Hey guys, the month of Ramadan has begun for Muslims across the world. It's the time when we fast from Food, Water and Sex between sunrise and sunset, a time where we try to empathise with the impoverished and restrict our egos from its base, animalistic desires so that we can attain a heightened awareness of self, and by extension, God.
Look out for your Muzzo work mate/neighboufellow commuter. They'll be doing it tough in the first few days, especially if they're addicted to caffeine and haven't weaned off - expect them to be at 50% work capacity for the next few days until they get in the rhythm of things.
Avoid Muslim populated areas just before sunset as many people will be rushing around to either meet up with family or pickup food. Also about an hour and a half after sunset will be night prayers at the mosques. Parking and traffic will definitely be atrocious. Sorry in advance
That's all for now, any questions feel free to ask. Enjoy the carrot juice and camel burgers. Peace ✌️

So I am a very regular Aldi shopper and I rarely go to Trader Joe's, not least because of their notoriously cramped parking lots, but also because the stores are typically crowded too and I've always had a misconception that it was expensive.
I relented and stopped there the other day and I was VERY surprised to discover the prices of many items that I buy at Aldi to be the same, and sometimes cheaper, at Trader Joe's.
I mean just the fact I could buy ONE LEMON instead of a bag of them was really nice. They had a 16 ounce jar of unrefined coconut oil for like $5.99 and the one at Aldi is the same price but for 14 ounces. Just random discoveries like that.
And yes, I know the stores are loosely affiliated... Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. I think they compete with one another? Although their products only seem to overlap by like 40%. I don't really miss all the non-food items that Aldi has every week... I wish they'd stock more grocery items instead.

Hi All
My girlfriend and I are planning to visit Disney World in third week of May. We have both been to the Hong Kong and Paris disney land when we were kids but this would be our first trip to a theme park as adults (who are also planning their first vacation in our own) so not sure what to expect. We are both fresh off of college and into new jobs so don’t have a huge budget.
We both love cliches (this being the biggest cliche 😂) and the classics. I wanted to ask for any tips and suggestions on must do things (maybe unique food, unmissable spots experiences, etc.)
Our current itinerary looks like
Day1: Land at Orlando at 6am Go to Animal Kingdom around noon Sanaa for early dinner after park
Day 2: Magic Kingdom Be Our Guest for dinner (9:45 reservation)
Day 3: Resort day
Day 4: Hollywood Studios Trying to get Rodeo BBQ for late lunch, currently booked sci fi diner as a back up
Day 5: Disney Springs shopping day
Day 6: EPCOT don’t want to do table service and try different pavilions
Day 7: Leave
We are planning to get Genie+ for all days except Animal Kingdom
Thanks 😊

Are you looking for a change from the normal sausage sizzle or chocolate sales? Why not have a Wood Fire Pizza Party or invite us along to your next sports day, movie night, fete or event. Roam’In Pizza is a mobile catering company that comes to your place of business, sporting field, park or home.
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I know that most Majid Al Futtaim malls are basically reskin of one another but my honest opinion :

1. City Centre Muscat : the og, best shops with the best collection.
   
2. Oman Avenues Mall : Imo this is the most unique mall in Oman in terms of layout. Ikea Ikea Ikea. The best food court out of all malls imo.
   
3. Mall Of Oman : hated it initially but so many new shops have opened up, along with the snow park. Truly unique mall in my opinion in terms of shop selection and keeps on expanding. MOST WOW factor
   
4. Mall of Muscat : Oman aquarium provides this one a big advantage, but other than that, not much. I really like the village themed top floor.
   
5. Al Araimi Boulevard : Great mall and underrated but guess it's dying.
   
6. City Center Qurum : Failed version of CCM.
   
7. Muscat grand mall : the mall that is dying in the shadow of avenues mall
   
8. Panorama Mall : Forgot this existed
   

.

Hi all, I am heading to Seoul in April and have trouble planning what to do on the weekend for Saturday and Sunday.
I know it tends to get super crowded at tourist attractions, so I am open to suggestions to change or add to these. But I was wondering if I should switch them out or if I should be fine with these considering the crowds.
For reference, we are staying in Myeongdong.
I am going with my partner and we would like to experience touristy things— food & cafes, nature, landmarks/history, and shopping.
Saturday:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Insadong
- Ikseon-dong
Sunday:
- Seoul Grand Park
- N Seoul Tower (not sure yet, could change since we are going to Lotte Tower earlier in the week... any suggestions around the area of the Grand Park instead?)
Thanks!

