Don't Panic! (OT Advice Thread)

Wear Sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proven by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
 

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Baraendur said:


On the subject of honesty:

Only lie about the stuff that will really matter should the truth come out. Honesty will not save you.

Make sure you tell a little truth with every lie.

Remember every lie as though it were the truth, and do not tell so many lies that you can't keep track of them all.

Have a backup lie assembled in case your first one is revealed.

An ommission meant to mislead is not a lie.


... Yes, I'm a very bad, bad man. :cool:

Which reminds me:

Telling the truth means you never have to remember what you said. :)

PS
 
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"Beg forgiveness, not permission."

I find that when I follow that advice, I get into a little more trouble but I'm a LOT less resentful.
 

Learn domestic skills, that way you're less dependent on others.

1. Learn how to do laundry. Read the labels. Follow them. No, it won't kill you to hand wash the delicate stuff with Woolite. And always wash new clothes separately two times or with identical colors so they finish bleeding and don't discolor the rest of your clothes.

2. Learn how to dust, polish wood and silver, scrub bathtubs and toilets, and vacuum. Understand how to use your cleaning products. Spring cleaning is not a myth, nor is fall cleaning. Do a big cleaning twice a year, it helps. And never mix Comet with Clorox!

3. Learn how to cook. Read the cookbook twice before you start and make certain you have the ingredients. Buy yourself a big basic Betty Crocker cookbook and learn how to cook the basics. If you know how to make a roast, cook a turkey, and make basic rolls, you're ahead of the game. It impresses people when you can make an entire homecooked meal from scratch.

4. Learn how to set all your clocks, program your TV and VCR, and how to reset your circuit breakers.

5. Learn basic wiring so you can do minor home repairs. Watching This Old House is ok. Do-it-yourself books are better. Getting a knowledgeable person to show you is best.

6. Learn how to sew. Even if it's just to repair small rips and sew on buttons, it still puts you ahead of the game. If you're ambitious, get someone to show you how to use a sewing machine and you can even make simple things like pillows, table runners, or blankets for your house.

7. Keep a box of basic tools like a hammer, pliers, carpet knife, mini crow bar, various sizes of nails, screws, nuts, and bolts. They'll come in useful.

7a. A good place to find cheap but serviceable tools is garage sales. Coincidentally it's also a great place to find books for a quarter.

8. Learn how to strip paint and wallpaper and learn how to put them back on. Also learn how to refinish furniture. A five dollar find from a garage sale can look like a million bucks after striping and repaining. Costs less than new too.

9. Learn how to iron. It's not hard, and it's a lifesaver for those important meetings.

10. Organize your drawers. Use pencil boxes or something, but there's nothing more frustrating than being unable to find something just because the drawer is a tangled mess.
 

Stormfalcon said:
My own version: Do unto others as they would do unto you, but do it first. :D

heh, My Dad taught it to me like so...

The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Silver Rule: Do unto others as they have done to you.

The Bronze Rule: Do unto others.

Choose the "medal" you think the person has "Won" and go with that.
 




1. Credit cards are for emergencies, or Internet purchases only. Pay them off at the end of each billing cycle, or stop using them.

2. Pick a day to wash, or clean, or whatever semi-major task you have to do. Always do it then, so you won't forget it.

3. Schedule a vacation away from the city you live in at least once a year, even if it's just a couple days. Travel broadens.

4. Always read the fine print. Ask questions. Never be intimidated by the help.

5. Always keep a flashlight and a towel in your car. Those two things are amazingly useful. If you can, also keep: a multi-tool of some kind, a half-gallon of water, a few basic tools (of any type; these also serve as makeshift weapons just in case) including at least one with some kind of blade, plastic wrap (painters drop cloths are best; thin and it folds very small) and a small medical kit.

6. Start a second bank account at a credit union or something like that. Put in some cash, then forget about it until the next time you have an unexpected windfall or even just $10.00 left over at the end of the pay cycle. Never take checks for that account with you, and never use a bank card or check card from there. It gives you a nice cushion in case the stuff hits the fan.

7. Get a dog, especially if you live alone. You will always, always have something that loves you just for you.

8. Budget. If you make enough or have a family, look into contacting a financial manager.

9. Go someplace new for dinner, esp. if it is a locally-owned place.

10. Have all your important papers where you can get to them. Have a single sheet of paper with all important phone numbers, including the service #'s for your major appliances, HVAC, and insurance. Make copies of it, and post at least one on the fridge.

11. Make a will. Now. Make sure the beneficiaries on all insurance, retirement, everything, are current esp. if you have a family. Buy a burial plot, now, and take out burial insurance. Even if you're 20. A cheap funeral now is at least $6,000. That will probably triple by the time you need it. Don't burden your family with a massive unexpected expense at the exact time they don't need it.
 


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