It will soon be February and I've decided to take part in the next LOW (NO) SPEND CHALLENGE-Thank you to the wonderful Carla at HALF DOZEN DAILY for organising this-VISIT CARLA AND FIND OUT MORE: http://halfdozendaily.blog.com/2012/01/24/february-challenges/
My February Low (no) Spend Challenge:
My Goal:
Well I've been looking at my challenges. It would be magical if we could add a bit more towards our Camera Challenge. I know we need £110 SO WE'LL AIM FOR £55-HALF WAY!
How will I achieve this?
The plan of action is to put any
Grocery Savings
Money left in my current account
Ebay money
towards this challenge
Cash or Card for the grocery budget?
Perhaps we'll go for cash this month. Mr Sft is pretty good at sticking to a budget.
Track your purchases!
We will track all our purchases.
Exemptions:
My sister is getting married in February so I want to buy her a present but she only wants a little bit of cash. Might add other things but can't think what at the moment.
Looking forward to another monthly challenge.
And I'm feeling really positive about the months ahead.
How was your January spending?
Are you spending or saving in February?
Sft x
Thank you for your comments about yesterday's post:
Jo: I think Granny would have loved the fact that her cash was multiplied and then gave me an unforgettable travel experience, seeing things I will never forget. I love the fact you splurge on your kids, and I bet they love you for it too!
Tinyholder: Sounds like you've got lots to look forward to travel wise, especially Ethopia, which will be unforgettable.
Theanne: Thanks for sharing some of your lovely travelling memories with Don. They sound magical and lots of fun, sometimes basic or rustic as I call it offers you the best experience you can have. I love the idea of your December trip-the Dachshund walk, what amazing photos you'll take.
Great splurges! And sounds like you're making brilliant plans for your handmade gifts.
Lynda: I totally understand what you're saying when you said "I would rather eat cheese sandwiches, give up the car and TV and sleep in a cold house than do without my trips (to see my family) and if you are careful they are NOT an extravagance". Absolutely! People would spend the same money on going to the Pub!
Silversewer: I hope you are loving your big splurge and it starts to pay for itself. LOL at your fabric addiction, that's so sweet. Sounds like you have some lovely travel memories of France. You must be looking forward to trip to the Isle of Skye (that's right isn't it?)
Scarlet: Your week in Cornwall sounds heavenly and what wonderful guests you must be for them to let you stay on for free! Cornwall feels like coming home for us too. I totally get your car boot treasure hunting, I love going too when I get organised enough.
Sue15cat: Oooh! Your meals out sound lovely Sue, Is that a spare seat I see, and yes, just a small glass, if you insist! LOL!
Your make £2012 challenge is an amazing goal, but if anyone can do it..looking forward to following that challenge. We are all going ebay crazy at the moment aren't we? I'll keep everything crossed for you.
Jane: I know you will have blogged about converting your farmhouse on PEI and I would love to read it. Please direct me to those posts! I'm not nosey just a dreamer (and I'm not the only one).
Good luck with your lose 10 pounds challenge.
Sandra: Sounds like you've got all your finances sorted out so you can afford some lovely things. I'm sure if it 'doesn't feel right' to go to Europe then you shouldn't go.
Nice food and wine sound like wonderful splurges, Yum!
Dannie: I could blog about my travels every day! I always feel inspired when I read your blog posts.
I feel like I'm less myself at the moment. As I'm almost like a woman possessed about paying off the mortgage. But it's only being done to provide greater freedom, for travel and maybe early retirement. I need to remember that I'm not really some old miser...LOL!
I love Prague, went there before it was westernised and after (to stay with close friend who lived and taught there). Every holiday I caught the Kings Court Express from Vic Coach Station - £64 return, no loos on coach but it got me to an unforgettable city, I KNOW you will love it.
ADDED YOU TO SEALED POT LIST! Good luck!
Gill: From what I've seen of your house I can see how you cherish it and spend money to keep it beautiful. Yes, I was treated to some lovely comments yesterday.
Canadian Saver: Always have more travel experiences, if you want to hear them. Going to European every year is an amazing goal and I totally understand how important it is to you. Yes, travel is worth the sacrifices isn't it.
Frugal Down Under: YOUR MUM SOUNDS TRULY AMAZING! Wow! That's a great story about your upbringing, she totally got that enriching a child's life is about love, family, friends and experiences not what they have. You sound a bit like me torn between travel and saving...it's a struggle of the heart and the head isn't it?
Thank you for your nomination, that is so sweet, will have a think about who to pass it on to.
Ege Denne: Such a lovely surprise for your award. Thank you. I will think about who to pass it on to. We are doing well. Will be popping over to your blog to catch up with you over the weekend.
Sammyleia: I think you are absolutely right! We'd be alot richer without spending on travel but like you I don't regret a penny! OR a cent! You will love Ephesus, try and read up a bit about it before you go. It's great to hear that you and hubby share a love of travel!
