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Open Open in app thedivinemsem shared something with you thedivinemsem June 1st - DINT, an experiment..... Overall, I’m a fiscally responsible type.  I’ve always saved even if it was only a small amount, and as I’ve gotten older and my salary has increased - so has the percentage of income that I save. And I have learned the difference between what I want and what I need, but I think that everyone needs a bit of both in their lives. This year there have been a lot of unexpected expenses in my household.  My savings habits (and a couple of happy accidents like a three paycheck month) have allowed me to absorb these challenges. But I need to make a conscious effort to save more and spend less so that I can replenish my reserves and enjoy my “splurges” without guilt. That’s why I’m trying DINT this month….Do I need this? I’m going to track every time I pull my wallet out….and at the end, lets see how much of it I really needed - or even really wanted - and how much was excess fluff. I pride myself on being good with my money  -  but I honestly have no idea what this month is going to show. 35 East 21st St, 10th Floor. New York, NY 10010. Email settings | Opt-out

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Open Open in app thedivinemsem shared something with you thedivinemsem 5/22 - There's always a silver lining somewhere.... And I was reminded of that today amidst my internal turmoil…. You see, my car is celebrating its 10th birthday this month.  I was going to trade it in, but some unexpected expenses earlier this year led me to decide to keep it for a couple more years….it’s served me well and only has 75K on it. Looking at the owners manual - I was overdue for a timing belt replacement.  I’d also noticed that the ride felt a bit bouncy and figured there were new shocks/struts in my future.  And looking back over a past post - the rational part of my brain recognized that automotive repair is not cheap. Even so, I was NOT prepared to hear 2853 and change come out of the telephone receiver.  In hindsight - she read the price as two eight five three - and I wonder if that was an attempt to make it sound less intimidating. I asked if they thought I should get the work done.  The response was - it comes down to personal opinion.  I can tell you that they looked the car over and didn’t find anything else wrong. So I told them to go ahead and from that point I’ve proceeded to second guess my decision a lot….should I have just taken it over to Carmax and traded it for that hybrid I’ve been considering?  Does it make sense to put so much money into a car that is only worth about 4K in total? I had so much angst inside that I actually tried to discuss the matter with my Dad.  You don’t know him - but if you did, you’d laugh at how ridiculous that thought was.  Dads cars survived on ducttape and prayer.  When they leaked fluid he just started carrying a spare bottle of whatever it was with him…..brakes squeal - he’d turn the radio up.  Right now there is a piece of metal wedged into one of the windows to keep it up.  (Not that it really matters - he doesn’t drive anymore so the car pretty much just sits there). Anyhow only time will tell if I made the right decision…..if this “extreme suspension makeover” gives me a couple more years of safe, reliable transportation from Ms Em - or if this is just the start of many problems to come. But I am hopeful that my good karma will keep helping me out like it usually does.  You see, even though this was twice what I was expecting to have to spend for repairs….May happens to be a three paycheck month, so I will be able to manage this without having to dip into my savings.  I’d already decided this would be a staycation summer and I’ve been cutting back on non-essential spending. And to my surprise - it really hasn’t bothered me much.  Sure, I’d like to have another Coach handbag - and new deck furniture - and have the guest bathtub refinished and the faucets changed out. But its not necessary - at least not this year. My challenge will be to work with what I have….I’ve watched my friend Carol do this for years…..hopefully I can learn a few things from her. #car #vacation #money 35 East 21st St, 10th Floor. New York, NY 10010. Email settings | Opt-out

February 13th - Its been one of THOSE weeks....

I know, I know - I really did intend to blog regularly, but I keep up to date with my friends on Facebook and there really hasn't been any pondering going on in my world beyond some mundane thoughts about needing to live more frugally because of my expensive Antarctica trip coming up next year.  As well as because there is a difference between needing and wanting.....and I really do have everything I need.

That wasn't the case at the start of this week.  My furnace went out on Saturday.....and it took three repair visits and a thousand dollars to get it running again on Wednesday afternoon.  Even now its not right - it seems to be disconnected from the thermostat so there's no way to turn it down - I just have to go turn it off periodically to keep it from getting too hot.  And we've had a snowstorm that left close to a foot of snow outside and brought life to a halt....so I don't expect they'll be able to get out to fix this problem for a few days.  But at least I have heat throughout the house which is vastly superior to how I spent the first couple of days - stuck in one room with a space heater.  Then a friend of mine offered me a couple of space heaters so I could warm more than one room at a time.  That was a lifesaver because the unheated parts of the house got down to the 40's. 

I can state to an absolute certainty that no matter how beautiful Alaska looks - there is no way I would survive there.....and it reinforces that I am making the right decision simply cruising by the seventh continent rather than taking an expedition ship and landing there - I am truly miserable when its really really cold.

That said, today's storm wasn't too awful......I went out to shovel twice and the above freezing temperatures and sun did a good job of helping to clear my driveway and walk.  That said, my road wasn't plowed and we are getting more snow now so I'm not sure what is going to be up in the morning....but I'll worry about that tomorrow...if nothing else, I can stay home in the warm house.

Besides my furnace - I had some furkid maintenance as well.  Both Jez and Batcat were scheduled for dental cleaning at the local vet.  Not something I'm really keen on but the vet that I trusted thought it was really important to do it as they are getting older...goodness, Batcat is almost 11 now. 

Anyhow - I decided to let them do some recommended bloodwork on Batcat and they call to tell me he has elevated levels that suggest early kidney disease.  I was totally shocked....he's the healthy one - the perfect weight, glossiest fur - his only flaw is the inability to realize that the tail he insists on chasing in circles is his own.  Kidney disease means a low phosphorus food, so I have to find something that will work for him while still being low in carbs for my diabetic Jez.

They came out of their procedures groggy but fine - turns out each had a tooth extracted and are on antibiotics for a week to make sure there's no infection.  The side benefit to this is that Jezebel's glucose readings have been so good that its now been two days without insulin.  It is true that infection can raise levels so maybe the extraction has made the difference...but in any case - although she really doesn't seem to care about getting her shot - it would save a lot of money and make life easier for both of us if she can be diet controlled.

So, even though it has been an ARGGGHHHHH sort of week - as always, there's at least a bit of a bright side to be found.  Not to mention that  in a bit less than 4 wks I'll be beginning my Asian adventure with Carol.