Good morning friends! And a very happy Boxing Day to you Canadians, UK’ians, Hong Kong’ians, Australians, New Zealanders, Kenyans, Jamaicans, Norway’ians and Swedes too. You all get to celebrate on the second best birthday there is out there after Jesus’ – mine ;) A fine American’s!
I’ll be off snuggling my boys today, but I wanted to pop on real quick and request a birthday favor if I may. It won’t cost you a single cent, but it would make my day incredibly special. And that’s to answer the following question for me:
How has Budgets Are Sexy helped you?
I’ve been blogging for almost 7 years now, and curious to see what y’all have been getting out of it so far :) Will you do me a favor today and let me know? Break the curse of lumped birthday gifts!
Happy holidays everyone. Hope Santa was good to you.
—–
Photo by Aih
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Happy Birthday!
BAS has helped me in a lot of ways:
1. By giving me another perspective on money management (even if I don’t always agree!)
2. By getting me interested in parts of personal finance that I had maybe been neglecting … ahem … retirement.
3. By showcasing some other amazing personal finance blogs (you were my gateway blog!).
4. By having excellent examples and everyday language so that I can show (and hopefully help) some of my not-quite-there-yet friends (who think I sound like a textbook when I talk)r .
5. By keeping me motivated to work on my financial future when I get bored.
6. And, of course, by giving me something to do at work — those archives stretch back a long way!
These are just some of the ways you’ve helped me. I know I’m not perfect, by any means – but since I started reading your blog (sometime at the end of last year) – I’ve managed to save $28,000 and open an investment account which has approximately $10,000. I’ve never been in debt – and before I found this blog I thought that not having debt meant that I was winning – now I realise that it is only half the battle!
So THANK YOU – and enjoy your birthday :]
Wowww thank you SO MUCH for letting me know! $38,000 banked – you are rockin’ it now! And I love that I was your “gateway blog” haha… Didn’t see that one coming :)
Keep hustling into 2015!
I hope that you have a wonderful Birthday J$. I am so glad that you asked this question. This blog has provided me hope. I may not always make the best financial decisions and I have had a hard time keeping my head above water. I enjoy that you can take something as hum drum as finances and make them fun and enjoyable. Thank you!
Hope is a most beautiful thing to realize – I’m so glad it’s helping you to gain some :)
Happy Birthday J$, enjoy your day! Your blog always provides a unique and funny view on financial topics. Your make me look at my money from a different POV.
Thanks Brian, it’s nice to have connected with you this year :)
Happy Birthday, J! Budgets Are Sexy always makes me look at things from a new perspective, but one post this year (with a quote from Pete’s) is what made me want to try and live off 50% of my income. And now I do… so, that’s all you! No, that’s all me, haha. But you inspired me. BAS + BOAB also made us friends, which I’m extremely grateful for. Hope you have a wonderful day with your wife + kids, friends. :)
It’s all you indeed, my lady :) And you inspire me loads too – especially with your no spending challenge! Can’t wait to see what 2015 brings us.
Happy Birthday, J!
Your websites have been super helpful. Budgets are Sexy keeps me motivated. Rockstar Finance opens my mind to other people’s ideas. I think that’s awesome. By the way, my mother was doing a Google search for some question she had about gift cards and came across an old post of yours! It shows the power of this platform. Best, @MichaelSaves
Hah! Small online world :) It’s been a pleasure connecting more with you this year as well – I still can’t believe you paid off your mortgage so fast as you did – even if it was short lived! Would love to grab lunch/coffee some day with ya.
Hi J$,
Happy Birthday!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family!! I am very grateful to your blog for helping me to dig deeper and realize finances are an active process where you need to be engaged on every level and work to advocate for yourself and family. In the last 2 – 3 years shopping smart has become my new sport.
I am not sure how much I saved overall, but I know it is significant. Our daughter is young and more than anything we want to be able to give her the pitfalls to avoid with money as she grows. We are working to minimize and downsize in all areas of our lives. I look forward to your blog every week and I enjoy the content, so thank you.
Enjoy your boys, the time goes much too quickly!~! Happy New Year and I look forward to your contribution in 2015 with your blogs – God Bless all your family and keep up the great work J$!!
HB!!
~Laura
Thank you Laura – I wish nothing but the best for you in the new year and, well, forever too! Life is good, eh?
I started both budgeting my money, and tracking my net worth thanks to this blog!
Happy Birthday J!
Love it – great two things to do!
