#and it’s a good plan like really good and not that expensive

[cameronsbabydoll]

do you think rafe in sugar coated chains really cares about how reader is feeling ?? like i guess he loves her in his own.... twisted way... but like idk if she was really sad or really excited like would he listen to her and be there for her or just be dismissive and condescending

Rafe in Sugar Coated Chains definitely "cares" about the reader—but in a way that's completely self-serving and suffocating. He doesn’t love her in a way that prioritizes her happiness; he loves her in a way that prioritizes his version of happiness, which means keeping her under his control.

If she were sad, his response would depend entirely on why she was sad. If it was something that reflected poorly on him—like if she was upset because she felt trapped, lonely, or overwhelmed by the life he’s given her—he’d be dismissive, maybe even irritated. He’d twist it into her problem, making her feel guilty for not appreciating everything he does for her.

"What, you’re sad? After everything I’ve given you? You have no idea how good you have it.”

But if her sadness was external—if someone upset her, if she got scared or hurt in a way that wasn’t linked to him—he’d be all over it. Protective, possessive, controlling. He wouldn’t comfort her in a way that actually helped, but he would use it as an opportunity to reinforce her dependence on him.

"See? This is why you need me. No one else is gonna take care of you like I do."

On the other hand, if she were really excited about something? That’s trickier. If it’s something he planned—like a luxury trip, an expensive gift, anything that proves his dominance over her life—he’d eat it up. He’d love seeing her happy if that happiness was because of him.

But if it was something personal to her—like an accomplishment, a hobby, or even just a small joy that had nothing to do with him—he’d probably be dismissive or condescending. Not outright cruel, just subtly undermining, enough to make her second-guess herself.

"That’s cute, baby. But don’t get too caught up in it."

Because at the end of the day, he doesn’t want her having too much of her own happiness. Not unless it’s something he gave her, something he owns.

[loveemagicpeace]

Astrology Notes

Saturn in 4th house transit( not always ) but during this time, you may learn something about your family or find out that you are adopted. Although Saturn in this house is not bad, it can bring many benefits. it is the house in which Saturn otherwise feels comfortable.Very good transit for gaining independence and self-determination.

Neptune represents the grandmother, the wise old women. The first sign of a Neptune contact is a sense of loss, despair, hopelessness or confusion. Many people instinctively use this as a time to travel, a time to live on the surface of cultures, to  escape from their own world and drift through someone else's. When u have transit Neptune-Moon: a visionary, drug-sensitive, spiritual time where the individual experiences the dissolving of emotional responses. Time out from the world to unconsciously reorganize one's emotional reality.  Transit - Neptune-North Node: finding one's spiritual path, finding a group or "tribe" with a basis in the arts; healing; drug abuse; the metaphysical which propels one into a new life direction. Neptune-South Node: loss in the "tribe" of an old wise woman; a restructuring within the tribe of the spiritual leader, or the visionary one in the family; meeting a person from the past with whom you feel a spiritual connection.

When u choose your partner u will also feel compatible with him based on your sun. Your sun is your ego, joy, spotlight. So for ex.: gemini & gemini sun can be good in a relationship but the relationship can be very unstable. A sag sun woman & a taurus man will be difficult together. A woman will always need liveliness, playfulness, travel and passion. While a taurus man will be much more reserved, likes to stay at home and likes to be settled, he doesn't like too much change and a fast life. He likes stability and a woman who is stable. A gemini man is often associated with a merchant, a traveler. Geminis like to go through life without a plan and thinking. They get over relationships quickly and quickly find a new woman.

Virgo sun are very frugal people, they will only buy things they really need and do not like to waste money on unnecessary things. They like a practical lifestyle and like to do things that are productive during the day. They are also picky when it comes to money and won't buy something that is really expensive, they prefer to buy something that is worth it and that the price is as affordable as possible. Virgo man like order and cleanliness. They are quick to notice small details and like women who dress decently and neatly. They usually look for a woman who is a housewife or likes order and likes to clean.

The Sagittarius woman and the Virgo man are very different and rarely get along. The Virgo man doesn't like spontaneity or too fast a pace. The Sagittarius woman, on the other hand, is very unpredictable and loves adventures. Sagittarius women like to dress extra while Virgo men prefer to dress more neutrally and don't like to stand out and can sometimes be embarrassed when someone is very stand out. This is just based on sun sign. But I would also say that someone with a lot of virgo placements and someone with a lot of sagittarius placements will not find a common language or interests. They are quite different people.

It is said that the Gemini man's third marriage is the only one that is valid. However, statistics show that even among the third wives, there are almost no Scorpios. Scorpio women are such that they already accustom Gemini men to order in their first marriage. However, it is certainly true that these two must show a lot of mutual understanding if they want to live together. Gemini men should talk seriously with Scorpio women. This will also benefit their career.

Aquarius woman and Gemini man-Their relationship stems from love at first sight. They both have the same ideals, both are full of ideas that can make life more beautiful. Gemini and Aquarius love to flirt and have dinner at home. Such a marriage does not know jealousy. Gemini likes to adapt to the new ideas of their partner. And they act correctly, because Aquarius realizes what she has decided. She is sociable and with her he will meet many people who will be useful to him in his professional life.

A cancer man likes a woman who is family-oriented, fair, a homemaker. Many times they are looking for a woman who is like a mother. They are often moody and have their own habits that they stick to. They get a lot of their habits from their mother or from their family in general. They have a hard time adapting to new things. They are more inclined towards the past than the future. They have few good friends and their circle is narrow and private. They are very private about their home.

Cancer man and Aries woman are very different and often have difficulty getting along. Cancer wants a family and a peaceful life. Aries, on the other hand, can bring unrest and a lot of stress. However, they can be very compatible in the professional field.

Cancer man and Libra woman. Cancer is inward-looking, while she is outward-looking, and it is sometimes difficult for them to follow the same path. In love, they can complement each other. However, Cancer would like to marry a housewife who would replace his mother, to whom he has always been attached. Libra is excellent at her tasks, but she does not like to get her hands dirty. She likes to be a lady.

The Pisces woman has a lot of problems with men and many times they don't suit her the way she would like them to. The Taurus man and the Pisces woman are different in how they give love. With Gemini man, Pisces may feel that he is too light-hearted and not paying as much attention to her. It could also be that he won't be that loyal to her. Libra man and pisces woman are a good catch. However, he may be too focused on the attention of others or like to be adored by other women. Which a Pisces wouldn't like.

The Pisces man is naturally spiritual, gentle, in touch with his emotions. He is modest and does not care about money. However, he is very much in his own world and a dreamer. He has his own ideals and fantasies that he seeks in women. However, they are often disappointed in love. A female leo will be too fiery for him and he may feel too vulnerable or exposed around her. A marriage with a Virgo could fail because they are too different. He insists on his dream world, while she wants reality and order. She may become too critical of him over time. Libra woman and Pisces man -There is some risk in this marriage, although both long for eternal love. But sometimes they get entangled in contradictions and then they don't know how to move on. Libra should cheer up her little brain and pull it out of depressions. She is charming, but her emotions are sometimes just played. Her sensitive husband may soon notice this. Otherwise, they love peaceful coexistence.

