#how to build your credit score fast

[yaadfinance]

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[ardienothesieno]

taking notes on the hermitcraft charity livestream for my friend @pookapufferfish and also just anyone else who had to miss it 👍

these are going to be all over the place lol

i started my note-keeping like an hour or so into the stream so i dont have a lot of stuff from the beginning...

but: grian and scar opened the stream, showed off some of the items up for auction (like real wild life snails. i want one so bad but they're MASSIVELY out of my price range...)

POST-POSTING EDIT: I FORGOT THERE WAS AN IMP AND SKIZZ PODCAST. it wasnt really a traditional podcast though, martyn was asking them questions, a group of hermits would vote on who they thought had the best answer, and whoever lost got shocked by grian.

my most notable takeaway from the shock-cast is that if impulse could have any superpowers he'd want control over time, and skizz would want the ability to heal people. mmm yes food for the superhero aus

and then ren busted out this custom hermitcraft guitar that's also up for auction and played a song by green day

and then we got treebark content.martyn and ren ran the main stream for like 20 minutes

also we hit ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS really freaking fast. and they spun the wheel of chaos and it landed on ✨hermit boxing✨

ROBO-CLEO

okay now all that follows is liveblogging

i keep recognizing people in chat. like not even from mcyt spaces ive seen like three people who i know from skurry streams

martyn using they/them for cleo pog!!

THERE'S A JELLIE MURAL IN THE MINECRAFT OFFICE AWWW

irl guess the build / drawing... drawing things on whiteboards or building things and then guessing

cub is wearing a bob ross wig.

jimmy has built skizz's giraffe...

SKIZZ GIRAFFE REDEMPTION ARC GOES HORRIBLY WRONG

pearl has gorgeous handwriting

grian has obtained a cat keyboard and jimmy is beatboxing along

GEM GIRAFFE REDEMPTION ARC GOES INCREDIBLY RIGHT

they're gonna auction off the terrible drawings. i want one.

round two of guess the drawing / build has the most unhinged prompts ever. including the cursed creature mumbo built in the last permitmaster

it has gone off the rails incredibly fast

grian is just torturing everyone with nerf guns and whoopie cushions

jimmy is left handed

martyn's doing a dollar drive and it's not letting me donate because it doesnt take debit cards. now i need to somehow convince my dad to let me use his credit card... i'll pay him back but. gah. the hassle.

pearl and some person fighting in the background (who was apparently karn, her partner!)

TWO HUNDRED THOUSANDDDDDDDDDDDDD

joe and cub are boxing!! cub is still dressed like bob ross

it's been like 20 minutes and martyn is still going strong with the name reading. and about 30,000 dollars have been raised in that time alone

dimension 20 reference!

martyn's free from yelling names for now... in half an hour we raised SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

zed and tango hosting the QUIET GAMESSSSSSS. 3 teams of two, imp and gem, ren and skizz, GRIAN AND JIMMYYYY. basically just a bunch of weird minigames where you have to be as quiet as possible. scored on how quiet you are and how well you do

first minigame is moving marbles with spoons but the spoons are attached to a cowbell

gem and impulse did good. skizz and ren did better then i expected. jimmy and grain instantly dissolved into anarchy. jimmy and grian had the most marbles, skizz and ren were surprisingly the quietest

okay the next game is so weird. knocking around ping pong balls with party popper blow kazoo things. but you hold the kazoo for your partner so it's weirdly intimate

someone in the chat described it as nightmare blunt rotation and that the most accurate description yet

someone else in chat has named skizz and ren team rizz and i hate everything

also i realize now that if theyd have done this with commonly shipped pairs the fandom would never shut up

despite the absolute chaos that was happening grian and jimmy won that round on both number of balls and quietness. grian may have slapped jimmy at one point. (he totally did)

the last one is EVEN MORE COMPLICATED. one person blindfolded navigating a minefield of bubblewrap and rubber chickens. another with jingle bells on their ankles and a big stick to smack their partner around.

gem immediately has grabbed the big stick with an evil look on her face

impulse is INCREDIBLY clumsy and gem is just whaling on him

"IT'S ALL BUBBLES!!!?!?" -- impulsesv

ren and skizz have a STRATEGY

ren is doing adorable little shuffley step-steps. "Robo-penguin Ren... Renguin" -- Zedaph

JIMMY IS MOUTHING "HELP ME" OMG.... GRIANS GOING TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HIM...

but theyve got the best strategy yet actually grian's only kinda beating the shit out of jimmy... they might win this...

GRIAN AND JIMMY TAKE THE WHOLE THING HOME!!!!!!!! SKYBLINGS VICTORY!!!!!!! THE ONE NO ONE EXPECTED!!!!!!

wheel spin for 200,000 landed on "tortilla slap challenge" whichll be weird

the artworks from guess the build have gone up on the auction site and scar is very horrified over something skizz drew... a "sentient sock" that looks very... sus.

speed TCG time!!!!!!! i dont know much about TCG so im gonna try and maybe try and study a bit during this part (also also every 1000 dollars donated each player gets an extra item card)

joe is doing live TCG sound effects

neither joe or ren cant flip a coin to save their lives

pearl v cub. ren v joe. ren v cub.

TCG IS TOO CHAOTIC I CANT FOCUS ON TRIGONOMETRY LIKE THIS

also i need to learn how to play this it looks so fun

this is HEATED. and ren keeps getting armor stands and is so pissed about it

REN TAKES THE VICTORY!!! and they raised like 20,000 dollars in the process holy cow "THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE GAME OF TCG EVER TO BE PLAYED" -- Joe Hills

ONE MILLION DOLLARS RAISED FOR GAMERS OUTREACH IN TOTAL

THREE HUNDRED THOUSANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

300k wheel spin has unlocked NERF GUNSSSSS

also it's "donate x amount of dollars get your name on a sign on hermitcraft" time

cleobot is back!

scar is having a fantastic time running the main stream

GRIAN HAS COME IN AND BARRAGED SCAR WITH BULLETS.

it's tortilla tiiiiiiiiiiime

twich has a personal vendetta against me. it gives me ads right when the exciting things are starting.

scar is apparently on the board of directors at gamer's outreach now!!

IMPULSE V JIMMY. a draw. they are both invulnerable to tortillas.

TANGO V ZED. tango loses through laughter

IMPULSE V ZED. zed didnt get a single slap on impulse. a draw.

also all the hermits really really like to play scissors. in rock paper scissors.

"she removed both of my heads from my body..." -- RentheDog

THE GIRLIES ARE FIGHTING (ren and false)

SKIZZ V GRIAN TORTILLA FIGHT. skizz wins lolol

...im buying a sign

gem signed pearl's ankle.

OKAY I GOT REALLY DISTRACTED FROM MY LIVEBLOGGING. THERE WAS WAR. THERE WAS A MASSIVE NERF GUN WAR. IT INTERRUPTED THE SIGN PLACING.

and yeah... i bought a sign <3

but i dont even know how to cover the half of the nerf war. but there was a lot of hotguy and cuteguy action

grian was even using two pistols instead of a bigger nerf gun... just like cuteguy in ddvau... omg...

at one point scar became a tank. and jimmy wheeled him behind enemy lines and he sniped four people and won the round

and theyre starting to wrap up now, martyn's doing another dollar drive. we're at $375,000...

everyone is signing the pc in the background of martyn's mad line-spitting

TEN HOUR MARK

we need 10,000 dollars... then we'll hit 400k and martyn can rest his vocal cords...

SPARKBIRD GOT MENTIONED

since it's been brought up like 13 times on the stream today. hey. you. you, the person reading this. you just lost the game :3

FOUR HUNDRED THOUSANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

holy cow. that wraps up day one!!!!

im gonna reblog this post in a bit with all the screenshots i took. because i took a lot of them lol.

link to my day two liveblog

[nualaofthefaerie]

i know your melvik hc are gonna be insane. i'm begging

Melvik! - SFW/NSFW headcanons ( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡

A/N: I love those two so much, I have so many headcanons about them and so many thoughts. These current headcanons are based on Pre-S1 Melvik AU.

Skyce version

SFW Headcanons

Viktor and Mel met early in Viktor's career when he was still Heimerdinger's assistant.

Mel took notice of Viktor first. His wits, but even more so his pride made an impression on her. Viktor in turn is quite oblivious, but he finds her judgement to be respectable and her as a person very pretty.

Viktor catches the first notes of her attraction to him when it's quite obvious - she funds his first independent project (before Jayce and Hextech). She thinks she is very sleek with the way her funding forces conversation between them at all times.

