Day 26... Goals Met, Challenge Defeated.

Hello Darlings!

I have met my goal, and so am calling my own personal gypsie challenge successfully ended. I will also be too busy for the next 4 days to post anything, so  I thought I ought not  (isn't that a seussian sentance) leave you hanging.

It's been a great month for me, failures and all. I honestly thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, but it has worked. As soon as that last payment comes through, we are so having a credit card cutting ceremony. Perhaps I shall photograph it for you all.

I have been thinking a lot about how it's a cultural norm to carry debt from month to month. On the radio the other day, they were saying that on average Canadians carry (not including a mortgage) TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DEBT. I nearly pooped my pants. If that's the average, then that means there are those who are much farther in debt than even that.  What a heavy burden to bear. And what a foolish way to live.

This year, we are going to try to live without credit of any kind - because we aren't responsible enough to only spend what we can pay off each month. If we don't have the money in the account, we simply cannot have what we want or even need. Just because living from month to month on credit is normal, that doesn't make it a healthy or successful way to live. If you are one of those rare and beautiful birds that can keep control over a credit card and pay it off each month, I salute you. All of the above is not directed at you. I am preaching to people like me.

Here is an old wartime slogan that I am trying to stencil onto my brain meat:

"Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
or Do without"

Day 24.... and Counting

Unnecessary Spending Status: $20 (I'm not telling)
Unexpected Income: $280
Amount Paid to date on that Beastly Credit Card: $976.68


Okay, so Saturday was my birthday, and my husband (in a rather Lordly manner) declared the gypsie challenge officially paused for celebratory purposes and SPOILED me ROTTEN for two whole days. Nothing truly outrageous, but quite a bit more than any gypsie in their right mind would spend on a given weekend without coming home with a piece of new furniture or something. He says we'll make it up by having an independent frugal day in February.


He took the whole house out for breakfast, took me VV shopping (anyone who knows me knows that this was quite exciting for me). Then he promised to buy me a bike (so, we haven't spent that money yet. We'll need to save it up in addition to the donations we received). Then we went out for dinner before we did our weekly dance lesson. It was QUITE the day! 


But, not very gypsie. The really wonderful thing about all of this, from a financial perspective, is that we had the money sitting in our account, and didn't have to charge up our credit card. And I love that. I want that to be the story for the rest of my life.


Well, only six days left!


Get out there and get frugal!


Love, Victoria

Day Twenty - Small Victories

Okay - so I just had to tell you that I went out, did my returns AND DID NOT SPEND ANY EXTRA! In fact, I ended up about $70 up, which was cool. So in a fit of victory, I threw some more money on the card. Now I am not sure how it happened because I counted it all out before I started the challenge, but there must've been some purchases yet un-billed on the card, because even though I have slammed nearly a grand on that beast, I still have exactly $300 outstanding on the card. So guess what?
Oh, yeah, my goal just went up. 
Ten days.
Three Hundred Dollars.
May your prayers carry me to victory. :0D


Unnecessary Spending Status: $20
Unexpected Income: $200
Amount Paid to date on that Beastly Credit Card: $976.68

Day Twenty - The Blahs

Hello Again, Gypsies.

Today, I would like nothing more than to shop my little heart out. However, this would not be responsible of me, and we only have 10 days left to pay off the ole' Master Card. So today I am going to do some returns I have been  procrastinating on, and then maybe take my daughter to the pet store. But, oh, how I long for a Timmie's.

Confession: I went on a girls date with a free ticket to the movies, but the movie was started by the time we got there, so we went to earl's instead.

Unnecessary Spending to date: $20

(cringe)

Day Eighteen

Okay, so I am sorry not to have written - my basement flooded twice and I am dealing with a 'situation', so not much time for blogging. 
Pantry Challenge week was BRUTAL, but I spent only about $40 on groceries (4 adults and one infant), so that was pretty successful. We did sleep in one morning and only rolled out of bed 10 minutes before we had to leave so we spent $4.46 at McD's on a coffee to share and 2 for 1 McGriddles. I put it under the 'unnecessary spending' but it really was quite necessary. I am a monster without breakfast. The other $5.5o under unnecessary spending really WAS unnecessary and completely unapproved purchase by my husband. He is unapologetic and will be punished. And what would he break our vow to purchase? What could he not live without, I ask you? Ginger Ale for him and a buddy. Seriously. 
I am going to wax off his eyebrows while he sleeps.
Anyways, there is less than 2 weeks left, so stay strong. And if you've bombed, don't be discouraged - there's still twelve days in which to impress yourself with your thrifty skills!


