I remember describing our food budgeting process recently. We make a menu each week, buy exactly what we need to make our meals, and eat everything we make. We still buy unnecessary items like candy and soft drinks, but we’re working on cutting down those expenses. Except this week. We each bought each other candy for Valentine’s Day. My wife also bought some cookies.
We cut cable television from our budget a few years ago. We have a subscription to Netflix, but we may cancel it for a couple of months soon because my wife is busy this time of year. She borrows most of the books she reads from the library. I read most of mine on my Kindle.
Neither of us spends much on clothes. I spend far less because my tastes are simple, and my work doesn’t require fancy clothes. My wife gets her hair cut in exchange for accounting services. I haven’t had mine cut for more than a year. When I keep it short my wife cuts it for me.
We lead simple lives. We both expect to work at least part time for another ten years. She’ll be 63 next month. I’ll be 61 in June.
We’re not rich but we’re comfortable.
A Different Way 
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