Recent Posts

61

Ask a Mustachian / Re: Need a budget critique

« Last post by secondcor521 on Today at 10:06:56 AM »

These kinds of threads go poorly about 99% of the time.  Generally people give all sorts of reasonable and good suggestions, and the OP will explain why they can't/won't make those cuts.

OP, I think you need two things:  (1) Get in sync with your wife so that it's both of you against the budget, not you against her, and (2) you both need to have a goal or vision that is more important than your current spending and therefore worth making the cuts.

If it's just you wanting to make the cuts, or if you're doing them for vague reasons, it won't work.

62

Meetups and Social Events / Re: Magical Moab Meetup October 3 - 13, 2025!!!!

« Last post by Dicey on Today at 10:06:53 AM »

I put in for Friday the 3rd and Monday the 6th off so I'll have the entire weekend.

Really looking forward to hiking and getting outside some. I love Moab. I'm thinking I'll go to Needles District a bunch since that is my fave.

Will be cool to meet some new people doing this FIRE thing. I'll swing by the group campsite/place where everyone hangs out.

I'll probably just car camp somewhere though.

I'm thinking I might rent a dirt bike and go all out and spend a little of this money I'm saving.

The first rule of the Magical Moab Meetup is there are no rules.*
*Okay, the NPS has rules like timed entries and permit requirements, but we're pretty good at working together to keep them manageable.
Glad you're coming!

63

Throw Down the Gauntlet / Re: DONT Payoff your Mortgage Club

« Last post by Dicey on Today at 09:58:29 AM »

Thanks, Sandi_k and R-C!

64

Ask a Mustachian / Re: Has anyone bought a Chevy Bolt with a Buyback/Lemon title?

« Last post by studentoflife on Today at 09:50:39 AM »

Two month ownership update: our Bolt is on its second trip to the dealer. About 300 miles/2 weeks into ownership, I got an error at startup, "Propulsion power reduced. Service vehicle soon". The car cut max power by about59%, limited regen braking by about 50%, limited charging capacity to 30% (75 miles of range), and disabled air conditioning. The first time the shop kept the car for a week and reprogrammed the computers. After another 3 weeks and 700 miles, the same your reoccurred. This time they are replacing the previously replaced high voltage battery. The car has been gone for a week and I expect to get out back in another 2 weeks.All repairs have been free of charge under the 8 year/100k mile battery warranty,but the experience is still inconvenient and does not inspire confidence. Hopefully the new battery will be the end of it, I really like the car and I don't want to get rid of it, but it is really inconvenient especially as the closest qualified GM service center is 45 minutes away, at it is a real hassle to drop off and pick up for repair. Not sure what the car will be worth if we try to resell. I'm figuring it will be worth net cost after tax credit at best, and we won't be able to use the tax credit for another replacement.

65

Ask a Mustachian / Need a budget critique

« Last post by davef on Today at 09:38:52 AM »

So,
I need a budget Critique. We are not very mustachian so I am sure to get a lot of crap on here. Long term we are good, as we invested a lot 10 years ago, but the past 3 years I have had very little leftover funds to invest, or even take a vacation. I am looking to trim 500-1000 from our monthly budget without sacrificing quality of life. We are a family of 5 with 3 boys 3,6,9.

Net income = 9600/Month after taxes 401k Insurance
Mortgage 3410 (Includes taxes and insurance)
HOA (220)
Electric 380 (Average)
Water & Waste 190 (Average)
Pest control (33)
TV & Internet (290) I know its crazy, this is one of the place I plan to cut
Yard Maint (205)
Insurance (371) (Auto and Life)
Phones (202) (For me and my wife) I think it will drop to 140 soon as our Iphones will be paid off.
Put of pocket Medical (650) Average over the past 2 years. I hope this drops off soon.
Restaurants (1200) Average
Groceries (1800) Average Includes all basic living expenses, cleaning supplies etc.
Auto repair and Gas (995) Both cars are paid off. Its about 400 on a typical month for gas and tolls but had lots of maint last year that raised the average,
Entertainment (395) (including dates, babysitters... we have no family) So that's like 1-2 date 1 museum or something similar each month.
Church and charities (200)
Pet (100) we have a 15 year old dog dying of cancer, spent 4k on that over the past 2 years.
Clothes (200)
Misc (200)

Between the medical expenses for the kids, the dog and the unscheduled car maintenance ive basically been break even over the past 2 years with nothing leftover to invest. I know the food seems crazy. I have tried not eating out, but the groceries seem to go up proportionately. we average 3000 a month between the 2. If I cut restaurants down to 400 groceries rises up to 2400. I focused on this for 2 months and saved a few hundred dollars, but hardly noticeable. The kids are allergic to dairy, and we try to eat healthy. I guess we have expensive tastes.... A lot of this is cleaning supplies too & chlorine for the pool.

66

Off Topic / Re: Watcha making for dinner tonight!?

« Last post by crocheted_stache on Today at 09:38:51 AM »

Boiled the leftover-leftovers from the Costco chicken and combined with some white beans in the instant pot for chili verde. There are several lunches worth of leftovers plus a little extra broth, which we already have plans to use.

67

Throw Down the Gauntlet / Re: What small thing did you do today to reduce your environmental impact? (2025)

« Last post by crocheted_stache on Today at 09:35:13 AM »

Yesterday ended up being a car trip, into some industrial neighborhoods that really aren't great for biking, so we planned it ahead and strung together several stops. At the hardware store, we picked up a toilet flapper that should stop a water leak we discovered (they seem to crud up and start leaking every few years in our water), and a couple of small parts that will help keep other larger stuff in service.

68

Off Topic / Re: The Silent Generation

« Last post by Morning Glory on Today at 09:10:35 AM »

In addition to the accountability thing, I think to hold any professional group up as "heroes" (or whatever the term du jour is) does them a disservice by creating unrealistic expectations in the minds of the public in terms of how much sacrifice  is expected. This can result in lower compensation and worse working conditions compared to workers with the same education level in non "heroic" professions.  All workers have the same human needs and human frailties.

 If your job has an "appreciation week", you are probably underpaid.

69

Off Topic / Re: Watcha making for dinner tonight!?

« Last post by MaybeBabyMustache on Today at 08:51:33 AM »

Chicken fajitas from the freezer

70

Throw Down the Gauntlet / Re: One (small) good deed a day 2024

« Last post by MaybeBabyMustache on Today at 08:35:46 AM »

Sent DH over to our elderly neighbor's house with macaroni & potato salad. She doesn't cook anymore, and loves leftovers. We have so many people eating at our house, that it's rare for us, but we love to share when the opportunity presents itself. She also loves a chance to chat with DH.