We have the same birthday!!!
Your monthly net worth updates are what motivates me to continue my personal journey (onward and upward!), but your other hints and tips are what actually get me there!
Happy birthday, buddy
Well happy birthday to you too, my new birthday twin!
Happy Birthday!! Well selfishly you’ve posted some of my articles on Rockstar Finance, but I don’t think that’s exactly what you were asking. What I like most is that you write in a very real, funny, and motivating way. I get some great motivation from your challenges like your “challenge everything” challenge (how many times can I say challenge in a sentence?). :) I look up to you and what you accomplish, but you don’t come off as to “experty” or talk down to people. You are very fun, funny, and real, and that’s why I really appreciate your blog!
Perfect! I’d hate if I came across as an “expert” as I’m most definitely not. I mess up just like everyone else – fortunately I just do more good things than bad :) Hope to hang out with you in real life this year! Go to FINCON please!
Budgets are Sexy reminds me that money can be fun and but a burden. And once you have started or maybe even finished the but things like debt payoff and even a small emergency fund, experimenting with new ways to make or save more or spend less are really never wrong. Once you have even a tiny bit of financial breathing room you have freedom to try new things with the resource that is your money.
“experimenting with new ways to make or save more or spend less are really never wrong”
You got it! Always have to be testing stuff out or you’ll never grow :)
I love your interesting perspective and the humor you try to incorporate into your writing. It makes reading about PF easier :) Have a happy birthday!
I love that you put “try” to incorporate humor, haha… guess it doesn’t always work! ;)
You are both inspiring and hilarious (ahem, Cash In A Box). I always learn something from your posts and, I genuinely enjoy reading your stuff! Looking forward to reading along in 2015. Happy Birthday!
Thanks F’woods! That Cash in a Box vid was the scariest thing I’ve done since the start of this blog – I can’t even watch it again without cringing! ;)
As a fellow blogger, Budgets are Sexy helps me most in figuring out how to get people talking and excited about money. I think your great at engaging the reader by keeping things real, it’s something I try to emulate.
Happy Day!
I don’t think you’re “trying” anymore – you’re DOING IT damn well now! :)
You were here when I was also just starting out. It was real writing, down to earth, and with a wonderful tongue in cheek humour. You have let us follow your journey and the lessons you have learned. Thank you for that. Have a great birthday!
Thanks Jolie – I only started a few months before you did :)
What I appreciate is your way of relating your thoughts and beliefs. You just do you and write your personal views about money in a way that many people can easily understand. You have encouraged many (including me) to think and act more consciously about their finances over the years and that’s a blessing. After 7 years, the fact that you are still able to instigate positive change through BAS is something to feel very proud of J. Happy Birthday brotha and may God continue to bless you.
You’re awesome, Kassandra – thank you so much for taking the time to send this over. Looking forward to more conversations with you in the new year :)
BAS has been an awesome space on the Internet I can expect to be entertained, informed and learn from your own research and experiences when it comes to money. BAS never disappoints.
Thank you Sofia – you’re sweet.
Happy Birthday!
I love reading your articles because they make me think of different points of view. I’ve started looking at my monthly net worth and its become interesting not a burden.
That’s wonderful to hear!! It should keep getting more fun to do too as the #’s go up!
Happy birthday! (My birthday is January 2, so I know what it is like to have your big day after a national holiday).
I am privileged to share your insights and teachings, all of which are applicable in someway. Practical knowledge goes a long way. Thank you.
Well a happy early birthday to you too, good sir. Thanks for reading the blog!
Happy Birthday J$! I think your blog really helped me to start with budgeting. Its one of those things that you know you SHOULD do, but before seeing your posts related to such topics (and many others) and also seeing your networth updates, it probably hadn’t really hit home. Plus I like knowing that there are others out there that have made financial missteps, and have still lived to talk (blog) about it!
Hah! Ain’t that the truth… I’ll never be short of missteps, that’s for sure :) Congrats on finally working out your budget! It gets easier over time for sure – just like anything else with practice.
Happy Birthday, J! I hope it’s a good one. BAS has been a great resource, very informative and entertaining. You bring the personal and the finance in equal measure. You make me think differently about managing and growing my money. Also, your side hustle list is killer! Lastly, your challenge everything idea is helping me take things to a different level.
