Well, my blogoversary has passed without much fanfare. I don't post much and I guess I'm kind of a lazy blogger. But even the little I've done in the past year has brought some positive changes in my life.
* While Mr H and I are unlikely to ever be on the same page, we have more productive discussions. I initiate most conversations, but every now and again he'll bring up something related to our financial life. It's progress.
* I've learned that to engage Mr H in almost anything involves stages. First he ignores what I'm saying, then I provoke him**, then he reacts, then I gently tell him that he's reacting and suggest that we look at different options to solve the problem. Then he'll come through. Kind of. It's kind of dysfunctional, but it works better than him ignoring the situation and me finally just solving the problem on my own. (That has been the dynamic for most of our marriage.) Not all of our discussions are this way, but bringing up anything new is.
* We have a budget that balances for Checkbook One. It took several months to get there. It didn't balance, really, for about five years.
* We have a grocery/food budget that balances. We have never spent that little on food. We're eating well. I actually don't mind this part. It's fun to get creative with food, and I have done it for many years. I'm just way more conscious now, trying to use leftovers before they spoil and figure out how to have great dinners with lower cost foods.
* We have an emergency fund, that is designated as an emergency fund. I feel a lot less anxious.
* We have a plan for increasing retirement savings.
Everyone here has been so kind and helpful. I have been so grateful for the support. Thank you all so much!
** Believe me, I really don't want to provoke him. However it seems to be the only way I can get him to engage.
Reflections on a year of blogging
April 19th, 2009 at 04:50 am
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