Unnecessary Spending Status: $10
Unexpected Income: $200
Amount Paid to date on that Beastly Credit Card: $676.68

Day Twelve. Shopping Gypsie. Not so happy.

Today I took my little brother shopping to our local mall. He had some gift cards that he wanted to blow. I made coffee at home and brought snacks. I packed us into the car with a light heart excited for a little quality time with my bro. Yep. I am sure you can tell which direction this story is heading.

There was a sidewalk sale.

I found a beautiful leather belt with embossed scrollwork on it for $14. But I did not buy it. I found beautiful thick black tights with slits and buttons at the ankle for $24. But I did not buy them. I found a glorious pair of skinny jeans for $10 and 3 for $10 tank tops. But I did not buy them. I found at least THREE BEAUTIFUL HOODIES that called my name lustily. But I DID NOT BUY THEM. AHHHHHHGHGHHGHGHGHGH!

THe PAIN paIN pAIN PaiN!!!!!! kj;afpadrjewiojasflkjdlsjf
adkfa;jsfdja!!!!!
!!!kj;aajsfkioueirw,kvxnvxckpa!!@@
ajdfjalkdfajl
a!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(You do NOT want me to translate. Assume excessive use of the coarser terms for 'I feel cranky about this')

I want you to know that I was SORELY tested and I think malls are the devil. And I think I was a lunatic to leave the house this morning. I NEED NEW CLOTHES, NOW, *$%*##@&$!!!!
RAWWWRR!
THe urge... too strong... loosing... control... arrgg...

Day Eleven - The First Actual Self Denial

Okay.

We are out of raisins. Chocolate chips. ALL Fruits and Veggies, except for 5 (count em) radishes and 3 bananas. No crackers. Ran out of recycling bags. No soup stock. A half a cup of yogurt in the fridge with about 27 different condiments. And then last night we realized that we had only 4 diapers left. Four. That's a days worth, at best. And a grocery list as long as my forearm.

And only 17 dollars in the ole' bankaroni.

True dilemma. Food? Diapers? Yikes.
How much did I want to avoid using my credit cards? How much do I mean this Challenge? Erp.

So I, not sure what else to do other than go into more debt, prayed.

And then, I found a 10 gift card in my living room.
My husband got a $20 check.
And I hit a diaper sale.

So for just over $37,  I got a bag of spinach, a bag of onions and some Asian Pears. I got a box of diapers, some molasses (for making bread) and bulk soup stock.

I have never been so grateful to come in under my limit. I have a $1.97 in the bank and $1.12 on my gift card left over and I am SO HAPPY THAT I DIDN"T USE MY CREDIT CARD!!!!!!!!!!!

Spending Status: $104 (All necessary)
Unexpected Income: $156
Amount Paid to date on that Beastly Credit Card: $470


PS - Never make pea soup without soup stock, using old dried out carrots. Trust me on this one.

Day Nine - The Sweet Stench of Temptation

OHhhhhh, the angst. 
I forgot about Sundays.
It is our busiest morning; stressful and hectic - which is ironic because it's 'the LORDS DAY' which would imply serenity.  My daughter wakes around 6, my husband needs to leave around 8, I make a communal family pancake & coffee breakfast, the boys leave around 9 and then I need to get us womens beautified, ready and out the door by 9:45 to make it to church on time (hit and miss on that part).
Long ago I learned that if I do not make a slow cooked lunch on Sunday morning, we go out for Wendy's or McDeath-to-your-bowels by default, because by the time we get out of church, it's usually around 1pm, and we are WAY too hungry to go home and select a recipe-thaw some meat-wait for it to cook. 
But due to the chaos of the holiday season, I was totally out of my groove this morning and COMPLETELY forgot about lunch. Until about 12:30, when my stomach started cramping.


OHhhhhhhhhh, the angst. 


I passed 3 of you on my way out of the front doors, wrestling intense temptation. Sure it's gypsie challenge month, I rationalized, but last night we got supper for free. Surely that would release me from my vow for one measly meal? Surely everyone would understand.


