#should really save it for gift shopping / emergencies / donations

[ocpdzim]

i want coffee but its sunday so the good coffee shop is closed 

[melancholic-pigeon]

WIP Wednesday #15

Since Jason's birthday is tomorrow and all, I'm doing something longer as a treat. A triptych, if you will!

Content warnings for child abuse and neglect, alcoholism and food insecurity.

Thalia wakes up, like she usually does, to Jason curled against her with his fingers in his mouth. She can't easily put him in his crib by herself, but her mattress is on the floor and there's nowhere for him to fall, so she can ensure that she's there to hold him whenever he wakes up crying. Her shirt's a little damp, but this time it's just because he's drooling in his sleep. Last night, thankfully, was free from disruptions.

For him, at least.

He's a year old today, and she hasn't seen their mother since two nights ago, slumped on the couch with an empty bottle of vodka on the ground next to her. The door to her room is closed. Whether she's in there sleeping it off or out somewhere getting drunker, Thalia has no idea.

Bitterly, she doesn't care. It's not like their mom cares about them, either.

Jason yawns, his hair sticking up like a cockatoo's feathers. The first eye contact of the morning always leaves him giggling and reaching for her, and the feeling of his small, warm body flopping onto her brings her focus back to where it should be.

"Happy birthday, shrimp."

"Happy," he repeats, nosing at her stomach.

It's up to her, like usual, so she gets him dressed and ready and gives him the last of the cereal to occupy himself while she digs through her closet to find the old coffee can she stashed there.

Every time she thinks she can get away with it, she lifts a bill from their mother's wallet and puts it in the can. Every nickel she finds on the street, every dime she pulls from the couch cushions; it all adds up, a little at a time.

After carefully saving as much as she could for the past few weeks, she's squirreled away enough. She takes out a fistful and stuffs it in her pocket, then re-buries the can under a pile of her laundry.

Today's special, and she'll cover the loss somehow— by sneaking some extra groceries under her coat again, if she has to.

Jason's finished with his breakfast by the time she emerges, sitting patiently and playing with the plastic dish she'd given it to him on. Her sweet baby brother, looking up at her with a smile so sunny you'd think they were living like kings.

Her chest feels tight and her throat's in no better condition. After a deep breath, she reaches down to grab his hands.

"Do you know what birthdays mean?"

He takes a second to think about it as she pulls him to his feet, then shakes his head.

"Birthdays, Jason," she says, grinning— it's harder to dwell when he's holding onto her hand— "mean birthday cake."

The gas station a block away at least has the miniature kind wrapped in cellophane. He won't know the difference, since he hasn't even been introduced to the concept of cake yet, but she'll still have to make it up to him with a real one someday.

—

By the time Jason turns two, Thalia has shoplifting down to an art form.

People are usually too busy fawning over how precious her brother is to pay her much attention, and having Luke along makes it almost easy. Jason adores him, and he's happy to draw focus away from her by translating the toddler babble and proclaiming that they're his favorite babysitting clients, which conveniently explains the lack of adult supervision.

Thanks to him, she's managed to get Jason something a lot better than cake.

She saw it in the window of a toy shop and immediately knew it was perfect, but it cost more than she'd scrounged in the past six months. She'd been resigned to the idea of stealing a brownie instead, and then last night, Luke showed up at her doorstep with it tucked under his arm and his face split into a wicked grin.

She's not sure she wants to know how he managed to smuggle it out without getting caught, but the way Jason lights up when he lays eyes on it, happier than she's ever seen him, is enough to make her ignore the uneasy feeling.

"Puppy!"

She can't help but mirror it back to him, her heart swelling with emotion as he flings his arms around the stuffed animal's neck. It's almost as big as he is.

"That's right. It's a wolf puppy. She's named after a mama wolf called Lupa."

The real Lupa is the matriarch of a pack living at a conservancy in San Diego county. Her likeness is an embodiment of the fiercely protective love Jason should have gotten from his own mother, and which has fallen to Thalia and her limited capabilities instead.

Jason rolls over, still holding tight to his new doll, and lays his head in her lap. If she's coming up short, he certainly hasn't noticed.

"My Lupa?"

He's gently petting the wolf's fur, in a movement that's strikingly similar to how Thalia's petting his hair. She blinks a few times to chase away the burning in her eyes.

"Your Lupa."

She can't give him the childhood that he deserves. It's a struggle to make sure even his most basic needs are met, and some days it feels like the whole world is united against them, but then he hugs her leg or curls up against her shoulder or tells her in that sweet voice love you, Taya—

And everything settles in her chest, refining itself into a white-hot determination.

She's all he has, and the one thing she can make sure he'll never want for is someone who loves him enough to fight for him.

She understands how the real Lupa must feel about her cubs. She knows, with more certainty than she's ever known anything, that if anyone so much as thinks about hurting her little brother— hurting her baby— she'll tear them to shreds with her teeth before they have time to run.

—

Everything is perfect. Thalia's made sure of it.

The party doesn't start for another hour, so she has to keep Jason occupied until then. He thinks she has lunch reservations and they're meeting at her place for coffee first— the second part is true; she has a pot of Kona ready to go as soon as he arrives.

While she's preparing his decoy surprise, the rest of his friends are in Manhattan, helping Percy and Sally get his bash underway. She finds herself quivering with excitement as she puts the last few touches in place.

The doorbell rings and she squeaks, shoving the main item behind a bookshelf before racing to answer the door.

"Happy birthday, shrimp." She stands up on her tiptoes and hugs him around the neck. "I have something for you."

Jason beams, pink, and squeezes her back.

"I told you last year that you don't have to get me anything. Your company is a gift in and of itself."

"Ha ha," she counters dryly, knowing he can hear her getting a little emotional at the sincerity on his face. "Very funny. Like I'm not going to try to make up for the ten of them that I missed."

She takes hold of his arm and pulls him into the apartment, past the kitchen to the hall that leads to her bedroom. She opens the door beside it, the one that used to be her study.

Jason's eyes go wide.

The desk is still there, but the chair is new, much larger than the one she used. The bookcase is the same, too, but she's put her video games in a box in her bedroom and filled the shelves with fresh sketchbooks and paints and pencils instead. The bed is new too, as well as the nightstand and the dresser.

Sally stripped and varnished all of the wood, and built a set of floating shelves that are currently storing a series of framed photos from Annabeth's camera reel. Piper decided on the paint colors— sky blue with a deep purple accent on the wall that slants to the ceiling. Leo took care of borrowing Jason's favorite sketches to make the framed prints above his bed, by pretending he was doing a photography project with them.

(He'd burst into laughter when she gave him Jason's baby drawings to frame too, and she'd almost punched him in the mouth— but then she'd noticed his voice was a little tight when he told her the crayon scribbles looked just like her.)

"Wow," Jason breathes, staring around the room as though he doesn't know where to land his focus. "This— is all of this for me?"

"Anytime you need an escape, you've got one. Think of it as your safe house. And there's one more thing."

Reluctantly, she steps away and retrieves what she hid earlier.

Jason's mouth drops.

"Lupa," he whispers, raising his hand. He stops himself halfway through reaching over, like he doesn't know if he should. "How did you find another one? I thought they were a limited run."

Thalia takes his hand, wrapping his fingers around the new doll's front leg.

"I traded twenty-seven ultra-rare mint-condition beanie babies for her with a collector in Montana."

"Do I want to know how you got twenty-seven ultra-rare mint-condition beanie babies?"

"It's not as sordid as you're thinking, I just spent a lot of time on Ebay."

Jason laughs, shaky, and sits down on his new mattress. He's probably not even conscious of the way he's running his thumb over Lupa's paw, exactly the way he did the first time.

He said that donating the original to charity was his idea, but Thalia has a suspicion he was pushed into it with a healthy dose of shaming and manipulation, and the look on his face— shocked, bright-eyed, a little scared like he thinks she'll disappear if he blinks— pretty much confirms it.

Thalia sits beside him and wraps an arm around his back. He slides down along the mattress until he's lying with his head in her lap.

"My Lupa," he says quietly, and she knows he remembers doing it before.

"Your Lupa," she chokes back. "For real, this time. Nobody's going to take her away from you, ever again."

It's different now, because Lupa is about the size of a two year old child, and Jason very much no longer is. She fits in the crook of his elbow, and he couldn't wrap his arms and legs around her if he tried.

Thalia tries not to think about all the nights between then and now that he's needed her, and didn't have her.

He smiles, wiser than his fifteen years.

(He's fifteen years old. God. She missed so much— thirteen months isn't long enough to even really begin to catch up.)

"I know they won't," he tells her. "You won't let them."

She's never going to get those years back. The only thing she can do is make sure she appreciates what she has now.

"I believe you would."

"I'll bite anyone who tries," she whispers back, leaning down to kiss his forehead. He bursts into laughter, reaching up to ruffle her hair like she used to do to him.

@perseusjackson-jasongrace @msdrpreist I still feel self-conscious about pinging people tell me if you'd prefer I didn't difjvhg

[bearseokie]

Working Other Occupations 2 | GOT7

got7 m.list | navi.

Mark: Professional Skateboarder;

learned how to skateboard young, went to parks and gained attention fast

didn't get into competitions until he graduated high school

won his local competition and got signed within a year

all of the kids look up to him, and he helps give them lessons when he has free time

is the quietest in his skate group, but is also a firecracker with jokes

formed a competition that was sponsored, one of the kids he taught won and they were able to donate the money to a charity

used his competition money to open up a skate shop, gifting jobs to some local kids and helping start more skate groups around town

got branded his own line of skateboards

restaurants offer him and the kids free food because of how much he's helped support his community

oversized clothes. baggy jeans he almost trips over. huge sweatshirts. hightops that are tied under the flap instead of out because that's "safer"

dyes strips of colors into his hair instead of dying his entire head

"snapbacks are helmets!"

forces the kids to wear gear and tries to wear it too so they don't get upset he isn't listening to his own rules

always had the coolest art on the bottom of his boards, with bright wheels and reflectors for night rides

gets frustrated easily, but doesn't like breaking boards

got a friend to weld him a beam to grind on, which he later gifted to his students to use to practice

clean rap songs around the kids, og rap songs when it's the older skateboarders

everyone thinks he's cool and sweet

drinks Gatorade and water like crazy

giggles

Jaebeom: Detective;

takes his job Very seriously

people's lives are usually on the line, so he stays focused

yells at interns and then buys them food

everyone in forensics adores him

has so many connections, barely anything ever gets past him

takes very neat notes in his little notebook.

suit + tie every day

hates when he gets cases that involve kids, always tries to care for them best he can and get them somewhere safe

loves stakeouts because he gets to space out until he sees something

thinks driving fast in his car is the hottest thing he gets to do during the job

is always the bad guy during interrogations, jaw clenched and stern stares as he attempts to get answers

always breaks them

drinks more coffee than a human being should

breakfast + lunch + dinner at diners

got put into one of the biggest cases in his bureau's history

a man had gotten away with murder and managed to escape. after lots of sleepless nights and research, jaebeom found him hiding in a motel holding evidence that made him guilty. he was arrested along with two other men that played a part in the murder

jaebeom was labeled a hero, but he explained he was just doing his job

his mean demeanor lifts when he is off duty, always smiling

people are convinced he's two seperate people

hates when he has time off work because he loves his job so much

Jackson: Firefighter;

the main muscle of the group

always gets called to save kittens out of trees

thinks the uniform doesn't show off his muscles enough

is the best at calming people down / distracting them during a fire in order to get them out safely

smashes through a window at least once a week

his firehouse is his family

gets handed a kid even if the person isn't involved in the fire / emergency

hates driving the truck because it's too big for him to control and he doesn't want to endanger anyone

befriended the house's canine and always sneaks it treats

goes into a fire first

puts his gear on others even though he's not supposed to

loves when his house gets to invite local schools for career days, always gives out snacks and smiles when he gets the help the kids slide down the poles

is always in the firehouse's gym

has such a disorganized locker that every time he opens it, a pile of stuff falls on him

walks around with his helmet on because he thinks he looks like a bobble-head

the captain messes with him all the time

some of the walls in the firehouse are glass, he's busted through two on accident because he wasn't paying attention

second fastest time during practice

refuses to see himself as a hero

cries with families he saves, hugs them and doesn't let them go

Jinyoung: Professor;

always looks pissed

gives out hard assignments but half-ass grades them

can and will fail you for no reason

only talks for half of the class, the rest of the time is sat in silence as he glares over everyone doing their own thing

plays movies on Fridays instead of teaching

thinks Mondays are great test days

slams things on his desk to get student's attention

aggressively circles things in the board to make his point

no phones

all the girls flirt with him, he just sighs and gives more work until they stop

licks his fingers before he hands out papers

will kick you out of you disturb his lesson

never teaches about one subject, everything includes knowledge about other things and if you don't know it you're screwed

always gets forced to sub for other professors

will get up and leave without telling anyone class is dismissed so everyone just sits there until they can go

if you smile at him he will stare you down the rest of the class

always has his index finger and thumb clasped against his nose in frustration

gives extra long holiday breaks just because he doesn't want to show up

eats food when no one else is allowed to

button ups with tight pants and pushed back hair that makes everyone attracted to him to the point where no one can focus

Youngjae: Teaching Assistant;

is louder than the kids

best at coming up with fun learning ideas for his students

is very glad he is only an assistant

wears jeans and dark shirts because the kids are messy

sings every day

helps with choir

works with all grades because he believes every kid is different and he wants to experience them all before he becomes an official teacher

makes the best snacks

loves going to older grades and giving them easy work so they can actually have a break

everyone loves him

loves putting random things on the white boards, drawings, quotes, morse code so no one understands what he's saying

eavesdrops on the teachers drama, but isn't included in the gossip circle directly

loves physical activities with the students because he thinks it helps them learn better

tries to end lessons early so they can play games

always has to help students with homework the main teacher assigned

all of the students agree he would make a better teacher than their own

never has to discipline anyone because everyone respects him and enjoys his teaching tactics

will argue against a teacher if the teacher tells a student they aren't allowed a bathroom break, will let the student go anyways

gets sad when he has to fill out nurse passes

hands out stickers

BamBam: Animator;

used to not draw as often as he does for his job

now can't go a day without drawing something

has the smoothest animations for talking characters

started animating for fun, got to do it as a full time job

does all of his work alone, and though it's a process, he loves it

won an award for his details in backgrounds

created a short film

spends most of his days in baggy clothing, hunched over his graphics tablet

everything he owns has some type of drawing / sketch on it

was able to start up his own animation company

takes long breaks to gain inspiration

screams a lot because he wants everything to be perfect, no matter how long it takes

is less stressed when he has his team to help

chews a lot of gum while working

got lines of plushies for his drawn characters, collects all of them for his office

was able to write his own tutorial book on how to start animating, the profits from it was donated to animation programs in schools around the country

chugs water

hates animating series, prefers movies with solid plots

isn't confident in his animating abilities, can't handle praise

bites his tongue when he draws

Yugyeom: Paramedic;

didn't think he'd do well as a paramedic because he's squeamish, but he really enjoys it

passed out the first time he had to draw blood, concerned the patient

fastest runner

can get in and out of his uniform in less than ten seconds, he knows because he timed it

wishes he was the driver of the ambulance so he could go over the speed limit and not get a ticket

quickest to help someone that's choking, performs a perfect Heimlich or tracheotomy every time

hates that he has to leave the patients with other doctors when they arrive at the hospital

will put himself in danger if it means saving someone

thinks medical gloves are sexy

talks about extra terrestrial theories when they are in the back of the ambulance without a patient

fibbed to a patient that he went to Harvard, they found out he didn't and sent him flowers thanking him for getting their mind off their wound, even if he did lie

always gifts kids teddy bears for their bravery

is friends with all of the first responders so he knows who's who during an emergency

craziest patient he had to save was inside of an elevator, he had to walk them through a procedure to save their arm after it was cut open. even he couldn't believe he managed that

is always around the ambulance even when he's off duty, just in case

works out while studying

has fruit around him at all times, offers them to others constantly

witty toward his coworkers, soft with his patients

keeps a tab on the people he helped just so he can ask the hospital how they are

make his own gift baskets

[aroworlds]

Fiction: The Pride Conspiracy, Part One

December isn't the best time of year for a trans aromantic like Rowan Ross, although—unlike his relatives—his co-workers probably won't give him gift cards to women's clothing shops. How does he explain to cis people that while golf balls don't trigger his dysphoria, he wants to be seen as more than a masculine stereotype? Nonetheless, he thinks he has this teeth-gritted endurance thing figured out: cissexism means he needn't fear his relatives asking him about dating, and he has the perfect idea for Melanie in the office gift exchange. He can survive gifts and kin, right? Isn't playing along with expectation better than enduring unexpected consequences?

Rowan, however, isn't the only aromantic in the office planning to surprise a co-worker.

To survive the onslaught of ribbon and cellophane, Rowan's going to have to get comfortable with embracing the unknown.

Contains: A trans allo-frayro trying to grit his teeth through the holidays, scheming aro co-workers, a whole lot of cross-stitch, another moment of aromantic discovery, and many, many mugs.

Content Advisory: A story that focuses on some of the ways Western gift-giving culture enables cissexism and a rigid gender binary, taking place in the context of commercialised, secular-but-with-very-Christian-underpinnings Christmas. Please expect many references to said holiday in an office where Damien hasn't figured out how to run a gift exchange without subjecting everyone to Santa, along with characters who have work to do in recognising that not everybody celebrates Christmas.

There are no depictions or mentions of sexual attraction beyond the words "allosexual" and "bisexual" and a passing reference to allo-aro antagonism, but there are non-detailed references to Rowan's previous experiences with and attitudes towards romance and romantic attraction as a frayromantic. Please also expect casual references to amatonormativity and other shapes of cissexism.

Length: 4, 914 words (part one of two).

Note: You'll need to have read The Vampire Conundrum for many references to make sense.

Rowan should be assumed an Australian character in an Australian city. Our Christmas, therefore, involves hot weather, short sleeves, barbecues and confusion at certain holiday traditions common in the Northern Hemisphere. 

They’re aromantic. How isn’t he obligated to help decorate her desk in as many pride-related ways as possible? 

“It’s Secret Santa slash December Holiday Gift Exchange!” Damien emerges from the meeting room, shaking a paper-scrap-filled jar with the gleeful attitude of a toddler attacking a pile of presents. In order to give the occasion suitable gravitas, he draped a rope of red tinsel over his shoulders, the fronds glittering in the flicker-prone lighting. “Come gather!”

Rowan looks up from his computer, biting back a groan. This isn’t a surprise, given that Shelby answered his interview questions about “workplace culture” with descriptions of their celebrating capitalist-infused Christian holidays, and the office more than lives up to that promise. A tree sits on the front counter, its branches crammed with baubles. Tinsel hangs on everything from which tinsel can be hung and rests in snake-like coils over the computer towers, screens, desk partitions and the large corkboard. Ribbon-wrapped pencils topped with felt trees, stars and stockings flowered, overnight, from everyone’s pen mugs; Melanie gave Rowan three of them for his frayro mug. Every desk features a red bowl of tree-shaped marshmallows, candy canes or that weird Christmas lolly mix common in dollar shops.

Only the lack of music renders bearable this explosion of festivity. Damien said he drew that line last year after Melanie and Shelby alternated between Michael Bublé and Josh Groban’s Christmas CDs.

Rowan doesn’t want to think about that sublime horror.

Christmas to him means slipping a few TSO tracks into his melodic metal playlists and gritting his teeth until the new year.

