Frugality - Week 1 - January 9, 2011

Let's start at the beginning.  My lifestyle has never been one of opulence.  When I was dismissed two years ago, it was not that I needed to fire a staff of people to help me live my life. Remember, I am a single mom.

Yes, at the time, I was enjoying the rewards of my career in such things as dinner at great Chicago restaurants.  Sometimes, I ever bought full-priced clothing.  My shoe collection was growing, but with $65 pairs of shoes, not "Carrie Bradshaw" shoes. But I needed to shave as much as possible expenditures from the budget.  There was no budget!

 Ending up here has been a process and lots of lessons learned.  This I brought my lunch every single day.  None of the "Gee, I am too tired to make my lunch.  I can buy lunch this one day."  The only money I spent was $70.  The money went for gas in my car and a birthday present for Saucy. 

Instead of going out to lunch on Saturday, CareBear and I met at my house for lunch and a visit.  The other benefit, I had to clean the house for company.

This week was not painful.  Will next week be painful?


Mercenary MOM

20-11 will be Heaven - Happy New Year!!!

You heard it here first, "20-11 will be Heaven."  For a description of heaven, please refer back to my September 29, 2010 blog entry.  In other words, heaven is description as your place of bliss and happiness.

While you heard my catchy saying here first, my word for the year has been copied.  On new year's day, I mentioned to Neptune and Hercules that my word for 2011 would be frugal, it seems a few others are thinking the same thought.

This morning while perusing the " Chicago Tribune", I came across two scenarios with MY word - frugal.  In first was a columnist with a self-description as "frugalista."  The second time, I saw my word "frugal" used was by Target in their Sunday ad.  They had a section called, "Fantastically Frugal Finds."

Is it possible, that I could be that in-tuned with the world?  Has the Great Recession truly had a deep behavior changing impact on America's spending habits?  Will the frugality kick last?  If so, will it help the economic state of the country and our personal bank accounts?  Time will tell.......

Personally, during January 2011, I will be offering 31 days of frugality.  Like everything else in life, it's attitude.  Let's make it fun and inventive.  Yes, everything can be a game.

1. Saturday, January 1 - dollars spent - $0.  Saucy and I brought in the new year with a tea party.  So, for breakfast on the first day of the day, we had a breakfast tea party.  We dressed in party clothes and celebrated the day.
2. Sunday, January 2 - dollars spent - $0.  Spent the day at my favorite place - Talbots - working and no shopping.
3. Monday, January 3 - dollars spent - $0 - many dollars saved.  Cancelled my Netflix subscription.  No $8.99 is not going to send me to the poor house.  But the interest accruing on the $8.99 each month plus the high balance is deepening debt.  So until my Visa is reduced by 80% - no more interest accruing $8.99 per month.