Thank you Melanie :) The Challenge Everything idea is currently my favorite. I get so much joy out of it it’s incredible! So I’m glad it’s rubbing off on others too – I seriously think we stumbled onto something big here… And I’m really glad we got to know each other more this year as well. I love what you’re doing over at Dear Debt too – keep hustling, friend :)
Happy Birthday!!!
I’ve really enjoyed your curation efforts (you’ve introduced me to lots of other bloggers). Plus your net worth updates, baby cost list, and personal financial bloggers’ net worth lists rock.
Here’s to an awesome 2015!
Thank you Amanda!! Our community is awesome online, isn’t it? I’m intro’ing myself to all the great bloggers out there too, haha… curation is helping us all out :)
Jmoney! Happy Bday!
I’m just back from Boxing Day shopping and started catching up on blogs. BAS encouraged me to start blogging as I finally joined the blogging world this year. You also taught me that being gangsta with your money doesn’t always mean “make it rain”.
Damn straight, homie. Represent.
happy birthday! Your blog has helps me communicate about money with more humor and enthusiasm. There are a lot of websites out there that talk about personal finance with an air of seriousness and professionalism. You don’t, and that gives me permission to also sprinkle my conversations about money with phrases like “awesome” and “rockstar” and “WTF are you smoking crack, you crazy nut job?!” In other words, you make budgets, well, sexy!
Haha… glad to be of great F’ing service, you rockstar nut job! :)
Two things (among many others) that I have learned from the blog…
1) Keeping money FUN. Lets face it, money needs a little spice to keep it interesting sometimes.
2) Inspiration to keep going. (Stay focused on making the right decisions for my money.)
3) New perspectives and philosophies on how to think about money.
Two other things…
1) A friend.
2) Connections. (You know what’s up.) ;)
Happy Birthday!
You’re awesome bro – totally printing this off and putting it on my refrigerator ;)
Budgets are Sexy is one of the first blogs I read when I was thinking about going into blogging. Despite the fact that I initially scoffed at the fact that J$ had absolutely NO personal finance experience other than his own personal journey, I quickly realized that personal finance “experts” come in all shapes and sizes and J’s shape and size is right for SO many people. I have been blogging for a year and a half now and J has completely shaped my blog life for the better. Not to mention the fact that my savings account is $600 richer thanks to challenge everything, and my checking account was $500 richer thanks to his post on unclaimed money. :-) I already bought you a beer of thanks but kinda feels like I owe you another one. :-) Happy Birthday my friend!!!!!
So interesting to know your initial thoughts! I never really think about the “credentials” part since I’m not wired that way, but I’m willing to bet a good majority of people do. And probably for the best with all the cooks out there – hah!
One of my favorite things about you is that you deliver on your promises. And when it comes to beer, it’s never a joking matter! :)
This site has definitely helped me by cheering me up during some dark emotional moments — it makes it seem like money can be entertaining and under one’s control, as well as constantly in short supply :)
More practically, I use the net worth tracker to find new blogs all the time! It’s a great resource and a way of connecting the widely dispersed community.
Rock on C. Here’s to having less dark moments in the new year :)
I liked your Challenge Everything project. I don’t have many bills (no cable, no monthly cell phone, no memberships, etc) so my bills are already rock bottom. I thought about challenging my car/apt insurance but then I got a letter from them telling me since I was so awesome, they were lowering my rates (again.)
I like that you encourage people to try side hustles to increase their income. While mine has had a lot of hiccups, I am still plugging away. One thing I have heard is that people will say a lot of encouraging words about your product(s) but won’t buy it. I have to admit, I was not expecting that.
Oh yeah. You find out real fast who your customers are as soon as you ask for money. The cheerleaders are great, but the point of a business is sales. And sometimes you’re surprised who your target audience becomes once you distinguish between the two!
So keep on testing away and tweaking my friend, it all helps to narrow it down :)
Happy birthday! I think the best things I’ve learned are that posting net worth is empowering. Also to think outside the box. Even if you think you’re doing as well as possible, there probably is still more to learn!
Indeed my friend :)
Happy birthday J-Money!
I have to admit, you definitely helped boost my confidence when one of my posts was featured on Rockstar Finance – it gave me real encouragement to keep working on my blog!
The other is the attitude around sharing net worth, and seeing so many others sharing their numbers to help them work towards their goals. Reading your own net worth summary is really what got tipped me over the edge to share my own investment portfolio (which I’ve just started doing) and to publicise a clear goal to work towards and keep myself accountable.
Cheers,
Jason
Yes – I see that you’ve started doing so :) Looking forward to watching your progress as well! I guarantee you’ll pay closer attention to it now that the world is watching!
