Lighter Load

Since my last post, trying to maintain the original limits I outlined continues to be a struggle but I am more in sync with them than I was in March. In fact, I am only one month away from paying off a second credit card so I must be doing fairly well. But as I write about that accomplishment, I know I don't want to make this year long experiment solely about money. I am focused on improving the quality of how I spend my time and energy as well.

My energy and time consumption have improved somewhat circumstantially now that I am racing my bicycle and am training more than I have in past years. I simply don't have the time to watch all the useless TV that I once had. Don't get me wrong, I still make time to watch some very bad TV but I have given up Judge Judy; well all the judge shows, most episodes of Hoarders, tosh.o, Celebrity Rehab, just to name a few. However, I might have to add My Strange Addiction to the list of must sees! I still like to watch American Idol, Ghost Hunters and Deadliest Catch, mainly because Mike and I somehow got hooked on these and enjoy watching them together. This is not quality TV but mindless entertainment after a long hard day. We need that.

After four months into this, I am much more selective with what I watch and when. Same goes for what I choose to buy. I haven't bought much other than food, household supplies and toiletries. Although, I did have to buy some bicycling gear but I used a gift certificate and money I had already saved. Food is our biggest expense and I have a hard time staying on my grocery budget of $125.00 every 2 weeks. I think I need to increase this to $140.00 since that seems to be what I spend despite careful consuming with sales, using coupons and making lists. Maybe I need to watch that new show about super coupon users!

I have sold some stuff on Craig's list which was very exciting for some reason. I loved doing that. I am using that money for the bike races registration fees. It feels great to get rid of some things that I don't use and get a little money in return. Since we aren't watching much TV, I cut back on our Netflix and paid TV channels. I thought I couldn't give up HBO but really I don't miss it st all.

It has been harder to completely cut out eating out to once a month, mainly due to having so many business meetings that involve meals. Initially, I was not eating during them but it became very difficult to manage this so I gave myself permission to eat at every other meeting. It isn't perfect but does cut down on the spending and eating out. So many of our family functions also center on eating out; birthdays, holidays and general get togethers. I haven't figured out how to handle that well. We don't eat at all of them but it does feel strange when we don't. Any ideas?

So overall I am a little lighter, with less stuff, less mindless TV, less junk food and less debt. I must admit the lighter load does feel good.

Success in failing

As of late, I have been failing miserably at being a conscious consumer; however, this failing is actually been quite successful for me. While I haven't adhered to my budgetary restrictions (namely shopping), I am still feeling quite successful in my endeavors. Specifically, while I am spending money that has not been budgeted, approved (by me), or even applied toward something that is absolutely "needed," I have been more consciously aware of what I've been doing, and to me, that seems like a positive step forward in a long process.

This blog should begin with a personal disclosure that is likely essential to the context of my entry. I'm moving to Australia in about two months. I got a new job and we are off to explore new lands. My conscious consuming has been geared toward saving money for the transition as well as a deep desire to rid myself of a large chunk of the crap that I've accumulated over the years. These goals have been coupled with the shared perspective of my fellow bloggers that far too much of our time, energy, and money are freely given to junk TV, mindless drivel, and stuff that we don’t really even want. In fact, the process of getting rid of stuff has been so great--I just ask myself, "Is it worth it to drag this thing 20,000 miles away?" Typically, the answer is a resounding “no.” I find posing a similar question to my TV viewing equally as helpful: “Do I really care about this?” While I haven’t set any parameters on the amount of TV that I watch, I have been more considerate in what I do watch and think about other things that I could be doing instead (like clearing more closets!).

I have been on a clothes and book buying hiatus as I really don't need any more of either at the moment. Nonetheless, I found myself shopping for clothes, and I made a decision to not totally deny myself some new things, but instead to put some guidelines on the buying. First, I am only allowing myself to purchase items that can be worn to work. I have lots and lots of play clothes and far less dress-up. Second, I only buy something if it's on sale. This has worked out well since I'll be leaving for Australia soon and it'll be winter there when I arrive (which on a side note--hardly seems fair or right; it's the winter of my discontent) and all the winter merchandise here is drastically reduced. All of this is to say that I am trying to think through what I really could use (or maybe even need if we are defining that term very broadly) and that pleases me (once I process the guilt of shopping). Nonetheless, I have now basically reinstated the no buying rule here; several new outfits are sufficient to get me started at my new job (plus the clothes over there might be excellent!).

Buying books has always been a personal weakness. I buy books when I have plenty of books that are unread. I go to the bookshelf of unread material and I think, "I don't feel like reading any of these books." Then when it's time to move again (like once a year), I review the bookshelf, and I think, "I don't want to get rid of this book; I want to read it." So, I had been reading my shelves of books--I call it visiting the library--and doing quite well. If I couldn't get into the book, then it was going straight to the donate pile. Then, I heard a little tidbit from a friend who was just on a whirlwind excursion in Australia--she said that copyright does not transfer, and all books have to be republished there making American works quite expensive--even in paperback. Well, you had me at hello. So, I've treated myself to 8 new works of fiction which can be added to the "library." I still consider this quite successful on two levels. First, I'm ultimately saving myself in the long run because I love to read and new authors are especially fun (this is pure rationalization, by the way). Second, all of the books were purchased on Amazon through the used sellers so I didn't buy anything new :)

So I as I take positive reframing of failure to the next phase, I hope to continue to be successful. As we make our way down under, purchases will need to be made to establish ourselves but at least we are more prepared for them, both financially as well as cognitively.