Dave & Teds Most Excellent Adventures 2013

[CyncySpyder]

Monday 12/9/2013 PetsMart Continued

We had stopped by PetsMart one evening right before closing & they were not busy at all & one of the groomers from their grooming department actually came out into the store to talk with Teddy & I. If you have a PetsMart in your area, I think their all mostly built the same, with a grooming department at the front of the store close to the entrance, and I think most of them are glass-faced, so ppl from the street can actually watch the dogs being groomed.

Well, I've only taken Teddy their once, soon after he adopted me as a pup and they did his initial grooming. For the next 2 years (2008-2010) he really didn't need grooming & I would just brush his coat out nightly & it was little fuss. That was, til the introduction of the Spyder into our lives then everything changed & with daily ryding, his coat became a rats nest & it was a Battle-Royal every night & I hated the fact that I was hurting the little guy every time I went to brush him out after every ryde, but it was necessary or his coat would become unmanageable. That's when his Vet suggested shaving him down to his bottom coat & that fixed most of our issues instantly, no fuss, no more battles and ryding was once again a joy & not something to be feared once we pulled back into the garage.

Being financially strained, I watched U-Tube videos on how to properly groom/shave the Tedster, and thru a couple of trial & error episodes, & along with finally aquiring the propper tools which made ALL THE DIFFERENCE, my learning curve was over & the Tedster looks pretty decent for the most part now, once I'm done with him.

Well, back to our visit. Since it was so slow, and the profssional groomers were done & just waiting for closing time, they both saw us pull up on Teds Red Sled outside their windows & as soon as we entered the store, the one lady groomer came over to us & asked me to bring Teddy over to the grooming area. She had met us before, but her co-worker hadn't, but had seen us coming & going, but she never had gotten to actually meet Teddy in person, so her co-worker wanted to give her that chance, which we happily oblidged

We talked for a while & I told them the entire story of how Teddy came to be the Star he is today, being saved from possibly being 'put down' just because he was the runt of the litter & only has half a tail :lecturef_smilie: & how many countless numbers of people that this one little dog has brought a smile to their faces, just by seeing the little guy.

You know, it really is a heart warming story & I'm just happy to play a small part in it all. Even tho things might be rough for us, I have to admit, I really am a lucky man :bowdown:

But anyways, we got to talking about grooming and they wanted to know where I took Teddy to get him done & I admitted to them that I do it all myself, learned the hardway thru trial & error & from watching uTube & they both acted like they were really surprised & said that I did a really good job with him hyea: I thanked them for their acknowledgment & then, shamefully admitted to them my latest follypps: which with Teddy still wearing his ryding gear, they couldn't yet see

TBC ............. work work work

 

[CyncySpyder]

Monday 12/9/2013 PetsMart Continued again

But as soon as I de-geared The Tedster and let him down on the floor so he could freely run around the enclosed grooming area, the younger groomer busted out laughing exclaiming "Oh My God!!! He looks like a GIANT Fluffy Tic!!!" :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: I mean, she almost had tears in her eyes she was laughing so hard :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Teddy thought nothing of it :doorag: but me on the otherhand, I know my face & ears had to be as red pps: as Teds Sled cause they even felt hot pps:

The other groomer just laughed slightly, as she sensed my uncomfortable demeanor & didn't want to seem rude, but truth be told, the first lady was right on & Teddy DID look like one GIANT Fluffy Tic scurrying about the floor happy as a lark

Right there in that moment, it reminded me of our ill-fated trip to try to surprise Scotty (NancysToy) by unexpectedly showing up at the MidOhio Bike Festival a couple of years back and we kind of sneaked in to the campgrounds hoping by chance to run into Scotty (which we didn't) & we went about walking the campgrounds searching for what might be his campsite. Teddy on his tether leading me from site to site among the hundreds of occupied sites and we pass one site with a group of very inhibriated Harley Riders and one rather gruff looking gentleman looked at Teddy astonished he was actually seeing a little black dog, totally shaved (summer time) except for having a bright Red MowHawk & little Bright Red Pom tail & he called out to me in a rather slurred growl "That's a damn shame! You know that dog has a conscience, don't you?" I didn't say a word, just nodded my head, smiled & we kept right on walking

But yeah, this moment clearly reminded me of that also uncomfortable situation, but it is what it is So after the ladies got their composure back, I explained what I had done and why, to get the results that were before them ... :dontknow:

