A Year of Frugal

Many people have emailed to ask how my year of frugal is going. It's going very well!!! Other than the ikea indiscretion (I didn't actually buy anything, but Mr. B did)..... This week I had to buy 5 small containers at the Dollar Store for my classroom and I felt terribly guilty. But we made counters that involved small black beans, and the beans keep falling through the holes in the baskets that I have. So, to avoid having the caretaker actually kill me, I invested a few dollars in containers. But that was for school.... not for me. I bought a sweater and a bunch of silk ties at a thrift shop a few weeks ago too. I have performed surgery on the sweater (I love it, I should show it to you! , and the silk ties were a gift for my dear friend Meep.

This is what I'm coveting today! Last night for Earth Hour we lit candles. I had an unopened Yankee Candle votive so I put it in the bathroom. Oh, heavenly! Pineapple Cilantro. Yum! There is some coconut in there too. Reminds me of summer..... Aaaaahhhhh, summer......

A year of living frugally

(frugal - 4x6 -- made from stuff that was already on my desk)

I am challenging myself in 2012 to a year without retail -- in-store or online shopping. This is not something I'm undertaking lightly. I am very serious and committed to this. Why? Because I feel that I'm buying things that I don't truly need. Last year (2010) I read Annie Leonard's book "The Story of STuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health -- and a Vision for Change". Read it or read about it if you like. don't worry -- I'm not going to try to brainwash anyone into joining me. This is my journey, not yours :)

I am going to (try to) buy only consumable items for the whole year. Consumables include toiletries -- I might need to buy some antiperspirant sometime during the year and I don't want anyone else to have to suffer through my challenge :).

My exceptions will be books if they are gifts or for my classroom -- I live a few blocks from the library and really should be using it more than I do-- and anything that I already have that breaks and needs to be replaced (like my washing machine that currently needs replacing) (and something like a toner cartridge for my printer -- printing report cards and newsletters, etc. is part of my job).

I think that I'll allow myself exceptions at thrift shops and yard sales... (and I get to use up the gift cards that I currently have -- those were GIFTS to me-- and I have one for the Workroom and to Deserres to use when I really need an art fix :)

I have enough art supplies to get me through the year (okay, to get me through a lifetime). Enough paper, tape and staples...

I have enough clothes. And plenty of fabric if I run out.... I even have enough thread...

I certainly have enough stuff... too much stuff....

So, if you are getting a gift from me, or a trade in 2012, it will either be thrifted or handmade using materials that I already have. Or it will be edible -- I promise that I won't use any thrifted ingredients to make food, lol.

Anyone care to join me in this challenge? I am going to list every single purchase that I have made and then publish it at the end of each month (Mr. B buys the groceries, so I should be able to "balance" my wallet).

The part that I anticipate as difficult will be the online shopping, and the book buying. And the magazine buying. Wish me luck!!

(my word of the year this year is "frugal" -- and it's not even a pretty word, like meander was in 2009, remarkable in 2010 and content in 2011)

starting balance in my wallet:
$100