Sabbatical Sistahs; Can we talk about how it's suddenly the back half of August and summer is basically waving at us from the airport gate, boarding pass in hand, not even looking back? One minute it's Memorial Day cookouts, the next we're side-eyeing the "back to school" displays, wondering where the last 10 weeks went. If you blinked, you're not alone — I blinked too. But here's what didn't get lost in the shuffle: Phases 1 and 2 are officially live. I just finished updating your folders with Weeks 1 through 6 — full notes, the Save & Swap breakdowns for The Clearance and The Fueling, and reflection questions pinned to each weekly folder so you can actually sit with your progress, not just skim past it. If you haven't peeked yet, here's your gentle nudge: - 📁 Drop into your Week 1–6 folders - 💬 Answer at least one Reflection Corner question — even a sentence counts - 🏷️ Tag your Sabbatical Saving Sister and tell her one swap that actually worked This challenge only works if we're in it together, so don't be a silent scroller. I want to hear your wins, your "wait, I spent HOW much on delivery fees" moments, all of it. The halfway point. We're closing in on the end of Phase 2, which means we're basically at the midpoint of this 12-week journey. I think that deserves a moment. So tell me: how do you want to celebrate at the end of the month? A few ideas I'm tossing around: - 🎥 A live "Numbers & Nachos" check-in — casual video call, we share our savings totals out loud, no judgment, just cheering each other on - ☕ A Coffee Chat replay-style session — smaller, more intimate, come as you are, talk about what's been hard - 🎉 A "Show & Tell" thread — post a photo of your swap wins (empty takeout containers, your library card, whatever tells the story) and we celebrate in the comments - 🃏 A no-spend social challenge kickoff early — turn accountability into a little friendly competition before Phase 4. Comment below and tell me which one is calling your name — or pitch me something totally different. This community is yours as much as it's mine, and I want the halfway celebration to actually feel like us.

Hey, I am so grateful for a second amazing 2-week house sit in Portsmouth with Nelson the dog. I saved a ton of money on lodging due to this house sit. The weather was amazing for sure. I arrived back in GA early this morning. Soon, I will be back on track with posting content for this week's savings challenge. How are you doing? What have you learned? I learned that saving money requires patience and flexibility when unexpected things happen. My flight was delayed twice, then canceled. However, I stayed cool, and I did not break the bank. Grateful for passenger protections in the UK that have given me a complimentary extra night at the airport hotel. Also, the staff at JetBlue were simply amazing. They worked hard to keep us calm and comfortable. See the video short sharing the final two days.