TBC .................. ugh ugh ugh

 

[CyncySpyder]

Monday 12/9/2013 PetsMart Continued again ... Conclusion

I explained the need for Teddy's full coat especially now that we're entering winter weather & freezing temperatures & also the fact that as long as its dry out, and not unreasonalby cold (below 32F) that we'd still be ryding. But with Teddy's long hair, it was getting tangled in his Doggles bands and that was causing him to dislike them even more than usual cause I'm sure they were causing him pain at times. So that's why (at the time) I thought it a good idea of leaving his coat long but shaving his head (except for his trademark Red Mowhawk of course) was a good idea solving our issue ..... which it did

But it also left before us what we were seeing :shocked: & while mighty functional, it just didn't ... look .... .... .... right :lecturef_smilie:
ya know what I mean:hun:

So I asked if they had any suggestions for me to remedy what I had done ray: and our discussion went to the type of clippers I'm using and what number of guide and how I originally went about creating the GIANT Fluffy Tic known as Teddy that was happily cavorting around the inside of the closed grooming area. And after I explained that I had left his full coat pretty much untouched except for around his behind and belly area and used a #2 clipper on his head and neck, & I could instantly see that the groomer I was mainly talking with knew right away what I needed to do.
"Oh, you just basically used the #2 on his head and left the body the same?"
"Yup"
"That's an easy fix, all you need to do is to fade it in."
"Huh? What do you mean.....fade it in?" I asked.
"Just like when you get your hair cut, and they use clippers, don't they usually use a couple of different sizes?"
"Well, yeah, I never really paid much attention, but I guess they do..... why do you ask?"
"Cause grooming a dog isn't much different than a human, tho the styles and tools are all a little different, the basic premis is the same. And just like on your hair cut, unless you were to get like say a Bowl-Cut, they usually always fade the longer with the shorter parts of the cut, tho most call it Blending/Fading is basically the same thing. As you go further away from his head into his neck area, go from a #2 to a #3 for maybe a half an inch or so & then as you go even further away switch from the #3 to a #4 and that way, once your all done and he's brushed out again, it will all fade or blend together and look more natural ........ instead of a Giant Fur Ball attached to a little tiny head.... like now." She said with a smile & a hearty chuckle

DUH!!! :banghead: Why didn't I think of that :banghead:

I thanked the kind ladies for their words of wisdom and Teddy & I took our leave & headed home, with me being a little more happier now that I knew how to correct my ............... error pps:

So while we were kind of snowed in from all the bad weather this weekend, we took a break from me cleaning out the spare bedroom while the Bengals were playing so we could watch the game, and Teddy & I set about redoing his ...... doo Have to admit, he does look much better :firstplace:now that his coat blends/fades into itself and he doesn't look so much like a Giant Fluffy Tic :shocked: anymore at all :thumbup:

:clap:Now we truly have the best of both worlds & thankfully, he once again looks like the little :doorag: Star that he is hyea:

I tell ya, every day ... I'm Live'n & a Learn'n :bowdown:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Some random pics from this weekends 1st real snowfall of the season & of course Teddy

 

[Yemaya]

I'm laughing out loud at the Giant Fluffy Tic! I always share Teddy's adventures with my dh, he swears up and down Teddy is the official Spyderlovers mascot. I feel ya on the financial situation, it's been rough for all of us this year.

 

[CyncySpyder]

We're getting alot of snow early in the season for our area & its NOT even Winter yet

Here's what our local weather man has to say:
Good morning! A fast-moving weather system continues to move across the area early this morning and had already put down between a covering and an inch or more of snow. This system will move out by mid-morning with accumulating snow ending after 7 AM. Many areas will pick up 1-2 inches of snow with some isolated locations possibly seeing as many as 3 inches. This is going to make for messy travel this morning, so use caution on area roads. Roads which have been treated will mainly be wet with some slick spots and untreated roads will be completely snow covered and hazardous. Expect mostly sunny skies later today. All eyes then turn to an arctic cold front which will move into the area tomorrow. Ahead of this front, we will turn breezy and warmer tomorrow with highs close to freezing. Behind it, expect some bitter cold air with highs only in the lower 20s and lows in the single digits. More messy weather looks to move in for the weekend

I knew this mornings commute was going to be bad, so I got up at 3:30am instead of my usual 3:42am to give myself a few extra minutes to clear & salt 2 tracks of our really steep driveway so I could at least make it to our side road without sliding. One good thing about commuting so early is that there's hardly anyone else on the road to run into, so I'm thankful for that.

