real life with (very) real debt
September 2019 was all about finding fun, free things to do.
After being over-budget on and off most of the summer, the last few weeks have been all about getting back on track.
One big part of that has been reigning in entertainment-related expenses.
Thankfully, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have fun. If you’re looking for some proof, here are some of the fun, free things we did in September.
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I’m a Jonas Brothers fan.
The title of this post likely makes that obvious but I’m not sure if it really explains what I mean when I say that.
So I decided to write about it. And because this is a personal finance blog, I’m sharing through a specific lens.
Specifically, how much I have spent being a Jonas Brothers fan over the years.
Spoiler alert: this will be very heavy on the guesstimating.
(Also, all the photos in this post are ones I took during the 2009 World Tour stop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If you want to save them or use them, that’s cool. Just credit to Tara / Our Bill Pickle if you share. Thanks!)
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Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
If you’ve ever been in a long-distance relationship, there’s a good chance you’ve heard that one before.
Is it true? If you ask me, the jury’s still out.
But as a person who has had a long distance best friend for the better part of 10 years, I can vouch for this one:
Distance certainly makes the wallet lighter.
Photo: James West Photography
Almost every summer, I make pack a bag and hop on a plane to spend a week or so with my best friend.
My best friend and I have never lived in the same province and while we talk every day (usually in text), that face time is important. These trips are essential for me.
Here’s an idea of how much my 2018 trip cost — plus some tips for how to afford having a long distance best friend.
A few months ago, Jeff and I started talking about going on vacation. Specifically, we started talking about going to Iceland.
We spent weeks daydreaming and researching. We read articles, watched videos and monitored flight prices with various airlines. We found a great tour package and set a big, but achievable, savings target.
But when we finally sat down to book it in June, we hesitated.
Something felt off. We decided to sleep on it.
The next day, we pulled the plug on Iceland 2018. And after exploring some options, we came up with a more budget-friendly vacation plan.
Love travel but not sure how to fit it into your budget? Here are three tips for planning a budget-friendly vacation that you’ll totally enjoy.