1. Pay Down the Mortgage
We were able to knock 3 payments off our contract this month {1 regular payment and 2 “principal” payments}. I was hoping to make a bigger dent but with our credit card bills from the holidays due next week {we pay our credit card bills in full each month} and higher than normal business expenses {blog updates, new site design etc,} it was the best we could do.
2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year.
I really wanted to buy a pair of those Cushe slippers I told you about a few days ago as well as the book Food Gift Love. But I didn’t. Instead I requested the book from our local library and my Haflinger slippers that I adore can last another year, no problem.
3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.
Some of the small things I did this week that saved us money were:
Not buying anything other than food.
Cutting our gas, electric and water usage almost 30% over last year at this same time. I turned down the heat, put on a coat, took shorter showers, and used the speed wash cycle on the washing machine.
4. Try 52 New Recipes.
This week I made Tomato Feta Scones with Spinach from the cookbook Baking with Whole Grains and they were delicious. Definitely something I will add to our regular meal rotation.
5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.
So far I’m on track to stay within my $100 a month grocery budget this month.
6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband
Last Sunday the HH and I took advantage of the Bank of America Museums on Us program and visited the Tacoma Art Museum for free. This saved us $28 on museum tickets {$14 each} and because we parked on the street rather than the paid parking lot adjacent to the museum, we saved an additional $4. So basically, a $32 date for FREE. Pretty sweet if you ask me.
So far this year we’ve gone on 1 date and spent $0 out of pocket on our “dates.”
7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.
I had a great week! I sold 6 of my hooked rugs, 1 set of flowers and 1 set of hearts. 7 items on Ebay and 1 on Etsy for a total of $424.60 {before fees and supplies were factored in}. I’ll do a tally at the end of each month to see how much profit I actually made.
8. Get Rid of 1,000 Things.
I’ll start working on this later in the month.
9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
This week I listened to Go Set a Watchman on Audiobook while being chauffeured around town by The Girl. Don’t forget, if you have Amazon Prime you can get a free 3 month Audible trial and listen to 1 audiobook a month for free. Or you can kick it old school and rent an audiobook from your local library.
10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year.
I spent 25 minutes cleaning up my side garden and also harvested 1 pound 2 ounces of red potatoes from one of the garden beds this week.
11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.
I painted the wall in the master bedroom Chino the handyman installed earlier this spring. I’m hoping to paint the trim around the door frame and the pocket door later this month.
12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.
I made my first gift of 2016 {a handmade candle} and I did it without spending any money. I used stuff I had laying around the house. I’ll post a tutorial on monday.
This year is off to a good start! How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2016? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2016 Goals HERE.
Rene says
Our public library system down here in the Portland area has a program that allows you to check out passes to local sites like the Japanese Gardens, Art Museum etc. All you need is your library card. Great way to see local area attractions at no cost. Check your local library to see if they have a similar program.
Mavis Butterfield says
Wow! I wish ours did that.
Rachel says
If you are a part of the Pierce County Library system you can check out museum passes to the Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Washington State History Museum. It looks like some of the passes are available at certain locations.
Janet says
Unless it has been changed, the Pierce County Library system does have passes to check out for museums. Check at the front desk or online for info.
Lea says
I think most metro and greater metro areas libraries do this so thanks for the reminder!
Note that there is usually a limit to the number of passes you can check out in one year. Ours is 8 total (we have several options).
Lea
Andrea says
I realized that some of the things I thought were going to be easy to do ended up being a lot harder. I am also finding that time slips away. I am trying to slow my lifestyle down but it is actually difficult.
Cass says
I did. I actually did set some real goals for the year. I have finished one of them….find out everyone’s favorite color and make a hat for Christmas, for each person, for next year. Scarves to match 6 of them are going to take a while longer. I can’t find a loom I like and knitting my hand gives me heartburn. (not really, I just hate it a LOT)
Also, I have to get some weight out of the room I use as my “pantry”. It is on the second floor and we are noticing cracks in the beam that supports it. (Long story why, but the weight is not doing the ceiling of the room below any good) I found 2 bins and bought one more (on sale, of course) to bring some of the dry goods down to the main level. The first 2 bins are already full and the new one is waiting for me to get inspired as to what to put in it. (Probably more dry goods….but which, is the question) I got over 200 pounds out of the room in less than 30 minutes.
If all my goals were that easy to achieve, I think I would set more of them.
Marcia says
This is pretty sweet. I love these updates.
Well I made a lot of bread. Not sure how the grocery budget will go. I have been working on a craft item. To early to say if it will become a gift.
All in all a rough week. Hubby traveling all week, so I was solo with the boys and then he missed his flight. Then the very next morning we were awoken at 4:30 am to a puking toddler. The third bout of tummy flu in two months.
Mavis says
Ugh. Sick kids are no good! Especially when you have to brave it alone!
Carrie says
I got our library to get a copy of Baking with Whole Grains and am waiting for it to arrive! Pierce County library system does have a few passes. I think just the history and glass museums. You can’t request them, but can search to see if they are in. It can be hard to get them but they are available.
Teckla says
Mavis, making 3 mortgage payments during January is a totally awesome achievement, compared to most families and most especially after the holidays! So, rejoice, celebrate, and keep on keeping on!
