Progress, Day 348

I've been focusing so hard core on not spending money, on budgeting, on trying to pay things off, on planning ahead; I have hardly been able to think about anything else. It's exhausting and at the same time exciting.

I'm beyond words thankful for this blog, for the change it's created in me, and for this next step towards freedom that I'm now able to take due to the growth that has come out of it. I would NEVER have been to stick to a super tight budget if it weren't for the last year. I know... I tried... I failed NUMEROUS times.

"$12 a Day", Day 347

I'm stepping it up. In 2010 I purchased 57 things. Honestly I think that's amazing. I think that although I would have liked to do better that's a ridiculously low amount of stuff. I did struggle tremendously however with spending a lot of money on food and food and food.

This year, 2011 I'm going to commit to tackling our debt problem. I'm going to stick with my new found purchasing (or should I say non-purchasing habit) AND I'm challenging myself to spend $12 a day on food AND household supplies. At present I'm super excited about this challenge. The not buying "things" challenge of 2010 was really difficult for quite awhile but I feel like a whole new person now. The not spending obscene amounts of money on comfort food (food in general) is probably going to be the toughest challenge of my life. 

I hate budgets. I find it impossible to stick to them BUT I need to get out of debt. In 2010 we paid off over $3000 in credit card debt. I'd like to quadruple that number in 2011 and I believe that with discipline I truly can. If I was able to purchase ONLY 57 things in over 365 days I can pay off $10,000 in credit card debt in one year!

I've started a second blog devoted entirely to finances. I won't pretend that it's going to be interesting to anyone BUT I know that it will help keep me accountable, on track, and it's going to be a great tool for recording my successes and failures. I am unbelievably stoked about this!

In case you're interested in random numbers and me whining about wanting Cadbury eggs: $12 a Day

Victory, Day 346

I genuinely do not want to buy stuff. 1 entire year of resistance and self discipline is over and I haven't one single urge to purchase one single thing.

THIS IS SO GREAT!!!

This is my list for 2010 purchases:
Every single thing I bought (groceries aside)
1. Socks for Husband 1.28
2. Work pants and Blue jeans 2.4
3. B-day Balloons (for Annabelle) 2.6
4. stretchy pants 2.27
5. Weatherstripping (for my front window with lead all over it that my cat insists on sitting next to) 3.9
6. "The Rendition" CD at show 3.12
7. socks (finally) 3.31
8. Batman (easter gift for Husband) 4.3
9. Baby shower gifts 4.3
10. Tank Top ($4) 4.19
11. T-shirt 4.19
12. Shorts 4.19
13. thru 19. Husband's Birthday 4.20
20. thru 22. Headbands and hair clips (totally unnecessary) 4.24
23. Nylabones for the doggies
24. Pig pez dispenser for Starr
25 thru 27. Guatemala bag, bookmark and coin purse 6.17
28. Flatfoot 56 t-shirt 7.1
29. Shower Curtain 7.4
30. Shower mat (it was a necessity) 7.4
31. Coloring book for Lucy 7.10
32. A picture frame (for a Christmas gift) 7.16
33. A new work shirt 7.26
34. shower curtain rod holder($1.19) 8.15
35. Greeting cards at Craft show 8.21
36. Canon 450D EOS Rebel xsi 8.20
37. New work pants (again) 8.29
38. Nylons : ( 9.3
39. Blue Jeans 10.19
40. socks (1 really cool wintery pair) 10.21
41. a cami 10.21
42. tiny nail scissors (my nail practically ripped off) 11.04
43. Guat Photographs 11.19
44. stickers 12.8
45. Necklace 12.9
46. Little pewter figurines (etsy) 12.21
47. thru 57. Christmas 12.22