And then I do something stupid like break my blog.

My own fault – I was trying to edit something that I wasn’t sure how to edit and managed to royally screw up the code.  This makes sense as I have not done [...]]]> You know, I love technology.  I love all the advances that have been made.

And then I do something stupid like break my blog.

My own fault – I was trying to edit something that I wasn’t sure how to edit and managed to royally screw up the code.  This makes sense as I have not done any real coding in almost ten years.

Then this weekend, I broke the power cord to my computer.  So no blog updating, unless I wanted to type on my phone (I did not).

So I had a low-tech weekend.  And it was kind of nice. Sure, I had the DVR to watch, which isn’t that low tech, and I ran on the treadmill while watching the 9/11 coverage yesterday, but it was kind of nice to not be tethered to my computer.  I didn’t realize just how much I relied on it.

(And yes, a new power cord is arriving tonight.  A girl can only go so long…)

I blame the house.

But really, it’s my own fault.

I’m not in any sort of dire straits or anything.  In fact, I’m doing quite well, financially speaking.  But my spending feels a bit out of control.  I’m blowing budget categories left and right.

A lot of it does [...]]]> I have been a very bad budgeter as of late.

I blame the house.

But really, it’s my own fault.

I’m not in any sort of dire straits or anything.  In fact, I’m doing quite well, financially speaking.  But my spending feels a bit out of control.  I’m blowing budget categories left and right.

A lot of it does have to do with the house.  Moving from an apartment to a house has meant a lot of new expenses.  Not just the typical things like utilities and standard maintenance costs, but buying all the things that I didn’t own, like a hose and a stepladder and various lawn care tools.  And then there is my list of projects.  Sure, some of those won’t cost me anything except for some labor, but some of those things are expensive.  My problem is that I’m planning for the expensive things.  It’s the inexpensive things that are adding up.

For example, this weekend, I went to The Container Store.  It’s a dangerous place for me, because I love organization supplies.  I love boxes and baskets and fun things to put things in.  It’s an obsession.  But I was pretty good.  The problem is that even though I bought things that I knew I needed (or could use, anyway), it still adds up.  What did I buy?  A set of stacking shelves for the storage closet (to match a set I already have and love), some storage bags for bedding that is currently piled up on the closet floor, a new file box to keep all of my house-related things (bills and repair records – the super important stuff is in the fire safe) and a few items from their travel sale, since I’m hoping to take a quick trip to Europe next fall if all goes as planned.  Okay, so I didn’t need the travel things right now, but they were on sale (a new luggage strap and an electric converter) so I figured it was as good a time as any to purchase.

But I need to get things under control.  Start logging all my purchases as I make them.  Figure out where things are going off the rails and get them back on track.

I do love my house.  I’ve not had one moment of regret.  I just have to remember that I can’t be putting all my money into it at once.  First things first.  Like finish unpacking all of the boxes (of course, it looks like I need another bookshelf if I want to finish all that unpacking, so…).

On to the content.  I’ve [...]]]> I give up.  From now on, all posts will be called Auto Draft, because I cannot get it fixed.**  I have tried all the fixes recommended in the various forums, and nothing.  I did manage to get my site stuck in maintenance mode for a while this week.  That was fun.

On to the content.  I’ve been reading a lot about people doing 100 things projects – getting rid of 100 things that you don’t need.  It seems kind of daunting, especially since I currently have three bags of donations taking up space in my bedroom.  Well, might as well give it a shot.  And yes, I’m going to count those bags – as three things.  After all, they’ve been taking up space for too long, so getting them out of the apartment will count for something.  I’m just not counting all the things inside.

The way the project works is kind of up to you.  You can count things as small as you want.  However, if you throw away that giant bag of 1000 cotton balls and count that as 1000 things, that doesn’t so much count.  It would really defeat the purpose of the whole project.

So far, I’ve gone through just a few drawers and already have over twenty things to get rid of.  Some things were tossed, others went into a box for donating.  I’m still going.  Need to tackle the kitchen next.  Yipes.

**Apparently, something I did that didn’t seem to fix it actually did fix it – at least going forward.  Good bye, Auto Draft!

Wait, I take that back.  I got rid of two shirts that were irreparably stained.  They weren’t of a material that would make [...]]]> Looks like a lot of people are into the idea of decluttering with all the comments on my post about hoarding.   I have to admit, my personal decluttering made zero progress this weekend.

Wait, I take that back.  I got rid of two shirts that were irreparably stained.  They weren’t of a material that would make good rags, and after trying every stain removal remedy in the book, I gave in.  But I spent the weekend reading a book and finishing my half-marathon training.  (Race is next weekend – eeek!)  I also threw the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea maker into the donate pile.  Why did I need that thing anyway?  It’s not like iced tea is hard to make.

Part of me feels like decluttering is such a big effort.   There’s so much to do.   X number of items a week seems an easy way to do it.  I desperately need to clean out all of my closets – take everything out, look at it, and put it back if it’s worth keeping.  I’ve just not found the time to do it yet.  Not going to happen this coming weekend, obviously, but maybe sometime after that.  I also need to remember that I don’t have to do it all at once.  If I have to leave my closet half-tackled, so be it.   The idea of taking everything out and not putting it away the same day makes me cringe a little bit though!

Recessionista?  The word in itself is kind of ridiculous.

But the best part was that the items for sale were not anywhere near what I would consider inexpensive, frugal, or appropriate for someone [...]]]> Twice over the past week, I have seen advertising discussing the latest and greatest fashions for the fall season – all “inexpensive Recessionista style!”

Recessionista?  The word in itself is kind of ridiculous.

But the best part was that the items for sale were not anywhere near what I would consider inexpensive, frugal, or appropriate for someone worried about the recession.  If you are worried about money, don’t buy this season’s new $700 purse. 

On some level, the statement “Frugal is the new black” is funny.  It’s especially funny to those of us who have always been frugal (even if we do buy $700 purses, we’ve saved in other areas to make that happen).  But I’m starting to find the whole Recessionista trend a little annoying and slightly insulting.  I get this vision of rich spoiled young women (the sort you find on many reality tv shows) going about as if they’re so great because they’re buying slightly less expensive things and doesn’t that make them fabulous?   Doing it not because it’s necessary but because it’s the “in” thing to do.

And on the other end of the spectrum, there’s the young woman who really would love to dress in fancier clothes for work but truly can’t afford the look she so desires.  By making do and accessorizing with inexpensive pieces, she’s truly being a Recessionista.