My plan to have a no-spend year got off to a non-start when my health insurance premiums only increased $200.00 for January and February*. Hopefully that remains the case for the months that remain until I go on Medicare later in the year.
Although I had no reason (yet) to curtail my spending, I still watched every penny, and did not spend as I usually do. Aside from the $418.23 I spent on food and medications, books for research for my day job (didn't think about that) pet supplies (ditto), and Sunpass funds for our car's transponder ($50.00 which was reimbursed by my guy), I spent $90.31 on yarn and fabric (I should note that half of that was paid in cash with money I'd saved from last Christmas.) Compare that ninety bucks to the nearly $2K I paid out in December for gifts, yarn bargains and other non-necessities, and I'd say I did a fair job in reducing my spending.
What I discovered is that it's really difficult not to spend money. Even though by using cash I set aside last year for what little I did buy, and resisting all the bargains I saw, I still used forty-five dollars and change from this month's earnings. It added up faster than I realized.
As I'm still not optimistic about the health insurance situation I'm going to try another no-spend month in February. As before I'll only spend money on food and medications, and I'll add to that job and pet expenses**. By the time March rolls around I'll know one way or another whether I need to go full no-spend, or I have a bit more money to buy what I'd like to have.
*As of the writing of this post, subject to change if the government does not restart the health care subsidies.
**I am going to thrift yarn to replace what I use from my stash if my finances permit.
Image by Pabitra Kaity from Pixabay
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