#The Basics of Envelope Budgeting

[kc22invesmentsblog]

The Envelope Budgeting Method: A Simple and Effective Way to Track Expenses

Written by Delvin Keeping track of expenses is a fundamental aspect of maintaining financial stability and achieving financial goals. In a world of digital transactions and complex budgeting apps, the envelope budgeting method offers a refreshingly simple and effective approach. In this blog post, we will explore the envelope budgeting method, how it works, and why it can be a powerful tool for…

[ailelie]

YNAB Convert

So I've been using YNAB for about a week or two now and it is the best.

I thought checking my budget before making purchases would make my financial anxiety worse, but it is the actually the opposite.

I actually feel in control of my finances for the first time in...a while. When I check my budget, I can see whether or not I have money for the thing in front of me. If that category is empty, I can see how the rest of my dollars are assigned and decide if the thing in front of me is more important than some of my other priorities.

Instead of trying to calculate my upcoming bills vs my bank balance, I can just look at my budget and see 'yes' or 'no.' And if it is a 'yes,' I can spend that money without fear or guilt.

Instead of always looking backward and wondering where my money went, I can look ahead and see how my future bills are taken care of. It is a very good feeling.

The system does require though that you use.

Before you buy something, glance at your budget. If the relevant category (e.g., dining out, fun money, books, rideshares, etc) doesn't have funds, decide then where you'll pull the extra money from.

Each time you make a purchase, log the transaction. When YNAB imports the transaction from your bank, the app will match the two so you're not stuck with doubles. This is important because it ensures that your numbers are always accurate and you don't accidentally spend the same $10 twice.

The other task is reconciling. You should do this at least once a week, but, honestly, I do it every time I wake up in the morning and it is a good feeling. Basically you just log into your bank and compare your bank account ledger to your YNAB account ledger and make sure they match. Then you compare cleared balance (the balance NOT including transactions that are still processing) to the cleared balance in YNAB. If they match, you're golden. This is annoying the first time you do it, but after that? It takes me 3-5 minutes in the morning max.

Oh, and you have to set your budget up in the first place. That will take some work. I printed out a month of transactions from my bank and figured out how I had been spending money. I also identified all of my monthly charges and when they hit my bank account. Then I used that information to set up my budget.

...and promptly realized that my category spending limits and goals were too generous and so started thinking about how I could adjust my spending habits, without going cold turkey on anything.

One thing I did was separate my Lyft spending into two categories: transport to/from church and random rides. I cannot lower the costs of the first Lyft category, but I can commit to taking public transport more than I had been--especially with summer coming. I'll have to reassess when the weather turns again.

But I also love it because I am certain I am setting aside enough money for the things I care about. And, since that money is tucked away into its own category, I don't accidentally spend it. Way too often I'd just look at my account balance and utterly forget I needed, say, $50 for a Mother's Day gift. Then Mother's Day is a week away and I have no money to buy a gift. Not this year!

Meanwhile, I am already saving money to get a new laptop next year--something I've been planning on buying. Of course, I'd planned on just doing a payment plan. It is going to feel so good to be able to buy my preferred laptop out of pocket.

Christmas always puts me in a tailspin, but now I am already saving money. And it is there in my budget and the only way I use those dollars is if something else comes up that is more important to me than being able to buy presents.

And that's something else I love. I'm not comparing the purchase in front of me with some nebulous 'other' I could spend the money on. I'm comparing ordering in because I don't feel like cooking with the weaving class I'm super excited about.

When weaving is on the line, I realize I have enough energy to drop some frozen fake chicken nuggets and tater tots on a tray to bake.

Anyway. This app is so far fantastic and also? I'm making a plan for getting out of debt because that feels possible now.

They'll give you a 34-day free trial, no credit card needed. If you're a college student, I think you can get a full year free.

[belladonnabudgets]

Solid Cherry Blossom Themed A6 Cash Envelopes with Border

Visit my shop: https://belladonnabudgets.etsy.com

[friendlyneighborhoodshark]

"How to Life" Masterlist

Cleaning and Tidying

Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it's worth it.

Reset to zero each morning.

Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.

Have a 'drop-zone' box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.

Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it once the timer is up, finish the task you're on and leave it for the day.

Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they're still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.

Clean your footwear regularly and you'll feel like a champ.

Organisation and Productivity

Learn from Eisenhower's Importance/Urgency matrix.

Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.

Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that's more your thing.)

Try bullet journalling.

Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.

Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It's brutal, but it works.

Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don't overload your to-do list or you'll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.

If you're in a slump, however, don't be afraid to put things like "shower" on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that's okay.

Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.

Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.

Try timeboxing.

Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.

Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP's details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.

Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.

Money

Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.

Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)

Have a 'money date' each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.

Pack your own frickin' lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.

Food and Cooking

Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.

Simple, one-pot meals ("a grain, a green, and a bean") are a godsend.

Batch cook and freeze. Make your own 'microwave meals'.

Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance.

Consider Meatless Mondays; it's healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)

Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.

Misc

Have a stock email-writing format.

Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.

Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.

Update your CV regularly.

Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)

[tomorrowsgardennc]

How did you get into linoprinting (is that what it's called)?

honestly, it was a medium i have been intrigued with since i was in middle school. the fact that you can create one piece of artwork, but then reproduce it as many times as you want and yet it never turns out the same!! scannung and printing an original via a commercial or home printer - to me - degrades the authenticity and value of a piece of art. i know why people do it; it's cheaper for both the artist and the buyer and we all definitely need more of that these days. but then... you're fulfilling consumerism rather than a simple, soulful drive to be creative.

sadly, i never had the chance to do any linocuts or any type in schools. i saw my mother do some as an art teacher, but my high school never taught it and i never had a chance to take it in college.

it wasn't until i started saving seeds for a business and i was trying to figure out the packaging that linocut came across my mind. i was pricing out how to get seed packets commerically printed, and i LEGIT did not have the upfront budget for small batch printing nor did i have the volume to justify large batch printing. i tested some packaging via a home printer... but the printer quality was sub-par and i was going through ink twice a month. and you can't buy one color, of course... so $120 sunk into the printer ink alone made it so i was losing money on the seeds.

then i saw a linocut artist at a local event and i was like... ah HA! the perfect excuse to get into linocut!!! i started simple and got some absolute basic supplies and i have been addicted ever since.

the lemon drop hot pepper was my first ever linocut project. after 2 years of doing this media i would carve this differently now... but honestly... i never will simply because it's my first carve ever and i never want to forget that. the top and bottom text i got stamps done online as stamps, and only the middle i carved. the bottom (the category of seed) i still get done commercially as a stamp, but i now carve out all the text at the top, too. (if it's a limited run variety, like the white sunflowers, then i just sharpie the name in.)

the envelopes are the only pre-made part i buy. everything else is stamped on, one by one, by hand, by me. i only recently started to branch out into full-on artwork this past summer when i just wanted a break from seed packet design and to not be surrounded by hundreds of brown envelopes every day 😅 like i get it, if i factored in my hourly time into doing all of this as a cost compared to the costs of the printer route, then am i really saving money? not really, but i am having a million times more fun doing it!

[bao3bei4]

zine finance and fulfillment

hi everyone. now that i’ve completed the “spending money” part of “yaoi zine 2” (for the most part. i hope nothing gets lost in the mail, although i’ve resigned myself to it), i thought i would make a long boring post about zine finance and fulfillment. this is because people talk about it less than other parts of zine making online. so i hope this will be of interest or use to at least one person.

none of this should be new to anyone who’s ran a zine before, but my hope is to give people who are interested in it some food for thought so that we have more cool zines that i can buy. 

before we begin. a brief disclaimer: i am kind of half-assed about good zine finance hygiene. that is to say, i keep the money in my personal checking account, i don’t have a llc, etc. i do declare zine income on my taxes (i write it almost all of it off, since i only make not-for-profit zines). this is because i am twenty three years old and i have a small scale operation. i recognize and acknowledge that i do not follow best practices, and someone else should write a long boring post about what all best practices entails. 

this post is about how i price my zines, and my workflow for fulfillment. that’s all it is. i hope that it is useful for anyone else trying to cheaply and quickly make and sell maybe 150 zines or so to their friends and followers. 

so i do a sort of stupid model for my zines, which is that i charge a flat rate to send a zine anywhere in the world. this is a stupid model because, in the case of “yaoi zine 2,” the “real cost” of sending one zine to the united states is $11.58. the “real cost” to send a zine to, say, the united kingdom is $24.20. you may notice that this means it actually costs me five dollars and twenty cents every time someone in the united kingdom buys a zine, as i priced the zines at $19 each. this is generally a horrible business model. as i write this now, i am realizing that i really should have made the zines $24, steep as it is. just because yikes. -$5.20. 

but i like doing it this way because it feels fairer. and also because i’m the sole proprietor of “tshirt zines” and i can do whatever i want. i just am commenting that i cannot ethically tell you to adopt this model, since i’ve signed the hippocratic oath. this is because you need to be okay with using your personal funds to cover any losses that you take as a result of this model. this is true for all zines, but like. especially here. 

back to the matter at hand. how did i arrive at that $19 number, knowing that i would lose money on at least some sales? 

there are basically four components i keep in mind: shipping materials (think envelopes, labels, toner for my printer), printing cost (i just call up printers and ask for estimates), shipping cost (i’ll talk more about this in a sec), and stripe fees (.029 * price + 0.30 atm). use a spreadsheet to keep them straight. 

i went over budget on shipping materials because i last minute decided to make little freebie one page zines and burned through a bunch of toner in the process, so we won’t talk about that. this one is simple, anyway. you know how to figure out the price of mailing envelopes.

printing cost. i like working with local printers, if i can. if the zine is too big for me to print at home, but small enough it can be saddle stitched, i’ve worked with lightning press here in the bay area, and keith has never let me down. great guy. for perfect bound zines, like “yaoi zine 2,” i used mixam.com. i wasn’t the biggest fan, quite a few zines came a little bent or warped (this is why you order extra. that and in case they get lost in the mail). keith would NEVER do that to me. i’ve also heard good things about bookmobile, but i was keeping it simple for this printing. dm me if you’ve used them. 

anyway, all told, the price of an individual zine shipped to me, taxes and everything was $6.14. i estimated that it would cost $6.

shipping cost. so since i do aforementioned stupid model, i have to arrive at a number. PERSONALLY. the number i PERSONALLY have arrived at. based on my particular following. after doing five internationally shipped zines, is that i can usually expect 70% domestic orders, 30% international. i guesstimate the weight of the zine by stacking and weighing other zines i have until i get a decent facsimile (NB you should probably just weigh your proof but i wanted to expedite the timeline), and then i check these charts. peep the “large envelope” numbers. 

domestic: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c037 

international: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c341

i actually used media mail for my domestic orders, this time, because of the size. so it cost $3.92 to mail one zine domestically, and rounding between all the zones, i guessed that it would cost $16 for most international zines. 

i then did the following equation (0.7 * 3.92) + (0.3 *16) = $7.24

actually i’m lying. i did (0.7 * 3) + (0.3 *12) = $5.70 because i underestimated the weight of the zine so that’s on me. i rounded that number to $6. 