And I am sure you would've. But, dang it - I wouldn't. And I wrestled that beastly french fry craving to the ground and kicked it's cussing cuss cusssity cuss cuss (gotta love Fantastic Mr. Fox). We came home and made pizza. And I ate more than half of it. 


I am frugal. Hear me ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!
Cuss.


Spending Status: $67 (All necessary)
Unexpected Income: $156
Amount Paid this afternoon on that Beastly Credit Card: $470

Day Seven - Pantry Challenge Begins!

Penny Pinchers UNITE! Rah!

Okay, this is my first official week of pantry challenge (I just accidentally typed 'panty challenge' there and had a decent chuckle. Had to share.) We purchased the essentials yesterday for a grand total of $26 dollars, and I am now going to rock the pant(r)y (har, har, har).

This goal will actually be a bit more challenging than last years was for me, because I have been using stuff up from my pantry more often, but I still am starting with 3 shelves of a large pantry, one double shelved cupboard and a sizable drawer loaded with dry goods. Let the games begin.

Obviously the first few days are going to be super easy because there's alot to select from, but as the ingredients get stranger, the difficulty will increase. Also, I have an added twist to my personal challenge, because I have two male boarders living here - so beans'n'toast isn't super acceptable when someone is paying you for groceries.

Tonight will be pot roast and potatoes and mixed veggies. Nothing unusual there, except I am out of beef stock and am planning on seasoning my roast with HP sauce and Montreal Steak Spice (I am actually giggling out loud at my culinary audacity. You don't mess with Mama's Pot Roast. That is, unless  you are on a pantry challenge....)

Now I realize that perhaps I should define Pantry Challenge for those of you who haven't heard of it before. I looked for a decent definition on line to no avail, so here's my personal definition:

For a predetermined length of time, for the purpose of saving money and using up existing resources, with the added benefit of freeing up cupboard space, you use the food stuffs you have on hand, purchasing as little as possible from the grocery store.

If you need help turning unusual ingredients into a meal, use the 'ingredient search' function over at 'all recipes'. Hot resource.

Have a Frugal Day!

Victoria

Spending Status: $28
Unexpected Income: $156

Day Four!!!

Hello Gypsies!!

I am LOVING this challenge STILL! So far I am $104.50 up and have only spent $1.67 (on rubbing alcohol. So boring!)

I have talked to a few of you in the last couple of days and the common thread I am hearing is one of fear of failure. So I have to give you guys a pep talk:

THERE IS NO PRESSURE FROM ANYONE! You make this fabulous month of gypsie-ness what ever you want it to be. If you want to just pick one area in your life to be a gypsie in (ie: not buying coffee out) that is exactly what you should do!
Don't set impossible goals that will make you feel like a failure!
Set yourself up for success, and when you succeed you'll want to do it again.
Okay?
No judgement. No pressure. No one-size-fits-all plan. Just a bunch of people trying to change one little thing at a time.

YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB!
Now go make yourself a cup of tea and have a great day!

Love Victoria

Day Two

Hello Again Friends! Just a quick entry:

I don't mean to brag, because I know that the hardest part is the last part, but so far this Gypsie Challenge is ROCKING! I am already $75 up into the challenge and have not spent a PENNY!

My family went for lunch to our friends house today, and they talked a lot about how generosity is one of the biggest parts of being financially successful.

So maybe we should do some good deeds this week... but they'll have to be secret. Otherwise it doesn't count.

:0)

The First Day is the Easiest

Hello You Fierce Frugal Women (I assume no men are reading this because I don't know of any who are)!

Today is January 1! Happy New Year!
And happy first day of gypsie-ing (so not a word). This day should be fabulously easy. I myself have spent absolutely nothing AND gotten free breakfast. That's hot. Then I slept for three hours (which is really awesome. Also ridiculously cheap.) And then ate left overs (more free food). Now I am going to go do my cleaning job and earn some money. Not very new years - ish, but very frugal.

Make sure to finish your goals today, if you haven't already! Reviewing your goals regularly is a huge key to success!