I did a money diary this exact week last year about signing the offer letter for the company I work at now. I ended up getting a 5K COL adjustment (62k > 67k) once I moved to Philly. I expressed in the previous journal that I was worried about my taxes since I moved states and work for an NYC company from PA. As many suggested in the comments, it ended up being pretty simple (I used FreeTaxUSA).
SECTION ONE: ASSETS AND DEBT
Retirement Balance - $31,400. A mix of Roth IRA, 401(k), and traditional brokerage.
Equity - N/A
Savings account balance - $11,600 in Emergency Funds; $7,500 in a HYSA that I saved up during college and will use to pay off my student loans when payments resume this summer. Because of this, I consider myself debt free.
Checking account balance - $900; I had a $600 sinking fund for my food/shopping/entertainment in Paris, but I got $300 in cash birthday gifts.
Credit card debt (and how you accumulated it) - $0; I pay my cards off regularly.
Student loan debt - $7,500 for a Political Science and Social Policy Degree with a minor in English. I got a full-tuition scholarship, but had small gaps in aid during my first two years because my school required underclassmen to have on-campus housing and a meal plan.
—
SECTION TWO: INCOME
Income Progression: I’ve been at this job 9 months, make $67k, and it’s great. The people, the work, the benefits. It’s my first post-college, salaried position. I have pretty much no complaints about it and am hoping to get a merit raise during our summer evaluations.
Main Job Monthly Take Home: $3,400 (paid semi-monthly)
$1200/mo in total taxes (fed, state, local, SSI/med); $1000/mo to 401(k); Employer pays 100% of health premiums.
No other income currently, no parental contributions, etc.
—
SECTION THREE: EXPENSES (my portions, I live with a roommate)
Rent - $750/mo. Renewing in May; hoping it stays the same or doesn’t increase dramatically
Retirement/Investment contribution - $540/mo to Roth IRA (401(k) contributions detailed in the Income section).
Savings contribution - $460/mo to sinking funds, $200/mo to General Savings/Emergency Fund
Debt payments - None besides regular payments to my cards
Donations - $80/mo to whatever feels right
Food - ~$500/mo ($300 groceries + <$200 dining out)
Electric - $75/mo
Wifi - $65/mo
Cellphone - $300/yr (Mint Mobile)
Renter’s Insurance - $100/yr
Subscriptions - $8/mo; $7 for Apple Music and $1 for iCloud Storage
Annual Subscriptions - $380/yr; $190 for Credit Card Annual Fees; $165 for ScentBird Subscription; $25 for Google Storage
Gym Membership - $10/mo; $50/yr for Annual Membership Fee
I started on a health journey last June (lost 50+ lbs!). Back then, I was in search of any kind of fitness that I would enjoy and actually go to. I ended up getting a $190/mo membership (2 classes/wk) to a RUMBLE (HIIT Boxing) studio and went 2x a week from June - Nov. In December, I bought a flat-fee holiday package that made my classes cheaper ($19/cls vs $23/cls) and more flexible, so I froze my subscription and got a 30 class package.
In January, I started strength training 4x/wk at Planet Fitness and went down to 1x/week at RUMBLE. I love my current routine, but PF and RUMBLE are both a 35 min walk from my house, and I go to the gym early in the morning. So, I’m considering joining the closer (<10 min walk), but more expensive ($72/mo) gym soon.
I’m still slowly burning through the RUMBLE holiday package and plan to cancel my subscription. I’m hoping they do a summer sale so I can buy another class package. If not, I’ll just buy classes ad hoc after I run out.
No pet, car, or therapy expenses currently.
—
SECTION FOUR: MONEY/TRAVEL DIARY
ACCOMMODATIONS
The flight and accommodations for this flight were booked in September after getting an email from Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) about $500 tickets to Paris the exact weekend of my birthday. I stayed in a Sonder that I also booked back in September for about $480. I bought a $30, 5 GB international eSIM from Airalo. I was able to post on social media, send iMessages, and check my bank accounts with no problems and no extra data needed.
​
Day 1
Today is payday and the beginning of my week off. I clear my credit cards, invest my Roth deposit, and go to the gym.
After the gym, I pick up last minute toiletries ($45.35) and plane snacks ($21.48). I end up on a wild goose chase looking for a Universal Adapter ($34.39), so I get McDonald's (I wanted a Shamrock Shake) while I’m out ($9.15 - this feels expensive for McDonald's?)
My mom gives me a call around 8pm and asks if I’ve checked my bank account. Today was payday, so I had, but not since early that morning. She gifted me $200! After, I spend three hours retwisting my locs and go to bed around midnight.
Day 1 Spend - $108.37
​
Day 2
Today is Sims 4 Expansion Pack (and flight to Paris) day! I can’t install the game until 1PM ET. Lame.I do one last check to ensure I have everything I need, transfer my Paris Sinking Fund ($600) into my checking account, and then play the Sims to pass the time. At 4, I take the Regional Rail to the airport.
I breeze through TSA and read Another Country by James Baldwin until boarding begins. Upon boarding, I’m stopped and informed that my carry-on is “too big.” They were clearly picking people at random to move their bags because as the woman walked down the jet bridge with my bag, she rolled it past a man who had the exact same suitcase as me in another color. Annoying.
They don’t give me a chance to take out my laptop and snacks, this is my first time traveling internationally, I triple checked the sizing requirements, so this stressed me out. I was terrified of my bag getting lost. I vent to my best friend about the bag situation; she helps me calm down. Once we’re airborne, I spend the next 6 hours rotating between reading, watching Wakanda Forever, and listening to music.
Day 2 Spend - $0
​
Day 3 (my birthday!)
We land in Dublin at 8am, and I activate my international eSIM. I see my older brother gifted me $100 via Cash App. Even though it was just a quick layover, being in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day made me happy. The Irish were teeming with happiness and excitement. I board my second flight and land in Paris at 1pm, finally am reunited with my bag, and get to the section of town I’m staying in via train ($12.18).
While I wait for a friend to arrive on the train from London, I try French McDonalds per the recommendation of my best friend ($14.95 - seriously, why the hell is McDonalds so expensive?)
Friend arrives and we explore Paris! We then stop at a bakery, I grab a pain au chocolat ($1.60) and slip into a bar nearby. My friend lets everyone know it’s my birthday, and they buy us lots of rounds of shots and drinks. My friend closes the tab for the couple of drinks we actually ordered, and we head to a club that’s having a St. Patrick’s Day party around the corner.