“what about canada” shipping to canada is actually basically the same cost as that mean zine shipping cost. so they don’t actually affect my calculations at all. 

stripe fees. self explanatory. remember them, though. 

anyway. zine price = shipping materials + printing cost times two + averaged shipping cost + stripe fees. 

now, you may notice that i underestimated a lot of things. how did i break even? three reasons. 

first, LUCK! that’s right. my ratio this time was skewed more in the favor of us zines than international zines, about 80-20. who knows why. probably the strong us dollar atm made it cost prohibitive for many people. geopolitics strikes again.

and second, actually i made about $580 profit, that i had to disburse. i was never actually in danger of losing money, because of that “printing cost times two” i skipped over really fast. the purpose of that is to cover printing and shipping free copies for all contributors. i arrived at the number two because 1) according to oomf that’s apparently standard, 2) it’s a nice round number, and 3) if i sold 50 copies (my original lowball estimate of how many i would sell) that was my break even number to print contributor copies.

$580/$12.88 (my actual raw cost of a zine, without stripe fees) = about 45. i had 21 contributors, so after mailing them out zines, i had around $300 profit, or 24 zines worth of it, left. this is where the money for the giveaway zines came from!

third. i also had some profit from selling “yaoi zine 1” again which HADN’T gone over my estimate. because i’d shipped them before. this helped pay me back for all the extra expenses. 

let’s talk about more logistics. i use bigcartel for my storefront because it’s free. that’s literally the only reason why. i use stripe instead of paypal because to make it a business account (and not expose my legal name to everyone) i would have needed to update my account with an id and that would reveal to them that i created my paypal account when i was 13. stripe has no such problem for me. 

i fulfilled orders this time using “pirate ship” because, again, free. in the past i’ve used shipstation + stamps dot com combo, because that afaik is the only bigcartel integrated service that allows you to buy letter mail postage (i want to send them as letters, not packages, because it’s cheaper). but that you have to pay money for, or use the free trial. since i was using media mail this time, pirate ship was good enough for me. 

when all of the zines arrived at my house i began stuffing envelopes and printing labels with the help of a lovely friend. don’t do this alone you EITHER get really bored or you slip into that sports manga ass trance that anyone who’s ever done repetitive labor has experienced and the day blips by. instead i had fun with a friend.

now. there is no way. as far as i know. to buy international letter mail stamps online. this is because you are not supposed to use it for your online store because you can only send things with a value of $0. and they have to be documents. so using them for zines is really skirting legality here unforch. 

WHAT I DO INSTEAD. i go to the closest post office with that pitney bowes machine, and i monopolize it printing postage. yeah. go at an off time. BE PREPARED to annoy everyone else at the post office. let them take turns with you obviously, but there will be some mean old lady who will make a snarky comment about you so stay fucking safe. 

 i think that’s everything i have to explain about my process. go make a zine. and consider selling it. 

[theconstitutionisgayculture]

Theres a bunch of people in a discord I'm in whining that video games are ~60$ so they can't play anything/only have 1 game for their console.... and like. I get it. Games are stupid expensive these days (and don't get me started abt DLC/lootboxes/microtransactions) but at the same time... Is budgeting really that hard to do? Not to shake my cane at avocado toast but that stupid fancy dinner and drinks you just had to have at disney + the merch you bought would buy several games. (Not to mention the ticket itself.) I just feel so out of touch in that I feel like I'm the only one there that understands that 20$ can't be spent 3 times. It's not classism you won't use self-control. And it isn't capitalism's fault you consistently fail at basic math my fellow discord users.

Wait till they realize that $70 is going to be the new default price point.

But yeah, there are so many ways to save $60 for a game you want. Like, games are announced at least 4-7 months before they come out; most much longer, years before they ever hit shelves. If you put five dollars from every paycheck into an envelope you're good for at least one game per year just on that alone. More if you get paid weekly or biweekly instead of monthly. But you can also trade games in for money or credit. Most places around the US have at least one buy/sell/trade store within driving distance, and if that's too hard, there's always ebay. When you're done with a game, sell it. That's $10-30 off the $60 or $70 dollar price right there. Or wait for a sale. Most new games are on sale within a few months after launch these days anyway. There are seriously so many ways to afford games if you really want to, even when you're poor. If you can afford to plop down $200-$500 on a console, or even more on a gaming PC, you can afford a few $60 dollar games per year if you budget at all.

[brushfeather]

A Rare Opportunity: Emergency Commissions!

Those that have followed me for a long time know that I don't often do commissions for a number of reasons. But times are extremely tight now, and with health insurance being threatened and mortgage falling behind, it's time once again to open these up.

💚 I will do: feral, anthro and furry creatures. My strength is with furred and feathered creatures.

👍I may possibly consider: A toonish human bust with a pet, with caution that this isn't my strongsuit. Fan OCs.

❌ I won't do: X-rated, suggestive, etc. Gore, violence. Vore. Various fetish materials. Full body humans, human-like plain-skinned creatures, strictly copyrighted stuff. Heavily detailed painting or backgrounds*.

(*I have offered this in the past, but this is not part of this commission opening. )

--

Sticker Style

Left: simple sticker style. Right: complex sticker style/product parody.

My sticker style is bright and semi-toony, with expressive eyes, faces, and sometimes exaggerated motion. Time is spent carefully refining the lines and perfecting the colors for these, especially when being set up for print. This is the style used for the 'angel' and 'food parody' designs I'm commonly known for, which you are welcome to request.

Simple sticker style: $30

Complex sticker style: $40+. Product parodies, extra animal/character, detailed objects, florals, characters with clothing, etc: will quote based on complexity.

Add package 1: 8"x10" or similar print, 1 sticker, 1 magnet: +$10, includes US tracked shipping or international stamped envelope shipping.

Add package 2: 2 prints, 2 stickers, 2 magnets: +$15

Watercolor Style

Left: Simple watercolor. Right: Detailed watercolor.

My digital 'watercolor' work is done loose and soft in a more sketchy style, but can be very involved when it comes to giving it lots of detail. Thus, this is the budget option if you're looking for something simple, but can be pricier for involved pieces, as it's more time consuming in that aspect.

Simple Watercolor style: $20-30. This can be a simple bust/portrait, or a full animal with minor detail. A clothed character, unless very minimal, will count as detailed, an animal with lots of texture and/or color, or a complicated pose.

