#Frugal meal planning

[heal-well-blog]

Learn how to enjoy nutritious meals on a budget with these affordable healthy eating tips. Save money while maintaining a balanced diet for better health.

[home--farm]

It's not a thing of beauty but it is a remarkable thing. Every month I sit down for about half an hour and meal plan the whole month and the start of the next one. As I do it, I plan my grocery list, think about what I have that needs to be used up, and how I can bring costs down. This is the menu for November, including one meal out for a celebration and one meal of chicken pot pies bought at my favourite bakery. Veggies are from the garden or the CSA. Fruit is fresh or frozen from the store. Everything else, aside from the taquitos which I get frozen, is from scratch, and usually bulked out with lentils, grains, or dumplings.

I make bread, jam, granola, cakes, buns and pies. Breakfast is typically toast or oatmeal and toppings (there are an infinite variety! Fried egg! Jam! Cinnamon!) but I also often make Scotch oat cakes, not the delicate thin ones but the ones as thick as a duvet they make in the Isles.

I always make extra and freeze in lunch-sized portions, so grabbing lunch is fast and easy. This sounds like a tonne of work but with a crockpot, a bread maker, and an instant pot I find it all totally doable. Because there are three of us, I often just double the recipe and then freeze the extra. I don't fuss about planning breakfast, just keep a few options on hand. Lunches are almost always yesterdinner.

Anyway, I put this up because I used to hear please scream "meal plan to save money" and I was always like BUT HOW?! So here's an example. I figure the average cost per serving of all our meals runs about 44 cents BUT that's because I buy vast quantities of things in bulk and have the space to store it. YMMV. Anyhow, I hope it useful to someone!

[techdriveplay]

How Do I Plan a Road Trip on a Tight Budget?

Planning a road trip can be an exhilarating adventure, but it can also be expensive if not done thoughtfully. Whether you’re looking to explore the rugged outback or take a scenic coastal drive, a well-planned budget can ensure your trip is both memorable and affordable. Here’s how to plan a road trip on a tight budget without sacrificing the fun. Stats to Keep in Mind: Average daily cost of a…

[abilaksh]

Keto Diet on a Budget: Tips for Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank

Introduction The Keto Diet has gained immense popularity for its numerous health benefits, including weight loss and improved energy levels. However, one common misconception about the Keto Diet is that it’s expensive. The truth is that you can enjoy the benefits of a Keto lifestyle without emptying your wallet. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore practical and budget-friendly tips to…

[powerfulkicks]

so many tips for budgeting/being frugal are just twice as hard when you have a disability

"meal plan!" idk if i'll be feeling well enough to cook every day so it's hard to plan for what to eat

"cook in advance!" i can't cook meals for a whole week at once and plus i can't count on that because again idk if ill feel okay to cook at the same time every week

"use cloth napkins and towels!" those need to be washed and folded, i already have trouble doing my laundry

"delivery is expensive, always shop in person!" going to the grocery store can wipe me out for the day.

"base your food shopping on whats on sale that week!" one, allergies are a thing and some people don't have that luxury, two, that's a lot that you have to prep for and that takes energy.

"DIY!" takes time and energy. maybe i could do it by myself but would it be worth all the time i need to take to recover?

i mean none of these are bad ideas or trying to exclude people. most of it is cutting out conveniences. but for disabled people, something that's a convenience for someone can be a necessity to others

[adore-laur]

Dadrry idea: since Harry left his position of head chef and there’s a second baby now, maybe they’re struggling a tiny bit with money. Not too much but things are a little stressful and they have to cancel a holiday maybe? Or one of the girls just doesn’t get a toy she wants or something? And they have to explain it to the child just while Harry picks up a few more shifts

——

Harry handled the finances and was highly aware of each transaction made in the family. With two kids, you both had to be quite frugal, especially since Harry was working fewer hours at the restaurant and you were a stay-at-home mom. While there was never an issue of not having enough money to pay the bills and provide your children with life’s necessities, the prospect of running out still haunted your mind. It was possible that an unforeseeable emergency could snatch a hefty chunk of money away. Additionally, there were other boring adult charges like mortgages, taxes, and monthly subscriptions that all left a bigger deduction with each year that passed.

Then there was the summer trip to Italy happening in two months. The plane tickets had already been bought and gifted for Christmas, and the villa was booked in advance. It was expensive, but the other option of staying in a cramped hotel room for a week was undesirable in all regards. The space and privacy were crucial for your sanity.

Italy was not a cheap travel destination per se. There would be money spent every day on transportation, dining, tourist traps, and whatever else sucked you in with its magnificent European beauty. Indulging in extravagance would be tempting, but if you planned and budgeted ahead of time, maybe the financial repercussions of the trip wouldn't be so deplorable. Your wishful thinking was blatantly deceptive.

After putting the kids to bed, you sat at the kitchen table under the dim chandelier and waited for Harry to finish unloading the dishwasher. His silent presence was comfortable as you pondered the logistics of the upcoming trip. Well, pondered was putting it lightly—you were brooding.

"I can hear you thinking," Harry said, setting the last bowl in the cupboard to his left. He washed and dried his hands, then walked over to you with his cotton pajama pants slung low on his hips. His bare torso was at your eye level, and you fought the urge to bury your face in the warm, chiseled skin there.

"My head is going to explode," you muttered, feeling an imminent migraine pulsing near your temples.

He fell into the chair beside you, exhausted from an eventful Saturday filled with dad duties, and scooted it closer to you. "Why, baby?" he asked, his palms scrubbing down his face as he yawned.

"I'm overthinking everything."

Placing his elbow on the table, he cradled his cheek in his palm and gave you his full focus. "Break it down for me."

"There's mainly one thing." You huffed, deciding to broach the topic before it got swept under the rug. "The Italy trip. Prices are going up, and I'm worried we won't be able to afford going anymore."

Harry's expression was the epitome of flummoxed. "Wait, what? Where is this coming from?"

"You're not working full-time," you explained, "and I'm not raking in any income. I mean, will we be able to financially recover from the trip? What if—"

"Hold on, hold on," he said softly, his eyes pinching shut. "Can I interrupt, please?"

You half-heartedly waved your hand in his general direction, in desperate need of his sensible guidance. "Be my guest."

"Let's backtrack for a second. Honey, why do you think we won't be able to afford it? The biggest costs are already out of the way."

"I just told you why. Think about it, Harry." You tapped the table to emphasize each point. "A meal for four people will probably cost over a hundred dollars. That includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so if we multiply that by the seven days we're there, it's going to be well over a thousand dollars."

"Okay," he said. He didn't seem to have anything to add after that, so you continued.

"Then there's transportation." You groaned, staring up at the ceiling. "We still have to decide if we're renting a car. If not, we'll have to pay for a bus, or a train, or a taxi. That's going to add up very quickly."

"Mm-hmm." Harry had a dopey look on his face, a hint of a smile tugging the corners of his lips up. Whatever. You were being realistic, and he was in a dreamland where money grew on trees.

You carried on, getting tangled in the vines of your brain's dense jungle. "And then what about all the sightseeing and activities? That's the most expensive aspect." You shrugged helplessly. "I was recently searching for free things to do in Tuscany. I guess there are a lot of buildings we can look at, but I don't know if the kids would enjoy it."

Harry nodded along. When he realized you were done with your long-winded explanation, he lifted his eyebrows and said, "It's a good thing we can spoil them with the raise I got yesterday."

"And also—what?" You stopped abruptly, catching your breath. Did he just...?

Harry stood and bent down to kiss your forehead in that sweet way of his—gentle and imploring, like he wanted to caress your brain and will it to calm down. "I got a raise yesterday," he repeated nonchalantly, nuzzling his nose into your hair.

"Why didn't you tell me?" you demanded, lightly smacking his shoulder.

"I'm telling you right now. I wanted to wait until we had a moment to ourselves." He crouched in front of you, holding your knees just like he'd done when you told him you were pregnant for the second time. The memory was so vivid that it almost left you stunned with emotion. "Five percent pay raise. We're going to be just fine." His simple smile was remedial. "We are not canceling this trip."

You exhaled, releasing all of your worries into the air, the pounding in your temples dissipating. "Why didn't you stop me from rambling on?"

"Because it's healthy to speak those types of thoughts aloud instead of letting them simmer," Harry replied like the perfect husband he was.

You cupped his cheeks and kissed him deeply, pouring all of your love and gratitude into it. "I'm so proud of you," you whispered against his mouth. He savored your words by humming and sliding his tongue across yours for a brief second. "I appreciate the hard work you put into making our little family happy. And thank you for making this vacation possible."

"Wanted to spoil my girls," Harry murmured, craning his neck to kiss you more. His wet lips pulled at yours, greedy for their pliancy.

"Are you going to pick up more hours at the restaurant?" you asked in between the sounds of lip-smacking and heavy breathing. Something about him at night, in the dimly lit kitchen, with you as his sole focus, was igniting that secret fuse only he could play with.

"Shhh..." His fingers dug into your waist as he lifted you off the chair. Your legs and arms wrapped around him, warmth flooding right under your skin like wildfire. "No more work talk. I want some alone time with my wife before a hungry baby wakes us up."

You giggled and bit his bottom lip in excitement before he carried you to the bedroom.

Miraculously, your six-month-old gave the both of you forty minutes of uninterrupted time to roll around in the sheets.

