Money-Free Mondays

Here's the plan: I'll continue spending no money, but only one day a week. It'll still be a challenge, (especially because I've already got an invite for tonight to a happy hour. I can enjoy the water), but it won't be as overwhelming as not spending money at all.

One day a week, no money on entertainment, restaurants, clothes, etc. I'm going to still allow myself the necessities from my 30-Day-Challenge (see post #1) because deferring my grocery shopping to Tuesday or not allowing myself to travel doesn't make sense.

I won't allow myself to pre-purchase tickets to a concert or something happening on a Monday either. The goal is to do things that don't cost money and have never cost me money in the past, so I'm not allowing for that little loophole.

Why Mondays? It has a nice ring to it, Money-Free Mondays. I also don't work Mondays so I don't have an 8-hour-stretch of time where I am incapable of spending money (except for maybe a staff run to Chipotle but still, it would be too easy). I don't work on Fridays either but not spending money on Fridays just seems... silly.

Goals:

• Live as cheaply as possible throughout the week, but buy nothing on Mondays
• Cook one meal using scratch ingredients every Monday (or at least once a week)
• Find awesome free ways to entertain myself
• Bike to work once a week

I'll use resources such as the Going Out Guide's Free and Easy section, the Free In DC blog, the guide to eating well cheaply Poor Girl Eats Well as well as any other resources I stumble across.

(I also already know that I'll have to defer Monday, September 5th to Tuesday the 6th because I already bought tickets to a concert... whoops)

This feels like a good compromise. I might think differently if a Monday Night Outdoor Folk Concert Series (featuring all of Tiffany's favorite artists and only cost $10 a night!) starts up this Fall, but the chances of that are slim, right?

The Aftermath

I have to admit, I fell off the wagon after this challenge ended. I don't consider shopping an addiction, so it wasn't a relapse, but I did spend stupid amounts of money on stupid things. I told myself "I deserve this, I've been so good", but the feelings of guilt and worry that ensued made it less than enjoyable.

All that freedom I felt last month flew out the window, and although I am stabilizing now, it made me realize that I'd like to (perhaps need to?) keep this blog going. Let's call it blogging rehab.

On August 13th, the day after my challenge ended, I spent $16 on drinks at Dodge City and $4 on pizza from a food truck. I woke up feeling like hell for multiple reasons, but mostly because I dove head first back into my old spending ways.

On the 14th, I bought a concert ticket for $21, and although I avoided the $7 online charge by buying tickets directly from the venue, I became hungry while walking there and spent $10 on lunch (If I split the difference and call it a $3 lunch, it's a steal!)

On the 15th, $18.15 went to dinner and beer at Thunder Burger. It was DC Beer Week, so I had to try the beer, right?

On the 17th, Beer Week Trivia Night, a "free event", cost me $12 for mac-and-cheese and, of course, beer (I may be sounding like an alcoholic on top of a spend-a-holic).

Either way, this all adds up to (oh, it's painful, don't make me).... $81.15.


Ouch.

So while I don't want to to continue the No-Spending-Challenge or keep track of every dime, I'd like to turn this blog into a How-to-Guide for living cheaply. Although I may not sound like an expert based on last week's extravagance, my mother has taught me well. She is the queen of couponing, sales and finding bargains and has passed down these traits to me.

I'll link to Free in DC often, I'm sure, but this will hopefully provide insight for people living everywhere into ways to save money but still enjoy a good life. Like my challenge, this blog is unplanned, so we'll just have to see where this free-dom (ha ha, get it?) takes us. Andiamo!

Day 30- Total Spent

I have a quick story I want to share from this morning before we get to my total spent. A girl wearing a really nice blouse and skirt got on the metro carrying a Bloomingdale's bag, and I didn't think much of it until she pulled out the receipt with a worried expression on her face. She studied it for a few minutes, obviously concerned, and then rifled through her bag, as if searching for what had cost her so much. She then went on to mess with her iPhone but it struck me how genuinely unhappy and unsettled she seemed.

Usually, I know the feeling. This month, however, I can't relate. And it feels like pure freedom.

