Living on an austerity budget, it turns out, does not make for inspired writing. Or even the inspiration to write. But for those of you looking for an update on how I'm doing, here you go.
So far, so good.
Week one ended with 20 dollars to spare. Week two involved some money shuffling as Nat had to use the Target credit card a few times. Nothing like going on austerity spending just as my husband is two weeks away from being paid for the first time since June. Still ended the week with, I think, about $30 to spare. Week 3 so far-- much easier as my husband has now been paid and has resumed his purchasing of most of the groceries. I know I'll end this week with some extra to carry over... as long as you don't count travel the travel expenses for Winnipeg that went on our credit card this week (oops).
It turns out we spend quite a bit on groceries. It also turns out that we can spend less on groceries, when we only buy what we need. One thing that has gone by the wayside during this experiment-- the idea of "stock up and save." I am such an insatiable bargain hunter that I often buy things simply because they are on sale. This habit, I realize, may well be the root cause of both the excess clutter in my home and my chronic lack of extra money. I've had to consciously talk myself down from a number of purchases, rebelling all the while-- but, but, but... its such a great DEAL!... sigh.
Another way I've stayed on budget is by putting off larger purchases for a few more days, pushing the cost of that laundry detergent from this week to the next, waiting til next month to buy the rest of Jack's school clothes, to pay for the roofing, to renew the museum menmberships. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Not a long term solution, really, but it'll get you through a month of extreme budgeting.
What I am hoping to take away from this, in another 10 days, is some sort of deeper knowledge of just what I can do without in my life. I think we've been more aware of free vs. paid activities. We've been eating out less. I've gone pretty much cold turkey on the slight impulse-purchase-at-Walgreen's problem I have. I think, just like candy, I'm going to leave that one behind me, beyond these thirty days. Maybe I'll keep my cash-only budget going for a while longer. I mean, not during Christmas season or anything, but for a little while...
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
September 2
A new month! So soon!
Sorry to be a day late but these things happen when you are throwing a gigantic dinosaur party for your FIVE year old on the heels of your first 5 day work week of the school year AND the week he started Kindergarten.
I know. Excuses, excuses...
So with no further ado, a recap of August, and an introduction to September:
My sugar- free month was, I believe, a resounding success. A few rules were bent on a few occasions (namely, salad dressing and pizza), but I made it, for a whole month, without eating candy! Or baked goods, or any of the other minor addictions I've battled with. I feel quite empowered, actually. And about 7 pounds lighter than I was on August 1st. A nice side benefit.
Yesterday, my first day "off" the sugar free diet, was well timed as I was charged with baking and frosting 36 cupcakes and a cake. It is nigh impossible for me to do this task without licking batter and frosting off my fingers. Seriously, have you tried? So, as it was a party day and I was bound to eat a cupcake later on, I went ahead and licked with wild abandon. Afterwards, I noticed that I had a nagging aftertaste in my mouth, my throat felt all sticky and coated, and I was incredibly thirsty. Turns out, when you haven't had sugar in a month, you become much more attuned to its undesirable effects-- and all that pure sugar at once may have been a bit too much. Yuck.
So I am pretty confident that I can continue a modified version of my sugar-free month, as a lifestyle rather than a challenge. My new rules for myself: When cooking for myself or eating at home, avoid foods with sugar or any variant thereof in the first five ingredients. When eating out, make reasonable choices. One sweetie-dessert a week to celebrate special meals or occasions or just for a treat. I see no reason I cant keep packing the same healthy lunches and sugar free snacks I've been making myself for work-- cheese sticks, almonds, dried fruit, plain yogurt, tortilla wraps of various persuasions-- and assuaging my sweet tooth with smoothies and homemade popsicles. It would be lovely to lose some more weight but even if I don't, I feel really good about the fact that simply by avoiding sugar, I've become much more mindful of what I put in my body, and I am eating so much less processed food in general. I don't miss sugar enough to trade it for this healthier lifestyle.
So, September:
This month I am going to be focusing on my financial well-being. It's been a bit of a tough summer in that regard. Lots of travel, a water leak in the house in Bedford leading to doubled water bills, all of our "big bills"-- gym membership, insurance, house improvements-- hitting all at once... all this has conspired to leave me with a balance on my credit card for the first time in about 8 years. Sigh. I am NOT happy with this. In fact, I am feeling rather stressed about it right now. But stressing over a problem does nothing to solve it. One must take action. I intend to pay off that balance in the very near future. However, as my near future does not include either a raise or a sudden influx of money, this will require something drastic. Reducing my spending. Oh, the horror...!
