A blogger at rest.

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It’s been a while. A really long while. I wish I could say that I’ve been off saving the world, or crafting a best-selling novel, or doing anything else that might justify a 33-day vacation from posting here.

What’s actually been happening is a mix of the usual reasons (holidays, winter challenges, the chance to do extra work) plus an end-of-life situation affecting a family member (and, to some extent, me).

The cumulative impact was that my off-duty writing slowed to a trickle (18 posts in three months) and ultimately stalled.

The longer I didn’t write, the more anxious I became that:

  • I’d run out of things to say, and
  • That I’d need to come up with a super-skookum topic in order to justify the lengthening absence.

Which, of course, led to performance anxiety. I can’t think of anything interesting to write about my own life, and no money-related topics are speaking to me right now.

To paraphrase Newton’s first law of motion, a blogger at rest tends to stay at rest unless it’s acted upon by an outside force. In my case, a pair of forces finally came into play:

My own conscience, and

Comments from readers, both here and on my daughter’s site.

 

So here’s a quick rundown of what’s been going on.

 

The holidays

 

They were just what I wanted: low-key, pleasant, blessed. As always, I declined to go into debt at Christmas yet had a decent selection of presents due to a combination of the usual suspects:

  • Clearance sales
  • Cashing in points from rewards programs like Swagbucks, Coke.com and MyPoints
  • Cashing in more points from my rewards credit cards
  • Thrift-store hardbacks
  • A touch of regifting
  • Items I picked up at the Financial Blogger Conference (T-shirts and a handful of stocking stuffers)
  • More stocking stuffers via Kroger’s “Free Friday Downloads” program
  • The Buy Nothing Facebook page

On Christmas morning I went to my niece’s to watch her (now-teenage) sons open their gifts, then ate orange cinnamon rolls and bacon with them. Pleasant, sweet and best of all, my niece didn’t go into debt for Christmas, either.

DF and I kept our usual bargain: Holiday and birthday gifts are not required, and the only ones we can exchange must have stirring tales of thrift attached. So I gave him another FinCon find: an insulated stainless-steel tumbler promoting The Girlfriend, a new AARP online publication for Gen X women. The tumbler bears the phrase, “Because everyone needs a girlfriend,” a sentiment with which DF completely agrees. He uses it most evenings: first for an adult beverage and then for water.

New Year’s Eve was completely uneventful, and I was just fine with that. In fact, I didn’t even bother to stay up to count down the year. Frankly, I was glad to see the ass-end of 2019. However, I was awakened by numerous fireworks going off in the middle of the night, so I was sorta-kinda awake for 2020’s arrival.

(Fun fact: Fireworks are illegal in Anchorage. You wouldn’t know that in my neighborhood.)

 

Scenes from a cold snap

 

Starting around the New Year, we started a nice long cold spell. For nearly four weeks the temperature went above zero only briefly, and then only to a few degrees. One day we had an errand to do across town, and it was fun to watch the thermometer on the car change.

  • Parked in front of our house: 2 degrees
  • Out on the cul-de-sac: 0 degrees
  • At the main road: 3 below zero
  • About a mile down the road: 5 below zero
  • Four miles later: 17 below zero

Earlier this week the temperature hopped up to about 20 degrees and the snow began to fall. Then a weird blast of wind came through and it was 30 degrees. The next morning it was safely back down to the low single digits.

One Sunday morning the church organist reported seeing 25 below on his way over to services. That’s plenty cold for me, thanks. It doesn’t have to be show-offy cold, like Fairbanks. I remember one year when it was 60 below zero there for a couple of weeks straight, and when it warmed up to 40 (still below!), residents reported that it felt warm.

I kind of get that. Yesterday I was walking through 10 degrees (above) with no hat or gloves and my coat unzipped. It didn’t feel particularly cold.

DF rejoices in the new snow, given his possession of a senior weekday ski pass. He’s had to skip a few days due to heavy clouds/fog that keep him from being able to see where he’s going. Thus far the cold hasn’t kept him from going out, though. He just adds more layers. Bless his heart.

 

That extra gig

 

Happy to get the work, mind you, but…It’s an early gig. As in, “If you could get started by 7 a.m. that would be great.” Big yawns from me, because I. Love. My. Sleep. Especially in the winter! Mornings find me huddled next to the Seasonal Affective Disorder light and drinking tea while attending to my new duties.