He has definitely taken her out to dinner at a place he can absolutely not afford on an assistant salary, however, his pride again would not allow him to slack off in how he presents himself

Mel has never competed with Viktor and if she does is more focused on intellectual and social topics as opposed to flaunting her wealth in front of him. So Viktor's dinner was more of a score in her books than he would give himself credit for.

When she realises she actually really enjoys spending time with someone who challenges her, she offers to pay off his entire college debt if he helps her to construct a prototype for a clean water pump whose purpose is to lower the tensions between Piltover and Zaun. They spend a lot of time up in her apartment to a degree where they fall asleep on the floor sometimes. However, due to Viktor's chronic pain, he wakes up during the night and would always without fail put a blanket over her before leaving for his apartment. (would also always leave her a note. He's not barbaric)

They love playing chess. They get very competitive about it. Mel always plays white.

Mel is shit at cooking, Viktor is decent and the only thing he is exceptional at is Borscht. Mel learns that she loves Borscht.

They have a reading club and take turns choosing books. Mel has definitely made Viktor read "Crime and Punishment", in turn, he forced her to read "Essays by Michel de Montaigne". They often read and discuss together.

On weekends when he is not stuck in the lab she'd ask him out to a gala, which he is not super thrilled about but seeing a Zaunite with the richest woman in Piltover makes him an enigma and a curiosity for the high society (she is selling the concept of Viktor to make sure his projects attract attention and funding).

When Jayce tells Mel "he disappeared, he does that sometimes" she fights off the urge to say "I know". Their relationship is not something they've ever shown to Jayce, although their bond is undeniably almost telephatic.

Their arguments are not loud but are very fast-paced and very cutthroat. It's not about who is right sometimes, it's about winning.

Their first kiss is kind of a mistake that turns for the better. Mel is approached by the thousand suitor during a gala, assuming that Viktor is nothing but a plaything she keeps around. Their blatant disregard of his presence stings him, so he proves them wrong, leaning in very demonstratively to lend a kiss on shoulder, almost possessive. When they don't get the hint, Mel pulls him in for a kiss to prove the point.

She makes an attempt to apologise when they're in private, but he just kisses her again without saying much else.

Viktor sleeps on the right side of the bed.

Mel builds a special shelf structure for his braces and cane next to the bed.

NSFW Headcanons (now we're in it, team)

Aftercare: Both are very strict with aftercare. Since both of them feed off of arguing and sometimes being mean to one another, reassurance after sex is very important to maintain trust in one another.

Body part: Viktor's jawline, especially when he tilts his head in provocation could drive Mel crazy. She loves to bite and kiss and leave marks on it. On the other hand, Viktor has a thing for Mel's waist and back. He enjoys that they are more or less the same height so he can easily hold her and kiss along her shoulder blades between the golden details on her skin.

Cum: Both of them are hypothetically very clean (in practice it depends a lot on their mood). Still no matter what a condom is always present even though I'm absolutely sure Mel is on the pill.

Dirty secret: I didn't think they have any tbh.

Experience: Both of them are relatively experienced and think they know what they want from the relationship but as soon as they actually got together they clash and realise that their palletes are a lot wider than they thought they are. But they have experience.

Favorite position: If Viktor tops he likes to watch her back arch and be able to kiss her back so doggy would be his favourite. If his leg hurts or Mel tops too, she rides both cowgirl and reverse. If Mel pegs that man she likes to watch his face unravel so she folds him like a fucking pretzel until he cries.

Goofy: They are deadly serious during sex, both of them.

Hair: Mel is always meticulously waxed and clean, that woman doesn't have a shred of hair, but Viktor likes that because he can trace the golden lines that go from her pelvis to her core. Viktor keeps himself clean, not hairless, but well-groomed.

Intimacy: Even in their hatefucking era, it's extremely intimate. They always hold each other painfully close as if one of them lets go the other one will disappear.

Jack off: I don't see either of them needing to masturbate a lot since they are always three doors away from one another if they need each other, but sometimes it turns them on to watch the other do it to the thought of fucking. Viktor has shamelessly jacked off with her panties at least once.

Kink: Where do we start? Both of them have an ownership kink, they don't like sharing, they don't tolerate others making advances. As an extension to that marking kink, not necessarily visible, they're adults, but Mel knows ther marks of her nails are imprinted on Viktor's back and Viktor knows that there is a blooming mark on Mel's stomach and that gives them peace. Mild exhibitionism too. Both are big on the thrill of fucking in public.

Location: as I said, their bedrooms are fine, but the back of a gala or their offices simply is better.

Motivation: Competition. Winning. They love playing chess because trying to win and the smugness of outsmarting the other tuns them on painfully. The loser usually is a rather unwilling bottom that gets to be broken by the top (they're a mystery, you never know which one is going to explode first).

No: Nothing that physically harms the other. Under no circumstances and no roleplaying. They hate roleplaying. Both of them.

Oral: Viktor doesn't mind receiving, but he is a giver. A very skilled giver. He enjoys watching Mel unravel under his tongue. It makes him feel in control. He is also a very meticulous eater, and very purposeful. Mel doesn't like to give oral very much but understands its importance. She's just lucky Viktor is indifferent to receiving it. Although if the schedule is tight she'd gladly offer her assistance and as I said, he'd never hurt or pull on her, often the sight of her on her knees is enough for him.

Pace: Depends. If Viktor tops it's often a bit slower so he doesn't exert himself too much but it's also very clean and very good. If Mel tops things get much faster and much more rough.

Quickie: Big on quickies. They're very busy there's not often time for the whole package. She'd ride him in his office chair just to feel him close.

Risk: They take calculated risks. Fucking in public doesn't mean fucking in the bathroom where they could be caught. Although the rush of being caught does turn them on. Also having to conceal the nature of their relationship is thrilling.

Stamina: They like one round each, Mel perhaps could take more but in those cases, Viktor's mouth becomes a tool. He would gladly relieve any pressure and frustration even if he doesn't have the energy to actually fuck.

Toys: Big on straps and on small vibrators, one of those with the remote controls. (I'm not saying they only use those on Mel, I think they both enjoy it a fair amount).

Unfair: An open collar on Viktor, a high slit on Mel, a lingering touch, a lingering touch there, they love to tease one another. They would purposefully provoke jealousy to get to see possessiveness and ownership in the other.

Volume: Viktor is a loud grunter, Mel moans beautifully but quietly, usually in his ear.

Wild card: They have gone down to the pleasure house in the lanes and definitely tag-teamed on a sex worker.

X-ray: We've all seen it on screen, I don't think I need to say that Viktor is packing a big, slightly curved dick.

Yearning: Both of them have quite a high sex drive, since their drive is born out of frustration and intimacy, basically anything can set them off into a night to remember.

Zzz: They're both insomniacs. They lay in bed reading books for the next three hours or work.

A/N: My box is open to any Melvik and Skyce thoughts right now, because these four are driving me to the wall.

[xnackery027]

I need to see a TSAMS fanfic where the self insert is Moon’s assistant/secretary. Like, what is your life even like? You’re hired as this Fazbear Moon model’s ‘assistant’, and you probably assume that you’re actually going to preform basic costume maintenance or maybe even act as a handler for it. You shows up at this office building, presumably to meet the Moon model’s owner and start working, only to find that the Moon model is the one in the chair.

It introduces itself as Moon, which, y’know, makes sense. Shakes your hand, and somehow conducts an in-depth interview by itself. It knows all the information that you gave through your application. It tells you that it is a contractor for machinery, not a daycare attendant. You’re sort of freaking out because like, what the hell, these things are meant to be entertainment, they’re not even allowed to hold jobs outside of Fazbear approved positions. Then, it explains that, since it’s not a human, it can’t buy a house or hold stocks in a business. It can’t patent its own creations or even apply for credit cards. So, it needs you. It needs you to use your status to act as a human. Your information, your social security number. “I’ll pay you a ton for it, of course. I make enough under the table to give you a nice salary. In cash, even!” You don’t believe it until it pulls out a suitcase and shows you wrapped bills. “Let’s say seven thousand as a sign-on bonus. I’m going to need a lot of personal documents from you, preferably by next Monday. I’ll email that list to you. But, for now, I need you to sign this.” He slides a three page contract towards you, with “Moonrise Celestial” already signed with plain blue pen. “This is legally binding. My signature doesn’t really count, ‘cause, y’know,” He sort of gestures at himself. “Robot. But it’s the thought that counts, y’know?” Anyway, this is basically just an agreement that, in return for your information and assistance with filling things out, I will inform you of every time I plan to use said information. So I won’t go around taking out loans and nuking your credit score. Any money spent will be what I put into bank accounts. It’s just under your name. Sound good?” You feel like you’ve gotten whiplash from how fast the job went from looking after a moon model to being human cover for a rogue robot. But holy shit, that’s a lot of money to take home. “What are you even going to do with what I give you?” You really don’t want this to become a case of shady business deals made under your name. “Well, first, I’d like to live in a house. I live with my brother, and we’re currently living in a storage-closet-sized room. You’d have to give me your permission, though. You’d technically own it. Then, maybe I’ll try to get a real government job. Not just under the table stuff.”

