Anonymous wrote:OMG people, why would you live like this? To squirrel money away? Disgusting.

To save the environment. I was so depressed last December, with all those cardboard boxes and plastic bubble wraps coming to the house everyday. I felt like an environment disaster.

Spent $23 in Ikea today. $10 for a down pillow, had to have it.
DH (we have common-law marriage and keep money and expenses separate) filled my car tank and paid for it. He uses my car more often than I use his. Cost him $30 to fill it up. I think I'm +$7 for now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think I'll join you. My first challenge in January - no grocery shopping other than essentials like milk and fresh veggies for couple of weeks. I need to clear my fridge/freezer pantry a little

If I might make a suggestion -- what works for me is to say "pantry meal every other day" or even "two days in a row" but the whole family gets a little truculant and cranky when we are on day three of freezer meals with nothing fresh. Maybe your freezer is better than mine, though... I"m not a good freezer meal chef.

Thanks!
I'll try to incorporate that later in the year. I'm not a good freezer chief either, just a hoarder, I guess. Tough times growing up in developing country with limited food supply.
My freezer is actually packed with meat/fish - coop shares and bulk purchases, but then DH on grocery run . And I end up cooking whatever he brings home. He's prohibited from grocery shopping for a month now!

Anonymous wrote:
I think I'll join you. My first challenge in January - no grocery shopping other than essentials like milk and fresh veggies for couple of weeks. I need to clear my fridge/freezer pantry a little

If I might make a suggestion -- what works for me is to say "pantry meal every other day" or even "two days in a row" but the whole family gets a little truculant and cranky when we are on day three of freezer meals with nothing fresh. Maybe your freezer is better than mine, though... I"m not a good freezer meal chef.

Anonymous wrote:

Calphalon is replacing our nonstick pans with stainless. Call your manufacturer!

Really!!! That's interesting news! OP here -- yes, my saute pan (finally learned how to spell saute!) *is* Calphalon.

But I don't have any information on when or where I bought it... how are you getting your pans replaced? It's just a small 8" saute pan.

Anonymous wrote:Okay I purchased turbo tax today -- that doens't count does it???

OP here. It's up to you! It certainly doesn't seem like a frivolous purchase to me... unless you have some habit of buying software that you never use? If you are sure you are going to use it, I'd put it in the same category as lightbulbs and medicine and toilet plungers.... i.e. boring stuff you buy to make your life less sucky. (Not fun stuff like new shoes and redecorating!)

Anonymous wrote:

Keep it up, OP!

I think I'll join you. My first challenge in January - no grocery shopping other than essentials like milk and fresh veggies for couple of weeks. I need to clear my fridge/freezer pantry a little

OP here, thank you!!

And great idea! For my Buy Nothing January, I am of course buying groceries, necessary medicines, gas etc. But I am trying to not do takeout at all (a big weakness of ours) and am giving myself a $100/week grocery budget. This is on top of having a very well stocked pantry with the basics, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I am just usually strapped for time for cooking.

I'm also curious if I can make it though the month on just one tank of gas? I worked it out -- I use half a tank just for commuting to work for 20 days. The other half would be for errands or kid stuff. We live in a very walkable neighborhood... but... it is pretty cold. Might wait till March for that challenge!!

Today was very boring. I didn't buy anything non essential. I did got to the grocery store and spent $63 on groceries for the week, am hoping that lasts till Sunday. The kids and I all packed lunches to school/work and I didn't spend anything on snacks/sodas.

For impulse/non necessary purchases:

1) My son did ask me for a new composition notebook. I told him to look in the hall closet where we had old ones. He found one from last year that had about 10 pages used up and I showed him how to rip them off with an exacto knife so you couldn't tell. I did tell him I will buy him a new one if it is important to him, but not until the weekend. He said it was fine.

2) pepper mill: I noticed this morning that our pepper grinder was falling apart. It still works but it falls apart if you aren't careful. I need a new one. I'm going to see first if a good cleaning or some repair is possible.

To answer someone's question -- I do not ever internet browse. If there's something I want, (say, a new pepper mill) I love to go to Amazon and just look up their best buys or whatever and order it. I'm a sucker for the convenience factor of ordering online. I don't have the time to shop at places like Marshals and Kohls for fun. I do stop by a thrift store about twice a month and can usually find household goods there, if the need isn't urgent. I work a full time job where I cannot use the internet for personal reasons during the day, and I also have an after work part time job two evenings a week. (Trying to get out of debt.) The rest of the time I spend with my kids! (Watching TV but that's another story...)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How about you relearn the difference between a want and a need? Or learn to stick to a budget? Buying nothing when you need something is stupid.

OK!

I *want* a pan that doesn't stick when I cook eggs. I have a budget for it which is $0.00. I have a cast iron pan but eggs stick when I cook on it.

Is it possible to get what I want for $0.00 instead of buying a new non stick pan?

YES! Look what I just found:

https://www.thekitchn.com/cooking-eggs-in-cast-iron-my-moms-4-step-foolproof-process-239413

I cook eggs in cast iron flat skillet and they never stick. The trick is to oil the pan and get it really hot. Put 2 eggs in and they are done in ~2 min.

I don't know if you're OP or not, but if not...OP, buy a stainless steel or iron skillet. I've had mine for 17 years. If you buy well, then you are not buying every few years.

Anonymous wrote:Those who are doing frugal January challenges- are you allowing yourself to browse online stores, just not buy from them, or no browsing too? And if no browsing then what are you doing to replace that habit?

No browsing.

I am reading the newspaper, reading books, knitting, cooking.

Okay I purchased turbo tax today -- that doens't count does it???

Anonymous wrote:Those who are doing frugal January challenges- are you allowing yourself to browse online stores, just not buy from them, or no browsing too? And if no browsing then what are you doing to replace that habit?

When I browse I often add things to my cart. But then I close out and don't buy. Somehow, it scratches that itch without the spending. Occasionally I will still go back and buy something, but I usually delete everything else. It helps me make the best choices.

I like this thread! Thanks OP for the mind exercise. It's good to get out of a rut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 and 3 are necessary; skip 1 until you can no longer use it

It's just that the non stick lining has started to flake and is getting into our eggs and such! It's a pan I've used heavily for over 5 years so it isn't unreasonable to replace it at some point, but I don't need to do it this month.

Throw that pan out, it is a health hazard once it starts to flake off into your food.

+1
Agree! Get the pan!

I would read the title of the thread and then file this response under 'not helpful'

Those who are doing frugal January challenges- are you allowing yourself to browse online stores, just not buy from them, or no browsing too? And if no browsing then what are you doing to replace that habit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 and 3 are necessary; skip 1 until you can no longer use it

It's just that the non stick lining has started to flake and is getting into our eggs and such! It's a pan I've used heavily for over 5 years so it isn't unreasonable to replace it at some point, but I don't need to do it this month.

Calphalon is replacing our nonstick pans with stainless. Call your manufacturer!

I am pondering doing this as well -- my amazon habit got a little out of control before christmas. Good thing I bought new underwear and socks last week. LOL.