Our Next Chapter: Health, Vitality, and Frugal Freedom

Introduction / First Post

To be honest, we’ve never really had a budget. In the early ’90s, we sought guidance from a Dave Ramsey financial planner. One look at our finances and he bluntly suggested bankruptcy (We never did.) At the time, we had only been married five years and, truthfully, we were financially illiterate.

Our early marriage had already been through a storm. Around 18 months in, Anthony suffered a broken neck in a freak accident. While sitting at a stoplight, a fleeing robber crashed into a line of cars, with Anthony’s being the last. The robber was uninsured, and Anthony faced a long road to recovery. He never filed for disability or unemployment, yet he has faithfully worked every single day since then.

Over the years, our family has made sacrifices to care for loved ones. The four of us set aside our own needs to support my mom during her battle with breast cancer. Years later,  Anthony took a pay cut and reduced hours to care for his mom while she faced Lewy Body Dementia. We have no regrets, but these choices also took a toll on our health and finances.

Now, 40-plus years into marriage, we have very little, but what we do have is ours — and debt-free. It’s time to put “us” first and reclaim some freedom.

For 2026, we’ve set three main goals:

1. Improve our health – eating smarter, reducing inflammation, and building strength.

2. Rebuild our finances – living frugally without sacrificing joy.

3. Boost our vitality – physically, mentally, and emotionally, so we can enjoy the next chapter of life to its fullest.

Join us as we rethink our routines, meals, and priorities, and take real steps toward living a freer, healthier, and more joyful life.