Thanks, vw. We've just been so broke. We had a nice chunk of money in the bank, after we purchased this house. It's all gone now, which we expected, and a fair amount of it went into the house--new electric, new boiler, new patio. What it took us a while to realize it that a lot of it also went to day to day living. For the past few months, we've sweated out each month's payday. The primary problem is that this mortgage is just much higher than the old one, because we bought old house, before prices went through the roof. That was back in the days when you could buy a house in our town for under $200K. I don't think you can buy a lot for 300K, these days.

Anyhow, most of our money problems are due to the fact that it's been a long time since we had to be careful, and we'd forgotten how. We've now canceled the newspapers (which hurt Scott more than it hurt me). Now we're saving this money. Next up, we're going to shop around for our heating oil. We're also going to rework how we use the ATM, because that's part of our problem, too. Maybe someday, we'll even be able to actually save money, again. For the meantime, we're just hoping to be able to buy milk and gasoline for those last ten days of the month.

You know how some couples balance each other re strengths and weaknesses? That's true for us on some things, but on quite a lot of things, we share the same weaknesses, and to some extent, this includes our philosophy on money, which is fine when we're flush, but other times? Not so much.

I totally suck at chess. I have a general understanding of strategy (I read a chess book when I was in second grade) but like Teppy I suck at anticipating my opponent's move.

I played chess against a Commodore 64 a few times - even with it at the easiest setting I still lost.

We're also going to rework how we use the ATM, because that's part of our problem, too.

I desperately need to do this too. If you find anything that works, let me know. I'm thinking of starting to track my cash spending in Microsoft Money, 'cause really, I need to see where that money is going. I'm loosing my disability supplement come July, and that's gonna be a big kick in the pants ($800 a month kind of kick in the pants). Fortunately, I've paid off my car, and I'll have to do something for health insurance at that point (because that ends at the same time), but I'll probably go on a state-funded insurance program with a very low monthly premium, based on my income), so that'll save me a big chunk. It'll be ok, but boy am I gonna have to count the pennies.

and to some extent, this includes our philosophy on money, which is fine when we're flush, but other times?

I know what you mean. My parents have the same problem.

I was looking through lj at Sims communities and there's Sims mpreg. In Strangetown if you have a guy look through a telescope he'll get abducted by aliens and then return pregnant.

I'm going to have to try this when I get home.

I'm not very good at it, so far 2 of the characters have had to get visits from a therapist (he drops out of the sky).

The funny thing is that the therapist is only visible to the Sim being counseled. If you switch to another Sim's view, then all you see is the Sim in counseling standing there talking to themselves.

Also fun is when the Sims are so lonely that the Social Bunny drops from the sky to play with you. They give you hugs.

This has got me REALLY itching to play.

I'm going to have to try this when I get home.

Won't being abducted cause you to miss work?

edit for clarity....

I may know the mechanics of the game (like, the horsie pieces move in an L), but I sure the hell have NO idea how to actually play.

I'm the same way. I know the concepts, but not the music of it.

Sims 2 has teenagers, toddlers, and kids, and old people.

Do the teenagers date? If you put two adult Sims and a teenager in a house, will the dynamic be parental/family, or will they all hit on each other?

Also fun is when the Sims are so lonely that the Social Bunny drops from the sky to play with you. They give you hugs.

Damn, why isn't real life like that?

Do the teenagers date? If you put two adult Sims and a teenager in a house, will the dynamic be parental/family, or will they all hit on each other?

The teens DO date, and they've even got goals like "Sneak out of the house after midnight."

I'm not sure if you create teens- the only way I've had them so far is having Sims have kids which then grow up.

Also, I HAVE had my children taken away by Child Services, and I wasn't even trying. They don't give them back.

The teens will date. In Strangeville there's a family of 4 (parents, teenage boy, little girl) this is the alien family. The dad is an alien, wife is human, the song has green skin like Dad. The teenager, Johnny, has a birthday right of the bat, his aspirations are to have a good party and kiss Olivia (if you switch to Olivia her aspiration is to kiss Johnny).

Olivia was the only person to show up for the party and I had them making out in no time flat. They made out for the whole party time and then I made her leave, but I don't know what would happen if I had her stick around.