Setting A Gypsie Up For Success

The Gypsie Challenge is a simple concept. Spend as little as possible for one month. After the gluttony of December, we are ready for a bit of self denial. But as ALL of us know, good intentions pave the way to Hell.
A dream without a plan is only a wish.
So, in amongst the Auld Lang Syne New Years Preparations, your very first Gypsie Assignment is this:

1.)  Set a simple, achievable goal.

2.)  Make a detailed plan for how to get there.

3.)  Post your plan in a place you will look at AT LEAST twice a day.

For example:

I, Victoria, will pay off my MasterCard by February 1, 2011.

I will do this by:

a.)  Not eating out in January (unless I don't have to pay - ie. gift cards).

b.)  I will complete a pantry challenge in January (more to come on this).

c.)  I will have a sale in my Etsy shop (on now, free shipping & 25% off. Coupon Code: WinterBlowout2010 ) to raise funds.

d.)  I will not purchase any clothing (again, gift cards are exempt).

e.)  I will use my car less to save money on gas.


NOTE: I know that there are at least four of us, but come ON! We need a bit more momentum! Leave a comment or shoot me an email to join the Gypsie Challenge!!!! Latecomers WELCOME!

A New Year of GYPSIE CHALLENGE!!!!

Hello All,

I have fallen sadly behind in my frugality blogging. Reasons? Many. Debt? Yes. Frugal? Trying.

And so, with the approach of the new year, and all things new, I have decided to pay off my credit card in one month. Yes. And to the horror of all people out there who are private about their finances, I will disclose the amount I plan to save/pay off this month.

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! MUah, ah, ah!!!!

This is my first financial goal of 2011, and I am totally going to rock it!!!

For those of you who were gypsies with me last year, you will remember the pain and glory of the GYPSIE CHALLENGE!

The premise is simple: spend as little as possible for the month of January.

What ever you do after that is a matter of personal preference.

I, for one, am going to embrace a pantry challenge, no eating out, and gas conservation.

If you would like to follow, and I really hope you would, just leave a comment below (you need to have a blog profile to do so, but don't worry - it's painless and quick) and let the frugality begin!!!!

WE MADE IT, GYPSIES!!!

Well, here it is, January 31. We made it. Just barely. A month of Gypsy Challenges, Failures and Triumphs.
Firstly, confessions.
Yesterday I spent 1.50 at the dollar store on kitchen items and today I spent $16 dollars at value village on alternative cookbooks. They were all practical items that we needed, but they were outside of the gypsy parameters. So, all told?
$17 on Birthday Roses
$1.50 at the Dollar Store
$16 on Cookbooks
=
$34.50 worth of bad girl.
But it was a month of reflection, resourcefulness and discipline. And, although this may expose me to judgmental thoughts, when I have compiled a months non-essential spending in the past, the numbers have been STAGGERING! Say it again: STAGGERING!!! So even though there have been failures, I feel triumphant and resplendent in the fluorescent lighting of my basement.

What have I learned?
~Well, I have learned that if you look around your house, you probably have the thing, or something like it, that you are planning on buying or think you so desperately need.
~I have learned that self restraint is a gateway for blessing. I received so many gifts and encouragements, opportunities to earn and opportunities to give, in the midst of our "no-spending".
~I have learned that I really don't have any unmet needs. We are truly a culture that lives solely in the realm of 'wants' - what a tremendous curse and blessing.

Thank you for joining me and keep pinching those pennies, Gypsies!

______________________

UPCOMING!

I am planning a survey, a gift give away and possibly a frugality themed party in the near future (and when you're a mom, the near future means sometime this year) so keep your eyes peeled, lovies, because good things are coming your way!

Gypsies - COUNTDOWN!

Hello my fellow gypsies.

How is the challenge going?

If you have bunged it up and are disconsolate, be of good cheer. There are still 8 whole days of challenge left and that means 8 whole days of potential victory!

On that note, I have a confession.

Yesterday was my birthday and my husband broke the code, and bought me roses. I cannot fault him.

It was our only flub and I can't even really classify it as that.

:0D

Scrubby Gypsies... er....

Hello All!

Well, I am VERY proud to announce that I have not made any boo-boo's and am still a gypsy. I have been very restrained, and it's been easier than I thought because I have so far got an unexpected $70 this month, a $30 gift card for WOOL and a free coffee. So we are even UP in our budget. Even though I am not spending, I have not only what I need, but I have the option of getting what I want, too. Somehow it makes my resolve even stronger. I haven't used any gift cards this week at all.

