Monday, January 18, 2016

No Spend Month - Week Two Recap

It's a bitterly cold day in the mountains today with wind chills in the negatives. 


A great day to stay indoors if ever there was one!

I wish I had that option. Instead I was traipsing around out in the frigid wind with my contacts freezing to my eyeballs. 


What does this have to do with my no spend month, you ask?

Well, this frigid weather might be the cause of me breaking my no spend month!


These photos are of the beautiful frost on the windows in my garage. The frost makes the most gorgeous lace window coverings!


It also means I have to run my car for a while before I ever head out of the house. 

Which means my full tank of gas may not last the whole month as I had hoped. 

I'm at a half tank right now. It's not looking good to make it through to the end. 

However, my remote start is such a blessing on these frosty mornings I couldn't possibly complain!


Other than that, my no spend month is going quite well!

The shopping list on the fridge is growing by the day. 

But there are still plenty of meals left in my freezers and pantry so no worries there. 

I have been unpacking some last boxes of items from the move - things I bought ages ago and didn't know quite where to put them.  They've been hanging out in the garage until I figure it out. 


This lantern I originally bought for outside my garden cottage but when I unwrapped it I was concerned the wood would take too much of a beating out there. 

So, in it came....and I moved things around until I found the perfect spot. 


Doesn't it look great on the built-ins in my master suite? 

When my no spend month is over I may get a LED candle with a remote for the lantern. 

Or maybe I won't. We'll see. 


Another little happy spot in my bedroom is this vignette on top of my dresser. My daughter gave me that super-cool gold sparkly peacock for Christmas and it made itself at home nestled in my bird mirror. 

It makes me smile every time I look at it. 

So, the puttering continues, moving things here, there, and yonder for a fresh look without spending a dime. 

I unpacked two copper candle sconces that I'm considering hanging on either side of the TV in the living room. 

We'll see....I'm still figuring it out.  I'm so hesitant to commit to the holes in the walls it's comical!

Keeping busy without buying a thing - I have to say I'm really liking this challenge. I find it refreshing to 'make do' - it's freeing, somehow. Reminiscent of a simpler time. 

Halfway through.....let's see how I feel this time next week. 

How's your January shaping up? Are you sticking to your goals? 






17 comments:

  1. Well, I only committed to reading, and I'm doing great at that! I just finished 600 Hours With Edward, about a 39 year old man with Aspergers. Really hit home. Hope you get a nice LONG weekend this coming weekend. You deserve more time off!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I'd love a long weekend!! I'm not sure I can make that happen this week but I do have vacation days that need to be used before I go out of my mind!!

      Delete
  2. I am loving this series of posts! February is usually the month I try to not spend any extra...because it's the shortest month! Lol Seriously, it's been because we have two birthdays to celebrate in January, and by the time we've had Christmas and birthday celebrations, the checking account is nearly depleted. My kids still prefer the homemade variety of Valentines because that is what they grew up with--they think the store-bought cards look cheap and impersonal. I'm glad they never felt cheated. Ha!

    I can't wait to see how you fare through the month. You go, girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So far, so good, Mimi!! Although my daughter tried to give me $20 so I could buy gas this morning - ha ha!! I had to explain that it wasn't that I don't have the $$ for gas, it's just that I'm trying to not spend anything this month if possible!!

      Delete
  3. You are doing so well with your no-spend month! What happens when you run out of things like fresh produce? Are those things that don't "count" when you do this no-spend challenge? You are so lucky that you can get away with using just one tank of gas for an entire month. That's really good with working outside the home! Heck, I use that much and I don't even work outside the home! My hubby travels 27 miles each way to work and usually works 6-7 days/week, so he fills up at least every 1-1/2 weeks. Good thing he drives a small car, huh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I work 2 miles away so going a month without filling up could work....I've never tried it but theoretically it should work. Except for the remote start for warming up the car in these crazy cold days! As for the fresh produce, I am seeing how long I can go...I do have some veggies and fruit in the freezer that I can turn to when I am completely out of fresh produce but I don't know what I would do for potatoes and onions! However, I don't feel like fresh produce/dairy counts as much....we'll see how long I can go with those. I stocked up before I started the challenge and I'm more than halfway through.

      Delete
  4. When I see how beautiful the frost on the windows is, I almost wish it was colder around her... hey, I said "almost", I wasn't serious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would not like it one bit around here today, Magali - I think it's about 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) below zero with the wind chill!!

      Delete
  5. LOL @ contacts freezing to eyeballs...I soooooo get this. Mine have been a bit stuck lately as well...LOL. And I'm definitely having to let my old car warm up a bit...it doesn't like the cold weather at all! LOVE that lantern and think that you found the perfect spot. I'm having a hard time putting holes in the walls also...it just hurts me. I send the hubster to do the evil deed and I try not to look! Hugs my sweet friend!! I'm so glad the no-spend is working out so far. Gas for the car is a necessity! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My daughter tried to force $20 for gas on me this morning ha ha!!!

      Delete
  6. I think you're doing great on your no spend month. I'm a make due kinda gal and it's still kinda hard to stick to it, especially when eBay and Etsy are out there ;)

    I had a great time catching up with you and I'm so glad you finally got your snow, even if it is a little late. And those chocolates... good God... I would have eaten the whole box in a day LOL

    Stay warm, my friend.

    xo,
    rue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not easy, Rue - last night my sweetie wasn't coming over for dinner so I thought maybe a pizza might be nice....except I couldn't buy one!! I made do with nachos - :)

      Delete
  7. Oh the "lace" on your garage windows is lovely! I have enjoyed following your no-spend journey, certainly a challenge for sure, especially with the unexpected things, like the cold, oh my! It is fun "shopping" your home for sure, and your new vignette with the lantern looks great! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! That plant is super happy in that spot and the lantern next to it makes me smile!

      Delete
  8. I love the lacy frost on the windows shots...absolutely gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was getting in my car to go to work and had to run back in for the camera, Deb - it was so glorious and the sun was shining through the 'lace' - like something out of a Christmas movie! :)

      Delete
  9. I love the lacy frost on the windows shots...absolutely gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete

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