100 Day Challenge (Sorta) Week One

I just reread  my post from last week to make sure that I wasn’t changing the rules on myself.  I didn’t really make it horribly challenging did I? 

So this week I managed to not buy a single croissant from Pret or a single candy bar.  I did a bit of math on this one.  Not eating these save about £8 a week or £380 a year.  Considering that its food and you need to eat and all that, it doesn’t seem so bad, maybe?  I mean, if I gave up food I’d be dead.  But for food that I don’t need and doesn’t do anything for me that money could really be spent much better.  This  wasn’t just about the cash though.  My little treats equaled 2500 calories a week, or 122 thousand calories a year.  This isn’t only what I’m eating this was on top of it.  122,000 calories is equivalent to 38 human pounds. If I lost 38 lbs I’d not just be thin, but skinny.  Every time I thought about just having one I remembered the math and put it down.

I’ve also managed to not buy a single pair of shoes or any clothing.  This is the easiest and hardest bit.  I want to shop at my favorite places in the States.  This makes it easy to say wait.  On the other hand I’m losing weight and even my work clothes are starting to look comically large.  My husband says that it’s not too bad and I’m going to hold out.  I have ended up in some, um, interesting outfits though.  Hopefully it won’t get me in trouble!  Shoes are also hard because I want these:

 

And these:

Will I hold out for another week?  I don’t know.

As for my eBay habit (obsession).  I’ve only bought one thing and it was off of the allowed list.  So no broken rules there. 

Over all I think this week has been a success.  Let’s see if I can repeat it this week!

100 Day Challenge (Sorta)

When I read this post over at A Blog From Blackpool I first thought, wow, I’m glad that I don’t have that problem!  Then other bloggers I follow started talking about it.  Then I had a think about it.  Just the other day my husband commented that he felt like we lived in the post office with the number of packages that I received.  He also said, do you really need another jug? Yes, yes I do, I thought!

Probably not was the reality.   I also don’t need to have a few other things I buy on almost a daily basis.  I don’t need an Aero candy bar, I don’t need a croissant from Pret, no matter how nice it smells.  I’m not even hungry when I eat these things.  I do actually need some new work pants and jeans as my recent weight loss means that they are quite large on me.  But I want to wait.  

When I look at my spending habits I see that I don’t tend to make large purchases.  However, I nickel and dime myself to death.  (Would I say pound and pence myself to death over here?)  It’s only a pound you know.  This has to be controlled.  

I can’t do the whole 100 days straight up; it would be cruel as I’m going to the States to visit my parents for two weeks.  That’s why I’m waiting to replace my too big clothing.  I also want to be able to shop at my favourite shops and spend money on doing stuff with my friends.  

So, my rules are, no random candy bars and croissants.  This should help my budget as well as my waistline!  Also, no impulse eBay buys.  I’ve bought quite a lot recently and will be spacing out my Thrifty finds to cover the gaps.  I will also allow myself to buy things that are on the top of my want list if they are at the right price.  Some items hardly ever come up and you have to pounce on them when you see them.  However, there won’t be any random buying of things just because it’s pretty.  Just to be clear my want list is: Woods Ware Iris or Jasmine Jugs, Johnson Bros Greydawn teapot, and that’s about it.  So, those will be my only eBay purchases allowed.  No new clothing or shoes will be allowed.

As for the weekly antique fair at Spittlefields or hitting charity shops.  My finds are so rare and such a thrill that I won’t cut these out.  In the 6 months I’ve lived in the UK I’ve found 1 piece  of utility china in my little town and now that I’m working I don’t really get around like I used to.  Also, I’ve found a staggering 4 pieces at the antique fair.  If I find something and the price is right, there is no reason for me to not buy it.   I am giving up chocolate here people!  There has to be something left!

What is allowed, will be house decorating supplies and dates with my husband.  

I’m going to do a recap each Wednesday and see how things are going!  I'm going to keep this up for 4 weeks and then reassess before moving on for the next four weeks. 

Is anyone else jumping on the no spend band wagon?

News and New Shoes

Life has been crazy for the last month.  The big news is that I got a job, and not just a job, a job doing what I really love.  The downside is that trying to learn my new position as quickly as possible has caused me some really late nights.  I’ve also joined a gym.  And I am trying to spend as much time as possible with my wonderful husband, as usual.  The time just seems to fly by.  I seriously don’t know where it all goes.  I feel like I got here yesterday, but it was actually 4 months ago!

With the new job came something nice, a paycheck!  I ran right out and bought some shoes!  Please bear with my pictures.  I don’t know how shoe bloggers do it.  I couldn’t get any really good ones on my own and I’m really self conscious with showing off my legs, I just don’t like them.  

First up are these red flowery flats from Oasis.  I got them in the sale for just £8, off of about £30 or so.  Just because I’m now employed doesn’t mean I have to go bananas!  I tend to wear a lot of flats and wear them to death before even buying a new pair.  I now own three pairs, a black and a silver pair.  I’m going to try and grow my collection so that I don’t wear out my favorites so quickly.  The only drawback of this pair is the toe cleavage, not my favorite.  However, I just love the flowers and the color!

Next up are a pair of red Dorothy Perkins pumps (court shoes?) that I found for £10.  I just love the side half bow, it’s so girly and fun.  I wore these to work the other day and had some problems walking in them, but that’s typical for me and heels.  I think I need more practice!

 

Last, but definitely not least and absolutely my favorite, are a pair of Lady Dragons, from the Vivianne Westwood Melissa line.  I’ve coveted these shoes for ages but could never afford them.  Even now I don’t know if I could have brought myself to pay the full price for them.  I got these off of eBay for about £55.  They were new, but from a couple of seasons ago.  I don’t know if I could buy used shoes off of eBay.  I won them on a Saturday and on Tuesday they were hand delivered by their previous owner.  She had gotten them as a gift and didn’t really like them.  Her bad gift is my present to myself.  Is it weird that I’m wearing them while typing this?

 

Has anyone else had any fabulous news this January?  What about finding something that you’d been coveting?  Does anyone have any advice on how to walk in heels without falling over?