Does anyone know where I can pick up just a trampoline frame? I’ve been scouring the web, but honestly, buying a whole new setup here in the States feels like way too much. They’ve slapped these crazy prices on everything—nothing reasonable in size under $833. I saw this deal on eBay for a total steal that included the netting, the mat, and the springs, but they didn't have the actual metal frame pieces. So, I was thinking maybe I could just hunt down those iron poles locally and order the rest online. For instance, that big trampoline from Target out there is priced at $500 (the 430 cm one with the safety net), but the price tag in their store is just... well, $1333 absolute madness...... Also, has anyone in the Savannah area spotted a good deal on a Newton swing? Checking online, the price is hovering around $27 including shipping, but I'm wondering if we have anything similar here. The only real downside to ordering from abroad is that month-long wait for delivery, which is kind of a drag.
And one more thing—sandbags and weights for them? Where’s the best place to find those without getting ripped off?
redmarlin3 said:Clones aren't actually against the rules, provided that: a) they aren't just duplicates of users who have been banned from the site b) they don't post about all the exact same topics in a way that totally confuses everyone else. 😉
No biggie, honestly—when I can't make it happen, I just trust God to step in. So, I heard this news about a private school that just opened up in San Francisco, and they’re actually running things on a totally sensible, common-sense level. Like, classes are only held in the morning until 2:00 PM, and then from 2:00 to 4:00, the kids stay to work on their homework with a professional supervisor right there. And get this—the textbooks stay at the school! No heavy backpacks or worrying about kids hurting their spines or whatever. It’s basically full-day care, but instead of just babysitting, it’s actual support for parents with the upbringing side of things, which is how it really ought to be, I guess. I actually asked them if they were planning on changing this setup, and they said nope! They said this was always the goal: organized full-day stays for elementary students, better-distributed curriculum, and smaller class sizes. SUPER! I’m really crossing my fingers that they’ll still be around in three years when Melanie starts elementary school.
vividfalcon14 said:Yeah, well, I'm an admin here, so I don't really have to bother posting stuff. 🤣 ☕
Anyway, I'm Marina and I'm 27 years old!
Wait, wait, hold on... what are we even talking about here? I totally thought this was like one of those intro threads, you know, kind of like at an AA meeting where everyone just introduces themselves. 😂😂
Everything about this sounds great and I totally get where everyone is coming from, but has anyone actually come up with a solid alternative idea yet? Like, seriously? In three years, Melanie is going to start at her local American school, and they're still doing that whole split-shift thing. It’s so frustrating because it’s a proven fact that concentration levels just tank for every single generation once the afternoon hits—learning new stuff becomes such a struggle! Most of the world pretty much sticks to morning classes only, but here we are, just banging our heads against the wall...
So, please, throw out some other ideas that could actually work as a way to make money while still letting me have flexible working hours?
Anthony Rivera69 said:I mean, what happens when you actually need to be there for your kid? You can't just walk away from the gym whenever you feel like it. Who’s going to look after the members? What if a child gets sick? Who’s stepping in for you for a week?
Nick. It just won't work. Honestly, if that's an issue for someone, then I don't even want them as clients at my gym. I guess anyone who can't handle the gym being closed for a few days just isn't thinking straight, you know? Besides, back when I used to go to the gym, I was basically running the place myself! I'd show up, turn on the AC, blast the music, get my workout done, and then just run the key upstairs to the owner. I wasn't even staff or anything, just one of the regulars.
dustyeagle62 said:There might be one more option here. Just get remarried—preferably to someone with a deep pocket. He works, you’ve got all the time in the world to focus on kids, and maybe you could set up a little hobby business in one wing of his house just to stay busy... though, I guess you should probably let visitors in for free since you aren't really looking for cash, just all this extra free time you suddenly have now. How bad does that sound? Plus, you could totally invite your old boss over for a backyard BBQ so he can eat on *your* terms instead of you eating with him!
Oh, I am definitely not getting married. I never have, and I don't plan to. Honestly, I haven't even slept with my kid's father—don't even ask, it’s complicated. I actually lost my mind when my doctor told me about it; you know, stuff they definitely don't teach you in high school biology, but they really should! So, yeah... I'm not exactly "traditional." I'm not much of an outdoorsy person, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I can fix a car, a TV, or a leaky pipe myself. I actually carry pliers and screwdrivers in my bag all the time, like, just in case. Plus, I can bench press 330 pounds at the gym, so I'm not really what people call a "feminine" woman. And honestly? Nobody seems to go for women who are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. I have zero interest in playing dumb just so I can be called "husband" every time someone needs help moving a dresser to vacuum under it—especially when I can just lift the damn thing myself and put it wherever I want. Ever since elementary school, guys have always seen me as "one of the guys." I was never that girl they wanted to take out on a date; I was always the girl they called when they needed help flipping a car over after some prank went too far.
