The Challenge Report Card: C-

I have done really well in terms of NOT buying anything online (except two things for work that will be reimbursed), not buying any clothes or shoes or household items, and eating mostly what I have at the house. I did go to the grocery store once and spent $40, but it was all completely justifiable. I had tons of pasta in the cupboard, but no sauce. I needed apples and milk and cheese. So if this was my only transgression, I think I'd still deserve an A.

The camera class was exception #1. No big deal. But then there was the whole Blue Planet Run weekend. The cabin was supposed to be exception #2, but on top of that I ate out twice, and that wasn't in the original plan. Or if it was, it was supposed to come out of the $40 I took out of the ATM, but that was spent at the grocery store. Okay, so if those were my only exceptions, I'd deserve a B.

But I've eaten out five times in the past two weeks. Three lunches (Qdoba! Jersey Mike's! Pei Wei!) and two dinners (Cinco de Mayo! Tonight!). So basically, I suck at not spending money when it comes to eating out. And I bought my mom flowers for Mother's Day. Shame, shame on me. C- it is.

I'm doing the evaluation today instead of on Wednesday, which is technically the last day, because Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I will be traveling for work, so my meals out will be reimbursed (yippee!).

I will say that I was successful in not charging anything on the credit card (except for work things). So that's a good thing. And it's not like I gave in every time I was tempted. People offered to pick me up lunch several times and I declined, opting instead to eat what I'd brought like a good girl. And today I could have had an iced coffee from Caribou, a delightful afternoon treat, but I passed. I heard about a fun website and wanted to throw away $10 just to see what I'd get, but I refrained. I have not purchased shampoo or mousse, even though I'm out of both--I've used things from my massive "reserves," which, although they're not my preferred products, do the job well enough.

So although I didn't pass with flying colors, I passed, and for the month of June I'm giving myself permission to "spend at will," and when I return, we'll see where I'm at. Then hopefully I'll be able to try the challenge out for a second month and do even better, and save enough money to buy a really good elliptical. The Nordic Track just ain't doin' it for me anymore.

By the way...

...the cabin is Exception #2 in the Challenge.

First obstacle--and I will cave

I just checked my calendar for tomorrow, and realized my Nikon class at Wolf Camera is in the morning. Yay! Except I haven't paid for it yet. So, do I stick to my plan and not spend the cash, or do I violate my own rules that I laid out only two days ago? Yeah, the camera wins. I will go to the class.

BUT! I'm returning a shirt I bought a couple weeks ago, which will help offset that cost.

Oh, well. Exception #1. Let's hope that's the first and last!

The Challenge: Use What You Have

My plan for saving was born of two needs: first, to use up some of the stuff I've accumulated, and second, to have spending money for London. I'm the kind of person who does not follow a budget. I basically spend at will, until I realize it's out of hand, then I am a penny pincher. Once the bank balance starts looking healthier, I loosen the reins, and the cycle begins anew. I'm fine with it. But it does result in the accumulation of a lot of unnecessary and sometimes wasted stuff. For instance, take my pantry. It is full. You'd think a family of four lived at my house. Yet when I open it, I inevitably think, "There's nothing to eat." Same with my freezer. There's a similar issue when it comes to toiletries. I have enough soaps and lotions and shampoos to clean and moisturize an army. Of course, the army would probably not care for my choice in fragrances--a little too flowery for the soldier types--but I digress.

Which brings me to my challenge for May. I will not purchase anything at all from now until May 20. If I think about how much I spend on clothes, meals out, etc., my eyes get big and my eyebrows go up, like in a cartoon. I like that I can afford to live that way, but I want to see if I can live without. Or rather, what it's like to live without. I know I CAN, but how hard will it be? So my plan, in all its complicated originality, is to charge nada. Nor will I use my debit card (except for gas). My goal is to save $1000 this way. On paper, it works out. What remains to be seen is the reality...

I have the highest of hopes and the most earnest of intentions. I already purchased a Mother's Day gift and a birthday gift for my niece, since both fall during the spending moratorium. For any unavoidable incidentals, I took out $40 from the ATM and will use that if necessary. The Blue Planet Run is the first weekend of May, and I anticipate needing to purchase food at the venue, since it is an overnight camping trip. But I plan to find out if bringing food is an option. (There are still so many details I am in the dark about--and it's causing more than a little anxiety. I'll be glad when it's over.)

I will keep you posted on how it's going. The hardest thing is the moment of realization--like just now I realized I won't get to have a massage for a month. Boo hoo!