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Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Totally Shaping Pull-On Skinny Jeans

The Personal Shopper (TPS)

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

As many of us are adjusting to this brave new world of working from home, let’s talk about pants. I’m wrapping up my second week of wearing exclusively leggings, but I think I’m going to have to start transitioning back into real pants for my own mental health. These pull-on skinny jeans are a nice bridge between leggings and actual slacks. They don’t have zippers or buttons, but in this black color, you could wear them to the office in a pinch.

The pants are $29.99 at Amazon and 6pm.com and available in sizes 2–20 in short, medium, and long inseams. They also come in a medium wash, dark wash and wine-colored denim. Totally Shaping Pull-On Skinny Jeans

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Workwear sales of note for 3.24.23:

  • Ann Taylor – 40% off everything
  • Athleta – 20% off shorts, swim, linen & more
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything; extra 15% off purchase
  • Boden – Up to 50% off
  • Brooks Brothers – Clearance styles to 70% off. Some pretty serious markdowns!
  • Express – 40% off dresses & tops
  • J.Crew – 25% off your purchase; up to 50% off special-occasion styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 15% off 3 styles; extra 20% off 4 styles; extra 50% off clearance
  • Sephora – Up to 50% off select beauty
  • Talbots – 25% off select styles; 25% off markdowns

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About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a 30-something lawyer living on the East Coast. She spent seven years as a Biglaw associate in NYC, three years as a partner at a medium-sized firm, and is now in-house counsel for a large company. She loves Diet Coke, '90s sitcoms, and dresses with pockets.

Comments

    • Belle Boyd

      OMG, I can’t even with all that cuteness!!! I need to adopt both of those puppers!!!

      (there is no such thing as a crazy dog lady. NO. SUCH. THING.)

    • AnonATL

      The clip of them snuggled up and snoozing while the shark swims past is exactly what I’m trying to emulate during this madness. No worries. Nothing to see here besides mellow snoozes :)

    • Anon

      Yeah I’m not sure why I would make this even harder than it has to be by making myself wear tight pants every day…

    • Clementine

      Hah! I make myself put on jeans/fitted pants every couple days to keep myself accountable.

      I’ve also realized I’m someone who needs to get dressed every day, even if it’s athleisure. I need to feel intentional about starting my day.

      • Anon

        You can do that without a) buying new clothes and b) wearing tight jeans! I’m not saying that’s what you said you were going to do, but I find it a bit absurd how even quarantine can be turned into a time to buy something fashion-related you don’t need.

        • anon

          To be fair, a product rec is the normal way that posts start here. Even though I come here solely for the discussion, I can acknowledge that this is just what we do around here. Some normalcy is not such a big deal.

          • Anon

            Obviously people come here to talk about many other things besides fashion. I’m merely pointing out that you don’t need “bridging” pants to work from home. It’s okay to be critical of needless consumption during an epidemic – it’s not a personal attack.

          • Anonymous

            I get that, but it seems that some people come here, a fashion blog, in normal times to rant about needless consumption.

            FWIW, I am always clothes shopping. If my size is static, then my children’s sizes aren’t. They are in adult sizes now and I appreciate tip-offs to sales and items that are wearable in many circumstances and by people of many ages. Trying to help my tween understand that there are non-legging pants options that are just as comfy.

          • OP

            It’s cool, I get it.

            FWIW, nope. Not new pants. The point is to keep wearing my existing pants so I don’t need to go out and buy more pants when I re-enter a world where pants with a waistband are required.

        • Anon

          I have these pants. They are not tight in an uncomfortable way. They are basically leggings.

          Y’all need to calm down about what other people are wearing. Seriously.

          • Anon

            It’s okay for others to express an opinion that is different from yours. If you find that stressful, step away from the keyboard.

        • Anon

          You don’t seem to know which blog you’re visiting. Maybe you’d be more comfortable somewhere else.

        • Anonymous

          Seriously, find another blog. Maybe you could search for one that posts tips on how to reuse string, or turn corn cobs into loo paper. I am stuck WFH from a remote location not my home, with two pairs of pants. I appreciate the tips on sales and products that might work.

      • givemyregards

        Same. If I go too long without wearing something with a waistband, I tend to discover that nothing fits when I try to go back.

      • Anon

        Yes, I learned when staying home with my son for a year or so when he was little that elastic waistbands don’t allow me to maintain awareness of when I am out-eating my clothes. I am 42 and keeping weight off is a challenge at any time; between stress eating, easy access to snacks and no gym, if I don’t watch it I will gain 20 lbs by the time this is over and none of my work clothes will fit.

    • cbackson

      I start every day with a 7:30 AM videoconference and man I will be honest that I do not love the fact that at least my top half has to be presentable every morning. It’s probably good for my mental health that I have to dress every day but given how long my hours are right now I would frankly love to be able to at least wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt instead of a work-appropriate top.

      • Anonymous

        I’ve WFH pretty much exclusively for 6+ years. I wear a basic V neck t-shirt (TBH right now i’m wearing a V neck workout top). Throw a blazer over it. Or don’t. Do basic skincare: wash your face, put on mascara if that’s your thing, if you are feeling crazy add lipstick. Or just dim the lights in the office.

        Don’t wear a sweatshirt or hop on in a t shirt with messy hair and food on your face. But the bar can still be pretty low and yet look professional on the screen.

      • NOLA

        I was just on the phone with my guy (as he was driving to a medical facility where he’s consulting) and I told him that I needed to take a shower and get dressed because my 10:00 meeting might be on video and he just busted out laughing. I *think* this meeting is on the phone, but I’m not sure!

        • Anonymous

          I don’t get the current obsession with Zoom. Group calls worked fine for years when we were in suits. Why not now when we are in . . . robes?

          I walked into a room and my kid was zooming for school. I was not camera-ready.

          • Ribena

            If I don’t have video calls I won’t see a face at all for weeks, I live alone. I also find it really different to concentrate when all I have are voices without faces.

          • anon

            Same. 95% of “meetings” have been done via conference call for years. I don’t know why we now need to video conference…

          • cbackson

            My CEO wants them for the exec team to help people feel more connected to each other and I actually agree with him on it even though I wish I could be in a t-shirt. The rest of my meetings are phone only at this point (thankfully!) in order to conserve bandwidth.

          • Anonymous

            I am on work calls from morning until night these days and my company is now pushing for us to turn on our videos. I really don’t want to. I like to pace around my apartment during calls and already feeling a bit claustrophobic not leaving my apartment. If I have to have my butt in a chair so I can be on video during all of these calls I think I will lose it.