You will usually have long-distance relationships with people you share the 9th house with. You will also travel a lot with them over long distances. These are also the people you will have the best time with on your travels.

The moon represents where you find the most comfort and how much home means to you. What you need emotionally. Venus represents the kind of love you want and the kind of relationships you tend to create. What you really want in a relationship and what you value most in the relationship itself.What will quickly attract you on the partner. Mars represents energy and what sexually attracts you to a person and at the same time what kind of energy you like in others.

Moon in Gemini -Communication is very important to you and you like stimulation in every given moment of your life.Moon in Scorpio-You value privacy and like to have a home that is deep and you need a lot of intimacy. Moon in Cancer-You like a home that is comfortable, safe, beautiful, and where you feel emotionally fulfilled.

Capricorn Venus- You show love through practical things and through building a life together with the person. You like someone who is serious and determined. Someone who will make you feel like they will never leave and will always be here with you even in difficult times. Sagittarius Venus-You like adventure, playfulness, and travel. In love, you will be very happy with a partner who will prepare a special surprise for you and who will enjoy life with you. Maybe someone who created a playlist for you. Aries Venus-Love can be something that takes you over and gives you a lot of passion but at the same time leaves space for you. A partner who will always be with you but at the same time understands your hot-bloodedness.

-Rebekah💗🌊

[gothwineaunts]

What do you use to create the comics? I’ve been wanting to create my own comic but i have no idea where to start.

We personally use wacom tablets and a combination of clip studio and photoshop. If you're between the two, def get clipstudio, it's really good and it's specifically for comic creators, so there's lots of useful features. Photoshop is so annoying and expensive and we only use it for certain things out of habit because it's how we started out. We'd ditch it if we could, haha. Wacom is the brand we're used to using for tablets, but I've heard good things about huion as well. Flynn used the cheapest wacom tablet for the first half of our time working on Shiloh, so trust me when I say you don't need anything fancy. I know others prefer to use an iPad (or an equivalent touchscreen tablet) and an app called procreate. That would probably be a better place to start if you're brand new to digital art and happen to already have a touchscreen tablet of some kind. Working on a PC set up is better for us just bc our file sizes are absolutely huge, and not breaking our necks staring down at a touchscreen all day every day is a nice bonus too. Those would be my top two recs for where to start! Either: - wacom/huion small non-display tablet + desktop pc/laptop + clipstudio - ipad/touchscreen tablet + (ideally a pressure sensitive) stylus + procreate app You can't go wrong with either of those set ups, and they'll take you a long way! I know creators who use both types, and both are capable of putting out gorgeous professional-level work. Good luck creating! And remember it's hard for everyone at first, it took Flynn and I like six months to plan out and make the first three episodes of Nevermore and we'd already worked on another series before that. So just be persistent, I promise it gets easier as you go!!

[deezee112]

The good ending : Not Ready to Be a Parent

The worst ending 27 | Special ending

Yandere!Twisted Wonderland x GN!Reader

A/N : Everyone! I never thought we’d make it to this ending. Thank you all so much for following along until now I really appreciate it!

Right now, I’m planning a special episode ( which explores what would happen if we didn’t die ) for all the characters!

I��m also working on the storyline for Season 2. It shouldn’t take too long, but the special ending will probably be much longer than usual. This chapter might be a bit short, but I think it turned out really well!

Tags :

@iris-arcadia @yuu-twisted

If you want me to tag you please tell me.

English is not my first language.

You stared at the doll, now seated upright on your couch, its unsettlingly realistic features illuminated by the soft morning light filtering through your apartment’s curtains. It was a child almost somewhere between eight and twelve years old, with smooth skin, delicate features, and glassy eyes that seemed far too lifelike.

Your fingers drummed against your arm as you stood there, watching it. The clothes it wore were plain, just a simple shirt and pants, but they somehow made it seem even more human. Like a real child sitting there, waiting for you to say something.

You exhaled sharply. “ What the hell am I supposed to do with you? ”

Of course, the doll didn’t answer.

You turned away and headed for the kitchen, needing coffee before you could deal with this mess. The rich, bitter scent filled the air as you poured yourself a cup, taking a slow sip while trying to think logically. Crowley had given you next to no instructions beyond take care of it, as if that were a simple task.

Feed it. Talk to it. Treat it like a real child.

You scoffed, shaking your head. “ Right. Because raising a kid is so easy. ”

The longer you stood there, the more your mind started running through the realities of what Crowley was asking of you. Raising a child even an artificial one meant responsibility. And responsibility meant time, effort, and most importantly…money.

You glanced at the doll again, still sitting motionless on your couch.

“ Alright.. ” you muttered, walking over and sitting across from it. “ Let’s break this down. ”

You weren’t exactly wealthy. Your job covered your rent, bills, and food, but it wasn’t like you had stacks of cash lying around for extra mouths to feed especially not ones that came with unknown costs.

Would this thing need clothes? Medical care? Did it get sick? Did it grow?

You frowned, rubbing your temple. “ God, this is a nightmare. ”

You’d never even considered having kids before. Not because you hated them, but because they were expensive, time consuming, and required more patience than you had. And now you were being expected to raise this?

Your gaze drifted toward the grocery list stuck to your fridge, the numbers scribbled on the side reminding you of how carefully you already had to budget. If you took this thing in, that list would get longer. Food, water, maybe even extra furniture.

And what about emergencies? What if something happened to it? Could it get injured? Would you be responsible for repairs, doctor visits whatever it required?

You sighed, resting your forehead against your hand.

“ I think I should return it. ”

The words slipped out before you could fully process them, but once they were spoken, they made sense. The longer you thought about it, the more you realized just how unprepared you were for something like this.

Crowley could pretend this was some simple task, but it wasn’t. Raising a child even an artificial one wasn’t just about giving them food and shelter. It was about being ready to take care of someone else’s life, to be responsible for their well being.

And you weren’t ready.

Not financially. Not emotionally. Not in any way that mattered.

You let out a slow breath and looked at the doll again. It hadn’t moved, hadn’t reacted, but something about its presence still weighed on you.

Maybe, if things were different if you had more time, more money, more experience you might have considered it. But this wasn’t some stray animal you could feed for a few weeks and then decide if you wanted to keep. It was a child.

And children deserved more than someone who took them in on a whim.

Decision made, you grabbed your phone and texted Crowley.

" We need to talk. "

It only took him a few minutes to respond.

" Ah, wonderful! How is the little one doing? "

You exhaled sharply, already irritated. He always had this way of dodging real conversations.

" Come pick it up. I’m not the right person for this. "

This time, there was a long pause before a reply came.

" Are you certain? This is quite the opportunity, you know! A chance to raise a child, shape a young mind, be part of something truly groundbreaking! "

You scowled. Opportunity? Was that how he saw it?

" I’m not ready for this, Crowley. It needs someone with experience, someone who knows what they’re doing. Give it to them. "

Silence.

