CatsNSquirrels

CatsNSquirrels t1_iyys68s wrote

Reply to BIFL Winter Cap Recommendations by blckht

We literally just discovered Nirvanna Designs and their stuff is amazing. It’s all handmade in Nepal for fair wages. Everything is 100% wool and most are lined with fleece. Seems super high quality. They were at a holiday market in NYC and we both bought hats, scarves and mittens. My hubby got a baseball cap style. There may be a tiny tag but no logo. Mostly neutral colors.

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CatsNSquirrels t1_iyvy7f8 wrote

Reply to Are apartment rentals negotiable? by alidte

In my experience, rents are not negotiable when you are initially leasing. Sometimes you can get a perk or a free month based on current specials, but generally the rate is the rate. When you renew, sometimes you can negotiate on a proposed increase.

The reason for this is partly due to fair housing laws. Offering different rents to different people, who are looking at the exact same time and at the exact same units, can open the landlord/company up to discrimination lawsuits. People go undercover and check for this behavior all the time at apartments. (Source: I worked in fair housing for a brief period of time).

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CatsNSquirrels OP t1_ixzg3oh wrote

Reply to comment by volanger in Best towns for a childless, middle-aged couple? by CatsNSquirrels

People seem less miserable here, probably because they’re paid twice as much for what now is nearly the same cost of living (min wage in TX is still $7.25 and waiters still get $2.13). There is an attempt to care about the environment here. Texas is drowning in plastic and styrofoam, and they pave over almost all natural areas. People are more educated here and seem to possess more critical thinking ability. The Texas education system is falling apart (I’m a former teacher). Also I have my reproductive rights here and that’s huge.

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