I have to say... we have really done well with the 30 Days of Zero project. Our deep freezer, fridge and pantry are much less crowded (as in... I can see the back/bottom of them now)... and I am fairly certain that my Starbucks habit is... dare I say... kicked. I can barely remember the layout of my favorite Target (ok that's a lie... I know the inside of that store better than 3/4 of the employees, but I digress) and I can already see a difference in my bank account. All wins!
Today, however, was complete and utter failure.
The first sign of impending doom was that Kevin and I had a day off together that I did not have to spend sleeping. And I was able to get everyone motivated, up and out of the house by like 10am (this NEVER happens!). I should have known this meant trouble from the get go. Add in the fact that we were both in a fabulous mood and had a small reason to celebrate (more on that later)... and off the deep end we went. Well... not entirely... at first...
We decided to reward ourselves (and Kennedy) with a little lunch date at Moe's. For some reason, lunch dates are way more rare (and fun) than breakfast or dinner.... and a lunch date on a week day felt like we were playing hookie, which made it even better! Since it was Moe's Monday, all 3 of us ate for less than $20. Not too bad. We had fun, made silly faces, Kennedy waved and said "Moe's" to everyone who walked in the door (mimicking the employees when they yelled "Welcome to Moe's". It was really fun. And, call me crazy, but I am pretty sure the food tasted better. In truth, I think we just enjoyed it and appreciated it more, because we weren't just eating out to eat... but rather to celebrate and enjoy the experience together as a family. Although this was breaking our $Zero rule... I learned from it and still consider it a positive experience. I learned that IF I am going to spend money, especially on something like going out to eat... I am going to savor it and enjoy it, not just do it for the sake of doing it (or because I am too lazy to cook that night or whatever). It is going to be special. And, silly as it sounds, our little family Moe's lunch date was pretty special.
So that's that.
The next (and much worse) fail was when we got home. I had been eyeing up this sweet puppy since around Christmas time, but for a few reasons, I just decided the time wasn't right and it wasn't meant to be. Well, lo and behold I came home to find out that the deal fell through and he was still available... and he was the last of his litter left. Oh... and he had PANTS! Just like Lucy. I decided this was a sign and I began to plead my case with Kevin. A few sweet, convincing puppy pictures and a few emails/phone calls to our favorite breeder and the deal was done. We are picking up our new little bundle of joy on Saturday. The irony is, without the past 3 weeks of zero spending, it is unlikely that buying this sweet boy would have been a feasible option for us. Everything happens for a reason, right?
So... yeah... that's my story of the ultimate $Zero fail. It is what it is. I'm not ashamed.
I'm hopping back on the wagon for the rest of the month. Maybe I'll even extend it another week or two to punish myself for today's events. Maybe I won't. Or maybe I will... after just... one... Starbucks Chai Tea Latte. Either way, I am walking away from this experience with a new appreciation for money, which is really what I was looking for when I started anyway. So I guess, in that respect, it was successful.
Sometimes lessons are learned by succeeding at something, but more often than not, the lessons lie buried within our failures. It was likely that without today, my first spending trip after a month of saving would have been to Target, buying a cart full of useless crap that I don't need, just because I can. But instead... I actually savored a rare, but very fun lunch with my loved ones at Moe's and we will all be loving on our sweet new puppy very soon... not a bad way to learn a lesson about spending my money wisely.
Showing posts with label 30 Days of $Zero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 Days of $Zero. Show all posts
1.20.2014
1.06.2014
30 Days of $Zero: Day 6
Yesterday was my first trip to any store in... ::gasp:: one week.
I tried to avoid it, but we were in need of eggs, cheese, elbow mac and a can of cheese soup (My coworkers have been begging me to bring in my signature Mac-N-Cheese Mini Muffins before I transferred units, and if I didn't, they might not have let me make it out of the hospital alive). I have also noticed Lucy displaying some increasing anxiety in the car recently and since we are planning a 6 hour road trip to Pittsburgh this weekend with her in tow, I wanted to find something that would help. I have done some research on Bach's Rescue Remedy for Pets and thought this might be worth a try. More on that later...