“O come all ye faithful,” Melanie sings, spinning her chair around. Every day this week she’s donned a different Christmas-themed T-shirt; today’s features a screen-printed Rudolph head with an apple-sized nose made from red minky fleece. Rowan doesn’t understand the American “ugly Christmas jumper” thing—why?—but Melanie appears to be replicating the trend via short sleeves and jersey knits.

Damien jerks his elbow at the largest whiteboard, half filled with the Banned Holiday Decorations List—items including “music, carols, hymns and singing”, “all types of fake snow” and “Cadbury Crème Eggs”. “Didn’t we talk about carols?”

Rowan doesn’t want to be accused of being a dreadful, fun-loathing millennial about which too many articles have been written on dislike of office gift exchanges … but he doesn’t know how not to be one, either. Why do people like this? Buying presents for people who aren’t strangers but aren’t friends, hoping that his attempt isn’t too generic only to open something tailored to feminine cliché ... followed by the apologetic explanation or justification that Rowan isn’t easy to shop for.

Can’t he save himself fifteen bucks and skip the disaster?

He’s never understood how he presents a difficulty that isn’t cissexism and a lack of imagination: buy him good thread, expensive coffee, dress socks, a nice mug, food storage containers or fancy kitchenware. He’ll even take a cheap box of chocolates, since his housemates will eat anything should they believe it food. Just get him something that isn’t a floral-patterned bath set followed by the hand-wringing apology that the giver just doesn’t know what to get someone as confusing as Rowan!

Why don’t they ask him what he wants?

He’s over spending money and time on gift exchanges only to receive cissexism, dysphoria or stereotype wrapped in paper and tied with a bow.

Rowan draws a breath and slips his fingers under his thighs. He should have sent Damien an email when Melanie started decorating, but Rowan was thinking about pushing their print date back two weeks and not thinking about Mum’s out-of-nowhere request that Rowan attend the family Christmas. “Uh … Damien? Can I … quick word?”

Why did he get himself a new psychologist? One who says terrible words like assertiveness?

“Give us a minute.” Tinsel rustling, Damien crouches beside Rowan’s chair. “Will here do?”

If everyone overhears, Rowan can pretend he’s talking to one person while knowing they all benefit from his explanation. Besides, going into the meeting room makes this a thing. “Yeah. Um. I … I don’t usually get the right presents from people in gift exchanges. By which I mean ... presents that aren’t a reminder that they think me female, and if they give me enough nail polish and heart-shaped jewellery and glittery handbags, I’ll admit it. I don’t want that? Really don’t want that?”

Why do his parents want to play at being a happy family? Does Mum want to show off to Uncle Keith and his new wife? Have they forgotten how badly last Christmas went? Or is this just more cissexist assumption that Rowan will discard his masculinity when needed? If they behave as though Rowan should fit their expectations, will he—eventually—surrender to them?

I’m not being difficult because I want my masculinity and transness respected. I’m not...

Melanie leans over to poke Shelby’s shoulder, her bright red lips forming a ring.

Damien blinks, hesitating as if he doesn’t know how best to respond. “That ... sounds like my niece’s favourite birthday. Although she took the bag, put one of my sister’s dumbbells inside and swung it at the boy over the road who wouldn't stop calling her pretty. And then made an army of neighbourhood girls wielding heavy unicorn bags.” He shakes his head. “I mean that … you obviously aren’t a certain kind of eight-year-old or into glitter, so...”

If only Rowan had the nerve to do that to Aunt Laura! “I bet he never did that again.”

“No. I’ll make sure … that the person who has you gets you something appropriate.”

Inappropriately-feminine gifts aren’t his only difficulty. Rowan doesn’t how to voice something so complex (to cis, gender-conforming people) about gender and gift-giving without sounding like he’s complaining for the sake of complaining—the demanding, difficult trans man of his parents’ accusations. Most often he endures a cis female celebrity’s latest perfume, but well-intended “accepting” people give him an Old Spice gift set—acknowledging his masculinity at the cost of his personality. How do cis people not chafe at gift-giving traditions that assume people can be reduced down to one of two categories with narrow behaviours and interests ascribed to each?

It’s easier to draw the line at gifts that only avoid being the embodiment of the giver’s cissexism and donate everything else, as much as Rowan yearns for one year with a good present he doesn’t buy himself.

Will cis people ever understand that being trans means holding back on responding to cis nonsense?

“Thanks. Yeah, thanks.”

“Secret Santa slash December Holiday Gift Exchange rules!” Damien straightens, shaking the jar; paper rattles against glass. “Twenty-dollar limit, keep it fun, don’t give anything inappropriate for a professional environment. I want to be eating mince pies, not taking people into the meeting room for discussions on adulthood. We exchange on the last day, December 20.” He reaches into the jar, the neck a tight fit for his hands, and tweezers out a folded piece of paper before handing it to Rowan.

Damien shakes the jar again before offering another slip to Melanie and then Shelby.

Don’t people draw names themselves from the bowl or jar? Nobody else seems concerned by this lapse—Melanie starts laughing when she sees her name—so Rowan shrugs and opens his, deciding it must be normal enough.

The Aro Gods must be inclined to a little seasonal kindness, for he sees “Melanie” written in Damien’s handwriting.

No need to struggle through generic alternatives like food or wine; pride pins will make her happy enough. A pen? A mini aro flag? Choosing may be Rowan’s worst problem, but he can get her a few things and give her whatever’s over the limit after the exchange.

They’re aromantic. How isn’t he obligated to help decorate her desk in as many pride-related ways as possible?

“Rowan!” Melanie bustles over; he quickly slides his paper up his sleeve. She makes metallic jangling noises—words like “ringing” or “pealing” don’t apply—as she moves, thanks to a gold chain bracelet decorated with small bells at each link. Matching earrings dangle from her ears, clinking out of tune with the ones at her wrist. “Can I ask you something?”

He nods, hoping she’ll let pass unremarked his description of holiday cissexism.

“Where did you buy your flag patches? I want one. Well, maybe more than one, because there’s the aro flag, and the ace flag, and maybe one of the aro-ace flags, but I haven’t decided which one I like best since there’s several that are nice, and...”

Once-in-a-lifetime inspiration hits Rowan with finger-twitching force. “I don’t know,” he lies once Melanie runs out of steam. “Uh … a friend gave them to me and ... I don’t know where they bought them. Online, probably?” He swallows and tries for distraction, gambling his poor ability for falsehood against Melanie’s likely ignorance. “Maybe look on Etsy? I’d look on Etsy.”

“Etsy? What’s that?”

“Handcraft eBay,” he says in relief, thinking through his thread stash. “Where people sell handmade things. I don’t know when I’m seeing my friend next, but I can ask...?”

He’ll need purples, greens, greys, black, white—oh, and blues! A little orange, a little yellow. Has he enough fabric? What about time? Should he do the main ones first and then others as he can squeeze them in?

On the way home tonight, he’ll start by stopping at his local sewing store.

***

Rowan hits “send” on an email to Damien, ignoring Mum’s latest text, as Shelby bounds up to his desk. Like Melanie, she’s added Christmas T-shirts to her daily ensemble; unlike Melanie, Shelby’s T-shirts appear to come from a department store’s children’s section. Today’s shirt shows a cute-but-scientifically-inaccurate dinosaur in a Santa hat holding a red box. Also unlike Melanie, Shelby hasn’t added earrings, pins, necklaces, bangles or socks in honour of the season. “Yeah?”

Damien added “battery and USB-powered light-up objects” to the List after an office vote provoked by a flashing necklace that resembled miniature string lights.

Shelby whispers, meaning that she speaks in a raspier tone with volume enough that her standing on the other side of a crowded football oval needn’t impede one’s hearing. In fairness, Rowan has heard her speak over a hundred gossiping Year 7 students until they surrendered to the stubbornness of an older woman who doesn’t go to bed caring what they think of her. “Can you go through all the … the identities? Can you show them to me and tell me what colours go with them? Do they all have their own colours?”

Rowan can only sit and gape.

“Please? I need someone to go through them all.”

He lunges for his half-filled mug, hoping his perpetual need for coffee conceals his surprise. “You mean pride flags? Queer pride flags?”

“Please.” Shelby nods, grips his arm and gives a meant-as-comforting nutcracker-like squeeze before lowering her hand to fidget with her phone—a device likely dug up with the fossils from the dinosaur on her shirt. It doesn’t have a cover; he guesses she covered the back with multiple layers of washi tape coated in (yellowing) clear nail polish. He doesn’t ask why. “Maybe you can start with the ones you use, and that one Melanie has, and then tell me the other ones? There aren’t that many, are there?”

Rowan, lukewarm coffee in his mouth and heading down his gullet, chokes.

Several moments of spluttering and coughing, aided by Shelby’s enthusiastic back-pounding, pass before he can answer. “Uh … there’s lots, actually. Lots.” He considers explaining about Tumblr before deciding on the appropriate answer: a thousand kinds of nope. “Do you want gender ones, or sexuality ones, or aromantic ones, or...?”

Shelby’s blank, brow-creased expression shows that, if she read Rowan’s leaflet, his emails and the hand-outs provided by Damien’s trainers, the knowledge hasn’t stuck with her.

(They weren’t better than Rowan’s own and only mentioned aromanticism as a way of being asexual.)

“The ones you and Melanie use...?” She lowers her voice to a point where someone may, in theory, be unable to hear her from the other side of the room. “I want to get Melanie a little extra … something, this year. With a flag, maybe?” She jerks her elbow in the direction of Melanie’s mug, currently filled with something smelling of camomile and dish-water. “But I should know more about the other ones, too. Like yours. Can you show them all to me?”

There’s no way in this tinselled hell that Melanie can’t hear Shelby, yet Melanie appears engrossed in deleting emails.

Last week, Rowan said “aromantic” once to their newest volunteer in a conversation about the pride flags on their website. Seconds later, Melanie materialised from the hallway, passed over one of Rowan’s leaflets and introduced herself as aro-ace before giving a five-point rundown on ways to avoid casual amatonormativity—not that she’s yet comfortable saying the word—in the workplace. There’s no way she’s contemplating the mysteries of her trash folder while Rowan talks to Shelby about aromantic pride flags! Breathing “aro” aloud is now akin to summoning a demon—one revelling in the discovery of the identity that makes belated sense of her life.

“You want me to show you aromantic flags?” Rowan asks to clarify, baffled.

Shelby beams at him. “Yes, please.”

Melanie, frowning, deletes an email.

Did Damien have a word with her? Did the volunteer complain?

Rowan can’t say that he wants to play tour guide through the world of queer vexillology, but Shelby has gone five weeks without saying the phrase “you trans people” and two months without reassuring Rowan on the subject of pronoun-correction. He also knows Melanie and Shelby are friends outside of work, bonding over stage shows and music. If Shelby wants to support Melanie in her aromanticism, how can Rowan refuse?

While Rowan sat there planning the politest way to navigate the glaring error in the trainers’ leaflets, Melanie stood up, exclaimed that aromanticism isn’t the same thing as asexuality and demanded that they do some reading before engaging in “obvious aro denial”. He owes her. She scares him a little, but he owes her.

(Should Rowan master the ability to handle conversations and presentations, he may consider becoming a sensitivity trainer. That two-day workshop, while decent enough on gender and sexuality, left him again concluding that most queer alloros have no idea how to reference and include aromanticism in their conversations about queerness.)

Another Mum-authored text flashes up on his phone, displaying the words “Christmas”, “clothing” and “appropriately”.

No, no and hell no.

“Yeah, okay.” He bends down to grab his satchel, tucked against the left-hand side of his desk. A decent collection of patches and badges now covers the front flap, including his cursed-but-memorable “aro” patch. “That’s the trans pride flag, with the blue, pink and white, and beside it is the bisexual flag. The flag with the greens and black is the aromantic flag, and the allo-aro flag has the greens and gold. It’s pretty much the same as the aro flag, except with yellow and gold instead of grey and black.” He points at each patch as he moves through his explanation. “Allo—allosexual—aromantics are aros who experience sexual attraction.”

He’ll stick to simple definitions with Shelby, even if they lack ideal expansiveness.

Shelby nods, smiling.

“For me, it means I’m aromantic and bisexual. Aro-aces, like Melanie, are aromantic and asexual, meaning she doesn’t experience sexual attraction.” He almost asks her if she remembers what “aromanticism” means before realising that he’ll sound like a condescending primary-school teacher. “This flag with the blues, white and grey is the frayromantic flag, which designates the specific way I’m aro. The flag on Melanie’s mug—”

Shelby leans against his desk, her grey braid trailing over one arm. “So you have an aromantic flag and an allosexual aromantic flag? A special aromantic flag?”

Are they heading towards the sort of conversation that involves anger over “making up” identities outside the speaker’s reckoning of acceptable? Or does she mean “distinct”? “Ah … kind of? The green and black flag represents all aros—Melanie and me. The green and gold one’s just for me, and I don’t use her blue and orange one.”

For the first time in living memory, Melanie pays Rowan and Shelby no attention.

“I see! You want to reflect different types of aro.” Shelby almost says the word without unusual stress; Rowan considers applauding her but decides he won’t risk undermining his point on avoiding excessive overreaction to queer terminology. “Do you ever put the flags together? Like if you want to be both things at once?”

When isn’t he the state of multiple identities at once? Rowan decides she means “represent” instead of “be” and nods. “Yeah? Some people put a heart with the stripes of the aro flag in the middle of the trans or bi flags, but I don’t like that because using a heart to represent us all is a bit … eh. You know, heart, love, love hearts? Lots of people don’t care, though. I’ve also seen folks split them in an image, or have the stripes fade into each other. Like trans stripes fading into aro stripes.”

“And you like that better?” Shelby blinks, her blunt nails tracing the edge of the case. “Would Melanie like that? The aromantic flag fading into another one?”

There’s no way Melanie didn’t hear that—and no reason for her to say silent! Last month she told Rowan and Shelby to get mint chocolate cake for her birthday after walking in on them debating sponge versus cheesecake in the meeting room!

(Sponge, in Rowan’s opinion, is the classic cake format.)

“Yeah. It shows my identities together without using symbolism I find awkward.” Rowan lowers his voice, leaning closer to Shelby. “Melanie will probably go for the aromantic flag fading into or combined with the asexual flag, if you’re doing something with two flags. I don’t think she’d be into hearts, but a split image or fading? That’d work.”

Shelby straightens, beaming, and gives Rowan another firm arm-squeeze. “That’s great! Thank you so much for helping, Rowan!”

“Don’t you want to know more about aro-ace flags...?”

“No, that’s great!” Shelby, heading towards her own desk, no longer attempts to speak at anything not normal volume. “Aromantic into asexual! I’ll remember that!”

As Shelby turns, he catches a glimpse of the cracked screen on her phone—or, more specifically, the movement of her hand as she presses stop on her recording app.

Is that legal? It surely isn’t normal? Or is she an auditory learner, meaning she’ll learn best by playing the recording over … but in that case, why not say so? He could have directed her to YouTube videos and podcasts! Perhaps, though, she only shows her ignorance in digital etiquette, in the same way Rowan took Melanie aside to explain that the use of caps lock for the body of a promotional email violates good manners as much as—more than!—she thinks signing a form in red ballpoint? Should he complain about something suggestive of her willingness to understand him?

Rowan stares, shrugs and shakes his head as a third text pops up.

Sometimes it’s easier to just not ask.

Too bad that can’t apply as easily to family.

***

Rowan stands, yawns and stretches. His lunch half-hour beckons: sunshine spent with food, cross-stitch and a flock of pigeons tame enough to perch on the far end of his bench. Since today involved apologetic emails followed by a contrite phone call to his goddess amongst printers, time free of people feels like looming perfection. Just him, the pigeons, a sewing needle and the homemade pasty he hid from Matt inside a bag of frozen peas.

Any day in which he gets to enjoy his own cooking can’t be too terrible.

Perhaps he should do as his psychologist says: put a chest freezer in his bedroom and a lock on his door.

“Rowan!” Damien, his hair tousled enough to make Rowan think of a woolly mammoth in a sharp suit, carries a plate of something smelling like honey and chicken into the office. “While Melanie’s out, can you show me your mug shop? You said there’s a lot of aro-ace flags, right? Or would she want one like yours, the green one? I don’t get her something like your blue and green shield one, though?” He shrugs and sets the plate down on Rowan’s desk. “My wife’s friends with her sister and we got invited out, but there’s another swap. I don’t want to get her the wrong thing. Do you mind?”

At least Damien does the sensible thing of asking while Melanie’s out on lunch. Maybe this won’t take too long: Damien’s a terrible photographer with unreasonable expectations of Photoshop, but he does know how to buy things online.

“Yeah. Hold on.” Rowan opens up his browser just as his phone beeps. Nope, ignoring that. “I’ll show you what mugs I think she’d want.”

He hadn’t realised how many people here are friends with Melanie outside of work. It must be nice to have a regular social life that isn’t “being at work” and “sighing at housemates”, but there’s advantages in possessing the short holiday shopping list of family, a work gift exchange and a couple of friends. Besides, does anyone want one’s co-workers to know what happens at an outside party?

“Don’t ignore your phone because of me.”

“It’s Dad.” Since Rowan can’t find a pithy or amusing way to explain that Dad’s text message will be a guilt-trip ordering Rowan to come to Christmas for the sake of the family’s happiness followed by a second guilt-trip explaining how much his refusal to confirm has upset Mum, he just shakes his head.

You talked about this with the psychologist. Guilt. Trip.

He made an appointment for the second week of January; he should have made one in December as well.

“That bad?”

He can’t remember the specifics of his rant that day atop the desk, but he must have suggested at an interesting relationship with his parents. “Yeah.”

Did they forget telling Rowan that if he doesn’t like how they treat him, he can leave? They told Rowan that he isn’t welcome while he remains intolerant of them—while I expect them to treat me as I deserve. He left. Now they want him back to smile for the family photos?

What’s worse? Enduring a day of misgendering, deadnaming and cissexism, which shouldn’t result in unknown voyages of horror if he bites his tongue? Or avoiding short-term discomfort while gaining the long-term torment of the family’s schooling Rowan in appropriate Ross respect for blood and holidays? What chance is there of avoiding harassment if he doesn’t go?

Maybe he can leave off shaving for a week before Christmas and turn up with his new, albeit patchy, facial hair while wearing an op-shop debutante gown, so he “dresses appropriately” and “doesn’t confuse the relatives” as requested.

How many truckloads of Valium will he need for that?

“Rowan? Are you okay?” Damien, now sitting on an office chair, peers at him as though waiting for Rowan to do anything more than stare at the computer screen.

“Ugh. Sorry. Just thinking.” Rowan sighs and types in the shop’s name, bringing up their website, and then opens a second tab to another archiving different pride flags.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Damien asks in that gruffly-gentle voice, one that makes Rowan want to smash his fist through a window.

“Yeah, no.” Rowan draws a breath and points at the screen with a hand a too trembly for his liking. “So you’re going to want to know what flags represent what, because there’s a drop-down menu where you can choose from different flags...”

It’s easier to talk, easier to run through all the different flags in a depth of explanation Damien doesn’t request, easier to think about something that isn’t family—a subject with complexity enough to distract but without provocation enough to distress.

He doesn’t know if Damien asks questions from curiosity or kindness, but Rowan’s pasty becomes pastry crumbs scattered over his desk and keyboard; Damien’s chicken, half-eaten, sits cooling on its plate.

“So cupioromantic is the one where you want the relationship but you don’t feel romance?” Damien frowns and runs both oversized hands through his hair, now resembling a befuddled bear emerging after a long hibernation. “Why have a word for that? I mean, everyone feels like it isn’t one of those movies and dates anyway, so why specify that?”

