Feeling little control over my life in general, I lean into frugality to feel better. Last month my total expenses - minus the extra money I paid on mortgage principal - was about $1,700. If I were to get a roommate and cut back luxury purchases in food and miscellaneous (there were a couple kingcakes in there to share, baby gifts, GoFundMe contribution, a traffic ticket), I could get down to $1,000 per month. That's without any large purchases required like car repairs*, and I keep the major house repairs separate because they are one-time and still paid for by insurance and then from a special savings account I have for this purpose.
I wish I could get electricity consumption down but it peaks in winter - I have inefficient furnaces and water heaters that I don't plan to replace until they die; we're on two different units with my tenant and she keeps her apartment comfortable for her. I keep my temperature at 58-60 in winter and 78-80 in summer. If I got a roommate I'd have to be more reasonable. I also wouldn't have any indoor storage if I got a roommate because that's the only real closet in the house, so it has become my hurricane prep locker (and vacuum and bedding, etc.).
I withdrew from school hopefully in time to get a partial tuition reimbursement, and I'm returning all the books I just ordered. I am expecting a large income tax refund soon. My student loan is supposed to be starting up again with payments in May, but I'm hoping that it will be finished around then - at the latest in August (waiting on resolution of an issue). It has been wonderful to have no student loan payments the past couple of years; it's usually about $650/month which is nothing to sneeze at. I do need to take care of health issues while I am employed where I am - it seems to be the best health insurance I've ever had. They haven't required me to even pay a deductible. So I really should get that shoulder issue looked at. And the mammogram and pap and dentist and all the unpleasant things.
This house deserves more credit than I give it - I've had it six years without any large expenses until now. It was time to put money back into it. When I left a few years ago and had roommate and cheaper house insurance, I was spending nothing on housing; then my tenants covered the mortgage and basic costs. Plus I save money by growing food here in the large yards, and a safe place for the hound to run. It's been a really good house for me in so many ways and I need to stop dissing it.
I know that I need to make more money. Before I can consider retirement I need a much fatter IRA and a paid off house not in a natural disaster zone. I cannot be assured that I can live so cheaply forever - heck, quitting my job will immediately bump up my expenses for health insurance, and I absolutely must stay where I am until I vest for pension in about eight more months. So I need to feel better about where I am.
My anxiety levels are through the roof from pandemic and disaster and chaotic workplace. But I need to remind myself how very very lucky I am. And even if the only control I can feel sometimes is for being frugal, then that's ok.
*I have had the same used pickup since 2002. Though it does require repairs from time to time, it's a great vehicle. Just not very fuel efficient, and if I were to bicycle to work that would reduce gas expenses. Once the house repairs are done and I can get access to my bicycle again and don't need to rush home midday, I will commit to that.
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