Dental bills are through the roof. Looking at an estimate of 6500 plus another 4000 for an implant.
Had new Will, Power of Attorney, etc. done. Established Trust in order to avoid probate. Lawyers don’t come cheap.
Purchased plots in cemetery for myself and the wife. Again, it was not cheap.
DD is now a doctor and paying most of her own bills. Thank goodness.
Trying to not spend money. Still saving. Retirement on the horizon.
The struggle continues!

Use it up, wear it out, make due, do without!

Out of debt, out of danger!

Do I really NEED this or do I just WANT this.

My hobby is saving money!

Well, my DD will be graduating from medical school in May. Still no major debt in my life since I got out of debt. It is so much easier to save when you have no debt.

My insurance coverages are good. I have most of my accounts with joint tenancy or beneficiary to avoid probate. Living will, health care proxy, and durable power of attorney forms all in place. I need to redo the will but there will be little to dispose of by this vehicle.

Dental work for the DW cost me a pretty penny. I put away 175 a month into my dental savings account. I had a goodly amount in but I took a huge hit after several years of just cleanings and the odd cavity. The price of a root canal and/or cap is mind boggling!

In the last year I have replaced the dishwasher, microwave, washing machine as well as the dehumidifier in the basement. The stove and the dryer may have to be replaced in a year or two. Putting funds aside into the emergency fund for that eventuality. I hope they hold up for a good longtime!

Paid off my wife's and daughter's phones. I am keeping my old one running until it falls apart! The bill drops this month when my old contract comes to an end!

The DW's car is getting long in the tooth. I have to figure out a replacement. Sigh...

Still living very frugally. On goes the journey!

Been a while since I posted. I still live frugally. Old habits are hard to break! LOL!!
I still try to have as many no spend days as possible. Went to free concerts put on by the town this summer. Using the library to the fullest. Heck, I pay taxes so I should get my moneys worth. I can get free films to watch and there are different events that are free.
I also look fro community events that are free or darn near so.
I cannot believe that this blog is over 11 years old now. I have come far in that time.
My motto is still, "use it up, wear it out, make due, do without"! I am still a firm believer in out of debt out of danger.
Maybe I'll post a little more often...

Well, my change jar is getting quite full. I shall take it in to the bank machine soon and get it totaled. Then it goes into savings.

I went a little crazy the other day and had a bagel and coffee for 5.15. Veggie cream cheese is a weakness when spread on an everything bagel.

I have given up drinking soda and my wife tells me that our grocery bill is better. Woo! Hoo!'

I am trying to string "no spend" days together whenever possible. I look for ways not to spend. I have made a game out of it.

I have cut my expenses to the bone and increased my investments and savings.

On I go! :-)

That is it! I have the money aside. I am tired of getting up early to dig out. I hate snow!!!!

Well, I have been cleaning out my basement, garage, and closets. I look at all the "things" I bought and I wonder why I did it.

Maybe I bought things because it made me feel better. How much of my life did I exchange for the money to purchase these things? Why? Now the DW and I have stuff we don't need or want! Sad. Very sad.

Now I am divesting myself of all this clutter. I now know Thoreau was right in his admonition to simplify! Don't weigh yourself down with things you don't need.

Buy what you need to be sure. Hesitate to spend.

It is interesting to observe how I have less of a desire to buy things as I get older. I get more of a kick finding ways not to spend money. I still enjoy life. There is just no need to constantly spend to fill up the empty spaces.
My change jar has a substantial amount of change. I am constantly looking to save whatever I can. The investments are doing fairly well. I have no major expenses left.
Just checking in to remind myself to keep at it!

I have been making a game of "No Spend Days" for so long! I really enjoy it. I ask myself do I really need this item. Most times I really don't need it.
I play the game of don't break the 20. How long can I go without breaking the twenty in my wallet. I feel so much better when I don't spend.
I still pay cash for most things when I do spend and I put any change in the form of coins into a Holiday fund.
Saving is fun when it becomes a game. I am getting better at it as time goes by.
I am still out of debt and on track for retirement. If I can do it so can you!!!!