“Where you don’t feel romantic attraction but desire a romantic relationship,” Rowan says, telling himself that Damien unknowingly regurgitates the tired “demiromanticism is normal” argument. Isn’t this better than looking at the fifth text message? “Some people need it to be a word. Movies aren’t that divorced from reality. They’re … too easy, too glossy, too perfect, too unrealistic, but...”

He sighs. Not dating brings many benefits, but Rowan has to admit that he misses the fun of falling in love, even if trouble always follows. Misses the fun of dreaming, hoping and fantasising; misses the bright, happy glow of being caught up in someone else. At risk of being considered a bad aro, he likes that glorious limerence pushing him to navigate people despite his gibbering anxiety! In some ways, knowing he’s capable of falling in love over and over feels heady and powerful; amatonormativity more than the nature of Rowan’s frayromanticism bestows difficulty on its aftermath.

I want to fall in love with you ... and after getting to know you, do it again with someone else, all the best bits of romance’s beginning on eternal repeat.

Instead, he avoids dating and the inevitable development of his partner’s hurt, surrendering to a world where his shape of attraction isn’t acceptable or reasonable. Albeit with a trace of bitterness that frayromanticism will be easier to navigate should Rowan not be an anxiety-plagued, bisexual trans man!

Of course, discarding romance makes pursuing his shape of sexual attraction unacceptable and unreasonable...

“How are they real? Nobody just sees someone and falls in love like that—”

“Dude, dude, I’ve fallen in love like that.” Rowan shakes his head and launches into the speech that’s the spiritual duty of any card-carrying aromantic: “Do you fall in love after you get to know someone? After they love you back? Do you know what ‘fall in love’ means to you? Because it’s easy to name all sorts of feelings ‘love’ and think they’re romantic when the world says you have to be alloromantic. It’s even easier to not be romantically attracted and not know! Have you thought about it?”

Damien, his eyes so wide that he reminds Rowan of a zebrafish with a brown wig, shakes his head.

“I swear, alloros like romance movies because while they’re a … a simplified, idealistic version of romance, they’re close enough to what people feel—or think they’re supposed to feel—that they … ring, resonate. They wouldn’t do that if it were complete invention. Just like science fiction isn’t real but talks enough about human experiences to have meaning to human audiences. Unreal, in so many ways, but just real enough. So—”

Damien holds up both hands, palms facing Rowan. “Stop. Stop.”

Now the anxious part of Rowan’s brain realises he’s lecturing at his supervisor in a way no need to avoid thinking of his family justifies; he gulps, fingers trembling. While the office code of conduct doesn’t specify things like unwanted speeches questioning another person’s belief in their romantic attraction, he doubts this acceptable behaviour. “I … shit. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I just...”

Will he ever stop causing a mess at work?

“You’re talking so fast,” Damien says, slow and careful in the way of a man talking to a panicked horse, “that I can’t keep up.” He sighs and runs one hand through his hair. “This isn’t something I thought we’d be talking about! I just wanted to check that everything was right...” He shakes his head, but he doesn’t sound annoyed or outraged. Just bewildered. “Okay. Right. What about all those sorts of things that we think are love? What do you mean by that?”

At some point during the resulting afternoon, Rowan sends an email thanking his printer for her willingness to amend the job queue, ignores his brother’s entry in the competition to provoke the most seasonally-appropriate guilt, and scribbles a note to ask the higher-ups if they’ll spring for a basket of expensive coffee and chocolates sent to said printer.

Damien nods several times, takes dot points on a flyer print-out and the back of the report draft for last week’s holiday event, asks more questions and promises that he’ll remind the higher-ups of their involvement in submitting January’s flyers two weeks late. After eating the rest of his re-heated honey chicken at Rowan’s desk and narrating the story of how his future wife followed him from pub to pub during a crawl for his brother’s buck’s night, Damien concludes that he only experiences attraction for someone after they express attraction for him.

Melanie, having rested her arms on the back of Damien’s chair to overhear the last half of the conversation, gives him a smothering hug and welcomes him to “the quiver” before cackling at Damien’s blank look.

Find a recipro mug, Rowan later scribbles on the bottom of his to-do-list.

At least that job doesn’t involve relatives.

[mysmedrabbles]

RFA Reacting to a Muslim MC

requested: twice by the same anon :P

a/n: note that I am not a muslim nor am i a hijabi, so if i get a detail wrong, im super sorry and please pLEAse let me know so it can be fixed!! :D this was really interesting to write, enjoy!! 

would you like to support this Muslim MC? want more specific WoC MC’s? buy me a coffee to support my dangerous coffee addiction so i can do em for ya!

warnings: n/a

-hyped mod alex

Jumin

-his strong faith in Christianity was admirable, his ideals set in stone as he abided by them; but of course there was the smallest bit of apprehension in getting to know him, how would he react to someone with ideals different than his?

-he was never one to announce his faith publicly, he still isn’t, however he likes taking with you about your respective religions, sitting on the balcony of his penthouse taking in the cool night air,,, wine for him and Aryana’s Halal Cola shipped all the way from Montreal for you

-orders you the finest hijabs for you to wear, most of them custom made exactly the way you love them, elegant and refined. he also learns the level of modesty you tend to wear your clothes, buying you occasional stunning gala outfit that he knows you’ll both love and feel comfortable with

-you own the most stunning abayas

-absolutely takes you with him on his trips to the middle east. he’s an avid believer in learning about your own roots, and especially if you have family there, he’ll more than certainly take you, going together to see all the sights, take private tours of museums and enjoy life

-makes Chef learn specific halal recipes, and is more than willing to import any food you want from other countries that you cant get in Korea

-learns Arabic in about a year flat,, of course his Korean accent hits heavily, but its so sweet hearing him carefully pronounce sentences to your parents and or relatives

-on eid al-adha he’s aware of the old tradition to sacrifice animals and share with the poor, needy and family; so as a compromise he decides to donate 300 lbs of meat to various homeless shelters and soup kitchens. both you and him going down to help with transport, hand every box to the people, a sort of community service combined with observing a time old tradition.

-comes down with you to the night prayer at the mosque during ramadan, and even though he stays near the entrance and the garden out front, hearing the prayers coming from the inside and seeing all the people that you know and love around you, smiling and having a good time, it makes him happy

Jaehee

-she grew up catholic, lives catholic; but this isn’t to say she’s close-minded to other religions,, she always loves learning more, especially if its about you, who she loves with all her heart

-when youre cuddling, she likes fiddling with the edge of your hijab, just feeling the material and knowing you’re there makes any day of hers better, no matter how hard it may have been

-you being muslim doesn’t have much of an impact, she’s respectful to your beliefs, and even puts in halal foods in the cafe

-this is, of course, after months of her experimenting with different recipes, often finding her in the kitchen at midnight, flour on her face and apron dirtied, sleeves rolled up in a frenzy as she mutters under her breath 

-shes so proud to finally present the finished deserts and foods to you!!

-one time you used one of her woven silk scarves as a makeshift hijab when all of yours were in the wash and she almost cries seeing how pretty you are in her stuff (the scarf is yours now)

-always interested in your religion, and she likes learning the differences between the traditions she was raised with and the ones you were

-during Ramadan, the two of you keep the shop open later for anyone wanting to eat after the sun has set, figuring that no one had to break their fast alone if they didn’t want to

-she gets up very early to prepare Suhoor for you in the morning, a simple oatmeal with dates, blueberries, grapes, almonds and honey

-likes to read her own books aside you while you read the Quran and do your morning prayer, its often the most peaceful part of your day, just having a clean and quiet space as you both enjoy each others company while also doing your own morning routines

Yoosung

-sweet boy, he knows very little of,, well any religion to be honest, and outside of 10th grade history, his knowledge on Islam as a whole is quite limited

-always asking questions about your traditions

-he reads the Quran at some point, wanting to understand you better,, and even though it takes him a long time (mostly due to having to re-read the passages over and over again to understand what was going on), but he’s devoted to learning about your culture

-he drives/walks you to the mosque, but doesn’t leave,, he’s not sure if he can go in, so instead he opts to walk around the area, enjoying the park and waiting for you to come back out so you can walk/drive back together

-he learns so many recipes specifically for you everything from mawmenye, harira, and moroccan krsa to berber bread

-he loves spending time with your family, he loves the sense of community and the celebrations that take place in your household, specifically during religious holidays

-he legitimately cries when you eventually decide to go to Mecca, leaving for hajj, because he knows he cant be with you for around a week and a half,, he can’t help it, he’s so sad he won't be able to see you for more than a week

-he’s so used to stopping all gaming and quieting down devices during salah, that even when you’re not around he still stops for five minutes at the designated times, mostly out of habit, but it also serves as a break from working, studying or gaming

-Lisa,, lisa loves your prayer mat, always trying to knock it down from its rolled up position next to the couch and sleep on it, so instead yoosung buys her a smaller prayer rug to lay on and its the cutest thing you've ever seen

Seven

-although he’s always been the one to mention his own faith in Catholicism, he’s also the one to be most curious about other faiths.

-he likes hearing you talk about the way you grew up, specifically hearing you talk about Islam and asking questions about traditions and practices you have to do

- “wait y/n!!,,, are honey buddha chips halal???”

-if theyre not, he opts to buy pringles in bulk instead. hes going to binge eat chips and damnit he wants you to join him!!! 

-when it comes time for you to perform Salah, he makes sure that you have total peace, even stopping his typing for the duration, letting you connect fully with Allah and your spirit

-since theres little to no sunlight that appears in the bunker, he makes a simple little app that alerts you when the times of prayer come, pre-dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night, using the bells that are primarily heard in mosques as the ringtone for the app

-if anyone dares to mess with you or insult you in any way, Defender of Justice 707 will send a nasty virus their way, because theres no way anyone is getting away with hurting his angel

-its canon that he knows Arabic, and often times, when you can’t go to sleep he’ll sing to you in the language, and although his singing isn't the best, focusing on the strength and passion in his words, the almost comforting way he sings, it sends you calmly to sleep

Zen

-incredibly respectful of your religion and the fact that you’re Muslim

-he sets himself to learn everything he can about your faith and things he might have to change or alter in his own life to be respectful of the way you live yours

-he cuts down on alcohol. a lot.

-this isn’t to say he stops drinking altogether but he certainly cuts down, only having a beer or two in the fridge for emergencies

-bursts in one day, phone in hand as he wheezes, leaning on the couch for support, “y/n ArE wE hALaL dATiNg Or?”

-if you believe that sex should be saved to be only after marriage, he respects that, if not,, well he respects that too

-WILL spend extra money on an abaya from serenity scarves as a gift, just for you being you

-his only goal is to make you as comfortable as you can be, and he Will Not Stand for islamophobic comments directed towards you, but in most cases he won't even let them reach you, cutting off interviewers before they can say anything with a stream of gushing about how perfect you are, and smoothly taking you to the other side of the room if he thinks someone is looking at you, shooting them a mean glare before looking back at you and smiling, whispering something to make you laugh as you guys walk away hand in hand

-respect is this mans middle name, he’ll meet your family the second you start officially dating, making sure to make a good first impression, the second, and third, and fourth impressions

-likes going shopping with you, and is constantly in awe of how stunning you can make anything look, going to the little middle eastern kiosk in the mall to buy food

-he’s such a shameless fan of those cute matching couples outfits, and his heart bursts everytime your hijab matches the colour or pattern of his shirt or jacket

[sanctus-bellum]

WoW OCs Financial Situations

IDK I thought this would be fun is all.

- Aiilia: dirt poor, has never been able to really save much money. at most has had a handful of coins in her pocket. - Amalthea: better off than most but not rich by any means. she’s in a cozy little pocket of financial stability. - Ananii: disgustingly rich, will give a lot of it to her friends for nice things. will also donate when she can and give to anyone in need when she crosses paths with them. - Arrosa: she got that military money, yo. not a huge amount but enough to be comfortable. - Aster’iia: strangely, more than arrosa. she doesn’t spend much on frivolities and has a nice savings account. would not disclose how much she really has to her bf fuckbuddy. - Atieno: pretty fuckin’ poor, but she spends what little money she earns to get fresh produce for dinners with her party. - Aurellius: he would have more if he didn’t keep getting shitfaced and mugged. he has enough to get by. barely. - Azaara: she has a decent amount but typically relies on her gf to do the big spending. - Bhaozhai: comfortable?? she works in a monastery and doesn’t have the need for much money. she does like the shiny though. - Bhuudevi: she makes enough to keep her party safe and happy with the necessities and a little extra on the side.  - Citlaali: she works her ass off and never has the luxury of purchasing things for herself. she has a nice savings account but typically works off of grants from magic communities. - Damini: surprisingly very poor. she makes things work though. may actually steal your wallet off of your dead body. thank you for your cooperation. - Delmore: dirt! fucking! poor!! - Emyr: he’s poor but manages to find good places to sleep. doesn’t need to eat too much anymore but the people he sees will.. supply. - Faiida: not super wealthy but good enough to survive for a while. she saves her money for emergencies with limierr. - Ianthaa: should not be trusted with money. ever. - Ixora: very good at saving her money as long as no shops are nearby with food. - Kellaa: enough to keep herself in an inn for a few days at a time. she has a bleeding heart though so she doesn’t ever have the will to save for herself when she could just help other people! - Kifo: why need money when intimidation is a good tactic? - Kor’aah: he’s loaded but doesn’t have the need for it anymore. he would never donate any of it though. - Leoraa: pockets filled to the brim with.... other people’s money. somehow always has more than she needs. plentiful in money and leather from wallets. - Lin: she has excellent self-restraint. she’s in charge of the money with her gf. - Makahtza: why... would she need money? she has glory and she’s hot as fuck! - Mausumi: incredibly wealthy with no family to share in her gold. she’s surprisingly stingy despite everything else and would not choose to donate. - Miltiiades: where he’s going, he doesn’t need money. he’s been asleep for a long time and lives in the forest what do you want from him? - Mingxiia: she gets little gifts of money in the mail from her family from time to time despite not really needing it. she kindly accepts though and puts it toward her “i love akero” fund (that fund is just beer and yummy food) - Muhjah: unfortunately.. is in charge of a good majority of the finances for her party. she.. doesn’t trust two of them with gold. they have a decent amount to get by with some wiggle room for their eventual haggles and... bribes. - Odelette: her job didn’t pay too much but she doesn’t mind roughing it! sometimes she uses her demons to steal for her. her bf does not approve. - Psyk’ke: very bad with money, constantly loses her wallet and has to resort to digging around. will absolutely use her elemental affinity to chase down a culprit.  - Rajhani: never carries much more than they need when they’re out. has multiple bank accounts with a comfortable amount of gold within each one. - Ratana: can’t save up money to save her life. always has to resort to small jobs and bounties to get enough where she’s happy to make her bf happy. - Riviniana: filthy! stinkin’! rich! - Sakiinah: has enough money to get by. would never let her bf partner know how much she has. she withholds basically everything from him. - Sitaara: is also bad with money (it runs in the family) but can rely a decent amount on her gf to supply. she donates all of her spare money! - Solana: she don’t know how to save up. will scrum around in trash if she has to. if she had enough to buy one meal, she would get it for her gf and not herself. - Sylvaa: will resort to little.. tiny crimes... to get money and food if need be. she’s a starving artist!! - Taiika: all of her money goes to science stuff. likes trinkets from the dark lady and her people. uses what little she has for some weird bribery. - Tuuli: she doesn’t believe in keeping a lot of money at once. will always give to those less fortunate than her. she keeps a good eye on it and will have enough for her as well but anything extra? charity. - Vir’Kash: no money. only bones. and shiny things. he likes shiny things. - Ziiha: she doesn’t have the need for money. she doesn’t sleep and she doesn’t eat.

[localmilk]

We're going to talk the big taboo in the creative community, the M word: Money. This week & next I'm going to share a 2 part mini series on #RealMoneyTalk in partnership with @IntuitTurbo, a new app that shows you were you truly stand financially...for free. My family is what motivated me to wrap my head around financial health & start doing what I should. 💸 Anyone who knows me knows that I love to talk money. I believe it's not a dirty word, and that our most precious non-renewable resource, time, is intimately linked to how we manage our personal finances. Money is the #1 cause of stress in America. If we don't talk about it how can we learn from one another? 📈 Part I: Fact: most Americans are not financially healthy, debt is on the rise and over half couldn't come up with a $400 emergency fund. What can we do? A big lesson I learned: Live below your means. I've struggled with this SO much. A latte here, a sexy ceramic there, a new pair of yoga pants...things we tell ourselves we "need" when they're really wants. We need to not fall into the Instagram & Pinterest trap of wanting all the beautiful things, trips, homes, & clothes that other people post. When I started my business, I had NO money, so I got super excited when it became profitable and shopped WAY too much. When we spend on things we don't need, we get caught on the consumption hamster wheel. We find ourselves unable to save, to pay down debt, to stop working, to pause to breathe. I've been there. 💗 We can don't need it all NOW to be happy. Don't let past mistakes keep you down. You can be happy right now, no matter where you are in your financial journey. We need love + to make a meaningful impact in the world with our gifts whether that's mothering beautiful babies, working for or running a business that makes an impact, volunteering, donating, or all of the above. That's happiness. We can't do this alone, and we can't do it in silence. It's time we share our stories, our fears, our dreams, and our lessons around money. I'd love for you to DM or Comment your own stories with #RealMoneyTalk. Let’s share our stories + inspire each other. #IntuitTurboPartner #ad #communityovercompetition

[imagine-loki]

Corina

TITLE Corina

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 15 AUTHOR: lokilover9

Original Imagine: Imagine you’re an Asgardian Woman married to a nobleman. After a few years into your marriage, he begins to ignore you sexually. Each time you are both invited to Royal gatherings, he gets a bit drunk and acts like an ass so you avoid him. You’ve also noticed how incredibly gorgeous Loki is and often had to snap yourself out of staring at him.

NOTES/WARNINGS: Teen

Another day began with Loki back to his Princely duties and Corina back with Frigga. To help ease Corinas stress, he decided to surprise her and have some cleaners head over to her old house to deal with the mess she was so worried about. They returned shortly after informing him they weren’t permitted entrance.

“How is that so? There should be no one there.”

He was told an older woman answered the door refusing them and upon receiving a description, knew it was Corina’s Mother. Loki returned with them using magic to unlock the door and found Corina’s parents rummaging through the house. When seeing price tags on some of the larger items of furniture, he quickly became enraged.

“What the hell do you people think you’re doing and how did you get in here?”

Her Mother stood frozen so her Father spoke up. As it turned out, Gunnar had given them a spare key a while ago in case of an emergency. He arrogantly informed Loki he was there to sell Gunnar’s belongings to get some of the money back he gave him in Corina’s dowry. Loki picked him up by the neck of his shirt and abruptly lead him to the front door with her Mother hastily following.

“Both of you listen, and listen good. The King granted this house and everything in it to Corina in her divorce. Nothing here belongs to Gunnar.” As he spoke, his tone became more angered and her Mother began trembling. “That means, the two of you are guilty of trespassing and breaking and entering! Now, I’m only going to say this once.” He went in her Father’s face. “Get the ‘fuck’ out of this house and don’t you ‘ever’ come back here again!” He glanced back and forth between them. “Or I’ll see to it you both have a cell next to Gunnar!”

They left in haste and when the cleaners were done, Loki used magic to remove all the price tags and changed the locks. He never told Corina of his encounter with her parents and she was grateful for what he’d done. After one trip back to retrieve what she wanted, the house and all its contents were quickly sold. Corina kindly donated the money to the places she’d volunteered at.

