1. Pay Down the Mortgage
We were able to make 2 additional payments towards the principal for August.
2. Buy Nothing New for 1 Year.
It’s a sad day when you run out of your favorite face lotion. I’m going to miss my 2 pumps of overpriced goodness each morning. Oh well. There’s always next year.
3. Track Spending and Figure Out New Ways to Cut Spending Even More.
We have spent so little on gasoline this summer it’s crazy. I told the HH that when we move to the east coast someday, we could totally get by with just on vehicle. I have had absoultly no desire to drive anywhere this summer and have chose to walk most places instead. It’s awesome and I can’t help but think sharing a vehicle would be a good move for us when the time is right.
4. Try 52 New Recipes.
Total fail.
5. Keep My Grocery Budget Under $100 a Month.
So far this year I’ve spent $948.03 on groceries. That leaves me with exactly $52.34 a month for the rest of the year. Think I can do it?
6. Go on 52 Dates with the Handsome Husband
Last week the HH and I combined an old gift certificate we had lying around with a buy 1 get 1 coupon to Lunchbox Laboratory and treated ourselves to burgers and fries. The only thing we paid out of pocket for a $5 for the tip.
So far this year we’ve gone on 23 dates and spent $375.52 out of pocket for our dates.
7. Turn My Wool Stash into $5,000.
I’m finally ready to jump back into the Ebay and Etsy game and will work on getting my hooked rugs scheduled for sale next weekend. I’d love to be able to hit my goal of earning goal $5,000 {if not more} by the end of November.
In April I sold $29.99
In March I sold $799.53
In February I sold $1077.27
In January I sold $1563.92
8. Get Rid of 1,000 Things.
I’m pretty sure I’m past the stage of mini pom poms, jingle bells and kid scissors. This week’s randomness brings my total to 1,006 “things” for the year. And you know what? I’m not done yet. 🙂
9. Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
This week thumbing through The Homemade Kitchen and so far I like what I’m seeing. Now, if I could just get The Girl to make me a few yummy things out of it life would be grand.
10. Track Hours Spent Working on My Vegetable Garden and do a Cost Analysis at the End of the Year.
This week I harvested zucchinis, beets, green beans, and tomatoes from the garden. You can read all about my latest gardening adventures over on Dig for Your Dinner.
So far this year I have harvested 44 pounds 11 ounces of fresh veggies from our backyards. I spent $19.40 at the greenhouse and about $16 on mulch.
Time spent working on Vegetable Garden in 2016: 18 hours 45 minutes.
11. 52 House Projects in 52 Weeks.
This week I worked on painting the trim in the upstairs hallway. Erin left a comment last week that said it seems like I am always painting. And although it probably seems that way… I do do other things. 🙂 We have white trim, and it drives me bonkers to see it nicked up in any way so I’m always on touch up patrol.
And there’s also the part about when Chino did the remodel on the house I agreed to do all the painting {millwork, walls, ceilings} in an effort to save about $3,500 off the cost of the project.
Maybe I’m weird, but I like painting. It helps me clear my head.
12. Make all Birthday and Christmas Gifts This Year or Acquire Them for Free.
Our 22nd anniversary is just around the corner and so I had the HH find me a wood pallet {I didn’t tell him why} and I plan to make {him,us} something with it in honor of our special day. Stay tuned!
~Mavis
Read About My 2016 Goals HERE.
Gwenn says
You mentioned about getting rid of a car at some point in your future. I’m a full time telecommuter and car insurance in MI is CRAZY EXPENSIVE so we sold the older of our two cars and saved over $1000/year in car insurance alone, add to that gas and upkeep and it’s probably closer to $2000/year. Having one car sometimes takes some juggling when I have appointments during the day but we make it work. I rented a car for a road trip; the car I rented got twice the mpg that our car does and I didn’t add several thousand miles to our vehicle. When we did the math it was an overall cost savings. Now that it’s the only one we have, it must be taken care of. It does feel great in a way to have one less “thing” to worry about.
Sue says
You haven’t mentioned your reduce-your-trash project in a while. How is that going? Are you still doing it? Was it just so easy that it doesn’t merit a mention? Your town has lots of recycling options compared to out in the boonies where I am, but even so, I’m guessing you had a few challenges if you kept on with the project.
Jenn in Indiana says
I also have been wondering about the reduce-your- trash project. It was very interesting! Please update!
Mavis Butterfield says
I need to do an update.
Tracey says
You might be able to get the Clinique lady to give you free samples of your favorite lotion at the Clinique counter at a department store.
Chris M says
Personally, I consider face cream a necessity. My skin is too dry to go without! Same goes for sunscreen and a few other personal hygiene products 🙂 I know you’re not collecting votes, but I’d vote for: “it’s okay to buy face cream,” — maybe not Clinique as a a compromise. Then again, you might end up with a $10.00 coupon and find a way to get it at one of the department stores!
