maybe try to come up with an original species, people seem to like those, but other than that i'm kinda short on advice
uhm, don't try doing auctions until you've built a pretty good size audience, from my experience it's a set up for disappointment if you're new

oh and i'm not quite done experimenting with it, but i've trying to post adopts pn the 16th, 17th, or the last few days of a month since that's around the times people tend to get paid ovo

That's a good idea, the timing of selling things!! Maybe I'll try again during that time, hmmm.....
Yeah, I don't expect super quick sales since I'm so new on this site and everything but I'd definitely like to get there! Designing adopts is really stinkin' fun, and I want to get better at it!

well i'll keep an eye out for any designs you make and, if i don't buy one, i'll definitely promo you!

p wp aaah, you're so kind! Thank you!

Themes are also good. Base characters around a particular motif maybe. This could be anything, from appliances, or an activity, to a vague concept like Justice or Pain. Stuff to sell the audience on a personality that they can give the creature. It's easier to get excited when the toy has a story and personality attached. Just like those commercials for barbies and such.

Good advice to keep in mind! I'll definitely start some serious planning. This makes me think that I should stew on some things before just acting on one little idea that pops into my head, which I'm really bad about doing with generally anything.

Also in regards to moving out, left home when I was pretty young (like 17) so I've been doing this for a few years already. I'd try and limit everything, and prioritize based on whats important. When I left home I sold everything of my childhood except for like... 1 box of memories. The rest I sold and saved that money. Then moving out to Cali, I surfed on couches and finally roomshared. I'd recommend a room matie. It can't be difficult but it will save you SO much money. Plus it can be nice to have another soul in the house, even if you don't talk. Especially if you're a hermit like me.

Yeah, I'm moving in with someone from work! Which could either be a disaster or pretty okay. We get along really well so far, and I've known her for about a year so I feel pretty alright about it! I'm currently working on selling things of value I don't need (i.e. my lolita wardrobe......sobs...) and it's kind of hard to feel bad about it when I look down at the money in my hands.

No real suggestions in the adopt department other than try to be original -- but for the moving out thing, since I'm unsure what you already have and these are things I was stuck without:

Towels
Microwave
A bed is more important than you think, if you don't have one you can bring with you
Spices
Literally any furniture
A trash can

Like oh man I can't think of much else but depending on your situation you may be needing for lots of things to start with. When I moved out I had no help from my family and pretty much started from scratch -- everything I own fits into three bags -- so my apartment was really really bare. If you don't have a bed, get one. Just get one. Save up and spend the money, don't think about air mattresses because they'll ruin your life.

And uh, depending on where you're staying -- if you're in an apartment, make sure you know the mail times/trash dates, as well as where the laundry is and how much it'll cost to run so you can keep an adequate amount of quarters. Make sure they've explained the AC/Heat to you, because if they can get away without spending money for an Air conditioner if you don't have one in yet, they will. Pretty much what happened to me is I didn't ask about it until Summer when I needed it and they put it in after I had already burned to death.

Make sure you list all of the problems you can find with the apartment as soon as you move in and SEND A COPY of the list to their office -- that way they know what's an issue (though they probably already do) and won't try and blame you for it come time to get your security deposit back. Look for leaks, cracks, holes, check the faucets to make sure they work properly (make sure the hot water works consistently) check the windows for weather damage, and anything else you can think of.

For paying bills, I found it's way less stressful if you save a little bit each paycheck instead of having the mindset, "oh, its not due until two weeks from now, I'll just pay it from that check," because you never know what will happen and if it gets tight you'll find yourself living paycheck to paycheck and that's horrible.

Of course none of this may apply to you if you're staying with someone or in a house so ' -' yeah.

AH THIS IS A LOT...and it's super helpful!
Thankfully, my parents are letting me have basically everything in my room, including a bed, desk and big vanity/dresser thing. And I am moving in with a roommate! Who actually has tons of stuff already....(thank god).
Spices though! Someone else had mentioned those and I think it's funny, because that's something I never thought about before haha.

And, living paycheck to paycheck- I've done that before paying other bills off while living at home and gooodddddd never again. It's sad when you can't spend at least a couple bucks each check just for you, as a little boost in happiness or something. It's like you're making money just to give away and [farts].

Ooh, good good. Thankfully my roommate had a lot of stuff but together we still didn't have much lol. But if thats the case make sure you keep a list of what belongs to who, just in case. If you stay together for a long time, things start to blend together and you forgot if YOU bought the cookware, or SHE did (by the way, put cookware on that list! Spatula, skillet, pot, and a big spoon, those are bare minimum.)

And yes, paycheck to paycheck is a nightmare, literally just disheartening to see your money come and go before you have a chance to do anything ; 0 ; I hope things go well for you! :D

Another cool thing I just remembered is that, for Christmas a few years ago, I got a hope chest with some cool stuff! Some cookware, silverware, a kettle, some rags and a cutting board and some other useful household things. I can totally understand the whole "blending together" thing- makes sense. And the roommate I'm moving in with is one of those people who's like "what's mine is yours," but my attitude ever since I was little was always "what's mine is mine, and don't touch it." I think it's gonna be hard to have that mindset living with someone to a certain extent haha.
And thank you so much!! I'm sure it'll be fine. I freak out in my brain but all in all I think errythang's gonna be goooood.