The life and times of Libby Withnall

I have to admit my no spend month has been a bit of a challenge – as I knew it would be. I don’t have much money left in my purse and quite a few items have gone on the credit card – and will have to be paid fornext month. HOWEVER, there have been numerous times this month when I’ve not gone to a shop or ordered something online, purely because of the challenge. So, in that regard, the challenge has been a success.

I was actually doing really well until yesterday. I had to take Amy into town as she needed some skin care. I came home with some new nail polish. Then she “needed” a black bracelet for a halloween costume. I came home with 3 (very cute) necklaces. Then we discovered that Typo had opened in Wollongong. I was “good” and only got a few things. Oops. I totally blame Amy .

As for the grocery part of the challenge. I think we can call that a total failure. I ‘ve already used up one of $500 vochures and can’t really see us managing on $500 till Christmas. It was a big ask I suppose when the grocery money includes toiletries and such.

So with just over a week left I’m renewing my commitment to only spend minimally. It’s a bit of a difficult time of year for a no-spend challenge, with it being Christmas present buying season, but I will extend the challenge by a week or two and then MAKE SURE I stick to my budget.

Okay, so it’s supposed to be NO SPEND MONTH but I don’t see that happening. Instead our family is going to aim for a minimum spend month. The reason being we’ve… okay, I’ve done a bit of spending lately (partly pleasure and partly medical bills) and our savings has gone back done AGAIN.  I certainly don’t spend like I used to but kids are expensive and I find it hard to say no to them. But this month it will be NO.

My plan of attack is to work out how much money I will need for the month – for things already planned – and just take out that amount in cash.  The rest of my normal weekly spending will be put straight onto our VISA.

Here’s what I know is coming up in October (on top of normal household bills). It’s actually a VERY quiet month so the challenge shouldn’t hopefully be too hard.

- Dogs to vets

- Christy’s new passport

- Appointment at Beauticians (won’t cancel as she’s a great friend)

- Halloween Party (need to supply food, paper plates, cups, etc)

- Possible lunch out with Amy next Monday

- Book group – possible lunch out

- 4 basketball games (we sometimes have dinner out and usually buy an ice-cream or popcorn – will need to look at having dinner beforehand and taking our own snacks)

- Any money paid to the girls for doing jobs.

When I add it up it totals nearly one weeks worth of cash spending – which means I’ll be able to save 3 weeks worth of cash in the month. Not to shabby indeed.

As for groceries I have two $500 vochures (from frequent flyer points) and intend to make that last until Christmas. There are 10 more grocery shops so I have on average $100 a week. This doesn’t include fruit & veg – which I buy at a different shop. On top of that we’re doing a $21 grocery challenge this week – but I already spent that yesterday . Things may be a little challenging towards the end of the week. But I think we should be right, except for milk – which I will buy if I need to. We’re all trying to eat healthy at the moment so I’m not worried what I spend on fruit, veg and other healthy essentials, as long as they are eaten. We’ve had a bit of a bad run with foods going off before being consumed. And that is a big waste of money. We have a pretty well stocked pantry so with a little thought and planning we should be able to manage. And since fruit and veg aren’t included in the $100 we might just have to eat a lot more of those.

Since I normally spend around $200 a week at the supermarket, this will give me $2,000 to be towards our bills, or savings, or our Fiji holiday .

So what will we do for entertainment? If the weather ever warms up we’ll go to the beach, have a picnic, visit some gardens to see Spring flowers, get together with friends.  We also have annual pass to the zoo & science center and some movie vochures we could use.

I found a great site if you’d like more information on how you could do a no spend month. Let me know if you’ve done one before or if you plan to join me.

I have to confess it’s only been the last that I’ve really started utilizing the local library. In fact I only got a membership around 2 years ago. But when I realized I could request books, and they’d actually BUY them, then loan them to me – that was when I fell in LOVE!!!

Today I scored these little beauties…

The top 3 books I had ordered and the bottom two I saw when I had a little browse around. I’m especially excited about the Pioneer Woman Cooks by blogger Ree Drummond. I’ve flicked through it and think it might be added to my TO BUY list. This was one of my requests. I think in the last year I’ve requested at least 12 books and all have been purchased (except one they said was too old). Out of those 12 book I’ve gone on to by 1 (and this will no doubt be the 2nd). Lots of money saved there!!!

So if you haven’t visited your local library for a while do yourself, and your wallet, a favour and do so soon.

