So I fell off my bandwagon last week. Badly!!!
I went shopping with all three kids, in the afternoon. Which is always a mistake. Ended up with three toys that they did not need. However because they choose them, they played with them for three days instead of the usual 3 hours.
Instead of feeling guilty, and hating myself for not sticking with my 'plan', I have just accepted that it is what it is, and jumped on board again. And I am happy to report that I still have $5 left for this weeks budget and have not bought anything extra. We did fail our initial budget though. I am embarrased to state how much we have failed this month, but they say to change one must be brutally honest about their shortcomings. So here it is, all in black and white.
In cash I had $600 to last the month of June. I now only have $5 left.
Bank account we had $200 in it, we are now $25 overdrawn.
Credit card, had a balance of $0, it now is at $230.
So in total we have overspent $405. Ouch!!
Now here comes the not so bad part. I get paid today, so usually this is where I restart my month, I was just trying not to live pay check to pay check. And because I had no balance on the cc, I don't have to pay any interest on it. I won't have to pay the $230 until the end of July, so hopefully I can do better next month.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Consumerism
Yesterday I read an amazing article on time banks, and then DH (dear husband) blew our budget on an excellent book called Drive by Daniel H. Pink. Now the two are not exactly connected, as the time bank is more about community and people helping each other out, and Drive is about truely motivating people. But the one idea that kind of connects the two is basically this... money does not truely make us happy, people do.
I often spend money when I'm sad, and statistically that is when the majority of people do their shopping. Buying Stuff gives us a small amount of pleasure. But then we bring that Stuff home to our already bulging house, and we realize soon, that all it does is clutter our counters, mess our floors, and fill up our drawers, not to mention the basement. The happy feeling we once had, is no longer there, so we go out and buy more.
Summertime has become one of the saddest times for me. From May long weekend until the end of Sept, my mind seems to dwell on the loss of a child that was very near and dear to me. And all I feel like doing is going out to spend more and more and more money. For example, yesterday I saw some cute bracelets for $1.50, so I bought them for the girls. This morning they are forgotten and laying on the floor driving me bonkers because I now have to pick them up. What I really need to do is figure out a way to stop the buying of Stuff and figure out how to deal with my grief in a more healthy way. And perhaps along the way I will become more, shall I dare to say, Happy?
My one idea I have, is sort of like learning a new language. The best way to do that is to immerse yourself in the language and have no other option but to learn to speak it. My crazy idea is.... not to buy any consumer items for one year. Of course I will buy food, cleaning supplies, gas, ect. I'm talking about clothes, books, movies, toys, furniture, basically Stuff!! Of course the kids are growing so I will need to purchase a few items of clothing for them. And I will allow myself to buy some Stuff for gifts. But my heedless buying of Stuff has got to stop and I think the only way to do it, is to go cold turkey for a year and learn what truely does make me happy.
But first I have to see if I can get my idea past DH.
I often spend money when I'm sad, and statistically that is when the majority of people do their shopping. Buying Stuff gives us a small amount of pleasure. But then we bring that Stuff home to our already bulging house, and we realize soon, that all it does is clutter our counters, mess our floors, and fill up our drawers, not to mention the basement. The happy feeling we once had, is no longer there, so we go out and buy more.
Summertime has become one of the saddest times for me. From May long weekend until the end of Sept, my mind seems to dwell on the loss of a child that was very near and dear to me. And all I feel like doing is going out to spend more and more and more money. For example, yesterday I saw some cute bracelets for $1.50, so I bought them for the girls. This morning they are forgotten and laying on the floor driving me bonkers because I now have to pick them up. What I really need to do is figure out a way to stop the buying of Stuff and figure out how to deal with my grief in a more healthy way. And perhaps along the way I will become more, shall I dare to say, Happy?