“How would that work? Even if you apply using my information, won’t they expect me to work there, not a giant plastic daycare attendant?” “First of all, giant metal daycare attendant. I don’t do that cheap plastic crap. Second of all, that’s… a little complicated. You’d have to fill out a release form for me. Basically saying I, as your animatronic, will be able to perform the tasks you can, and you- well, you in the regular case, but since I’m using this to get a job, I, will get paid for it. All of that is included in the contract here. My ownership is assigned to you, and you release me to work where I feel like it.”

“So I’d… own you?” It feels weird to say it now that you’ve seen how this one behaves. “Yes. Believe me, I’d prefer it if I could just apply and get hired like a human without selling myself, but I’ve already lost most of my dear robotic dignity just to rent out an office for this meeting. That’s why I need your help.” He tapped the contract again. “You get paid so that I get rights. Pretty simple.”

[ruinandrue]

Introducing Inkwarren: A dark fantasy TTRPG of woodland adventures!

Hi all! I'm Matt, and I am an Atlanta-based indie ttrpg designer currently developing Inkwarren, a dark woodland fantasy TTRPG of swashbuckling tactics and storybook intrigue. Today, I'm going to talk to you about what Inkwarren is, what inspired it, and the design goals I have for the game. Inkwarren is already in preliminary playtests, and I hope to have public playtests sometime in the near future.

What is Inkwarren?

In Inkwarren, players take on the role of woodlanders- animal wanderers of the massive Woodland, who use magick, wits, and weapons to take down foes supernatural and mundane. Your woodlanders' wandering band may be a band of mercenary adventurers, a band of high-spirited rebels, or even a band of scoundrels and ne'er-do-wells just looking for their next score.

One player takes on the role of the Voice in the Dark, a guiding force behind the story that presents challenges, describes consequences, and narrates the actions of the woodlander's foes.

Inkwarren aims to merge modern-style deep narrative rules with exciting, flashy, swashbuckling battles that emphasizes teamwork, movement, and positioning. Character creation is a deep and choice-driven process, that fully contextualizes a woodlander within the world and sets them on a path to a truly memorable story.

Inspirations

Mechanically, Inkwarren borrows from and is inspired by games like Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition, Modiphius's Dishonored, ICON, Blades in the Dark, and City of Mist, mixing design trends of modern tactical fantasy games with deep narrative based trends found in other systems. Inkwarren's combat also shares inspiration with the Hades series of games, aiming to emulate the fast-paced action where movement and positioning are just as important as the attacks you use.

Narratively, Inkwarren is inspired by The Secret of NIMH, Dishonored, Redwall, Root, and Hollow Knight. When designing Inkwarren's eponymous setting, I want to evoke the gravitas and melancholy somberness of Hallownest from Hollow Knight, with magic as eldritch and strange as the Outsider's gifts in Dishonored. With this, Inkwarren is still a game about hope, and aims to capture the optimism-despite-adversity and little-heroes-against-great-foes vibes of stories like Redwall or The Secret of NIMH. I have to credit Root for originally giving me the idea to shift my game concept to one where the PCs are little woodland creatures.

Choice, Sacrifice, and Hope

Inkwarren's core mechanic emphasizes choice, intent, and narrative weight. The base 2d10 roll is modified by the woodlander's own Virtues (core strengths like Brawn, Nimbleness, or Insight), combined with a Style to define how they're using that Virtue (such as performing an action Cunningly, Quickly, or Sneakily). Difficulty is measured by Risk and Effect, that assign narrative weight to the severity of consequences a woodlander faces, and how effective they will be if they Prevail.

When woodlanders just don't roll high enough, they don't simply fail- they Falter. Faltering grants Hope, a resource that can be used to Persevere and succeed despite consequences on future challenges. With Hope, failure is never the end- it simply closes one door, and opens another.

Swashbuckling Battles

Inkwarren's Battle system emphasizes movement, positioning, and teamwork. Woodlanders interact with the battlefield through exploits, combat disciplines that have a variety of different effects to use on the field. Exploits have an at-will root effect that can be used as a woodlander's bread and butter, but more powerful effects are always within reach. By using root effects, meeting battle objectives (such as defeating enemies or reaching escape points), and continuing the fight (by ending rounds), woodlanders build Momentum, a shared resource pool by the entire band that can be used to power a woodlander's most powerful abilities. Woodlanders can spend Momentum to use an exploit's powerful bloom effect, or power a duo effect that they can use to combine their abilities with those of another ally. Momentum doesn't deplete until the Battle is over-- use it for quick bursts, or build up to unleash more powerful attacks against your foes!

Other rulesets like charging attacks, staggering mechanics for bosses, climbing on top of larger foes, environments, high ground, and ally turns (that don't clog up combat) also add gravitas, pace, and exciting tactical decisions to make Inkwarren's Battles so engaging.

Sweeping Narrative

Inkwarren's narrative mechanics work to ensure that solving problems outside of Battle carry just as much weight as Battle itself. Inkwarren's narrative ruleset includes:

The Doubt system allows woodlanders to call upon the Voice in the Dark for aid, but at a cost: as the woodlanders build Doubt, the Voice can spend it to increase the danger of the surroundings, unlock new abilities for foes, or act as a mastermind behind the antagonistic forces of the narrative.

Narrative abilities called flourishes that woodlanders can use to interact with the world.

A special character-based tour de force that a woodlander may use to do something truly legendary, although infrequently.

Rest Activities woodlanders may use to Cook Meals, Spar, Entertain, or Pray to give themselves bonuses and restorations for use later.

Wounds to carry over how trials in-combat affect a woodlander after the Battle ends.

Rules for Tongues that establish a woodlander's knowledge of a language with several levels of fluency.

Ties, which are narrative bonds with NPCs woodlanders may use to increase their effect against them, or burn them to ask for a favor.

And So Much More!

Deep character customization for woodlanders, including a Coat mechanic that allows you to play as any little animal your heart desires, unique and evocative traditions like the ghostly historian Folklorist or the passionate Warrior-Poet, rules for mysterious and magical artifacts called esoterica, an in-depth crafting system, and more!

If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading! I'm so excited about this game, and I hope to share more with everyone soon!

Tìoraidh!

[max-levchin]

To build a meritocracy

About a year ago, we at Affirm decided to add an OKR to our annual planning titled “High-Performance Culture”, to help shore up the necessary means (for the necessary means) of improving our collective productivity. (Yes yes, big company stuff, whatever – we grew revenue 46% last fiscal year on essentially flat headcount, that’s pretty addictive, and it doesn’t hurt the stock price.)

We measure this OKR by asking every Affirmer a handful of questions about their experience getting work done, eg “do you feel like it’s pretty collaborative here”, etc, scoring it on a 10pt scale, and trying to improve our score quarter to quarter. Generally, our score’s pretty high, and trending gently higher, so all good then?

Maybe, but how do you do better? High-performance culture is pretty easy to define: a culture of individuals doing productive work for the company in the most efficient way possible and helping others do the same, while generally having a good time. But what do you actually do [sir] to have such a culture? And what do you not do? 

So I jotted down a few incomplete one-liners of what that means to me as Affirm’s founder and CEO. This list is neither exhaustive (I reserve the right to add and remove things here) nor is it even especially well-organized, but culture is like obscenity in Jacobellis v Ohio: you know it when you see it. 