I’m not sure where I first heard about this book Made From Scratch : Discovering the pleasures of a handmade life by Jenna Woginrich but I asked my library to purchase it, which they kindly did.  I’ve never been much of a library girl but since discovering them about 2 years I’m a convert – esp as they have bought a great many of the books I’ve suggested .

Anyway, back to the book review. I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. Jenna tells many tales about her move to the country and her endeavours to live a simple life. She is a great and witty writer and has a very easy to read style. Even the sections on things not really of any relevance to me – like beekeeping – I found a fascinating read. Not only does Jenna tell us her own journey but she gives you tips, tricks and lots of information. If you are interested in simple life or a “handmade life” on any level this book is definitely worth checking out. In fact, I’ll be putting it my “to purchase one day” list.

Finally, I was quite excited to find she has a website Cold Antler Farm so I read more of her adventures.

Oh, and I loved how this book used recycled paper…

For anyone in the Wollongong Area this will be back at the library by Monday .

Today I joined a bus load of women (none of whom I knew) to go on a tour of local op shops. It was a free event run by Sustainable Illawarra. This was my first time EVER in an op-shop as a customer so it was a whole new experience for me. I felt a little uncomfortable at first – not knowing where things were or quite how it all works. I didn’t find any clothes for myself but did buy a couple of things for the girls. I found it frustrating liking something but it being too big or too small. Most shops (we went to 5) were well arranged – with clothes sorted by type and colour. Having said that I have to say that I don’t think op-shopping is for me. Not to say I won’t try it again – I’m sure it would be easier if I was thinner, and maybe had someone else to go with.  Anyway, it’s something I can cross of my to-do list for the year.

Hmm… that’s a hard question to answer isn’t it. And EVERYONE is going to have a different one. Busy Women at A Vision Spendid recently got me thinking about this. I’m sure I’m a long way off what most people would consider to be living simply but to me it’s not just a way of life but a goal to strive towards. It’s also always changing. We’ve only been in our new home for just over 2 years but already we know we wouldn’t have built here now – we would have got more land for our animals and veggies. But we love the location (can ride our bikes to school) and we will stay here for at least another 10-15 years while the kids finish school. A big part of simple living to me is being kind to the environment. We are lucky enough we can afford to do this by having hybrid cars and just today we have a bore being put it so we can have all the water we desire for our garden.

According to wikipedia simple living (voluntary simplicity) is a lifestyle in which individuals consciously choose to minimize the ‘more-is-better’ pursuit of wealth and consumption. Adherents choose simple living for a variety of reasons, including spirituality, health, increase in ‘quality time‘ for family and friends, stress reduction, conservation, social justice or anti-consumerism, while others choose to live more simply for reasons of personal taste or personal economy.

Another definition that I really love is from The Simple Living Network : Simple living — aka voluntary simplicity — has just about as many definitions as there are individuals who practice it. Simple living is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. Rather, it is about living an examined life — one in which you have determined what is important, or “enough,” for you, discarding the rest.

Okay, so here’s a list of how I think we live simply.

* Have our own chooks

* Have a veggie garden

* Walk or ride to school when possible

* Try to do more rather than buy

* Menu plan and cook at home

* Limit packaging/bags/etc.

* Recycle where possible

* Don’t buy brand names just because they are brand names (though sometimes do for quality)

* Watching only TV shows I love – mainly lifestyle and discovery health (show that enhance my life)

* Don’t watch the news (too depressing)

* Donate all unwanted/unloved items on a regular basis (reduces clutter and blesses someone else)

* Have a rain water tank, and soon, a bore.

* Buy carbon credits to reduce our carbon footprint

* Staying home in a clean, tidy house thatI love rather than going out all the time (something I did when dd8 was first born)

This last year I have really settled into a comfortable routine and am pleased with how my life is developing. Shopping would still be my biggest hurdle to overcome, but I know I’ve eliminated the need to shop to escape my home and nearly all the purchases I make are useful/needed.

Just like life, simple living is a journey with it’s twist and turns, up and downs.

A few weeks back we bought some Organic Fair Trade tea bags – they came without string – which I thought was a great idea. But after thinking about it some more I realized we didn’t really need to buy tea bags at all. I could use the new little tea pot that Kevin bought a few months ago. Then today I also found another little gadget Kevin had bought which will be perfect for doing my single cups of teas. Not sure if it’s all in the mind but a pot of tea seems to taste a lot better. And on an evironmental side I find I’m putting the loose tea into the tub for the worms rather in the tea bags going in the bin.