Hidden Magnolias

I am going to try an experiment – a no spend week. The idea is to spend absolutely no money this week. No lunches out, no dinners out, no cokes/junk out of the machine, no splurging. My biggest hurdle is eating out at a night. I am so tired at the end of the day, that just having someone else cook for me (and clean up) is very enticing. Nevertheless, I am going to try this week to  SPEND.  NO.  MONEY.   At all. Nothing, nada, none. Why? I feel as if I may be at the beginning of the dreaded Debt Spiral. Am I in the danger zone? I am getting close – real close. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/stop-spending-budgeting-tool/ Well, yes, we were really bad over the holidays – had several trips and really didn’t hold back. Then car repair expenses – radiator fan and then transmission. URG! One of our income properties became empty – well, we had to evict – after not having 3 months’ rent, along with all the costs, so t...

This will make some of you mad but, please.... The recent decision of the UMC Church to take a more traditionalist approach, is the decision that was made whether you agree with it or not. To those affected, I cannot even begin to fathom your pain over the UMC decision. One person said, people who stay (in the UMC) are staying in an abusive relationship. That really hurt and I am sure hurts those of us who HAD NOTHING TO DO WHAT-SO-EVER WITH THIS DECISION and should not be blamed, slammed, shamed or called names. Each person must make their choice. If you disagree, leave. If you agree, stay. It is as simple as that. Don't stay if you feel unwanted. Is it painful? You bet. Are there many people confused and upset by this decision? Yes. But some of the awful, vehement statements I have read in the past day or two serves absolutely no purpose and do not help.  One person refused to agree to disagree and will only accept all people to see her poi...

Ok, so just a little update.... Just when we are working hard to be frugal, have a little nest egg building, WHAM! Real life kicks in. The transmission needs rebuilding in your almost 20 yr old car. And this is just after we have repaired my husband’s car. One of our tenants had to be evicted. Lost rent, court costs, and probably clean and repair on house. And my poor doggie had a bad tooth and had to have an extraction, plus all her shots, etc And because it is winter and was cold last month, our natural gas bill is enormous – thank goodness we have an energy efficient heat pump. But we survive. We have a warm house, food to eat, water to drink, pets to love, comfy beds, and each other. Happy Valentine's Day

I needed a BASIC manicure. My cuticles were beginning to look at bit ragged and I am very busy right now, so I thought I would just get a manicure.  Remember those? So I picked the nail salon closest to my office and wandered over. Oh my goodness. What an experience!! First woman handed me a basket of sample nails to look through. It was full of these types of nails pasted on little sticks. YAK!! I declined and then none of the women wanted to do my nails once I declined. I explained I had a work event and needed a simple manicure and neutral polish.   It was obviously unless, I wanted something remotely like this... ...no one wanted to wait on me. Finally, a woman came from the back and started my manicure. She looked somewhat put out, (a little huffing and puffing)  but did a good job.  When it came time for the polish, I had picked an OPI polish in a nice neural shade. She tried to up-sale me ...

As someone facing retirement in the not too far future, I am saddened and dismayed by some of the blogs I read. One senior blogger tells of how many food banks and senior food services near her are closed, moved, or redistributed. She depends on a bus service to get her to the food banks and now it is a long walk for her to get any food at all.   She received grocery gift cards for Christmas but is too afraid to use because she might need later since food prices in her area are going up and up. This made me very sad for her and fearful for me and mine. This is a country where people are spending $300,000 on a car and this woman’s grocery budget is $30. Ouch. Don't get me wrong, I AM NOT ADVOCATING SOCIALISM. But I cannot help but feel we have the least prepared group of people fixin' to retire. I don't want to be one of ill-prepared people. What am I going to do about it?  Pull in the reins.  I have always been...

I just got back from my trip to Savannah. It was wonderful! I could bore you with tons of pictures, but I think I will just add my favorite for now. Of course, I spent a ton of $$$ but I had saved up for the trip so it really didn't hurt. But once I got home, I begin to feel a touch of guilt and decided with the holidays coming up to pinch some pennies. I have always been pretty frugal by some standards: I rarely buy Starbucks or other fancy coffees. I always bring my own coffee to work. I never buy bottled water. Our water in our town is really good and if I run it through my fridge filter, it beats anything in a plastic bottle. I take my lunch more often than I don't. And I use small soap slivers until they die. ( see post here ) But can I do better? So, I turned off the radio during my morning commute -- they were just going on and on about the usual -- so I missed nothing. And I pondered. What could I do? With Christmas coming up, I know we will s...

In a week, my dearest friend of 40+ years and I will be traveling to Savannah for Halloween week. We will be taking every ghost tour we can and there are bunches of them. We will eat in all my favorite places. Pirate's House -- yes, it is haunted. And the The Olde Pink House -- yes, it is haunted. And the 17Hundred90 Inn - yes it is haunted. We will be staying in a B&B that is haunted. Eliza Thompson House - yes, it is haunted and has haunted room. unfortunately, the haunted room is booked years in advance. Also, we will be nipping over to Tybee Island for a Dolphin Tour and to check out the adorable bungalows nestled around all the new development on that really crowded island.  But, some eye candy for you from my last few trips. (excuse some of them -- taken on the fly with an old iPhone) Happy Halloween!!! Pat