Serious Slow Spending Mode
No doubt about it...I have too much stuff. My daughter's and son have too much stuff for the spaces they are living in, and the spillage is into my space. To be fair, my older daughter is good at not bringing it in or keeping excess, my son has limited temporary quarters, and my youngest's apartment is small. Still, after cleaning up from Christmas, the every day items are just too much. We all need a pruning of our wardrobes. I can cull my kitchen and not miss 1/3rd of the items and maybe more.
No, I do not need to spend more on stuff so that's one area I can put an immediate halt. I'll moan like everyone that the cost of every day living is going up faster than I can update my budget. I compared my utilities when bills were paid Friday to last year. Gas is up 6% and electric up 11% from December 2023. Internet goes up $30 month in February after the two year promotion ends unless I drop speed and bandwidth. Car and house insurance increased and likely will again. I noticed the pints at the brewery were $1 more than I last remembered. Take out and restaurants really need to be the rare treat, with menu prices at least 10% more and we all are aware of both grocery inflation and shrinkflation, getting less in packages with a higher price point.
I'll end 2024 where I thought, but that is not victory. I scaled back Christmas from my original budget, I was out of commission for so many weeks post surgery so didn't spend much on entertainment August through October. I had no travel after February last year except a mini road trip with my sisters paid for with rewards points. I must put myself on serious slow mode when it comes to spending money as there are experiences I want to have. As I've said, I really need March expenses as cash in hand before my paychecks stop and I receive retirement payments. I'm not 100% sure if I'll have March health insurance premiums at full or partial. I'm planning for the full premium just in case.
On the horizon is one of my kids, three siblings, and a BIL birthday in January. February is the Super Bowl, I'm already forming a plan to host on the cheap and tucking aside treat ingredients and remaining beer and wine from Christmas to stretch what I spend for the gathering. March will be taking my MIL for lunch or dinner after the play, of which I still am not clear if I can transfer ticket dates. If I need to eat the cost and purchase for another event, I'll use the tickets as part of my own entertainment or gift to someone else. One caveat to no more stuff is a new good pair of walking shoes. I've loved my Sketcher's and they still look nice but the tread is beyond wore.
I've got a few series bookmarked for winter watching and a list of books as long as this post to read. I found a walking group in town that meets thee days a week, though I haven't summoned my courage to join the meet up yet. I've board games, cards, and a big dining room table and as I move into January more days off to cook and bake from scratch for hosting game nights. I'm asking you all to hold me accountable. Give me ideas on how you're saving money this winter on groceries, household essentials, entertainment, and utilities. How are you enjoying life on a budget these days?
Call your cable company before your current rate expires! Tell them you're on a budget and that you will have to find another company because you can't afford the increase. I guarantee they'll find a way to keep you. It's a stupid game they play.
ReplyDeleteAs far as new sneakers go, I highly recommend Hokas. When I was having knee issues (arthritis) my knee doctor told me "sneakers are tires for your feet - you don't skimp on tires!". They're not cheap, but I have found them for a much cheaper price on eBay (brand new) or by buying last year's model. I wear their Arahi style (for stability). If you can, find a store that carries them and just try them on - they're like wearing clouds.
Yes, this is why I need to get new shoes. My daughter wears Hoka for running. I like the slip on Sketchers.
DeleteHi Sam (Ellie in AR here. Long time reader, infrequent commenter)
DeleteSaucony.com carries excellent running shoes (many runners swear by them) and there are several "Hoka-like" shoes available. Around veterans day, I scored a pair for $75 after discounts. The top is a flag design, but the sole is marshmallow soft and excellent for walking.
I really admire how you plan entertainment stuff regularly, that's something I need to do more of, my husband would happily stay in and watch (or rather doze in front of) TV all day rather than going out, but such a sedentary lifestyle is no good for either of us, so I plan to get us both out and about more next year. And, having lived in this new place a year now, I need to do a bit of decluttering!
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't put things on my calendar intentionally, I'd likely stay home all the time as it feels like effort some days to be out and about with others.
DeleteYou're a lot more tolerant than my mum was, Sam. When I left home at 18 anything I didn't take with me was donated to charity! I'm still grieving the loss of some incredible vintage gear 40 years later!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as anything is up for renewal we call the company and threaten to leave unless they can come up with a better deal, it never fails. We took out a months Netflix membership (£4.99) a couple of weeks ago and loved Black Doves (British spy drama) & La Palma (Norwegian eco thriller set in the Canaries) but will go back to watching normal terrestrial TV once our month's up.
