Hello to all. I sure hope you are all safe, well and warm! It is very cold here this AM. 9*F when I went out this morning. The sun is supposed to shine again today - which will be wonderful. As cold as it was yesterday, the sun helped a lot. It melted anything that was left of pavement I had shoveled. The plow actually went down our street yesterday. We have a little more snow coming in again tomorrow - oh, welcome to January and winter!
Just a quick note - I hope none of you are in CA. If you have family and friends there, prayers they are safe. I have several old schoolmates there, and I am waiting to hear something about them. Such an incredibly sad situation - such tremendous loss.
I used to kind of fall for the challenges, but not anymore. I just do me!
I keep hearing NO spend for the year unless absolutely necessary. Well, that is just kind of how I live. I get what I need, don't do a lot of frivolous spending and use what I have. I make the best of what is in my house.
I keep thinking, if masses of people stop spending, it sure isn't going to be good for an already struggling economy! Maybe instead, think about shopping at more small businesses, more mom-and-pop places. Think about buying used instead of new. Also, you might pledge to stay away from big box stores if possible.
Think about going through your house and garage and seeing what you already have that can be used. (you might be surprised).
I am not intentionally 'NOT' spending - I have a freezer and pantry full of food. I am intentionally going to be using up the oldest - as I (we) should do on a normal basis. I have been negligent about using the older items in the freezer - got used to convenience of just buying new and using. Yeah, that needs to stop. I can't stand waste - so I am going to work on using the older items.
As far as other items - there really isn't much 'stuff' that I need.
IF you used it all up - as in 'let's empty the freezer and pantry' - you will spend a small fortune to replace all that food! Use some and replace as needed. Things were cheaper when you placed them in the freezer/pantry - so remember that prices have gone up.
Continue to look for sales, clearance and mark-downs. They surely do help pack those pantries.
Another thing to think about this year - IF you can (I know not everyone can) - grow something. Even if it is a planter of lettuce or a potted tomato plant. Replace a pot of petunias with a potted tomato or pepper plant! Not only is it fun, but it is also healthy, and it is cheap! You can even grow sprouts or micro greens in your house.
Now if you take part in a saving challenge - that might be good. Saving change, saving ones, trying hard to put back a good 10% of income, investing in a 401K, children's college fund. etc.
Saving is always a good thing. EVERY single household NEEDS an emergency fund!
Are any of you doing any kind of challenge, or are you just being a good steward of what you already have?
I have sent no money so far this year, but I haven't left the house either! I am in good shape. When I do go out in the near future, I will buy whatever I need, but for now I am comfy staying off the roads and out of the stores. Snug and well fed here.
Stay warm and safe.
Have a fantastic day.
Next week is when I'll start trying to save again. I've had houseguests and company and it's really hurt my efforts. Between entertaining and going out to eat ... wow! That ends this weekend. Then I'll be getting back to normal.
ReplyDeleteIt's cold here too, not as cold as you, Cheryl, more like in the teens, and snow is forecast for Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately I'll be out in it on Friday AM, but after that I plan to hermit for a while! :)
MaryB
I spent a LOT of money at the holidays on various gifts. It sure adds up. I totally understand the need to get back to 'normal'. Sounds like you had events that were very enjoyable - but time to get serious!
DeleteStay warm and safe.
No formal challenges for me, but I am working on using up what is in the fridge and freezer before buying more. Of course, I'm only here for seven more weeks, and I really don't want to be leaving a bunch of groceries behind. As a result, I'm being quite conscious about what is being put in grocery cart. So far, I've had one basic shop and one small shop for a few items. I'm pretty sure the next shop next week will be a small one too.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wise way to shop. Just get what you need while there. I wouldn't want to leave a bunch behind either.
DeleteEnjoy your time.
I do know spend days, and unlike most bloggers or vloggers I count bills and groceries as spending. Money is leaving my account so therefore it is spending. I will be shopping sales (noticed my grocery store has a sale on some pork items and some beef items) and stocking up on what I have gotten low in. I always save what is left of my monthly allowance (which is counted as spent the day I get it...money out of the account once again) and all bits of change. It can really add up.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I pay my regular bills, but have done nothing else so far.
DeleteGood way to think - if you take out money for a certain thing (and then don't spend it all) think of it as spent.
It really does add up quickly.
