Recent spending

A couple weeks ago I realized that my spending had gotten a little out of control and vowed to tighten up the purse strings. Since that time, I have done a good job of minimizing expenditures.

There were some unavoidable expenses during this time. I had to pay $300+ to fix my car and spent a pretty penny on Lacey's birthday. However, both of these expenditures were necessary. The car is obvious. The birthday spending maybe not so much. I read a lot of personal finance blogs that advocate frugal alternatives for birthday's. I don't really feel this thinking so much. To me, frugality is minimizing the "latte factor." It is the small everyday needless expenses that need to be monitored and minimized. A once a year occasion like the most important person in my life's birthday should not be skimped on for the sake of maintaining overall parsimony. Each of us must draw our respective financial lines in the sand, this is mine ;)

For me, saving money and living frugally (despite all the ribs i get from friends and family) is a means to overall happiness or at least a part of the happiness puzzle. Cheaping out on a birthday does not fit into that formula.