Then, finally

" Well, if you’re absolutely sure…I’ll make the arrangements. "

You put your phone down and sighed, running a hand through your hair. The weight on your chest loosened slightly.

It was the right choice.

Raising a child real or not wasn’t something you could do just because someone told you to. It required commitment. And if you weren’t ready for that, then the best thing you could do was step aside and let someone else take care of it.

You looked at the doll one last time.

“ Guess this is goodbye, huh? ”

It blinked slowly.

You chuckled, shaking your head. “ You probably don’t even understand what’s happening. ”

Maybe that was for the best.

When Crowley finally arrived, he was all smiles, acting as if this was just another minor inconvenience in his day. You didn’t bother explaining yourself again. You’d made your decision, and that was all that mattered.

As he carried the doll away, you watched from your doorstep, a strange sense of relief settling in your chest.

It wasn’t your responsibility anymore.

And that was okay.

But the last thing you saw was that doll staring at you one final time before it disappeared.

[grlsbstshot]

Love Language Chapter One: Daddy Lessons

Pairing (Original Characters):

Jameson Lucas (Aaron Pierre) x Imani St. Cirie (Megan thee Stallion) Genie Adesanya (Jayme Lawson) x Ellington “EJ” Dupree (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Chapter Synopsis:

Genie and EJ arrive in Paris at the start of their wedding week celebrations. Jameson and Imani are not far behind. As our lead couples reckon with the current status of their family situations -- secrets and drama are gearing up to take center stage at the end of the week.

Warnings: mentions of paternal test, childbirth description, tense parental/child relationships, mentions of parental abandonment, & SMUT (fingering, p in v, dirty talk, rough sex) -- if we missed anything, let us know!

!!! IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, YOU SHOULD NOT BE READING THIS !!!

Word Count: 6.6k

Paris had always been Genie’s favorite city. The winding streets, the light against historic stone buildings, the effortless elegance of it all – it made her feel like she was stepping into a dream every time she arrived. But this time, it was different. This time, she wasn’t just visiting; she was getting married.

She stood at the window of their hotel suite, gazing down at the city below. From here, she could see the Eiffel Tower glistening beneath the afternoon sun, the rooftops of Paris stretching out like an oil painting. Behind her, the faint rustling of EJ unpacking their things filled the space, grounding her in the moment. This was really happening. A smile blossomed on her face as she leaned against the railing.

“Alright, so,” EJ began. “You’ve got your final fitting tomorrow, the venue walk-through on Wednesday, the welcome luncheon on Thursday, then rehearsal dinner on Friday.” He glanced up at her with an impressed whistle. “My baby is gonna be busy. At some point, I’d like to convince my fiancée to take a breath before she passes out on our wedding day.”

Genie turned to face him, a laugh leaving her lips. “You might be right. I am feeling a little lightheaded.” She lifted her hand to press to her forehead dramatically.

“Well, we can’t have that.” He tossed the last of his things onto the floor and swept his suitcase from the bed, the sound of her laughter echoing to the street below, “It’s my duty to soothe that booty —”

“You’re insane.” “I’m in love. Get in here and get on this bed, girl.” “I can’t. I have too much to do.” “What was the point of us hiring our very expensive wedding planner if you’re gonna do it all?” “To help me do all the stuff.” “Kendrick said you’d be bossy about the wedding.”

She stiffened at the mention of her father. Her expression remained calm, but Genie turned back toward the view, her fingers curling around the balcony's iron. For a moment, she let herself feel it. The ache of knowing her father wouldn’t be here. That he hadn’t been here for any of it. Not the planning, not the moment she found her dress and wished, just for a second, that he’d be there to see it. 

It had been nine months since she saw her father. No word was exchanged between them. He called and left messages but Genie never listened. Never responded. She was devastated each and every time. The little girl inside her, the one who used to believe he was honorable, wanted things to be different. The woman she had become knew better.

Genie swallowed, fingertips grasping the balcony banister before loosening and turning to give EJ a smile. “I should make sure the menu is good. We finalized two weeks ago but you know how these things are.” she said, her voice smooth, deliberate.

EJ exhaled slowly. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew exactly what she was doing. The moment Kendrick’s name had left his mouth, she had shut down, redirecting the conversation like a well-practiced magician.

He could press the issue – he wanted to press the issue – but he also knew her well enough to know when not to push. Instead, he leaned back, studying her for a moment. She looked perfect, as always – her makeup subtle yet flawless, her hair beautifully dark coils, her jewelry understated but expensive. But she was unsettled. His gaze strayed to her hands. She was wearing the engagement ring he had given her and her fingers toyed with it absently, the only visible tell of the turmoil she was going through.

That was all he needed to know.

EJ moved across the room, slipping his arms around her waist as they stood on their balcony together. “You’re right,” he murmured, pressing a slow kiss to her neck. “The menu is the most important thing.”

Genie sighed, tilting her head slightly as he trailed kisses along her skin. “Glad you agree.”

“We should also probably test some of the desserts again too,” he mused, lips brushing against her jaw as he allowed the subject to change. “Just to be sure.”

She let out a soft laugh, her body relaxing against him. “We’ve already tasted them twice.”

“Mm. But we need to be certain.” His fingers traced the delicate line of her jaw before cupping her face. His brown eyes were steady on hers, full of warmth, full of knowing. “You’ve been handling everything, making sure this wedding is perfect. But I want you to realize – it already is. Because it’s us. You’re working so hard and I just…I need you to know saying yes was the day you made my life. Everything else is just icing on a very delicious cake, baby.”

Genie stared at him, her throat tightening. He always did this – found a way to cut through her armor without ever forcing his way in. She nodded, inhaling deeply before leaning in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to his lips.

“Thank you.,” she whispered. “I love you.”

EJ grinned against her mouth, his fingers skimming over her hip as he pulled her closer. “I love you more.”

Genie’s picture flashed across the screen and Camille saw it – Kendrick froze, stopped in his tracks as he crossed the living room towards the kitchen. His baby’s wedding was the talk of the town…and he had no idea when it would be. Genie hadn’t been receptive towards her father. Every text, every call, had all gone unanswered.

It was etched across his face every single time he looked at her. 

The baby stirred in her arms and Kendrick pulled himself out of his daze. In an instant, it was like nothing had bothered him at all.

She watched him, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. “Has she called?” Kendrick didn’t answer right away but slowly he shook his head. He didn’t even have to say it. Camille already knew.

“And Jameson?”

He took even longer to respond but eventually, there was a slow shake of his head again. The last time they’d seen Jameson had been in that very room – and Kendrick didn’t look any less devastated than he did now.

The house was quiet. Not just because the baby was asleep upstairs, but because the three of them sat in silence, each carrying the weight of unspoken words. She had asked Jameson to come by Kendrick’s home and he agreed. No argument, no refusal. He simply said “Okay.” She had given birth a mere week ago so she knew he understood why. 

Camille could feel the tension pressing in from all sides. There was so much between the three of them but no one said anything.

She sat with her hands folded in her lap, her posture straight, composed but she felt frantic with a pounding heartbeat in her chest. Across from her, Jameson leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking at nothing in particular. He hadn’t touched the whiskey on the table. He hadn’t leaned back, hadn’t let himself settle.

