My self-imposed guidelines
So, I know some of you are thinking "Well... you've got to spend SOME money this year don't you!?" and my answer to all of ya'll (imagine that with a southern twang) is "Yes, I will have to." Oh yeah, I'll HAVE TO. Force me why don't you.
I imagine that this will kind of be like a person who is in Overeaters Anonymous who must still eat but can only consume the "right" stuff. Where it would be a whole lot easier if you could just eliminate it completely from your life.
The goal of this whole spending fast is to get my spending back on track, save some money and get rid of a lot of the clutter and time sucking that comes along with having a lot of stuff and buying the new stuff. Managing it, maintaining it, cleaning it, rearranging it, you know.
Plus, I want my priorities to go like this: people and relationships are #1 and I don't want things to be at the top or even close to the top of the list. Where as now, that can become questionable sometimes.
Setting up my priorities like that makes sense.
Obviously, situations will happen this year that I won't be able to predict, so I'm gonna have to weigh those unexpected situations and remember that my motto has to be "Make Do and Mend" rather than "Make More and Spend, More."
Ok. So. Here is the brutal break-down of how things will be going down this year:
What I will have to spend money on:
Mortgage
Utilities (keeping lights and water off as much as possible; keeping the thermostat at 68 and wearing a hat and long johns inside, if needed)
Cell phone (taking the internet off of it- that's unneeded)
Food (store bought, off brands, in season fruits and veggies and only when I run out of stuff in cupboards)
Gym membership (local gym, it's reasonable and health is important)
Doctor co-pays
Medicine
Photography exhibits (done inexpensively)
Car payment
Some gas
Bus eco-pass
Hair dye (hey, I have needs)
What I'm NOT spending money on:
Gifts (sorry friends and family... homemade crafts or re-gifting will be happening. Hopefully you all like macaroni magnets.)
Coffee at coffee shops (sad face)
Clothes (remember: "Make Do & Mend!" and in honor of that I need this. haha!)
Trinkets
Etsy stuff (another sad face)
New make-up
Eating out
Movies
New business cards (I have a bad habit of getting new ones because I like a different design better)
Coats (see Clothes above)
Shoes
Bed linens
Towels
Fancy html email service (down-sizing it)
Decorative house stuff
Fancy haircuts at fancy hair shop
New music from itunes
There you have it. There's no way it can be completely comprehensive but I think it's a good start.
And, my new name is Mrs. Cheapskate. Nice to meetcha'.
Anna Newell Jones
**See the recently added FAQ's section... it covers some questions you may have.
Reader Comments (1)
Gifts should be from the heart n not the pocketbook
They sell all those syrups (tanori) at the grocery
Dagg, Ithiught I needed those clothes
Wait a minute; I can’t go to the thrift store?
Esty/Ebay-how do u make a sad face?
Uh uh--buy a cologne n get the makeup FREE--we can still buy r fav perfume?
BOGOFREE coupons
Movies--won’t they be on TV soon?
Have u tried the free cards from Vista printing http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/welcome.aspx?xnav=welcomeback&rd=2
Coats- yea, see above
Shoes? Is time for another sad face?
The bed can only wear one set at a time.
Do we have to use the towels that don’t match?
Gmail, Hotmail, yahoo--ALL FREE!!!!
Again, I’m locked out of the thrift store, dawg.
Trust me, the instructions on the boxes of color r easy enough to follow-in fact,
In the 50’s, husband had to cover that bill.
OK, u can get Pandora for FREE if ya still have internet access on ur phone.--
So, don’t give up that service