Dollar cost averaging and indexing in my investments has paid off. I am not looking for a big score and I put the money away monthly. My emergency fund has gotten a little low due to some necessary home maintenance and repair si I have to add funds there.
Started a dental fund due to the fact we don't have dental insurance. I cannot believe how expensive dental care is. The fund took a hit a few months ago but I am putting money aside again just for this fund.
We still stock up when there are great sales at the grocery and I have cut my soda consumption to almost nil. Water with a little ice and a twist of lemon is great and inexpensive!
I am still bummed out by the low interest rates but at least I am not paying exorbitant interest on credit card debt!
Sometimes it seems the money slips through my fingers like water but I keep looking for ways to put more money away. On it goes!

I guess everyone here is feeling the sting of rising grocery prices. Gas is going up again. Sigh!

School and property tax went up. Several other taxes went up. Interest on savings is a joke. I don't feel good about the future!

Well it has been a quiet February and nothing really drastic has happened. We are still looking for ways to cut more money from the budget. Fortunately we are still on an even keel. I keep socking away whatever I can but the interest is almost nil.
I see the stock market going up and I am thinking that is because there is nowhere else to put the money. We shall see how this all turns out in the end. Oh wel, back to the grindstone!
Oh yeah. I finally got to use my gift card to a local restaurant. The wife and I had a lovely dinner and I still have 2.48 left on my 50 gift certificate. I'll use it for a lunch sometime I think!

I have been told that inflation is low. Given the prices in the grocery store you could really fool me. We look for sales and try to stock up as much as possible.

My gas and electric bill appear to keep increasing. I am amazed at the cost!

Looks like I need to stretch the dollars even more.

Well. my Christmas shopping is done and I have not gone overboard. I still have my head above water and just the one credit card which I pay off at the end of the month.
Still clipping coupons and living frugally. DD has three more semesters in college and will graduate, God willing, debt free.
I keep putting as much money as I can away for retirement. I just wish my investments were doing better.
The house and cars are paid for and I am grateful for that.
The taxes and the cost of utilities is getting out of hand. The grocery prices are going crazy as well. Gas for the car is also killer!
So I guess everything is on an even keel.
Merry Christmas everyone and may financial security come to you all!!!!

Well, I still am out of debt. I don't spend money most days and I sock away as much money as I can. It is a little disheartening getting such a pittance in returns. Still I keep saving.

My DD is in her Junior year at college and she will get through debt free. The wife wants to get her a car for graduation but I can't see that happening.

My car is 12 years old but I am going to run it till it falls apart. We are still clipping coupons and are surprised at the savings. I cannot believe the increases in the food prices! The gas is still pretty steep here as well.

So I am keeping mu head above water and I suppose that will have to be enough for now. We have no mortgage but the taxes are just ridiculous. Our utilities have gone up a good bit as well!

Just getting by but as I said I am doing better than a great many others!

Work is slowing down and the tax burden here is awful. I have enough to pay my daughter's college tuition for the last two years of her schooling. So DD will get out of school debt free.

Graduate or medical school is another ball of wax though. I have to get my retirement money in order. I am somewhat behind in this category.

I have about 5000 dollars together for a new car for my daughter when she graduates college. This will be a gift from my wife and I. What kind of car she gets depends upon how much I can scrimp and save. I was thinking about a low end Toyota Camry.

I only have 100,000 saved for retirement so I am behind the 8 ball. Who knows what the dollar will be worth when I retire. Who knows if Social Security will be around.

We have made some serious cuts in discretionary spending around here. I still walk around with less than 20 dollars in my pocket at any one time.

Well, I suppose we just do the best we can with what we've got. Just checking in for a reality check!

Well, I still have no credit card debt. I am putting as much money away as I can. Living as frugally as I can and that is pretty much the state of affairs I find myself in.

It is all good. It is stable at this point. Staying out of debt and paying as I go!

Well I have collected 175 dollars in Barnes and Nobles gift certificates. Folks gave me a bunch for my recent birthday.

I went to Barnes and Noble but I just did not find anything I needed or wanted. So I guess I will use it for birthdays and the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

It really will help with the gift giving budget.

Well, DD is off to college and seems to be doing well after some initial homesickness.

We have no major debt right now but my dear wife seems to want to change that! LOL!!!!