Kendrick stood near the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest, but Camille knew it wasn’t defensiveness – it was caution. Restraint. He was watching Jameson carefully, waiting, though for what, she wasn’t sure.

And then Jameson finally spoke.

“So it’s his.” His voice was quiet, even toned, but Camille caught the way his shoulders eased ever so slightly before she could even answer. 

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate, not wanting the suspense to linger.

She had tested the baby as soon as he was born. Doing it before carried minimal risk but she refused to hurt her child even a tiny percent. The results had come back the day before. It was a relief if she were being honest – having an answer and knowing she wouldn’t be connected to her ex-boyfriend for life. The media were speculating about her child, a frenzy over her former relationship with Jameson had been replaced with rumors. Half the country thought her baby was his and the other half thought it was Kendrick’s. Everyone thought she was a family-wrecking slut.

All she wanted to do was protect her child.

“Okay.” Jameson exhaled, slow and measured, and in that moment, she saw it – relief. Faint, but real. She had no doubt he would have been an active father but he was glad that he didn’t have to be. At least not to her child. There was also something else beneath it. A sadness, deep and weary, lingering in the way he didn’t quite meet Kendrick’s gaze.

“That’s all you have to say?” she asked, watching him carefully.

“On the subject of your child? Yes.” He let out a small breath. For the first time in a long time, when his eyes met hers, they were soft. “As for everything else? I’m sorry for it.” His voice was steady. “For how everything happened. For hurting you. I owed you better than that. I shouldn’t have been unfaithful to you.”

The sincerity in his voice tightened something in her chest. She had immediately put Jameson in the past once she truly accepted the end of their relationship but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt when it ended. His apology soothed some of that ache.

“I’m sorry, too,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t have lied. I didn’t expect to like you. But I did and I wanted to stay close to you. I went about it the wrong way. I owed you better than that.”

It wasn’t an absolution. It wasn’t a fixing of things. But it was the closest they would get to peace between them. And she knew it was important. If Kendrick was going to get his family back, there had to be peace.

Just then he shifted, drawing her attention. “Jameson—”

Jameson didn’t turn to meet Kendrick’s gaze but he tensed. His whole body was just waiting for what was going to come next.

“I—” Kendrick faltered, just for a second, something uncertain in his expression. Camille recognized it instantly – hesitation, regret, the ache of something lost. “I didn’t mean for things to happen like they did. I didn’t mean the things I said.”

Jameson’s mouth twitched like he was amused but too tired to show it. He shook his head. “I’m sure you didn’t.”

“Jamie…” “You’re a good man, Kendrick. You raised me for so many years with no complaints. I know you’re good. Your job is over though. That burden you carried –” “You were never a burden, Jamie.” “Either way. I’m off your back. Thank you for giving me the time you did.”

And just like that, whatever Kendrick had wanted to say died in his throat. Camille knew him well enough to know he had been building up to something more but Jameson wasn’t interested in hearing it. And Kendrick – for all his pride – wasn’t going to force it.

The moment was interrupted by soft footsteps.

The nanny appeared at the edge of the room, the baby resting against her chest. She spoke gently. “He was stirring. Thought he might want his father.”

Camille turned in time to see Kendrick reach for their son without hesitation. The moment he had him in his arms, everything about him softened. The careful way he cradled the baby’s head, the way his fingers skimmed over the fine curls in his hair.

Jameson watched. She saw the shift in his expression – the flicker of something quiet and painful. He wasn’t bitter. He wasn’t even angry. He was just…sad. 

He pushed himself to his feet. “I should go.”

Camille stood instinctively. “Jameson—”

He glanced at her and shook his head. He wasn’t leaving in anger, but he was leaving all the same. But before he did, he stopped. Camille felt her chest tighten as Jameson’s gaze dropped once more to the baby. He lifted a hand to brush against the child’s little hand but didn’t make a move to hold him. Finally, he lifted his gaze to meet Kendrick’s.

“Congratulations,” Jameson said, his voice even but heavy. “On finally having a son.”

The words landed like a blow. Even if he didn’t mean them cruelly, they hurt all the same. Camille saw it in the way Kendrick went still – his grip on their baby tightened slightly but Jameson didn’t wait for a response.

He turned and walked out, and this time, Camille knew that he wasn’t coming back.

It was a memory that haunted her. Her son brought her so much joy but when she thought about everything Kendrick had lost for these little moments…guilt hit her hard. “Give them some time.”

“How much time?” He asked her abruptly, frustration burning in his gaze. “I want my children to meet. I want to walk my daughter down the aisle. I want…I want so much and it’s all out of my grasp.” 

“I know, baby. I understand this is hard. KJ is a baby but I can’t imagine what I’d feel if he stopped talking to me. Just…this has been a lot for them. I hate this. But you have to give them time.” Camille consoled him.

He exhaled sharply, padding across the room and taking a seat on the couch next to her. He was hurt. So many emotions filtered through his face that Camille couldn’t name them all. Instead, she cuddled closer to him, offering him the one child that he did have left.

The café was tucked away on a quiet street, away from the more crowded corners of Paris. A warm breeze carried the scent of freshly baked bread and strong coffee, but the tension between Jameson and EJ dulled everything else.

This was the first time they had seen each other after the dinner from hell in Los Angeles. Jameson had holed up with Imani, ignoring the outside world, and EJ had tried to do damage control with his own life. There was no time for the friends to even begin the process of moving forward…until now.

It hadn’t been planned exactly, but EJ reached out and Jameson hadn’t said no. It was a start.

Now, they sat across from each other, silence stretching between them.

Jameson stirred his espresso, though he hadn’t taken a sip yet. His long legs crossed at the ankle. EJ, for his part, watched him and waited for a snag in the tension. Finally, Jameson exhaled and spoke. “So,” he said, tone measured. “You ready?”

EJ raised a brow. “For the wedding? Of course. I told you before I proposed. I’m ready. That’s my baby.”

Jameson nodded, seemingly approving once again of the fact that there was no hesitation when it came to Genie. She deserved the kind of person who would make her a priority. Jameson knew that EJ was that kind of man. He should’ve felt happier for him but the weight between them still sat heavy.

EJ saw it. Could feel it in the air so he leaned back in his chair and asked. “We gone talk about it?”

“We don’t have to,” Jameson said with a shrug. “Lying ass. We do. You wanted to take my head off that night.” “If I insulted your future wife, wouldn’t you want to do the same to me?” “Yes. But let’s not pretend future wifey ain’t give as good as she got.” “Here you go.” “Nah, I’m not on that for real. I’m getting married. I promised my wife that I would let it go. It’s not my place to interfere. Never was.” “On that, we can agree.” “Mhm.”

The two lapsed into silence. The ceasefire of sorts did more to break the tension between them and it gave Jameson the courage to say more. “I understand why you were doing it,” Jameson said softly. “I’m grateful you care. But…Imani is my life, EJ. No matter how close we are, when it comes to her, you’ll always on the outside looking in. You don’t know how I feel when I’m with her. You don’t know that nothing else compares. No drug, no liquor. None of it feels as good as standing next to her. So, please. If you really care about me, don’t ever disrespect her again. Because then I’ll have to choose. She’ll always win. Over everybody.”

