Most of the things I do for a little bit extra challenge are mentioned here. I will start with the one that hasn't been mentioned yet. (if someone already mentioned it, I apologise)
- clothes cost money : no one has an endless free wardrobe. If my sims need a new outfit, they will have to pay for it. Sometimes they go to a retail store but most of the time I just use a dresser and the money cheat. With the money cheat prices are per outfit: 200§ for formal wear, party and cold weather, 50§ for sleepwear and swimwear, 100§ for the rest including everyday.
- travel fares: my sims can travel freely within their neighbourhood. Going to a nearby location costs money, I imagine some kind of bus fare. 10§ for a location in a different neighbourhood in the same world and 50§ for travelling to a nearby world. Travelling to a remote location used to cost more but since the snowy escape patch, they have to rent a vacation home. Just like some players already suggested I have a mental map of which worlds are close together and which are far away. A sim in Europe can't just travel to America for an afternoon and vice versa.
https://i.imgur.com/7SLIDFg.png
This is my personal way of dividing the worlds.
*Note: I split up America in two parts because it would be too big compared to some others. I apologise in advance if someone should be offended by this choice, it is merely done for gameplay purposes. And some worlds like Glimmerbrook or Evergreen Harbour can fit into either Europe or America. Stores in magnolia promenade and the graveyard in forgotten hollow are always considered nearby for practical reasons. Remote locations always require a vacation home. (or in case of Sulani residents: a vacation home for every other world)
-household chores use the laundry and dust features in the game. I like to have some additional chores for my sims.
- no money trees obviously no money tree. Use of the cloning machine and copy paste spell is limited so it can't be used as a money maker.
- always repair broken itemsalways repair broken items, don't just replace them.
One last note: while the title of this discussion mentions realism, I mainly focus on the challenge part. I like to combine rules like these with supernatural elements. All my sims, including spellcasters, aliens,... have to follow the same rules.
Edit to add the picture about the world.