When you went to sleep later that night, visions of Tuscany's hillside vineyards and swimming in the vast sea erased your concerns. As did the unequivocal vision of the man beside you making precious memories with his babies.

With Harry, there was no need to sweat the small stuff. His eyes were set on the most important thing—family.

——

[campy-mccampface]

Bus Pass: Chef Heimlich McMuesli

Why are you like this.

Name: Heimlich McMuesli

Age: Early Fifties

Residence: His camping edition Volkswagen Bus

Origin: California, USA

Occupation: Chef, also grows fruits and veggies for farmers’ markets on the side

Orientation: Pansexual

Significant other(s): None, but several free love associates

Heimlich McMuesli is the resident cook at Camp Kidney. He’s a self-proclaimed vegetarian and his tendency to push this onto the scouts makes him unpopular at meal times. That said, he seems genuinely to care for them and only wants his idea of what’s best for them, (for better or worse.) He also doubles as a guidance counselor to them, utilizing New Age child therapist techniques and going to admirable pains to help campers such as Edward and Gretchen find peace. Per his own admission, he was an angry child and wants to put that behind him. He is however still short on patience at times, holier than thou, and very judgmental.

Biography: Canon and Headcanon

Heimlich was born to veteran hippie parents in California, not far from Prickly Pines. They ran a little farm and also sold art, clothing and handicrafts for income. He was an only child and thus was kept very busy by his parents helping them with their work. This lack of free time and constant delegation of chores made him very sour for a few years, but he mellowed out and quickly became a little clone of his parents, fully embracing hippie life and abstention from meat by the time he entered middle school.

As an adult, Heimlich began backpacking more often, especially in Peru, and his means of transport, a Volkswagen Bus fitted for camping, became his steadiest home. His parents passed away back in the States while he was away, (though he had been regularly in touch and visited plenty,) and he was for a while very aggrieved, but recovered. Still, the old McMuesli Farm made him mournful just thinking about it, and he was increasingly interested in his own mobility. He sold the farm shortly after inheriting it and didn’t look back. Heimlich took several odd jobs as he went up and down the country, never staying rooted in one place but making many, many friends, (and free lovers too.)

His travels brought him back where he started in California, and his newest gig was the chef for a summer camp belonging to the Bean Scouts of America. His ideas of sustenance were… very untraditional for a crowd used to canned pork and beans, but no one else was applying for the job, especially due to its pittance salary. McMuesli, who was frugal, adept at self-support and needed no room and board, was able to make it work, and so he was hired (with much grumbling and mockery, to his face) by Scoutmaster Lumpus.

By the time of the show, McMuesli has been the camp cook for five years or so. This is far and away the longest he’s stayed in a single place since the sale of his parents’ farm, and although he has yet to say so aloud, he probably plans to stay even longer. The Bean Scouts of America, who are chronically cash-strapped, are now his biggest backers; any replacement would surely want a raise. This newfound sense of tenure-esque invincibility has affected Heimlich profoundly; whereas before he would serve meat at least three times a week in return for… being allowed to complain, he’s completely remade the food curriculum to what he sees as fit. He also has a megalomanic penchant for confiscating junk food contraband, complete with security CCTV and a bank vault. He’s… a character.

Not long after his arrival, McMuesli started his “Temper Tee-Pee” program. Slinkman, who we’ve seen is chronically overstretched, no doubt was thrilled at the prospect of some of his counseling duties being shouldered. He and McMuesli generally get along well, though the former can find Heimlich grating in his worst moments. McMuesli tried once to confiscate Slinkman’s usual diet soda, and only once. I won’t go into detail, but if you watch Slinkman “go ballistic” in “Slugfest” it was more or less a repeat. After which, Slinkman’s necessary daily caffeine was left unmolested and the two agreed never to speak of it again. (Where was I? Oh yeah, the tee-pee.)

The Temper Tee-Pee program, if you haven’t seen the eponymous episode, is basically a child therapy program run by McMuesli. Campers who have outbursts are issued “temper tickets” and join McMuesli in a bespangled, hippie-dippie little tent that reeks of incense, is full of Native American paraphenalia that comes off as a bit tacky in retrospect depending on McMuesli’s heritage, and has beanbag chairs that suck you in like quicksand. (No, it’s not considered a punishment. Officially.) Here, Heimlich does… pretty admirable work of trying to understand campers’ pain and resolving it. His methods are unconventional, (“and he smells it, too,” says the little Edward voice in my head,) but they work and aren’t patronizing to a scout. (Granted, Edward and Gretchen found the peace he wanted them to find by fantasizing about running him down with a roadroller, but the end justified the means: they chilled out and learned to vibe.)

Again, though, he’s not a pillar of nirvana himself. While trying to teach the Jelly trio how to make tofu frankfurters, he leaves in a huff to backpack in Peru, and leaves the whole camp chefless. This would be unacceptable anywhere else, but as has been said, McMuesli’s just that untouchable. Another occasion sees him get VERY worked up and out of line when the Jellies insinuate eating broccoli is like cutting down trees. And, when Scoutmaster Lumpus reminds him he’s trying to gain weight, McMuesli flees in hysterics, exclaiming that the moose is “not of this world.”

He’s something else. But then again, so’s everyone in this show.

[girlietips]

My summer plans🌊☀️

Thought I would tell you how I plan on glowing up during the summer

Summer is my fav time because I have more free time because I am still a student and I get to really focus on myself and my goals.

First things first I am going to try cycle syncing for the first time. I want to plan my month around what stage I’m in and do different workouts. This is just a test run to see how my body likes it.

I plan on meal prepping more consistent. I am going to have everything I eat that week already in my fridge by Sunday. This way I can meet all my macros everyday.

10k+ steps everyday. I finally cracked and got my frugal self to buy an Apple Watch so I am going to make sure I fill my rings everyday.

The hygiene is going to be on point. Nails and hair always done. It’s called hot girl summer for a reason.

I’m going to make sure I hangout with my besties twice a week and go on a solo date once a week.

Studying my German every single day for at least 30 mins.

I’m currently looking for a cute little part time job to earn extra cash to put alway for school.

I am going to volunteer and do some community service.

I’m going to get outside and catch some sun (with sunscreen ofc) the weather is too good to be inside.

Reading a book a week at least. Lots of self help and a few classics.

Decluttering and redecorating to make my life look like a Pinterest board.

Actually taking photos when I am out so I have memories.

Have a little summer fling. Nothing serious but I have focused on myself so much the past few years and I haven’t dated anyone. It has been really healing but I think I have learned a lot of boundaries and self love that I am ready to go on a few dates.

Anyway I’ll keep you updated if I remember. You guys should let me know your summer glow up plans I’d love to hear them.

[atxxzist]

broken | c.s (07)

prev // next // series m.list

pairing: choi san x reader

word count: 6.3k

warning: suggestive? dk what else but lmk

there's been a string of coincidences.

despite your efforts to make sure, you do not, by any means, have to interact with yeosang because of last week's embarrassing fiasco--even going as far as sitting at a different seat, which is new since some students dropped the course after the second exam--fate has other plans.

coincidences as in running into him at the bookstore on monday when you were just looking to buy some stickers, glimpsing across after humming a tune under your breath and catching his gaze in yours.

coincidences like bumping right into his chest on your way to another class. you've never even seen him on that route before.

and more coincidences such as running into him at the grocery store after you have officially decided you're tired of cheap ramen and takeouts you cannot afford.

it's awkward when you pass him by one of the aisles, not really worried he's going to start something given he's been pretty good at acting like you two don't know each other, but crossing path that many times in a week is gonna raise a few questions in one's head.

but no coincidence is worse than him behind you during checkout after the cashier having totaled up the items, an embarrassing sink in your chest realizing you're short by a dollar and a few cents.

you study all the ingredients you have picked out for a simple meal of kimchi fried rice, eventually deciding to sacrifice the pack of garlic.

the young lady working the register has a sorry look in her eyes, but nods compliantly before removing the item.

you're quick to pay and bag your stuff, gaze trained on them the entire time because you refuse to look up only to find yeosang staring back at you, given how much coincidences has plagued your daily routine as of lately.

now, he knows that not only are you a snappy bitch but a broke one at that. great.

well, it's not like you're completely penniless considering you do have a job now that allows for you to indulge in any impulsive buying if that's to happen, but you're trying to be frugal and have limits.

but it looks like you have underestimated your budget this time.

"hey!"

your head snaps around at the voice that came from behind, the bag in your hand hitting the side of your leg with a swing.

"you forgot this."

you can only stare dumbfoundedly as you watch yeosang jog up to you, jaw dropping even more when you see the pack of garlic you had left behind, in his clutch.

"here."

he takes your hand and forces it into your grasp, a simple smile on his face after.

"one of the best part to kimchi fried rice."

the air goes quiet, and after a few more seconds of staring longer than you should, with a shake of your head and a clear of your throat, you can only muster up a pathetic, "t-thanks."

~

the container in your hand looks like a mistake. this is a mistake. maybe just because kang yeosang paid for you doesn't mean you should be standing in front of his and yunho's door with some of the leftover you made.

it's ridiculous. you were just giving him hell, all raggedy breath and attitude not even that long ago.

thinking you're out of your mind, you sigh, concluding you'll just give it to mingi and shuffle your feet around to head back, when the creak to the door behind you is heard, your entire body freezing in place.

