Making Changes - Confessions for Week 3

1 FooFoo Coffee

My groceries - we lacked a little here. $157 (but there was a HUGE sale on pork!).

I have found that I do spend more if Jeremy shops with me vs. one of us going alone.

1 new set of sheets - I have one that needs to go!

1 lunch at work.

Jeremy and I went on a date which included, dinner, mini golf and a babysitter.

I ran out of cards (birthday, anniversary, and Halloween) and baby wrapping paper.

And we had 5 bags of recycling!

A LARGE improvement over last week.

Making Changes - Confessions Week 2

I bought a pig shaped scrubbie holder for my kitchen sink and a bag of candy corn. My scrubbie holder was too small - the scrubbie didn't fit and I would almost die for candy corn.

I bought coffee from work once this week.

I also bought lunch at work. I forgot my soup bowl at home - you can't cook soup in styrofoam!

I bought the cupcake decorations for Jacob's birthday. I'm making the cupcakes myself. I just bought the little picks, like the bakery uses - for $2.50. Think of what I'll save vs. a bakery cake!

I also bought a water fountain for our cats - Brady (my cat) has crystals in his urine. He got violently ill from the meds from the vet. I was recommended a fountain as they make the cats want drink more and a cat that drinks more keeps his system flushed - thus eliminating the crystals. Then lets hope he goes back to the litter box and NOT MY BASEMENT FLOOR!

Jeremy's parents came to see Jacob and we ordered pizza.

I bought some fabric in Marshall to start a summer quilt for my bed. The one we have now is tearing at a lot around the middle, the seams and the edges are torn and fraying - also it's a queen and our bed is a king. It's also...pink. I think I spent around $50 including our dinner that whole day.

I mistakenly paid an extra $100 on our mortgage that I didn't intend to do. Funny thing being - by doing that, my budget isn't really affected....

I did buy a Birthday gift for Jacob that was on my list - only I had intended to pay for it with a reward certificate but, I got such a great deal to buy it outright - that I did! From $39.99 marked down to $19.99 and $5 to ship.

$68 at the fair this week.

Have I told you how HARD this is to do??

And you're probably thinking that I'm really sucking at this 'not shopping' thing. But really, just by forcing myself to tell you where I've failed, has really made a difference. I'll pick up something extra, in a store and I'll say to myself, "You know, if you buy that, you're going to have to confess another failure. Is this thing really worth telling the internet about?" and I put it down. Most times.

Honestly, compared to last week's list, I think I've improved.

Making Changes - Confessions for Week 1

I think I'm going to confess weekly regarding my changes. If I don't, I'll forget.

I did buy 1 bottle of pop. Purely out of habit.

My groceries for the week came in right around $120. I did pay with cash. Also, Jacob threw my grocery list out the window. Wow! That limits the spending right there! (Where's mommy's paper? "I 'frowed' it out." Out where? "I don't know!")

I also bought food, treats, and a leash for the dog. The food and treats we'll give to my brother for his dog. Katie, we think was allergic to beef and corn. That was $40 that could have been avoided. I really was trying to do something good. I guess, compared to what the cost would have been to get Jacob a dog and THEN find out about the allergies, we did save money! Feeble attempt, I know.

Speaking of Katie - there was a $20 unplanned expense for cleaning my carpets. Don't get me wrong - I'm not at all angry about that. The carpet did need to be cleaned. (Let me also say this - I am very sad she didn't work out for us. I really liked her and I did enjoy having her.)

I did use my canvas shopping bags for my groceries at all three stores - I did forget them at Target.

I did buy my Christmas and birthday gifts for Jeremy's nieces and nephew. I was under my limit for 2 birthdays (1 to go) and I found a huge score at Wal*Mart for Christmas for the 3 of them too. Which we had a gift card for!

I made about $150 on my garage sale. I do have a few more items to sell on eBay. I did Freecyle a bunch of the leftovers. AND I gave my picker-uppers some bonus items too! The stuff for Goodwill is in my truck to drop off tonight. I might also try this Craig's List thing...we'll see.

We did eat out quite a bit this weekend and went for ice cream twice! With the dog, the sale and I kept forgetting to take that hamburger out of the freezer! And to be quite honest - cooking wasn't anything I wanted to do.

I bought 1 coffee from work last week and 1 bagel too.

We did have extra trash this week.