Anyway... Kevin decided it would be best if we went together so we could keep each other focused and get out of there with only what we truly needed.
We went to Wegmans. I was like Christmas. Bright lights, shiny things, delicious looking food, sale, clearance, buy me buy me buy me!
Miraculously, we were able to make it out of there with only the items on our list, plus a few apples and oranges "for Kennedy" (ahem. so Kevin could play with his new juicer). The cheese and Bach's Rescue Remedy were about $25 combined and the eggs, pasta, soup and fruit were just over than $10. So all told, we were in and out for under $40... which isn't great, but is a drastic improvement from my normal Wegmans shopping trip.
So, there you have it. My first shopping tripped as a reformed saver. I survived. And so did Wegmans.
As for Lucy's new car anxiety... I'm not sure what the cause is. I mean obviously the car (duh) but I can't pinpoint an incident that waould have been particularly traumatic for her. No accidents, loss of control, swerving or any other issues that I am aware of, although I am sure riding in the back of the car and not being able to see what is going on may feel much different than being behind the wheel. Heck, I dislike the loss of control when Kevin drives and I ride in the passenger seat {{it's like he can't even SEE the line on my side, GAH!}}. She still seems to enjoy car rides. I take her with me when I pick Kennedy up from the sitter (also helps me to avoid the urge to stop and shop since I would never leave Lucy in the car alone). She always runs over to the car and jumps right in. But once in the car, she smushes herself up against Kennedy's car seat as tight as she can and just looks scared and uncomfortable. Within the last week, she has even started to shake, it seems and earlier today, she actually jumped into Kennedy's car seat as I backed out of the driveway (Kennedy was not in it, thank goodness). It definitely seems to be getting worse. Needless to say, I'm puzzled and it makes me so sad!
I have tried to desensitize her by bringing her in the car more often, talking to her while I drive, offering treats and lots of praise, but nothing seems to be working. So onto Bach's it is. This is a natural, herbal remedy that had great reviews, as far as I could tell. I will be trying it out this week in the hopes that we have a smooth and stress free drive to Pittsburgh this weekend. Fingers crossed!
I tried to avoid it, but we were in need of eggs, cheese, elbow mac and a can of cheese soup (My coworkers have been begging me to bring in my signature Mac-N-Cheese Mini Muffins before I transferred units, and if I didn't, they might not have let me make it out of the hospital alive). I have also noticed Lucy displaying some increasing anxiety in the car recently and since we are planning a 6 hour road trip to Pittsburgh this weekend with her in tow, I wanted to find something that would help. I have done some research on Bach's Rescue Remedy for Pets and thought this might be worth a try. More on that later...
Anyway... Kevin decided it would be best if we went together so we could keep each other focused and get out of there with only what we truly needed.
We went to Wegmans. I was like Christmas. Bright lights, shiny things, delicious looking food, sale, clearance, buy me buy me buy me!
Miraculously, we were able to make it out of there with only the items on our list, plus a few apples and oranges "for Kennedy" (ahem. so Kevin could play with his new juicer). The cheese and Bach's Rescue Remedy were about $25 combined and the eggs, pasta, soup and fruit were just over than $10. So all told, we were in and out for under $40... which isn't great, but is a drastic improvement from my normal Wegmans shopping trip.
So, there you have it. My first shopping tripped as a reformed saver. I survived. And so did Wegmans.
As for Lucy's new car anxiety... I'm not sure what the cause is. I mean obviously the car (duh) but I can't pinpoint an incident that waould have been particularly traumatic for her. No accidents, loss of control, swerving or any other issues that I am aware of, although I am sure riding in the back of the car and not being able to see what is going on may feel much different than being behind the wheel. Heck, I dislike the loss of control when Kevin drives and I ride in the passenger seat {{it's like he can't even SEE the line on my side, GAH!}}. She still seems to enjoy car rides. I take her with me when I pick Kennedy up from the sitter (also helps me to avoid the urge to stop and shop since I would never leave Lucy in the car alone). She always runs over to the car and jumps right in. But once in the car, she smushes herself up against Kennedy's car seat as tight as she can and just looks scared and uncomfortable. Within the last week, she has even started to shake, it seems and earlier today, she actually jumped into Kennedy's car seat as I backed out of the driveway (Kennedy was not in it, thank goodness). It definitely seems to be getting worse. Needless to say, I'm puzzled and it makes me so sad!
