SO, I think I jinxed myself by declaring out loud that I was going to reduce my debt by not spending money this year. I think that my medical bills will outweigh my savings at this point! I know it can't be helped, but what a crappy way to spend your money, right? I actually ended up making a strategic error by trying to save money, too. As you all probably know, I had medical emergency 2 weeks ago. My intestines twisted and I had to have emergency surgery and a 4 day stay in the hospital. I delayed going to the ER longer than I should have, hoping it would pass, so I wouldn't have to pay for a copay and a bunch of tests. LOL, but that's not the worst of it! I really should have gone by ambulance. The only reason I didn't was because the ride costs $500 out of pocket, I believe, and I didn't want to pay for that. However, if you take an ambulance, the medics give you morphine for your pain right away and in retrospect, that would have been worth $500 alone. I got to the ER and was promptly ignored and didn't get any pain medication for at least 45 minutes. Had I known that, I would have taken the damn ambulance.
On the bright side, I paid off 2 of my credit card bills so I'm at least making headway on that frontier. I'm pretending I don't have thousands of dollars in copays coming. :)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Life is Expensive
Today we got up early on our holiday, and went to Sam's Club, Walmart and Target. I didn't buy a single non-necessity, and still spent $475. Those darn boys keep growing for some reason, and are walking around in floods. We had to get 3 pairs of pants and managed to get them for between $15 and $20 each. Luckily neither boy is into labels and are still happy with Levi's or Wranglers!! I'm glad my kids aren't fashion hounds...Kelsey can't believe people would pay $120 for a pair of jeans when you could get 4 or 5 pairs of cute jeans for that price at Walmart.
It is always a shock to the system when you have to replenish the necessities at Sam's Club, like batteries, TP, paper towels, dog food...all those outrageous and glorious purchases, you know? $375 by the time we walked out the door, and not a single item of fun in the basket!! It was then that it dawned on me that there are more than 2 categories of purchases. Before, I thought of things in terms of wants vs. needs. Now I realized that there are needs, wants, and "things that would be really handy and useful but aren't really necessities." THOSE items are the tricky ones. They aren't frivolous, they aren't extravagant, they aren't wasteful. That makes them seem deceptively like a necessity.
For instance, at Sam's today, they had all these different utility bags for 4-wheelers. Bill brought a 4-wheeler with him to the marriage. I'm talking the ultimate male machine. Picture Tim "the tool man" Taylor going "roh roh roh." Thing is, he really uses it a lot and it's a very handy tool for his hobbies. Sam's had all these great tank bags, fender bags, back seat bags, you name it, for excellent prices. We were BOTH drooling over them. He could have really used them and they would have been money well spent. However, the catch is that he doesn't NEED them. Dammit. It's hard to pass up a bargain when it's something you will not be able to buy for that price again and you would get a lot out of owning.
I walked out of Sam's Club feeling bummed that just living is so expensive. You can only cut back so much, but at then end of the day, you still have to wipe your behind. ;)
It is always a shock to the system when you have to replenish the necessities at Sam's Club, like batteries, TP, paper towels, dog food...all those outrageous and glorious purchases, you know? $375 by the time we walked out the door, and not a single item of fun in the basket!! It was then that it dawned on me that there are more than 2 categories of purchases. Before, I thought of things in terms of wants vs. needs. Now I realized that there are needs, wants, and "things that would be really handy and useful but aren't really necessities." THOSE items are the tricky ones. They aren't frivolous, they aren't extravagant, they aren't wasteful. That makes them seem deceptively like a necessity.
For instance, at Sam's today, they had all these different utility bags for 4-wheelers. Bill brought a 4-wheeler with him to the marriage. I'm talking the ultimate male machine. Picture Tim "the tool man" Taylor going "roh roh roh." Thing is, he really uses it a lot and it's a very handy tool for his hobbies. Sam's had all these great tank bags, fender bags, back seat bags, you name it, for excellent prices. We were BOTH drooling over them. He could have really used them and they would have been money well spent. However, the catch is that he doesn't NEED them. Dammit. It's hard to pass up a bargain when it's something you will not be able to buy for that price again and you would get a lot out of owning.
I walked out of Sam's Club feeling bummed that just living is so expensive. You can only cut back so much, but at then end of the day, you still have to wipe your behind. ;)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The first month is over!
