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.)