So here’s what I see at Affirm. 

mission

morality is a key ingredient in everything we do (and don’t do)

integrity is what got us where we are today, never compromise it

consumers, merchants, and capital partners are who we serve

stay humble and be curious about the needs of each of our constituents

take pride in providing safe access to fair credit; don’t judge what consumers use it for

bleed the colors, the values, the mission

merit

Affirm is a meritocracy: your talent, skill, and willingness to put it all to work define you here

we solve multivariate optimization problems – a certain minimum intellectual capacity is required

demand excellence from yourself and from your teammates, don’t settle

work-life balance tends to take care of itself if you love your work

…remember that this is a marathon – take care of yourself and those you love

if you can’t keep up, we’ll try our best to help, but eventually you may have to leave

if you see that someone can’t keep up, you should step in to help them

leadership

we are a culture of individuals working together as teams  

once someone is a part of the team, fully accept them as one of our own

whom you hire, and how you help them be productive is your top responsibility 

be an owner, not merely an employee

do not allow “us and them” dynamics to foment anywhere at Affirm

run towards a problem; don’t assume someone else will take care of it

be a stress absorber for your team, not a stress amplifier

an occasional heroic act that helps Affirm win is a good thing, not a sign of poor planning

constant heroic acts required for Affirm to survive is a sign of poor planning

lead by example

how we work

we take calculated risks – do the calculating!

make reversible decisions fast

bring the bad news to the team early – we’ll rally to help

use our product and understand its value to our customers

care about how we make things — mind the quality of the invisible parts

…do not let perfect be the enemy of shipping and iterating

time is the scarcest resource we have, be mindful of how you use yours, and your team’s

we are a writing culture, favor short, pithy n-pagers to novels or live rants

post-mortem everything: the successes, the failures, and the near-misses – and learn

we take our work extremely seriously — but not so much ourselves 

how we disagree

if you disagree, you must speak up, even escalate – especially before a decision is made

fear of being wrong is not an acceptable reason for not speaking up

never accept an unexplained “no” for an answer – ask why

challenge ideas! good ones can handle the scrutiny, bad ones need to die on the vine

even the harshest critique of your idea is not an attack on you, don’t take it as such

no matter how brilliant you are, being a jerk is a ticket out of Affirm

know our business well, and know your area of the business cold

argue using facts whenever possible, but give your gut a voice too

once the decision is reached, commit 

sometimes, Monday starts on Saturday

[grailfinders]

Grailfinders #341: Mary Anning

hey y’all! would you like-a talk-a dino? no? too bad, here’s Mary Anning anyway. she’s an arcane trickster rogue to sell literal rocks to people at a profit (and get a cool dog), plus a primeval druid to summon a lightning-spitting plesiosaur. and i thought jurassic park was taking liberties…

check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet over here!

next up: shouldn’t he be istanbullos by now?

Ancestry & Background

despite having nautiluses for hair, Mary is still a Human, so she gets +1 Dexterity & Intelligence, as well as proficiency in Nature (old nature sure, but still nature) and the Tough feat for an extra 2 HP per level. she also used to be a sickly child before being nursed to health by a literal bolt of lightning yes that’s a thing that happened so she’s definitely being Rewarded by something. that gives her Insight and Persuasion proficiency, as well as the Skilled background for more proficiency in Mason’s Tools, Athletics, and History.

Ability Scores

your Intelligence should be as high as it can go. we don’t actually need it here, but you were the first person to figure out what an Ichthyosaur is (not a dinosaur) and what coprolites are (not something you want to touch bare-handed). second is Wisdom. half the difficulty of paleontology is finding the damn things. the other half is dodging the rockslides, which is why your Dexterity is also pretty high. this does mean your Charisma is lower than I’d like. you’re a fine saleswoman, but you didn’t get a lot of credit for the work you did. this means your Constitution is middling, and your Strength is as low as it gets. thankfully you can just reanimate the fossils now, so carrying them’s a lot easier.

Class Levels

1. Rogue 1: if we want to find fossils, you need to be damn good with a chisel first. also I’m not making the same mistake I made with Galatea, I’m not going to figure out how to have you wield a hammer in one hand and a chisel in the other officially, sorry. on the plus side, no matter how you use that chisel you can still Sneak Attack with it, adding 1d6 to the damage done as long as you have advantage on the attack or another friend next to them. all fossils are restrained (by rock), so you shouldn’t have any issue getting advantage. you also learn Thieves’ Cant, which is really just Cockney. finally, your Expertise in Nature and History will double your proficiency bonus when you make checks about old animals or natural history. suck it, publications!

also as a rogue you get proficiency in Dexterity and Intelligence saves, as well as Deception, Investigation, Perception, and Sleight of Hand, bc god knows you didn’t have enough skills just yet.

2. Rogue 2: second level rogues get a Cunning Action each turn, letting you dash, disengage, or hide as a bonus action. the early paleontologist gets the bone, as the assuredly real saying goes.

3. Rogue 3: we haven’t picked up all your fossil-hunting gear just yet- we still need some explosives, and a dog. thankfully, we can get both of those from being an Arcane Trickster! now you can cast spells using your Intelligence! okay I guess we actually did need that. anyway, your spell list is pretty restrictive, with only one spell that can be freely picked from the wizard spell list. the rest all have to be enchantment or illusion spells.

but before we talk spells, let’s talk Cantrips! Thunderclap will help remove solid rock, while Mold Earth will dig through loose dirt real fast. you also get Mage Hand which comes with its own Legerdemain, and that’s going to be Tray for this build! just have it do the dog shadow puppet thing to really sell the flavor. the original mage hand lasts a minute and is a floating ghost hand/dog that sticks near you, and you can use your action to move it and have it pick up objects, open doors, grab stuff from containers, or pour out liquids. you know, basic dog tricks. the legerdemain makes your dog a little more special, letting it pickpocket people, pick locks, and turn invisible. those are less doglike, but you can do all of those plus the og stuff as a bonus action now too.

as for your spells, Mage Armor will help you not die, Distort Value will help you sell rocks for enough money to live on, and Illusory Script will help you get out of whatever shitty contract super bunyan tried to force on you.

one last thing- you can use Steady Aim to give yourself advantage as a bonus action, so long as you haven’t moved yet and don’t plan on doing so this turn. the rocks are generally stationary, so it should be fine.

okay, okay, the real last thing- your sneak attack deals 2d6 extra damage now. this is what happens when you can afford the good chisels.

4. Rogue 4: fourth level rogues get their first Ability Score Improvement, so improve that Dexterity while you’re here. yes the rocks don’t move much, but you still have to worry about your AC. in the same “not getting hit” vein, you get Color Spray this level. this one’s just pocket sand. blast it in peoples’ faces and they go blind for a round.

5. Rogue 5: fifth level rogues have an Uncanny Dodge. whenever you’d take damage from an attack, you can use your reaction to take half damage instead. ideally you wouldn’t get hit at all, but it’s not like you can afford platemail. speaking of damage though, your sneak attack deals 3d6 damage now.

6. Rogue 6: sixth level rogues get another round of Expertise, so double down on Perception and Persuasion to find and sell fossils.

7. Rogue 7: seventh level rogues learn Evasion, which means every time you have to make a dexterity save you only take half damage on a failure and no damage on a success. your job consisted of going to rockslide mountain during rockslide season but you didn’t die until breast cancer took you out, there’s clearly something going on there.

also you learn Dragon’s Breath. it’s a secret tool that will help us later. for right now, your sneak attack deals 4d6 damage!

8. Druid 1: at level one, druids also learn Spells, which they use their Wisdom to cast. since we’re mixing spellcasters, you’ll have to check the PHB to figure out how many spell slots you have at any one time.

first, cantrips. Shillelagh lets you turn a club into a magical club that uses your wisdom to hit, so I guess if you really want to use a hammer, now you’ll be slightly better at it. you can also use Druidcraft to figure out the weather for today. I don’t know if rockslides count as “weather” exactly, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

as for your spells, druids can prepare spells from their whole list every day, so I highly recommend checking out whatever suits your fancy. the only spell I think is in-character right now though is Faerie Fire. sadly we can’t make it only work for women, but it’ll make it impossible for anyone hit by it to turn invisible, and attacks against them have advantage.

9. Druid 2: second level druids enter a circle, and the Circle of the Primeval was practically made for you! before we get into that we do need to mention your Wild Shape real fast, though you’re not using it if you’re staying in character- I’ll just say for now you could use it twice per short rest. more importantly, you can use those two per rest charges to summon a Primeval Companion instead! with this, you can summon a medium plesiosaurus that you can order around with your bonus action. it can’t swim just yet, but he’s just getting started! (this is where Dragon’s Breath comes back in, now you can have him shooting lightning right out the gate. or yourself, if you want.)

also, as a Keeper of Old, you can add a d4 to your history checks.

(and I will say now that yes, you could use wild shape charges to summon a Wild Companion if you want Tray to be a real dog, but that would mean he’d have an actual HP bar and I’m just not ready to deal with that.)

10. Druid 3: third level druids learn second level spells! Enhance Ability gives you advantage in one kind of ability check of your choice, while Locate Object can help you locate the nearest fossil. it’s kind of like cheating, but fuck it!

11. Druid 4: fourth level druids get a Wild Shape Improvement, so while plesi can’t swim yet, you can. somehow. also your Dexterity goes up again. also also you can cast Guidance now to give yourself or a friend a d4 to their next skill check, for when you really need to sell this next fossil.

