walletbuddy.pdf (application/pdf Object)

I'm proud to say that I haven't used my credit card since February 3rd.

That's when I slipped my credit card into the Center for a New American Dream's wallet buddy (PDF). This little envelope reminds me why I'm trying to be a Conscious Consumer. I have to admit to almost using my credit card and, having taken the envelope out of my wallet, thinking twice, and putting it back.

Even using cash is better, because it's a much more tangible way for me to keep track of what I'm spending. It was hard not to miss that $20 bill after dinner last night!

So far, my strict budget for February is going well, and I'm not missing the things that I'm not buying. I'm afraid that I'm holding off some purchases (like clothes and entertainment) until next month, but hopefully I'll come up with a good system, and a realistic budget, so that I can still buy the things that I "need" and not feel bad about it all the time.

My dear three readers:

I'd like to step away from myself for a post, albeit not completely, to announce that Conscious Consuming has a new website.

Conscious Consuming is a great resource, especially if you live in the Boston area, for a network of people concerned about living simply, with as little damage to themselves and the environment, and celebrating life not through how much money and possessions we have but through the time we spend with friends and family doing the things we love. I should know: I'm one of them!

I hope you enjoy our new website! Please pass it on!

It's my birthday, and I'm trying to think of things that are fulfilling to me that don't cost money. It's a small list right now, and ranges from life-saving to trivial. But I'm pleased with it and will continue to add to it.

1. My friends, of course
2. My family (I probably cost them more money!)

And now the more trivial:

1. Making coffee just the way I like it
2. Watching my cats play for hours with sticks and the laser pen
   
3. Being told that I'm hot by a stranger (female)
4. The satisfying *click* the cross-walk button makes on my way to school
5. Figuring out a new trick on Microsoft Word (pretty much an everyday occurance)

I'll think of more later. Happy birthday to me!

Even food:

Yes, I'm going to cut down on the amount I spend on food. That doesn't mean starving myself, however; it just means making different decisions.

For one, I'll buy less processed foods and more ingredients in which to make my food from.

Second, I'll eat out less often and spend less when I do.

Third, I'm going to stop making "quick stops" at the neighborhood grocery store on my way home from school and instead do more consolidated shopping at cheaper venues like Peapod.

Lastly, (and I'm embarassed to say this), I'll stop eating out of the vending machines when I'm at school late into the night, and I'll just bring snacks from home, because I know I'm always going to be hungry when I'm there.

It sounds so damn easy, but it's not, especially when I'm hungry and have no time and don't know when I will. Well, I'll just have to make time or plan early more often. It's all part of the experiment!

Ok, this is going to be fun:

For the last six months, I've been tracking how much I spend on everything: food, utilities, clothes, entertainment, school stuff. I haven't been doing much, though, apart from entering numbers into an Excel sheet and clucking to myself about how I spend too much money. I've been calling this "my budget," even though I haven't really been limiting myself to any amount of money (within my own judgment, of course).

This month, though, is going to be different.

This month, I'm going to give myself a budget and make sure I stick to it. I've taken an average of how much I've spent over the last six months (minus outliers, like my computer, furniture, etc.) and deducted 10%, which is how I'm going to limit the amount I spend. I've divvied up this deduction to different areas listed above, although obviously I can't pay less than my fixed payment on my cellphone, which just means I'll have to cut something else down even further.

Think I can do it? I'm not so sure myself, but I'm going to try. I should have done this long ago, but I didn't, and that's no excuse not to start now. I'll keep you updated!