I had 4 bags out for recycling (all those yard sale boxes).

We also had 4 plastic take-out containers. Shame on Jeremy!

I did buy a new calendar for 2010.

I also bought 2 prs of pajamas for Jacob (2 pr. for $19 - 1 pr. was $14). Those were on my need list for this fall. I had already cleaned out his drawers for the sale. I was feeling very guilty about this purchase. My consignment store didn't have anything decent in his size. I do still feel a little guilty. I'm not sure why.

I also bought our tickets for the Tractor Pulls at the county fair.

And, I am down another hole on my belt since this started...I'm not sure what's caused it nor am I complianing!

Of course, there is room for improvement but, I don't think that's too bad for my first week.

Making Changes - for you google reader users

I forgot this and I wanted to make sure it showed up for you - IYCSAN - there's another one coming.

Accountability

Now that I got all the 'rules' out here. I'm sorry for giving you such looooong posts! I'm going to use you, Internet to keep me accountable for all of these self-imposed 'rules'. Don't be afraid.

I promise to confess my wasteful and spending sins in truth and entirety!

I will post my grocery totals every 2 weeks. I think I'll post my 'sins' then too.

I will confess anything I purchase that is not in replacement for another item (clothing/shoes).

I will confess to going over my gifting limit.

I will confess to purchasing/using paper or plastics in waste.

I'll also get my favorite casserole recipes out to you all in an email soon. I'll expect to see an email with your faves coming back in trade! :)

Tomorrow is the big day!

Making Changes - 365 days of reigning in retail spending

Here's the big one you have all been waiting for!

Starting September 1, for the next 365 days we're reigning in our retail spending.

I had started this saying I wasn't going to shop for the next year. I can't say we're "not shopping". The woman I got this idea from wouldn't even buy herself a new bra! That is ridiculous to me. So, I guess, I'm defining shopping as the new sweater hanging on the rack that you think you can't do without. That great new toy that your kid will 'just love'. The 'Oooh, bleach is on sale, I need 10 of those' moments. The $100 limit for Christmas and buying big extravagances for birthdays or just because. I'm looking at the trip to the big bag store only for bread and milk that just cost you $50! That's my definition of shopping. Those are the types of spending I'm looking to eliminate. I'm realizing that it's simply impossible to 'not shop'. For now, we'll call it "reigning in".

I have 3 little nieces/nephews with birthdays and Christmas coming and they don't understand this whole thing. They're 3 and 4. And another that's going to be 14 (makes me feel old - then I think of her 27 YO cousin and I feel like a grandma!). We have set a strict gift limit on these things. I'm not going to disclose that limit but there is one.

We have a trip to Detroit coming up this month. That will happen as planned. I also have an event late winter/early spring that will happen as planned. These were scheduled before this was decided. It is not fair to those involved to force their participation or put in less for they certainly deserve the most.

Clothing for Jacob - I will have to purchase summer clothing for him next year then again for fall and I have a HUGE tendency to go overboard! We're switching over to the 'buy seven' rule. 7 shirts, 7 pants, 7 shorts, etc. He has 7 days worth of clothing and I do laundry once per week. I have been selling Jacob's clothes on an online auction site - and we're having another garage sale to get rid of the overabundance of his clothes - most that he NEVER EVEN WORE! Shoes will be replaced as he uses them up or outgrows them. As always, I will try to do used where I can (he's getting to the age where clothing does wear out), yard sales, second hand stores, etc. I do that now but, really, his dresser is STUFFED!

Halloween: I have Jacob's costume already. We will buy candy and hand out candy. I'm not handing out chocolate this year. Bring on the bulk foods, individually wrapped Smarties. I can't take my kid trick-or-treating and not hand out candy myself. I may get really bitchy and require costumes to get candy too...

Thanksgiving: We're traveling to my sister's this year. One year, I prepared for like 10 people and we only had 3 show up. I'm simply not doing it anymore. I'll make a small dinner for us to have leftovers.

I have Jacob's birthday gifts already. We're not having a party this year. We're having a small dinner with cupcakes, at home with G & G H, G & G S, and I don't know who else. Just a small family deal, on a Monday night.

Christmas: Christmas for us this year is going to be homemade. I bought everything (except the consumables) back in February to make our Christmas gifts. We also pared down the list of people we are giving gifts to this year. Really, if I haven't spoken to you all year or for that matter, if we don't even get together unless it's a forced thing - why do I want to give you a gift? I certainly wouldn't expect one from you!