Well, here it is February already! I successfully passed the 11 minute mark projected by my cynical prodigy, and I have to say, I am INTO THIS! I think it's like any diet...once you get going and start seeing results, you get hooked. (I stole that from my buddy Dave, by the way.) I am hooked, and excited!
Last month, in the final talley, we saved between $700 and $750 on food alone--not buying much in the way of groceries and using what we have, and not eating out as much has made a huge difference. In a way, I've cheated because my dad has taken me out about once a week, but like he says, he can afford it!
I also got a new pair of running/walking shoes because that is part of my daily exercise routine and I haven't had a new pair in 1.5 years. However, because I couldn't buy them, I figured out how to get them without spending money! I stole them! JUST KIDDING! I got a $10 birthday coupon from Famous Footwear, and then I took a pair of shoes I bought last year and never wore because they turned out to be uncomfortable and slippery, and I took them to FF. I didn't have a receipt or the box, but they gave me full credit because they could see they were shoes they carried and weren't worn...so that, coupled with my $10 coupon got me a pair of exercise shoes to get me through the year.
I've also had a little bit of a personal triumph tonight. I've been fighting our 4 year old laptop to try to keep it going, and a few days ago it basically seized up and quit working because the memory is 95% full and it's so crapped up with Window's Vista and whatever our computer has gotten over the years that I couldn't even erase things because it was too full to pull up the control panel. I am not a computer person, by any stretch of the imagination, but using an external hard drive and reading some articles and asking some smart friends, I figured it out and fixed it! It's running faster than it has in years! 6 months ago, I would have thrown my hands in the air and gone out to buy a new one. The pep talk from Gerald helped too--he told me that I knew going into the year of no spending that it would be hard and full of challenges, and this was one of them. He shamed me into trying one more time...and it worked! ;)
One thing that has been really cool is how many people have sent me links and articles and suggestions. I am appreciative of all these helpful hints and supportive comments. Thanks! I'm going now...to high five myself for vanquishing the Dell.
Last month, in the final talley, we saved between $700 and $750 on food alone--not buying much in the way of groceries and using what we have, and not eating out as much has made a huge difference. In a way, I've cheated because my dad has taken me out about once a week, but like he says, he can afford it!
I also got a new pair of running/walking shoes because that is part of my daily exercise routine and I haven't had a new pair in 1.5 years. However, because I couldn't buy them, I figured out how to get them without spending money! I stole them! JUST KIDDING! I got a $10 birthday coupon from Famous Footwear, and then I took a pair of shoes I bought last year and never wore because they turned out to be uncomfortable and slippery, and I took them to FF. I didn't have a receipt or the box, but they gave me full credit because they could see they were shoes they carried and weren't worn...so that, coupled with my $10 coupon got me a pair of exercise shoes to get me through the year.
I've also had a little bit of a personal triumph tonight. I've been fighting our 4 year old laptop to try to keep it going, and a few days ago it basically seized up and quit working because the memory is 95% full and it's so crapped up with Window's Vista and whatever our computer has gotten over the years that I couldn't even erase things because it was too full to pull up the control panel. I am not a computer person, by any stretch of the imagination, but using an external hard drive and reading some articles and asking some smart friends, I figured it out and fixed it! It's running faster than it has in years! 6 months ago, I would have thrown my hands in the air and gone out to buy a new one. The pep talk from Gerald helped too--he told me that I knew going into the year of no spending that it would be hard and full of challenges, and this was one of them. He shamed me into trying one more time...and it worked! ;)
One thing that has been really cool is how many people have sent me links and articles and suggestions. I am appreciative of all these helpful hints and supportive comments. Thanks! I'm going now...to high five myself for vanquishing the Dell.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Money Diet
I had a bit of a revelation this week. I was thinking about a friend who is trying yet another diet. I love this friend dearly, and over the years, I've followed her journey through diets where she gave up carbs, then meat, then anything processed, then foods of certain colors, fat, sugar, you name it. I was thinking "have you tried Weight Watchers?" but I didn't say it out loud because my input wasn't requested.