EJ nodded, realizing from the argument with Genie that he truly was being overprotective. He didn’t trust Imani but the truth was very clear. He didn’t know her the way Genie did. The way Jameson did. The way his friend’s eyes brightened as he spoke about her right then was just another sign that he’d done wrong. He meant well but he was causing even more distress to Jamie and Genie. It had to end. “I understand, man. I fucked up. I’m sorry.”

He knew he wouldn’t hesitate to choose Genie first. So how could he be upset at Jameson wanting to do the same? It was a plea and a warning all in one…and EJ heeded it. Genie couldn’t lose anyone else. And he didn’t want to either.

There was an understanding in place.

Jameson finally took a sip of coffee, letting the taste settle before responding. “Thank you. I’m sorry too. I should have fought harder to keep you two from going head to head.”

EJ tilted his head. “You know me. I got a big mouth and ain’t nobody stopping me from saying what I want to say. I see your future wife is the same way.”

Jameson laughed softly, rubbing a hand against the stubble on his jawline. “You don’t even know the half of it. She threatened to beat my father up.”

The shift in EJ was immediate. His expression didn’t change much, but something settled in his posture, his focus sharpening entirely on Jameson. “Your father? Kendrick?”

Jameson shook his head. He looked down at his cup as if he could find the right words in the white porcelain, before exhaling sharply and looking back at EJ. “Julian. He was at my mama’s house, man. I showed up and he was sitting on her damn couch.”

EJ didn’t rush him. Didn’t prod. But he leaned forward, on the edge of his seat. From what Jameson had said about his father, he disappeared. Not a word from him since he was nine. And now? He was in his life?

Jameson let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “It was...crazy. Seeing him, hearing his voice –” He hesitated, then admitted, “It felt like looking at a ghost. I didn’t even recognize him when he turned around. For a second…I didn’t recognize my father.”

EJ’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak. He let Jameson keep going.

“He wanted to explain. I could see him gearing up for it but I ain’t want to hear that shit,” Jameson continued, “He left, he hurt my mother, he should’ve been around.” He exhaled. “But he wasn’t.”

EJ set his glass down with a quiet clink. “So how did it end?”

Jameson glanced away for a second before looking back. “Told him I wanted nothing to do with him. Didn’t care about ‘talking’ about any of it.” A beat. “Then he left.”

EJ studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Good.”

Jameson huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “He keeps insisting we need to talk. Been calling my mama to ask her to help. She thinks it’d be good to get it all out but I think about that nigga and I swear I get mad.”

“Don’t do it if you don’t want to. You don’t owe him shit, Jay.” EJ said without hesitation. “You don’t owe him no time to talk.”

Jameson hadn’t realized he needed to hear that, but something in his chest loosened at the words.

Suddenly, the air between them felt lighter. It felt like they had each gotten their best friend back. Silence settled again, but this time, it wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t loaded. It was comfortable and true.

Jameson looked out at the street, at the people passing by, at the world moving as if nothing had changed. But something had. When he turned back to EJ, he felt it – the shift, the quiet understanding that, whatever had been between them before, it wasn’t as heavy now.

EJ smirked over at him. “You gonna give a speech at my wedding?” “Hell yeah. And you better cry at the end of it or I’m gonna propose to Mani at your reception and steal all y'all thunder.” “Nigga, fuck you!” EJ laughed out loud, shaking his head.

“My baby,” Imani sang out in a melodious voice, her words stretching out like a lullaby. She approached Genie with a joyful bounce in her step, enveloping her in a warm embrace. They swayed gently, back and forth, wrapped in each other’s arms. “I missed you so much,” she whispered.

It had been months since she last saw her best friend. The whirlwind of her promo tour for her album, “Love Me 4 Me” had kept her constantly on the move. Photoshoots, interviews, rehearsals, performances, and then doing it all over again had left her with little time to herself. Paris offered her not only a chance to celebrate Genie’s upcoming wedding but also a brief respite from her hectic schedule.

“I missed you too. Even though you’ve been all over the tv looking good. I wonder who helped style you.” Genie said with a small giggle, celebrating her small part in Imani’s success.

“A future designer of the year did. She’s pretty good, I’m sure you know her.” She laughed and stepped back slightly to take in her friend’s attire. “Bitch, you look good!” She exclaimed, watching as Genie spun around gracefully. “You’re glowing.”

“Thank you, thank you. EJ won’t get off me.” Genie laughed, “You look amazing too. Come sit. I already ordered mimosas for us.” Her eyes were sparkling with excitement as she gently pulled away and returned to her seat across the elegantly set table. Imani took her place opposite her friend, the light catching the delicate glassware around them.

“Ooh, girl. That’s all you,” Imani replied with a playful wave of her hand, acknowledging Genie’s thoughtful gesture. She lifted the cool glass of water, sipping it as she settled into the moment. “So when is everyone getting here?”

“EJ’s family is coming tomorrow. They have to do last-minute fittings for gowns. Also, please don’t forget your appointment is with me tomorrow.” “I won’t, I won’t. It’ll be good to see them. I get to see my girl, Ella.” “Mhm. Oh, and Anaïs is coming with Toni. They’ll be here Wednesday. The rest of the guests will be in by Friday morning.”

Imani’s eyes involuntarily rolled upwards, their movement as automatic and precise as a smartphone adjusting itself for daylight savings time. She was unaware of this reflex until she caught sight of Genie’s perplexed expression. “And what was that about?” Genie inquired, her eyes narrowing

“Oh…nothing!” Imani responded hastily, attempting to dismiss the incident as if Genie didn’t know her better than anyone else, even Jameson. Imani hadn’t said a word to anyone about Lucian being a product of her aunt’s affair with Julian—not even to Jameson. He was the one who deserved to hear it first, given that Lucian was his brother. Telling Genie was out of the question.

“Is something going on between you and Toni? Or Ana?” Genie probed further. Imani shook her head adamantly. “Please, Mani, I need to know now. I don’t want this to be an issue at my wedding. Do I need to adjust the seating chart?”

“No, no, everything is all good. I promise. Nothing is going to ruin your wedding. I’m the maid of honor and I won’t allow it.” “You sure? It’s not a problem. I want you to be comfortable. It’s nothing to disinvite someone.” “Everything’s good, baby.”

“I don’t believe you but fine. I’ll let it drop. I’m feeling stressed eneough,” Genie sighed, causing Imani’s expression to relax. Fortunately, the waiter arrived to take their orders. He made quick work of things and once he was gone, Imani leaned in to speak quietly.

“Is it about your dad?” “No. My father is a non-factor in my life.” “Ahh, so we still off him? Bet. Why are you stressed then?” “I’m planning a wedding in a foreign country while the media speculates about my family.”