At the end of the two weeks, she returned to see Eir very well rested without any instances of dizziness or fainting. After a few questions and a further examination, she was given the okay for sex, but still told not to take on too much stress. Loki reassured Eir this wasn’t going to be a problem and they left.

After no g spot stimulation for two weeks, Corina kept her composure until their chambers doors closed and then all hell broke loose. When she finally laid next to him spent, Loki told her she’d soon be the death of him and she laughed.

“One little pregnant lady has succeeded in depleting ‘Thee God of Mischief’?” She teased. “What would your people say, oh future King of Asgard?”

Loki shrugged his shoulders. “They would send sympathy cards and gifts to appease me. Of course this would be after learning their future Queen becomes irate when not receiving enough sex.”

“What? You wouldn’t dare!”

His brows rose. “First you wish to lie to ‘Thee God of Mischief’, now you attempt to dare him? Do you really think that’s wise?”

“Good point.”

He chuckled then leaned down to kiss her stomach. “Actually, the best gift I could ever receive will come from you.”

Corina thought her heart would melt from her chest. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

He stared at her and the look in his eyes ignited her curiosity.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I love you Corina. I have from the very moment I ever saw you.”

This being the last thing she expected to hear, she stared back at him stunned and he moved up to kiss her. “Would you like to know when that moment was?” She nodded and he continued. “It was a few years ago here at the palace during one of my parents parties. I had taken a pastry from the tray of a passing servant and was about to bite into it when hearing the oddest laugh come from across the room. The sound was so hideous, I couldn’t help but look in its direction and was about to look away again, when I saw you enter the room. At that precise moment, everything else in the room stopped and all I saw was you.” He went silent for a couple of seconds. “Or at least I thought everything did. I, you see, had continued walking without watching where I was going and bumped into a servant carrying a full tray of beverages, knocking it from his grasp.”

Corina smirked. “Oh no.”

“Wait Darling, it gets better. With a touch of magic and some quick reflexes, I managed to save the tray without spilling a drop. The servant however, was not so fortunate. He stumbled into another knocking him down, along with his tray of beverages.”

Corina burst into laughter. “I think I remember this. I’d heard a ruckus and looked over wondering…”

“Why the Prince of Asgard was holding a beverage tray?”

“Yes and then you quickly handed it to some gentleman passing by and left.”

“That’s right and rather hastily I might add.”

She kept laughing. “I saw that too. He must have been someone important because your Father was there in seconds and looked to be continuously apologizing to the man.”

“I hadn’t a clue who he was, I just needed a quick exit and took it.”

Once she stopped laughing, he was staring at her again and she caressed his face. “You’ve loved me for that long?”

“Yes.”

“I never imagined I could have that kind of affect on anyone.”

“You don’t have to imagine it because it’s true and from that moment on, my heart was taken.”

Corina blushed as her own heart skipped a beat. “I was wrong. ‘That’ is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me and I love you too Loki.”

The next week Corina returned to her training, but learned it would only be for two days a week. Odin explained that Frigga had gone to him out of great concern for her, influencing his decision to ask the councilman retiring if he would postpone it for a year. The man kindly agreed and Odin reassured her that the job would still be hers when she was fully ready.

In the meantime, she could leisurely adjust to life at the palace along with her pregnancy and for this she was grateful. A couple of weeks later, she and Loki were taking a walk in the gardens and sat for moment on a bench. Corina was quiet and he put his arm around her.

“Is there something on your mind? Tell me.”

She glanced at her ring then kissed him. “Do you still wish to marry me?”

“Corina, of course I do.”

“Then let’s do it.”

A huge smile spread across Loki’s face. “We will speak to Mother tomorrow.”

Preparations for their wedding began two days later and Frigga was delighted to handle all the details, consulting with Corina whenever needed. She took great joy in shopping for a dress with her as well.

“As you know, I never had daughters so I thank you for allowing me to join you. It was lovely having the opportunity with Jane as well.”

Corina was taken aback by her statement. “No Frigga, thank you. For everything and I’m glad you’re here with me.”

The Queen smiled. “You’re welcome. Now let’s try on some dresses shall we? And choose what you wish Darling as we can alter it.”

Corina couldn’t get over Frigga’s kindness as her Mother practically orchestrated her previous wedding. Including criticizing almost every dress she’d tried on, convincing her to eventually choose one she didn’t really like.

Throughout this entire event however, Frigga was wonderful and as a result, the two became very close. She promised their wedding would be a beautiful affair and lived up to her every word.

The moment Loki saw Corina coming down that aisle, she took his breath away. He’d never seen her look more beautiful and wasted no time telling her the first chance he had. “You look amazing Darling, absolutely stunning. Do get as much enjoyment as you can out of that dress though, because I’ll be tearing it from your limbs later.”

“Oh no Loki, please don’t? I want to keep it.” He smiled at her worried expression. “As you wish, but I can’t promise the same of your panties.”

They spent their honeymoon at the cottage and neither of them minded, although an alarmed fence now surrounded the property. It was a place they both enjoyed for its privacy and quiet and nothing was going to change that.

Shortly after returning, Frigga took her shopping for maternity clothes and told her she’d help find what she needed for the nursery whenever she was ready. When it finally came time for Corinas first ultrasound, Loki was there with her and they listened with much joy to the baby’s heartbeat, watching in awe as it moved about.

“Look at that.” Said Eir. “Ten fingers, ten toes, everything looks perfect. Do you wish to know the sex?”

As much as they wanted to, they decided upon leaving it to the element of surprise, content in knowing both Mother and baby were healthy. They decorated the nursery in neutral colors and as Corina got bigger, that sense of humor Frigga told her she’d need started to come in handy. Especially when learning the baby would be larger than she expected due to Lokis Frost Giant heritage.

“How big?” She asked Eir at her seven month appointment.

“I’m uncertain exactly.”

Corina frowned. “I already can’t see my feet, can you not estimate?”

Loki tried not to smirk.

“I can only tell you at this time, that the child now weighs about six pounds.” Said Eir.

“Don’t babies gain most of their weight in the last month or so?”

“They do, but I’ve never experienced the gestation of a Frost Giant with an Asgardian prior to this.”

Shocked, Corinas eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Everything else was going fine except my inability to predict the size. I didn’t see any reason to alarm you.”

“Alarm me??? Well I’m alarmed now! What if the baby is too big for me to deliver vaginally? Shouldn’t I know my options? You should have told me all of this sooner!”

Her voice had gotten louder as she spoke and Loki asked Eir if they could be alone.

“Calm down Darling, please?”

“Calm down? Did you not hear what I said?” She crossed her arms. “I can’t see my feet Loki! Why didn’t she tell me I might have a big baby?”

“Maybe for this exact reason? Listen to how worried you’ve just become? It’s the last thing you need, is it not?”

She frowned at him. “Well the next time someone doesn’t warn you about passing something that weighs more than six pounds out of one of your orifices, come back and tell me how you feel!”

“The next time? I can’t say there was ever a first.”

“You’re not helping.”

Loki chuckled then kissed her. “I told you before Eir is renowned in her field correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then take some deep breaths like we’ve learned in your classes and talk to her.”

Corina felt better after doing so as did Eir. She’d delivered some larger babies before, but simply couldn’t give an estimated size for Corinas delivery date and unfortunately Frost Giants had kept their medical histories secret from all other realms. She didn’t even know their full gestation period and warned them both Corina could deliver early, but assured them the baby would be healthy.

They left her medical chambers and Corina looked up at Loki. “If we ever have another? You’re doing it!”

He laughed and she backhanded him in the gut.

[darcyfarber]

42 Ways to Get Money When You Need Money Now

  Nobody has a money tree in their backyard that grows dollar bills you can pick on-demand. However, you can still get free money right now if you’re dealing with an unexpected bill, home repair, medical expense, or whatever it may be that is causing you to scramble for a quick money WITHOUT having to borrow it.

With a little hustle and creativity, you can begin implementing these ideas today to quickly increase your cash flow.

Believe me, my wife and I have had to raise cash quickly without paying late fees or borrowing money. Even if you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover a surprise expense, you can quickly replenish your balance with these earning hacks as well.

I Need Money Now, Where Can I Get it Fast?

The good news is if you really need money right now, you can get money right now. Whether you want to make money from home, from an app on your phone or you’re willing to put your skills to work, here are some great ways to start earning income today.

Table of Contents

I Need Money Now, Where Can I Get it Fast?

1. Trade In Your Cell Phone and Put $475 in Your Pocket

2. Get Money Sent to Your PayPal For Your Opinion

3. Deliver Food, Drinks and Groceries to People

4. Become an Uber Driver

5.  Deliver for Uber Eats

6. Become an Airbnb Host

7. Get Paid to Play Games

8. Save Money and Make Money with the Honey App

9. Complete Mini-Online Tasks

10. Trim Automatically Gets Rid of Your "Gray Charges"

11. Get a quick $10 with Ebates (now called Rakuten)

12. Become a TaskRabbit

13. Freelance Online with Fiverr

14. Sell Locally on Craigslist

15. Scan Grocery Receipts and Get $10

16. Picking Up Dog Poop

17. Cancel Your Cable TV Subscription

18. Switch to a Health Sharing Plan

19. Refinance Your Debt

20. Rent Out Your Car

21. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

22. Sell Unused Clothing

23. Sell Your Old Books

24. Sell Movies, Music, and Video Games

25. Sell Old Electronics

26. Sell Used Furniture

27. Sell Your Car

28. Have a Yard Sale

29. Donate Plasma

30. Babysit

31. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

32. Clean Houses

33. Mow Lawns

34. Shovel Snow

35. Clean Gutters and Rake Leaves

36. Pressure Wash Houses

37. Paint Houses

38. Become a Handyman

39. Collect Scrap Metal

40. Deliver Newspapers

41. Deliver Phone Books

42. Cut Firewood

Summary

1. Trade In Your Cell Phone and Put $475 in Your Pocket

Buyback Boss is who I continue to use whenever we upgrade to a new phone because they guarantee the most money for your phone and they send same-day payments via check or PayPal.

If you have an old phone in a drawer somewhere, why not sell it today and get paid ASAP? Think of that old phone as cash sitting in your drawer that you need right now.

You can also downgrade to last year’s model (often getting the phone for a few dollars with a new contract) and sell your current phone for up to $475. Here’s a screenshot I snapped of the latest offer I received on my current used phone (iPhone X) in good condition.

  2. Get Money Sent to Your PayPal For Your Opinion

Survey Junkie is a great place to start because cash can be deposited into your PayPal account, or you can get paid out via Amazon or Target gift cards for simply giving you opinion online.

We also have a full list of all different types of survey companies who are looking to pay people for their opinions on different products and brands. You can see the full list of the top survey companies here.

Our Top Pick: Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 4.4/5.

You can start making money today by checking out Survey Junkie here.

3. Deliver Food, Drinks and Groceries to People

Have you heard of Postmates?

Postmates is a service where people can order food, drinks and groceries and have them available for delivery or pickup. The people who provide that service and get paid, are people just like yourself.

Postmates states that experienced couriers can earn up to $25 an hour and work on their own hours.

However, if you only want to deliver groceries to people, then you should also sign up for Instacart.

Instacart pays people quickly to deliver groceries from grocery store to their clients doorstep. Currently, people working with Instacart are making anywhere from $50 – $1,000 per month as a side hustle.

4. Become an Uber Driver

Uber is a great option if you have a car and like interacting with people. There are two additional reasons to consider driving for Uber:

Flexible hours

Weekly pay

Signup incentive for new drivers

Another reason to consider Uber is for their schedule flexibility; you drive when you have time and aren’t beholden to a specific shift or having to be available at least X hours a week.

You can find more information here to determine if driving with Uber is right for you.

5.  Deliver for Uber Eats

Uber Eats allows you earn on your own schedule by delivering food from restaurants to people.

The best thing about Uber Eats is you get to choose your wheels based on the city you live in. Depending on your city, you can deliver for Uber Eats via your car, bike or scooter. Just turn on the app in the morning before work, when you get home, or whenever you have some extra time to make money on your terms.

Also, the driver qualifications are less stringent for Uber Eats. In case you don’t meet the age and vehicle requirements to be a full-fledged Uber driver, you can be an Uber Eats driver until then.

6. Become an Airbnb Host

Become and Airbnb Host and you can start making really good income each month. There are many of benefits to being a homeowner, including the option to rent out your unused rooms for cash. But, by becoming an Airbnb host, travelers stay in your spare bedroom, basement, or second house.

Real estate is one time-tested approach to earning passive income and Airbnb can be less stressful than being a full-time landlord or trying to fix and flip houses for a profit. And, you get to interact with visitors coming from all corners of the world!

7. Get Paid to Play Games

Yes, you can actually get paid to play games.

Mistplay is one of the very best places to get started.

The reason is online game creators need to have their games tested by real people before they launch it out to the market. 

For testing out their games on you mobile device, apps like Mistplay will pay via credits. These credits can then be cashed out in the form of different gift cards, including Visa or Amazon gift cards.

We also put together a full list of places that will pay you to play games here.

8. Save Money and Make Money with the Honey App

The Honey App will search every online coupon for you and apply the best promo code at your checkout for free. This is the first way to save money.

Also, for every 2 people you refer to Honey, they will pay you $10 in the form of popular gift cards like Amazon, Walmart and Target.

By reducing how much you spend, you won’t have to earn as much money from these side hustles. Honey makes it easy to save money when you shop online by automatically applying every known discount code to your order when you checkout.

If you shop at Amazon, Honey also compares the prices of third-party sellers to the current Amazon price to quickly spot the lowest price so you pay less for the exact same product.

With no additional effort, Honey saves you money on products you are going to purchase regardless. Now, make sure you put your savings to good use!

Read the Honey App review to discover Peach’s triple savings online shopping trick.

9. Complete Mini-Online Tasks

Swagbucks is the best place to start when for getting paid to complete tasks such as reading emails, surfing the web, playing games, shopping online and using mobile apps to name a few.

BONUS: One thing I really like about Swagbucks is the option to donate to one of the many charities they work with.

Our Top Pick: The most widely known company is Swagbucks, with a Trust Pilot Rating of 4.3/5..

With Swagbucks, you earn swagbucks that can be redeemed for cash via your PayPal or through gift cards to places like Walmart, Amazon, Express, or even Bass Pro Shops.

10. Trim Automatically Gets Rid of Your “Gray Charges”

Ask Trim makes it easy to “work smarter and not harder.”  For free, Trim monitors your spending, account balances, and can even reduce your monthly bill amount in the following categories:

Cable, cell phone, and internet

Car insurance

Unwanted subscriptions

With a single text message or Facebook Messenger request, Trim works on your behalf to find discounts on your current monthly bills or cancel the services–streaming plans including Hulu and Spotify, insurance, and gym membership– you no longer use but are still paying for.

You will realize the savings the next time you get ready to pay your bills and realize there’s more money in your bank account than usual; and you never lifted a finger.

Read our full Trim Review to learn about all of Trim’s benefits to save you money.

11. Get a quick $10 with Ebates (now called Rakuten)

Ebates sends you cash via PayPal for shopping online or in stories at places you already normally shop.

Let’s be clear, unnecessary shopping is one of the last activities you need to do if you need to get money fast, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a smart shopper for those unavoidable purchases. My wife and I shop with Ebates and get up to 40% cash back on nearly every online purchase.

Ebates cashback arrives once a quarter via PayPal or mailed check and you can get a bonus by referring your friends to shop with Ebates too. Using Ebates is like getting paid to shop.

Also, you can get a free $10 when you create an account with eBates today.

12. Become a TaskRabbit

There are people who need simple tasks completed but simply don’t have the time. Whether it’s putting together furniture from iKea, delivering a dresser across town, or trimming some overgrown bushes in the backyard – people will hire you.

Here are the top three places to find work using your phone:

TaskRabbit

OfferUp

Facebook Marketplace

Simply create a bio about yourself and then start looking for the task requests to pour in. I personally can tell you I utilize one of these three apps a week to find someone to do tasks for me!

13. Freelance Online with Fiverr

  Freelancing online with Fiverr is another great way to make money online. With Fiverr, you use your talents online without performing manual labor. Here are some of the possible gigs you can perform:

Writing blog posts

Graphic design

Website design

Creating YouTube videos

Translation

Proofreading

Voice Over

Jingles, sound effects, and songs

Similar to Fiverr, Upwork is another great platform for aspiring freelancers.

I have been freelancing online for the past two years and it’s been an excellent source of supplemental income because you can truly work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and get paid.

14. Sell Locally on Craigslist

Bulky items aren’t cost-effective to sell online because they cost too much to ship. When that’s the case, sell locally with Craigslist or another app to sell locally. We periodically sell our unwanted items during the year and pocket 100% profit because it’s free to sell on these apps.

Beyond Craigslist, there are also dozens of other similar websites where you can sell your stuff locally as well.

15. Scan Grocery Receipts and Get $10

Earlier we told you ways to make money delivering through places like Postmates, Instacart and Uber Eats. However, there is still other money to be made by simply scanning grocery receipts.

Scanning grocery receipts for money is a real thing and there are over 20 apps that allow you to get started. While some are better than others, we recommend starting with the most popular receipts scanning app, Ibotta.

Our Top Pick: We like Ibotta because you can redeem digital offers plus your regular coupons for many food items at most supermarkets and even discount stores like Walmart and Target, and you also get a $10 sign-up bonus. When your rewards balance reaches $20, you can request PayPal payment or a gift card.

16. Picking Up Dog Poop

You can also make money picking up dog poop when you don’t have the time to walk dogs or pet sit. Why? Because it only takes a few minutes to clean up a backyard compared to keeping a pet for several hours.

One man operates a full-time business picking up dog poop for a premium in the Phoenix area. You can scroll down to #70 on this side hustle list to see a video of how he turned dog poop into a full-time income.

17. Cancel Your Cable TV Subscription

The average household cable TV bill is over $120 a month and most people only watch 20 of the 100s of channels to choose from. We dumped our cable years ago and use services like Hulu for our favorite shows with SlingTV for a total of $26/month (and no contracts).

By cutting the cord, you instantly save $100 a month on cable TV by streaming live and on-demand programming over your high-speed internet. Sling TV can be watch with any flat screen TV, computer, or mobile device.

BONUS: If you’re a fan of the 90’s TGIF shows like me, Hulu now offers Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Perfect Strangers and Hangin with Mr. Cooper.

18. Switch to a Health Sharing Plan

You may not realize it, but health insurance is one of the largest monthly expenses. Switching to an affordable health sharing plan saves my family 75% in health insurance premiums compared to traditional health insurance. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best financial moves we made when I became self-employed.

Our Top Pick: There are many great health sharing options, but our favorite is Medi-Share because of the affordability AND their own MDLive program: a FREE add on that gives you 24/7 access to a doctor visit via your smartphone, which saves you time and money on co-pays!

19. Refinance Your Debt

High interest rates on unsecured debt like credit cards will cause you to pay thousands of dollars more than the original amount borrowed.

Our Top Pick: Credible is the company we recommend because they tell you right away what your new rates will be. Unlike some other personal loan companies, Credible does not have any origination or application fees, and they make it simple to get started with only one form to fill out which should only take about 2 minutes. They also have a Trustpilot Rating of 9.5/10.

Instead of paying 15% – 24% interest rates on your credit cards, you may be able to lower your interest rate down to 4.99%!

Not a bad way to spend 2 minutes at all if it can save you thousands of dollars in interest to the bank.

