Skip to main content

No Spend October

Every year since I've been here some of the guys at church have observed "No Shave November". Sometimes it's just 2 people, sometimes more. We have hairy men by the end of the month.

Last week I read an article in Reader's Digest about a family who went a whole month without spending any money (with some exceptions for fresh produce).

Both of those events have prompted me to try for a No Spend October. I thought about November so it could be as cool as No Shave, but I don't think I can with the holidays approaching. There will be exceptions, the big one being that this is mostly no New spending (ie. I'll still pay off my student loan, my regular IRA amount, health insurance, internet, etc.). I will be allowed new spending for:
1. My dress that has been at the dry cleaner for 2 weeks, I don't want it to get donated while I'm not spending!
2. The box I was planning to send to Iraq
3. The piece of art I was in talks to buy before September ended.... and I will allow myself to be a piece at the Atlantic Antic, if I love it.
4. Hardware to finish "the" chair. I was almost finished repairing a chair and need 2 pieces to totally finish it so we can actually use it.
5. Fresh fruit/veggies. I will alot $20 per week that I can spend only at the Farmer's Market. If I don't make it to the market, I don't get to spend it.

It will be a month of sacrifice, but also a month of maybe some creativity. I currently have 6 books in my "to do" pile and plan to finish those. I have full cabinets (that I didn't stock beforehand, as I was out of town), so I'll have to be creative in how I cook & eat. I tell you reader maybe as a form of accountability. So here's to the beginning of the month!

Comments

Good luck, and I will be observing No Shave November next month with a majority of my development team. :)

Popular posts from this blog

Labor of Love (Part 1 of 3)

I love lace. I love the delicacy with which it presents itself to the world. That being said, I dont really use it very much. I do have some family doilies, and my wedding dress has some lace, but I dont go too crazy. I like to be able to clean things, and not have dust mites clinging to every available piece of cloth (they cling to everything else anyway.) So, I decided to try a painting technique. Why not paint the lace on the object? Easy to clean, lovely design, what could be better? We got this child's vanity in an old attic pick. Yes, we went into someone's hot and muggy attic for several hours. Yes, they let us jsut dig through things (can you believe it?!?!) unsupervised. Yes, we had to take our own flashlights. And yes, there was mouse droppings and dead birds up there. It was gross, but worth it. My boy LOVED it! American Pickers is his favorite tv show. So this school bus yellow vanity sat there looking at us. Begging for new life! I knew if we left ...

What's Cookin Wednesday - Sweet Potato & pinto bean tacos

SWEET POTATO AND PINTO BEAN TACOS adapted from thugkitchen.com ....but there is offensive language on the site (and in the recipes) - so you've been warned! 3 cups of cooked pinto beans (about 2-15 ounce cans) 1 teaspoons of coconut or olive oil (Olive oil is what I had) ½ cup veggie broth or water (water....) 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or chili powder (I went chili powder) 2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses (I used what I had in the cabinet) 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (I have both of these at home usually, went with lemon juice this time around) 2-3 garlic cloves 1 pound of sweet potatoes (this should be about 2 cups when you chop it all up) ½ of a yellow onion 1 teaspoon coconut or olive oil salt to taste soft corn tortillas standard taco toppings that you like to add. Warm the first teaspoon of oil in a medium pot. Add the beans, water, chili powder, molasses, vinegar, and garlic. Get it to start bubbling slowly for about 5 m...

It only took me two years...

This bathroom, our only bathroom, has been a fun challenge from the start. Its one that has needed just about everything changed, but we are taking it slow. So far we have a new tub/shower and toilet. Oh, and a new fan/vent. In almost 2 years... Another 5 and we should have it done. :-) With only one bathroom, it take a lot longer. But last month, I got industrious and broke out some paint! I was going for grey, and it came out a lot more blue. Good thing everything else is white! Next up: vanity, sink, medacine cabinet and light fixture. At some point, but dont hold your breath for pictures soon.