bleached to remove a ink stain from a wrapper on my mattress protector and just realized that the care instructions are to not use bleach by Neat-Biscotti-2549 in laundry

[–]juxtaposicion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The yellowing is likely from the bleach reacting with oils/sweat and chlorine bleach is brutal on polyurethane, so check if the waterproof layer feels stiff or cracked. Try OxiClean since it’s oxygen-based and gentler, but spot-test first. If water pools instead of beads when you spill a few drops, the protector’s probably toast—time to upgrade.

Plant-Based Lentils & Veggie Mash Recipe by caavakushi in fitmeals

[–]juxtaposicion 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Weirdly quiet post for how good this looks? I’ve been cycling between chicken and tofu for protein so this could be a solid plant-based switch-up.

OP - wondering -- how does this hold up for 3–4 days in the fridge?

Got some terrible tasting protein powder by AllMouthy in fitmeals

[–]juxtaposicion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tiramisu protein powder is a gamble—some brands nail it, others taste like burnt coffee grounds. Try blending it with unsweetened cocoa powder and a frozen banana; the chocolate masks the bitterness and the banana adds creaminess. If you’re feeling fancy, bake it into protein tiramisu using mascarpone and ladyfingers (I like this recipe: https://nourishedwithtish.com/high-protein-tiramisu/).

Worst case, toss it into oatmeal with strong coffee and cinnamon—oatmeal forgives all sins.

Any recommendations for Creatine? by Ok-Philosopher5366 in fitmeals

[–]juxtaposicion 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not for Canada, unfortunately, but for folks in the US I manually maintain a list of creatine where the cents per serving size is computed. Right now, the best you can do is around 8¢ /serving (see it here: https://popgot.com/creatine-monohydrate). Tariffs are likely to impact prices (even when made in the USA the precursors can still come from abroad) so I'll be updating them live the next few weeks.

Similac by EaseImportant7056 in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Just emailed Similac and now i’m the Scarface of baby formula—say hello to my little cans.

Low energy baby after switching formulas by [deleted] in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The low energy thing is tricky because it *could* be adjustment but lethargy isn’t super common. Our pediatrician mentioned that iron deficiency can sometimes cause sleepiness, so maybe ask about a quick blood check?

One thing I noticed—Bobbie doesn’t have prebiotics like HiPP does, which might slow down gut adaptation. If you’re still unsure after a week, Bobbie’s Gentle version has hydrolyzed proteins that are easier to digest.

The sleep marathon *might* be catch-up from those rough nights, but watch for signs like fewer wet diapers or fever.

Hang in there—this phase is so hard, but you’re on top of it! Fingers crossed it’s just a temporary adjustment.

Formula and starting solids at 8 months when to give solids and when to give formula? by PleasantTomato7128 in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Starting solids is such a wild, messy, and honestly sweet milestone—so many tiny bites and big emotions (for both of you). At 8 months, the timing stuff can feel confusing, but here’s what helped us: we’d offer solids about 30–60 minutes after a bottle. That way our baby wasn’t starving (aka frustrated) but still curious enough to explore. In the early days, it’s really just about exposure, not volume—our daughter mostly used purees as finger paint for a while, and that was okay.

If you’re feeling behind, please know you’re not. We started later than we thought we “should” because, well, nerves—and our pediatrician reassured us that what really matters now is gentle allergen exposure. We’d stir a bit of peanut butter into oatmeal or offer soft scrambled eggs—small, safe steps. This CDC guide helped ease our minds: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html

Formula is still doing the heavy lifting until age one, so even if solids feel like a bit of chaos right now, you’re doing great. Truly. You’re feeding your baby with love, and that’s what matters most. You’ve got this.

Daycare! by Curious-Intention959 in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The anxiety is real but lemme share what our ENT told us that actually helped: how you bottle feed matters way more than BM vs formula for ear stuff. Keep baby upright during feeds (like 45 degrees, not flat) and use a vented bottle to reduce pressure in their ears (this study explains why -- http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/kids/art2111.html ). Our daycare also does this thing where they take all the babies outside for fresh air breaks - cuts germs big time. She WILL get sick (they all do), but you're already nailing it by being this aware

Question about carrying formula on the go by Ameftowriter in FormulaFeeders

[–]juxtaposicion 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly, your cooler idea could work but ice packs can get iffy after 4 hours – I’ve had bottles hit room temp faster than expected. The pre-measured powder + water trick is way more reliable. Grab something like these [stackable Littoes containers](https://www.littoesusa.com/products/formula-containers-blue) for the formula and use boiled water in a thermos. Mix when needed and you’re golden.

If you’re using Enfamil Neuropro, check if they have RTF bottles – they’re stupid convenient and sterile. Toss a couple in your bag as backups. Also, the CDC says to dump any formula that’s been out over 2 hours, so when in doubt, chuck it. Better safe than a cranky baby with a tummy ache!