Imani exhaled, grasping the weight on her best friend’s shoulders instantly. The media were having a field with with Jameson/Camille/Kendrick's messy entanglement, her pregnancy, and Genie's notable distance from her father. It was a miracle it hadn't totally overtaken Imani's press tour. “I’m sorry, Genie baby. But fuck those people. Fuck the media. Fuck everything,” she said, her voice full of determination. “If you need help with the wedding, I got you. That’s what I’m here for.” 

“Thank you.” Genie sighed softly, reaching over to grasp Imani’s hand. “I love you. I’m so glad you’re here with me. I need all the family I can get.”

The baby’s gentle, sweet cries gradually subsided as he rocked slowly in the chair, humming Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Kendrick Joseph Adesanya Jr. slowly surrendered to sleep and the elder was relieved. He had forgotten just how hard it was to care for an infant. 

KJ was nothing short of perfection – a beautiful baby with warm brown skin and his mother’s charming dimples, who only cried when his needs were unmet and slept well into the night. Kendrick’s heart swelled with adoration for the tiny life before him, even as he mourned.

He wished KJ hadn’t been born into turmoil. Kendrick wished for a world where his arrival hadn’t signaled the end of his once-cherished relationship with Genie and Jameson. He had lost two children in the process of gaining one, and the weight of that loss pressed heavily on him.

Genie had shut the door on him completely. There was nothing he could do short of crashing her wedding and he knew he loved her too much to ruin her special day. Kendrick let out a resigned sigh. His mind drifted back to the day his son was born – the day he thought maybe Genie would soften. That she’d be there. But there was only sharp confirmation that he wasn’t welcome in his daughter’s life.

It had been a day consumed by panic. Unlike the tranquil arrival of Genie, this day didn’t have any comforting loved ones. Back then, familiar faces stood by his side, soothing his nerves while Elizabeth gave birth but in the present – he and Camille only had each other.

In the dim light of the delivery room, Camille’s trembling hand clutched his own as she cried out. Kendrick offered her whispering words of reassurance as she pushed through the pain. It felt as if forever had passed but he finally caught a glimpse of the child. Officially, he didn’t know if the baby was his or not but when the doctors pulled him free and began to clean his little body – Kendrick knew. He just knew. This was his son. He looked so much like Genie that it was shocking.

He didn’t have anyone to celebrate this momentous occasion, only Camille by his side. There was no one to excitedly share photographs with, no familiar voice to ring in celebration, no one to call over FaceTime. He was alone. As the doctors checked KJ’s vitals, he quietly stepped out of the sterile room and dialed her number, his mind spinning.

As the third ring echoed in the empty corridor, Kendrick’s smile began to falter. He knew all too well that she wasn’t going to answer. Once more, his call would go to voicemail. Instead of ending the call immediately, he gathered his resolve and left a message:

“Uh, hey, Genie, this is Daddy. I know you probably hate me right now, but I just wanted to let you know the baby is here. He looks like you did when you were born. Also, I saw that you and EJ set a date. No matter what's happened, I'm so happy for you. I'm so proud, baby girl. You’re smart, beautiful, creative, and talented. I’m blessed to have a daughter like you…and I can only hope that I can raise your brother to be just like you.”

He paused for a moment, his hand subconsciously massaging the back of his head as if trying to alleviate the heaviness of the words. “Um, please call me when you get the chance. I love you. I'm so sorry.”

Imani carefully hung her final outfit in the suite’s spacious closet. She turned on her heels, and made her way to the hotel’s lush bed, sinking into its softness with a contented sigh. After a long exhausting flight, following it up with lunch with Genie, and unpacking, all Imani wanted was to spend the night in plush Parisian sheets.

“My baby tired, huh?” Jameson asked, his head propped against a pillow as he scrolled through his phone, watching her as she climbed onto the bed. He and Imani hadn’t spent much time apart. Jameson clung to her – his need to reacclimate to the new status quo meant he was damn near clingy. She hadn’t minded it at all. She let him be needy, reassured and restored him when he needed it. There was love in his eyes when he looked at her, a faint smile on his face as Imani slipped beneath the silky covers.

She shifted closer to him, her head on his pillow. “Yeah, it was a long ass day,” she confessed. She entwined her leg over his, resting her head more firmly on his chest, reveling in the comfort of his gentle embrace. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as her fingers traced circles on his bare skin. “And tomorrow I have a fitting with Genie. I hope I can still fit into this dress.”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to?” Jameson asked, setting his phone on the nightstand before turning back to her. He wrapped his arm around her, his fingers tenderly caressing her side as they watched one another.

“I’m getting a lil’ thick, baby. They call that happy weight,” she replied, casting a playful smirk in his direction. Imani had noticed a slight change in her figure, a subtle weight gain that was hardly noticeable to others but apparent to her. She hoped it was slight enough to keep her in her current dress size.

“Do they? Whatever it is, I’m thankful for it. It looks good on you, girl,” he said with a teasing tap on her ass. Imani laughed out loud, her hand smacking against his arm just as teasingly. 

“How’s Genie? She doing okay?” He asked her softly, pressing a kiss to her head. “She’s…doing the best she can. Stressed about the wedding going well but…she aight.” 

Imani weighed what to tell Jameson. She loved him but Genie was her best friend. She had to keep things between them. And Kendrick was just going to have to be one of those things. 

“I’m glad she has you. I talked to Ma earlier today. She’ll be here this week.” “Yeah, Genie told me.” “What about Toni? I didn’t think to ask Ma. Is she coming?”

Just like before with Genie, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes slightly, her annoyance clear. “I don’t know…” she muttered. “I think Genie said Wednesday.”

Jameson lifted his head, leaning back to get a good look at his girlfriend. “Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on between you and your aunty?” Once closer than close, he knew something was wrong when Imani actively went out of her way to avoid Toni on more than one occasion.

“I did tell you, baby. We’re not seeing eye-to-eye on business shit.” “Yeah, that’s the fake answer you gave me. What’s the real one?”

A heavy silence fell between them. Imani wanted to be truthful, but the timing felt wrong. After a day filled with memories and laughter with their friends, it didn’t seem right to reveal a family secret about a sibling he didn’t know he had. He had worked so hard to pull himself together after Camille and Kendrick’s situation. Then his father came back. Things were hard for Jameson and she didn’t want to add more. “That is the real answer, baby,” she insisted gently.

“You can’t bullshit me, woman. I know you too well.” “I’m not.”

She wasn’t budging on it and he could see frustration edging in on her face the more he pushed. He had a choice: Start an argument or wait until she was ready to talk. They were in Paris, he could see the lights of the Eiffel Tower peeking into their window. The last thing he wanted to do was fight.

“Okay, baby. I believe you,” he said, though the humorous edge in his tone suggested otherwise. Imani could sense the disbelief lingering in the air, and she didn’t know how much longer she could keep this truth from him. 

“I’m serious, Jamie!” She huffed, glaring at him and Jameson felt himself soften even more. 

“I said I believe you, baby.” He muttered lowly, leaning in to give her another kiss. “I do. C’mere.”

Imani jerked away from him, sending a bubble of laughter from Jameson’s throat. His hand rested against her thigh, pulling her close as she rolled onto her back to get away from him. 

“You lying!” “Well, you lying too so that makes us even!” “Shut up!”