          • The original Scarlett

            I think moving to video will ultimately help cut down on unnecessary business travel. Calls didn’t work well, that’s why so many “important” meetings had to happen in person. With video, you get to see people & recapture a lot of nonverbal communication cues that are lost on the phone. My prediction is that video software is the next thing to leap forward.

        • NOLA

          My little black cat featured prominently in my first Zoom meeting. She is quite the character. It’s been nice to see my colleagues!

          • back to big law

            Each of my 6 dogs will find a way to get on screen when I’m on a video conference. It’s like they take turns with who’s going to come on screen.

      • Anon

        My Big4 consulting firm is all in on Zoom and absolutely no one is wearing “work appropriate” tops – even the CEO is doing firm-wide video calls in baseball caps and pullovers. It’s the best!

    • Cb

      Right? I get dressed first thing every morning but by getting dressed, I mean Gap Fit leggings and a cozy sweater.

      • Anony

        +1 Same, I do my getting ready routine but then pick out leggings and a sweater/sweatshirt to wear (no video calls)! I’m kinda liking the no-work-clothes currently.

    • Anon

      For those of you that feel like you can’t just roll out of bed and be productive, I’ll share my tips (which do not involve tight jeans). I have a proper breakfast and coffee, wash my face, brush my teeth, re-braid my hair, change into fresh pajamas or sweats, and I feel just as awake/ready as if I were wearing an outdoor outfit – except I’m much more comfortable.

      • Anon

        Yup! I get up and do my morning routine (without doing hair or makeup). I absolutely get dressed but I get dressed in comfy clothes – leggings and a sweatshirt.

        But otherwise my routine looks the same – skincare, making my bed, coffee, doing a little yoga/stretching, etc.

        • Housecounsel

          I have these jeans in a medium blue shade and I like them a lot for WFH, especially for the ridiculous price. I have “better” i.e. more jeans for being out in the world, but these are just fine for everyday.

    • Thanks, it has pockets!

      I wish I’d bought just one more pair of yoga pants before this crisis! Mine keep getting gross between laundry days because I wear them all day instead of just a few hours in the evening and the occasional afternoon.

      • PolyD

        I just ordered some new stretchy pants from Amazon, because mine are not in good shape. Allegedly they will be here sometime next week.

    • No Longer Anon

      I’ve been wearing exclusively Betabrand dress pant yoga pants. They are something I would wear to work but are comfy AF. If I don’t want to wear those, I wear jeans or some Old Navy Rockstar type pants. I know myself that unless I’m in pants I would wear to work, I’m not going to work. Leggings? Helllooooooooo couch and Netflix, my old friends. Don’t have the same issues with tops, oddly enough.

    • Senior Attorney

      I am still going to the office (essential blah blah) and dressing for the office (also full hair and makeup), but I am having a contest with myself to see how crazy I can be within those parameters since pretty much nobody is seeing me. Today it’s black and white polka dot midi skirt (elastic waist for the win), black-and-white striped sweater that reverses to white-and-black on the back, black and white polka dot scarf, and shiny silver loafers. Boom!

      • NOLA

        Awesome! I wore jeans and t-shirts or sweatshirts with mildly offensive graphics for a week before I got to go home. It was a favorite photo series on social media!

  3. Monday

    I love the rainbow drawing thing and noticing them on people’s doors when I’m running or walking. Are you guys participating? I don’t have kids, but just drew my own and posted it anyway. Little morale booster.

    • Clementine

      We’ve got a chalk rainbow in our driveway. Also, really cute pictures of the kids drawing the rainbow.

    • Anonymous

      I’m intrigued. What is this? I’ve seen a lot of chalk on sidewalks and driveways around my neighborhood but no rainbows yet.

        • Monday

          Originally it was as a “scavenger hunt” for neighborhood kids to be able to count the rainbows while out walking. Looks like a mother in VA started it. (Since they have no school and no close contact with any other kids, or I guess anyone other than people they live with.)

    • Cb

      Do it! We put ours up and have also hung some cheerful cutouts in my son’s window. We’ve been enjoying spotting them on our walks, especially the people who have a big ‘Wash your hands, save your nan’ poster up.

    • Anon

      Our neighborhood did the teddy bears in windows, for kids to go on a bear hunt. Someone created a custom google map for people to add their addresses to, and now there’s more than 250+ bears on it!

    • CountC

      My friend’s kids made their front windows into stained glass and, honestly, I am considering attempting to do it myself if I have any of the materials at home to do it! It looked so pretty and made me smile when I drove by.

    • Anon

      Is anyone doing the teddy bear in the window thing? I keep seeing it on Facebook.

      I guess I need to go outside and see which windows are visible from the sidewalk. (Tree issues)

      • back to big law

        Yes, we’re doing it. It gives the 8-year-old something to do during walks, and she moves the 2 teddy bears we display to different windows each night.

    • anne-on

      We’re doing post it note creatures on our windows. Minecraft guy and Pac man were first, trying to find a simple guide to make a Picachu (sp?!?) because I am not that talented otherwise…

    • Anony

      My niece and nephew decorated my driveway – it was adorable then it snowed =( DH and I put out our Christmas T-Rex (named Vinny) to hopefully make people smile a little!

  4. Laundry

    How is everyone dealing with laundry these days? I normally wash everything in cold water (with detergent, obviously) but I keep hearing that hot water is what kills COV19. I don’t want to ruin all of my clothes washing them in hot water (or using bleach, which seems to be the other suggestion). It’s hard for me to think that the virus is actually making it through the laundry? Thoughts?

    • Cb

      We’re at home so just doing laundry as normal. Although for some reason, we seem to be creating more of it.

    • cas

      You’re using detergent right? The soap is more instrumental in breaking it apart, hot water may help the soap work better but isn’t necessary. The NYTimes has a good explanation/graphic describing this but I don’t want to link it here and get caught in mod.

    • Anon

      Unless you’re air drying your clothes, the heat frm the dryer will kill anything and is actually more effective than hot water. I’m washing everything on cold still.

      • Anon

        +1 when we had bed bugs they told us to put everything in the dryer on hot for 30 minutes. The dryer gets a lot hotter than the washing machine.

        • Anony

          I toss my air dried clothes in the dryer for 5 minutes on low heat – I find they get stiff when they air dry and I like to fluff them. You could probably do the same thing for a few minutes to make sure any germs are killed. I think Lysol sells a laundry additive for sanitizing, if you can find it anywhere.