I have not posted here in quite a while. I still try to have as many "No Spend" days as possible. Still trying to book as many dollars as I can. No CC balance at this time thank goodness. I guess I am in a holding pattern.

We have a new car and we own it outright. Saving now for one for me and daughter. Wishful thinking but it is a goal.

We are still clipping coupons and a trip to the diner is a fancy date. Pretty funny when you think about it.

We would like to redo our bedroom, the upstairs bathroom and the basement. We also need to replace the basement windows.
Sigh! It just never stops!

All I can do is my best and I will continue to try! What else can a I do!

Ignition went on the car and had to be replaced and it was discovered that the exhaust systemm is going kaput.

The car is 11 years old and I have to start thinking about another new car. I am still thinking about getting it fixed and keeping it as daughters knock about car when she is back from college.

I forgot to mention that my DD is going to Notre Dame. An expense I saved for but I am sure their are other expenses I had not anticipated.

The money comes in and the money goes right back out. Blessed be the money....sheesh!!!!

Still saving as much as I can but the unexpected expenses such as my medical insurance are taking a toll on the budget.

I guess it could be worse. I could be living in a third world country starving. All things are relative I suppose.

Still trying to string together no spend days and I have been having some very good luck with that. I especially like filling my coffee thermos at home and drinking out of that. It is so much cheaper!

Well that is about it for now. I will keep on keeping on!

I recieved an e-mail telling me Flash had posted to my blog. I had forgotten that I have friends here who are very supportive of my efforts.

Things may be tough at present but folks have to believe that things will get better. We can succeed. We can do well. The motto must be "CAN DO"!

We all have our reasons for being here but the goal is the same. Financial success is doable! We can be control of that part of our lives. We must never give up and accept defeat no matter how hard the struggle.

Nothing can stop us save our own fears! Let us face them and conquer them! Success can and will be ours!

Keep the faith and you will be rewarded in the end!

Thank you folks for everything!

Well, work is getting really hard to come by. My investments are down a goodly amount. The weather is the pits and the money situation is tighter than ever. What can you do? It is what it is?

Don't have much time to sit in front of a computer these days! Sigh. It will be better tomorrow! It will be better tomorrow!

Another day where I spent no money. Found some change cleaning out drawers and coats. In the notions jar it goes.

We still have not taken my wife's van in to get the back door handle fixed. We'll put it off as long as we can.

My friend who was in serious financial trouble is now operating with his head above water so I save that money now that I used to send him.

My budget is still out of whack so I have to eliminate some more expenses from my budget. Cutting into bone at this time!

NO clothes purchases this year. That is the goal and I have broken out the needle and thread. I am so glad my father insisted I learn basic needle and thread skills.

I volunteer with the town and I get a free family pool pass for the summer. That should save us upwards of $200. We used the pool extensively last year. I alos get the free use of a gym but have not used it yet!

Our local library is really great and you can get DVDs and CDs of really neat stuff. I am not renting anything ever again from the local Blockbuster!

Just hooked up the P3 4400 Kill A Watt Meter to my freezer in the basement. The wife and I will also check the fridge we have in the garage. This device measures kilowatt hour use by appliances. We can then see how much it is to run the appliance on a monthly basis. The results might make it worth it to buy a new freezer that is more efficient and cost effective. We will be checking out our large appliances first and then the smaller ones as we use them to see where we can cut electric usage!

What killed us this last bill was gas usage. We use gas to heat hot water, our house, the range top, and our clothes dryer! We have lowered the temp on the water heater again. We have lowered the heat as much as we can but MIL is 87 and cannot take the cold. Good thing we don't have a large house. I use the dryer to warm up the wet clothes and then hang them in the basement.I am also using cold water to wash everything except whites and under garments.Showers are being carefully watched to make sure they are as short as humanly possible.

I have ended several magazine subscriptions even though I enjoyed them.
I have a 25 dollar gift card to Barnes and Nobles but I will use this for a gift for someone thus saving more money!

I make most of my calls after 9 PM and on weekends with the cell phone. We got three cell phones for just a little over 100 dollars for extending for three years. Our phones were kind of beat up and so it was time. It really was a good deal.

I have given up driving for pleasure. I try to set a route out when I run errands in order to use as little gas as possible. The wife has been pretty good of late with this as well.