dustyeagle62 said:I totally get why you're worried about the future, but honestly, if you really want to open up and run your own thing, major props to you and good luck! Just, please, try to chill out first and don't freak out. Panic hasn't helped anyone before, even when things are actually going wrong, so it definitely won't help you four years ahead of time. Also, maybe try to keep some dignity? Like, don't go eating everyone else's leftovers—I mean, what's next? Everything seems planned out perfectly, assuming you don't get fired or end up sick! I have to tell you, if you keep going like this, you're on a fast track to getting sick, and as for being fired, you're also kind of headed that way too. I mean, once people at the office start talking about how you're scavenging scraps—and they will talk—if your boss finds out about your side business plans, they might think you aren't fit for the job because acting like that could hurt the company's reputation. And then, boom, you're unemployed and sick.
It might be better to focus on building up enough status at the firm so you can eventually negotiate for a more flexible schedule. You've got four years, so if you stay calm, you'll be able to work something out with someone there. But if you lose your dignity and your reputation, everyone is just going to avoid you.
As for the gym idea, hey, keep working on it, but maybe don't broadcast your plans to everyone. Anyway, you're spending so much energy on this stuff that you could be using it toward your actual goal.
I'm definitely not the only one who eats the boss's lunch leftovers... there are five of us basically fighting over it. It depends on who's hungriest, so whoever wins gets the most, so I don't really see the whole "dignity" thing clashing with it. It's not like we're eating out of a trash can or anything; the boss always buys extra and puts it in a big Tupperware container, takes some for his plate, and the rest is left for us to scoop onto our plates, and that's that. Sometimes there's a ton, sometimes nothing. Sometimes I eat at the office, sometimes I take it home. Most of the time, the boss actually invites us to eat with him, which is actually pretty great. It's mostly just the boss and the CEO eating carefree while the rest of us wait to see what they're having, and then we decide if we need to chip in for our own lunch or if there's enough leftover food to share.👍 As for flexibility, I can't really do that because of my job—I'm a professor, and my lectures are from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, per the Department of Education regulations. So, I don't really get to pick my hours. But the boss does know that things will change in four years. Actually, he's the total opposite of what you're thinking; I'm pretty much on the same level as the boss when it comes to work conditions. I can just walk up and demand certain things, and it happens. My other coworkers wouldn't dare, but since I have a high-level degree and more expertise than almost anyone else there, I can ask for what I want without being scared. I've got a lot of leverage. If I need something, I ask, and I get it. I don't even ask for a raise because I know the company's finances and realize they can't afford it right now. For example, I asked that starting next year, I wouldn't have to teach any classes after 4 PM anymore (before, I used to teach from 9 AM until 8 PM!), and so now I have those new hours for the exact same pay. Other employees can't do that, and if they have to stay past 4, they stay. When I say I'm leaving, the boss doesn't even complain.
And honestly, you don't lose your dignity just by trying to survive. Some people feel ashamed eating leftovers, but for others, it's just daily life. I'm not saying I eat out of a dumpster, but if I had to, I wouldn't be embarrassed by it, and it wouldn't lower my dignity or anything. To me, the real shame would be dying or giving up. But anyway, the plan for the gym is still happening.
silentpanther15 said:look, if you're thinking about jumping into private business and you've got some coaching experience under your belt... just go for it!
but maybe don't do a traditional gym. I mean, standard gyms are just way too pricey, totally not worth the overhead, and they feel like they're designed specifically for pro athletes or those wannabe bodybuilders (and honestly, there seem to be fewer and fewer of those people around lately).
Why not open a fitness center focused on floor exercises? Like, things like aerobics, Tae-Bo, step, kickboxing, SFA, or even spinning classes. You need way less cash upfront for equipment, too—like, it’s probably much cheaper to pick up 15 used spinning bikes than it is to fully outfit even a quarter of a massive weightlifting gym.
Plus, women are, well, let me think... they're definitely the most loyal and consistent clients. I mean, personally, I don't think I've ever met a woman who wouldn't want to be just a little bit slimmer. Just put an ad on a daycare door (you know, targeting young moms who might be carrying a few extra pounds and feeling a bit low on confidence because their husbands aren't looking at them quite the same way they used to) and I guarantee you'll have one or two classes filled up instantly.
Besides, you're a young mom yourself. Maybe just chat with your girlfriends and ask them if they'd actually show up to a place like that and what kind of vibe or services they'd actually want?
