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It's Pay Day!

December 27th, 2017 at 02:51 pm

I'm getting ready to head out to the gym, but I'm reveling in PAY DAY! Weird, pay day is more exciting than Christmas.

I paid my mortgage and a Chase bill. I'm holding off on the Discover bill until my check arrives from my credit union. (End of year expenses required some moving about of funds.)

I saw that I had forgotten to add my insurance premium to expected expenses, just an oversight, but glad I caught it.

After the gym I'll stop at Aldi and get a few items.

So, I've been thinking about how to cut expenses in my gap year (which doesn't actually begin till July.)

At first I was going to do a gift moratorium, but I decided that would feel too bad, so I'm going to give token gifts of $10. Of course, I will explain to all the circumstances.

I will not contribute to college funds in 2018.

I will observe a clothing moratorium. Will not buy anything unless it is an actual, incontrovertible need.

I will not eat out unless there is a social benefit. On those occasions, I will order cheap.

I will work harder to stretch food at home. I will make more from scratch.

I will be more mindful to run full loads of laundry.

I will stretch out haircuts by doing a bangs trim myself.

I will drive less and walk more. I will also use the train more.

I will continue Goodwill shopping, but will not buy books (use library instead.) I will only buy items to resell. If I find "wants" I will ask BFF to buy it and give it to me as a gift later. (We already do that a lot.)

On the income side, I'm going to start selling things on eBay. Any little income I can generate will be helpful.

Nothing big, but all of these things combined, along with "gazelle-instense" mindfulness should get me through.

6 Responses to “It's Pay Day!”

  1. snafu Says:
    1514397885

    Season Greetings

    Wow, you've outlined a truly restrictive program for yourself. I hope it's ok to mention minor adjustments to help soften the blow. What programs are offered at your library that you and GSs might enjoy? What free/nearly, free local entertainment? Consider contributing to a monthly sinking fund sum from income to cover mileage based vehicle maintenance, to help avoid breakdowns. If weather permits, walk when appropriate reducing mileage.

    My best, long term money saver has been menu planning based on the loss leaders of items we like to eat. It's not written in stone so if I don't feel like making/eating, it can go in the freezer for an easy substituted meal. It helps tp have a 'plan over' list stuck on the inside of a cupboard door, simple to make with leftovers like Spanish Rice or Stir fry. In cold weather I keep a 'soup making' jar in the fridge to collect small leftovers that can meld in a CP....soup can be a mid afternoon pick me up when energy wains.

    My gran disliked laundry and I wonder if you'd consider any of her short cuts acceptable. Week 1 was fresh set of bed linen, Week 2, the fitted sheet & pillow cases went to laundry, the flat sheet reverted to cover mattress and cloth napkins I'll load the SUV with donation made more obvious during the holidays.

  2. snafu Says:
    1514423406

    sorry, computer is extra cranky today...

    s [stays in place with clips], fresh pillow cases, quilt 'air' fluffed monthly. The following week would be a fresh set of bedding; double use of flat sheet evened out wear.

  3. CB in the City Says:
    1514464255

    Thanks, Snafu. My freezer is already loaded with soups I have made. It's my go-to strategy for using up food. I like your gran's strategy -- I do feel like my flat sheet gets as grungy as the bottom sheet, but cleaning the pillowcases midway is a good idea. Air fluffing is never a possibility for me -- it costs as much as drying.

  4. rob62521 Says:
    1514575123

    Wow, what a good list. I like Snafu's suggestion on finding reasonable and free priced entertainment.

    I don't know how big your place is, but do you have room to hang things to dry? I have the luxury of a laundry room and it is small, and I use an old shower curtain rod across it and hang some things so I don't have to dry them.

    I keep a bag in the freezer of those vegetables we don't eat all of and when the bag gets pretty full, I use it to make soup.

    Do you craft at all like crochet, knit, or sew? If os, perhaps you can make items for gifts. I buy a lot of the yarn at thrift stores. I'm picky -- I purchase yarn that is still in the paper wrapper and in colors I like. I did score 9 yards of really nice material the other day for a dollar a yard and will be making bathroom curtains out of it and then hopefully pot holders out of the rest. I found some quilt batting at a thrift store very reasonable.

  5. CB in the City Says:
    1514653226

    Hi Rob,

    I don't really have room to air dry laundry, but the main thing is, unless I can hang the whole load, it doesn't make any difference financially -- the dryer costs the same, no matter how much is in it. I do air dry a few things, but that's because of the material and fragility of the item.

    I am a big soup maker, and vegetables do not go to waste in my house! In addition to soup, I use them up in omelets, fried rice, shepherd's pie and other casseroles.

    No, not crafty. I do know how to sew by hand, and I've thought of making totes with material I have on hand. Placemats, too.

  6. rob62521 Says:
    1514663251

    I wondered, CB, if you had room to air dry. But if not, I think you do the best you can.

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