Sunday's Super Simple Solution: Plastic Bags

Before

After


This weekend I finally tackled my plastic bag drawer! For years, I have dedicated this entire drawer to my plastic grocery bags, which I most frequently recycle as trash can liners. Well, I finally decided it was getting out of control. Even though I use canvas tote bags for my grocery shopping, I have still managed to accumulate more than a drawer full of plastic bags. So, I found an old shoe box and covered it with wrapping paper, cut a hole out of the top, and now I have a plastic bag dispenser!

No Spend Month - Week 4

This is a series on budgeting, check out the rules, week 1, week 2, week 3, and the wrap-up.

It's been another interesting week. I managed not to spend any money on myself or our household, but I did start purchasing a few Christmas presents. It was the kind of thing where I was either going to save money or time. I am going back to work next week and had a few presents left to buy. It was either shop for them now, while I have the time, or wait until next week when I'm busier.

I also enjoyed a great outing this week with my dad and grandma. Luckily, I had gift certificates to Target and Kohl's, so I was able to satisfy my shopping itch and pick up a few things for the house.

If you remember from last week, I still have $8 left in my budget. I think I'll treat myself to a Starbuck's and make a $5 donation this weekend!

I'll be wrapping up this series on Monday with Lessons Learned from No Spend Month.

photo by _ES

Friday's Fun Find: BabyPlays Toy Rental

Looking for a unique holiday present for all the little ones in your family? Want to avoid the craziness of holiday shopping? Check out this toy rental program...

This week's fun find is BabyPlays Toy Rental Program. It's like Netflix for children's toys. This is a great idea for families who are looking for an environmentally friendly approach to toys or who have limited storage. They offer age appropriate toys from 0-3 months up to 5 years.

If you're more interested in test-driving to purchase the toys, you can also purchase them at 20% off the retail price.

Giving Thanks: Part 4

Happy Thanksgiving!
This is the last post in a series on gratitude called Giving Thanks. So far, I have written about the benefits of gratitude, how to express gratitude, and the things for which I'm grateful. Today, I leave you with some reflection questions...

What are you grateful for?

What are five nice things another person has done for you?

How do you expressed your gratitude?

image from Stephanie

Coming up in December...

I'm taking a day off to prepare for Thanksgiving.

To hold you over, here are some posts you can look forward to in December:

A NEW SERIES on GENEROSITY

Writing a Holiday Letter Your Friends Will Want to Read

Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship

My Home Birth Story

My 5 Keys to Happiness

And, more Friday's Fun Finds, Sunday's Super Simple Solutions, and Tuesday's Top Pick.

Want to read them all? Subscribe to my blog (enter your email address in the box on the right)!

Tuesday's Top Pick: Unclutterer

Unclutterer was my first introduction to blogs. I visit it daily and always find good stuff there. Last year they did a great Gift Giving Guide series. As we approach Black Friday, I'm sure we'll all be looking for some creative gift giving ideas. Some of my favorites from last year - consumable gifts (i.e. gourmet foods and bath salts), experience gifts (i.e. tickets to Disneyland), and online giving (i.e. subscription to Consumer Reports and iTunes gift cards).

*The posts I select won't always be recent because I like to dig through a blogger's archives to find some of their greatest blog entries.

What was your favorite blog this week?

10 Ways to Avoid Overpaying - and How I Did It!

No one likes to know they've overpaid, but we've all done it. There are money wasters all around us. Here are ten money saving tips that I know actually work because they've worked for me:

1. Return shopping mistakes. I am guilty of overspending, but if I keep my purchases for a few days I'm likely to be o.k. with returning a few. This past month, I returned a purse, two pairs of shoes, and a blouse.

2. Avoid late fees. By using auto-pay for all my utilities, I never worry about missing a payment and being charged a late fee.

3. Compromise on brand loyalty. I recently bought laundry detergent at the Dollar Store (even though I usually prefer another brand). I have to say, I haven't noticed a big difference.

4. Curb impulse crafting. I chose a fill-in-the-blank baby book instead of the mega-scrapbook kit. I'm still patting myself on the back for this one!

5. Take advantage of promotions. I signed up for a promotional cable package and now save $35/month.

6. Reduce services. Since my DH and I both have cell phones, but still wanted the convenience of our landline, we canceled our caller i.d., long distance, and call waiting.

