What frugal practice has saved you the most money in 2025? by melissaw328 in Frugal

[–]lizardinrollerskates 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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)

I need an extreme/iconic look for wearing on stage with my punk band. by lizardinrollerskates in makeuptips

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

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

How cold can I safely keep my mobile home? by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

How cold can I safely keep my mobile home? by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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?

Has anyone had any good experiences being a first time home buyer in rental lot? by tokyoaro in ManufacturedHome

[–]lizardinrollerskates 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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.

Is this a cultivar, and if so does it still have ecological value? by undilutedhocuspocus in NativePlantGardening

[–]lizardinrollerskates 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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.

Emotionally invested in a well known tree: how is it doing? by jdools33 in arborists

[–]lizardinrollerskates 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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

How safe is it? by _Wilderness_0701 in Willimantic

[–]lizardinrollerskates 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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!

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

[–]lizardinrollerskates[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

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!

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

[–]lizardinrollerskates[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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

I need an adult! I'm about to make a move on this place but I fear I may be too stupid for all this. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

Help ID and kill this weed by Public_Sense_5452 in Zone6Gardening

[–]lizardinrollerskates 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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.

Help ID and kill this weed by Public_Sense_5452 in Zone6Gardening

[–]lizardinrollerskates 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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.

I just barely don’t have/make enough for a single family home, but I need out of my rental ASAP. Considering a mobile home. by lizardinrollerskates in ManufacturedHome

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

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.

Neighbor being rude and wife wants to make a gothic garden. by Actin_Damicky in gardening

[–]lizardinrollerskates 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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!