This sounds very extreme, so I will clarify. My main New Year's Resolution for 2012 is to continue my efforts in cutting back - which I've been doing for the last 6 or so months already. I've challenged myself to take this to the next level. (Along with increasing my reading load.)
I took a substantial cut in relocating to accomplish my goal (which I did) of being in a good school district closer to home to complete my practicum in Fall. It's been a bit of an adjustment for me, and I knew I would make sacrifices going into this. I left a job that demanded so much of my time to take on a new challenge with better hours. When I am feeling shorthanded, I remind myself that I do have more freedom.
I think I am doing pretty well holding down my little fort on my own. I have taken advantage of couponing, subscribed to some helpful money saving Twitter accounts and used my "librarianship" skills to research the best deals out there.
Giving up "shopping" for me does not represent the extreme of trading in my car for a bicycle and pioneering a community bartering system. We all know this is not me! It is all about "scaling back," and avoiding frivolous shopping - where a 10-minute Target run for a single item turns into 1-hour and 5 items later.
I put my resolution to the test in January. I aimed for one main grocery store trip and one main drug store run for the month in which all items purchased had to be a combination of sales and/or coupons.
A single drugstore trip was substantial this month, and I only picked up a few detergents and deodorants (less than $10). I store extra household/health items in a rubbermaid bin from previous couponing. For instance, if I find a deal to get Colgate toothpaste for around 50 cents a tube, I buy a couple for my stockpile. This way I never run out and always pay the best prices for name brand goods.
The single grocery trip was not realistic in January. If I did very little baking or cooking, then this could work but that's not the case. I go through butter, cream cheese, sugar, flour, etc. It also fluctuates from month to month depending on the occasions for baking that occur.
I made my one main trip to Kroger at the beginning of the month. I made an additional trip near the end of the month to Publix to replenish staples (i.e. milk, fruit, bread, etc.). But it wasn't a budget busting trip either. Additionally, my fave Food Lion stores here went out of business. I made a trip on the day that their final inventory went 75% and picked up some cooking spices and baking ingredients for dirt cheap.
I was really proud of myself with "frivolous" shopping which is where it can really add up. I've decided to set aside one time (any day of my choice) each month when I can make purchases that are not considered necessities. That means no online shopping and avoiding malls and Targets and WalMarts during the other 30ish days. (Gifts from my mom do not count, of course! She treated me to a lovely cardigan from The Loft over the weekend!)
I decided to save my day in January until the end of the month. I found that there were certain items I'd had in mind all month that I selected carefully (eliminating impulse buys): a pair of jeans, a cape I've been eying since November that went 60%, adorable Valentine cards that I designed online using a $25 coupon code...and the piece de la resistance, a Nook (which will also promote my other resolution to expand my reading horizons.
I had been researching refurbished Nooks, plus I had 2 large gift cards from my Aunt and Uncle from birthday and Christmas that I had been sitting on. I highly recommend looking into refurbished products when researching deals. These items undergo extensive testing and are highly scrutinized before ever making it to a retail store. The outer casings are all shiny and new, with revamped inner workings. Look for manufacturer refurbished products, because these will include full warranties and arrive in a pristine, factory sealed box/packaging.
My new camel cape with brown leather trim that's sure to be a classic which I am excited about nabbing. It's been marked down to $36 from $125 (I also used a 15% coupon code) at JCP.
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