I logged on to check my bank account this morning because today is pay day and my direct deposit goes through at midnight on Thursday/Friday.
I have $500 more in my checking account than I expected to have, owed solely to:
1) Not shopping mindlessly
2) Only going out to eat 1-2 times a week (usually once with the whole family on the weekend, and once for lunch during the week)
3) Not making a weekly trek to Starbucks.
That second point there is crucial, because we have made a very concerted effort to grocery shop, cook and eat and home, and try not to buy unhealthy foods at the store. I attribute that move alone to a big piece of the savings as well as the 5% I've lost so far. Best change yet!
To celebrate, I'm taking the birthday money my mom gave me (which hasn't been deposited yet, so isn't even included in the amount above) and going shopping today. Yay!!
6 comments:
I have been thinking and thinking about this, not mindlessly spending. I thought about it when I was using a trillion paper towels and when I was cooking Brussel sprouts so they wouldn't be wasted...I just keep thinking about it. I would like to make a change like you have and I guess I just want to know how to start. maybe you have blogged about this earlier and I missed it.
Oh Leslie, it was HARD. Let me be honest and say this: I got started because every 2 weeks when we got paid I was super stressed about money. Who wants to be stressed ON payday?!? I decided to start simple by looking at 2 months' worth of spending from last year (looked up my Jan and Feb statements online). I added up how much I spent in 2 categories I don't 'need' to spend in, and then decided how much I wanted to cut those areas. I just went with trying to cut them in half. The simplest way to do it: I don't go to Target unless I NEED to go. And when I'm there I have a list of what I 'can' buy, and I mostly stick to it. I also make sure we grocery shop every week if possible so there is always something to pack for lunch or eat for dinner at home.
It's not easy. I enjoy shopping and especially buying things for my kids. But I enjoy even more NOT stressing about money.
If you look under my topics on the right, there's one for 'Financial Stability'. The posts related to what I'm doing are there. :)
Happy Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!
Happy Birthday Katie!! I hope you start to feel better real soon!!
Thanks! I am going to share this with Rhett! I love love love your blog!
Thanks, Leslie! And thanks Suzie and Lisa for the birthday love!
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