Welcome to No Spending January

January 3, 2018 at Bed and Bath on Broadway.

 Clearly no one got the memo that it's No Spending January.

I've been thinking about my word of the year, "Health." When I initially chose it my perspective was pretty narrow. I was simply thinking of physical health and actions I wanted to take to improve my balance, weight and well-being. But in the last few days I've realized that (good) health includes much more than my physical health. It starts there, but once I let my mind wander I thought of financial health, intellectual health and spiritual health. It seems like too much to think about, even for an entire year. But I am going to pick one goal for each of these areas that will be specific and achievable.

My goal for improving my financial health is bringing back an old friend, No Spending January. This is as simple as it sounds. After the spending excesses of December I don't spend money on "things" in January. I can buy groceries, go to the movies, and pay my regular bills. But I don't make spur of the moment purchases for things I don't really need. I generally plan purchases, but I've been known to buy a new brand of shampoo when it's on sale, even though I have enough shampoo to wash my hair through the end of this decade. I will stay away from post-Christmas sales and won't look at emails offering giant discounts on clothes I probably don't need. In the interest of transparency I am thinking of using a gift card I received and buying a suitcase to replace one that is very heavy.    
 

In Manhattan temptation is everywhere. I took the photographs in this post yesterday walking from the gym to the bus stop. Literally every street corner seems to whisper "Buy something here." I'm usually disciplined, but a lapse here and there can eat a hole in my budget and I don't have much to show for these lapses.

This is the scene at the bus stop. It's so tempting to duck in and warm up while I'm waiting for the bus and just see what's on sale. Don't I need another pair of jeans or another pair of socks if they're on sale? Not if it's No Spending January.

My only purchase thus far is an e-book for my book club next week. I had hoped my reserve would come through from the library, but the I didn't make it off the waiting list. I used a gift card to buy Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You. 

 

What are your money saving tips for 2018?  

I didn't make it out of the house today. We had about 8 inches of snow, but it was windy and slippery and in the interest of prudence I stayed in, read and baked cookies. I also watched endless hours of weather coverage.

As always, thanks for visiting. Take care and stay warm.