Teddy didn't like getting up earlier than usual and just jumped under the covers while I showered & got ready. When we went out, him to do his 'business' and me to clear & salt, it was really coming down hard. Took me about 10 minutes to clear the 2 tracks I needed to get down our driveway & by the time I got the salt out, it was already covered again with a light coat of snow. Thankfully, this is just a powder type and not much ice to deal with, but still made it slippery.

I felt so bad for Teddy tho, since we live on a dead-end side street & it was so early in the morning, I just let Teddy walk with me without a lead and he usually stays right with me and listens pretty well to my commands, but I just can't seem to get him to understand to NOT walk in the salt. I always leave a small path without salt just for him, but he always seems to not really pay attention where he's putting his little paws when he's walking in the snow, and as soon as he walks thru the salt and the next step is into snow, he instantly freezes in place & tries his damndest to not set his paws back down again. I think the reaction of the salt and snow on his paws causes a burning sensation and he can't stand it and he'll litterally just stand their in place, raising one paw after the other over and over again. No amount of coaxing will get him to continue, and I have to go over and pick him up & carry him to the entry way where its clear & that's exactly what happened again this morning, Poor lil guy.

I know they make doggy-booties for dogs for just this reason & we've tried them, but he absolutely can't stand those things and basically just flops over on his side kicking and tearing at them with his teeth til he either gets them off or I give in and remove them.

This mornings drive in was .............. unnerving to say the least. The side roads were totally covered and the highways only had a tire track or two that was even visible, no lane lines could be seen at all & that made for tricky manuvering especially around those big 18 wheelers. 2 of which that were in front of me on the drive in actually put on their emergency flashers and just pulled to the side of the Interstate under bridge overpasses. I thought about calling in and taking a Personal Day, but I only have 4 days left until June, so I really need to keep them if I can, if Teddy & I hope to do any of the 2014 Spyder Events, otherwise I would have just jumped right back in bed with Teddy.

They say the snow is suppose to have stopped by now & should be clear and sunny once it rises today, so hopefully the drive home will be much easier than the drive here.

 

[RTVIPER]

Teddy sure loves Cool Whip, down to the very last drop :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Caged it in to work today cause its only 19F & NO Thermo-Suit- Huge Reality Check....

Our local weather mans words of wisdom:
We are off to a bitter cold start with readings in the teens and even single digits. Expect lots of sunshine as we start the day with a gradual increase in clouds this afternoon. An arctic cold front will move through the area early this afternoon. Well see temperatures climb into the lower 30s in advance of this front by this afternoon with plummeting temperatures tonight. I expect most areas to fall into the single digits by tomorrow morning with some spots possibly even dropping below zero. Things will stay bitter cold on Thursday before we see a warm up materialize late this week and into the start of the weekend. However, with this warm up will come the chance for more messy weather this weekend, including the chance for more accumulating snow.

I thought about ryding in this morning cause most of the roads are pretty much dry, but then I realized its only 19F degrees & I'm still without my FirstGear Thermo Suit so I rationally changed my mind With the suit, not an issue, ryde ryde ryde hyea: without it however, I'd just be a glutton for punishment :cus:

On another topic, Teddy has been helping to clear out the spare bedroom & wow, talking about a trip down memory lane, finding so much .......... history, just stopped in time. I mean, many of us joke kiddingly about having a Spyder Addiction, but discovering what I am lately, I honestly think I have a real problem. I've never been an alcoholic, tho I'm very familiar with the disease & its implications since my father was one for my entire lifetime, so I've learned a thing or two about the recovery process.

I know in AA, like NA one of the steps is admitting you have a problem and that usually comes about when your actions adversely effect your life in one way or another. Well, I can definitely see where this has clearly happened with me, and it all revolves around the date of March 2010 when I caught my very first glimpse of a yellow RS Spyder leaving the parking lot at work. It could have been crack, cause right then & there, I was hooked. Every night, when I got home from work, I spent most of my waking hours just trying to find out any information about what I had seen, and I couldn't help myself. The more info I found, the more it powered the disire of 'No matter what, I've gotta have one of those' at any cost. I mean litterally, everything I was doing in my life at that time...... stopped in its tracks. Like I was at the beginning of remodeling our condo & had just torn out 3 walls to open up the space & the holes are still in the ceiling with the wires hanging down, exposed framework and all.