On to the DIY Cleaning.

I have requested a bzillion books from the library, so I am waiting on that, but yesterday I watched a DVD from the Green Living Series, and not only is DIY cleaning less expensive, it is "green".

Did you know that the air in your home can be up to 5 times more polluted than what's outside? And most of that comes down to the toxins in cleaning products. By making your own cleaners, you reduce the risk of accidental poisoning, long term respiratory illnesses, even cancer - and of course, you are reducing the toxins leaving your home and entering the environment through the drain. The companies that produce cleaning products are required by law to indicate if something is poisonous or will burn your skin, but there are no rules or laws regarding ingredients that can cause serious illness over a long period of exposure. Some cleaning products even include known carcinogens. YIKES!

Also, there are studies out there that draw a direct link between cleaning products and NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN. The studies go so far as to say that it is a silent pandemic. I don't know about you, but when I heard that I was pretty much done. Our children are exposed to a much higher and varied amount of chemicals than any other generation before, they're getting new sicknesses and no one's really saying anything about it. So let's BE the change!

I haven't used any of the formulas that were in the DVD yet, so I am not going to give them to you until I've tested them, but I really think that this is an important change for all of us to at least try out. So try and think about it in the next few days. If our minds change first, then anything is possible.

Temptation, Overcome

Oh, my, yesterday was a hard day not to spend money. It was one of those days where the house is clean, the baby is happy, the To-Do's are done, and instead of feeling a sense of freedom, I was at a loss with what to do with myself.

So I decided to go out. But no sooner had I decided that than an intense craving for a Latte hit me squarely between the eyes. And some french fries. And a new shirt.

RIDICULOUS.

But once the temptation was over come I realized that that is why we North Americans shop so much. I mean, do we really need {or even, truly, want} a new shirt. No, probably not. We want the feeling that comes from a purchase. We want the potential that comes from a new outfit. We want the feeling of well being that a $5 latte produces.

We shop because we are bored. Because we're lonely. Because we're unfulfilled. Because we're stressed. Because we're afraid. Take your pick.

I was feeling lonely - my husbands second day back at work after a glorious 2 week break and the house felt awfully empty, the day terribly long. So what did I do? I went and visited him at work for 15 minutes. Did wonders. Then two errands. And afternoon nap was upon us. Temptation, overcome.

DAY 4 and going STRONG

Alright, darlings.

Day four of the Gypsie Challenge.

Frivolous $ Spent?

Absolutely nothing.

Granted (and suddenly I feel like I am confessing), I used my Starbucks Gift Card once this week, and bought a coffee another time with money that had been given to me, but I am not really counting gifts as part of the challenge. Is that cheating?

Wait... I am the BOSS. I get to make the rules.

So, lets start that again.

In case you are wondering, fellow gypsies, gifts don't count in the challenge. Heh.

In other news, I made a transaction on the down low this evening. No names named, no faces seen. Just a farmer, his free range chickens and my hungry family. You can save around $2 a dozen (if you know the right people) on free range eggs by finding a local chicken farmer.

This gets 4 out of 5 stars because:

PRO - Eggs keep for months in a cold place. So when your supermarket eggs have a best by thats only a few weeks away? YOU ARE EATING REALLY OLD EGGS. When you go to a local farmer you guarantee yourself fresh eggs.

PRO - You are supporting local businesses. This is good. If you don't know why, pull your head out of your bottom and ask someone. After washing your hair. And possibly brushing your teeth.

PRO - You save money. And isn't that why you're here?

CON - It's less convenient to drive out of your way, with cash, to get them than it is to pick them up along with the milk and cheese.

Gypsie Update

No takers!? Aye, me, sad hours seem long...

Well, I am going to do this on my own then.

And so far so good! One day down and 30 to go = zero dollars spent. In fact, today I will be earning some unexpected income, so we're on the plus side.

To curb my spending tendencies, last night we watched a documentary on Lions in India and I started 3 sewing projects. Nice. I can see that this month is going to be very interesting.

Oh, and an interesting frugality tip:

You can make your own cutting boards by trimming the edges off of old ice cream pail lids. Granted, they are round, and they don't last as long as other cutting boards, but they work.