12. Druid 5: fifth level druids learn third level spells! Conjure Animals is your go-to for your noble phantasm, letting you summon a bunch of smaller fossils all at one go, but you can also use Elemental Weapon if you want some electrical attacks for yourself too.

13. Druid 6: now that you’re a proper Prehistoric Conduit, you can cast spells as though they came from your plesiosaur. this means you can cast Dragon’s Breath on him without even having to touch him! given that he’s probably in the thick of battle, that’s most likely for the best. also, if he gets caught up in one of your spells, he gets advantage on his save against its damage and evasion for said spell, regardless of what kind of save it is.

14. Druid 7: seventh level druids get fourth level spells, like… actually there isn’t really any I want. maybe Elemental Bane if you can find a non-spell way to deal lightning damage? otherwise just upcast conjure animals.

15. Druid 8: eighth level druids get another WSI, so now you can fly if you want. also you can use your ASI to start improving your Charisma for better sales pitches.

16. Druid 9: ninth level druids get fifth level spells, and while Plessy doesn’t really talk much he’s probably a lot smarter than most dinosaurs, so I still think Awaken is a good pick for him. this’ll make the animal or plant you use it on sentient permanently, and it will be your friend for up to a month. past that point, how it feels about you is up to it.

17. Druid 10: let’s grab Mending real quick before we go into the level, I imagine your clothes probably get torn up pretty often in this line of work. also you now share a Titanic Bond with your living fossil, making it large enough to ride around on and it can finally swim! as a bonus, once per turn you can try and frighten a creature when you hit it with an attack or spell. everyone’s seen jurassic park by this point, they know not to stand near dinosaurs.

18. Druid 11: as we near the end, you can finally grab sixth level spells like Move Earth. for up to two hours after casting, you can reshape dirt, sand, or clay in a 40’ area that can be moved around, with each change taking ten minutes. also worth noting, this doesn’t work on stone or stone structures, so any rock formations might collapse if you use this too much. Make Sure Nothing You Love Is Under the Rocks.

19. Druid 12: use your last ASI to bump up your Charisma again! with a charisma score like that you could even make a 19th century englishman respect… well, literally anyone who isn’t also a 19th century englishman.

20. Druid 13: for our final level you gain access to seventh level spells, but again there aren’t really any I want. sorry to end it on a sour note, but now you can upcast your animal conjuring and lightning breath, so that’s neat!

Pros & Cons

Pros:

druids have access to some powerful aoe spells, and while we only really use Dragon’s Breath in this build, being able to shoot them out of a large creature means you can make those aoes even bigger, for free, and odds are Plesi’s gonna be just fine on top of all that.

as a rogue, you like having people around you. as a druid, you can make people around you. well, dinosaurs. still, everything goes with sneak attack, so you can pretty much guarantee that extra damage whenever you want.

rogues are always great at skill checks, and you take that to a whole new level. as long as you have anything to sell, your party will never have to worry about their budget. also, while we got a lot of skills for buying and selling, most of them are open-ended enough that they can be used for any skill check you want!

Cons:

it takes a while for this build to reach something I’d call a finished state. while it works fine for most of the game, riding around on a plesiosaurus is kind of the dream, and you can’t do that until level 17.

a lot of your spell list is spent on utility spells, and while they aren’t necessarily bad, it’s hard to think of when you’d really want the ability to dig for two hours over say, a fireball. they don’t even break rock, so good luck getting to actual fossils with Mold Earth.

both druid and rogue are pretty greedy classes- they both want you to focus on them as much as possible. because of this, we get neither a big sneak attack bonus nor druid’s busted capstone ability, which is rough. it’s not the end of the world since you’d probably never see any capstone ability used in regular D&D anyway, but still.

[screenmobile]

How to Finance a Patio Enclosure Project?

Imagine sipping your morning coffee in a cozy, enclosed patio while watching the seasons change, without dealing with bugs, harsh weather, or flying leaves. Sounds great, right? But here’s the thing: patio enclosures aren’t cheap.

Whether you’re planning a screened-in porch, a vinyl enclosure, or a full glass sunroom, the cost can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. So, how do you afford it?

The good news is, there are multiple ways to finance a patio enclosure—some more budget-friendly than others. Whether you want low-interest financing, a home equity loan, or an easy monthly payment plan, this guide will walk you through your best options.

How Much Does a Patio Enclosure Cost?

Before diving into financing options, it’s essential to understand the cost of a patio enclosure. Prices can vary significantly based on the type of enclosure, the size of your space, the materials you choose, and whether you're paying for professional labor. 

A screened-in patio is usually the most budget-friendly option, with total costs (including installation) ranging from $1,000 to $7,000. If you’re considering vinyl or acrylic panels, expect to pay between $3,000 and $12,000. Glass sunrooms, which offer a more finished and weatherproof space, typically cost between $10,000 and $40,000 or more. 

Retractable enclosures fall somewhere in between, with average costs ranging from $7,000 to $25,000. While building it yourself may seem cheaper at first, it often involves hidden expenses like tools, permits, and material waste due to mistakes. If you’re not confident with construction, hiring a professional can save you time, stress, and costly errors. Now that you have an idea of the costs, let’s take a look at how you can finance your project.

1. Personal Savings: The Debt-Free Approach

If you’ve been saving up, paying in cash is the simplest way to finance your patio enclosure.

No interest or loan fees – You own your enclosure outright.

No credit checks or approvals needed – No dealing with banks.

No monthly payments – One and done!

The downside? Not everyone has $10,000+ lying around for a home project. If dipping into your savings means cutting into your emergency fund, it might be worth considering other financing options.

2. Home Equity Loan or HELOC: Use Your Home’s Value

A home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) lets you borrow against the value of your home.

Lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards.

Can be used for home improvement projects like a patio enclosure.

Flexible repayment terms (typically 10-30 years).

Key Difference: A home equity loan gives you a lump sum upfront, while a HELOC works more like a credit card—you borrow what you need when you need it.

The Catch? Since this type of loan uses your home as collateral, missing payments could put your house at risk.

3. Personal Loans: A Quick, Unsecured Option

Don’t want to use your home as collateral? A personal loan is another option.

No home equity required.

Fast approval (sometimes same-day funding).

Fixed monthly payments make budgeting easier.

Interest rates vary based on credit score, ranging from 5% to 36%. If you have great credit, this could be an affordable way to fund your patio enclosure.

The downside? Shorter repayment terms (typically 3-7 years) mean higher monthly payments than home equity loans.

4. Credit Cards: Good for Small Projects, Risky for Big Ones

If your patio enclosure is on the lower end of the price range ($1,000-$5,000), using a credit card could be an option—but only if you can pay it off quickly.

Great for financing smaller enclosures or DIY materials.

Some cards offer 0% APR promotional financing (6-18 months).

Convenient and easy—no application process like a loan.

What to watch out for: After the 0% APR period, interest rates skyrocket (typically 16-25% or more). If you don’t pay it off fast, your patio could cost way more than expected.

5. Contractor Financing: Payment Plans Through Your Installer

Some patio enclosure companies, like Screenmobile, may offer financing options or payment plans.

Convenient—handled directly with your contractor.

Often lower interest than credit cards.

Monthly payments instead of paying everything upfront.

Before signing, compare rates to ensure you’re getting a good deal!

6. Government Programs or Energy-Efficiency Grants

If your patio enclosure is energy-efficient (like an insulated sunroom with high-performance windows), you might qualify for federal or local energy-efficiency programs.

Some state/local grants or tax credits exist for green home improvements.

Reduces overall cost if you qualify.

Best for sunrooms with energy-efficient materials.

Check programs like the Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit or local South Bend initiatives for potential savings.

7. Cash-Out Refinance: Rolling the Cost into Your Mortgage

If mortgage rates are low, a cash-out refinance lets you take out a new mortgage for more than you owe and use the difference to fund your enclosure.

Lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards.

Long repayment terms (spread cost over 15-30 years).

One of the most affordable ways to fund large projects ($20K+).

The downside? Closing costs and potentially resetting your mortgage term—meaning you could pay more interest long-term.

Which Financing Option is Best for You?

Still unsure? Here’s a quick guide:

Have cash saved? → Use personal savings (best for small projects).

Want low monthly payments? → Home equity loan or cash-out refinance (best for large enclosures).

Need money fast? → Personal loan or credit card (best for quick financing).

Prefer a structured payment plan? → Contractor financing (best for convenience).

Final Thoughts

A patio enclosure is an investment, but the right financing makes it doable without draining your savings. Whether you go for a low-interest loan, a home equity option, or contractor financing, the key is finding a plan that fits your budget.

