TROY!

(To show that I’m a good sport, I even made him a crown!)

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 Current household has established a CHALLENGE for February, aptly entitled “Frugal February.”

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.