I was thinking back to when I had Ethan. I gained a WHOPPING 60 pounds because when the dr. told me to eat 4 times a day, by golly, I ate 4 big meals a day. I was young and nutritionally ignorant, and 60 pounds and a set of racing stripes (stretchmarks) later, I was ready for a diet. My mom introduced me to Weight Watchers, which ended up being just the ticket for me. Over the past 20 years, I've gone back for a WW refresher on balanced eating and portion sizes from time to time. I usually just need a month or two following the WW plan to get me back on track...I find that over time, I gradually forget that a serving of cereal, for instance, means a cup or so. I tend to forget that, find the biggest bowl in the cupboard, and fill it to the top, and then take the box with me for a refill.
I've realized that my spending freeze is just another form of diet. I need to balance my spending between necessities, debt reduction, and getting a little bit ahead. Notice "wants" wasn't part of the equation? This year is about remembering what I want isn't necessarily what I need, and as with everything else in life, moderation is the key. Portion control=how many pairs of shoes does a person really need? Insert your particular poison in the place of the word shoes. This experience is all about becoming mindful of what I spend money on, and why. The why is turning out to be very interesting...more on that later!
I was thinking back to when I had Ethan. I gained a WHOPPING 60 pounds because when the dr. told me to eat 4 times a day, by golly, I ate 4 big meals a day. I was young and nutritionally ignorant, and 60 pounds and a set of racing stripes (stretchmarks) later, I was ready for a diet. My mom introduced me to Weight Watchers, which ended up being just the ticket for me. Over the past 20 years, I've gone back for a WW refresher on balanced eating and portion sizes from time to time. I usually just need a month or two following the WW plan to get me back on track...I find that over time, I gradually forget that a serving of cereal, for instance, means a cup or so. I tend to forget that, find the biggest bowl in the cupboard, and fill it to the top, and then take the box with me for a refill.
I've realized that my spending freeze is just another form of diet. I need to balance my spending between necessities, debt reduction, and getting a little bit ahead. Notice "wants" wasn't part of the equation? This year is about remembering what I want isn't necessarily what I need, and as with everything else in life, moderation is the key. Portion control=how many pairs of shoes does a person really need? Insert your particular poison in the place of the word shoes. This experience is all about becoming mindful of what I spend money on, and why. The why is turning out to be very interesting...more on that later!
Monday, January 24, 2011
My Trip to Target
If you know me, you know I love Target. I mean love, in an almost unholy way. I don't shop there regularly anymore--maybe twice a year, which is amazing since I used to shop there every few weeks. I have all but stopped shopping there since they are anti-gay rights, but occasionally I have to break down and go since our options are limited in Santa Fe. (Also, because in my heart of hearts, I still LOVE Target in spite of myself.)
So I ended up at Target tonight because we had an appointment in Santa Fe with our financial planner, who by the way, is gleefully supportive of this year of no spending. My brother knows I've been lustfully coveting a certain red toaster only found at Target. He sent me the money to buy it for my birthday, since shipping for a $30 toaster was $10. I had accumulated a list of a handful of things that would be much cheaper there than at Smiths, and off I went with my loins girded for battle against the seductions of Target. Everywhere I turned, there was a purse on sale for 75% off, or Tide ON SALE, or Valentine treats in the entry way $1 section. I don't know what it is about the words "ON SALE" or 75% off that brings out my inner Jew (sorry Jewish friends) but there it is.
I managed to struggle my way through, buying only what was on my list. I can honestly say that I've never, EVER left Target with such an empty heart...I mean CART! I got my gorgeous toaster (thanks to the most awesome brother ever) and a little loaf of cinnamon bread with which to christen it, and I don't really need anymore $8 purses or another giga-jug of Tide just yet. In spite of being able to go through the 15 items or less line, it still came to $95! Considering it was all necessities, that's pretty scary! Good thing I was able to slay the dragons of "sales."
So I ended up at Target tonight because we had an appointment in Santa Fe with our financial planner, who by the way, is gleefully supportive of this year of no spending. My brother knows I've been lustfully coveting a certain red toaster only found at Target. He sent me the money to buy it for my birthday, since shipping for a $30 toaster was $10. I had accumulated a list of a handful of things that would be much cheaper there than at Smiths, and off I went with my loins girded for battle against the seductions of Target. Everywhere I turned, there was a purse on sale for 75% off, or Tide ON SALE, or Valentine treats in the entry way $1 section. I don't know what it is about the words "ON SALE" or 75% off that brings out my inner Jew (sorry Jewish friends) but there it is.