Happy Birthday!!! I enjoy your outside of the box thoughts. I how you have made personal finance funny and fun. It’s not always an interesting topic for many. Hope you enjoy your day.
Thanks for the encouragement, B. :)
Happy Birthday, J!! I’ve always been a budgeter, but I started tracking my net worth after I started reading your blog (about 2 years ago), and it’s been fun to see how much it can change in a short amount of time! Thanks for the great info, and the fun stories/entertainment!
Way to go budget girl! You’ve now amped your level of sexiness ;)
Happy Birthday, J$!
Several recurrent themes in the previous comments fairly sum up how you and BAS have helped me, starting with Samantha’s excellent overview for an opener. I wish I could quantify my results, as she did hers, with some eye-popping numbers; but alas, I have not been able to save $28,000 a year nor to open an investment account that now has $10,000 (in the same year, no less!)but still I can point to some tangible and invaluable help you’ve given to me. One of the most important, I recall, is your publishing my article back in April about the systematic defacing of U.S. currency by political activists, which furthered the dialogue on this still hot-button issue ( https://budgetsaresexy.com/2014/04/is-it-or-is-it-not-illegal-to-draw-on-dollars/ ). Also I greatly appreciate your alerting me whenever you find anything that falls into my particular “niche” of money graffiti. But in a broader sense, and what I know is a big help to everyone, is how you “cut through the b.s.” in tackling complex and sometimes sensitive issues in your open, honest, style. You are the real deal, and it shows. Your boldness, tempered by your contagious sense of humor is frosting on the cake. My associate who has just published a book of phrases admits that you inspired a number of his entries. (He refuses to say which;) http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2014/12/berkeley_heights_resident_publ.html
Well that’s no fair! How can your associate tease me so? I bet “that’s cockamaimy!” made the list… Am I right? (right? RIGHT??))
Also, thanks for the kind words. It’s been interesting getting to know you to say the least ;)
You’ve helped me keep pushing with my own blog. Seeing other people consistently push out fresh new stuff keeps me trying to do the same, sometimes failing but never giving up.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks Zee! Keep on pumping out your thoughts!
You make money fun and your blog keeps me focused on my goals even when my kids are pulling at my legs and begging.
Kids are funny like that :)
Your financial advice is great but really you help me because your writing puts a smile on my face every day. You have a talent, and you’re just an all around nice guy to everyone.
Awww, thx Cat! That made me so happy to read!
Happy birthday! (Well, the end of it anyway.) I love how you blog about everyday stuff. Wisdom doesn’t just come from the big numbers. It’s in everyday things like replacing coffeepots, putting trailer lights on a car and selling odds and ends on Craigslist. Here’s to many more years of the little everyday stuff that makes the big changes!
Damn you have a way with words, Mrs. WW! What great insight – thank you!
J
Your blog was one of the first I read and inspired me to start writing. I spent a weekend reading through your archives as your posts were very informative. Also made me realize I needed a life since I spent a weekend reading through a blog. Happy birthday and merry Xmas.
Haha… And now you realize you need a life outside of your own blog too, right? The online world never shut down! :)
On your blog, I learn helpful things about managing money, served with a fun/funny tone and in a way that I usually understand :)
I’m so glad, Becky :) Thanks for reading!
HBD, J$!
BAS has made laugh (because you are so silly sometimes) and made me cry (because you are a rockin’ blogger and I am not.) I appreciate your irreverent tone, crazy ideas, and thriftiness. And I love the car :)
Best wishes for a super 2015!
Woo! My car loves getting shout outs – it’s always being frowned upon in the “real” world! ;) Thanks for my wonderful birthday present!
Happy Birthday, J$!
1. You helped get me on the path to early retirement/financial independence.
2. You’ve taught me to literally “challenge everything” when it comes to my finances.
3. Your down to earth, honest style of blogging makes your message(s) easy to digest and understand.
4. Your humor is awesome.
Really, your blog has been a part of my entire shift in thinking when it comes to my own finances. Coupled with Rockstar Finance, which I also love, I am learning something every day!
Wishing you and your family a happy New Year.
So cool!!! I love to hear it, JM! I’m learning more about it all too myself (early retirement, challenging stuff, etc) so we’re in the same boat here :) Let’s hope it doesn’t capsize later! haha…
Happy belated birthday, J. Money! I really enjoy reading about personal finance, and your writing on BAS adds a unique, humorous perspective to the mix! Great advice and very interesting personalized stories. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2015!