7. Comparison shop. When I purchased my minivan, I was able to negotiate a lower price because I found it advertised at another dealership.

8. Avoid buying from ads on t.v. I was really tempted to by a vacuum cleaner that I saw on an infomercial. I Googled the item and found several reviews stating that it was not as great as they claimed.

9. Overdraft protection. Paying bank fees is a huge money waster. Be sure to protect yourself with overdraft protection. I use a credit union that covers my minor infractions and even gives me a personal phone call if I'm about to overdraw.

10. Return broken items. I admit, I could be better at this. It takes energy to trek back to the store and explain why you need a refund, but it's usually worth it. I had a CD alarm clock that broke and Radio Shack replaced it for free.

photo by Tracy O

How do you avoid overpaying?

Sunday's Super Simple Solution: Stash a Key

I wrote an earlier post about Mommy Brain, and this idea is great if you suffer from mommy brain the way I do! I often find myself sitting in my car ready to pull out of the driveway when I suddenly remember something - my sweater, left the light on in the closet, forgot to grab another diaper. I keep all my keys on one ring, and this is problematic when I need to dash back into the locked house. So, now I stash an extra house key in the car. No more fumbling to get the key off my ring or turning the car off unnecessarily. You could also clip your house key to your key ring for easy removal.

How do you handle your forgetfulness?

No Spend Month - Week 3

This is a series on budgeting, check out the rules, week 1, week 2, week 4, and the wrap-up.
This has definitely been an interesting week. My computer had a virus, and I had to take it to the repair shop. I probably could have found someone to fix it for free, but I was afraid to take the chance of losing any data. So, I paid $120 to have it cleaned up; however, I used some of our emergency funds and did not consider it part of my monthly budget (hey, I made the rule, so I can decide what counts).

Also, our darling daughter (DD) outgrew her carseat and needed an upgrade. Of course, safety comes before anything else so I was prepared to buy her one, but luckily her grandparents offered to purchase her new carseat as an early Christmas gift. We have been looking for one used, but haven't had any luck for the past month.

And, they say these things come in threes, so to top it off my dissertation was partially rejected because of formatting issues. So, I had to reprint half of it again on the expensive paper - which I had to buy.

Here is the breakdown for this week:

$30 gas (luckily gas has gone down but I've been running on a quarter tank all month)
$13 fancy paper
$80 groceries (this includes all the food for our Thanksgiving meal, minus the turkey)

THREE WEEK TOTAL: $292

Fortunately, we did come into some money this week. We had a garage sale last weekend and made $50, and I made $100 on eBay. In addition, we received a free full-sized pie (which we'll be enjoying on Thanksgiving) from the company that installed our soft water system.

Well, you can do the math, but I have a whopping $8 left for next week...It's not looking pretty, but at least all our meals are covered and hopefully my dissertation will not have to be printed...again.

photo by ES

Guest Post on Honest Baby

I hope you'll hop on over to Honest Baby and check out my article on "Getting It All Done."

Friday's Fun Find: Black Friday @ GottaDeal.com

Next Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year! Last year, shoppers spent an average of $347 on Black Friday sales. In case you're not familiar with the term, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when most retailers have their biggest sales of the year. This Friday's Fun Find is Black Friday @ GottaDeal.com. You can type in your email address and they will send you updates when new ads are posted.

Other Black Friday websites:
http://www.bfads.net/
http://www.cybermonday.com/

http://www.bestcybermondaysales.com/

photo by seaturtle

Giving Thanks: Part 3

This is a series on gratitude, check out part i, part ii, and part iv.
This week I made myself a Gratitude Bracelet. It has 27 jade beads on a stretchy band. I've been wearing it to remind me to count my blessings. When I have a quiet moment, I use the bracelet to reflect on the things for which I'm grateful. Here is the list I came up with today...
I am grateful for:
1. My health
2. A loving husband
3. A supportive family
4. Our darling daughter
5. My incredible sister
6. Our home
7. Our two dogs
8. Living in this country
9. Opportunities to travel
10. My maternity leave
11. My girlfriends
12. The generosity of our friends and family
13. An amazing home birth
14. The sun
15. The rain
16. The beach
17. Technology that allows me a social outlet
18. My washer & dryer
19. The amazing teachers I've had
20. Green curry
21. Ice cream
22. A happy childhood
23. Opportunities to be in nature
24. The educational opportunities I've had
25. Lasik eye surgery
26. Literacy
27. Toothless smiles