20. Rent Out Your Car

If you don’t drive your car every day or have the time to be an Uber driver, you can make some extra cash by renting your car on Turo. You can earn approximately $541 a month ($6,501 a year) when your car is worth $20,000 and it’s borrowed 15 days a month. This income can easily cover your monthly insurance premium and car payment.

Considering most cars are depreciating assets that lose value every day and cost money to maintain, renting your car on Turo is one of the very few ways your car can actually make money for you.

You will receive payment within five days after a rental period ends.

21. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

Sometimes, you don’t have to work to make money because you already have it in unwanted gift cards. Instead of letting your gift cards collect dust, sell them on Gift Card Granny.

You can sell your unused and partially used gift cards quickly with three different selling options:

Sell It Now

Name Your Price

Trade In

Gift Card Granny finds the best price on the top gift card marketplaces and you get paid almost instantly when a sale is made.

I have sold several gift cards online almost always within 24 hours of posting and payment is sent via PayPal within three business days. Selling gift cards is one of the quickest ways to get money fast because of the quick turnaround.

22. Sell Unused Clothing

As your fashion tastes change or your children grow older, you might find yourself with a closet full of clothes you’ll never wear again. While you can sell them at a yard sale or local consignment shop, you might also consider selling online at thredUP for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing.

For designer clothing you wish to keep but don’t plan to wear in the near future, Rent the Runway lets you rent your high-end articles for up to one month at a time.

Finally, my wife has also had success selling on eBay and Poshmark. To increase the odds of selling your items, make sure to take plenty of pictures and consider wearing them or putting them on a mannequin so the buyer can visualize how the item fits.

23. Sell Your Old Books

You can also make a quick buck by selling your used books and textbooks that you’ll no longer read. Selling our old books is another way we boost our income each year and you can start with these three sites:

Amazon Marketplace

Cash4Books

Bookscouter (Textbooks only)

Selling is easy as you only have to enter the ISBN to receive an instant quote from Cash4Books and Bookscouter. If you like the price, you ship the books for free using their prepaid shipping label and you will be paid via PayPal once your shipment arrives and is processed.

I recommend using Bookscouter for selling your textbooks as they compare the prices of 42 buyback vendors in a single search; saving you time while finding the best buyer.

24. Sell Movies, Music, and Video Games

You can also make some extra cash by selling your old DVDs, CDs, and video games with Bonavendi. With their app, you can scan barcodes and compare the prices of 28 companies including Amazon and Best Buy.

25. Sell Old Electronics

Decluttr can be the most efficient app to sell your old electronics, smartphone, and tech gadgets. The Decluttr app scans item barcodes and you receive next-day payments via PayPal and direct deposit once Decluttr receives your shipment. College students can also receive a 10% bonus payment to earn a little extra cash.

26. Sell Used Furniture

Did you recently upgrade your living room or dining room set? If there’s still some life in your old furniture collection, get a few bucks for it. Craigslist or letgo can be your best friend to attract college students and young couples that only need something affordable, but Trove Market is another option for more valuable pieces.

27. Sell Your Car

Another way to raise cash quickly is to sell a car you no longer need. Even if you need to sell your fancy ride and drive a clunker instead, how else can you access $10,000+ instantly.

I sold my $20,000 sports car and now drive a very reliable $4,000 vehicle instead. Although I don’t turn as many heads as before, the $16,000 in cash proceeds was split between our savings and an extra house payment.

28. Have a Yard Sale

Decluttering helps you discover a small fortune sitting underneath your roof. The only problem is that you must sell your stuff to get cash. Having a yard sale is one of the quickest ways to sell most of your items in a weekend.

Coordinating your yard sale with your neighborhood sale is a good idea, but you should also post your sale on:

Craigslist

Facebook Marketplace

Your local newspaper

29. Donate Plasma

There’s a perpetual demand for plasma to treat rare, chronic diseases and you can make $400 each month by donating plasma. Maybe this is something you or your friends did in college for some extra “weekend money.” You must be at least 110 pounds, at least 18-years-old in most states to donate and free of certain illnesses.

30. Babysit

Parents sometimes need a break–date night— from their children and need to hire a babysitter. Besides asking for your family and friends for gigs, you can always advertise your services on Care.com.

31. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Animals need loving too and you can make just as much money pet sitting when their owners leave town or work long hours. Dog walking is another daily hustle opportunity as you take the dogs on their daily walk so their owner doesn’t have to.

Believe it or not, some professional dog walkers make $100,000 a year for doing something that millions of dog owners do every day for free.

Two places to begin advertising your pet sitting and dog walking services are Care and Rover.

32. Clean Houses

If you keep a clean house, put your skills to work by cleaning other people’s houses or office buildings in your spare time. Care.com can help you connect you with homeowners that don’t have the time to clean their house. Another great resource is Craigslist and looking in the “Part-Time Jobs” section.

33. Mow Lawns

When the grass is green, make money mowing lawns in your neighborhood and around town. Mowing lawns can be the perfect seasonal job if you need to make extra money in the summer when school is out or there’s more sunlight to work outside in the evenings.

34. Shovel Snow

You can also make money during the winter shoveling driveways and sidewalks. By owning a truck and plow, you can earn more keeping parking lots clean. Because snow removal is more labor-intensive than mowing a lawn, you can earn more per property than mowing (I did at least).

35. Clean Gutters and Rake Leaves

In the fall, you can also rake leaves and clean gutters before winter sets in. Once again, these are simple tasks that most homeowners simple don’t enjoy doing and offer a decent income if you enjoy working outside.

36. Pressure Wash Houses

Most houses need to be pressure washed every two or three years to maintain that “new” look. Many homeowners either don’t own a pressure washer or don’t have the time to keep their siding clean. You can advertise your services online or simply start knocking on doors to get your first clients.

37. Paint Houses

If you own a paint sprayer, can smoothly roll paint, or know how to seamlessly cut in wall edges, painting houses is another possibility. This is one task most homeowners won’t attempt on their own, especially if they aren’t a skilled painter or they are preparing to sell their house and want a professional-quality job.

38. Become a Handyman

Property management is a huge business beyond yard work, you can use your hands to help your neighbors with various home tasks with Takl or TaskRabbit including:

Home improvement

Mounting and installing new household devices

Furniture assembly

Moving and packing

39. Collect Scrap Metal

You or your family and friends might have a garage full of old household appliances. Maybe you have acquired a small scrap metal collection from your other side hustle opportunities. Regardless of how you (legally) collect your scrap, taking your ferrous and non-ferrous metal to a local scrap yard will yield an instant payment.

Some of the best ferrous and non-ferrous metals to collect are:

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

Steel

You will get the best price by bringing a single, large load compared to many small loads–even if they’re the same weight. Scrap yards have an easier time selling larger quantities to buyers and reward you with a volume bonus for making their job easier.

40. Deliver Newspapers

Newspaper routes are a steady part-time income stream if you can work in the early morning hours before your regular job or classes. If there are multiple newspaper in your town, you can also apply for a route that might deliver only a few days per week–instead of all seven– if you can’t commit to delivering papers every day of the week.

41. Deliver Phone Books

A one-time, seasonal hustle is delivering phone books five days a week. You need to be at least 18-years-old and have a driver’s license to participate. PDC is one of the largest delivery companies and they might be looking for delivery people like you.

42. Cut Firewood

Many people still heat their houses with wood in the winter or need wood for summer camping trips, but they don’t have access to their own firewood source. Or, they don’t have the time to cut their own wood. Cutting and delivering firewood is another in-demand income stream.

Summary

It doesn’t matter if you want to pursue a side hustle, sell some of your belongings, or cut spending, there are multiple ways to get money fast. We all have different skills and schedules so you pick the ideas that work best for you. No matter which ideas you pick, you can’t go wrong because you’re improving your financial situation.

  Related Posts You May Like

Best Places Locally and Online to Sell Your Old Phones

86 Proven Side Hustles You Should Know About

20+ Best Places to Sell Stuff Online and Paid Quickly

42 Ways to Get Money When You Need Money Now published first on https://mysingaporepools.weebly.com/

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42 Ways to Get Money When You Need Money Now

  Nobody has a money tree in their backyard that grows dollar bills you can pick on-demand. However, you can still get free money right now if you’re dealing with an unexpected bill, home repair, medical expense, or whatever it may be that is causing you to scramble for a quick money WITHOUT having to borrow it.

With a little hustle and creativity, you can begin implementing these ideas today to quickly increase your cash flow.

Believe me, my wife and I have had to raise cash quickly without paying late fees or borrowing money. Even if you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover a surprise expense, you can quickly replenish your balance with these earning hacks as well.

I Need Money Now, Where Can I Get it Fast?

The good news is if you really need money right now, you can get money right now. Whether you want to make money from home, from an app on your phone or you’re willing to put your skills to work, here are some great ways to start earning income today.

Table of Contents

I Need Money Now, Where Can I Get it Fast?

1. Trade In Your Cell Phone and Put $475 in Your Pocket

2. Get Money Sent to Your PayPal For Your Opinion

3. Deliver Food, Drinks and Groceries to People

4. Become an Uber Driver

5.  Deliver for Uber Eats

6. Become an Airbnb Host

7. Get Paid to Play Games

8. Save Money and Make Money with the Honey App

9. Complete Mini-Online Tasks

10. Trim Automatically Gets Rid of Your "Gray Charges"

11. Get a quick $10 with Ebates (now called Rakuten)

12. Become a TaskRabbit

13. Freelance Online with Fiverr

14. Sell Locally on Craigslist

15. Scan Grocery Receipts and Get $10

16. Picking Up Dog Poop

17. Cancel Your Cable TV Subscription

18. Switch to a Health Sharing Plan

19. Refinance Your Debt

20. Rent Out Your Car

21. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

22. Sell Unused Clothing

23. Sell Your Old Books

24. Sell Movies, Music, and Video Games

25. Sell Old Electronics

26. Sell Used Furniture

27. Sell Your Car

28. Have a Yard Sale

29. Donate Plasma

30. Babysit

31. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

32. Clean Houses

33. Mow Lawns

34. Shovel Snow

35. Clean Gutters and Rake Leaves

36. Pressure Wash Houses

37. Paint Houses

38. Become a Handyman

39. Collect Scrap Metal

40. Deliver Newspapers

41. Deliver Phone Books

42. Cut Firewood

Summary

1. Trade In Your Cell Phone and Put $475 in Your Pocket

Buyback Boss is who I continue to use whenever we upgrade to a new phone because they guarantee the most money for your phone and they send same-day payments via check or PayPal.

If you have an old phone in a drawer somewhere, why not sell it today and get paid ASAP? Think of that old phone as cash sitting in your drawer that you need right now.

You can also downgrade to last year’s model (often getting the phone for a few dollars with a new contract) and sell your current phone for up to $475. Here’s a screenshot I snapped of the latest offer I received on my current used phone (iPhone X) in good condition.

  2. Get Money Sent to Your PayPal For Your Opinion

Survey Junkie is a great place to start because cash can be deposited into your PayPal account, or you can get paid out via Amazon or Target gift cards for simply giving you opinion online.

We also have a full list of all different types of survey companies who are looking to pay people for their opinions on different products and brands. You can see the full list of the top survey companies here.

Our Top Pick: Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 4.4/5.

You can start making money today by checking out Survey Junkie here.

3. Deliver Food, Drinks and Groceries to People

Have you heard of Postmates?

Postmates is a service where people can order food, drinks and groceries and have them available for delivery or pickup. The people who provide that service and get paid, are people just like yourself.

Postmates states that experienced couriers can earn up to $25 an hour and work on their own hours.

However, if you only want to deliver groceries to people, then you should also sign up for Instacart.

Instacart pays people quickly to deliver groceries from grocery store to their clients doorstep. Currently, people working with Instacart are making anywhere from $50 – $1,000 per month as a side hustle.

4. Become an Uber Driver

Uber is a great option if you have a car and like interacting with people. There are two additional reasons to consider driving for Uber:

Flexible hours

Weekly pay

Signup incentive for new drivers

Another reason to consider Uber is for their schedule flexibility; you drive when you have time and aren’t beholden to a specific shift or having to be available at least X hours a week.

You can find more information here to determine if driving with Uber is right for you.

5.  Deliver for Uber Eats

Uber Eats allows you earn on your own schedule by delivering food from restaurants to people.

The best thing about Uber Eats is you get to choose your wheels based on the city you live in. Depending on your city, you can deliver for Uber Eats via your car, bike or scooter. Just turn on the app in the morning before work, when you get home, or whenever you have some extra time to make money on your terms.

Also, the driver qualifications are less stringent for Uber Eats. In case you don’t meet the age and vehicle requirements to be a full-fledged Uber driver, you can be an Uber Eats driver until then.

6. Become an Airbnb Host

Become and Airbnb Host and you can start making really good income each month. There are many of benefits to being a homeowner, including the option to rent out your unused rooms for cash. But, by becoming an Airbnb host, travelers stay in your spare bedroom, basement, or second house.

Real estate is one time-tested approach to earning passive income and Airbnb can be less stressful than being a full-time landlord or trying to fix and flip houses for a profit. And, you get to interact with visitors coming from all corners of the world!

7. Get Paid to Play Games

Yes, you can actually get paid to play games.

Mistplay is one of the very best places to get started.

The reason is online game creators need to have their games tested by real people before they launch it out to the market. 

For testing out their games on you mobile device, apps like Mistplay will pay via credits. These credits can then be cashed out in the form of different gift cards, including Visa or Amazon gift cards.

We also put together a full list of places that will pay you to play games here.

8. Save Money and Make Money with the Honey App

The Honey App will search every online coupon for you and apply the best promo code at your checkout for free. This is the first way to save money.

Also, for every 2 people you refer to Honey, they will pay you $10 in the form of popular gift cards like Amazon, Walmart and Target.

By reducing how much you spend, you won’t have to earn as much money from these side hustles. Honey makes it easy to save money when you shop online by automatically applying every known discount code to your order when you checkout.

If you shop at Amazon, Honey also compares the prices of third-party sellers to the current Amazon price to quickly spot the lowest price so you pay less for the exact same product.

With no additional effort, Honey saves you money on products you are going to purchase regardless. Now, make sure you put your savings to good use!

Read the Honey App review to discover Peach’s triple savings online shopping trick.

9. Complete Mini-Online Tasks

Swagbucks is the best place to start when for getting paid to complete tasks such as reading emails, surfing the web, playing games, shopping online and using mobile apps to name a few.

BONUS: One thing I really like about Swagbucks is the option to donate to one of the many charities they work with.

Our Top Pick: The most widely known company is Swagbucks, with a Trust Pilot Rating of 4.3/5..

With Swagbucks, you earn swagbucks that can be redeemed for cash via your PayPal or through gift cards to places like Walmart, Amazon, Express, or even Bass Pro Shops.

10. Trim Automatically Gets Rid of Your “Gray Charges”

Ask Trim makes it easy to “work smarter and not harder.”  For free, Trim monitors your spending, account balances, and can even reduce your monthly bill amount in the following categories:

Cable, cell phone, and internet

Car insurance

Unwanted subscriptions

With a single text message or Facebook Messenger request, Trim works on your behalf to find discounts on your current monthly bills or cancel the services–streaming plans including Hulu and Spotify, insurance, and gym membership– you no longer use but are still paying for.

You will realize the savings the next time you get ready to pay your bills and realize there’s more money in your bank account than usual; and you never lifted a finger.

Read our full Trim Review to learn about all of Trim’s benefits to save you money.

11. Get a quick $10 with Ebates (now called Rakuten)

Ebates sends you cash via PayPal for shopping online or in stories at places you already normally shop.

Let’s be clear, unnecessary shopping is one of the last activities you need to do if you need to get money fast, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a smart shopper for those unavoidable purchases. My wife and I shop with Ebates and get up to 40% cash back on nearly every online purchase.

Ebates cashback arrives once a quarter via PayPal or mailed check and you can get a bonus by referring your friends to shop with Ebates too. Using Ebates is like getting paid to shop.

Also, you can get a free $10 when you create an account with eBates today.

12. Become a TaskRabbit

There are people who need simple tasks completed but simply don’t have the time. Whether it’s putting together furniture from iKea, delivering a dresser across town, or trimming some overgrown bushes in the backyard – people will hire you.

Here are the top three places to find work using your phone:

TaskRabbit

OfferUp

Facebook Marketplace

Simply create a bio about yourself and then start looking for the task requests to pour in. I personally can tell you I utilize one of these three apps a week to find someone to do tasks for me!

13. Freelance Online with Fiverr

  Freelancing online with Fiverr is another great way to make money online. With Fiverr, you use your talents online without performing manual labor. Here are some of the possible gigs you can perform:

Writing blog posts

Graphic design

Website design

Creating YouTube videos

Translation

Proofreading

Voice Over

Jingles, sound effects, and songs

Similar to Fiverr, Upwork is another great platform for aspiring freelancers.

I have been freelancing online for the past two years and it’s been an excellent source of supplemental income because you can truly work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and get paid.

14. Sell Locally on Craigslist

Bulky items aren’t cost-effective to sell online because they cost too much to ship. When that’s the case, sell locally with Craigslist or another app to sell locally. We periodically sell our unwanted items during the year and pocket 100% profit because it’s free to sell on these apps.

Beyond Craigslist, there are also dozens of other similar websites where you can sell your stuff locally as well.

15. Scan Grocery Receipts and Get $10

Earlier we told you ways to make money delivering through places like Postmates, Instacart and Uber Eats. However, there is still other money to be made by simply scanning grocery receipts.

Scanning grocery receipts for money is a real thing and there are over 20 apps that allow you to get started. While some are better than others, we recommend starting with the most popular receipts scanning app, Ibotta.

Our Top Pick: We like Ibotta because you can redeem digital offers plus your regular coupons for many food items at most supermarkets and even discount stores like Walmart and Target, and you also get a $10 sign-up bonus. When your rewards balance reaches $20, you can request PayPal payment or a gift card.

16. Picking Up Dog Poop

You can also make money picking up dog poop when you don’t have the time to walk dogs or pet sit. Why? Because it only takes a few minutes to clean up a backyard compared to keeping a pet for several hours.

One man operates a full-time business picking up dog poop for a premium in the Phoenix area. You can scroll down to #70 on this side hustle list to see a video of how he turned dog poop into a full-time income.

17. Cancel Your Cable TV Subscription

The average household cable TV bill is over $120 a month and most people only watch 20 of the 100s of channels to choose from. We dumped our cable years ago and use services like Hulu for our favorite shows with SlingTV for a total of $26/month (and no contracts).

By cutting the cord, you instantly save $100 a month on cable TV by streaming live and on-demand programming over your high-speed internet. Sling TV can be watch with any flat screen TV, computer, or mobile device.

BONUS: If you’re a fan of the 90’s TGIF shows like me, Hulu now offers Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, Perfect Strangers and Hangin with Mr. Cooper.

18. Switch to a Health Sharing Plan

You may not realize it, but health insurance is one of the largest monthly expenses. Switching to an affordable health sharing plan saves my family 75% in health insurance premiums compared to traditional health insurance. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best financial moves we made when I became self-employed.

Our Top Pick: There are many great health sharing options, but our favorite is Medi-Share because of the affordability AND their own MDLive program: a FREE add on that gives you 24/7 access to a doctor visit via your smartphone, which saves you time and money on co-pays!

19. Refinance Your Debt

High interest rates on unsecured debt like credit cards will cause you to pay thousands of dollars more than the original amount borrowed.