I do have some rebate money from an on-line auction to spend in October. I will use those rebates to purchase Jacob's Christmas gifts - which has been drastically scaled back from previous years.

Jeremy and I are not exchanging gifts at all this year. As you recall, I got a new camera and signed off on receiving any type of gift for the rest of my life. I really like that camera!

I will only buy clothing/shoes for Jeremy and I as a necessity. Shoes - they have to have no life left. Clothing - we're both set. We will replace Jeremy's work clothes as needed and we will also purchase underclothes as they are thrown out.

Vehicles and our home will still be maintained.

Our cat(s) will not change foods or litter - I may mix a couple brands depending on what is on sale. Sadly, we're about to lose 1 cat and but, that is another post.

No new flowers for the yard and no annuals in the spring.

We will purchase pool filters.

Toiletries will be replenished as they're close to being used up. No more stockpiling!

NO MORE BOOKS! My to read list at the library has 86 books on it. Plus I have 14 on the shelf in our den and another at least 30 on the shelf in the guest room.

Batteries - Wisely, last year, we changed to rechargeable and have been working those in. We will purchase other size batteries as needed - for smoke detectors, flashlights, safety type things.

Meals outside of the home will be limited to once per 2 week pay period. Jacob and I will still do our Sunday supper at "Donald's" on Sunday when Daddy works.

I can't say that I will not go out to lunch from work for the next year. I eat lunch at my desk most days and I do bring my lunch from home or I have stuff in my desk. Going out, isn't really an issue for me. I think limiting eating lunch out to once per month, will be an easy task. Besides, it's the only way I get to see Ember and, I'm keeping that.

No more afternoon trips to the vending machine for chips or chocolate.

No more pop, no more soda, no more buying flavored water at work!

My toughest = coffee. I try to take coffee from home with me in the morning. But some mornings there just isn't time to brew it so I buy coffee from work. I have a refillable cup - that they will refill twice for $1.50. Yet for the $1.50 - I get coffee in the AM as well as PM! I am going to limit my at work coffee expense to once per week. No more foo-foo coffee!

I will continue to send Birthday cards to our families, and Holiday cards to the little kiddies. The good Lord knows I have the cards to be sending!

I will send Christmas cards this year too. Again, God knows the stack of cards is already there. I'm sorry if you get the same card you got last year.

As for Jeremy - he hasn't been allowed to spend money for almost 8 years now. This isn't much of a change for him.

I've allowed quite a few exceptions, and I know that. My goal here is to really curb my spending. To buy less. To waste less. To use things up and wear them out. To not have so much stuff that's just stuff or stuff that's simply for convenience.

Again, I'm happy to answer any questions and if you think I missed something, please say and I'll respond in the comments. I'm also open to suggestions.

Wish me luck!

Making Changes - Trash and Footprint Reduction

As many of you know we are recyclers and we're pretty good at it but, I've been thinking a lot about all that we do recycle and what is still left that we can't. I think about all of the waste leftover, and how do we reduce the imprint left behind. How can we use less?

We will no longer be using paper plates, plastic cups, or plastic silverware. We will use up what we do have but no more will be purchased. I have plate service at home for 19! 19! Plus another 8 for everyday!

At work, I have plates, coffee cups, and utensils and I will use them rather than the paper and plastic provided. I need a small bottle of dish soap for my desk.

I have and will make sure I use my canvas shopping bags rather than the plastic ones offered form the store. In some cases, I will even refuse the bag.

I will also limit the number of plastic take out containers we use. I have read about a woman who brings her own Tupperware rather than use a Styrofoam container. I'm going to try to to reach that level.

We will continue working with Jacob to go #2 on the potty to cut our diaper use by half.

I haven't found a good solution for food wastes yet though. We don't have a garbage disposal or a dog.

I will not go without paper towel but, I will try to use a regular towel when I can.

We do use a lot of flavored water, and I know that is a huge sin in the land of the 'no wasters' and we will work towards eliminating that luxury.

I will also be more mindful of what I print from my computer but, my question is, if I save it for Jacob to draw on, will the wax from the crayon nix it's recycle-ability?