    • Anon

      We’re just doing our usual cold wash for our clothes, but will do towels (esp hand towels from the bathroom) on hot.

    • Cat

      Most WFH attire can withstand washing in hot water. (I’m assuming you’re not wearing a cashmere tracksuit, though…) Skipping the dryer will help preserve the fabrics.

      • Anonymous

        The dryer is where the magic happens though. So I am just wearing stuff that can go in the dryer. If it can’t go into the dryer, I air dry and then run through the dryer for 10 minutes. If it touches me but not the world (underthings), I just air dry.

    • AnonATL

      I know basically nothing about it, other than it exists, but Clorox makes a laundry sanitizer add-in. I think Oxyclean products are also good for sanitizing because of the hydrogen peroxide.
      Most cloth diapering sites will have info on sanitizing if you want to go down that rabbit hole :)

    • Anon

      Since I’m shelter in place I’m 99% sure my clothes don’t have coronavirus germs on them, so I wash them how I would normally.

    • Anon

      Good news – soap, not water temperature, is what kills viruses. Add the normal amount of detergent and you are Good To Go. Also, without washing, virus has not been shown to linger on soft fibers (cardboard, but also fabric) longer than 24 hours. So also time works well.

    • Anon

      I’m washing everything that I wear outside after one wear (e.g., I no longer rewear a sweater I wore to the grocery store). This is mainly for COVID-19, but also because of all the pollen out there. Otherwise, I haven’t changed anything. I wash most things on cold, but towels and sheets on hot.

    • Anon

      You don’t need to, but you can use Lysol laundry sanitizer to sanitize your wash.

    • Anon

      1) wash your hands – a lot. If you’re wondering whether you’re washing your hands enough, you aren’t
      2) stay home to the extent possible
      3) practice safe handling of cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass that has been touched by someone else
      4) don’t worry about your clothes unless you work in a front-line healthcare setting

    • Anon

      I’m still going into work. Normally wear whatever business/business casual attire for work but when we activate we wear our agency polos and tac pants. I have 2 polos, 1 button down and 3 pairs of tac pants but work 6 days a week so am having to rewear before I wash. Definitely washing well when I do wash them on my day off.

      I am definitely a cold water person for both clothing care and environmental reasons but not right now

    • Thanks, it has pockets!

      Hasn’t really occurred to me to kill the virus on my clothes, I normally wash darks in cold and lights in warm. The only change to my laundry is only doing one load per week instead of two, and alternating lights and darks. My yoga pants and t-shirts can probably withstand hotter water, but I worry about the activewear I wear on jogs, Jolie Kerr says hot water can actually set in odors, and these new leggings are just so nice . . .

    • anne-on

      You can add in washing soda and vinegar to help increase the efficiency of your soap, and air drying outside if you can might help as sunlight definitely helps kill germs (and smells, ask me how I know as I wash my dog bedding constantly now that she’s rolling in the spring mud…)

    • Anon

      I have not changed my laundry habits, bu I wash many things in hot or warm water anyway. In my experience, cold doesn’t get my things clean (stains and odors remain).

    • Anon

      I don’t think that the hot water in a washing machine is hot enough to *sanitize* so it’s really okay to keep washing your clothes in cold water.

  5. AFT

    On the other end of the spectrum, i just ordered a coupe of Uniqlo’s [email protected] tops as putting a separate sports or regular [email protected] seems like a lot of work when WFH. Anyone have any experience with them? they have removable cups so hopefully more supportive than the old kind of shelf-tanks.

    • Anonymous

      I must have an older style where everything is built in. I just wear them as sleep-wear. Somehow, ever since nursing, the girls prefer to be supported and locked into something. It’s like they latched on to being in a nursing bra and didn’t want to give that up. I’m pretty small though.

      The good news is that they have survived years of abuse pretty well (regular wash AND dryer).

      • Curious

        I definitely read that last paragraph as referring to the girls, not the [email protected], until I got to the very end. I was like, congratulations, OP! Tell us your secrets!

    • Anonymous

      I have one of the bra-top dresses and it’s awesome. Dress is XS and I’m a 30C on top.

    • anon

      I just ordered a couple of the true & co bras. I’m on the larger side and need to wear SOMETHING so I don’t have pain. Most of my sports bras are compression/high impact for running and my regular bras are… well.. regular bras. So far I’m liking the true & co ones. I got them delivered from target.

      • brokentoe

        These bras have changed my life. 36C and menopause weight gain catching up in areas I do not want to highlight. Super comfortable and back-fat smoothing under clothes, gives sufficient uplift without the smoosh. Ridiculously comfortable and are holding up well in the wash/air dry. Works best to remove pads and wash all parts in a lingerie bag. Can’t say enough good things about them.

        • brokentoe

          Actually started with Target ones – they lasted a few months before stretching out a bit. Went with the real True ones which are a little more substantial. Love, Love, Love.

    • Anonymous

      I have the airism built in bra tanks. LOVE. And I am a 36E, so not tiny. They are all I wear bra-wise on the weekend normally, which means that now they are all I wear … ever.

  6. Anonymous

    My new-ish employer has an EAP and I don’t really know much about using them. Can you use it like going to therapy? Is everything fully confidential? Would love any tips from people who know more…

    • anon

      It’s going to be different for every employer, so you’d best check with them. Mine is fully confidential (should be so across the board), and they will give you short term counseling and assess whether you need more than that. In the latter case, they will assist you finding a local provider that takes your insurance and has open appointments.

  7. Paging Larry Tolle

    Saw your late comment yesterday. If you made any money (even a little) last year, file an FY19 tax return. That’s how the government will be able to “find” you to give you a check.

  8. Anonymous

    Can we have a thread about our experience being single or early stages of dating in isolation?

    On the friend side, I’m trying really hard to not be resentful. Most of my friends are coupled and don’t seem that interested in connecting with friends rn. A lot of friends have dogs. The dog owners still get together for doggy play dates (the owners stay 6 feet away) but don’t invite non dog owners like me. Some friends have had happy hours… at like 4 when I’m still busting my ass at work. The past two weeks have been a cluster at work and I haven’t had the emotional energy to reach out and plan something, but I’ve resolved to do that today (if I have time to post this I have time to email people!)! Fingers crossed that people will want to hang at a more reasonable-for-me time.