"hey?"

the voice that doesn't belong to yunho makes you squeeze your eyes shut before cursing internally.

"hey..." you turn to greet, a nervous laughter leaving.

he looks about the same as you saw him an hour ago, except he has a backpack on and like he's about to head somewhere.

you catch the way his gaze falls down onto the item in your hand, a sudden urge to hide it but it's already too late, awkwardly fidgeting before deciding to give yourself away.

"i-i uhm... i made this for you. f-for earlier."

also because you're nosy and you did peeked in his basket and saw he only bought snacks.

a part of you think he might laugh, maybe roll his eyes and shoo you away for having taken such a small gesture as something more. but he doesn't.

he accompanies the small smile with a quiet chuckle and mumbles a thank you, a few seconds of silence following until it hits you you've yet to even give it to him.

"oh, here." you stretch an arm.

"perfect. i was just about to go out."

"to class?" you ask.

"work."

"oh..."

he steps out into the hall and you watch him shut the door behind, backing up a little to make some space.

"so, thank you, once again," he says, gesturing the container in the air.

"you're welcome," you reply, a shy color in your voice.

now... what the hell was that.

it's not completely dark yet, but the sun is starting to set, a shade of orange painting the sky when you return from work, just about to enter the dorm building when you hear your name from the distance.

you're surprised to see yeosang once again jogging up to you, observing as he stops in front and hands you the container that is now empty.

"i was gonna return this, but seeing you're here, i guess i should just do it now." he rubs the back of his neck with his free hand, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"oh... thanks," you reply, going on to retrieve it back, eyes quick to steal a glance at the more cautious body language that is new on him. you think it's definitely a lot more fitting and even looks natural for someone of yeosang's appearance.

"i should uh... go back." he throws one of his hands back sloppily, and you can't help but to let a chuckle loose, nodding to his words.

"i'll see you then." he bids a small, awkward looking wave and you do the same, biting back another chuckle.

you wait until he's out of sight, glaring down to study the container, taking notes of the fact that he even rinsed it, shaking your head and making your way back inside, thinking about the amount of coincidences lately.

~

"hey, sorry," you start, ready to tell the head of black hair that he's in your way blocking the path to the seat you have your eyes on, when he turns around and you gasp inaudibly, finding that it's yeosang.

his hair no longer the shiney blonde strands that made him extra glowy you were so used to seeing, but now a shade of black that looks just as nice, probably even better.

there's a pair of cosmetic glasses he has on and his hair is slicked back behind his ear, though his outfit of choice doesn't seem to be much different, but it's only been two days and he's managed to change this much.

you can't say you don't like it, though.

you snap out of your thoughts, staring at him longer than you should when he's already moved out of the way. you give a light head bow in exchange and trail to the seat closest to the wall.

the distance between you and him is a reminder of the state you guys were in before whatever happened on friday that's now making you feel wrong, even a tad guilty about closing yourself off like this.

but when you see him take a seat, not much color in his expression that tells he might feel the same, you brush the thought off.

maybe this is how it's meant to be. you in your own corner, and yeosang in his.

~

it's been getting harder to catch up with mingi and yunho, the image of you three together a rare sight these days. with their classes, schedule, and now job, it's a blessing if you even get to hear one of their voices before you're off to bed.

the seats that would usually be occupied by them are now empty because your friends have turned to men who also needs some source of income.

"this seat taken?"

you look up from your laptop, your breath cutting short in your throat at the person standing before you.

maybe after all, you're meant to get out of that corner, and yeosang is to do the same.

you shake your head and follow with a watchful gaze as he nods and settles his things down before occupying the seat in front of you.

"i hope you don't mind," he adds.

you shake your head again. "no, you're fine."

that's when you quickly scan the area, your eyes and nose too busy being stuck to your assignments, you didn't even notice how packed the cafe has got, all tables and seats nearly taken. except yours and one close to the front belonging to a couple that looks like they're about to lunge forward and rip each other's ears off.

yeosang didn't seem to have much of a choice.

you return to your assignments, at first a bit weirded out with something uneasy clouding your judgment, but as the clock ticks, yeosang too immersed in his own frustration and you in your own, the only time you even sneak in a glance is when he gets up to get a drink--it becomes a little easier.

hours go by and you know it's time to head back; signs of the place emptying, the quiet chitters around dwindling down to none and the street lights outside illuminating a glow you can make out even from the side.

shutting down your laptop and going to search for your bag, the commotion grabs the attention of yeosang, neck craning to study you curiously.

"going back?" he speaks, your eyes prying away from your belongings to glare at him, replying with a simple nod.

he takes in the almost vacant surrounding and closes his textbook.

"i probably should, too."

the next few minutes are filled with disruptive noises of you and him scrambling to get your things together; you being done before him, wondering if it's okay to leave first.

but considering you're both headed the same direction, it's only proper etiquette to wait. weird you would ever even think about courtesy in the presence of kang yeosang.

it's a lot of awkward and hesitant yielding to one another; whether who should exit out the door first or be the one to lead the way, but you both make it out to the humid air after all, shoulders accidentally brushing against the other and a clog in your throats as you think of how to break the ice.

"i uh... i never thanked you properly for what you did the other day," you break the silence.

he laughs lightly, one of his hand that hangs onto the strap of his backpack making him more attractive than usual.

"you did. plenty of times already, so don't worry about it. it was really nothing. plus, i'm the one who never properly thanked you for the meal you made. so here's me offering my thank for one of the best meals i've had ever since i got here."

you chuckle. "one of the best? i'm not sure if i can say that to something i kind of just threw together last minute."

"well, it was certainly very good. makes me miss my mom's homemade cooking."

a small smile is brought upon your lips at that, the uneasiness once there disappearing before you even know it.

"ah... where are you from?" you ask, cautiously.

"pohang. about three hour ish from here. you? you don't look like someone who's from here either."

you scoff at the comment.

"pfft. i hope that means something good. but even if i tell you, you probably won't know. it's a small town, very quiet and a very small population."

he shrugs. "maybe. but i'll let you know, i aced my geography test back in high school."

"that's because you're good at everything you do."

as much as you can't stand him, initially turned off by the smugness and prideful attitude, it's not like he doesn't have the rights to it.

he has all the brains and qualities to back it up; a very capable person in whatever he puts his mind to (you learned that from just sharing a class with him), which is what makes it all more annoying.

"hmm..." he mumbles, lips shut together. "how did you do on the second exam?"

the question has you snapping your head, coming into view with the side of his face, but more than happy to answer knowing you put your blood and sweats into it after running him off because if you didn't, you were for sure going to be fucked.

"much better than last time. i got eighty-four percent."

an entire sixteen percent from before. not an a, but you still consider it a win since the class quite literally makes you want to gauge your eyes out and it's only an introductory course.

"oh, nice," he comments, and you can't help but to question the sincerity, if kang yeosang really thinks an eighty-four percent is impressive. you're convinced that's a score he'd get on a bad day.

"compared to last time, i missed one question," he adds, and the side eye you give him at that is not missed.

"must be so hard to be you."

he laughs, the sound ringing in your ear that brings out the tiniest smile but you don't dwell too long on the comfortableness of the situation, instead shifting to the fact that you can see the dorm building from the distance.

the short walk there is drowned by the uproar of cars and noises of the night, both your footsteps still somewhat audible on the lonely sidewalk soon overtaken by the few students roaming outside at this hour.

"i-i'll see you then..." you turn to him, being the one to initiate the parting. "goodnight."

yeosang opens his mouth to say something but decides against it, settling on a goodnight in return, watching as you walk off.

"may i?"

your head rose up at the familiarity of the voice, one you recognize from hearing just the day before, nodding before moving your eyes back to a question you've been stuck on for the last twenty minutes.

usually, you would fret over how often you're running into him these days (or him running into you, that is) outside of class, but his presence has actually been quite consoling in the place of your two best friends and roommate who has found another activity to obsess over.

you're either spending your days suffocating under the amount of assignments and studying to do, or at the grade school a couple minutes from campus, smothered by a bunch of children.

it's calming and needed to come out, surround yourself with other people and their stories; the beauty and wonders life has to offer, so you're not so stuck in the small space of your dorm room counting down the exact moment you lose your sanity.

the only two hours of being in yeosang's company goes by fast, you shooting up at the same speed when he stands up, grabbing at his backpack.

you're unable to help the eyebrow that raises of confusion on your face but equally as quick to bat away, afraid you just might give off the impression of wondering why he's leaving so early.

he doesn't say anything as well, your eyes only meeting his momentarily before he excuses himself and leaves.

if it wasn't him, it would've been you anyways. you have work in an hour.

~

you both have enough manners to at least give one another a simple smile on the way to your seat, the distance still there but you feel a lot more relaxed this time around.

you don't notice yeosang's gaze lingering for a few seconds too long, a faint smirk cracking at the corner of his mouth when the professor starts going off about the third exam in two weeks and he sees the way your eyes roll.

it's the second time that day you completely miss his gaze that stays on you a little too long, only catching them that tries to act aloof when you finally look up to gather your things.

you're the first to leave this time around, and if it wasn't you, it would've been him. yeosang has work in thirty minutes.