Our Top Pick: Credible is the company we recommend because they tell you right away what your new rates will be. Unlike some other personal loan companies, Credible does not have any origination or application fees, and they make it simple to get started with only one form to fill out which should only take about 2 minutes. They also have a Trustpilot Rating of 9.5/10.

Instead of paying 15% – 24% interest rates on your credit cards, you may be able to lower your interest rate down to 4.99%!

Not a bad way to spend 2 minutes at all if it can save you thousands of dollars in interest to the bank.

20. Rent Out Your Car

If you don’t drive your car every day or have the time to be an Uber driver, you can make some extra cash by renting your car on Turo. You can earn approximately $541 a month ($6,501 a year) when your car is worth $20,000 and it’s borrowed 15 days a month. This income can easily cover your monthly insurance premium and car payment.

Considering most cars are depreciating assets that lose value every day and cost money to maintain, renting your car on Turo is one of the very few ways your car can actually make money for you.

You will receive payment within five days after a rental period ends.

21. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

Sometimes, you don’t have to work to make money because you already have it in unwanted gift cards. Instead of letting your gift cards collect dust, sell them on Gift Card Granny.

You can sell your unused and partially used gift cards quickly with three different selling options:

Sell It Now

Name Your Price

Trade In

Gift Card Granny finds the best price on the top gift card marketplaces and you get paid almost instantly when a sale is made.

I have sold several gift cards online almost always within 24 hours of posting and payment is sent via PayPal within three business days. Selling gift cards is one of the quickest ways to get money fast because of the quick turnaround.

22. Sell Unused Clothing

As your fashion tastes change or your children grow older, you might find yourself with a closet full of clothes you’ll never wear again. While you can sell them at a yard sale or local consignment shop, you might also consider selling online at thredUP for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing.

For designer clothing you wish to keep but don’t plan to wear in the near future, Rent the Runway lets you rent your high-end articles for up to one month at a time.

Finally, my wife has also had success selling on eBay and Poshmark. To increase the odds of selling your items, make sure to take plenty of pictures and consider wearing them or putting them on a mannequin so the buyer can visualize how the item fits.

23. Sell Your Old Books

You can also make a quick buck by selling your used books and textbooks that you’ll no longer read. Selling our old books is another way we boost our income each year and you can start with these three sites:

Amazon Marketplace

Cash4Books

Bookscouter (Textbooks only)

Selling is easy as you only have to enter the ISBN to receive an instant quote from Cash4Books and Bookscouter. If you like the price, you ship the books for free using their prepaid shipping label and you will be paid via PayPal once your shipment arrives and is processed.

I recommend using Bookscouter for selling your textbooks as they compare the prices of 42 buyback vendors in a single search; saving you time while finding the best buyer.

24. Sell Movies, Music, and Video Games

You can also make some extra cash by selling your old DVDs, CDs, and video games with Bonavendi. With their app, you can scan barcodes and compare the prices of 28 companies including Amazon and Best Buy.

25. Sell Old Electronics

Decluttr can be the most efficient app to sell your old electronics, smartphone, and tech gadgets. The Decluttr app scans item barcodes and you receive next-day payments via PayPal and direct deposit once Decluttr receives your shipment. College students can also receive a 10% bonus payment to earn a little extra cash.

26. Sell Used Furniture

Did you recently upgrade your living room or dining room set? If there’s still some life in your old furniture collection, get a few bucks for it. Craigslist or letgo can be your best friend to attract college students and young couples that only need something affordable, but Trove Market is another option for more valuable pieces.

27. Sell Your Car

Another way to raise cash quickly is to sell a car you no longer need. Even if you need to sell your fancy ride and drive a clunker instead, how else can you access $10,000+ instantly.

I sold my $20,000 sports car and now drive a very reliable $4,000 vehicle instead. Although I don’t turn as many heads as before, the $16,000 in cash proceeds was split between our savings and an extra house payment.

28. Have a Yard Sale

Decluttering helps you discover a small fortune sitting underneath your roof. The only problem is that you must sell your stuff to get cash. Having a yard sale is one of the quickest ways to sell most of your items in a weekend.

Coordinating your yard sale with your neighborhood sale is a good idea, but you should also post your sale on:

Craigslist

Facebook Marketplace

Your local newspaper

29. Donate Plasma

There’s a perpetual demand for plasma to treat rare, chronic diseases and you can make $400 each month by donating plasma. Maybe this is something you or your friends did in college for some extra “weekend money.” You must be at least 110 pounds, at least 18-years-old in most states to donate and free of certain illnesses.

30. Babysit

Parents sometimes need a break–date night— from their children and need to hire a babysitter. Besides asking for your family and friends for gigs, you can always advertise your services on Care.com.

31. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Animals need loving too and you can make just as much money pet sitting when their owners leave town or work long hours. Dog walking is another daily hustle opportunity as you take the dogs on their daily walk so their owner doesn’t have to.

Believe it or not, some professional dog walkers make $100,000 a year for doing something that millions of dog owners do every day for free.

Two places to begin advertising your pet sitting and dog walking services are Care and Rover.

32. Clean Houses

If you keep a clean house, put your skills to work by cleaning other people’s houses or office buildings in your spare time. Care.com can help you connect you with homeowners that don’t have the time to clean their house. Another great resource is Craigslist and looking in the “Part-Time Jobs” section.

33. Mow Lawns

When the grass is green, make money mowing lawns in your neighborhood and around town. Mowing lawns can be the perfect seasonal job if you need to make extra money in the summer when school is out or there’s more sunlight to work outside in the evenings.

34. Shovel Snow

You can also make money during the winter shoveling driveways and sidewalks. By owning a truck and plow, you can earn more keeping parking lots clean. Because snow removal is more labor-intensive than mowing a lawn, you can earn more per property than mowing (I did at least).

35. Clean Gutters and Rake Leaves

In the fall, you can also rake leaves and clean gutters before winter sets in. Once again, these are simple tasks that most homeowners simple don’t enjoy doing and offer a decent income if you enjoy working outside.

36. Pressure Wash Houses

Most houses need to be pressure washed every two or three years to maintain that “new” look. Many homeowners either don’t own a pressure washer or don’t have the time to keep their siding clean. You can advertise your services online or simply start knocking on doors to get your first clients.

37. Paint Houses

If you own a paint sprayer, can smoothly roll paint, or know how to seamlessly cut in wall edges, painting houses is another possibility. This is one task most homeowners won’t attempt on their own, especially if they aren’t a skilled painter or they are preparing to sell their house and want a professional-quality job.

38. Become a Handyman

Property management is a huge business beyond yard work, you can use your hands to help your neighbors with various home tasks with Takl or TaskRabbit including:

Home improvement

Mounting and installing new household devices

Furniture assembly

Moving and packing

39. Collect Scrap Metal

You or your family and friends might have a garage full of old household appliances. Maybe you have acquired a small scrap metal collection from your other side hustle opportunities. Regardless of how you (legally) collect your scrap, taking your ferrous and non-ferrous metal to a local scrap yard will yield an instant payment.

Some of the best ferrous and non-ferrous metals to collect are:

Aluminum

Brass

Copper

Steel

You will get the best price by bringing a single, large load compared to many small loads–even if they’re the same weight. Scrap yards have an easier time selling larger quantities to buyers and reward you with a volume bonus for making their job easier.

40. Deliver Newspapers

Newspaper routes are a steady part-time income stream if you can work in the early morning hours before your regular job or classes. If there are multiple newspaper in your town, you can also apply for a route that might deliver only a few days per week–instead of all seven– if you can’t commit to delivering papers every day of the week.

41. Deliver Phone Books

A one-time, seasonal hustle is delivering phone books five days a week. You need to be at least 18-years-old and have a driver’s license to participate. PDC is one of the largest delivery companies and they might be looking for delivery people like you.

42. Cut Firewood

Many people still heat their houses with wood in the winter or need wood for summer camping trips, but they don’t have access to their own firewood source. Or, they don’t have the time to cut their own wood. Cutting and delivering firewood is another in-demand income stream.

Summary

It doesn’t matter if you want to pursue a side hustle, sell some of your belongings, or cut spending, there are multiple ways to get money fast. We all have different skills and schedules so you pick the ideas that work best for you. No matter which ideas you pick, you can’t go wrong because you’re improving your financial situation.

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42 Ways to Get Money When You Need Money Now published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

[whimsically-ominously-auspice]

For yoh 300+ in group chat..

You seek Alex to learn more

0% of yoh ask him to seek me for knowledge when he says he doesn't know nor care.

Why? Why have you done this to yourself and the world?

Why? I pay you millions of dollars and you don't have the ability to foresee if you ask him to seek me i would post here and help the entire world -- Zillions of people.

Why is this so? Why do you not have the ability to help?

Is it fear of the Alex? Fear of me?

Or you just trust me So much that you know it will work?

Remember others do not. And i do not know the questions you seek answers to until i asked.

So help me help them, if you don't understand they (the world) don't either.

Only 49% have made the correlation to human traffic Victims comfort and the Quarantine and Social Distancing.

I make it graphic, i make it so visibly disturbing that they remember and understand on a Depth level that the heart forces the mind to comply.

So seek me So i can help the world to understand. I need questions worded a certain way. Without complaints.

Oh and also all illegal aliens and evil people -- the 45% of the known population -- will now have access to their DNA4U immediately disconnected. And all money that was available will go to a charity introducing childhood chastity and for more gifts for our living and survivors.

In places where access to DNA4U is used to gain access to food and other commodities you will br jailed indefinitely.

Simple swab will reallow you into the system. So allow the officer to swab you.

.... ....

Amazon employees got credits of $300 each because i had a public fit degrading their characters. I degraded the character of each employee. For that i apologize whole heartedly with tears because i was in a panic. It was hours until my precious people were kidnapped. So please enjoy your credits to shop on smile.Amazon.com -- remember world shopping at smile.Amazon.com allows Amazon to donate money based off a percentage of your shopping price to the charity of your choice.

Using the app donates to: Thorn (9 years), Cancer Society of America which prevents cancer treatments with chemo and radiation and uses only necessary surgeries, Shoes for Kids Across America, Turtle Evaluation to keep record of my endangered sea turtles i love so much, Food Distributions for low income families and homeless.

They get 1% each of each sale made in the Amazon app. We take 5% of all sales then we put it in a pot. At the end of the month we take it and divide it by 5 then pay it out.

But at smile.Amazon.com you get to pick where your 5% goes directly to.

Amazon employees must use smile they are not allowed to purchase from the app. They must independently choose where their donations go.

When using credits up to 15% of their purchase prices will be donated. At least 7%

Susan Coleman gets 4% normally cause they send 1% to another charity so we also send another 1% to the Muscle Dystrophy of America. So they get 8% and Muscle Dystrophy of America ends up with 4%

Money does not heal all wounds so remember social distancing. Remember wealth is in your heart and not in your hands unless it is a good human body that you touch.

Susan Coleman is Susan B. Anthony so that is an exciting home school project! She made the United States of America's 13 colonies flag. And much more.

So she also designed your colonies flags when you rejoin the Union. Up to 6 choices. For some she made 10. Queen Elizabeth II don't worry about a seamstress for your honors. We in the Americas remembered to honor and love home.

So we will gift you a wall template of all 6 flags per home. Also the voted pick in multiple sizes. And your personal 2nd and 3rd votes in smaller sizes. 3x5 and then a hand waver for each pick. 2 of each for the most voted

You are colonies. May your flag wave proud from the privacy of your bedroom where you've named it a sovereign country as you are allowed to.

Your vote choices you are allowed 3 for your colony's flag. You will receive a velvet embroidered cloth flag -- velvet on both sides. The size of a Queen size bed.

Then you will receive a printed microfiber blanket that mimics velvet of the United States of America Flag and then your current local state you reside in.

for all other countries. Like Italy. Italy is broken into Provinces. You will receive 2 embroidered velvet blankets of your Flag of Italy, your Province reasoning explained On the verse side. Then you will gain long 84" sheer curtains with the Constitution of the United States legible printed on them and the Declaration of Independence.

The curtains are see through. It allows light and sight to expand in the explained mind.

Futhermore the print is dark dark the darkest of black that looks almost like you can put your hands through the curtains lettering.

The words live. They float in the breeze of the air. They enter your heart, your mind, your tummy filled with guts.

There is nothing hidden behind or in the words. You can clearly see that. The words are honest and good and what we live by via government standards.

Worldwide are curtains. Blankets also.

Alex and i love the dark in a bedroom so the blankets include a black linen fabric to protect the flags and the blankets have loops. They are discreet and blend in with the blanket in an acceptable style and fashion.

So you may like to hang them. Also you can hang on walls. And curtain hooks and so on are provided as well.

Picnics. We will have better land. So the grass will be super soft and kind to us like velvet. But if you like to claim your own space and have s more valid sense of cleanliness they would be great especially for movie in the park nights.

Keep in your car for emergencies where you don't have a coat and you end up stranded. Or you want to stay over to sleep impromptu. Because drinking or late night film watching.

Don't worry we put yours and the world favorite names on them and your soulmates too

Aleins Favorite is Cleopatra. So i have allowed that as well it will help us realize our miskates. How we were used and manipulated.

Alex's favorite is Jesus.

World Favorite... Bonnie and Clyde.

Human favorite is Echinacea.

My favorite is Sabrina Leigh Jennings-Telles... Oh and you know all the rest i do just love me to death.

Tree favorite is Super Echinacea Archive. The Sea. And Tree original names. And since we knew all the same things they called me that too. It is i crested them when we went to live underwater as mermaids. I had to leave wisdom and guidance behind. So that is their Official Name. And if you have something very serious or dear to you all trees will turn in and completely 100% focus on you and will not multi task. As they usually do. They will treat you different. Very very formal as if you rule the world. And you do. I often think each mind is it's own world.

So on either side of the blanket one side lists who the other what.

So

Favorite of:

Humans

Animals

Etc

The other side of the same verse of the blanket flag has a column of names that is the favorite. The "what" because you will ask "what made it their favorite?"

So animals also get flag blankets of their preferred material.

So for the names you fold the blanket length wise them open one colum side and you can easier see the matches there will be instructions included.

You will not have a family crest. You will have half a crest at the center bottom or top of some of each flag blanket. It will match to the soulmate you have. Fold one and lay it atop the other.

Also you'll have s shield for your bedroom or if family wants to design living room or hallway is the absolute best with the crest upon it.

Then in the school store you'll have it uploaded and you can buy crested gear.

So we sre bringing the Pride of the Medieval as we have survived all wars.

So surf the wars upon your couched and sofas and favorite comfy chairs... Remember ice cream time.

Savor the cow milk flavours in the future you MUST make it at home with human breast milk.

Enjoy it. Cheese should be expected also.

Next week we add Cheese to your Whine. Both are ordered to ring up cheaper world wide and kids may sip or drink sparkling cider. The white grape is alcohol free but taste JIST like wine.

Countries worldwide are in competition for lowest prices and will receive prizes. There is a minimum of $1 per item. Or one Euro. Wherever you live that translates into about $1 for some countries it's 25 cents and that is fine.

South America you'll have the same fine free. Complying to be happy is your competition.

We have happiness meters on our cruise ships believe it or not. We have big Care Bear meter in all dining halls. Because the sky is scary to some so. We can turn it off if necessary.

The sky btw is recorded live with a 3 second feed lag time. So you will actually see what is outside your ship. The Windows also. So you won't miss a thing. Even when you're laying in bed. Rooms tho are a projection t.v. not all screens. So it's not crystal clear perfect like the dining halls. Unless your room is absolutely dark aside from the projector.

So many features come with that also. Like the bed can pretend to be a kayak and you pretend to row and it actually takes you to,real life where you row in real time.

It will automatically record and save to the DBR if you are in contact with sea life. Its a pretty amazing feature. It puts you and your boat outside and so it merges the reality of what occurred. You can talk to the sea life with esp. And even pet them with your soul metaphysical and they will see you in,their mind the reality of where you are. Its amazing.

So you will,get saved what they saw and what you saw and then a merge so it's like you was out on the water for reals.

They can even take you under water to see their homes.

Its one of the most blessed contraptions I've ever made. So,much love and amazement was poured into it.

There's rules and you could get banned. But I don't think anyone would really except a wild child and they would have a therapy conscious meeting with tree to see if the ban was necessary

Like some whales will say "hit me and we will go" but when you hit its a soft gentle pat. Even if you try to wham them. So if you're whacking every sea creature you see that is not correct behavior and you must listen to each animal to see how they went to be treated.

Dolphins and some whales will jist throw you on their back and take control of your whole day.

Turtles will ask you "now would you like to go see...." "Do you want to go with me now to..."

And you must ask to pet them. "May i touch you?"

Turtles hide their soft skin in their shell. They act afraid like an abused victim.

So ships with abused victims from violence will spend a lot of time in turtle areas. Because they will feel most comfortable. They will have the understanding.

Hyper activate children that aren't gentle will also be there.

First with the shark bait undertool swamp mate. Very similar to the blue whale. He will say to touch him.

Then the transfer information to the turtle well,the turtle Didjt say? What do i do?

Hopeful the child then thinks for itself and thinks oh i should ask!

If a turtle offers a shell,ride he will give rules about touching his body.

So this is per room. It will be real animals and you mind teleport there. Using technology to help clear it in your minds.

Because of the Zulululu and Orbits we have severe damage. To,what we can see, this will heal us

I have extreme damage. Alex has none. 92% of all world population. 32% of outdoor land has damage.

My total damage is 34% but it feels like 100 sometimes

Alex says it looks like it

But when he's being good with me he will say "you're seeing the visual wrong but yoh understand"

It's good enough to rule the world.

Again i have to experience so i can heal others. Or see.

In the future i will only have to window look like I used to.

But too much damage was occurring and how ?

So for the last 58 years Alex and I have gone through every social disorder imaginable that aliens created and gave to my precious humans.

So when i say i will kill on your behalf its Because i have experienced the Hell you have. Not licked it. Ate it and died from it. I have.

Survive and Fight for my own dignity i will. I stand for you my loved ones. My humans whom have no ideas they are special.

[ali-explains-it-all]

Journal time

I would much rather a paper journal but this is what I have right now so here we go.

