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Last year about half way through the year I decided to keep a spreadsheet of how much we saved using coupons, digital or paper. I feel like it is a challenge to see what I can do. Nothing like those extreme couponers from years back however, but pleased we've saved some. Each month whatever we "saved" I deposit in our money market savings account since I figure that is saved money we wouldn't otherwise have. There is some criteria for this...I only use a coupon if it is something...
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This morning, rather early, I headed over to the Toyota dealership to get a few important things done before my upcoming New York Finger Lakes trip: an oil change, a recall fix for an audible sound when you back up (mine was so faint I wasn't even aware there was supposed to be a sound) and most important of all, for months I had lost the sound on my GPS. Turns out the sound worked but was muted, and the tech showed me how to go into Google Maps to fix it should this be a problem...
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MM's FINAL net college costs:
$43,242 Tuition/fees** (4 Years)
+$11,589 5th Year Tuition/Fees 
+      644 Misc. Fees & Supplies
-10,506  Tax credits 
-19,642  CA middle class grants 
-  7,500  Scholarships
---------
$17,827 Net Tuition cost  
**Includes $1K for one summer school class
Side note: MM(23) only got that 4th year middle class grant because he added a double major and extended another year. ...
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View from our CA hotel (This is just 2 hours from our home)
Not pictured:  A large hammock I was delighted to lounge in for a chunk of the day.
I can't even remember what prompted this trip, but I was impulsive and booked a mid-week trip to Tahoe.  To the north shore, where I don't think I have been before.  We really enjoyed the trip and the property but it was way too hot (even on cooler days) and they wouldn't let us open windows overnight (on the ground level)...
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It used to seem like something in the distant future, but here we are. I am 59.5 today. 
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I havent been able to open anyones blogs am I the only one??
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I took advantage of a nice promo offer DSW was having today. One was advertised, the other was only advertised in the store. I went in with a $5 birthday discount coupon I got in the mail (you can sign up for this discount  on their website) just to browse, but then I saw lots of signs saying that if you bought a regularly priced pair of sneakers, you'd get a 6-pack of socks for free.
So that's what I did. They are crew socks, in case you're wondering, and you get your choice...
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Sunday, after we got home from church, our plans were changed. A grandson said he wanted to come down which means I would be making lunch. I had already changed out of my "Sunday go to meeting clothes" (thank you Beverly Hillbillies) and had put on a top that was white with light flowers. However, once I learned I would be fixing lunch, I changed blouses since I would be making sloppy joes and didn't want to permanently stain my light blouse in case there was a splatter or spill....
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Now that the blogs are back, I can catch up a bit.  I actually had written a timely post about my second week off, but SA "ate" the post even though I tried to save the draft.  So here it is, reconstructed and added on to.
Anyways, my second week off:  This started with a night away at an Inn along the Delaware River, about 20 miles away from home--not far but far enough to "get away."  The Inn has new owners so they were offering a special on the room rate...
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August 4
 
MM(23) got a job!
 
We never got around to ‘the talk’ and setting expectations with him.  Though it came up in passing that we expected him to take a job (any job) in September.  Was giving him 3 months to go full force on the job search.  But for the most part, ‘free room and board’ means taking any job in the interim.  We were adjusting our expectations re: the job market, and also MM(23)’s seemingly lackadaisical...
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We're in another heat wave here and I haven't ventured out much, so much so that today I was really getting stir crazy. So I got my first cone of the season. Mint chocolate chip, in case you were wondering.

It was not my first choice place to go, just over the hill at a working dairy farm less than a mile away. This one was in town, but it lacks the lines of the other place, which has received all kinds of awards and likely attracts folks from out of town because I drove by...
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Very glad the blogs are back. Not sure why they were down, but as Tabs said, it's nice to have them back and we do enjoy them for free. Like many have said, I feel like we are community or a group of friends who live away from each other.
I've blogged before about keeping things since we don't have a recycling program in our town or county. One of the items is cans from soup or baked beans or whatever. DH's daughter is going to get married and she said she wanted to have a rustic...
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Huzzah for our blogs being back! I would really hate to lose this community and the hundreds of blog posts I've done over the past 9 years or so...
Due to good cashflow I paid back everything we borrowed from the HELOC this year (not counting the $27K total borrowed over previous years that we're still carrying). We've got the boiler to pay for in September, so I'll definitely borrow from the HELOC again, but it's nice to have it even temporarily paid down!Net worth increased...
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Debts
Mortgage -$105,201.17 (-$773.85)Car Loan -$3,088.82 (-$642.98)HELOC -$2,653.21 (+$2,653.21)
Savings
Roth IRAs +$57,027(+$2,467)401K +$117,071 (+$6,574)Emergency Fund +$13,283 (+$241)Animal Fund +$1,543 (-$1,579)HSA +$1,979 (-$346)
Overall: +$6,120.62 (This is for May-July)
Got the windows replaced and paid the balance. Insurance is supposed to be mailing me a $ 4k-ish check tomorrow, which we will put in savings for now. This home improvement has seemed to jump-start...
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I just started jotting down some things in another place, not expecting the blogs to be down for so long. Catching up...
 
August 1
 
Frugal Things
MM(23) cut his own hair today.  He did a really good job. I guess my Dad lent him some fancy scissors.
 
MM(23) is definitely going for the whole Money Mustache thing.  While I enjoyed some of Money Mustache (put things into words that were in line with our own philosophy and beliefs) I personally never...
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July was amazing.  $4,000 in the green!  That was after posting how much in the red we have been all year.
 
What’s interesting was that it wasn’t a low-spend month whatsoever.  90% of the battle was not having any expensive emergencies.  Phew!  10% of the battle is being done with MM(23) college expenses.  That is an extra boost.
 
Will see what August brings.
 
I might have blogged more about July spending or numbers,...
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First of all, I just want to say how grateful I am to this site for providing a free blogging section.  Considering that I've gotten all kinds of benefit and joy out of it, and for the low, low price of free, I really can't complain at all.  Though if I am allowed to a bit, the blog section does freeze at times, sometimes for up to a week, where we can not read any individual entries.  Not sure what's going on, but for now, the blogs appear to be back.  Yay!
Net...
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Investments $2,275,677
Savings $7,682
Home Equity $152,000
July Net Worth $2,435,359
June Net Worth $2,454,261
Monthly Gain/Loss -$18,902
A little down for the month of July, but no biggie. Got a new position at work, with added supervisory responsibilities, but no pay raise yet. I hope this strategic move works out for me. 🤞🏾
 
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TM(21) is really into this 'rainbow sandwich' right now. It just needs some blue (but he doesn't like cheese.  & I mean, I saw some bright blue gouda cheese the other day at the store).  I just happened to walk by and it looked pretty.  Yes, that is a monkey plate.
 

The scones were *amazing*.  I might try another scone recipe today, to use up some expiring cream.  Very much an 'ingredients already on hand' recipe.
Edited to add:  Oh...
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I wasn't trying to get a perfect score but I sometimes wondered if it was attainable. So now I know it is. To summarize what I've done over the years, I accumulated about a dozen credit cards with over $100K of available credit on them while utilizing just 1 or 2% of that credit, and of course I always pay in full on time. I also paid off a recent car loan earlier this year so that installment credit also helped reinvigorate my credit history since I paid off my home mortgage...
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