Thanks LeRainDrop! Happy holidays to you and your family too!
Belated Happy Birthday, J! For me, I think your blog is superb and one of a kind! It has given me knowledge which I somehow can’t find in other blogs, making your blog so unique. J, thanks for realigning my perspective in saving and managing money. I wish you all the best!
Thanks Jayson – happy new year :)
Happy belated birthday, and Monday to you!
How has your blog helped me? I have looked a certain savings ideas differently and got the courage to implement (I was surprisingly nervous about cutting off cable, actually putting it off for three months!) In addition, your willingness to answer questions here and privately have helped me in other situations and given me … ammunition? cites/sources to work with others in my family.
And, frankly — your humor rocks. What is not to like?
Way to go on the cable stuff!! I haven’t been able to pull the trigger 100%, but I did just get my monthly bill lowered even more :) Excited to share that with y’all soon…
Thanks for the kind words!
I love the tips and tricks on this blog – introducing new ways to save or budget or make money that I never would have thought of before. I also love being introduced to new bloggers! Great job and Happy Birthday!!
Rock on – thanks Chelse :)
(Is it okay that I call you Chelse? Haha…)
I know this is late but I’m jumping on the bandwagon. Your blog has inspired me to track my net worth, which I wasn’t doing before. And it usually gives me quite a chuckle unlike most personal finance blogs I read.
Great! I will never get tired of hearing that – thank you :)
I’ll give you a general and specific thing…first, building good financial habits and staying that course of continual improvement is not always easy. I like that your blog has three articles a week like clockwork. I check it MWF every week and it helps keep me in the right frame of mind regarding money, whether the article is applicable to me, or not.
The specific thing is regarding net worth. I probably had rough ideas, but having it posted on your site among others’ created a healthy competitive spirit. You’re ahead of me, but I’m trying to move up your list. Since May, I’ve made some great strides and I’m looking forward to an even better 2015.
That’s wonderful Darrell, congrats on sticking to it and moving up the chain :) I’m glad you appreciate the scheduled postings too – I’ve worked hard to make sure I never miss a day (haven’t once since 2008!) so it makes me happy to hear you specifically mention that. It’s no Mon,Tues,Wed,Th,Fri like I used to do, but it’s still very much structured. Thanks so much for reading.
Hi J$, happy belated birthday,
As my holiday gift to you I’ll let you in on a dream I had about you (and nothing too profound I promise). For some reason I went to America (from the land down under) and my highlight was stopping you on the street and talking to you about personal finance for a minute (while your wife was giving you disgruntled looks the entire time). I’m not sure why I had the dream, but maybe it’s due to me checking the BAS website every day.
On how the site has helped me: I’m a 22 year old male that had just graduated from a business degree when I started reading
1. Getting me excited about personal finance by reading your journey through your net worth updates. To see how far you have come over the past 7 years even with a wife and now little dime and nickle is inspiring.
2. Starting my own monthly net worth tracker which has seen my net worth increase by 90% of my annual income the past year. Of course I had some side hustles to push me along but it really helps you feel accountable to yourself and it’s an amazing feeling looking each month and seeing a green bottom line (and when I have a negative month it’s time for me t invest even more.
But finally the most important of all is
3. Being able to be a guide to family and friends and also send them on their way to financial independence! The world and this community is all about sharing and it makes me feel like I believe in something good whenever a family member comes back to me and says they enjoyedrreading your posts or trusts my financial responsibility enough to ask for advice about their finances. Hopefully you can continue to grow the site and we can curb the overconsumption and help more people on their journey.
From a loyal BAS reader.
-Tee
YES!! Comment of the day!! Haha… Thank you so much for telling people about this blog – that really means A LOT – you have no idea. And I’m glad it’s helping you in turn to look financially sexier among your loved ones :) I wish I was half as smart as you are when I was 22. All I cared about then was beer and women, haha… Which you’ll get a lot of by having your money on lock! :)
Your writing style makes me laugh..
I’ve started tracking my $$$ progress …
Made me think of some names for my future blog….and run them by some friends.
AlaskaMoneyIsSexy.com? ;)
Hey J.Money,
Feliz cumpleaños… =)
Just wanted to let you know, that reading you blog automatically puts me in a good mood, the way you write feels like I´m listening to you… keep doing what u do…
Happy new year from a loyal mexican reader.