Need a Custom Patio Enclosure in South Bend?

If you’re ready to enclose your patio but need help finding the right financing option, Screenmobile can guide you through the process.

Ask about financing options and get a free quote today!

Contact Screenmobile of Michiana Shores, MI, to start planning your patio enclosure!

[tboyadvice]

ditch your transphobic partner

if they:

-pressure you to dress, act, have sex, shave body hair, or otherwise live your life in a way that makes you dysphoric

-misgender you after being corrected or treat you in a way that is typical for somebody to treat their girlfriend

-dont not identify as somebody who is attracted to men

leave lol. im not asking

how to gracefully break up with somebody

how to break up with somebody you live with

roommate finder

how to ask a friend for a place to stay

how to build credit fast

check your credit score

how to break your lease early and legally

how to make a rental resume

forward your mail to new address

[knowledgeden]

The Importance of Credit Scores and How to Improve Them 

In today’s fast-paced financial world, credit scores are one of the most crucial indicators of a person’s financial health. Essentially, they act as a report card that lenders use to assess creditworthiness. A strong credit score can open doors to favorable loan rates, better insurance premiums, and sometimes even employment opportunities. For those looking to understand or improve their credit score, here’s a guide to why it matters, how it’s calculated, and how to give it a boost. 

Why Your Credit Score Matters 

A credit score is a number that reflects your creditworthiness, or how likely you are to repay debts on time. Lenders use this score to decide whether to approve credit applications, loans, or mortgages. Credit scores are usually based on factors like payment history, credit usage, and length of credit history. This score affects the rates and terms on loans, mortgages, and credit cards you can qualify for. In India, major credit bureaus provide these scores such as 

1. CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau India Limited): Founded in 2000, CIBIL is one of India’s first and most widely used credit bureaus. It provides credit scores to individuals and businesses, helping lenders assess creditworthiness. One of the key founders was Satish Mehta. 

2. Equifax India: A branch of the global Equifax company, Equifax India provides credit scores and detailed credit reports. It started its Indian operations in 2010 and has been influential in shaping credit reporting here. Richard F. Smith was the CEO of Equifax Inc. during its expansion to India. 

4. Experian India: Known worldwide, Experian entered India in 2010 and provides credit scoring services that help individuals and businesses manage credit health. Sir John Peace was one of the co-founders of Experian’s global operations. 

5. CRIF High Mark: This bureau specializes in providing credit data across urban and rural areas, helping expand access to credit across India. Carlo Gherardi was instrumental in establishing CRIF’s presence globally, which later extended to India. 

Key Factors That Affect Your Credit Score 

Your credit score is based on various factors, each weighted differently: 

Payment History (35%): Consistency is key. On-time payments show lenders that you are responsible, while late or missed payments lower your score. 

Amounts Owed (30%): Also known as credit utilization, this indicates how much debt you’re carrying relative to your credit limits. Lower utilization rates (ideally below 30%) are better. 

Length of Credit History (15%): A longer credit history can positively impact your score, as it gives lenders a clearer picture of your habits. 

Credit Mix (10%): Having a mix of credit types (credit cards, installment loans, mortgages) can benefit your score, as it shows your ability to manage different types of credit. 

New Credit (10%): Applying for several new accounts in a short period can lower your score because it signals potential financial stress. 

Steps to Improve Your Credit Score 

Whether you’re building from scratch or trying to recover from setbacks, improving your credit score requires consistency and patience. Here are some steps to consider: 

Pay Bills on Time: Since payment history has the biggest impact, prioritize making timely payments. Even one missed payment can significantly lower your score. 

Reduce Your Credit Utilization Ratio: Aim to use less than 30% of your credit limit. If possible, make multiple payments throughout the month to keep your balances low. 

Check Your Credit Report for Errors: Errors can happen, so review your credit report at least once a year. If you spot any inaccuracies, dispute them with the credit bureaus. 

Limit New Credit Applications: Each credit inquiry can lower your score by a few points, so only apply when necessary. 

Consider a Secured Credit Card: If you’re rebuilding your credit, a secured credit card (where you put down a deposit as collateral) can help. Responsible use of this card can slowly rebuild your credit score. 

The Role of Financial Companies in Financial Empowerment 

Financial companies play a crucial role in financial empowerment by providing credit, investment opportunities, and financial tools that help people build wealth and financial stability. Here are four examples: 

1. HDFC Bank: Founded by Hasmukh Thakordas Parekh, HDFC Bank is one of India’s leading private sector banks, offering a wide range of services like loans, credit cards, and savings plans. It empowers millions by facilitating easy access to banking and credit services. 

2. ICICI Bank: Led by Sandeep Bakhshi as CEO, ICICI Bank has pioneered digital banking in India, making financial services more accessible to urban and rural areas. The bank offers a variety of financial products, empowering individuals and businesses to manage their finances efficiently. 

3. Bajaj Finserv: Established by Jamnalal Bajaj, Bajaj Finserv provides loans, insurance, and wealth management solutions, helping people achieve their financial goals. It has become a go-to provider for personal loans and consumer financing, aiding in financial independence.  

4. CIBIL: Co-founded by Satish Mehta, CIBIL is India’s premier credit bureau, helping individuals and businesses understand and improve their creditworthiness. It plays a critical role in empowering people to access loans and credit by making their credit scores transparent. 

Loan with Low Credit 

If your credit score isn’t exactly where you want it to be, don’t stress, there are still plenty of options to get the loan you need. Some companies are more flexible and look beyond just the numbers, making it easier for you to borrow. Here’s an updated list of companies where you might get a loan, even with a low credit score:   

1. Upgrade – Founded by Renaud Laplanche, they’re great for flexible online loans and quick approvals, even if your credit score isn’t perfect.   

2. OneMain Financial – These guys don’t just look at your credit score; they consider your overall situation.   

3. Hinduja Leyland Finance – Part of the Hinduja Group led by the Hinduja Brothers, they specialize in vehicle and business loans and are renowned for their borrower-friendly approach.  

4. OppLoans – Part of OppFi is Perfect for smaller loans and designed to help people with less-than-stellar credit.   

Conclusion 

Maintaining a healthy credit score is essential in today’s economy. By understanding how credit scores work and following practical steps to improve them, individuals can access more financial opportunities. With institutions like the Equifax India, Hinduja group and CRIF High Mark and others are championing financial inclusion and credit education, more people have the chance to build and maintain solid credit records. 

As you work toward a better credit score, remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. With patience, consistency, and a commitment to understanding your finances, a better credit score—and the benefits it brings—are well within reach. 

[financialflexibility]

Instant Cash Advance Apps: A 2025 Guide to Smart Borrowing

In today's fast-paced world, unexpected expenses can arise at any moment. Whether it's a sudden car repair, an urgent medical bill, or simply bridging the gap until your next payday, instant cash advance apps have become a popular solution. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one for your needs? This guide will explore the landscape of instant cash advance apps, offering tips and insights to help you make informed decisions.

Understanding Instant Cash Advance Apps

Instant cash advance apps provide quick access to funds, typically deposited directly into your bank account. Unlike traditional loans, these apps often offer smaller amounts with shorter repayment terms. They can be a convenient alternative to payday loans, which often come with high interest rates and fees. According to the Federal Reserve, many Americans struggle to cover unexpected expenses, making these apps a valuable resource for financial emergencies.

Key Features to Consider

When evaluating instant cash advance apps, consider the following features:

Fees and Interest: Some apps charge membership fees, interest, or expedited transfer fees. Look for apps with transparent fee structures and low or no interest.

Advance Limits: The amount you can borrow varies between apps. Consider your typical needs and choose an app that offers sufficient limits.

Repayment Terms: Understand how and when you'll need to repay the advance. Some apps offer flexible repayment options, while others have fixed schedules.

Eligibility Requirements: Each app has its own eligibility criteria, such as income verification or bank account requirements.

Transfer Speed: While many apps offer instant transfers, some may take a few business days. Check if instant transfer is available for your bank, and if there are any associated fees.

Tips for Using Cash Advance Apps Responsibly

While instant cash advance apps can be helpful, it's crucial to use them responsibly:

Borrow Only What You Need: Avoid the temptation to borrow more than necessary.

Create a Budget: Track your income and expenses to ensure you can repay the advance on time. Resources like Doxo can help you manage your bills.

Understand the Terms: Read the fine print and be aware of all fees and repayment obligations.

Consider Alternatives: Explore other options, such as building an emergency fund or seeking assistance from local charities.

Monitor Your Credit: While many cash advance apps don't perform hard credit checks, late payments could still impact your credit score.

