Blow That Dough - 2022

[audreyh1]

Not me, I'm trying not to BTD. Gotta be sensible with all that predicted inflation just ready to smash us all to the ground.

(yeah, right, sure, uh-huh! But I'm ready either way).

In that case you are supposed to buy things BEFORE the price goes up.

 

[W2R]

In that case you are supposed to buy things BEFORE the price goes up.

Oh, THAT's how you do it!

 

[athena53]

DW and I took the kids and GK's to a planetarium show and hosted them for the weekend. The expenses were minimal except for the $750 grocery bill. No alcohol. I can't recall anything close over all the holidays and visits we've had in the past. Just a few years ago it was a blow out at the lake house with days of runs to the store and numerous gas refills for the boats. Friends of friends dropping by. All told it was less than $300.

I let go of the budget when DS and DDIL are here with the kids. The Aquarium, Joe's BBQ (on Anthony Bourdain's list of 13 places to eat before you die), one of two very good Italian restaurants that are kid-friendly, the Crayola store for art supplies. Last time I offered to buy crab legs since DS and the kids like them and their grocery budget is more frugal. He asked that I get shrimp, too. So, $50 worth of crab legs, 2 Costco-sized bags of shrimp... but they were peeled. Could I get another pound with shells on so he could use them in the broth he was making? He used that shrimp, too. Fortunately the leftovers froze nicely.

The kids are totally unspoiled- their favorite place in my house is the porch overlooking the lake where they can draw pictures and watch the birds at the feeder and we take walks around the lake.

DH and I knew we were buying a bit more house than we wanted when we downsized (and it was still a downsizing) but we wanted ot make sure it was big enough for family visits.

 

[NW-Bound]

We want to have some grandkids to spoil, but it does not look like we will have any.

So, enjoy yours. I am envious.

 

[foxfirev5]

I let go of the budget when DS and DDIL are here with the kids. The Aquarium, Joe's BBQ (on Anthony Bourdain's list of 13 places to eat before you die), one of two very good Italian restaurants that are kid-friendly, the Crayola store for art supplies. Last time I offered to buy crab legs since DS and the kids like them and their grocery budget is more frugal. He asked that I get shrimp, too. So, $50 worth of crab legs, 2 Costco-sized bags of shrimp... but they were peeled. Could I get another pound with shells on so he could use them in the broth he was making? He used that shrimp, too. Fortunately the leftovers froze nicely.

The kids are totally unspoiled- their favorite place in my house is the porch overlooking the lake where they can draw pictures and watch the birds at the feeder and we take walks around the lake.

DH and I knew we were buying a bit more house than we wanted when we downsized (and it was still a downsizing) but we wanted ot make sure it was big enough for family visits.

Nice. I guess what kind of got my goat was that the kids preferred the house in town to our lake house. A bunch of pasty faced kids that didn't want to hang out at the lake? BTW they had just sold their second lake house for that very reason.

Love them dearly but it's a whole different world from my upbringing. I've been buried alive, shot at, and washed out to sea. I really want to blow that dough. But seriously I believe it's up to DW and I to make it happen. We raised our kids to be frugal and conservative while we were absolute hellions in our younger years. Karma I guess

 

[CardsFan]

We want to have some grandkids to spoil, but it does not look like we will have any.

So, enjoy yours. I am envious.

We are in the same boat, but we are not too proud to "adopt" our friends grandkids and spoil them when ever we get a chance.

 

[Rocky mtn high]

Bought news tires for truck, jokingly said might as well bought a new truck, ouch

 

[Time2]

We want to have some grandkids to spoil, but it does not look like we will have any.

So, enjoy yours. I am envious.

I wonder if I will have any, I have 30 yr old daughter just graduated from dental school and wants to build her career. She married and got a 9 year old step son that is now 12. I'm proud that she pushed her hubby to get custody, she turned the boy around from bad grades and missing lots of school to only one day from perfect attendance and all As and one B. I know there many days she wishes she didn't take on that project, but the boy is in a much better place now. I'm not sure kids are high on her agenda, no matter how much encouragement Mom throws her way. I also have an unmarried 28 yr old son, he's looking, but so far has had a failed engagement. But maybe it will come.

