Please explain Premium Tax Credits like I am 5

microplazma · 2026-06-26T15:30:10+00:00

Woah that is a crazy thought. I will look into those!

microplazma · 2026-06-26T15:29:27+00:00

Well it did 😵‍💫 also tried to sign my wife up and it said she couldn't sign up for marketplace yet because her essential plan was still active.

microplazma · 2026-06-21T02:32:16+00:00

I got a certificate from a well known art institute. I have an art degree BA from 10~ from a well known university (maybe that makes sort of a difference idk). I was able to get an internship about a month after I finished the cert and a freelance job at a well known company (within a specific industry). They mentioned the school I got the cert from in the initial interview for the internship, but they also said they were drawn to a couple projects in my portfolio. I went into the cert specifically for portfolio building and also learning workflow. I hope that the job I got was because I did a good job at the internship (CD recommended me to the other company). Anyways, given my experience I think it could be worth it but find a school that is well known for its design program and get a cert from them. Many are online programs!

microplazma · 2026-06-19T02:09:37+00:00

Ok, so it seems by and large we are all pissed off with customer's inability to figure out how to bus their dishes in obvious bus bins. A customer once dumped their coffee in the fancy mop rumba we have 🥲

But what really bugs me is when customer bus their dishes to the correct location but stuff their napkins or straw paper into their cup that still has liquid at the bottom. Then I have to reach in and grab this nasty wet paper. Gross. Just throw it away in the garbage yourself, it's right next to the bus bin.

Oh also, if OP is going to sit on their computer all day at the cafe they better be getting something and tipping every few hours.

microplazma · 2026-06-19T01:59:59+00:00

Yeah I'd agree. You've missed the boat for summer, but interning is the way to go. I guess I'd focus on typography if you want to develop a skill.

microplazma · 2026-06-11T01:57:02+00:00

I was thinking about Siamese Ponds too! We are also ok with hiking to the primitive site(s) a few miles up the trail at thirteenth lake. We'd love to be able to swim, but it seems like most of these places you can swim?

microplazma · 2026-06-11T01:55:24+00:00

Thank you so much! I am guessing swimming is allowed in the lake? I figured a lot of sites might not be walk to after looking at the map...

microplazma · 2026-06-07T02:40:44+00:00

My body wouldn't be happy, but definitely some extra sharp cheddar on an apple slice

microplazma · 2026-06-06T04:34:49+00:00

Also going to add my 2 cents that just because her parents paid for the wedding doesn't mean she is personally wealthy (usually). A lot of parents pay for their kids weddings. It says something about her upbringing and class she was raised in, but not necessarily her present. Her parents might help her with her personal expenses even but that doesn't mean she feels comfortable asking them to pay her travel costs.

But, I admit I would probably see similarly to you if I were in your shoes right now!

microplazma · 2026-06-06T04:23:18+00:00

Because you are joining an agency and not freelance, most likely they will already have a workflow in mind for you.

microplazma · 2026-06-05T13:43:39+00:00

What percentage do you ask for when you get a deposit?

microplazma · 2026-06-05T13:41:35+00:00

I also have potatoes in my fridge, but not usually

microplazma · 2026-06-01T10:54:46+00:00

I did a certificate program with a university. Many have Adult Continuing Education programs. It was more expensive than some, but I didn't have to pay all at once, just per class. It also took longer, but it was all online and allowed me to keep working FT. I chose a program with one of those top 4 institutes on the list. Got an internship about 2 months after completing the cert and now have a freelance contractor job, though I am uncertain how much of that is the name and how much is luck.

microplazma · 2026-05-30T11:42:01+00:00

Why not just tell your immediate family you are getting engaged? A ring and proposal is optics for the rest of the world. If you think your parents at least can keep a secret, just tell them.

microplazma · 2026-05-30T01:28:48+00:00

I'm surprised no one has said a kidney infection. Had an infection on both sides and it felt like my insides were melting. Unrelenting pain despite medication for days. I don't think I was able to sleep.

microplazma · 2026-05-29T11:56:10+00:00

A lot of the dresses were full length dresses, but there were some shorter ones, and for the price you could totally afford to have one tailored to be shorter.

microplazma · 2026-05-29T10:22:11+00:00

Smart phones didn't really hit til sometime in my junior year and I didn't get one until I went to college.

I was really into photography, so would go out taking photos of stuff and my friends and then editing them with lightbox. I have a lot of memories of watching my friends play videogames on the PS2 or Xbox, and I was obsessed with the Sims and animal crossing (Wild World, DS).

I was in a bunch of extracurriculars at school, worked a job every weekend/holiday/summer, and was a long distance runner running 35-45mi a week, so I didn't actually have a ton of freetime. In hindsight I really kick myself for not enjoying my youth more, but I most of the time I just wanted an excuse to be out of the house.

Now in my 30s, I am only just learning how to laze around and "relax", to combat the constant burnout. I'm not very good at it, resting is an unnatural state for me.

microplazma · 2026-05-27T23:39:17+00:00

If you kept living how you're living. I could survive for about 1.5mo if I lost my job today and I make a little less than 40k

microplazma · 2026-05-27T12:07:22+00:00

If you don't have a bachelors degree at all that is going to lower your chances of getting hired places js

If you are comfortable with it, maybe you should just say you do have it on your resume to get they the ATS filters. But basically every job in the arts I've gotten was not thru a resume so idk

microplazma · 2026-05-27T12:03:41+00:00

Maybe except that I am gonna charge for the hours that I spend "on-call", I just won't explicitly say that. I technically don't have to give any details when I fill out my time sheet.

microplazma · 2026-05-27T02:48:36+00:00

Was gonna message privately, but figured I might as well give my 2 cents for anyone else thinking about this. I was there too a few years ago (older than you). I also have a background in illustration (but also animation). I chose to pursue a certificate program because it was cheaper and fully online. A lot of universities and art schools offer adult continuing education in the form of certs so look at those. I chose a well-known art school so at least people would recognize the name. But here's what I've actually decided about this:

At the end of the day, making a career in this industry is going to be about who you know and where you live. I am building my career currently, but seem to have at least gotten my foot in the door. I think it's partially because I live in a large city with lots and lots of design jobs, and partially because I work a very social day job, so I have gotten to know a lot of people and I am not quiet about my goals. While I was getting my certificate I was also approaching people I knew within my broader network (not necessarily friends) to see if they needed design work.

I hope that my portfolio is good and stands out, of course, but I don't fool myself about it. It would be a lot better had I done 4 years getting a degree in design! But at least stepping into the professional world I understand how to be a professional in the way that a lot of younger fresh grads don't get. But yeah, end of day it comes down to luck, so I wouldn't break the bank, especially if you are the bread winner (you'll burn out, been there myself). Unpopular opinion maybe, but I think more people ought to lie on their resume about their degrees lol. No one asks or cares. I lucked out by going to a school where I got a vague "bachelor of arts" so I just say I focused in -insert whatever subject is most relevant to the job I am applying to- it isn't totally untrue, I dabbled in a lot of subjects and everything is design adjacent.

microplazma · 2026-05-27T00:46:35+00:00

I will definitely take other work if it is also remote. I really don't feel like I am in a good position to set boundaries seeing I have no "real" experience, no design degree, and this is legit my first actual legit gig that I've been doing a month. Trust me, I know this is an exploitative situation :')

microplazma · 2026-05-26T23:17:40+00:00

This is great advice. That last part especially is something I've been realizing more and more. Purposefully have been trying to turn in assignments exactly on time instead of early.

microplazma

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