Spending Freeze: Week 11

Ah, this interminable spending freeze is almost over. I have only one week left. A mere seven days. I wish I could say it has gone by more quickly than I had ever imagined, but I can't say that's true. I also, oddly enough, can't say that I have spent any less these past three months than in the past. Part of that has to do with us taking a couple of trips, some assorted car repairs & the usual house & garden whathaveyous. Part of that also has to do with the simple fact that 'spending freeze' is not a very good description for this exercise. We could spend, of course, one must, but the trick was to eliminate unnecessary purchases & to buy used goods, or better yet, to make do whenever possible.

To that end, I think this experience has been very positive. I really learned a thing or two about thinking before bringing anything new into our lives/home & also learned a very uncomfortable lesson about how much a part of my life those unnecessary purchases had become. I'm remembering one particular weekend, a few weeks in, when I was feverishly scanning the classifieds for estate sale listings. Surely, there must be one! Even a bad one will do! There was something lurking behind it all that seemed so low & desperate to me, I felt ashamed. I think that was my big detox weekend. I did find an estate sale after all, but it wasn't a good one and there was no joy in it.

After that, I got more into the stride. Our weekends were spent in the parks, at the creeks, puttering in our yard, meeting friends, reading books, & building things with our hands. I say, more of that, please!

Spending Freeze: Weeks Nine & Ten

We've been busy, so it has been easy to steer clear of temptation.

Instead of buying unnecessary stuff, we:
Went to the San Antonio Zoo & marvelled at the restless lions, swimming hippos, Kimodo dragons & a silly, rubber-necked ostrich. (Sidenote, did you know that silly, rubber-necked ostriches can actually run 45 mph & kill a lion with a single, deadly kick?)
Planted a garden full of tomato plants, herbs & squashes
Had friends over & hung out in the backyard
Started sewing a rabbit for M's Easter basket
Cleaned house & organized
Read books (I finished two!)
Took Baby M to the Travis County Rodeo fairgroundsPetted deer, goats, sheep & llama in the petting zoo:

Spending Freeze: Week Eight

I'm not so very good at this.

- unnecessary metal pail for Baby M

- unnecessary new lightweight summer pants for me

- unnecessary new t-shirt for me

- unnecessary pair of Bruce Springsteen tickets

"want/need" glass by inna alesina via Notes to Self

Spending Freeze: Week Seven

This week, instead of making unneccessary purchases, we:

- Started painting the trim on our house. Bye-Bye baby blue. Hello cream!

- Attended a free organ recital at the University of Texas

- Rode bicycles with Baby M to the Kite Festival in Zilker Park

Spending Freeze: Week Five

Unnecessary purchases made during Week Five of the Spending Freeze.

One unnecessary mocha from Jo's Coffee.

One unnecessary bowl of pho soup.

One unnecessary jacket by Mike & Chris. It's the cuddliest, happiest jacket, made out of the softest sweatshirt-style material. It's as easy & relaxed as wearing sweats, but with good style & great structure. Oh and 75% off. Not too shabby.
But that was absolutely all for this week. No Valentine's gifts, just some homemade cards and a cozy dinner at home.

Spending freeze: Week Four

This week didn't go so well.

I bought unnecessary magnetic alphabet letters:

Two yards of unnecessary rhinestone trim:And one (mostly) unnecessary brand-new HP laptop computer.

Spending Freeze: Week Three

Three unnecessary purchases were made during Week Three of the spending freeze:

- three plastic storage bins for crazy organizational frenzy

- frame for an incredible picture of Baby M, recently unearthed from some forgotten box on a high shelf

- Saturday night pizza

Non, je ne regrette rien.

photo via OneFiveDoor

Spending Freeze: Week Two

Week Two of the Spending Freeze is over. I did not buy any souvenirs on my trip to Pennsylvania.

Most notably, I did not buy a certain Underwood portable typewriter, though I did fall deeply, madly, blindingly in love with it.

See? I even wrote it a love letter:

Spending Freeze: Week One

Ah, the end of Week One of the Spending Freeze. All in all, it went well. Of course, I had to get groceries & the usual bits & ends, but as we are heading out of town soon to visit R's parents in snow-dusted Pennsylvania, our needs this week were a little unusual.

Baby M needs new shoes in a bigger size, so I picked up a pair of (new) warm boots boots for our upcoming sledding adventures & walks in the woods. I also got her a warm pullover, navy corduroy pants & a warm (& austerely stylin') tunic dress that will be nice to layer over long pants. All of these last things I was able to find used at a nearby consignment store. I did not get her this dress. Or this sweater. Or this suitcase.

One thing I am proud of is that we have been eating very well. No eating out and no unnecessary convenience foods. We made every single meal at home and from scratch... except... On Sunday, I picked up my camera, a good book & headed out into the springlike weather for a good old fashioned ramble. I walked (Alone! And without pushing a stroller!) over to Enoteca, took a seat at the bar & then got busy taking my sweet time enjoying a little reading, a mocha & a blood orange tart. That was the only purchase. I also checked out the goods here and here & this incredible looking new hotel, but didn't buy anything, or book myself into a $450! poolside bungalow. (Wha??)

I did come home with a haunting memory of that out of the world tart, a bounce in my steps, and a few photos.