I later try to redeem my Starbucks birthday item, but the barista gently lets me know it’s not valid in France. However, he throws in a free refresher and my friend buys me a blueberry muffin. We head back to the hotel so I can freshen up and change into my birthday dress. We take a nap and head back out for the night on the train ($8.96 RT for 2). We have dinner at a delicious restaurant, which my friend pays for.
Our last stop of the night is an Afro-Caribbean spot that has great music and friendly staff. I tell the bartender it’s my birthday and ask for a drink recommendation. He makes some spicy concoction in a gold bowl with peppers. It’s quite delicious but is strong and makes my nose run! The staff gifts me at least two more shots, and I decide to call it quits on alcohol for the night after that. We dance and laugh the night away with the friendly staff, and I pick up the tab before we leave ($27.81).
Day 3 Spend - $65.50
​
Day 4
My friend has been teasing a surprise and finally reveals it’s Disneyland! I laugh and realize I hadn’t disclosed the rest of my itinerary — I have a Disneyland reservation for Monday (after my friends went home)! However, I booked a non-park hopper ticket for Walt Disney Studios, so I’m excited to be able to experience them both thanks to my friend!
We had a late, drunk night last night so we started the day a bit late. Grabbed a quick brunch ($6.74) and head to Chessy via the train ($19.68). We got Premier Access (skip the line/lightning lane) for a handful of rides ($79.15), I bought some Stitch merch ($21.39), and we got ice cream ($5.35).
After a few hours at Disney, we head back to Paris to meet up with one of my friends from college who also lives in London. He’s a hyperextrovert and is ready to hit the town immediately. We wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower, but missed the last bus and grabbed dinner nearby ($89.96). My friend from high school started feeling a bit sick, so she went back to the hotel and my college buddy and I spend the night bar hopping, dancing, chatting, and eating until 3am ($37.44).
Day 4 Spend - $259.71
​
Day 5
Both friends head back to London today but at different times. I start the day a bit late after saying goodbye to my high school friend.
My college friend and I grab breakfast at a nearby restaurant ($41.18). After that, we head out to explore an area of the city near the train station so it’s easy for him to board the 5pm train. We grab some pastries and a baguette ($11.66) and set out to explore. We saw the lock bridge, Arc de Triomphe, took goofy photos, visited the Notre Dame restoration exhibit, and danced alongside a drum parade.
On the walk back to my room, I check my email to see I missed the Eiffel Tower climbing tour I scheduled back in September. I go back to the room, let my phone charge, and pay a fee to reschedule the tour ($10.70). I head out to see the Eiffel and other tourists sites via a Sundown Seine river cruise ($8.99 for 4 bus tickets).
After a few hours, I’m beat and head back to the Sonder. I got a Poke Bowl from a French/Hawaiian/Sushi fusion place we passed by last night and some chicken wings ($22.89). I spend the rest of the night relaxing.
Day 5 Spend - $95.42
​
Day 6
I really want to sleep in, but the Climbing tour doesn’t allow cancellations within 24 hours and charge no-shows. I head out around 9:30 am. Despite being tired and annoyed, the tour was great. I have a lunch Steakhouse reservation at 2:30pm at Disney, so I’m sort of in a rush and happy the tour ends right on time at 12:30. I hop on the train ($10.70 RT tickets) and make it to Disneyland at 1:30 pm.
With an hour before my reservation, I stop into a bunch of stores and buy merch ($70.60). I make my way to The Steakhouse for lunch ($37.44). I am stuffed, so I walk a couple laps around Walt Disney Studios to get a lay of the land, take photos, and walk off lunch before indulging in some shows and rides.
A couple hours go by and I grab some dessert ($4.28) and rent a portable charger ($4.28). I wanted to ride Crush’s Coaster before my dinner reservation, but it had a crazy wait time and premier access sold out for the day, so I buy premier access for and ride Avenger’s Flight Force instead ($12.84), return the portable charger, and head to dinner at Bistrot Chez Remy ($58.83).
I stay until 9:30 pm for the light show, have snacks ($9.63), then head back to the hotel to shower, pack, and sleep.
Day 6 Spend - $208.60
​
Day 7
I have a protein bar for breakfast, check out at 10am, and grab a final ticket ($12.29) to the airport. I start to feel lightheaded and try to drink some water, but it doesn’t help much. So, I get McDonalds ($8.91) before boarding my flight and feel a lot better. I grab a Kinder ($1.72) from a nearby store because I’d never tried one. Amazing!
I am excited to get home and get back into my normal meal prep and exercise routine. I make it back to Philly at 7pm. I take a shower and go straight to bed.
Day 7 Spend - $22.71
—
Week Total - $760.52
Food + Drink - $406.74
Fun / Entertainment - $194.68 (shopping, tour reschedule, premier lanes)
Home + Health - $34.39 (universal adapter)
Clothes + Beauty - $45.35 (last minute toiletries)
Transport - $72.80
Other - $4.28 (portable charger rental)
—
Lastly, reflect on your diary!
While I’d never spend close to this in a normal week, celebrating my birthday in a way I enjoy is very important to me. I’m excited to travel more in the future.
I feel like I spent too much money on individual transport tickets; I should’ve brought the booklet of 10. But $73 for a bunch of days is still pretty cheap. I had a sinking fund of $600 originally, but the cash gifts from my mom and brother increased it to $900.
Overall, Paris was cheaper than I expected. I was worried $600 wouldn’t be enough. I picked up the tab a lot of places since there wasn’t an easy way for us to split the bill in multiple currencies (USD, pounds, euros), and I’m trying to hit the minimum spend on a new credit card. Had I been more willing to figure out bill splitting, I probably could've stayed under $600.
Relatedly - this trip inspired me to revisit my goal of becoming fully fluent in Spanish. French-speakers were visibly irritated when I spoke English (which I wasn’t upset about and expected). I did practice some French (beyond the basics like bonjour and merci) with my sister before the trip, but it always came out sounding like Spanish. So, after the first day, I resorted to starting conversations in Spanish.
If they spoke Spanish, great! However, many were caught off guard and didn’t speak Spanish, so I would then ask, in Spanish, if they spoke English, then converse in English — which made them noticeably nicer. Definitely gonna work on brushing up my Spanish and work towards fluency. I eventually want to learn French and ASL, too.