    On dating, before the virus hit, I’d been on the apps for a couple months. I started seeing two guys at about the same time. I liked them both and had hooked up with each. I was with A when I got the news that someone at my office was being tested and I would need to isolate. Well, A had already been exposed to me so we continued to see each other. I told B what had happened and he continued to press to get together. When I said I have to isolate, he said “good luck with that.” I did not respond. Now A and I have been spending more time together – 5 days with no break! – and things are going swimmingly. I was really torn between the two guys at first but B’s response told me all I need to know about him.

    • CountC

      I’m single, and while I do have dogs, I will not get together for a play date because I am dedicated to socially distancing and protecting my community as best I can (and I can only control myself). I think getting groups together outside of the house is problematic regardless of whether you try to stay 6′ away because your dogs surely are not doing that. I also would never meet up for a date during this period. I am 100% unmatching with anyone on a dating app that isn’t taking this seriously. I am doing virtual happy hours and FaceTiming with friends and coworkers, and conversating with my neighbors from across the street.

      I’m not jealous at all of my friends who are partnered up because every last one of them has been annoyed or struggled with something related to their partner while cooped up in the house. I can only control myself and I am happy to not have someone to be stuck in close quarters with while we can’t go out and participate in social activities as we normally would and have some time to distance and do our own thing. None of this is ideal, and I am trying very hard to accept that and deal with it as best I can while doing what I can to protect those more vulnerable than I am.

      • CountC

        I should have added, there is someone I was spending time with prior to COVID blowing up in the US and he wasn’t taking it seriously and I have stopped interacting with him as much via text, etc. I’m not sure how I feel about it and I told him that I was having a lot of feelings re: all of this. I am not ignoring him, and respond when he reaches out, but we aren’t seeing each other and I am going to have to figure out how I feel about him when this is all over and I see how it all plays out.

        • anon

          That’s definitely true but I wouldn’t paint a broad stroke here. I’m pretty sure I’d be annoyed with anyone I was stuck with during this time. It’s just too much together time. That said, this has definitely revealed how little tons of men contribute to their households

        • Anon

          +1 from a married straight (20+ years) I would not put up with a single ounce of what a lot of you have been describing, ESPECIALLY leaving all the childcare to mom under some assumption that her job is less important

          • Anon

            Agreed, from another married (20+ years) straight person. If my husband was dumping all the homeschooling/childcare/housework/cooking on me right now, I would put his a** out. Regardless of the fact that he wouldn’t have anywhere to go.

      • Anonymous

        I just broke up with the guy I’ve been dating for the past year and 4 months. I had been having doubts about his long-term intentions and his feelings about me for a while, and, before the COVID-19 stuff happened, had given myself until end of March to assess things and talk with him about it. I had a talk with him earlier this week and learned he wasn’t nearly as emotionally invested as I am and couldn’t even conceive of anything more than the regular dates we had been going on. He was my first relationship after my divorce, and yes, I went through therapy to heal from the divorce before dating again. My son had gotten attached to him, too. I’m glad to be rid of him knowing he was just along for the ride and using me, but boy does it hurt! I know I’l get through this, but it’s an awful time to be dealing with heartbreak and feeling alone. This week has felt like a year.

        • Monday

          I hear you and I’m sorry. That said, I think you’re going to feel *amazing* when this is over and you can resume normal life without him. Times like these have a way of clarifying who really deserves your time/emotional investment, and who doesn’t.

    • Anon

      Nobody should be doing playdates! The 6 feet away rule is for people who just want to be outside (or need to be, walking dogs) and it’s telling them what they need to do when they see other people. It doesn’t mean “fine to intentionally meet up with friends as long as you stay 6 feet away.” Good grief!

    • anon

      Reach out to people for a virtual happy hour! Pick a time that works for you and invite your friends. Seriously. People are waiting to be invited. Even couples probably want to see other faces besides each other.

      Also, go on walks around your neighborhood. No dog required. You’ll probably find a lot of people are out and you can have a 6ft away conversation. Sure, they won’t be deep, but they are a social connection.

      I’m pretty extroverted and typically crave social interaction besides my husband and child. Between conference calls at work, seeing and chatting with neighbors, and the occasional video call with friends or family, I’m pleasantly surprised that I’m not going crazy.

    • Monday

      “Good luck with that” was incredibly rude. Good luck to that guy! Hope he’s fresh out of toilet paper!

    • Anon

      I’m single and on dating apps right now. My roommate left NYC are to be with her parents because she has an underlying health condition. I’ve done a few first dates via FaceTime. I’m also reaching out to friends and family all the time in part to make sure they are safe. The dating part still sucks. Am I the only one who gets annoyed when men make jokes about this? Like if the virus doesn’t take you out, can I. If someone isn’t taking this seriously and treating it like a life or death situation, I’m out! Here in NYC, it really is a life or death situation.

    • anon

      I’m single and live alone and I’m happy to not be cooped up with someone who annoys me (although I do worry what would happen if I get really sick. I mostly worry about who will take care of my dog.).

      Before this all started I was in the early stages of seeing two guys (not exclusive with either, very early stages of dating). I’ve learned from the quarantine that I really like one of them (we text/talk every day, are each other’s support network, even though we are long distance. I smile every time I get a text from him.) and that I am getting kinda annoyed with the other one (his somewhat messed up views about women and their bodies are starting to seep through) so I think it’s pretty clear to me now which one I’d like to continue seeing.

      I do wonder what will happen if this turns into a 3-4 month quarantine (or longer?). Sigh, love in the time of COVID is difficult. But we’ll come out on the other end of this.

  9. Murz

    I had a ton of rice milk from a thai takeout order and realized its really nice to have a small glass in lieu of dessert (although nutrition wise it probably counts as a full dessert). Does anyone know which brand/type to get at the store? I think the type we had was homemade, but I I liked that it was sweet and kind of heavy, almost like a milkshake. It took me months of trial and error to find an almond milk I like, so I thought others might have helpful tips. TIA!

    • anon

      Forgive me for not answering your question, but on the topic of non-dairy milks, I wanted to share with anyone who is exploring, that I’ve now tested both oatmilks at Trader Joes (can’t do almond, and would love to find an option at TJs where I prefer to shop). I can report that while the shelf-stable version is just grainy water, the refridgerated version is much creamier and overall nicer. That one is also much longer lasting than regular milk, so I am happy with that substitute.

    • anon

      Plain rice milk will not be like that- “sweet and heavy” sounds more like a rice milk based dessert, like horchata. Many of the commercial rice milks will be sweetened, but I don’t think there are usually thinkened.

      20 years ago, I liked vanilla rice dream, but Im sure the selection has changed since then.

