I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[SouthFayetteFan]

Not comparing to others, I just seriously dislike my small house. Yes it has a kitchen but no I can’t have DS and DH cooking with me because it’s too small. No DS can’t have a sleepover, there is no room. Unfortunately given our finances, and series of unfortunate events, we will never have our mortgage paid off before we retire. That was not the plan, but it is what it is. When we sold our last house and bought this one, the plan was fix it up and move on. Unfortunately again, not working as planned because 5 years in and the house it not worth what we have put into it thanks to fluctuating real estate prices. Fingers crossed for next year.

Totally not directing that comment at you

I definitely hope you guys are able to find what works better for you. More just encouraging people to set their own priorities, avoid comparisons and be content if they find what works for them. Everybody has different goals so it’s important to make sure you are chasing your goals and not somebody else’s.

 

[georgina]

How do you make 1 bathroom work for that many people? We have 11/2 but the half is in an unfinished basement and DS doesn’t like to go down there. Most mornings when I’m in the shower, DS busts in to use the bathroom. Plus, no storage. I would love my own bathroom with a shower, no tub.

Somehow you do it! I'm the youngest of 6 daughters, and until I was 5 we lived in a 4 BR, 1 BA house. I was oblivious to the whole thing, I'm sure showers/baths were taken at night. It was the 60's so everyone had long straight hair, not much time needed in the AM to style it.

 

[Haley R]

@Haley R Along this line, maybe a meal service or other food delivery type service. I can’t speak to newborns but when DS was 1-2 years, I could not cook a meal from scratch because he was always getting into stuff or yelling for me. I did a lot of prep on the weekends (chopping veg, portioning things) and slow cooker meals in order to get dinner ready every day.

Do you have any to recommend? The problem is I’m super picky so I’m not sure if I would like a lot of the recipes. We do plan to freeze a lot of meals before the baby comes like lasagna and casserole type stuff

 

[Haley R]

Along the GC lines-I found a gc from Babies R Us (I know no longer with us... ☹ ) super helpful. So where ever you're going to buy diapers, bottles, etc (Target? Amazon?) I'd request a gc for that. That and food-so helpful when you've just had a baby

The problem is she wants something besides gcs. She wants me to have presents to open lol. She’s old fashioned. I like opening presents more too but only when I can think of things to get

 

[Judique]

All of this talk of houses... I’ll just say that my 1,200 sq ft plus basement I finished myself is good for my family of 4. It has beds, it has bathrooms, it has a TV, it has a kitchen - what more could I need...AND I will have a mortgage paid off while still 35 yrs old

Don’t compare yourself to others, decide what you require and be content when you have it.

You also have all those you love around you 24/7 so you've got it all right now!

 

[tink1970]

Our house is too large for just me (2600 sq ft) but DH will return home when he semi retires in June and the layout is great- a large U with our master suite on one "arm" open living, dining room, kitchen in the middle and an office, 2 bedrooms and a bath (the original 1950 house) on one side. When DD lived here it was perfect-she and her friends could spread out and I'd close my door and not hear them. While I'd love to downsize, I'm always looking toward the future and can visualize the layout/space working for if/when my parents need to move in and/or DD. I always anticipate the worst, and 3 generations, to me, in one house is the worst case scenario-but our house would work well.

I do dream of the modern, up to date townhomes in our "downtown" though...sigh...

Also, in FL fresh and brackish water = critters so I'm super happy we're far enough from the Bayou that it's not the issue it is for our neighbors with million dollar homes on swamp land

 

[wendow]

That’s a good idea! I think her thing is she wants something besides gcs because she could easily give us an amazon gc. She wants me to have something to physically open. I don’t really blame her. It’s more fun to open a present than a gift card. I just can’t think of anything

My mom doesn't like to give GC's either but seriously, sometimes that is just want you need!

 

[tink1970]

The problem is she wants something besides gcs. She wants me to have presents to open lol. She’s old fashioned. I like opening presents more too but only when I can think of things to get

Fair enough-then maybe nursing (if you're doing that) clothes-tops and bras. Or a lovely nightgown OR comfy pj set. Or sassy mules (your feet WILL swell)! A journal or baby book, or just a good trashy novel. Those can all be wrapped

 

[Haley R]

Our house is too large for just me (2600 sq ft) but DH will return home when he semi retires in June and the layout is great- a large U with our master suite on one "arm" open living, dining room, kitchen in the middle and an office, 2 bedrooms and a bath (the original 1950 house) on one side. When DD lived here it was perfect-she and her friends could spread out and I'd close my door and not hear them. While I'd love to downsize, I'm always looking toward the future and can visualize the layout/space working for if/when my parents need to move in and/or DD. I always anticipate the worst, and 3 generations, to me, in one house is the worst case scenario-but our house would work well.

I do dream of the modern, up to date townhomes in our "downtown" though...sigh...

Also, in FL fresh and brackish water = critters so I'm super happy we're far enough from the Bayou that it's not the issue it is for our neighbors with million dollar homes on swamp land

We mostly only get sandhill cranes and other birds. We’ve seen the occasional tiny alligator in the retention ponds but nothing scary. I like all of the little lizards that show up in our lanai. The gnats have been horrible lately though. Our whole backyard is swarmed with them and they’re so small they can get through the lanai screen

 

[Judique]

Informed delivery does not seem to be working today... You mean I really have to wait until this evening to check my mailbox to see what is in it? RATHER I actually have to go to the mailbox, generally if ID does not say anything good I skip going out in this cold weather.