I have tried to desensitize her by bringing her in the car more often, talking to her while I drive, offering treats and lots of praise, but nothing seems to be working. So onto Bach's it is. This is a natural, herbal remedy that had great reviews, as far as I could tell. I will be trying it out this week in the hopes that we have a smooth and stress free drive to Pittsburgh this weekend. Fingers crossed!
1.04.2014
30 Days of $Zero: Day 4
I don't write about work often... actually ever. I like to keep work at work, period. However, I had an experience this week that really resonated with me and gave me a whole new perspective on this 30 Days of Zero challenge. *I have to keep the details as vague as possible.*
So I was caring for a patient who is, in my opinion, a true American hero. I listened intently to their stories and was just amazed at how much they had given. This person has made contributions to our country that most cannot imagine.
Overnight, my fellow nurses asked how my spending diet was going and I, of course, whined about Starbucks and my urge to browse Zulily. True first world problems, right?
In the morning, I went in to help get this patient ready for the day. They are from a much more simple generation, and I know that. But I was still taken aback when I saw their attire for the day. It was well-loved, and by well-loved I mean stained, tattered and hanging together by a thread in many places. It seemed as if it was the only outfit they had worn for the past 30 or so years. On further inspection of their closet, it was apparent that this was the only outfit they owned, and likely the only one they had owned/worn for the past 30 or so years.
This person thanked me profusely for everything small task that I helped them with and praised God from the moment they awoke for all of the blessings they have been given.
I left work marveling over the experience. This person is thankful to be alive. Thankful to have food to eat and clothes to wear, while I lament about not buying Starbucks or loads of junk that I don't need. If any of us should be singing praises, it should be me. And if any of us should be wanting more, it should be them. How backwards. How strange.
How eye-opening.
I stood in my closet for a while when I got home. Embarrassed. I have clothes upon clothes upon clothes. Shoes and scarves and purses and... stuff everywhere. And yet, I want more... more... more. Why?
Well, I don't know why. I probably never will understand what makes some of us never feel satisfied, even when our bounty is bursting at the seams. What I do know is that my non-material blessings are immeasurable. My amazing family, my loving husband, the fact that I was able to help create a life and bring her into the world, my daughter's infectious laugh, my puppy's never-ending cuddles, my brother who is always there for me, my parents who have supported me every step of this crazy life journey, my brother-in-law and my in-laws who are generous beyond measure, my house that we have made a home, my job that truly is fulfilling (even on the crazy days), my health (especially when I care for the sick and injured daily), my faith (now a little stronger). I could go on for days. I can't put a price tag on these things (less the house, of course), yet they are the biggest riches I have. I need to focus more on these, the wealth I possess that I didn't find on the Target clearance rack or on any shopping website.
So today, I feel a little more focused, a little less selfish and a lot more appreciative of what I do have. I can't say I don't miss Starbucks (because nothing makes self-reflection tastier than a nice hot Chai Tea Latte with one pump of pumpkin).... but things are looking pretty good.
So I was caring for a patient who is, in my opinion, a true American hero. I listened intently to their stories and was just amazed at how much they had given. This person has made contributions to our country that most cannot imagine.
Overnight, my fellow nurses asked how my spending diet was going and I, of course, whined about Starbucks and my urge to browse Zulily. True first world problems, right?
In the morning, I went in to help get this patient ready for the day. They are from a much more simple generation, and I know that. But I was still taken aback when I saw their attire for the day. It was well-loved, and by well-loved I mean stained, tattered and hanging together by a thread in many places. It seemed as if it was the only outfit they had worn for the past 30 or so years. On further inspection of their closet, it was apparent that this was the only outfit they owned, and likely the only one they had owned/worn for the past 30 or so years.
This person thanked me profusely for everything small task that I helped them with and praised God from the moment they awoke for all of the blessings they have been given.
