I love that you mentioned microbreweries. I’ve got that category and, after reading this, I’m finally unashamed to admit I put $100 in it every month (despite the current zeitgeist and modern medicine telling me drinking is, respectively, passé and unhealthy). But I just really love getting out of the house, supporting these small businesses, chatting with my local community, and having such a great time with my husband philosophizing over modern politics, playing boardgames, and scheming about creative goals over a couple pints. I see now that the value I get from those dollars.
We did recently find a new coffee shop that rules, so I like the idea of swapping from time to time! And I think the Surgeon General flipped back to coffee being good for you? 😂
Sounds like a win, win, win. Gets you out of the house, socializing with your husband away from screens and routines, and supporting local businesses. I've got a similar situation here with two local coffee shops that roast their own beans and that I regularly patronize. The five bucks to sit for an hour or two and read and write and drink coffee is very well spent.
This year, I'm working on making sure my grocery fund is fully funded based on my actual spending, not based on my spending from five years ago. Everything is different now, and a higher grocery bill doesn't mean I've failed in meal prep or cooking for my family.
I'm realizing that I don't plan well enough for small little "emergencies" or needs (not "wants") such as my turtle's basking float that broke or the toilet paper holder that fell apart :) So I'm putting more leeway into those miscellaneous categories, and paying closer attention to these smaller spends and giving my dollars those jobs. Then rolling over those dollars to next month if I don't spend them. Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement!
Even more than the idea that you are giving yourself more margin on those important miscellaneous categories, I LOVE that your turtle has a basking float! :-) Thanks for sharing and happy to hear that you're making life less stressful for yourself (and turtle).
I was feeling so great and on track with my January spending, and then the snow storm popped up. I spent a few hundred dollars preparing and felt guilty taking it from my emergency category. Now I’m making a “weather emergencies” category to reduce those feelings around spending for this in the future.
Oh, that's a really good idea, Cameron! I hadn't thought of that. I can totally understand why it feels better to not have to touch your emergency fund when prepping for these winter/summer/year-round storms.
I love that you mentioned microbreweries. I’ve got that category and, after reading this, I’m finally unashamed to admit I put $100 in it every month (despite the current zeitgeist and modern medicine telling me drinking is, respectively, passé and unhealthy). But I just really love getting out of the house, supporting these small businesses, chatting with my local community, and having such a great time with my husband philosophizing over modern politics, playing boardgames, and scheming about creative goals over a couple pints. I see now that the value I get from those dollars.
Tell the Surgeon General you’re supporting the economy!! :)
We did recently find a new coffee shop that rules, so I like the idea of swapping from time to time! And I think the Surgeon General flipped back to coffee being good for you? 😂
Sounds like a win, win, win. Gets you out of the house, socializing with your husband away from screens and routines, and supporting local businesses. I've got a similar situation here with two local coffee shops that roast their own beans and that I regularly patronize. The five bucks to sit for an hour or two and read and write and drink coffee is very well spent.
This year, I'm working on making sure my grocery fund is fully funded based on my actual spending, not based on my spending from five years ago. Everything is different now, and a higher grocery bill doesn't mean I've failed in meal prep or cooking for my family.
Oh, absolutely! I've had to reframe "overspending" in my grocery category as usually the result of:
– Buying better quality, local food from the farm near us
– Or, inflation, inflation…
So glad that you recognize this, and how earnest you are in trying to balance good food and finances for your family!
I'm realizing that I don't plan well enough for small little "emergencies" or needs (not "wants") such as my turtle's basking float that broke or the toilet paper holder that fell apart :) So I'm putting more leeway into those miscellaneous categories, and paying closer attention to these smaller spends and giving my dollars those jobs. Then rolling over those dollars to next month if I don't spend them. Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement!
Even more than the idea that you are giving yourself more margin on those important miscellaneous categories, I LOVE that your turtle has a basking float! :-) Thanks for sharing and happy to hear that you're making life less stressful for yourself (and turtle).
I was feeling so great and on track with my January spending, and then the snow storm popped up. I spent a few hundred dollars preparing and felt guilty taking it from my emergency category. Now I’m making a “weather emergencies” category to reduce those feelings around spending for this in the future.
Oh, that's a really good idea, Cameron! I hadn't thought of that. I can totally understand why it feels better to not have to touch your emergency fund when prepping for these winter/summer/year-round storms.