Complex watercolor style: $50+ clothed characters, detailed objects, multiple characters, etc. This will be quoted based on complexity.

Add Print: ~8"x10": +$10, ~18x24: +$20 ~24"x36": +$25. Free US shipping only. Print-ready files will be provided for international customers to print locally.

The same prices above also apply to digital pencil characters, portraits & icons. I don't work in this style as often, but would be delighted to do more! This style marries the semi-toonishness of my sticker style with the loose softness usually found in my watercolor pieces.

All of my digital commissions can be sublimated/printed on a number of items, ranging from clothing, to memorial ceramics, to high quality tumblers. Let me know if you are interested in adding printed materials to your order!

Custom Beanies

Left: high stitch count cuff, around $80 Right: low stitch count cuff, around $55

Bottom: Peek-a-boo hat, low stitch count, around $95

These are priced a bit different: though beanie designs may not be time consuming to draw, there is cost in having the design digitized into stitches, then the time and material to have them created. These are priced by location and stitch count. More fill area = higher stitch count = higher cost.

Cuff Design: $55+

Peek-a-boo Hat (cuff and above cuff): $95+

These all include the cost of a basic acrylic cuffed beanie purchased in a stock color. Any specialty beanies, dying, etc will come at an extra cost.

---

Interested? Heck yeah, you're my hero! Contact me via:

Messages - Tumblr isn't very reliable at alerting people of messages, but I will be checking regularly while commissions are open.

Facebook: the easiest way to reach me.

Email: My username @Gmail! I check email frequently.

@brushfeather.creations on Instagram

On Etsy: also a very easy way to reach me, as Etsy is sure to alert multiple times if a message is accidently dismissed.

Let's chat and get your perfect piece planned! ✨🎨

[practically-an-x-man]

What visual medium would your fics be best represented by? (i.e. TV or Movie, live-action, traditional cartoon, anime, 3D animation, etc)

Oooh thank you!! This is super interesting!

So the short answer is that I tend to write my fics with the intent for them to "fit in" with the tone of their canon media - even in writing, I try to match the tone of whatever it is I'm writing about, so it really feels like a part of the established universe. My goal in writing is usually to make the reader forget that my OCs aren't canon characters and really to envelop them in that world as if they're reading something that belongs to canon.

That being said:

A Love Once New (Rae): I would say a movie to match the rest of the X-Men movies, but so much happens in this fics that I feel like it would be better represented by a TV show - I wouldn't want to miss the details or try to cram everything into a movie, so a TV show would help with that pacing. Live-action with practical effects and some CGI

Symphony in Silver (Robin): Live-action movie like the other X-Men movies, fit in somewhere between Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.

Smoke and Mirrors (Madison): I could see this as a TV show, and honestly could go either way on live action vs animated. Live-action would fit the way I've imagined it more, but I think it could also be fun to see an animation similar to the classic X-Men cartoon (and animation would be better for Madison's mutations, since there are a lot of them and CGI could make it look a little wonky)

Catch and Release (Ophelia): I'd want the main thing to be a live-action movie (you're gonna hear this a lot... like I said, I generally try to match the tone/pace to canon), but Hobie's cameo would still be animated like he is in the ATSV.

Gia's fics: I don't have much written for her yet, but I could see her added to the Hawkeye TV show!

Heartstrings (Jasper): Live-action TV show, I've basically just added Jasper to AHS Coven

Taking Flight (Kestrel): This is an interesting one... a fic based on a book series, with no real visual components. I've heard Fablehaven may be getting a live-action reboot, but I honestly think Taking Flight would look best as a series of animated movies - either tradition 2D animation a la Brother Bear or Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, with painted landscapes and expressive but realistically-drawn animals; or a stylized 3D animation like we see in The Wild Robot. Either way, animation would complement the magic and natural themes of the fic, and be stylistic but not overly cartoony.

Who Waits Forever Anyway? (Katherine): I'd love to see a blended live-action and animated movie, where the main story is told in live-action but Katherine's interactions with the gods are a sort of artistic, stylized hand-drawn animation in the style of historic art (like the opening scene in Hercules with the Muses on the amphora, the flashbacks in Kung Fu Panda 2 that are like traditional Chinese paintings, the scene in Prince of Egypt with the hieroglyphs, etc.)

Desert Song (Quinn): All of my 6 Underground fics are based on the fact that 6 Underground was set up for sequels that then got cancelled, so it would be a big-budget live-action sequel like the first movie.

Eris' fics: Hm... Again, I'd go a little stylistic with it. In the main timeline, they do effectively fit into the 2021 Suicide Squad movie, so I see those as scenes implanted into the movie. But AU fics like Years Ahead or This Phantom Life, I could honestly see as animated in different styles - basically just give the script to a different animator each time and see what they come up with, like Star Wars: Visions.

Nikoletta's fics: Similar to Eris, I see some of her fics just being implanted scenes into The Suicide Squad, but I think I'd go the route of a spinoff TV show (a la Peacemaker) for the others. Her story's a bit more linear than Eris, so a traditional TV show would work better than an anthology for her.

Heart in Your Hands (Jimmy): Live-action movie! It follows the plot of Frozen Empire with the inclusion of Jimmy, anyway.

Vivienne's fics: This one's tough. Yes, it's based on a horror movie and will incorporate the plot of that horror movie, but I'm honestly writing it a bit more like the book! I'd definitely want it to be live-action, and go strictly practical effects for things like Vivienne's siren traits (maybe a little CGI for her eyes, like they do in The Shape of Water, but everything else should be makeup), but whether the pacing would be better with a movie (or series of movies) or a TV show is what I'm still not sure about.

