So, January hasn't really worked out

Canada
January 24, 2012 11:30pm CST
We haven't been spending a lot, but if you recall from one of my earlier posts, we were going to try to spend no money on anything except for groceries. Well, we bought a new shelving unit for my son's closet, which I have to say has really helped his closet be more organized, but that was an expenditure. And I bought some craft supplies - fortunately I've already used them to make a hat which I sold, but it still doesn't cancel out the cost of the supplies. Hopefully I can use the rest to make Christmas gifts or other items to sell. We're going to try again in February. I'm also going to try harder to work a lot (I had to take a week off because we all got sick) and I'm going to try to write more reviews on reviewstream. How was your January? Were you successfully frugal?
2 people like this
13 responses
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
25 Jan 12
I think this month has been a lot better than December. Christmas did not have much to do with December being full of expenses, but I spent a week at the hospital and some of it was at my expense. But this month I am trying to cut costs to the minimum. I hope to get someone to help me with a machine that I have to repair. I think it is an easy task, but I´m not able to do it by myself right now. If not, that would be my only extra expense in January.
• Canada
25 Jan 12
Medical expenses add up fast, don't they? I hope you're feeling well and have fully recovered from whatever caused your hospital stay. We had to replace our bread machine this month as well...I had forgotten about that. We wouldn't have been able to replace it - a plastic part just completely broke.
1 person likes this
• Canada
26 Jan 12
oh no. Medical bills really add insult to injury, don't they? I hope the chemo worked and you are feeling better.
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@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
25 Jan 12
I was on chemo for a lymphoma most of last year. When I thought all was over, one of my granddaughters came to see me and brought a virus. I had low defences and ended up at the hospital in solitary. Not all of it was covered by my insurnce of course.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
25 Jan 12
I can't say that we have not bought anything but groceries this month, but I really have not spent the money that I might normally spend in a month. We could not afford to as January was the month that we had to stock up on horse feed again and that is always a large expense for us.
1 person likes this
• Canada
25 Jan 12
Our big expense month is going to be March, I think, which is when our car insurance comes due. So we'll have to save up for that. Hopefully the horse feed lasts a while for you and you can accumulate some money again.
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@peavey (16936)
• United States
25 Jan 12
You didn't do too badly, all things considered. One thing about making goals like that, if you don't completely succeed, there's always next month. My January was pretty frugal. I didn't buy anything except what I needed (well, I could have done without some snacks from the grocery store). I need to do that again in February. I'm fairly comfortable doing it, though, because I have a lot of experience at it!
1 person likes this
• Canada
25 Jan 12
For us, it will take practice! You're right that there's always next month. And February is slightly shorter, too, so I can pretend that that will make it easier.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
25 Jan 12
yes, i have stayed away from the thrift store because i dont really need anything. i am also trying to work harder on mylot and am using up my craft supplies before i buy anything more.
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• Canada
25 Jan 12
I have to use up my craft supplies too! Especially since I don't do as much crafting now, so the supplies are really just taking up space.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 12
I hit the bakeries more than I should have. Other than that, we were fairly good. We have now joined a CSA; so, later this year, we will be depending primarily on farm-fresh foods rather than going to the supermarket. It is cheaper, provides us with a steady supply of organic food, supports the community and provides more money to the farmer. I'm hoping to arrange with my boyfriend to start taking week-long financial fasts each month. Perhaps, we'll just go for a couple of three-day weekends each month instead--at least, for starters. I don't know. That's something that we need to sit down and discuss.
1 person likes this
@hvedra (1619)
25 Jan 12
It's been mostly good. We did buy a combi-microwave but I'd been planning to get some kind of mini-oven for ages. I got it in the sale down from £270 to £140 (with free delivery) and it is a good model - a Panasonic. It does a 1.5kg chicken in forty minutes so I'm hoping that overall it will reduce our fuel costs and save a lot of time in the long run. Other than that we've stuck to only buying food and one box of washing powder. Oh, no, tell a lie, we bought three chickens - live ones that are already laying eggs - but they come under "food production"!
• Canada
25 Jan 12
I hope your new appliance works out well for you. And wow, raising chickens - I've heard that the eggs are awesome.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
25 Jan 12
I can't say that we have not bought anything but groceries this month, but I really have not spent the money that I might normally spend in a month. We could not afford to as January was the month that we had to stock up on horse feed again and that is always a large expense for us.
@GreenMoo (11834)
25 Jan 12
we've been to the bar a few times to buy emergency groceries, which is always more expensive than going to the supermarket. But our supermarket is a long distance away so time plays a big factor there. I'm planning a big shop later this week though, so that should prevent me running short during February. Other than paying too much for groceries, I think the only other outlay this month has been on some building wood. Unavoidable outlay really if we want to ever finish building the house ....
• Canada
25 Jan 12
If you're building a house, I think some materials would be an essential expense. It's hard to keep to a budget when the stores are farther away. You have to make sure you don't forget things, and you can't really comparison shop.
1 person likes this
@maezee (42003)
• United States
27 Feb 12
I know what you mean, February has not been a great month for me. But it's my own fault - I tend to spend more money than I actually have, which is a huge problem. Plus my hours have been cut at work by about 7 hours a week which seems to be adding up rather quickly (or subtracting - however you look at it). I really need help being 'frugal' as you call it. I spend so much every day! On anything! Agh! Super frustrating. I'm going to try next week to be super frugal because I just don't want to spend more money than I have, which is very little. . Anyway, I hope February was a better month for you!
• United States
25 Jan 12
I am trying hard to be fruggal. I know you had tried hard not to spend money. I am taking another jewelry making class and am hoping to learn a lot so I can make jewelry and sell it online. Money is so tight because I am not working and my husband has a serious foot condition which prevents him from working. We are looking into filing disability for him. I would love to work, but with all his doctor's appointments I cannot work. I am his caregiver and he is not allowed to drive. I have a lot of craft items and am going to go through them all so I can see what I want to keep and what I want to sell. I am glad that you sold a hat and hope that you find other uses for your craft supplies.
• Canada
25 Jan 12
I hope your jewelry business works out! It's hard when you have a medical condition that prevents you from working, hopefully it isn't painful. I should look at selling some of my craft supplies - I'm sure I have stuff I've never used that i bought a long time ago because I thought it would be a good idea.
@deodavid (4150)
• Philippines
25 Jan 12
Hi cutepenguin, Hey there, hope you and your family are already in perfect shape. For me January was great but I spent all my extra cash that I saved last year for this month for all the improvements that I wanted so I guess we are on the same tight spot. Maybe February will be better right!
• Canada
25 Jan 12
I'm hopeful February will be better for you and for me. It sounds like your purchases were planned for at least, unlike mine which were just new ideas.
@rahul2u (200)
• India
25 Jan 12
ya it was fine and started with some good things.compared to my last year january this year jan is bringing me some hopes on me and career.and it works good for me.i hope all the year will be good for me and mylotters.all the best.
• Canada
25 Jan 12
Glad that your January is going well!
@arjunm (439)
• India
25 Jan 12
January is for me a warm month in this year. it is neither so hot nor so cold. i am still working hardly where i have join now.so, this month is comfortable with my expectation.
• Canada
26 Jan 12
It's good that this month is going smoothly for you.