I added up the amount I spent last month and compared it to this month. Wow. Although my main goal was not to save money, that just sort of... happened. Here we go:

• Groceries
• Last month: $191.29
• This month: $181.75
• Eating out
• Last month: $157.79
• This month: $19.18
• Entertainment
• Last month: $25.76
• This month: $11
• Transportation
• Last month: $314.57
• This month: $115.85
• Personal/Clothing
• Last month: $144.58
• This month: $58.25

(After adding in my bills)

Total spent last month: $1063.91

Total spent this month: $605.95

Holy crap. I spent $457.96 less than I did last month. Not only did I spend less on groceries even though I wasn't eating out, everything I bought in the "Personal" category was either medicine, necessary for my safety or a hair cut (which, sorry, but I deemed that necessary). Transportation is a bit skewed because I spent some money fixing up my bike, but even still it's a huge difference.

I'll be honest, I'm surprised. Even though I kept commenting on how money was adding up quickly, I was completely unaware of how much more quickly my money had gone away the previous month. It was too much to keep up with, and the combination of my checking account and credit card didn't help.

This is great. But the greatest part about it is that I'm not special, a martyr or more disciplined than anyone else. Anyone can do this. Because one thing I've realized during this challenge is that while the idea of "everything in moderation" is prolific in the US, our idea of moderation is actually excess. Everyone has wants and desires, and it's perfectly fine to fulfill them sometimes, but there's no reason to be driven to the brink of insanity for them.

Because if we're all insane, there wouldn't be much pleasure in that, would there?

Next 30-Day-Challenge: Maybe I'll stick to poetry.

Day 29- Almost there!

I spent $0.50 for a tip for a sample of gelato at a coffee event that was otherwise free (other than that I spent nothing in the last two days).

I have one more day until I can start spending money again. It's almost sad to have this end, I've enjoyed the challenge and the response I've gotten from people who supported the idea. I've been debating continuing the spending celibacy for another 30 days (heck, why not try a year?) but I don't think it's necessary.

Matt Cutts was right in his video that originally inspired me to do this challenge. 30 days is a good amount of time for something to become a habit. And I've learned a lot during this month. Mostly I've learned to just do what I want to do.

I challenged myself to ride my bike to work once a week, and while I only did two out of four weeks, I still did it. I went to free events. I made food from scratch. I didn't buy food out and noticed that I usually didn't want the frozen yogurt, burrito, etc. that other people around me were eating anyway. I used to eat with others because I felt obligated to join or convinced myself I needed the food, but now I realize that I have control (and I can count on one hand the number of fried foods I've eaten this month).

"Capitalism gives us everything except what is free." - Levine, Not Buying It

I can spend my money the way I want to, and if that means not spending it at all, then that is perfectly fine. Sometimes it makes other people feel awkward, but there's nothing that can be done about that, and usually people don't care one way or the other.

Now comes the fun part- tomorrow I'll tally up how much I spent this month compared to last month. If it's not a major difference, I will be sort of disappointed. However, the main goal was not to save money, it was to buy less, and I know for a fact I've accomplished that goal.

Total spent so far: $406.69

Day 27- It feels good to be used?

I ate the last of my graham crackers today. That was the last packaged snack-like item left in my pantry.

I also walked into United Colors of Benneton just to see how I felt. As I wandered through the $89 sweaters and $69 scarves, I felt like an outcast in my used rags I dare to call clothing. I also had a dirty little secret- I couldn't buy anything! I felt almost ashamed of my inability to be Consumer. By the time I arrived at the back of the store, the $20 camis seemed cheap. "Wow, what a steal!" I thought to myself. Luckily, reality slapped me in the face and reminded me, "This is just what they want you to think!" and out the door I ran.

"They" (probably better defined as the circle of consumer demand and business output instead of an evil humanized entity) are very tricky. I almost bought it. Well, I probably would have never bought it but I almost believed it anyway- I would have stashed it away in my mental 'Things to Buy When I Have Money' list and then desired it for quite some time. Yet because I haven't had the constant barrage of "Hot Item!" and "Buy More, Save More!" (?), I was able to distance myself.

