Blog
Bumping Greg's 401(k) with catch-up contributions
After 50 you can put more in. How much we added, what it did to his paycheck and why we waited until the kid bills slowed down.
Dropping collision on a 2014 truck
Greg's F-150 is worth about $13,000. The simple math we used to decide whether collision coverage was still worth $38 a month.
Sealing drafts in a 1977 house for under $80
Weatherstripping, foam outlet gaskets and a door sweep. A Saturday afternoon of draft hunting with a candle and a cheap thermometer.
Cutting cable from $189 to $74 a month
We kept the internet, dropped the cable box and picked one streaming service. What Greg misses, and what we have not missed at all.
A smaller Thanksgiving and a 12-pound turkey
Five at the table instead of fourteen this year. What I'm buying, what I'm not making and what the whole dinner should cost.
The empty-nest budget: where the kid money went
Groceries, gas, car insurance and the Venmo requests are down. Where the money went instead, by category, after a year.
Helping my mom choose between Medigap and Medicare Advantage
Mom is 79 and wanted it settled before December. The worksheet we made, the questions for her doctors and what she decided.
Six months of a standing Tuesday date night
Greg and I promised each other one night out a week on a $40 cap. What we did, what it cost and which Tuesdays we just stayed home.
Fall gutter cleaning and our new ladder rule
Greg used to do it in an hour. This year we made a rule about ladders, and we priced what it would cost to hire it out.
Freezer meals for two: halving the casserole
Eight-by-eight pans, freezer bags and labels. How I turned family-size recipes into two-serving freezer meals for busy weeks.