Monday, January 25, 2016

No Spend Month - Week Three Recap

I can't believe it's been three weeks since I began my first no-spend month! I doubt that there has been another time in my adult life when I went three whole weeks without spending any money (other than on bills, of course!) and it feels amazing that I have made it this far!

The challenges have been few, as apparently I did quite a good job of prepping for my no-spend month. We certainly haven't struggled with food, that's for sure! I've been using up the perishables first, of course, and then going to the freezer to supplement. 

My daughter also picked up a few bits of fresh produce when she was at Trader Joe's so that helped. 


As you can see, my produce tower still looks pretty well stocked. Take note of the bananas and avocados in the second tier - my daughter bought those and they are still there because I happen to be allergic to both bananas and avocados! Otherwise they would have been all gone by now. 

I'm on my last bag of sweet onions. My potatoes are starting to grow eyes so I'm using them up these days. The sweet potatoes will need to be used in the next couple of days as well. I generally just wrap them in foil and pop them in the crock pot on low - they are cooked perfectly when I get home. Just remember to line the crock pot with foil as well - sweet potatoes leave an awful mess when they 'leak' out of the foil wrappers!

I'm starting to work my way through the fall produce now - I left it until later in the challenge as it lasts so much longer than things like fresh green beans, spinach, etc. 

See that monster green squash? I grew that baby in my little veggie garden - I had no idea what it was until my dear friend Maureen identified it for me! 

Apparently it's a Hubbard Squash - it seems the squash plant I purchased at the nursery was mislabeled as Acorn Squash. I still don't know what I'm going to do with it but at least now I know what it is. 

I still have that beautiful pumpkin also that I bought ages ago at the farmers' market - I had no idea what I would do with it but after that absolutely incredible Pumpkin Lasagna I made over the weekend I am definitely going to do the same with this pumpkin!

I'm completely out of fresh fruit and have been resorting to frozen fruit on my Greek yogurt in the mornings. I was also out of Greek yogurt but my sweetie picked up some when he was at the market - thanks, Sweetie! I just pop the frozen berries in the microwave for about 30 seconds before dumping them on my yogurt and it works like a charm. 

My grocery list is growing and growing....


....I have no doubt that next Monday when my challenge has ended I will need to hit the market on the way home from work!

My gas tank is a little over 1/4 full. I'm not sure I'll make it through to the end but we'll see. 

My wine supply is dwindling.....I'll have to re-stock after the challenge. Of course, I am still waiting for my daughters to replace all the wine they drank....ahem. 

I'm still puttering around the house, doing this and that, but not spending any money on the updates. 

My recent post on the lack of a proper entry in my house prompted me to finally hang some hooks by the kitchen door. 


I bought a few of these hooks back when I was moving into this house - there's one on the back of the other door that leads to the deck, also. And one in my daughter's room, by her door. I think I have one more, possibly two, in my utility room, just waiting for the right spot. You can't have enough hooks in my opinion!


Over the weekend I moved my Fiddleleaf Fig into the dining room so it can get some more sun. It seems to be kind of naked on one side, probably because I had it over next to the fireplace. Hopefully it will start to fill out now. 

And then I read Sarah's post about her Fiddleleaf Figs and how she makes the leaves shine - guess what I did last night while dinner was cooking?  It works like a charm - thanks, Sarah!

After dinner, when I went out to let the pups out, the moon was incredible and the sky so beautiful I had to run back in for the camera. 


And yes, I am still putting on my holiday lights every evening. I haven't unplugged the lights around the eaves yet....that will happen soon. The lights on the deck railing will stay - I use them all season when I sit out on the deck in the evenings. 


Seriously, just look at that sky! Gorgeous!

I'm thinking the full moon last night must have had something to do with the beautiful sky this morning as well. 


I feel so blessed. 
















31 comments:

  1. You are doing great on your challenge and you are right, one can never have too many hooks! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debbie! My wallet must have cobwebs on it by now!!

      Delete
  2. When my husband and I looked at the moon around 7:15...it was huge, orange and looked like it was trying to hide in the woods down the road. I love seeing the moon rise and set and the sun also. You have been very good at not spending...using all you have there already. Blessings to you , xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The moon was so lovely last night as well, Susie! And this morning's sunrise was gorgeous - too bad it's raining now!