      • Anon

        Also, if you want more creamy with alcohol, you can ask for “막걸리 (makgeolli)” – rice wine – and most Korean grocery stores in the US will have it.

  10. anon

    PSA: The new stimulus bill has a provision making menstrual care products eligible for HSAs and FSAs, effective for 2020. (Also, all the major stuff that the news is covering.)

  11. Anon

    I know that a lot of you have heard the tips to “limit social media” to reduce anxiety, but I wanted to share that I realized that it was the nonstop group chats with my closest friends increasing my anxiety. I think there’s this semi-expectation to be available around the clock while we’re all stuck at home (or at least I see a lot of memes about it!), but I’ve been finding that putting away my phone after work has been very helpful so I can skip being an active participant in group texts that often include a lot of coronavirus facts/developments/scary news. I’ve set up FaceTime calls with those friends instead, which I feel keeps things more manageable than a constant low-level stream of news lighting up my phone. Thought I’d share in case it helps anyone else.

    • Cat

      Thank you for this — I’m not typically an anxious person but the barrage of scary developments is really getting to me. Positive news — like the Iceland study that another poster shared yesterday — does not seem to get any traction. I guess only the bad news sells clicks??

      World, I promise, I am taking this seriously. Evidence that widespread testing may reveal huge numbers of people that have it unknowingly is both reassuring AND helpful to convince people to stay home and let the virus silently run its course to protect everyone… not a reason to say “why stay home if so many people aren’t really sick?”

      • Anon

        Biologist here, taking the same approach. Right now, unless you are actively working on treatments/cures/equipment AND you are taking lock-down precautions seriously, there is nothing else to do, and you have permission to disconnect.

      • PolyD

        I am you. I have resolved to limit my clicks to good news stories. I get emails from some scientific places (The Scientist is good, reliable and lay-audience friendly) and I read the hopeful news from them – like, some people who recovered have good anti-virus antibodies in their blood which will be helpful for treatment, the genetic characteristics of the virus mean that a good vaccine is possible, that kind of stuff.

    • emeralds

      Totally agree with this. I muted notifications for one very active group chat and that’s been helpful–it wasn’t doing anything good for my brain to have my phone buzzing every 90 seconds with more chatter about the virus.

    • Anon

      I have two different types of chat threads. One that’s angry/venting that I try not to participate in. Vs one that’s simply updating what everyone’s been up to. I find the latter really good for my mental health as I get to know the people I love are still okay. Do you have other friends who aren’t so angry/negative to chat with?

      • Anon

        Where did I say anything about it being an angry/negative thread? My friends are understandably anxious and concerned about their family and friends. I’m glad to be there for them in one-on-one calls, just not in a long-running group text. Do what works for you.

        • Anon

          Sorry I read the part where you said the chat contains a lot of negative news updates so I linked that to my own experience of certain friends who like to share negative news to vent.

    • Pompom

      I had to leave a standing group text because the person who always “runs” it starts every single gdamn day with a news story that is high alert…or some useless crap that I don’t want to waste my energy on. Never anything in the middle. She was just spreading her anxiety around to us via text, and I had to go from muting the conversation to leaving it altogether. To boot, I need my phone for work all day, and it was so distracting. I needed out.

      My other group text is so much better: it’s supportive, funny, and comes in fits and starts. No pressure, nothing serious, and a lot of recipe sharing. I can do that one, easily.

      • Anon

        There are starting to be some really good memes about social isolation etc. My work friend group text has been sharing these and I swear just a sliver of humor is getting me through.

        Being an isolated extrovert is tough!

    • Thanks, it has pockets!

      Same. I mentioned this yesterday afternoon but I’m an introvert who actually appreciates all this time to myself, and I’m starting to feel pulled into constant connection with others, just because we can. I’m in a Whatsapp with this one friendgroup, and I keep trying to set the notifications to silent but it doesn’t “take” so right now my phone goes BZZBZZ, BZZBZZ, BZZBZZ all day every day. It woke me up this morning because I forgot to adjust my “do not disturb” hours. And we do so many virtual movie nights and board games now, I love them but it’s starting to feel like too much. I like social media because it allows me to vent and see what’s going on in the world, but some of the more intimate communication mediums are starting to wear on me.

    • Anon

      I’m on a lot of group chats and I love them and love how connected I am to my friends, but I muted them all ages ago. I can’t have my phone buzzing all day long. I see them when I pick up my phone but I don’t always reply right away. It’s fine.

    • NOLA

      Yeah, I have two friends with whom I have a running group text and I have to step away sometimes. I mute my notifications at night, but when I’m staying at my guy’s, the phone is on the bed next to me (no nightstand and the bed is against the wall, so it’s easier not to have to climb over him). I feel every vibration when they start up. It’s hard because I love both of them, but it gets to be a lot and I just don’t respond.

      • Anonymous

        Don’t start a fire in bed …

        (because don’t phones catch beds on fire?)

      • Anon

        Also a lot of radiation right next to your head. Put it far away and plug it in with charger. You don’t need it for the 8 hours you are in bed.

  13. Anon

    My large law firm is by all appearances freaking out over the economic downturn and I am struggling with anxiety over what seems like inevitable associate layoffs. What can I do now to best position myself to make it through? I have good relationships with people in my practice group across offices, have asked for additional work, and am also volunteering for urgent non-billable projects that help the group. I wasn’t a lawyer in ‘08 and don’t know how my firm reacted then to be able to gauge how they’re likely to react now.

    • Anonymous

      Make friends with the workout / bankruptcy people. Maybe also real estate people or lending people.

    • anon

      Keep volunteering for things that come up. Is your practice area one that is likely to stay busy? If not, I’d suggest affirmatively reaching out to volunteer to pitch in on other areas where people may be stretched thin. Volunteer that you’re happy to watch CLEs, etc. to get up to speed.

    • Cat

      I was a first year associate at the time. Deal activity fell off a cliff. I picked up hours helping other practice groups like doing doc review for litigation, and also asked to support specialized areas that typically have dedicated associates but were getting busier in the downturn (tax, bankruptcy, commercial contracts & outsourcing, etc). I was told later in my tenure that I was the only first year that raised my hand like that and had layoffs of our class been on the table, I would have been one of the few kept.

    • Anonymous

      Keep actively reaching out for both billable and non billable work. There will be a spike in contract counseling projects and contract lawsuits, so if that isn’t already in your skill set, that would be a good one to add.