Life has been pretty chill for a while. Then it kind of came to a head. Jace got a job and hurt his knee really badly. So he was fired but they claim he quit. What the fuck ever. He’s miserable about it and it sucks. I hate it for him. Like that sucks. I think they realized they can’t fire him for getting hurt so they lied. It’s a prison so they are obvi currupt. Well let’s talk about Jaces knee. We have been trying to get him seen forever. Insurance took forever to accept everything. US health system at large. ( eye rolls ) but eventually it did and Jace got his MRI. The MRI dude was like ‘ I can’t tell you what I seen but it’s been to come in when you feel pain than to let it get that bad ‘ . And then he went in for his next appointment that Monday. WELL they rescheduled him last minute for the 13th of this month. It’s the 6th and his doctor called today after seeing the MRI and being like ‘ don’t bother with the next appointment. It’s an emergency. We can get you in on Thursday. ‘ and proceeded to tel him that his knee cap is torn off and he doesn’t know how Jace walks. And said that his  Cartledge is non existent and he has arthritis. And other stuff I didn’t unferstand like a torn membrain. Jace has been in extreme pain for months now and his fucking family acts like what he’s going through is nothing. His mom constantly getting mad he isn’t doing things for her. When she should be helping him. He is literally crippled. His sister asking him to do everything. Side story his sister and her family are homeless right now. Her husband quits jobs faster than anyone I’ve ever known. He can make up to like 20 dollars an hour and he is just like ‘ how about I just stay home instead ‘. And he doesn’t want to watch the kids so he doesn’t let Jaces sister Juliette get a good job either. She was offered to live in two different houses to themselves for free and they turned them down because her husband Adam wasn’t allowed there. Why not? He doesn’t like them and he’s an asshole. He said some really mean stuff about their uncle and he’s never come to their grandmas anything. And he refuses to be a man and take care of his family. He just gives them rules. So none of them want him around. So their homeless. Not finding jobs to fix this matter and are in a charity apartment that lasts 90 days. This is their second charity apartment which means they had about two 90 day periods. And now they are almost out of time. Yet to have kept a job. Juliette has straight up ruined job opportunities by yelling at employers because they made mistakes. And called into other jobs because she didn’t feel like working and expected them to be okay with it. Like no. No job let’s you miss the first day. What? But she expects us to help her all the time. And sure why not help. When we needed help she has turned us down. She has never done me a solid. She got me Christmas gifts. I love them and use them. Very thankful for those gifts even though she shop lifted them. But when we were in a bad place she was like ‘ nah ‘. Which is her choice. We still helped her all the time. She asked jace to do insane things he couldn’t do because he as I said earlier has a list of things wrong with his right knee. When he said no he physically couldn’t do those things. Like watch her kids for her. No. Her son who is clearly autistic and she doesn’t bother to get him diagnosed and get him into places that can teach him and help him. He is way too much for us. We have Lorelei and Zoey. And Zoey has autism and she is a handful all on her own. Arabella her daughter is chill. No problem what so ever. But Jack will hurt himself 90% of the time. He will step on Lorelei and throw stuff that can hurt her and him. He could hurt Jace. Like it’s way too much him and I. I couldn’t do it all on my own either. Jack sadly is just watch too much for me. But any other time we have helped her. At Christmas dinner at her memaws she started talking shit about everyone.

Well Christmas Day was supposed to be Jaces mom, Juliette , her two kids, Jace , Lorelei , Zoey and i. We were gonna have this spread of family dinner. Juliette was donated so much food and SHE offered to use that for dinner since it was donated so she would have a Christmas dinner. Which was cool. And then while she was at their memaws for some reason Adam decided to be the trash can he is and said he didn’t want us to have the food. That Jace is lazy and won’t keep a job. And he doesn’t want to waste it on him or any of us. So Jaces mom made meatloaf. Which I PREFER meatloaf. I was so happy. Then Bruce Jaces uncle told him why. And guess what? Jace didn’t believe it. He thought Bruce was lying because Adam was mean to him. So Jace called his mom and his mom said it was true. So Jace called Juliette and asked and she just dogged us so hard. Like she said I never cleaned and called me lazy. I literally am the only person who cleans this fucking apartment. I’m the only person who does almost anything here. I just cleaned Jaces moms bathroom because she doesn’t bother. They will live in filth and complain but not get up from their laptops and do anything. I was pregnant and couldn’t walk and this place was a fucking pigstye. I clean so much. But she was like ‘ I have been to your house. I see it ‘. Like first of all you selfish person. I have been to your apartment multiple times and I seen how fucking disgusting it was. Your last apartment smelled so bad. Food everywhere and trash piled up. Smelling of decomposing food and mildew. Did I judge you? NO. You have two kids, a mental illness and an actual worthless husband who has to be paid to watch his own kids. Yes I know your mom had to pay him so he would watch them. So I understood. It’s hard to keep the place clean. Jack is a tornado in and of himself. There is no such thing as clean. But you come here all high and mighty thinking you know me because you happen to come and some bad days of mine. And complaining that I don’t work. Lady I have a child with autism who has picca and BM issues. I also have no ride to work. I don’t have a car. But I do pay bills. Since I get a check for Zoey. I clean this apartment all the fucking time. I cook dinner for everyone. I buy food for everyone. I buy a lot of stuff to make sure this apartment still runs. I pay bills. I may not have a job but I bring so much fucking value to this home. Don’t even act like I am worthless when you guys spent so much money on pot and fast food and couldn’t afford your bills. Because hey I don’t use my money on things I can’t afford. Like hey I haven’t had new pants in over a year. I’ve had one new shirt. But it for shrunk in the dryer and it doesn’t fit anymore. So basically I have ratty ass clothes and I look like shit but you know what. I make sure we have what we need. I don’t spent it on pot. So coming at me and judging me is so ignorant when I have time and time again been so nice. I help any way I can. And you know what? I know why you’re like this about me. Because you wanted me to give you my Hulu password so your husband who can’t do anything for himself or his family can watch it while he’s at work. It made me uncomfortable. First your mom told me it was for him then you tried to lie to me and say it was for you. I didn’t answer you because it makes me uncomfortable when people lie to me. Then you keep bothering me about it. And then you say it is for him. Jace answers you and says no. I don’t wanna share with him and be his reason to not work. Or his reason he got fired. I pay 30 dollars for my Hulu. I let you use it before because I didn’t think you’d abuse it. But I don’t want that. I don’t want him to give my account out either. I don’t trust him. I am honestly so fucking worthwhile. I am so nice and caring and loving. I provide and help. I am annoying and I sick at doing dishes and remembering to put stuff in the dryer. But I do my best. And sitting around being a cunt because your life sucks isn’t okay.

Then tonight I finally get Lorelei asleep. And as you know. Jaces mom moved in with us because at first she wanted to save money. And eventually move. But Jace lost his job and now she helps with bills. Before she didn’t . Now she does. I am so thankful. But she is so mean these days since Jace is hurt. Side story - Which is insane since she was hurt in June and was laid up for over a month and we didn’t even complain. But he’s injured and can’t do everything for her and she’s mad all the time. Like this is what she does. She wanted a dog and encouraged it. We got a dog and loved him. She had to take him out sometimes. She got tired of that real fast and found him a new owner before even asking if we wanted to give him away. Jace worked a lot and he couldn’t always walk him. And Jaces mom hated this dog because he was a lot of work and took up a lot of space. And Jace felt like he had to. And Jace cried for months about this. And that’s what his mom does. Well now she is mad all the time because she’s inconvenienced. Tonight I finally get Lorelei to sleep and we are in the living room because Jace is asleep and I can’t do anything to wake him up. He needs his sleep turned around for his surgery Thursday. And we have an open concept place. The kitchen is connected to the living room. She comes in and sees me with all the lights out and my computer screen off and sees Lorelei asleep with her baby music on and then she walks into the kitchej and turns on the light. Fine if it doesn’t bother Lorelei it’s fine. But it did. And I asked if she could turn the light off while she uses the microwave. Lorelei is trying to sleep. Note that she was also slamming things. But I didn’t bring that up. I asked nicely and she yelled at me. Telling me she can’t use it without the lights on and why isn’t Lorelei in her bed anyways. And I explained that Lorelei has to be fully asleep before I move her or she will wake up and be awake all night long. And she got so mad but turned off the light. And I get it. It’s annoying to have to do that. But she came in at 9pm. And she seen me yesterday using my phone light to cook. I don’t expect her to do something if I don’t do it. But I do it too. I put the baby first. I don’t even think she likes Lorelei. She literally has told jace that Lorelei isn’t allowed to eat French fries because she doesn’t want Lorelei to be the fat cousin. EXCUSE ME. What?

Lately Jace has been so loving and sweet and caring. He got me so many gifts. And loved on me. Gave me the best sex and have been pretty much fulfilling my needs. I am so thankful. One part of my life is going well. Just everyone else is just testing me. My kindness can run out though.

[jademoghulblog]

Back to School: 30+ Tips to Start a Great School Year

Summer is slowly winding down. Even though with just a couple of weeks left for the summer traditions, many parents are already thinking about the transition back to the new school year.

For some, it may be a whole new and even an overwhelming experience as their first child starts kindergarten. For others, it is what they have been doing year after year every September. But for some, the day after Labour Day signifies a fresh new start. This fresh new start could be a new set of goals set both for parents and students alike. Planning to take up new challenges, promises made to oneself and others, and most of all the struggle to get back in to an affective  school routine.

Planning, prioritizing, organizing and preparing is the crucial solution to make impending daily routine adjustments easier for you child and yourself as well. Remember, as a parent, the more prepared you are and the more control of this entire schedule you have, the kids will catch on your lead, follow your example and will gradually blend in to the routine.

It is important to outline and prioritize tasks. Keep your cool, do not be too hard on yourself to “prove “to be a “Do It All” parent. Remind yourself again and again to be supportive of your kids at the beginning and throughout the school year. All this will help prepare your child to relax and transform effortlessly and successfully to the new school year.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to other experienced moms and dads and snag a few pointers and tips as well. Here are a few organization tips and routine ideas to help you stay composed and top of your game.

Back to School Shopping

Before you head out to the stores with a stack full of flyers and coupons and an aim to buy everything on the list, it is always advisable to assess the needs of your kids. Schedule time with each child to go through a wardrobe inventory. Toss away any damaged and outgrown pieces of clothing. They should immediately be placed in a younger child’s closet or packed away to be donated to charitable organizations. Have the child prepare a list of the clothing items that they will need. Gym clothes, indoor and outdoor shoes.

Now is also a good time to stress on the child to practice reusing and recycling their clothes, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes and other stationary items that have enough use life left in them. A nice new outfit for the first day would be nice for the first day pics or even the school pictures that come later. Invest in the closet organisers that have separate days printed on each shelf. Now your child can plan a week’s worth of outfits all by themselves. Undergarments and socks can also be added to the shelf for a quick change in those busy mornings.

Hold on till the last minute athletic sales for purchasing shoes and gym wear.

School supply lists can be helpful as well as long and sometimes repetitive. Send your kids on a scavenger hunt around their rooms so they can check off their lists. This will help curb unnecessary purchases and your child will not end with three calculators.

Shopping solo for school supplies maybe faster, but online shopping is another option and sometimes a better bet. They will be more excited about using the cool stuff that they picked out.

Adjusting the Sleep Cycle

This is perhaps the greatest challenge for parents and children alike as most of us tend to be more relaxed with the sleep hours during the summer break. A week before schools open, start practicing sleep times and nightly routines that look similar to school night routines. Set up an alarm so that everyone is up and about as they normally would during school days.

For the first week of school, try not to overschedule with appointments, activities and playdates in order for the kids to adjust to their routines.

Follow Night Routines

Establish a regular nightly routine with kids. Be firm on the time and that they follow a nightly task schedule. You can make a Task chart and hang it on their walls. The tasks can include preparing and packing their backpacks, getting the school outfit ready, changing into their sleep wear, brushing their teeth and of course the story time. This will encourage them to be prepared and set stress free for the next morning, with less running around or being clueless as to what to wear.

Putting Safety First

It is very important for kids to know there home addresses and cell numbers of their parents or guardians. You may consider writing them on a piece of cardboard, laminate it and placed in their back packs but it is still advisable to help them practice remembering them by heart as well.

If your child is walking to school with or without you, take a walk to school using the same route that you intend to use to get to school. The child will feel comfortable and familiar with their surroundings. Point out any crossings, broken paths, traffic signals on the way. Talk about safe crossing and looking all ways, left, right and back before crossing.

If your child takes the bus, make sure that you go over the bus safety rules over and over again really important

Even though schools are usually equipped with first aid supplies, there is no harm in packing a tiny kit with a few band aids, alcohol wipes and emergency contact numbers.

Personal Hygiene

Your kids may be able to go to the bathrooms on their own but it is necessary to keep reminding them to take extra caution while using the toilet. Highlighting the importance of washing hands after going to the washroom, when coming back from outdoor play, before and after meals or snacks is really necessary. And it all starts at home as practice makes a second habit. You will experience fewer colds and coughs, lesser trips to the doctor and a happy, healthy child and a well rested you.

Plan Ahead

Usually, school holiday calendars are available online before school starts. It pays a lot to have the calendar displayed in front of the entire family, so that vacations, trips and family visits can be outlined. Birthdays and special outings can be decided on. A yearly calendar with large displays for everyday of the month comes in handy at this time, as all you have planned can be recorded immediately. Remember to enter all school special holidays on the calendar so you won’t regret an event that you had been silently planning and looking forward to this year.

Mark special reminders in the calendar to buy teachers gifts and similar necessities in time saving you several dreaded trips to the mall. Buying gift cards in bulk at discounted prices can be used for any occasion including surprise birthday invitations that were forgotten in the back packs.

Paper Organization

While you are buying a good yearly calendar, remember to grab those sturdy decorative cardboard boxes. You are about to experience an avalanche of paper as soon as school opens. Assign a box to each child. Make sure all artwork, signed tests, and other keepsakes are placed in these boxes. At the end of the year you can sit with your child to choose 2-3 pieces of art work to be either displayed on the wall or that goes in the scrapbook. Another tip is to take pictures of all the projects and store them in separate folders. This is a good way to hold on to all your child’s creative works while not feeling guilty and avoiding piles and piles of paper that take up so much space.

Managing the After School Chaos

The after school routine of snacks and homework and activities is probably the hardest time of the day. Here are a few pointers to make this time relaxing for everyone to ‘Unwind” after a hard day of work.

Consider turning off your phone and computers and do not answer any calls from friends and family. Pay attention to your kids. Your family will also understand and respect your timeline.

You can give the kids 15-20 minutes of relaxation time to decompress. Set up a timer and as soon as it goes off, the kids can start their after school tasks.

Another way to use this time effectively is to be prepared with yummy and healthy snacks. Children can start with their food as soon as they walk in. (After washing their hands, of course).

While the kids are snacking, you can go through each and every back pack to see if there are papers that need signing, or school trip forms that need to be filled in or birthday invitations.

Organize a work station with all the supplies necessary to tackle homework. Have your kids go straight to homework after snack, so it it’s not hanging on everyone’s head all night. And the kids can go play as soon as it is done.

But most of all be ready with bear hugs, snuggles and casual chit chat, not necessarily about school only. You never know what kind of a day your child has had and an immediate hug can melt away any stress and calm them down.

Meal Planning

Packing your kids school lunches that are both healthy and satisfying while covering the essential food pyramid can be a little daunting but with a little planning and some preparation can actually turn out to be simple and fun. A healthy school lunch is comprised of three main food groups which include sufficient sources of protein, fats and carbohydrates. Morning time can be a little stressful as far as preparing a homemade lunch is concerned but with these tips and ideas, you can make maximum use of your limited time in the mornings.

Prefer reusable lunch containers that are BPA free. Insulated food boxes are a good choice to keep lunches warm and fresh all day.

You can sit in the family room with a paper and pencil while the entire family is there, watching TV or playing games and casually jot down lunch and snack ideas. Ask the kids to contribute ideas under lists marked for ‘Lunch’, ’Fruits’, ’Veggies’ and ‘Treats’. Kids are more likely to enjoy foods that they had thought of. It will not only cover everyone’s favorites but you can now rush to the grocery with an entire list ready without much fuss.

Try doubling up family favorites such as pastas and baked casseroles to be packed for lunches later that week.

Keep easy foods at hands all times like tacos, tortillas and pizza crusts that can be filled or topped up with dinner leftovers.

Try a different breakfast each morning of the week so you are infusing variety. Example; Cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles and eggs. Batter for some types can be prepared the night before and the kids can even make their own waffles in the waffle iron.

Leftover chicken can be shredded and portioned. Add different spices like Fajita or Tandoori and add the chicken to sandwiches and wraps.

Make sure to add a lot of fruits and veggies for snacks. Your school lunch can comprise of a main lunch, 3 to 4 portions of fruits and veggies and a sweet treat twice or thrice a week.

To make lunches healthier, consider using whole grain breads and tortillas for wraps.

Pack different food groups in a portioned box and involve kids in creating their own healthier version of lunchables. They can build their own mini pizza with grain tortillas, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. Or fill their own tacos with lean ground turkey, cheese, cherry tomatoes and lettuce. They can put together a favorite parfait by adding berries and granola to Greek yogurt.

For drinks introduce them to fruit shakes and smoothies or fruit infused water for enhanced vitamins and nutrients.

Avoid as much as you can, flavored chips and snacks that contain high amounts of MSGs and are loaded with artificial additives. If you crave these crunchies, try swapping them with natural alternatives like veggie straws, crackers and natural popcorn.

Though they may seem the easiest solution to beat the morning rush, pre packaged meals are often more expensive than home prepared lunches and seriously lack any kind of nutritional value.

Sweets can be used as special treats for a good performance or a birthday but should be avoided as much as possible.

At the beginning of the school year, prepare a bunch of handwritten notes with inspirational quotes, jokes or a special message and add to your kid’s lunch boxes. Keep a sharpie handy to draw on bananas and yogurt tubs for added whimsy and fun.

Use these ideas and tips and feel prepared to start the new school year on the right foot. Remind yourself repeatedly, not to get overwhelmed trying to do ALL of these things. Simply implement things that can eliminate your stress and leave you time to enjoy something that makes YOU happy.

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20 Things to Do With $1,000 Right Now

check out Transform Your Finance webpage for a great deal more facts on personal finances 

Suddenly have a slew of extra spending money? Before you head out on a spontaneous shopping spree, consider these 20 things you can do with it instead.

It’s not often you happen into an extra $1,000. But it could happen. What if you’re part of a settlement process and get an unexpected check? Or maybe you receive a small inheritance from a long-lost relative. Or possibly, you get an unexpected bump in your year-end bonus.

Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to at least think about the possibilities of what you’ll do if you get an extra $1,000. Or even if you save up money and have an extra $1,000 just sitting in your savings account.

No idea what you’d do with that kind of “spare” money? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Pay off high-interest debt

If you’ve got a credit card balance sitting around costing you absurd amounts of interest, get it paid off as quickly as you can. Even if your balance is well over $1,000, putting that first $1,000 in gets you started on the journey towards debt freedom. Once you knock out some of the balance, you can keep paying your old monthly payment so that you’ll chip away at that debt little by little.

2. Put it towards your emergency plan

Already have your debts paid off? Or don’t have an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months’ expenses? The next best place for that money is in your emergency plan. Read more about how to set up a fully-fledged emergency plan (that’s more than just a savings account) here.

3. Save for a specific goal

Do you have something in mind that you’re saving for? Consider adding your $1,000 to the goal, whether it’s buying a new car or putting a down payment on your next home. Even if that money is only a small percentage of your goal, it moves you forward, which is always a good thing.

4. Invest for retirement

If you aren’t already maxing out a 401(k) and an IRA, add the $1,000 to your retirement investments. Over the course of the next 20 or 30 years, that original $1,000 could grow to be worth quite a lot, especially when invested in low-cost mutual funds or the like.

5. Put it in your kid’s 529 account

What if you’re already maxing out your retirement accounts or saving as much as you feel like you should? In this case, consider adding that $1,000 to a 529 college savings account for your kid. These accounts act like an IRA for education spending, so they’re a valuable way to save up now for those hefty college expenses you’ll see in the future.

6. Buy a life insurance policy

If you don’t already have a term life insurance policy, you probably need one. Even single people with no kids sometimes need life insurance coverage. If you do need a policy but have been putting off getting one because you can’t afford the premium, now is the time. Secure a low-premium term life insurance policy, and pay your first year’s premiums with this extra cash. That buys you time to fit the premium into your normal budget within a year.

7. Pay a lawyer to draw up your will

Don’t have a will yet? Many people put off having these documents drawn up because they’re expensive. If that’s you, investing your $1,000 in a meeting with a lawyer to have a will, living will, power of attorney, and other documents drawn up is worth your while. You’ll get peace of mind and ensure your loved ones are cared for if something should happen to you.