      Delete
  3. We have had a few no spend months in the past. They really work. I have some of the huge cinderella pumpkins to use up. I was thinking pumpkin soup.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you have a good pumpkin soup recipe on your blog? I'd be interested in trying that for sure. I love my butternut squash soup - I would think a pumpkin soup would be similar.

      Delete
  4. beautiful moon shots! I was so happy on Sunday to see Her as we'd had complete cloud cover for days and days on end prior.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rain here now, Deb. Melting the little bit of old snow we had sticking around on the sidewalks and such. The grassy areas are still quite snowy....and my driveway is just a mess!

      Delete
  5. Sounds like you're doing good! I don't think we'd do as well as you. Those veggies do look nice in the tower and squash are really versatile. Love your moon shots and the lights look lovely. I'd keep em up all year long. Thank you for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd be surprised how well you'd do, Shelia! I have really liked this challenge and will most definitely take it on again!

      Delete
  6. I did a no spend month in October. It is good for the soul every once in a while. Sounds like you are doing good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel the same way, Marty - it felt good to scale back and go back to a simpler time. I felt rather industrious, 'making do' as they used to! Thanks for visiting, Marty!

      Delete
  7. You are rockin' the no-spend thing! Sadly, my husband loves to go to the market... Your moon pictures are fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess it helps that I absolutely hate to go to the market! Farmers' Market? Yes - love it!! Super Market? NO THANK YOU!! Hate it!!

      Delete
  8. Look at you, doing so well with a no-spending month!
    I was happy to see that Hubbard squash and can give you some tips on how to use it.
    Way back when, my Mom grew Hubbard squash every year-and she would cut it up in slices and bake it-just like an acorn squash. So put some butter, pepper, salt or brown sugar if you prefer. Put in a baking dish, cover at and bake at 350 degrees for an hour so!

    Love those moon photos:)
    Rest up my sweet friend!
    xo
    Jemma

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is such a great idea! You're doing so well with your challenge. My husband loves to make trips to the grocery store, like everyday. Although he never spends more than $20 a trip, it still adds up. HA!!! I'm showing him your post!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha - he may hate me for it!! :) Thanks for visiting Brandi!

      Delete
  10. Wow! Congrats on making it this far with no spending, that really is an exciting thing! The moon picture you took is absolutely "over the moon" gorgeous! Wow! The picture you took is really awesome! Sounds like you are really doing great with the no-spend month, but that list is surely growing, lol... and I bet you'll be glad to pull it out come next Monday at the grocery store, lol! Have a wonderful day :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You better believe it - every day I'm running out of something else....Monday evening will find me pushing a full shopping cart for sure!

      Delete
  11. Congrat"s on how well you're doing in your "no spend" month! I'm very impressed. The sky/moon was beautiful from my vantage point too last night. I took photos but mine weren't nearly as good as yours. So neat to think that you, in NY, and me in Okla were enjoying the same beauty!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You ARE blessed! Beautiful home, beautiful scenery just outside your window, and the conviction to keep your no spend month going! I... think... you... can... make... it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I can I think I can I think I can....choo choo!! :)

      Delete
  13. Mama, those pics of the moon and sky are so pretty

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great job on your no-spend month! You're almost there...just a few more days. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nearly there, Melanie.....so close now I can taste it!

      Delete
  15. I had a Hubbard squash for the first time this Fall,and now thanks to you I know that's what it was lol. They're so cool loooking!

    You have my unending admiration for pulling off not spending any moolah. I think I could do it too, provided massages and mani pedis and eating out and chocolate and wine didn't count. Yup. Piece of cake. (And that too!).

    ReplyDelete
  16. I had a Hubbard squash for the first time this Fall,and now thanks to you I know that's what it was lol. They're so cool loooking!

    You have my unending admiration for pulling off not spending any moolah. I think I could do it too, provided massages and mani pedis and eating out and chocolate and wine didn't count. Yup. Piece of cake. (And that too!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha I did have a craving for a mani/pedi that I had to squash! And my sweetie bought me a gift cert ages ago for a day at the spa but I didn't want to use it this month because I love the skin care products they sell there (Eminence, from Germany) and I knew I wanted to treat myself while I'm there to a few!! :)

      Delete

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment...I truly love reading your comments and I try to respond to each and every one of your sweet comments right here on my blog page!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
09 10