The Evolving Landscape of Cash Advance Apps

The cash advance app market is constantly evolving. New features and options are emerging, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services integrated with cash advances. Some apps, like Chime, offer overdraft protection without fees, while others, like Earnin, allow you to access a portion of your earned wages before payday. It is important to stay informed about the latest developments and compare different apps to find the best fit for your financial needs. For more information on instant cash advance apps, check out this helpful resource: Instant Cash Advance Apps.

A Fee-Free Alternative: Gerald

While many apps offer convenient features, they often come with hidden costs. Gerald stands out as a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and cash advance app that prioritizes transparency and user well-being. Gerald offers cash advances with absolutely zero fees – no interest, no late fees, no transfer fees, and no hidden charges. To unlock the fee-free cash advance transfer, users first make a purchase using Gerald's BNPL feature. Eligible users with supported banks can also enjoy instant transfers at no extra cost. Gerald also offers unique features like eSIM mobile plans powered by T-Mobile, allowing users to purchase mobile plans using BNPL advances.

Download Gerald today:

iOS: Gerald - Cash Advance App on the App Store

Android: Gerald - Cash Advance App - Apps on Google Play

[bitchesgetriches]

Hey bitches! That feels so rude to say to strangers. I'm a new college student looking to get my first credit card. Now, I've received more than my share of lectures on proper credit usage and I more than know the basics, I just had one question.

You see, with some savvy parental help (If you want kids and you put them on a credit card you keep paying off, they'll start with good credit!) I have a credit score in the "very good" range, a bit low because my file is, understandably, thin. I looked it up and I believe I'll technically have income in college from scholarships and such, and some left over for me each month.

I'm concerned with building my credit, and if possible, stacking as many miles as I possibly can to travel after I graduate. How do I properly estimate the risk of applying for a real adult credit card, and how a rejection might affect my credit? And, if you think you can answer directly, should I make the jump, hold off for a few months or years, or just go with a student card that's almost guaranteed to accept me?

Great question, sugarsnap pea! And the short answer is that I don't think you should wait to apply for that credit card.

I wouldn't worry about the risk of your score dropping. Because I think you should take advantage of your... advantages??? Namely, you have very supportive and trustworthy parents who are looking out for your financial future.

Apply for a credit card with them. Or, have them make you the primary user of the card they already have open for you. Then, after college, you can remove them as users on the card when you have even better credit built up.

That was a really fast and basic explanation, but here's more about what I mean:

Ask the Bitches: What's the Difference Between Credit Checks and Credit Monitoring? 

A Hand-holding Guide To Getting Your First Credit Card 

If you found this helpful, give us a tip!

[th3dailyoverload]

My Top 5 Struggles of Adulting

Adulting is hard, am I right? There are so many new responsibilities that seem to come out of nowhere. Here are my top 5 struggles of navigating this new adulthood thing:

Bills, Bills, Bills

Why does it feel like as soon as you get your pay check, it's already spent?! Keeping track of due dates, ensuring there's enough in your account, and actually paying the bills on time is way more stressful than I anticipated. Having a pet went from being fun to having a dependent that relies on you at the snap of a finger... But the best way to handle a pay check is not even debit orders keep your money untouched for at leats 24hours, this is could for your credit when it comes to your personal cashflow record in the banking system. And only start paying off bills after then.

To Credit Or Not to Credit

This was my biggest question when finally earning a salary and being stable with working. In the current economic climate credit is what the makes the world go round, good credit score makes you seem responsible and able to handle a car, a house bond, and apartment lease, and even bigger things. But my advice to you with credit is get an easy credit card, maybe for clothes. By small items less than R500, set it to be paid within the next 6 months but pay it back with the next month. It makes you look responsible, and helps build a credit score fast. Hold off on trying to secure a phone contract, don't dive before you've learnt to swim.

Food at Home

Remember when you went out with your parents and asked for take out but they always said there was food at home? You're going to have to make sure that there's food at home. Your cosy little apartment fridge should have more than just snacks. Which brings us to building a grocery list: start with staples that are used on a monthly basis and can last for a few months on end, then when those are around then you can from time-to-time restock on goodies. For me, my goodies are sugary cupcakes that I buy once a month during my big grocery run and watermelon Jolly Ranchers.

Dirty Laundry

How did my parents do this every week for a whole family?! Between finding time to do laundry, folding and putting it all away, and ensuring I have enough clean clothes for the week, it feels never ending—it’s a loop. Best case scenario, try doing it at night just before you sleep and hanging it in the morning just before leaving for morning classes or work, just make sure you have a clean set of clothes still wearable.

Maintaining Friendships

With busy work schedules, errands, classes and life in general, finding time to stay socially connected with friends gets harder and harder. Making an effort to schedule in time to call or grab coffee with friends is almost impossible, but balancing it all certainly isn't easy. But best way to handle it all is your plain old calendar app, get all your friends to agree on a calendar app to use and each person can add dates of when they'd like to grab coffee or go book shopping or to the movies and the others can all see it and agree to attendance if one is missing, simple hold and drag to a more suitable day. Have fun with it!

[alexandriaisburning]

036: Everyday Shooter

Made to escape the dead end of overcomplex, pretentious game design  Jessica Mak found herself obsessed with, Everyday Shooter is anything but what its title suggests. Citing Every Extend and the works of Kenta Cho as its inspirations, Everyday Shooter wears those influences proudly, but manages to deliver not one novel twist on the shooter genre, but multiple. 

Focused on an almost puzzle-like objective of figuring out each stage’s unique chaining system, and in turn how that chaining system interacts with the soundtrack. Like Every Extend Extra, each level plays alongside a unique musical track, with a sound that I’ve heard described as “bedroom rock”, made of dreamy, meandering and atmospheric riffs removed from the polished clarity of a studio album. Sound effects are replaced with guitar samples that complement the song, but  can build up during larger explosions into a cacophony of distorted sound. 

Everyday Shooter lacks the satisfaction in its basic shooting, with relatively simple bullet patterns and enemy behaviors, but here’s a satisfying push in pull in figuring out the chaining system, skirting right up to the edge of danger to achieve the biggest reaction. If Every Extend Extra is a rhythm game--jamming to the sound while waiting for the right moment to set off a chain--then Everyday Shooter is an RTS. It keeps you juggling enemies across multiple parts of the  arena, setting up pieces for the chaining system, and balancing doing damage against collecting score items to build up lives, your single resource. 

Each stage’s chaining system is unique, and can even have sub-objectives depending on which phrase of the song you’re in. In one part of a song you might be fending off robots from reaching a massive eye, before it hits the chorus and the eye opens up  to become vulnerable. Or you  might fight off hectic swarms of enemies amongst the clouds, before they fade to make way for a biplane that pulls you into an aerial dogfight. There’s a fantastic dream logic to all of it, well suited to the abstract art style.

Structurally, it’s basically a playable album, with the length of the stage determined not by how fast you  destroy things, but  by the playtime of each song. Plenty of autoscrolling shooters time their music to match stage events, but without any mandatory bosses or ways to affect the pace, surviving a song is the only meaningful goal. 

Everyday Shooter’s solution to this is an unlock system, where you use the points earned to unlock alternative visual filters, modes, and the ability to play single levels. It works as a purely mechanical method to keep you playing, but is almost one of its biggest missteps. Shuffle Mode is hidden behind this menu, which randomizes the order of the stages. But only do you need to unlock Shuffle Mode, you need to unlock each stage individually to play them within shuffle mode. So even if you’ve completed a stage already, it won’t show up unless you pay for it. Worse still is that each stage costs a serious amount more than the last one, requiring exponentially more effort with each stage. 

With the high difficulty and relatively long stages, I found myself dying a lot during the early stages, meaning fewer chances to earn large scores and an incredible grind to earn enough points to practice those later stages. The problem is exacerbated by the slow rate you collect points, having to physically collect them, with only a slow magnetic pull when in proximity.

Traditional arcade shooters generally focus on mastery and score, often allowing you to see the game’s ending on your first try if you care to put in enough credits. Without more complex mechanics or scoring systems,  Everyday Shooter instead forces you to grind to see the end, as if insecure that it won’t be satisfying enough on presentation alone. 

It’s an unearned insecurity, because even as a visualizer for a short album, Everyday Shooter is largely successful. The visuals alone provide a certain tangibility to the music and the chaining system and accompanying chorus of sound effects gives it plenty of dynamism for future playthroughs. Aside from maybe the first song, I rarely felt fatigued by repeat listens of the soundtrack, and hours of attempts later, it’s still fun to unleash the layers of guitar samples that  result from a big chain. 

