An Ex-Shopper's Dilemma

What DO you do when stores have holiday stuff 90% off and you're only one week into your shopping fast? Well, with zero will-power, and a dream-like sale, I did what any new year resolutioner with a spending fast would do. I checked my "don't ask, don't tell money" account, and budgeted $8.00 to get 3 amazing items.

(Seriously, how am I gonna pass up "JOY" stocking hangers that were once $45.00 that were selling for $4.50??? Technically, these are a "need" for next Christmas. My new strategy should be to steer clear of the stores altogether....)

And, can anyone justify this $1.50 purchase??? I know, right?! A gingerbread kitchen timer!

Spending Fast in Full Effect

The Spending Fast is in full effect! Here are the logistics:

Goal:
- Only buy things that are needs (i.e food, gas, diapers, baby things, etc.) and don't buy things that are "wants" (clothing, jewelry, things of excess, eating out, etc.)

Guidelines/Tips to get us there:
1) Before each purchase, ask:
- Do I NEED this?
- Can I get by without this?
- Do I already have this? Something like this? Similar? What do I have that would suffice?

2) Make things (i.e birthday gifts, homemade cards, presents, etc.)

3) Define 'checkpoints' where we can spend our "don't ask, don't tell" money. (roughly $25.00 each pay period). Checkpoints are up to the individual.

4) Allowed to spend gift cards and the extra that spills over. For example, we received a $25.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble. The Blueray movie we wanted was $28.00 after tax, so we paid $3.00 extra. (We agreed this is allowed.)

5) One date night a week to go out and eat. (We always share, so we really won't be splurging here anyway.)

I don't know how we'll do, but it'll be exciting to see how far we can go--and how much we can save!

Christmas time is here!

....And now it's gone. Just as quick as retailers put up Christmas merchandise, the holiday came and went. This was Lauren's first Christmas and we had so much fun. At the start of the season, which for most Americans falls on Black Friday, Jeff and I discussed that this was the first and maybe only Christmas Lauren would not care what she got. Heck, she cares more for the wrapping paper than what is inside the package! So, why did our tree look like this:In our defense, we got crazy holiday spirit and wrapped every tiny thing we bought for each other...including socks, hair clips, gloves, bath toys, etc. and on top of that, we both have large families.

So, the reason for the post? I love this time of year, but all the presents, gifts, and spirit come with a bit of stress. When that January bill rolls around, and we realize we spent a wee bit outside our budget. Normally I'm pretty creative when it comes to downsizing and being frugal, but I needed more than just my old tricks.

I saw on the news how a girl went on a "spending fast" for an entire year to get out of debt. Now, Jeff and I in no way, shape, or form are that far into debt that we need to do anything that drastic, but more than anything, it sounds like a good challenge and a great eye-opener for what we are spending our money on.

I will blog for the next 4 months about Jeff's and my spending fast. We decided to give ourselves a realistic goal: 4 months. This weekend we will discuss logistics and the outline to this challenge, and come January 1st, 2011....it will be a full blown spending fast! In the meantime, we will continue to enjoy the holiday season and our presents from Santa!

True Love?

I've been dying to see Eclipse ever since it came out this past summer. Last year, we somehow tricked Jeff into seeing New Moon, and he's never forgiven us (we/us being me, his sisters, mom, etc.) There was no way he was going to see Eclipse with me, but when it finally came out in the Redbox, we struck a deal. He agreed to rent the movie only after I promised that, together, I would stay up and watch it.

We started the movie around 8 p.m and, although it was an awesome effort, I only made it through half. By 9 pm, I had undoubtedly fallen asleep. So, I don't know if this whole deal qualifies Jeff under the "true love" category, or more than likely, I under the "old age" category!

Lots of things I Love!

There are lots of things I love. This week, the top on the chart are 65 degree weather in December, 3 pm hour watching the Ellen DeGeneres show, laughing with my mom all week, to name a few. But, on the top of that list is watching Lauren grow everyday and discover new things. She's trying to crawl, and so far has managed to move backwards and sideways. By far, however, my favorite is her newly discovered talent of her voice. The best happens in cases like today, I laid her down for a nap when she got "rubby eyes". She was screaming and singing away to herself. Finally, she realized I wasn't coming back in and felt tricked. As her voice rose in a cry, she got distracted by her high pitched wails and started singing and jabbering away again.

New discovery is great...especially when it distracts a tired baby from crying herself to sleep for 20 minutes. I'll take jabbering any day over crying!

Something About Grandma's House--Sleep training day 4 and 5

I don't know what it is about Grandma's house, but Lauren slept amazing on night 4. She still woke up 4 times, but each time was able to settle back down with only a pacifier and without nursing. That is one small step to people without kids, but one giant leap to any new parent, I'm sure.

Last night she was a wee bit more restless. I caved (again) and brought her into bed with Grandma and I because Grandma has a California King, and it was after all, a sleepover. With Pavlov in mind (yes, referring to Macy and Nate's comments), a "stimulus" just might be the trick. I don't think a bell, or salivating, is key here; but the "sleep lite" application on my iTouch just might prove a saving grace. In the book I read, they say to have white noise. So, my new approach? Lay near Lauren with the sound of rain or waves playing on the iTouch and each night make my way closer and closer to the door until finally I can lay her down with the white noise playing, and I'll be out in another room getting things done (or passed out from exhaustion in my own room!)

Not so Silent Night--Sleep Training, Day 3

Lauren had no trouble falling asleep last night. After a bath from Dad and the rest of the routine, she settled into her crib as if she were exhausted. It was as if she couldn't wait to get out of my arms into her cozy blankets. I couldn't believe that by 7:10 pm she was breathing heavily away into Dreamland.

That was until about 8:30 pm.

From that time until Jeff and I woke up at 6:00 am, Lauren awoke at what seemed to be every half hour. We even caved and brought her into our room to co-sleep (which availed to no quality of sleep seeing as she is a tiny "windmill" with flailing arms and grasshopper kicking legs.)

If I weren't a psychology major, I might throw in the towel after last night and try this sleep training thing in a few months down the road. But, because I am a psychology major, I'm smart enough to know that there are things I am doing now that reinforce her behavior to wake up and depend on me and which in a few more months, would be much tougher to break. And, you'd think because I have experience in +/-reinforcement, shaping behaviors, and manipulating situations for the better that I'd have had a great night's sleep by now!

Day 4, here we come!