I managed to struggle my way through, buying only what was on my list. I can honestly say that I've never, EVER left Target with such an empty heart...I mean CART! I got my gorgeous toaster (thanks to the most awesome brother ever) and a little loaf of cinnamon bread with which to christen it, and I don't really need anymore $8 purses or another giga-jug of Tide just yet. In spite of being able to go through the 15 items or less line, it still came to $95! Considering it was all necessities, that's pretty scary! Good thing I was able to slay the dragons of "sales."
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Not Buying It
I needed a little inspiration, and a friend recommended the book "Not Buying It." I am enjoying it immensely and am finding it inspiring as hoped. Not only am I "Not Buying It," I am looking around at all our stuff and thinking how absurd we Americans are. How much stuff do we need? Not much...the majority of our possessions are truly unnecessary. Fun, yes. They add to our pleasure, yes. Necessary? Nope. I'm paring down the extra stuff--going through closets and boxes, and if we haven't looked at it or used it in a few years, I am going to start donating more than I did already. (I can't stand clutter!) Bill, don't worry, I won't donate YOUR stuff. :)
I started looking through the pantry at the beginning of the month. I cleaned out anything that was out of date, and then made a bag of food that is stuff my mom (thank you mom, no hard feelings) has given us that we aren't going to eat, and I'm donating it. The next step is to eat our way through what we already have. I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to go buy more food, and put it in front of what is already in the pantry. We decided to see how little we could spend on food in a month. In December, we spent a little over $1000 on food. Granted, we had kids and company home for the holidays so it was a bit higher than average, but not much. We have a week left in the month, but we've only spent $500 on food this month. We've each eaten out 1ce this month at lunch with co-workers, but otherwise, we've been eating...gasp...GROCERIES FROM HOME! What a concept!
Stay tuned for more riveting revelations.
I started looking through the pantry at the beginning of the month. I cleaned out anything that was out of date, and then made a bag of food that is stuff my mom (thank you mom, no hard feelings) has given us that we aren't going to eat, and I'm donating it. The next step is to eat our way through what we already have. I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to go buy more food, and put it in front of what is already in the pantry. We decided to see how little we could spend on food in a month. In December, we spent a little over $1000 on food. Granted, we had kids and company home for the holidays so it was a bit higher than average, but not much. We have a week left in the month, but we've only spent $500 on food this month. We've each eaten out 1ce this month at lunch with co-workers, but otherwise, we've been eating...gasp...GROCERIES FROM HOME! What a concept!
Stay tuned for more riveting revelations.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Cutting out the Spam
The next trick up my sleeve of desperation is to get rid of the emails that come to me daily or weekly, letting me know about the bargain basement deals available TODAY!
I get friendly little sales notifications from Land's End, Coldwater Creek, Avon, and randomly, QVC even though I only bought one set of sheets from them years ago.
These little enticements are torture. When I hear that Coldwater Creek is having a 75% off of everything in the store with free shipping, I go weak in the knees. I don't like to clothes shop, so over the years I've gotten most of my clothes online, and a good portion of them from the Coldwater Creek outlet section. Once they knock 75% off the closeout price, I can get a $120 pair of jeans for a song! I feel like I'm losing money to pass up such good deals. However, that's exactly the kind of thinking I have to reverse. I don't need any jeans this year. I don't need any fabulous coats this year. I don't need any FLIP FLOPS (CARI!) this year. Yes, I want all those things.
I have to tame my inner bargain hunter. I miss her already!
I get friendly little sales notifications from Land's End, Coldwater Creek, Avon, and randomly, QVC even though I only bought one set of sheets from them years ago.
These little enticements are torture. When I hear that Coldwater Creek is having a 75% off of everything in the store with free shipping, I go weak in the knees. I don't like to clothes shop, so over the years I've gotten most of my clothes online, and a good portion of them from the Coldwater Creek outlet section. Once they knock 75% off the closeout price, I can get a $120 pair of jeans for a song! I feel like I'm losing money to pass up such good deals. However, that's exactly the kind of thinking I have to reverse. I don't need any jeans this year. I don't need any fabulous coats this year. I don't need any FLIP FLOPS (CARI!) this year. Yes, I want all those things.
I have to tame my inner bargain hunter. I miss her already!
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