What are you grateful for today?

image from Stephanie

30 Ways to Spend 30 Minutes

My darling daughter (DD) is the 30-Minute Napper. Time is precious, and I've learned there are lots of things I can get done in 30 minutes. Here are just a few:
1. Nap (you know what they say, "sleep when the baby sleeps")
2. Send a personal email to 6 of my friends.
3. Watch 1/2 an episode of "What Not To Wear."
4. Post my used clothes on eBay.
5. Clean out the refrigerator.
6. Review the grocery ads and make my shopping list.
7. Read the newspaper.
8. Organize the junk drawer.
9. Call a friend.
10. Stretch.
11. Play with the dogs.
12. Pay bills.
13. Take a bath.
14. Read a chapter of the Baby Book.
15. Write a poem.
16. Prepare dinner.
17. Do the dishes.
18. Download and organize photos.
19. Read a magazine.
20. Catch up with friends on MySpace and Facebook.
21. Give myself a pedicure.
22. Cruise Craigslist for baby items - looking for a car seat.
23. Enjoy a bowl of ice cream (yes, I can make this a half-hour event).
24. Bake cookies.
25. Create a new playlist on iTunes.
26. Update my Netflix queue.
27. Do a crossword puzzle.
28. Send a few birthday cards.
29. Read a few blogs.
30. Finish this blog entry!

photo by zoutedrop

How do you enjoy spending 30 minutes?

Tuesday's Top Pick: Organized Mommy

The post of the week is Organizing Your Charity Giving from Organized Mommy. This mommy does all her charity giving at one time every year and has some great suggestions for saving and allocating charity money. I like her ideas for prioritizing causes and using priorities to guide your decisions. Her approach also allows you to feel good about responding to requests from charitable organizations. She suggests saying,"We allocate our charity money at the end of the year. I would be happy to take down your information and consider your charity at that time."

Another great post I love from Organized Mommy is Green Living Tips from the Great Depression.

What was your favorite post this week?

Contest Winner

The winner of the Sample The Central Coast giveaway was Tessa Hagwood - subscriber #35! Welcome to all the new readers out there and thank you for subscribing! There will be more giveaways in the near future!

Sunday's Super Simple Solution: Storage

One of my favorite storage solutions is using my regular pieces of furniture to hide my clutter. I have a great set from Pottery Barn that serves as my entryway side table (which stores our shoes and junk drawers) and coffee table (which stores our board games). Other types of furniture that serve double-duty - bench seating, end tables, beds with storage, night stands, and headboards with shelves.

Check out these creative storage solutions:

1. Soho Quattro Corner Bench from http://www.homedecorators.com/ - I love the corner bench in our eating area, but it's not as plush as this one! The bench is upholstered with stain-resistant microfiber for easy cleaning.

2. Remote Control Organizer Photo Frame from http://www.solutions.com/ - This is a great idea! If our remote controls ever got put away, this is where I would hide them!

3. Sorry! This item has been discontinued. (Apollo "Lift" Storage Bed from http://www.doorstorefurniture.com/ - This queen size bed has a hydraulic lift system that provides ample storage that can even accommodate luggage. This is the utlimate storage!)

4. Tufted Leather Storage Bench from http://www.ballarddesigns.com/ - Extra seating, cocktail table and storage in one.

5. Wraparound Console from http://www.blogger.com/www.PotteryBarn.com - This beautiful piece of furniture comes from my favorite store! It really maximizes display area and storage.

No Spend Month - Week 2

This is a series on budgeting, check out the rules, week 1, week 3, week 4, and the wrap-up.

During the second week of No Spend Month, I spent $118.

Here is the breakdown:
$94 - Groceries
$9 - Gas
$15 - Used high chair (found on craigslist)

TWO WEEK TOTAL: $169

I was surprised how little I spent on gas this week. I even made two trips into town. The grocery bill took almost a third of my monthly allocation - the most expensive items were meat and toilettries. I saved money this week by offering to make my sister a sandwich at home instead of taking her out to lunch. Next week, I'm anticipating having more school expenses and another trip to the grocery store.