My one idea I have, is sort of like learning a new language. The best way to do that is to immerse yourself in the language and have no other option but to learn to speak it. My crazy idea is.... not to buy any consumer items for one year. Of course I will buy food, cleaning supplies, gas, ect. I'm talking about clothes, books, movies, toys, furniture, basically Stuff!! Of course the kids are growing so I will need to purchase a few items of clothing for them. And I will allow myself to buy some Stuff for gifts. But my heedless buying of Stuff has got to stop and I think the only way to do it, is to go cold turkey for a year and learn what truely does make me happy.
But first I have to see if I can get my idea past DH.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Challenge #2 or #1 part A
After looking at the cash remaining in the money jar, I quickly reached the conclusion that we spent WAAYYY too much money this weekend on food. We had $100 for the week, and that included the $5 bill I found on the spare bedroom bed. $50 of that was for transportation, clothing, and entertainment. So really I had $50 to buy groceries for the week with. I always work better with the week of money starting on Friday instead of monday, as we spend most of the grocery money on the weekend, as well as entertainment money ect. So my challenge this morning was to buy $50 worth of groceries to last until Friday. To challenge myself even more, I decided to host a Mommy Meetup on Wed.
And so I went to the grocery store, with calculator in hand and I did it!!! Not a single cent left, but I should have enough food to last us until Friday.
The menu is as follows:
Mon - Sandwichs (Hubby is away mon evenings for band practice so it's just the kids and I)
Tues - I forget the name of it Dal
Wed - Pork souvlaki with rice and asparagus
Thurs - stirfry
The one way I got the budget to work was I bought whole wheat flour and made bread instead of buying it. The bread is now rising in the oven (hopefully). So that should do us for breakfasts and lunchs.
I will make a rhubarb cake, and puffed wheat squares for my meetup on wed.
And so I went to the grocery store, with calculator in hand and I did it!!! Not a single cent left, but I should have enough food to last us until Friday.
The menu is as follows:
Mon - Sandwichs (Hubby is away mon evenings for band practice so it's just the kids and I)
Tues - I forget the name of it Dal
Wed - Pork souvlaki with rice and asparagus
Thurs - stirfry
The one way I got the budget to work was I bought whole wheat flour and made bread instead of buying it. The bread is now rising in the oven (hopefully). So that should do us for breakfasts and lunchs.
I will make a rhubarb cake, and puffed wheat squares for my meetup on wed.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Breakfast of Necessity
This morning we woke and realized we had no milk or bread for breakfast. The Princess likes to get her own milk out for her cereal, but sometimes forgets to put it back into the fridge, I often find it in the cereal cupboard. So my usual standby of pancakes, cereal or toast wasn't going to happen this morning.
I couldn't go to the grocery store as;
a) The Jeep was still hooked up to the tent trailer, and
b) our budget for food was gone for the week.
So what could I cook to feed my starving family? Luckily I had no shortage of coffee beans and could jumpstart my brain cells with a cup of joe.
Looking through the freezer I found a package of breakfast sausage that my parents had given us last fall. Usually I love the regular sausage that they make, but anything that we usually buy at the store, (bacon or ham) well lets just say that they have failed to live up to what my taste buds deem tastes properly. Since this breakfast sausage was a strange shade of red, it had remained in the freezer until this morning's desperation brought it forth.
I like eggs on toast with sausage, but with the lack of bread in the house, I didn't relish the idea of eggs with some sausage I was suspect of. I found some red pepper that didn't look to old, and decided to make an omelet of sorts. So with red pepper, thyme and basil (from my window box herb garden) and eggs, I made an omelet that actually turned out.
The sausage and omelet actually looked delicious on the plate, but the real test would be if the girls would eat it. I must admit I let the girls try the sausage first, I figured if they went for a second bite then I would try it. They both polished off the sausage and asked for a second piece. So I took a nibble, not bad, although it didn't taste anything like the breakfast sausage I usually buy. In fact it was so unlike the breakfast sausage that I wouldn't even call it breakfast sausage, but it was tasty enough to eat.
The omelet tasted as good as it looked. The Princess even ate all of it so that she would have a lemonade popsicle afterwards. Miss Muffet managed to eat half of it, although she refused to eat the red pepper. Boo Bear ate his regular fare of breastmilk and oatmeal.
