EMELINE IS THE PRETTIEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!

Seriously. At this point, I'm pretty damned sure that Aimee and MM sacrificed somebody else's baby to a dark power in order to get their little girl to be that pretty.

My daughter is looking at obtaining a work visa to work in Australia.

Sail, a friend's sister has done this. She now lives in Adelaide with her new hubby -- a cautionary tale, I suppose, because your daughter might never come back again. She might have insight about the process, and I could put her in touch. My profile addy is good.

{{vw}}

Alas, I am still not really here.

My car is mostly dug out. I think I should be able to get out. I hope so anyway. It took me like an hour to dig it out, and I'm all sweaty and gross now. Should have done that BEFORE I showered. Oh well.

Pictures to come shortly.

I'm working on figuring out how to totally reorganize my budget -- I want to move to a cheaper apartment that's further away from the university, which'll decrease the amount I'm paying in rent by about $300 but increase my commuting costs by about $75. And I want to use that savings to get a car. (I'm thinking I'll buy a used car. My mother's trying to tell me that leasing would be better, but so far, I'm not convinced -- it seems to me like leasing will involve spending more money, and when I was done paying, I wouldn't still have a car.) And this is all really frustrating me to try to figure out what I can afford.

Thanks, Sparky! I knew the Hivemind would have some answers for me.

My mother's trying to tell me that leasing would be better, but so far, I'm not convinced --

Leasing is usually not a very good option. I think there are some situations where leasing is a better plan than buying, but buying the car is (in my understanding) almost always better.

Hil, I don't envy you. I hate trying to figure that kind of stuff out. Also, I have no advice, so I'm also not helpful.

Snow pictures: [link]

Hil, that's very smart of you, though I know how frustrating figuring out that kind of thing can be. I haven't worked a car into my budget yet.

vw, are those gross icicles inside or outside the house?

Leasing is usually not a very good option. I think there are some situations where leasing is a better plan than buying, but buying the car is (in my understanding) almost always better.

Yeah. My parents lease their cars, but having a new car every few years is important to them. Having a car that'll get me from point A to point B in relative safety, and which I'll have for the longest amount of time and the lowest amount of money, is what's important to me right now.