If Everyday Shooter  was a little laxer in its requirements to reach the later stages, I could easily find myself returning to it like a favorite album, dropping to play a few of my favorite songs, throwing it on shuffle, or carving out a short amount of time to listen through the whole thing. As it exists now, that’s not an experience you can have until you grind out points over several hours, likely growing fatigued with it along the way. 

Everyday Shooter was released on PS3, PSP, and PC. The PC version has some inconsistencies with controllers, but generally performs similarly to the PS3. The PSP version translates surprisingly well thanks to the original version utilitizing 8 way shooting and movement. 

[yourgamemasterthewhiterabbit]

Lump sum of 10 mil, probably*

It would take 50 or so years to get the same amount with the daily payments and I'd be 86 or so by then if I was alive at all.

If my only concern was for my own survival I could make either work just fine, because 10 mil is enough to live off of the interest indefinitely even adjusting for inflation, and with the other option I would get more money the longer I lived, so burning through ti wouldn't be a worry

but I'd like to do more than just buy a house and live comfortably for myself, if I could. I would want to get the 10 mil in the highest interest savings account I could as soon as possible [or a bit put into starting up business cost for a home business], minus whatever amount I have to spend on a house, and start seeing how fast i actually go through the interest I make in a way that will let me replenish the principal capital and then not touch it. I want to see right away how much extra i will get monthly in interest, beyond what I need to live, not just in theory but tested in practice.

So I can immediately start using that money for whatever charity or mutual aid, etc I want to

*If I took the 1k per day I could save up for a house withing a few months and that's fine, and should be set after that for my needs, but if anything I ever wanted to do, or put together required more than about 30k, I'd have to start doing math on when that money is needed by and if I can live long enough to get it. I would have to rely on my credit score to have people believe I am good for the cash [unless I get a voucher of some kind that i am getting these payments that functions like credit??] and I do not have much of a credit score. So if I say, wanted to start building a school or hospital somewhere I would have to save up first either way, but wouldn't have any real credibility with the daily payments and would have to have all the money first.

With 10 million my monthly savings interest could mean getting a similar monthly payout or more on top of the 10mil principal capital...

So you could save up to do things faster, potentially, pledge more money, etc etc, and have the 10 mil to fall back on, and to show to people so they can trust that you can cover what you are signing up for. Even if your goal is to not -actually- spend the first 10mil.

If I knew that was was going to live significantly past 100, or if I was immortal, the answer would become 1k per day in an awful hurry, because you'd have your 10 mil in 50 years and then get interest and the continued 1k per day.

But assuming my life is a mortal one and my health remains unchanged from what i know it to be now, the best case plan is to live comfortably for myself and give what I can now and then leave as much as I can to whoever I want when I go... And the best option for that, for me, to the best of my knowledge is to take to 10mil lump sum.

It would also very much be nice to start looking for an ideal -if small- house to live in and get settled in as soon as possible without having to worry about how many months I'd have to save up for it and worrying about all my rent and bills digging into that in the meantime. It's a bit simpler, and cleaner, to just decide on a house and pay for it all up front, and then no longer have a landlord, or to fit that house with energy saving everything and etc right away and then just enjoy the savings... Low bills and property tax and insurance would eat less into whichever money option I was getting, than it would to still have to rent. That's less of a hassle and more immediate with the lump sum. I am tired of renting, I want to pick out a nice little house and renovate it myself and get to do shit like paint the walls.

Explain your reasoning plzzz

[techit-rp]

Decoding the Rise of Financial Analytics in 2025: Why Data-Driven Finance Skills Are in High Demand

In 2025, finance is no longer just about crunching numbers — it’s about interpreting data to drive strategic decisions. The financial world is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, and businesses now demand professionals who can combine traditional finance knowledge with modern analytics tools.

That’s why financial analytics has become one of the most in-demand skills in today’s job market. Whether you’re a student, a finance graduate, or a working professional, learning financial analytics can unlock powerful career opportunities — especially if you pursue a Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai, India’s fast-growing finance and fintech hub.

Let’s explore why financial analytics is booming, how it’s transforming the industry, and how you can future-proof your finance career by mastering it.

What Is Financial Analytics and Why Is It Important in 2025?

Financial analytics refers to the use of data analysis tools, statistical techniques, and financial modeling to interpret business performance, forecast trends, and make data-driven decisions.

In 2025, it has become a crucial part of:

Investment banking

Corporate finance and budgeting

Fintech and startup operations

Risk management and compliance

Equity research and valuation

Gone are the days when a finance professional could succeed with only Excel and a calculator. Today, employers want talent who can:

Analyze financial data quickly

Build dynamic dashboards and reports

Forecast revenues using statistical models

Assess risk with predictive analytics

Interpret key metrics and KPIs across business units

This demand has fueled a surge in learners enrolling in Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai, especially in institutions that offer hands-on, project-based learning aligned with current industry needs.

Why the Demand for Financial Analysts Is Exploding

Several factors have led to the growing importance of financial analytics in India and globally:

1. Fintech Disruption

With India’s fintech ecosystem booming in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, startups now rely on real-time data to make quick business decisions. Whether it’s credit scoring, revenue prediction, or product pricing — financial analysts play a key role.

2. Post-Pandemic Financial Planning

Companies are now more focused on sustainability, cost control, and future-proof planning. That requires professionals who can model different financial scenarios and offer data-backed recommendations.

3. Rise of AI and Automation in Finance

AI tools like ChatGPT, Tableau, Power BI, and Python-based dashboards are being used across finance teams. Understanding these tools — often taught in a good Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai — can give professionals a competitive edge.

4. Globalization and Compliance

MNCs and large corporations require skilled analysts who can align with international financial reporting standards (IFRS), compliance metrics, and cross-border data regulations.

Top Skills You Learn in a Financial Analytics Certification

If you enroll in a Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai, here are the core skills you’ll likely develop:

✔️ Financial Modeling & Forecasting

Learn to build profit & loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections using advanced Excel and industry templates.

✔️ Data Visualization

Master tools like Power BI or Tableau to convert raw data into interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards that aid business decisions.

✔️ Business Intelligence

Understand how to derive insights from financial KPIs, ratios, and performance metrics.

✔️ Statistical & Predictive Analysis

Use Python, R, or Excel to create predictive models for revenue, costs, and risk assessments.

✔️ Scenario & Sensitivity Analysis

Learn how to build “what-if” models that assess the financial impact of business changes.

Who Should Pursue a Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai?

This certification is ideal for:

Commerce graduates looking to boost their employability

MBA/Finance students wanting to gain practical data skills

Working professionals in finance or operations roles seeking career growth

Entrepreneurs & startup founders who need to make better data-driven decisions

Career switchers from tech or analytics to finance roles

Mumbai, being the financial capital of India, is the perfect place to learn and grow. From stock markets and investment firms to global banks and fintech unicorns — the city offers abundant networking, internship, and placement opportunities.

Job Roles After Financial Analytics Certification

After completing a Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai, you can apply for high-demand roles such as:

Financial Analyst

Business Analyst – Finance

Investment Banking Analyst

Equity Research Associate

Credit Analyst

Corporate Finance Associate

FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) Executive

Data-Driven CFO’s Office Analyst

These roles exist across banks, consulting firms, MNCs, startups, and private equity firms — many of which have a strong base in Mumbai.

Salary Expectations in 2025

Thanks to the demand for skilled professionals, salary packages for financial analysts in Mumbai have seen a healthy rise:

Role

Average Starting Salary (INR)

Financial Analyst

₹6–9 LPA

Business Analyst (Finance)

₹8–12 LPA

Investment Analyst

₹10–15 LPA

Equity Research

₹7–10 LPA

FP&A Analyst

₹6–8 LPA

Upskilling through a Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai can significantly boost your chances of landing top-tier finance roles with strong growth potential.

Where to Get the Best Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai?

One of the top choices among learners is the Boston Institute of Analytics. Here's why:

Live training from 150+ global finance & analytics experts

Real-time projects and case studies aligned with industry

Training on tools like Excel, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python

Career support with 350+ corporate collaborations

Globally recognized certification accepted across industries

Convenient location in Thane (Cadbury Junction), easily accessible from all parts of Mumbai

Whether you’re a student or working professional, this program equips you with hands-on skills to thrive in today’s fast-paced finance world.

Final Thoughts: The Future Belongs to Data-Literate Finance Professionals

Finance in 2025 is no longer about just understanding balance sheets — it's about interpreting data to drive business decisions, predict future performance, and stay ahead of the competition.

If you’re serious about a career in finance, now is the time to invest in yourself. A Financial Analytics Certification in Mumbai offers a smart, practical path to build future-ready skills, connect with the finance ecosystem, and unlock high-paying roles in top companies.