Thursday, June 30, 2022

Thrifty Thursday-It's Getting Real

     

     Thrift and frugality, when used for building dreams, is much easier to swallow. We have big dreams in my family. I think some of my melancholy has been experiencing the gap between trying so hard to make good money choices and the dreams becoming reality. My son wants his own place and to purchase into his own equipment to get more job and earning opportunities. My middle child is chasing the home ownership dream. Not to leave college kid out, she's dreaming Spain, a closer to fruition dream, graduation, and then launching somewhere new at least for a bit. Of course for DH and I, retirement and travel is our dream. All these things are nearly within reach. 

     That's why Thrifty Thursday is taking on real meaning to me. I've been talking with my girls a lot about what they want now, or what they want most, budgeting for priorities.They hold me in check too. Each dollar saved individually, collectively, purchases thought about just a bit more, gets each of us closer. Here's our small, but mighty list of thrift. 

  • Gas was 70¢ more in Illinois and than Wisconsin. We made a good decision to top off the tank when we realized this, but then timed the full fill over the border in Wisconsin on the way back. This probably saved a good $6-$7.
  • We managed to only eat out three times over our two days gone, and tried to make healthier choices. DH and DD1 ate meals at home.
  • My daughter bought her friends new backpacks for their wedding gift, getting their choice, below her budget. I thought it was a great gift. 
  • My daughter picked strawberries and got loads at a good U-Pick price. We've been eating in them, froze some, she made a cake, and I made some jam using sugar I had already.
  • Brought food we had at home to the lake. We'll need to restock our beverage supply but will do this weekend.
  • Uploaded Fetch and played MS Rewards trivia.
  • Passed on Trivia and went to a candidates forum after being invited by a friend. Motivation for November is free.
  • Used up some General TSO sauce for a baked chicken recipe. It was a tasty, light version.
     My daughter put an offer on a house Tuesday night that was an 8 out of 10 on her wish list, plus a couple extra perks. It was the first day on the market and as we were leaving someone else was coming to look. She offered as high as she could to be able to feel she could afford the place. There were two competing offers. I'm so proud of how hard she works, saves, but still gives back to others again and again. Unfortunately, she didn't get the house. Of course, she's  disappointed. I'm disappointed for her. Maybe the next one will be hers. It's a hard process for anyone, but going solo in both a tight housing market and increasing interest rates, is almost brutal. Please keep sending positive thoughts her way. 

14 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry that house wasn't to be for your daughter but hang in there, she'll definitely get there with her attitude!

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    1. I sure hope so. She's taking a bit of a break this weekend from looking.

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  2. Love to see all these little wins! I hope your DD1 gets her home soon, I know it is hard. But kudos to her for not over extending on her budget, some of these over asking homeowners will find out the hard way.

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    1. She'd have drained another chunk of savings or had even higher payments and wasn't willing to do either.

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  3. A guy I dated said we were going out to eat. I was shocked, saying to him I thought money was tight. He said he was so far in debt, one more dinner was not going to break him as he was already broke. He was going to put it on a credit card! I resisted. In the end we ate out. The meal stuck in my throat, but he enjoyed his meal. His money habits broke him, but it was always my fault. I never understood his logic. When he got another credit card to pay the first card off, he blamed me for his predicament. No, not my fault at all.

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  4. Fingers crossed that the next house is hers!

    Nice job on the little wins. We had a bunch of splurge meals over the weekend (mostly included as part of M's poker tournament), which made it easy to ensure we were sticking to at home meals for the rest of the week. We will probably go out one more time, as a last celebration, before the boys are back on Sunday.

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    1. I was debating getting pizza tonight, but decided on Quesadillas. Little choices add up. She'll find something. She just wants it yesterday.

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  5. Sending positive thoughts to your daughter. This is a very hard market for anyone looking for a house right now so I feel for her.
    I've noticed here some of the outrageous prices are starting to slow down and a lot have had to lower the asking price.
    Maybe it will be better for her soon.

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    1. We thought she might have a great shot at this one. Her offer was solid. It seemed higher bid was the deciding factor alone.

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  6. I'm sure the perfect house will come to your daughter in perfect time. All of the previous houses we bought were simple--look at some houses, make an offer, get the offer accepted. Our last house took 14 offers before it was accepted because the market was so hot. By the time offer 10 was declined I just left it up to the universe, made offers without worrying if it will be accepted, and we ended up getting the perfect house at a great price in a great location!

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    1. This is the first house she either liked enough to make an offer, or wasn't sold before she could. 14! Wow. I'll let her know to have patience. This house was so nice though.

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  7. I'm sorry your daughter didn't get the house. The market is starting to cool a little, so hopefully she'll find an affordable one soon that meets her criteria.

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    1. I just know she'll now compare a bit to this house. I have faith she'll find hers.

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