We've reached the end of our August Spending Free and I'm having a difficult time deciding how well we did. I suppose we should start with the successes:
No one in our family bought anything new (toys, clothes, books, etc). This was particularly challenging when the girls' leap pad pen broke and couldn't be replaced.
I never stopped for a coffee, despite really wanting to during those Autumn-like days we experienced.
Early in the month, Mate went to work late so he could take Eliana to a doctor's appointment. I thought it would be a great idea to take the girls out to breakfast beforehand, but I remembered our spending free and scrapped that idea.
While working at the Twins Days Festival, there were quite a few souvenirs that caught my eye and the smell of Kettle Corn was rather enticing, but I reluctantly refrained.
Here are the events that make me hesitate to say we did the best we could:
Mate had to make travel plans for yet another conference and we had to decide whether or not to tag along. Originally, I thought it was out of the question, but who really wants to be left behind when their husband goes to Florida in December? Not me. Mate's flight gets booked through work, so I needed to buy tickets at the same time to make sure the girls and I are able to travel with him. I'm brave, but there is no way I am up for the challenge of flying solo with three little ladies . . . sorry spending free.
We had set aside some money for special events and used what was left to enjoy a couple of outings with friends and family. This was part of our plan, but it felt like cheating.
Throughout the month, I've known that many of the things we weren't buying would eventually be bought. Is putting off spending really a spending free?
What I reminded myself of is that this month isn't so much about saving money as it is about being more conscious. Nearly every day for the past thirty-one, I was mindful about how different our lives could be and I consider that a success.
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