Next project - Good stuff Day 1

Ok, next project - notice something(s) good about each day.  Hopefully this will help me relax more and be less tense about things.

1.  I am not sick with bronchitis and an apthous ulcer anymore (was sick most of the week).  I am enjoying that I am not coughing and not having pain in my mouth whenever I eat or talk. 
2.  My kids are happy getting ready to go to the park with a friend.
3.  The sky is blue and the sun is shining.
4.  I get to spend some free time with my dh...nothing planned at all!

Project completed

Well, its February and I've completed my shopping experiment.  I wasn't perfect but I did think about each purchase I made carefully and my credit card bill was so much better this time.  So my hope is that this had helped me become more aware of what my shopping habits are and to think about what I am buying.  As far as the giving, will keep working on that and I have a couple more bags of stuff for my friends/ goodwill.

Day 25 - Boxes on my doorstep

Packages arrived via UPs on my doorstep yesterday and today - was it fun stuff?  Well, one was a iron to replace the one I bought 14 months ago (1 year warranty was not help there).  Another was a the clothing I bought for my girls - some for now and some for next year.  Do they really need that many shirts?  Yes, somehow they do...my older one is quite petite and delicate looking but is very hard on her clothing (gnaws on the sleeves as a bad nervous habit). 

DH asked me how my shopping diet was going and I answered in a crazy, crabby way - why do you ask, did you buy something?  Well, he said, yes, I did.  We each have separate accounts and a joint account and the understanding that half his check goes in the joint and the other is his to do with want he wants, no questions asked.  I kind of do that but I get paid monthly so I usually dump it all into the joint and then spend what I want.   But I have mostly linked internet shopping to my other account...the one for the crazy impulse purchases. So, like food diets, this one has made me a little crazy but at the same time as made me stop to think if I really need to buy it or it is just some kind of bad habit.

Day 22 - Traveling

Just got back from a weekend out of town that was 1/2 business and 1/2 family.  In the olden days, I used to use being out of town as a excuse to hit the malls and shopped til I dropped because the town I live in didn't have as many awesome stores as the big city. 

This trip was pretty short and I didn't have anything on my shopping list other than a grocery item that is hard to get where I live.  It turns out I didn't have to shop to get that as my generous parents had just bought a bunch and gave me 1 package, no wait, my dad stuffed 2 into my bag.  And of course my mom thought the jacket I brought was too light so she gave me a coat she had bought recently that was "too big" for her.  Well, she did buy it too big and it fit me just right. 

I did buy things for my kids as they stayed home and managed to get something that was practical and 75% clearance. 

Day 18 - Catalogs

Got a shiny new Garnet H catalog in the mail today and I gave into temptation and looked thru it.  Yes, I want everything on every page...from the shoes to the shirts to the funny jewelry.  I did not order.  I will maybe choose something to put on a wish list. 

I looked thru my amazon wish list today and deleted the stuff on it.  Why did I really want those things a few days ago?

I did shop a bit more for the kids as my 7 year old needed a lot of help getting one of her shirts off tonight to take a bath....way too small and tight. They grow so fast! 

Day 15 - I shop

Well, I shopped.  Online.  BUT not for myself!

I loaded up on clearance items for my older daughter's fall/ winter wardrobe for next year.  $100 for 13 items...hopefully that can pass on to lil sis as they are good quality.

I might could have waited a bit longer to see if the prices dropped more, but I decided it was time.

That's my story. 

Day 13 - coupons

Clipped some coupons today of some staples (eggs, tortilla chips) and fun stuff (cookies, strawberries) and went shopping with my daughter afterschool.  She enjoyed looking thru my coupons and telling me what to get next. 

I started some savings account at Smarty Pig (thanks QSM).  I have always saved but not for something specific.  Like I would say, hey we need a new car, but have some nebulous idea of taking a loan, selling my old car, etc to somehow have enough money.  This way, I have a sum of money for something specific and can see where its going.  I don't think I really realized how much we spent on things and how much things have risen in price (without my income doing so!).  I have been very fortunate that I have been able to save over the years and have some cushion  But honestly I don't really know if its really enough or if I am dipping into it too much.

I did slip last night a looked at a bunch of things on the internet, but I didn't buy anything.  I put some things on a wish list for my anniversary present and as we have a trip planned (and already bought) it's just something small.

Day 10 - shopping lists

Made a purchase of some books I need for for today and I even debated about if I really, really needed them even though I have an expense account for those kind of things.  And, yes, I really, really need them to do my job.  My patients have been talking a lot about cutting out food, caffiene, etc in their New Year's Resolutions and how that has affected them.  And inside my head, I could relate to their yearning to do something good, to be better. 

