While Brian was away this week, I spent my late nights developing our 2008 budget. Moving back from Canada to the United States, we lost all of our ex-pat salary perks bringing our salary back to reality. Also, we lost the company car, therefore, increasing some of our fixed costs like auto insurance, maintenance, gas, etc. Our medical expenses are triple what they were 2 years ago with new cost sharing on prescriptions and higher deductibles. Utility costs are up, taxes are higher, and gas is through the roof. It has been very sobering to determine the only way of living in our means is to cut back on our controllable costs, and I mean this literally. One of the areas we had to cut in half - our booze cost. This means two things for Brian and me - 1) drink less or 2) drink mass produced beer in lieu of our micro-brews. I can't decide which is worse.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Sobering 2008 Budget
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Gad! That is a dilemma. Is there nothing else you can do, like give up gasoline?
ReplyDeleteEtcetera (Blog Hopper)
Once you taste the microbrews, it does make it tough. Good luck with your decision!
ReplyDeleteBloghopping in..
(Pomtini)
Yes, I feel your pain. I gave up vino a year ago (medical reasons) and was soo, sooo sad. I got over it, though.
ReplyDeleteI guess a cold beer with lime and salt on a hot summer day hits the spot...now my mouth is watering!
Oof, that'd be tough! I happen to live near New Belgium Brewery, so if I'm kinda broke or tight, I can always do the tour and get free samples! There's also two other great microbreweries within 2 minutes of there.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Darrin, aka "Make Shift Sinatra" from the Weekend BlogHopper crew
Oh, I hear you on the returning from Canada shock. My Hubby and I moved to the states a little over a year ago. Wow, what a difference.
ReplyDeleteBTW, where in Canada were you?
Oh yeah, I probably should have mentioned that I am Blog Hopping. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your dilemma. Try giving up clothes and just move to a nudist colony! =)
ReplyDeleteChristina
Ahhh Not the Mass Produced Beers!!!
ReplyDeleteA Man Among Mommies (Blog Hopper)
I vote for throwing a stock the fridge and wine rack party but then only have people stay for 2 hours. This will ensure they will not consume more than they brougth :-)
ReplyDeleteI will bring more wine next time;-
HUDSON
Oh my. I say go for eating Top Ramen and keep drinking (a lot) of the good beer. But that's just me!
ReplyDeleteI see you got 10 comments on this post (not counting mine). Man, you hit a nerve with this one.
ReplyDeleteOh the trails and tribulations of the BEER SNOB! I am lucky (or unlucky) enough that I lost my ability to taste beer many years ago. Just open mouth, bend elbow, repeat.
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