Not quite sure where to start.. it’s been a hell lately. I think food is my concer, but the pulling on leash it’s the worst.
Food problem: It’s been weeks since he has changed, he seems to dislike any food after a while. We tried changing food, adding toppings, changing bowl, changing the placement on the plate. Each and every thing we try last for a couple of days, then he refuse to eat again. I was able to give him kibble for trainings, now he doesn’t want any not even if he’s starving. He used to eat some kibble and some canned food and würstel/hot dog mixed with kibble as training food. Used to eat beak fast and dinner, and usually training was just before dinner time, so he would be a little hungry and willing to train. It’s seems a really balanced routine, untile it wasn’t. Now he refuse food, not in a concerning way. He would still eat the hot dogs or anything not his kibble. (So I know it’s nothing medical related, he’s also very active).
Engagement issues: I lost any type of engagement with him during walks. He start pulling (we are currently using a front clip Halti “H” harness,in which he was doing fine, till he didn’t) We lost any type of engagement during walks, he started pulling and being super hyper, even reactive to some dogs that are way to far from us (50-100 meters) to justify the freak out. I can’t recall him with anything, no food, no toy, doesn’t respond to any commands, even tho he’s pretty good at obedience usually. He’s just sooo focused, but not on me. The worst part is that he’s not getting anything out of the walks, he comes back home even more hype than before, he doesn’t even sniff enaugh to be tired anymore. We used to play tug at the park, in a less busy area.So I could drop the leash and run a bit with him, having a toy would keep him close and focused enough, and I could step on leash anytime for safety. Even some fetch mixed with obedience. Now I can’t get him to play with me, he literally turn his head away and sit down looking away, I’m heart broken. I thought I had a great relationship with him…(this only during walks tho) in fact at home he still wants to play and do obedience for toys (not for food). He goes to the dog park regularly (3/4 times a week). Sometimes we find his friends and get to play, run and wrestle with them. If we are alone we play with the frisbee. And there, he’s engaged, looks at me, wait for commands and ready to run next to me. I don’t understand where I failed with walks.
Today, what to do? : Atm he skipped his breakfast and I took away food after a while. Will give him the same food (no toppings) at dinner. It’s currently 10am so he will probably gonna be sick soon, because of the empty stomach (and I feel so bad). Today should have been dog park’s day, not quite sure how to get through the 40 min walk there with the pulling. I’m just frustrated..
Any advice? What am I doing wrong? I would do literally anything for him, I just want him to feel happy and satisfied, not hyper.
Sorry for the wall of text, I’m just really confused. And English is not my first languags, I apologize for any misspellings.
EDIT: idk if it’s relevant but he’s an English setter, high prey drive.