What did you save money on this week?


photo by _ES

Friday's Fun Find: Good Search and Good Shop

This Friday's Fun Find is GoodSearch. Good Search is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. You simply choose your cause, search, and they donate the money.

It's powered by Yahoo!, which means you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!

Check out their sister site, Good Shop, where you can shop and up to 30% of your purchases go towards the charity of your choice.

Giving Thanks: Part 2

This is a series on gratitude, check out part i, part iii, and part iv.
Last week, I was talking with a group of moms about accepting help from others. One mom shared that she had family who was extremely generous and always offering to help out, but she felt she was never able to repay the favor. All of us could think of a similar experience - someone has offered to watch the baby, bring over food, or run an errand, but you are hesitant to actually take them up on the offer. Whether it's wanting to do it all yourself, feeling guilty about not being able to repay the favor, or fear that it won't get done the way you would do it, sometimes we all have to accept a helping hand. And when you do, these moms offered some good advice for expressing your gratitude.

Three ways to show gratitude:

1. Simply state it. This sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes it's easier said than done. It can be hard accepting a favor, but many people are happy to help in return for a simple, "Thanks."

2. Pay it back. There are many ways to return a favor - it doesn't have to be a meal for a meal. If you make excellent pumpkin bread, consider giving a loaf as a thank you. Another way to pay it back is offer an open-ended invitation, "When you need something, please call me first." Other nice tokens of appreciation: flowers, a small piece of jewelry, or a gift card.

3. Pay it forward. This was most popular in the mom group. For example, we can't always give our parents as much as they have given us, but we can do the same for our children. And, in my case, I can't repay my sister for all the times she has helped me out, but I try to extend the generosity to those around me.

How do you express your gratitude?

image from Stephanie

25 Frugal Things I Do

I was inspired to write this by a post on Almost Frugal. If you haven't checked out this blog, it's worth a visit. Here are 25 Frugal Things I Do:

1. Use the library.
2. Bring my lunch and snacks.
3. Skip Starbucks and make my own chai latte.
4. Shop at garage sales.
5. Only practice retail therapy at Goodwill and Salvation Army (they just opened a store by my house!).
6. Accept donated clothes for my darling daughter (DD).
7. Volunteer - You can get into some pretty cool events by offering to volunteer.
8. Breastfeed.
9. Try not to drive on the weekends.
10. Sell on eBay.
11. Frequently have garage sales.
12. Use a credit union - Fewer late fees and fines.
13. Budget with Mvelopes.
14. Price check on the web - Saved $50 on ink cartridges.
15. Donate to charity - This may seem counter-intuitive, but I believe the hand that is open to give is open to receive (yes, these are the words of Niecy Nash from Clean House).
16. Buy in bulk and freeze.
17. Stay organized - I avoid buying things I already have by knowing what I already own.
18. Bring my own bags to the grocery store - They give a discount if you bring your own bags.
19. Use evite for all my entertaining.
20. Send electronic holiday cards.
21. Enjoy free activities, like walking, hiking, and biking.
22. Pick flowers from the garden for a hostess gift.
23. Drink water instead of soda and juice.
24. Borrow baby items, such as our infant carrier.
25. Cash in on rewards points.


photo by automania

Tuesday's Top Pick: Guy Named Dave

This week's top pick is in honor of Dave Bruno who started the 100 Thing Challenge and was recently featured in Time Magazine. Bruno is attempting to whittle down his possessions to 100 items. Tomorrow is his deadline to meet this goal. Check out his blog at www.guynameddave.com.

What was your favorite blog this week?

The Key to Success is Making Mistakes

The key to success is making mistakes...and learning from them. I had my first job as a manager at 21 years old. I managed a small staff of women who were all 10-30 years my senior. I was a new manager and struggled with many things. I kept the job for three years, and most of the time I was frustrated and unhappy. But looking back, I learned and grew as a person in those years.

All the disappointments and challenges prepared me for the bigger and better things that came in the years after that job. Those experiences forced me to grow, to know myself better, to gain self-confidence, and to face my weaknesses and insecurities. Many times I could have handled things better, and other times the outcome was beyond my control. But, at the time, I was really hard on myself for being less than perfect. Before then, I had never experienced failure, frustration, or even a major setback.

