Category Archives: Money

I Finally Broke Down and Bought a Smart Phone!

I know, I know, after all the kicking and screaming and defensive posts on why I don't need a smart phone and here I find myself owning one and really, really liking it despite myself.  Right up to the moment I purchased the phone, and agreed to the data plan I was having misgivings and second guessing myself.  My son has been encouraging me for months to get a smart phone, and even my husband has one.  I was firmly… Read the rest

Are You Living an Optimized Life or Just Skating By?

For most of my life I've just muddled along, not really giving much care to my health, because I've always considered myself to be healthy.  By that I mean I'm not sick often, and rarely have to take sick time off from work.  I don't have a huge laundry list of complaints… sure I had gained weight in my thirties and forties, and I wasn't too happy about it, but I knew diets didn't work and I didn't think there… Read the rest

My Big Birthday Splurge This Year – Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse

I've told y'all I'm planning a big FIVE-OH birthday party for myself, and I've continued to plunk $20 each month into my sinking fund in anticipation of this party.  In the meantime, I turned 48 a couple of months ago, and this year I did something I've never done before. Since my husband and I eat out so rarely, I decided to do what I consider to be a major splurge.  My mother-in-law and my mom always give me $50… Read the rest

Eat Out, Eat In? Which Is Your Choice?

I've never been a big fan of eating out.  It's typically not a frugal practice since it usually costs more to eat out – unless you're comfortable eating off the dollar menu at your local fast food joint – and to be honest I found myself often disappointed in the quality of the food when eating out. Jackie over at Money Crush wrote a post recently where one thing she's done to cut back on eating out was to prepare… Read the rest