seafood addison tx Texas has several seafood restaurants to choose from. Here are a few options:

1. The Londoner: While this restaurant is primarily known for its British pub-style food, it also offers a variety of seafood dishes like fish and chips, salmon, and shrimp.
2. Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill: This upscale seafood restaurant offers a variety of dishes, from grilled fish to seafood pasta.
3. Ocean Prime: This high-end seafood and steakhouse offers a variety of seafood dishes, including shrimp, scallops, and a raw bar.
4. Nate's Seafood & Steakhouse: This family-owned restaurant specializes in Cajun-style seafood dishes like crawfish, gumbo, and blackened fish.
5. Flying Fish: This casual eatery offers a variety of fried seafood, including catfish, shrimp, oysters, and more.

I recommend checking out their menus online or calling ahead to confirm hours and availability.

Not quite sure where to start.. it’s been a hell lately. I think food is my concer, but the pulling on leash it’s the worst.
Food problem: It’s been weeks since he has changed, he seems to dislike any food after a while. We tried changing food, adding toppings, changing bowl, changing the placement on the plate. Each and every thing we try last for a couple of days, then he refuse to eat again. I was able to give him kibble for trainings, now he doesn’t want any not even if he’s starving. He used to eat some kibble and some canned food and würstel/hot dog mixed with kibble as training food. Used to eat beak fast and dinner, and usually training was just before dinner time, so he would be a little hungry and willing to train. It’s seems a really balanced routine, untile it wasn’t. Now he refuse food, not in a concerning way. He would still eat the hot dogs or anything not his kibble. (So I know it’s nothing medical related, he’s also very active).
Engagement issues: I lost any type of engagement with him during walks. He start pulling (we are currently using a front clip Halti “H” harness,in which he was doing fine, till he didn’t) We lost any type of engagement during walks, he started pulling and being super hyper, even reactive to some dogs that are way to far from us (50-100 meters) to justify the freak out. I can’t recall him with anything, no food, no toy, doesn’t respond to any commands, even tho he’s pretty good at obedience usually. He’s just sooo focused, but not on me. The worst part is that he’s not getting anything out of the walks, he comes back home even more hype than before, he doesn’t even sniff enaugh to be tired anymore. We used to play tug at the park, in a less busy area.So I could drop the leash and run a bit with him, having a toy would keep him close and focused enough, and I could step on leash anytime for safety. Even some fetch mixed with obedience. Now I can’t get him to play with me, he literally turn his head away and sit down looking away, I’m heart broken. I thought I had a great relationship with him…(this only during walks tho) in fact at home he still wants to play and do obedience for toys (not for food). He goes to the dog park regularly (3/4 times a week). Sometimes we find his friends and get to play, run and wrestle with them. If we are alone we play with the frisbee. And there, he’s engaged, looks at me, wait for commands and ready to run next to me. I don’t understand where I failed with walks.
Today, what to do? : Atm he skipped his breakfast and I took away food after a while. Will give him the same food (no toppings) at dinner. It’s currently 10am so he will probably gonna be sick soon, because of the empty stomach (and I feel so bad). Today should have been dog park’s day, not quite sure how to get through the 40 min walk there with the pulling. I’m just frustrated..
Any advice? What am I doing wrong? I would do literally anything for him, I just want him to feel happy and satisfied, not hyper.
Sorry for the wall of text, I’m just really confused. And English is not my first languags, I apologize for any misspellings.
EDIT: idk if it’s relevant but he’s an English setter, high prey drive.

