If you remember, the original challenge was to make $50 cash last the entire month of February. With the month over, it’s now time to see who won and who has to do dishes for an entire month. He beat me by a monetary landslide with $17.75 left. My wallet had the meager $4.38 left. Cue failure music. Being the sore loser that I can be, I will argue that he has a slight advantage with his business traveling on the weekends (hello, charging it to the school while Micki has ANOTHER bowl of cereal or soup for a meal.)

Troy didn’t keep track of his $50 but I made sure to do so. Mostly, I was curious where my money goes and what habits did I not even realize were repeated offenders. Where did my $45.62 go?

$6.87 – Decemberist’s album (“The King is Dead”) on vinyl (difference after using a leftover birthday gift card)
7.68 – Noodles & Company with Laurie and Andrea
$8.43 – Coffees from Panera, Starbucks and Tim Horton’s
$6.56 – vest from Kohl’s (difference after coupon)
$5.38 – Valentine’s candy for my students
$9.41 – crafty stuff from JoAnn’s
$1.29 – 20 oz. bottle of Diet Coke

How easily and quickly the money goes!
We did cheat TWO TIMES! Shame, shame.

1. Valentine’s dinner at North Star Cafe.
2. Refill on some fresh foods (I was dying for more fruit, sweet potatoes, and greens). I learned that I definitely can’t do the month-at-a-time grocery shopping. I do, however, need to know when and how to buy certain stock items that can stay in the cupboards.

We learned a lot about our spending habits over the month…

1. We socialize with friends way too much through eating out. Some of our favorite gatherings this month included having friends over for meals WE COOKED or going to other homes for meals. Let’s get back to community in our own homes, yeah?
2. I need to not be Miss Lazy Pants and make my own coffee. I have an amazing coffee maker, grinder, and some fantastic beans (thanks to Tova at Pasadena’s Jones Roasters!). Time to stop using the excuse of being in a rush and to start setting the timer at night.
3. Troy learned that he can still have a good meal by packing his lunch instead of depending on the nearby Subway. Though the $5 foot-longs were definitely calling to him…
4. We can depend on inexpensive ways of entertainment. Instead of going out to the movies, we explored our Netflix. :)
5. If I don’t go into a store, I can’t spend money in the store. If I go into the store without a specific item in mind, I will buy just to buy. Simple (but powerful) concepts.

We’re blessed and together, as a couple, we’re discovering how best to use our blessings in ways that will glorify the Lord and save for our beautiful future.

(Random photo from hiking in the Smokies over Thanksgiving!)

So, be sure send congrats to the winner. He’s presently wallowing in his glorious win with his crown still on. :)

xoxo.

The basics:

Who? Micki “The Money-Slasher” Current and Troy “Cheap-O” Current.

What? Each of us get only $50 cash to spend for the month. This does NOT include bills, tithe, and gasoline. Our fridge has been STOCKED (a rarity – we usually just buy for 1-2 weeks at a time). So, no eating out, no Friday morning coffees (the highlight of my work-week), no unnecessary clothes, etc. When I win Whoever wins the challenge will get the remaining cash of the loser and the loser will have to do the dishes for a MONTH (a chore abhorred by all in this house).

When? The ENTIRE month of February. Why, yes, we did pick the shortest month of the year for this challenge.

Why? We have some fun exciting things we’re saving up for and want to cut back on our spending expenses.

We’ll update you on the progress. Basically, there’s nothing to worry about because I’ve got this IN THE BAG. I was born with competitiveness coursing through my veins.

Healthy food, including fresh produce, non-processed, and organic options, are generally more expensive then all the pre-packaged choices. I get downright frustrated at the grocery store. I’m buying for ONE person (well, sometimes two since Troy seems to always be hungry when visiting my place and three if you count all the dog food Tilly chows down on) yet I almost always go over what I have allotted for my grocery budget. Why? I don’t buy more than I need to but I do try to buy lots of fresh fruits and veggies and healthier options. It’s no wonder people are overweight with the unemployment rates of our country. And it’s no wonder health care is such a hot topic because people are needing to deal with the complications of obesity! What a vicious cycle.

Now, keep in mind that all this rambling is strictly MY opinion, stemming from how much it costs me to eat right. I am not stating that you have to be rich to eat healthy nor am I saying that only poor people deal with weight problems. I am simply complaining that I think it’s a crime to charge me $3 for 4 oranges or $4 for organic soy milk. Don’t even get me started on $1 menus. I have found tricks to saving money and still eating healthy options but I can still dream that one day the word “organic” won’t be one that I automatically exchange for dollar signs. Wouldn’t it be nice if products full of partially hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup would be the most expensive thing on the shelf? I’m not asking for solutions. Just venting.

(source)

(another example of irony = compare this post to my last post :))

I have $12 left from original $40.
Can I make it until September 1? I think so. :)

Not to be all gushy but I love this bloke so much!
I can’t wait for him to be my hubby.

After recently looking through my bank statements online, I’ve come to realize the abuse my debit card receives. Since college I carry little to no cash and depend on using my debit card for nearly everything. Because of this convenience/laziness, my spending seems to be frivolous. With loans and a wedding in the future, I need to be more mindful and disciplined about my money. The coffees out, lunches and dinners with friends, movies with Troy, more clothing I DEFINITELY don’t need…it’s adding up and depleting what could be savings. I want to take a break from the worrying of money by simply…not spending any.

Details:
I have a total budget of $40 to spend on anything I would buy for myself this month.

Not Included:

• Living expenses – rent, bills, insurance, health, etc.
• Gas
• Tithes (and gifts, if I have to buy any)
• $20 to replenish fresh produce

Included (must be spent with $40):

• Eating out/Coffees to Go
• Clothing
• Household items
• Entertainment

What’s my starting point?
At the moment my car is completely fueled up and my refrigerator/pantry is stocked (which never happens!). A goal from this process is to not eat out as much when I (or we, if you include Troy-boy) could make food at home.

What’s the point?
What’s the point of depriving myself? Shouldn’t I be able to enjoy life and the money I earn? Yes, and that’s exactly why I do it. When I take a break from spending, I learn to appreciate what I have. The convenient restaurant dinners become a special treat and every time I go see a movie I’m thankful for the money to do so. I want to stop taking things for granted. (And obviously, it will be nice to save money from this process and hopefully grow into a more mindful spender.)

I know some may think, man, a lot of things are not included in her $40. It’s the little things that have been adding up for me, though – especially in the summer when I have more free time to hang out with friends and family.

Step 1: I plan on leaving my debit card at home when I go out.
Step 2: I’m going to spend the least amount in the beginning when I’m still very motivated. :)

I’ll update on the progress!