Our plan so far is to try and us some older items out of the freezer. I have gotten very lazy about meal planning and need to get better. We buy what we need but have cut back on spending. We look for sales and clearance items. We know that if we spend less we can give more to folks like Smaratians Purse. There are so many needs and they are getting stretched very thin with there resources. And now the fires in California will add to that need.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a good amount of rain here in the PNW. This week we did get to see the sun and had above average temperatures. We had frost overnight because it was clear but should still get into the 40’s today. Rain will return this weekend of course. They are saying toward the end of the month the jet stream will change and we will get cold weather so we need to enjoy the warmer weather while we have it. Since we are in a wetter weather pattern it could even be snow.
Yes, using those older items is a great plan. Me as well.
DeleteNice that money saved is going to such a good cause. So many around the country in need right now.
I know someone in N CA and they have talked about so much rain lately, and S CA is so dry. Odd how it all works.
I would take 40's! Sounds decent. Enjoy those warmer days - yes, the cold will be there. We were very lucky with a warmer than usual fall/early winter - now we are getting it.
Enjoy the nice weather while you can!
Love the needlework! Think I'll make a sign with that saying. I was picking up a prescription at Costco yesterday, and the tech wore the cutest heart print blouse and I commented on it. "Goodwill", she said. We talked about the benefits of shopping in the charity shops; prices and saving stuff from the landfills.
ReplyDeleteStill pulling older meat out of the freezer. I think we'll have cubed steak with mushroom gravy tomorrow. Comfort food!
I asked my Texas daughter Alana if they got their snow yet and she sent me two little videos 20 minutes apart and it is really coming down. They thought when the moved from Ohio that they wouldn't have bad weather in Texas.
What is happening to the people in the line of the fires in California is heartbreaking. The Farmer said he saw on the news that a bank burned with everything in it, money, safety deposit boxes, everything.
Stay warm! The sun is adding a big dose of cheerfulness to our days.
Love it. Funny, just about each grade school luncheon I go to, someone comments on a top I have on - then says "let me guess, thrift store". They know me well.
DeleteI love comfort food.
I think it seems TX gets hit a little every winter. Hey, we need to share, right? LOL
I saw fires at the base of the Getty Museum as well - there are so many priceless works of art there. Hoping they have a basement vault to have put things. So many people losing everything. I cannot fathom the terror they must be feeling.
It is all so sad.
The sun is beautiful! Licorice is laying in the drive sunning himself today! He is enjoying it too!
I don't do any of the challenges, we just live below our means. There are things, that I will spend more on and then there are things that I won't spend money on. It's all about balance for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes. Live below our means! I think balance is a good way of describing it.
DeleteI'm not doing any challenges. I am just carrying on as normal.
ReplyDeleteNormal is where I think we all want to get back to after the holidays. I spent a lot of extra money - as most of us do. Now just normal.
DeleteNo challenges here, just getting everyone fed healthily and under budget is enough of a challenge for me to be getting in with.
ReplyDeleteI’m with Lori, I am spending where I need to and saving if I can. I have picked up a couple of gifts for next Christmas in the sales, and also put a stuffed turkey roll in the freezer that I got super cheap from Aldi. Bargains of any sort have been hard to come by.
Enjoy the remainder of the week, take care, Louise
You feed so many - so yes, that would be a challenge in and of itself. Thank you.
DeleteWow, good for you on buying a couple gifts already! I get a bargain whenever I can.
Thanks you as well.
Since I'm a household of 1, I don't do any official challenges, but simply monitor my personal budget. At the start of the year, I set an amount that I want to attribute monthly to groceries, auto fuel/auto expenses, and entertainment (which includes meals out, as well as get-togethers with friends and fellow widows). For the last 3 years, I've not increased the amounts, even though prices went up. This year, I'm allowing an additional amount for groceries -- if necessary. Otherwise, all amounts will remain the same. I track expenditures in those categories in my day planner and tally them as the month progresses. If I come to the end of the month and I need to spend, I'll make the decision to either say "no" or "ok, but I'll take that against the coming month."
ReplyDeleteCooking at home is better for my health, and I have an ample freezer and pantry to draw from. I've also made the decision to purchase off-season produce and meat from my local grocer, rather than from the big-box national grocer. I'll also shop there on Senior/Veteran Day, to get the 10% discount. In-season, I'll shop at my favorite farm stands and grow what I can in my deck boxes -- even if it's only enough for my nightly salads, it's something. Dairy will come from Aldi, so long as they continue to have the best prices. (FYI, all of my local Aldi's have discontinued selling individual yogurts (Greek and regular) and are now only selling packaged yogurt, thereby limiting my morning variety and relegating me to eating the same flavor all week. Not a happy camper and I've told them as much.)
If I'm careful, I'll be able to stay within my slim budget and save for a major purchase I'm hoping to make this year.