Trouble is, if I don’t watch out the contracting job absorbs too much of my day. Then I get a late start on whatever freelance pieces are due. By early evening, I am bushed. More to the point, I don’t want to spend the rest of the evening buried in a screen – I want to spend it with my partner, or my BFF, or my niece and her sons.

Still seeking work-life balance. But I can’t deny that the extra income is pleasant.

 

A lingering sadness

 

Without compromising anyone’s privacy, I’ll sketch out the basics. A family member’s beloved partner is dying. The partner has already beaten the doctor’s initial prognosis by a couple of months, and they’ve generally been good months. But the end is clearly near, and the family member has been dignified but also quietly distraught.

I’ll miss the partner, and am so sorry that the family member is being left behind. There’s little I can do, other than send over a lot of baked goods; even someone who sleeps a lot and whose appetite is waning will perk up at the sight of homemade pie, cake or cookies.

And there’s little I can say, because this grief can’t be healed. It can only be accepted and put into perspective, and I’m not sure how much that’s going to happen. (Hint: The family member is 92 years old.)

But there’s a selfish component, too. Since DF and I got such a late start, I’m acutely aware that we probably won’t get the four-plus decades that this couple got. While I’m usually pretty good about celebrating every hour we do get, watching this end-of-life scenario play out has reminded me that I have (many!) more years behind me than I have in front of me.

Thus when I spend waaay too many hours working, I have to ask myself: How much more do I need, and how long will it take me to get it?

Short answer: In three years I’ll be eligible for Medicare. At that point I won’t have to worry about paying for health insurance and I’ll be able to take on as little work as I please. For now, I soldier on.

 

The bottom line

 

I hate that this long dry spell happened. Well, scratch that: I hate that I allowed this to happen. There’s likely a solution, which from where I sit looks like this: Not spending so much time working and also creating reasonable goals, such as “a minimum of one post per week plus others when I feel inspired/have the time.”

I’ve also thought about rebranding, as the kids say. Instead of focusing so much on money, I’d stir in more of the lifestyle pieces (which I’ve been doing anyway), more essays and maybe even some fiction. One of the thoughts I’ve had lately is rewriting some stuff I did a couple of decades ago and putting it up on Amazon. It could happen.

I do still feel that I have stories to tell. What I need is to get out of my own way, cut myself some slack (but not too much!) and not burn out.

To that end: I know I’ve asked this before, but…Who has topics they’d like to suggest? Articles they wish they could find? I can’t promise I’d tackle them all, but it’s always good to have outside-source grist for the writing mill.

Thanks for hanging in there during the dark days of my personal winter.

 

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49 thoughts on “A blogger at rest.”

  1. How lovely to see you back Donna! You have been living life and germinating some interesting things to come, I have no doubt. And thanks for the AARP site nod, I am in the demographic and a member thanks to an older hubby who is also frugal.

    Reply
  2. There is a season for everything. It’s your season for work, then rest.
    I love reading about your life in Alaska – the garden, the moose, the cold, the long summer days. Perhaps some recipes from DF?

    Reply
    • I’ve been toying with the idea of running some of his/our recipes that use up everything, but am afraid some people would run screaming from the (virtual) room.

      For example, the smoothie that I’m drinking right now has…burned rhubarb in it. Let me explain. Two years ago when I planned to make and can rhubarb compote for my homemade yogurt, DF offered to cook it in one big batch outdoors, using his deep-fried turkey setup. Well, the flame was too high and the stuff scorched — not horribly, but noticeably enough that I simply could not use it for yogurt. We jarred it up anyway because he vowed to use it somehow and he hated to waste the food.

      It’s been mixed into homemade barbecue sauce and chili, and it does just fine in the smoothies because the other ingredients (berries, banana, yogurt) hide the scorchiness. There’s an ever-so-faint hint of it, but I’ve actually grown to like the flavor.
      Would the world have ended if we had tossed the stuff? No. Am I glad we didn’t toss it? Sure. But some people would say, “Eeeewwww, you’re eating burned stuff on purpose, you cheap bastards? Unsubscribe!”

      It’s just that if you’ve ever been hungry — and both of us have — then you view all food as valuable. While I wouldn’t push the limit by eating meat that smells funny (got food poisoning as kid that way), I try to be a good steward of my resources. (And a better stewer of rhubarb.)

      Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment.

      Reply
  3. Yes, welcome back! And also yes, you were missed. A lot. The only idea I can offer for a possible topic is Medicare/health insurance/returning to “real” work. My husband turned 65 in August and was forced to retire, due to ongoing-and escalating-health problems and an increasingly nervous employer (can’t say I blame them). So, now he’s on Medicare. But I lost my health insurance because I was on his plan (I’m self-employed). And I’m 59. I had to decline COBRA (I can’t afford it) and got instead a short term medical insurance policy. Very less than ideal (large deductible, doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions (thank God I’m healthy), renews annually with a known premium increase, not great coverage). I’ve been self-employed for years, but the industry I work in (oil and gas) is dying, and I haven’t worked much at all since July. What’s a girl to do? I’m looking for a “real” job with benefits, but I have no interest in staying in the same type of work. I plan/pray to work until 70 so I can get my maximum Social Security benefit. To say things have been stressful is an understatement. I can’t qualify for anything through the Marketplace, and, because we live in the least populated state in the US, I can’t afford the one plan that’s available (upwards of $18K/year). TMI I know. Anyway, just a suggestion.

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  4. I, as usual, enjoyed your piece!
    At first my husband and I thought we would not celebrate too many years together. But next year we’ll ll hit the 20 Year Mark. So yay for us second timers.
    It appears you are at a stage in your life where you can relax a bit. Enjoy it! Some new ideas will come to mind.
    Like to travel?? Come and visit me…

    Reply
  5. Glad you’re back! I’d be very interested in more stories about your and DF’s adventures in cooking and baking. I’m doing a no-spend/replacements-only year so bright ideas on reusing and repurposing stuff would be welcome.

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  6. Oh, I feel ya. My blog stays empty most of the month. Not motivated, busy with life. But when I do write, I feel better.

    To answer your question of what you could write, I’m very fascinated with Alaska and life there. You mention some, but I’m sure you have tons more info, right? We will be going to Alaska via cruise ship, and I know that’s only a glimpse, so I would love to know more.

    Also, since being retired from my law job, I would love to dabble in virtual assistant stuff. Would you elaborate on what you do?

    We’ve had an unseasonably warm and sunny winter so far (relative, of course). Mostly 40’s. I’m loving it, as S.A.D. affects me big time. I try to get out as much as I can.

    Thanks Donna! Stay Warm!!!

    Reply
    • Can’t really talk about my contract work, but what I can do is suggest that you head over to SideHusl.com, a site that rates the different kinds of side gigs — including some we probably would never find on our own. Its founder, Kathy Kristof, is a longtime personal finance writer who aims to make her site the Consumer Reports of side hustles.

      Will you be in Anchorage, or only going as far as Southeast on the cruise? If you’ll be in town and will have time, let’s meet for coffee. I live very close to the airport so I’ll make sure you don’t miss your flight.

      Reply
  7. I, too, have noticed your absence and missed you. I have been on medicare for 10 years and I love it! It is more than worth the $145 a month that comes out of my social security check each month, as well as the many freebie benefits. As far as what to write about—Would now be the time to share with your readers the article I sent you a year or two ago about the newspaper boy and the money lesson he learned from one of his elderly customers? I know you could elaborate on that one to the edification and pleasure of your readers. BTW, I too, have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and though we haven’t had an excessive amount of snow or cold this year in New England, the lack of light has really gotten to me. I am hanging on to the fact that my favorite day of the year is only 5 weeks away—the beginning of Daylight Saving Time.

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  8. Glad that you were taking a break and not that you had illness going on in your family. I am heading for 69 and my hubby is just about 72. Lately, I too, have been thinking a lot about mortality, as he has a lot of health problems. We are married 48 years. I do imagine what the lady is going through as my hubby has already had a bout with cancer. I feel really sorry for her, but like you said there isn’t much you can do but be there if she needs you. On another note, how does your furnace stay going when it is that cold up there, or do you use a wood furnace all the time? I am in PA and it always seems, when it was really cold, even with a fall inspection and cleaning, that the more my furnace runs, the quicker it seems to go down. Then I end up having to spend more money even though it was just checked out-LOL! I am glad for medicare too. I do have a supplement in addition, but often wonder if it is worth it. I had to be on obama care for 3 years till I was able to get on medicare. That was a godsend, but the last year, It went up so for me that I could only afford one plan and had to give up the doctors and hospital that I usually go to. Thank God that I didn’t have to use it for those 9 months till Medicare kicked in. Glad you are ok! I know we will continue to read your posts when you can write, and when you don’t, we understand! Take care!

