Earn, Save, and Live Joyfully.
The credit card company called me with questions about fraudulent activity on the joint credit card my husband and I use for just about everything. My card hadn’t been stolen. When I opened my wallet it was sitting in the first pocket just as it always is, so I checked my husband’s wallet and yes … Read more
I just booked a room at a hotel where my husband and I used to spend Valentine’s Day so many moons ago. It’s a little place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with views of the Chesapeake Bay. My dad recommended this particular spot as a possible wedding venue when we tied the knot nearly … Read more
My husband and I chose to brave Irene from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. While we were prepared for the storm I do have a couple of after the fact lessons I learned after living for three days without power. First, consolidate as many perishable items into the freezer as possible. A packed freezer … Read more
As I mentioned in my last post I’ve received a couple of job offers since I found out about my layoff and now the question of the day is whether or not to take them. I’m conflicted on a number of different levels. On one hand, although I enjoy the challenges of software development I … Read more
If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that I was recently laid off from my job. What you might not know is that I started applying and interviewing for new positions outside of the company a week or so after receiving the news. I am actually in a good position compared … Read more
Bargain shopping helps me stock up on items when they are cheapest. I’m often able to combine coupons and sale prices to save 50 – 80% on every day grocery staples and personal hygiene products. I’m not an extreme couponer. I don’t attempt to stock the shelves with 50 bottles of some item I never … Read more
Different aspects of life tend to frustrate my husband and I at different levels. Take our refrigerator as an example. For the past year or two our fridge has been leaking water just above the deli drawer. The problem only seems to occur in the summertime and we only notice it during particularly hot months. … Read more
When I created the initial list of pregnancy and baby related expenses I considered medical care, hospital stays, nursery furniture and general baby care items like diapers and clothing. I didn’t create a budget for myself, but I did review prices and use coupons whenever possible. One thing I did not consider adding to the … Read more
As the nesting instincts settle in I took an hour or so to straighten out the contents of plastic bins that recently made their way onto shelves in our basement. Among the neatly sorted items I found a number of gifts I purchased for family members last year. I’m not typically a fan of buying … Read more
A quick search on the website of my health insurance provider estimated the costs of a vaginal hospital birth at $13,193. The average cost for a cesarean delivery is listed as $18,308. That’s actually a lot less than I would have predicted, but a lot more than I’d like to pay. Now that I’ve picked … Read more