 

[aja8888]

No GKids for me either. Just have a 42 year old daughter that didn't want children. DW has three from her previous marriage and I like them, but it's not the same.

 

[Calico]

Nice. I guess what kind of got my goat was that the kids preferred the house in town to our lake house. A bunch of pasty faced kids that didn't want to hang out at the lake? BTW they had just sold their second lake house for that very reason.

Love them dearly but it's a whole different world from my upbringing. I've been buried alive, shot at, and washed out to sea. I really want to blow that dough. But seriously I believe it's up to DW and I to make it happen. We raised our kids to be frugal and conservative while we were absolute hellions in our younger years. Karma I guess

Which house has better internet/wifi?

 

[Souschef]

When I married my present wife, I inherited 3 grandchildren. I gave the older boy my car when his died, I have a 529 set up for the 8 year old. The older granddaughter will be starting a accelerated nursing program that costs $30 to $40 K. I am covering it. I feel there is vothing more important than her education.

 

[RobbieB]

Kids don't like a lake house? Amazing.

I'd be fishing, skipping stones, swimming, boating and just walking the lake. Wish I had a lake house. But that's OK, because I do have a River Boat -

 

[NW-Bound]

Eh, come to think of it, a big boat may be better than a lake house.

Expenses for a boat are not as bad as those of a house, plus it may provide even more pleasure.

 

[aja8888]

Eh, come to think of it, a big boat may be better than a lake house.

Expenses for a boat are not as bad as those of a house, plus it may provide even more pleasure.

Plus, if things get bad, you can live on a boat....and a car too, if things get real bad.

 

[RobbieB]

This boat is very livable. Queen size master bed, 2 bathrooms (full, sink, head and shower) 2 refrigerators, stove and oven, microwave, 3 TV's, stereo, heat and air conditioning.

But you do have to pay slip rent -

 

[aja8888]

Very nice!

I have a friend who has been living on his boat in Galveston for 5 years now. His wife passed and he sold the house to live on the boat.

 

[NW-Bound]

Gotta splurge on some lithium batteries, I tell ya.

 

[RobbieB]

It's a possibility if we get into long trips. Don't have much room on the fore deck, but I could convert the rear deck to a hard top and there would be room for lots of panels. Then the 2 house batteries could go LiFePO4 and yeah, lotta free energy -

 

[Koolau]

Spent $524 on tickets for The Nutcracker in December- taking my DIL and 2 granddaughters, both of whom are in ballet classes. Little brother, age 3, is very verbal and they don't think he'll do well there so my son will stay home with him.

It is good to be Grandma.

Heh, heh, only thing better than being Grandma is being Grandma with money!

 

[NW-Bound]

It's a possibility if we get into long trips. Don't have much room on the fore deck, but I could convert the rear deck to a hard top and there would be room for lots of panels. Then the 2 house batteries could go LiFePO4 and yeah, lotta free energy -

Even without solar, the capacity of the lithium battery will let you run the generator less often.

 

[RobbieB]

Yeah, but more entailed. Like change the inverter/charger to lithium compatible and isolate the engine batts from the house batts. Got 5 battery systems here, 2 (1and2 switched) house batts, port engine, starboard engine, generator engine.

Lotta fiberglass battery boxes down in the engine room.

 

[googily]

The view this evening from my BTD vacation home. In the three weeks since closing, I've been in a BTD tornado (new floor installation finished today), but I'm so so happy I took the plunge. Temp was about 66 with a cool breeze when I shot this, laying on my patio sofa. My thoughts about my life back at House 1 are undergoing some serious realignment.

 

[foxfirev5]

Which house has better internet/wifi?

I never thought about but I did cancel our Xfinity service at the lake house. In a very un BTD move I brought in many of these ancient artifacts called books. However when I explained this to our 10 year old he simply said " that's OK I've got unlimited data on my iphone"

 

[skyking1]

It's good to have choices, googliy. That looks quite idyllic from the patio sofa.

 

[Koolau]

The view this evening from my BTD vacation home. In the three weeks since closing, I've been in a BTD tornado (new floor installation finished today), but I'm so so happy I took the plunge. Temp was about 66 with a cool breeze when I shot this, laying on my patio sofa. My thoughts about my life back at House 1 are undergoing some serious realignment.View attachment 42980

You had me at 66 degrees!