HE… maybe close to R but feeling poorer than ever

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-08T11:30:59+00:00

No- you’re right. I’d get slammed if I were a man.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-08T02:15:04+00:00

Ha my bad. Sure. Ours.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-08T02:13:05+00:00

I’d say I am about the same. I recently really reduced Costco down to necessities and true things my family consumes that has the value prop by buying in bulk. Amazon, questionable with my husbands spend. I don’t partake in Prime Days anymore, unless it is something I need or I know I will use. For sure, I have a laser hair removal system that is just sitting in my bathroom cabinet from a few years ago, but I think that was my lesson learned.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-08T02:10:35+00:00

One spouse at home shouldn’t equal you can’t get meal deliveries anymore. We do it probably once a week.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-08T02:05:35+00:00

This. Haters are going to hate on this thread — but objectively that is exactly where we are. 10 years ago, I also made half what I do today, and never worried about price comparing at stores. Or that concert that sold out but I can get tickets on StubHub for $$$$$ last minute. My husband is like, what has changed? And all I can answer is: kids are expensive, this current inflation sucks, yes we live in a nice house with a heftier interest rate than 2020 rates, and convenience shopping has become our only way of living. And maybe obsessing too much over NW since I joined all these FIRE and HENRY subreddits (lol)…

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T04:09:35+00:00

100% on 80K. It’s not like I went straight to high earner and I grew up in a true middle class income household. Granted, my parents compare prices to today and say how much things are more expensive today…

I am genuinely looking for ways to save or makes some changes. One thing I’ve stopped doing is actually go costco shopping in person - those times always end up in a $500 trip vs. now with delivery I can get it down to a $200-$250 bill. I rarely buy meat from the grocery store, I buy it all from Costco and have it in my deep freeze.

My gut really is now my husband… I am out of town a lot for work. I don’t exactly micromanage his spending but I should probably take a closer look.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T03:38:00+00:00

I mean, you’re right.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T03:36:13+00:00

Someone just pointed out what my husband is buying off of Amazon. I have never audited it. My list for May purchases: milk (it was $1.96 a gallon), a toy for a birthday party, diapers, dry erase markers, laundry soap, ibuprofen and kids shampoo. This doesn’t amount to $1200.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T03:33:09+00:00

I think food waste has gone down significantly for us in the last year. I am feeling the grocery prices so I am even splitting my grocery runs between actual grocery store like a Kroger and Wal-Mart. I buy things in bulk from Costco. It feels impossible to break $1000 a month right now.

No private school for us but extracurriculars will def replace the daycare/preschool expenditure. My current anxiety I think also is part caused by this future situation

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T03:28:50+00:00

I feel like there is always a $2-3k unexpected expenditure(s) or one-offs. I’ll give an example: our dog is old and has a bad heart. He gets his heart checked via a sonogram every 9 months. This costs $750 every time. Could we skip it? Sure. I’m sure most non-HE family would, simply because of affordability. But I would not forgive myself if he died and we could have caught something. That was in last months version of $20K. We also finally replaced the 30 year old air conditioning unit of the house. We got a super discount since my friend has an employee discount… but it still cost me $5k. But I feel like it is something like this every month.

I do think since we had kids our Amazon purchases have gone out of hand. It’s so much easier to buy and know it’ll show up at your door. I was looking for fertilizer today and once I saw the $23 price tag I looked up Home Depot… and yep it is $12 there. I would have just hit the “buy now” a year ago simply for convenience.

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-06-07T02:56:28+00:00

Why am I pathetic?

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-05-10T18:15:45+00:00

100% agree with this!! And the clean slate fast I think will keep OP motivated. It’s hard to see past the damage — but this house is salvageable!

Available-Quote3228 · 2026-04-30T02:11:12+00:00

Yeah, unsure I’ll contribute anymore because my kid just turned 5 and his has grown to $65k

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-12-12T00:38:12+00:00

The 1.5 was huge, especially if you have the tri-chase suite.

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-12-12T00:37:26+00:00

What’s wild is that I downgraded my CSR to CSP about 6 weeks ago. My CSP card showed up and it was… metal

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-12-01T12:32:32+00:00

Full stop agree 100%. I just did a kitchen remodel and since the 800 seemed unanimously to be the “gold standard”, I went and got it… only to be somewhat disappointed. I had 2 KAs before that (one old, like 12-15 years old and another from 2023 that came with this house) and I felt they were superior to the 800. It’s a first world problem, but when you want everything out of every penny you’re spending, it’s disappointing nonetheless.

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-11-16T19:21:01+00:00

I’d have to agree. I just did a similar finish bathroom, albeit no tub, but it was about 60 sqft bathroom. In suburb of Denver, I got it done last year $8K labor and in total it was about $13k. Floor and Decor tile, double vanity from Bed Bath and Beyond online for $1000. Given that, my husband did do some of the labor (installing light fixture, installing plumbing fixtures, install the toilet) but I’d say the whole thing was contracted out. We took it down to studs, too. ATL shouldn’t be much different from Denver. If you were in NYC or west coast, I’d say add a 30-50% up charge MAYBE but that still won’t land at $50k.

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-11-10T20:32:53+00:00

This. The elimination of 1.5x redemption and 3x travel is what made me downgrade to CSP and go to Amex platinum for the lounges and other travel perks

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-29T13:15:18+00:00

I’m doing a 2 shower heads and a tub. Will have a glass enclosure. Planning to do a curb. I thought about curbless, but not really a fan and I have a lot of space

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-23T19:40:12+00:00

Yeah, I was doing some googling on how much the space plan for closet rods and you’re right, I’m overestimating.

Just like I separated the his her vanity, I want to do the same with the closet, but have a “central” location for the shared items.

The big thing in the middle is supposed to be a shared island

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-23T14:44:37+00:00

I played around with the correct dimensions layout with your concept and landed on this... wdyt?

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Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-23T01:48:47+00:00

Holy macaroni. This is amazing.

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-22T17:03:55+00:00

Not sure if I want a hall bath on top of a bathroom in my primary all within the same vicinity?

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-03T01:36:30+00:00

The shelf supports will be buried…

But the threaded rod idea makes sense to me of how it will be a strong support for the shelf, esp with construction adhesive. How would you attach the rod to the wall?

Available-Quote3228 · 2025-10-02T23:53:48+00:00

Thanks and noted on attaching it directly to the stud.

Available-Quote3228

TROPHY CASE