1. Pay Down the Mortgage
We were able to knock 5 payments off our contract in March {1 regular payment and 4 extra “principal” payments}. I was able to use my “rug hooking money” to go towards the extra payments this month as well as move some money I had leftover for miscellaneous/household/car/clothing/medical expenses that were not used in January and February towards paying down our mortgage. Budget for the worst, hope for the best, and save the rest, that’s my motto this year.
2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year.
The Girl and I are headed to Maine soon so I’ll be able to get a little retail therapy when I get to use my L.L. Bean gift cards at the outlet store {I’m hoping to find a deal on Bean Boots}. This was one of my original exceptions to my buy nothing new for a year plan for this year and I am excited!
3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.
The usual… paid bills online, shopped from my pantry, fixed the hem on one of my shirts, stayed home {used less gas} and took advantage of freebies like the public library.
4. Try 52 New Recipes.
Next on my list… My friend JJ’s apple crumb pie!
5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.
So far this year I’ve spent $212.21 on groceries. Pretty rad if you ask me.
6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband
Last Sunday the HH and I took the ferry over to Vashon Island for an upcoming project of mine and ended up stopping at The Hardware Store for lunch. If you are ever in that neck of the woods… thier burgers are fantastic!
So far this year we’ve gone on 9 dates and spent $99.52 out of pocket for our “dates.”
7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.
I had another good week turning my rug hooking hobby into cash. I sold 2 hooked rugs, 1 set of flowers and 1 “make do.” 3 items on Ebay and 1 on Etsy for a total of $284.84 {before fees and supplies were factored in}. I also made a few new things for my shops as well including a super funky bee pillow. {I’ll be listing those items later this week}.
I am really surprised at how much I am loving this challenge. My original goal was to clean out my wool stash by hooking rugs and selling them online. But I’m having so much fun and at the pace it’s going… I know I am going to run out of wool much sooner than planned {and reach my original goal of $5,000 to boot!}. So I think I am going to allow myself to purchase some more wool {hopefully on my upcoming trip east} so I can keep hooking and earning money to help pay down the mortgage this year. What do you think? Totally acceptable, right?
So Far in March I’ve sold $284.84
In February I’ve sold $1077.27
In January I sold $1563.92
8. Get Rid of 1,000 Things.
The purging continues! This week it was a bunch of random stuff.
9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
This week my stack of books from the library included Winter Living by Selina Lake. Total eye candy for those of us who love thumbing through home photo books.
10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year.
Miss Puggle Love and I spent a good half hour working the garden beds this week planting radish seeds and looking for worms. Can you believe we are just a few weeks away from getting a bunch of different veggies in the ground? I am excited!
So far this year I have harvested 6 pound 2 ounces of fresh veggies from our backyard.
Time spent working on Vegetable Garden in 2016: 3 hours, 45 Minutes
11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.
I painted two baseboards in the kitchen this week.
12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.
I didn’t make anything new this week but I am thinking about turning so old wool sweaters Girly Girl gave me into pillows for the couch {a gift to myself counts, right?}. 😉 Have you done this before? It looks pretty easy to do and I have some old pillows I can use as stuffing. We’ll see.
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2016? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2016 Goals HERE.
erin says
When you look for your bean boots consider the slip on style. I wear mine non stop…plus I don’t have to sit down and lace them up. Think they were 89 online.
Mrs. C. says
Yes, acceptable, since it helps you fulfill other golas.
Mavis, you’ve said you will be selling this house soon, so why are you paying down your mortgage?
Sue says
I think it’s still a good idea (even though I’m not Mavis, obviously!) — even saving just a year’s worth of interest is still a nice bit of change, and when the house does sell they’ll get to keep that much more of the selling price if they have less mortgage left to pay off.
You’re right though, this would be even a bigger deal if they were doing it on a house they planned to stay in — maybe because it’s going so well, they’ll do it again with the next house!
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t think you can ever go wrong with paying extra towards the principal on your mortgage.
Ashley says
I know that when my mortgage was brand new, it seemed like the amount of our payment going toward our principal was pocket change compared to what goes toward the interest. Not sure how Mavis’ loan works, but I’m thinking since it’s still early in her term the principal isn’t a huge chunk, so anything paid in will save a load in interest.
Sue says
Gosh, when do you have time to read? This blog has changed my daily doings so much. I try to take each day as a challenge to reduce, save, up cycle. I tell people all the time to stop throwing things away, there is no away!!!
