I am going all out on a big pizza lunch today. Feeling decadent I guess.

I haven't been updating my cash stash because I haven't been eating out, nor using cash, at all. It has been an amazing month or so.

In the past I have been too lazy to prepare a lunch, or bored by it. Last year I was having some big hormone/weight issues so I got on track with bringing lunch in more, but usually go out at least once a week - even if just for a $1 menu item.

But the last few weeks I haven't even done that. So decided to treat myself to pizza today. The funny thing is I haven't really missed it. Today I Am craving some grease so I will oblige.

I love this website so much - helps me stay on track - how ever much I disagree with other people and am stubborn about some of my choices. I really enjoy seeing other points of view - even if they are frugal on the verge of insane - hehe. I like balance and I Try to balance the 2 the best I Can - frugalness while still enjoying life, being comfortable, etc.

To come here and have everyone question every one of my purchases is a little refreshing. Seriously. I like it. KEeps me challenged. I have questioned some things about myself, changed some things, and held firm to things I think are money well spent. But that's okay. IT beats everyone telling me how pathetic I am that I don't spend a lot of money on brand names, beauty, new cars. How I must be SO deprived, my life not worth living - LOL. Or on the flip side I am doing so well, I should stop working so hard. Even my parents have alluded to that and they should know better.

Anyway, I guess in life no one has ever particularly challenged me financially. & I like a good challenge!

I am also having a little insight into why my parents can raise me so well to take care of myself financially, and then so thoroughly drop the ball when it comes to investing and such. From a convo with my dad on my birthday, he pretty much admitted to me they didn't have anything when he turned 30. BArely a month's pay saved. They were sinking all of their money into a house in the Bay Area which was a huge risk. (It was paid off 25 years later and worth $1 mil today - a relatively modest home in a so-so area. I think the risk paid off). I remember they met with a financial planner in my teens, in their 40s, and were behind. Coming from a very poor family and moving to such an insanely expensive area put them in a completely opposite situation of us today. I am not sure you would hardly meet 2 more frugal people. & because of that they quickly caught up and are doing fine. But they failed to teach me about investing and saving heavily for retirement while young. They probably figured they caught up and so can I. Or that as a CPA I must have our affairs well taken care of. I don't know. But I guess I gleam a little insight into why. It is interesting. I think overall they are good parents and want to butt out of my adult life. But they could have taught me about investing as a teen, etc. One thing I see I want to different with my kids.

I gleamed some insight as to why, over lunch a few weeks back, my dad poo-pooed the power of compounding. I think he doesn't realize how further he would be ahead if he had been able to put more to retirement sooner. THen again, he put the money to a house that has returned around 1000% on price paid, maybe 3000% on cash payment down. & in his time there were a lot more generous pensions and such. Social security and such. Our world is so different I guess. But I have more insight why my parents have been supportive of us putting savings in the backseat for a few years. From their view we are a mile ahead than they were at our age. The thing is we have a mile further to go in many ways. I guess I am glad I figured it out on my own. A little slow but I am only 30. No more savings taking a backseat just because we are trying to get by on 1-income. What a lame excuse - hehe.