We will also reduce our water usage. I'll do larger loads of laundry, less often. We'll use less water for Jacob's bath. I'll shut the water off while brushing my teeth. I won't let the water run as long for a drink. I'll use less dishwater (we don't have a dishwasher) and shorten showers (though I'm not a long shower taker).

As always, we'll turn our heat down this winter and Jacob has been policing the light switches, making sure we turn them off when leaving a room. I'll use more candles where I can and where it's safe to use them.

I will make a more conscious effort to purchase foods with less packaging or recyclable packaging.

We will spend more time outside and less time in front of the television. We will read more books and play more games.

We will eat at home more and do less takeout.

We will buy more used (when we're buying again). I will continue to Freecycle and or donate my used and unneeded items.

Again, some of these things do cross over into the 365 thing. I'm sure they'll be repeated when I finally get to that post. I'm moving up my deadline to September 1.

As I said in the last post, if you have any ideas about reducing, re-purposing or recycling, I'm open to suggestions - as long as you don't mention that whole flavored water thing.

Making Changes - The Grocery Budget

I decided to start with this one as it's the easiest of my changes - I have to think about some instances with the other 2 before I go forward.

I said I was going to get our grocery budget to $125 every 2 weeks. Here's how:

I'm going to plan menus ahead of time. Not necessarily around the sale ads. I want to eat what I'm hungry for - not what the store says I want to eat. I'm also going to cook in smaller batches as to avoid having to eat one thing for a week and getting sick of it three days in.

I'm going to continue to make meals that can stretch out a few days, like casseroles, pepper steak, stroganoff, Salisbury steak, oh, Reuben casserole and Cabbage Roll Casserole (I haven't made those in a long time)!

I'm going to continue going to Aldi for our staple items - actually for the majority of my list. If I need it and they sell it - I'll buy it there. I do go there first.

I'm going to STICK to my list. The no shopping for 365 will help that, I'm sure. I'm also contemplating to have me do the Aldi shopping and sending Jeremy to the big store with my other list. He STICKS to the list!

We always check the reduced meat sections for deal. When I do buy meat.

No more pop! I'm not buying it. We don't need it!

No more stockpiling! 1 to spare is all. When the spare comes out of the pantry, that item goes on the list. I don't need 3 jars of mayo at a time.

I'm no longer cutting coupons. I spend $1.75 on the newspaper simply for the coupons. I keep a bunch for things I don't normally buy - just to try them. And, I find I spend more if I have coupons. I feel like I'm wasting if I don't use it. So is that coupon really saving me anything? If I happen upon some for items that I normally buy, I'll use them.

I also intend to stay out of our local grocery store. I bought a bottle of Ranch salad dressing there once for $2.79 (store brand), the name brand, at the big bag store = $1.58! Not to mention, they have a fuel rewards system that isn't worth it! Of course, emergency run-outs are the exception. When you need eggs, driving 20 minutes to the big bag store is NOT worth it!

And the kicker - I will only pay for my groceries using C A S H! Think about it a minute - if you only have $100 in your hand - you can only spend $100 right? So, you think long and hard about everything you put in that cart if you only have $100!

I'm open to any suggestions you have or things you do to save money on groceries. I'm willing to share any of my casserole or meal stretcher recipes with you. If you have any that you'd like to share, I'd gladly take them too.

I will be posting the results of my bi-weekly grocery shopping out here. I need some way to be accountable and well, if I have to tell you what I did, then I am. Oh, and this is starting immediately.

Making Changes

I read. I read a lot. I read magazines and I read stories. Lately, the focus of my reading has been articles about reducing my footprint, reducing clutter, reducing spending, so basically reducing, period.

I read an article in a magazine the other night about a family that didn't shop for a whole year. 365 days, they didn't shop. Of course, they bought consumables, food, gas, toiletries type things but, no clothing, no toys, no extras.

In researching this experiment, I also came across a woman doing a 'no plastic for a year' experiment. Again, I was intrigued.

So, here's the deal folks. Starting October 1, this family is not shopping for 365 days.

Starting immediately, this family is going to reduce their landfill garbage by another 20%.

We are also going to reduce our grocery budget to $125 for 2 weeks.

"How?", you ask.

Stay with me and I'll explain each item over the next few days.

BTW - We're doing this to better ourselves, to produce less waste and to cut back to basics. We are not broke. We're not losing our home. Our jobs are secure and our hours at them have not been reduced.

I'd love to answer your questions along the way too, so don't be shy.