the new frugality?

So kymmz posted a thought on Facebook today that she'd like to have a no-buying year, and I think with a few exceptions I'm going to try to do the same. I always think that I don't spend any money on myself, but if I really examine my spending habits, I'm totally delusional in that regard.

So I need to think about my additional costs beyond food, gas, bills. Anything extra, really. If I look at it broken down by annual, monthly, and daily charges it might be a little easier to think about.

ANNUAL CHARGES:

• I currently subscribe to Wired and Entertainment Weekly, as I have for over 10 years, and this last year I haven't read one word of either of them. I could see about subscribing on iPad only, so maybe instead of completely cancelling I'll see if it's cheaper there. It would be greener, anyway. So that's either a cancel or keep, but modified
  
• Flickr: stays, I still actively use it all the time
  
• I have museum memberships at the Museum of Science and at the Peabody Essex Museum. I like them both, but I think I'll cancel the MoS. I got it because I work next to it and never go. I've gone a few times, now, and I won't be working next to it beyond the next few months. It's probably a waste. The PEM will probably stay, because I like to support community stuff
  
• I am thinking of adding a membership to the ICA, but I want to go there first and see if I like it. They have events on the first Friday each month (free for members) and they all seem pretty cool (movies and performances and such).

MONTHLY CHARGES:

• I have a YMCA membership. I haven't been in over two months due to my knee and elbow, but I am going to start swimming again so that stays
  
• Netflix: stays, Mom uses HOURS AND HOURS of it per week. Going to get rid of the CD side of it, though
  
• Audible: stays, since it's the only thing that's worked to keep me happy while walking or working out

So that's all the monthly and annual extra costs. Since I'm keeping most of them, no hardship for me there. The hardship will come with the daily stuff. I do most of mother's shopping for her — the drug store, Target, clothing, gifts for others that she wants to give, snacks, the lottery, etc. Which means I can't just avoid those stores. I will have to think of visits to them as unpleasant tasks, and not as invitations to browse. I can wander around for a half hour in Target and come out $150 poorer without even realizing it. My weaknesses are organizational things, bags, gadgets, cat toys (that's a new one), accessories like wallets and gloves, etc. But honestly, I HAVE THEM ALL. I don't need more! I think a solution here is to note down everything I want to buy but don't. Some kind of attagirl. Maybe I'll note it here.

To prepare for this I decided to get my planned purchases out of the way before the New Year. I had to return some Xmas gifts from Mom — she seems to have disappeared down some "people who purchased this also get that" Amazon rabbit hole, and gave me a bunch of stuff I don't want or need. I got the credit back from Amazon on Friday, so today I spent it on the remaining things I need. I got a new camera from Patrick for Christmas, so I needed a case and some additional batteries and an additional memory card for it. I needed a new iPad case (since I managed to break mine in the old case) so I ordered that. I wanted a new wallet, so I got that too. And I needed a new charger for my old camera, since I managed to misplace it when I moved last January. And that ends the year, and should keep me happy for the whole next year (I hope).

Things that are OK to spend money on:

• I can buy some books on my kindle, but since I have a backlog already I will try to keep that to a minimum. Plus I plan to use the borrow feature in Amazon Prime. I need to only buy the books with the contents of my change jar, as I currently do already
• I know I'll need some clothes (although I have Xmas lottery winnings sitting in a drawer for that very purpose); the new job will require it once I have to go into the in-town office, if nothing else
• I'll need new glasses and a few haircuts
• I will need to get a commuter bag once I start taking the T everyday because I've been driving to work for the last 15 years and I have nothing lightweight and convenient. My current bag is 10 years old and has a broken strap connector
• I'll need to keep an eye on eating out expenses and on going out expenses. I think going out once a week is fine. If I go out more than that, it should be more of a going "in" kind of thing — like we hang out at someone's house, rather than wandering around spending money somewhere.

So that will be resolution #1. Buy nothing (much) this year.

Books roundup, 2012 edition

And the end of the year has arrived. The tally ( within )

more resolve

So I have been thinking about the new year, and I started with the buy nothing (much) resolution. I would like to get the rest of my consumer debt gone before I hit fifty, and just leave myself my student loan debt (a lot less of that, too). It's doable, but probably only if I get a part time job, or if I get a new full time job that pays really well. So resolution #2 is to find a new job this year. For reals.

Next up is health. For two+ months I've been very unmotivated. My knee hurt, physical therapy was ok but ultimately unsuccessful (I mean, it's better, but it's not back to normal), and it got cold and dark outside. I put on 10 pounds! Some days it's 12. So it's back on the exercise wagon, and snacks have to go back to being the healthful kind and not the awesome kind. I am pretty sure I can swim with this knee problem. And screw the knee anyway. It's not the boss of me!

I've also got my deliberate fun idea from a previous post. Don't rely on fun just happening; become more deliberate about seeking it out. It's harder while I live with Mom. She's not a fan of spontaneity. She also has a lot of fear-based little-old-lady issues. Going out at night is dangerous! Being alone in the house is also dangerous! Leaving the house empty is dangerous! So I need to find a better solution to dealing with her fears so I can still go have fun. It's easier to cave, but I need to not do that so much.

My final thought is to get some learnin'. I need to get my skills all polished and shiny, and I'd like to get some more practice in some other things.

So:
1. Stuff, get none
2. Job, get one
3. Health, get more
4. Fun, have lots
5. Learning, get some

Next up: how to schedule this stuff into my life so I actually do them!