Days 3 & 4 (of nothing)
I am just a wee bit into my challenge, but I'm already aware of how many opportunities I have every day (every hour, truth be told) to buy something. While playing fetch with Buddy I noticed a garage sale across the street (I hate passing up a bargain). Searching Google news I see an ad for ebay and wonder if any Patagonia fleeces have surfaced (a favorite quest of mine). On television I watch a commercial for mascara and feel tempted to try it--and I hardly ever wear make up. Each and every moment I'm assaulted with the "chance" to spend money. I don't think you become aware of how often until you make a choice not to buy anything. What other culture lives like this?
I haven't told the kids what I'm trying. Why make them suffer? It's my challenge, not theirs. I plan to casually divert their attention should the need arise. Like this morning. Carver asked if we could go roller skating tomorrow. My response was "Ye.... er... no. Let's play outside instead." He shrugged his shoulders, but I have the feeling I may not get off so easily next time.
My next dilemma is dinner tonight. We rarely eat out, but every Friday night is pizza night. We buy a fresh-made one and bake it at home. We do it every week. Where does this fall in my challenge? I could go to the grocery store this afternoon and buy the ingredients to make a pizza at home, but I can't help but wonder if after the olives, pepperoni, sauce, cheese, and artichoke hearts I wouldn't spend more. Does a pizza count, since it's not out of the norm of what we usually do? I didn't consider this before.
One of many challenges I'm sure to face in the days to come.
4 comments:
Every hour. That's right. Crazy.
I do think take and bake pizza is counted as groceries. You can buy a take and bake from the grocery store (at least at ours you can)...so if it's sold at a separate entity I wouldn't beat yourself up over it. We make homemade pizza here most Fridays--but buy all our toppings in bulk from Costco, so that makes it cheaper than take-and-bake.
I'm loving these posts. You've inspired me to start thinking about an intentional spending moratorium, but it's something that I feel I need to plan for.
Already I've decided that I'm going to keep a journal of what I could have spent money on, and how much I would have spent. At the end of my month (or however long I do it), I plan to donate a portion of what I've "saved" to some charitable cause.
The one thing that's giving me the most pause is our Sunday brunches. We've done these every week for over 2 years now, and it's a tradition. A ritual that brings our family together and sets the stage for the week. I'm sure that we could go without for a month, but I think there's something *so* important about ritual.
Maybe the happy medium is to be very intentional about sticking to a set spending limit that's significantly less than our typical brunch.
Anyway, thanks again for the inspiration. You're amazing!
Here's my two cents...totally agree with your logic that, by the time you buy the pizza ingredients, you've spent as much money as buying the made pizza. Also, your point that you're not forcing this exercise on your kids...skipping or changing the once-a-week night pizza kind of does that. Finally...it's important and fun family time. :)
I can't imagine how many opportunities I'd notice that I'd have to buy something...I should start paying more attention.
Don't eat pizza, please.
A can of chili. Some cheap hotdogs, buns and onions. You get the same caloric intake, the same infusion of fat and junk, and they taste good.
Pish, posh. Saving money is overrated.
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