Happy half-way to Friday, friends!
Today, on July 10th, 2024, is National Piña Colada Day in the United States. Here are 5 cool facts about the origin of the refreshing cocktail:
- A Piña Colada is a delicious blended drink made of coconut cream, pineapple juice, white rum, and ice.
- The cocktail's name literally means, "strained pineapple"
- History points that the drink's origination may have started by the way of a Puerto Rican pirate 🏴☠️, Roberto Cofresí, serving it up to his crew to boost morale.
- Pina coladas are commonly made with Puerto Rico white rum (but my favorite way can be found in the recipe linked below)
- In 1978, Puerto Rico claimed the Piña Colada their official drink
Delicious as a mocktail or a rum-tastic drink. Check out the below.
TO DO
July Checklist
✅ Start booking your winter travel plans. Secure your TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry now.
✅ Double check your tax withholding to make sure you are not paying too little or too much in taxes.
✅ Figure out your Coast FI number
✅ Start your holiday gift list (I'm just the messenger!)
SAVING MONEY
Not this time, Debt!
The winter holidays are less than 6 months away! Do you have a sinking fund in place for holiday shopping? If not, worry not. There is still time to put one in place.
What's a sinking fund, you ask? A sinking fund is a money goal category where you set aside money in intervals to pay for a big purchase or goal. Categories where sinking funds come in handy: summer camp, car insurance, vacations and holiday spending. Think - big things you usually pay for 1-2 times a year.
Now is a great time to make a "holiday gift giving" goal amount and start saving for it. Here are the steps I take when creating a sinking fund for holiday spending:
- Name the category - "Fa la la la la gift giving sinking fund"
- Pick the goal amount - a realistic figure I think I can save in the next 5 months. I will go with $600 to cover gifts for my family and pets.
- Decide how much I would to save per paycheck - if I want to be done with my shopping in November, I am looking at 9 paychecks from now until then. So $600 divided by 9 is approximately $67 per paycheck.
- Decide where you are going to save these funds - some like to keep it in a separate savings account. Others like to take out cash from the ATM to add to their cash envelopes and track the progress on a sinking fund tracker.
When you reach your goal, spend that money guilt free during holiday shopping. You earned it. There is no place for accruing debt here.
Meet ELIZABAT
Eek, Cute Spooky Bat!
Get ready to unleash your inner superhero chef with Elizabat, the Bat Kitchen Scissors from OTOTO Studio! These aren't your ordinary kitchen shears – they're designed to bring both precision and whimsy to your culinary escapades. With stainless steel blades that effortlessly slice through any ingredient, from tough meats to delicate herbs, Elizabat ensures every cut is a masterpiece.
What sets Elizabat apart? It's not just the bat wing handles that add a touch of fun; it's also the ergonomic design that fits perfectly in your hand, offering optimal comfort and control. Whether you're chopping veggies or trimming poultry, these scissors make every kitchen task a breeze.
At OTOTO, they believe in infusing joy into everyday cooking. Elizabat and the other quirky kitchen gadgets are here to make your kitchen adventures more enjoyable than ever. So, why not add a dash of excitement to your cooking routine with Elizabat? Your culinary creations deserve a superhero companion!
Check out this Spook´‐tacular Bundle of 2 ‐ NEW!! Elizabat Kitchen Scissors by OTOTO - Cute Bat Kitchen Shears + OTOTO Vino Spooky Bat 2-in-1 Wine & Beer Opener
ICYMI
GROCERY STORE TOURISM
Forget the usual tourist spots; diving into local supermarkets abroad can be surprisingly enlightening. It's like a crash course in culture and cuisine all rolled into one aisle. From TikTok trends to luxe spots like Düsseldorf's Edeka Zurheider and LA's Erewhon, these grocery stores offer more than just groceries—they're cultural hubs with champagne bars, gourmet snacks, and even Michelin-starred eateries. As someone who loves a good stroll through a posh grocery store, I thought you might find this travel hack as intriguing as I do!
COST EFFECTIVE RETIREMENT
As inflation continues to impact costs nationwide, finding a place where your retirement savings stretch further can make a big difference. SmartAsset's latest research highlights significant disparities in the cost of living across U.S. states, revealing that life outside major metropolitan areas can be notably more affordable. According to the 50/30/20 budget rule, which suggests allocating 50% of income to essentials like housing and food, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings or debt repayment, your choice of location can significantly influence your financial comfort.
Recipe Discovery
|
|
Piña Colada, Spiced Rum
For an even creamier Piña Colada cocktail, add in a dollop of double cream. Chill your glass beforehand to make sure your cocktail is extra cool.
Read More
|
|
|
Piña Colada Mocktail
This frosty and refreshing vegan piña colada mocktail is refined sugar-free and made with creamy coconut, fresh pineapple, and coconut water.
Read More
|
Are You Making These Costly Retirement Mistakes?
Don't ruin your retirement with these costly retirement mistakes, many are good intention ideas that do have consequences. Let's go through some of the most popular and easily avoided costly retirement mistakes we all make.
Interesting Blurbs
I just read that the very first of the Gen Xers are eligible to begin withdrawals on their 401ks starting tomorrow.
So Ima little GenXer so I gotta a minute but Im sending light and love to my grown grown GenX sibs. How’s the air up there?
|
For those of you who think life is all downhill once you hit your mid-40s, I have one thing to say — That’s on YOU!
It was 6 years ago, at age 46 when I decided to create my IG account. Sharing my own personal finance experience was something I wanted to do for YEARS. And now I have built a brand helping others change their money mindset and travel more for less! My 40’s and now 50’s have NOT been downhill because I adapted to life’s changes and came up with new goals that keep life exciting!
|
Today's Memes
|
|
It's a new spin on the newsletter
"My child is still living on my payroll and my aging family members really need my help!" Does that sound familiar?
Those that are 40+ years of age are being commonly known as the "sandwich generation", means there is a lot on our plate. With the addition of trying to retire on time or a bit earlier with solid retirement funds saved up.
I have been tossing names around for a while now. Trying to find the perfect name that conveyed the topics I cover on Frugal to FI. And "The Sandwich" stuck. I hope you like the new newsletter name.
Until next time!
|
