My sister is in your situation. She daydreams about houses constantly and is trying to make it happen by stalking homes that are sheriff’s sales (where they auction off foreclosed homes). I don't know if that's the smartest way of going about it but if you do your research, I’ve heard you can get properties for cheap…

I started with Vanguard and bought a mutual fund. It is less work than stocks (they do the work for you) - my mom advised me as she is good with this stuff. I bought a share ($3k) and then buy more shares each month ($100? You can do it however you want though, but the $3k is the required initial cost for the fund I…

Don't worry, it's also depressing to look at real estate when you own a home you can't possibly sell because the market has tanked.

Now doing the same… and damning the recession (which included a year of being laid off, going to grad school, and working part-time hospitality jobs. Oh my!) for taking away the savings that could have afforded me a down payment on a condo or little house of my own.

Why be depressed? You're doing your research and being SMART by not jumping into a bad loan just to get what you want right now. When you're thinking about prices, always factor in things like mortgage insurance (when you don't have a sufficient down payment), the higher interest rates you might have to pay without…

I am going to be That Person.

Fabulous. I think the perfect gifts are things that you want, but won't buy yourself because they feel too indulgent. Why "surprise" someone with something that they don't really need or want?

People who don't get Venture Bros don't understand my soul...

I live for gift cards. No one but my close family and friends know what to buy me besides gift cards. I have an Aunt who buys me clothes every year and I love her, I do, but it's like she keeps thinking 'this is the year she will choose to not live in jeans and tees whenever possible and acceptable and wear girly…

I got a gift card to a liquor store. It was the best gift ever for a booze snob like me.

I wish they'd leave Nigella the hell alone. Whether she does or doesn't cook at home really doesn't matter to me. I like her tv shows and her books.

Jealous, low-down assholes trying to cash-in and take down someone who has a career and class.

The two sisters Anastasia and Druzilla are just a fucking delight aren't they?? You just keep proving yourselves to be trashy assholes SHUT UP.

Yeah, both women and men can behave horribly when it comes to divorce and custody.

How awful it is to see someone so concerned with defeating their ex that they would kill their own child and themselves rather than let the ex "win".

To hell what was in his head! He murdered his child. His toddler son was tossed off a roof by a man who was supposed to love him. That little boy died terrified. Just, no.

I'm willing to bet the idea of "If I can't have him, nobody will" was in his head.

hey there, jenny lewis!

I'm so sorry for Scotland Yard that they are so bored that they feel they need to investigate Nigella Lawson's drug use. Which is also good news: the crime rate in the UK is apparently near zero, when Nigella is regarded a top priority.

I always picture Smaug and Scrooge McDuck as Facebook besties, constantly liking each others' posts of diving and swimming through their piles of gold, making comments like "LOL so jelly yer pile is SOOOO BIG!"