Earlier this year, we experimented with abandoning the strict budget in favor of automating as much as possible on our credit card, and keeping our discretionary spending under control, but on the same card. We failed. It was 2 parts lack of communication, 3 parts lack of discipline, and 1 part “we’re dumb”. …
Finance
Credit Counseling: Swimming Out of the Mess
I once read a news story about a horse that slipped into a manure pit. Some people-much like the unfortunate horse-are up to their necks in a mess, paddling for all they’re worth, wondering how to get out and panicking about the apparent hopelessness of their situation. The mess I’m referring to is-of course-debt. Fortunately,…
Cutting Costs While Cutting Hair
About once per quarter, my wife and I have a…I won’t call it a fight. It’s more like she-comes-home-looking-stunning-while-I-make-disapproving-grunting-sounds-while-giving-the-checkbook-dirty-looks. I hate salons. $80 for highlights, $30 for a haircut and $15 for eyebrow “shaping”. It’s an afternoon of chemicals and hot-wax torture, for the low, low price of $125 + tip. Frugal it’s not,…
Time vs Money
In this corner, weighing in at the only thing you have in this life that you can’t possibly get more of: Time! And in this corner, weighing in at the thing people think they need to be happy: Money! Keep it clean. No biting, scratching or hitting your opponents with a chair unless my back…