Jameson laughed even harder as she smacked his hand hard, rolling away from him. He caught her wrist with gentle fingers, "Un-uh. Come back here." he whispered against her neck.

Imani rolled her eyes but a smile fought to break through the stern expression. She tsked softly, peering over him. "What you want with me?”

“Everything.” He said softly. Jameson’s hand rested against Imani’s thigh, drawing small circles on her skin. She opened her mouth to say something but Jameson lifted his head from her neck to kiss her. He drew it out – the whimper that left the back of her throat brought a groan from his. 

He moved his fingertips along her skin with ease. Imani shivered as they danced across her body, every stroke sending shockwaves of pleasure throughout her body. The closer they got to between her legs, the more she parted her thighs. Within seconds, he was pulling her panties aside and running his fingers across her clit.

Imani inhaled sharply, biting down on her lower lip as he made his moves. Jameson toyed with her, knowing exactly how to leave her trembling. His warm breath against her cheek sent tingles down her spine, his hushed whispers of filthy promises and praise only serving to heighten the anticipation coursing through her veins.

“Jamie –” “Hm?” “More. Please.” “Is that what you want? Ion know. You ain’t been so nice to me.”

Imani squeezed her thighs closed over his hand, stilling his fingers as she turned to meet his gaze. There was amusement in his eyes but she saw the lust there too. It was ever present as always.

“Open.”

It was one word. All he gave her but she could tell he meant it. She hesitated before slowly…too slowly…opening her legs. 

“That’s better.” He still kept the same tortuous pace, digits circling her clit as she melted against the bed. “Let me take care of you. You want me to, right?” Imani nodded, her eyes flickering closed as she rode his fingers. They shifted lower, his thumb still pressed against the most sensitive part of her.

As his fingers expertly teased her entrance, she arched her back in ecstasy – moaning softly into the air. The feel of his rough fingertips against her smooth skin was almost too much to bear; she couldn't help but wriggle and squirm next to him, desperate for more. “Please, baby.” she gasped, every syllable dripping with need as he pressed into her. “Oh my god…”

Jameson lay next to her, leaning over her body as he watched her. His mouth moved deliciously – from her cheek to her neck. From her neck to her mouth. From her mouth down to her nipples. He licked, kissed, bit, and caressed her everywhere until she was gushing over his fingers. 

His hands meticulously explored every inch of her dripping wet pussy – bringing gasps and moans of delight with every touch. His tongue flicked out to trace the shape of her nipple before nipping down – an act that sent a jolt of pleasure straight to her core. She couldn't help but grind her hips up towards his touch, desperate for relief from the building ache between her legs. "Daddy, fuck me." she pleaded breathlessly, a mixture of hunger and frustration in her voice. 

“No.”

The single word he gave her startled her. Her eyes flew open and she looked up at him. “No?!”

Jameson laughed, shaking his head as he fucked her faster with his fingers. “Nah. Your legs ain’t started shaking yet.” He spoke casually as if he wasn’t damn near wrist deep with three fingers inside her. Imani licked her lips, confusion clear on her pretty face but he didn’t relent. She could feel him hard against her legs but he didn’t try to take it further. He just kept rubbing at her clit, bringing wetness from between her legs, and licking anywhere he could.

His digits curled and twisted inside her and Imani's entire body tensed. She bit her lip to stifle a moan, her hips bucking wildly against his hand. "Oh shit…" she panted, her voice trembling. "Please, Jameson."

“There it go.” He muttered, the telltale sign that he was looking for making itself obvious. Imani’s leg had started trembling. “That’s what Daddy was looking for. You feel it, baby?”

Imani nodded so fast that her head bobbed against the pillow.

“This what I like to see. Legs open. You gone for me, huh?” She muttered something – it sounded like a yes but he didn’t slow down to catch it. Jameson pressed a kiss to her lips, pleased when she was so out of it that she could hardly return it. “Look at that pussy. Wet just like I like it. I’ma tear you up. Go ahead and give me that nut.”

It was a promise, she could tell. And it made her legs close tightly over his fingers. He didn’t command her to open her legs that time. Jameson simply rose from the bed and moved with an ease that surprised – he pried her legs open. He pushed his face between her legs, sucking at her clit as his fingers strummed her to release.

Imani threw back her head and let out a long, euphoric moan as she came, her nails dug into his shoulder as her leg shot into the air. She pressed her foot to his shoulder, grinding against his mouth and fingers. "Daddy!," she breathed out between gasps for air. "Fuck! Oh my god!"

Jameson growled, the exquisite squirts of release covering his fingers and face – dripping down his wrist and onto the sheets. Imani rolled her head from side to side, hips rising the further he took her. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he rose from between her legs and flipped her over. In a single breath, she was on her stomach.

No words passed between them – they both understood what came next. Imani pressed her body down to the bed and offered her hands to Jameson. He gathered them, pressing them to the small of her back before easing into her smoothly. They both moaned.

"Ooh, goddamn it." "Shit, Mani. Soak this dick, baby. Wet that shit up real good for Daddy."

He moved against her, pelvis grinding into her. He delivered an open-palmed smack to her skin, and Imani reacted immediately, climaxing around him. It all happened so quickly that neither fully processed it. He placed a foot on the bed, adjusting her into the perfect position, and just as he was about to continue, there came a knock at the door.

[bitchesgetriches]

Hey Bitches! Long-time reader, first time asker :)

I have a budgeting question!

I'm a 21 year old student living with my (employed) partner independent from both our families. I'm unemployed at the moment, but will be starting a (min wage, limited hours, career-benefiting, year-long-contracted) job starting next month. I'll also be looking into selling plasma and/or picking up a gig app to supplement the pay

I find that a lot of what makes budgets useful doesn't really work for me because most of my spending areas that can be minimized have already been minimized, and I limit and track myself so much already because I know I don't have a lot of wiggle room to spend frivolously. So most of the time, I use a spending tracker spreadsheet

However, my credit union has a built-in budget feature I like to poke around on sometimes, too. It can be nice to have a goal in mind and to feel like I did a good job at the end of the month when (most) everything is green (I was over-budget for my cat by 11 cents last month)

BUT! I can only set a budget for one month's length. This seems to be the norm and is pretty common when I look at budgeting examples

This is great for things that happen on a monthly basis (like gas, for example), where, after years of tracking my spending data, I have a solid idea of how much I can realistically expect to spend in that time. But it really sucks for things that aren't as frequent, but do happen on a regular basis (like car registration or tuition, which come once a year and every few months, respectively)

I'm kind of at a loss for how to represent or calculate these kinds of items on a budget/spending tracker (like when I'm pulling for an average over a length of time, or categorizing my spending when one value is superbly high in a sea of much smaller numbers)

Gas is about $50/month, car registration is about $100/year. I think it's a poor representation to say I need $150/month for auto expenses. I'm not spending that $100 most of the time, but I'm not expecting to pay it most of the time, so it feels wrong to say I'm saving a ton of money every month. But it also isn't great to have only $50 budgeted when registration month rolls around and I'm in the red by $100 (not to mention inconsistent maintenance of wildly varying cost)

Likewise, I wouldn't say I'm under-budget by $2,000 on the months I don't have tuition due, but it can't be correct to have a $0 budget that gets super red every three months. Dividing it up to $666 a month gets the same problem where I'm either super green, not spending anything, "saving" a ton, or very in the red, very over-budget when my tuition actually comes due. There is an option to split up payments, but it adds a $50 payment plan fee, which (in addition to generally being shitty by punishing anyone who doesn't make the lump sum) doesn't feel worth it just to make my books look nice

I've seen some recommendations to use a sinking fund for these expenses, putting money aside each month in preparation for the big expense, but

A. where exactly do you put that portion "aside" into? I have a checking, savings, (secured) credit card, and a CD account (the latter two of which I can't easily move money around in). Besides putting money into my savings account from my checking (which, when employed and receiving income, I already do), I don't understand how this works. Do people just open and have several accounts going for each expense that isn't on a monthly pattern?