(If you disagree with any of these, just leave a comment and don't downvote. I hate when people do that. I'd much rather be told "hey this isn't a good tip", then a downvote that doesn't address the issue. One thing I hate about reddit.)
There's a lot of people getting accepted and thought it would help them realize what grad school is like financially. Also, I'm just curious. (Keep in mind, it might change by your major)
University of Toledo
Stipend: $23k/year
Retirement plan: Yes
Rent: 1Bedroom Apartment $700/month
Electric: (Electric heating) $60-$140/month. Also, electricity can be a scam here in toledo. I had a person knock on my door saying they worked for the electric company (they said the name of the company and dressed like they did) and they needed to correct something on my bill. Long story short, I was stupid/busy, they transfered my account to their company, and after they left I realized my rates would have tripled and luckily I was able to fix it before the damage was done. A week later another guy came and I almost wanted to call the cops on him. Another thing, I got a letter saying that back in November 2000 some committee voted on something and my supplier was going to switch to a different company. My current rate is like 0.02 cents/kilowatt or something and that letter said it was going to go to $0.06/kilowatt. Pretty much my bill would have doubled because a committee voted for something when I was 2 years old. Just, check your email and if something feels off, it probably is.
Internet: (AT&T 25mbps) $4/month because of ACP benefit (Thanks Biden)
General Fees/University Fees: about $700/semester; don't know what summer is yet; parking permit for year $250; my parent's job provide me healthcare but here's the link
Textbooks: ..... learn how to use the internet lol. Books are expensive. If you have to buy, rent or buy used. I found out a lot of people buy books from small bookstore websites, then sell them for a higher price on amazon. So, try and find small bookstore websites.
Renter's Insurance: Around $160/year (liberty mutual)
Credit Card: Discover. I need to get a visa because not everybody accepts Discover (ex: Costco). But there is no annual fee, I've made money off it because of cashback, and they have a "good grades" thing that got me $20 a year. I did that during my undergrad and I don't know if it applies for grad students, but I don't think they even check. I think I just needed a student email.
Furniture for new apartment: Cheapest route is probably thrifting stores, Facebook marketplace, or maybe even putting a flyer up at local churches. However, I lived with my parents before grad school so I just saved all my money and bought furniture off amazon. It's not "expensive", but it does add up quick. Definitly a few $1,000 went into that. Bought my TV from best buy open box. Oh, and this one is really ghetto, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. If you drive around dumpsters in apartment complexes or just low-income places you can find stuff. My apartment complex is constantly through out furniture. At first I was tempted to take it, fix it up, and sell it, but I didn't have time and I hate Facebook market place.
Tip: Spend a good week looking for programs/local groups that support low-income families. Government programs. Some people shame people who go on welfare and stuff like that, but guess what, you are low-income and definitely qualify. I pay taxes like everyone else and you probably do it. So yeah, abuse it. Get money back.
Food: Honesty, I am still debating if it's better to eat out everyday (places like chipotle; not McDonalds or else you'll feel sick. Speaking from experience). When I consider the time it takes to do dishes and cook food, the price I paid for groceries, time to grocery shop and make a list, I almost think going out and getting dinner every other day saves me money and time. But that's an individual thing everyone needs to think about for themself.
Lighting: My apartment as two windows and no interior lighting except the kitchen and bathroom. The light switch only controls one outlet per room. So I had to get Wi-Fi led lights. I highly recommend these (although it looks like the price went up. They were $20). The connection is good. Works simi-well with alexia. The biggest thing I like is it has a "wake-up" setting that makes me peacefully wake up everyday. I used to tell myself I am not a morning person, but these lights changed that. Also, since there are no windows I lose track of time a lot. These lights have a daylight cycle that change throughout the day.
WATCH OUT FOR BURNOUT! Get a hobby, go for a walk around a metro park, or something. Too many people burn themselves out and I was one of them. Doing classes online during Covid years ago still did a number on me. Pace yourself.
Therapy: If you are even questioning if you need it before grad school you will most likely need it during it. I don't know how expensive it is here.
I don't recommend studying at home. My issue is I really want to go home after class and tell myself I'll study at home, but I never do. Keep school stuff at school. Keep lab stuff in the lab. Your apartment should be a safe place. My only exception is writing stuff because I have a big monitor and hate my laptop.
I know some people in academia are jerks, but I say be honest with your PIs and instructors. Tell them your issues, questions, etc. I mean, don't come up to them with 1,000 of questions and get made they can't help you right there and then. Set an appointment and tell them what your questions are. If it can be done over email, do it. I only had one professor ne a jerk when I had a question, but that was about how an assignment was graded and she gets a pass because she has a relevant health issue.
Lastly, if you were a straight A student through out college, you are probably in for a rough time. Not saying it's impossible, but some people in my program are not coping well with the idea they got a B on an exam. As far as I am aware, grades don't matter after grad school and they are more focused on what type of research you did. I am speaking mainly to PhD students and don't know about master students for this.

Indore, the bustling city in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, is known for its vibrant culture, mouth-watering food, and stunning architecture. Whether you're a tourist visiting for the first time or a resident looking for a convenient mode of transportation, taxi service in Indore is the perfect solution for navigating the city with ease.
Here are some of the key benefits of using a taxi service in Indore:
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Comfort: Taxi in Indore is equipped with comfortable seating, air conditioning, and other amenities to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride while the driver takes care of the rest.
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Affordable: Taxi service in Indore is an affordable option for traveling within the city. The fares are reasonable, and you can choose from a range of options depending on your budget and requirements.
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In conclusion, taxi service in Indore is an excellent option for anyone looking for a convenient, comfortable, and safe mode of transportation in the city. Whether you're traveling for business or leisure, a taxi service can help you navigate the city with ease and enjoy all that Indore has to offer. So, the next time you're in Indore, be sure to book a taxi and experience the city like a local!

I just returned from 16 days in Japan and spent a couple of days skiing in Yuzawa, from Tokyo. I will do a full write up of the rest of the trip too but thought I would focus on skiing in Yuzawa (Niigata) first, as I couldn’t find a whole lot about doing it on a budget while I was researching.
We wanted to do a couple of days of skiing as part of a longer trip without blowing our whole budget on it, and we didn’t want to fly up to Hokkaido just for a couple of days - so we checked out Yuzawa and were pleasantly surprised by the good value and fantastic views. We went in the first week of March, and snow was plentiful (and all the resorts were open). It may not be the world class snow of Hokkaido, but as someone who hasn’t skiied for many years and is not much of a snow connoisseur, it seemed excellent to me, as well as being very accessible for tourists, and navigable for non-Japanese speakers.
We brought zero skiing equipment with us (not even a coat) and were able to hire everything very quickly and easily. I have skied before but my partner had not, so we also splashed out on a private 2-hour skiing lesson. The lesson was in English and was extremely good value - highly recommended if you are new to skiing or returning to it after a break.

Costs

2 nights in traditional Japanese guest house, total: 22,500 JPY (170.50 USD) 2 days equipment hire (including winter clothes), total: 16,000 JPY (121.60 USD) 2 days lift passes (Ishiuchi & Yuzawa Kogen), 4 passes in total: around 15,000 JPY (114.00 USD)
2-hour private ski lesson: 16,000 JPY (121.60 USD) 2 return train tickets to Tokyo: 28,000 JPY (212.80 USD) (not needed if you have JR pass)
This brings the cost per person to around 26,750 JPY (203.30 USD), closer to 50,000 JPY (380.00 USD) if paying for train tickets and private ski lesson.
It is also easily be doable as a day trip from Tokyo. I think you could do it including gear rental for around $100 if you wanted to. If you move quickly, you can be on the slopes within about 2 hours of your train departing Tokyo.