Because of that distance, I do things like this:

These shoes could have seen their better days (those are my fingers sticking through the sole on the left), but I need old shoes for work anyway. I put two insoles that I already had in, took out the laces, sewed in some elastic to keep them on and voila! Not new but they will function (who needs stinking Toms, anyway?).

I also had two pairs of jeans that I never wore, so I cut them off to make shorts and now I wear them all the time! I'm going to use that left-over denim to make a camera case (for which I spent $4.85 on a zipper and sewing pins but I figured that's worth it).

I also spent $1 to buy the newspaper Street Sense that goes to support the homeless population here in DC. Maybe not a necessity but a worthy cause.

Total spent so far: $406.19

Day 24- Need vs. Want

Apparently I'm not the only one who wants it all (or tells themself they need it all). This is an article from a cycling magazine titled "The World's Most Complete Sock-Height Style Decoder":

When you turn to page 28, the magazine informs you of the appropriate occasions to wear either crew-cut, low-rise, mid-calf or knee-high socks while cycling. Apparently a crew-cut sock is appropriate for women riding road bikes, but not mountain bikes, and are never appropriate for men. Knee-high socks are only appropriate for being "trendy" or when you're "on the podium".... you get the gist.

This is where need vs. want gets tricky. Some people honestly convince themselves that they need this many variations of sock, and that's only for cycling (which is rampant in DC). Who knows how many socks they have if they also run, ski, wear low-rise shoes with which it would be embarrassing to show a sock line, get cold feet, etc. 

Personally, I have three pairs of running socks. Three pairs! When I bought them, I told myself that it's necessary because they get dirty in between laundry days (well, that justifies two of the pairs, the third was a thinner "summer" pair so my feet don't sweat so much). These socks cost around $9 each. That's $27 on socks that I only wear for one activity.

In Not Buying It, Levine (who has become my literary sidekick throughout this challenge) quotes professor Douglas B. Holt comments on this type of 'postmodern consumerism':

"The 'good life' is not a matter of having a well-defined list of status goods. Instead, it is an open-ended project of self-creation. The idea is to circulate continually through new experiences, things, and meanings, to play with different identities by consuming the goods associated with those identities."

 The identity sought after here is "extreme" athlete. The more serious someone is about a sport, the more expensive crap they own. I buy into it (obviously, I own three freaking pairs of running socks), but this challenge makes me question the whole idea of forming my identity around the things I possess.

If I get those Toms shoes or Timbuktu bag, will I feel more like a DC-resident? If I get minimalist running shoes, will I be a more extreme runner? If I get a new iPod that fits more songs, will I value music more?

My hunch is no.

But in midst of the struggle, this feels great:

Discover: No payment due at this time. You have a zero balance.

Sweet.

Total spent so far: $400.34

(Spent $24.77 more on groceries. I must eat a lot.)

Day 22- This is hard

As time has gone on, I'm realizing that it's not as hard to resist buying things as I expected (it's like being a vegetarian- you tell yourself you "just can't" and after a while it stops feeling like an option). There have been a few nights that I haven't gone to a dinner or happy hour even if I could have joined for the company, but there are usually other reasons as well- tiredness, having to wake early for work, etc. The limited budget doesn't help inspire me to go, but it hasn't limited me to the extent I expected it to.

But it's still not easy. Since I can't buy food out, I have to pre-plan all my meals (sometimes from breakfast to dinner because I'm out of the house all day). I have to search harder for events that are free and fit my schedule. I am cooking and looking up recipes like never before since I can't rely on ready-to-go foods (I even have to plan out when to soak beans for the next day because I'm not using canned goods). It all takes so much forethought that my brain hurts.

I made quinoa lettuce wraps- healthy and cheap!

But this is the life I want! I want to be able to say that I made my own hummus, refried beans and oatmeal bars (I did!). I want to explore DC's free and cheap entertainment (there is so much of it, it would be foolish not to). I want to bike to work, alter the clothing I already have and creatively find ways to live more simply. So why is it still so hard?

