And the winner is… My Willpower!!!

22 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by postcardsfrommosquitoville in It's Possible Tags: , ,

Not gonna keep you in suspense, just going to come right out and say it:

I DID IT!!  And it feels AMAZING!!!

Truly it was only the little things I missed.  (Like gum.)  But there were NO negative side effects (other than the halitosis thing, of course, but that was my own fault for not planning ahead).  I’m telling you, folks, no amount of small inconveniences could measure up to the intense THRILL I felt when I looked at my checking account balance.  For the first time in my life the balance was the exact same after an entire week!!!

I truly think I’m on to something.

I’m going to do this at least once a month.  No kidding.  There were so many little things I enjoyed along the way that I want to feel this way again and again and again.  Here are a few of those unexpected benefits (without a lot of humor.  Sorry.  Just not feeling like a comedian today):

1. My kids didn’t bug me about buying stuff.  Normally my kids are really good about this anyway because of the fact that they have to buy all their own “stuff” anyway.  They get a monthly allowance and then have to use their own money for everything from snacks at the grocery store, to movies, to going out to dinner.  They even buy their own clothes, shoes, and school supplies.  Being used to this, they don’t ask for a lot, but they do ask for extra family things sometimes.  Like some chocolate milk, a bag of chips, a pizza for dinner.  This week, every time they’d start to ask they’d remember my challenge and say, “Oh, never mind.” (And not in that snotty teenager voice they are so great at, either. Wow!)

2.  Stuff lasted a lot longer.  This was one of the biggest surprises.  My gasoline use was unprecedented.  I figured this would be the one area where I’d have to break down and spend money.  But what I found was that, because I was so conscious of the amount of gas in my tank, I made different choices.  I conserved my gasoline by trying not to drive even one mile farther than necessary.  I didn’t take off at a green light, and I let off the gas pedal as soon as I saw a red light ahead.  I was absolutely shocked that my gas gauge didn’t even drop below half.  And that is amazing for a gas-guzzling SUV like mine.

Another thing that lasted longer was our food.  Specifically milk.  My five munchkins can slam down a gallon of milk a day.  And because I hadn’t decided to stop spending money until after I left the grocery store, I did not stock up on the milk.  When Thursday came around and there was only a half gallon left in the fridge, I gave them a little warning.  “You might want to go easy on the milk.  This has to last until Saturday night.”  Two and half gallons in one week is probably the least amount of milk my family has gone through in close to ten years.

3.  I spent more quality time at home with the family.  Instead of finding a million errands to run after work, I came straight home almost every day.  Sure those errands are important, and I couldn’t put everything off every week, but by planning ahead I was able to cut out all but two or three little things that eat away at my precious evenings at home.  Because I couldn’t spend any money there wasn’t anyplace I could really go anyway.

4.  I found creative ways to keep from spending money.  Not only was I creative with my cooking for the week, but I was creative with entertainment to.  I guess this ties back in with spending more time at home, too.  Instead of going out to spend money, I made do with what I had, or figured out another use for something.

5.  I felt great about myself.  This should probably be number one on my list, but I just have to say:  I loved feeling so in control!  I wasn’t a slave to the almighty dollar.  I felt different.  I felt proud.  I felt empowered.  I felt like a million bucks.  (Ha ha!  Pun intended.)

I hope next month you’ll join me in my Don’t Spend a Dime Challenge.  I will be advertising on Facebook.  It was such a unique and joyful experience that I want to share it with others.  So, watch for your official invitation.  (Just kidding, I am not sending out invitations.)  But you will see me post on Facebook.  And I do hope that you will accept the challenge to prove to yourself that you can do anything!

Side Effects May Include Halitosis…

18 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by postcardsfrommosquitoville in It's Possible Tags: , , , ,

Just wanted to put this out there:  In case you happened to see me at the Harmon’s checkout counter yesterday – I wasn’t spending money!!  Well, technically I guess I was spending money, but honestly it wasn’t mine!  And I’m more of a “spirit of the law” type person anyway.

So there I was, puttering through day three of seven in my Don’t Spend a Dime Challenge.  It started out a little shaky.  The problem hit me like a blast of dragon breath from my own 8th grade English teacher.  I have a strict personal guideline that I attempt to adhere to at school:  No bad breath while teaching.  That is why I keep a supply of mints and gum in my desk at all times.  Well, turns out those darn mint tins look just the same when they’re empty as they do when they are full.  Normally this wouldn’t be a problem.  I could replenish the supply as quick as junior high school boys go through a can of Axe.

But not this time.  There was no gum in the bottom of my purse, nothing but an empty cardboard packet on the console of my car, and not a stash anywhere to be found as I rifled through my desk drawers.  Poor kids.  Now I have become Mrs. Halitosis instead of Mrs. Hansen.  (I hope they don’t print that in the yearbook.)  Thank goodness this is a short week!

