Spin On Saving

Jen, over at Sprite's Keeper, has a great Spin Cycle this week: it's about saving money. It's really always been about saving money for my husband, his entire life. For me, it's always really been about how to spend it. So, we're an interesting pair. Plus, after yesterday's scathing comments on my list, I guess it's time for something mainstream.

Here is a smattering of examples of things my husband does, automatically, as if this were normal and everyone did this:
1. Washes and irons and starches his own (work) shirts.
2. Buys the giant pack of chicken breasts at (Harris Teeter on the East Coast, CostCo for everyone normal) at $2.99/lb, breaks them up into two breasts per zip lock bag, some with BBQ, and puts them in the freezer.
3. He drives very (agonizingly) slow. Highway and "please, please hurry sweetie we are really , really late" lanes.
4. Auto-draft investments into mutual funds.
5. High percentage 401(k) contribution. 10%.*
6. Coupons for grocery store runs.
7. Don't spend any money on oneself or one's spouse*. He wears the same pair of slippers he's been wearing since college. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
8. Claim that your child really only needs one pair of shoes at a time, until he grows out of them.*
9. Keep the thermostat at 68 or below*. (I win this battle daily, which is my daily battle win. I can't do that with the toddler! Small victories.)
10. Turn off the vents to the guest room where we don't sleep, play, or use. Doubles as a wine cellar.
* Yes, most women would not be casually accepting of these. I guess that means I'm not like "most women."

However, I have some ideas of my own. I'll be succinct (finally!)
For those with kids:
1. Babysit swaps and co-ops. Large toy swaps. Try asking, you never know.
For those without kids: stop here. Count up all the money you save by not having a kid.
2. Freecycle. She who giveth then taketh away.
3. Craigslist. Live in a small town? Apply to add your town.

:::

I have a two-for-one today. OneMinuteWriter is doing something new, Fiction Fridays, and I'm in. Excited. Here's my contribution:

He raced down the narrow hospital hallway again, to check on her. She was breathing normally again, and the nurse was just leaving. Their conversation had been brutally short, before impact.

"Is she going to be okay?" His wild eyes searched.

"Oh, I think she'll be just fine," the older nurse smiled, knowingly. "Is she.. related to you?"

"She's my future wife," he answered slowly.

He turned back toward the room, still mesmerized.