I just started jotting down some things in another place, not expecting the blogs to be down for so long. Catching up...

August 1

Frugal Things

MM(23) cut his own hair today.  He did a really good job. I guess my Dad lent him some fancy scissors.

MM(23) is definitely going for the whole Money Mustache thing.  While I enjoyed some of Money Mustache (put things into words that were in line with our own philosophy and beliefs) I personally never cared much for ‘putting entire life on hold to enjoy later’ aspect of it.  Most particularly when it came to having kids, which was extra important to MH to do at a young age.  & hindsight 20/20 I appreciate taking advantage of my youth on that front.  But we’ve spent MM(23)’s entire life encouraging him to dial it down.  I can see as he becomes an adult, he will be making more of his own choices and maybe doesn’t respect our more balanced life philosophy.  He told me the other day he will live on $20K per year.  He tends to be a little obsessive, and extreme.

Where does TM(21) fall in all this?   I think he’s embraced more of the ‘love your job’ aspect (is okay with working for a few decades) and is a little more on the balanced side.  But he told me the other day ‘no offense’ but he would never buy a ‘big’ house like we have.  His dream/forever home is a condo.  I told him he was preaching to the choir.  Condo living was perfect when it was just the two of us.  I take no offense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 2

Frugal Things

MH & I went to the art museum.  Free, with our membership.  I don’t remember the last time we went, and I suppose I have no record re: no money trail to follow.

TM(21) and the GF went down to the community pool.  It’s a couple of blocks from our house.  Free, with our HOA dues.  The kids had lost interest during teen years, but the GF very much enjoys the amenities by our home (the lake and the pool).  & the nature walks, which we never tired of.  There’s just land to the west of us. 

Not-Frugal Things

TM(21) jumped into the pool with his phone in his pocket.  Oops!

The phone is dead.  He’s pondering a lower tech life.  Both my kids had already taken most the apps off their phones.  Will see where he ends up.

July was amazing.  $4,000 in the green!  That was after posting how much in the red we have been all year.

What’s interesting was that it wasn’t a low-spend month whatsoever.  90% of the battle was not having any expensive emergencies.  Phew!  10% of the battle is being done with MM(23) college expenses.  That is an extra boost.

Will see what August brings.

I might have blogged more about July spending or numbers, but the blogs were down and life has moved on.

Edited to add: We did get the junk hauled and I got rid of two old bikes last weekend. The office chairs were challenging to get rid of but they did eventually get taken.