I left work marveling over the experience. This person is thankful to be alive. Thankful to have food to eat and clothes to wear, while I lament about not buying Starbucks or loads of junk that I don't need. If any of us should be singing praises, it should be me. And if any of us should be wanting more, it should be them. How backwards. How strange.
How eye-opening.
I stood in my closet for a while when I got home. Embarrassed. I have clothes upon clothes upon clothes. Shoes and scarves and purses and... stuff everywhere. And yet, I want more... more... more. Why?
Well, I don't know why. I probably never will understand what makes some of us never feel satisfied, even when our bounty is bursting at the seams. What I do know is that my non-material blessings are immeasurable. My amazing family, my loving husband, the fact that I was able to help create a life and bring her into the world, my daughter's infectious laugh, my puppy's never-ending cuddles, my brother who is always there for me, my parents who have supported me every step of this crazy life journey, my brother-in-law and my in-laws who are generous beyond measure, my house that we have made a home, my job that truly is fulfilling (even on the crazy days), my health (especially when I care for the sick and injured daily), my faith (now a little stronger). I could go on for days. I can't put a price tag on these things (less the house, of course), yet they are the biggest riches I have. I need to focus more on these, the wealth I possess that I didn't find on the Target clearance rack or on any shopping website.
So today, I feel a little more focused, a little less selfish and a lot more appreciative of what I do have. I can't say I don't miss Starbucks (because nothing makes self-reflection tastier than a nice hot Chai Tea Latte with one pump of pumpkin).... but things are looking pretty good.
1.01.2014
30 Days of $Zero: D-Day
Welp... today is the day.
Last night, I dreamed about swimming in a pool of Starbucks Non-Fat Chai Tea Latte with 1 pump of pumpkin. It was glorious. My dream then turned into a nightmare when Zulily, Target AND Kohl's all decided to have the sale of the century. I may or may not have woken up in a cold sweat.
Like any true addict, I had one last Starbucks drink that I purchased yesterday (I told you, I bought 2!!) stashed away in my fridge, for emergency purposes of course. Surprisingly, I was able to leave it there, knowing I would much rather have it on my way to work when I would have to drive past my favorite coffee shop.
I quickly surveyed my nearly exploding refrigerator, pantry and deep freezer and took a deep breath.
I can do this.
I made breakfast for the mini-monster and I, brewed a cup of coffee with my previously neglected Keurig and went on about my day. We watched some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse together, played in her play room and took a nice, long (3 HOUR!?!?!?) nap. All in all, it was a pretty good day.
I removed myself from my 12 (count them, 12... yikes!) buy/sell/trade groups that I had joined on Facebook. The GAP one hurt a little. And I somehow managed to make it through the afternoon without checking Zulily one time. Not once!
Before work, I warmed up my Starbucks chai that I had been saving and breathed in the delicious aroma. I am sure going to miss this. Then I headed in to work. I chatted wiht my brother on my way to work and actually drove past Starbucks without even noticing. Amazing what a little distraction can do.
So that was it. That was day one. Nothing catastrophic. No melt downs, break downs or psychotic explosions. No withdrawls (although I am slowly savoring a chai right now, so tomorrow may be different), no shaking, crying, dressing up in disguise and sneaking off to Target incognito and no stealing anyone else's coffee.
I made it. Day one. Zero dollars today. And you know what?
It wasn't that bad. :)
Last night, I dreamed about swimming in a pool of Starbucks Non-Fat Chai Tea Latte with 1 pump of pumpkin. It was glorious. My dream then turned into a nightmare when Zulily, Target AND Kohl's all decided to have the sale of the century. I may or may not have woken up in a cold sweat.
Like any true addict, I had one last Starbucks drink that I purchased yesterday (I told you, I bought 2!!) stashed away in my fridge, for emergency purposes of course. Surprisingly, I was able to leave it there, knowing I would much rather have it on my way to work when I would have to drive past my favorite coffee shop.
I quickly surveyed my nearly exploding refrigerator, pantry and deep freezer and took a deep breath.
I can do this.
