A few years ago, I read an article about Judith Levine’s book “Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping” and was intrigued by this woman’s story about how she and her mate went a year without spending frivolously. Inspired, I bought the book, read it and tried to implement my own challenge. That was January 2008. And I didn’t do that great. I think I made it a week before my friends invited Husband and I out for dinner and that was not even a slippery slope … I just totally fell off the wagon and never got back on.
So welcome to May 2009. Over the past few months, my spending has gotten a bit out of control (most of that due to the wedding) and I’m ready to stop cold turkey and see if I can make it a month without dropping change on soda, coffee, clothing and all of those other trappings that are keeping me from my debt free future.
In Levine’s book, Judith and her partner cut spending from their lives but picked a couple of things that neither of them could live without. I think Internet access was one of them, coffee was another, a couple of newspaper subscriptions rounded out their “luxury” list. I’ll admit it – I already spent $8.34 this morning on a vat of Folgers (on sale for $6 down from $7.79) and the store-brand gallon zipper bags (I have some Amish Friendship Bread starter that I have to divide up in a couple of days …). But coffee is something I would have a very hard time giving up – in fact, I bought it so I could French press my coffee tomorrow morning before I head to the cab company for work. Typically, my weekend ritual is to stop at Kwik Trip on my way to work and drop $1.34 for a 20-oz. cup of dark roast with about an inch’s worth of creamer. That’s going to be $13.40 in savings, which isn’t a ton of money, but if I stopped my habit for six months that’s about $80.
Here’s another part of my challenge – and this is partially inspired by Beks’s blog post the other day about getting creative with food when that allocated part of her budget goes dry. Well … I don’t budget for groceries and I’ve been realizing lately that’s probably part of my spending problem. I love tinkering with recipes and I love trying new things – hence, I have a pantry full of food and I keep adding towards it. So part of my challenge in May is to totally live off of my pantry for the month (or at least while we can). I’m doing this so I can be a more mindful grocery shopper.
So in summary – no meals out; no clothing purchases; no grocery shopping until my pantry looks less like a bomb shelter and more like a facility with shelves; no “boughten” coffee – gas station, Starbucks or otherwise …
What I will purchase this month: Milk (the husband is a 2% junkie); I have a graduation party to attend this month and I have a gift in mind – I even have a coupon for $10 off; gasoline; “fixed” expenses – i.e. gym membership, the Netflix that I should really cancel, etc.
What I’m up in the air about … flour – what if I run out of flour? I actually use that on a semi-regular basis because I like to bake. Eggs … I’d probably purchase that. I’m also almost out of butter. Those are basics, right?
My goal is to update you guys daily on how I’m doing. Any feedback or ideas is greatly appreciated. I’ll be posting pictures of my pantry as soon as I take them.
Friday’s spending:
Target – $8.34 (coffee & generic Ziploc bags)
Car Loan – $175.00
Student Loan – $170.00
Total: $353.34
We’ve done “living off the pantry” twice–once in preparation to move two years ago (and thus move less items) and just this past March when we were having the main level (including pantry) painted. It’s a liberating feeling to have the stash go down…and spend less on groceries!
I think living out of the pantry is a fantastic idea! Try taking an inventory of what you have and pairing it with different recipes in cookbooks. If all else fails–fake it and make it–more than likely it will taste pretty good!!!! I wish you luck in your quest to only buy the essentials from the store (you’ll need eggs and butter on occasion:) )
OK…IM IN! I am going to do this with you!! I have been behind on my blogging (I have four kids–three teens and a pre-teen) and life is crazy. I also read the book where the author did not buy anything for a year! I don’t know if I could go to t hat extreme…wish I could! However, for a month, I would love to try it and it would be fun to have someone else doing it too! Soo, since today is the first day of May….here goes! I’ll blog also about this and see how it goes! Earlier today I went out to lunch with my eldest daugher on the way home from her physical. However, no UNNECCESSARY purchases for the month of May….
Thanks for the inspiration!
DEBT FREE JOURNEY
debtfreethroughchristwhostrengthensme.blogspot.com
Debt Free Journey – YAY! I’m so glad to have a partner-in-crime for this journey! Best of luck!
Kudos on the new directions on the debt-reducing journey. Please do not SELL yourself short… I have a coffee, tea, and chocolate for Lent, I never cheated during Lent. I have had very very very little since Lent. Here is what happens when coffee-tea-chocolate is out of your system. You might go through withdrawal. I didn’t because I was already slowing down on these items before Lent. But the amazing thing is I have gotten 8, 10 and 11 hours of sleep without getting up in the middle of the night. I realized early on that most of the world is quite jumpy. Literally. Noises, conversations, attitudes. Everyone is very jumpy and I noticed that I was becoming less and less jumpy. Coffee is a stimulant – want to lose weight? Swear off coffee and tea. It is amazing. I have lost 10 pounds, unintentionally. You can get off coffee and stay off coffee. Now I have no interest in ever going back to it. I was a huge green tea drinker too, I miss the benefits of green tea but I have increased eating fruits and veggies and that has made a difference in my health. Amazing – don’t think that you can not give it up. You can. Focus on something else when an urge arrives – and they go away pretty quickly. Good Luck to us all!
Sorry I meant to say I gave up yada yada yada
Emily – no worries
Thanks for the comments. It’s funny – only day one on this and I can already feel the effects since I’m limiting my caffiene intake. I think that’s going to be the toughest part of all of this!
I read somewhere that it takes 30 days to establish a habit, good or bad – I’m hoping that 30 days of not spending frivolously will help me break my spending habits. If I can give up coffee after 30 days … even better!
In my past experiences of giving up stuff like pop (over 2 1/2 years now), I did find that you can’t give up everything – which makes your coffee strategy good I think – I have my one good 20 oz cup in the morning and now I look forward to mornings more and sleep better
And, after all, it’s coffee…
We’ve been eating from the pantry and have not bought any meat. There is a lot fish (individually vacumned wrapped) that I’m going to be eating on a regular basis. Most of it was acquired when I was on a diet kick. Otherwise, I’m buying essentials for now. I love that I can grill more often now (just got a nice bbq pit) Good luck with your coffee resolution and happy saving!
I had my need want and the difference epiphany today – i have heard it before, I got it today, hey girlfriend I am in too!! Game on eh, I look forward to your blogs – I am an enthusiastic cook too – so a menu plan is on my list and my ‘luxury’ is 4 different fresh herbs weekly, this week they are coriander, basil, thyme, sage and continental parsley – I too have an ovestocked pantry so this should be a lot of fun
cheers and happy saving fellow saver!!!
Looking forward to the journey, Moira!