Today I cancelled three magazine subscriptions. My library in both locations carries them, so I can go spend some time in the quiet. I also cancelled my online edition of the newspaper because really .... lately I've only read the headlines.
Maybe it's lucky that I've enjoyed a pretty spoiled life for the past twenty years. Because it has sure been easy to see where to trim the fat! I'm going to save my coffee shop drinks for social events instead of an almost daily treat. The trick to living well on less is to be conscious of where your money goes. My plan is to keep track of every penny for the next two weeks (longer if I need to) and then look for more cuts.
I considered cutting the house cleaner down to once a month instead of every two weeks ... but I think I'd rather turn off the cable TV first!!!
I have a once a month cleaning service and it's really enough with just me living in the house. At the mid point I touch up the bathroom, sweep the kitchen floor and change my bedding which isn't taxing at all.If I'm having company, I try to schedule them in two weeks just after she's cleaned butt it really wouldn't matter that much as the house stays pretty clean.
ReplyDeleteI love coffee shops, too. I didn't quit going. I just switched to ordering a cheaper drink when I do go. Tea was half the coffee smoothies.
Good luck with your project. I think it will be kind of fun for you to figure out what is and isn't important to you.
Rumor has it that it takes at least 21 days for form a new habit. So each month I'm going to focus on one or two small steps. Tracking my money and asking myself how important is the cost. And eating breakfast every day. Even when I was young I never ate breakfast. Despite knowing "it's the most important meal of the day." But I need to charge up my metabolism in an effort to lose some of my "comfort" weight!
DeleteI read your blog daily - but don't think that I have commented before.
ReplyDeleteThis blog hit home - first my income got cut in half when my husband was killed, but I was still doing OK. I still had money to splurge on the kids and grandkids.
Then in September, my position was cut to part time - only 24 hours per week. So I'm really forced to use the "B" word.
I am trying for 1 month to be credit card/debit card free (except for gas & groceries). Cash for everything. You really notice how much stuff costs if you have to pay cash.
I also vowed that I wouldn't buy anything on-line for a month. I just stopped myself from buying something from Amazon. Although it was "only" $19.99, I really did not neet it. Those samll amounts really add up.
I am a big Audio book listener, everytime a new book came out, I either bought it or downloaded from iTunes. Then I found out my local library has these for free - free downloads..They also have all the magazines that I would ever want to read that can be downloaded to my tablet.
So far, so good - but the month is only 3 days old!
Hey! Thanks for reading! I read yours but was stopped cold turkey by your athleticism! Sheesh! My knees can barely walk!! Yet that is something to start soon ... walk through the pain and see if it really does get better with more exercise. And, um .... how often do you post??
DeleteAnd still employed outside the home!?? Good for you. That's another option although it will have to be something done via internet so I can live in both Oregon and on Maui ...
That online shopping IS addicting. It's just so EASY. Darned Amazon. My other big luxury is drinking red wine. Two glasses a night (more if entertaining). If I could even just cut that in half ....
I had to laugh - my blog has been sort of pushed to the back burner. I hope to do a 2013 update during the next week - stay posted.
ReplyDeleteCome one, you can muster up once a month, right???
DeleteI got Brian a one-cup coffee maker for Christmas to help him cut back on Starbucks. He LOVES it!! It's an investment up front, but really worth the $120 in the long run. :)
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, here (Maui) I have a super duper espresso machine and I can make my iced vanilla almond milk latte! And I do make good coffee every morning ....
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