Breakfast was a success!! Now I must go and wash the sticky lemonade off the floor.
I couldn't go to the grocery store as;
a) The Jeep was still hooked up to the tent trailer, and
b) our budget for food was gone for the week.
So what could I cook to feed my starving family? Luckily I had no shortage of coffee beans and could jumpstart my brain cells with a cup of joe.
Looking through the freezer I found a package of breakfast sausage that my parents had given us last fall. Usually I love the regular sausage that they make, but anything that we usually buy at the store, (bacon or ham) well lets just say that they have failed to live up to what my taste buds deem tastes properly. Since this breakfast sausage was a strange shade of red, it had remained in the freezer until this morning's desperation brought it forth.
I like eggs on toast with sausage, but with the lack of bread in the house, I didn't relish the idea of eggs with some sausage I was suspect of. I found some red pepper that didn't look to old, and decided to make an omelet of sorts. So with red pepper, thyme and basil (from my window box herb garden) and eggs, I made an omelet that actually turned out.
The sausage and omelet actually looked delicious on the plate, but the real test would be if the girls would eat it. I must admit I let the girls try the sausage first, I figured if they went for a second bite then I would try it. They both polished off the sausage and asked for a second piece. So I took a nibble, not bad, although it didn't taste anything like the breakfast sausage I usually buy. In fact it was so unlike the breakfast sausage that I wouldn't even call it breakfast sausage, but it was tasty enough to eat.
The omelet tasted as good as it looked. The Princess even ate all of it so that she would have a lemonade popsicle afterwards. Miss Muffet managed to eat half of it, although she refused to eat the red pepper. Boo Bear ate his regular fare of breastmilk and oatmeal.
Breakfast was a success!! Now I must go and wash the sticky lemonade off the floor.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Advice
Some tips on how to save money...
Tip #1 - If you only have one vehicle per household (excellent way to save money on transportation) and you tell your husband that he can have the vehicle because if he has it, you can't go out and spend money. Don't get frustrated the next morning if he has indeed done just that.
Tip #2 - When you realize that you don't have all the groceries you need for the week, and decide that a walk to the grocery store might help ease the frustration you feel. Don't allow your 3 year old daughter to ride her tricycle. (she will only ride it 1/2 of the way to the store, and then you will have to juggle the tricycle, 3 kids and a wagon.)
Tip #3 - Don't decide to take this walk when your son has not had a nap yet. (he will start crying at the store, and will not stop until he gets home.)
Tip #4 - When at the store, stick to your grocery list, and do not allow heeds of "I'm hungry, mama, really really hungry." allow you to change your grocery list. (you will spend over the $20 you have left in your budget.)
Tip #5 - If you do decide to buy the expensive processed-non dairy-Puffs for screaming son. Do not allow him to hold the entire container. (He will tip the open container onto the street.)
Tip #6 - Do not look at the sales for wine before going on said walk to grocery store. (You will have realized that you now spent over your budget for the week, and you have no money left to buy the much needed wine for supper.)
Tip #7 - Do not yell at 3 year old daughter when you are home, because she wants "more treats not an apple". (She will then tell you that "You don't like me anymore. I am really sad, it makes me cry." Which will in turn break your heart that you allowed yourself to get so frustrated and yell at an innocent, sweet, 3 year old.)
Tip #8 - Spend the time once son is napping, and daughters are quietly playing, to write it all down, and then laugh about it. Because what else can one do?
Tip #1 - If you only have one vehicle per household (excellent way to save money on transportation) and you tell your husband that he can have the vehicle because if he has it, you can't go out and spend money. Don't get frustrated the next morning if he has indeed done just that.
Tip #2 - When you realize that you don't have all the groceries you need for the week, and decide that a walk to the grocery store might help ease the frustration you feel. Don't allow your 3 year old daughter to ride her tricycle. (she will only ride it 1/2 of the way to the store, and then you will have to juggle the tricycle, 3 kids and a wagon.)
Tip #3 - Don't decide to take this walk when your son has not had a nap yet. (he will start crying at the store, and will not stop until he gets home.)
