I read an article recently that inspired me.....it was written by a woman that did not buy any clothes, shoes, or accessories for an entire year! Right!!;-) Sounds insane but.......it was really interesting to think of and got me thinking......I have always been a person that is decent with money.....I am good at paying my bills, and knowing what I have left to spend.....never a formal budget.....but I am good at keeping it all in my head month to month.......I have been good at different times in my life with managing debt, or making wise decisions based on that, and accomplishing lots of thing......getting us completely out of debt as my divorce took hold......And when my ex first left.....I did not feel the pinch so much because I am blessed with making a decent salary, and his child support also helps, and I was still living a similar lifestyle to some degree to the one that I had been.....but as the price of everything has risen it becomes more challenging to juggle it all. And I have been blessed to still be making it, and having extra for the kids and myself.......I am always grateful......but for sure there are places in my budget that can be tightened up.....and there are places where there is waste......and while I don't spend a ton on clothing and non essential items......I do spend on those things......more than I should.......and takeout here and there......and so I got thinking about all of it, and decided that I am putting myself on a financial fast from Sept 1st to December 1st.......Committing to no Amazon, except for essentials and our vitamins......no TjMaxx, I know yikes lol:)......and no takeout.......none......I am allowing for a meal out here and there, if there is a good reason along the way......and for activities with the kids or myself throughout the fall, but within reason......but I am going to commit to no extraneous spending for those three months and see what happens......how it translates into my savings....and I may just be surprised at what I find.....I definitely have room to grow in this part of my life......I would never be a person somebody would say is frugal or a saver......remember Venus rules my Taurus......and Venus loves beauty and beautiful things...... and shoes and clothes are in that category lol:) as well as throw rugs.....accessories........battery operated candles......etc etc......you get the idea! So it has not been new for me to love to buy new things from time to time.....who doesn't! But I want to become better at saving and watching my budget more closely, and I think doing this fast will help me do that.......I have a closet full of decent clothes....some of the clothes being great.....and for every occasion......and shoes and boots that may or may not fill the floor of my closet......so I in no way will have nothing to wear for three months! :):) Or be deprived ;-) So I am planning on spending the time during the fast learning ways to trim my budget and view it as a challenge in front of me, a challenge to be solved if you will.....finding creative ways to trim and cut things in my budget, and see how it translates in my savings! The kids are exempt from my challenge if they need clothes or anything that will not apply.....but they are pretty set too in that department, especially Gabe.....he has the most clothes in the house I think lol:) So my plan is to summon my "inner frugal" and be super mindful for those three months about it all, and fast in the places I have outlined for myself......no matter what.......even if I find the cutest boots! Ironically I found the cutest boots at Tj Maxx the other day that I did buy....they are black suede cowboy style for fall, so that will have to be enough ;-) I am really excited for it......and looking forward to the growth found there.......I feel like somehow I found this well of self discipline in so many areas of my life in my new life......and it makes me feel like it can translate here too, and be beneficial to my life as a single mom.....the brewery job didn't work in my schedule with my kids, and as I grow my life coaching business, I am excited to find creative ways to have more of my income come back to me! I know I am on the right path.....I feel it every single day....my client said to me the other day that our sessions help her more than her ones with her therapist......that touched my heart:) So the plan is to buckle down some, and see where it leads......I will share in my blog along the way, and if I get to December 1st and it is going well I may take on another three months:) Oh and I will be buying pumpkins for my hearth......only a couple......that is in the clause already.....but no new Fall/Halloween/Christmas decorations....I know right...eeek......lol:) Wish me luck! Excited to meet the lessons found up ahead in this challenge! :) Growth happens outside of our comfort zone.....and I have grown to love pushing myself outside of my comfort zone each and every day:)
jperuso
Comments