Wow yesterday’s post was juicy! You mix in kids and child support (and ex’s), and it turns into one helluva discussion ;) And is *exactly* why I love blogging so much! It’s YOUR personal stories and advice that really gets us to stop and consider each other’s perspectives. It’s what makes personal finance, “personal!” So thank y’all for chiming in and getting your thoughts out there. That was great.
It also reminded me of how fortunate I am! Haha… sure I’ve got a mess of problems of my own, but man – nothing along those lines. So today I thought we’d go a bit lighter and celebrate some of the things we’re grateful for. Particularly the small things that barely touch our wallets :) Happy Friday!
10 (Inexpensive) things I’m grateful for today
- Frozen E.L. Fudge cookies. I’m literally eating one right now as I type, and it’s melting in my mouth! mmmm….. cost for such greatness? $2.50. Level of happiness? Ecstatic!
- Fresh water. To quench my thirst after I finish chewing this cookie ;) And although it is bottled water, the few dollars it costs is welllllll worth the joy. I don’t care what you say.
- Walks. By far my all-time favorite activity in the entire world. Well, after the obvious ones (sex, traveling, beer-drinking). I would pay $20 for a walk every single day if it weren’t free.
- Internet. Not as cheap as the first few items, but relatively speaking the amount of output I achieve with that is beyond words. My entire career depends on it!
- Coffee! No explanation needed. Even if you blow $5/day at you-know-where, it’s still worth it.
- Frozen strawberries. (yeah, I like things frozen!) One of my all-time fave snacks is just eating them out of a coffee mug :) And then saving one to drop into a glass of white wine. Sexy!
- Intramural Football. A bit more expensive than the others here ($40/season), but still incredibly cheap for the output of happiness. And great for health and exercise too, my goodness. We just started our season last weekend and I cannot WAIT to get back on the field tomorrow!
- Intramural Soccer. Football on Saturdays, and soccer on Sundays! Power weekend supreme!
- Skype. I freakin’ love it. Adding video on TOP of chat? Daaaang… power play right there. Been only rockin’ it for a few months now, but it has completely changed my life. When your bizness partners are all across the world (*ahem* Cambodia, *ahem* Wisconsin), it makes your life MUCH much easier. And cheaper too! (If you both have accounts, it’s 100% free to connect)
- Music! Hip-hop, Rap, Classical, Reggae, Pop, Country – got a style for all my moods ;) And ain’t afraid to blast ’em out my cadillac windows either!
That last one is special to me. Just like close friends and family, music is there for you no matter what you’re going through in life. They can take away our money, but they can’t take away our tunes!
What are you thankful for today?
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Mmmmm Keebler elves, so delicious.
just a few things I am grateful for today…. Totally have to agree about the tunes, 2nd would be the look on my niece’s face when I pick her up from day care and lastly the wisdom of knowing that somethings are truly priceless.
I’m grateful for having a healthy pregnancy so far, Blueberry Cinnamon Decaf Iced Coffee, music, good friends and awesome family, and the fact that it’s Friday!
I’m grateful for my son, who is one of the most amazingly talented and interesting person you ever want to meet. For my Great Dane, even though he peed on my leg while aiming at a mole hill. For my family, even though we don’t always agree. For my career, even though it’s not what I grew up aspiring to be. For my home, which I’ve kept through these past few years of economic downturn, because I bought less house than the bank insisited I could afford. Oh…and for my Roku, because it allowed me to fire my satellite provider saving me $100/mo and I still get to watch my favorite stuff. Lastly, I am grateful it is Friday and I get to spend the evening with a great friend.
Family. I would be nothing without them.
Suggestion on the frozen food items – Grapes, green grapes. SOO yummy on a hot summer day!
As far as what I’m grateful for? Great family, and the fact that it is FRIDAY! (even if it is overcast and dreary out there….)
I’m thankful it is FRIDAY!!! :)
I LOVE this post! J$ you make me laugh so much… I’m going to have to try ELFudge cookies frozen. They’ve always been one of my favorite cookies but never tried them frozen. Sounds amazing!
As for what I’m grateful for? I get to spend this weekend with a group of AMAZING 7th and 8th graders! I’m going to be exhausted all weekend, but it’s so worth it. And the other adults that help put this retreat together are simply fantastic. I can’t wait!
I really like frozen yogurt. A LOT!!!!
I love Skype too – it gives my two little rugrats a chance to see their grandparents out in South Dakota every week. Its easier for little kids when they can see your face or show you their drawings or new dance moves. ;)
Things I am thankful for today:
Coffee
Workouts
healthy kids
good music – Jim Jones “Perfect day”
payday :)
naked green machine smoothies
Things I’m grateful for:
– Lemon ginger tea in a travel mug (trying to fight a bug before it takes hold)
– The opportunity to be educated (I’m waiting for class to start right now)
– Free Internet (W00T university ‘net)
– The sidewalks weren’t icy or flooded this morning
– My family (they drive me crazy, but I love them)
– My boyfriend (I feel like the luckiest girl alive)
– Employment (also drives me crazy, but I have it)
– The blogosphere (you guys keep me sane and let me babble)
:)
Things I’m thankful for today:
Diet Coke
my friends–‘specially those of you *ahem, J$* who brought me good karma this week
my husband and son
and just like you, J…good music! had some JAMS goin’ on this morn!