Once I found out the object of my desire was called a Spyder we found that we had a local dealer that sold them only 15 minutes away in Florence KY so Teddy & I would drive by all the time, looking, drooling, teasing myself. I HAD TO HAVE ONE!!! So I diverted all my available funds to making my obsession a reality & started working all the Overtime I could, litteraly working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day to save up for the down payment. All my funds that were suppose to renovate the condo went to my obsession as well & the condo remodel stopped in its tracks.

My life now, is nothing like it was before that date. I mean everything changed, I changed .... IT CHANGED ME..... in a good way.

TBC ...........................

 

[CyncySpyder]

If you'd like to recieve a Christmas Card from Teddy, Please ......

Here's what our local weather man has to say for today:
Good morning! Try to get an early start today. Light snow has moved into the area overnight. With temperatures in the 20s, roads are cold enough that this snow will stick to them if they are untreated. If they are treated, expect mostly wet conditions. At any rate, you will need more time because it doesn't take much snow to create big problems. Accumulations for most will be an inch or less. Snow will taper down to flurries by late morning as temperatures slowly climb into the lower 30s later. A little more snow will be on the way late tonight and tomorrow morning before a warm up materializes later this week. But with that warm up will come some rain.

Not saying it hasn't happened, but I can't remember a season in my 42 years that we've had this much snow before Christmas. As a kid, I'd always pray for a white Christmas but was usually dissapointed as we'd usually get one or two days where it would either flurry or actually snow, but more often than not, it would all be melted away by Christmas day.

Caged it in again this morning cause it was snowing, but nothing severe at all. Saturday we actually had a day of dryness and we took a break from cleaning out the spare room and we hopped on the sled and took off for a few hours of much needed therapy. I swear, its like a drug ....... in a good way.

Teddy was happy to ryde, but not with his Santa's lil Helper ryding gear nojoke cause it also includes a lil hat, which Teddy hates anything that messes with his MowHawk :lecturef_smilie: But it makes the outfit & pulls it all together, so he begrudgedly dealt with it as long as I rewareded him with a treat every now and then....... does he have me trained or what ....

We stopped over and saw my brother and nephew that recently had back surgery, similar to myself last year, and had a good visit. My nephews son really likes Teddy alot and loves his sled even more. I posted a pic or two of him either last year or the year before, sitting on Teds Sled and grabbing the handlebars with Teddy standing in the passenger seat behind him looking like he wasn't all that thrilled with having a new micro-driver.

Then we set out in search of a good background to take some pics in front of, and found the hills around the condo complexes of my brothers house to still be completely covered, so we headed across the street to them once we left my brothers. Stopped in one area and looking across the valley, there sits my old child-hood home, brought back alot of memories to say the least. So strange, there's little that is the same, as the new owners changed just about everything about the place and the city even changed the street name & number of the house, so now its not even the same address as when I lived there. Seems that old saying about you can always go back home isn't really true, cause in some cases, the houses aren't even there anymore.

Was funny tho, cause as we were pulled to the side of the road and using the snow covered hill as a backdrop to take pics of Teddy on his Red Sled, car after car would stop, give a big smile and a thumbs up, and some would even take their own pic or two. Then one car stopped and started talking ... "I know you, you guys are always coming into PetsMart & Lowes. You always bring a smile to my face when I see you guys out." And she would have went on and on, except there were cars backing up behind her & she had to go.

If I get time today, I'll post some of the pics.

I know this is last minute notice, but if anyone would like to recieve a Christmas Card from Teddy this year, please just send me a PM with your name & mailing address & I'll get them in the mail tomorrow & you'll hopefully still get them before Christmas day.:yes::clap:

 

[ThreeFeet]

Teddy pics

Dave put some really good ones on here. I'll get a picture from you that way and get my printer to workin. Save's ya a stamp!!! hyea:

 

[CyncySpyder]

The image files I took are too large to upload here, so I've got some work to do 1st

Click on pic to enlarge
:joke::joke::joke::joke:

Dave put some really good ones on here. I'll get a picture from you that way and get my printer to workin. Save's ya a stamp!!! hyea:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Without the escape Teds Red Sled provides, its time to acknowledge & move on ........

Its all starting to come into focus, a little more each day, a little more clarity, a little more joy, a little more sadness and a whole bunch of loss. Teds Red Sled has provided that escape since its inception. Now I understand why the Spyder came to be our daily driver, as it was therapy in more ways than I even knew.

