Image source: Lucius Art on Etsy
I was spending some of my rare free time trying to catch up on my blog reading when I came across Jessica’s (from It’s Our Little Family) post about No Spend January.
The premise is a simple one; don’t spend money on anything you don’t need in January. The key word there is need.
I don’t know about you but the festive season certainly tapped our savings (buying a new house and moving didn’t help things much) and I would like to claw back some of that money. I’d also like to start preparing ourselves for the shock that will be living on one wage. (Maternity leave is going to come to end soon!)
For me the idea of going a whole month of only spending on things that we need scares me.
I’m shocking when it comes to impulse buying. I see things on Instagram and I’m off hunting the internet to purchase some of my own. I will be out in the stores and I find myself buying things for us that we definitely don’t need. (It’s gotten worse since having the Little Man – I find I am constantly buying things for him that he doesn’t need.) I like to stock up on grocery items as well, which is nuts. We have a great little supply of hand wash, cleaning products and toiletries. (It’s like I’m a closet Doomsday Prepper!)
It disgusts me how much food we throw away each month. Neither of us have learned how to just cook and freeze for the amount of people in our home. When we entertain we always over cater. It’s just weird and I’m sick of it.
We have a house full of stuff. Over the past few months while we’ve been in between selling and moving we’ve lived with a third of our possession and it’s been great. It’s really driven home to me how much stuff we don’t need and I’m making it a goal for 2013 to get rid of it all. Whether that’s through selling it, donating it or junking it I will be cutting down on our possessions.
This year I’m all about learning to live the frugal life. I want the Little Man to grow up knowing the value of a dollar, having the ability to save and achieve goals and in a happy home that’s not worrying about paying for a lifestyle we don’t need.
So my first step towards achieving this goal is to do No Spend January. It’s going to be tricky, but I’ve sat down and done our budget and we can totally do it. I can’t wait to look back on the 1st of February and see how we achieved this goal. So, who’s with me?
8 Comments
I am so happy to see this post. It is a good reminder. I’ve been spending too much lately as well. I am tired of feeling guilty about it.
I too suffer with buyers remorse – I struggle to keep spending under control so I’m going to be interested to see how hard/easy this month is.
Will you be joining us?
gnomeangel recently posted…SWAP | SCRAP VOMIT SQUARES
Thanks for the shout out, lovie!
Jessica recently posted…Free Crafts, well almost.
Anytime! Thanks for sharing the great idea!
gnomeangel recently posted…SWAP | SCRAP VOMIT SQUARES
Story of my bloody life. However I have learnt to cut back and throw out over the years – after so many moves you begin to realise what is important, what you need and what you can live without. I still have a heap of crap not needed but I am much better than I was say five or even two years ago.
(I follow you on Instagram and just started reblogging again after a few months slump!)
Hello! Yes the moving makes a huge difference. I once went through the garage and threw out all the unopened boxes from the past 5 moves – figured hadn’t opened them, didn’t need them. Was one of the best things I ever did! I’m aiming to cull the house again now!
Great to see you back blogging! Totally adding you to the blog reading list – I love seeing my home state and I love waking up with your beach photos, makes me feel like I’m walking on the beach again!
<3
gnomeangel recently posted…SWAP | SCRAP VOMIT SQUARES
I am so in with you on this Pea! Together we can save a shitload of money that we can then spend in February – that’s the whole point right?!?
Tamara | One Craftee Mumma recently posted…WORDLESS WEDNESDAY | NEW YEAR, NEW FAVOURITE PLACE
Hell yeah! The title should be “No spend January; Blow out February!” but I didn’t have the character space!
Good to have you on board, Pea!
gnomeangel recently posted…SWAP | SCRAP VOMIT SQUARES