Spider's fics: I'd want a live-action movie with a few "game-ified" elements, like Scott Pilgrim or Guns Akimbo - overlays up on the screen as Spider's categorizing his tapes, animated flairs or sparks surrounding his tape recorder, "+1 can of soup" as he picks up resources for survival, things like that. Basically, I'd want it to be live-action but with a focus on Spider's point of view, and his point of view is inspired by a lot of other movies and games. Oh, and the sound design had better be KILLER!

Terra & Pluto's fics: 3D animated TV, in line with Arcane itself. I mean, I designed the characters that way, I even made my best efforts to try and draw them in the Arcane style, and it would just fit best as part of that world.

Prometheus' Fics: Here's the thing... we're not supposed to SEE Prometheus. They don't have an established physical appearance beyond their clothing, and I want to keep it that way. They're meant to reflect the reader, and I wouldn't want that to be ruined by casting an actor and having people then imagine that actor when they think of the character. The solution... how about a first-person video game? It's about the only visual media I can think of that's commonly in a first-person perspective, and I think it could be interesting to give the players a level of control in Prometheus' story - that's the point, the first fic even has two endings so people can choose which they want to focus on!

Bolts and Blasters (Indigo): Live-action TV show - going back to ALON and S&M, there's a lot of plot to cover and a TV show would just help with the pacing more than a movie would. Plus, Star Wars has already done some high-quality TV shows, so I think a "spinoff" from the sequel movies would work here.

[kittysdiary]

Any money making tips?

Money Making Tips:

Have a side hustle - There are so many side hustles that you can get into to make quick + extra money.

Start a shop on Amazon or Etsy

Start a YouTube channel

Help tutor or do 1 on 1 classes

Sell your old clothing

Deliver food + groceries

Start a blog

Offer freelance services

Invest - One of the best ways to make money is to invest it!

Invest in stocks

Invest in quality products

Invest in yourself

Invest in experiences + education

BUDGET!!!! - My #1 tip when it comes to making money and saving it involves budgeting + making a budget plan!!

Understand budget categories: food, pets, fun, children, education, home, utilities, insurance + etc.

Research budgeting methods and use one that fits you and your lifestyle. There are lots to choose from like the 70/20/10 method or the cash envelope method.

Prevent over spending - Over spending is a big challenge for a lot of us when it comes to money. Understanding how to prevent it can help save lots of $ over time.

Wait before making big purchases

Use a spending tracker

Set a spending limit

Use cash

Create shopping lists

Avoid browsing online shops

Save your money - Know when and how to spend + save your money!

Meal prep

Buy in bulk

Save coupons

Try a saving challenge

Get cash back rewards

Know your spending triggers - Figure out what can cause you to spend a lot of your money. Some triggers could be:

Boredom

Social media

Stress

Sales

Peer pressure

Some ways you can overcome these triggers are by unsubscribing from marketing emails and by making a solid plan before going through with a big purchase.

Make good spending habits - Pick up on habits that will help you get ahead in your finances!

Spend less than you earn

Maintain an emergency fund

Invest in yourself

Fix your bad habits

These are just the basics when it comes to personal finance. Hope it helps! Xoxo. 💸💓

[dollsorwhatever]

Merliah dump lol

This is such a random-ass fixation but here we go lol While I was looking for older Mattel Ariel dolls for my collection on Facebook marketplace a few months back, I somehow managed to stumble across a used Mermaid Tale 2 Mini Merliah doll-one of my most random doll grails- for the very very low price of 5$ which began a renewed interest in Barbie in a Mermaid Tale dolls lol

I've always been a huge fan of the Mini Kingdom line but dissatisfied with the body they used (and the massive balloon hobbit-era head sculpt they switched to in 2008-ish), so I was pretty excited when the Mermaid Tale 2 mini dolls came out with not only a teeny tiny Belly Button body, but also a new miniaturized GG head sculpt! Sadly they were Wal-mart exclusive dolls and were sold in very limited quantities so I never had a chance to get them when they came out, and they have been nearly impossible to find secondhand since then so I have been searching for them for years to no avail lol

(photos from google, pls let me know if they belong to you) this is also my obligatory plea for anyone to let me know if they have these for sale or find them anywhere because I still desperately want the Kylie doll and an NIB set of both lol After getting the mini doll, I thought it would be a good time to repurchase the deluxe Transforming Merliah doll I had when I was a teenager- one of my favorite dolls back in the OG doll Flickr days! I've always loved her face and the general aesthetic of the line (but not necessarily the construction..we'll get to that later) so she's always been a favorite of mine.

(the time stamp is killing me lmao)

At first I decided to just get my hands on a singular used Merliah doll to reroot and a collection of all of her outfits from previous movies, but upon her arrival I was pretty shocked to open up the padded envelope and discover a completely squishy head with no glue!

(I also rooted extra hair into her head for thickness but that's beside the point lol) Turns out the earliest batches of the original Merliah doll (Including international versions) are glue-free, while later ones have gluehead. This is probably a result of Mattel not fully integrating the glue-head method for every single doll until about the middle of Monster High's original run, which is why certain batches of Mattel dolls from between 2008-2012 still have squishy heads despite glue head already being a thing. At this point I decided to start hunting for more glue-free Merliah dolls (going by vibes and prayers alone to figure out which ones had no glue) one for each outfit. Next up was an NIB Merliah that came in the international package (luckily also with no glue, especially because I paid an egregious amount of money to get her NRFB):

I also started working on a set of two Merliah mermaid dolls, using multiple parts combined together and a set of rerooted Merliah dolls with solid pink streaks (instead of the color change ones that she comes with). The original deluxe Merliah dolls are pretty infamous for having some of the worst looking tail construction, so if I wanted a set of good mermaid dolls I would have to get creative lol

(Mermaid Tale 1's tail turns into a beach coverup and MT2's tail turns into a literal surfboard...bye) They also made a set of 'budget' mermaid dolls with more traditional fabric tails, which serve as the primary base parts for my versions:

MUCH nicer tails, but their fins are really dinky and flimsy and they could both use some more details, and the dolls are ofc way too basic lol

Mermaid Tale 2 Merliah was the first to get going because I found the pieces I needed at a lower price than the ones I need for the original Merliah, but she's also still unfinished while I wait for her rerooted head to come lol First I made a mockup, using the budget tail with the deluxe doll fin just to make sure the parts would fit together :

Then my finished tail, with some added detail around the fin to look a bit more deluxe lol:

Gorg! And very headless (for now) I also switched out her legs with the standard hollow plastic beach feet legs that the budget Merliah dolls have, because I hate the legs she came with lol Original Merliah is definitely my favorite though, and the one who cost the most for me to put together (and also got the most love lol) and also got finished the soonest. My mockup for her:

Originally I planned to add a Fountain Mermaid Barbie fin to her tail in order to make it larger, but eventually decided on Secret Door Romy's fins for the bottom layer instead, because they look more cohesive to the rest of her tail/fin and look more 'official' instead of looking like...well a 1993 tail slapped on a 2009 doll lol Ofc she needed a reroot to start with (commissioned from 292millimeters on Instagram!):

And then I (very reluctantly, because it was like 80$ lol) purchased the budget mermaid Merliah doll, a used Secret Door Romy outfit for the fabric fins and a bag of fuschia hotfix gemstones and put her together!

I also switched the tiaras between the Original and MT2 doll because the pink tiara matches her better, and I think it makes more sense for the original mermaid form to be more muted and for the "upgraded" sequel form to be more colorful. The extra fin on the bottom really gives the tail that little bit of extra length it needed to look like an actual, legitimate Deluxe Merliah doll tail imo, as does the longer hair and the gem on her top! And if you don't think this is a vast improvement from the original Deluxe doll's outfit....well

It was lowkey a little painful to put my stock Merliah back into her mermaid form for this comparison but it had to be done, it's just so ugly!!! This was a really random project resulting from a very spur of the moment purchase of a 5$ doll, but I really love these dolls and this line, and it felt good to fulfill the wishes of 15-year old me-and all of the other collectors on Flickr bitd who were absolutely livid about Merliah's original tail being so incredibly bad lol I've been having a lot of fun with these "what if" projects I've been doing recently, it's only further proven to me that I am a much happier collector when I actually take my own time working on whatever interests me in that moment and put everything I have into fully realizing my vision to the smallest detail (even if it's for something as niche as this, and even if it costs more money than it should) instead of putting so much emphasis on dealing with the hell that is trying to keep up with and purchase every new doll, even at the expensive of my financial and mental health and even if it personally does absolutely nothing to enrich my collection or my creativity to be constantly worried about missing out on whatever new RH doll is out lol

[taperwolf]

The most popular Eurorack module is Make Noise's MATHS, which is sometimes described as an analog computer. Some years ago, synth YouTuber loopop did a video about the module, starting by breaking down the basic functions into three parts: attenuverting, mixing, and slew rate limiting. Attenuverting is a portmanteau of "attenuating" — turning down — and "inverting"; mixing combines signals by adding them together; slew rate limiting is slowing down the rate of change of a signal, making it rise or fall more slowly. By combining these functions (and the extra features Make Noise included), loopop demonstrated about 22 different things a MATHS can do, from basic envelope generation to LFOs to sidechaining to even acting as an audio filter or VCA.

I don't have a MATHS; it's a bit too pricey for my budget (though it's by no means the most expensive of Make Noise's many desirable modules). I have instead a home-built combination of three modules: two copies of Voxmachina's Sigma function and slew generator and a three-channel mixer of my own design, with attenuverters on two of those input channels. And when I just rewatched that loopop video, it turns out my setup can do all but three of those 22 functions, because my mixer doesn't have an analog OR output or a separate inverted output. Which is not too bad for a much lower price point and the satisfaction of saying I made it myself.

(I've gone through some MATHS cookbooks before to translate their patches to a dual Sigma setup, and there are, of course, a couple of other features that MATHS provides and my setup lacks. The MATHS slew channels have independent and simultaneous CV control over rise, fall, and "both", where Sigma provides the equivalent of a "both" and a switchable CV input over one of those; in MATHS, the slope shape, from exponential through linear to logarithmic, is selectable without self-patching; there isn't a gate input to control cycling; and MATHS channel 1 has an "end of rise" trigger instead of the "end of cycle" one that channel 4 or Sigma provides. The kinds of patches that require one or more of the missing features aren't enough to make me desperate to upgrade, but they'd be nice. Replacing the mini mixer with a larger version with attenuverters on each input and an OR out is in the medium-term plans.)

loopop did a follow-up video about using a MATHS to duplicate the dual-suboscillator function of the then-unreleased Moog Subharmonicon, and it turns out my setup can do that too — I was just listening to my system rigged to divide down a VCO signal with the Sigmas, to create random chords from a single note.

[illumtori]

The Top 5 Budgeting Techniques Every Young Adult Should Know

In the roller coaster of life where new experiences and challenges can come at you fast, getting a grip on your finances is crucial. Let’s cut through the noise and explore five tried-and-true budgeting techniques that can put you in the driver’s seat of your financial journey.

The Foundation: Why Budgeting is Essential

Start Early, Thank Later

One of the secrets to a stress-free financial life is starting early. When you begin to budget in your younger years, you are not just counting pennies but also laying the foundation for a stable future. It is like planting a tree, the sooner you do it, the more shade you will enjoy down the road.

Read the Benefits

Proper budgeting does more than just prevent the dreaded end-of-the-month penny-pinching. It sets you up for success:

Save for Goals: Whether it is travel, higher education, or buying a home, a budget helps you put aside funds intentionally.

Avoid Unnecessary Debt: With a clear view of your income and expenses, you can make informed decisions, preventing you from spending more than you can afford to pay.