8. Upgrade your office space

Struggling with back pain because your office chair is terrible? Or considering upgrading your work-from-home desk to a healthier sit-stand model? Investing in your health by upgrading the space where you spend most of your waking hours is a great option. Upgrades like these can help you work more productively and ergonomically, so you’re both happier and healthier.

9. Take a class to further your career

Have you been thinking about changing careers or developing skills to take your current career further? Using $1,000 to invest in classes to boost or change your career can be a great option. Plus, if it leads you to a higher-paying job, you could get a great return on investment from that money.

10. Take a class just for fun

Acquiring new skills doesn’t just have to be about furthering your career. You can also take classes just to increase your health and happiness in your personal life, too. Learning for the sake of learning is great for personal development and brain health. So if you’ve always wanted to learn to weld or sculpt or play an instrument, use this windfall to invest in the materials and classes you need to get it done.

11. Start a side business

If you’d like to earn extra money on the side, consider investing this cash into a side business. Many side gigs would only require you to spend a small part of this $1,000. But if you need to set up a nice-looking website, you could invest some of the money in some professional help for design and website management.

12. Get a tune-up on your car or a major appliance

Preventative care for your car and major appliances is a great way to spend extra money. Spending a little now can keep you from having to spend a whole lot of money down the road. So consider taking your car for an official tune-up. Or if you’ve been putting off having regular service on your furnace, fridge, or washer and dryer set, that would also be a good way to spend this money.

13. Upgrade a major appliance

Do you have an appliance that’s always causing headaches in your home? Or maybe one that’s making your life more difficult instead of easier? You might consider using this money to upgrade it. Perhaps a nicer dishwasher that would actually clean your dishes would save you loads of time you otherwise spend scraping and hand-cleaning. Or maybe a larger washing machine would save you two or three loads a week with your growing family.

14. Put it into protecting your home

Preventative maintenance for your appliances is great, but don’t forget your home itself, either. You can protect your home by getting your gutters cleaned, jacking up the basement in your older home, or upgrading your sump pump. And if you’re all good on the maintenance side, you could put some money into upgrading a room with a coat of paint and new fixtures.

15. Take a vacation

Taking a vacation doesn’t have to be a waste of money. In some cases, a good, affordable vacation lets you come back to your everyday life more refreshed and energized. And that can have a huge ROI for both your personal and professional life. If you have some paid time off banked, make it a game to get your whole vacation done for a $1,000. It can be a fun exercise that also leads to great memories.

16. Buy a museum or zoo membership for your family

If your family is constantly looking for fun things to do on weekends and school breaks, consider spending part of your windfall on a membership. Most museums, zoos, and other local attractions offer family memberships. If you go just two times in a year, you’ll save money with a membership. And having one means you can check out the latest attractions at your local museum every weekend, without spending a dime of extra money.

17. Look into other experiences

The jury is in on what makes people happier: experiences over more stuff. So if you’re struggling to find a way to spend that $1,000, don’t buy more stuff. Instead, look into buying experiences. That could be a class or vacation that we’ve talked about above. Or you might take your spouse, a friend, or each of your children on a special night out to build some memories. Those are truly the gifts that keep on giving.

18. Buy some health and fitness equipment

Considering investing in your health? That’s a great option. One way to do it is to buy some high-quality fitness equipment for your home. Just be sure you have room to store and use it, and that you know what you’re doing before you dive in.

19. Pay for a year’s worth of gym memberships or classes

Don’t have room at home? Or prefer to work out with others for accountability? In this case, consider splurging on a year’s worth of gym membership fees or exercise classes. Pre-paying may make you more likely to actually go and participate. And you won’t regret putting some money into improving your health and well-being.

20. Donate it

Giving to a charity is always a worthy option with extra money. Pick a charity locally or internationally whose mission you can really get behind. Then spend your money with that charity. With a larger donation, you can probably even earmark the money for a specific project you really want to invest in.

Any of these options are a great choice so don’t stress too much about your spending decision. Choose the one you’re drawn to the most. Saving is always a wise choice but as long as you’re not wasting $1,000 on stuff you don’t need you’ll consider this expenditure a good buy.

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15 Sarasota Museums and Tourist Attractions You’ll Love

Florida is famous for its theme parks but there’s lots more to do in this photogenic region. For example, there are some fantastic Sarasota museums that you really shouldn’t miss. It’s no surprise that the county is known as Florida’s Cultural Coast®. We’ve rounded up our favourite tourist attractions in Sarasota County for young and old.

Sarasota Museums

The Ringling

The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida and an exceptional cultural and educational centre. It’s the legacy of John and Mable Ringling and located within the 66 acre grounds of their Winter estate. John Ringling was the founder of the Ringling Bros. circus and later became the co-owner of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Ringling has an interactive Circus Museum and the miniature 44,000 piece Howard Bros. circus model. There’s also a pink Renaissance style Museum of Art, commissioned by John Ringling. It has an impressive collection of European paintings and Asian art, as well as temporary outdoor sculptures by artists such as Ai Wei Wei.

Visitors should not miss Ca’ d’ Zan, the former home of John and Mable Ringling. The name means House of John in the Venetian dialect and the decor was inspired by their frequent trips to Italy. Next to it, you’ll find Mable Ringling’s pride and joy, her Rose Garden. It’s the oldest rose garden in continual use in Florida and dates from 1913.

The Ringling has many other treasures including the 18th century Asolo Theater from Italy and the new Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily, until 8 pm on Thursdays. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243

Sarasota Classic Car Museum

There’s a wonderful selection of cars at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, representing 100 years of automobile history. It’s the second oldest continually operating antique car museum in the United States. The collection features well known cars belonging to stars including John Lennon’s 1965 Mercedes Benz and Paul McCartney’s Mini Cooper. You can also see the Rolls Royce cars that belonged to John and Mable Ringling as well as many rotating exhibits.

Opening hours: 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Sunday. Closed on Christmas Day.

5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Art Center Sarasota

With four galleries, Art Center Sarasota provides creative opportunities to the whole community. They run youth programs including Creative Kids Saturday Classes and the Creative Kids Summer Art Camp. The exhibitions focus on local and regional art, showcasing many emerging and established talents.

Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Saturday

707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

This iconic Sarasota museum plays an important role in wildlife conservation. Mote Marine has helped to rehabilitate many injured sea creatures such as manatees and turtles. In fact, they hold regular turtle spotting walks at a nearby beach in season. The Washed Ashore art exhibit features sharks and turtles made from plastic and other debris, in order to educate visitors on how to keep rubbish out of the ocean.

Mote scientists are leading 25 research programs including finding new ways to restore coral reefs. They’re also training local diver and snorkeler volunteers as part of their BleachWatch program to detect bleaching on coral, an early warning sign of damage.

There are over 100 species of fish and marine animals at Mote, as well as a 135,000 gallon shark habitat. Visitors can see inside some of the working labs such as the Seahorse Conservation Laboratory, through glass walls. Staff and volunteers are also on hand to answer your questions.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236

Crowley Museum & Nature Center

A great place to discover more about pioneer history, Crowley Museum & Nature Center is fun for all the family. There’s a half-mile boardwalk which leads visitors through 5 different Florida habitats and a two story observation tower overlooking the Myakka river. The Children’s Discovery Path has five interactive stations with fun activities to get involved in. The museum itself houses some interesting pioneer artefacts and there’s also a sugar cane mill and a birding trail.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm in fair weather, from Saturday to Sunday

9192, 16405 Myakka Rd, Sarasota, FL 34240

Historic Spanish Point

Spread over 30 acres, Historic Spanish Point is a fascinating insight into Floridian pre-history. Its one of the largest intact archaeological sites on the Gulf Coast from the prehistoric period. The Window to the Past exhibition is the only place in the United States where you can go inside a prehistoric shell midden or mound.

There’s also one of the largest butterfly gardens in Florida and many different natural habitats, with over 50% of the county’s native plants being represented here. Chicago socialite Bertha Palmer established a homestead here in 1910 and you can visit three of her gardens.

Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday and 12 – 5 pm on Sundays

337 N Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229

Save our Seabirds

Housing over 120 birds in their 3 acre site, Save our Seabirds aims to rehabilitate injured birds and to educate the public on how to minimize environmental risks to them. Their Birdwalk shows visitors how each species has adapted to its natural environment, and the Wild Bird Learning Center has some interesting educational displays.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily

 1708 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy

This colourful museum features quirky paintings and sculptures galore, as well as a tranquil garden. The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy is the passion project of local artist Marietta Lee. Some of her works are exhibited here as well as those of many other unique artists. What makes this place so special is the warm welcome that the volunteers give to visitors. They’ll provide you with as much or as little information as you want on the artworks.

Marietta herself is often at the museum to lend a hand. Even the restrooms here are works of art. There’s no café or gift shop but there is a kitchen manned by volunteers which gives you complimentary cookies and soft drinks. As entrance to the museum is free, donations are greatly appreciated.

Opening hours:  1 – 4 pm Thursdays to Saturdays and from November to May 

2121 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234

The Ringling College of Art + Design

With over 50 exhibitions each year, all of which are free, the Ringling College of Art + Design is a key fixture on the Sarasota arts scene. Since opening more than 85 years ago, it’s helped students to develop their creative skills. These days its renowned for its computer animation programs.

Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday

2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234

Venice Museum & Archives

Housed in Triangle Inn which dates from 1927 the Venice Museum & Archives has a vast collection of over 30,000 objects and photographs. There are some interesting exhibits including a giant Megalodon shark and one on auto racing in Venice from 1953 to 1960.

Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm from Monday to Wednesday, and 11 am to 3 pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday from October to April

351 Nassau St S, Venice, FL 34285

Sarasota Tourist Attractions

The Children’s Garden

One of the most popular things to do in Sarasota with kids is to visit The Children’s Garden. There are fun storybook readings and many other activities like weekly art and gardening classes. A maze, pirate ship, secret garden, tree fort and three little pigs’ house are just some of the attractions.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily

1670 10th Way, Sarasota, FL 34236

Unconditional Surrender

This huge statue by Seward Johnson commemorates the end of the Second World War and is said to be inspired by a photograph by Victor Jorgensen. The original bronze statue was created in 2005 with the help of computer technology and damaged by a car in 2012. It was replaced by the current statue in 2013.

Island Park Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

With a magnificent setting on the shores of Sarasota Bay, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular Sarasota attractions. Voted among the top places to visit in Sarasota by TripAdvisor, it’s the only botanical garden in the world specialized in the study and display of epiphytes. If you’re wondering what epiphytes are, they’re plants that grow on other plants. Orchids, moss and many ferns are some of the best known examples. There’s a charming tea room and a gift shop as well as 15 acres of exotic flowers and plants to admire.

The children’s rainforest garden has a rope bridge, outdoor musical instruments and play area. The museum itself has some interesting temporary exhibitions, including Warhol: Flowers in the Factory, celebrating the role of nature in Andy Warhol’s art.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day

900 S. Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Feeding flamingos by hand and talking to the resident parrots are just two of the fun things to do at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. There’s an interesting shell museum, a gift shop and café in their 10 acre grounds.

Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

3701 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34234

Saraosota Opera

Sarasota Opera one of the foremost opera companies in the United States, celebrating its 58th season. The building dates from the 1920s and was formerly the Edwards Theatre, once playing host to Elvis Presley. It’s since been extensively renovated and is open to the public for tours – a fascinating behind the scenes experience.

Tour opening hours: Mondays when the opera is in season, at 10.30 am

61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236

In addition to visiting these amazing Sarasota museums and tourist attractions, take time to explore the other sights in this great Florida county. There are some incredible Sarasota beaches – one of them was even voted best beach in the USA by TripAdvisor and Dr Beach. You’ll also want to check out the wide range of Sarasota restaurants, from farm to table to gourmet dining. Fans of culture will love the art galleries on Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota, while antique lovers will enjoy the colourful Burns Court area. You may find our guide to other Sarasota attractions helpful.

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In association with Visit Florida and Visit Sarasota

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[ejgiftcards]

10 Fun Ways to Use the Money from Selling Your Unwanted Gift Card

Getting a gift card from a place you don’t like or a service you don’t use can be kind of a bummer. But it doesn’t have to be. You can trade it in and get money to your PayPal account to use in a variety of different ways.

If it’s been months and you still have the same gift card wasting away in your wallet, chances are you won’t end up using it. Nobody wins in that scenario, so let’s get the most out of that card and do something fun and out of the ordinary, something that you will never forget.

Let’s have some fun with that gift card money, that’s what it was designed for in the first place!

Go on a Date Night

If it’s been awhile since you and your sweetheart have gone on a date with each other it is high time to fix that and go out for a night on the town. The money you get from your gift card can be used to treat the two of you to dinner and a movie if you want to go the classic route, or you can try eating at a restaurant you’ve never been to before.

If you were always more budget-conscious in the past when you went on date nights, your gift card money could be the push that allows you to have more fun or go to a fancier restaurant than you normally would go to.

One other option is to take someone out that you might not normally take out. For example, your mother. She will feel really special, and she never has to know that you are using your gift card money to make it happen. Bonus points if the gift card came from her.

Go to a Casino

Playing with house money is a sure way to have fun in a casino! If you look at the money you get from your gift card as money that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to use, you bring a positive energy to it instead of worrying if you’re going to lose it or not. Don’t be surprised if this makes it so Lady Luck is on your side. Play the table games that you normally avoid because they are too intimidating. Put it all on the roulette wheel and see if you can double your money.

At the very least you will have a great time and feel the rush of putting money on the line. And maybe if you’re lucky you’ll beat the house and walk away with more cash in your pocket than when you walked in.

And if you are really lucky you might end up earning comps from the casino for free dinners and even a free hotel room for the night. While it is a longshot, the chance to turn that gift card money into a gift that really keeps on giving and giving is worth rolling the dice for.

Spoil Your Pet

One thing is for certain, pets bring more joy to their owners than just about anything else. If you’ve been neglecting your furry friend in recent weeks, take that gift card money and get them a new toy to play with, or get them groomed. You’ll benefit from seeing all the fun they’re having, and basking in the love they’ll show you for the new items you get them.

Some of the best dog toys are those really durable chew toys that dogs just love, the ones that have the treat inside and only expel it when the dog knocks it around enough. If you go this route, be sure that you check to make sure that other dog owners have said it stands up to a good chewing.

For cats, anything that is infused with catnip is a good choice. They have mouse toys and ping pong balls that will spin around in a circle that most cats find irresistible., especially when they get a blast of catnip when they play with it.

If you don’t have a pet, you could use the money from your gift card to help get one. It could be the catalyst you needed to finally make the decision to care for a pet. The best things in life are furry, so use this opportunity to get yourself an adorable little kitten or puppy and you’ll never regret it.

Accessorize Your Car

Show your car some love with a new accessory or two, or get it detailed so it looks like new. With all the time we spend in our cars these days, it’s always a good idea to jazz it up so we have more fun while we drive. Perhaps a pair of fuzzy dice or a new smartphone holder will make your drive better.

Maybe it’s time to upgrade that car stereo of yours. One fun upgrade is a car stereo that gets satellite radio. This will allow you to rock out to your favorite channels without any commercials and is especially useful on long road trips when you end up scanning through a bunch of static and talk radio.

Or maybe you can go the safety route and get a roadside assistance kit so that if anything should ever happen to you you won’t be stranded on the side of the road. It’s definitely no fun when you are stuck without any resources. Having an emergency kit could mean the difference between a bad night and a good night.

Start a Vacation Fund

Vacations are the epitome of fun, so using your gift card money to kickstart a vacation fund is a great way to spend it. You can use it to save for a vacation you otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford without planning and saving ahead of time.

And when it comes to vacations be sure to book early, as psychology has shown that even the anticipation of a vacation in the future is enough to make us feel good right now. The further out you book your trip the longer you’ll have to get excited for it.

Some of the best vacation destinations are ones with all inclusive resorts. If you’re going to save up for a vacation, you should consider going to one of these because it is a whole lot of fun to go to your choice of restaurants and seeing no prices on the menus.

Try Something New

You can use that gift card money to do something out of the ordinary that you haven’t done before, and wouldn’t usually think about doing unless you had some extra cash. Activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, or other daredevil feats are good options.

Not only are these activities something you will never forget, they are also something that you’ve maybe been putting off because of the price.  Just like with skydiving perhaps you just needed a little shove in order to make it happen, and that gift card money can be just the thing.

If you’re not feeling the need for an adrenaline rush, trying something new could be as simple as going to a new restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, but weren’t sure if you would like the food or not. Maybe it’s something a little exotic for you, or something you wouldn’t eat everyday. Go on and try it!

Go Bowling

When was the last time you went bowling? Bowling is always fun and all you need is one other person to make it an event. Of course, if you get a decent-sized group together you can have even more fun, with multiple lanes and even teams. No matter which card you trade in for cash, you should have enough to rent a lane or two and a pair of shoes.

One of the best times to go bowling is at night when they have glow bowling. They will turn the lights off in the bowling alley and turn on the black lights so everything lights up with neon. They’ll also play some pretty cool music that is great to bowl to, and everyone ends up having more fun.

If you pick the right time to go bowling you might run into a special that allows you to rent the lanes for a reduced price. That way when you invite people to go bowling with you, you can tell them that the lanes are on you and all they have to do is rent some shoes.

Get That Clothing Item You’ve Been Eyeing

We all have that one piece of clothing that we’ve had our eye on for some time now, but just can’t pull the trigger on a purchase. Maybe it’s a little out of your price range when it comes to clothing, or maybe you just can’t justify spending that much on one piece of clothing. Either way, once you have an extra $50 to $100 in your pocket it may suddenly be something to consider.

Another fun activity is to walk through the mall with extra cash in your pocket. Your mind will race as you walk past all the shops and think of all of the things that money could buy. You don’t have to buy the first thing that you see, but once you make a pass through the whole mall you will have a pretty good idea of what is speaking to you.

If the timing is right, you can sometimes catch a really great sale which will help your money go even further. Whether it’s back to school or just an end-of-the-season sale sometimes you can find things that are buy one get one free or even just marked down 70% or more.

Splurge at Your Favorite Restaurant

If you always go to your favorite restaurant each week but avoid getting an appetizer because It seems like splurging, now is the time to pick out a starter or two and have at it.  Or maybe you’ve always wanted to enjoy an adult beverage before your meal but felt that would be too much.

Let’s say you’ve always wanted to try one of their delectable desserts, but you couldn’t get past the fact that it would just add to your bill. Go ahead and have dessert, even if you did have an appetizer before your meal. It’s guaranteed to be a meal you won’t soon forget, and you will owe it all to trading in your unwanted gift card for some real money.

There’s just something about going to a restaurant and not worrying about the final total of the bill that makes the entire experience more enjoyable. Everytime you go back to your favorite restaurant after that, you will remember the time you went all out.

Make a Donation

OK, maybe it’s not the funnest thing on our list, but it will give you those warm fuzzy feelings and it’s always good to do good for others.

The great thing about making a donation is that you can choose the charity you donate to and make it something that is close to your heart. There are plenty of charity websites that will tell you which ones use the money most efficiently, as well as which ones have the least fiscal waste.

It’s nice knowing that your money is going to a good cause, and one that you’ve chosen. It definitely beats the feeling of having an unused gift card in your wallet, and if you’re doing something like providing clean water to those that have none, or providing education to those in impoverished conditions, you’ll walk around feeling great, with a new perspective on life.

We Can Help Make It Possible

We make the process of selling your unwanted gift card really easy. You simply enter your card type and card value and we’ll show you how much you can get for it. From there it’s just a matter of signing into the site, entering your payment details and gift card data, and then waiting for your Paypal payment.