I took Loulou to the market with me today afterschool and she actually has good shopping habits now.  She had a list from school of supplies she needed and she stuck to the list.  I did let her pick out some treats in the cookie aisle to refill our snack area in the pantry.  And she got to pick out what we had for dinner.  It was her idea to make a list (handy notebook and pen in my purse) and we followed it and she was satisfied.  I should aspire to be as she is.

Day 8 - making progress

Not much going on today...put all the recycling in my car to take on the way to work tomorrow.  Felt good to see the recycle space in my garage all cleared out.  2 bags of aluminum cans (we still drink too much soda), 3 bags of plastics, 1 large tub of newspapers, few cardboard boxes (I had taken the post Xmas boxes like the next day!).

Worked on my taxes, gathering receipts for my charitable contributions and feeling good looking thru those.  I logged onto my credit card accounts and the totals were way lower than usual - very nice to see...that even this week of non-shopping has done.  I think I need to set a specific goal to work on now....maybe vacation fund.

Day 7 - Letting go and getting going

Found an unshopping activity today - selling some barely used cookbooks online.  With the proliferation of cooking sites on the internet I don't need as many cookbooks as I used to think I did.   I have many - 3 shelves worth and only just use a few.  I have been given many cookbooks, especially large, heavy ones. So it's time to let go of some of them so they can bring someone else some yum,

Did open up a new pair of tennis shoes I got from Santa Claus today and went for an hour walk with my comadres.  It felt great and the shoes were fab.  My feet have grown and the next size up feels much better.  Less toe squishing.

Day 6 - Friday blues

Kind of feel depressed....looking at stuff but not wanting/ feeling bad that I can't / don't want to buy it.  I guess I do get that shopper's rush.  I read today it's human nature to want to see new / experience new things but then they adapt and it becomes the same old same old.

I did find a cool blog via pinterest about fashion and remixing your wardrobe.http://www.puttingmetogether.com/2012/02/building-remixable-wardrobe-part-1.html

I did also pull out some clothes to give away today into a pile.

Day 5 - Shopping and returning

Bought a bunch of stuff at local warehouse club - milk, hot cocoa mix, enough napkins for the next 6 months, laundry detergent, tape, juice boxes for lunch...and 1 splurge item for the kids - a video game.  Of course they game was actually not in stock so I had to return the cardboard sign I had bought.  On the bright side, they had self checkout!  I got to hold my own scanner. 

Still itching to buy some new shirts for my wardrobe.  The excuse is always I need them for work...we shall see.

Day 4 - Financial Funnies

So I have in the last 24 hours, received an email from my credit card company picking up fradulent activity.

The fradulent activity turned out to be the the air machine at the gas station I used to address the low tire light on my car (didn't have enough quarters so I used my CC).  But initially I didn't recognized the transaction and the CC company flagged it as it said I was in the state of PA and not TX where I live.  Whew!

Last night, I almost bought $150 in clothes that I don't really need last online.  But I paused enough to stop and didn't do it.   I think I was just bored.  I did save them to my wish list.  I will probably end up not buying any of it and using the money to treat myself to a spa day at the end of the month.

I did go grocery shopping today and didn't do any impulse buying other that for a small craft project that costs $1.  Also noted that I could not remember where to buy safety pins.  Finally found them near the ironing boards.

Giving - invited work colleague and his family to eat with us tomorrow night.

Day 3 - Purging and Acquiring

I did some cleaning out today - some sweaters and winter accessories I won't use.  Better get them to Goodwill so someone else can use them in this cold weather.  Also cleared out some magazines for my office waiting rooms and some for the recycle bin.

I have not shopped yet but am looking at some sites but not buying.  Being bad...huh...I did have the bright idea of buying a carpet cleaner but think will try rental 1st.  I don't have an extra $500 to spend right now.

I did acquire some new recipes today and have spent time adding them to my personal cookbook app.

Think will go work on putting away more clothes right now so I can see what's actually in my closet.

Day 2 - negative checking positive karaoke

Back to work after a week off for Xmas...so hopefully I earned some $$.  Brought leftovers for lunch so didn't spend there.  Tonight am buying Chinese for New Years Eve dinner as my folks are here.  Logged in online and realized my credit card bills for this month exceeded the amount I have in my checking account...ouch.  Had to do an emergency transfer from my savings to cover the bills.  ICK!  I had been paying some extra on my mortgage (more than needed) so I am going to scale that back to make up the savings debit and then try again later in the year.  So that should really enforce my desire to be more mindful of what I am spending.