  14. Bee

    Some standard Coronavirus job-related anxiety: My boyfriend (mid-20s) started a new job in the corporate arm of a manufacturing company on 3/9 and my brother will be graduating college and has an offer to start in a rotational program at a large insurance company in July. I am super super super worried about my boyfriend being laid off since he’s so new and my brother’s offer being defered or rescinded. I work in an industry that is actually benefiting from the crisis currently (as bad as that is to say) so I’m not too too worried about my job security but I go through severe bouts of anxiety also daily over their jobs. I know there’s no way to tell the future but this is totally crazy-making!

    • AnonATL

      Yep. Struggling with this in our household and with friends too. I am married and we fully share income, so the fact that I’m very likely to be laid off soon is a little less worrisome because my husband’s job seems stable (for now).
      I’m terrified of being unemployed for a lot of different reasons, being 5 months pregnant is number 1. I’m worried about my brother and his partner losing jobs because they have 2 small kids. Or my parents who would really be too old to start over and aren’t quite old enough to retire.
      There’s nothing to really do at the moment about it. Just hope those that are losing jobs, have those emergency funds and do your best in your current job. For those just starting out in their careers, that’s almost impossible. Lots of people went through this for the 2008 recession, and those on this board might have more context for starting out during a recession. It is reassuring that the US government seems to have some security nets in this legislation coming out.
      It’s hard to know what the outcome is going to be, and it is extremely stressful to have basically no control over job loss.

    • Anon

      You can’t control the future and you certainly can’t control their futures. They will be okay.

    • Vicky Austin

      Same. Just a couple weeks ago my sister got an offer for her first job out of college and now…who knows? It was a personal connection so I think it’s likely that it’ll stick but I can’t help wondering. I’d be so bummed for her.

  15. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

    For any fans of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries looking for something fun to watch this weekend, the movie came out this week on Acorn TV. It’s not as good as the show, but the costumes were fabulous and it was an entertaining and welcome distraction. Acorn has a free 30 day trial on Prime so you can watch the rest of the Miss Fisher series if you haven’t seen it. It’s set in 1920s Melbourne and features a feminist and fabulously dressed private detective.

  16. Anon

    I ordered these when they were featured in the blue denim fabric and I really like the one pair I have. They’re very comfortable. My size has been sold out in the long length every time I’ve checked since then, but lo and behold they were there today! Thanks for the reminder!

    • Anonymous

      I ordered many pairs, and some similar pairs, including these black ones. I am so glad I did. I really like them and needed new pants due to weight loss. The price makes them appealing since I am not done downsizing, and as an added bonus, now I have some comfy pants if I end up WFH (though I hope to avoid that!).

  17. Anon

    Ok I’m officially out of TV shows. Which of the Amazon original series have you really enjoyed?

    • Anon

      I saw an ad for Jamestown that looks interesting. Has anyone watched that? I think it’s only free for a few more days.

    • Nina

      So, not Amazon Original, but on Amazon Prime: Jamestown is SO good. It has a Downton Abbey-like feel to me (no surprise, since it’s also PBS). The filming is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s very soapy. Definitely recommend for getting immersed in another time/place.

    • anne-on

      Red Oaks if you liked dirty dancing/caddyshack at all – similar premise – working class guy and princess meet at a country club, very 80’s.
      Fleabag (you can skip season 1, but it makes season 2 SO much better if you do both)
      Catastrophe (though the end of the second to last season was f’in BLEAK)

    • Anon 2.0

      Not Amazon but Netflix – Tiger King is everything you never knew you needed to watch. Reality is indeed stranger than fiction in this case.

      • Abby

        I just watched the trailer with my husband this morning and we know what we’re doing this weekend….

      • Anon

        Tiger King is really, truly what the world needs right now. So insane, so distracting, so great.

      • Anon

        I’m not proud that we finished it in two nights…. but we did. And it was amazing.

      • trefoil

        My husband got three episodes in and insisted I watch it with him from the beginning.

        Who knew Great Danes were the gateway pet to more exotic animals??

      • Anon

        Oh yes, Tiger King. I feel like I got my money’s worth for the next six months of Netflix charges.

    • anon a mouse

      Good Girls Revolt was delightful, even though it wasn’t renewed and ended too soon.
      Sneaky Pete is a fun caper, it’s maybe like FX-level production (Not quite HBO or AMC) but enjoyable.
      Jack Ryan was basically a modern version of 24.
      A Very English Scandal is very well-produced and would be a good engrossing, distracting option.
      And Mozart in the Jungle if you missed it when it first came out.
      Friends liked Good Omens but I couldn’t get into it. Maybe it’s for you?

    • The Only GenXer in the Office

      Bosch, Hunters, Jack Ryan, and The Boys are all good! (Assuming you like action-adventure and aren’t opposed to some violence)

        • AFT

          The Boys is SO MUCH in a way I love it. It is over the top in so many ways, but if you can watch beyond the first 5 mins and handle it, then it’s definitely worth it. Season 2 drops soon!

    • Anon

      Thanks everyone! Definitely going to check out a number of these. I’ve seen some of them already (Jack Ryan, Good Girls, Catastrophe, Fleabag) but I’m going to check out the others.

      Tiger King seems to be in the Millenial/Zoomer zeitgeist right now. I may have to check it out just to figure out what they’re all talking about. (said the not-with-it Xer)

  18. Anonymous

    I’m fortunate to be employed right now but dislike my job and was actively looking for new employment before this pandemic. My company was struggling financially even before all of this and had lost a lot of its top talent. I am well liked and considered a high performer but that’s partly because I’m surrounded by mediocre coworkers who can’t, or aren’t motivated to, find employment elsewhere. Because I’m a high performer, I’ve been brought in to help on things higher than my title would suggest. It’s been good professional experience but terrible for my morale because I’ve seen firsthand that our leadership team is weak. I’m not confident in their ability to make the company successful. I haven’t applied for any jobs for the last month and am trying to motivate myself to start applying again. But I ask myself, even if I could land a new job, should I make a switch in these uncertain times?

    Other info: my mental health is okay, I dislike work but can compartmentalize enough that it doesn’t affect my personal life too much; I have 6 months of savings; current comp is below market but I’m on the highly compensated end at current company; current job is something that could be merged with other roles or outsourced.

    • Small Law Partner

      Wow, are you my husband? He is in the same situation right now. No advice, but commiseration by proxy.