So, back to the Harmon’s checkout line.  It wasn’t my fault and it wasn’t my money.  But the kids in Student Government needed me to pick up some treats for the opposing team coming to play basketball at Wahlquist today.  At first it had me in a panic.  I didn’t think I could do it.  But, after careful consideration and ratification I decided that putting a few dozen brownies on an in-store-charge that would later be paid by my school and not me would not count against me in this challenge.

So there you have it.  I’m halfway through Day Four and still going strong.  Just don’t stand too close to me after lunch.

The Ultimate Showdown: My willpower vs. The almighty dollar

16 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by postcardsfrommosquitoville in It's Possible Tags: , , , ,

I’m not gonna lie.  Circumstances have called for some extremely painful and mandatory belt-tightening.  The particulars of what brought us here are not unusual, nor are they pertinent.  But what IS pertinent is that I have this strange filing cabinet for a brain that brings up past memories at the most random of times.  I can’t for the life of me remember that one gal’s name when I run into her at the grocery store, but out of the clear blue I can remember the smell of the air on the crisp fall morning when I sat on my trampoline reading Gone with the Wind in the 8th grade.  See what I mean about random?

But I digress…  The other day as I was silently lamenting the fates and the lack of digits in my checking account, I got this idea.  It’s not exactly the most original or spectacular idea I’ve ever had, but it leads up to something big, I promise.  The idea was that I could try to feed my family of 7 on less than $50 a week.  I drug the laptop to the kitchen counter, opened up all the cupboards and pantry, took stock in the freezers, and went to work creating a masterpiece of a menu.  Not only was I determined to use what I had on hand, I also tried to plan for leftovers that could be used in other ways the next day.  In the end it was a thing of beauty.  An entire month of meals that I am certain I can pull off with little to no fuss and little to no dough. (And I’m not talking bread dough here.)

So I’m standing in line at the checkout, totally proud and kind of surprised to learn that it is truly possible for me to enter a grocery store with a list in my hand and exit the grocery store with ONLY the items on that list.  When the cute little checker hit the total button and I paid my $41.86, I tried not to grin in a strange, this-lady-is-freaking-me-out kind of way.  Under budget!?!  Two miracles in one grocery store?  I was on a roll.  Just then I took a look at the gas gauge in my not-exactly-fuel-friendly SUV.  Time for a fill-up, then time to head for home.

Okay, so THIS is where my brilliant idea/strange random memory generator kicks in to play.  (Finally, right?)  I remembered that a year or so ago I read an article on Yahoo about a single New Yorker who vowed to go a week without spending a dime.  Why I read that article at that time I do not know.  Usually when Yahoo publishes money-saving tips it’s something earth-shatteringly disappointing like “Don’t fly first class.”  Ummm, how that is helpful here in the real world I will never know.  Anyway, I decided then and there that I was going to be just like that New Yorker.  (NO, not single and living in a big city!)  I would challenge myself to go one week without spending any money.  After all, I have a full tank of gas and a week’s worth of groceries – what more could I need?  I can do this!!

So that was on Saturday.  Just got to make it until next Saturday and I’ll survive.  No problem.  I’ve got this.

But then last night my friend sent a text inviting me and the kids bowling today.  She has free tickets.  It’s a school holiday.  If I don’t take her up on the offer the kids and I would be stuck home alone together with nothing to do and no where to go.  But, on the other hand, if I do go there is 30 extra miles sucked out of my gas supply.  The bowling alley has an arcade and a pizza joint attached and I know the kinds of plea bargains and let’s-make-a-deal shenanigans that begin the moment my kids encounter a place like that.  It’s just not worth it.  I don’t think I’d better tempt fate.  I graciously decline her offer.

And then this morning I was just checking out my Facebook News Feed when all of a sudden I see that DynoMart has an amazing sale on cleats.  My twin boys are going to need new football cleats next summer and they do not come cheap.  Especially when there are four feet that are screaming for cleats.  $10 for a pair plus free shipping.  The angels were singing about such a divine deal.  My mouse automatically hovered over the picture of the sparkling new shoes.  But then, NO!  This is only day two of my personal challenge.  I will not cave!  I will not give in!

So that is why I am posting this whole rigamarole today.  I need to be held accountable.  I want people to know that this is my goal because then if I don’t make it, someone besides myself will be aware of my epic failure.  Sure, if I end up spending money this week, nothing bad is going to happen.  There is nothing vital riding on the strength of my willpower in this matter.  But, you know what?  I really WANT to do this!  I want to prove it to myself that I am NOT addicted to spending money.  (And I’m not talking about flying first class.)