(btw, did you get those mp3s I sent ya?)
Definitely the internet! It allowed me to earn my Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin system from the comfort of my own couch.
Also, I’m thankful for dishwashers. It definitely makes it easier to wash the dishes knowing that all I have to do is scrape them off and toss them in to wash them.
I also completely agree with music. I couldn’t make it through a day without listening to a variety of genres.
I’m thankful to have the freedom to come up with new business/philanthropic ideas in 45 minutes on a car ride to Chicago.
Not kidding at all, man – this is amazing.
Thankful to be working with you.
Good health
Great son
Sense of humor
Amazing friends
Coffee, chocolate, cheese, bread, fruit
Music. (I totally agree with you on that, JMo.)
Living in America, despite the little dramas.
My education
Today I am thankful for:
Family
Friends
Coffee!!
Music!!
Friday!!
and a weekend full of AAU basketball :)
seriously needed this post today as I stalk the news on updates to the budget fiasco/potential gov’t shutdown… because congress failed to do their job last fall and my husband is military, we’re emergency planning right now as he works for IOU until it’s passed
so my thankful for list is reflecting what is on my mind:
*our (meager) savings that should cover bills for a bit
*my couponing habits that have allowed me to stockpile about a months worth of food so that we only would need to get the fresh essentials
*having paid down most of our credit cards (even though I’d hate to use them, no pay=emergency in my book) so that if any extraordinary expense comes along we can deal
*my family, especially my husband who said no matter the outcome of what happens today, we’re still continuing with our original plans for the weekend.
thanks for reminding me to be thankful
My family
The beautiful weather the last few days.
Good books
Easter colored M&Ms… I’m addicted to these things lately
@Ashley–yum! lovin’ those Easter M&Ms! I guess I should also add to my list of happiness: Easter candy in general…especially the Sweet Tart jelly beans! YUM!
I just got back last week from about a month in the Basque country in Spain and France. It got me thinking a lot about what I love, and am grateful, for at home.
-Ice, and lots of it! I love at least five big ice cubes in every glass of every beverage, even coffee!
-Pillow top mattresses with down pillows and comforters. It’s like falling asleep in a marshmallow every night. Love it. Plus, if you take care of them, these items last for years, costing just a couple cents a night for amazing sleep.
-The internet. My husband and I are constant googlers for every random question in our heads. Without the internet, there are no quick and easy answers!
-Flat land. We drove over the Pyranees mountains and it straight up terrified me. I want to kiss the pavement of the sea-level valley I live in.
I love this post! What a great way to make Friday even better.
Things I am thankful for:
Being healthy
My husband being so supportive of my crazy ideas, although truthfully I would still be just as crazy without him.
Throwback Soda, OMG so good.
Peanut Butter
My Friends
My pets
Sleeping 7-8 hours a night, when I get it
Being able to breath
I’m thankful for my husband and my baby (who is in an amusing in-between sleep & awake states right now in my Moby wrap). I’m thankful for this Moby wrap, or I wouldn’t be able to type right now! I’m thankful for dark chocolate, hot chocolate, peanut butter, cookies, ice cream, and brownies (no, I haven’t eaten all of those today, but the day is still young!). I’m thankful for my family and friends. I’m thankful for my DVR and Netflix and the Internet.
You had me chuckling at the frozen Keebler cookies. Years ago I was complaining about liking Girl Scout cookies and someone told me to freeze them and then I would eat them slower. Wrong! I found out I actually like them better frozen.
1. Having dragged my sorry middle-aged butt to my third deep-water exercise class, in an attempt to fix what still isn’t right after a January fall down some steps.
2. Making it back home, undrowned.
3. The bowl of homemade minestrone in the fridge. God, am I hungry. It’s 2:30 p.m. and all I’ve eaten today is oatmeal and four crackers spread with multi-nut butter.
4. The fact that as a freelancer I can arrange my schedule to take a class and then surf the Internet when I return.
5. The fact that as a freelancer I can lie down after lunch. This class WILL make me stronger. Right now it just makes me tired.
I’m thankful I got paid today.. I’m thankful that I ETS’d from the Army on the 28th of February, and wasn’t told I have to work and not get paid..
I’m pissed that my friends, most of whom have families will not get paid if a budget doesn’t go through, and that my friends in Germany won’t have a commissary to go get food at.. I hope this doesn’t last too long, cause overnighting stuff to Germany isn’t cheap!!
L.G.
