Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11

Things I thought about: Beer. Colin was so nice and helped me stick to Spend No Money March. He bought me two on Wednesday night!

Things I want: For a while, I've been thinking about a good solution for our messy kitchen storage area (which also houses the cat's litter box). It is open, visible, and is where we keep paperwork, kitchen appliances, shopping bags, and other junk. The shelves are only 10" high and about 22" wide, so I would like six boxes that are pretty specific dimensions. They need to be at least 8.5" x 11" to fit paper, and not more than 10" high. I refuse to pay $12 each -> $72 total! I am thinking more $30 total would be acceptable.

Maybe I will end up making this much more of a project than I intended, get out the screwdriver and putty, and move the shelves...when Spend No Money March is over. I also can take credit for again bringing my lunch to work every day! ($35)

        

Confession: I spent $3 yesterday. My betta Buddy the Fish a.k.a. just Fish has been frumping at the bottom of his tank lately. I decided he needed a water change. I picked up two gallons of distilled water at CVS.

Running total saved by not buying the things I wanted: $210

Sunday, March 6 - Wednesday, March 9

It has very quickly become less noticeable that I am not letting myself buy things, and I have noticed some good habits that have come of it (in a very short time!). I was at Target for some work purchases (paid for by work) and didn't buy any gum or other snacks at checkout. The main thing that I am wanting once (or more than once) each day is coffee from a coffee shop. I have been drinking coffee at work and at home, so I am not going without. To me, this shows that getting coffee while out and about it much more about the ritual and the experience than it is the acual coffee itself. And the less I do it, the more it will be a wonderful treat when I do. I look forward to that first cup in April!

Things I wanted: Ancient Jasper Potters' Choice ($12), 2 new sports bras ($25), new gym pants ($20)

Running total saved by not buying the things I wanted: $145

Saturday, March 5

Things I thought about: a tiny watering can to fit my window garden.

Thursday, March 3 & Friday, March 4

Things I wanted: Colin saved me on Thursday from spending money. I received a lovely email from World Music/CRASHarts with a 20% off coupon for my birthday month. Some of the upcoming events look really great, and I would have purchased some tickets with the tiniest bit of encouragement! ($40) I also really wanted Starbucks after an emergency trip to the dentist. It was right next door! ($4) And lastly, I need to give myself some credit for not buying lunch at work this week. Normally, I would have bought a chicken Caesar wrap at least three of the five days, along with seltzers and other snacks. ($35)

  

Things I thought about: Pottery supplies. I also received a 15% off coupon from Anthropologie for my birthday. Apparently you are supposed to spend a lot in the month you were born. (Enticing coupon total = 3)

Running total saved by not buying the things I wanted: $88

Wednesday, March 2

Things I wanted: a giant coffee ($4)

Things I thought about: I received a coupon in the mail for $15 off anything at any of the Ann Taylor stores because it is my birthday month. I imagine I will go to the Loft Outlet and try my best to get something for $14.99 and not $15.01. It is also 40% off housewares at Savers today. Too bad I can't go.

Comments: Not stopping into stores to pick up one thing or another will require a better grocery list.

Running total saved by not buying the things I wanted: $9

Tuesday, March 1

Things I wanted: coffee shop coffee ($3), seltzer ($2).

    

Things I thought about: a honey pot, a silver rose ring from Etsy

         

Comments: Facebook advertising is very good at reminding me of everything I thought I wanted recently. Cookies and advertisements are scary. After thinking more about the honey pot, I realized I can make one in pottery class, though it will have to wait until April when I'm allowed to buy the stick.

Running total saved by not buying the things I wanted: $5

Spend No Money March: The Idea

Every so often, I come to the realization that I need to budget my money better. And by every so often, I mean all the time. I am guilty of daily stops at places like Target and CVS to "pick up a few things" or to remind myself if there is anything I might need that I've forgotten about. These usually end up in $60 or $70 gone at checkout.

Back in January, I created a Google Spreadsheet using a template I found online. With with wonderful intentions, I entered my balances and my bills and created an idea of how much money I could save over the course of 2016. I might have revisited that sheet once or twice, and then I didn't think about it for a couple months.

I am again inspired by another blog post I read recently, by someone who committed to cutting out the extras. This person still allowed herself to visit restaurants and bars, but by eliminating coffees and extra things, she was able to save a few hundred dollars in just a few weeks.

So now, on March 1, I plan to begin Spend No Money March. I will pay bills, buy groceries while grocery shopping, and allow grocery stop-ins for ingredients only (e.g. bananas and milk). I've incorporated a few cheats into my plan - I can buy beer from the liquor store for weekend consumption only, I can keep my March 5 hair appointment, and I will sign up for another semester of pottery class. Other than that, no spending.

By keeping a log of everything I think about buying, I hope to be able to create some summary stats at the end of the month. What do I really want. What was a passing trend. And what should I get immediately on April 1!

Here goes.