MM(21) cash:  I think he's down to about $11,000 cash.  $1,750 in his checking account, but $1,200 of that is earmarked for an engagement ring.

The engagement topic has come up more.  It sounds like the engagement is planned for any day now.   But the wedding will be an 'after college' thing.  

MM(21) has been insisting that he doesn't need any money.  & has been pinching his pennies.  Never ended up pulling any money from savings (last school year).  But we will have to sit down before school starts and make sure he has enough cash for the next school year.  Or at least the first half of the school year.  On the flip side of the coin, he is much more spendy during summer months.  He did a big trip a few weeks ago.  This week he has been going out almost every night, socializing with college friends.  Restaurants, bars, that kind of thing.  He's very, "Like hell I would spend money," at school, so it's good to see him relaxing and enjoying a little more. 

The past school year MM(21) received a $1,000 gift from the in-laws (annual college gift) and $500 interest.  Expenses were $680.  This means that he was able to save $820, which is about what he will be spending on an engagement ring.  (They are going 50/50 on the ring, so he only has to come up with half the cost.)

Note:  I cover tuition/fees, rent, utilities, medical/dental and a grocery allowance.  The $680 he spent was for everything else.  It included $250 automobile expenses.  Just had him pay towards some of the car repairs during summer months when he was using the car more.  I no longer have access to his credit card, so I don't know how much he has spent on fuel (probably some) or what else he spends his money on.  

I've been giving him his 'gifted college money' (during college years) for 'college spending'.  But MIL has been inconsistent.  Ideally he should be getting a check any day and it might last him for the next school year.  But if MIL forgets for a while, MM(21) will need to transfer some funds out of his savings account.

Engagement ring side note:  The topic came up at work because a co worker's young sister just got engaged and we were talking about MM(21)'s engagement plans.  My employer has a 8 figure net worth (family money) and married very young.  He mentioned that a couple of our employees (who don't work in the office) he felt were delaying engagements re: cost of ring.  & we joked about the diamond industry recommendation to spend X months of salary on a ring.  🙄  I don't remember the number, but my boss revealed (to everyone) that he spent a whole whopping $300? on an engagement ring.  He had bought it at a pawn shop.  (He's a decade younger than I, so this was around 2005.  For reference).  I chimed in that my ring didn't cost any more than that.  

It's funny because my inclination is to say that we were 18/19 and weren't going to spend any more on a ring.  But that's not true at all.  If I actually stop to think about it.  MH had the free college ride and was working his butt off to save up for a Bay Area home (he started saving in high school).  He had thousands of dollars, in addition to no immediate expenses.  I would have considered it a red flag if he spent any more on a ring.  I am sure everyone else just wrote it off that both my boss and my husband were "very young and broke" but the truth is the both of them could have bought much more expensive rings (with cash) if that was something they actually valued.  & of course, we are talking about people who don't do debt.  Clearly people justify spending a lot more, putting engagement rings on credit.

Edited to add:  MM(21) bought the ring this week.  I don't know if he plans to propose this week in town or if he plans to propose at college town.  He's moving back next weekend. 

MIL was trying to outlast my kids, but she gave up.  We took over the camp account and I put down a $100 deposit for next summer.  We did let one cabin go.  It's now freed up for a younger family.

It was 55F degrees on the beach day.  I tried to talk some of the kids out of it (we needed two cars to get them all to the beach), but they wouldn't hear of it.  They had grand sand castle plans (pictured above).  I thought the picture was a good symbol of my kids' unwillingness to outgrow family camp.

MH and I had been planning a day trip to Napa.  At some point MH mentioned it would be fun to take MM wine tasting for his 21st birthday.  We went wine tasting at a castle and then did a hike through the redwood forest behind the castle.  & we had an extravagant dinner.

The original plan was to go to the culinary school for lunch or dinner.  I didn't get the reservations in time.  It's on our list this year to go back at some point (just MH and I).

Other goings on...

MH went to Indiana for a film convention.  He had a blast.  He just told me that he is pretty certain he won't go back to Ohio in the Fall (as originally planned).  It sounds like more of this movie stuff is getting pushed into next year.  It's a relief financially, but it's more money next year just being tied up for this movie stuff.

MH got a job as a producer for a local cable show.  As it always is, he's not getting paid for this.  But it sounds like there will be some money making opportunities and they do want to pay him in the future if they can.  Not holding my breath, but it's a good opportunity re: networking and experience.  

MH's movie is coming along nicely.  Slowly but surely.

DL(19) got a job!  He's been looking for 3 years...  He's had a couple of sketchy temp jobs, but has wanted something more year round and permanent.  I think considering that he gave up and just applied to anything and everything (was willing to work full-time hours this summer to get his foot in the door, though he has no need or desire to work that much).  Considering the more desperate and wide net he cast, I think this job could work out pretty well.  It is a state job and he will be making $$$$$.  I will share more details if it works out.  

It's been absurdly hot and so I have just been in survival mode.   There is nothing productive happening in this heat.

Work/school is ramping back up during the next two weeks.  With both MH and DL(19) returning to work.  MM(21) doesn't start school for a while but I think he is moving back to college in a couple of weeks.