    Reply
    • We keep the thermostat fairly low (generally no more than 62) and use the fireplace insert (actually a little wood stove) to supplement it on particularly chilly days. Because the house is fairly small, it’s easy to heat. We’re on a flat monthly plan of $100 per month for natural gas, which covers heat, hot water and cooking (which we do a lot of, as readers know). Any leftover funds at the end of the year get used up before we pay them again — and we get a $25 credit for paying a year’s worth at a time.

      Cliche time: It’s a dry cold, whereas Pennsylvania tends to be humid. Put another way: When it’s 30 degrees in Philly it feels pretty dank. When it’s 30 degrees in Anchorage, people don’t bother zipping up their coats or even putting on gloves.

      Thanks for reading, and for leaving acomment.

      Reply
  9. Sooo glad you’re back, Donna. My dark imagination was having a field day in your absence. I’m sorry that there is a terminal health situation in your family, but thankful that it isn’t end-of-life or end-of-health for you or DF.

    I like your homey topics about cooking and preserving, along with frugal home and shopping tactics. Your “Using Every Bit of Food” post from several years ago is taped to my refrigerator door & I refer to it often.

    Articles about Alaska would be wonderful. It’s the one travel destination that I’d be willing to board a ship (again) to make. I know it’s dicey to veer into politically tinged topics, but how about some observations about how the climate/weather is changing in Alaska and how it’s affecting the lives of both the humans and other living creatures that call it home.

    Just so thankful that you are ok, and that you don’t seem intent on pulling the plug on the best writing in the blogsphere.

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  10. It may have been a break but I’m all the more appreciative for the post now. I love your frugal lifestyle stories and would like to see some of your older work. I’m sorry to hear about your family member. From the title I was worried you were going to give up the blog, I’m glad that’s not the case!

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  11. Welcome back Donna. I’ve missed you but figured life got in the way. I know it gets that way for us. I’m really lucky insurance wise since my husband has military retiree insurance, but the benefits seem to erode each year. I won’t be ready for medicare for 3 more years.

    Anything you want to write about it is fine with me.

    I am also interested in hearing about your current “side hustle” as I am looking for some work I can do from home for a few hours a week.

    I work part-time as a volunteer for a local pet rescue organization and love it, but wouldn’t mind a bit more paying work. I am a secret shopper but only work a few days a month (by choice).

    Reply
    • I’d suggest you hit up SideHusl.com, a site run by a woman I know who’s a longtime personal finance writer and determined to present the good, the bad and the ugly of the freelance life. Her site gives people tips on jobs they probably could never find on their own.

      I hear you on the paying-work thing. Am hoping to keep writing even after I officially retire, whenever that happens. Seriously: Check out SideHusl.com and see if anything resonates. I think you’d be a natural for focus groups, mock juries and the like.

      Reply
  12. I noticed you were missing in action for a while, but hang in there. At least I know I’m not the only one who has had their share of ups and downs the last couple months.

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  13. I also thought you were going to tell us that you’re ending the blog. Thank Goodness, that’s not the case! Don’t feel bad about being absent for a while, we all understand that life, and work, gets in the way.
    Stories that focus on Alaska, it’s history, culture, and current happenings would be great. Also, your stories about cooking and recipes are always interesting, even if they make me envious. ;o)

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  14. It is always nice to hear from you, Donna! I do favor quality over quantity and I enjoy your unique voice and thoughtful commentary.

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  15. So glad to have you back!! DH and I are both at the age where we have many more years behind us than we have ahead of us but we’re determined to enjoy each and every year we’re given. Living on a fixed income I enjoy your frugal living stories/ideas.

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  16. Donna! So glad to hear you’re still around, though I’m sorry life’s thrown some curveballs your way. Everyone needs a break once in a while.

    I’ve recently resumed my blog, and reaslized to my chagrin that I didn’t blog once in 2019. My last preveious post was around Christmas 2018, and I began again in January 2020. An inattentive reader could be forgiven for not noticing an entire missing year.