  20. Anonymous

    Has anyone used or considered using a surrogate? I am in my late 20’s, no fertility issues that I am aware of, but have chronic daily migraines that are managed by a LOT of medicines. I get about 1 a month now instead of 24/7. I just found out I would have to stop taking all of my meds for at least 6 months before TTC, and then remain off until I give birth. And who even knows how long it would take to get pregnant. I cannot put into words how terrible this is to me, but I really want a biological child.

    • Anon

      I have discussed this with friends, one of whom was semi-seriously considering it, and we all agree that we wouldn’t do it because we find it exploitative. I don’t believe it can be done in a morally neutral way (including when no extra cash payment changes hands). There are too many major ethical concerns that I don’t think can be resolved; to use one example, who gets to decide whether to abort the fetus in case of abnormalities? Does it make a difference that evidence shows that the surrogate’s DNA will contribute to the fetus’s DNA?

      Is it possible that you could stay on SOME of your meds for migraines? Is there another way around that will still let you have a biological child?

    • Anonymous

      Surrogacy is pretty unethical and predatory to women of lower socioeconomic classes.

    • Anon

      I’m sorry, that’s a rough situation. Stopping the meds 6 months before even TTC sounds excessively cautious to me. The baby doesn’t share your blood until I think a couple weeks after conception (around the time you get a positive test). Is this a neurologist opinion or an OB’s opinion? I would definitely seek out your OB’s perspective on when you would have to stop the meds.
      I have hormonal migraines that went away completely while pregnant (and breastfeeding) so the actual pregnancy might not be so bad.

    • Anon

      I have no advice on the surrogate issue (childfree by choice, here) – but, I am a fellow migraine sufferer, and I feel your pain. Have you ever tried weaning off of your medicine before? I was having about 3-4 debilitating migraines a week when I started seeing a doctor. After about a year and a half of daily preventative medications, my migraines dwindled to one or two a month, and I was able to wean off the medication and did not experience any uptick in the migraines. I don’t know if it is possible for you, but it could be worth trying to see if you can eventually get off of the medications without suffering! (Also, there is a new-ish nasal spray migraine medication, and I find it works quickly in the moment when I’m having a migraine. I wonder if you could take that while pregnant?)

    • Anon Lawyer

      I haven’t but I’ve read a fair amount about it. The big thing is that it’s expensive in the US. Think six figures. And if you go outside the US the ethics are more dubious. (Also different states have different legal frameworks. A lot of people go to California or even Oregon, where I live.)

      Reputable US agencies find surrogates that could use the money but aren’t desperate for it to limit coercive effects. They also fine surrogates who have their own children and are done building their families. I know a lot of families have had very positive experiences. But, of course, even with that there are problems as well. One woman I know had a surrogate change her mind and stop taking the medications soon after transfer leading to a miscarriage. So that’s something to prepare yourself for.

      There is also the possibility of having a sister or friend volunteer for you.

    • anne-on

      I have chronic migraine (though mostly linked to barometric pressure shifts and hormonal fluctuations). In case you weren’t aware (because nobody mentioned it to me) chronic migraine AND motion sickness are both good indicators for hyper-emesis. Which was hideous, not just ‘a little morning sickness’, would have put me out of work if I didn’t have understanding bosses, and a huge reason we have an only.
      That would definitely be another tick in the ‘explore a surrogate’ box for me.

      • Anon

        I realize this is anecdotal, but I have chronic migraines linked to both hormones and barometric pressure shifts, and I had no nausea in pregnancy whatsoever. Never even threw up once.

    • Anon

      “I just found out I would have to stop taking all of my meds for at least 6 months before TTC”

      Who told you this?

    • AnonATL

      As others have said, I would consult an OB if this is not coming directly from one. There are loads of meds that are not advised while pregnant, but plenty of people do take out of necessity (epilepsy is one that comes to mind). They are not advised because they aren’t proven safe, but that also doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Lots of conflicting information on anti-anxiety and anti-depression meds too, but many many women take them without issue.
      An OB would know best or might be able to suggest an alternative medicine that is pregnancy friendly.

    • Anon

      Can someone explain to me why people place such a premium on biological children? I don’t really get it…if the impulse is wanting to have a child in your life, there are sososo many children who need a loving home. And yet, people who can afford to adopt choose instead to spend their money creating “biological” children. It saddens me and comes off as kinda selfish. Like you actually just want a mini you. Maybe I’m biased because my family has been involved with orphanages for some time, but it truly pains me to see people pay money to create life when there are lives in need of love already.

      OP, not saying this is you – I truly want to understand your perspective (and others’).

      • Anon

        I don’t think you understand how difficult and risky it is to adopt, at least in the US. I have had so many friends who have had their hearts broken over failed adoptions. I would never do it.

        • OP

          I am biased against adoption because of a lot of family and friends who have had terrible experiences with it. In addition to the issues described by Anon @ 2:49, there is also the issue of fetal alcohol syndrome and other related issues that have made couples I know regret their decision. I understand what you’re saying though.

        • Anon

          This. It is really really hard to adopt in the US. It’s expensive and time consuming and often ends in heartbreak. Biological parents have rights that are very very hard to sever. It’s not like you show up to an orphanage and leave with a baby (or even older child) and that’s the end of it

          • Anon

            +1

            I hate when people say “you can just adopt.” Adopting domestically or internationally is VERY difficult, time consuming, and expensive.

      • Anon

        Not OP but I placed a premium on biological children, because you can’t lose your biological child to a different set of parents. It has nothing to do with wanting a mini-me. When I was 8 or 9, a classmate was taken away from the adoptive parents she’d lived with since birth and sent to relative of her birth mother in a different state. It was traumatic for me as her friend, and I can’t even imagine how traumatic it was for her parents, siblings and extended family.
        Adoption also would have been cost prohibitive for me, although that may not apply to OP since surrogacy is extremely expensive too. I have good health insurance and my hospital birth and all prenatal care was about $3k. I understand adopting can easily be 10 times that.

        • Anon

          Ah, you are right, I wasn’t aware of how risky adoptions are. Does anyone have stats?

          It is definitely cost-prohibitive, for sure (which is it’s own issue..)…I guess I was just thinking if you have money for surrogacy, you might have the means to consider adopting.

      • Anon Lawyer

        So there aren’t actually soooooo many healthy infants who need homes. There are a lot of older kids who need homes. And they are wonderful kids. But they have also dealt with serious trauma – at a minimum – and need parents who are ready and prepared to deal with that. That doesn’t necessarily overlap with people who can’t have biological kids.