Day 1: Tokyo to the slopes!

Caught the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo station, directly to Echigo Yuzawa. Departed around 8.15am, taking 1 hour 20 minutes. The landscape is not mountainous right until this last few minutes - it takes you by surprise!
There is a 7-11 in the station, so we bought a lot of breakfast and lunch supplies here.
Walked to accommodation I had booked in Yuzawa, which was a basic Japanese-style guest house. It was much cheaper than ryokans seem to be, and it provided a tatami mat, futon, and yukata experience. Otherwise it was quite basic, with shared facilities and an onsen. They were happy to look after our baggage until check in time.
The accommodation had a rental shop within the building. There are lots of rental shops all over the town with broadly similar prices. Advanced booking doesn’t seem to be required (at least on a weekday). We had all our gear sorted within 20 minutes. All the staff were very helpful and worked with us to overcome the language barrier!
Our accommodation offered to drop us off at our chosen resort - we went for Ishiuchi Maruyama, as we had heard good things about it. More info on resorts below.
From what we could tell, most accommodation seemed to provide transport to any resort in the Yuzawa region, and there were also regular shuttle buses going between several of the main resorts including GALA Yuzawa, Yuzawa Kogen (which is directly accessible from Yuzawa town), and Ishiuchi (and probably others).
We emailed a few days in advance to book a private lesson in English with Snow Country Instructors, who work across several resorts in the region and would meet us wherever we wanted.
After our lesson we ate lunch and had a beer at one of Ishiuchi’s many slopeside restaurants, which was very cheap and filling, and then spending the rest of the afternoon exploring the resort.
We telephoned our accommodation when we were ready to leave and they picked us up from the car park. Lots of vans of skiiers were driving away at the end of the day and we could have jumped in with others if we had needed to. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.
We ate dinner in Yuzawa town. Restaurants seemed to be quite booked up, despite it being a weekday, so I’d advise advance booking for food if you’re in a group, or if you are picky. There are a few grocery stores and takeaways too.

Day 2 - Skiing Yuzawa Kogen

We elected for Yuzawa Kogen on our second day because it was right across the road from our accommodation, and we wanted a small resort so we could stick to beginner slopes and practice away from the crowds.
We used the onsen in our accommodation, and went to a Thai restaurant in Yuzawa.

Day 3: Depart

Shinkansen back to Tokyo and then on to Kyoto in time for lunch. We could have done a morning of skiing but elected to head off.

Resorts

While we didn’t go to GALA Yuzawa, it’s the most popular resort with tourists in the region, with a Shinkansen station at the resort itself. We decided to go to other resorts ourselves, but if convenience is your priority then GALA might be a good choice.
I would highly recommend Ishiuchi Maruyama for confident beginners and intermediates, and also for snowboarders (the snow park looked great). It has excellent views and great choice of cheap restaurants, and a distinctly Japanese feel. A big meal for two and beers with a view over the valley came to around 3000 JPY. Mmmmmm!
Yuzawa Kogen was a very small resort, and had fewer facilities than Ishiuchi, however the view from the long beginner’s “panorama” course was one of the best I’ve ever seen skiing, and the slopes were incredibly quiet and peaceful. With our lift ticket (a bargain at 3300 Y) we could get the gondola back to Yuzawa town for lunch, with a wide choice of restaurants, and return to the slopes for the afternoon.
For beginners or out-of-practice skiiers looking for a budget alternative to a GALA Yuzawa day trip from Tokyo, I would recommend Yuzawa Kogen. It is about a 10-minute walk from Echigo Yuzawa station, there are loads of cheap rental shops at the base of the resort itself, the lift ticket is cheap, and the beginner slopes are very accessible.
We didn’t buy it, but you can also get a “three mountains pass” which is a lift ticket to all three of Ishiuchi Maruyama, Yuzawa Kogen, and GALA Yuzawa. You could also upgrade a lift ticket from any one of those resorts into a three mountain pass just by paying a few extra yen at any of the ticket counters. So we had the option open but didn’t use it in the end.
PowderHounds has useful info about the various resorts, opening dates, snow quality, etc.
Overall I would highly recommend the Yuzawa area for a day trip or short break from Tokyo. We chatted to many other travellers during our trip and many were very surprised to find out that skiing is so easily accessible (and a few subsequently added it to their itinerary.)
Final note - make sure your travel insurance covers winter sports activities. Happy skiing!

