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My husband and I almost had

avflox — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:04:58 -0500

My husband and I almost had our marriage annulled driving back from Las Vegas (where we'd gotten married days before) because of a conversation about finances. This is how it went:

The husband had suggested I close my account with my bank now that we had an account at his bank. It was the word "we": suddenly I realized my husband was going to be able to see ALL my financial shenanigans.

It’s not that I have anything to be ashamed about. I consider myself a very financially responsible person. It’s the fact that if he wants to, he can totally see everything I’m doing. It’s not that I’m doing anything that’s wrong or suspect, either. It’s just that hello, I’m a SCORPIO. I’m a walking information management department.

Plus, I don’t need my husband knowing I spend this much on nails or that much on facial things or teeth bleaching things or waxes or microdermabrasions. What happens when I get Botox? Or collagen in my lips? Or whatever tucked and pulled and plucked? He’ll know then, too! What’s the charm in a woman who looks fabulous if you know it’s a push-up bra or silicone and injections of diluted chemical weapons and fat? That’s DISGUSTING! Who would knowingly fuck that?!

I was beside myself. In my mind, I’d already been exposed as a mere mortal with access to a good dermatologist, a mortal who needed brow waxes and whose vagina wasn’t just naturally devoid of coarse shrubbery—just like everyone else.

Eventually, we got accounts at my bank (because it's better) and linked them. So, yes, he can see what I'm doing with that account if he wants to. That's not the only account, however, and that works out best for both of us.

Because I can totally see emergency dermatologist appointments being a huge issue in a tanking economy.

Why a virtue?

LPC — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:03:04 -0500

http://amidlifeofprivilege.blogspot.com

I get that going broke is a bad thing. I get that needless display of wealth to depress others is bad. But I don't get why frugality itself is currently perceived as a virtue. Thoughts?

Great tips!

AmberS — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:55:35 -0600

Thanks for the tips. We're planning to start serious budgeting in the New Year to pay down our mortgage faster. I appreciate your ideas.

I loved "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn. I don't use all of her ideas (by a long shot), but her whole mindset is just so great. Since I read that book I've started canning my own food and buying in bulk. I know we're eating better and it costs less, too!

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

thanks

christinajeanne — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:47:21 -0500

thanks for the reply. It's a relief knowing we can keep our house.

That's good news

Candelaria Silva — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:32:01 -0500

Best of luck.

blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

great advice

christinajeanne — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:35:59 -0500

I think that is wonderful advice. I had an electric blanket that kept me really warm so they are a good idea. The only problem is my cats clawed it so now it's broken and you have to send it into the company to get fixed. I still might but it is kind of a hassle. I have an electric heater though that helps a lot.

Thanks for the Backpack Tip

SingleParent — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:26:56 -0500

My daughter is notorious for going through two backpacks a year! She is unbelievably rough on them (and shoes, and jeans, and jackets... if I had a dime for every hole in her belongings). I've not thought to get one guaranteed, and when I clicked through to Lands End, the prices were quite reasonable and there were plenty in green (her fave color). Woo hoo!

Visit my site at singleparent.pnn.com

Can we be happy, successful families? Si se puede!

Garage sales and thrift!

Liz Henry — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:31:13 -0500

I wouldn't wait for the supply lists, I'd go to the odd-lot or clearance store (in the San Francisco Bay Area, that's Big Lots) and get all the super cheap stuff in early August.

And for clothes, mom swap meets, hand me downs, garage sales, thrift stores! Thrift stores have great jackets and backpacks in early summer, but often year-round. I think it's because all the schools donate their lost & found jackets and backpacks to the local thrift stores a few times a year -- but definitely at the end of every school year.

-----------------
Liz Henry
lizzard@bookmaniac.net
Contributing Editor, World and Latin America

Thank you Mir!

mothergoosemouse — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:54:40 -0500

I'm a year-round clearance shopper already - it's saved me lots, even before the kids started school.

And I had to giggle about the backpacks. My oldest asked if she'd get a new backpack this year (she has a Jansport from last year), and I gave her the old fart speech: "I carried the same backpack all four years of high school, all five years of college, and all three years of graduate school! That's twelve years! You'll be carrying this backpack when you're a SENIOR!"

Fortunately for her, it's not a Disney Princess backpack.

mothergoosemouse

While I've never spent $600

JennaHatfield — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:33:39 -0500

While I've never spent $600 on a shirt, straight out of college I didn't really have the understanding, wisdom or life-experience to know that life throws curve balls. Often. And hard. I made some really dumb money decisions, some of which I'm still paying for now. I was thrilled with my newfound "freedom" (though my parents weren't footing my rent) and wasn't thinking into the future. Do I think that was wise? No. Do I think it was my best set of life decisions? No. Did I have anyone explaining that decisions I made now would effect things like houses and cars later? No.

Thankfully, I've learned. Albeit, the hard way. Will I try to educate my sons better than I was educated on things like credit and saving? I'll try. Will I understand if they screw up? Definitely. Will I foot their rent? Probably not. But I won't turn my back on them either.

Some people have to live and learn. Some people never learn. Thankfully, I did.

-
Jenna
Family Living; Hatfield Style
Birth/First Parent Blog
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land

I save for goals.. and general

debra roby — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:43:12 -0500

I save for goals with their own accounts. At the moment, the two "special" accounts are for vacations and all-things-household (repairs, new furniture, etc.). A small amount is automatically transferred into both accounts every pay check. I just look up and it's there.

I also have a general money-market account. This is the money for insurance and tax payments, big payments like cars, that 4-6 month emergency fund. I have a figure in mind where I can relax on this one.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Deb's Daily Distractions

I HOPE SHE MARRIES RICH

BERNTHIS.COM — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:37:20 -0500

and God Forbid this chick has a kid. I love my daughter to death but sometimes I will play the "how rich would I be now, if I had decided to go childless? Oh the trips, the clothes the....savings? Okay, that idea hasn't played into it at all, at least not in my fantasy, kind of a kill-joy thought you know what I mean? Seriously though, as I age and I feel like my body has the pedal to the metal as regard that, it is incredible how much your body works against you. This gal on MTV is in for a rude wake up call when her knee gives out and she doesn't have money to pay the Dr. b/c if things keep up, her and her friends won't have access to health insurance amongst other things.