    MrH and I lost a close personal friend a few days before Christmas. She was initially given a few months to live, but even that much wasn’t in the cards. I don’t think she ever realized how much, and by how many people, she’ll be missed.

    I think the transition from a topical to a personal blog may be part of a blog’s natural evolution. At some point you run out of things to say, or new ways to say them. Nearly seven years after losing my sight, my blindness just isn’t interesting to me. It still affects my life, as money and finance touch just about everyone’s, but I’m much more interested in writing about life as a whole than that one facet of it.

    I’d be interesting in reading just about anything you’d care to write down. Daily life, childhood memories, fiction. I don’t read many blogs anymore, but yours is one of the ones I keep up with, and there’s a reason for that—you have interesting things to say.

    If I come up with some topic suggestions, I’ll swing by here and let you know.

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  17. Oh, Donna, every time I clicked on your site and saw the bacon, well, guess what I had to cook? Yep. I also gained weight, but I can hardly blame you…just the picture of the bacon did it for me.
    I love anything you write.
    Keep that tremendous talent you have well-honed.

    I only spent $70 on Christmas, not counting the dinner I cooked for a bunch of people who had no place to go. We were about 8 strong, determined to not be alone on this holiday. After a home-made cherry pie (Yes!! It even turned out to be good), we played a game that you usually play with grand kids under the age of 5 and had such a screaminingly good time. We ranged in ages of 65 to 75 and were laughing so hard we thought the neighbors would complain. At my age we take friends for family and enjoy every second.
    I have lost 2 good people in my life this year and I keenly miss them. All we can do is cope.
    How about articles and comments on the best memories of the year, or times when we were most down and were able to come back. You might tackle such questions as how many clothes do we really need, or what to do with the china we inherited from family, or how to rebuild a life gone wrong…oh, just some ideas.
    By the by, I love your readers’ comments. Lots of good common sense here on this blog.

    Bless you this coming year.

    Reply
  18. Hello Donna! Good to hear from you, I too have missed your posts! Glad all is well with you and DF, sorry to hear about your family members health issue.
    I’ll read anything you write, I also do love to read about daily life in Alaska, and how you “make lemonade out of lemon rinds”…, or soup out of freezer scraps! Fun fact – my co-workers now come direct to me when cleaning up after an office luncheon/pot luck to see if I want anything before they throw it out 🙂 I think of you when I carry out my free groceries…and am learning to re-purpose and stretch a lot of items!!
    The weather in Tarpon Springs is lovely, hope you visit soon!!

    Reply
    • Last fall DF made pumpkin juice out of pumpkin rinds. Not making that up. We’d pared the pumpkin in order to roast it and freeze the pulp for pieces, and since normally we put squash rinds into the boiling bag I thought I’d freeze the copious rinds* in small portions to be divided among future bags. Instead, DF decided to put all of them into the slow cooker.

      The result was a very orange and fairly sweet liquid. It’s still in the freezer because we’ve had sooo many broths to use up, but now it has a purpose: When I get back from Arizona, I’m going to use it to make chili (will need a hearty meal to get back into cold-weather mode). Since I’ve taken to adding pumpkin pulp to chili (try it — really good!), we figured that pumpkin-rind juice might be an interesting experiment. I’ll also add tomatoes and the seasoned black-bean broth that’s also in the freezer, drained from a batch of black beans I made in the slow cooker and froze flat in Ziploc bags.

      I’ll use whatever meat or poultry we have around plus pinto beans that I’ll make in the slow cooker before I start the chili. Which of course means…another batch of broth drained and frozen. #greatcycleoffrugality

      *Copious Rinds is the name of my next rock band.

      Reply
  19. I have never commented before but read your blog for a long time time and even entered a few contests- once a long time ago I won a Walmart gift card so thank you. I was wondering if you’ve ever read money diaries? It’s for a younger group of women but it’s a week in their lives and what they spend their money on. I always wonder what women in their 50’s 60’s and beyond could share and help to encourage others with advice and support. Just a thought but I enjoy reading about how women can make lemons out of lemonade and think we need more women helping and and encouraging all generations to see how life is for so many with so little. Hope the winter treats you and your DF warmly and with happiness in your lives.