Cindy
Yeah Mexico! Represent! :)
For me its the comedy
but lets not forget the side hustles you have so many! i’ve always wanted to go out on my own but been nervous even as a side hustle. now i am much more confident and I hope this coming year I am able to secure something.
Also I enjoyed finding out about your love drop. I’m like you and giving is hard for me when I don’t really know how it helps.
I’m so glad, Roamer! I hope you do find a good side hustle or two – they do wonders in speeding up your goals :) And if we ever start back up Love Drop (or a similar project) I’ll be sure to let you know! We’ll rock it together.
Hi J$!
I am a graduate student, saddled with quite a bit of debt from my private undergraduate education and I am working hard to pay it off while getting more knowledge. I’ve felt a lot of stress and pressure because of my immense student loan debt burden, but I have found hope and joy (lots o’ laughs) from your blog, learning about how to change my outlook on the blessings I have and the opportunities that are in front of me.
I love your optimism and faith, and I really love how you keep it real and fresh. You share tips I’ve never heard of, and I have become pretty well-versed in personal finance in the last few years.
Thanks for being awesome :D
Awwww, well thank you Tyler – that really means a lot :) And I’m glad you’re hustling through and pushing yourself to get rid of that debt! It’s not an easy thing to do, but you’ll be out of it one day and then IT’S ON!
I’m so glad you like the tips/humor on the site – I do my best to spice it up :)
Happy belated birthday J$! I hope you and the $ family had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New year. I posted before but it looks like the internet happened. :) You have made me think, made me laugh and then think some more. I truly enjoy your “voice,” and have learned the importance of being true to it and I am working on letting mine show through. You have inspired and motivated me to move…not just my stuff (think ebay and craigslist) but with my dreams. Thank you. 2015 is gonna rock! It already is. :)
YAY!!!!!
Keep going friend – you’re doing so good!! (And I get inspired just by seeing your smiley face icon, haha… I know I’ve told you that before, but it brightens my day so easily! And then your words just add to it :))
Here’s to a successful new year for both of us!
Your particular budget spreadsheet has helped me so much! Thank you! The top reason it has been more useful than the other budgets I have tried or use is because it: 1)easily adjusts for variations in income 2)is easy on the eyes because the particular tracking areas are separated nicely and 3) it also has space for the actual figures. I have tried various budgeting mechanisms and yours has helped me far more than any other. I don’t usually write many online comments but than you again.
Wow – what a testimonial, thank you!! That makes me so happy!
The color is actually my favorite thing about it personally :) Well, that and the “net worth” area that I included over time… It’s actually based on another spreadsheet I came across 7 years ago but I couldn’t ever go back and find it to properly give credit… I’ve pretty much changed the entire thing since then, but it was the colors of it that gave me the idea!
Anyways, I’m glad you took the time to leave a comment. It really does mean a lot.
The Anyone Can Buy That article you wrote really struck a chord with me. It has really helped me with that devil Envy and the wanting of things that I feel too often. I liked what you blogged about a few weeks ago, too, about people wanting money or things. Right now I want to keep the money so that eventually I can have things that I actually need or care about, like travel and a decent standard of living when I’m old, as opposed to ‘stuff’ now. Anyway, often when I see something I’d like, I just say to myself that I could buy it or afford it if I wanted to, but then couldn’t do other things that I’ve decided are more important, and BOOM! I don’t feel that desire anymore. We have an emergency fund ($4700), are saving cash to pay for our son’s braces, and then will come paying down the credit card ($6000), increasing the emergency fund to $10,000, and then taking the money we’ve been using for that and doing the 401K thing.
That post was one of my all-time favorite posts to write on this site in 7 years. So I’m glad it resonated with you as it’s helped me big time too! And it really is true – any of us can afford fancy cool stuff (or at least throw it on a credit card/take out a loan), but if it’s not our top priorities in life, well, it’ll just have to wait until we’re wealthy enough to have it all :)
And well done with your savings and credit card goals/successes too. Imagine when both have been hit? The opportunities are endless!
It has kept me entertained these past two weeks or so reading almost every single post since day one! And it has kick started some debt pay down that I have told myself I had to get to for a very long time now. I like seeing all the bumps and bruises along with the wins. Congrats on having such a long running and informative blog.
How cool! So glad you’ve been enjoying the blog so far – you’re hardcore going through them all from back in the day, haha… you’ll be able to see how my writing has changed over the years :) Thanks for stopping by!