u/AttitudePlane6967

So, two years ago, I wanted to open a recruitment agency, like a small one that only has a few clients, nothing big. I managed to register the company, starting to contact clients here and there, and slowly got a few calls, but with almost no real leads. My biggest mistake – I didn’t use a business number or email – which definitely didn’t make me sound too professional. Anyway, instead of business calls and interested clients or candidates, I started getting tons of spam calls. Someone even called me to post about my business in a magazine lol.

This continued until I actually asked here about a solution and someone recommended I can a business line or a VoIP, which I did finally. The calls didn’t stop of course, because everyone had my personal number already, but I just didn’t panic much as I only answered calls I knew the number for. So, if you want to save your mental health and not get spammed with calls every other hour (or even worse), do not list your personal number for business purposes. In case anyone wonders what I used, is Ooma.com, but I have been recommended a few, just didn’t get to test anything else.

Some birthdays are just another normal day, but a few end up becoming memories you never really forget sometimes because they were amazing, and sometimes for completely unexpected reasons

What’s the most memorable birthday you’ve ever had and did it turn out the way you expected or totally different?

I live in Perth and I swear every second car I see is a brand new dual-cab ute, Landcruiser, or some $70k+ SUV. School drop-offs, Bunnings runs, heading down to Freo, it’s just wall-to-wall shiny new cars. Meanwhile I’m driving a 2014 Hyundai i30 with 220,000km on the clock and I feel like a complete peasant next to everyone.

We’ve got a mortgage that’s already hurting and I’m not on a crazy income (mid $100k range). How the hell are normal people (not mining execs) affording these cars on top of Perth house prices? Are most people just stacking massive car loans for 6-7 years?

I’ve been thinking about finally upgrading myself. Something reliable with decent space (maybe a mid-size SUV or a newer ute). I’m considering getting a car loan but I’ve never done one before and don’t want to get absolutely rinsed.

Anyone in Perth recently bought a car and can recommend a decent broker?

Would love to hear what you’re driving and how you’re funding it without crying every repayment day

 I am tired of reading about chosen ones, tortured geniuses, or people who can barely function. I want someone who shows up on time, knows their job, solves problems calmly, and goes home at five. No drinking problem. No tragic backstory. No world ending stakes. A mechanic who fixes engines well. A librarian who alphabetizes with quiet satisfaction. A teacher who enjoys grading papers. Just competence as the plot and peace as the ending.

Does anyone know a book where the protagonist is simply good at what they do and that is enough?

something ive always found confusing is how sometimes people dont fully realize how emotionally attached they were to someone until that person is no longer part of their life. and suddenly small memories random conversations places songs everything starts feeling more emotional than it did at the time. why does distance or absence sometimes make emotions feel stronger instead of weaker?

I've had my XT5 for about a year now and I keep bouncing between trying to nail the SOOC look and just admitting I prefer editing raws in Capture One. The simulations are great but I find myself tweaking exposure and white balance anyway. Half the time I shoot raw plus jpg and then just delete the jpgs because I end up starting from the raw file anyway.

Am I missing the point of the Fuji system by doing this. I see so many amazing straight out of camera shots here and I'm a little jealous honestly. Do most of you actually use recipes or is everyone just saying that.

Weve lived in our 3 bed 2 bath ranch in henrico for the last 4 years and its been a solid starter home. Its around 1450 sq ft with a one car garage and a decent backyard we fixed up for the dog. We painted inside and did new carpet but the roof is getting old and the kitchen cabinets are still original.

Now were selling because my wife got a job offer in norfolk and we need to be down there in about 6 weeks. Listed it with an agent at 289k but showings have been slow and the offers keep coming in low with repair lists we dont have time to handle. The rva market feels way quieter than when we bought.

Anyone else in rva had to sell quick lately? What ended up working for you?

I feel like I have been focusing so much on the purchase price of a property that I might be underestimating everything that comes after it. When I look at listings, it is easy to think of the price as the main number but then I start remembering things like closing costs, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities and all the random expenses that probably do not feel random once you actually own the place. I am trying to avoid buying something that looks affordable on paper but ends up stretching me too thin month to month
For people who have already bought a property, what expenses surprised you the most after closing? Did you have a rule of thumb for how much extra to keep aside for maintenance or unexpected repairs? I would really appreciate real numbers or personal experiences, because I am trying to build a realistic budget and not just a best case scenario

Hi!

Im looking to get new siding done on my house in the west end and want to find a solid local installer who actually does good work.

Has anyone here had a great experience with a company in ottawa lately? Who would you recommend and why? Thanks!

I bought my first house in Evans back in early 2021 right after we got engaged. It was a 3 bed 2 bath single story place around 1,600 square feet with a two car garage and a decent fenced backyard. We paid 242k and felt like we hit the jackpot at the time because interest rates were still low and the Augusta market was moving fast.

Fast forward to now and we're selling for the first time ever because my job is transferring us to Charlotte in about 8 weeks. We listed it with a realtor at 289k a few weeks ago and had some showings but the offers are all coming in 25-30k under with long repair lists that would cost us another 10k at least. The roof is original from 2008 and the kitchen is still builder grade so I get why buyers are pushing back but the timeline is tight.

I'm trying every option to make this work without losing money. Keeping the realtor listing active a bit longer, posting on Facebook marketplace groups myself, even looking into i-buyers and local investors. If none of those pan out quick enough I'll go the cash route.

Has anyone here sold their first house in the Augusta area when you were on a short timeline? What route actually got you to closing without too much stress? Did you stick with the realtor the whole way or end up switching to cash buyers?

Any tips for first time sellers on what to watch out for with payoff numbers or closing costs?

I start work at 6am and I'm tired of gas station sandwiches. Looking for a no frills breakfast place that opens by 5 or 5:30 somewhere on the east side. Don't need fancy. Just eggs, hash browns, coffee that isn't water. Bonus if they have a drive thru or takeout window. Tired of places that open at 7 and call themselves breakfast spots. Thanks.

I just adopted a parakeet from my brother in law. It wasn’t really planned, and now I’m realizing I’m not prepared at all.

I want to take good care of it, but I honestly don’t know where to start. Cage setup, food, interaction, health… it feels like a lot and I don’t want to mess this up.

Right now it seems a bit quiet and nervous, which I guess is normal, but I don’t even know what “normal” looks like for them yet.

If you’ve had parakeets, what are the first things I should focus on to make sure it’s okay and comfortable?
And what are common mistakes beginners make that I should avoid early on?