Looking back, I'm proud of myself for getting out alive! I refused to give up and used each challenge as a stepping stone. In the Buddhist tradition, difficulties are considered to be so important to a life of growth and peace that a Tibetan prayer actually asks for them. It says, "Grant that I may be given appropriate difficulties and sufferings on this journey so that my heart may truly awaken and my practice of liberation and universal compassion may be fulfilled."

Difficult times are opportunities for genuine growth.

Life coach Cheryl Richardson offers these questions to help identify a positive outcome in a challenging situation:

1. If this were happening to strengthen a part of me, which part would it be?
2. What can I learn from this experience?
3. Who can help me transform this disappointment into an opportunity?
4. How can I use what I've learned from this disappointment to help others?

photo by wisconsinhiker

Giveaway: Gourmet Products from Sample the Central Coast!

I'm still relatively new to the "blogging" world, but I've noticed that contests seem to be very popular. This is my first contest, and I'm happy to be offering a package from Sample the Central Coast (yes, my own business).

Sample the Central Coast is the hottest gourmet gift. All items are made by local companies in San Luis Obispo County, one of the finest counties in California. Recipients will enjoy a taste of the Central Coast delivered to their doorstep.

If you haven't checked it out, please visit www.SampleTheCentralCoast.com.

I'm giving away one "Original" package to be shipped anywhere in the United States. (If you live overseas, I'd be happy to ship it to a friend or relative in the U.S. as a present!)

Guidelines to enter the giveaway:

1. Subscribe to this blog (just enter your email address in the box on the right)!
2. On November 16,2008 at 8:00 AM PST all active subscribers will be entered in the contest.
3. The winner will be selected at random (using random.org) and announced on Monday, November 17, 2008.
4. For an extra entry, link this giveaway to your blog and make sure I know about it!
   
5. All subscribers will receive a coupon code for $10 off any order!
   

My goal is to reach 100 subscribers by December 31, please help me reach my goal!

I hope you win!

Sunday's Super Simple Solution: Meal Planning

"What's for dinner?" That was a question that used to inevitably end in an argument between me and my darling husband (DH). After a long day at work, the last thing I wanted to think about was dinner. Plus, why was dinner MY responsibility? My canned response was usually "I don't know...what IS for dinner?"

After trying several approaches - alternating responsibility for dinner (usually ended up being YOYO (your on your own) night every night), hiring a personal chef (that didn't last long), and trying Dream Dinners (loved it, but had to cut it out of the budget) - we came up with this solution.

Together we decide a few days in advance what our next meals will be, then we shop accordingly. I write the meals on this white board, and before we leave the house in the morning we confirm "what's for dinner." Here's a peek at last month's meal planning calendar.

No Spend Month - Week 1

This is a series on budgeting, check out the rules, week 2, week 3, week 4, and the wrap-up.

For the first week of No Spend Month, I spent $51. Most of those expenses I could have put off for another week, but they were inevitable this month.

Here is the breakdown:
$7 - groceries (bananas, eggs, milk)
$24 - 100% cotton paper to print my dissertation (This was a very unfortunate purchase this month, but I have to submit my dissertation on this paper)
$1 - magazines (This was my entertainment for the week. I purchased 4 Oprah magazines at the thrift store.)
$20 - gas (We had to take a couple extra trips into town to visit family in the hospital, but otherwise didn't drive much this week.)

Instead of buying flowers to bring to the hospital, we brought a picture of our daughter in a frame that I had at the house. Since we've been busy with family commitments this week, I haven't really even had time or opportunities to spend money.

We've been eating frozen dinners that I prepared last month. I've planned our meals for the next two weeks, but we'll have to do some grocery shopping mid-month to carry us over.

What did you save money on this week?

photo by _ES

Friday's Fun Find: Tiny Revolutionary

I know I featured a baby t-shirt site just two weeks ago, but I couldn't resist just one more! This Friday's Fun Find is a t-shirt company called Tiny Revolutionary. I wish they made t-shirts for adults because these are too cute! As you can see from this picture of my darling daughter (DD), she's already a budding revolutionary (this is not a Tiny Revolutionary t-shirt, sorry).

This pick came from CoolMomPicks.com. Check out other similar products.

Giving Thanks: Part 1

This is a series on gratitude, check out part ii, part iii, and part iv.
When I first started working at the university, I was an advisor for low-income students. Most of these students were the first in their families to attend college, came from the poorest high schools in the state, and worked to support themselves. Yet, they were incredibly grateful.

