As we bid farewell to the second and third months of our low-buy year, it’s time for a candid reflection on our journey thus far. February, often hailed as the month of love, presented its fair share of challenges on our path to mindful consumption. Honestly, I marvel at families who commit to a strict “no-buy” year because, let’s face it, refraining from purchases, especially with kids in the picture, is no easy feat. March brought its own set of tests as Easter and family gatherings loomed on the horizon. While I can’t claim absolute victory, I can say with certainty that we tried to tread lightly on our wallets. So, let’s delve into the details of our spending over these past two months. But before we do, a quick recap of our guiding principles is in order:
Guidelines for our Low Buy Year:
-Use what we have first before making new purchases
-Only replace items when damaged or empty
-Dining out is ok but try to remain within the budget (target goal is $400 monthly- this will be challenging for our family)
-Prioritize purchasing secondhand items or support more environmentally friendly companies
-Allocate a clothing budget of $400 per person for the year.
-Investing in educational opportunities that bring us joy is ok
-Keep a Wishlist
February and March Assessment:
February and March wasn’t a walk in the park for us. Our discretionary spending clocked in at $1,100.41 for February and $883.66 for March, a bit higher than January’s. Despite the challenges, we made some thoughtful purchases.
| February – Discretionary Expenses |
Notes: | |
| General Merchandise | $200.89 | books, hangers, backpack, garden tools |
| Clothing | $120.04 | |
| Shoes | $0 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Restaurants | $562.42 | Dining Out- Family of 3 |
| Kid Sports Gear | $217.06 | Football and Volleyball |
| TOTAL: | $1,100.41 |
In pursuit of a more organized living space, I picked up a pack of 20 Amazon Basics pants hangers. They’ve worked wonders in decluttering and beautifying my closet, making every item easily accessible.
In February, we also replaced an old backpack with a sleek, lightweight laptop backpack for my husband’s work travels. It’s proven to be a practical and stylish addition to his daily routine. He’s super happy with it and highly recommends it. Additionally, we opted for buying sports gear for our daughter who played flag football and volleyball. Mouthguard, knee pads, soccer cleats, a volleyball, and uniforms add up quickly.
| March – Discretionary Expenses | Notes: | |
| General Merchandise | $327.29 | flash light, leather work gloves, trash bags, cookbook, board games, duct tape, other |
| Clothing | $0 | |
| Shoes | $0 | |
| Office supplies | $0 | |
| Restaurants | $556.37 | Dining Out- Family of 3 |
| Kid Sports Gear | $0.00 | |
| TOTAL: | $883.66 |
With Spring on the horizon and rainy days, a small gardening tool set became a necessity, as well as the purchase of a good pair of leather work gloves.
Our dining out expenses continued to pose a challenge for us in February and March, despite our best efforts to control them. Family visits and Valentine’s Day celebrations pushed our dining expenses higher. However, we decided to take matters into our own hands and found a creative solution for some of the celebrations. We established our own home-cooked Valentine Day meal as a special tradition for our family of three. This not only allowed us to celebrate love and togetherness in a meaningful way but also helped us cut down on dining out costs.
In line with this newfound commitment to home cooking, we invested in a cookbook highly recommended by my sister-in-law: I Dream of Dinner. To my surprise, I’ve found myself trying out a new recipe from it every week and thoroughly enjoying the experience. The recipes are simple but delicious. With this intentional shift towards home-cooked meals, we’re optimistic that we’ll see a noticeable reduction in our dining out expenses next month.
February and March may have presented its share of financial hurdles, but it also afforded us opportunities to make conscious choices and cherish meaningful moments. As we move forward, we remain committed to balancing our desires with fiscal responsibility.
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