Well... I already knew we weren't going to be totally successful this month because my husband had his eye on this.... Speaking of the ipad2...(note: we don't have an ipad (the first version) but we do have lots of MEpads! ha!;-).... we generally wait for the 2nd generation (lighter, faster, cooler)...but I was thinking that in our house we already own... 2 MacBooks; 2 iphones; 1 itouch (that the kids use?!?! - what 6 1/2 yr old needs to use an itouch?); 2 ipod nano's (sometimes used on runs/workouts); 1 ipod shuffle (no longer used); and apple TV (I don't even know how to use this). I mean, really? At some point isn't enough, enough?
Anyway, the past week we were on spring break with the kids (hiking in Sedona and a water park in Phoenix), and we managed to do good on the spending diet....we ate out a fair amount but we were staying in a hotel so we knew (and planned for) as much. I bought a new toiletry holder at the drugstore (the zipper on mine busted) and a fashion design pad thing for Samme (to keep her quiet & occupied in the hotel room while Henry was napping). But other than that I haven't purchased anything other than food + household items so far this month. (Please note that I was in a 5-mile radius of Anthropologie, Lululemon & Target on the trip and didn't go in them, not even for a peek). I've had stuff sitting in shopping carts online & in the grocery store and managed to abort purchases. I've also been selling a bunch of stuff on ebay too towards the Bora Bora fund. In addition to our Spring Break trip, we've been doing lots of fun, free things (Discovery Museum, Rec Center, hikes, bouncing on the trampoline, bike rides, starting to work on the garden, etc.) and no shopping.
I have this picture (above) of our house on my desk bulletin board to remind me how great it will be to have NO mortgage and this picture of our (fingers crossed) Bora Bora trip for our anniversary next year and a picture of the orphanage in Kenya that I want to go on a mission trip to...all to help keep me motivated to spend our money wisely.
Those of you participating, how's it going so far? How do you stay motivated to stay on track budget wise?
11 comments:
i just have to say - I love your house!!
We just redid our goals and we can be mortgage free in about 5 years. It will most likely be more like 4, though, because we're overachievers like that! I love having focused goals and telling where my money to go!
(And, uh, we are like you in the Apple realm...though we DO have an ipad as well. Which is ridiculously helpful. Sigh...)
thanks denise!! :)
hi tawnya! that is awesome! would love to hear more about how you are going about it...i need inspiration!
For us, it's all about socking away all we can. BUT. It's easier because our income has grown the past couple of years, but we're pretending it didn't. For the most part. At the end of the year, we'll take that savings account (we have several - all marked for different things) and make a chunk payment on the house. We anticipate being able to do this enough to pay it off in 3-5 years.
We also stick to a zero based cash only budget (I understand that's the basis of Dave Ramsey?), which REALLY helps. Only having so much in the account or envelope and when it's done, it's done.
I currently trying to decide what to blog about money. Because I really want to, but don't want to be insensitive. I'm thinking...
(and can I say I'm sorry this is when I decided to comment and have you visit my blog? I've been out of words and grumpy all week and I want to scream "that isn't really me!"...but that would just be my insecurity taking over!)
just posted about your product on my facebook page! How are you? I never get online other then my iPhone anymore. Busy here. Just took up running.wow! Are you on my facebook page. I will try to friend you.
XO big hugs!
Amy
I just posted about you on my facebook page...well your amazing product. I am never online anymore. I am on facebook though. Are we friends?
XO. big hugs, amy
just posted on my facebook page about your product! how are you? I am rarely online anymore, only FB. Are we friends? I will look.
anyway...hope all is well. big hugs! Oh...I took up running!! so hard.
:) amy
hi tawnya - thanks so much for that info - that sounds almost like what we are doing...socking away into several different funds (including a pay off the fricken mortgage fund & a help our kids have a leg up in the future fund)...would love to read more about it on your blog...and please don't ever apologize for grumpy posts... i have them too! xo, J :)
hi amy!!! i've missed you! how is the photography biz going? cheers, jenny
To keep myself motivated I have pictures everywhere in the house..I also use our chalkboard.
We have similar goals Jenny, good luck!
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