~

you don't see yeosang that much for the rest of the week. aside from the short cafe stay that lasted as long as only two hours, it's not until monday again that he's seated across from you till the place empties, the chitters dwindling down, and the street lights coming on.

you realize just how much you miss mingi and yunho. it's not like you didn't miss them before, but having yeosang just here even in silence, it's comforting in a way that you don't feel so lonely.

other than them, you only have yuna. you know she would be willing if you ask, but you don't want to take time out of her day knowing she has shit to do.

you'd just feel like a burden.

but you've come to terms this is what it's suppose to feel like; to stay away. to reframe from seeking the only source you used to dull your misery with. because honestly, it would be so easy.

it would be so easy to forget everything just to feel better temporarily... but, but... you don't want temporary. you remind yourself.

"i'd used to find yunho knocked out when i return, but now he's even coming home later than me sometimes," yeosang is the one to start this time.

you don't think you'd deny the chance to walk with him, there just hasn't been many... chances.

"yeah. him and mingi. they're too busy these days trying to stack their wallets."

a light chuckle falls from yeosang, him turning to glare at you.

"and you?" he asks, the question makes your eyes fleet to him before returning them to the path ahead.

"what about me?"

"i don't know. you were just always around them, so i just wondered..."

how you're doing without them; how you're doing being by yourself most of the times. he's noticed.

your mouth drops to a small frown, not that he would be able to see in the dimness of the night.

"i could never be upset at them for living their life; do what they gotta do. after all, they've done things for me i couldn't repay in this lifetime."

now, you're starting to feel like mingi when he gets all sentimental over something that isn't even that deep.

yeosang hums under his breath and the few seconds of silence that follows after is broken by your additional comment.

"and i think it's good to be by yourself sometimes, you know," you try to convince him, in denial of the loneliness the past couple of days that has been made slightly better when he comes around.

he smiles, nodding in response.

"yeah, i understand. it honestly feels so freeing."

you snicker, yeosang lifting a brow as he looks your way.

"what?"

you shake your head, holding back another round that threatens to release.

"nothing. just, it's so funny and true... coming from you."

the confusion on him stays the same, so you continue, "you're kind of closed off, that's what i'm trying to say."

"closed off?" he repeats after. "i'm cautious, but i'm not sure if i would use closed off."

"cautious as in telling a poor girl off in a class she's already struggling with?" you tease, your voice a different color you didn't even know was possible.

the reminder flashes yeosang's mind back to the scene.

you’re working on a simulation assignment, stuck on a step you cannot get past although you already double checked everything. a quick glance to the front shows your professor already occupied with assisting other students, so you bite the bullet.

seeing as yeosang is already done with his, maybe he can help you out on just this very teeny step; a favor.

but he nearly snide; click his tongue and puffs out an air of annoyance like you’re a mere inconvenience when you just muttered a small “hey…” with the lightest tap on his arm.

“if you’re already struggling with something as simple as this, maybe you should reconsider your choice of major, princess.”

a creeping red blush overtakes his cheeks and you giggle at the victory, having thought before that it was practically impossible for kang yeosang to get so flustered.

the clockwork spins in his head as he tries to think of how to counter back, eventually finding the perfect outlet to kick you down a notch or two.

"okay, in my defense, i did tried to make up for it by offering my help for the exams."

it's your turn to be flustered, suddenly reminded again of the fiasco that just makes you cringe now. you might had been a little overdramatic.

“you won’t ever have to worry about wasting your time on someone like me ever again.”

yeosang smirks at the defeat on you, biting back the smugness he so badly wants to rub in your face.

"sorry about that," you say, a softness in your tone that has yeosang pleasantly surprised. "i was not having the best day and kind of took my frustration out on you."

he nods, a hum of acknowledgement. "i forgive you. say, i was feeling short as well so i might have let an unnecessary comment slip or two."

he actually felt quite awful after what happened. you were testing his patience but he could've gone at it differently. he knows this shy, reserved act of yours is just you being you. always sticking to the corners and far side of the classroom to avoid attention, and always just cowering behind your friends because it's just who you are.

but he's gotten so used to reacting this way; the wall he has built not allowing him to back down, almost like a defense mechanism.

you only nod in response, a simple smile that wants show itself, never having thought the night would wind up like this. because it feels so easy all of a sudden being by his side.

the subtle glances and bouts of comfortable silence so unlikely not even a few weeks ago, but now is the current situation. you don't even remember the trip back being this long.

but under the shining moonlight that casts a ray on him, he's absolutely beautiful. beautiful in a way you're not used to; in a way you're not sure if you have the word for it.

it just feels... different. everything with him.

it makes you feel conflicted, able to sense the wall he puts up whenever you come around, full of wonder about who really is the real kang yeosang at this point.

and with the curiosity plaguing your mind, taking advantage of the circumstances, you ask with an attentive glare permanently stuck on him, "you said you're cautious... can i ask what do you mean by this?"

he meets your eyes only momentarily before prying away, muscles that seems much more tense, you're starting to retract from ever asking such a thing, about to take it back but then he speaks.

"i don't know. can i trust you?" his tone surprisingly lighthearted, after all assuring you a little that maybe it's okay to go on.

"i'm very trustworthy," you answer, the same color in your voice that brings out a rather short laughter from him.

"i'll tell you, if..."

"if?" you question.

"you get a ninety percent or more on the final exam."

you nearly scoff. "is that a challenge?"

"with a reward," he adds, an amused smile that is quick to fade. "though, i'm not sure if you can consider my sob story a reward ."

you light up with even more interest at that, a smirk on your lips as you go to say coyly, "oh... a sob story? even better."

he returns an even more smug smirk. "no tutoring for you, though. sorry, i'm busy the rest of the semester."

a blow leaves you, mumbling through your breath, "fair enough."

"so it's a deal?"

"it's a deal."

you go back that night, plopped down on your bed and staring at the plain white ceiling, something bubbling up in the deep of your chest.

and for the first time in a while, you open the yellow spiral notebook again. you don't even remember the exact date of the last entry you wrote, just that whatever it was and whoever it was about might make you sick, flipping it over to a new blank page.

entry #6

i think i'm beginning to understand or at least i can see why yunho and mingi would like yeosang so much. still, i am wary and haven't forgot our 'history' if you can call it that. but something tells me i might get to see a different side of him soon. let's hope.

the next couple of days continues in a similar fashion of small, faint smiles whenever you'll see yeosang in class or at the cafe. your routine starting to solely consists of classes, work, the occasional short meetings with him and the rare phone calls with your friends.

but you don't even care that there's barely time for a hobby or that your social life has been cut down to practically kang yeosang. because the semester is coming to an end in less than two weeks and you can't wait to start planning something for the summer with mingi and yunho.

"doing anything for the summer?" yeosang asks; the irony of it all--his figure that is next to you rather than in front feeling like a new experience even though it's not.

it's packed today, two faces you have never seen before taking the seats across, the spot next to you left stranded before he showed.

"i was talking about it with mingi and yunho. we're looking forward to planning something, just not sure what it is, yet."

he hums an understanding, nodding his head.

"you?" you return the question.

he shrugs, mouth that droops in uncertainty.

"maybe visit my parents, i'm not sure either."

his answer brings back the thoughts of your aunt and uncle; how long you haven't seen them, and that you do often wonder how they're doing. if they will be happy to see you again for the summer, until deciding it's best to just not dwell on it too long before it upsets you.

but for now at least, you think you're okay. talking to yeosang has gotten easier, and the routine though dull and tedious, doesn't bring you pain. and once again, you're starting to think you can do this.

even work doesn't go too bad, the children more disciplined than usual and you even get a compliment from one of the teachers about how well you're doing.

you actually, genuinely, feel happy today.

a little too happy that when there's a knock at the door, you don't even process the time nor consider even for a second that it's way too early for it to be yuna.

when you pry the door open, the almost invisible smile on you drops and you feel your body going into fight or flight mode at the last person you wish to see. the one person responsible for all the hardship and pain you've been through ever since you got there.

"san..." you mutter, registering him aware as he picks his head up from leaning against the wall, the drowsy look on him changing into a sleazy smile when he sees it's you.

"y/n," he mumbles, and you hate, hate how it sounds to ear; a shiver that runs cold through your entire system.

because you were doing so good you could've swear you almost forgot about him. of course he crossed your mind here and there but the routine has kept you so busy, you didn't think it would feel this demeaning just seeing him again.

didn't think all it would take is for choi san to show up at your freaking door for you to realize all the progress made these past weeks has gone to nothing.

"what are you doing here?" you ask, cold and guarded.

he rubs at his eyes, posture no longer slouching and keeps his glare on you, completely dodging the question.

"may i come in?"

you don't get the chance to say no; him brushing past you that has your mind in utter daze. but if not for the strong reek of alcohol that travels up your nose, you would've even foolishly think that after all this time of silence from his end, he came because he finally thought of you.

it didn't bother you as much that when you stopped communicating, he never tried either. probably because you know he doesn't give a shit about you.

but how are you supposed to feel now, knowing you're the person he seeks out when he's under the influence of something else and his judgment is clouded.

you stand in front of the opened door thinking of what to do before closing it shut, afraid someone might catch the scene, though you're really more afraid of being in the same space as san even in his drunken state, knowing he could have the upper hand if he wants to.

you walk reluctantly to stand in the middle of the room, body so tense as you stare down at him, his legs hanging off the edge of your bed, back stuck to the sheet and his face lasering the ceiling although his eyes are closed.

"san, you can't be here. yuna will be back soon," you lie, knowing your roommate won't be showing up anytime soon for at least another three hours or so.

san groans at that, sluggishly rubbing at his eyes again.