Oh, I'm already ahead of you! I've actually got a bunch of interested candidates already. From what I hear, the two unisex gyms around here are pretty bad—one has aerobics that are way too slow and boring, and at the other one, there's this whole crowd of creepy guys just staring at you while you work out, so girls have basically given up on it. And okay, maybe I did use the word "gym" a little loosely. Like, yeah, I would open a fitness studio, but strictly for women. No heavy 300lb bench presses or anything; just maybe three or four treadmills, some dumbbells, a dozen step platforms, a Plasma TV, and that's it. Honestly, I think group activities would sell way better than individual training sessions. I also finished a full self-defense course, so I could totally teach that too! I'd just grab a heavy punching bag and let everyone beat the heck out of it for $33 a month, every single day, until they're completely wiped out.😍
Okay. So far, everyone’s against me. I mean, did anyone else have a different idea for how to handle this whole situation I've got coming up in four years? Does anyone have a concrete suggestion? Last night I actually pulled out my calculator and figured out that if I just eat the leftovers from my coworkers' lunches at the office, I could save an extra $167 a month. That means I could be putting away $567 from my paycheck every single month. Melanie is 44 months away from starting her first year of school. So, assuming I don't get laid off, she could have $24933 saved up over those next 44 months. If I put that money into a savings account with maybe a 3-4% interest rate, it would grow to $25931. Then, once she starts school and I quit my job to focus on living off that cash, she could potentially live comfortably for 26 months. She’d be in third grade by then, and I’d be back out there looking for work again... I guess I just can't afford to get sick or injured anytime in the next 6... or 60 years... My dad doesn't even own his own place either; he’s still renting. When I see colleagues who are thirty and still living at home, using the $667 they save on rent and utilities to buy a car—and then, you know, *when they finally land a house*—it makes me feel happy for them and kind of guilty for myself at the same time... I know starting a small business might be tricky, but I'd open something I actually know how to do. I used to be a T-Mobile martial arts instructor and spent ten years in the gym every single morning! As for all the paperwork, I’d just pay $167 a month to some lady accountant to handle all that stuff...
But seriously, if anyone has a better idea or a plan, I'm all ears! Everything is on the table except for one thing: I am absolutely not okay with being away from my kid five days every other week.
silentpanther15 said:all-male gyms are just a money pit. .
I mean, I’m not really looking for some big career or a massive paycheck, you know? I guess I just want something where I can break even at the end of the month. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go out buying designer clothes, and I mostly just eat fruit... so I don't have those extra expenses, I suppose. A gym would just be a way to cover my utilities, pay the bills, and buy groceries for my daughter. No profit needed. It’s more about being free. Like, if she calls me crying and needs me right away, I want to be able to just shut everything down and run to her—she's my whole world, my only reason for living. Right now, I just can't do that because I'm stuck at a corporate job. If an emergency happened today, I'd have to wander through the office building looking for the manager, try to explain what's happening—which takes forever, honestly—and then wait to see if they actually let me leave. But my baby needs me *now*.
If you have a better idea, please, tell me! I feel like I've already explained my situation, but here it is again, just in case: She’s three years old now and in preschool, and in about four years, she’ll be starting elementary school. And I don't have anyone else. No family nearby, nothing. We’re just renting an apartment. So, what am I supposed to do in four years when she starts first grade and school is in the afternoon? Should I just give her up for adoption to someone who lives in a mansion and has a wife who stays home all day? I guess I'd live off scraps if I had to, just to save enough money, but I HAVE to be available for my girl. I REALLY HAVE TO.
First off, sorry to the mods if this topic already exists! I’ve spent like, an hour or so just scouring search engines for everything under "gym," but I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for.
So, my big question is: how does one actually open a gym here in the States? Like, what do I need to get through the process and what would the startup costs look like?
The expenses I've thought about are: renting a space renovations (showers, locker rooms, equipment, flooring, mirrors, etc.) utilities (water, electricity, trash, heating/AC, etc.) ... I'm mostly stuck on the paperwork side of things during the initial setup. There's a pretty decent breakdown on CNN, but I’m really looking for concrete numbers, your thoughts, suggestions, and advice.
