This weekend was a nice weekend. We were spoiled with some warmer weather, which I was oh so happy about after having some sticker shock over our last gas bill. It makes me really want one of these.
I took a few minutes to do some blog reading. I don’t do that as much as I’d like to due to so many things going on. There were a few articles that caught my eye.
I read an entertaining article at Financial Hack where Beks is debating her weekly treat of Bud Extra. She buys two cans a week as a treat. She’s looking for comments, so I thought I would see if any of you have anything to share. Since I no longer regularly drink and didn’t give it up for financial reasons, I don’t have much to add to the conversation.
Plugged in Finance shared how he did some grazing for free food at Costco. I don’t have a Sam’s Club or Costco near me, and we rarely see samples at our grocery stores. I’m jealous 
Lastly, a few of you have been asking about JW at Need to Be Debt Free. His blog has been deleted so I contacted JW about it. He said that I could share with you that they are fine. Due to some recent events he had to delete his blog.
Leave a Reply
About This Site
My Debt
- Original Debt: $38,495.86
- Added Debt: $1,781.50
- Total Debt: $40,277.36
- Paid: $36,084.36
- Remaining: $4,193.00
- Broken Down
- Auto Loan 1: $0.00
- Credit Card: $0.00
- Student Loan: $4,193.00
- Auto Loan 2: $0.00
- Vet Loan: $0.00
Categories
- :)
- About Me
- Blogging Buddies
- Book Reviews
- Bump Update
- Carnivals/Festivals
- Childcare
- Confessions
- Coupons
- Credit Cards
- Credit Reports/FICO
- Debt Updates
- Educational Spending
- emergency fund
- Financial Peace University
- food
- Food Review
- Free Stuff
- General Debt
- General Personal Finance
- Giveaways
- Giving
- Good Info
- health
- Holiday
- Home Ownership
- identity theft
- Insurance
- job loss
- Keeping Motivated
- Kids & Money
- Legal Battle
- Life After Credit Card Debt
- Life Experiences
- Living Frugal
- Loans
- Making Home Affordable Program
- Making Money
- Misc
- Money & Relationships
- Monthly Spending
- Morals and Money
- Net Worth
- Parties
- Picks and Pans
- Prosper Borrowing
- Quicken Tips
- Reducing Debt
- Saving Money
- Spending Money
- taxes
- unemployment
- Ways I Save Money
- work
Finance Blogging Buddies
- Beachgirl’s Budget Blog
- Becoming and Staying Debt Free
- Boston Gals Open Wallet
- Debt Free Hispanic
- Debt Kid
- Debt Reduction 101
- Dual Income No Kids
- Everybody Loves Your Money
- Financial Hack
- Free Money Finance
- From the Brink of Bankruptcy
- Generation X Finance
- GRACEful Retirement
- Grad Money Matters
- It’s Your Money
- Josephsangl.com
- Kick Debt’s Butt
- Lazy Man and Money
- Low Income Life
- Make Love Not Debt
- Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge
- Mighty Bargain Hunter
- Million Dollar Savings Club
- Money for Military
- Money is My BFF
- Money, Matter and More Musings
- My 1st Million at 33
- My Money Blog
- My Plasectomy
- My Two Dollars
- No Credit Needed
- One Million and Beyond
- Personal Finance Advice
- pfblogs.org
Posted: February 9th, 2009 at 6:26 am
When we started to budget we honestly tried to not have a budget for the alcohol. We kid ourselves on that idea. After a long week it has been our custom to relax on a friday night and have a couple or a few glasses of wine, beer, mixed drink, or whatever. I prefer wine and my wife prefers beer. This difference in preference does not bode well for our budget.
In reality this busted our month. We just couldn’t do it. It was our way of us to have some time together, relax, stay home and play some cards with one another as *free* entertainment. We know set aside money each month for this, not a lot, enough for a couple bottles of wine or the equivalent in beer a month.
Posted: February 9th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Funny you mention Costco since I was just there yesterday. They have the greatest samples, however I notice that customers think they can demand as many as they want. (my grandmother worked there.) It’s not a full lunch folks
If you do want a full meal I suggest the food court there, they have amazingly cheap prices.
Posted: February 9th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I was wondering about JW. Thanks for letting us know. I am glad to hear nothing horrible had happened to his family, and that he just decided to close it.
What is the progress with getting a new blogger to replace you? Are you still considering that?
Posted: February 9th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Having a budget for alcohol isn’t a problem – I have one but if it came down to the choice of spending money on alcohol or food then the choice is clear. I keep that line item in my budget to keep track of it and keep it separate from food. Knowing this expense exists can help you alter your lifestyle to cut back on debt.
Posted: February 9th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for the help! I’ve started to feel a little better about spending that $3.25. ; )
Posted: February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
About JW–I didn’t correspond with him personally, but people who responded to a query on my blog say that one of his endless critics reported him to his employer who made him take down his blog.
BTW, I hope Hearst link in your next post is on the up and up because I ordered two subscriptions.
Posted: February 10th, 2009 at 9:05 am
The Hearst deal was originally from an email, but I checked around to see if it was showing as a deal elsewhere. I found quite a few sites that mention the deal so I feel good linking to it
Posted: February 11th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
It is funny, without ever directly speaking about it, our debt reduction eliminated our alcohol consumption… when out, when looking at a menu, the idea of adding $20 to a bill, for 2 drinks (live in a city) never seems worth it. And not ordering it out has led to us drinking it less at home, and usually then it is gifts from others… I can’t remember when the two of us bought alcohol for our own consumption.
Weight loss, healthier lifestyle, and money saved… and no concerted effot? can’t beat it.