Wow! That was pretty long winded of me! Still saving as much as I can and spending as little as possible!

We use our 10 year old Toyota Sienna a lot. It is getting long in the tooth but I figure getting a few problems like the back hatch handle fixed is cheaper than new car payments.

We have to start getting a bit more money together for a new car. My car is 8 years old and I am shooting for 7 more years out of it. I figure if I do the maintenance regularly it will last me a goood long while.

I hate car payments so I will kepp saving till I have a goodly amount of the price of a car.

Well, in any case I have to get the handle fixed on the back door of the Sienna. The bills never stop!

Wow! I have been here a while! I have not gotten to the place I need to be yet but it sure ain't from lack of trying!

Another no spend day for me. I have to keep it up.

The proverbial sky is falling. Several thousands of dollars in my investments value have disappeared. Credit is harder to come by. 31 States will soon be unable to meet their financial obligations.

Cash is now king. We may be headed, some say, towards deflation.

Here is my take on it.

Invest in companies that employ Americans and make goods here. Cut back on your use of foreign made goods.

Use your car less and keep the heat low. Now is the time to face this chrisis head on! Enough of sending our jobs and money overseas.

We must not give in to fear. We must save and invest now more than ever. We must not give into panic and fear as that will be our downfall!

Hold Republicans and Democrats responsible for this mess they allowed to happen! Throw all the bums out!

We can get through all this if we do not panic and give in to fear. Tighten your belts and keep moving ahead! It will get better.

We can do it gang!!!

Well I am an automatic long term investor who has watched several thousand dollars in value just evaporate.

I suppose I could panic and get upset but what would be the point. I will continue to invest on a regular basis and thus buy shares of Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Stocks at a lower price.

If the economy were to collapse I fear it would take the rest of the world economy with it. Worrying is moot! Whatever happens happens and there is little I can do to change it.

The politicians on both sides of the aisle are already fingerpointing. Just what we need!

I hope others are doing well!

I feel like Knute commanding the tide back. More unexpected bills coming in. Work is slowing down and oddjobs are getting harder to find so as to make extra money.

My wife is stillgoing through her occassional spending spree. I used to get upset but now I have built this in as a feature of my life. The wife has no access to the funds I am putting away.

C'est la vie.........

The water bill that came in was 62 dollars higher than the last. It is funny how I look forward to rain now! I cut some more stuff from my budget so as to keep things in balance. Hard to say when I have saved enough as my mutual funds show a net loss as opposed to what I put into them. Pretty funny stuff. The ETFs are doing better and the savings are the savings.

I like the line from " I Remember Momma"; "we do not have to go to the bank!" I try to string no spend days together as much as I can. I have my coffee home and we buy bread products at a discount and freeze them for later use.

We had work done on the house and thatcost us a pretty penny. We had to have trees taken down and we fixed the landscaping. I believe we have added to the value of the house. We have two bathrooms and an upstairs bedroom to do.

It wa good we had work done outside. When the old front steps were taken down we found termites in the early stages. It is interesting how some exterminators will rip you off if they can. We found someone for a quarter of the price of the first quote who did the same thing.

We will soon need to replace my wife's car as well as get a car for my daughter.
I don't know where I am getting all this money. I am still a bit short of the 100,000 number for my daughter's college education. I am working on it.

Sometimes I wish my ship would come in but soon realize I am the builder of the boat I am in. So it goes.

I keep struggling not to slip back into debt but it is so hard these days to keep your head above water. Food, gas, electric, etc.....are getting more expensive everyday.

I am fortunate in that the mortgage is paid and the cars we own are bought and paid for. I will just keep hitting it and hope for the best!

I am still out of debt and I am saving every penny that I possibly can. It just seems that no matter how much I save or scrimp or work I never get too far ahead in the finances.

It feels that I am carrying a weight on my shoulders. Work is slowing down and boy are prices going up! The prices on some things stay the same while the amount you get shrinks! It sure takes the wind out of your sales when you work so hard to accumulate some wealth!

Gas through the rough....groceries through the roof.....taxes through the roof.....clothes, medical care, etc......everything going through the roof.

I am still chugging after all this time but I feel one heck of an undertow trying to drag me down!