DECA just announced that commissaries would be open in event of a shutdown but the website won’t be updated…
but I’m totally with ya in the POd department, I’m so sick of watching the rhetoric on CSPAN
My wife
My pets
Reliable cheap car
My Job, for which I need a reliable cheap car lol
Good weather
Dollar Tree and Costco
I am also big time thankful for Skype. It allows me to see & hear the people I love dearly despite the fact that I’m living in Cambodia. Hella awesome. Oh, and I can call my 85 year old grandfather (who will not learn to use the internet) on his home phone for like $0.02 a minute – also hella awesome.
Other things I’m grateful for: my upcoming trip to the USA to see family and friends, the fact that I’m on vacation right now, having a job I love, being apart of amazing side hustles (ahem, love drop!), + the incredible community I’ve found online (you, Nate, + all of our twitter friends).
Oh! Since I’m in Thailand – pad thai + mango sticky rice for like $1 each. I’m pretty grateful for that too.
Have an awesome weekend, J!
It’s nice to stop and show some gratitude once in a while. I’m grateful for:
1. My family including the most precious grandson!
2. Having a job I enjoy and pays pretty good throughout the recession.
3. Pizza!
4. A great cup of coffee in the morning.
5. Getting to meet so many great people online.
I’m also VERY thankful for my healthy family & friends too, btw. My wife pointed out that she was not on here, but I was trying to relate the post to finances!!! haha… so yes, honey, I am very happy to have you in my life ;) (awwwwwwwww)
Some responses:
@Niki – Yeah they are. Just ate 3 more today ;)
@Kristy H. – That’s cute :)
@Beckey & Jeff – Woo! Never heard of that coffeee combo, pretty interesting.
@Starla – hahahahha… love your great dane!
@Hunter – True dat.
@Mercedes – Grapes? I’ll give it a shot!
@Elizabeth Hernandez – Yayyyy! And now it’s Saturday :)
@Emily – I’m so glad you enjoyed this post – thanks for telling me! Hope you’re having a blast w/ the kiddies!
@Kevin @ Thousandaire.com – Oh yeah, that’s killer.
@Rachel211 – Yes! Skype is really REALLY good for that!
@sarah – haha, I’m not even going to ask what that last one on the list is ;)
@Cassie – Yeah blogs!!! Going to check out yours after I post this :)
@Trinnie – Ooooh Diet Coke used to be my fave! Gave most of it up a few years ago, but every now and then I indulge and feel a bit drunk after a D. Coke – love it :) And yup! Got the tunes but haven’t listened to yet — been hectic here. Will soon tho, thx!
@Wade – Hahaha…. dishwashers. Yes, def. good :)
@Nate St. Pierre – Yeah!!! Dude, seriously – we are going to ROCK. THAT. It’s been on my mind for hours now. Reall appreciate you too, bro :)
@Peliroo – I like that you said living in America. So many people have no idea how drastically different it is outside of this country, esp in the less-fortunate areas. We didn’t get to choose where we were born, so thanking our odds is very very important. We do have it good here despite the stuff people complain about. Thanks for the reminder :)
@Shay – I’d rather be PLAYING basketball than watching it, but yeah – still good ;)
@Andrea – And the budget passed!!! yay!!!!!! So glad y’all don’t have to worry about it now – SOOO. GLADDDD.
@Ashley @ Money Talks – haha, haven’t seen them yet but I can imagine. See you at the financial blogger conference!!! ;)
@Jennifer Lissette – You are too funny :) I remember missing Ice after being in London for a week or so too. Such a tiny little thing that brings joy!
@LB – YES to being able to breath. Man, we are so blessed! (and what the heck is Throwback Soda?) Glad you enjoyed this post :)
@Debra – Awwww cool!! Expose that baby to lots of blogs while he/she’s young and he/she’ll grow up to be a president! :)
@Debbie Beardsley – OH yeah! that’s where I got the idea from actually – Thin Mints! mmmmmm…
@Donna Freedman – Oooh I have to start taking those naps too actually – right after lunch? the best!! will be like kindergarten all over again, haha…
@L.G. – Scary!!! Thank goodness all is good now :) At least I think, all the way?
@Andrea – That’s awesome.
@Dan – Oh man, haven’t been to Costco in yearrrrrs. Miss that place.
@Leigh – Wowwwww – you’re commenting from Thailand, so cool!!! Skype you soon, darling! You’re the best :)
@Kay Lynn (Bucksome) – YES! Love meeting online friends in real life :) Have a blessed weekend!
Throwback Soda, is Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper made with real sugar in the old style cans. YUM!
Oooh YUM indeed!
I am always supremely thankful for my supportive husband, friends, and family. Specifically today, I am thankful that KFC has a $2 deal that includes a drumstick, a thigh, a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, and a biscuit (that I’ll eat at least half of whether Weight Watchers likes it or not). :-) Yay for a cheap dinner!
hot damn, you’re making me hungry!