Our Bill Pickle

real life with (very) real debt

5 things I don’t spend money on (and 5 things I splurge for)

Part of controlling your finances is knowing how you spend your money. Here are 5 things I don't spend money on (and 5 things I splurge on).

It’s safe to say the way I spend my money has changed a lot over the years.

Working at the grocery store in high school, I didn’t think too much about how I spent my pay cheque. I saved some money, sure, but for the most part, I purchased whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it.

Thankfully, as an adult, I am a lot more conscious about what I purchase — and, perhaps just as significantly, what I don’t spend money on.

In this post, I’m sharing five of the things I don’t spend money on — and five things I splurge for.

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Budget Update: October 2020

Our monthly budget update includes 5 highlights from the last month and 3 goals for the month ahead. Here's the update for October 2020.

Our monthly budget update does not change much. 

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for October 2020.

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Five tips for a stress-free holiday

The idea of a stress-free holiday may sound impossible. Here are 5 things you can do to encourage a stress-free holiday season this year.

For some, the idea of a stress-free holiday may sound impossible.

It can be a very busy — and expensive — time of year, a time with lots to do and what can often feel like not nearly enough time to get it all done. Even if you love it (like I do), it can be easy to get overwhelmed.

I’m always looking for ways to reduce the amount of overwhelm associated with the holiday season.

And while I’m certainly not an expert on the matter, I have learned a few things that have helped tamp down the stress level and create more space for enjoyment.

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Budget Update: September 2020

Our monthly budget update includes 5 highlights from the last month and 3 goals for the month ahead. Here's the update for September 2020.

Our monthly budget update does not change much. 

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for September 2020.

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Budget Update: Summer 2020

Our monthly budget update includes 5 highlights from the last month and 3 goals for the month ahead. Here's the update for summer 2020.

Our monthly budget update does not change much. 

It is primarily fixed expenses, like rent, phone bills and car insurance, which remain the same month after month.  Even the amount budgeted to our miscellaneous line (more on that here) stays the same most months. 

So instead of giving a line-by-line breakdown for our monthly budget update, I do something a little different.  Each month, I share five highlights from our budget, along with three goals for the month to come.

Here is the update for Summer 2020.

Continue Reading