I'm not sure that I really have any budget advice. I've found that, for me, it's helpful to have something I'm saving for, and when I'm trying to decide between some options (like, do I take leftovers for lunch, or buy lunch), I phrase it to myself as "Would I rather have this little thing now, or the bigger thing later?" and I usually choose the bigger thing later.

Right now, though, I'd really like to just be able to get to sleep. Codeine is doing nothing.

Dana, post marked.

javachik, thanks and I'll ping her.

meara, yes it is.

I hope you're having fun at the courtyard, smonster!

t smishes you

eta my rent (w/out utilities) will be about 35% of my takehome pay. That's not too bad, right?

I am awful with budgets, so I may be very wrong, but I don't think that sounds awful, but it depends on how much your utilities are going to cost you. Good luck to you, regardless.

Dana, post is marked.

meara, yes.

javachik, thanks, I'll ping her.

Nora, it was not quite the relaxing time I'd hoped for. K's HS friends' husbands started messing with me from minute one, and I just wasn't in the mood. So I had one beer and came home. Time for bed.

Thanks for the love, y'all.

Good luck, smonster. I am absolute crap with budgets, so I have no helpful advice. I hope you sleep well.

Practically every time I've watched an old episode of this show and then googled the family, though, I've found articles about how the house was falling apart or things didn't work right or the new house ended up creating a bunch of new stress, which seems like the worst thing for someone with PTSD.

Yeah, the home makeover house they did out here on the rez was a serious disaster.

Meant to say, knowing what I know about how long building or even renovating a house generally takes? I am saddened but not surprised at all. My uncle actually did HVAC work on a house they did in Savannah, I wonder what he thinks of it all.

I believe rent or mortgage at about one-third of paycheck is about right, actually. I am pretty good with budgets, so if you need help, I am happy to provide it.

smonster I think most financial resources say your housing should be 30% of your income. I'm not sure if that includes utilities so it sounds like you are doing okay.

I think some places say it should be 25% but I think a lot of it depends on where you live.

I am terrible with budgets and my impulse control is really bad.

One book you may want to read is Money The Missing Manual by JD Robb, has some good info. He has runs a blog - Get Rich Slowly - getrichslowly.org. He has different bloggers doing articles so there's a variety of info/POV plus he does Reader Stories. and the comments are usually robust and interesting. However, there are some people with fairly...conservative views on certain issues. One blogger did an article on DYI health and beauty products. Based on some people's reactions you would have thought she suggested everyone bath in kitten blood.

but I only need to use it occasionally for allergies, so I haven't had a chance to build up a tolerance.

Ah, the promised land of fewer allergies, I like that land and want to live there. Where Benedryl wasn't needed to even pretend to breathe.