I made breakfast for the mini-monster and I, brewed a cup of coffee with my previously neglected Keurig and went on about my day. We watched some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse together, played in her play room and took a nice, long (3 HOUR!?!?!?) nap. All in all, it was a pretty good day.
I removed myself from my 12 (count them, 12... yikes!) buy/sell/trade groups that I had joined on Facebook. The GAP one hurt a little. And I somehow managed to make it through the afternoon without checking Zulily one time. Not once!
Before work, I warmed up my Starbucks chai that I had been saving and breathed in the delicious aroma. I am sure going to miss this. Then I headed in to work. I chatted wiht my brother on my way to work and actually drove past Starbucks without even noticing. Amazing what a little distraction can do.
So that was it. That was day one. Nothing catastrophic. No melt downs, break downs or psychotic explosions. No withdrawls (although I am slowly savoring a chai right now, so tomorrow may be different), no shaking, crying, dressing up in disguise and sneaking off to Target incognito and no stealing anyone else's coffee.
I made it. Day one. Zero dollars today. And you know what?
It wasn't that bad. :)
12.31.2013
30 Days of $ZERO: D -1
I like to shop. Actually... I love to shop. I shop when I'm bored, I shop when I'm happy, I shop when I'm mad (I try to remember to take the hubby's credit card on these occasions). Shopping is both therapeutic and... fun! Heck, my daughter's first trip out of the house as a newborn was to Target (flameworthy, maybe?).
As a matter of fact, one of my favorite things to do with Kennedy is head to Target, grab a delicious Starbucks beverage (because, you know, the evil empire of Starbucks just HAD to team up with the evil empire of Target in a joint effort to destroy my bank account. Well played, you two) and wander the aisles, adding completely unnecessary "necessities" to our cart. We could spend hours roaming the store... it's just kind of our thing.
I used to call Target the $50 store... because any trip inside those red doors guaranteed a $50 dent in my account. Now that they have a magical Starbucks inside... well now it's the $80 store. Not that a Starbucks coffee costs $30 (although it might as well!) but something about enjoying a nice warm chai while I shop just makes me want to spend more money (again, well played evil geniuses).
And don't even get me started on how many times I have walked into that store "needing" one or two simple items (toothpaste, shampoo) and walked out with an $80 bag containing everything under the sun... except toothpaste and shampoo. These occasions require a return trip to the red money monster and, of course, another $80.
At this very moment, I have four different varieties of coffee (that I just had to have) for my Keurig (that I fell in love with when Kevin gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago). I have acquired (likely through various Target trips) a handful of travel coffee cups. I even have a few different flavor syrups, chai mixes and other treats to fancy up my beverage, a la Starbucks style. I work nights. I drink coffee. Perfect solution: before I leave for work, make a coffee, dress it up in whatever way suits me, pour it into lovely Target travel mug and enjoy. Does this happen? No. I pass a Starbucks on my way to work and like a moth to light, I am drawn in. A few minutes later, I am on my way with my delicious nectar of the Gods... and $5+ lighter in the wallet. I've never smoked or done drugs, but I am pretty sure I am addicted to my Non-Fat Chai Tea Latte with one pump of pumpkin like ::insert witty celebrity addiction comparison here:: Clearly, I am too busy shopping and drinking my chai to keep up with celebrity gossip.
The third and final member of the evil trifecta is Wegmans. Now, I love Wegmans. As a matter of fact, I love that store so much I think I visit it more than Target. I go in for "just one quick thing" and walk out with a cart full of delicious treats. Their selection is great and I... I want it all. I buy Club Packs of everything. What's better than a few pieces of fresh fruit or veggies? A whole club pack of every single fresh fruit or vegetable that catches my eye that will rot before I eat them (because, of course, Kevin will avoid them like the plague). During the summer, we primarily shop at the local farmer's market, which we love. This summer I learned how to can and I also flash froze lots and lots of vegetables, so we can enjoy them during the winter months without paying big bucks for them at the grocery store. As a matter of fact, my freezer and pantry are both so full that I have to shuffle things around to smush more in, every time I come back from the store. Does this stop me from going overboard and buying more more more? In short, no. Often, I end up buying doubles (or triples) of things, because they have been buried so deep in the freezer or pantry that I forgot I had them. It's out of control.