Achieve Financial Freedom: While it sounds dreamy, it is achievable. A well-maintained budget paves the way for peace of mind, giving you the freedom to live without constant money worries.

The 50/30/20 Rule

The 50/30/20 rule is a straightforward framework to help individuals allocate their income:

Necessities (50%): This segment is not just about survival but it is about maintaining a baseline quality of life. This should cover rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, basic groceries, health insurance, and debt payments.

Wants (30%): This is not about reckless spending but acknowledging that leisure and entertainment are part of a balanced life. This can cover outings, special occasions, hobbies, dining out, and non-essential shopping.

Savings & Debt Repayment (20%): While part of this goes to savings, it is also about chipping away at any outstanding debt faster than just minimum payments.

Pros

Provide a simple structure ideal for those new to the budgeting process

Ensure you’re saving consistently every month.

Cons

One-size-fits-all percentages might not accommodate everyone’s unique situation.

Could be challenging in areas with a high cost of living.

Zero-Based Budgeting

Every dollar you earn should be put to use, whether that is paying for a service, buying goods, saving, or paying off debt. Each month, your budget should “zero out”:

Record Monthly Income: This includes your regular paycheck, any side hustles, rental income, and other sources.

Itemize Monthly Expenses: Start with fixed expenses (like rent) and then move to variable ones (like entertainment).

Match Income to Expenses: Deduct every expense from your income until you’ve allocated every dollar. If there is money left, put it toward savings or debt. If you are in the red, adjust your expenses.

Pros

Promotes intense awareness of your spending habits.

Can lead to a more frugal lifestyle as you critically evaluate every expenditure.

Cons

Requires frequent attention and adjustments, especially if you have fluctuating income or expenses.

Can be tedious for those not used to detailed financial tracking.

The Envelope System

Actual physical envelopes labeled for each of your expenses. After receiving your paycheck, you distribute cash into each envelope according to your budgeted amounts. When the envelope is empty, that is your cue: no more spending in that category for the month.

Tactile Advantage: The tangible act of handing over cash and seeing an envelope thin out offers a visceral connection to your spending, making you more conscious of your choices.

Digital Variations: With the world moving increasingly towards cashless transactions, use apps to mimic the envelope system with digital “envelopes” to help you allocate and track your spending in the same disciplined manner.

Pros

Provides clear boundaries for spending in each category.

Cultivates awareness and curbs impulsive spending.

Cons

Carrying cash can be inconvenient or even unsafe in some settings.

Might not cater to larger or online transactions.

The Reverse Budget Method

Instead of saving what is left after all expenses, this method flips the script. You decide on a savings goal and immediately set that amount aside when you receive your income. The remainder is then used for expenses.

Savings Commitment: By prioritizing savings, you ensure consistent progress toward financial goals, regardless of how the month’s spending unfolds.

For Variable Incomes: Since traditional budgeting can be hard when income isn’t consistent, reverse budgeting provides a way to ensure savings aren’t overlooked. By setting a percentage or fixed minimum amount to save, it instills discipline, even amidst financial unpredictability.

Pros

Prioritizes long-term financial health and goals.

Simplifies budgeting by focusing on one primary action.

Cons

Requires a strong commitment, as it can be tempting to dip into savings when other expenses arise.

Might not account for unexpected, high-cost necessities.

The Value-Based Budget

Unlike more rigid systems, the value-based budget doesn’t focus primarily on percentages, categories, or envelopes. Instead, it centers on your personal values, ensuring that the way you spend your money aligns with what matters most to you.

Self-Reflection: Begin with introspection. What truly brings joy, purpose, and meaning to your life? Is it travel? Perhaps education, or maybe supporting charitable causes? It is not about what society deems important, but what resonates with you.

Allocate Accordingly: Once you have identified your core values, align your spending to reflect them. This might mean allocating more to experiences over possessions if experiences are what you value most. Or it could mean setting aside a specific portion for charitable donations if giving back is a cornerstone of your values.

Pros

Creates a deep sense of fulfillment, as your spending is intrinsically tied to your passions and beliefs.

Provides flexibility, allowing for shifts in values and priorities over time.

Cons

Requires consistent introspection and honesty about what truly matters.

Lacks the structural rigidity of other methods, which can be a challenge for those who benefit from stricter frameworks.

Tips for Sticking to a Budget

Consistent Reviews

Consistent Reviews: Your financial journey is a living, breathing entity. To ensure you are navigating it efficiently, set aside time at least once a month for a budget review. This allows you to:

Identify areas where you consistently overspend.

Recognize positive patterns and reinforce them.

Adjust for any new income or unexpected expenses.

Set Realistic Expectations

Understand that budgeting is a skill developed over time. As you embark on this journey:

Celebrate small victories. Did you stick to your dining out budget this month? That is a win!

Don’t be disheartened by slip-ups. Instead, view them as learning opportunities. Analyze what went wrong and strategize for the future.

Embrace Flexibility

While discipline is a crucial aspect of budgeting, so is adaptability. Life throws curveballs, unexpected medical bills, car repairs, or other surprise expenses. When these arise:

Avoid panic. Instead, revisit your budget, making temporary adjustments to accommodate these unforeseen costs.

Consider having an emergency fund in place, which can act as a financial cushion for such scenarios.

Remember that every month might not look the same. Holidays, birthdays, or seasonal expenses can alter your spending. Anticipate these variations and adjust your budget accordingly.

Conclusion

Mastering your finances is an evolving journey, not a destination. Embrace the techniques that resonate, be patient with yourself, and remember: every step you take is one step closer to financial empowerment.

Follow our Instagram account for your daily dose of fun and inspiration!

Looking for a productivity tool that can help you achieve goals, set budget, and be more productive? Come learn about Illumtori!

[dramalets]

A rec list for Bee (and whomever else might want to partake) @somethingnastyinthewoodshed

Pesto pasta tier; Consider these for your next picks.

