Biting the Bullet

I rarely talk about my finances even though from time to time I will blog about frugality. The topic of finances is very personal and I think it's very easy for people to become offended, jealous, or defensive while discussing personal finance. The problem as I see it is that if you're not independently wealthy, then you have to make decisions based on what you can afford not necessarily what you want. In short, you have to choose between wants and needs and very often the two are confused.

Without going into alot of detail I will say that due to a combination of financial blessings and frugality we are able to be debt free. Does that mean we are wealthy? No, we're not. We still have to choose between needs and wants and it has been a long learning process. But, the freedom that comes with being debt free has made this process worthwhile.

The only reason I mention any of this is because we are currently having to decide between needs and wants - our minivan, a.k.a. "The Crapmobile" has finally died. I am no longer Minivan Mom. We are deciding whether to buy a new car (I like the Honda FIT) and take on a car payment, increased insurance and increased licensing fees or to buy a used car and take on someone else's problem. A third option is to remain a one-car family.

After my husband's car wouldn't pass the smog test a few months ago, we got rid of it and bought a 1973 VW Bug. It's definitely a no-frills car, but it gets him to where he needs to go and there is always a cool factor to driving an older Bug. A decent older Bug will run us in the $3000 range with the added bonus of cheap insurance. Another bonus, is that since it's an older vehicle, it is exempt from having to pass the smog emissions test in California. Yet, another bonus, is that we can pay for it up front and not make payments.

Some may ask, "What about the kids? Won't it be uncomfortable for them? What about road trips?" My reply is that honestly, it's not always about the kids and besides we can always rent a larger car for vacation. We may have to do that when we go to Yosemite. My oldest son looooves the Bug. He calls it the "Bugmobile" and wants to ride in it every chance he gets. My younger son is happy when he's riding in any car. For now, we're still mulling our options and weighing the pros and cons of each. I'll keep you posted.


Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Isaiah 55:2

Through the Nose - A Day Trip

Last month, we took the boys on a day trip to San Francisco to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. This month we took them on a day trip to Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe. I have been to Lake Tahoe, but since I'm not a skier, I've never been to Squaw Valley. I was reading online about what to do with the kids while in Tahoe, and noticed that one of the web sites mentioned Squaw Valley's tram - or Cable Car. Huh? I've never heard of that. I went to Squaw Valley's web site, and read all about the Cable Car. I knew I had found the perfect activity. The price was not cheap and as the title suggests you can pay through the nose (or up the waz) for all of this fun. But, I reasoned that it would be a fun activity for all of us to do and since I have blown at least that much at Target on more than one occasion, then Squaw Valley was surely worth as much as the crap I bought at Target.

Seeing the Cable Car in a picture is one thing; seeing it up close and in-person is another. My 11yo became a little apprehensive when he saw the Cable Car making a return trip - the realization that he would be lifted 2000 feet was dawning on him. In spite of this, he sucked it up and he enjoyed himself. As a bonus, we got to play in the snow at the top of the mountain a.k.a. High Camp. Totally cool! Snow in July!

After the return trip to Squaw Village, we made our way down to Lake Tahoe. The blueness of Lake Tahoe takes my breath away. It's simply gorgeous. We sat on the rocky shore and tossed rocks into the lake just to relax and enjoy the scenery. All in all, a fun albeit expensive day. No, I take that back. It was an investment in making memories that will last a lifetime.

A Load a Day Keeps the Mountain Away

Years ago, when I was in college, the pre-1930 apartment building I lived in did not have a washer or a dryer.  So, I hauled my gigantic load of laundry to the laundromat once, maybe twice a week. It didn't make sense for me to do laundry more frequently because no matter how much laundry I had - whether one load or several - the amount of time it took to wash it and dry it was always the same: an hour and 15 minutes, give or take a few minutes. I didn't include folding time because I didn't always fold my clothes at the laundromat; sometimes, I didn't even fold them at home either.

Even when I eventually moved into an apartment and later a house with a washer/dryer, I still had the concept of "laundry day". It took me years, literally years to break that mindset. I think it was after I had my first child that I began to do laundry every other day. I used cloth diapers on him so that was a huge motivator to do laundry more frequently. It wasn't until my second son was about two or three years old that I realized I could stay on top of the laundry mountain by washing it every day. Duh. A load a day is easier to wash and fold than three or four loads twice a week. Like taking a shower or brushing my teeth, doing laundry is now part of my daily routine. Plus, instead of filling me with a sense of dread, I now feel as though I've conquered a monster.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!!

My day is going to be filled with family, fireworks, and fun...and a BBQ! Hope you have a safe and fun holiday!