The Olympics come to a close this weekend, so no more looking at great athletes who invest hours upon hours each day to perfect their skills and get stronger. I can go back to comparing myself to ordinary mortals. I will though say, athletic prowess aside, I would like to emulate the self discipline world class athletes show. Whether this is for my own health, my home, my job, being disciplined is how stuff gets accomplished. I'm dubbing this post Saturday Shape Up S&^$T Together Post Part 2 to keep my organizing and sorting mojo front and center. Things can quickly feel out of control.
I'm pretty pleased how my low spend grocery/household/health and beauty has gone so far. DH even surprised me Thursday night by saying we should go deeper. I think he's seeing how much we have saved cash flow wise, still eaten well, and have avoided waste. I know there are different opinions on the benefit of no or low spend months. Some say "what's the point", meaning a person will just spend that much more the next time they shop. I can see that. Others say, "I only buy what I need" so a no spend/low spend month doesn't change their overall spending. To that I say well, good on you for never straying from your list of needs, but I also call a little BS. For most of us, when we shop more frequently, little extras get added to the shopping cart each time. Those little extras add up. I see two main benefits to the occasional no/low spend month. 1) The tactic keeps us out of the stores as often, so the number of off the list items that go in the cart are likely to be fewer overall, saving money overall. 2) Items we already bought and are in our homes are more likely to be used and not wasted. With both, even for our small household, I can easily see chipping $50-$75 off our spending every couple months. That comes in real handy leading up to a vacation week or the holidays.
What does this thrifty meander have to do with my Saturday theme? Part of getting my s&^$t together is knowing the tools that work and do not work for me. Ibotta deal chasing, store bucks, couponing with rigor, and other standard frugalista hacks are not cutting it for me. Using up what we have and keeping my wallet out of the stores does.
The cleaning and working out "snacks" have been easy to fit into my week. Waking up last Saturday and this morning without a mound of dirty towels piled in the corner of the bathroom has been nice. Walking into the living room or dining room to wood furniture that has already been dusted is a breath of fresh air and didn't even land on my Saturday "to do" list. Fitting in morning, or early afternoon stretching, some weight, or resistance has helped my comfort level when I'm stuck in my desk staring at a computer screen for hours on end. It's only been a couple weeks with this approach, but I'll keep at it for both cleaning and exercise.
Now I'm debating holding off until Monday shopping for groceries or thrifting. We ended up not getting take out last night, but instead, I made the chicken stir fry (without any egg rolls) and the last of my rice. Tonight or tomorrow could be take out, but I could also just cook a few other options still on my list. Decisions, decisions. I'll keep you posted on what I decide to do. Riveting content I know. The stir fry sauce was really good, but the trick is to make sure the chicken and veg have loads of garlic and ginger within the stir fry.
- 1/3 c low sodium soy sauce
- Touch less than 1/4 c sesame oil
- 1TBSP corn starch
Shake all in mason jar, (I used my little IKEA milk frother to get rid of lumps) add to chicken and veg once just about done, coat and fry few more minutes. So good, even though I only had powdered ginger and jar minced garlic.
The wind howled yesterday, snow blew harsh into my face when walking the dog. Had we got any new snow, it would have been a blizzard. No clue yet what today will be like but I'll stay home if a repeat. I can wait to shop since ai have the extra day. DH might want to go to a movie as he saw the ad for Dog and thought it looked funny. Since I get to travel, I suppose he should get a movie. I hope your Saturday is a good one.
I concur with your tactic of staying out of the stores to save money. It's hard not to indulge in a good sale or treats. I also avoid looking at store advertisements unless there's a shop scheduled for that week. A well-stocked pantry keeps extra store visits to a minimum. I use the "shop at home" method: check the pantry and freezer stores then make something from what's available.
ReplyDeleteOur pantry is pretty clean right now. Oh there's basics but I'm out of such basics as flour.
