Best Laid Plans... Weekly Update No.1

Photo from Quotefancy.com

This was one of those weeks... a lot of interference, unplanned extras, and old habits creeping in. We got thru. And I do believe things got better as the week went on, but as for my wardrobe - that project remains at the forefront of my focus.

We started the week by rehoming our foster kitten, a bittersweet event, and I added an impromptu job interview into the middle of my day. Having taken some time off from work to celebrate our anniversary, my husband and I both struggled to fall back into a decent sleep schedule. It wasn't the busiest week I've ever dealt with, but it was less productive than I had hoped.

Project 333 445 Update:

I started by tackling my

Year of Less... Spending Ban

Starting today (as I type this), and continuing for 6 months, my husband and I have agreed to go on a Shopping Ban. Of course we will still need to purchase essentials, but beyond what is needed, we are going to attempt NOT buying extra junk... Not thrifting, fast-food, frivolous stuff of any kind.

Dates of the Challenge: August 2nd thru January 30th

• Our list of NOPEs:
• Clothing (unless to replace an item we have - one in one out rule)
• Beauty Supplies (hair color, make-up, nail polish)
• Candles or Wax-Melt
• Decor Items
• Books & Magazines, Journals
• Coffee from Starbucks / Gas Station
• Fast food (other than Smoothies, limited to 1x per week)
• Eating out at Restaurants/Carry Out Orders - UNLESS for a Date Night
• Gardening Supplies
• New Tech (except our Cell Phones)
• Lastly... Storage Fee's (Cuz we're planning to get out of our current unit)

These are the areas we feel we need to cut back on, use up what we already have, or minimize our collection of. Personally I'm gonna have a hard time with candles and books/journals. We both depend way too much on eating out for time and convenience throughout the work week, but this just doesn't support our financial goals, plus it's not really healthy.

In support of our personal goals, we have a list of items we can buy in the next 6 months. I don't believe we will get EVERY item on the list, and we may decide to purchase these items used or have them gifted. This list serves as a reminder for what we are trying to build toward, things we actually want so that we won't keep nickel-and-diming our money away on smaller stuff. It also encompasses the "essential needs" of basic living:

Approved Shopping List:

• General Needs - 
• Groceries
• Toiletries
• Cleaning Products
• Kitchen Items -