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Medical Costs and Health

Medical costs can really eat up a budget and poor health has an extreme negative influence on your life. We all know that exercising and eating right have a huge effect on your health, and it isn't my intention to remind you of something you already know.  For me I love Karate, but stubborn tendinitis and back spasms have kept me on the sidelines, however, I also love walking and try to do it daily, weather cooperating.  Increasing vegetables and intermittent fasting (no food after dinner) have helped with weight. Perhaps the most important relationship is your family doctor and specialist for specific conditions. Yearly physicals with in depth blood and urine tests can catch things quickly.  For example early stage cancer can throw off your blood work and cause part of the blood test to come back bad.  Nagging pains should also be described, you are not being a complainer but your pain to could early indication of a serious problem. Knowing your health plan is impor...
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Eat In

Tonight we had the neighbors over for dinner.  I cooked up some ribs, and they brought a wonderful pasta salad.  We shared stories and heartache.   Good times.  I hope we get to meet with Eric and Cynthia again.   This highlights the frugal lifestyle.  We meat Eric when we fixed our mailboxes together.  Eric suggested we get together, we scheduled it for this week.  It was a great time and cost me two rack of ribs, and a bottle of tequila. It was good getting to know them. Much better than meeting at a restaurant or similar.  Much more intimate. We all have social needs and the desire to get to know others.  However this doesn't mean frugality needs to be set aside.  I make a mean rack of ribs. And Cynthia clearly makes a mean potato salad.  Clearly frugality and fellowship won the day! TheLateFrugal
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Preventing Lifestyle Inflation

 One of the biggest concepts on our way to financial independence (FI) was to prevent lifestyle inflation.  When we hit our 50s we hit our peak earning years, and the urge to by a vacation home, fancy new car, remodel the house, and take fancy vacations was overwhelming.  However, we knew the FI lifestyle did not lie with a vacation home.  We made it our goal to stay the course, and the raises went into 401k, IRA, etc. The stress free life style of being financially independent isn't worth anything fancy. Once we retire we can enjoy some of these things.  We strive to take a good vacation every year, and we like to camp in the woods locally with our 1998 camper trailer.  This seems like a good alternative to a vacation home, and you get to see other places. The RE (Retire Early) in FIRE is rather perplexing. I cant imagine sitting in a chair reading most of the day and chewing the fat with the neighbor.  I will probably work on this blog, maybe convert...
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General Electric

Tonight I looked at my refrigerator, and stove.  The General Electric symbol displays proudly.  To me I wonder why the General Electric label shows up so proudly.  Part of minimalism and frugality to me is to avoid luxury brands.  GE isn't a luxury brand.  It means blue collar but will work good.  Maybe Whirlpool and Highpoint mean similar.  It means half the price of stainless steel or fancy smart screens.  It means functionality.  Now cheapest isn't always frugal.  Glass shelves in the refrigerator help clean up messes.  A delicate cycle saves on the dry cleaning bill.  It is with battle scars we learn frugal isn't always cheap.  I bet you have a similar journey. There seems go be a cost point of basic brands with typical functionality.  The lure of luxury may not be the path to a reliable model and total cost of ownership. TheLateFrugal
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Minimalist Me?

A coworker told me that he heard I was a minimalist. Obviously he read this blog.  This caused a moment of reflection because I see so much in my home that probably could go.  I told him I was a minimalist back slider.  Perhaps many who strive for frugality and minimalism look in the mirror and wonder if they make the cut.  Yes we listened to minimalist pod casts, and we occasionally select a closest or room to minimalize.  However when does one arrive and can wear the minimal badge proudly? I immediately wanted to tell my coworker of my excess in the early 2000s that lead to my bankruptcy,  living off credit cards and living the American debt dream.  He explained he moved into a home with 500 less square feet.  I wanted to blow my horn of achieving financial independence though minimal living and frugality.  Then I realized as Solomon - it was all vanity.  I realized my greatest gift to him was to keep my mouth shut and intently listen ...
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Capsule Wardrobe

Two weeks ago I went down to a capsule wardrobe.  Six short sleeve polo, six long sleeve polo, three pairs of dress pants, a tweed sports jacket, one dress white shirt and the suit I was married in.  I also have six tee shirts, three pairs of shorts, and four sweats bottoms for around the house.  The rest went to a local thrift store.   It was the hardest thing to part with the extra clothes.  I wear the polo and dress pants to work as an engineer.  Anyone else struggle with minimalism?  To me it is also part of my faith to not waste God's resources.
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Used Car Inspection List

How to inspect a used car.  A used car that is 3-4 years old is a great way to reduce expenses. Note this list is not a substitute for having the car checked out by a professional mechanic. Questions for Owner: -Why are you selling car? -What is wrong with car? -Maintenance records or logs? . -Get carfax -Look at the title is it clean, no salvage?  -Is the title in the owner's name? -Original owner? -Was car ever in a car wreck? Before Drive: -Look in the tail pipe to see if there are huge oil deposits indicating the vechile has been burning oil. -Check the tires for even wear. -Look for uneven or misaligned body panels indicating body work after an accident -Put your body weight on each corner of car then release it.  Does car bounce excessively indicating shocks or suspension problems? -Pull top and sides of tires out with your hands.  If it moves then you may have tie rod or suspension issues. -Use a magnet to look for bondo indicating prior accidents Inside Car: ...
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