 This month, Mr. and Mrs. FB did something truly radical - we decided, together, to go completely without a monthly budget. Not only that, my friends, but we didn't track our spending - something that our longer-term viewers may find particularly shocking. However, it was a highly educational experience, and it gave us both insights into how we perceive our budget, spending habits, and the balance between short term and long-term goal attainment.
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 Since my last update might have left you waiting on pins and needles, it seems only fair to start out by saying that I have procured a job as a documentation specialist - a huge relief. In addition, I was offered an odd job that cooperates with my full-time hours, and I’ve decided to take a stab at doing both. This news was so good to us we went on an impromptu, unbudgeted dinner out (this is a tradition we have when a new offer of employment is given and accepted - it all comes out in the wash eventually). After this light-hearted frivolous expenditure, we decided to buckle down and get back to our budgets - which was a lot more fun now that there was no need to be running a deficit for the month of September.
 As readers may have noticed, things have been a little quiet at The Frugal Bunch. There have been a few major changes to Mr. and Mrs. FB’s lives lately, and it got a little hectic.
Late last month, I, Mrs. FB, started having trouble with my left arm, which quickly escalated. To make a long story short, an underlying health condition (hopefully acute) was discovered, and we had to make the difficult decision for me to leave my employment (which strongly relied on constant movement and lifting).  With the dawn of mass internet access has also come online banking. Online banks are generally able to offer higher interest rates than brick and mortar banks for a simple reason - buildings cost money. Online banks, which don’t have a storefront, are able to pass on that savings to customers in the form of interest.
 As with just about everything so far this year, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in traditional Independence Day celebrations. While our typical 4th of July festivities include extended family BBQs, an Independence Day breakfast through our church, and sparklers, none of these things are occurring this year.
So, here’s a peek into how Mr. and Mrs. FB are handling this state of affairs.  Smudged fingers. Creaky scissors. 5 million apps that all promise the best deals. Driving to four different grocery stores with children in tow. The world of grocery couponing and planning can be a scary place. Fortunately for frugal shoppers everywhere, most of this hype is unnecessary and heavily stereotyped. Allow me to walk you through some frugal grocery store skills that take no extra time out of your life (well, almost no more time, and time well spent) and ensure you spend only what you have budgeted.  This is the second of a three part series on frugal cooking. Want more frugal cooking content? Sign up for our monthly newsletter for one highlighted frugal recipe a month!
Now that we’ve covered how to make what you eat palatable, let’s make sure that you also get everything that you need from what you eat. There are a few things that your body needs - essential amino acids (which form proteins), vitamins, minerals, and sugars that can be converted into fuel - and it is important to get these things in appropriate amounts. Please keep in mind that I am not a registered dietician, and please follow doctor orders over mine.  My husband and I have a goal to be homeowners.
We made that goal not far into our marriage, and it’s one that we earnestly work towards. Some regular readers may be surprised to know that despite the details we have carefully parsed through in many areas of our finances, our homeownership goals are rather vaguely defined.  Alright budgeteers, you made it! You waded through the mother of all budgeting sessions, you set realistic but intensive goals, and you have probably achieved some and not achieved others. No matter how well or poorly you followed your projections from your last budgeting session, it is HIGHLY important that you follow up.
 This is the first of a three part series on frugal cooking. Want more frugal cooking content? Sign up for our monthly newsletter for one highlighted frugal recipe a month! So you want to improve your frugal cooking. (Or maybe just your cooking). In a break from tradition, I am not going to wax long about the benefits of home-cooked meals, their frugal nature, and how much better they are for you - you already know that, or you wouldn’t be reading this post. In this introduction to our 3-part cooking series, we are talking about one thing, and one thing only - adjectives. |
Mrs. FBI spend most of my spare time playing with spreadsheets, my violin, or planting vegetables in my garden in hopes of bringing new insights into frugal living. Please enjoy, and don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter here. Archives
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Disclaimer - Mrs. FB is not a financial advisor. Nothing in these articles should be construed as investment or other professional advice, but rather personal opinion. Some links in these posts may be to affiliate sites - no products are advertised through this site that have not been personally used by the FB family unless expressly labeled.
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