My Guy had a job fall in his lap; what a good day. It’s part time, so he can still be kind of a bum, which he defines as “being incredibly involved in his own pursuits.” The job is for a non-profit, small and local, so he’ll feel god about working there. A bonus is that it’s decent money, so the part time will pay full bills. (He spends like I do, which is nice.) He wasn’t even looking for work, which makes it all the better.
I used a huge chunk of this month’s entertainment budget and treated him to a big celebratory burrito, and even got him a SoBe drink he loves-it surely does takes a mighty celebration for me to pay for a beverage at a take out place. With my little burrito, I spent $13 out of entertainment, and I feel good about the expense.
My water aerobics buddy wants to take a “semester” off too, so that’s good. I biked five miles today on the recumbent, and may do some more. I’m fitting in to some stuff I couldn’t before, so another good thing. Saving on the workout budget will help with the medical bills I’m still working on.
There’s nothing on TV tonight, and I’m glad. I’ll take a bath and blog and bike and putter. The end of the season has come at an excellent time for me, right when I wanted to cut out some bad TV. That will leave me with 6 regular shows next fall in primetime, many of which I tape (an hour becomes 40 minutes!). I do still watch some syndicated sitcoms and news and Oprah from 5 to 8. Since I have no kids, and my commute is 3 minutes, and my house is pretty clutter free, and I’ve admitted I’m lazy, this should come as no huge shock.
I figure if I’m cleaning house, hanging laundry, biking, washing dishes, etc., I shouldn’t feel too guilty about watching. I would like to move more towards music though. When I was younger, boy I had no time for TV, it was music music music.
The coffee is pre-made for tomorrow and the smoothie is in the blender just waiting to be blended for breakfast. Nice.
A Title is Elusive When the Post Rambles
June 6th, 2006 at 02:42 am
June 6th, 2006 at 03:47 am 1149565648
I know what you mean about music. I have never watched so much TV in my life since I started living with my DH 2 years ago (he has PayTV, something I could never have afforded). I was only thinking the other day how (when it was just me and my 2 DDs) on weekends I would crank up some fave CDs and do the housework, gardening and just hang out to them. Later at night, I might have a glass of wine or two and me and the girlies would have boogie in the loungeroom. Top fun!
June 6th, 2006 at 11:56 am 1149594963
I was laughing at this cause I thought you might have been dating my son. Whenever I mention to Jonathan that he should get another job, he states that it takes away from his "own pursuits" Yesterday, I finally filled him in that he could do both "his own pursuits", and work more hours to pay his bills. We live in America, you can do more than one thing. He said "what a concept". He is very funny.
Anyways, we love music also. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what my Jonathan graduated from college for.
June 6th, 2006 at 02:08 pm 1149602910
Yeah, when i was younger, music was everything. I'd sit, listen intently, and write out the words. Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Yes, CSNY, Seals & Crofts....
June 6th, 2006 at 02:49 pm 1149605392
We are currently debt free and I left the 9-5 job at 52.
I have been reading your comments on the 3 month minimum wage challenge and would like to try it. If there are 2 people in the home and only 1 wants to try is it "fair" to just split the utilities, etc. in half and do it for just 1 person? My husband doesn't get as excited about this kind of thing as I do.
Also, there are 2 obligations I need to keep that will definitely take me out of the perimeters of minimum wage. 1 is to help support a child in collecge and the other is a donation to a homeless shelter that really depends on what is given.
I am so excited about trying this challenge that I had a hard time sleeping last night but just have a few things to think through before I begin.
Any comments would be appreciated.
June 7th, 2006 at 12:08 am 1149638920
Wonder why we stopped listening so much….maybe we’ll begin again!
Camp: He does sound like a cutie. Yeah, I agree he should work enough to pay his bills! If he works hard enough, and lives small enough below his means, maybe someday he can do what My Guy did!
June 7th, 2006 at 12:09 am 1149638949
Six: You are most welcome to try this Challenge! We (you and I) are kind of making up the rules, so I think that yes, you can make alterations and still stay in the spirit of the Minimum Wage Challenge. I think it is fine to count half the household items (utilities, rent/mortgage) if the spouse isn’t interested. I have a partner and we keep our finances separate, so it’s easier on paper for me, but I don’t see why you couldn’t “pay your share.” Also I think helping a child with education and giving back to the community are things more of us, not less of us, should do. So yeah, I’d think it’d be fine if you kept those “outside” the challenge. I do try to have a charity budget on the Challenge, figuring that it’s always good to give, but $15 isn’t much, I know.
The spirit of The Challenge for me is to spend far less and feel as fulfilled, if not more fulfilled. It’s the challenge of finding alternative ways, cheaper ways, of cutting out “extras” we don’t appreciate, and of appreciating all we do have. I know a lot of people have political or economic issues with the minimum wage-I’m not out to prove that the minimum wage is right or fair. I think that the truth is gray in this area: in short, wages should be fair and people should spend wisely. I know there’s a book out, "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping" that address consumerism, that seems to be (haven’t read it yet) more about where I’m coming from. If I increase my income, that does not buy more happiness. I can meet my needs, and even many wants, with a small income. And I can have the byproduct of being environmentally sound, healthier, more skilled, and calmer.
Welcome!