Clearing out the spare bedroom has brought me face to face with the reality that I've been struggling for the past 11 years to ........ ignore. But who in their right mind wants to feel pain? To feel hurt and loss, to acknowledge suffering of one they loved so dear. I'm starting to realize tho, without that, you truly can't ............. move on, at least not as a whole person. There's always a part of you... not available, stuck, left behind.

I've tried my best to keep this thread geared toward the positive aspects of Spyder enjoyment for Teddy & I, but this time of year is such an emotional conflict for myself & its hard to be positive when your hurting. They say you should acknowledge it, own it, deal with it, and then move on & put it behind you. Some things are just easier said than done.

I may be a little distant on here for the next few days. Just know that Teddy & I are ok, and we Wish You ALL a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year....... Happy Holidays to YOU ALL :joke:

 

[KatLen0405]

And you too!

And while you work your way through the holidays and this difficult time, remember that even though you may be physically alone, you and Teddy are always surrounded in spirit by those that love you. I'm sure that's more than a whole condo full of people! :clap::clap: I wish you and Teddy a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year! :2thumbs::2thumbs:

And remember, Teddy, don't eat the yellow snow! :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Any words of wisdom or advice in potentially dealing with a room mate......

The prospect of renting out our spare bedroom is more unsettling than I ever anticipated. Initial reaction turns to trust and I'll admit, I'm a very flawed and damaged man in many ways. I'm also very caring, to a fault, and have been taken advantage of on more than one occasion, due to my generosity..... its difficult to fight ones own basic character, even if it is for your own better good.

It's been just Teddy & I for so long now, that the thought of having someone else in our home, alone with Teddy, without me being there...... worries me. Any suggestions about how to go about choosing a room mate, or even where to look, to find someone that is trust worthy. The thought of someone hurting Teddy while I'm not there has me :banghead:

 

[Netminder]

Dave, I just want to wish you and Teddy a Merry Christmas and a great New year! As you have said many times before this to shall pass! Stay strong!ray:

 

[stillriding]

... that the thought of having someone else in our home, alone with Teddy, without me being there...... worries me. Any suggestions about how to go about choosing a room mate, or even where to look, to find someone that is trust worthy.
If you can find an alternative to renting out a room, do it! You would be risking a lot by having a "stranger" move into your condo even if you run an extensive background check. In addition to worrying about Teddy you'd be concerned about things you own. It would be different if your tenant's area was separate from yours and Teddy's, but with a common entrance and shared areas I believe you'd be open to problems. At the very least secure at least one of your rooms (bedroom?) to prevent the tenant from entering. Furthermore, if things don't work out with your tenant, don't assume that he'll move out if you ask him to. Even though it's your condo you may have to go to court to evict him if you want him out because a tenant is afforded certain rights under the law. I've professionally evicted hundreds of people during my law enforcement career and it can get ugly. If you do go this route DO NOT assume that a verbal agreement and a handshake is enough. Dave, I sincerely hope you don't have to become a landlord.

 

[oldgoat]

... that the thought of having someone else in our home, alone with Teddy, without me being there...... worries me. Any suggestions about how to go about choosing a room mate, or even where to look, to find someone that is trust worthy.
If you can find an alternative to renting out a room, do it! You would be risking a lot by having a "stranger" move into your condo even if you run an extensive background check. In addition to worrying about Teddy you'd be concerned about things you own. It would be different if your tenant's area was separate from yours and Teddy's, but with a common entrance and shared areas I believe you'd be open to problems. At the very least secure at least one of your rooms (bedroom?) to prevent the tenant from entering. Furthermore, if things don't work out with your tenant, don't assume that he'll move out if you ask him to. Even though it's your condo you may have to go to court to evict him if you want him out because a tenant is afforded certain rights under the law. I've professionally evicted hundreds of people during my law enforcement career and it can get ugly. If you do go this route DO NOT assume that a verbal agreement and a handshake is enough. Dave, I sincerely hope you don't have to become a landlord.

I agree 100%

 

[KatLen0405]

where to look

I'd talk to friends and family first, maybe they have a friend who is in need of a place. Other than that, I would check with the vets in the area to see if maybe they have any interns that could use a room. But I wouldn't just list it for anyone to apply, there's no telling what you might get that way.

