The ways in which we broke the rules:
- We had a few coffee dates out. This doesn’t sound especially budget-breaking, and it’s not. I like the idea of having coffee shop dates where we leave the house (and our phones) behind and take an hour so just to talk and catch up. We’re not as good about this when we’re at home because so many other things vie for our attention. I think having a meal at home and then going out for coffee, dessert, or drinks is a great way to do a date night without breaking the bank.
- I spent some money on future events/excursions. We’re going to an event in March that I needed to buy tickets for as soon as possible, and I also planned a surprise trip that required a deposit. I also signed us up for a big hike in April that I needed to pay for in February. In my mind, it’s ok to pay for future events during February. That and I needed something to look forward once we return from Italy.
- While we technically weren’t supposed to eat out at all, there was that one night where I just had to have pad thai from the takeout place down the street. I don’t regret that one bit because their pad thai is delicious. Also, there may have been a cookie emergency that one time, ahem.
Ways in which we did such a good job adhering to the rules:
- We didn’t eat out in a restaurant at all! Probably our biggest nonessential expense (after travel) is eating out. It has made such a difference in our budget to abstain from restaurants for a whole month.
- We (ahem, *I*) packed lunch every single workday. Sure, some of the days my definition of “lunch” was what someone else might call “random assortment of snack food from the pantry or refrigerator” but I didn’t eat lunch out or skip lunch at all. I also made D a lunch every day. If it weren’t for me doing so, he’d just skip lunch every day, which I am not ok with.
- We didn’t buy any other nonessential items. There was plenty of temptation, but I managed to resist all kinds of pretty things taunting me from online and the Banana Republic that’s right next to my gym (sigh).
Because we were kind of lax during February, we’ve decided to extend Superfrugality Month through when we leave for Italy. It’ll totally be worth it, and that way we (hopefully) won’t return from our trip totally and completely broke.
6 comments:
Sounds to me like you did a pretty great job at being frugal. Plus, the kind of frugality you practiced in February is the kind you can extend for much longer than just a month and not feel completely restricted by your own need to not spend money.
Good job! I am trying to be super frugal over the next couple of months and for me that means leaving my credit cards at home. I'm ridiculous for putting little purchases on my CC and then letting it add up so when I pay it off each month there goes most of my disposable income!! So I'm working with a cash budget and also putting more into savings.
I think you still did really good. I think you need an occasional treat to keep yourself sane! I did pretty good in the month of February as well. We didn't eat out much and I did good with packing my lunches 4 days a week. And I didn't buy a single article of clothing!
Banana Republic is easy to avoid if you stop buying clothing made mostly of manmade materials... That being said, I am so glad there is not a local Boden or Lands End Canvas!
It seems to me you did pretty well, especially for a depressing February.
You did a good job! I used to pack my boyfriend a lunch or he would skip it too! Or he would end up eating a ton of crap! Someone has to take care of these guys!
As someone who is, ahem, *kinda bad with money*, I've been finding your money/frugality posts really helpful. We've been trying to be frugal as we save to to hopefully find a new apartment and the way you explain things is easy to understand and apply to our own lives. So, thanks!
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