And B. I'm in a fortunate enough position that I'm (just barely! Job is coming with amazing timing!) able to make single payments on these expected bigger expenses without having to meticulously save up for them. It doesn't fix my budget being wonky on months with/out these non-monthly expenses, and I would like to actually have a working budget, but do I even need to make a sinking fund if I can afford it with the habits/systems I already have?

I've also seen people using different budgets for different times. Most often, this is seasonal: a winter budget with higher heating expenses planned, a summer budget with lower heating expenses planned kind of deal. This feels closer to what I'm looking for than a sinking fund, but making a different monthly budget around each varying expense and overlapping occurrences (or lack thereof) feels cumbersome and tedious (to make, keep track of, alter, and change every month)

I could have a yearly budget, but it feels risky to go such a long time without knowing how on-track I am and my life is so in flux right now that I don't know what to expect that far into the future. Plus, like I said, I only have the option for monthly budgets in my credit union.

I expect having a more stable and higher income will help a lot (assuming I can get there). As will not having to pay for huge-stressful-chunks-of-savings-every-three-months-except-for-summertime tuition (I'll be done next year almost to the day!). I know there will still be yearly and bi-yearly expenses (and surprises) that I'll have to be ready to pay for, but I'm hoping I'll have more staggering control.

So, I've come to you, Bitches, if there is a better way to address these big, non-monthly expenses, or if I'm just missing something in one of the suggestions above, I'd be jazzed to hear about it and not have to wait to better grasp this part of my finances.

Thank you, Bitches!!

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE DON'T THINK BUDGETS ARE RIGHT FOR EVERYONE.

My first instinct is to tell you to ignore your bank's budgeting software. It doesn't matter. You're doing great with your personal spending tracker and you seem to have a very good hold of your expenses. So that's an option.

The other option is combining the budget with a sinking fund. Some banks will include "buckets" within your account that you can access through their online portal. For example, my Ally HYSA allows me to set up buckets within the account so I can budget for what I'm saving for our kitchen renovation, for example. It makes using a sinking fund real easy.

But not every bank has that functionality! So again, I can't stress enough how much a budget just might not be right for your situation right now.

Budgets Don’t Work for Everyone—Try the Spending Tracker System Instead 

Ask Not How Much You Should Save, Ask How Much You Should Spend 

Did we just help you out? Join our Patreon!

[brunetterightsactivist]

Kinda wanna get a job in a store in the mall I know I’ve said this 100 times already but I still feel it like why have I been slumming it at this lame ass retail job for 7 years when I could have at least been somewhere with an employee discount

[bacchuschucklefuck]

space sweepers but they're delivery people and are at no point on screen through the entire movie

[cnl0400]

The new dating feature... What to expect?

(Apart from disapointment, of course)

Disclaimer: I only bought this because I had a lot of Google Play points, so I could shave a looooooooooot of the total price, but my condolences to anyone who doesn't live in the US because it's a lot more expensive in another regions... Including mine, of course

Disclaimer 2: I'm not telling you what to do with your money, this Is my personal opinion. If you are planning in buying this, do whatever idc, but since a lot of people are having doubts, I felt that I might as well tell everyone what Is this about.

So yeah... Since they announced the new feature, I knew It either would cost real money, It just sounded too good to be true, but I didn't expect to cost $29.99? Almost $37 in my country currency, a total scam, really.

But to be fair to them, this Is a bundle that comes with 300 DP, and considering the price of 280 DP, it's almost like you get the ticket for "free", right?? At least that's how Solmare probably thought It would look like, but the reality Is that the common player will see this bundle and just think that this ticket cost 30 fucking dollars (just look at the comments of Twitter and the tag Right now). In my opinion, just separate the DP and the ticket, and have the bundle as an special offert If you want. Remember that selling stuff Is also about framing... Most players that were planning on buying this might not be planning on buying the DP (like myself, I don't buy DP unless it's on special offerts) so the only thing people like that will think Is that "why this ticket costs that much?"

But what you get in the actual event, you might ask? The trailer was vague as hell in my opinion, and that's an instant red flag in my radar, especially for that spicy art that came with it

For a ticket date you get:

A 1min call

A 10min storyline (not fully voiced, apart from certain lines in the las part of the storyline)

A Majolish background with the date art

The event starts with you calling you boy of preference (in this case, I choose Mammon) to invite him to a date, the call ends and you get a 10min storyline. The premise of the Mammon's date Is that MC has won tickets to Phantom Park, and then Mammon & MC get involved to a game of tag to win a price. Then couple shennigans happen, blah blah blah.

The Story Is... Not bad? I found It rather cute actually, it's romantic and at least they make It explicit that Mammon & MC aré actually dating, but again, this could very well have been in a Devilgram, it's not worth the 30 dollars Solmare expects you to pay tbh. Just tip your favorite fanfic author and call It a day

The last segment Is the one they show in the tráiler, with Mammon getting out of the shower

In this scene, some lines are voiced, and tbh, If the actual story was like this, It almost miiiight be worth It (not the full price, but at least something). But as now? Save your money people, I wouldn't really recommend It.

The only way I would recommend buying It it's If you're already planning on buying the 280 DP offert, or you have a lot of coupons/GPP so you don't pay full price lol, but If you like Lucifer (or Asmo) just do yourself a favor and buy the ASMR. At least, that's what I think

[hoziersredguitar]

I miss old tumblr in the sense that i could complain about board exams and worrying about not getting enough to be eligible for my medical entrance test and i'd have summoned half the indian side of tumblr to sympathize

[pandora15]

I'm also like really glad that the kenobi series is what it is and isn't part of the whole mcu-ification of star wars

(and I'm really hoping that if it does end up getting a season 2 or any sort of continuation that it doesn't fall into that temptation)

[orcelito]

Bought a stupid suit thing. Disgustang.

[kathrynmjaneway]

.

[opens-up-4-nobody]

I wanna play with Legos right now :-[

[meownotgood]

PLS WHERE DID YOU GET THAT APPLE KEYCHAIN ITS SO CUTE

it's cute isn't it?! I got it to go on my aki itabag... everything I posted I bought from mercari jp 🫡

[zouisexo]

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