No-Buy Update: January 2020

For 2020, I decided to embark on a ‘No-Buy’ year. In short, I will not be buying any excess items in hopes to better appreciate what I already own. If you’d like to read about my rules and the reasoning behind why I am embarking on this, feel free to read my intro post here.

Each month’s blog post will have a few items. I will list some numbers like money spent and saved, if I slipped up on anything, and my overall feeling about my progress and the process. I have made it a goal to only spend $500 a month and will list how much ‘extra money’ I saved because I do have more than $500 to spend, I just don’t want to. Lastly, I save so so much and pay myself so so little so yes it might be jarring.

I’ll end each blog with a photo of a recipe I made during the month and was cost effective!

January 2020
Money I spent: $587.95
Extra money I saved: $152.01
Credit Card Bill: $345.56
Largest Expense: Social Activities at a total of $156.50

Biggest “UGH” moment was for the end of year Nemesis/Frisbee party. I gave myself a strict budget for what I could spend while we were out. I completely obliterated that because drinks are annoyingly expensive. But what was more frustrating is I have a good chunk of alcohol at home that I NEVER DRINK and I could have made myself some drinks at home before going out. Noted for next time even though I very rarely go out.

The item that was more expensive than I wanted was CTA/Uber. I budgeted $60 and spent $70. I only took one uber all month, but because I don’t have a monthly public transport pass - I have to pay for each ride. In the summer I bike everywhere - so hopefully this evens out.

Willem and I now plan almost every meal which makes grocery shopping so wonderful and the urge to order food that much better. There were a few times where I didn’t eat enough or pack enough food and the urge to buy something quick was SO PRESENT, but we made it through.

I spent $0 on random items. I went through and donated so many books, clothes, and more and found SO MANY PENS and random $1 bills. If I ever go to buy a pen again, someone come and slap me. I have acquired 3 candles and 2 notebooks from events and friends gifting.

Something I noticed was when it was approaching our one January wedding day - I made it a point to buy myself goldfish and a bag of m&m’s. Every wedding day, I eat those items because it is a comfort thing and usually halfway through the day I’m asking for any chocolate I can get my hands on. So while I won’t buy these items for my everyday life - I have ok’d them for Your Day by MK wedding days.

Overall I am feeling confident this is something I will be able to continue as the months go on.To feel aware and in control of my money is a really amazing feeling and I’m looking into various investment opportunities for my “extra” money even if it’s only $150 or so each month.