It’s around 8:00 in the morning when you get to the small marina. It’s right off the highway that runs down the Florida Keys, with sand flats and mangrove shoots and gnarled rocky banks just a few yards off the side. At some points it looks like a strong high tide might just flood the road. Videos of salmon crossing flooded roads in Alaska come to mind, except now they’re bonefish, or maybe tarpon or mangrove snapper. The lack of sleep must be getting to you, and you shake your head slightly to re-focus your mind. You shut off the GPS on your phone as you pull into the gravel parking lot and find a spot in the shade of the small white shack that offers food, beer, live bait, and all kinds of smells foreign to your midwestern nose. You shove the wrapper from your breakfast into a rental car cup holder, and step out into the warmth. Your brain, used to the dull winter sights and sounds at this point of the year, feasts itself on the surroundings for a moment. The bright green mangroves, the palms rustling in the steady wind, the sound of a boat bumping against a dock.
This is why you are here.
You scan the dock as you grab your stuff from the trunk. Not much going on, but you see someone rustling around in a skiff behind some equipment, so you shuffle over. Are you the guy I’m looking for? Sometimes they’re old and crusty and wise looking, even sage-like. Sometimes they’re young, strapping, and serious looking. This guy is somewhere in between, but seems friendly enough. “As long as he can get me on some fish” you think. You talk briefly about the conditions, and he probes, trying to gauge your experience and get a feeling as to how much he’ll have to spoon feed you. You know the drill though, and without being too cocky, you’re moderately confident that with access to a boat and some local wisdom, you can make something happen.
10 minutes later you’re bouncing across a flat, clothes wrapped tight around your frame in the wind, hoping you don’t lose teeth as your bottom gets repeatedly slammed against the seat. A couple hundred yards or so to the right is an island, and you spot a small park as you zoom by. To the left, nothing but open sea. After a seemingly long ride, the guide cuts the throttle down to idle, then nothing. You feel relieved to not be in the high winds anymore, and can more thoroughly absorb your surroundings. The entire area seems to be waiting expectantly. It feels fishy. That means something, right? You stand up, quickly having to get used to the rock of the boat.
This is why you are here.
The guide grabs your rod from the storage spot on the side of the boat, and begins to rig it up to his liking. You pay close attention like an attentive student. “You’re gonna need to replace this line soon, the core is exposed at the loop” he says. You know, and you mention that you’re planning to replace it soon. He ties on a generic looking tan pattern. It could be a crab or a shrimp, you just hope it looks like breakfast to a hungry bonefish.
Soon you’re hunting. And that’s what it is out here on the flats. The guide poles along, you get used to the steady push provided by his effort. You know that at any moment, he might call out a fish. You remind yourself that 12 o’clock means straight ahead, 3 means right, and 9 means left. Once while out for redfish, you got so flustered after missing easy shots that you started looking the wrong way as the guide called out new opportunities for humiliation. You shudder at the thought, and refocus your mind on scanning the water. Speaking of, it is clear today, and about 3 or 4 feet deep on the flat you’re fishing. The bottom is split between large deserts of sandy bottom, and dark jungles of turtle grass. You hope that your bonefish comes on the sandy part, cause you can’t see jack in that grass. “There’s one, one o’clock, 40 feet moving right to left” comes the call out. You look (straight and a little right) and sure enough, a small dark shape is moving across the sand, coming slowly toward you. Your entire world shrinks down to this one moment.
This is why you are here.
You feel yourself going through the motions of casting, but your brain is in the water with the fish, willing him to eat as hard as you can. Strip, strip, strip, the fish is on it, following close behind. You keep stripping quickly in short bursts, trying to channel all your being into emulating a panicky crab on the end of your line. It’s right at the boat now, and the fish suddenly darts forward and turns, within a moment he is 30, now 40 feet out. Your finger burns, a new mark you will quietly admire later is scorched into you as the fish sears across the flat. The feeling of being attached to such a quickly moving creature cannot be described. Once you feel like you have a good shot at landing him, you break into the biggest smile you can remember ”…living as never before” is a line you recall from a Thomas McGuane chapter, and that seems about right. After several impressive runs, the fish is in the net, your first bonefish. You hold him up for a quick picture, feel his surprising weight and admire the dark banding on his back that makes them so hard to spot. In a moment held under the water the fish kicks off, disappearing almost immediately into a patch of grass. All is right with the world.
This is why you are here.

If you have your heart set on wedding rings in Overland Park, Kansas that are one-of-a-kind, contemporary, and unexpected then cluster diamond rings are the ideal choice. Cluster rings are set with different gemstones in a range of shapes and sizes that often feel unique.
With these rings, there is no single focal point. Instead, a range of gemstones creates a unique multi-focal appearance. You can either opt for gemstones in different shades or pick a range of white diamonds to give the appearance of one large center stone.
Reasons to love cluster diamonds
Cluster diamond bracelets in Overland Park, Kansas is ideal for brides that can’t make up their mind and prefer to choose a pear, round or oval cut in a single piece.
This ring is ideal to incorporate sentimental gemstones like birthstones or even heirloom stones that you love.
If you prefer to custom-design your cluster ring then always work with a professional that can advise you on the type of stones, cuts, and designs to pick along with the budget.
Cluster custom jewelry in Overland Park, Kansas is much more affordable as it’s not a single big diamond but several small gemstones, making it more cost-effective. However, this depends on the type of gemstone and metal you choose.
Keep in mind that these rings offer a more modern vibe and so if you’re looking for something simple and classic, this might not be the piece for you.
You need to take a lot of care of your cluster rings and take them to a professional to clean, repair and maintain from time to time.
Final Verdict
If your cluster diamond ring has a lot of gemstones then opt for a simple and solid wedding band so that the beauty of your ring will stand out and shine.