We're members of a club which offers free admission to events in return for reviews as well as last minute tickets where you only have to pay a booking fee - might be worth investigating to see if anything similar exists in the USA. Lenny Kravitz for £1 - yes, please! xxx
I am going to try to do a low spend first quarter of the year - we bought some land to build on and we just got the estimate - double what we were told to expect as builders brace for a material/labor price hike with the new administration's policies! I fear it is going to be far worse than many people think.
ReplyDeleteI am working on pruning out unused stuff stored in the kitchen. My 40 yr old blender that barely works, a small coffee maker that hasn't been used in 20 or more years, etc. I realized I have an electric carving knife my mom gave me years ago (likely because she never used it!) and I don't think I've ever used it. It needs to go. Excess cups and dishes....too much stuff.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my rickety old carving knife (which is probably 40 years old also) so I'll hang on to that but like everyone else, I have so much stuff to get rid of!
DeleteLast year I started a conscious purge to get out the unnecessaries and the rubbish; I still have lots to do.
ReplyDeleteTimely words, Sam! Working on budgets (groceries, overall, whatever) as we move closer to 2025. Let's just say that there is stuff to trim. Totally agree of the issue of too much stuff: pruning and need to prune more!
ReplyDeleteFor Entertainment, check out your local colleges. We go to concerts and plays for just $10 a ticket, and have never come away disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI also find out about lots of inexpensive, or often free, events via the various community pages I follow via Facebook.
Groceries are managed by buying very few pre-made items, and purchasing most of those at Aldi's. For cookbooks, I love the One Pan Wonders cookbook by Cook's Country. Lots of terrific and flavorful one pan dinners that even halved will feed for days.
TamaraR
Simple cleaning supplies changes saves lots! Cloth napkins that kit into any other planned laundry load. Skip all the 900 products we seem to have! I’m down to dish soap, vinegar and water spray and and comet powder for bathrooms. All cheap. All can be stretched.
ReplyDeletePot luck, pot luck, pot luck. For every event you host, make it a theme pot luck. Taco, fondue, football finger food, dips, sandwich and chips, raclette, etc. When everyone brings something it is cheaper on everyone and tastier because of variety.
ReplyDeleteGo join the walking group. The first step is always the hardest (pun intended). I found when my husband passed away, I felt like everyone looked at me differently - it was me that looked at me differently. It took a while to get my confidence back.
Don't waste money on cleaning supplies. All you need is dish liquid, vinegar, and water. That cleans everything. Kick the fabric softener/dryer sheets and use vinegar as you would fabric softener. You probably know all this already.
Great timely post!
ReplyDeleteMy house is much the same way. We are seriously trying to cut down on 'stuff'. When we first moved in here it seemed there wasn't enough furniture and things, now we can't seem to find anywhere to put the stuff!
Glad you found a walking group you like. Internet cost. Ick. We used to have cable tv and internet and were locked in one of those introductory rates. When it finished they said they no longer did that and we'd have to pay the normal rate (irks me as they can do it for new customers!). We just said ok, the cable is going. Haven't missed it one bit. Instead, we subscribe to a few streaming services that we can turn on and off as we please.
I have way too much stuff too. In fact, I'm supposed to be working on it right now but what am I doing? Sitting here reading blogs!!!
ReplyDeleteI had an hour plus chat with Comcast today. I discovered that we were being charged $12 per month for a second tv which we no longer own! And another $12 per month for Paramount/Showtime, which we never asked for! With a promo that they offered when I threatened to cancel and the removal of these charges, we will save over $500 per year. I’m also going to get rid of a couple of streaming services that we don’t seem to be using, will look into buying a modem instead of renting, and will look into YouTube tv as an alternative. I’m also going to make more of an effort to use our food stores. I had been doing well until the election results and the holidays, when I got skittish about what may be in store for us and bought a fair amount of food that could go into the freezer or pantry and was priced well for the holidays. We recently bought a new car due to tariff concerns (my old one had 165,000 miles on it). This is another reason for belt tightening for sure!
ReplyDeleteLeftovers become a casserole, leftover casserole becomes soup. After reading Living on a Little by Caroline French Benton, I was more able to lower costs. We no longer leave lights on in rooms we are not in. I do have a "Christmas light of 3 candles" at the wood stove during the dark crappy winter.
ReplyDeleteI have the same questions. I retired two years ago now, and have dipped into my savings way too far. I am 70, still fairly active, and this year need to find more free activities to occupy my time.
ReplyDelete