I've kept a spreadsheet for ages and could literally tell you what I spent to the dollar in a given month from 10 years ago. Not necessarily every exact item but say if I pulled out $60 for carry around cash that I used for coffee or whatever I would just show the $60 as miscellaneous.

My main bills are all in chronological sequence as they occur through the month, with a couple annual ones (Amazon Prime membership for example) and every Sunday I update, takes less than 10 minutes. Besides keeping organized and making sure nothing ever gets missed it's a regular perspective on the larger picture.

do you make neat graphs and visuals with it?

This is a super-important point but definitely I don't think $5k is enough on a typical single-family home with new homeowners, unless you can absolutely vouch for the roof to be fine for the longer term, there aren't any drainage issues to work out, that your HVAC is under warranty for a while etc etc

Longer term, decks, driveways, fencing don't last forever can cost a bit for typical households and tend to come up a little sooner than you want them to. But even the medium-smaller stuff like the occasional power wash, or maybe you have to have a tree removed or an older shed demo'd and replaced.

At least for us even in a more modest and simple SF home in good condition we're upwards of $500/month. Right now we're re-boarding a very basic 16x16 deck, even that's $1500 DIY just for the materials, but I have to pay a hauler and getting a helper for that project too. Not counting tools and things, and there are plenty of new homeowners who can't or won't DIY and would spent a lot more.

I always joke that my ex-wife could swallow two dimes and $hit a quarter. Sounds like a couple of you guys would get along fabulously with her. I fall way closer to the line of you can't take it with you when you're dead.

doing my USA tour recently, going and visiting old friends who grew up and bought houses and raised children while i was traveling and bangin floozies

so conversations naturally drift towards discussions about the house, how they found it, etc etc and about half talked about all the junk left behind (including things in the yard) and how much it was a pita to remove and then dispose of

No it's simple, not trying to make personal finance porn out of it. It's mostly when it posts, when it's due, and what it bills to. Balances, etc. Some I manually pay via checking and some to my main cash back card. Then on the spending side everything itemized with some totals broken out.

The wife and I have over 40 bills with just our personal stuff anymore. Granted about half are sub-$40 type things like the water bill or Netflix, then there's the occasional big purchase or one-off vet bill or house project. As simple as it is having this system is very informative on what we actually spend in ways we didn't always measure that well in our younger years.

Should add that we're talking about an early retirement within the next ten years which more or less means keeping expenses under half our combined income, which means keeping an extra close eye on things.

You're right; that's why I'm glad I finally realized that I needed a "fun money" account. Within reason, money unspent at death is life unlived. Don't be the richest person in the graveyard.

(Credit to those ideas to the Retirement and IRA podcast guys, Jim and Chris).

Any thoughts on these two options in terms of potential resale value or desirability? The second floor unit has white cabinets and tan floors, but you can see inside the guest bedroom and living space from the adjacent sidewalk when the blinds are down; third floor can't be seen from the sidewalk at all but it's charcoal floors and cabinets with white countertop.

Counterpoint: The secret to growing wealth is to spend less than you bring in, and to put that excess somewhere where it will grow.

I know golddog gave the standard disclaimers, and his is definitely one way to do it, but when I tried that ish, it just stressed me the eff out and took up a ton of time. Instead, my wife and I just put all our bills on autopay as soon as we were comfortable enough that we weren't afraid that would lead to overdrafts, and cut our financial advisor a check to put in the market for us whenever the checking account gets to a certain amount. Because we are frugal by upbringing, it is more challenging giving ourselves permission to spend than it is keeping spending under control

Yes, it's an oversimplification. I also ignored the tax implications of paying mortgage interest (which is not the amazing write off it once was, but is still notable if you itemize), for example. But it gives a decent approximation for illustration purposes. When the mortgage market was in the 3-4% range, for example, it would be almost criminal to pay cash when that money could be doing so much better in other, even low-risk, opportunities.

Colors are all about personal preference, though whatever is popular on HGTV at the moment becomes a lot of people's preference because they think they are supposed to like it.

If I never see another all-white or all-gray flip while house-hunting again it will be too soon.

What about being so close to the sidewalk versus one floor higher up where no one can see you for 1% more of the purchase price?

I've never bought a condo. Only houses. Couldn't tell you.

I wouldn't say a counterpoint, but additional data. I think we're describing the same thing. When your local money gets big enough, do something with it. I just made that 'something' into a few different containers, so I could simultaneously reduce debt and increase invested money.

Of course, G is 100% correct with his opening, and is a part of diligence that I implied, but didn't bring out specifically. Everyone's lifestyle and needs vs wants (real and perceived) are different. Don't deny yourselves some wants, but think about whether you get value for your dollars when spending on non-essential things.

Yeah, don't get me wrong. I wasn't saying you were wrong, just that the obsession that a lot of people see as a necessary component isn't necessarily so, especially if you don't get in a debt hole to begin with. Actually, if anyone asked me the secret to financial success, I might sum it up as "never carry any credit card debt, ever." "Don't have kids" might be a close second, though.

cards should be used to build credit, not pay off loansharks

I borrowed 50K from my bookie to start one of my businesses
I don't have an IRA or a 401k or 1 penny invested in the stock market 🤔
If I can't touch it, I don't invest in it
I retired when I was 43
YMMV

Garick's last two sentences. However, I'd reverse the order.

Some of my friends have asked me about how I was able to retire early. "You know that $250k each you spent raising kids? I bought stock."

I'm happy for people who get satisfaction/joy/whatever out of raising children. Equally glad that I realized, back at that time, that it held zero interest for me.

Agree also, and really all of the financial and career **** talk my wife or I might make ought to have an asterisk beside it. At least in my case I'm sure I'm not any smarter or harder-working than my parents were.

Credit card interest sucks though. I'm not going to be the guy to judge anybody for it and I definitely know what it's like if you go back far enough. I remember my very 1st credit card showed up in the mail approved for $2,500, circa like 30 years ago. They may as well have mailed me a bag of cash & I can even remember most of what I bought with it, almost none of which outlasted the balance on the card.

my very first day of college three different credit card companies had booths set up at the student union actively handing out applications with condoms stapled to them.

no children here either, but may pay an equal price later in life

Those cheap CC companies spent their budget on stamps to mail us their applications. At least I hope I didn't unwittingly toss dozens off condoms into the post office trash cans in those days.

From what I've seen and heard if you live long enough your children will become your parents. Here's hoping you don't need supervision in your old age!

perfect example of paying an equal price later in life
raise 'em right and they might still willingly take care of what's left of you
otherwise financially prepare for a hired surrogate family
remind me again the difference between -ity and -ism

That’s why I treat all my nieces and nephews really good

Don't plan on getting to old(er) age, so there's that.

But this, just in case.

All true - I only pay about 3.2k county/school tax on a 500k home and not being from the mid-Atlantic region originally absolutely love being 30 mins from Philly, day trip distance to NYC, Balt, DC and an easy drive to Boston with DE beaches/NJ shore less than 2 hours away.

Plenty of excellent food options in Philly, West Chester, PA and even Rehoboth Beach has a good dining scene but if you are middle state between Newark and Lewes you aren't gonna find much.

Stapling has to be the best way to attach a condom to something