minimalism – Bored SAH Momma

Days 9 & 10

We picked up our grocery order for the week. I just about maxed out my grocery budget of $100 for the week for 5 people with a total of $84.31. This week, I decided to go ahead and get the amount of milk, orange juice, and bread we would need for the week to avoid an extra trip. Hopefully.

Only 4 more days left in the second week of January 2020 and I’m happy with my zero spend year progress so far. I have been tested a few times. Especially over a water misting sprayer that I picked up for my daughter for her birthday.

I really, really want one.

But…

I don’t really need one at all.

I’ve gotten off track with my blogging routine. It’s getting hard to find time to get on the computer with all these other family members. Going to see about setting up an account for myself on the surface soon.

Some things I’m proud of so far this week are…

I used up some almost bad bananas, used more of a powdered kids drink mix that expires in March, and created a new meal plan.

Days 6, 7, & 8 of 2022

Day 6

On day 6, I had hoped to keep up a daily blogging routine but was seriously derailed on the 6th.

I managed to get caught in the next town over in a snowstorm. It accumulated so fast that ever single way home quickly became blocked due to accidents. I had planned to be home around noon, before it got crazy, but the weather decided to shake things up a bit.

We didn’t make it home until midnight.

I ended up spending around $20 at a gas station to feed and hydrate myself and two of my kiddos. I would have spent more on a hotel if I could have got one before they were all booked.

I didn’t create an emergency category, but I’m realizing now that I should have.

Day 7

On day 7, I was so fatigued, from stress I think, that I did absolutely nothing but play in the snow with the babies.

Day 8

Was our oldest child’s 18th birthday. We celebrated with Dad’s usual birthday dinner of choice. She decided on Greek food. She opened her no spend gifts from me as well as her spend gifts. I’m pretty certain her favorites are her no spend spider plant baby and the spend planter and watering jar.

Her party with family was postponed due to the weather as well as my back. I am still unable to move well and cannot get the house lined out beforehand.

Birthday Budget: $100 – $23.88 = $76.12 Remaining

Day 4 of 2022

Chugging right on through this no spend year. Not much at all to report today. Not feeling the greatest because I lifted something a little too heavy and a little too awkward, and now I’m hurting.

Going to keep this short and sweet and just share some pictures of my meals from my first ever meal plan and a picture of my first ever 100% cotton scraps added to a compost bucket I’m collecting for a friend.

Remembered to sit out frozen burger for tacos thanks to my meal plan 😊

Turned a wore out shirt into cleaning cloths and composted scrap cotton for the first time

Turned leftovers into a breakfast bowl! It was delicious!

Day 3 of 2022

Day 3 is going down in the books as another success!

Meal Plan Report

Still right on track with our meal plan, however, we still don’t have as many leftovers as I had imagined we would. Next week, I will definitely be adding some lunch options to the plan and/or increasing portion sizes. Ideally, I think increasing portion size would be better so I’m not actually cooking three meals, start to finish, every single day.

Biscuits, gravy, ham, and frozen cherries

Beanie Weanies, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, and peas

Grocery Budget Report

We needed milk and to avoid the $6 charge for pick up at Wal-Mart for being under $35, I decided to stop in Aldi. Before going in the husband requested 3 boxes of his favorite snack and snacks for the kids.

I’ve debated whether I should add them in as part of my budgeted grocery expense. My husband is not onboard with a no spend challenge, at all, and I try to respect that. He’s fairly frugal, most of the time, so it isn’t a huge deal.

Since I am only basing this no spend challenge off of my spending responsibilities, I’ve decided that I am not going to add it in. I am responsible for feeding this family their regular meals, and I am succeeding at that. I also provide snacks. Just not exactly the type of snacks they want.

So, today I will be subtracting $1.59 for milk and adding back in $5 for the flashfood box since when I arrived to pick it up, they couldn’t locate my box and offered me a refund.

Grocery Budget: $37.63 + $5.00 – $1.59 = $41.04 Remaining