Week Three and Four: I made it!
Well, I have to say I am glad I made it to the end because this was a much more difficult challenge after week two. My dishwasher went on the fritz and I had to hand wash all of the dishes instead of paying for a repair man which stunk. I’ve never in my life despised sippy cups more (or realized how many we have) until I had to hand wash every single one…even the ones that have been hiding under car seats and furniture with God knows what growing inside them.
In trying to lessen the grocery bill I bought the bare minimum over the past two weeks and made meals that only consisted of the cheapest ingredients (and I’m really sick of jarred tomato sauce because of it). I did run out of paper towels mid-week, which I knew I would, but I improvised and used old tee shirts to clean up spills and messes until we shopped again. Rachel Ray’s $40 a day had nothing on me these past two weeks because I created some very unusual lunches trying to use up what we have, without having to buy more.
There were a few Oprah “ah ha” moments in the last two weeks as well. One of those moments occurred at the grocery store when I saw a display of the cutest (and I mean cutest) holiday dishes selling 5 for $5. Without thinking I picked out 10, put them in my cart and began to walk away then, HOLD UP…I realized what I was doing –mindless spending! It may only be $10 but it’s $10! I did not need these plates, and although it was a great deal, it’s just more STUFF. I turned around and put them back, walked away and was proud of myself.
Another “ah ha” occurred over the weekend. My hubby had to work both Saturday and Sunday so I knew I would be on my own with the kids both days all day. After working all week the last thing I wanted to do was be stuck in the house. It wasn’t nice outside, so I racked my brain to find something special to do that wouldn’t involve spending money or land my kids in the Dr.’s office with good ol’ swine flu after playing at some of type of free mall play area?
I seemed to remember reading somewhere long ago that the Natural History Museum offered a one time free family pass to families of employees where my husband works. I then spent the next hour scouring our filing cabinet looking for that information. After finding it I was set—one free day checking out dinosaurs and rock formations to our hearts content. Snacks and drinks in hand we spent two fun filled hours of thriftiness together and steered clear of the gift shop. My former self would have given up after 5 minutes of looking for the paperwork and said, “Oh heck it’s only $____ to get in –let’s just go!”
Another big change thanks to this experience is that for the first time in the eight years I have been with my husband I actually have a list for Santa. In the past I buy as I see or want. If I want to read a book, I buy it. If I need a new jacket, it’s mine. If I decide I want a new lens for my camera, I order it. Over the past month I have halted all spending and bought nothing I’ve “wanted”—which means I might actually have a gift to open under the tree this year!
Something else I did as a result of my thrifty new behavior was post my kids old holiday clothes and costumes on Ebay and Craigslist. Normally I wouldn’t take the time to do this before I shopped for a new one, but I told myself that I would not buy a Christmas outfit for either child until I sold the one they wore last year. So far one down, one to go!
It’s amazing how spending is so easy, it’s the norm. You don’t realize it until you actually say I will not spend today how many times you do spend money. I think I have come away from this having learned a lot about my spending habits and what I need to work on. I also learned that I can live without certain things that I really enjoy having, but don’t really need (poop guy, weekly cleaning lady, dog groomer). As for all of those things I was fixated on during week one, those things I had to get, well I’d say more than half of them I’m not that interested in anymore.
Biggest lesson: Simplify, simplify, simplify!
and now... I'M GETTING A HAIR CUT!!!!
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