Last week dh and I had discussed not missing our winter cruise this year. We had previously planned to skip it and started wavering. We had decided if I could pull the money out of the budget and from the little extras I earn that we would go.

We were debating if we would rather have a cruise every year or save up for a few weeks in Europe three years down the line. Decisions decisions. We decided once I finish the funding for the tickets I am currently saving for from my extras earned that we will just keep saving. We will need to decide by the end of Dec of we want a cruise in Feb or March so hubby can request vacation.

As we decide I will just throw what I can in a general fund.

I had already tallied up Septembers spending so I sure didn't want to change it! Someone wanted fast food over the weekend. Nope. We have plenty to eat in the house. You just have to cook it!

We have been being pretty lax in that department. I hate telling the kids no as much as I hate cooking sometimes. However we don't hit our goals without a plan!

Sometimes the day to day frugal stuff is just plain old boring you know! A packed lunch on our weekend fishing trip is just not as exciting as stopping at some eclectic hole in the wall diner but we did it anyway! Cooking after a long day plain old sucks sometimes but we did it anyway. I am the one that struggles the most in this area as I do the majority of the cooking. Some more self-discipline is good for the wallet and the size of my tush

We bumped the 401k up another %. It is currently at 21% after the bump. We will bump it back up in January to reflect dh's raise %. We are leaving the company stock we purchase on the side at the same $10 a week. We did debate stopping this.

Dh and I were discussing how we decided to forgo a vacation this winter. We put what we already had saved into investmants when we decided not to take one. Upon further reflection we decided no vacation stinks!!!! We would both like to do another cruise.

I am already saving my survey and money from little extras like that for a festival next summer. That is budgeted at $800 for tickets and camping. You can purchase the tickets in the spring for the best camping sites. We generally do this with family and it is a yearly thing. My savings for that is at $544.85. I have $255.15 to go! This has all been from side money from little things.

Keep in mind I do all the budgeting , investing and bill paying. Dh does most of the money making. Dh and I decided if I can find the cash by reducing expenses or the extras I make from that we sure can go! No money can come from regular paychecks, savings, cash already saved or by cutting investing. I do some extra work if I can fine something that works around my PT job and my health issues. That is the tough one. I cant do a lot of sitting, standing and lifting. Any extra take home from dh is only available to this goal if it is over a certain amount. The rest is earmarked for other goals. So I am going to give it one heck of a good try and I love our every winter vacation!!!

I will have to be far enough to see we will be able to do this my the end of December. That is when my spouse has to submit his vacation requests. He is high man on the list so he gets first dibs but cant procrastinate as the rest of the crew is waiting to submit in order of seniority.

I am a pleasure seeking critter and find this much more fun than looking for ways to save $ just to save for the long-term. I know it should be the other way but alas, it is not!

I think this should be fun! A list of things I can cut or do to save $.

~cut out all dining out ( my fault most of the time as I get sick of cooking!)

~ cut out the weekly bottle of wine ( UGH!!!!)

~ cut the grocery bill

~ when our contract is up in Jan see if satellite is a better deal than bundling basic cable and internet. We have only 1 internet provider. I know dh is not want to cut the basic tv and I'm OK with that if it makes him happy.I know he would cut it if I pushed it but nope.

~ burn wood when I am home

~ keep the furnace at 67 day and 62 night

~ sell a few extras

~ The electric bill with drop a bit as the ponds get shut off for the winter.

~be the electric police

~ try again to do the bigger dogs nails instead of paying every 4 weeks. I can do it on one dog but not the other.

~ stop eating too much myself

~ quit the pool on the games at work.

~ take showers instead of a long soak in the jet tub. ( I love that deep tub!)




I am going to be very honest and say I do not see enough fat in our budget to accomplish this but they say " where there is a will there is a way!" So I will do the best I can. I do so love a FUN challenge! Wish us luck!!