"i know, angel. i know. i just... miss you and wanted to come by."

your breath fumes. unbelievable that even in this state, he's lying and trying to charm you.

you don't even realize how many steps you have taken forward and how much closer you are to him now, until he suddenly yanks you by the wrist, a gasp leaving your mouth as your body land on his, chest to chest.

the scent of booze on him even more prevalent at this range, a gulp moving down your throat seeing that lazy smirk on him that paints his half-asleep expression, a sensation of butterflies in your stomach and something much more you know you shouldn't be experiencing. at least not anymore.

you're quick to push yourself off, a natural instinct of defense as you're sat on the bed, scooting away until you're merely at the corner and far away from him.

a whine leaves him, feeling only the empty air in your place. he sits up and locks gaze with you, his eyebrows pinching together added on with a frown when he notices the distance.

"do you not want me here?" he pouts.

you absolutely do not want him here, but instead shifts the topic entirely.

"how did you even get here?" you ask, a worrisome tone you'd probably deny. "you didn't drive while drunk, did you?"

he shakes his head, his manners resembling that of a child. eyes droopy and sulky lips like he might knock out any moment.

"i took a cab here."

"oh," you say in relief, standing up to take your phone out of the pocket of your shorts. "i'll call one for yo--"

the phone in your hand drops to the hard flooring, his strong hold again as he grabs for your wrist, this time instead of landing on him, your back hits the sheet and he hovers over, trapping you in between his arms as you nearly hiss in response.

"san!" you say with all the bitterness in the world, pushing at his chest but he's unmoved. though he's naturally thin, you can tell he worked out often; all his muscles on display the result of it.

"shhh..." he shushes you, the way your body naturally stops at the request almost too uncanny, as if you're drawn to him.

"just want to make you feel good," he says, hot breath trickling your skin and you quite literally have to disregard the unpleasant alcohol that lingers as his scent when he goes to place a kiss on your jawline.

it's so wrong. everything about this. san in your room, on top of you in a position he's been in before and your hands that creeps from his chest to his shoulders rubbing at them as he moves from your jawline to your neck.

you can hear mingi and yunho screaming at you in your head, tell you you're about to make the biggest mistake of your life, but all you do is moan when san pulls at one of your legs and jerks himself forward to line his crotch with yours.

you can feel his hard on poking at one of your thighs, your clutch on his shoulders that only continues to tighten as he begins to rock back and forth slowly practically dry humping you all while leaving the sloppiest and wet kisses on the skin of your neck.

and it must've go on for an entire minute or so. until suddenly, something just comes over you. call it an awakening or whatever, but it indeed feels like jolting up and getting hit in the face.

you are so stupid. so fucking stupid.

you push him off harshly, standing up to fix your clothes, his elbows planting the mattress as he looks up in utter confusion at the abrupt change of mind.

he squints his eyes and watch you walk to the door, swinging it open and waiting in your spot, turning to glare at him.

"you need to go. now." the last part almost sounding like a growl, fear and all kinds of shame taking over, because if he stays here any longer, you're afraid of what the outcome might be.

afraid and at the same time feeling so pathetic about the amount of power he has over you, even in such a state where he isn't even one hundred percent there, his mind mostly blurred by whatever he consumed before he got here.

you don't even want to think about what he'll do (or what you'll do) if he shows up in his default state of mind. a dark thought you hope won't ever see the light of coming true.

the same pout and cute puppy eyes is his current expression, standing up to walk to the door, you can't help but to recoil when he gets closer, all senses in your body ready to fight whatever he's gonna pull.

but he doesn't attempt to charm you or do any further resisting, only mumbling with his words slurred in a low tone.

"okay. if you want me to go, i'll go."

he steps out, his face sulky and sad, you have to shut the frame immediately because you don't want to start feeling bad for doing what you're supposed to.

you started feeling quite shitty again, the aftermath of san's visit was all it took for the sensation of anxiety and doom to make a reappearance.

every time you saw or talked to either mingi or yunho, the guilt that sits there is strong. that you would even allow san to come into your room; let him stay in a position he should never be in again, and let him kissed in you places that just makes you feel dirty now.

the bar is so low and he continuously underperforms, over and over again. you realize all this stress, all this time going into worrying what comes after the drunken visit, is just a waste of time.

because choi san doesn't give a crap about you, and that's a fact. you don't even think he remembers being in your room that night. he might've said your name, but it was probably because you were the closest and most convenient girl to go to.

and... you're also the stupidest, you bet.

but it's a waste of time to worry because you don't even cross his mind. not when he's sober. almost a month long of no communication between you two and even a stupid drunken visit that you deserve an apology from at least, doesn't budge him a little.

but with the last week of classes rolling in and exams sucking every bits of sanity left, you don't even have the capacity to think about choi san for a moment.

and you're especially not going to mull over him when the score for your computer class is finally updated, a rare feeling of excitement and joy bubbling when you see you have got a ninety-one percent, the deal you have made with yeosang to be fulfilled.

but at this point, you're beginning to think happiness or even joy isn't for you. any time an ounce of these feelings creep up, it is always shortly countered by misery.

a notification from your phone that sets off, a quick glance to it sours your entire mood. and you can tell that this time, he isn't drunk, his mind straight as ever when having sent the text.

san: hey, i'm so sorry i haven't been reaching out. have honestly been so busy with the semester ending and all that shit. but i suddenly thought of you, and i was just wondering if you want to come over? sometime tomorrow? 💕

next // series m.list

taglist: @sorryimananti-romantic @revehosh @cookiechristie @avantalem @atiny68 @belletiny @shibera @mochibabycakes @justineasian @eastleighsblog @baguette-atiny @crimson-mia @yeosxxx @m4rsluv @sleepychimm @atz-diary @diorwoo @naiify @becauseiloveyunho @damagelove @softie00 @s-nsanshine @atinytinaa @moonseonghwa @lemontreefantasy @wooyoung4eva @yeosangsbiceps @likexaxdaydream @knucklesdeepmingi @barbielibra @tmtxtf @brown88 @harusoraa @frankenstein852 @yujispinkhair

[flowery-laser-blasts]

My not so serious KP villain headcanons:

Personal headcanons that I have for the Kim Possible villains (not all of them). Long post.

Shego loves horror movies and podcasts and once scared the living hell out of Drakken after watching Ringu. She hid under the bed and once he almost drifted off to sleep, she reached from underneath to grab his hand and reveal her with hair covered face.

Shego hates cooking and rather orders take out than go through the effort of prepairing meals. The worst part is cleaning up dishes.

Shego can warm/radiate heat through her hands with her powers in a non-harmfull way. This comes in handy when massaging Dr D's stiff shoulders.

Shego's favourite chickflick is Legally Blonde. She showed it to Drakken once, he too, likes it. Now after every defeat they watch this movie while patching themselves up.

Dr Drakken loves British comedy such as Monty Python, the Mighty Boosh and Little Britain. He often quotes their jokes.

Dr Drakken has a complex bedtime skin care routine that he never skips and follows to a T. Though he only does it before bed, so if he stays awake for several days in a row, he won't do it until actually going to bed.

Dr Drakken actually plucks away stray hairs around his eyebrow to keep the look 'clean' and 'on fleek'.

Dr Drakken's shampoo smells of Lush' sugarplum fairy bodyspray.

Dr Drakken always sings the Mighty Boosh' 'Soup Song' when preparing soup. His secret ingredient to his vegetable soup with mini meatballs is tiny elbow macaroni.

Dr Drakken's 'take over the world by plants' scheme was stolen/inspired from Duff Killigan's failed attempt at turning the world into a golfcourse when the two were over at his place to discuss plans on the Tempes Simia idle and Monkey Fist was away to use the restroom.

Duff Killigan has one of those 'golf-on-your-toilet' golf sets in each restroom/bathroom.

Duff Killigan's favourite Disney movie is Brave, but more so because of the mother daughter bonding aspect of the story. He's a sucker for those kinds of movies.

Monkey Fist loves Shakespeare's works solely because of the infinite monkey theorem.

Monkey Fist has an incredible hatered towards the song "Banana Man" by Tally Hall and 'Day-O' by Harry Belafonte. It's an earworm that never leaves within a day and makes the monkey ninjas dance uncontrollably.

Monkey Fist takes extremely good care of personal hygiene and regularly cuts his nails.

Adrena Lynn's actual name is Adrien.

Adrena Lynn called out the Jackass cast for being fakes.

Adrena Lynn's favourite non extreme sport is table tennis.

Adrena Lynn started the 'girl dinner' tend.

Gill's favourite animals are sharks.

Gill bullied Ron because he wanted to look cooler in front of other camp kids. At his school, he would be the one being bullied.

Gill actually didn't dislike Ron at first but it changed when Ron grabbed an extra (and the last) chocolate pudding cup during dinner on their first day of camp.

Professor Dementor shines his helmet with a hand held waxing device, he never takes it off though.

Professor Dementor's favorite snack is caramel seasalt pretzels.

Professor Dementor wanted to become a children's book writer when growing up.

Dr Drakken, Monkey Fist and Duff Killigan play Dungeons&Dragons. Monkey Fist DMs most of the time, second is Drakken; Duff never DMs. The big bad evil guy is Kim Possible but they almost lose every campaign except for the rare occasion in which the BBEG dies due to accidental environmental circumstances out of their hands. They tried to replicate it irl but where do you find a giant dragon, three gnomes an enchanted blueberry pie and a catapult?