    Reply
  20. I enjoy your BFFs little sayings and anything you write.
    To the lady asking about climate change: The Harding Ice Shield’s Exit Glacier has markers where the glacier has retreated with the dates on them. Sobering to see how it has accelerated melting/retreating.
    Loved my Alaska visit.

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  21. I would love to see some recipes, food prep and preservation and garden tips. I have to juice and freeze into cubes about 100 Meyer lemons this weekend and I like to read about your gardening and cooking adventures.

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  22. Thank you for posting, Donna. I agree with the other commenters: you’ve been missed!

    Being a witness to someone’s illness, decline, and ultimate passing can make one pensive. In my own experience, sometimes that witness bears fruit in the form of insight and increased compassion towards others. Sometimes, witnessing leads to pure grief, and grief is HARD. Peace to you and your family during this time.

    I’ve always enjoyed the challenge months that you’ve hosted here on your blog, like the No Spend and Saved Savings months. What about a Sybaritic Frugality month, when we find small ways to savor life with minimal to no out-of-pocket expense? Or how about a Frugal Self-Care month, when we take small steps to improve our physical and psychological health? Part of what keeps me reading frugal blogs are the ideas I learn from bloggers as well as their commenters. I think new challenges could help us all think more creatively and come up with ideas that might benefit many.

    Observations about Alaska’s natural world are always welcome blog material for this nature nerd. Have you ever written about your local bird population?

    Reply
  23. I missed you Donna and am so glad you are doing well. I am so sorry about your relative. My Mom is 92 and not in great condition either so my thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending hugs and all good wishes from Chicago.

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  24. Glad you had a rest, glad to see you back, you just keep doing whatever you need to! 🙂

    Topic idea: Retirement when there’s a decade+ age difference with your spouse. I know multiple couples with a large age gap, and it creates some interesting challenges.

    Reply
  25. Glad you’re back, I missed reading your blog. It’s ok, life happens and has its own schedule. Possible topic: Any tips or references for a family of three needing to budget better? It’s just myself, my husband and our 6 year old son (plus a cat who does well with little thankfully). Having some money issues right now. Thank you for everything!

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  26. The Jersey girl in exile in Louisiana says, “thanks for coming back!” and jubilation all around, we made it to the New Year! Cheers! Ldc

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  27. My (second) husband and I married in our early forties. My aunt and uncle had recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary and I was lamenting the fact to my uncle that DH and I would never live to see that. He looked at me with surprise and said “No, but you’ll probably make your 40th.” I realized then how lucky I was to find a man like DH and any amount of years with him was better than never finding him at all. I’m 60 now and we already have 18 years together. Yay for Love!

    So happy to hear from you and to know you had some time for yourself and your loved ones.

    Reply
  28. Wondered where you were. I have followed you since your early days, when you were writing about frugality and sharing your own life as an example. I recall your articles on surviving on about $12,000 year. I was inspired by your incredibly real and helpful suggestion from cooking at home to sharing what you were doing to get groceries for less money than most people were perhaps spending on gourmet coffee beans, however you have the hindsight to see what it was like and how you got locked and loaded on moving forward. Congrats. Your articles from back in the day helped me, and I am sure many others. Tips on saving on a limited income, and saving on food are always interesting and very necessary for low income folks. They (I) read your blog for help.
    So you needed a rest, we all do. May I respectfully suggest “nitty gritty” articles for many of us who are doing better, but boy we still strive to survive. The economy has not been kind to all. Maybe a “get back to basics” primer on frugality for 20220. Thanks for returning to your blog.

    Reply
  29. Thought I posted to say welcome back, but I think my comment disappeared into the vapors. Glad to see the Arizona article, too. I would love some frugal hack ideas for free or low cost entertainment ideas. Semi-retiring (whatever that means) on 3/1. I have had so little free time during my work career- I am excited to finally have more of it. I also agree that maybe a frugality series would be great.

    Reply
  30. As everyone has said, “welcome back !” Motivation gets harder and harder as we get older I think. Even for things we love
    I would be interested in your take on how to buy quality products (clothing, bedding, cookware, a hammer for crying-out-loud) in the sea of Chinese junk, and any insight you have into getting “deals” on prescription drugs. Many of the sites and memberships are over-stated and do little to help. I know there are a million plus options but maybe some basic tips?
    Looks like from the comments you have much to choose from for new topics. Best wishes and keep the good stuff coming!

    Reply

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