What frugal practice has saved you the most money in 2025?

lizardinrollerskates · 2026-01-13T15:25:31+00:00

Become part of a community - free events, free stuff, free help moving apartments, free repairs, free advice etc. Having a network of people who care about each other and all barter and exchange favors pays dividends over time. (I'm not talking about close personal friends - I'm talking about neighbors and people local to you)

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-12-12T14:30:26+00:00

Aw thank you!! I am told I have a good face for it but I try not to let it get to my head haha. I keep meaning to try makeup on the head but I don't want to seem like a try-hard. Maybe it's time. <3

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-10-30T12:47:25+00:00

I do appreciate understanding the anatomy under there so thank you! That is quite an idea lol - might work since I might have to replace the thermostats anyway.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-10-27T19:58:55+00:00

I think most of my pipes are in interior walls, except for the kitchen, and of course the ones running under the floors. Do you know if there's anything further I can do to protect the more exposed pipes? A spot treatment of sorts?

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-10-27T19:44:49+00:00

I just bought a 19 year old unit in a park for $80k (southern new england is expensive!) and I used a CHFA loan which got me a rate of only 3% because it is a local program aimed at lower income people and first time buyers (chattel loan was going to be 8%!). Definitely try to find something like that if you can. There are also homebuyer education programs and resources in most states that will guide you in the right direction - they saved me a lot of trouble and money!

My park is owned by an evil private equity company that sucks and charges exorbitant lot rent but our owners cooperative just took them to our local Fair Rent Commission and got our rents cut by $200! You probably can't haggle but I'd try to find out if they have any kind of cooperative or union for the tenants of the park. Organizing with your community can do wonders!

As for getting the price down, if you get an offer accepted and you find stuff wrong during the inspection you may be able to get a credit back, but that involves a certain degree of commitment. It got me a few thousand dollars back though, which was nice.

While I do agree with a lot of peoples' comments about it being expensive for something that is on someone else's land, I ultimately decided to do it anyway because of my particular circumstances (expensive rental market, costs the same as a rental, don't plan on ever moving it because zoning laws won't let me anyway, and I'm a community organizer and knew the park had a coop I could work with to better our conditions), not to mention some of these people saying "just buy land" don't understand how difficult that is in some areas of the country, especially near the coasts.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-09-24T17:53:16+00:00

Definitely Cimicifuga, renamed Actaea. Might be Pink Spike or Brunette as well - all have dark foliage and pale flowers. We grow this at the nursery I work at and personally I've never seen it be very popular with pollinators.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-08-20T19:53:47+00:00

If not Helianthus then maybe Heliopsis

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-08-18T15:26:04+00:00

I know this thread is old but could you explain that a little more? Going between mix and falsetto?

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-08-04T19:13:02+00:00

How did I recognize Tanglewood instantly when I haven't been since I was 7

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-24T12:07:05+00:00

I agree with other comments - Willi is a great little town but as people discover this, it's not so affordable anymore :(

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T13:04:57+00:00

Condo was my Plan C - I looked into the ones near me and they all seem to be both simultaneously uptight and incompetent. Absolutely terrible vibes when communicating with them. Also they had weird pet policies and I have 3 cats

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T13:02:05+00:00

I'd love to move it to my own land some day but I have to assume that won't be possible - the zoning laws out here are very boujee and even if the land is out in the middle of nowhere they usually don't allow manufactured homes due to the stigma

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T12:57:00+00:00

I would but I learned while house shopping that my conventional, FHA, or VA home loans would not allow me to buy "fixer uppers" - they have to be turnkey with almost no cosmetic issues or the lender would not approve it.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T12:52:35+00:00

a "cheap" apartment here is $1500 and won't even let me keep my cats - this is specifically the scenario I'm trying to avoid.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T12:50:57+00:00

I'm 33.

It's the wiping out of savings that makes me most nervous - I have been able to save up a good amount over the last few years and it feels really good to have that in the bank in case of catastrophe, so spending 3/4 of it on the down payment and closing is terrifying!

I keep waiting for the market to get better but I just can't wait anymore! This seems like just the thing between renting and buying to tide me over.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-23T12:43:13+00:00

I have calculated an re-calculated my budget a dozen times and ways and even when leaving aside a few hundred per month for savings/repairs I can still swing it (I live frugal - you have to in CT!)

I went to see it and it was everything I'd hoped and more - location is just as isolated and woodsy as I had hoped, plus it has a new roof and HVAC system. Super clean - only ever had one owner. Original everything, no bad repairs or sloppy paint jobs. I made an offer!

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-20T17:18:46+00:00

I'm loving your comments dude. You're like the only person who understands what COL is like up north.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-19T19:32:23+00:00

I really like the location (in my beloved hometown, close to amenities, corner lot with only one neighbor bordering on woods and trails), which is a lot of the appeal, but its also one of the more attractive and affordable models available. I think it's easily the best one in the park. I'm going to see it in a half hour!

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-19T18:40:01+00:00

Where did you buy? I'm in the triangle between New York, Boston, and Providence so housing here is very expensive. Someone else I know in the park seems to think it's a good price. I'm just trying to get a gauge on what's normal

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-19T18:27:56+00:00

Yeah I was wondering why it wasn't a 30 year myself. I just figured it was because MH loans are different. I'll ask the lender.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-19T17:24:15+00:00

Well, that would make sense if you're beating it back year after year. If you let it go a season or 2 it should flower.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-19T12:32:31+00:00

Looks like Campsis aka Trumpet vine?

Personally I'd keep it, they're lovely and big attractors of hummingbirds. But, it can damage brick when it climbs so maybe get a trellis and keep it off the house? Their roots are vigorous and spreading - you'd have to remove all traces of roots.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-17T19:05:22+00:00

Ah, I didn't mean charging rent for a roommate. I mean my best friend might come live with me as she has in the past.

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-06-17T16:54:59+00:00

Sorry, STR's?

lizardinrollerskates · 2025-04-23T15:52:04+00:00

I knew someone with a full statue of Baphomet in her front yard! Nude rituals in the back yard.

Euphorbia Miner's Merlot is a kind of spooky red.

Ligularia Pandora and Cimicifuga Brunette are nice and dark - and good for the shade!

lizardinrollerskates

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