Motor Ed uses WD-40 for his hair instead of conditioner, seriously.

Motor Ed is a diehard Meatloaf fan (the artist, not the food).

Motor Ed despises Meatloaf (the food, not the artist).

Frugal Lucre loves pineapple pizza with extra ham

Frugle Lucre's arch enemy is Kim's cousin Larry.

Frugal Lucre collected cuddlebuddies but his mom threw them out because "you're too old for these toys, so I gave them away to your niece Pamela for her baby room" and that's his villain origin story.

Frugal Lucre has a Dr Drakken cosplay that he sometimes wears to (Hench co.) conventions (inspired by @gothicthundra 's Halloween chapter)

DNAmy's biggest inspiration for fashion is Velma Dinkley from the Scooby Doo franchise.

DNAmy hates Tom and Jerry because it promotes 'violence'.

DNAmy actually is pretty chill and wouldn't mind Kim Possible's company as long as Kim apologises for destroying her work. Kim is a fellow cuddlebuddy collector after all.

After Monkey Fist turned into stone, DNAmy tried reviving him. It didn't work out. She eventually moved on and started dating Frugal Lucre. They're in a happy committed relationship now.

The Bebe bots have their own reality show in Japan and are content with the attention and admiration from fans. They were offered a contact as idol group but they denied it because they didn't want to collaborate with Hatsune Miku.

Señior Senior Junior became a top model and worked with the fashionistas but when they got arrested again, SSJ used his privilege to continue his career.

With the help of Bonnie, Señior Senior Junior wrote an autobiography about his life under the influence of his father. It's titled "I didn't want to be a criminal, but Daddy made me do it." And it is said to become an autobiographical movie (but once again, Junior can't star in it).

Señior Senior Junior and Bonnie got married after Bonnie graduated from college.

Señior Senior Junior loves My little Pony friendship is magic and writes wholesome fanfiction. He likes PinkPie because she likes to party. He also realises that a lot of his youth is missed out on because of his father's wealth. He is semi thankful for villainy because it introduced him to Shego and their friendship. He tried making her watch it but she didn't seem into it.

Señior Senior Senior could actually give up villainy for his future grandchildren. This was Bonnie's initiative, because she doesn't want her kids to grow up around inmates and prisoners.

That's it for now, if I've got more I'll add it here!!

[justalittlesolarpunk]

hey!! feel free to ignore this but i scrolled through your blog and really liked it and if you have the spoons I'd love to get your advice/tips on trying to live sustainably while in uni/on a limited budget? I'm going to uni in a year or so and I want to try and do it as sustainably as possible but I don't have a lot of money

love your blog <3

Hi! Thanks so much for the kind words, I am super new to tumblr and fairly new to solarpunk still myself, so I really appreciate it.

I’ll level with you: most of the really aspirational choices in sustainability are pretty expensive. Buying local organic food or slow fashion can really eat into a budget. The good news is that a lot of the frugal decisions you’d make are also good for the planet. You’re not going to be going out buying expensive cars, flying in private jets or any of the other earth-wrecking things that the super-rich do. Being conscious about your spending will mean you’ll probably naturally gravitate towards getting your clothes from charity shops and other similar money-saving choices. In some cities and certain supermarkets, plant-based food will be cheaper, while in others it will be more expensive, and so for this you’ll probably need to make choices on a case by case basis, weighing up each time how much you can afford and how committed you are to a certain diet. Getting a library card is also very solarpunk - free, communally owned knowledge! As a uni student you’ll likely also have your university library as a resource, which it’s definitely worth making use of. Have a look to see if there’s a tool library/library of things in your university town, as that will not only save you money but also reduce your purchase of things you might only use once or twice. Apps like TooGoodToGo offer cheap baskets of food from local restaurants, cafes and shops which would otherwise go to waste at the end of the day, and if there’s a ‘buy nothing’ or ‘stuff for free’ Facebook group for your local area it’s worth joining it - these are really exciting anticapitalist digital spaces where people can get what they need and dispose of what they don’t without exploitative or extractive relationships.

Starting a new paragraph here for readability, and also because it’s slightly a topic change - there are things you can do to be more sustainable that are fairly cash-cheap, but time-costly. As a student you won’t always be able to devote much energy to them between your studies and your social life, but if they’re something that’s important to you and your other commitments (or any disabilities you might have) don’t prevent you, then things like mending your own clothes instead of throwing them out and replacing them can help. But these are fiddly tasks so that isn’t possible for everyone, even if they do have time! Depending on the rules of your student accommodation you could also try having certain edible houseplants - salad leaves, strawberries, herbs, etc. My success rate with these has been very patchy but it’s worth a shot and the original outlay for seeds or a small plant isn’t too much (though if you’re planting from scratch, soil can be expensive as it always seems to come in enormous great bags).

Things like batch cooking or planning communal meals with other people you’re living with can also be greener, and cheaper, if it means food can be made to go further and wasted ingredients can be avoided. Uni is a really exciting time for a solarpunk because it’s the closest to cohousing many of us get - sharing facilities and responsibilities in a close-knit community of non-related people with common goals and experiences. Use this to your advantage to form networks of mutual support.

Similar caveat about time scarcity as above, but there are also things that tend not to cost any money that will make you feel better about your own environmental contribution which you can actually do at any age if you have enough free hours. These are things like volunteering with your local conservation volunteers or in a community garden - this latter is particularly good because volunteers might get to take home some of the produce, thereby saving money and getting access to local nutritious food. Some unis even have their own food gardens and teams of students who help tend them, so get involved with this if it exists and you can.

In the same vein, almost every uni will have its own climate justice or environmental student club, and attending these meetings if your schedule allows can be a great way to meet other people within your institution who share your priorities, and who may well have more advice on frugal, sustainable living that they can offer. Pooling wisdom like this means your can all do better.

It sounds like you might have already picked your uni, but if not there are factors you can consider to help you do better in these goals when you get there, like examining the relative cost of living in different cities or investigating how eco-friendly the university is. It’s worth asking questions like what is their endowment invested in? How much research into climate change and solutions do they fund? Are their careers services still promoting fossil fuel industry jobs?

University towns are usually pretty walkable and/or bike-friendly, at least in the UK and Europe, and these modes of transport are also the cheapest and most sustainable. Plenty also have good public transport too, and buses or hireable scooters are all options (though you’d probably have to use the scooters a lot to make the expense worth it, and if you do, please don’t leave them lying in the pavement like people did when I was at uni - it blocked wheelchair access and was really annoying). Certain cities have trams, which are like catnip to solarpunks lol. Transport can get expensive but tends to still be cheaper than driving in most urban centres, though as I said your own two feet or wheels can probably get you to most of where you need to go within the local area.

Your student’s union might well also run clothing swaps or second-hand book sales, so keep an eye on that and go along when you can. There’s also nothing to be ashamed of in collecting discount codes, coupons for free products, or loyalty cards, or with working if you have the time and ability to earn while you study. The more money you save the more of those slightly costlier green decisions you can make.

What I’d say last, though, is don’t be too hard on yourself! You’re young, the world is set up to be excessively expensive and to reward you for consumptive behaviour that is the opposite of ecological values. Of course you should try your best and I’m so glad that you’re thinking of it already, but remember that you probably won’t be able to do it perfectly - that pretty much no-one can unless they have insane amounts of time and money (in which case they’re probably not the kind of person who cares about this stuff). Remember to enjoy your new independence, to hang out with your friends, to be studious and whimsical and learn about life and yourself. And remember that I’m just one person and not all my ideas will apply to you, and there’ll be other things you could do that haven’t occurred to me because of the specific experiences and biases that inform where I come from.

You probably already know which subject you’re studying, and if that’s the case then there will be ways you can examine these issues within the curriculum of most degrees (except maybe maths? But I’m willing to be proved wrong haha). But just in case you’re still picking subjects and institutions, I’ll just leave a link to a really fascinating-looking new undergrad qualification I heard about a few months ago, that I am *gutted* not to have been young enough to apply for and study! Even if it isn’t the right fit for you, perhaps you’ll know someone who it could work for. I’m assuming, possibly wrongly, that you’re in the UK based on certain dialectical cues (for instance saying uni rather than college), but feel free to ignore this if you’re elsewhere in the world, I’m just very stoked about this course!

Thanks so much for your ask, and sorry for the insanely long essay response. If you’ve managed to wade through to the end then seriously congratulations on your patience. Best of luck with your studies and with your efforts at ecological living, and I hope you carry solarpunk with you as a source of hope, comfort and action into your future. ☀️

[scavengerssuccotash]

Do you have and soft/sweet headcanons of Clint and Nat? Also, 100 percent agree, I love when Clint goes feral on Nat’s behalf

Soft Clint is also my weakness. He is a die hard romantic at heart. I’m talking about all the mushy fluffy good chicken-noodle-soup-for-the-soul kind of goodness. He treats Nat like a princess, buying her flowers, gear and anything she wants really. Price is no matter either he’s frugal by nature and has a substantial nest egg that he’s been building since he was a teenager. Nat however still has some hang ups on the whole receiving gifts without an expectation of a return investment so they worked out a deal. Twice a year Clint can buy her an unexpected gift just because. For their Eight-N-Four gifts and Christmas they pick from lists that they give each other. Clint one time surprised her with a little kitten he found on a mission in Chile, who she would later name Liho. She jokes to this day that that was the best gift anyone ever got her. Clint grumbles about the closet full of weapons but grins like an idiot every time he finds the two of them asleep on the couch together. (Nat has a one eyed dog on hold at the pound but that’s a secret! Shh!)

