It has been four solid weeks of cash only. The biggest impact has been on our frittering money away on things of trivial nature: the slim jims and coffees when DH fills up his car, the amount of candy the he buys when the random child(ren) is/are with them. For me it has been shopping to buy sale ads just because they are on sale. I would like to work to a place where I am a better planner with coupons and sales and start a stock-pile.
We've been eating better. A 3# bag of apples versus a big bag of chips, of course I'm going for the apples. The kids LIKE cucumbers and carrots with dipping sauce (whether ranch or honey mustard). I haven't stressed about lunches: I have sent diced ham and chunks of cheese, bagels and cream cheese, PB&J muffins, etc. I've moved away from convenience foods - not totally, but I'm making more soups from scratch as well as snacks (brownies, cookies, etc).
I paid for several things in cash (the first tuition of $420, outdoor ed $150, BTS fees for milk/yearbook $176, and $105 for vehicle registration). Next time I might move to checks for ease and simplicity.
I am not a recreational shopper. We shopped with a purpose: birthday gift, pjs, soccer cleats, etc. I didn't have to worry about IF I had enough, we bought these things at the first of the week. I was still able to fund outings for my kids as they popped up (the walk in town, the movie trip -discount at that-, admission to volleyball games, etc.) My children returned to an appreciative nature.
We've talked about economic choice, and the kids are wearing costumes from last year (when we bought new and spent probably $25 on each costume). Littlest gets a new one as he's been a hand-me-downer for years.
We're heading out of town this weekend, and I've got the cash for everything, plus I think I've overestimated. That is a nice feeling!
I finished up two pieces of cross-stitch in my time without the kids. I was pleased about that. I've tackled organizing the "middle" room upstairs which is a catch-all, and it is getting better. My house is clean in an organized fashion and when we hosted our party this weekend I wasn't scrambling to pile, stash and do a fake clean.
I'm better organized with the kids' stuff - sporting items, water bottles, etc. Life is running smoothly.
I went for a walk at the park yesterday with my mom instead of at the mall. Nice weather, nice company, free. And I'm five pounds lighter than when the four weeks started.
My ramble wraps-up here! I will move from cash-only, to cash mostly.
Observations after a month of cash-only
September 16th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
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I should add that the weight loss probably comes from buying NO soda, except for our party and even then it was only four 2Ls, one of which went for the Diet Coke/Mentos experiment!
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Jerry
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