Learning to accept Mr. Right's first love...

***updated with pictures of Quinn (the tiny toyota) and Jeepy***

The last thing you’ll get from me is how I get along well with Mr. Right’s exes. His first love, however is still a very big part of our lives. We’ve fought about it, I’ve made threats, but for better or worse she’s not going anywhere.

And honestly I understand why.

His first vehicle was an old Bronco with the floorboard rusted out (he had pieces of cardboard to keep it from being the Flinstone-mobile). He had to drive it to school every day to Yuppyville High. So when he got his brand new shiny 1997 Jeep Wranger Sahara, he immediately fell in love.

She occasionally gets gifts from him – a new lift suspension, huge mud tires. He takes her on dates where they get down and dirty – the more mud puddles they hit the better.

It would make financial sense to sell her – after all she’s a third wheel. I have my tiny Toyota and Mr. Right had to get an SUV to use for work (showing houses – he needed the extra seats as well as 4 wheel drive for those mountain properties). Jeepy is just a toy, a $6,000 toy that mostly just sits in the garage.



Picture from last year of Jeepy, Mr. Right, and the sensible real estate SUV.



All three vehicles are paid in full. Otherwise we would have gotten rid of the Jeep no questions asked. I have pointed out that we spend $50 a month in insurance for her, plus gas. But she’s worth it, when we put the top down in the summer and go riding through the national park.

So how do two hard core frugal addicts get around the 12 MPG that both of his vehicles get? I drive Jeepy to work. Which leaves TT and the SUV at home. If Mr. Right has errands to run (he drives all over the county taking pictures of cabins for clients, as well as checking out new properties), he takes TT.



If he has a day that he knows he’s going to be working from home all day, I take my car. If he knows he has clients, I take my car. If he thinks he will be running errands, I get Jeepy.

While the thought behind it is simple – the person driving the most takes the car that gets 36 MPG – I’m ashamed to say that I just thought of it. Gas is the one part of our budget that is out of control, and this is the perfect solution!

Although his masculinity is dinged driving a hatchback, its worth it for both of us since TT gets three times better gas mileage.



A picture of Quinn aka TT last Fourth of July.

Review your budget. Think creatively. You may think there is no way you can squeeze another dime out of your expenses. The answer may be simpler than you expected.

For more great money saving revelations, check out Frugal Friday.