Nat is a secret sap and relishes in all the little ways Clint spoils her. From the notes on her coffee cup in the morning to the way their pinkies seem to twine together when they are walking in the park she loves it. What she loves most however is the slow dances in the kitchen. It’s never planned and they’ve burned a few good meals but they are memories she looks back on often.

They shower together often. Sometimes to save on time, other times for fun but most of the time they just like being naked together without having to get intimate. Clint has a clawfoot tub in the basement that he’s been meaning to put in, but hasn’t had the time off yet to do it.

Nat likes to give him a good massage after a particular strenuous mission. And oh god she’s good at it! She goes all out too, good oils, icy hot, really anything to help alleviate the tension in his shoulders and arms. By the time she’s done Clint’s either hard or half asleep.

On Sunday’s when they have the time off they lay in bed all day, laughing and joking, touching and kissing. It’s by far their favorite day of the week. The first time Nat said I love you out loud was on a Sunday like this, half asleep after making love and Clint’s cheeks hurt from grinning so wide. After that first time it got easier and easier for Natasha to say and now she just says it randomly, unprompted and unprovoked and it sends Clint to the moon every single time. The first time Phil heard her say it he dropped his coffee.

[ariesbroad]

Headmaster Challenge

aka Wizard Boarding School

Start with normal young adult sim and an abandoned, disgusting castle, residential lot (will become residential rental). Travel to the Magic Realm and become a Spellcaster. Inherit your abandoned property with freerealestate on and begin your dream of starting your own legendary wizarding school. 

Main goals:

Build up your Wizarding School to Legendary Status

Repair/clean/maintain the facilities 

Provide students breakfast, lunch, dinner and baked goods/desserts every day. (The more students you have, the more food you’ll need)

Complete weekly social events

Breezy mode:

Keep your $20,000 starting funds 

Allow your sim to marry for money

Give your sim whichever likes/dislikes you’d like

Allow your sim to exploit copy/pasto to earn money once you have a 3* school

Sweaty mode:

Start with $0

If you add sims to your household, don’t keep the money

Give your sim one negative trait you personally annoys you 

All likes/dislikes and new personality traits are discovered through gameplay; always say yes

Copy/pasto is not allowed to make money 

Delicioso/Grand Delicioso cannot be used for student/social event meals until your sim is level 10 in cooking, gourmet cooking, and baking

Other suggestions/settings:

Cats and dogs allowed as familiars

Aging off for household

Neighborhood stories off for your student households

Fame turned on?

Neighborhood action plans turned off

Bust the dust on

Residential rental events turned on or off, you decide (don’t forget to add electrical panel and water heater)

Season length one week 

Start in Summer, for Autumn opening

Make all residential rental rents $1 with a seven day lease. Instead, some imaginary magical government entity will pay you $500 per student every week

Students must be teens. Children can’t learn and practice magic until they age up.

Friendly reminder to self: it's supposed to be fun! If it's becoming too stressful/boring, change your rules as needed!

Lot traits: 

Gnomes or penny pixies

Study spot

Cat Hangout

Lot Challenges:

Creepy crawlies $10,000

Cursed $20,000

Filthy $30,000

Gremlins $40,000

Mold $50,000

Reduce/recycle $60,000

Simple living $70,000

Spooky $100,000

Lot challenges can be removed at any time by paying the fee into a vault. Money cannot be retrieved until you reach Legendary Status. 

All services must be paid for; no free services until unlocked

Suggestion: Littlemssam’s Better Butler mod, allowed for additional butlers, live in ranch hands. Live in staff should have their own quarters and individual bedrooms.

Certain reward traits, spells, activities are locked behind milestones:

Copy/pasto-3*

Delicioso/Grand Delicioso-level 10 skills

Deplicato-5*

Immortality-5*

Incredibly friendly-1*

Frugal-2*

Carefree-3*

Savant-4*

Money tree-5*

Mentor-Add when sim has Pristine Reputation 

Free Services-3*+ Fabulously Wealthy Aspiration completed 

Telescopes

Greenhouse-1*

Cauldrons at home??-2*

Frog breeding-2*

Farm animals-4*

Seance tables-5*

You have one week (until bills are due in new save) to prepare to open your doors. If you are prepared earlier, award your sim $1000 for every day you are early as a one time bonus. If you are late opening, fine yourself $200 per day.

First week task list:

Become a spellcaster

To "clean up" and remove debris on the lot (through b/b) must first learn:

Scruberoo (grime, trash)

Repario (cracks, repair broken/burnt furniture)

Infurniate (delete unwanted items)

Floraloriate (landscaping cleanup)

Build/renovate: 

1 dormitory for 7 sims, 1 bedroom for the Head of House and common room. Will setting up curfew board work? (Gryffindor-esqe: brave, adventurous, loyal, active)

Communal bathroom facilities 

Communal dining hall w/ tea and coffee makers

Lockable kitchen for preparing food for students (staff only)

Communal laundry room

Library/study room

Headmaster's private quarters (that’s you)

Boiler room/workshop

Build an astronomy tower. Include the large telescope and a secure charging area for cut gemstones and jewelry.

1* Task List

Congrats! You can now open your doors to your first group of students!

Bills are free this week, credit yourself the money to pay them

Give yourself the Incredibly Friendly trait from the rewards store

Add your new star to the lobby/common area wall

Change your lot to a Residential Rental and make your student dorm and common room into its own unit.

Create and move in 7 teen spellcasters. (Suggestion: choose a personality trait for every student that reflects their house)

Clubs will represent the different houses at your school and should have their own distinctive style and personalities. Create a new club, give yourself enough club points to increase the club capacity fully, add a handshake, and any other perks appropriate for this club. Add your students, set the club hangout to your lot, and leave the club.

Create an elderly Head of House and move them into the dorm lot.

Host a welcome dinner party for your students the first day.

Daily tasks:

Cook breakfast, lunch and dinner with enough servings for all of your students and staff. Brew a pot of coffee and a pot of tea for breakfast. After school, serve baked goods and another pot of tea. (Waiters stations and/or money trash cans are a great idea.)

Address any cleaning or maintenance as needed. Take out trash/kill bugs if needed

Laundry as needed

Make money with your side hustles. Side hustles should be related to Magic (selling potions/magical artifacts) crafting (woodworking, candlemaking, jewelry making, cooking, etc.) or the natural world (gardening, gems, frog breeding, etc. (Littlemssam’s home business mod to autonomously sell any leftovers in the vending machines?)

Donate to all charity donation requests

Weekly tasks:

Monday morning receive boarding payment:

   Receive $500/student x star level

   Pay $750/HOH x star level

  (ie 3 stars, 21 students, 3 HOH

        Get (500*21)*3=31,500

        Pay (750*3)*3=6,750

        Weekly total: $24,750)

1 star=$2750

2 star=$11,000

3 star=$24,750

4 star=$44,000

5 star=$68,750

 (Bump HOH payment to 1k/star and gift the simoleons??)

Host a weekly brunch for your staff and HOHs on a school day in your residence or in an employee lounge. 

Throw a welcome dinner party for any new students on their first day.

Saturday morning invite a dorm and their HOH for a trip to the Magic Realm. Stay at least 4 hours. 

Saturday night host a goaled event either at the school or a public venue for students. (Costume party, bowling, sleepover, etc)

Sunday morning start a Friends and Family club gathering at the school. Serve lots of snacks so guests can eat and mingle. (Create a club of sims who represent the family of your students. I just add random townies.) End the gathering around dinner time. 

Put up any new stars you’ve earned (detective career reward)

Volunteer once a week?

If any HOH or student dies, pay a fine of $10,000 per star. 

If you notice your teen students age to young adult, you’ll need to move them out and replace them with new students. 

Optional: add a new potential cause of death with every star (pool, telescope, Murphy beds, wild rabbits, robotics station, evil chicken, serve pufferfish for dinner?)

To reach 2 stars:

Build a greenhouse for herbology including 3 cowplants. Do your best to keep them alive, replace any that die throughout the challenge. (Suggestion: Add the Oasis Springs rare pond so you can fish for cowplant berries. Work on grafting your own cowplant berry bush)

Before end of challenge, complete at least one of the telescope print collections. Display all collected prints in your new tower (size prints down as needed and sell duplicates)

Learn all Practical Magic spells  

Paint from reference or photograph 3+ views of your school and your new HOH. Keep and display. Optional: take a photo of every new student

Fully upgrade everything that can be upgraded (excepting fuel cell upgrades). Beds, plumbing, appliances, fireplaces, etc. You may hire Jim the Handyman (gallery) if you can afford his rates. (Rates are listed in his career description. Temporarily move him into your household and cheat his needs so he can just work.)

Create a new recreation/skill area (pool, painting, music, games, tv room, etc)

Build a new dorm (Hufflepuff-esqe: friendly, loyal, generous, outgoing, cheerful, party animal)

Optional: pay to remove a lot challenge

Congrats on getting your 2nd star!

Give yourself the Frugal trait from the rewards store

Add your new star

To reach 3 stars:

Fill your new dorm and start their club like before. 