DeleteI did not feel like shopping, so I had Tommy go into the store for one thing with the orders not to buy anything else. I thought that sounded harsh, so I said to go ahead and get anything he thought we needed. He came out with chocolate ice cream. Another time, he commented he got things on endcaps. Those endcaps are alluring, hardly like shopping at all, just grab something as you go past!
ReplyDeletePrime store real relastate.
DeleteSo glad the exercise snacking is going well. At the beginning of the pandemic/WFH, I was great about using the time to tackle mini organization & cleaning chores. Now that we are at the two year mark, I'm a lot less great about it. I have drastically increased the amount of time I spend on working out, so it's not been a loss, just different.
ReplyDeleteI managed to get all of the suits I ordered (we're going to a formal wedding in May, and finding inexpensive but reasonably nice suits that fit two skinny teenagers with apparently muscular soccer legs has been a big challenge) & didn't need returned. I'm bummed, because we have one that's a success, and I'd ordered the second one. It arrived with the wrong size (not what I'd ordered, must have been a shipping mix up) & getting that returned has been a big challenge.
Today is a packing day for us. We leave for Park City tomorrow, for a ski trip. There are a lot of logistics for that kind of travel, so I'll be working on that most of the day.
Sadly other than getting the office, the organization bug never hit. I wasted time instead. I still need more working out time when I have the time and not just rely on short bursts.
DeleteI was transfixed by the women's biathlon, I was exhausted just watching it. Like you, I'm constantly in awe of the commitment of athletes. xxx
ReplyDeleteBeing in the cold, or a hot gym, or swimming pool for hours upon hours is unimaginable to me
DeleteI'm with you - staying out of the stores definitely keeps me from spending. There is always something new or an unexpected sale resulting in extra items in the cart. I've also learned to stay away from on-line shopping.
ReplyDeleteThe snacking option for exercise sounds like a great idea. I tend to walk when I'm on the phone (since I talk to my daughter at least three times a day, I have no problem getting in my steps), but I could really use adding some stretching or weights to my routine.
Have a great weekend!
Walking outside has challenges in winter but I could pace more on the phone. Good idea.
DeleteGood Job on using what you have.
ReplyDeleteWe buy local meat every few months so always have a well-stocked freezer. For everything else, we stock up every two or three weeks with maybe one halfway point shop on dairy and fruits and veg.
I am actually very good at sticking to my list and only buying what we need. I don't particularly enjoy grocery shopping, so my goal is always to get in and get out asap.
Enjoy your Saturday!!
I too am a list shopper, but then things get moved and I see new stuff. Which is why stores move things.
DeleteI agree with you about staying out of the stores making a difference. I normally shop around what I have on hand and what is on sale. I use mostly BOGO deals for stock ups, but every once in awhile just concentrating on using up what we have saves money and keeps things from sticking around in the freezer or on the shelves too long. Have a great weekend Sam!
ReplyDeleteBOGO's are great, but Aldi rarely has. I'll get them locally though. I feel like this needs to be a small garden year.
DeleteI did not see any Olympics
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered if grocery stores dislike on-line shopping as it cuts down on impulse shopping. I
I'm sure it does, though clicking is very easy to get carried away with. Look at Amazon.
Deletegood point that.
DeleteI'm another one that stays pretty close to my list. I'll grab a good deal if I see one (my local grocery stores sometimes sell packages of marked-down cheese ends, and I always grab some of those if they're there, and marked-down produce- I grab what I can use off of that rack, since it's $1 per bag, always cheaper than the newer produce, and it keeps it out of the landfill). But I rarely step outside that, because I'm cheap, haha. I *did* get one of the storage ottomans from Aldi this week, but I've been looking for one for ages. I'd gotten a smaller one from Freecycle, but this is both bigger and taller, which helps my hips when I sit down! Overall, though, I'm big on necessities, and I'm usually pretty honest with myself when it comes to needs vs. wants.
ReplyDeleteI use that same recipe when I make stir fry! :)
My daughter has a storage ottoman/ vanity chair in her room. I may nab for myself if she doesn't keep post graduation/ first working girl apartment next year.
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