Lonestarsky: Oh, fellow Saggitarian, with a suitcase half packed, Yeah! YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! You are so right, travel is worth every penny.
Mrs No Spend: I don't blame you splurging on fruit and veg, I love it too! Car Boots are great, because you always get so much for your money.
Beckybee: I AM THRILLED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LIFE PLANS! Please sign up as a follower! I've joined your blog so I can support you and join you on your mortgage freedom journey. I'VE ADDED YOU TO THE SEALED POT CHALLENGE TOO! Good luck!
Piecebypiece: I was very interested to read about your father's story, what a wonderful man. You must have been so proud of him. My dad has always been careful with money too as he had nothing when he was young. I know if/when we pay off the mortgage, he will feel very proud.
Ooo, you loved War Horse! Looking forward to seeing the play even more.
A bit of both for me, and earning money too I hope! I started my £100 per month grocery spending today, so hope to be saving money by doing that - I've updated the page all about it on my blog if you want a look. We'll be spending on the worktops and tiles to finish the kitchen- not forgetting my £204 dental bill, and I hope to be earning money by selling some treasures on ebay. If it goes well then I will be buying more on my early morning car-boot adventures!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely saving. I'm doing a grocery challenge too to try and get some extra savings put away with a view to either getting a new tent or maybe a weekend away. I mean to get back into blogging while I'm getting these savings. :)
ReplyDeleteI will be posting all my plans/goals regarding this challenge on February 1st.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your plans,
Gill in Canada
When a friend got married they didn't want any gifts but I did get them a small token of a wooden heart with writing on it. It cost less than £5 but is something they've hung in there home and I hope it reminds them of their special day.
ReplyDeleteI'll be joining Carla's challenges too, though haven't posted about it yet. Re PEI farmhouse - many of the renovations were done though we have photos of what it looked like before! Right now we are using it as a summer house and when we move permanently in 2.5 years we will be adding on to the kitchen and laundry/mud room, building a deck AND building a barn which will house my writing loft, black room for photography and a workroom for my carving. All dreams right now but it will all happen:) Here's one link about my PEI home:
ReplyDeletehttp://lifebeginsatretirement.blogspot.com/2010/08/backwards-story-this-is-it-house-5.html
What a great goal! A new camera will be perfect for you! :) Good luck!!
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ReplyDeleteBuying groceries every two weeks...eating less, losing weight...eating lots of fruit and vegetables...no online shopping at Amazon...no buying stuff for g'kids...no buying anymore clothes (for me)...buying small Valentine purchases (like a Valentine kitchen towel for DIL, a cute Valentine angel for g'daughter, a little red truck for g'son, haven't decided about son) and no Valentine cards as I'm going to make them each a card! Spending has been down significantly in January and will continue so in February! At this rate I will not only save for this year's Christmas gifts but also for the trip to Key West!
ReplyDeleteHi during January we finally completed on our re-mortgage and are saving about £150 a month in reduced interest charges. Also am gradually working thru utility bills and got a £5 pcm reduction on our boiler insurance. Had a bad time with a catalogue return issue and got £10 goodwill. We are on a weekly food budget of £100 which sounds huge but we have 2 teenagers who eat an enormous amount! the previous spending was £150 pw. We intend to get this down further by looking at bulk buying. A long way to go but it's a start and your daily posts are so very inspiring. Betty
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to reduce our grocery spending...again! It's work in progress but I'm getting better every month.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you I'm really focused on my mortgage right now and thanks to Carla I'm really focused on not spending - together it works really well x
I'm joining in with Carla's challenges too. I've been decluttering at least one thing every day this month and I want to keep that up. As for spending, the only improvent was that I haven't put anything extra on credit this month. I need to keep this one up and save some for my trip.
ReplyDeleteHI Sft yes I'm definitely saving in February so I'll be joining in the challenge. My goal is to save $100 as I am fundraising for St Jude's School in Tanzania by pledging to go chocolate free for 29 days! So to do this I will use any spare money from our jars, any leftover grocery money, and any money saved from my personal allowance (the sealed pot may have to be a bit lean this month!). Oh and I have decided that my sealed pot will (hopefully) fund a night away for our wedding anniversary next January. Cheers Judy
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with the way our January Low Spend is going, still a few days left to be as good as I can possibly be :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not joining in the No/Low Spend/Decluttering Challenge next month as it's time for our move, we will be spending February decorating our new place and no doubt lots of very necessary spending will have to happen, once we are in and unpacked I intend to have a last purge of our possessions and Ebay/Car Boot lots of things to get us to true simple living.
Living as we are now with so few possessions out is very liberating (except when you go to bake a loaf and find you've packed the loaf tin).
Good luck with your challenge, I'll be following you all the way.
Sue xx
Was going to notify you hat I Liebstered you but you beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteKeep on saving and being uber friendly.
Hugs.
It would be nice to get your sister something she could keep for a wedding present. I've been married 21 years and it's nice to look at something and remember who bought it for us, makes it special. Good luck with your February challenge.
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