Fit in a Fun Friday - Stuff We Don't Skimp On

My husband suggested this post and the idea caught my fancy. We skimp on a lot if there is a viable alternative EXCEPT the following:

Name Brands We Buy Regularly

• Nature’s Own Honey Wheat (hubby was right, this is good bread)
• Kroger Brand Brownies (taste better to us than the name brands)
• Kroger Brand Real Mayo or Hellman’s (Miracle Whip makes me gag)
• Kellogg’s Poptarts (my morning crack)
• General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios (my other morning crack)
• Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats (my I’m-not-eating-lunch-for-a-while option)
• Dr. Pepper or Cherry Coca-Cola cans (yeah, yeah, I know. I wait for the 4 packs for $10 sales at Kroger and stock up...we try to keep the habit to a pack or less every three weeks)
• Charmin Toilet Paper (hubby scoffs at Scott’s…this is soft, but it’s only tp)
• Tide for regular clothes (hubby swears it’s better…I’ve decided this is a battle I’ll forfeit)
• Oxyclean for grass and mud stains from sports officiating (it does work and saves freaking expensive reffing gear)
• French’s Mustard (this is totally my hubby…I cannot taste a difference to save my life, but again, I choose to forfeit)
• Wolfbrand Chili with no beans for hot dogs (smells like wet dog food, but it gets my hubby to eat hot dogs at home sometimes)
• Foo-foo dog food like Nutro and allergy free stuff for the Pug (I have to have a dog food that's first ingredient is a meat or I feel taken advantage of)

Other Items We Have Splurged On

• Tempurpedic mattress (my husband hasn’t had back pain since we got one a year ago...I think it’s too hot during the summer months)
• Dream Fit Sheets (they fit and don’t come off when we toss around at night…plus they have lasted us 5 years already, which is good since they cost about $100 a set)
• Miche Bag (I love the magnetic shells and I never have to move my stuff to a new purse)
• Crocs (they aren’t all clown shoes anymore and feel great…you can also find big discounts online like my $60 leather work Crocs for $35 on Ebay)

There are probably a few more things I can’t think of right now, but you get the point. There are some things we have become loyal to…gladly we didn’t discover these addictions until we could afford them, but I sort of wish I never tasted the difference between $1 bread and Nature’s Own Honey Wheat...

What about you? Any favorite brands? Anything you refuse to skimp on?

Charity Work - Does it Count?

I’ve read a bunch of blogs that bring up tithing. I’ve read others that simply put a strong emphasis on monetary donations. I’ve even been judged since we donate so little actual money every year. That is true. We don’t tithe and we don’t donate much money (<$200 a year in cash), but we do contribute to society through charity work.

My husband and I are foster parents for Pughearts: Houston Pug Rescue (although we have taken a break while he completes graduate school). I volunteer regularly at the Houston SPCA. Hubby will occasionally officiate basketball games for free if there is a school in need.

In short, we donate time. This allows us to help without slowing down our progress towards our personal financial goals like early retirement. Plus, it is way more fun to me than writing a check!

What do you think? Is donating money better than donating time? Do you like one over the other? What charities are you involved in either way?

Welcome to Budgeting in the Fun Stuff

I'm a personal finance blog addict. It's really a problem. I've decided to make it worse. :-)

Welcome to Budgeting in the Fun Stuff!

This is a personal finance blog about balance. Everyone knows they should live below their means. Everyone knows they should save for their future. I've seen this as the basis for most of the personal finance blogs I read and love. Both points are totally true.

This blog will cover a third point...what can you do with the rest?

I will open up our finances for your perusal...real numbers and everything. It should be fun.

My husband and I use our money to pay for our current needs, to save for our future needs, and to have some fun as we prioritize our discretionary spending.

Thanks for taking a look!