Their gratitude never failed to amaze me. It was not uncommon for a student to bring me a Christmas present or a gift from their recent trip home. In addition to gratitude, these students commonly demonstrated perseverance, optimism, and generosity.

It isn't a coincidence that these traits accompany one another. Scientific evidence indicates that grateful people feel more inclined to share, and that gratitude is linked to optimism, better health, and positive social interactions. New research tells us what philosophers and religion have told us for thousands of years - being thankful can increase our overall happiness.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and in light of this new research, I will be reflecting on "gratitude" each week this month.

For more about gratitude and happiness, check out these books.

image from Stephanie

My Best Investment This Year

I know the year isn't over yet, so this statement may be premature, but I think it's safe to say that my best investment this year has been my minivan. Looking back, I can't believe I ever questioned whether or not to take the leap into the muddy waters of the "minivan-driving soccer mom."

When I told my friends I was considering a minivan, I got mixed reviews. At the time, I was driving a BMW. It was a great car, and most people were probably wondering why I would trade it in for a minivan.

Needless to say, I made the choice to give up the BMW for a Toyota Sienna. Now, I see it's the best thing I could have done. We recently came back from a trip to Las Vegas with our darling daughter (DD), and the minivan was a shear comfort. My favorite features are the automatic doors (that's right, they open and close with the push of a button), the fold-down seats (no need to take them out when we need extra storage), and the navigation system (which we used a lot on our vacation). Other cool features are the back-up camera, child seat anchors, and Bluetooth.

Of course, lots of other vehicles have some of the same features, so why the minivan? Since I'm tall (5'9") the sliding door makes it a lot easier for me to put DD in her car seat (especially when we're parked in a tight spot). Also, did I mention already that I love the automatic doors?

What was your smartest investment this year?

Tuesday's Top Pick: Marc and Angel Hack Life

I visit several dozen blogs a week and will be bringing you the best of the best each Tuesday. The posts I select won't always be recent because I like to dig through a blogger's archives to find some of their greatest blog entries.

My first pick for Tuesday's Top Pick is 18 Means for Living Below Your Means brought to you by Marc and Angel Hack Life: Practical Tips for Productive Living. These two have some great lists! My favorite tip for living below your means? "Stay in and relax." That's one I could get used to.

Other favorite posts from Marc and Angel Hack Life - 70 Things to Do Before Having Children and 50 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do.

What was your favorite blog this week?

Top 10 Garage Sale Finds

When I tell people I like to shop at garage sales, they often want to know, what do I find?









Here are my top 10 garage sale scores:

1. Rocking recliner for the nursery - $20

2. Prada purse (never did find out if it was real, but I loved it!) - $1

3. Bolt of fabric that we used as a table cloth for our engagement party - $5

4. Mason jars that we used as center pieces at our wedding - $5
5. Darling daughter's Bumbo seat - $15
6. Sheets and towels for our home birth - $2
7. Curio cabinet for my darling husband (with light) - $20
8. Serving dishes (assorted) - $2
9. Framed Robert Lyn Nelson print - $1
10. Shelving unit in our garage - $10

Other common items I find at garage sales are CDs, videos, cookbooks, novels, magazines, photo frames and baskets.

Happy Hunting!

photo by Houstonian

What is your best garage sale score?

Sunday's Simple Solution: Storing Canned Goods

We have a great drawer under our stove that we use to store our spices and canned goods. The problem was I could never see the labels on the cans. Also, when the drawer was full it became too heavy to pull out. The solution was to store the cans flat instead of upright. Now, we can see the labels and with fewer cans it's easier to open. (I usually keep a few extra cans on top so the drawer is always full and they don't roll around.)

No Spend Month

This is a series on budgeting, check out week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, and the wrap-up.

This is my second month without a paycheck. I was inspired by this series from Small Notebook to try making this month "No Spend Month." This month I'll be allocating $300 to spend on anything I buy for myself or the household. I wrapped my credit card in paper and sealed it with tape. I'll only be using cash this month.

Expenses will include:
* Gas
* Food & Eating Out
* Clothing
* Entertainment

Expenses will not include:
* Mortgage, insurance, and other bills
* Health expenses
* Savings & Donations

photo by _ES

Any tips as I begin my journey?