Mavis Butterfield says
I consider $22 for a bottle of lotion… a luxury. Seriously. There are other products out there for so much less.
Chris M says
Agreed … just find a more reasonable face cream 🙂 Maybe, that’s part of your challenge — finding what works well and aligns with your personal spending philosophy and goals. Running out of face cream has caused you to stop and rethink it along with other items that make you pause and reflect on your own personal consumerism. When I was in graduate school eons ago, I gave up all things “paper.” Paper towels, paper napkins, paper plates, and garbage bags. My mother thought I was nuts and used to bring her own paper plates and a roll of paper towels when she came to visit. But, I persisted. I figured throwing in a few extra cloth napkins, kitchen towels, and rags each week with the laundry I was already doing would work out fine and my budget was tight. I do use some paper products now, but very judiciously. Over the years I’ve purchased perfectly good cloth napkins on sale, at yard sales, and in thrift shops for a fraction of the cost. Now, the challenge is to not purchase them when I see them, because I have enough!
Martina says
A couple of years ago I gave up my decades-long routine of face wash and moisturizer. Now it’s just a hot washcloth and water, followed by a few drops of jojoba oil from a small dropper bottle that lasts forever (I have used 4 in 2 years). My skin has never looked better.
AmyWW says
Although I really like all your goals, I’m wondering what benefit you hope to gain from not buying anything new for a year? Is it an experiment in deprivation? Do you hope to lessen your sensitivity to impulse purchases? Do you hope to find acceptable/cheaper alternatives to the things you usually buy? I think your goal originally started out as buying only essentials for the year, and it seems like you will buy a new bottle of face lotion and some new jeans when the year is up? Which I personally think is fine, but it seems like splitting hairs to “save” money in 2016 only to spend it in 2017 after depriving yourself of some pretty basic items for entire months of this year.
I am so impressed by your success in these areas. Your willpower is strong!
Mavis Butterfield says
I think it’s more about flipping the switch mentally. Asking myself do I really need a bottle of $22 lotion? Do I really need another pair of pants when I already have so many in my closet that are just hanging there. Why not use up what I have on hand rather than buying more, more, more. Maybe it’s a willpower thing. Or maybe I’m really starting to see how wasteful I’ve been {and everyone else for that matter}.
Melissa says
FYI if you want more unsolicited ideas for cheap moisturizer options – I used to buy/justify the need for an expensive face cream and ended up switching to just using coconut oil (which I have in the kitchen anyway so it’s no extra expense in my mind) to moisturize my face when it feels dry – it really hasn’t been any different, funny enough. I don’t break out or feel like my skin is greasy once it absorbs and I also wouldn’t call it some amazing magic bullet that is the best thing ever, but it works, is essentially free, and no weird chemicals in it or anything like you fine in most lotions. Give it a whirl, maybe you’ll stop missing your old lotion like I did 🙂
Of course maybe I’m crazy – I even ended up not buying shampoo anymore – turns out baking soda works great to wash your hair
🙂
Deborah J says
Mavis, would you please link your eBay shop. I can’t find it and would love to look when you list things.
Mavis Butterfield says
I will try and have some goodies scheduled for this Friday. http://www.ebay.com/sch/mavisbutterfield/m.html?_trksid=p3692
Hazel says
Out of interest, what are you planning on using on your face now you’re out of Clinique cream?
Mavis Butterfield says
Free hotel sample lotions.
Lynne says
I’m with Chris M. Face cream is up there with toothpaste, deodorant and personal hygiene products, and should not (IMHO) be part of your challenge to yourself. Are your free samples at least face lotion and not body lotion?
erin in iowa says
What’s the difference between facial lotion and regular lotion? I’ve always used equate lotion for everything and so far I’m doing ok. Just kinda curious. I have a sister who has a counter full of different potions but I’ve never asked.
Carolina Cooper says
Your Mom should be able to help out with those free hotel samples!
Jennifer says
Two questions–in the picture of your family room/kitchen, it looks like the flooring is two colors. Is that just the lighting or did you make a. Hange in the middle of the room? (I’m having all sorts of flooring issues right now, so it’s on my mind). Second question is about your rug hooking goal. Early this year you mentioned tallying up the cost of supplies and updating us about it in the future. Update soon? Thanks!!
Mavis Butterfield says
The wood flooring is the same color, it’s just the way the light is hitting it. As for the supply/cost tally, I will do that at the end of the year. 🙂
Margaret @ Live Like No One Else says
Did you see this about the Clinique lotion? http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/dan-thompson-beauty-busted/20130129/clinique-dramatically-different-moisturizing-lotion-busted.
Although I read that the Oil of Olay moisturizing lotions is very similar if you like the Clinique one.