Online shopping is another one of my downfalls. A few days a week a package will show up at my door and Kevin will ask "what did you buy NOW?" I sheepishly shrug my shoulders because the chances are pretty good that in the 2-3 weeks it took to deliver said package, I have already made a few more online purchases and forgot all about the little gem that has arrived on my doorstep. Is it the new sweater I ordered that I will probably never wear? Another "OMG this is SO cute" outfit I just HAD to buy for Kennedy (her closet puts mine to shame, by the way. I thought I had a shopping problem before... enter super cute toddler girl and the shopping addiction hits an all time high). Is it the random play room decor that will never make it onto the wall? I just don't know.
So clearly, I have a problem.
The first step to fixing the problem is actually admitting that you have a problem.
Ok great. So step one: admit you have a problem... check.
Now onto step two. And this may seem a little drastic, crazy, out-there... but it has to be done.
This month, I am going on a spending diet. Well, actually... if money were food, I guess I am going on spending hunger strike.
This month, I am spending ZERO money.
Well... not technically zero. We still have to pay our bills, put gas in the car to get to/from work and pay the babysitter. We have agreed that milk and eggs are ok to buy for Kennedy. Aside from these true necessities...
Z-E-R-O.
No trips to Target to waste the afternoon away browsing and shopping with Kennedy. No Wegmans runs to grab "just a few" ingredients for dinner. No online impulse shopping.
No Starbucks.
::gulp::
So here I am... the day before I begin my starvation spending diet. I am enjoying my very last amazingly delicious Starbucks chai tea latte ( *might* have ordered two and stored on in the fridge). Kennedy and I just enjoyed a ridiculous expensive Panera lunch (when did they get so pricey anyway?) and we have decided to order chinese take-out for our last purchased meal. I'm a sucker for some good lo mein. :)
Tomorrow it begins.
Are you making any changes in the upcoming year? What are your goals?
As a matter of fact, one of my favorite things to do with Kennedy is head to Target, grab a delicious Starbucks beverage (because, you know, the evil empire of Starbucks just HAD to team up with the evil empire of Target in a joint effort to destroy my bank account. Well played, you two) and wander the aisles, adding completely unnecessary "necessities" to our cart. We could spend hours roaming the store... it's just kind of our thing.
I used to call Target the $50 store... because any trip inside those red doors guaranteed a $50 dent in my account. Now that they have a magical Starbucks inside... well now it's the $80 store. Not that a Starbucks coffee costs $30 (although it might as well!) but something about enjoying a nice warm chai while I shop just makes me want to spend more money (again, well played evil geniuses).
And don't even get me started on how many times I have walked into that store "needing" one or two simple items (toothpaste, shampoo) and walked out with an $80 bag containing everything under the sun... except toothpaste and shampoo. These occasions require a return trip to the red money monster and, of course, another $80.
At this very moment, I have four different varieties of coffee (that I just had to have) for my Keurig (that I fell in love with when Kevin gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago). I have acquired (likely through various Target trips) a handful of travel coffee cups. I even have a few different flavor syrups, chai mixes and other treats to fancy up my beverage, a la Starbucks style. I work nights. I drink coffee. Perfect solution: before I leave for work, make a coffee, dress it up in whatever way suits me, pour it into lovely Target travel mug and enjoy. Does this happen? No. I pass a Starbucks on my way to work and like a moth to light, I am drawn in. A few minutes later, I am on my way with my delicious nectar of the Gods... and $5+ lighter in the wallet. I've never smoked or done drugs, but I am pretty sure I am addicted to my Non-Fat Chai Tea Latte with one pump of pumpkin like ::insert witty celebrity addiction comparison here:: Clearly, I am too busy shopping and drinking my chai to keep up with celebrity gossip.