I am trying to set some goals for this year. Some were inspired by you, some by others and some I had already been thinking about. One of those is making Christmas presents during the year and other items that could be used for birthdays, showers, etc. Another is to take a really close look at my grocery spending and see how much I can cut it back, as well as reducing spending over all.
I am kind of hung up right now; potentially facing an operation. It’s kind of sprung my emotional springs, but one more test this coming week and then should soon have some answers. It’s the not knowing that seems to immobilize me. Once I know I can begin to organize and plan ahead. Life happens and I know there are crafty/gifty (read knitting, crocheting, X-stitch) things that I can do during a convalescence so I’m already thinking about that.
Love all the information, how to’s, recipes and just positive encourage you share every day! Thanks, thanks, thanks!
Mavis says
Good luck to you. Hope you get the information you need and that your health improves! And good job setting goals!
Teckla says
Thanks for the concern! Good news! The mass the Dr. saw is completely benign (it has a fancy name, Teratoma, I think, similar to a Dermoid cyst) and everything else is very good. Since it’s been there a while and is big enough it can’t be guaranteed to come out laparoscopically, I decided less is more and left everything status quo. If it gives me trouble down the road, then we’ll deal with taking it out the conventional way.
So now it’s onward and upward! I took advantage of after Christmas sales to pick up some fabric for projects, so I’m getting that prepped, and finalizing patterns. Then I’m planning to clear out and organize my “pile it” room so I can actually use it for a sewing room, instead of the machine on the dining table mess! It’s good to move from the To Do list to the doing!
Mary says
I did make goals… and you are the reason (so, take the credit, take the blame?) Last year I made 8, accomplished 6… losing weight might never happen, but I do think I will someday. This year, one of my goals is de cluttering . I did my sewing / craft room last year, this year, it’s going to be the rest of the house. This week I took 23 cookbooks to the thrift store. Now there are only 64 on the bookcase. I have also decided I will not have second helpings this year, will move my body 3 times a day for 10 minutes per time, and will stick to my grocery list and weekly budget. So far, so good… in two weeks! I like that they are goals, not resolutions. The first is something to work on, the second is something to break.
Mavis says
I like goals way better than resolutions as well, and you’ve set some great ones! Glad I could be your motivator to do so!
Tracy says
To get rid of all of the moss at the top of your yard, you simply need to change the ph. I spread lime–pelleted or powdered, doesn’t matter– and it makes the soil inhospitable for moss. Cheap, easy and you can do it now in January. You’ll need to do it every year or so. But it totally works.
Mavis says
Thanks for the advice. Now to figure out a way to barter for lime pellet so there is no out of pocket cost. Ha!
Cass says
Mavis, if you have a garden center close you might be able to barter for open bags of lime….water all the plants for the weekend while they owners take some time off? (they use hoses in most places so no carrying of water) If it is a really small place you might be able to barter some homemade bread and jam. Never hurts to ask….worst they can say is “no”.
Lauralli says
I happen to love pressure washing! Pressure washing in exchange for rug hooking lessons! Bartering is a great way to save money!!
Mavis says
Bartering is my favorite, too. It really is brilliant!
RebekahU says
Morning Mavis! How do you cut your wool? Do you have a mounted rotary cutter that cuts several strips at a time, or do you do it by hand? One of my goals is to learn how to hook rugs this year. 🙂 Also, if you have time to do a post on rug hooking that would be awesome! Even if it is tips on how to get started, basic supplies, etc.
Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi RebekahU, I cut my wool strips to 1/4″ using a rotary cutter and a mat. Here are a few posts about rug hooking:
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/primitive-rug-hooking-basic-supplies-and-how-i-draw-patterns/
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/primitive-rug-hooking-how-to-dye-wool-using-cushings-dyes/
Butterflyweed says
Mavis, I must ask whether it really is financially sound to be paying down your mortgage the way you are when you are planning on selling in less than a year. I think it makes sense if you are planning to stay in a home long term to save all of that interest, but you won’t be paying it anyway. Talk to your accountant as to whether it might be more strategic to save that extra money for your next down payment.
Cassandra says
My thoughts exactly. It seems like it would be a better use of the money to save it for a down payment on the next home instead of on the one they aren’t planning to be in long term.
Jenn in Indiana says
I was wondering the same thing. Due to interest rates rising, “they” say that real estate markets might slow down. So if you can’t get out of your house what you want, you will have “lost” it at sale time. My thoughts were wondering if it would be better to save the money and then pay off or use it to pay down your mortgage at your home you want to be in. Not judging you though because my husband and I are sort of in the same situation where we don’t want to stay in this house, but not sure what the best thing to do is?
Lotta says
Just curious: how low do you set your thermostat to achieve these savings?
Mavis Butterfield says
62 during the day and then I bump it up to 65 for 3 hours in the evening. 🙂
Margery says
I made up 12 goals for the year and so far the food waste one is doing well, having two teens boys home from college is helping with that, but on the other hand they have caused the food budget to go out the window hoping to recover once they are back at school. We are doing great on our goal of more family outings but on the other hand limiting eating out is not doing so well, need to plan better. Exercise we are working at and coming up with a plan for some of the longer term goals.
Cheyanne says
You can even download audiobooks from your library! I use Overdrive but my (small) local library offers dozens of electronic databases and ways to check out ebooks and audiobooks without even having to leave my house. It’s amazing!