Host a welcome dinner party for your new students

Build a potions room. Include several cauldrons, workspaces, frogs, fish, crystals and minerals, etc for potion making. Include at least one of every potion ingredient. Also include fire suppression system

Learn every potion recipe

Start building your potion collection: one of every potion ingredient, one of every potion, including all reward potions. Complete before end of challenge. Optional: include a Fully Aged Vitality Nectar.

Paint from reference or photograph the changes to your school and your new HOH. Keep and display. Optional: take a photo of every new student

Fully upgrade your new items including your new dorm. 

Create a new recreation area

Build a new dorm (Slytherin-esqe: evil, mean, materialistic, ambitious, klepto, proper)

Have at least a Good Reputation with other sims.

Optional due to bugs: Make sure all dorm apartments are at least 3 stars

Optional: pay to remove a lot challenge

Congrats on getting your 3rd star!

Give yourself the Carefree trait from the rewards store

You can now use copy/pasto as a money making strategy 

Also, at this point in the challenge if you manage to complete the Fabulously Wealthy Aspiration you may give yourself the Free Services trait from the rewards store. You also no longer are required to pay your HOHs out of pocket either. Um, someone else is now paying all salaries. Through donations. Or something. 

Add your new star

Optional: age your sim to an adult

To get 4 stars:

Fill your new dorm and create their club

Host a welcome dinner party for new students

Build an outdoor dueling space. Create a dueling club (spellcasters and activity: fight) of any magical sims. 

Before the end of the challenge, complete the magical artifact collection by dueling, shopping, or even crafting with Littlemssam’s expanded woodworking mod.

Build a display space for your Magical Artifact collection. 

Learn all Mischief Magic spells 

Paint from reference or photograph the changes to your school and your new HOH. Keep and display. Optional: take a photo of every new student

Upgrade all new items

Create a new recreation area

Build a new dorm (Ravenclaw-esqe: genius, nerdy, booklover, loner, geek, overachiever)

Have at least a Great Reputation with other sims.

Optional: make sure all dorms are 4 stars

Optional: pay to remove a lot challenge

Congrats on getting your 4th star!

Give yourself the Savant trait from the rewards store

Add your new star

To get 5 stars:

Fill dorm and create their club

Build a Care of Magical creatures area. Build a barn for unicorns (create or download at least 2 unicorns from gallery; pay $15,000 for every unicorn you add). Add chicken coop w/ chickens, and at least one other farm animal type (cows, llama, sheep or goats).

Sell 2 unicorns foals to other Spellcasters. Paint or photograph your foals before the leave.

Before the end of the challenge, collect either every type of milk or every color wool. (Alternative: learn recipe for every kind of animal treat)

Earn gold hosting a petting zoo or ranch day event

Learn all Untamed Magic spells

Paint from reference or photograph the changes to your school and your new HOH. Keep and display. Optional: take a photo of every new student

Upgrade all new items

Create a new recreation area

Build a new dorm (artsy/creative students?: creative, foodie, maker, painter, dance machine, music lover)

Have a Pristine Reputation with other sims.

Optional: make sure dorms are 5 stars. Remodel any dorms that might need a refresh.

Optional: pay to remove a lot challenge

Congrats on getting your 5th star!!

Give yourself the Brave trait and the Money Tree fruit from the rewards store.

Add your new star

Optional: age your sim to an Elder

To get Legendary status:

Fill dorm and create their club

Host a welcome dinner party for new students

Build a Divination tower. Seance tables, tea, lots of pillows, mugs, and incense

Max the Paranormal skill and get your Paranormal Investigator license

Befriend Bonehilda (if you can without Haunted Residental?)

Create a duplicate of yourself and add them to your household

Become immortal

Have your duplicate paint a formal portrait of you and write your Book of Life. Display in the main lobby. Glass case and velvet ropes?

Paint from reference or photograph 3+ views of your school as well as your new HOH. Add these to your collection and display. Optional: take a photo of every new student.

Cheat (if necessary) your fame level to global superstar. 

Complete your telescope print collection.

Complete your Potion collection: all potion ingredients, cauldron potions, and other reward potions. Optional: include fully aged Vitality Nectar.

Complete your Magical Artefact collection.

Complete your milk or wool collection (or display your animal treat collection).

Have an heir

Have a Pristine Reputation with other sims.

Optional: pay to remove all remaining lot challenges 

Legendary Status

Congrats!!!! You legend, you!! 

Give yourself any and all reward traits your heart desires! If you haven’t already, become the most interesting sim in the world!

The only task left is to complete anything that feels incomplete, max any skill you feel needs maxed. If you have any money in a vault, you are now welcome to withdraw it. 

[techdriveplay]

What Are the Best Ways to Save Money on Travel?

Traveling can be an enriching experience, but it can also be expensive. However, with a few smart strategies, you can significantly reduce your travel costs without sacrificing the quality of your trip. Here are the best ways to save money on travel. Did you know? 78% of travellers save an average of $250 per trip by booking flights in advance. Using travel reward programs can reduce travel…

[mamamittens]

Had a funny thought for my Ambiguous Intent AU (Hitman OP au shipping with OC specifically) where Thatch, during his stalking phase, ends up finding where she lives.

While looking around to get a better idea of what kind of a person she is, he discovers a few things!

She's got a bit of organized chaos going for her. A sort of lived in kind of clutter that fills bookshelves with knickknacks places with care and lined with dust. But the trash is taken out regularly and messes tidied frequently.

Her wardrobe is mostly casual with a few formal pieces. Some old, clearly nostalgic clothes she's never tossed despite not really fitting anymore. Eclectic and old jewelry.

Hell of a physical media collection. Clearly enjoys owning movies instead of streaming. Delicate glass and porcelain figurines on her higher shelves. Many music box types.

It's interesting. He wasn't sure what he expected to find. Perhaps he hoped for a dirty secret or two. A secret double life or criminal leanings. But no. She's pretty normal if quirky. She clearly doesn't aim for a theme so much as meander to it by happenstance.

The most interesting part is her pantry.

Probably the most interesting to him, professionally.

Clearly, she's more of a snacker and cheap meal kinda gal. And he's not judging!

...mostly.

The spaghetios cans are a little offending to his senses, but the ramen beside them makes it clear this is something she's had for years while being broke. Frugal, cheap, and filling.

He gets it... Can't say he was much better in culinary school, ironically. The taste passable at best.

And he can do so much better! Will do, actually!

This is probably where it first starts tipping from planned murder to intended seduction. A simple, unstated challenge.

Impressing her enough she could never go back to her cheap ramen and knock off, mass products spaghetti alternative. He wants to ruin her for paltry fare and raise all her standards from the bog it sits in. Wallowing in it, in fact.

He will ultimately fail, on account of these being comfort foods. And few things can dethrone a comfort food. But she will love his cooking anyway.

He'll pretend he is neither offended nor already familiar with her kitchen when they wind up cooking a meal together at her place.

His own, shared with Izou at least in this city, is a bit ritzy. One of a dozen familiar, modern high rise condos his family owns the building for outright. Modern and a tad empty on account of this location being a backup for when they need to lay low.

It's cleaned while they're gone by someone in the family. Just a quick dusting and cycling the fridge contents to ensure nothing rots while keeping it stocked. No real home or life in it until Thatch starts bringing home affectionate gifts from Nikia. Silly trinkets and things she got that reminded her of him. And eventually Izou.

It was far from his favorite. A lake house in the deep sticks built by their father is actually the favorite. But this one ends up growing on him greatly for all the memories it winds up holding.

Including the few times they tricked her into sleeping over. It was hard to pull off, but he likes making breakfast for the three of them. With a bit of subtle encouragement, Nikia was quite affectionate, if quiet, in the morning. Once she knew they wouldn't be offended or creeped out by the, frankly, cat-like affection. Mainly rubbing her face on their shoulder or leaning against them.

Very begrudgingly, he's got a case pack of ramen and a few cans of spaghetios in their pantry for her in case she's over while he's gone.

He'd rather she ordered out, honestly. He didn't care about competition for his cooking prowess!

Unless it came in a can or a plastic bag at least... Izou tells him to stop being dramatic, but he won't.

Thatch can make something ten times as healthy and delicious as cheap ramen any day of the week!

[melodic-living]

adventures in preserving

I can hear the leaves crisply rolling along the street outside. The sky is blue and the sun is warm - this week is what's traditionally called 'Indian summer' in New England, our last really warm stretch before the first frosts arrive.

At home, while i wait for job applications to be seen and clients to respond, I preserve. All summer I've been making pickles, but now its time for jelly, applesauce, dried apple slices, juice, and vinegar.

The skills of homemaking, of quiet homesteading even, aren't limited to a traditional family or house (as much as i would love to be married with children of my own). My body still tells me to prepare, so I do. Food, cleaning, growing, preserving, planning – for friends & family & myself. These arts can be learned by anyone, and bring so much joy & delight to living.

To know that an entire bounty of food is all around us on the roadsides, neighborhoods, woods, and fields, and that we have the means to gather and prepare this bounty?

To be able to bake a healthy loaf of bread, to stretch a chicken for several meals.. these are economic and exciting adventures to me. Especially in these uncertain times when I'm not sure where my next paycheck is coming from, or whether I'll have to dip into savings again.

But no matter. I enjoy the frugality, the 1930s excitement of doing without, wasting not, wanting not.