The third and final member of the evil trifecta is Wegmans. Now, I love Wegmans. As a matter of fact, I love that store so much I think I visit it more than Target. I go in for "just one quick thing" and walk out with a cart full of delicious treats. Their selection is great and I... I want it all. I buy Club Packs of everything. What's better than a few pieces of fresh fruit or veggies? A whole club pack of every single fresh fruit or vegetable that catches my eye that will rot before I eat them (because, of course, Kevin will avoid them like the plague). During the summer, we primarily shop at the local farmer's market, which we love. This summer I learned how to can and I also flash froze lots and lots of vegetables, so we can enjoy them during the winter months without paying big bucks for them at the grocery store. As a matter of fact, my freezer and pantry are both so full that I have to shuffle things around to smush more in, every time I come back from the store. Does this stop me from going overboard and buying more more more? In short, no. Often, I end up buying doubles (or triples) of things, because they have been buried so deep in the freezer or pantry that I forgot I had them. It's out of control.
Online shopping is another one of my downfalls. A few days a week a package will show up at my door and Kevin will ask "what did you buy NOW?" I sheepishly shrug my shoulders because the chances are pretty good that in the 2-3 weeks it took to deliver said package, I have already made a few more online purchases and forgot all about the little gem that has arrived on my doorstep. Is it the new sweater I ordered that I will probably never wear? Another "OMG this is SO cute" outfit I just HAD to buy for Kennedy (her closet puts mine to shame, by the way. I thought I had a shopping problem before... enter super cute toddler girl and the shopping addiction hits an all time high). Is it the random play room decor that will never make it onto the wall? I just don't know.
So clearly, I have a problem.
The first step to fixing the problem is actually admitting that you have a problem.
Ok great. So step one: admit you have a problem... check.
Now onto step two. And this may seem a little drastic, crazy, out-there... but it has to be done.
This month, I am going on a spending diet. Well, actually... if money were food, I guess I am going on spending hunger strike.
This month, I am spending ZERO money.
Well... not technically zero. We still have to pay our bills, put gas in the car to get to/from work and pay the babysitter. We have agreed that milk and eggs are ok to buy for Kennedy. Aside from these true necessities...
Z-E-R-O.
No trips to Target to waste the afternoon away browsing and shopping with Kennedy. No Wegmans runs to grab "just a few" ingredients for dinner. No online impulse shopping.
No Starbucks.
::gulp::
So here I am... the day before I begin my starvation spending diet. I am enjoying my very last amazingly delicious Starbucks chai tea latte ( *might* have ordered two and stored on in the fridge). Kennedy and I just enjoyed a ridiculous expensive Panera lunch (when did they get so pricey anyway?) and we have decided to order chinese take-out for our last purchased meal. I'm a sucker for some good lo mein. :)
Tomorrow it begins.
- Food: I will be using what I have on hand to cook with. If I can clear out my freezer stash and empty out my pantry, that would be awesome! We have agreed that if we run completely out of fruits and vegetables, we will buy a small amount of whatever is on sale for Kennedy. No more "club packs of everything". And we will eat or freeze it all. No more letting it go bad and throwing it away.
- Fun: Kennedy and I will work on finishing her alphabet wall project that I started before Christmas. I also have some Valentine's crafts (that I, shockingly, bought last year and never used) that we can do. I will also be scouring the internet for fun, FREE local activities to enjoy. No more trips to Target to kill time and waste money. I just might have to (finally) conquer my fear of my sewing machine.
- Kevin's birthday: is this month and we have decided this will be a "cheat" day, hence the 30 days of zero and not 31. He can choose whatever he wants for dinner, either eat out or I will grocery shop for that meal and cook at home, whichever he decides. I will either set a budget for his gift or, in lieu of a present, we may make a trip to Pittsburgh. If we do, we will set a small budget for the trip and stick within it.
- Coffee: Let's be real here. This is probably what you were really wondering. How the heck is she going to make it without her Starbucks? Well... it will not be easy, but I am determined to kick this habit. I have actually considered taking a different route to work, to avoid the temptation. Lol! I will simply make my coffee or chai at home (I did make sure to stock up on chai from Wegmans) and enjoy that on my drive in. This might get ugly, and my local Starbucks just might report a profit loss for the first time since we moved in... but I will do it.
Are you making any changes in the upcoming year? What are your goals?
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