The Eclipse - ‘Mystery’ (It’s not really) First & Khao’s first main role as pair. Great performances from both and a great side cast. Silly bounce off the wall kiss that is A+. 

The Warp Effect - Sex comedy but done correctly. Have literally never ever seen this kind of comedy done this well. Amazing performances all round, name a queer perspective and theres probably rep for it. 

Moonlight Chicken - Vibes in a show. Earth & Mix do soft, gentle pining so bloody well and it’s gripping. Honestly just a gorgeous queer found family story that examines what it is to be both dirt poor and gay. 

Bad Buddy - A silly BL premise but done delightfully. The friends are a little annoying but you get used to them. Good commentary on the burdens parents can leave us with. Ohm & Nanon are fantastic. 

Like in the movies - Another from the Phillipines. Just breathtaking. Ends bittersweet, which some didnt love, but it’s a beautiful journey and the Ben&Ben ost is sublime.

Not Me - The premise of this is so dumb but it really works. Essentially a story about a funky little, anti-establishment found family who want the world to work for everyone. First is fantastic in this and it’s rare I give Off his flowers but he deserves them for this. 

Chicken stew tier; Don’t overlook but maybe next

Gameboys - Two cuties fall in love over the computer during covid. That’s a simple sum up but it’s a lot more than that. The philippines really put out some great BL during covid and this is one of them.

Pearl Next Door - The f/f sidekick to gameboys but not set during covid. Realistic feeling lesbian drama and all the girls are a delight. On YouTube.

A Tale of a 1000 stars - Another bizarre shouldn’t work concept that does. Much like Moonlight Chicken it’s a lot of episodes of Earth & Mix pining but they do it so well that it’s just very very watchable. 

Be my favourite - For me, this is pesto pasta tier. But I think for most it’ll be chicken stew. I like feeling enveloped in a universe and this does that well. The most beautiful, artfully filmed first time I’ve seen in recent years.  Never Let Me Go - Beautiful to look at. Has some really great scenes and the performances pulled from such young actors are sublime. But I also felt this was a bit wishy washy. Didn’t know what tone it wanted so it tried to hit all of them.

Cold Pizza tier; Good, worth it. But also not worth rushing on. 

Hello Stranger - Another Phillipino covid released drama. (Doesn’t have covid as a theme though) Mico & Xavier are in the same class but aren’t friends, have to come together for a class project. It sounds pedestrian but it was done really well and Mico’s little gang of nerd friends are fab. 

My Engineer - Compared to every other thing I put on this list this is low, low quality lol. There is zero budget, a bad dub and tropes out the ass. But it makes me smile every time I’ve rewatched it. 

2gether/Still 2gether - I’m not a fan of 2gether tbh. It’s fine. I find Tine annoying. Still 2gether was much better as it was basically just the original couple solving the issues of their dumb friends. These are mostly here because its one everyone will tell you to watch. 

Why R U? - Again, a significant downturn in production quality here but that was largely thanks to covid. Very tropey. Questionable in a lot of ways but again, induces smiles and Saint & Zee have silly amounts of chemistry. 

Boys Lockdown - Love in the time of covid basically. Enjoyable. Nothing I’d rush for especially given it’s heavy heavy covid theming.

[thedioraddict]

ALL ABOUT Moi

I am a 27 yo blk woman, living in the Midwest. I am currently working as a C.S.R rep making $45k annually. It’s a newly acquired position, and I’m really excited about it. I live in a tiny studio apt. Basically I created this blog, to keep myself accountable with my goals; also to track my progress. I hope to accomplish at least 7 of my goals for the year.

2023 Goals

Level up / Invest in myself

Lose 25lbs >

1 bedroom apt

✔️ Used car $5k<

✔️Work Schedule 6am-2pm

Launch online business

Enroll in Community College Fall semester

Credit score 690pts

Debt Free

Monthly budget $1650 / cash envelope system

I am always working on my self development, and striving to be the best version of myself. Follow me along my personal journey!

[lord-radish]

Okay, I've had time to sit on my Persona 4 opinions and get them all sorted out. I think where I went wrong is that my expectations were too high because I heard the legend of this game for about a decade before I actually got to play it.

Specifically, there are things I was hoping for that didn't happen. Looking at the context of the game's development and the time it was made in, and comparing Persona 4 to Persona 5 which was able to push the envelope much further in both content and budget, it's not surprising that I didn't get everything I had hoped for. Long story short, I got my hopes up.

Persona 4 was still really good though. I just got to it a bit too late.

Anyway - SPOILERS ABOUND - here are some of the things I wanted to happen in Persona 4 that didn't happen:

---

Inaba as a mass delusion within the dream world. The Inaba you entered at the start of the game was a false Inaba, and you and your friends were basically entering a dream within a dream when you entered the TV world. Hence why Inaba got all foggy in December: it was another nested layer of the delusion. Once you got the true ending, the fake Inaba would shatter and you and your friends would enter the real Inaba - a telltale difference is that the real Inaba doesn't specialise in steak.

Speaking of steak - there's a rumour going around about how there are no local cow farms or slaughterhouses or anything, which throws Inaba's signature dish of steak into question. In line with the "false Inaba" theory, I thought there was gonna be a twist that people, shadows or some other fucked up thing was being butchered to provide all the steak. Since it happened in a dream world, no-one was actually harmed and no-one was a cannibal from eating steak.

The killer or the mastermind was one of the party members. The first thought was Rise, with Adachi acting as accomplice. Rise fits the "media" profile, being tied to the entertainment industry, and she could have known Adachi from her time in the idol space and co-ordinated a series of murders with him. The second thought was Kanji because the game has an unfortunate thread of ugly people being villains, and Kanji stands out the most. I also suspected Yosuke and Chie at certain points too.

I thought the root of evil in Inaba was gonna stem from Junes in like a "Wal-Mart moves into town and kills the local ecosystem" sort of narrative.