this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

Earlier this week, The Tall One put together a picnic table for the backyard. Last night, he went to get his sander from the garage to sand the table and it was nowhere to be found. We're guessing it was stolen, but holding out hope that maybe someone borrowed it or we put it somewhere weird. I remember him deliberating over whether or not he should get the more expensive one - the one that was slightly better quality, came with more attachments and would, um, last longer. He went for it, and well, at least it worked well for the original project we purchased it for!

So as we mourn our sander, here are some articles for you to read:

Seriously, Why Save Money? - A balance between spending and saving is important. You need to enjoy the moment, but have money for a rainy day too. (@Millionaire Money Habits)

When To Spluge, When to Spend, When do I Decide When - So you know that balance is important, but when should you splurge and when you should you forgo a purchase altogether? This article will give you some things to think about to help you decide. (@MoneyNing)

What Do You Do If You Can't Afford it? - Hank shares a really funny video clip and the transcript too. (@My Investing Blog)

25 Frugal Ways to Reuse Everyday Household Items - This is a great list of ways you can re-use things you'd first think to just throw out. (@My Two Dollars)

Add Grace to Your Budget - This is such an excellent post on why you need some wiggle room in your budget. (@Small Notebook)

How to Find Out if You Can Afford Something - Often there's more to this than meets the eye. and it's important to look at this question from several different angles. (@Gather Little By Little)

Why Weren't You Watching Where I Was Going? - Emily uses a great metaphor to talk about personal responsibility.  And there's a great discussion going on in the comments! (@Remodeling This Life)

Have a great weekend!