Oh boy... I had big ideas for this phlog. I want to write about a
few philosophical topics, but life keeps throwing me stuff that
prevents me from writing much at all. For now, I'll keep those
things on the back-burning, and use this for a less structured
phlog on the same topics (philosophy related to self-reliance).

On the subject of budgets:
I've had (and phlogged about elsewhere) a hate-hate relationship
with budgets for many years. My brain is broken in that area, and
I'm not sure it will ever be fixed. But, I keep trying. Most
recently, I've been trying hard to have and keep a budget (as in,
stay within it). Things were going great, until multiple
emergencies depleted the emergency fund and then some, and a
family member had a breakdown that has increased costs (and
decreased time/energy to manage costs). 

Budget=shot.

Now I have to move on. Things are starting to settle down, so I
pulled the budget out and dusted it off, and will try to get
back on the wagon yet again. We'll attempt to get the emergency
fund built back up. We'll try to be disciplined. We'll see
where it all leads.

Mostly I can't complain, because our needs are met and we live
a comfortable life. So many on this earth can't say that, and
I really have no room to whine.