Not working for me either. Twice this week.

 

[Haley R]

Fair enough-then maybe nursing (if you're doing that) clothes-tops and bras. Or a lovely nightgown OR comfy pj set. Or sassy mules (your feet WILL swell)! A journal or baby book, or just a good trashy novel. Those can all be wrapped

Oh those are good ideas! We don’t have a baby book yet. Maybe she can find one to give us. What are sassy mules lol? She mentioned a Barnes and noble gc but maybe I could just give her a couple books I’m interested in so she has something to wrap. I need a pregnancy pillow too but that would be way too big to ship home

 

[platamama]

Just saw a new Chase offer - 10% at McDonald's....max $1

 

[tink1970]

We mostly only get sandhill cranes and other birds. We’ve seen the occasional tiny alligator in the retention ponds but nothing scary. I like all of the little lizards that show up in our lanai. The gnats have been horrible lately though. Our whole backyard is swarmed with them and they’re so small they can get through the lanai screen

Lots of lizards, birds, and monarch butterflies here. I've fished out who knows how many lizards from the pool! I know snakes and gators are around but the (knock on wood) one I've seen in 19 years here was on the side of I-4 when we were on DME about 10 years ago. I'm completely good with that, too!

Oh and a raccoon once since our crazy cat lady next door leaves the cat food out. I was a little discombobulated and ran to see if they are rabies vectors (they are).

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Just saw a new Chase offer - 10% at McDonald's....max $1

Wow - I’ll get right on that!!

 

[elgerber]

I love my AmEx offers, but I have to laugh at this one that is on there now: "Smoothie King: Get 25% back on a single purchase, up to $150."

I mean, my teen daughter enjoys going to Smoothie King with her friends, but that is still a LOT of smoothies!

Are they made with gold dust???

Our house is a modified two story, with a fully finished basement. 3 bedrooms up, with 2 baths, my office (technically a bedroom) and half bath on the main, and a bedroom (workout room now) and full bath in the basement. Also have a workshop for dh. 3 of us live here now, used to be 4. I like the idea of downsizing some day, but right now we seem to be using all our space LOL. We would have to get rid of soooooooooooooooo much stuff if we were to go smaller. It also would probably cost more because costs have increased so much.

 

[tink1970]

Oh those are good ideas! We don’t have a baby book yet. Maybe she can find one to give us. What are sassy mules lol? She mentioned a Barnes and noble gc but maybe I could just give her a couple books I’m interested in so she has something to wrap. I need a pregnancy pillow too but that would be way too big to ship home

Mules are slide on shoes and sassy-you know something that will make you feel fun when you're feeling bloated or hormonal or something-so whatever makes YOU smile-sequins, feathers, satin or who knows, maybe someone on etsy does Disney slide on shoes.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/711124...d09591ac121107dd7b81e3963c4d4:711124780&col=1
They do!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I have a very first world problem. My mom keeps saying she has nothing for me to open for Christmas. I told her them buying that chair is more than enough but she insists it’s for the baby and not me. She has stuff for Dh but I can’t think of a single thing to tell her. The only idea I gave her awhile ago was body wash because she gets me that every year. I seriously can’t think of anything!

ETA: Something besides gcs. She wants me to have presents to open

Not sure what kind of phone you have or if you are into photography, but Moment has great lenses for cell phones. I just ordered a zoom lens and case for my iPhone. With baby coming you'd get great quality, high resolution shots. Just a thought.....

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Do you have any to recommend? The problem is I’m super picky so I’m not sure if I would like a lot of the recipes. We do plan to freeze a lot of meals before the baby comes like lasagna and casserole type stuff

Well, I don’t use any because I just cook everything from scratch lol. But maybe someone else has used a service. Or maybe there is something local to you. There used to be here but I’m not sure they’re in business any more.

 

[Haley R]

Lots of lizards, birds, and monarch butterflies here. I've fished out who knows how many lizards from the pool! I know snakes and gators are around but the (knock on wood) one I've seen in 19 years here was on the side of I-4 when we were on DME about 10 years ago. I'm completely good with that, too!

Oh and a raccoon once since our crazy cat lady next door leaves the cat food out. I was a little discombobulated and ran to see if
they are rabies vectors (they are).

Luckily none of the lizards have fallen into the pool that I’ve seen. We do have a pool guy that comes once a week but I feel like I would’ve seen them before he could clean them out. The only time I saw a big gator was at a hotel here and at the space center.

I would be ticked if my neighbor left cat food out

 

[orangecuse]

@Haley R best thing we have done after each baby is place an order for Cracker Barrel catering pickup. Comes with a large pan of grilled chicken, 3 large sides, and biscuts/corn bread. The food reheats well, its real food thats made and can heat up fast, and its filling. It was like $55ish and lasted us a week the first time! (Less the second time because our toddler was eating too haha). For the second baby my mom got us a $100 GC for CB because she knew how much we liked it and I could order from my hospital bed for pickup on the way home!

@amalone1013 Kohls deal was $229 PLUS15% off PLUS $45 Kohls cash. Right now on Kohls website you could pay $194 (list $259 plus 25% off) and get $30-$40 j Kohls cash (if you top up your spend to $200). Thats pretty competitive with BF!