Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Where are you and where are you going?
JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Spending log

Post by JenAR »

$9 ice cream

Dang it! I didn’t even think about no-spend August until I was signing the receipt. Yesterday I bought ice cream for my partner and me during our walk along the river on our twice-a-month trip into town to shop for the community. Whoops!

I am somewhat comforted by the fact that my last purchase was on the 26th of July, so I did go more than a month without spending anything—it just wasn’t the calendar month of August. Still, I am a little annoyed with myself for my absentmindedness.

classical_Liberal
Posts: 2283
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:05 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by classical_Liberal »

If you could have waited until today for ice cream... :roll:

Still a good effort, congrats!

sky
Posts: 1726
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:20 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by sky »

Ice cream, totally worth it

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

I know, so silly!

I am thinking about trying again in September. We might have to put gas in the truck this month, though. Plus I am dying for an ebook. But I hate to reward myself for not following through (well, except with ice cream)—no-spend September it is! I will figure out the truck issue.

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

No-spend September is a go so far.

Canned fifty quarts of jam today, tired. Need to plant saffron this weekend and put our house back together now that the earthen floors are sealed and dry.

7Wannabe5
Posts: 9369
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:03 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by 7Wannabe5 »

What fun you have!

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

My life is pretty great!

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

I want to buy an ebook so badly. Halfway through no-spend September and holding out so far, but I keep torturing myself with Kindle samples.

Western Red Cedar
Posts: 1205
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 2:15 pm

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by Western Red Cedar »

If you have a local library card you should be able to check out ebooks for free from the county/city library. I use something called the libby app. You have to wait for certain books, and they don't have everything, but the price is right. Good work on the no-spend September!

ertyu
Posts: 2893
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2016 2:31 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by ertyu »

https://www.netgalley.com/ here you can read books for free before they are published in exchange for a review.

classical_Liberal
Posts: 2283
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:05 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by classical_Liberal »

JenAR wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:00 pm
I want to buy an ebook so badly. Halfway through no-spend September and holding out so far, but I keep torturing myself with Kindle samples.
Jesus JenAR! You spent $10 on icecream less than three weeks ago! Get it together and make it happen!

For reference, I've probably spent about $600 on rent, food, a new (to me) bike and entertainment since then. :oops:

But this is about you and setting some frigg'en no spend records! Come on, you got this... right?

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

Ha! “In nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in.”

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

I taught myself to use a sewing machine yesterday, and today knocked out half of my mending, which has been accumulating for over a year. Exciting! I do not find it as pleasant as hand sewing, and don’t have good control over it yet, but it’s so FAST.

No-spend September still on track.

mooretrees
Posts: 762
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2019 1:21 pm

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by mooretrees »

Keep going on the no-spend! Hopefully you can stave off the ice cream + books craving just a bit longer. Good luck!

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

The craving has abated! No-spend is a go.

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by JenAR »

I just got accepted to a 10-day Vipassana meditation course in November. It will be my second such course. The courses (including food and accommodation) are free, and donations are accepted only from students who have completed a course and benefited from the practice. I found my first course so valuable that I donated $500 afterward, several months’ expenses for me. Meditation helps me eschew instant gratification, which is very helpful for ERE. I am currently making my partner a meditation cushion with my new sewing machine skills and some scraps of fabric from the community “free shelf,” so he doesn’t have to use a wadded up throw pillow anymore. I have also started cutting pieces for a quilt from free shelf fabric—I am going to attempt making the quilt without spending any money whatsoever. The templates I am using were purchased for me by my mom, the cutting mat borrowed from a friend, and the rotary cutter acquired with Amazon points. I am only using natural fabrics and threads, which will make it more challenging, but not impossible.

RoamingFrancis
Posts: 593
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:43 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by RoamingFrancis »

AAAAHHHHHHH I took a Vipassana course in that same tradition two years ago and it changed my life. I love to geek out about it literally whenever I can!!! Good luck on your course, wishing you the best!

classical_Liberal
Posts: 2283
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:05 am

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by classical_Liberal »

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Last edited by classical_Liberal on Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:00 am, edited 1 time in total.

JenAR
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:46 am

No money spent in September!

Post by JenAR »

No-spend September was a success!

Spending since I’ve started tracking it:

July: $322.32+ (I started tracking mid-month, so only have a partial accounting; this was the month of the big meet the parents wedding road trip, very spendy)
August: $9
September $0

UrbanHomesteader
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:02 pm

Re: Renewed motivation to push for financial independence

Post by UrbanHomesteader »

Congrats on meeting your goal! I hope you take a few minutes to bask in the glory!

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