Taking a cue from the success of an across the board, drastic, rule-based change in August, this month I will use cash only for all of my incidental spending. I am giving myself a budget of $200 per week, to be withdrawn on Sunday and to cover any expenses that occur before the next Sunday. Excluded will be all bills (which already come out of my checking account through online bill pay) and gas, which is an unavoidable expense and which can't be bought on sale or "off-brand", and which will be paid for with my debit card. Other than that-- no credit card use. The travel miles we are earning on that thing just aren't worth carrying a balance on the card. It's being retired til the balance is paid off.
Wish me luck on this one, people. We have an incredible amount of food in our pantry (which we really ought to eat anyways!) so I think the children are safe from starvation. And I can actually put some thought into when and where and how I buy the necessary things for our lives, for a change... on a cash-based, tight budget little savings will really count. I think we will be all right.
Sorry to be a day late but these things happen when you are throwing a gigantic dinosaur party for your FIVE year old on the heels of your first 5 day work week of the school year AND the week he started Kindergarten.
I know. Excuses, excuses...
So with no further ado, a recap of August, and an introduction to September:
My sugar- free month was, I believe, a resounding success. A few rules were bent on a few occasions (namely, salad dressing and pizza), but I made it, for a whole month, without eating candy! Or baked goods, or any of the other minor addictions I've battled with. I feel quite empowered, actually. And about 7 pounds lighter than I was on August 1st. A nice side benefit.
Yesterday, my first day "off" the sugar free diet, was well timed as I was charged with baking and frosting 36 cupcakes and a cake. It is nigh impossible for me to do this task without licking batter and frosting off my fingers. Seriously, have you tried? So, as it was a party day and I was bound to eat a cupcake later on, I went ahead and licked with wild abandon. Afterwards, I noticed that I had a nagging aftertaste in my mouth, my throat felt all sticky and coated, and I was incredibly thirsty. Turns out, when you haven't had sugar in a month, you become much more attuned to its undesirable effects-- and all that pure sugar at once may have been a bit too much. Yuck.
So I am pretty confident that I can continue a modified version of my sugar-free month, as a lifestyle rather than a challenge. My new rules for myself: When cooking for myself or eating at home, avoid foods with sugar or any variant thereof in the first five ingredients. When eating out, make reasonable choices. One sweetie-dessert a week to celebrate special meals or occasions or just for a treat. I see no reason I cant keep packing the same healthy lunches and sugar free snacks I've been making myself for work-- cheese sticks, almonds, dried fruit, plain yogurt, tortilla wraps of various persuasions-- and assuaging my sweet tooth with smoothies and homemade popsicles. It would be lovely to lose some more weight but even if I don't, I feel really good about the fact that simply by avoiding sugar, I've become much more mindful of what I put in my body, and I am eating so much less processed food in general. I don't miss sugar enough to trade it for this healthier lifestyle.
So, September:
This month I am going to be focusing on my financial well-being. It's been a bit of a tough summer in that regard. Lots of travel, a water leak in the house in Bedford leading to doubled water bills, all of our "big bills"-- gym membership, insurance, house improvements-- hitting all at once... all this has conspired to leave me with a balance on my credit card for the first time in about 8 years. Sigh. I am NOT happy with this. In fact, I am feeling rather stressed about it right now. But stressing over a problem does nothing to solve it. One must take action. I intend to pay off that balance in the very near future. However, as my near future does not include either a raise or a sudden influx of money, this will require something drastic. Reducing my spending. Oh, the horror...!
Taking a cue from the success of an across the board, drastic, rule-based change in August, this month I will use cash only for all of my incidental spending. I am giving myself a budget of $200 per week, to be withdrawn on Sunday and to cover any expenses that occur before the next Sunday. Excluded will be all bills (which already come out of my checking account through online bill pay) and gas, which is an unavoidable expense and which can't be bought on sale or "off-brand", and which will be paid for with my debit card. Other than that-- no credit card use. The travel miles we are earning on that thing just aren't worth carrying a balance on the card. It's being retired til the balance is paid off.
Wish me luck on this one, people. We have an incredible amount of food in our pantry (which we really ought to eat anyways!) so I think the children are safe from starvation. And I can actually put some thought into when and where and how I buy the necessary things for our lives, for a change... on a cash-based, tight budget little savings will really count. I think we will be all right.
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