The big tent

My first Brewfest with Todd was in 2007. In 2008, he was on the road, and in 2009 we had a brand new baby so no one went. Todd joined me again this year, 2010, for a day of beer sampling, eating, and live music, and a night of campfires, friends, more beer, and camping. Since it had been a couple of years since he had been able to go to this favorite-of-events, Todd has been thinking about it and preparing himself for quite some time. It's one of our favorite things we do together,

The Home Date: A budgeter's dream

"Family game night" is my husband's idea of his own personal hell. The idea of sitting around playing board games and "gee golly-ing" all night makes him throw up a little in his mouth. And I get it. We were, just a few years ago, Lawrence scenesters in our own way. We went out to bars, saw movies at Liberty Hall, or took in a local band several nights a week.

Now, there is a baby. So not only is there no time for all of that gadding about, but there's really no money for it either. We find ourselves at home more and more all the time, and we're getting more and more used to it.

baby steps.

Well, I set some goals last week, and here's how they all worked out.  Meditation... pretty good. I didn't make it every day but I am up to 7 minutes. I really am surprised that I can be still for that long. 

Slow and steady.

I said before that it's impossible to do this all at once. We can't just flip a switch and become budgeters, savers, healthy eaters, mental giants, and Zen thinkers. I think it's so important to see this is a process. I also think it's important to create one habit before you pile another on.

Budgeting 102

So Step 1 is making a budget spreadsheet. And it's very important to remember that you can't make a million budget and lifestyle changes at once. It took me over a year to become the meal-planning, coupon-using, spreadsheet-making value monger I am today. I did not try to implement all of these things at once. In fact, I am just now arriving on the door of the coupon. Trying to do it all at once is impossible and will result in utter failure.

You mean I have to budget AND stick to it?

I need a job. And a couple thousand dollars. And a budget. Also-- health insurance, motivation, and discipline.



I am stuck in such a pickle because

Budgeting 101

When Stephanie and I were planning our respective weddings in the summer of 2008, we both were dealing with tight budgets. We compared notes about wedding spending, what money to put where, and how to shave pennies off the bottom line.

After that, we both got a little obsessed.