Tip #4 - When at the store, stick to your grocery list, and do not allow heeds of "I'm hungry, mama, really really hungry." allow you to change your grocery list. (you will spend over the $20 you have left in your budget.)
Tip #5 - If you do decide to buy the expensive processed-non dairy-Puffs for screaming son. Do not allow him to hold the entire container. (He will tip the open container onto the street.)
Tip #6 - Do not look at the sales for wine before going on said walk to grocery store. (You will have realized that you now spent over your budget for the week, and you have no money left to buy the much needed wine for supper.)
Tip #7 - Do not yell at 3 year old daughter when you are home, because she wants "more treats not an apple". (She will then tell you that "You don't like me anymore. I am really sad, it makes me cry." Which will in turn break your heart that you allowed yourself to get so frustrated and yell at an innocent, sweet, 3 year old.)
Tip #8 - Spend the time once son is napping, and daughters are quietly playing, to write it all down, and then laugh about it. Because what else can one do?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
First Challenge
So last month we fell off our budget, and consequently spent a lot of money, so our challenge for the month of June is to only spend $600. All bills have already been paid, so the $600 is only for food, gas, entertainment, ect. We live off cash as per Gail Vaz-Oxlade's method of budgeting, so once the cash is gone, we can't spend anymore.
So basically we have $150 per week, $100 of it on food, $20 for transportation costs, $20 for entertainment and $10 for clothing and gifts. Though I have already had to alter that a bit for this week, as we spent $25 for just food for Friday's meal. So it is $5 for transportation and $115 for food. Hubby went out today with Miss Muffet (daughter #2) with $90 and a list of food we need for this week's menu plan, he came back successful and $20 left. Starting out strong on the challenge!
Menu Plan for the week
Sun - vegetarian spagetti
Mon - bbq chicken with aspargus and couscous
Tues - Ratatouille
Wed - Spanish Tortilla
Thurs - Stirfried Japanese noodles
Fri - Spinach gnocchi with tomato basil sauce
Sat - stir fry
Hubby will be making all his own lunches, and the girls and I will eat leftovers or canned soup or sandwiches. My plan for snacks are to make cookies and rhurbarb muffins or cake, apples, and frozen fruit, and of course POPCORN!!
So basically we have $150 per week, $100 of it on food, $20 for transportation costs, $20 for entertainment and $10 for clothing and gifts. Though I have already had to alter that a bit for this week, as we spent $25 for just food for Friday's meal. So it is $5 for transportation and $115 for food. Hubby went out today with Miss Muffet (daughter #2) with $90 and a list of food we need for this week's menu plan, he came back successful and $20 left. Starting out strong on the challenge!
Menu Plan for the week
Sun - vegetarian spagetti
Mon - bbq chicken with aspargus and couscous
Tues - Ratatouille
Wed - Spanish Tortilla
Thurs - Stirfried Japanese noodles
Fri - Spinach gnocchi with tomato basil sauce
Sat - stir fry
Hubby will be making all his own lunches, and the girls and I will eat leftovers or canned soup or sandwiches. My plan for snacks are to make cookies and rhurbarb muffins or cake, apples, and frozen fruit, and of course POPCORN!!
The Beginning
In the beginning a sperm met an egg, and so started my journey into the world of motherhood. 9 months later our first daughter was born, 16 months later our second daughter was born, and then 23 months after that our son was born, completing our little family. Since my husband was first a student and then a teacher and we had decided I was going to be a stay-at-home mom, I had to learn how to budget on tight budget. It is an ever learning process, but I have loved learning how to have a good life on little money. My husband suggested that I share my knowledge of money skills as well as my passion for trying to be environmentally friendly and eating as locally as possible, in a blog.
** disclaimer I try to be environmentally friendly and be a locavore, but I often fail so I'm hoping that by being more accountable to the outside world I will become better at it. **
** disclaimer I try to be environmentally friendly and be a locavore, but I often fail so I'm hoping that by being more accountable to the outside world I will become better at it. **
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