Giving - I am loaning our karaoke machine to the church youth group for their New Year's Eve party.

Day 1 - Target beckons but is barren

Shopping at Target today but with very specific needs - 1 robe for Loulou...lost hers, I have no idea where, refills for our label maker and some undershirts as the weather has turned chilly here.  Found the shirts, but not a robe in sight and they didn't have our brand of refill for the labelmaker at Target.  Let her buy a pack of gum at checkout after shushing her requests for toys and art supplies (kid, we just had Xmas!!!).  Went on Amazon and ordered new robe and some cartridges for label maker.  Put some movies on my amazon wishlist to watch in the future.

Giving - taught preschool class at church and had a fun time painting kids hands so they could handprint.  It was cold and grey and it was hard to get out of bed.  

Not shopping, giving

I think about this once in a while...not shopping and seeing if I can save some $$$.  I have so many things and too much stuff in some areas of my life.  But there is such an allure of shopping, choosing, purchasing.  So here's what I'll try to do.

1.  All catalogs go straight to the recycle bin.  (I have already opted out of them but they show up when I buy something.)
2,  Email shopping goes straight to the junk folder.
3.  Credit cards will be less accessible.
4.  If I have to, I will put things on a wish list and not into the shopping basket.
5.  At the end of 1 month, I will examine my wish list and choose 1 thing if any at all.
6.  I will use the money I save to put away for future big things (car) or things for others (gifts, charitable contributions).
7.  I will blog about any emotions, struggles I have with this in hopes that it will help others as well as help me.

Playing House

Nora. What do you consider my most sacred duties? Helmer. Do I need to tell you that? Are they not your duties to your husband and your children? Nora. I have other duties just as sacred. Helmer. That you have not. What duties could those be? Nora. Duties to myself. Helmer. Before all else, you are a wife and a mother. Nora. I don't believe that any longer. I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are--or, at all events, that I must try and become one. I know quite well, Torvald, that most people would think you right, and that views of that kind are to be found in books; but I can no longer content myself with what most people say, or with what is found in books. I must think over things for myself and get to understand them. "A Doll's House" Henrik Ibsen

Mean Girls?

My dh and I have been very fortunate over the years of our marriage to have some very good friends, nice acquaintences, and genuinely sincere people in the social parts of our lives. That's why it's puzzling to us that there was some strange behavior on the part of a person who was part of a group we had plans with. Due to various issues, our plans had to be cancelled. This person notified me and I replied ok. My dh said, why don't you ask them to do something with us since they would be free now too. This person replied, oh, I think I am going to do xyz. Fine and good. However later in the day near dinner time, they called us and asked us to go to dinner. As we had already made other plans, we declined.

I did mention we and another couple in the original group had decided to go out the next night and they were welcome to come - I even had a sitter willing to watch their kid too. She said, Sounds great! So the next day, I saw this person's spouse and he said oh, we missed you guys last night. So I mentioned the next dinner, and they said, oh, we can't make it because of xyz and but we're going to lunch right now if you want to go. xyz was kind of a weird excuse again. (We didn't go to lunch due to our schedule)


I am pretty secure so I can blow this off or just write off that this person had
weird social skills. Perhaps she is just too honest and doesn't see that it is kind of off-putting to others. I think my dh was more bothered about it than I!

Easter Fun

We've enjoyed a 3 day weekend so far and I'm pooped. All I did today was get up, fix breakfast, go with the kids to a big easter egg hunt/ party, come home and watch a netflix movie (old Julia Roberts - Runaway Bride), and cook tacos for dinner. I am already tired of cleaning up easter egg debris from the floor. Maybe it's because there are some big storm systems in the area and I don't like changes in the barometric pressure. I'm just lazy today. Tomorrow is church and brunch with family.

My mother in law has been through a big surgery and some health issues and is doing better. I can tell that because she is stressing about the regular things now (social events, parties, etc) instead of how she's feeling. She's really unusual for most folks her age (79) in that she never talks much about her health. We have to force her to go see her doctor. So I'm glad she is almost her usual self again - even if I feel like an underachiever in my social schedule/ roster of daily activities compared to hers! I know I should not compare myself to anyone else, but she is intimidating. Raised 4 kids, ran/ still runs a large business with her husband, board member of several community organizations, member of several clubs, travels extensively (foreign country at least once a year), etc. Glad I'm the 2nd daughter-in-law!