      • Anon

        I’m childless myself so I’m saying this kinda out of assumptions but I think because children are not, by default, all sunshine and butterflies, we cannot overestimate our own patience and compassion. I once babysat a neighbor’s kid who I thought was adorable and I was sure I would get along with. It was not so. He was slow in actions, thoughts, and speech and I quickly lost my patience. When it’s your biological kid you don’t quit midway. You don’t stop loving them and sacrificing for them. I think. But there is less emotional margin when they aren’t biologically yours, and especially if you didn’t bond when they were infants. I have doubts of my own commitment. Will I have regrets? Will I want to quit? And if I went down that road, I’d always wonder whether I’d loved the kid, whether I’d treated them just as fair as if they had come from me.

      • Anon

        You obviously have no clue how hard it is to adopt. A number of years ago, family services orgs in the U.S. decided that “family reunification” was the goal for children removed from their parents. At almost all costs. The “sososo many” children you are referencing? If they are in U.S. foster care, the vast majority cannot be adopted as their parents’ rights have not been terminated. It takes years to terminate parental rights – many children don’t become free for adoption until they are 7 or older, even if they are removed from their parents as babies – and by then, the combination of years in foster care and pingponging back and forth between their biofamily and foster care leaves them with serious issues. There’s also a greater emphasis, if children become available for adoption, to allow adoption only by family members. Most social service agencies are also no longer allowing transracial adoption because the myriad issues involved there. Most countries that used to adopt children to U.S. residents have terminated their adoption programs because adoption “agencies” were really brokers facilitating child trafficking, or they actually ran out of adoptable children for their own residents. The idea that there are millions of adoptable children out there looking for good homes is a myth. It is not like that at all. Next time, educate yourself before you shoot your mouth off.

        • KT

          bruh why is this comment so aggressive and so rude. if you have the money to consider a surrogate, you have more than enough money to adopt. no need to “educate” myself about anything

    • Miss

      Sorry, this is a late response. You’ve gotten some good information and a lot of speculation. You really need to have a discussion with an OB Gyn and a headache specialist or your neurologist—preferably ones with experience with migraine and pregnancy. I don’t know which medications you’re on, but as a fellow chronic migraineur I fully sympathize. The medications we take are often pretty extreme, have multiple side effects, and weren’t developed for our neurological condition. They are rarely tested or approved for pregnancy or breastfeeding. If hormones play a role in your attacks, pregnancy can either be a lifesaver or absolute misery. Only you can decide, with your doctors, if you’re willing to take the risk.

    • Anon

      The thing about medications and pregnancy is that there are a lot of unknowns because (obviously) scientists aren’t doing clinical trials on pregnant women and examining the affects of medications on the fetus. X medication might show an adverse affect on the fetus of a lab animal so then doctors have to make a broad assumption that it isn’t safe for humans when really, we don’t know for sure. One common example is antidepressants. Some doctors will say not to take them at all, while others will say the possible negative consequences for the mother of NOT taking antidepressants are worse than the slim chance of side effects for the fetus.

      Talk to your doctor about possible alternative treatments, I don’t think it’s hopeless.

  21. FinanceBossLady

    Any tips for a first time manager? I just received a job offer at a new company and will have a direct report for the first time. My new boss sent over a candidate for the direct report (he is interviewing her but wanted feedback since she will report to me. I haven’t started the role yet – 2 weeks out) and she has three years on me and has a very similar background to me. Need some advice on managing her given we have pretty similar background experience and then on top of it, managing her remotely since we wont be in office for some time.

    I know I was hired into the role due to my variety of industry experience, but I def have some imposter syndrome going on and the remote situation isn’t helping.

    • anon

      I’d check ask a manager, who has several blog posts on this and an amazing commentariat!

      • LaurenB

        While Ask-a-Manager Allison’s advice is typically good, be aware that her commentariat skews towards people who have such high levels of anxiety that “hello, how was your weekend” at the water cooler sends them into spasms. Any solution to a problem is met with the one-in-a-million exception why it can’t be enacted. And since the Tokyo Olympics aren’t being held, one can get their fix of the Performative Woke Olympics over there.

  22. Hollis

    I’m looking for some advice and suggestions from the ‘rettes! My parents have owned a retail store in Cincinnati for 30+ years. The store is in a building that’s under contract so my parents need to vacate – this is all fine as my parents are in their late 70s and are tired of working 6 days a week. The store has a ton of inventory that will have to be tossed – we are talking a half a million dollars of insulated jackets (some down jackets and leather jackets too), jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, caps, sweatpants, leggings, shoes, etc. but none of it would have any brand recognition to anyone in this group because they’ve typically sold to a working class/lower class population that cannot afford to buy stuff at the gap or macys’. We hate for all of these items to go to waste and my parents could certainly use the money for retirement, but I’m at a loss for what they can do with this stuff except to donate it (and they don’t need the tax deduction – they’ve been losing money for years). They could sell it online maybe, but that means someone would have to help them box up the stuff and move it into their small home and all 3 kids live on the coasts and are all working and raising kids and it would be a burden to them, plus my parents are tech challenged (they’ve never had a website or online store) so we would have to set-up the online store and tell them what to do, how to print out labels, etc. What would you do? Just donate the whole lot?

    • Anonymous

      Can they sell it to an outlet store? There are a lot of random “Bobs bargains” etc out there who would be interested purchasing in bulk, that said they wouldn’t offer much money.

    • Anon

      There are firms that specialize in liquidations. So one of these firms would come in and buy the entire lot (sometimes for pennies on the dollar so manage your expectations) and then try to sell it themselves. I’d look into one of those.

      • Anony

        +1 search for ‘clothing liquidators’ who will just buy the entire lot. No use donating if you can get some money. Or you can contact one of the many online liquidation sites out there – I’ve heard good things about Quicklotz

    • Anon

      Could the sell via Amazon and hire someone local to help out? May be problematic with the current covid-19 restrictions, though.

    • Ribena

      How do TJ Maxx and so in source their stock? I wonder if there’s an avenue worth trying there.

    • Shananana

      yep, business auction company is the way to go, they will deal with all of it including fixtures. You won’t get retail, but you also won’t have to deal with it. Win Win. I pick up equipment for my restaurant that way and know retail owners who scour those for fixtures and stuff to resale.

    • Anon

      I would set up a website for them (one year domain purchase, basic template), with name of the store, phone number, hours, etc. Then hold a “going out of business sale” with staggered sales – 50% off everything the first week, 60% the second week, 75% off the third week. Then the rest gets sold to a liquidator.

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