KC says
I’d say only buy more wool & materials if you’re very much coming out ahead with sales vs. costs (I know you’re going to tally it at the end of the year, but a temp tally of “here’s what it takes, here’s what that costs, here’s the percentage of items that actually sell [assuming you do get some “duds” or leftovers], here’s the net [minus fees and whatnot] of what they sell for”… well, it seems like it’d be good to make sure that buying more wool makes financial sense, so you’re not just moving money around in the budget but are actually making it.
Jeanie says
Now that the never ending kitchen remodel/butlers pantry build/living room to dining room switcheroo has been completed, I am dying to get out to my greenhouse and plant a few flats of seeds. I think my worms didn’t make the winter and I will be ordering a new bag from Uncle Jims worm farm.
I love the bee pillow…very very cute!
Mavis Butterfield says
I have heard great things about Uncle Jim’s worms!
Jeanie says
Also, the Splendid Table (available as a podcast if you missed it on the radio) had a really good interview with Kathy Barrow (Mrs. Wheelbarrow) on preserving food. Her pickle recipes sounded right up your alley and made me think of you.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks! I’ll look it up.
Patrice in U.P. says
Speaking of wool and recycling, my daughter buys wool sweaters at thrift shops and yard sales. She unravels them and uses the wool for new knitting projects. She says her knitting ball swift gets lots of use!
Emily E. says
Patrice this is a great idea for the knitters and crocheters out there! I may stalk the local Goodwill for clearance sweaters to add to my yarn stash. Is there anything in particular your daughter looks for in the sweaters she repurposes?
Mavis Butterfield says
Great idea Emily! My daughter would love this.
Tamara says
Great job on your goals, especially the mortgage and food budget! Re the wool stash: you may have done this before – I don’t remember – thrift stores can be a good source of wool garments to cut for the rug hooking.
MD says
So this might go completely against your goals of buying nothing new and saving money on groceries. But I also know how much you hate food waste – so I thought I might mention it. I received my first box from Blue Apron this week — its one of those meal delivery services where they send pretty much every ingredient required for a meal except salt and pepper. First up was Catfish Menuniere. ( I don’t really know what that means but it was catfish with butter/caper sauce over lentils and collard greens). It was great. I’ve been in a bit of a cooking rut lately, and as a surgeon I’m always short on time and too tired to look up new meal ideas. I don’t know if I’ll do this every week, but it was fun to cook something new and to have it all delivered straight to my doorstep. An added plus was not really any food waste (which happens way too much as a single woman) as everything is pre-measured. I’ll try to figure out the most environmentally friendly way to recycle the packaging, but overall I still consider it a win.
Sarah says
Wowsers! Knocking off that many payments!You must have one low mortgage. Congrats to you! That is definitely to be applauded!
Lynn says
I have the same comment about your house payments. They must be incredibly low or you’re paying them off with more than your etsy sales.
Lynn
Mavis Butterfield says
I was able to use my “rug hooking money” to go towards the extra payments this month as well as move some money I had leftover for miscellaneous/household/car/clothing/medical expenses that were not used in January and February.
Em says
I have ordered my coffee beans from the Vashon Monks for years. Interesting to hear the story of your visit!
Brianna says
Look for wool at an Army Navy supply type store. They have wool sweaters and blankets.
Joanna says
My family uses the crumb topping for our apple pies. Our recipe is just 1/2 c butter, 1/2 c brown sugar, and 1 cup of flour. With apples I put a shake or two of nutmeg in the mix. I also use this crumb topping for fruit crisps and change the spice depending on the fruit. And if I’m feeling crazy, I’ll use oats instead of flour.
I have the 10″ Bean Boot, and in a billion years when these wear out, I’m going to get lace hooks instead of eyelets on the top. It costs a bit more, but it’s so much easier getting the boots on and off!
Marcia says
I have to say I am really impressed with what you are accomplishing this year, particularly with the wool. Your rugs/ etc are adorable.
I feel like I’m also accomplishing a lot. I mean, just this coming week, I will accomplish ferrying my 4th grader to music twice, baseball practice once, two baseball games, the science night at the school AND his 10 birthday celebration.
I crack myself up.
(I did manage to make split pea soup, biscuits, raisin bread, salad, granola, and fruit salad this weekend. Not all kid stuff!)
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh Science night!!! Have fun.
Carrie says
I want that bee pillow! My husband and father in law are beekeepers. I would be torn between keeping it or giving it to my MIL. I love finding decorations that showcase our hobbies. I’ll be looking out for it on Etsy!
Mavis Butterfield says
The bee pillow will be available on Ebay on Wednesday morning. 🙂