Anyway, the reason this is even on my mind is because I’ve been training for ten years—both in gyms and at Taekwondo studios as a hobby. Now, I'm a single mom and I don't have any family nearby (no grandma, grandpa, or any of those folks who could watch the kid for me). She’s three now, and in four years, she’ll be starting school. My current job is 8 to 4, so once she starts first grade and gets moved to afternoon shifts... well, imagine that! We might not see each other all week (I leave for work at 7:30 AM, she's in school from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM, which means she'd be alone from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM—there is NO WAY I'm allowing that!!) so my only real solution is finding a job where I can actually control my own schedule. At first, I was torn between opening a gym or maybe a print shop, but there are way too many print shops out there, and I feel like I'd lose money trying to find the perfect location just to make a decent living. With a gym, though, if I made it women-only, the specific location wouldn't be quite as critical, as long as it's easy to find. I even heard about a group that turned their garage into a gym and girls were traveling from all over 3.1 miles to work out there. I’d want to make it exactly like the gyms I've always dreamed of. Small, tidy, relaxing, accessible, and cozy, with equipment specifically geared toward women, a few cardio machines, and an area for aerobics. But I'd cap it at maybe six ladies per hour so the trainer can give everyone individual attention, rather than some huge crowd of 50 people jumping around and then drinking Andale for a week because nobody taught them proper form. My plan is to start setting aside a little bit of my paycheck starting New Year's (2008)—maybe around $400—and try to turn this dream into reality by next summer with about $6333 in savings (God willing, assuming I stay healthy and don't get laid off from my current gig). To start, I’d work there myself, but eventually, I’d hire someone because I don't think it's fair to leave a first grader alone from 8 to 2, that would be kind of mean to the kids... meanwhile, I'd probably take a course in sports massage or aromatherapy so I could offer relaxing massages in a separate little room after workouts... ideas are just flying everywhere, you know??
So, please give me your advice, price lists, or suggestions! Or just tell me—if something like this doesn't exist in your city, would you go for it? Would you sign up for my "imaginary gym"?
But what’s wrong with those cheap plastic toy sets?
So, first I grabbed this little doctor kit at Walmart for $27. When I finally got home, I was totally shocked—there wasn't even a stethoscope in there!!! (Like, it was just a kid's doctor set without the actual stethoscope👎 ). So then I went out and found one of those plastic ones, and I'll just quote myself here: "Mommy, your heart isn't working, I can't hear anything..." (which, honestly, I kind of wanted to tell her I was a vampire🤣 😍 )
Or maybe just grab some cheap stuff at the Hospital?
Where is it? What is that even?
It really seems to me, based on everything you've told us, that you have such a great way of introducing your little one to the doctor, and your child has such an awesome attitude about it! Way to go, Mama!
thanks!
Why does Amoxil taste so absolutely gross, while a similar medicine for adults tastes totally fine? Shouldn't it be the other way around somehow????
Sam Hall15 said:so maybe talking it out or trying other more standard ways might help, but if you really want a stethoscope, maybe a classic Riester one $83 or something like that
So, the other day we went to SES for nose and throat swabs, and the kid right before my Melanie was literally screaming while she was doing his swab. Then it was Melanie's turn, and the lady didn't even acknowledge her—it was like she wasn't even in the room! She just automatically assumed that because she’s a child, she was going to scream too, and told me I should just "hold her tight and control her." Melanie totally felt that vibe (it wasn't just a whim, I swear) and just burst into tears. I asked the doctor to explain what she was doing and why, but she just kept staring at me and only addressing me. Since the last time she did a swab without any issues, I think it's pretty obvious who the real problem was in this situation? 👎 👎 Unbelievable. I work so hard to teach Melanie that going to the doctor is a positive and necessary thing, and then this lady just completely kills the mood. As soon as we walked out of SES, I told her that the doctor was probably just frustrated with that previous boy, which is why she acted that way toward her, but that it wasn't okay and that Mommy won't be taking her to that mean doctor anymore—we'll find a different one who's actually nice. I mean, seriously, imagine if you treated every single patient like they were someone you couldn't stand and were just constantly annoyed by? That's so unfair!!!!!!👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎
Does anyone know where I can pick up some $50? I’m trying to be a super mom and I want to buy a stethoscope—an actual, real one—as a toy for my little girl. Since there isn't really any kid-focused education here in my city about visiting the doctor, I thought if she had her own, I could show her exactly what the doctor does during an exam and let her listen to her own heartbeat. Honestly, I just can't stand wasting money on those cheap plastic sets that cost maybe $50-$33 and snap within a week. Also, if anyone here (maybe a doctor among us🙂 😍) happens to have an old but working one, or if you're buying a new one and don't know what to do with your old gear, PLEASE reach out to me!
Why am I being so extra? ---- So, about four months ago, I'm sitting in a waiting room with my little girl, and this small boy is running around the hallway. His mom is trying to calm him down by saying (👎 👎 👎 👎 ) "Here comes the doctor with the needle, sit down fast! Here comes the doctor with the needle, you better behave or he'll poke you." Five minutes later, it's that boy's turn and the doctor starts getting ready to give him the shot. The little guy didn't just scream like he was being tortured, he actually kicked the entire medicine cabinet and knocked over the doctor's desk—and he's only five! Then the mom walks out and starts yelling at him, which is just... wow, how embarrassing. I seriously wanted to throw her on the floor and kick her for being so ridiculous. First, you scare the child like that, and then you get mad when they react that way. My Melanie isn't afraid of doctors (and why should she be?), but, I don't care, I just really want to give her a stethoscope, a real one! Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm a bit much, but if anyone has a spare stethoscope, please, please send me a PM. Thanks!