The only explanation I can come up with is that I want everything. I want to use the clothing I have, but I also want to be hip. I want free entertainment, but I want it to dazzle me. I want to cook for myself but I also want to taste delicacies prepared by someone who knows what they're doing. I want free coffee (at work), but I also want the cozy nook offered only to customers. All in all, I want magic, but I want it for free.

In an ideal world, this is possible- to live a completely full life on a miniscule budget. And I still think it is, but it seems to take some of the spontaneity out of life. If I'm invited to a concert tonight, I can't go. I can search around for a free concert coming up, but it's not going to be tonight or with the same person or in the same venue. And it might not happen at all. Being new to this city, it's important for me to be spontaneous and be able to branch out whenever an opportunity arises.

This challenge makes that difficult, but not impossible. My basic struggle with want (could probably be called greed as well) leaves me feeling like I have to decide- who do I really want to be? I can't be both the person who enjoys lavish outings as well as the person who values freedom from consumerism, can I?

From Not Buying It:

"The market forces pushing convenience, individualism, and comfort are still stronger than the attraction of community, fellowship, and connection with the natural world." - Bill McKibben

Total spent so far: $375.57
(Spent $5.13 at Trader Joe's on groceries and added another $50 to my metro card)

Day 20- Easy shopping

I'm excited. I imagined that preparing food from scratch would be cheaper in the end, but I didn't realize it would cut down the amount of product I buy and the amount of time I spend in the grocery store. I went grocery shopping today and finished in a record 33 minutes (it has taken me up to two hours before). Better yet, I had less, so I could bike it home instead of taking the bus.

I was able to fly past three entire aisles because they are nothing but crap- sodas, chips, even the cereal aisle is full of nothing but sugary junk (I've been buying uncooked muesli instead which is basically like eating a bowl of horse feed covered with milk but I still like it). Two aisles are dedicated to excessive cleaning supplies and beauty products and the frozen foods are all out of the question- nothing but packaging there. I was in and out so fast, I didn't even have a chance to drool over the Pepperidge Farm Sausalito cookies (god, those look good- I should bake some cookies tonight!)

What a girl will do to save $2 on the bus: homemade bike pannier! (this image should have heat waves rising from it as well since it was around 95 degrees)

I have two confessions: I bought fish that was packaged in styrofoam- and I feel bad about it- but it was on sale. I debated but the deli wraps things in thick paper anyway, so I figured it was worth saving a few bucks (and I was really, really tired and couldn't muster up the energy to talk to the deli-guy. Lame, I know). Also, I bought pre-packaged frozen fruits that I use for smoothies because I think it would cost me a fortune to buy a pound of berries and freeze them myself (but I haven't actually done the math on that one so I could easily be wrong- I'll compare next shopping trip). 

Everything else I bought was kosher to my plan. I chose whole carrots instead of a bag of baby carrots, and I brought my own produce bags. The total bill was $38.88, and although there are a few items I'll have to pick up still, I feel like I've got a lot to work with. I'm slowly building up my pantry, like a good Mother Hubbard... although her cupboard was bare so maybe that analogy doesn't work.

Free outdoor showing on the National Mall of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I enjoyed this free outdoor movie on the National Mall and borrowed two movies from the library that I've been meaning to see. I had to call Netflix because I didn't cancel it in time before I got billed again, but they refunded my money! 

Total spent so far: $320.44

Day 18- So close but so far

This is what I get to see when I ride my bike to work. What have I been doing relying so much on the underground dungeon called the metro?? And biking costs $0!

I (almost) spent no money the last two days. Go me! I didn't realize how often I pulled out my card to pay for things (with an intangible digital number on a computer screen being the only indicator that I've spent money), but I notice how little I use it now.

I did have to buy a headlamp ($15.89) to use while biking or running at night. I categorize my personal safety as a necessity. But I had a 25% off coupon (plus free shipping), so I saved $5. Go me again!

I am dying to go to a concert at the 9:30 Club though. They cost money. Grr. Maybe there's one on Aug. 13th...

Total spent so far: $281.56