I'd work on other ways to increase income / decrease spending first.
In coming: Ebay the stuff that you don't need and have cleaned out. Start a Teddy blog on the internet and sell Teddy clothes. Write a book about your adventures and publish it. Look at a part time job that has flexible hours or something that you can do at home. Babysitting or dogsitting services?

Outgoing: Cut back on eating out. Check the deductibles on your home and auto insurance and possibly increase them to decrease your rates. If you don't already have one, get a programmable thermostat to decrease your heating bills. Cut back on cable services. Cancel your telephone land line and just use your cell. Check with your cell provider to make sure your on the best value plan for you. If you have credit card debt, call your providers and negotiate a lower interest rate. Work with a non-profit debt consolidation group to consolidate your debt. Re-finance your home to lower your monthly mortgage payments (you can roll any closing fees into the loan so it won't cost you anything out of pocket). Sell your car and get an older one (to get rid of car payments) since you don't use it much anyways.

I hope these ideas help! :helpsmilie::helpsmilie:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Not what I would choose, but it seems the most logical solution..........

With age comes experience and hopefully, experience leads to wisdom.

Way back in 98-99 when I was married and lived in Florida, my (then) wife ended up addicted to crack cocaine along with being BiPolar & suicidal as well. I learned allot back then, more than I care to admit. Had to buy a safe to put my wallet & car keys in every time I got home or they could end up missing.... addictions are a :cus: After rehab after rehab and attempt after attempt, I finally realized if I didn't do what was best for me, she was going to take me down with her, and we agreed to a divorce. I gave her anything she wanted except the house we lived in, cause at that time, my mother was the one that put the money down on the house. Soon after our dicorce my mother got ill enough that we knew time was close & decided it best to move back to the Cincy area so she could once again be around family for her final few months.

At that time, I tried being an absentee landlord and rented out our Florida home to people I thought I could trust, my assistant manager his girlfriend & their best friend. For 6 months, all was well, but then I'd get a call, "Sorry, we're going to be a little late with the rent this month" then one thing lead to another, a fight broke out, somebody moved out and blah blah blah. By the time I got them all out and went down to assess the situation, I found the house to be a disaster. Literally destroyed, tiles broken, windows and glass...... it was unbelievable.... inconceivable to me at the time.

At my last apt. the one that burned down, I had a buddy that needed a place to stay for a while, and I had a spare room that I wasn't using, so what could it hurt to help out a buddy...... right? UGH!!! I learned the hard way, and needless to say, that person is no longer in my life.

I'd like to think I've learned some tough lessons, and even though it churns my stomach just thinking about doing this, at least I'm not as naive as I once was. I'm

TBC ..................

 

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

Ideas

.....
I'd work on other ways to increase income / decrease spending first.
In coming: Ebay the stuff that you don't need and have cleaned out. Start a Teddy blog on the internet and sell Teddy clothes. Write a book about your adventures and publish it. Look at a part time job that has flexible hours or something that you can do at home. Babysitting or dogsitting services? .....

I hope these ideas help! :helpsmilie::helpsmilie:

Dave .... KatLen0405 has some great ideas. Given what you have gone through over the years, you have probably already done what I'm going to suggest (if so, please don't take offense).

Create a budget, either manually via spreadsheet or using some book keeping software like Quicken. Be honest about what you are ACTUALLY spending and what your MUST HAVEs are. As KatLen points out, look for ways to "trim down." You would be surprised how much you can recover in a budget just by making some simple changes. Like, when getting ready to purchase something ask "is this a NEED or a WANT?" ... if it's not a NEED, then don't buy it.

I speak from real life experience here, both recent and several years ago. In the 1990's, my other half (spydercowboy, aka hogcowboy), took a "package deal" and retired early. The deal included a 5 year bridge to retirement, so our income was cut in half overnight and he had no major income for 5 years. It took a few months to adjust, and we were able to use his "package" check as a buffer, but we managed to reign in our spending and live within the single income. More recently, I was laid off after 32 years and was able to retire with no bridge. Still, now our income has been cut by more than half .. to the point that we are only taking in about a third of what we used to. Again, was able to use the severance check as a buffer and also to pay off one loan, and it has taken a few months but we were able to adjust our spending and this month actually had a small surplus of a couple hundred $$'s :yes:

The point I'm trying to make here is in both cases, we could not have made this drastic adjustment without establishing a budget and agreeing to discipline ourselves in order to stick to it.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do. May your Christmas be Merry and may you have a Happy New Year!

Best Regards .... Ann