Day 164 of $12 a day. We've paid off $2170 of credit card debt this year.
It's the third day in a row that I've spent less than $12. Today's groceries and toilet paper purchase total $8.92. I've $36.40 left for the next 4 days if I want to meet my $68.09 spending challenge for the week. I think I've got this!
I believe that a big part of responsible spending involves taking responsibly for the stuff that one has already acquired. You're less likely to "need" a random item if you're totally conscious of the time, money, space, and energy that the new item will absorb. Last year I bought 57 things* and I attempted to get rid of 365 things that were just taking us space in my life. So far this year I've bought 22 things but I sort of abandoned the idea of being totally conscious of what surrounds me, what the purpose is of the stuff, and do I need it in my life. I think I'm ready to start taking control of my home again. I'm going to get rid of 14 things this week that have no purpose in my life, things that are just taking up space and collecting dust. I grew up with a semi hoarder and this is important to me. My husband and I have been married for only 8 years and our house is already pretty much full (not in a creepy piled up messy sort of way... but we've WAY too much stuff for two people).
I wrote several blogs about this endevour last year. Here's one I rather like (possibly just because I enjoy the title).
*My classification of a "thing" is any non-food item apart from cleaning supplies and toiletry items. I do include gifts for other people in this "thing" category.
My mother was a collector. She spent so much money on collectibles. It was a real irritation to me. I still try to get rid of things but it is hard for me. I do not like clutter. I have clutter but I do not like it! I really liked the flylady's method of going through the house and throwing away 27 things that were of no use to you.Or putting 27 things in a bad to recycle or give away. If you did this for a month your house would start to be clutter free. You cannot organize clutter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It's so easy to forget the things you aren't using and before you know it you can be surrounded or even suffocated by them.
ReplyDeleteI really make a conscious effort to keep a rotation of things going. If I buy clothes for the kids I make sure to get rid of stuff that's too small. I really son't but a whole lot of stuff, but I am impressed you know the number of things. Hmmm sounds like a fun thing to do. At least for me, because I am a dork!
Even when you think you have gotten rid of all you can, you still find there's a whole lot more to be de-cluttered.It's a never ending cycle, but quite fun overall.
ReplyDeleteWord! When I changed apartments after living in a new city for less than a year, I was astounded at how many boxes worth of "stuff" I had amassed (and I moved out here with only two suitcases, so I knew it was all newly-acquired!)
ReplyDeleteI'm really working to try and *use* the things I have and get rid of the stuff I don't. It's easy to spend money on a new package of hair elastics or whatever, on a day when I can't find one of the 100s that I know I own.